A magnetic recording element that faces a recording medium and that executes a magnetic recording while the recording medium is heated, the element including a waveguide that is configured with a core and a cladding, the core, through which laser light propagates, including an enlarged part, which is enlarged at an air bearing surface facing the recording medium; and the cladding surrounding a periphery of the core.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording element that is used for thermally-assisted magnetic recording in which information is recorded while decreasing the coercive force of a magnetic recording medium using near-field light irradiated onto the magnetic recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, in association with the high recording density of magnetic recording devices such as magnetic disk devices, there are demands for performance improvements of a thin film magnetic head and a magnetic recording medium. A composite-type thin film magnetic head, in which a reproducing head having a magneto resistive effect element (MR element) for reading and a recording head having an inductive-type electromagnetic transducer (a magnetic recording element) for writing are laminated on a substrate, has widely been used for the thin film magnetic head. In magnetic disk devices, the thin film magnetic head is disposed on a slider that flies just above a surface of the magnetic recording medium.
The magnetic recording medium is a discontinuous medium on which magnetic microparticles gather. Each of the microparticles has a single magnetic domain structure. In the magnetic recording medium, one recording bit is configured with a plurality of magnetic microparticles. In order to increase the recording density, the asperity of a boundary of adjacent recording bits needs to be small. For this, the size of the magnetic microparticles needs to be decreased. However, when the size of the magnetic microparticles is decreased, the volume of the magnetic microparticles decreases. Accordingly, thermal stability of the magnetization of the magnetic microparticles also decreases. In order to solve this problem, increasing the anisotropic energy of the magnetic microparticles is effective. However, when the anisotropic energy of the magnetic microparticles is increased, the coercive force of the magnetic recording medium is also increased. As a result, it becomes difficult to record information using a conventional magnetic recording element. The conventional magnetic recording element has such a drawback, and this is a large obstacle to achieving an increase in the recording density.
As a method to solve this problem, a so-called thermally-assisted magnetic recording method is proposed. In this method, a magnetic recording medium having a large coercive force is utilized. The magnetic field and heat are simultaneously added to a part of the magnetic recording medium where information is recorded when the information is recorded. Using this method, the information is recorded in a state where the temperature of the information record part is increased and the coercive force is decreased.
For a thermally-assisted magnetic recording, a method in which a laser light source is used to heat the magnetic recording medium is common. Such a method, is really two methods: one method is to heat the magnetic recording medium by guiding laser light to a recording unit via a waveguide, etc. (a direct heating type); and the other method is to heat the magnetic recording medium by converting the laser light to near-field light (a near-field light heating type). The near-field light is a type of so-called electromagnetic field, which is formed around a substance. Ordinary light cannot be focused to a region that is smaller than its wavelength due to diffraction limitations. However, when light having an identical wavelength is irradiated onto a microstructure, near-field light that depends on the scale of the microstructure is generated, enabling the light to be focused onto a minimal region, such as a region only tens of nm in size.
In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/205202, another configuration is disclosed in which a near-field generator is disposed in a front part of a core of a waveguide through which light from a light emission element (a laser diode) propagates.
In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/151431, a configuration is disclosed in which a near-field generator plate and a near-field scatter plate are disposed in a front part of a waveguide in which the light enters and propagates. The near-field generator plate has a sharp end part on one end. The near-field scatter plate is arranged along an edge part that is on the opposite side of the sharp end part of the near-field generator plate.
In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-070554, a configuration is disclosed in which a low refractive index part made of SiO2 is disposed between a near-field generator and a core of a waveguide in which light enters and propagates. A refractive index of SiO2 that configures the low refractive index part is smaller than that of Ta2O5 that configures the core.
In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/239541, a configuration is disclosed, in which a second core is disposed between a near-field generator and a first core of a waveguide into which light enters and propagates. It discloses that the second core is preferably configured by alternatively laminating two types of materials having different refractive indices.
A so-called plasmon antenna is used to generate the near-field light in a conventional concrete method, in which a metal, referred to as a near-field light probe, is used for generating the near-field light by light-excited plasmon.
Direct irradiation of light generates the near-field light in the plasmon antenna. However, with this method, a conversion efficiency for converting irradiated light into the near-field light is low. Most of the energy of the irradiated light on the plasmon antenna reflects off the surface of the plasmon antenna or is converted into thermal energy. The size of the plasmon antenna is set to be the wavelength of the light or less. Accordingly, the volume of the plasmon antenna is small. Therefore, the temperature of the plasmon antenna significantly increases according to the above-described generation of heat.
Due to the temperature increase, the volume of the plasmon antenna expands, and the plasmon antenna protrudes from an air bearing surface that is a surface facing the magnetic recording medium. Accordingly, the distance between an edge part of the air bearing surface of the MR element and the magnetic recording medium increases. As a result, it becomes difficult to read servo signals recorded on the magnetic recording medium during the recording process. Moreover, when the heat generation is large, the plasmon antenna may melt.
Currently, a technology is proposed that does not directly irradiate light onto the plasmon antenna. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,330,404 discloses a technology in which light propagating through a waveguide, such as an optical fiber, is coupled in a surface plasmon mode via a buffer portion to a plasmon generator, so that the surface plasmon is excited in the plasmon generator. In this technology, the light is not directly irradiated onto the plasmon antenna. The plasmon generator includes a near-field generator that is positioned on the air bearing surface and that generates the near-field light. At the interface between the waveguide and the buffer portion, the light propagating through the waveguide is completely reflected. However, at the same time, light is generated that penetrates into the buffer portion, which is referred to as evanescent light. The evanescent light and a collective oscillation of charges in the plasmon generator are coupled, and then the surface plasmon is excited in the plasmon generator. The excited surface plasmons propagate to the edge of near-field-generator along the plasmon generator, so that near-field light is generated in the near-field generator. According to this technology, since the light propagating through the waveguide is not directly irradiated to the plasmon generator, the excessive temperature increase of the plasmon generator can be prevented.
In a thermally-assisted recording, which performs a recording while heating a predetermined position of the magnetic recording medium, temperatures of both the magnetic recording medium and a magnetic recording element itself are increased (for example, to approximately 200-300° C.). This temperature increase is caused due to laser light that is directly guided to the vicinity of the air bearing surface by being propagating through the waveguide, and by a loss that occurs when the laser light is converted to the near-field light.
Generally, a material of the waveguide in the magnetic recording element is TaOx, AlOx, AlNx, SiOx, SiNx, SiON, MgFx, Si, or the like. Of these materials, the materials having a high refractive index are used for the core, and the materials having a low refractive index are used for a cladding. Each element configuring these materials has a characteristic of a covalent bond and has a dangling bond on the surface. The dangling bond is active. Accordingly, an interface between such materials is significantly active. This is obvious from that, for example, Lewis acid sites and/or Bronsted acid sites are generated in solid solutions of oxides and function as a catalyser.
When the temperature of the magnetic recording element itself increases, as described above, high pressure (for example, approximately 10 atmospheric pressure) applied to the air bearing surface at the time of the slider flying, and water vapor in atmosphere applied to the interface of different materials under a state having such chemical active sites, may cause an alteration of the material and/or a deformation of the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head to occur.
Specifically, in an experiment by the applicant, when a thermally-assisted recording was executed using a magnetic recording element that includes a waveguide having a core made of TaOx and a cladding made of AlOx, it is confirmed that Al is bonded to hydroxyl (AlOH) and adheres on the magnetic recording medium. Also, Ta may be melted and altered by touching the water vapor under high temperature and high pressure.
Also, when the heat expansion ratios of the materials contacting each other at the interface are different, huge stress may cause a gap to be formed between the materials due to the difference of the heat expansion at the time of heating, which may result in the deformation of the magnetic recording element.

Magnetic recording element used for thermally-assisted magnetic recording


An apparatus for measuring the reduced inorganic sulfur content of a sample. The apparatus has a reaction chamber (12) and means (14) for introducing a reducing agent that can selectively convert the reduced inorganic sulfur of a sample in the reaction chamber (12) to hydrogen sulfide. The reducing agent can be chromous chloride. The apparatus also includes means for measuring the amount of hydrogen sulfide evolved by reaction of the reducing agent with the sample and a detector for detecting when evolution of the hydrogen sulfide has reduced or ceased. The term “reduced inorganic sulfur” refers to sulfur in a form that can undergo oxidation and includes mineral sulphides and elemental sulfur.

