A high-frequency switch circuit arrangement. A plurality of stages (for example, two stages) of capacitative elements connected in series (C11 and C12, C21 and C22) are used in a shunt path of a high-frequency component. If a surge voltage is applied, the voltage that each capacitative element should bear decreases in inverse proportion to the number of the connection stages. Consequently, the surge resistance of the capacitative element is improved. The capacitative elements connected in series can be manufactured using the usual manufacturing process of compound semiconductor devices and if the structure of the invention is adopted, a protective diode need not be provided. As the capacity is made common and the device structure is designed, the high-frequency switch circuit arrangement can be further made compact, etc.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a high-frequency switch circuit arrangement and in particular to an art of improving resistance to a surge of a high-frequency switch circuit arrangement.
2. Description of the Related Art
A mobile communication terminal such as a mobile telephone uses GHz-band radio waves at the communication time. At the time, field effect transistors (FETS) using gallium arsenide (GaAs) excellent in high frequency characteristics are used in an antenna switch circuit, a transmission-reception. switch circuit, etc., as switching elements.
FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram to show the configuration of a high-frequency SPDT (Single-Pole Double-Throw) switch using GaAs FETs as switching elements.
The high-frequency SPDT switch has a function of selectively switching the output path of an input high-frequency signal. As shown in the figure, a first signal terminal RF1 is placed on the input side and a second signal terminal RF2 and a third signal terminal RF3 are placed on the output side. The high-frequency signal input through RF1 is output to one of RF2 and RF3 (the switch input/output may be made opposite).
A first field effect transistor stage FET1 of a switch circuit for switching the high-frequency signal path is provided between the first signal terminal (RF1) and the second signal terminal (RF2). Likewise, a second field effect transistor stage FET2 is provided between the first signal terminal (RF1) and the third signal terminal (RF3). (In the description to follow, it is assumed that the field effect transistor stage means a switch circuit using a field effect transistor as a switching element.)
Turning on/off both the field effect transistor stages is controlled by control signal inputs CTL1 and CTL2, whereby the signal terminal RF1 is electrically connected to one of RF2 and RF3.
On the other hand, the FET in the off state is equivalent to capacity component (capacitor) and assuming that the portion between RF1 and RF2 is on and the portion between RF1 and RF3 is off, the high-frequency signal from RF1 leaks to the side of RF3 through the equivalent capacity component when the switching FET2 is off. To draw the signal into ground (GND) with the FET in the on state, a fourth field effect transistor stage FET4 and a capacitative element C1 for cutting DC is placed between the third signal terminal RF3 and the ground terminal GND, forming a shunt circuit 1; likewise, a third field effect transistor stage FET3 and a capacitative element C2 for cutting DC is placed between the second signal terminal RF2 and the ground terminal GND, forming a shunt circuit 2.
The shunt circuit 1, 2 serves a function of short-circuiting the path in an alternating current manner and causing unnecessary high-frequency component to escape to the high-frequency ground (ground potential). Accordingly, the isolation characteristic between the contacts (FR2 and FR3) in the high-frequency switch circuit arrangement is kept good.
A capacitative element always exists in a high-frequency switch circuit arrangement containing a shunt circuit like the high-frequency SPDT switch described above. It is desirable that the capacitative element should be manufactured on a single GaAs chip and be integrated as MMIC (Monolithic Microwave IC) from the viewpoint of reducing the number of external parts.
However, in the MIM (Metal Insulator Metal) capacity manufactured on the GaAs substrate, the insulating film between upper and lower electrodes is very thin and therefore the capacitative element often is at the lowest electrostatic breakdown voltage in the high-frequency switch circuit and needs to be handled with extreme care. That is, the element having the lowest electrostatic breakdown voltage dominates the electrostatic breakdown voltage of the whole high-frequency switch circuit arrangement and therefore it becomes important to improve the electrostatic breakdown voltage of the capacitative element to improve resistance to a surge of the high-frequency switch circuit arrangement.
The simplest method for improving the electrostatic breakdown voltage of the capacitative element as described above is a method of using a high dielectric material for the capacitative element and widening the space between upper and lower electrodes for improving electrostatic resistance of the capacitative element or a method of connecting a protective element in parallel with an element having low electrostatic breakdown voltage (in this case, capacitative element), thereby improving resistance to a surge as the whole high-frequency switch circuit arrangement.
For example, the method of using a high dielectric material for the capacitative element is disclosed in JP-A-10-335582. The method of connecting a protective element in parallel with an element having low electrostatic breakdown voltage is disclosed in JP-A-2003-100893.
However, to use the methods described above, the following problems may occur:
To manufacture an element using a high dielectric material in MMIC, the forming process becomes complicated and the number of masks for capacitative element formation and the total number of steps are increased.
To attempt to create without increasing the number of steps, the high dielectric material is also formed as interlayer dielectric and thus a function problem as interlayer dielectric may occur, namely, an increase in parasitic components may introduce a problem.
On the other hand, in the method of adding a protective diode as a protective element in parallel with a protected element for improving the electrostatic breakdown voltage, it is actually difficult to manufacturer an element as a protective diode namely, a diode having high electrostatic breakdown resistance voltage on the GaAs substrate, and the manufacturing process becomes complicated. Further, connecting a protective diode may lead to addition of parasitic capacity and may cause the high-frequency characteristic to be degraded.

High-frequency switch circuit arrangement

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Disclosed herein are recombinant human progenitor cells, engineered human thymocytes, and engineered human T cells. The recombinant human progenitor cells are made by transducing a human hematopoietic stem cell with a vector having a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a human T cell receptor specific to a virus, such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or an epitope thereof. The recombinant human progenitor cells differentiate and mature into the engineered human thymocytes and the engineered human T cells. Also disclosed herein are methods of inhibiting, reducing or treating a viral infection in a subject, such as a human subject, which comprises administering recombinant human progenitor cells, engineered human thymocytes, and/or engineered human T cells to the subject.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to recombinant human progenitor cells, engineered human thymocytes, and engineered human T cells, and methods of treating subjects therewith.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are currently no known therapeutic cures for a variety of chronic viral infections. Many viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), various herpes family viruses (herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2, Varicella-Zoster virus, Epstein-Bar virus, etc), human papillomavirus, and many others establish a persistent, often lifelong infection with the host organism. Such chronic viral infections are often accompanied with significant morbidity and a lower quality of life. The persistence of these chronic viral infections is due in part to the inability of the human immune system to adequately control and ultimately clear the virus from the body and the lack of effective therapies and medicines that can clear the virus from the body.
In many of these viral infections, the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response is important in controlling viral replication and the failure of this response may significantly contribute to the inability of the body to fully control or clear the virus. See Berzofsky, et al. (2004) J Clin Invest. 114(4): 450-462. For example, the CD8+ T cell CTL response plays an important role in controlling the amount of Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) in the body of an infected individual. See Benito, et al. (2004) AIDS Rev. 6(2): 79-88; Borrow, et al. (1994) J Virol. 68(9): 6103-6110; and Rowland-Jones, et al. (2001) Immunol Lett. 79(1-2): 15-20. CTLs specific for various HIV-1 antigenic epitopes are primarily responsible for the initial control and lowering of the viral load in the body shortly after infection with HIV and are responsible for controlling viral loads throughout infection. See Koup, et al. (1994) J Virol. 68(7): 4650-4655. Inevitably, the CTL response in HIV infected individuals fails during the natural course of infection. The loss of the HIV-specific immune response, particularly the CTL response, is associated with an increase in the HIV viral load and a more rapid progression to AIDS and death. See Goulder, et al. (1997) Nat Med. 3(2): 212-217; and Huynen & Neumann (1986) Science. 272(5270): 1962. The virus itself, placed under selective pressure by the CTL response, mutates to avoid the CTL response. See Wolinsky, et al. (1996) Science. 272(5261): 537-542. This results in the virus escaping immune surveillance and is usually followed by the generation of new CTLs to different antigenic epitopes.
One method of augmenting CTL responses is to generate homologous antigen-specific CTLs ex vivo and then administer the ex vivo generated cells into the subject to be treated. This treatment has been effective for treating cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) chronic infections, however, this treatment has not been shown to be effective in treating HIV infected individuals. See Lieberman, et al. (1997) Blood. 90(6): 2196-2206; Brodie, et al. (1999) Nat Med. 5(1): 34-41; Bollard, et al. (2004) Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 10(3): 143-55; and Joseph, et al. (2008) J Virol. 82(6): 3078-3089. In HIV infected individuals, the ex vivo generated CTLs are likely to be dysfunctional as the autologous CTLs are ineffective at clearing or controlling the viral infection as a direct result of the HIV infection and ongoing viral-induced pathology.
Several studies have demonstrated the ability of cloned, antigen specific TCR α-chains and β-chains to be genetically transferred into autologous, stimulated CD8+ T lymphocytes and generate antigen-specific cells. See Hughes, et al. (2005) Hum Gene Ther. 16(4): 457-472; Johnson, et al. (2006) J Immunol. 177(9): 6548-6559; Miles, et al. (2006) Curr Med Chem. 13(23): 2725-2736; and Morgan, et al. (2006) Science. 314(5796): 126-129. Genetic transfer of a cloned human TCR to the melanoma antigen MART-1 into autologous CD8+ T lymphocytes followed by re-infusion of the cells into cancer patients with metastatic melanoma resulted in tumor cell regression in treated individuals. Unfortunately, these autologous cells taken from the treated patient have to undergo extensive ex vivo manipulation to express the transgenic TCR following re-infusion, which could at least partially explain the large amount of MART-1 TCR specific cells that were functionally deficient in this study. In addition, while the cells in this study were maintained for a relatively long period of time, long-term regeneration of antigen-specific cells was limited and the methodology of the study does not allow the generation of antigen-specific cells of a "naïve", or non-exhausted or unmanipulated, phenotype and thus lack the robust ability to respond and function.
With all the advances in stem cell technology today, the prior art has yet to provide recombinant human progenitor cells, engineered human thymocytes (which may be naïve cells), and engineered human T cells which express a human TCR specific for a target antigen, such as an HIV antigen, that may be used to effectively treat a human subject against a disease or infection involving the expression of the target antigen. Thus, a need still exists for such compositions and methods, especially for treating chronic viral infections where the virus inhibits or impairs the native CTL response.

