The present invention includes a method for creating a system in a package with integrated lumped element devices and active devices on a single chip/substrate for heterogeneous integration system-on-chip (HiSoC) in photo-definable glass, comprising: masking a design layout comprising one or more electrical passive and active components on or in a photosensitive glass substrate; activating the photosensitive glass substrate, heating and cooling to make the crystalline material to form a glass-crystalline substrate; etching the glass-crystalline substrate; and depositing, growing, or selectively etching a seed layer on a surface of the glass-crystalline substrate on the surface of the photodefinable glass.

Without limiting the scope of the invention, its background is described in connection with heterogeneous integration RF, microwave and millimeter wave passive and active devices and subsystems into a single package or device. Where the active elements are not packaged in a ceramic or plastic package and where both the RF passive and active elements are integrated directly into or on the single substrate/structure. This represents the ultimate level of integration for an RF system.
The next level of integration beyond this is RF heterogeneous integration System on a chip (HiSoC). An RF HiSoC consists of discrete passive devices (inductor, capacitors and resistors) in the form of discrete lump element, waveguide and/or transmission line device in the form of RF Filters Impedance Matching Elements, 50 Ohm Termination Elements, Integrated Ground Planes, RF Shielding Elements, EMI Shielding Elements combined with active semiconductor devices in/on ceramic/plastic/glass substrate. The technical goal of a HiSoC has traditionally met with three primary technological hurdles. These primary technical hurdles include: 1) Thermal management (spreading and removing heat generated form the active devices; 2) Protection of both active and passive devices from mobile ion contamination from each other; and 3) Material compatibility (TCE and others). There are other secondary or engineering issues such as metallization compatibility between the active and passive devices, solder ball resolution pick and place assembly. The active semiconductor devices including; Microprocessor, Memory, Amplifier, gain blocks, high-speed transistors and other semiconductor devices, subsystems or systems.
Passive and active devices can be combined to make a wide array of RF level systems and subsystems including antennas with gain, RF Circulators, RF Isolators, RF Combiners, RF Couplers, RF Splitters, Transformers, Switches, Multiplexors, Duplexers, and/or Diplexers. Heterogeneous integration is the integrating of both the RF semiconductor die (active device) and RF Filters (passive device) directly into to the RF substrate providing the industry with: the highest level of RF electrical to RF transmission efficiency; dramatic RF system level performance in enhanced power efficiency/low power consumption, enhance transmission distance, higher data rates, in the most compact cost effective form factor.
Passive devices can be made in a photosensitive glass structures have been suggested for a number of micromachining and microfabrication processes such as integrated electronic elements in conjunction with other elements systems or subsystems. Silicon microfabrication processes rely on expensive capital equipment; photolithography and reactive ion etching or ion beam milling tools that generally cost in excess of one million dollars each and require an ultra-clean, high-production silicon fabrication facility costing millions to billions more. Injection molding and embossing are less costly methods of producing a three-dimensional shapes but generate defects with in the transfer or have differences due to the stochastic curing process. Ideal inductors would have zero resistance and zero capacitance. Real world electronic devices have "parasitic" that include: resistance, inductance and capacitance. These parasitic can come from a wide number of sources such as: (1) the inter-winding capacitance from an inductor: (2) PCB interconnects; (3) Long metal redistribution line lengths; (4) Bond pads; (5) Solder balls; (6) Substrate incompatibility plus RF losses and dielectric constant/loss tangent associated with the substrate; (7) The wire bonding is often used as the inductive element for an RF SoC. Inconstancies in the wire bonding in the shape, length, or geometries leads to significant variation in the inductance, and/or (8) inconsistent in the overall assembly. The inductance for a RF filter used in a system is often provided by the inductance of the wire used in the wire bonding. Small changes in the wire in the wire bonding have a significant impact on the inductance required for the RF filter used in RF, microwave and millimeter wave circuits filter. Traditional inductors cannot be made small enough to be an effective filter. Elimination of use of wire bond as the inductor and the associated inconstancies in the affiliated inductance is critical to increase yield and performance and decreasing cost.
Closer the integration of both the substrate, active and passive devices the dramatically reduces the losses and size for RF, Microwave and millimeter electronic systems. The technologies that comprise the substrates substrate, active and passive devices and subsystems in the past have shown to be incompatible from a thermal management, mobile ion based cross contamination, thermal expansion coefficient and additional material properties.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Heterogenous integration for RF, microwave and MM wave systems in photoactive glass substrates


An apparatus is provided for closing an internal divider gate in a livestock transport vehicle (i.e. trailer). The vehicle has one side with an opening. A bar is pivotally connected to the side adjacent to the opening, and is received through the opening such that the bar has an outer bar portion outside the vehicle and an inner bar portion inside the vehicle. A roller is rotatably connected to an inner end defined by the inner bar portion. A handle is preferably fixedly connected to the outer bar portion adjacent to an outer end defined by such bar portion. An operator pulls on the handle to move the outer bar portion outwardly from the side and the inner bar portion in the opposite direction to place the roller in rolling contact with the gate. The bar pushes the gate from an open position and partway to a closed position with the roller in rolling contact with the gate, the gate gaining sufficient momentum to swing the rest of the way to the closed position with the roller out of contact with the gate. The apparatus can be used to close an internal divider gate with the operator's arms outside the vehicle for optimum safety.

This invention relates to a gate closing apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for closing an internal divider gate in a livestock transport vehicle, most typically a trailer.
A trailer for transporting livestock usually has at least one internal divider gate that can be closed to divide the interior of the trailer into multiple compartments. The multiple compartments are desirable for separating different types of animals, small calves and full grown cattle, bulls and cows, etc. Animals are conventionally loaded into the trailer from a chute. The operator of the trailer stands outside the trailer during the loading process, since entering the trailer during loading (especially with full grown cattle) would be extremely dangerous and also impractical when loading from the chute. The operator closes a divider gate by inserting his or her arm through an existing opening (i.e. one of multiple "window" openings) in the sidewall of the trailer, and manually pushes the gate closed. However, if an animal kicks or in any way knocks the gate back while the operator is closing the gate, this can result in serious injury to the operator's arm.


A disclosed optical transport system is configured to use hierarchical modulation for better utilization of the available BER margin, e.g., to increase data-transport capacity per carrier wavelength in the system. For example, hierarchical modulation may be used to reduce the number of carrier wavelengths assigned to support a given volume of bidirectional data transport between a set of nodes in an optical backbone network. An embodiment of the disclosed optical transport system can advantageously be constructed by modifying a conventional WDM system, e.g., by adding configurable hierarchical-layer mappers at some of the nodes and modifying some of the ROADMs used therein to enable a drop-and-continue mode of operation.

Field
The present disclosure relates to optical communication equipment and, more specifically but not exclusively, to the use of hierarchical modulation in optical transport systems.
Description of the Related Art
This section introduces aspects that may help facilitate a better understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, the statements of this section are to be read in this light and are not to be understood as admissions about what is in the prior art or what is not in the prior art.
As used herein, the term "hierarchical modulation" refers to a modulation technique in which multiple data streams are multiplexed into a single symbol stream. In its most basic form, hierarchical modulation has two modulation layers referred to as the base layer and the enhancement layer. In this particular hierarchical-modulation variant, each constellation point of the base layer is split into multiple constellation points using the operative constellation of the enhancement layer. In more-complex hierarchical-modulation schemes, more enhancement layers can be added by further splitting each of the constellation points corresponding to the last enhancement layer using the operative constellation of the next enhancement layer. In the literature, hierarchical modulation may also be referred to as "layered modulation."

Optical network architecture for hierarchical modulation


A signal regenerator is provided which includes a common mode reference generator and a signal converter circuit. A common mode reference voltage level is generated which is variable in relation to at least one of a process used to fabricate the common mode reference generator, a level of a power supply voltage provided to the common mode reference generator or a temperature at which the common mode reference generator is operated. A signal converter circuit receives a differentially transmitted signal pair including a first input signal and a second input signal and outputs a single-ended output signal representing information carried by the differentially transmitted signal pair. Using a feedback signal from the common mode reference generator, a feedback control block controls a common mode level of the single-ended output signal in accordance with the common mode reference voltage level.