Sulfur is present in the environment in several different forms which may be generally classified as organic and inorganic sulfur. The presence of each form of sulfur has important environmental implications. For example, combustion of both inorganic and organic sulfur produces sulfur dioxide, a greenhouse gas and source of acid rain. Another significant environmental problem is the acid generating potential of a class of inorganic sulfur materials known as reduced inorganic sulfur. These compounds produce acid when materials containing them are mined, excavated or drained, and exposed to atmospheric oxygen. The term "reduced inorganic sulfur" refers to sulfur in a form that can undergo oxidation and includes mineral disulfides (e.g. pyrite and chalcopyrite), monosulfides (e.g. sphalerite, galena and covelline), polysulphides (e.g. pyrrhotite and bornite), non-stoichoimetric metal sulfides (e.g. greigite), other sulphides such as chalcocite, sulfites (salts of sulfurous acids) and elemental sulfur. In the present specification and claims the term "reduced inorganic sulfur" will be understood to include any inorganic sulfur compound that can be oxidised.
Further types of naturally occurring inorganic sulfur compounds are the sulfate minerals, such as gypsum, which include sulfur in the oxidized sulfate form. These materials are generally not a source of acid in the environment.
When sulfide bearing material is mined or excavated, oxidation of the reduced inorganic sulfur may occur. The result is acid sulfate soil and acid mine drainage. Acid mine drainage refers to acid water produced by the oxidation of minerals such as pyrite in the presence of water and is one of the major environmental problems facing the mining industry. The oxidation of reduced inorganic sulfur in acid sulfate soils is a global environmental problem affecting more than 12 million hectares of agricultural land worldwide, degrading aquatic habitats and corroding concrete and steel infrastructure. It is therefore important for environmental management to be able to measure the amount of reduced inorganic sulfur in a wide range of materials including sediments, soils, mine spoil, sludge, petroleum, mineral ores, fossil fuels and water.
There are several known methods for measuring the sulfur content of a material. Combustion followed by measurement of evolved sulfur oxides is used to measure the total sulfur content (i.e. the combined inorganic and organic sulfur). Such methods are typically used to measure the sulfur content of coal. Combustion of coal is a major source of sulfur dioxide pollution. However, the combustion method does not distinguish between organic sulfur, reduced inorganic sulfur or mineral sulfates and accordingly cannot be used to accurately quantify the reduced inorganic sulfur in a sample.
The most widely used method for assaying reduced inorganic sulfur is by peroxide oxidation in which the sulfur is oxidised to sulfate. The amount of sulfate liberated by peroxide oxidation is then analysed by conventional wet chemical quantitative analysis. Although this method is the accepted procedure, the present inventors have surprisingly and unexpectedly observed that the method is subject to serious interferences from organic sulfur and sulfate minerals such as gypsum. This interference is particularly important when sediments having low reduced inorganic sulfur are measured. An erroneous estimate of the reduced inorganic sulfur content may lead to the recommendation of costly and/or inappropriate and environmentally damaging management practices.
Other methods for analysing reduced inorganic sulfur, but which are considered to be less accurate than the peroxide oxidation method, include:    (a) measuring the total sulfur and soluble sulfur content and estimating the reduced inorganic sulfur content from the difference between the two values. A disadvantage of such differential measurement is that the errors are cumulative.    (b) microscopic examination of a sample, and    (c) indirect measurement by estimating the amount of pyritic iron (FeS2) in a sample. However non-pyritic forms of reduced inorganic sulfur are not measured.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for measuring the reduced inorganic sulfur content of a sample selectively and accurately.

Apparatus for analyzing reduced inorganic sulphur


A rolling or sliding machine part that has an improved oil film formation capacity. The machine part has a rolling or sliding contact surface formed with discontinuous grooves, which are dispersedly arranged and extend across the direction in which the machine part rolls or slides.

This invention relates to rolling or sliding machine parts such as bearings, thrust plates or gears.
Some machine parts make rolling motions while others make sliding motions. In the following description, these motions are referred to as "rolling or sliding motions".
Machine parts which have rolling or sliding motions may suffer damage to their surfaces if an oil film runs out at the contact portion with a mating member due to insufficient lubrication and as a result the machine part is brought into direct contact with the mating member.
To prevent such surface damage due to loss of oil film at the contact portion, conventional machine parts have their surfaces finished as smoothly as possible.
To finish the surfaces as smoothly as possible, they are usually mirror-finished. But mirror finish is a time-consuming and expensive solution.
Today's machine parts are lubricated by less viscous lubricants to reduce friction loss. Also, they are often used in a high-temperature environment and operated at high speeds. Due to these factors, it is becoming more and more difficult to form a sufficiently thick oil film at the contact portion. Thus, even if the surface roughness of the machine part is reduced to the limit by mirror finishing, it is difficult to completely prevent direct contact with the mating member.
An object of the present invention is to provide a rolling or sliding machine part which has an improved surface that permits the formation of a thick oil film thereon so as to provide a long part life.

Machine parts making rolling or sliding surfaces formed with discontinuous grooves


Methods for automatically providing descriptors for images to a user include providing an image descriptor database having a plurality of image feature vectors, each of the plurality of image feature vectors having an associated descriptor. A specificity value is assigned to each of the descriptors such that the specificity value comprises an estimation of a degree of description specificity. A first image feature vector is determined for a first image, and the first image feature vector is compared with the plurality of image vectors in the image descriptor database. One or more descriptors for the first image vector is identified based on the comparison of the first image feature vector with the plurality of image vectors and the specificity value of the corresponding descriptor.

With the widespread use of digital cameras, including digital cameras provided as part of a mobile phone or other hand held device, many camera users are able to take a large number of images. Although many users of such devices enjoy the convenience with which digital images may be obtained, having unsorted digital libraries of many images can make navigating the images very time consuming. Users sometimes manually "tag" each image with a descriptor or several descriptors that identities the image.
Some digital cameras may provide intelligent suggestions for suitable descriptors for new images based on a database of tags and corresponding image feature vectors, which numerically represent the features in an object image. Some databases of image descriptors use the description of images provided by a user to train the database of tags and image feature vectors by adding the image feature vector of new images and the corresponding tags into the database. However, these techniques can introduce inaccurate tags if a user adds inaccurate tags to an image.

Methods, systems and computer program products for identifying descriptors for an image


A piston pump includes a ported member that is moveably disposed within an internal space of a housing between a rotating group and the housing. The ported member includes a first face facing the rotating group and a second face facing a fluid inlet and outlet. The ported member includes an intake port and a discharge port. Moreover, the ported member includes a balance aperture configured to pass fluid between the biasing member and a pump chamber as the rotating group rotates within the internal space such that the biasing member biases the ported member toward a balanced position within the internal space. The balance aperture has a rim at the first face. The rim is clefted at a relief feature of the first face. The relief feature is recessed into the first face.

There are various types of pumps configured for pumping fluids. For example, there are various types of positive displacement, continuous travel piston pumps that have been developed for various uses.
Characteristics of the fluid flow through the pump may correlate to the wear rate and durability of pump. For example, flow of the pumped fluid that produces cavitation may cause premature wear and/or malfunction of the pump. The collapsing vapor bubbles associated with cavitation can cause excessive vibration and loss of fluid film, which can cause rotating parts to contact non-rotating parts, causing damage.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a piston pump with improved flow characteristics and that reduces wear due to cavitation. It is also desirable to provide a piston pump that has increased durability. Other desirable features and characteristics of the present disclosure will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background discussion.

Axial piston pump with port plate having balance feed aperture relief feature


The present invention provides a method for producing a tampon having an absorbent body that absorbs fluid and a string that is attached to the absorbent body, the method includes: attaching the string to the absorbent body; causing a regulation section to regulate movement of the absorbent body; causing a holding section to hold the string; and applying a tensile force to the string by increasing a distance in a longitudinal direction of the absorbent body between the regulation section and the holding section.

Tampons are widely known as sanitary goods. In a tampon, a string is attached to one end of an absorbent body that absorbs fluid such as menstrual blood. This string is pulled by a user when removing the absorbent body that has been inserted into the vaginal cavity out of the vaginal cavity.
A tampon producing method has been proposed in which, when attaching a string to an absorbent body, a string supply portion checks whether or not a string has a defect such as knots or pills, and eliminates a tampon with a defective string attached from the production line (see Patent Document 1, for example).

Method for producing tampon and apparatus for producing tampon


A method of manufacturing a plurality of electronic multilayer component search of which alternately stacked electrically conductive and insulating layers alternately connected to opposite edges of the component, which method comprises: providing a substrate having a face endowed with a regular pattern of substantially parallel elongated protrusions separated by valleys; providing a first and a second flux of electrically conductive material in a direction subtending an angle of less than 90 with the substrate face and extending substantially parallel to the surface protrusions, and covering the thus-formed electrically conductive layers with intervening electrically insulating layers, the first and second fluxes having substantially oppositely directed in-plane components; providing said first and second fluxes with intervening insulating layers in an alternate manner as often as desired; dividing the substrate into strips, each including a protrusion, by severing the substrate along a series of planes, each of which plane extends along a valley in a direction substantially parallel to the protrusions; and providing electrically conductive material upon each resulting exposed side faces of the strips so as to provide a mutual electrical contact between the electrically conductive layers terminating in that exposed side face.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a plurality of electronic multilayer components, each of which comprises alternately stacked electrically conductive and electrically insulating layers, the electrically conductive layers being electrically connected in a periodically alternate arrangement to substantially opposite edges of the multilayer component. Such components may receive application as multilayer capacitors or multilayer actuators, for example.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A method as described in the opening paragraph is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,326,718, in which layers of electrically conductive and electrically insulating material are alternately deposited onto a flat substrate through an apertured mask, the planes of the substrate and mask being mutually parallel. In the case of the insulating material, the depository flux is directed at right angles to the plane of the mask, so that it passes through the aperture in a perpendicular direction. However, in the case of the conductive material, the depository flux is directed through the aperture at a non-perpendicular angle .alpha. with respect to the substrate surface. Moreover, although consecutive conductive layers are deposited using the same value of .alpha., the depository fluxes for such consecutive layers are not mutually parallel, but instead arise from sources located at diametrically opposite sides of the aperture. As a result, consecutive conductive layers demonstrate only a partial mutual overlap, as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the cited U.S. patent. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 4 of that patent, conductive layers (56, 56') having an odd ordinal number make mutual electrical contact at one side (62) of the component, and conductive layers (68, 68') having an even ordinal number make mutual electrical contact at an other side (76) of the component.
The known method has a number of disadvantages. In particular, the number of conductive layers which can be deposited in this manner is severely limited. This is because, as the stack of layers on the substrate increases in height, that stack will itself begin to partially eclipse the depository fluxes of conductive material, and will eventually prevent the desired mutual contact of every second conductive layer at the edge of the component. In addition, material from the depository fluxes will accumulate on the apertured mask, and particularly along the edges of the apertures, causing a relatively rapid deterioration in mask definition. This is a particular problem when manufacturing large numbers of very small components (lateral dimensions of the order of 1 mm) on a large wafer, since the dimensional deterioration in the apertures may then constitute a substantial fraction of the component's lateral dimensions. In such cases, regular replacement of the mask will be required.