Recombinant human progenitor cells, engineered human thymocytes, and engineered human T cells

The Regents of the University of California


A file of menu data is transmitted from a providing apparatus to a storing apparatus via a transfer apparatus. The transfer apparatus acquires a list of files stored in the storing apparatus and transmits the list to the providing apparatus. The providing apparatus, based on the list, selects content to be stored in the storing apparatus.

In recent years, there has been widely used a system in which an information terminal such as a mobile communication device that has a content playing function and a network function is connected to a server to synchronize content between the information terminal and the server and to distribute content from the server to the information terminal. The purpose of synchronization of content that is described herein is to make the update of the contents in the server and the information terminal in cooperation via a network. For example, if server stores content that is not stored in the information terminal, the content can be distributed from the server to the information terminal at the user's request. Synchronization of content makes it possible for the user to download newly content registered in the server to the information terminal by the network.
Also, patent document 1 discloses a technology relating to synchronization of content. The technology disclosed in patent document 1 is to prevent content that was once distributed to, but deleted at, an information terminal, from being distributed to the information once again. In the information terminal described in patent document 1, "deleted" files and "undistributed" files are managed distinctively.

Content selecting system, providing apparatus, transfer apparatus and content selecting method


An improved error correction apparatus and method for a digital device are provided. An error correction apparatus includes at least one client module outputting an error detection signal, if an error is detected; and a controller for analyzing the error and controlling the client module to correct the error, if an error detection signal is received. An error correction apparatus and method of the present invention is provided with shadow registers or CRC registers for quickly detecting errors of status registers of a client module, whereby an error of the client module can be quickly detected and corrected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital device and, in particular, to an improved error correction apparatus and method for a digital device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, a digital device, such as a mobile phone, MP3 player, and Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), incorporates various client modules such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) module and camera module.
Errors induced by electrostatic discharge (ESD) or noise may cause a client module to malfunction. For example, the LCD module may show a white screen caused by a signal error.
In order to prevent the client module from malfunctioning, a polling mechanism is used such that a host periodically polls a register of the client module. In the case of polling-based error correction mechanism, when an error has occurred, the functionality of the client module may be restored by specific user interaction.
In the polling-based error correction mechanism, a host periodically polls registers of its client modules for detecting an error with reference to the values of the registers, so the client modules can be protected or restored from errors.
In the case of error correction by user interaction, the user is required to interact with the device for restoring the functionality of the client module from an error. For example, when a white error screen is displayed at an LCD module, the error is corrected by cycling power to the LCD module (for example, by folding up and down a clamshell mobile phone or sliding up and down a sliding phone).
However, these conventional error correction methods have the following drawbacks.
In the case of polling-based error correction method, a host would poll the registers of the client modules, resulting in power consumption. Also, since the digital devices have timing dependent characteristics, polling may cause error correction delay and timing errors. For example, if a polling timing is off while the host polls a register of a contact detection module in order to detect an error that occurs during a game, the input signal would fail such that the new game score is lost.
In the case of user interaction-based error correction method, although the error correction may just be a trivial matter, however, it may cause inconvenience and when a specific code is repeated for a number of times, it results in reduction of lifespan of the client module. For example, whenever power to the LCD module is cycled for correcting the white error screen, the LCD module should repeat initialization process.

Error correction apparatus and method for digital device


A method is provided to allow characterization of rock or other types of samples using a sliver that is prepared to have a sample and optionally a plurality of thin discrete reference objects encapsulated by hardened encapsulant that surrounds the peripheral edges of the sample and any reference objects. Systems for performing the methods are also provided. An x-ray scannable sliver also is provided as a single unit that has a thin discrete sample and a plurality of thin discrete reference objects encapsulated by hardened encapsulant that encases the peripheral edges of the sample and reference objects.

The present invention relates to the field of digital rock physics and, more particularly, to methods of preparing sample-embedded slivers which can be more efficiently and accurately analyzed. The present invention further relates to systems for performing the methods, and an x-ray scannable sliver product which can integrate a sample alone or together with reference objects into a stabilized single unit for handling and x-ray scanning.
Samples of rock obtained from a drilled well have been used to obtain estimates of rock composition and properties such as permeability, porosity, elasticity and other properties, and so forth, which are typical of an entire subterranean rock formation or facies. These estimates can have substantial significance, such as for characterizing the economic value of reservoir rock formations.
One common sample used to estimate rock properties is a well core. Well cores are very small compared to an entire formation, so multiple well cores are typically taken and analyzed and rock properties are interpolated in between geographic locations of the cores. Nevertheless, cores can be approximately a meter in length and 1/10 meter in diameter. Laboratory analysis of rock samples such as cores can be difficult and time consuming, and typically must be done off-site. Cores must be extracted and shipped to a laboratory for analysis and this can require many days or weeks to complete. Further, physical lab experiments are difficult to perform due to the usual size and shape of well samples such as cores, and the need to use sufficiently large sized samples to obtain accurate results by laboratory analysis.
Devices for generating digital images of rock samples are available for use. These devices include, for example, computer tomographic (CT) devices, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) devices, and FIB-SEM (focused ion beam combined with SEM) devices. Digital rock physics techniques for estimating rock properties have the advantage that they can accurately scan and produce digital images of very fine pore structures and they can identify small volumes of organic materials present in the pore structure of the rock. However, it is very time consuming and expensive to digitally scan very large samples to estimate rock properties. For example, shales can have an average pore size of about 0.005 to 1.0 μm and a well core typically can be about 100,000 μm (0.1 m) in diameter and 1,000,000 μm (1 m) or more in length. Scanning the entire sample at a resolution high enough to identify all of the pores can result in a complete assessment of the pore structure of the sample. However, scanning the entire sample at a resolution high enough to identify all of the pores is not practical due to the time and expense required to do a complete scan.
The present investigators have recognized that if samples of rock are machined down to relatively smaller and thinner dimensions in attempts to overcome the indicated shortcomings of large samples that the physical ability of the smaller sample to tolerate and withstand typical forces associated with machining can be a problem. For example, the present investigators recognized that looser consolidated rock or other types of samples may not be able to physically tolerate machining and other processing and handling used on the sample to prepare it for CT, SEM, or FIB-SEM analysis. The present investigators have further recognized that attempts to stabilize the sample with an integrally attached backing before machining that would still be retained as an attachment at the time of subsequent x-ray projection of the sample can cause interference problems and impair results.