The present invention relates to microelectronic circuits, especially those which are capable of converting signals from one signaling protocol, e.g., from a pair of differentially transmitted signals, to another signaling protocol, such as a signaling protocol in which one or more single-ended signals are transmitted.
Microelectronic circuits of various types of required to convert certain signals that are transmitted in accordance with one signaling protocol into different signals that correspond to a different signaling protocol. The process of converting from one signaling protocol to another can be problematic, particularly when the change involves more than merely shifting the voltage levels of the signals between one voltage to another. Some signaling protocols produce single-ended CMOS logic or TTL logic-type signals which have rail-to-rail signal swings which are readily usable by complementary metal oxide semiconductor ("CMOS") logic circuits or transistor-transistor-logic ("TTL"). However, such single-ended rail-to-rail signals are not well adapted for transmitting high switching rate signals and/or transmitting signals within noisy environments.
On the other hand, signaling protocols which transmit signals via a pair of complementary non-return-to-zero ("NRZ") differential signals are well adapted for transmitting high switching rate signals through noisy environments, and for doing so while consuming less power than that needed by other signaling protocols to achieve a comparable signal-to-noise ratio. Differential signaling protocols are being used increasingly in high-speed serializer-deserializer circuits, for example, for transmitting signals from one semiconductor device chip which houses an integrated circuit to another such semiconductor device chip. One such differential signaling protocol is known as current mode logic ("CML"). In the current mode logic protocol, an information signal is transmitted on a pair of wires as a pair of reduced signal swing NRZ differential signals. As an example, the differential signals swing between opposite high and low signal levels which have voltage levels that are usually only a few tens of millivolts to a few hundred millivolts apart. For instance, in one example, when a first one of the two differential signals is at a high level of 800 mV, the second one of the two differential signals can be at a low level of 400 mV. The difference between the high and low levels at a receiving circuit can be even smaller, such as about 50 mV and 100 mV, resulting in a peak-to-peak signal swing of 100 to 200 mV.
When the information carried by the two differential signals changes, the two signals swing between their respective levels to the opposite levels so that the first differential signal is at the low level and the second differential signal is at the high level. The two differentially transmitted current mode logic signals are received and converted to a single-ended signaling protocol by applying the two signals to circuits such as inverter circuits which amplify a difference (voltage and/or current) between them and outputting a single-ended output signal.
However, heretofore, many difficulties remain unaddressed in the performance of this signal conversion process. One key problem has been converting differential signals in such manner to produce rail-to-rail signals that have duty cycles compatible with the circuits that consume the signals. When the consuming circuits operate at their best with rail-to-rail signals having a 50% duty cycle, signals having noticeably asymmetric duty cycles, e.g., 55%-45%, 65%-35% or worse, can lead to high bit error rates, or require the transmission rate of the data carried thereby to be lowered. U.S. Pat. No. 6,559,685 to Green ("the Green Patent") and U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,217 to Mellot ("the Mellot Patent") illustrate examples of signal converter circuits that fail to achieve 50% duty cycles.
On the other hand, U.S. Pat. No. 6,426,660 to Ho et al. ("the Ho et al. Patent") describes a circuit designed to convert a clock signal from one frequency to another and achieve a 50% duty cycle. However, the circuitry applied to the task is cumbersome, requires a relatively large area of a semiconductor chip to implement and consumes much power.

International Business Machines Corporation


In order to connect a pump (1) with an electric motor (2) quickly and form-fittingly, a hollow, tappet-shaped stud (6) is formed onto the pot-shaped motor housing (7), specifically onto the bottom of the pot (10). The stud engages an insertion recess (5) of the pump. A driving eccentric (4) of the driven shaft (3) is connected with the pump during the assembly of the pump. If the inside of the tappet-shaped stud (6) is to receive the first motor bearing, a fit is needed at the inside as well as at the outside of the stud. If the motor housing (7) is made from deep drawn sheet metal, the double fit is only possible, if, when viewed in the circumferential direction, the cross section of the wall of the stud (6) is formed like a wave. This facilitates the use of a plastic cover (18) in connection with the sheet metal housing (7) and the avoidance of a carbon brush support plate. In connection with a further embodiment, the lack of a support plate facilitates an automatic assembly of the motor (2) as well as the combination with plug connections and electronic housings.

The present invention relates to an electric motor connected with a pump. The housing of the pump has a cylindrical insertion recess which receives a tappet-shaped stud of the motor housing. The stud encloses the first bearing of the motor armature free from play. The recess is situated at the side of the pump and provides an aperture for the armature shaft.
Units including a pump and an electric motor are known. A specific field of use for such units is in the brake system of a motor vehicle and, especially, in the anti-locking-system for the brakes of a motor vehicle. Typically, the pump is a radial piston liquid pump which is driven by an eccentric on the driven shaft of an electric motor. According to the prior art, a motor housing made from sheet metal is used. The motor housing is equipped with an aluminium flange which receives the bearing and has to be treated accordingly. In addition, a separate carbon brush support plate is necessary.


A self-assembled multilayer and in particular polymeric self-assembled multilayer can be effectively produced from two or more self-assembled monolayers on a substrate where each of the self-assembled monolayers is produced for a block containing a first functional group and a second functional group where the second functional group is reacted with the first functional group. The production of polymerizable, self-assembled mono- and multi-layers from, e.g., blocks containing at least two acetylene groups and/or polymerizable end groups, is also provided. The polymerized mono- or multilayer can be employed in a variety of applications including photolithography.

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are known in the art. See, for example, Dubois et al., Annu. Rev. Phys. Chem., 1992, 43, p. 437 et seq., which is incorporated herein by reference. Recently, one class of SAM that has received considerable attention are organomercaptans. See, for example, Kim et al. "Polymeric Self-Assembling Monolayer. 1. Synthesis and Characterization of .omega.-Functionalized N-Alkanethiol Containing a Conjugated Diacetylene Group" Tetrahedron Letters, Vol. 35, No. 51, pp. 9501-9504, 1994; Kim et al., "Polymeric Self-Assembling Monolayer. 2. Synthesis and Characterization of Self-Assembled Polydiacetylene Mono- and Multilayers.", J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1995, 117, pp. 3963-3967; and Batchelder et al., "Self-Assembled Monolayer containing Polydiacetylenes", J. Am. Chem. Sc., 1994, 116, pp. 1050-1053, each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
One area of study relating to SAMs has involved the stability of such monolayers. While in certain environments, e.g., water or air at room temperature, the SAM's can be considered robust, one disadvantage associated with the use of most SAMs relates to their fragility in environments that involve elevated temperatures and/or solvents able to penetrate the SAM.
One solution to this problem is represented by the polymerization of SAMs. Batchelder et al disclose the use of UV radiation in polymerizing SAMs produced from methyl-terminated diacetylene disulfide. While it has been found that polymerized SAMs have high structural integrity and are more rugged than their unpolymerized counterparts, SAMs produced from methyl-terminated diacetylene disulfide are very limited in their use. Because of the presence of the methyl group at the terminal end of the SAM blocks, the surface of the SAM according to Batchelder is considered nonreactive.
In a different vein, the art has looked at multilayer assemblies of self-assembling monolayers. For example, the formation of built up films by the stepwise adsorption of individual monolayers is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,061 to Sagiv. However, these monolayers suffer from the same disadvantages as other non-polymerized monolayers. Moreover, the process described in this patent itself is limiting. That is, the process requires the use of a molecule having a polar "head" and a non-polar functional group in producing the monolayer. This is followed by a conversion of non-polar groups to a polar head in order to allow for the build up of subsequent monolayers. Accordingly, not only is the disclosed process relatively complex but the practical applications are limited.
Accordingly, the need still exists for an improved polymeric self-assembled mono- and multi-layer structure that does not suffer from the limitations associated with previous films.