Method of manufacturing an electronic multilayer component


A sheet material assembly comprising a stack of longitudinally folded sheet material webs including a first web and second web. The first web includes a first fold, a second fold overlying a portion of said first fold, and a third fold lying between the first and second folds. The second web includes a first fold underlying the first fold of the first web, a second fold overlying the second fold of the first web and a third fold underlying the third fold of the first web. A folding device for forming a web includes a first, second and third folding edge extending from a first junction and formed in a first plane, a fourth folding edge extending from the first junction out of the first plane, a fifth and sixth folding edge extending from a second junction formed in a second plane parallel to and above the first plane, and a seventh folding edge extending from the second junction out of the second plane. The fifth folding edge crosses over the third folding edge in a spaced apart relationship. A method for forming a sheet material web includes drawing the web over the second, third and fourth folding edges to form the first fold, drawing the web over the first folding edge to form a second fold and drawing the web over the fifth, sixth and seventh folding edge to form the third fold.

The present invention relates generally to a folded sheet material web and assembly, and in particular, to a specific arrangement of a starter sheet material web for a stack of folded webs. The invention also relates to a method and apparatus for folding the starter web.
It is well known in the field of facial tissue for an uppermost or starter web of a stack of longitudinally folded webs to be folded back on itself so as to provide a centrally located longitudinally folded edge on a top of the stack as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,401,927, issued Sep. 17, 1968 to Frick, and assigned to Kimberly-Clark Corporation, the same assignee of the present application. The folded edge, and overlying folds of the starter web, are provided so as to allow a user to easily grasp and withdraw the uppermost web from the stack, which is typically retained within a carton or similar packaging. It is also well known in the art to provide a next lower web interfolded with the uppermost web so that a portion of the next lower web is withdrawn from the stack as the uppermost web is withdrawn. In this way, the next lower web is exposed to the user for successive removal from the stack.
Typically, the overlying folds of the starter web are arranged so that a single uppermost fold extends away from the centrally located longitudinally folded edge and terminates in a free edge proximate the side edge of the stack as shown in Frick U.S. Pat. No. 3,401,927. When arranged in such a configuration, a clip of webs, made from a stack of webs cut to a specified length, experiences what is commonly referred to as a "flying sheets" problem, wherein the top few sheets of the clip fly off the top of the clip as it is transported at high speeds from a saw, where the stack of webs is cut to form the clips, to a cartoner, where the clips are packaged in cartons and the like. Another problem typically encountered with a stack having a web with an uppermost fold terminating in a free edge, whether it be at the side of the stack or at a midpoint, is that the uppermost fold has a tendency to adhere both to a top pull-belt, which is used to urge the stack of webs from a folding board toward the saw, and to hold-down chains, which engage the top of the stack as it passes through the saw. In addition, because the uppermost fold presents two exposed edges, i.e., the centrally located longitudinally folded edge and the outer free edge, the folding process must be closely monitored so as to ensure that the free edge is proximate to the side edge of the stack. If the free edge extends past the side edge, it can be caught on the machinery and the like as the stack is conveyed from the folding board to the saw, and then as the clip is conveyed to the cartoner. Conversely, if the free edge is not aligned with, or falls short of, the side edge, it can present an aesthetically displeasing appearance to the user.
To combat the problem of "flying sheets" and adhesion, facial tissue manufacturers commonly are forced to reduce line speeds and/or incorporate additional manufacturing steps, such as spraying liquids on the top sheets, employing weights to hold the top sheets down, applying antistatic products to reduce static, cleaning surfaces to reduce static, and/or controlling the humidity/temperature in the relevant operating areas. Alternatively, additional folds or webs can be introduced in the top sheets, but with the adverse impact of requiring extra sheets to be dispensed on the initial withdrawal by the user. Therefore, the above-mentioned efforts can result in lower productivity, increased manufacturing costs or waste by the user.
Another problem encountered with a stack having only a single uppermost web is that the web is susceptible to tearing and the like upon removal by a user. This problem is especially acute when the uppermost web is interfolded with a next lower web, as the next lower web applies forces to the uppermost web as it is being withdrawn.

Folded sheet material web and assembly and method and apparatus therefore


An image forming apparatus includes a control device that calculates a developing ability of the developing device based on a detection value detected by an optical detection device from the plural toner patches. The control device adjusts an image formation condition based on the calculated developing ability. A factor detection device is provided to detect a contributing factor that causes the developing ability to largely change after the last adjustment of the image formation condition. The control device controls image formation such that when the factor detection device does not detect the contribution factor and a developing ability calculated this time is different from that calculated last time (as to a part of the plural toner patches), the plural toner patches are formed based on a prescribed fixed image formation condition so that an attraction amount of toner attracting to the plural toner patches enter a prescribed range detectable for the optical detection device. The remaining toner patches are formed (based on an image formation condition determined) in accordance with the image formation condition previously adjusted. When the detection device detects the contribution factor, the entire toner patches are formed based on the prescribed fixed condition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a method for controlling density of an image.
2. Discussion of the Background Art
In an image forming apparatus, such as a copier, a laser printer, etc., using an electrophotographic system, the following control is executed so as to always obtain constant density of an image. Specifically, a gradation sequence pattern including ten to seventeen toner patches for density detection use are formed based on a different image formation condition (i.e., a development potential) so as to attract a different amount of toner on a latent image carrier, such as a photoconductive member, etc. Based on a detection value of the toner patches obtained by an optical sensor, a toner attraction amount is calculated per toner patch using a prescribed algorithm. As a result, a linear equation formula (y=ax+b) is obtained from a relation between the toner attraction amount and the image formation condition of the respective toner patches. Then, development gamma representing a developing ability (i.e., an inclination "a" of a linear equation formula in a coordinate in which development potentials and toner attraction amounts are plotted on lateral and vertical axes, respectively), and a development start voltage Vk (an intercept "b") of the linear equation formula are obtained. Then, an image formation condition, such as a LD power, a charge bias, a development bias, etc., is adjusted to control a prescribed development potential attracting an appropriate amount of toner based on the development gamma and the development start voltage Vk.
The optical sensor detecting the toner patches includes a light emitting element such as an LED and a light-receiving element such as a phototransistor, and detects a reflection light from the light emission element by the light-receiving element. The optical sensor is generally sensitive in detecting a small amount of toner attraction toner, while not sensitive in detecting a large amount thereof owing to detection sensitivity of the light-receiving element. Specifically, the optical sensor includes a prescribed sensitive range capable of sensitively detecting a toner patch. Thus, in order to precisely obtain a development gamma and a development start voltage Vk, an amount of toner attracting to each of plural toner patches constituting a gradation sequence pattern needs to disperse at the same interval from small to large toner attraction sides to be sensitively detected by the optical sensor.
In the past, ten to seventeen toner patches each attracting a different amount of toner are formed based on differently fixed development biases, respectively, so that the development gamma and the development start voltage Vk can be precisely calculated regardless that the development gamma is either high or low. As a result, when the development gamma is high (sharp), the developing ability increases and an image is formed attracting a lot of toner even formed based on a low development bias. Further, an amount of toner attracting to a toner patch even formed based on a medium development bias sometimes deviates from a detectable range for the optical sensor. Thus, to disperse from small to large toner attraction amount sides at the same interval within the detectable range for the optical sensor, plural toner patches of a gradation sequence pattern need to be formed based on the low development bias when the development gamma is high. Whereas when the development gamma is low (dull), the developing ability decreases and an image attracting a lot of toner cannot be formed unless the development bias is high. When the development gamma is low and toner patches are formed based on a low development bias, even the highest toner attraction amount of the toner in the gradation sequence pattern becomes relatively low, so that the toner patches concentrate on the low toner attraction amount side as a whole. When concentrated on the low toner attraction amount side, the development gamma and the development start voltage Vk cannot precisely be calculated due to affection of unevenness of the toner attraction amount. Thus, in order to precisely calculate the development gamma and the development start voltage Vk when the development gamma is low, toner patches formed based on a high development bias are needed beside those formed based on a low development bias.
Thus, to precisely calculate the development gamma regardless of its level, plural toner patches formed based on high and low development biases are needed. As a result, a conventional gradation sequence pattern needs ten to seventeen toner patches. However, when a lot of toner patches are used, adjustment of image density takes a longer time period increasingly consuming toner.
Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2006-106222 describes an image forming apparatus capable of controlling density of an image. Specifically, a development gamma and a development start voltage Vk obtained based on a result of detection of a gradation sequence pattern by means of an optical sensor are stored in a memory. When the next image density control is executed, development biases for forming respective toner patches are calculated based on the development gamma and the development start voltage Vk stored in the memory so that an amount of toner attracting to each of the toner patches disperse from small to large toner attraction amount sides at the same interval within a detectable range for a sensor. Then, the gradation sequence pattern is formed based on the thus calculated development biases and controls image density. Generally, the development gamma does not significantly vary from the previous value.
Thus, as far as the respective toner patches of the gradation sequence pattern are formed based on the development gamma obtained last time so that an toner attraction amount of each of the respective toner patches disperse from small to large toner attraction amount sides at the same interval within the detectable range for the optical sensor, a number of the respective toner patches can be decreased. Specifically, when the development gamma is high, all of the toner patches in the gradation sequence pattern are formed based on the low developing bias, while the development gamma is low, the toner patches on the low toner attraction amount side are formed based on the low developing bias and those on the high toner attraction side are formed under the high developing bias. Thus, by changing the developing bias for the toner patches based on the development gamma calculated last time, a small number of toner patches are enough if dispersing from small to large toner attraction amount sides at the same interval within a detectable range for the sensor.
As a result, due to decrease in number of the toner patches, image density control can be quicker while toner consumption for image density control can be reduced.
However, when environment sharply changes from the last time or image density control is executed after long time absence of an apparatus or the like, development gamma sometime significantly increases.
When the development gamma significantly increases from previous one, only a toner patch on the low toner attraction amount side among those formed based on a development bias calculated based on the development gamma of the last time enters a detectable range for the optical sensor, and thus the development gamma cannot sometime be calculated in an apparatus, in which a number of toner patches of a gradation sequence pattern is decreased by forming the toner patches based on the development gamma calculated last time. In such a situation, the image forming apparatus of the Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2006-106222 forms a gradation sequence pattern again by changing a developing bias or increasing the number of toner patches so that data of an toner attraction amount of at least two toner patches can enter the detectable range for the optical sensor.
However, repetitious formation of the gradation sequence pattern necessitates a longer image density control time period resulting in a long downtime of an apparatus.
In addition, consumption of toner for image density control use increases.
Then, the applicant is developing a new image forming apparatus. Specifically, the below described image forming apparatus is in the course of development, which forms respective toner patches based on a prescribed fixed developing bias, which always causes the respective toner patches to enter the detectable range for an optical sensor even if the development gamma is predicted to widely change. Further, when there actually exists a contribution factor, which significantly increases the development gamma this time more than that calculated last time and the development gamma significantly increases more than that of last time due to sharp environment change, the toner patches can disperse at the same interval within the detectable range for the optical sensor by fixing image formation conditions for all of forming toner patches.
There exist various contribution factors possibly increasing development gamma this time more than that calculated last time. Thus, detection of all of the contribution factors increases cost of an apparatus. Thus, only a principle contribution factor, such as environment, an absent time of an apparatus, etc., is detected. However, development gamma sometimes increases more than that calculated last time due to a contribution factor other than the principal contribution factor. For example, even though the principle contribution factor is not detected, and it is determined that development gamma this time does not increase than that of the last time thereby a gradation sequence pattern is formed based on a developing bias calculated last time, the gamma sometimes significantly increase this time than that calculated last time due to a contribution factor other than the principal contribution factor.
In such a situation, only one point of a toner patch on the low toner attraction amount side can possibly enter the detectable range for the optical sensor.
As a result, the development gamma cannot possibly be calculated.