Process and system for preparation of X-ray scannable sample-embedded sliver for characterization of rock and other samples


An amorphous silicon antifuse has a bottom electrode, a dielectric overlying the bottom electrode, amorphous silicon contacting the bottom electrode in a via in the dielectric, and the top electrode over the amorphous silicon. Spacers are provided in the via corners between the amorphous silicon and the top electrode. The spacers smooth the surface above the amorphous silicon, provide good top electrode step coverage, and reduce leakage current. Another amorphous silicon antifuse is provided in which the amorphous silicon layer is planar. The planarity makes the amorphous silicon layer easy to manufacture. A programmable CMOS circuit is provided in which the antifuses are formed over the intermetal dielectric. The antifuses are not affected by the high temperatures associated with the formation of the intermetal dielectric and the first-metal contacts. The intermetal dielectric protects the circuit elements during the antifuse formation. The bottom electrodes of the antifuses are connected to the first-metal contacts. The overall capacitance associated with the antifuses is low, and hence the circuit is fast.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to programmable integrated circuit structures and methods for fabrication thereof, and more particularly to amorphous silicon antifuses and circuits and routing structures incorporating antifuses, and methods for fabrication thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Programmable semiconductor devices include programmable read only memories ("PROMs"), programmable logic devices ("PLDs"), and programmable gate arrays. Programmable elements suitable for one or more of these device types include fuses and antifuses.
A fuse is a structure which electrically couples a first terminal to a second terminal, but which, when programmed by passage of sufficient current between its terminals, electrically decouples the first terminal from the second terminal.
An antifuse is a structure which when unprogrammed does not electrically couple its first and second terminals, but which, when programmed by applying sufficient voltage between the first and second terminals, permanently electrically connects the first and second terminals. One type of antifuse comprises an amorphous silicon which forms conductive polysilicon when heated.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of antifuse technology for a CMOS circuit. Antifuses 10a and 10b are part of an array of such antifuses that are formed on a silicon semiconductor substrate 14 over an oxide layer 16 using the following process steps. The first layer 18 of TiW is deposited over the entire surface of the substrate 14 and over one or more circuit elements (not shown) which are formed on the substrate 14 by standard CMOS process including steps up to the first metal deposition. The first TiW layer 18 serves two purposes: one, as a protective cover for CMOS transistors (not shown) while antifuses 10 are being formed, and the other is to provide the bottom electrode for antifuses 10. Portions of the first TiW layer 18 are appropriately masked, and the first etch of TiW 18 is performed to define the protective cover and the bottom electrodes.
A layer of dielectric material 20 such as 2000 angstroms of oxide is formed over the TiW layer 18 and then masked and etched to define antifuse vias 22a and 22b. The dielectric 20 is removed over those portions of the first TiW layer 18 which cover and protect the CMOS circuit elements.
A layer 25 of 1500 angstroms of amorphous silicon is deposited over the substrate 14. A second layer 26 of TiW is deposited over the amorphous silicon layer 25. The two layers are masked and etched to define the array of antifuses such as typically shown as 10a, 10b.
Then the structure is masked, and a second etch of the TiW layer 18 is performed to remove the portion of TiW layer 18 that has served as a protective cover for the CMOS circuit elements.
Then first-metal aluminum 27 is formed on the second layer 26 of TiW for each respective antifuse structure 10 when the first metallization for the integrated circuit components is formed. Metal layers 26, 27 provide the top electrodes to antifuses 10.
A standard intermetal dielectric layer 28 is formed over the wafer. Vias like via 29 are etched through dielectric layers 28 and 20 to the first TiW layer 18. A conductor 30 of second-metal aluminum is formed over the dielectric layer 28 and in vias 29. Portions of conductor 30 in vias 29 provide connections between the bottom electrodes 18 and the second metal 30 so as to reduce the connection resistance to the antifuses 10. See generally U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,055 issued Apr. 3, 1990 to Gordon et al.
It is generally desirable to provide a good step coverage when metal is deposited in vias. It is also desirable to protect the structure elements from high temperatures present during manufacturing. Further, it is desirable to maintain the number of etch steps as low as possible. It is also desirable to reduce the circuit capacitance in order to increase the circuit speed.

Programmable interconnect structures and programmable integrated circuits


A newspaper bundling rack is formed from a cardboard blank. The rack includes four sidewalls connected by hinge creases for folding into rectangles. Bottom walls on each sidewall fold to form a bottom wall. Individual ledge members fold inwardly from the top edge of each sidewall with slot extended outwardly from the sidewall. Each ledge member includes a center ledge connected by folding creases to a connecting leg at the top edge of the sidewall and an inner supporting leg. Each ledge member is folded inwardly with the connecting ledge abutting the sidewall and the support leg depending downwardly and engaging the bottom wall. The ledges of adjacent ledge members overlap to form a strong support for the newspapers. The sidewalls and ledge members include interlocking mechanical slot and tabs for interconnecting of the several members in position.

This invention relates to a paper rack and particularly to a paper rack for storage and bundling of newspapers, magazines and like articles.
The current production of paper products which are accumulated and constitute a waste product has grown significantly. The disposal of such paper products has also created severe environmental problems resulting in significant attempts at recycling. Newspapers constitute a typical and significant volume of such products. The recycling of newspapers and other similar paper products has created a significant recycled paper industry. Purchasers of newspapers are encouraged to accumulate the newspapers for recycling, and various recycling centers are available which will purchase accumulated newspapers, and various social organizations run periodic paper drive collections. Recent municipal ordinances have required bundling of papers for pick-up. However, the accumulation and bundling of newspapers or like product presents a significant difficulty in the handling of the waste paper by the accumulator and the recycling industry.
Various devices have been provided within which newspapers or like products can be accumulated in reasonably neat stacks and bundled through simple tying mechanisms to provide convenient handling of stacks of the newspapers. Open box-like structures having an intermediate shelf or ledge structure, for example, are shown in the following issued U.S. Pat. Nos. 230,802 which issued Mar. 19, 1974 and 249,617 which issued Sept. 26, 1978. In addition, wood rack units are commercially available. Holst, Inc. of Tawas City, Mich. has advertised a wood rack device in a recent publication of The Saturday Evening Post and The Chef's Catalog of Denver, Colo.
Although such devices are available, they are relatively costly. Even though formed of wood or metal to provide a relatively permanent unit, such units are usually stored in garages, outdoors or the like and have a finite life requiring periodic replacement.
Although the prior art devices provide a proposed solution, the devices are not as widely received and used as necessary to fully promote and encourage the accumulation and recycling of newspapers and the like. The commercially available devices do not provide ease in secure tying of the bundle. Thus, some provide for tying in a single direction and other require pre-stringing of the bundle chamber before placing of the paper in the device.
There therefore remains a need for a simple, reliable and particularly low cost unit or device permitting convenient bundling and securement of a reasonable stack of newspapers or like product for manual handling.


The present invention provides An image forming apparatus having: a negatively chargeable spherical toner; an latent image carrier; a charging member for charging a surface of the latent image carrier uniformly without contacting the latent image carrier; an electrostatic latent image forming member for forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the latent image carrier; a developing member for developing the electrostatic latent image, without contacting the latent image carrier, by using the negatively chargeable spherical toner so as to form a toner image on the latent image carrier; and an intermediate transfer medium to which the toner image is transferred, wherein the negatively chargeable spherical toner haves: a toner mother particle having a binder resin and a colorant; and a hydrophobic alumina particle as an external additive, wherein the hydrophobic alumina particle has a work function (ΦA1) larger than a work function (ΦTM) of a surface of the intermediate transfer medium.

In the electrophotographic method, after developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrier provided with a photoconductive substance using toner particles containing a colorant, the electrostatic latent image is transferred on an intermediate transfer medium, and then the thus-obtained toner image is transferred on a recording material such as a paper to be fixed by heat, pressure, and the like, thereby forming a copy or a printed material. Since the toner remaining on the latent image carrier after the transfer process can be the cause of unwanted reverse printing and photographic fogging on the recording material in an electrophotographic process which is a post process, a cleaning member is used for removing the residual toner on the latent image carrier.
A so-called blade cleaning method of scraping the residual toner by abutting a urethane blade or the like to the latent image carrier after the transfer process is widely used for the cleaning member. However, since the cleaning member employing the blade cleaning method causes a film of the latent image carrier to be shaved, such cleaning member has a problem of reduced latent image carrier life. Also, since the shaved film of the latent image carrier is subject to a fluctuation in electrostatic capacity of the latent image carrier, a fluctuation in image forming condition in the electrophotographic method is caused to raise a problem of a deterioration of image quality. Further, since the cleaning member occupies a space around the latent image carrier for its installation, the cleaning member is not satisfactory for coping with downsizing of the latent image carrier which has recently been of an increased demand.
Accordingly, the image forming apparatus of the cleanerless method based on a so-called simultaneous development and cleaning, which is capable of collecting the toner left after the transfer into a developer by setting a potential difference during the development, has been proposed (References 1 to 3). Though the image forming apparatus of cleanerless method is downsized, since the residual toner, contaminants, and paper dust on the latent image carrier are collected in the image forming apparatus, problems of instable charging characteristics of developing agent, mixing of colors due to a reduction in transfer efficiency, a generation of fogging, and reverse transfer toner, and an insufficient color reproducibility have been raised.
A corona charger, for instance, is used for uniformly charging a surface of the latent image carrier, and such corona charger is subject to discharge product such as NOx and ozone due to its discharge. NOx reacts with moisture in the air or the like to be nitric acid or reacts with metals to generate a nitrate salt. The acid and salt has a property of depositing on the surface of the latent image charier in the form of a thin film and reduces a resistance of the latent image carrier surface to cause disturbances in electrostatic latent image to be formed on the latent image carrier surface, which results in disturbed image. Therefore, Reference 3 discloses the use of a contact member of a development roller, a transfer roller, or the like of a developer as a polishing member, but such usage raises a problem of abrasion deterioration of the latent image carrier. Also, in Reference 4, the disturbance in electrostatic latent image on the latent image carrier surface is suppressed by preventing influences by moisture in the air by blowing dehumidified air around the latent image carrier, but this does not solve the problem caused by the collection of the residual toner, the contaminants, and the paper dust on the latent image carrier into the developer in the simultaneous developing and cleaning.
Also, a method of cleaning in the intermediate transfer medium by: using a spherical toner for the purpose of a high transfer efficiency; setting a sphericity of the toner to 0.96 or more; and collecting the residual toner on the latent image carrier followed by removing the residual toner to the intermediate transfer medium (Reference 5) have been proposed, but this method is problematic from the viewpoint of downsizing of the latent image carrier though this method is capable of preventing the color mixing of toners thanks to the use of a retention roller.
In Reference 6, the simultaneous development and cleaning by using a spherical toner having a sphericity of 0.950 to 0.995 in combination with a magnetic brush development is performed, but this method has the above-described problem caused by the collection of the residual toner, the contaminants, and the paper dust on the latent image carrier to the developer.
The inventors of this invention have proved that it is possible to reduce the fogging and to improve the transfer efficiency by setting a work function of the toner to a value larger than those of the latent image carrier and the intermediate transfer medium (Reference 7), but the improvement in transfer efficiency was about 96% and insufficient for realizing the cleanerless method which requires a transfer efficiency of 99% or more. The method did not consider the application thereof to the cleanerless method.
As described in the foregoing, the conventional cleanerless methods do not meet the conflicting demands of downsizing by the use of the cleanerless method and prevention of filming on the latent image carrier surface.
[Reference 1] JP 5-53482 A
[Reference 2] JP 8-146652 A
[Reference 3] JP 10-240004 A
[Reference 4] JP 2004-37899 A
[Reference 5] JP 11-249452 A
[Reference 6] JP 2000-75541 A
[Reference 7] JP 2003-107770 A
An object of this invention is to provide an image forming apparatus of a cleanerless method wherein a member to be brought into contact with a latent image carrier is merely an intermediate transfer medium, the image forming apparatus being downsized and capable of reducing deposit on a surface of the latent image carrier.