Polymeric self-assembled mono- and multilayers and their use in photolithography


An image creation and editing tool can use the data produced from training a neural network to add stylized representations of an object to an image. An object classification will correspond to an object representation, and pixel values for the object representation can be added to, or blended with, the pixel values of an image in order to add a visualization of a type of object to the image. Such an approach can be used to add stylized representations of objects to existing images or create new images based on those representations. The visualizations can be used to create patterns and textures as well, as may be used to paint or fill various regions of an image. Such patterns can enable regions to be filled where image data has been deleted, such as to remove an undesired object, in a way that appears natural for the contents of the image.

Many artists take advantage of digital tools to create and edit images. These tools can include the ability to digitally draw or paint an image and the ability to copy and paste image content into an image, among others. Even with significant advances, these tools still rely upon the artist to manually create or modify much of the image content, which can be a complex and time-consuming endeavor.


A golf club with a golf club head having non-metallic fasteners is presented. The club head may include a face member, a body member, a sole member and a crown member. The various portions of the club head may be connected using mechanical fasteners, such as screws. In some arrangements, the screws may be formed of a non-metallic material, such as a composite material, in order to reduce weight associated with the club head. In some arrangements, a portion of the mechanical fasteners may be formed of a non-metallic material and may be placed in regions of the club head where reduced weight is desired, while another portion of the fasteners may be formed of metal or other heavier material and may be placed in regions where additional weight may be desired.

As the popularity of the game of golf has increased in recent decades, golf club designers have continued to develop new ways to improve performance of clubs, reduce weight associated with clubs, etc. In addition, club designers are often looking for new ways to redistribute weight associated with a golf club and/or golf club head. Golf clubs are assembled using various methods of connection, such as adhesives, mechanical fasteners, and the like. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a method of connection for various portions of a golf club and/or golf club head that reduced the overall weight of a club and/or redistributed weight to desired areas.


An exemplary system for providing remote deletion of contact information includes a first device associated with a first user. The first device is configured to generate and send a delete request message to a second device. In some embodiments, the delete request message includes a request to delete contact information for the first user from the second device. The second device can be configured to receive the delete request message and delete the first user's contact information. A method for providing remote deletion of contact information includes a delete request message being generated at a first device, associated with a first user. The delete request message can include a request to delete contact information for the first user. The first device can send the delete request message to a second device. The delete request message can instruct the second device to delete the first user's contact information.

Mobile communications devices, such as cellular telephones, include memory to store contact information. This contact information is typically arranged in an address book (also known as a contact list) and can include name, address information, telephone numbers, and email addresses, for example. Many of these address book systems offer features such as speed dial, voice dial, custom ringtones, and images to enhance the look of the address book and user experience of using the address book. Address book options allow for various communication methods including voice call, messaging, and email.
Typically, contact information is shared and manually entered by a user or acquired by an electronic business card, such as a vCard, for example. A person that receives the contact information is free to save or delete the contact information at will.

Systems and methods for remote deletion of contact information


The invention relates to devices, systems and methods for cleaning medical tools having an elevator mechanism; for example, duodenoscopes, linear echoendoscopes, and side viewing endoscopes. The device includes two nozzles for being positioned near and/or inserted in spaces around the elevator mechanism. The system includes the device and a pump to supply liquid to the device.

It is challenging to appropriately clean side viewing duodenoscopes and linear echoendoscopes, other endoscopes and medical tools with an elevator mechanism, and medical tools with any part or system where standard cleaning with available brushes is not possible. The limitation is because of narrow crevices and spaces surrounding the elevator, which cannot be manually reached and cleaned appropriately. The retained debris and body fluids have been reported to be the reason for transmission of multi-drug resistant bacteria. Therefore, there is a need for devices and systems for cleaning medical tools having an elevator mechanism or difficult-to-reach crevices and spaces, including but not limited to duodenoscopes, linear echoendoscopes, and other side viewing endoscopes.


1,2,4-Thiadiazine and 1,4-thiazine derivatives represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein A, B, D, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are defined in the description, compositions thereof and methods for preparing the compounds are described. The compounds are useful in the treatment of diseases of the central nervous system, the cardiovascular system, the pulmonary system, the gastrointestinal system and the endocrinologic system.

Potassium channels play an important role in membrane potential. Among the different types of potassium channels are the ATP-sensitive (K.sub.ATP -) channels which are regulated by changes in the intracellular concentration of adenosine triphosphate. The K.sub.ATP -channels have been found in cells from various tissues such as cardiac cells, pancreatic-cells, skeletal muscles, smooth muscles, central neurons and adenohypophysis cells. The channels have been associated with diverse cellular functions for example hormone secretion (insulin from pancreatic beta-cells, growth hormone and prolactin from adenohypophysis cells), vasodilation (in smooth muscle cells), cardiac action potential duration, neurotransmitter release in the central nervous system.
Modulators of the K.sub.ATP -channels have been found to be of importance for the treatment of various diseases. Certain sulphonylureas which have been used for the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus act by stimulating insulin release through an inhibition of the K.sub.ATP -channels on pancreatic beta-cells.
The potassium channel openers, which comprise a heterogeneous group of compounds, have been found to be able to relax vascular smooth muscles and have therefore been used for the treatment of hypertension.
In addition, potassium channel openers can be used as bronchodilators in the treatment of asthma and various other diseases.
Furthermore, potassium channel openers have been shown to promote hairgrowth, and have been used for the treatment of baldness.
Potassium channel openers are also able to relax urinary bladder smooth muscle and therefore, can be used for the treatment of urinary incontinence. Potassium channel openers which relax smooth muscle of the uterus can be used for treatment of premature labor.
By acting on potassium channels of the central nervous system these compounds can be used for treatment of various neurological and psychiatric diseases such as Alzheimer, epilepsia and cerebral ischemia.
Recently, it has been shown that Diazoxide (7-chloro-3-methyl-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide) and certain 3-(alkylamino)-4H-pyrido4,3-e!-1,2,4-thiadiazine 1,1-dioxide derivatives inhibit insulin release by an activation of K.sub.ATP -channels on pancreatic beta-cells (Pirotte B. et al. Biochem. Pharmacol, 47, 1381-1386 (1994); Pirotte B. et al., J. Med. Chem., 36, 3211-3213 (1993). Diazoxide has furthermore been shown to delay the onset of diabetes in BB-rats (Vlahos W. D. et al. Metabolism 40, 39-46 (1991). In obese zucker rats diazoxide has been shown to decrease insulin secretion and increase insulin receptor binding and consequently improve glucose tolerance and decrease weight gain (Alemzadeh R. et al. Endocrinol. 133, 705-712, 1993). It is expected that such compounds can be used for treatment of diseases characterised by an overproduction of insulin and for the treatment and prevention of diabetes.
EP 618 209 discloses a class of pyridothiadiazine derivatives having an alkyl or an alkylamino group in position 3 of the thiadiazine ring. These compounds are claimed to be agonists at the AMPA-glutamate receptor.
In J. Med. Chem. 1980, 23, 575-577 the synthesis of 4(5)-amino- and formylaminoimidazo-5(4) carboxamide and their properties as agents of chemotherapeutic value are described. Especially, the compounds 3-aminoimidazo4,5-e!-1,2,4-thiadiazine 1,1-dioxide and N-benzoylaminoimidazo4,5-e!-1,2,4-thiadiazine 1,1-dioxide are shown.