Image forming apparatus and image density control method


A method and apparatus for providing a high speed tristate buffer. The buffer includes a p-channel pull-up transistor and a transfer gate. The source of the transistor is coupled to a voltage supply. The drain of the transistor is coupled to the buffer output. The gate of the transfer gate is coupled to a first clock source. The input to the transfer gate is a second clock source, and the output of the transfer gate is coupled to the gate of the p-channel transistor.

Integrated circuit (IC) devices such as, for example, processors, contain numerous circuit blocks known as buffers. A buffer is a circuit that resides on an interconnect line, and may condition or gale the electrical signal that is sent along the interconnect line. For example, an interconnect line may connect a portion of memory in a processor to the processor's execution unit where mathematical operations are carried out. When the signal is initially sent along the interconnect line from memory, the execution unit may be busy executing other data. In this case, a tristate buffer holds the signal on the interconnect line, preventing the signal from passing through to the execution unit. Once the execution unit is ready to receive the signal, the tristate buffer releases the signal, and the data represented by the signal is then allowed to be transferred to the execution unit. The use of a tristate buffer in this manner preserves the accuracy of the data and serves to organize the flow of data through the processor.
As the speed of ICs increases, it becomes more important to implement buffers that are quick to transfer signals from the buffer input to the buffer output. Implementing fast buffers reduces the signal delay associated with passing the signal through the buffer, thereby increasing the speed of the IC.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a tristate buffer comprising an n-channel and a p-channel transistor in an inverting configuration wherein the gate of the p-channel transistor is controlled by a NAND gate and the gate of the n-channel transistor is controlled by a NOR gate. The input to the buffer is coupled to an input of NAND gate 103 and NOR gate 104. The clock input to the tristate buffer is coupled to an input of NOR gate 104 and an input of inverter 100, the output from inverter 100 being coupled to NAND gate 103. The output of NAND gate 103 is coupled to the gate of p-channel transistor 101, and the output of NOR gate 104 is coupled to the gate of n-channel transistor 102. The source of p-channel transistor 101 is coupled to the voltage supply, and the drain of transistor 101 is coupled to the output of the buffer. The source of n-channel transistor 102 is coupled to ground, and the drain of transistor 102 is coupled to the output of the buffer. Note that in accordance with transistor nomenclature conventions, the source of a p-channel transistor is defined as the transistor node that is coupled to the voltage supply, and the source of a n-channel transistor is defined as the transistor node that is coupled to ground. In typical semiconductor manufacturing processes, however, the source and drain are symmetrical, and therefore the terms "source" and "drain" are commonly interchangeable.
An inverter inverts the value of the signal applied to its input, and provides the inverted signal at its output. For example, when the input to inverter 100 of FIG. 1 is low (e.g. ground or a predefined logical low value, typically associated with a logical "0" but may be a logical "1" in an inverted logic configuration) the output from inverter 100 is high (e.g. the voltage supply value or a predefined logical high value, typically associated with a logical "1" but may be a logical "0" in an inverted logic configuration). A NAND gate applies a NAND function to its inputs to generate an output, and a NOR gate applies a NOR function to its inputs to generate an output.
When the input to the tristate buffer circuit of FIG. 1 is low, and the clock is low, the output of NAND gate 103 is high and the output of NOR gate 104 is high, thereby turning p-channel transistor 101 off and turning n-channel transistor 102 on. When n-channel transistor 102 is turned on, its drain and source begin to conduct, thereby draining charge from the output line, through transistor 102, to ground, also known as pulling the output down to ground. For this reason, an n-channel transistor in the inverting configuration of FIG. 1 is referred to as a pull-down transistor.
If, instead, the input to the tristate buffer circuit of FIG. 1 is high while the clock is low, the low output of NAND gate 103 turns on p-channel transistor 101, and the low output of NOR gate 104 turns off n-channel transistor 102. When p-channel transistor 101 is turned on, its drain and source begin to conduct, thereby driving charge from the voltage supply onto the output line, through transistor 101, also known as pulling the output up to the voltage supply voltage level. For this reason, a p-channel transistor in the inverting configuration of FIG. 1 is referred to as a pull-up transistor.
Although the input to the tristate buffer of FIG. 1 will be the same value as the output of the buffer during steady state operation, there is some propagation delay associated with pulling the output up or down after the input value switches. Because n-channel transistors in the conduction state (the "on" state) have much lower source-to-drain resistance than p-channel transistors in the conduction state, the output of the buffer or inverter is pulled down much more quickly than it is pulled up. To reduce the pull-up time, a p-channel pull-up transistor is typically made wider than its corresponding n-channel pull-down transistor, thereby reducing the resistance of the p-channel device. Unfortunately, there is an upper limit imposed upon the width of the p-channel transistor because as the p-channel transistor is widened, its gate/source and gate/drain capacitance increases, which has the effect of slowing the switching speed of the p-channel transistor. Eventually, this slower switching speed will dominate and counteract the speed advantages gained by increasing the p-channel device size.
Increasing the p-channel transistor size also uses up valuable semiconductor surface area on the integrated circuit device, thereby increasing manufacturing costs and increasing the size of the IC. In addition, if the resistance on the output line is large enough (e.g. the output line is long), reducing the p-channel transistor resistance by increasing the width will not have a significant impact on reducing the pull-up time because the overall resistance will not be significantly reduced.

Method and apparatus for providing a high speed tristate buffer


Method and apparatus for designing digital filters are provided. One method includes the steps of determining a real-valued discrete-frequency representation of a desired digital filter and transforming this discrete-frequency representation into a corresponding discrete-time representation. The discrete-time representation is circularly shifted and a window is applied to the discrete time representation to produce a zero-padded reduced length filter. Thereafter input signal x[n] is convolved with the reduced length filter.