A universal remote control establishes a new transmitter identifier when programmed to a particular rolling code scheme by an existing transmitter. During programming, the universal remote control receives at least one activation signal transmitted from the existing transmitter. The activation signal includes an existing transmitter identifier. The activation signal is examined to determine which of a plurality of rolling code schemes was used by the existing transmitter to generate the received activation signal. The new transmitter identifier, different from the existing transmitter identifier, is determined based on the rolling code scheme. Subsequently, when an activation input is received, the universal remote control generates and transmits a new activation signal including the new transmitter identifier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless remote control of appliances such as, for example, garage door openers.
2. Background Art
Home appliances, such as garage door openers, security gates, home alarms, lighting, and the like, may conveniently be operated from a remote control. Typically, the remote control is purchased together with the appliance. The remote control transmits a radio frequency activation signal which is recognized by a receiver associated with the appliance. Aftermarket remote controls are gaining in popularity as such devices can offer functionality different from the original equipment remote control. Such functionality includes decreased size, use with multiple appliances, increased performance, and the like. Aftermarket controllers are also purchased to replace lost or damaged controllers or to simply provide another remote control for accessing the appliance.
An example application for aftermarket remote controls are remote garage door openers integrated into an automotive vehicle. These integrated remote controls provide customer convenience, increased safety, multiple door operation, and enhanced vehicle value. Present in-dash vehicle integrated remote controls provide a "universal" or programmable garage door opener which learns characteristics of an existing transmitter then, when prompted by a user, generates an activation signal having the same characteristics.
Two types of activation signals are commonly used, those based on a fixed code and those based on a rolling code. Fixed code activation signals transmit the same code word with each activation transmission. Typically, the fixed code word may be set by the user in the receiver and any transmitters. This may be accomplished by setting jumpers or DIP switches to a matching pattern in the receiver and transmitters.
In contrast, rolling code activation signals include a different code word with each activation transmission. The rolling code code word is typically generated by encrypting a counter value with a crypt key. The crypt key is based on a transmitter identifier number maintained by the transmitter.
Rolling code appliance receivers must "learn" a transmitter before the transmitter can be used to activate the appliance. This is done by placing the receiver in learn mode and then keying the transmitter to send an activation signal. The activation signal includes the transmitter identifier and a rolling code word. The receiver uses the transmitter identifier to generate a crypt key. The receiver then uses the crypt key to decrypt the rolling code word, yielding a counter value. The receiver stores the counter value and crypt key associated with the transmitter identifier. The receiver then drops out of learn mode and is ready for normal operation.
One advantage of rolling code activation schemes is the ability of an appliance receiver to reject previously transmitted activation signals. This prevents false activation from reflections as well as from unauthorized access by retransmission of an activation signal grabbed from the air. The receiver accomplishes this task by decrypting a received rolling code to obtain a counter value maintained by the transmitter. This counter value is compared to an expected counter value associated with the transmitter identifier received together with the decrypted rolling code. If the received counter value is less than the expected counter value, the receiver treats the received activation signal as an invalid signal.
A problem therefore arises if two transmitters have the same transmitter identifier. After no more than one activation by either transmitter, one of the transmitters will have a counter value less than the other transmitter. When encrypted and transmitted, the lesser counter value will result in an activation signal ignored by the receiver, rendering that transmitter useless.
What is needed is a universal remote controller that may be programmed by an existing rolling code transmitter and then function together with the existing transmitter in activating an appliance.

Programmable interoperable appliance remote control


Semiconductor structures and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor structure includes forming a gate structure over a substrate and forming a mask layer covering the gate structure. The method also includes forming a source/drain structure adjacent to the gate structure over the substrate and forming a contact over the source/drain structure. The method also includes forming a dielectric layer over the contact and the mask layer and forming a first trench through the dielectric layer and the mask layer over the gate structure. The method also includes forming a first conductive structure in the first trench and removing an upper portion of the first conductive structure. The method also includes forming a second conductive structure through the dielectric layer and covering the contact and the first conductive structure.

The electronics industry is experiencing ever-increasing demand for smaller and faster electronic devices that are able to perform a greater number of increasingly complex and sophisticated functions. Accordingly, there is a continuing trend in the semiconductor industry to manufacture low-cost, high-performance, and low-power integrated circuits (ICs). So far, these goals have been achieved in large part by scaling down semiconductor IC dimensions (e.g., minimum feature size) and thereby improving production efficiency and lowering associated costs. However, such miniaturization has introduced greater complexity into the semiconductor manufacturing process. Thus, the realization of continued advances in semiconductor ICs and devices calls for similar advances in semiconductor manufacturing processes and technology.
Recently, multi-gate devices have been introduced in an effort to improve gate control by increasing gate-channel coupling, reduce OFF-state current, and reduce short-channel effects (SCEs). However, integration of fabrication of the multi-gate devices can be challenging.

Semiconductor structure with conductive structure and method for manufacturing the same