Fused 1,2,4-thiadiazine and fused 1,4-thiazine derivatives, their preparation and use


A protection circuit protects a semiconductor device provided on a semiconductor substrate and including an interconnect from charge entering the interconnect during fabrication of the semiconductor device. The protection circuit includes a first metal interconnect connected to the interconnect; a forward diode and a backward diode connected in parallel to the interconnect; an NMIS whose drain is connected to the output port of the forward diode, whose source is connected to the semiconductor substrate and whose gate is grounded through an upper metal interconnect; a PMIS whose drain is connected to the input port of the backward diode and whose source is connected to the semiconductor substrate; a first antenna connected to the gate of the NMIS; and a second antenna connected to the gate of the PMIS.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor protection circuit of a semiconductor device, and more particularly, it relates to a circuit for protecting a device from charge entering an interconnect such as a word line provided in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and a method for operating the same.
In accordance with recently increased degree of integration and reduced cost of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, a MONOS (metal-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon) memory technique in which a virtual ground type array is used and charge is locally trapped in an insulating film disposed beneath a gate electrode has been proposed.
In a MONOS memory, when a high (positive or negative) voltage is applied to a word line owing to charge generated during the fabrication, the threshold voltage of a memory cell is varied, and therefore, it is necessary to provide a circuit for protecting a word line or a charge trapping layer from the charge generated during the fabrication.
Now, a conventional semiconductor protection circuit will be described with reference to drawings.
First, a first conventional technique will be described (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,337,502 and 6,117,714). A conventional MONOS memory includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in the form of a matrix; word lines provided correspondingly to the rows of the memory cells and respectively connected to gate electrodes of MONOS structures included in the corresponding memory cells; bit lines provided correspondingly to the columns of the memory cells and respectively connected to impurity diffusion layers of the corresponding memory cells; an X decoder for driving the word lines; a Y decoder connected to the bit lines; and a sense amplifier for amplifying a signal read by the Y decoder. Each memory cell includes a P-type well formed in a P-type substrate; a charge trapping layer and a word line electrode successively formed on the P-type well in this order in the upward direction; N-type diffusion layers formed in the P-type well on both sides of the charge trapping layer; a word line formed above the word line electrode and made of a first layer metal interconnect; and a contact for connecting the word line electrode and the first layer metal interconnect. The bit line is connected to the N-type diffusion layer (i.e., the source or drain) of the memory cell.
FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram of a conventional semiconductor protection circuit. It is noted that this drawing shows a state attained during the fabrication, and specifically, it shows a state of the conventional semiconductor protection circuit attained after forming a first layer metal interconnect 1012. As shown in FIG. 13, the first layer metal interconnect 1012 for connecting a word line of a memory cell and an X decoder is connected to the drain of an N-channel MOS transistor 1102 (hereinafter referred to as the NMOS 1102) disposed in a P-type well PW. The drain of the NMOS 1102 also functions as an N-type diffusion layer included in a backward diode 1103. The source of the NMOS 1102 is grounded and the gate electrode thereof is connected to an antenna formed by using the first layer metal interconnect 1012 or the like.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional semiconductor protection circuit of FIG. 13. It is noted that this drawing shows a state thereof attained during the fabrication, and for example, it shows a state of the conventional semiconductor protection circuit attained during formation of a first layer metal interconnect 1012. As shown in FIG. 14, the conventional semiconductor protection circuit includes a P-type well 1003 provided in a P-type semiconductor substrate 1001; an isolation insulating film 1005 formed on the P-type well 1003; a gate insulating film 1008 and a gate electrode 1009b provided on the P-type well 1003; N-type diffusion layers 1007 including an N-type impurity and provided in the P-type well 1003 on both sides of the gate electrode 1009b; and a P-type diffusion layer 1006 formed on the P-type well 1003 to be in contact with one N-type diffusion layer 1007. A word line electrode 1009a of a memory cell is connected to the first layer metal interconnect 1012 through a contact 1011a and is connected to one N-type diffusion layer 1007 working as the drain of the NMOS 1102 through a contact 1011b. Since the other N-type diffusion layer 1007 working as the source of the NMOS 1102 is connected to the P-type diffusion layer 1006, it has the same potential as the P-type well 1003, namely, the ground potential.
FIG. 15 is a diagram for showing a method for protecting a memory cell from positive charge by the conventional semiconductor protection circuit. When positive charge enters the first layer metal interconnect 1012, the drain voltage of the NMOS 1102 is increased in the positive direction. Simultaneously, since the potential of the antenna 1104 connected to the gate of the NMOS 1102 is also increased in the positive direction, the NMOS 1102 is turned on, and hence, the drain and the source of the NMOS 1102 are connected to each other. Accordingly, the positive charge transferred to the drain of the NMOS 1102 can be drained to the ground. Specifically, when the threshold voltage of the NMOS 1102 is approximately 1 V, the potential increase of the word line electrode 1009a caused by positive charge can be suppressed to approximately 1 V.
FIG. 16 is a diagram for showing a method for protecting a memory cell from negative charge by the conventional semiconductor protection circuit. When negative charge enters the first layer metal interconnect 1012, the negative charge can be drained to the ground through the backward diode 1103.
FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram of the conventional semiconductor protection circuit obtained after completing the fabrication. The conventional semiconductor protection circuit is characterized by the gate electrode and the source of the NMOS 1102 being grounded.
FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional semiconductor protection circuit of FIG. 17 obtained after completing the fabrication. The word line electrode 1009a is connected to the first layer metal interconnect 1012 through the contact 1011a and is further connected to a second layer metal interconnect 1014 through a first via 1013a to be connected to the X decoder through the second layer metal interconnect 1014a. The gate electrode 1009b of the NMOS 1102 is connected to the first layer metal interconnect 1012 through a contact 1011c, is further connected to a second layer metal interconnect 1014b through a first via 1013b and is further connected to a third layer metal interconnect 1016 through a second via 1015, so as to be grounded through the vias and the contact.
In this manner, as a characteristic of this conventional technique, while the metal interconnect connected to a word line is being processed, the gate electrode 1009b is placed in a floating state connected to the antenna, and after completing the processing of the metal interconnect connected to a word line, the potential of the gate electrode 1009b is suppressed to the ground potential.
In a data write operation, a voltage of, for example, approximately +9 V is applied to a word line of the semiconductor memory. At this point, the NMOS 1102 is in an off state because its gate electrode is grounded, and hence, the voltage of 9 V applied to the word line is never dropped. Also, since a reverse voltage is applied to the backward diode 1103, no current passes, and hence, the applied voltage is never dropped by the conduction of the backward diode. Accordingly, the voltage of approximately +9 V can be applied to the word line of the memory cell 1101.
In a data delete operation, a voltage of approximately 0 V (substantially equal to the ground potential) is applied to the word line of the memory cell 1101. At this point, the NMOS 1102 is in an off state because its gate electrode is grounded, and hence, the voltage of 0 V applied to the word line is never changed. Also, since the same potential is applied to both ends of the backward diode 1103, the voltage applied to the word line is never changed by the conduction of the backward diode 1103. Accordingly, the voltage of approximately +0 V can be applied to the word line.

Semiconductor protection circuit, method for fabricating the same and method for operating semiconductor protection circuit


A switch matrix for selectively connecting at least one of N signal inputs to at least one of M signal outputs, N and M being integers greater than two, includes a cluster of N input switches arranged about each of the M signal outputs resulting in at least M clusters of N input switches, each input switch having a switch input and a switch output, the switch outputs being connected to respective signal outputs, the clusters and the input switches in the clusters being arranged to permit adjacent switch inputs of adjacent clusters to be connected to form input switch nodes; and a steering switch for each of the signal inputs. The steering switch selectably connects a signal input to an input switch node, wherein the combination of the steering switches and the input switches are operable to connect a desired signal input to a desired signal output.

The present invention relates to electrical test instruments and, in particular, to a switch matrix for test connections.
Referring to FIG. 1, a typical cross-point switch matrix 10 is formed from rows and columns of output lines Oi and input lines Ii, respectively. "Switches" 12 are located at the cross points to allow connection of inputs to outputs. The switches may be, for example, simple mechanical switches, mechanical relays, or solid-state electronic equivalents thereto.
One limitation on the operation of the switch matrix 10 is that the upper frequency limit is affected by the "stub" lengths in the switch matrix 10. A stub may be considered to be a conductor connected to a signal of interest, but not actually carrying the signal from input to output. For example, when the input IN is connected to the output Oi, stubs include the conductor portion 14 and conductor portion 16. In general, as the number of elements in the switch matrix 10 increases, the stub effects increase, limiting the frequency of the signal that may be switched.


The present invention provides methods and compositions for determining the presence and/or amount of HBV nucleic acids in a test sample. In particular, substantially purified oligonucleotide primers and probes are described that can be used for qualitatively and quantitatively detecting HBV nucleic acid in a test sample by amplification methods. The present invention also provides primers and probes for generating and detecting control nucleic acid sequences that provide a convenient method for assessing internal quality control of the HBV assay.