The present invention relates to digital filtering, and in particular to digital filter design.
Some digital signal processing algorithms are based on filter design in the frequency domain. Typical applications are noise suppression algorithms for speech enhancement (see [1, 2]) and non-linear processors for echo cancellation. These filters are often quite long, which means that it may be desirable to perform the convolution (filtering) in the frequency domain, since this is less complex than convolution in the time domain. Since the input signal to be filtered is typically much longer than the filter, the desired linear convolution has to be implemented by circular sectioned or block convolution (see [3]) in order to avoid unacceptable delays and/or complexity.
A problem with filters designed in the frequency domain is that they are real-valued, which leads to a time domain representation in which the peak of the filter is split between the beginning and end of the filter (this is equivalent to a filter that is symmetric around lag 0, i.e. an non-causal filter). This makes the filter unsuitable for circular block convolution, since such a filter will generate temporal aliasing. This problem may be mitigated (but not eliminated) by weighting the data with a window that spans more than one block (see [2]). However, this will introduce a delay of 1 block, which is undesirable. The split peak also makes the filter unsuitable for time domain convolution, since the important parts of the filter are at the beginning and end of the filter. This makes it difficult to approximate the filter with a shorter filter to reduce the complexity of the time domain convolution.
Reference [4] describes a method that starts with an initial reduced length discrete frequency filter response (using either the Barlett or Welch method). The reduced length filter response is transformed to the time domain using a reduced length IDFT, circularly shifted to obtain a linear phase filter, zero-padded to obtain an extended length to avoid temporal aliasing, and transformed back to the frequency domain using an extended length DFT. A drawback of this method is that the resolution in frequency is reduced due to the initial reduced length filter.


A method of stabilizing a multiphase composition is described. The composition comprises a structured surfactant phase, a benefit phase and a perfume comprising perfume raw materials. The method comprises a step of selecting at least 70% of the perfume raw materials that have a ClogP of greater than 1.8.

Personal care compositions are well known and widely used. Desirable personal care composition must meet a number of criteria. For example, in order to be acceptable to consumers, a personal care composition must exhibit good cleaning properties, must exhibit good lathering characteristics, must be mild to the skin (not cause drying or irritation) and preferably should even provide a conditioning benefit to the skin. Some consumers choose a personal care composition for both the odor of the product itself, as well as, the residual odor the composition leaves on the skin or hair. Perfumes contain individual components called perfume raw materials or PRMs, which add to the perfume's scent. Certain PRMs are more volatile and provide a scent or "bloom" when the bottle is opened, or when used in the shower. Other PRMs tend to deposit on the skin and can last longer, providing a residual benefit, or perfume longevity. These PRMs are sometimes called 'base notes' of a fragrance.
However, some perfumes and perfume raw materials can affect other qualities of the composition, such as viscosity, lather and visual appearance. For example, the perfume and perfume raw materials can interact with surfactant micelles, increasing viscosity of the personal care composition and reducing the lather obtained from the personal care composition. As well, compositions that comprise surfactant also have limited ability to absorb perfume, and high levels of perfume can form a separate, turbid phase in an otherwise transparent composition making the composition visually unattractive to some consumers. Therefore, some personal care compositions and multiphase personal care compositions with perfumes often do not maintain their viscosity so as to provide consistent dispensing and not separate into bulk phases as the compositions age.
Accordingly, the need still remains for multiphase personal care compositions with perfumes which remain stable.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multi-phase personal care composition comprising a stabilizing perfume composition


The present invention relates to methods of detecting a neural injury biomarker in a biological sample. The method includes subjecting a biological sample to an assay according to the present invention that produces a measurable signal and detecting the measurable signal. The presence or absence of the measurable signal indicates the presence or absence of the biomarker in the sample. The present invention also relates to methods of determining the state of a subject's neural injury. The present invention also relates to systems and devices useful in carrying out the methods of the present invention.

There is a great clinical need for Point-of-Care Testing ("PoCT") devices so that an accurate diagnosis can be made quickly, enabling appropriate treatment or response as early as possible. A rapid detection system for the diagnosis of neural injury (e.g., stroke, concussion, contusion, trauma, and aneurism) is especially important, because the treatment options for certain neural injuries such as stroke are extremely time sensitive, with maximal benefits occurring only if treatment can be initiated within the first few hours post-event.
Continuing the example of stroke, current diagnostic methodology relies on neurological expertise and advanced medical imaging techniques (e.g., Computerized Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging ("CT/MRI"), which are not widely available, and are time consuming and expensive. Because of these limitations, only 4% of patients suffering from ischemic stroke receive treatment (tissue plasminogen activator) within the 3-hour effective window (Roger et al., "Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2011 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association," Circulation 123(4):e18-e209 (2011)). Because of the enormity of the clinical need, much attention is focused on developing PoCT to detect pathology-specific biomarkers. Biomarkers can themselves be various substances, such as proteins, lipids, sugars, nucleic acids, or ions. Blood biomarkers for neural injury have received much attention due to the difficulties regarding timely clinical diagnosis. Currently, over 50 candidate bio-molecules including proteins, metabolites and antibodies have been identified and investigated for varied applications in diagnosis, outcome prediction, or treatment (Jickling and Sharp, "Blood Biomarkers of Ischemic Stroke," Neurotherapeutics 8(3):349-60 (2011); Saenger and Christenson, "Stroke Biomarkers: Progress and Challenges for Diagnosis, Prognosis, Differentiation, and Treatment," Clin. Chem. 56(1):21-33 (2010); Whiteley et al., "Blood Markers for the Prognosis of Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review," Stroke 40(5):e380-9 (2009); and Hasan et al., "Towards the Identification of Blood Biomarkers for Acute Stroke in Humans: A Comprehensive Systematic Review," Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol. (2012)). The growing list of potential biomarkers provides a useful resource to guide the development of PoCT diagnostic technologies. However, there remains a great need for a rapid detection system for the diagnosis of neural injury.
Several examples of PoCT biomarker detection technologies for the diagnosis of various diseases have recently been described. These technologies are divided into 3 major categories including chemical-, immunoassay- or nucleic acid-based detection systems with various signal readout methods such as absorbance, fluorescence, luminescence, electrochemical and colorimetric (Chin et al., "Commercialization of Microfluidic Point-of-Care Diagnostic Devices," Lab Chip (2012)). This list includes Atolyzer® (Atonomics), Triage® (Alere), Spinit® (Biosurfit), and i-STAT® (i-STAT Corp). However, despite such PoCT systems, there remains a great need for increased sensitivity and speed in detecting biomarkers, especially neural injury biomarkers.
The present invention is directed to overcoming these and other deficiencies in the art.

Immobilized protein system for rapid and enhanced multiplexed diagnostics


A method, device, apparatus for selecting a random access resource, and storage medium. The method includes: measuring an RSRP value, an RSRQ value and a PL value of a downlink channel; calculating a fluctuation value of RSRP, RSRQ and PL, according to the measured RSRP value, the RSRQ value, the PL value and an RSRP value, an RSRQ value, a PL value in a first configuration table; comparing each of the fluctuation value of RSRP, RSRQ and PL with a respective corresponding preset threshold; and in response to each of the fluctuation value not exceeding the respective corresponding preset threshold, selecting a first CEL in a second configuration table according to the RSRP value, the RSRQ value and the PL value in the first configuration table, and determining a first random access resource according to the selected first CEL.

With the widespread use of Internet of Things (IoT) applications and IoT terminal equipment, it is necessary to provide a wireless network technology suitable for IoT communication. The 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) studies a new access system, which is configured to provide a low complexity and low throughput wireless access technology to meet the needs of wireless IoT, known as narrow band IoT (NB-IoT). The characteristics of this access technology include supporting a large number of equipment with low throughput, low latency sensitivity, ultra-low hardware cost, ultra-low power consumption and optimized network architecture.
Due to the requirement of network communication in harsh environment, NB-IoT adopts different uplink power configuration and preamble resource parameter configuration according to the classification of downlink signal strength. Existing protocols only use a single reference signal receiving power (RSRP) for estimation, which has several problems, such as waste of channel resources, high probability of initial access failure and so on.

Method, device, apparatus for selecting a random access resource, and storage medium


A flame retardant solid electrolyte comprising an ion conductive polymer matrix having moieties capable of imparting flame retardance to the polymer matrix and ether bonds in the molecule and an electrolyte salt dispersed in the polymer matrix. The flame retardant solid electrolyte may be one which comprises a non-ion-conductive polymer matrix and a liquid electrolyte consisting of an electrolyte salt dissolved in a solvent therefor, which is dispersed in the polymer matrix. The flame retardance-imparting moieties are derived from halogen or phosphorus-bearing compounds.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a solid electrolyte, and more particularly, to a flame-retardant solid electrolyte which is applicable to secondary cells which are high in energy density and safety.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There is a great demand for secondary cells which have a high energy density in order to realize small-size and lightweight portable appliances.
In order to lower environmental pollution ascribed to exhaust gases from automobiles, many attempts have been made to put electric vehicles into practice. However, to realize electric vehicles requires the development of cells which have an energy density higher than existing lead batteries.
Technical developments have now been made in order to obtain cells or batteries which have a high energy density. In the event that such a high energy density cell suffers short-circuiting, the high energy of the cell is discharged at one time. Hitherto, it is usual to avoid the problem caused by overcharging, overdischarging or external short-circuiting by use of an outside safety mechanism. However, where short-circuiting occurs in the inside of a cell, the outside safety mechanism does not work appropriately.
Accordingly, it becomes necessary to develop a safety cell which does not rely on an outside safety mechanism.