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


An assembly and process designed to neutralize a landmine having a case loaded with an explosive charge set to detonate upon actuation. The assembly includes a housing provided with a chamber loaded with a solid propellant. One of the ends of the housing is exposed to permit the loaded propellant to communicate the chamber with the outside atmosphere. The propellant is remotely ignitable via a remotely operable igniter. The first end of said housing is constructed and arranged and the solid propellant is present in an amount and composition suitable for generating, upon ignition of the solid propellant, a plume sufficient in burn time and temperature both to penetrate through the case of the landmine positioned in spaced relation to the first end and to initiate controlled burning of the explosive charge of the landmine so that detonation of the explosive charge is either avoided or reduced due to pre-detonation partial consumption of the explosive charge by burning.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an assembly and process for effecting demining operations, and in particular to an assembly and process for at least partially consuming the explosive within a landmine in a controlled and stable manner so that detonation of the explosive is avoided or reduced in magnitude.
2. Description of the Related Art
Since the development of landmines in World War I, landmines have found widespread military use as an effective deterrent to the advancement of enemy group troops during war time. For this purpose, anti-personnel landmines and anti-tank landmines are both known. Although the number of landmines currently actively used in the United States is negligible, landmines are quite abundant in many foreign countries. There are many currently active military conflicts for which landmines are being produced and planted. Additionally, in many parts of the world in which military conflicts have been resolved and landmines are no longer needed for military operations, the landmines nonetheless remain planted, active, and often forgotten. Oftentimes the landmines are not demined as the result of neglect or indifference over humanitarian concerns; sometimes a conscious decision is made not to demine based on factors such as the expense and hazards associated with demining operations.
It has been estimated that there are over 80 million active landmines scattered around the world in approximately 70 countries. Every month, these landmines are responsible for killing or maiming over 2000 people, most of whom are civilian casualties injured by the accidental triggering of landmines well after hostilities have ceased.
To date, humanitarian efforts to demine planted landmines in order to protect civilian interests have not been sufficiently effective. It has been estimated that for every land mine cleared, twenty are planted in its place. In 1994, approximately 100,000 landmines were demined, while an additional 2 million were planted. Moreover, there is a stockpile of landmines around the world that equals if not exceeds the number of active planted landmines.
One of the principle reasons, if not the principle reason, that the proliferation and planting of new land mines has outpaced current demining efforts is the relatively high cost and complexity of current demining devices. The high cost and complexity that characterizes current demining devices make the conventional devices impractical for use in third world countries, where landmines are most prevalent. Third world countries are often unable to both afford conventional demining devices and find or afford adequately skilled personnel for operating the complex conventional demining devices.
Another problem which characterizes conventional demining devices is that the conventional demining devices accomplish their demining objective by the detonation of active landmines. For example, vehicle-driven plowing apparatuses for clearing minefields and detonating landmines are disclosed in, by way of example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,773,298, 5,189,243, 5,794,709, and 5,844,160. Other devices, uch as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,063, rely on the generation of a agnetic field to initiate and detonate a magnetic influenced mine. U.S. Pat. No. 4,008,644 discloses a vehicle-driven apparatus equipped with a plurality of rocket motor engines constructed and arranged to clear landmines and detonate the landmines with streams of high velocity gases exhausted from the rocket motor engines. It is also known to use C-4 to explode landmines. However, these devices operate by effecting the violent detonation of active landmines, which presents safety hazards, including the potential for collateral damage as well as scattering of debris that may further complicate location and neutralization of other landmines.
It has been proposed that the above-discussed problems could be addressed by using conventional road-side flares for effecting the controlled neutralization of landmines. Generally, road-side flares are characterized by their generation of mostly solid effluents and are available in high quantities and at low expense. However, road-side flares exhibit high variability in performance when tested on different types of landmines and landmine cases. As a consequence, the use of road-side flares in controlled demining operations has been limited.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to satisfy a significant need in the art for a demining assembly that is sufficiently inexpensive and simple to operate to permit its widespread use in third world countries incapable of affording large quantities of conventional demining devices or lacking sophisticated and trained personnel to operate conventional demining devices, yet also permits for the safe and controlled neutralization of a wide variety of landmines by effecting the burning, instead of detonating, of the landmine explosive charge.
In accordance with the principles of this invention, these and other objects are satisfied by the provision of an assembly and process designed to neutralize a landmine by burning through the landmine case and subsequently initiating burning of the explosive charge within the case. The initiation of the explosive charge burning is conducted in a controlled manner so that detonation of the explosive charge commonly either is avoided by initiating the controlled burning of all of the explosive charge to leave the landmine case empty or is substantially reduced and less violent due to burning of a significant portion, but less than all, of the explosive charge prior to detonation.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the assembly comprises a housing (or case) defining a chamber and having opposite first and second ends, the first end being open to communicate the chamber with the atmosphere outside of the housing and the second end preferably being sealed. Loaded within the chamber is a solid propellant. The assembly further includes an igniter remotely operable, be it by electronic device, timing fuse, or other remotely operable igniter that permits ignition of the solid propellant from a safe distance. Optionally, the assembly may further include a stand for maintaining the solid propellant charge a fixed distance (or clearance) away from the landmine case.
The housing is designed, e.g., without a throat portion, and the solid propellant is present in an amount and possesses a suitable design and composition for generating, upon ignition of the solid propellant, a plume sufficient in burn time duration and temperature to penetrate through the case of the landmine positioned in spaced relation to the first end and initiate controlled burning of the explosive charge of the landmine. Once controlled burning of the explosive charge commences, the firing of the solid propellant may be terminated by consumption of the propellant or otherwise. The explosive charge of the landmine is self-deflagrating, meaning that the explosive charge will continue to burn, preferably without detonation, until completely consumed. However, complete consumption of the explosive charge via burning cannot always be assured, since heat build up within the landmine case can cause inadvertent detonation of the explosive charge in some cases. Thus, sometimes detonation of the explosive charge is reduced in degree, rather than completely avoided, due to the pre-detonation partial consumption of the explosive charge by burning. Preferably, the solid propellant is of the type suitable for use in rocket motors, such as reusable solid rocket motors and other solid rocket motors.
The low cost of suitable solid propellants, housings, and igniters of the assemblies make the demining assembly sufficiently inexpensive for widespread use in third world countries incapable of affording large quantities of conventional demining devices, thereby contributing to realization of one of the objects of this invention. Further, the wide availability of ignition devices that are easily operated with minimal instruction realizes the object of making the demining assembly sufficiently simple to permit its operation by users lacking the sophistication to operate more complex conventional demining devices. Furthermore, the object of providing a safe and controlled technique which does not place the safety of the operator in jeopardy is attained by both the provision of an ignition device that is capable of remote actuation and the selection of an appropriate solid propellant and assembly that are designed to initiate controlled burning of the explosive charge of the landmine. By having a sufficient portion or all of the explosive charge consumed in a controlled manner via burning, rather than detonating the explosive charge, the likelihood of collateral detonation of other landmines or injuries due to propelled shrapnel is significantly reduced or eliminated. Additionally, remaining burned remnants of the explosive are inert, and, therefore, do not require special handling or disposal procedures.
The landmine neutralization assembly of this invention can be practiced on a variety of different types of landmines, including plastic anti-personnel landmines, metal anti-armor landmines, small anti-personnel landmines, plastic or fiberglass antiarmor landmines, and wooden antipersonnel landmines, as well as sub-munitions and other ammunition.