The following discussion of the background of the invention is merely provided to aid the reader in understanding the invention and is not admitted to describe or constitute prior art to the present invention.
One of the major causes of hepatitis are specific hepatitis viruses. There are at least six different viruses responsible for various types of hepatitis. Among them, hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the most thoroughly characterized and complex etiologic agent. The infective Dane particle consists of a viral core plus an outer surface coat. The core contains circular double-stranded DNA and DNA polymerase, and it replicated within the nuclei of infected hepatocytes. Surface coat is added in the cytoplasm and is produced in great excess; it can be detected in serum by immunologic means as hepatitis. B surface antigen (HBsAg).
At least three distinct antigen-antibody systems are intimately related to HBV:
1. HBsAg is associated with the viral surface coat; its presence in serum is usually the first evidence of acute HBV infection and implies infectivity of the blood. HBsAg characteristically appears during the incubation period, usually 1 to 6 weeks before clinical or biochemical illness develops, and disappears during convalescence. The corresponding protective antibody (anti-HBs) appears weeks or months later, after clinical recovery, and usually persists for life; thus, its detection indicates past HBV infection and relative immunity;
2. Core antigen (HBcAg) is associated with the viral core. It can be found in infected liver cells but is not detectable in serum except by special techniques that disrupt the Dane particle. Antibody to HBcAg (anti-HBc) generally appears at the onset of clinical illness; thereafter, titers gradually diminish, usually for years or life. Its presence with anti-HBs is not significant beyond indicating previous HBV infection. It is also regularly found in chronic HBsAg carriers, who do not mount an anti-HBs response. In chronic infection, anti-HBc is mainly of the IgG class, whereas in acute infection, IgM anti-HBc predominates. Occasionally, IgM anti-HBc is the only marker of recent HBV infection, reflecting a "window" between disappearance of HBsAg and appearance of anti-HBs;
3. The e antigen (HBeAg) appears to be a peptide derived from the viral core. Found only in HBsAg-positive serum, HBeAg tends to parallel the production of viral DNA polymerase. Its presence, therefore, reflects more active viral replication and is generally associated with greater infectivity of the blood and a greater likelihood of progression to chronic liver disease. In contrast, presence of the corresponding antibody (anti-HBe) points to relatively lower infectivity and usually portends a benign outcome.
HBV is often transmitted parenterally, typically by contaminated blood or blood products. Routine screening of donor blood for HBsAg can dramatically diminish post-transfusion HBV infection. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infects approximately 400 million persons worldwide. Chronic HBV carriers provide a world-wide reservoir of infection. Prevalence varies widely according to several factor, including geography. Vertical transmission from mother to infant is partly responsible, especially where prevalence is high.
HBV is associated with a wide spectrum of liver diseases, from a subclinical carrier state to acute hepatitis, chronic hapatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (Loeb et al. Hepatology 32: 626-629, 2000). It also has a poorly understood association with several primarily nonhepatic disorders, including polyarteritis nodosa, and other collagen vascular diseases, etc. The pathogenic role of HBV in these disorders is not clear, but in some patients there is tissue deposition of immune complex containing viral antigen.
Hepatitis B is specifically diagnosed by identifying HBsAg in serum, with or without concomitant anti-HBc. Failure to detect HBsAg does not entirely exclude hepatitis B because antigenemia may be transient. Moreover, the presence of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) in serum or plasma indicates HBV infection, but the detection of HBsAg does not provide information on the replicative activity of the virus. Traditionally, the secretory version of the HBV core protein (HBeAg) serves as a marker for active viral replication. In the treatment of chronic hepatitis B, the presence or absence of HBeAg is assumed to represent a high or low replicative state of HBV, respectively. However, precore mutant HBVs which do not produce HBeAg, irrespective of their rate of replication, have been described (Zaaijer et al. J. Clin. Microbiol. 32: 2088-2091, 1994).
The measurement of HBV DNA in serum has become an important tool to identify individuals with high viral replication, to monitor patients on therapy, and to predict whether antiviral therapy will be successful. With the introduction of new antivirals like lamivudine [(−)2′3′-dideoxy-3′-thiacytidine], close monitoring of patients has become increasingly important due to the occurrence of antiviral drug-resistant virus strains or the presence of flares after withdrawal from antiviral therapy (Pas et al. J. Clin. Microbiol. 38: 2897-2901, 2000; Honkoop et al. J. Hepatology 26: 1393-1395, 1997).
Several tests have been employed to detect HBV in serum and other body fluids. Immunological tests are performed by demonstration of viral antigens (HBsAg, HBcAg and HBeAg), or their respective antibodies in serum.
Hybridization techniques have also been used. Generally, such techniques involve extracting DNA from cell scrapes or biopsy materials and immobilizing it on a solid phase either directly as total DNA or as restriction fragments after resolution by gel electrophoresis. The immobilized DNA is detected most commonly by a nucleic acid probe carrying a radioactive label. To increase the sensitivity of such assays, viral nucleic acid sequences can be amplified by using, for example, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The products thus obtained can be identified by using conventional hybridization techniques for identification of virus types, such as Southern blotting (C. Oste, BioTechniques 6: 163, 1988; K. B. Mullis, U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,202). PCR is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,195 and 4,683,202 and has been utilized to improve the sensitivity of standard hybridization methods. U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,159 discloses a method and kit which use PCR to specifically detect HBV DNA in a test sample.
Several reports disclose assays of patient samples following a nucleic acid amplification step, such as PCR (Kaneko et al., Proc. Natl. Sci. U.S.A. 86: 312-316, 1989; Larzul et al., J. Virol. Meth. 20: 227-237; Sumazaki et al., J. Med. Virol. 27: 304-308, 1989; and Theilman et al., Liver 9: 322-328, 1989). Other relevant references describe amplification primers and detection probes for human HBV (Seelig et al., DeutschMed Wochenschr 115: 1307-1312, 1990; Brunetto et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 88: 4186-4190, 1991; Brunetto et al., Prog. Clin. Biol. Res. (U.S.) 364: 211-216, 1991; Fiordalisi et al., J. Med. Virol. 31: 297-300, 1990; Liang et al., Hepatology 12(2): 204-212, 1990; Lo et al., J. Clin. Microbiol. 28(6): 1411-1416, 1990; Pasquinelli et al., J. Med. Virol 31: 135-140, 1990; Musso, PCT/US88/03735; Urdea, PCT/US90/02049; Urdea, et al., Gene 61: 253-264, 1987; and Urdea, PCT/US91/00213). The method and hybridization assays using self-quenching fluorescence probes with and/or without internal controls for detection of nucleic acid application products are known in the art, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,258,569; 6,030,787; 5,952,202; 5,876,930; 5,866,336; 5,736,333; 5,723,591; 5,691,146; and 5,538,848. Moreover, publications for detection of HBV using Real-time PCR (Taqman systems) include the following: Chen et al., J. Med. Virol. 65(2): 250-6, 2001; Meng et al., J. Clin Microbiol. 39(8): 2937-45, 2001; Loeb et al., Hepatology 32(3): 626-9, 2000; Pas et al., J. Clin Microbiol. 38(8): 2897-901, 2000; Drosten et al. Transfusion 40(6): 718-24, 2000; Weinberger et al., J. Virol Methods. 85 (1-2): 75-82, 2000; Saito et al., J. Med Virol. 58(4): 325-31, 1999; and Mercier et al. J. Virol Methods 77(1): 1-9, 1999.

Oligonucleotides and methods for detecting hepatitis B viral nucleic acids

Quest Diagnostics Investments Incorporated


Novel methods of synthesizing heteroatom-containing chiral porphyrins and chiral metalloporphyrins and the novel chiral porphyrins and chiral metalloporphyrins themselves are disclosed. Metal complexes of the chiral porphyrins are prepared in high yields and shown to be active catalysts for highly enantioselective and diastereoselective cyclopropanation, aziridination, and epoxidation of alkenes under a practical one-pot protocol.