A portable monitor and electronic device carrier. The carrier includes an openable interior volume that is configured to conform to the volume of an electronic display screen and an electronic article. The carrier further includes a support member pivotably secured to an interior surface of the lid. An electronic display screen is fastenable to the support member via inserting fasteners through slots in the support member, which then engage integral female receivers on the electronic display screen. The carrier further includes a strap extending across an interior surface of the base, which is configured to secure an electronic article, such as a video game console, in place. The carrier still further includes wheels disposed on an exterior surface of the base and a telescopic handle extendable from the carrier.

The present invention relates to entertainment centers. More specifically, the present invention relates to self-contained containers or supports configured for use with monitors or screens in conjunction with video game systems, computers, and other electronic media devices.
Transporting electronic articles, e.g. video game consoles, and their associated monitors or display screens can be challenging due to the cumbersome nature of such devices. Because they are heavy and take up a substantial amount of space, they are difficult to transport using conventional luggage. Furthermore, they can also be quite fragile and easily broken if not secured properly, which is likewise difficult to accomplish using conventional luggage. Therefore, there is a need in the prior art for a carrier specifically adapted for securely transporting the combination of an electronic article and an electronic display device in a secure and easily transportable manner.

Portable monitor and electronic device carrier


A display device includes: a display panel for displaying frames during an elapse of time; and an emission driver for providing first and second emission power sources to the display panel, wherein: each of the frames comprises a first light emitting period, a light non-emitting period and a second light emitting period according to a time sequence, a difference value between the first and second emission power sources is substantially equal to or greater than a reference value during the first and second light emitting periods, and is less than the reference value during the light non-emitting period, and the difference value between the first and second emission power sources decreases over an elapse of time during the first light emitting period, and increases over an elapse of time during the second light emitting period.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, display devices such as monitors and televisions are becoming lighter and thinner. An Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display is one such device that has been attracting much attention.
OLED displays include two electrodes, and an emission layer interposed therebetween. In OLED displays, electrons injected from one of the two electrodes and holes injected from the other electrode are combined in the emission layer to form excitons, and the excitons release energy to emit light. One of the electrodes is coupled to a thin film transistor for controlling the amount of light emitted from the emission layer.
Since OLED displays are self-emitting display devices, a current is supplied to the OLEDs of the OLED displays. As the OLED displays use a high amount of current, IR drop increases. Therefore, variations in brightness may occur in one frame, and thus much research is being conducted to address the issue of brightness variation.

Display device having a power providing line


In one embodiment, a substrate processing apparatus, includes: a chamber; a first electrode disposed in the chamber; a second electrode disposed in the chamber to face the first electrode, and to hold a substrate; an RF power supply to apply an RF voltage with a frequency of 50 MHz or more to the second electrode; and a pulse power supply to repeatedly apply a voltage waveform including a negative voltage pulse and a positive voltage pulse of which delay time from the negative voltage pulse is 50 nano-seconds or less to the second electrode while superposing on the RF voltage.

In a parallel-plate type substrate processing apparatus, plasma is generated by applying RF (radio frequency) to one of a pair of electrodes, and a substrate (Wafer) placed on the electrode to which the RF is applied or on the other electrode is processed by this plasma.
Here, an art in which a positive voltage in a pulse state is applied as a bias to suppress a charge up damage and a local abnormal etching (notching) is disclosed.
However, it turns out that it is not necessarily possible to perform an effective process even if the positive voltage in the pulse state is applied.

Substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method


This invention provides pharmaceutical compositions containing compounds for the treatment of neoplasia in mammals. The phosphodiesterase inhibitory activity of a compound is determined along with COX inhibitory activity. Growth inhibitory and apoptosis inducing effects on cultured tumor cells are also determined. Compounds that exhibit phosphodiesterase inhibiton, growth inhibition and apoptosis induction, but prefereably not substantial prostaglandin inhibitory activity, are desirable for the treatment of neoplasia.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7120 to U.S. Patent App. Ser. Nos. 08/866,027 and 09/046,739, filed May 30, 1997 and Mar. 24, 1998, respectively.
This invention relates to the use of one or more forms of phosphodiesterase type 2 (xe2x80x9cPDE2xe2x80x9d) and phosphodiesterase type 5 (xe2x80x9cPDE5xe2x80x9d) and/or protein kinase G to identify compounds useful for the treatment and prevention of pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions in mammals, and to pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, as well as to therapeutic methods of treating neoplasia with such compounds.
Currently, non-surgical cancer treatment involves administering one or more highly toxic chemotherapeutics or hormonal therapies to the patient after her cancer has progressed to a point where the therapeutic benefits of chemotherapy/hormonal outweigh its very serious side effects. Such side effects are well known to any oncologist, and vary from drug to drug. However, standard chemotherapeutics are typically used only for short periods of time, often alternating chemotherapy with periods off treatment, so as not to overwhelm the patient with drug side effects. Thus, given the risk-benefit trade-off, side effects typically preclude starting chemotherapy when patients exhibit precancerous lesions, or continuing chemotherapy or hormonal therapy on a chronic basis after frank cancer has been eliminated in an attempt to prevent its re-occurrence.
Beginning a decade or so ago, a glimmer of hope began to appear from an unexpected source: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (xe2x80x9cNSAIDsxe2x80x9d). Cancer and precancer research is replete with publications that describe various biochemical molecules that are over-expressed in neoplastic tissue, leading one group after another to research whether specific over-expressed molecules are responsible for the disease, and whether, if such over-expression were inhibited, neoplasia could be alleviated. For example, in familial adenomatous polyposis (xe2x80x9cFAPxe2x80x9d), Waddell in 1983 (Waddell, W. R. et al., xe2x80x9cSulindac for Polyposis of the Colon,xe2x80x9d Journal of Surgical Oncology, 24:83-87, 1983) hypothesized that since prostaglandins were over-expressed in such polyps, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (xe2x80x9cNSAIDsxe2x80x9d) should alleviate the condition because NSAIDs inhibited prostaglandin synthetase PGE2) activity. Thus, he administered the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (xe2x80x9cNSAIDxe2x80x9d) sulindac (an inhibitor of PGE2) to several FAP patients. Waddell discovered that polyps regressed and did not recur upon such therapy. PGE2 inhibition results from the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) by NSAIDs. The success by Waddell with sulindac and the PGE2/COX relationship seemingly confirmed the role of two other biochemical targets xe2x80x94PGE2 and COXxe2x80x94in carcinogenesis, and the subsequent literature reinforced these views.
The glimmer of hope for patients suffering from neoplasia was that sulindac certainly exhibited far fewer side effects than conventional chemotherapeutics or hormonals, and opened up the possibility of treating cancer at earlier stages of the disease, and for longer periods of time as compared with conventional chemotherapeutics. However, such a hope had to be tempered with the open question of whether a compound such as sulindac could be used to treat frank cancer, given that Waddell had only administered sulindac to patients with a pre-cancerous condition, FAP.
That hope was also tempered by NSAIDs own sets of side effects. Sulindac and other NSAIDs when chronically administered, aggravate the digestive tract where PGE2 Plays a protective role. In addition, when taken chronically, they exhibit side effects involving the kidney and interference with normal blood clotting. As Waddell unfortunately experienced, some of his sulindac patients stopped taking drug because of side effects (see Waddell, W. R. et al., xe2x80x9cSulindac for Polyposis of the Colon,xe2x80x9d The American Journal of surgery, 157: 175-79, 1989), most likely returning to additional surgical interventions to control polyp formation. Thus, for neoplasia patients, such drugs are not a practical chronic treatment, e.g., for FAP, sporadic polyps or men post-prostatectomy with rising PSAs (a rising PSA in such men indicates the recurrence of disease, which may not yet present as a frank, visible cancer). These side effects also limit NSAIDs""use for any other neoplasia indication requiring long-term drug administration. More recently, some have suggested that the COX-2 specific NSAIDs such as celecoxib be used. However, the renal and other side effects of such compounds are believed to limit the dosing and length of treatment with such compounds for long-term anti-neoplastic indications. In addition, recently published data indicate that very high doses are needed for drugs like celecoxib to achieve a marginal effect on polyps in only pre-defined regions of colorectum. Perhaps more significant to colon cancer treatment is that it has been reported that certain colonic neoplasias (e.g., HCT-116) do not express COX-2, and that such inhibitors are ineffective against such neoplasias (see, Sheng, et al., xe2x80x9cInhibition of Human Colon Cancer Cell Growth By Selective Inhibition of Cyclooxygenase-2,xe2x80x9d J. Clin. Invest., 99(9):2254-9, 1997).
Recent discoveries have lead scientists away from the COX/PGE2 targets, since those targets may not be the primary (or perhaps even secondary targets) to treat neoplasia patients successfully on a chronic basis. Pamukcu et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,774, disclosed that sulfonyl compounds, that have been reported to be practically devoid of PGE2 and COX inhibition (and therefore not NSAIDs or anti-inflammatory compounds) unexpectedly inhibited the growth of a variety of neoplastic cells, including colon polyp cells. These sulfonyl derivatives have proven effective in rat models of colon carcinogenesis, and one variant (now referred to as exisulind) has proven effective in human clinical trials with FAP patients, and even more remarkably has shown effect in a frank cancer: prostate cancer itself, in a controlled clinical study presented below. Furthermore, very recent research has convincingly established that COX I and/or COX II are not expressed substantially in all neoplasias, diminishing the hope that a COX I or COX II specific inhibitor would be broadly therapeutically useful in neoplasia treatment (see, Lim et al., xe2x80x9cSulindac Derivatives Inhibit Growth and Induce Apoptosis in Human Prostate Cancer Cell Lines,xe2x80x9d Biochem. Pharmacology, Vol. 58, pp. 1097-1107 (1999) in press).
Thus, like so many other proteins over-expressed in neoplasias, PGE2/COX over-expression may not be a cause of some neoplasias, rather a consequence of some of them. But the combination of such discoveries, however, has raised the question about how do compounds such as exisulind (that have a range of activity against both COX and non-COX expressing neoplasias) act? What do such compounds do to neoplastic cells?.
Piazza, et al. (in U.S. patent application Nos. 08/866,027 and 09/046,739) discovered that compounds (such as exisulind) inhibited cyclic-specific GMP phosphodiesterase (e.g., PDE5), and that other such compounds could be screened using that enzyme, which could lead to the discovery of still other compounds that could be developed and formulated into anti-neoplastic pharmaceutical compositions. Such pharmaceutica cmpositions can be highly anti-neoplastic and can be practically devoid of side effects associated with conventional chemotherapeutics, or even the side effects of COX or PGE2 inhibition, if one wanted to avoid such side effects. In addition, anti-neoplastic cGMP-specific PDE-inhibiting compounds can induce apoptosis (a form of programmed cell death or suicide) in neoplastic cells, but not in normal cells. Thus, such new compounds have become referred to as a new class of antineoplastics known as selective apoptotic anti-neoplastic drugs (xe2x80x9cSAANDsxe2x80x9d). Accordingly, SAANDs have challenged several matters of conventional wisdom: (1) that anti-neoplastic compounds cannot be effective without also killing normal cells; (2) that COX""s are responsible for neoplasia; and (3) that prevention of colonic neoplasia by NSAIDs is likely mediated by the inhibition of one or both types of COX.
New research presented below has, however, shown that not all compounds exhibiting classic PDE5 inhibition induce apoptosis in neoplastic cells. For example, the well-known PDE5 inhibitors, zaprinast and sildenafil, do not singly induce apoptosis, or even inhibit neoplastic cell growth in our hands. However, because pro-apoptotic PDE5 inhibitors induced apoptosis selectively (i.e., in neoplastic but not in normal cells), and could do so without substantial COX inhibition, the usefulness of PDE5 as a screening tool for desirable anti-neoplastic compounds is unquestioned.
However, an enhancement to the PDE5 screening method to find anti-neoplastic, pro-apoptotic but safe compounds is desirable so that new pharmaceutical compositions can be formulated for therapeutic use in the treatment of neoplasia, including pre-cancer and cancer.
In the course of researching why some PDE5 inhibitors singly induced apoptosis while others did not, we uncovered a form of cyclic GMP-specific phosphodiesterase activity, not previously described. This new phosphodiesterase activity was previously uncharacterized. . Without being limited to a specific theory, we believe this novel PDE activity may be a novel conformation of PDE2 that substantially lacks cAMP-hydrolyzing activity, i.e. it is cGMP-specific. Classic PDE2 is not cGMP-specific (it also hydrolyzes cAMP), classic PDE2 is also found in neoplastic cells. This new PDE and PDE2 are useful in screening pharmaceutical compounds for desirable anti-neoplastic properties. Basically, eoplastic cells when PDE5 and the PDE2 activity (in its novel and conventional conformations) are inhibited by an anti-neoplastic PDE5-inhibiting compound, the result is apoptosis. When only PDE5 is inhibited (but not the several forms of PDE2), apoptosis does not occur.
In its broadest aspects, this new PDE conformation has activity characterized by:
(a) cGMP specificity over cAMP
(b) positive cooperative kinetic behavior in the presence of cGMP substrate;
(c) submicromolar affinity for cGMP; and
(d) insensitivity to incubation with purified cGMP-dependent protein kinase
Other characteristics of this novel PDE include: it has reduced sensitivity to inhibition by zaprinast and E4021, it can be separated from classical PDE5 activity by anion-exchange chromatography, it is not activated by calcium/calmodulin, and it is insensitive to rolipram, vinpocetine and indolidan.
Another embodiment of this invention involves evaluating whether a compound causes an increase in cGMP-dependent protein kinase G (xe2x80x9cPKGxe2x80x9d) activity and/or a decrease of xcex2-catenin in neoplastic cells. It has been found that unexpected characteristics of SAANDs include the elevation of PKG activity and a decrease in xcex2-catenin in neoplastic cells exposed to a SAAND. We believe that the elevation of PKG activity is due at least in part by the increase in cGMP caused by SAANDs inhibition of the appropriate PDEs, as described above. The other characteristics of SAANDs are (1) inhibition of PDE5 as reported in the ""694 Patent above, (2) inhibition of the novel cGMP-specific PDE conformation, (3) inhibition of PDE2; (4) the fact that they increase intracellular cGMP in neoplastic cells, and (5) the fact that they decrease cAMP levels in some types of neoplastic cells.
Thus, one embodiment of the novel method of this invention is evaluating hether a compound causes PKG activity to elevate in neoplastic cells and whether hat compound inhibits PDE5. Another embodiment of the novel screening method of his invention is evaluating whether a compound that causes PKG activity to elevate in neoplastic cells and whether that compound inhibits the novel cGMP-specific PDE described above and/or PDE2. Still a third embodiment is evaluating whether a compound causes PKG activity to elevate in neoplastic cells and whether that compound causes cGMP to rise in neoplastic cells and/or causes cAMP levels to fall. Compounds successfully evaluated in such fashions have application as SAANDs.
Among other things, this invention relates to novel in vitro and in vivo methods for selecting compounds for their ability to treat and prevent neoplasia, especially pre-cancerous lesions, safely. In particular, the present invention is a method for selecting compounds that can be used to treat and prevent neoplasia, including precancerous lesions. The compounds so identified can have minimal side effects attributable to COX inhibition and other non-specific interactions associated with conventional chemotherapeutics. The compounds of interest can be tested by exposing the novel PDE described above to the compounds, and if a compound inhibits this novel PDE, the compound is then firther evaluated (e.g., in vitro or in vivo animal or human testing models or trials) for its anti-neoplastic properties.
One aspect of this invention, therefore, involves a screening/selection method to identify a compound effective for treating neoplasia that includes ascertaining the compound""s inhibition of this novel PDE and/or PDE2 and its inhibition of COX. Preferably, the screening and selection methods of this invention further include determining whether the compound inhibits the growth of tumor cells in vitro or in vivo.
By selecting compounds in this fashion, potentially beneficial and improved compounds for treating neoplasia can be identified more rapidly and with greater precision than possible in the past for the purposes of developing pharmaceutical compositions and therapeutically treating neoplasia. Further benefits will be apparent from the following detailed description.
This invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, as well as therapeutic methods involving such compounds.

Methods for identifying compounds for inhibiting of neoplastic lesions, and pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds


A print control program executed by an information processing apparatus, which spools print data created and spooled via a print data creation module such as a printer driver again and concurrently performs the re-spooling and output of the print data to a resending destination or an alternate device. It is thereby possible to speed up a throughput of the output on alternation of printing or resending.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mechanism for reprinting by using a temporarily stored spool file for printing.
2. Related Background Art
There is a known transfer technology for sequentially transferring file data written as a spool file via an OS without waiting for completion of spooling in a mechanism of Windows (registered trademark).
There is also a known technology for creating a unique spool file apart from the spool file for printing created in the mechanism of Windows (registered trademark) and using the spool file for reprinting.
For instance, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-196916 discloses a retransfer technology for temporarily spooling print data transferred to a printer for the sake of using it after finishing the transfer, and retransferring the stored and spooled print data to the printer.
However, in the past technologies retransferring the unique spool file prepared for a retransfer can be performed as long as the print data is re-readable and the spooling is already finished and the process is performed in sequential processing.
For instance, there is a problem that, even if a state of the printer incapable of continuing the printing is recognized while spooling the print data, it is necessary to wait until the spooling of the spool file is finished and so it takes time until retransferring the spool file to another device.
The present invention has been implemented in consideration of the problem, and an object thereof is to provide a print control mechanism capable of retransferring at higher speed in the mechanism for retransferring the print data by using the unique spool file.