Assembly and process for controlled burning of landmine without detonation


A throttle gear 5 is fastened to a throttle shaft 2. A relief lever 9 is pivotally mounted on the throttle shaft 2. A return spring 11 urges the relief lever 9 in a valve closing direction with respect to a throttle body 1. The throttle body 1 contacts the relief lever 9 at a second contact position 20A when the relief lever 9 pivots to a predetermined pivot position B in the valve closing direction. A relief spring 10 urges the throttle gear 5 in a valve opening direction with respect to the relief lever 9. The relief lever 9 contacts the throttle gear 5 at a first contact position 20B when the throttle gear 5 pivots to the predetermined pivot position B in the valve opening direction. The first and second contact positions 20B, 20A are located within or to one side of a plane P that is perpendicular to the rotational axis L of the throttle shaft 2. Plane P preferably includes a third position 20C at which the biasing force of the return spring 11 acts on the relief lever 9.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to throttles for a vehicle engine, such as an internal combustion engine, and more particularly, to throttle valve control devices for controlling a throttle valve disposed within the throttle.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known throttle valve control device is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 3-271528 and is reproduced in FIGS. 9 to 14. As shown in FIG. 9, a throttle body 101 rotatably supports a throttle shaft 102. A throttle valve (not shown) is attached to throttle shaft 102. As shown in FIG. 11, a throttle gear 105 is mounted on the end of throttle shaft 102. Further, a relief lever 109 is pivotally mounted on throttle shaft 102 between throttle body 101 and throttle gear 105.
A clearance is provided between relief lever 109 and throttle shaft 102 so as to permit relief lever 109 to pivot. Further, clearances are also provided between relief lever 109 and throttle body 101 and between relief lever 109 and throttle gear 105. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, relief lever 109 may tilt with respect to throttle shaft 102. As shown in FIG. 11, a return spring 111 is disposed around throttle body 101 and one end 111a of return spring 111 engages relief lever 109. Return spring 111 urges relief lever 109 in the valve closing direction with respect to throttle body 101. Further, a relief spring 110 is disposed within relief lever 109 and is connected to throttle gear 105. Relief spring 110 urges throttle gear 105 in the valve opening direction with respect to relief lever 109.
As shown in FIG. 9, first contact members (first contact means) 120b are provided on throttle gear 105 and relief lever 109. First contact members 120b contact each other when throttle gear 105 pivots to a predetermined pivot position in the valve opening direction. Further, second contact members (second contact means) 120a are provided on throttle body 101 and relief lever 109. Second contact members 120a contact each other when relief lever 109 pivots to a predetermined pivot position in the valve closing direction.
During operation, the position of the throttle valve within throttle body 101 is determined by the amount of torque supplied by a throttle valve controlling motor (not shown) to the throttle shaft 102, which torque acts against return spring 109. On the other hand, when the engine is not operated, the throttle valve control motor does not supply any torque to adjust the position of the throttle valve as shown in FIG. 9. In this state, return spring 111 urges throttle shaft 102 towards an initial or standby open position in which first contact members 120b contact each other at contact position 120B and second contact members 120a contact each other at contact position 120A. In the initial or standby open position, the throttle valve is slightly opened in order to permit airflow through an intake air passage in the throttle body 101. Thus, even if the throttle valve and/or throttle shaft 102 freezes in a cold environment, or adhesive materials, such as combustion products, deposit in the throttle and cause the throttle valve to be locked or stuck in the initial or standby position, airflow is still supplied to the engine. Therefore, the engine will reliably start even under these conditions.
When the throttle valve rotates in the valve opening direction from the initial or standby open position, first contact members 120b will continue contact each other at contact position 120B, as shown in FIG. 10. However, throttle gear 105 and relief lever 109 will pivot about rotational axis L of throttle shaft 102. When the throttle valve rotates from the initial or standby open position in the valve closing direction, second contact members 120a prevent rotation of relief lever 109, as shown in FIG. 12. Thus, in this state, only the throttle gear 105 will pivot about rotational axis L.
Additional description concerning Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 3-271528 can be found, for example, in the background sections of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,735,243 and 6,164,623.
As a result of research performed by the inventors, the known throttle exhibits hysteresis around the initial or standby open position, which is believed to be caused for the following reasons. As shown in FIG. 9, contact position 120B of first contact members 120b and contact position 120A of second contact members 120a are located in separate positions that are on opposite sides of a plane P that is perpendicular to rotational axis L. Plane P includes position 120C at which the urging force of return spring 111 acts on relief lever 109. Specifically, contact position 120B of first contact members 120b is located on one side of plane P, i.e. below plane P as viewed in FIG. 9. Contact position 120A of second contact members 120a is located on the other side of plane P, i.e. above plane P as viewed in FIG. 9. As a result, relief lever 109 will tilt or pivot with respect to plane P when relief lever 109 moves from a first position (FIG. 10), in which the first contact members 120b contact each other and throttle gear 105 and relief lever 109 pivot, to a second position (FIG. 12), in which second contact members 120a prevent further rotation of relief lever 109 and only the throttle gear 105 can pivot.
Specifically, when the throttle valve rotates to the pivot position shown in FIG. 10, first contact members 120b contact each other on one side of plane P and relief lever 109 tilts downward to the right. On the other hand, when the throttle valve rotates to the pivot position shown in FIG. 12, second contact members 120a contact each other on the other side of plane P and relief lever 109 tilts downward to the left.
FIG. 14 shows a graph that relates the operating torque required by the throttle valve control motor to move the throttle valve to the various pivot positions within the working range of the known throttle described in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 3-271528. The abscissa represents the pivot position of the throttle valve (throttle opening position) and the ordinate represents the operating torque required by the throttle valve control motor to move the throttle valve to the respective pivot positions. As shown by FIG. 14, the operating torque is zero at the initial or standby open position B. Moreover, in the known throttle, the operating torque is also zero in a range between valve position A and valve position C, which is hysteresis with respect to the initial or standby open position. If the throttle exhibits a relatively large hysteresis, the initial or standby open position will vary during operation and thus, the amount of airflow into the throttle in the initial or standby mode will vary. However, the amount of airflow should be precisely controlled in the initial or standby open position. Thus, the known throttle exhibits a disadvantage, which is believed to be caused by the fact that the relief lever 109 pivots with respect to plane P when the throttle valve moves to the initial or standby open position B.
It is, accordingly, one object of the present teachings to provide improved throttles and more particularly, devices for controlling the position of a throttle valve disposed within the throttle.
In one aspect of the present teachings, a relief lever is preferably prevented from tilting with respect to plane P during operation, which plane P is perpendicular, or substantially perpendicular, to the rotational axis L of a throttle shaft. Therefore, the position of the throttle valve can be controlled more precisely.
In one embodiment of the present teachings, first contact members are provided on the throttle gear and the relief lever and second contact members are provided on the throttle body and the relief lever. Both the first contact members and the second contact members have contact positions that are located in plane P. In the alternative, both the first contact members and the second contact members have contact positions that are located on the same side with respect to plane P. In addition, plane P preferably includes a position in which the biasing force of a return spring acts on the relief lever. In either embodiment, the relief lever is preferably prevented from tilting with respect to plane P during operation.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood after reading the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings and the claims.


There is disclosed a method for treating urinary incontinence in women. The method comprises accessing the urethra though an incision in the vagina and implanting a restriction device on the urethra or the neck of the urinary bladder. There are also disclosed methods for energizing and controlling the restriction device.

Urine incontinence is a widespread problem among women which severely lowers the quality of life of those affected. Different surgical, pharmacological and other approaches are available for treating urinary incontinence. For example, several surgical procedures relates to stabilizing the urethra and/or the bladder in order to improve the physiological ability to hold urine. One of the most commonly used methods is applying a sling under the urethra, thus lifting and stabilizing it (Koch Y K, Zimmern F, Curr Opin Urol 2008 July; 18(4):370-6).
In the context of treating urine incontinence in women, it is previously known that the urethra can be accessed through the vagina in order to for instance 1) place a staple into the pelvic bone that lifts and supports the bladder and the urethra (WO 92/16152) 2), Inserting a sling that supports the urethra (U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,524), and 3) inserting a shaft that guides a sling that is anchored and supports the bladder (US 2008/0125621 A1). In addition, there has been described a method whereby a device that is adapted to apply pressure to the urethra is placed in the vagina in order to apply pressure from inside the vagina as to prevent the flow of urine.
In addition, it has been described how urine incontinence can be treated by placing a restriction device on the urethra (for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,749).
Manually operated urine incontinence treatment devices having an artificial hydraulic sphincter device engaging the urethra are previously known. These may be connected to an elastic reservoir implanted in the region of the labia major. A disadvantage of this prior apparatus is that over time hard fibrosis is developed around the reservoir that may cause malfunction of pumping components. Furthermore, it is a rather cumbersome task to manually squeeze the elastic implanted reservoir to pump hydraulic fluid to open the sphincter device when the patient needs to urinate. In particular, women may get urine on their hands. A device with the advantage that it has a power operated adjustment device has also been described (WO 01/45486).
Even though some of the mentioned methods are used today there is still a need for improved methods for treating urine incontinence in women.

Vaginal operation method for the treatment of urinary incontinence in women


A surgical retractor includes a structure including a plurality of legs and a plurality of joints, each leg being connected to at least one second leg at a joint. The structure has a non-expanded state, and an expanded state in which the structure forms a three dimensional structure having an internal volume. The structure has first and second manipulator arms, each of the manipulator arms being connected to at least two joints of the structure. The manipulator arms may be manipulated by a hand of a user. The retractor also includes a connector that holds the first and second manipulator arms in a crossed position. The connector holds the first and second manipulator arms at a point of intersection. The connector allows a user to move the manipulator arms and cause an angle formed by the manipulator arms to change. Movement of the first and second manipulator arms causes the structure to move between the non-expanded state and the expanded state.

Surgical retractors are known. Surgical retractors that expand in place are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,075,582 discloses an expandable intra-gastric balloon (1) for treating obesity, the balloon being for implanting in the stomach in order to reduce its volume, said balloon (1) comprising a first flexible pouch (2) provided with first connection means (3) for receiving a connection member (6) that is for connection to a first fluid source in order to expand said first pouch (2) in the stomach by filling it with fluid, the balloon being characterized in that it includes at least one second flexible pouch (20) provided with second connection means (3), said second connection means (3) being separate from the first connection means (3) in such a manner as to be capable of being connected to a second fluid source different from the first fluid source. The invention applies to treating obesity.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,625,339 discloses a blade extending tower for setting blade depth on retractors having telescoping or extending blades. The blade extending tower features a base, a column extending from the base, and mating features on the column configured to engage the blades of a retractor to extend the blades to a desired blade depth. Blade depth of the retractor is set by sliding the retractor onto the blade extending tower such that the mating features of the blade extending tower engage the blades or the retractor, stopping the blades' progression while the rest of the retractor continues along the length of the column. Thus the blades of the retractor are extended from the retractor to a depth determined by the configuration of the blade extending tower.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,772 discloses an apparatus for retracting an organ inside the body to gain access to an adjacent tissue. The apparatus comprises an expandable cage and an expansion element. The expandable cage is capable of being inserted into the body through a small incision or puncture in a collapsed state. The expansion element is for selectively expanding the expansible cage inside the body to an expanded state. The expansion element includes an envelope enclosing a fluid-inflatable chamber. The expansible cage includes an additional envelope mounted inside the inflatable chamber and enclosing an additional fluid-inflatable chamber. The expansible cage is additionally capable of maintaining the expanded state independently of the expansion element after the expansible cage has been expanded by the expansion element to the expanded state.
In another example, U.S. Patent Application US2004/0236186 discloses an expandable surgical retractor for use in minimal incision surgery. The retractor consists of a fiber optic central rod surrounded by flexible wires designed to create an open space for visualization and surgical work within an illuminated surgical field. The flexible wires are disposed via selective pressure of the surgeon and are variable in number. The configuration will allow for both forward and back illumination of the surgical field. The expandable surgical retractor allows for surgical visualization in anatomical areas heretofore too complicated for surgical consideration. Other embodiments of the expandable surgical retractor are contemplated wherein a handle with an aperture may replace the central rod. The flexible wires may fit in openings around the aperture. The handle, in this embodiment, may have a light source and may be adapted to be used in select areas of anatomy. Further, the handle may be transparent. Thus, incorporating light sources into an expandable retractor are known.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,909,761 discloses methods and apparatus for a surgical retractor include a ring, a plurality of flexible straps connected to the ring, a patch of hook or loop material connected to each strap, a coordinating patch of hook or loop material connectable to the patient's skin or the surgical drape. The flexible straps of the surgical retractor may be frangibly connected together. LEDs molded into the distal end create a light source to illuminate the surgical site. The ring may take several forms including a flexible or adjustable ring and an inflatable bladder. The ring of the surgical retractor is inserted into the surgical incision, a patch of loop fastener is attached to the patient, a set of straps connected to the ring are pulled outward and the hook portion is applied to the loop portion to hold the incision open. The retractor is useable for thoracic and other types of surgery.
Many types of lights sources integrated with various retractor types are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,922,658 discloses a blade for a surgical retractor. The blade includes a base portion and a distal portion. The base portion may be attached to a frame of a surgical retractor. The distal portion may be removably coupled to the base portion and may be unitarily constructed of a translucent material. A light source may be removably coupled to the distal portion. The distal portion may be disposable.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,556,601 discloses methods and devices for illuminating a surgical space during surgery in a patient are provided. A retractor provides a working path for access to a location in the patient. A light instrument is positionable in working channel to emit light at the surgical space without substantially obstructing access to the surgical space.
In another example, U.S. Patent Application US2003/0095781 discloses illuminated surgical retractors include at least one retractor blade and a light delivery system. In some embodiments of the invention, the light delivery system includes a light emitter in the form of an elongated light emitting blade portion extending along the length of the retractor blade. The light emitter may be coupled to a light source integral with the retractor for illuminating all or a portion of the length of the light emitter or retractor blade. In other embodiments of the invention, the light delivery system may include an array of lights which may be attached directly to the retractor blade or to a support in the shape of an elongated blade that extends along the length of the retractor blade for illuminating all or a portion of the length of the retractor blade.
Therefore, there remains an unmet need for the device of the invention of the present application that provides improved unobstructed free and direct access to an evenly dimensioned surgical area with full geometrically even illumination providing the surgeon heretofore unfettered views and access to critical surgical environments.