Synthetic porphyrins and metalloporphyrins have become increasingly important in numerous and diverse technical fields. Their several practical applications include their use as sensitizers in photodynamic therapy (PDT) (Mody, (2000) J. Porphyrins Phthalocyanines 4: 362); in electron transfer (Lippard and Berg, (1994) Principles of Bioinorganic Chemistry, University Science Book: Mill Valley, Calif.); in DNA strand cleavage (Bennett et al., (2000) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 97: 9476; Hashimoto et al., (1983) Tetrahedron Letters, 24: 1523); as carriers of cytotoxic anticancer drugs such as platinum (Song et al., (2002) Inorganic Biochemistry 83: 83; and Lottner et al., (2002) J. Med. Chem., 45, 2064); as components of synthetic receptors (Jain and Hamilton, (2002) Org. Lett. 2: 1721); and as oxidation catalysts (Guo et al., (2001) J. Mol. Catal. A Chem. 170: 43). Additionally, functionalized porphyrins have become important leads in current drug discovery techniques (See Mody, supra, and Priola et al., (2002) Science 287: 1503). Accordingly, the development of new methodologies and strategies to improve the synthesis of functionalized porphyrins has become highly desirable.
Numerous methods for the synthesis of porphyrins are known. The classical methods for porphyrin synthesis typically require harsh reaction conditions and can provide disappointingly low yields (Rothemund, (1935) J. Am. Chem. Soc., 57: 2010; Adler et al., (1967) J. Org. Chem. 32: 476). Newer methodologies, such as those developed by Lindsey and colleagues, have resolved certain issues regarding reaction conditions and yields (Lindsey et al., (1987) J. Org. Chem. 52: 827). More recently, transition metal-catalyzed organic synthesis methodologies (e.g., Suzuki coupling, Heck-type coupling, and Stille cross coupling), have been successfully employed with porphyrin systems, providing versatile and general synthetic approaches for the preparation of a variety of functionalized porphyrins and porphyrin analogs. See, e.g., DiMagno et al., (1993) J. Org. Chem., 58: 5983; DiMagno et al., (1993) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 115: 2513; Chan et al., (1995) Tetrahedron 51: 3129; Zhou et al., (1996) J. Org. Chem. 61: 3590; Risch and Rainer, (1997) Tetrahedron Letters 38: 223; Hyslop et al., (1998) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 120:12676; Boyle and Shi, (2002) J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans., 1: 1397; and Pereira et al., (2002) J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans., 2: 1583. See also, Suzuki, (1998) Metal-Catalyzed Cross-Couplinq Reactions, pp. 49-97, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, Germany; Liu et al., (1998) J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans. 1805; Shi et al., (2000) J. Org. Chem. 65: 1650; Shanmugathasan et al., (2000) Porphyrins Phthalocyanines 4: 228; Lovine et al., (2000) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 122: 8717; Deng et al., (2000) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 39: 1066; and Chang et al., (2003) J. Org. Chem. 68: 4075; U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,236 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,756,804, which references are incorporated herein by reference. Further, porphyrin synthesis via palladium-catalyzed C—N bond formation, see Khan et al., (2001) Tetrahedron Lett. 42: 1615; Takanami et al., (2003) Tetrahedron Lett. 44: 7353, and metal-mediated C—C bond formation, see Sharman et al., (2000) Porphyr. Phthalocyanines 4: 441, has been reported.
Each of these foregoing methods, however, possesses undesirable aspects that should be mitigated, including incompatibilities between catalysts and reaction compounds, low turnover number (TON) and low turnover frequency (TOF). Thus, despite recent advances in porphyrin chemistry, a need still exists for facile and general syntheses for, in particular, heteroatom-substituted porphyrins and metalloporphyrins.
More particularly, a need exists for facile and general syntheses for heteroatom-substituted chiral porphyrins. Chiral porphyrins have found a range of applications in many areas, such as asymmetric catalysis, chiral recognition/sensing, and enzymatic mimicry. Of particular interest is the use of chiral porphyrins in asymmetric catalysis.
Biologically relevant porphyrins are among the most versatile ligands for transition metal complexes. See Brothers, (2001) Adv. Organometallic Chem. 46:223; Brothers, (2001) Adv. Organometallic Chem. 48: 289. Metalloporphyrins have found a diverse array of applications in areas ranging from chemistry to biology and from materials to medicine. Metalloporphyrins are known to catalyze a range of fundamentally and practically important chemical transformations, including an array of atom/group transfer reactions, such as oxene (epoxidation and hydroxylation), nitrene (aziridination and amination), and carbene (cyclopropanation and carbene insertion) transfers, that allow the direct conversion of abundant and inexpensive alkenes and alkanes into functional molecules. See The Porphyrin Handbook; Kadish, K. M., Smith, K. M., Guilard, R., Eds., Academic Press: San Diego, 2000-2003; Metalloporphyrins in Catalytic Oxidations; Sheldon, R. A., Ed.; Marcel Dekker: New York, 1994; Metalloporphyrins Catalyzed Oxidations: Montanari, F., Casella, L., Eds., Kluwer Academic Publishers: Boston, 1994. Due to the unique ligand environment and metal coordination mode of metalloporphyrins, unusual reaction selectivities and excellent catalyst turnovers have been observed for metalloporphyrin-based catalysts. Thus, there is a significant interest in designing and synthesizing chiral porphyrins for developing asymmetric versions of the abovementioned catalytic processes.
Since the first application of a chiral iron porphyrin complex for catalytic asymmetric epoxidation, see Groves et al., (1983) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 105: 5791, a number of chiral porphyrins have been synthesized as potential asymmetric catalysts. See Marchon, (2003) in The Porphyrin Handbook; supra, Vol. 11, pp 75-132; Simonneaux et al., (2002) Coord. Chem. Rev. 228: 43; Rose et al., (2000) Polyhedron 19: 581; Collman et al., (1999) Chemtracts 12: 299; Rose et al., (1998) Coord. Chem. Rev. 178-180: 1407; Collman et al., (1993) Science 261: 1404; Rose et al., (2004) Chem. Eur. J. 10: 224. Although significant progress has been made in this area, catalytic reactions based on metalloporphyrins have not been developed into practical methodologies that can be used in asymmetric synthesis. This lack of development can be attributed mainly to the expense and difficulty associated with chiral porphyrin synthesis.
Several approaches have been applied to chiral porphyrin synthesis. See Marchon, supra, Rose et al., (2000), supra, and Collman et al., (1993), supra. The most general and chirally economic scheme for synthesizing chiral porphyrins is to covalently attach suitable chiral building blocks to a preformed porphyrin synthon comprising peripheral functional groups. See Tani et al., (2002) Coord. Chem. Rev. 226: 219; Simonneaux et al., supra; Collman et al., (1999), supra; Rose et al., (1998), supra; Boschi, in Metalloporphyrins Catalyzed Oxidations: Montanari, F., Casella, L., Eds., Kluwer Academic Publishers: Boston, 1994; pp 239-267; and Naruta, (1994) in Metalloporphyrins in Catalytic Oxidations; Sheldon, R. A., Ed.; Marcel Dekker: New York, pp 241-259.
Representative porphyrin synthons that have been found to be useful for synthesizing chiral porphyrins include meso-tetrakis(o-aminophenyl)porphyrin (See Collman et al., (1975) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 97: 1427 and Leondiadis et al., (1989) J. Org. Chem. 54: 6135), meso-tetrakis(2,6-diaminophenyl)porphyrin (see Rose et al., (1996) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 118: 1567), meso-tetrakis (2,6-dihydroxyphenyl)porphyrin (see Collman et al., (1997) Inorg. Synth. 31: 117 and Tsuchida et al., (1990) J. Chem. Soc.-Dalton Trans. 2713), and meso-tetrakis(2,6-dicarboxyphenyl)porphyrin (ee Nakagawa et al., (2001) Org. Lett. 3: 1805). These synthons allow the attachment of chiral acids, chiral amines, or chiral alcohols through amide or ester bond formation. To enhance the synthetic utility and flexibility of metalloporphyrin-based asymmetric catalysis, it is desirable to develop alternative synthons for the versatile construction of chiral porphyrins that could be employed in practical asymmetric catalysis.
Within this context, halogenated porphyrins, e.g., bromoporphyrins, have been shown to be versatile precursors for the synthesis of heteroatom-functionalized porphyrins via metal-catalyzed carbon-heteroatom cross-coupling reactions with soft, non-organometallic nucleophiles. See Chen et al., (2003) J. Org. Chem. 68: 4432; Gao et al., (2003) J. Org. Chem. 68: 6215; Gao et al., (2003) Org. Lett. 5: 3261; and Gao et al., (2004) Org. Lett. 6: 1837. These methods are based on metal-catalyzed carbon-heteroatom bond formations. See Lev et al., (2003) Angew. Chem.-Int. Edit. 42: 5400; Prim et al., (2002) Tetrahedron, 58: 2041; Muci et al., (2002) Top. Curr. Chem. 219: 131; Hartwig, (2002) in Handbook of Organopalladium Chemistry for Organic Synthesis; Negishi, E., Ed.; Wiley-Interscience: New York, pp 1051; Yang et al., (1999) J. Organomet. Chem. 576: 125; Wolfe et al., (1998) Acc. Chem. Res. 31: 805; Hartwig, (1998) Angew. Chem.-Int. Edit. 37: 2047; and Hartwig, (1997) Synlett, 329. Such syntheses can be performed under mild conditions with a wide range of nucleophiles, including amines, amides, alcohols, and thiols, leading to a family of novel porphyrins comprising otherwise inaccessible heteroatom functionalities in high yields.
For example, a general and efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of meso-arylamino- and meso-alkylamino-substituted porphyrins from reactions of meso-bromoporphyrins with amines. See Chen et al., (2003) J. Org. Chem. 68: 4432. Similar methodology also can be effectively applied to brominated diphenylporphyrins and tetraphenylporphyrins, leading to the versatile synthesis of porphyrin derivatives bearing multiple arylamino and alkylamino groups. See Gao et al., (2003) J. Org. Chem. 68: 6215. In addition, a convenient and general approach has been developed for the synthesis of meso-aryloxy- and meso-alkoxy-substituted porphyrins from reactions with alcohols via palladium-catalyzed etheration. See Gao et al., (2003) Org. Lett. 5: 3261. A general synthetic method for meso-amidoporphyrins from reactions with amides via palladium-catalyzed amidation also has been developed. See Gao et al., (2004) Org. Lett. 6: 1837. Expanding the synthetic strategy to palladium-mediated carbon-sulfur bond formation, a versatile procedure also has been developed for the synthesis of meso-arylsulfanyl- and mesoalkylsulfanyl-substituted porphyrins from reactions of the corresponding bromoporphyrin precursors and thiols. See Gao et al., (2004), submitted for publication. There exists, however, a need in the art for improved methods for the synthesis of heteroatom-substituted chiral porphyrins.
Accordingly, the presently disclosed subject matter describes the use of haloporphyrins as a new class of synthons for the versatile syntheses of chiral porphyrins via metal catalyst-mediated carbon-heteroatom bond formation reactions with chiral nucleophiles, such as chiral amines, chiral amides, chiral alcohols, and chiral thiols, and the use of these chiral porphyrins as catalysts in asymmetric cyclopropanation, asymmetric aziridination, and asymmetric epoxidation reactions.