Print control program and medium and information processing apparatus


A method and an arrangement for determining the delay of a signal between a first station and a second station of the arrangement, with the aim of determining the spatial distance between the stations. A first series of first signal pulses is generated in the first station at a first pulse repetition rate f1. A second and a third series of second and third signal pulses is generated in the second station, comprising a second f2 and third pulse repetition rate f3, where f2=f1+Δf and f3=f1−Δf. The second and third series of second and third signal pulses are transmitted to the first station, where the series are correlated with the first series of first signal pulses. The delay of the signal can be determined from the time elapsed between two successive pulses of the signal arising from the correlation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to communication signal processing and, more particularly, to a method and an arrangement for determining the propagation delay of a signal between a first and second station in the arrangement with to determine the spatial distance between the stations.
2. Description of the Related Art
The industrial domain is an instance of where precisely determining a radio transmitter's position or, as the case may be, its distance from a base station or such is of significance. Besides meeting the demand for cost- and energy-saving measuring systems, particularly for applications in closed spaces or halls it is therein necessary owing to possible multipath reflections to employ high-resolution measuring systems to obviate errors in distance measuring. For instance, Ultra Wide Band (UWB) signals offer a large signal bandwidth and thereby promise a relatively high resolution and high degree of accuracy.
Various methods that employ, for example, optical signals, ultrasound signals, or radio sensor technology, are known for determining a position or, as the case may be, distance. In particular, the methods for determining a distance bistatically with the aid of radio signals can be divided into three categories.
The first category is communication-based systems. Here, the distance is determined additionally from the communication signal. The degrees of accuracy achievable in distance measurements are not expected to be high because less stringent demands are placed on synchronizing in many communication systems or, as the case may be, only a very narrowband radio channel is available.
The second category is Frequency Modulated Continuous Frequency-Stepped Continuous Wave (FMCW/FSCW) solutions. These systems operate in the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) bands and enable a distance value to be determined in a manner similar to classical FMCW radar by tuning a transmitting frequency. Transponder-based or, as the case may be, backscatter solutions are therein employed on the one hand and, on the other, receivers that can synchronize themselves therewith.
The third category is ultra wideband (UWB) systems. These systems exploit new regulations allowing the emission of ultra wideband signals which, though, have a very low spectral power density. The receiver architectures can be, for example, power detectors having a moderate capacity or coherent receivers that require either very long correlation times or an extremely fast sampling rate.
These solutions have cost implications specifically for one-dimensional distance measuring between two radio stations because complex signal-processing steps are necessary in at least one of the two stations.
FIG. 1A shows a conventional principle of measuring distance between a transmitting/receiving station 10 and an object 20. Transmitting/receiving station 10 has a phase-locked loop (PLL) 11 that drives a first 12 and second pulse generator 13. First pulse generator 12 thereupon generates a first series TX-series of signal pulses TX-puls(i), where i=0, 1, 2, 3, . . . , at a pulse-repetition rate f0. Second pulse generator 13 correspondingly generates a second series RX-series of signal pulses RX-puls(j), where j=0, 1, 2, 3, . . . , at a pulse-repetition rate f0+Δf. It can therein be assumed that, for example, signal pulses TX-puls(0) and RX-puls(0) are generated simultaneously.
Because pulse-repetition rates differ by the amount Δf, signal pulses of first series TX-series and second series RX-series regularly coincide at time intervals 1/Δf, meaning at instants TTX/RX(a)=a*1/Δf+c, where a=0, 1, 2, 3 . . . c is therein only a constant that depends on how instant t=0 is established (for example c=0 in the case of FIG. 1B).
First series TX-series is then emitted by an antenna 14 of transmitting/receiving station 10 and reflected on object 20 whose distance from transmitting/receiving station 10 is to be ascertained.
First series TX-series or, as the case may be, its signal pulses TX-puls(i) is/are reflected on object 20 and received by a second antenna 15 of transmitting/receiving station 10. Another series REC-series of signal pulses REC-puls(i) which, like first series TX-series, has a pulse-repetition rate f0, but which is time-shifted relative to series TX-series in keeping with signal propagation delay τ, will thus be available at antenna 15. Signal propagation delay τ is therein defined such that τ indicates the length of time a signal takes to travel from transmitting/receiving station 10 to object 20 and back. Received series REC-series has accordingly been shifted by τ relative to transmitted series TX-series.
Receive signal RX-series having pulse-repetition rate f0 is fed to a mixer 16 in which it is correlated with second series RX-series of signal pulses RX-puls(j) at a pulse-repetition rate f0+Δf. The signal will be detectable in the baseband if the two series' signal pulses coincide, meaning that a series BB-series having signal pulses BB-puls(k) and then having in each case a signal pulse BB-puls(k) will be generated in mixer 16 if a signal pulse RX-puls(j) of RX-series coincides in time with a signal pulse REC-puls(i) of REC-series. That occurs at instants TREC/RX(b)=b*1/Δf−τ*f0/Δf+c, where b=0, 1, 2, 3, . . . and c=constant (see above).
The time distance Δ between an instant TTX/RX(a) at which two pulses of series TX-series and RX-series coincide in time and an instant TREC/TX(b) at which two pulses of series of REC-series and RX-series coincide in time, Δ=τ*f0/Δf, will then with a=b be proportional to propagation delay τ and hence also to the distance between transmitting/receiving station 10 and object 20.
FIG. 1B shows the time characteristics of the different pulse series TX-series, RX-series, RX-series, and BB-series. Signal pulses TX-puls(0) and RX-puls(0) were generated simultaneously. Receive signal REC-series has been time-shifted relative to first pulse series TX-series due to propagation delay τ. The result BB-series for series REC-series and RX-series correlating that occur in mixer 16 is shown at the bottom of the chart. Comparing instant TREC/RX(1) with TTX/RX(1) will supply signal propagation delay τ. It should be appreciated that the same applies to comparing instants TREC/RX(2) with TTX/RX(2), etc., meaning that comparing instants TREC/RX(a) with TTX/RX(a) will supply the propagation delay being sought.
The conventional method that is presented assumes, however, that the transmitter and receiver are accommodated in one and the same station or, as the case may be, that a common time scale for the different signal series is established by PLL 11, meaning that the transmitter and receiver are synchronized. Only the distance from an object can accordingly be measured with this method, not the distance between two stations. If the transmitter and receiver are mutually separate and not fed by a shared PLL, for example, synchronizing will first need to be established for measuring the distance between the transmitter and receiver.

Method and arrangement for measuring delay of a signal between two stations of the arrangement


In a turbine engine hydrogen is injected into the combustor in response to a power output level of the turbine engine. In a preferred embodiment, gaseous hydrogen is always injected at low-power operations and switched off at mid-power and high-power operations.

A gas turbine engine includes a core having a compressor fixedly joined to a turbine by a core rotor extending axially therebetween. At least one combustor, for example an annular combustor or a plurality of combustor chambers distributed around the core, are disposed between the compressor and the turbine and include fuel injectors. The fuel injectors may be joined to a fuel control valve which meters fuel into the at least one combustor during operation.
The compressor includes one or more stages of circumferentially spaced apart compressor rotor blades and cooperating compressor stator vanes through which air is channeled during operation for increasing the pressure thereof. The pressurized air is discharged from the compressor and mixed with fuel in the combustor and suitably ignited for generating hot combustion gas which flows downstream therefrom and through the turbine. The turbine includes one or more stages of turbine rotor blades circumferentially spaced apart from each other, with cooperating turbine nozzle vanes expanding the combustion gas and extracting energy therefrom.
The engine also includes a suitable controller for controlling the various components thereof over a large range of rotor speed and output power.
Examples of known gas turbines which are suitable for use as aircraft engines are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,760, incorporated herein by reference and U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,5469, also incorporated herein as reference.
Thus, it is generally know in the art to power turbines with gases expelled from combustion chambers. These gas powered turbines can produce power for many applications such as aeronautics, but also terrestrial power plants or as power sources of ships. In the gas powered turbine the fuel is combusted in an oxygen rich environment. In the very most cases, the fuel is a hydrocarbon fuel, i.e. the fuel on the basis of hydrocarbon compounds, such as methane, natural gas, gasoline or kerosene. Generally, these combustion systems may emit undesirable compounds such as nitrous oxide compounds (NOX) and carbon-containing compounds. It is generally desirable to decrease various emissions as much as possible so that selected compounds may not enter the atmosphere. In particular, it has become desirable to reduce NOX emissions to a substantially low level.
Various attempts have been made to reduce gaseous emissions of turbine engine combustors. For example, in US 2006/0156729 A1, a catalytic combustor and method for substantially eliminating various emissions is disclosed using a catalytic structure within a combustor chamber. Within the catalyst, the temperature of the air is increased to an auto-ignition temperature which ignites a further part of the fuel that is added later. To achieve a prescribed temperature of the catalysts, hydrogen gas is used during a start-up to power the gas turbine.
Such known gas turbine engines have the disadvantage that the catalysts are heavy and take up considerable space within the combustor chamber. Hence, the whole arrangement is bulky, heavy and complicated.
Hither to, turbine engine combustor size has been the result of a trade-off between antagonist requirements:    a) at low turbine engine power, the relatively low speed combustion kinetics require a large combustor to mitigate un-burnt hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions.    b) on the other hand, at high turbine engine power, a small combustor is desirable to minimize nitrogen oxide emissions (NOX), since NOX formation, which takes place at high temperatures, is slower than combustion.
Current turbine engine combustors are a good compromise between low and high power requirements.
However, the quest for ever more fuel-efficient turbine engines paves the way to very high bypass ratio, and very high pressure ratio turbine engines. Such turbine engines exhibit high pressure and high temperature at combustor inlets during high power operations. This is detrimental to NOX emissions. In addition, environmental concerns have led, and are likely to lead, to more and more stringent NOX certification requirements.
It is an object of the invention to reduce turbine engine combustor emissions of turbine engines that are operated over a large output power range.
A further object of the invention is to reduce gaseous turbine engine combustor emissions without increasing the size or weight of the combustor.
It is a further object of the invention to reduce the size and weight of the combustor without a negative effect on turbine engine combustor emissions.
It is a further object of the invention to provide gas turbine engines with a high bypass ratio and a very high pressure ratio, but low NOX emissions.

Gas turbine engine and method for reducing turbine engine combustor gaseous emission