Device and procedure for safely conveying and handling a cellulose solution suitable for manufacturing solvent-spun cellulose molded parts, in particular for manufacturing fibers, films and membranes, in devices for conveying and handling the spinnable cellulose solution, provided with a tempering device, wherein the temperature in the tempering system is reduced once the temperature in the cellulose solution has exceeded at least a first limiting temperature, as a result of which the temperature of the spinning solution drops and the reaction mixture is prevented from passing through. A procedure and device with two switching stages is also disclosed.

Procedures for spinning cellulose solutions are known in the art. In this case, a cellulose solution comprising pretreated cellulose, a non-solvent for cellulose, such as water, along with a solvent for cellulose, such as tertiary amine oxide, in particular N-methyl morpholine-N-oxide, in addition to other spinning aids that might be necessary, are prepared to yield a spinnable solution, hereinafter referred to as spinning solution, wherein this mixture only retains its spinnability if kept at a temperature ranging from about 70° C. to 120° C. Spinnability is here the property of spinning the solution into molded parts in a dry-wet extrusion process. EP-A 0 574 870 describes the manufacture of cellulose molded parts out of such solutions, for example.
The above procedures offer clear advantages relative to other procedures for the manufacture of fibers, films and membranes. For example, they enable the manufacture of molded parts superior to conventional molded parts in many respects, such as viscose. The procedure also permits a continuous manufacture of molded parts. In addition, ecological advantages must be highlighted, since essentially no chemicals detrimental to the health or environment are used or precipitated in this procedure for manufacturing solvent-spun cellulose molded parts.
There are also disadvantages to the known procedures and devices for manufacturing solvent-spun cellulose molded parts. The mixtures consisting of cellulose, tertiary amine oxides and water tend to undergo vigorous decomposition reactions at high temperatures, so-called runaways. In addition, decomposition generally sets in after a variable induction period, so that the time and temperature of the runaway reaction are difficult to forecast in practice.
In general, the adiabatic induction period becomes shorter as the temperature of the mixture goes up. The correct selection of temperature and time parameters is pivotal for a safe manufacturing process.
On a production scale, an explosive runaway reaction in the mixture can be expected after about 16 hours for mixtures of cellulose, tertiary amine oxide and water if the mixture is kept at a temperature of about 115° C.
To maintain the spinning solution temperature at a level necessary for spinning in the conveying and handling equipment, e.g., spinning device, mixing container, supply container, lines and other equipment, the individual equipment components are provided with heaters. In this case, subdivision into sectors encompassing individual or several of the above components is a common practice.
Known in the art are various types of heaters that can be attached primarily, but not exclusively, to the outside of the above components. Electric heaters are known, for example. Also known are hot water heaters, in which the necessary warmth is imparted to the spinning solution via hot water streaming through pipes or double walls in the components.
Without wishing to be limited to a single theory, indications are made of an autocatalytic mechanism for the decomposition reaction. Small amounts of Fe(III) ions lead to a noticeable reduction in thermal stability. However, the idea of removing iron ions from the production mixture must be rejected for economic considerations.
The problem involving the spontaneous and explosive decomposition of the mixture requires that special protective measures be taken to prevent serious accidents, and to protect both the equipment for conveying and handling the spinnable cellulose solution, hereinafter called conveying equipment, and personnel, or safeguard them against serious damage or injury.
In prior art, the conveying equipment or its assemblies are provided with conventional and cost-intensive safety devices. These safety devices involve bursting devices that are incorporated at selected locations. Expansion rooms or expansion containers are also used to hold the expanding spinning solution. Such conventional safety devices are not only cost-intensive, but also restricted exclusively in their action to limiting the effects of the spinnable cellulose solution as it passes through so that the conveying equipment is not destroyed. At the same time, the safety of operating personnel is also ensured.
A process for the manufacture of solvent spun cellulose fibres is known from the U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,304, involving transport of the cellulose solution through pipes, whereby an exothermic runaway of the cellulose solution essentially is controlled through regulation of the temperature of the transported solution in dependence of the diameter of the pipe.
The Temperature of the Cellulose solution ist controlled by equipping the pipe with a hollow jacket, containing a circulating heat transfer fluid. At exceeding a limit temperature of the solution to be transported the flow rate is increased or the temperature of the heat transfer fluid is lowered. The temperature of the heat transfer fluid is regulated by a heat exchanger.
Therefore, the disadvantage to the safety devices in prior art is that their action is restricted to limiting the effects of the spinning solution as it passes through, and not limiting the passage of the spinning solution itself.

Device and method for the secure conveyance and handling of spinnable cellulose solutions


An image recognition system in a cloud environment including uploading a plurality of images to the cloud environment, preprocessing the plurality of images, determining image classifiers for each of the plurality of images, extracting the features of each of the plurality of images, storing the images, features and classifiers, determining the image classifiers and key features of an image to be recognized from a multiplatform image device, selecting from the plurality of images, images which have the same classifiers as the image to be identified, matching a best one of the selected images with the image to be identified and displaying the match on a display of the .multi-platform image device. The system further functions by performing one or more of the above in the multiplatform imaging device and/or cloud environment.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to computer vision and specifically to image recognition in a cloud environment.
2. Prior Art
Recognizing an image based on specific features is a task easily solved by the human eye and brain that has been trained to do so, but it is still not satisfactorily solved by computers, particularly in portable devices. However while the human brain is capable of image recognition, the human brain has a difficulty in memorizing large amounts of information, i.e. associating specific information related to a large amount of images. The information attached to each image can vary between many kinds of multimedia information such as sound, video, images, and textual information and can be easily retrieved from a server if the corresponding image is matched. Still further, this problem, particularly for computers, is made more difficult since the associated information can be dynamic and change for the same image under different conditions and with movement.
In addition, the existing computer based image recognition systems require large amounts of data, long processing times, large non-portable devices and can not function in real time or close to real time. Examples of such systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,628,837; 6,501,852; 8,073,808; and 8,064,707.

Image recognition system in a cloud environment


A printer stores management or device configuration data specific to that printer in a memory unit to that printer. The printer then retrieves that data and transmits the data to a printer client device for storage. The printer client device uses the data with a printer driver running on the printer client device to provide appropriate messages (textual and graphic) to indicate an error occurring at the printer or the printer's configuration. A paper handling device connected to the printer may also provide error management and device configuration data to both the printer and the printer client device. In this way, the printer driver need not be prepared, at installation, with all the available error management and device data for all possible combinations of printer and paper handling devices.