Chiral porphyrins, chiral metalloporphyrins, and methods for synthesis of the same

The University of Tennessee Research Foundation, Inc.


Provided is an electron beam scanning method for forming an electric field for appropriately guiding electrons emitted from a pattern to the outside of the pattern, and also provided is a scanning electron microscope. When an electron beam for forming charge is irradiated to a sample, a first electron beam is irradiated to a first position (1) and a second position (2) having the center (104) of a pattern formed on the sample as a symmetrical point, and is then additionally irradiated to two central positions (3, 4) between the first and second irradiation position, the two central positions (3, 4) being on the same radius centered on the symmetrical point as are the first and second positions. Further, after that, the irradiation of the first electron beam to the central positions between existing scanning positions on the radius is repeated.

In recent years, with the increase in integration of semiconductor elements and with the development of finer semiconductor elements, a wide variety of patterns has been formed on samples (e.g., semiconductor wafers) and the importance of evaluations and measurements of the shapes and the sizes of them has increased markedly. Regarding contact holes, which provide conduction between layers on semiconductor wafers in a multilayer construction, and deep grooves or the like formed between patterns, in particular, the hole diameters and the widths of the grooves become extremely small with miniaturization and the aspect ratio (the depth of holes or the like divided by the diameter (width) of holes or the like) tends to increase.
In order to perform inspection or measurement of bottom portions of such contact holes or the like, detection of secondary electrons excited by a bundle of primary electron rays (which may be referred to as "electron beam" hereinafter) is necessary; however, with the increase in aspect ratio, secondary electrons are more likely to impinge on the side wall of a hole and become extinct in the hole, making it difficult to inspect or measure the bottom of the hole. In Patent Literature 1, a technique to attach positive charge on a sample surface for forming an electric field for guiding electrons emitted from the bottom of a hole to the outside of the hole (referred to as "predosing" or "preliminary irradiation" in some case hereinafter) is proposed. More specifically, a technique to irradiate a sample region including a pattern of a hole or the like with a beam for charging a sample is described. In particular, a technique to separately perform predosing a certain number of times for forming a suitable surface electric field is described in Patent Literature 1.
In Patent Literature 2, a technique to perform interlaced scanning with a beam at the time of predosing so as to avoid a bias of charging in the area scanned with the beam is described. Interlaced scanning enables mitigation of the local bias of charging in the area scanned with the beam and guiding secondary electrons from holes to the outsides of the holes with improved efficiency.

Electron beam irradiation method and scanning electronic microscope


A vacuum collection vehicle may include a chassis, a vacuum container, a filter unit, a first discharge conduit and a second discharge conduit. The filter unit may include a filter housing that supports a filter independent of opposing interior walls. The vehicle may include a storage container supported by the chassis and containing a vacuum source or hose reel. The vehicle may include inner and outer collection receptacle supports for supporting collection receptacles within the vacuum container.

Older buildings and other sites may sometimes contain hazardous materials such as asbestos or vermiculite contaminated with asbestos. Removing and collecting such hazardous materials is often tedious, challenging, and expensive.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and the size of some parts may be exaggerated to more clearly illustrate the example shown. Moreover, the drawings provide examples and/or implementations consistent with the description; however, the description is not limited to the examples and/or implementations provided in the drawings.


System and methods for providing quality of service (QOS) in networks. The method includes determining whether a transmit segment of a port of a network device has received a grant from a scheduler to transmit a packet. The port includes a plurality of sub-ports that share the transmit segment to transmit packets and a receive segment to receive packets. When the transmit buffer has received the grant, a virtual queue associated with the grant is mapped to a QOS bin that includes a minimum bandwidth limit threshold value, a maximum bandwidth threshold value, and a counter for counting actual bandwidth consumed. The QOS bin monitors bandwidth consumed by a source traffic group for adjusting QOS priority and the source traffic group includes the virtual queue.

Mixing protocols on a same network device may need different quality of service (QOS) methods. A typical implementation emphasizes quantity of service rather than quality of service. With quality of service requested bandwidth is guaranteed. By contrast, with quantity of service an attempt is made to provide requested bandwidth, but it is not guaranteed. Continuous efforts are being made to provide QOS in networks.