With modern computers running software packages for word processing, desktop publishing, graphic design or computer aided design, a user can create a vast array of documents for a variety of purposes. Once these documents are created, it is generally necessary or desirable to print a hardcopy of the work. For this purpose, sophisticated printing devices have been developed that can accept the data generated by a computer and print the desired document.
As used herein, the term "printer" will be used generically to refer to all such image printing devices that receive data from a computerized system and render or print that data to a print medium, such a sheet of paper. Consequently, the term "printer" includes, but is not limited to, laser printers, inkjet printers, dot-matrix printers, facsimile machines, digital copiers, plotters, and the like. The term "printer" also includes image printing devices which transfer an optical image to a printing drum for replication, e.g. a photographic or xerographic copier.
As used herein, the term "printer client" will be used generically to refer to all computerized systems that transmit image data to a printer from which the printer generates a printed image. Consequently, the term "printer client" includes, but is not limited to, a personal computer, a laptop, a server, a scanner, a modern, or the like. A printer client may also be referred to as a host.
Most printers have devices integrated therein for handling the most likely print medium, paper. These paper handling devices grab individual sheets of paper from a paper supply or tray and move the paper along a transport path through the printer so that the image specified by the data received from the printer client can be rendered by the printer on the paper. Some printers, for reasons such as high speed and large volume, require larger, more robust and sophisticated paper handling devices which are built as a separate unit and then functionally connected to the printer. This paper handling device may be a device for feeding paper to the printer, or a device for collating, sorting, etc., the output of the printer. As used herein, the term "paper handling device" will refer to such a paper handling device which is built as a separate unit and which is functionally connected to a printer to handle paper input to, or output from, that printer.
Generally, in order for a printer client to be able to send image data to a printer, the printer client must have software known as a printer driver. The printer driver provides the functionality required to translate the image data resident on the printer client to data that can be transmitted to and used by the printer to print the corresponding image. Generally, each printer or class of printers has a unique printer driver which must be installed on the printer client before the client can make use of the printer.
The printer driver may also include error management features that assist a user to identify and correct errors with the printer. For example, the printer may signal an error such as a paper jam, lack of paper, depleted supply of toner, etc. This signal is interpreted by the printer driver and an appropriate message is displayed on the monitor of the printer client. In some cases, the message may prompt the printer client to access a bitmap image of the printer. This bitmap is stored on the printer client and installed as part of the printer driver on the printer client. When an error message arrives from the printer, the printer driver can use the bitmap image to display a graphic illustrating the printer and show where the error, such as a paper jam, has occurred so that the error can be more readily corrected.
The same applies to a paper handling device used with the printer. The driver installed on the printer client may also translate error messages and provide appropriate text and graphics to alert a user to the existence and nature of a problem in the paper handling device.
Consequently, when a driver is installed on a printer client, the driver must be customizable to account for any possible printer configuration and printer/paper handling device combination, including having appropriate graphics for illustrating error locations and correction instructions. As a result, the driver must incorporate a large amount of data to be adaptable to any printer/paper handling device combination. Moreover, any time a printer or paper handling device is replaced or changed, the driver must be reinstalled to match the new configuration.
This problem can be exacerbated if the printer and paper handling devices are made by different manufacturers. In such a case, it may be difficult for the printer manufacturer, who typically supplies the driver software, to obtain the error management data, particularly graphic data, for the paper handling device so that the driver can be designed to fully support textual and graphical error management data received from the paper handling device.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved system and method of distributing and dynamically managing error management data for a printer or a printer/paper handling device combination so that the printer driver provided with the printer can be more generalized and requires less error management data at the time of installation.

Dynamic management and transmissions of error notification and configuration data for printing and paper handling devices

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The invention is to provide a technique for improving the usage efficiency of user licenses in an environment in which the simultaneous connection number of users is limited. This invention comprises: determining a predetermined allowable time based on a task selected by a user and an attribute of the user; and forcibly making the user log off in a case where it is detected that data relating to the selected task is not inputted or received for a time exceeding the predetermined allowable time. Thus, the time until the logoff is forcibly performed is automatically and suitably set according to, for example, the task conducted by the user or a department to which the user belongs.

In recent years, a growing number of companies have introduced ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) packages. When the ERP packages are introduced, contracts including regulations of a fee system in which the fee is determined according to the number of simultaneously connected users, are frequently used. In such a case, in a state where an allowed number of connections in the contract are established, a new login request is rejected in an actual operation. That is, as long as any one of users who are logging in does not log off, a new user who desires to log in cannot log in. On the other hand, a user who is logging in does not always perform a task using the ERP package continuously between the login and the logoff. For example, there are many cases where he or she performs different work operations without logging off.
As stated above, even if a user does not need to keep a login state, he or she is counted in the simultaneous connection number unless a logoff is performed, and there occurs a case where a user who desires to log in and to perform the task using the ERP package cannot log in. Accordingly, if the login state is held only in the case where the task using the ERP package is actually performed, the number of simultaneously logging-in users can be decreased, and it also becomes possible to decrease the simultaneous connection number in the contract.
For example, JP-A-2000-315189 discloses a technique to restrict a login time. That is, each of computer terminals monitors whether a no-input time, in which a command for searching a database is not continuously inputted from a user after a connection with a host computer is established, reaches a reference time. The reference time can be set on a reference time setting window displayed on the screen of each computer terminal. When the no-input time reaches the reference time, each computer terminal displays a warning window to inform a user to that effect on the screen. When no command is inputted from the user within a fixed time after the display of the warning window, the terminal sends a forcible logoff command for forcibly disconnecting the connection with the computer terminal to the host computer.
However, in the related art as stated above, it cannot necessarily be said that the user licenses are effectively used in the environment in which the simultaneous connection number of users is limited. This is because, since the time until the forcible logoff can be set by the user, it is conceivable that the user sets the time until the forcible logoff to be longer than an actually required time. That is, according to the related art, even if the user forgets to log off, the logoff is automatically performed, and therefore, an effect can be expected as countermeasures against forgetting logoff. However, it cannot be said that sufficient consideration is given to a viewpoint of increasing a usable time of another user.


An effect system stored a specified segment of an audio signal and repeats the segment during a specified interval. The segment length may be defined in advance as a musical time interval and the interval in which it is repeated may be defined in advance as a musical time interval or as a number of repetitions. The beginning of the segment may be defined in advance as a location in musical time within the audio signal, or may be indicated manually during performance.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate effect systems that produce a delay in an audio signal.
2. Related Technology
A delay is a type of audio effect. In the typical delay system, an input signal is written to memory, and then after a time delay is read out and output. This produces a delay effect in which the input signal is delayed for a defined period of time and then output.
The type of delay used in real-time performance typically includes a feedback means that feeds the output signal back to the input, and an addition means that adds the fed-back signal to the input signal. This cycle of input, delay, output and feed back produces a repeating or looping effect. An example of such a system is provided in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (Kokai) Number Hei 6-149278.
Because this system produces the repeating effect through the combination of a delay and a feedback loop, it is not possible to simply repeat a segment of the input signal without cumulative addition of subsequent signal.
Consequently, if the performer wishes to repeat a passage during a real-time performance, it is necessary to sample that passage prior to the performance and set it up for output by some other type of device. Thus the performer cannot use such a repeating effect for a passage that is produced in real time.


A control system is provided. This system generally includes a table datastore that stores data in a table format wherein the table format includes a plurality of zones. A data storage module stores learned data to one or more of the plurality of zones. A data access module generates a table output by retrieving the learned data from one or more of the plurality of zones and interpolating between the learned data.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Vehicle control modules typically include memory for storing control software and predetermined calibrations. In addition, vehicle parameters learned during vehicle operation can be stored to memory for use by the control software. In some cases, the learned vehicle parameters are stored in a table format that can be interpolated. The table includes first and second fixed axes that are each defined by fixed breakpoints. For each breakpoint pair for the first and second axes, either an initialization value or a learned value is stored. Access parameters can then be used to lookup the values from the table. The interpolation is performed between the values in the table that are nearest the access parameters. In the case where the nearest values have not been learned, the result of the interpolation can be skewed thus, affecting the results of the control software.


The present invention relates to a process for determining a position change or the resting and/or a speed of an object and a corresponding process for supporting an inertial measurement system. In the process at least one radio signal (FS) is received on the object (O) at at least one first and one second point in time, particularly continuously, and the change of the phase of said radio signal is determined for a determination of a relative movement between source (U) of said signal or a reference location and said object (O), and the relative movement between source (U) of said signal or the reference location and said object (O) is detected.

Numerous processes for the determination of a position are known. Here measurements can be made on the basis of the signal-run time or the phase. In most cases, several measurements are carried out on signals or signal portions with different frequencies for the determination of a position, which signals or signal portions are received successively or simultaneously. For example, satellite based processes are known which are able to determine a position by an evaluation of radio signals. This is how on the basis of several measurements and the corresponding differences, position changes or respectively speeds, when taking into consideration the time periods elapsed between said measurements, can be determined.
Furthermore, also a determination of the relative speed is possible on the basis of the Doppler-effect.
It is also known, by means of so-called inertial sensors, to detect movements or respectively accelerations and to calculate such speeds or respectively distances as integrals and thus to detect corresponding changes which have taken place.
Many corresponding combinations of the described systems are known.

Process for the determination of a position change or respectively resting and/or speed of an object