Systems and methods for quality of service in networks


A feed rack in which a substantially U-shaped film passage is formed, and disposed in a processing tank such that the processing solution level of the processing tank is located below the top surface of a block by a predetermined dimension so as to reduce the area of contact between the processing solution and outside air. The processing tank is equipped with a solution level regulation tank or replenisher tank in which air-isolating member is floated on a contained solution. Between the replenisher tank and the processing tank are provided a transport mechanism for transporting a replenisher from the replenisher tank to the processing tank and a prevention mechanism for preventing the air-isolating member from entering the processing tank.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive material by immersing the photosensitive material in a processing solution contained in a processing tank. More particularly, the invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive material in a small amount of processing solution which is contained in a processing tank such that the surface area of the processing solution in the processing tank is small, and to a photosensitive material processing apparatus equipped with a replenisher tank for accommodating a replenisher for replenishing the replenisher into the processing tank.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a photosensitive material processing apparatus for developing a photosensitive material such as photographic film, the photosensitive material is processed by immersing in a processing solution contained in a processing tank. The processing tank is replenished with a replenisher (the processing solution) which is fed from a replenisher tank on the basis of deterioration of the processing solution contained in the processing tank or the lowering of the level of the processing solution in the processing tank.
Since certain processing solutions deteriorate (oxidation) when the processing solutions and air come into contact in order to reduce the deterioration of a processing solution, there have recently been proposed photosensitive material processing apparatuses in which the surface area of the processing solution is small and a photosensitive material is processed in a small amount of a processing solution contained in a processing tank, and photosensitive material processing apparatuses in which floating members are floated on the surface of the processing solution, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-B) No. 53-34734 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 61-258245, 63-216050, 1-114847, 1-310351, 6-83014, 6-347961, and 7-120900.
According to JP-A No. 63-216050, the cross-sectional area of a processing passage is made small so that a photosensitive material can be washed efficiently by use of a small amount of washing water. However, since the surface area of a processing solution contained in the processing passage becomes small, the height of the processing solution in the processing tank varies greatly with the amount of the processing solution. Variation in the level of the processing solution results in variation in the processing time during which a photosensitive material is immersed in the processing solution, so that a problem that the photosensitive material cannot properly be processed arises.
According to JP-A No. 1-114847, the cross-sectional area of a processing tank is made small, so that a processing solution level varies greatly with variation in the amount of a processing solution contained in the processing tank.
According to JP-A No. 1-310351, a fluid is floated on the surface of a processing solution contained in a processing tank to cover the surface of the processing solution with a fluid layer, and openings are formed in the fluid layer so as to form an inlet and an outlet for feeding a photosensitive material into the processing solution and for taking out therefrom through the openings of the fluid layer. However, no measure is employed against variation in a processing solution level. Also, in this system, when a rack is removed from the processing tank, for example, for maintenance, the fluid adheres to the rack. Thus, when processing is resumed after the rack is replaced, the fluid adhering to the rack transports onto a photosensitive material. No measure is employed against this problem.
According to JP-A No. 6-83014, a processing solution is circulated through a small space defined between the wall of a tank and a rack to process a photosensitive material. Accordingly, the photosensitive material can be processed in a small amount of the processing solution. Mention is made of increasing the surface area of the processing solution in the vicinity of the processing solution where the surface contacts air. However, no measure is employed to isolate the processing solution from the ambient air.
JP-A No. 6-347961 relates to a fluid floated on the surface of a developing replenisher to cover the surface of the developing replenisher with the fluid layer. However, no measure is employed to isolate a developer in a processing tank from the ambient air. No measure is employed against variation of a developer level.
JP-A No. 7-120900 relates to a fluid floated on the surface of a bleach-fix replenisher to cover the surface of the bleach-fix replenisher with the fluid layer. However, no measure is employed to isolate a bleach-fix solution in a processing tank from the ambient air. No measure is employed against variation of the level of the bleach-fix solution.
JP-B No. 53-34734 relates to spherical members floated on the surface of a processing solution to prevent oxidation of the processing solution.
JP-A No. 61-258245 relates to a floating member floated on the surface of a processing solution while being maintained a certain posture of the member.
It is apparent that deterioration of a replenisher in a photosensitive material processing apparatus can be effectively prevented through isolation of the surface of the replenisher from the air. From the viewpoint of the preservation of a replenisher, the methods disclosed in JP-A Nos. 6-347961 and 7-120900 are ideal, in contrast with the former methods wherein a number of solid members are floated on the surface of a processing solution in order to reduce the contact area between the processing solution and the air, since the contact area can be rendered almost zero. However, problems still remain in methods for merely covering the surface of a processing solution with a floating fluid, such that when the amount of a replenisher decreases, the floating fluid together with the replenisher, is drawn into a replenishing pump. As a result, the floating fluid enters a processing tank and consequently adheres to the processing tank, racks, a photosensitive material, and the like. Since removal of the adhered fluid from the processing tank and racks is laborious work, the aforementioned methods of isolating a processing solution from the air were not put into practical use.
Also, a photosensitive material to which the floating fluid adheres undergoes uniformly processing such as development, bleach-fix, washing, and the like. Further, stains were formed on the photosensitive material due to the adhered fluid itself.
In order to avoid such problems, it has been suggested that a solution level sensor be installed in a replenisher tank so that replenishment can be stopped when the solution surface drops to a certain level, to thereby prevent the floating fluid from being drawn into the replenishing pump and to generate a signal to warn an operator to supply replenisher into the replenisher tank. However, even in this method, if the solution level sensor malfunctions, the floating fluid flows into the processing tank. Thus, this method also was not put into practical use.

Photosensitive material processing apparatus


The invention relates to an intraoral device (1) comprising: a programmable electronic microcircuit (2) with a series of ports, in each of which a microsensor can be connected; means for powering the electronic microcircuit (2); and means for the wireless communication of data from the device, all disposed inside a sealed, thermally insulated protective element (3). According to the invention, the protective element (3) is secured to the surface of, or inside a support element located inside the oral cavity, the dimensions of said protective element (3) being adapted to the dimensions of the support element.

At present, the use of mobile communication devices is widespread and common.
On the one hand, these devices pose a problem in very cold areas of the planet where, due to the low temperatures, it is impossible to make a normal use of them, as hand protection must be worn. In the same sense, there are certain professions in which you cannot have your hands free due to being busy with other tasks, and there are also people with disabilities affecting their upper extremities, meaning that they are faced with the same problem when interacting with their mobiles.
On the other hand, the frequent use of mobile devices has resulted in them being developed and in them evolving, in turn allowing their use to be extended to different applications in the field of health; some of which allow different vital signs and physiological states to be parameterised. This technology allows multiple vital signs to be registered through various devices connected to a mobile, to which they send the obtained results and from which these devices can be managed.
In certain clinical cases, the continuous monitoring of a patient is necessary, such as in the case of blood glucose control in diabetics. The blood glucose rate of an insulin-dependent diabetic should be measured two to three times a day, and it is essential for the patient's health for this control to be performed accurately. State-of-the-art devices have been developed that aim to monitor parameters such as the example of glucose. These devices are usually invasive, requiring the insertion of a sensor in the subcutaneous tissue. These sensors are usually linked to a connector that is fixed to the user's skin by means of an adhesive and allow electronic signals from the sensor to be transmitted via a cable to the monitor.
This results in discomfort for the patient, both at the time in which the device is implanted, and in their everyday life, as having to wear the connector as an external element adhered to their skin on some part of their body can also be a nuisance, inconvenient in certain circumstances, especially at times when less clothing is won and the connector is highly visible.
There is a large amount of substances that need to be controlled, such as antigens, antibodies, cholesterol, neurochemical compounds, etc.
Reference documents ES-2186566-B1, ES-2278723-T3 and ES-2014649-A6 may be highlighted as an example of the state of the art.
Reference document ES-218656-B1 refers to an intravenous biosensor for measuring blood conductivity which, materialised in an invasive sensor for biochemical analysis, is constituted by two microelectrodes integrated into a hypodermic needle, with its end opposite the insertion tip topped in a flat sheet, preferably silicone, in order to be attached to the patient's skin, microelectrodes which, through conductors that are duly encapsulated in a sheath, are connected to an electronic measuring circuit provided with a display module.
This case is an example of the available stale-of-the-art devices, which are invasive sensors that are introduced into the dermal layer of the user and produce a foreign body in the patients body.
These devices are quite cumbersome and uncomfortable, both through their own invasive placement, and due to the fact that most of the time they require an external device to be connected to the sensor, which as has already been explained, is uncomfortable for the user and highly impractical.
Reference document ES-2278723-T3 refers to a hand-held portable device with a reusable biosensor, which is used in particular for the decentralised determination of original biological solutions. It comprises an amperometric biosensor, a measuring cell, a supply bag and a waste beg for a fresh and used system solution, a pump, a peristaltic transport system, a sample opening and a sample channel, a functional control with valve function and pump control, a lever for replacing the sensor, a display, four control elements, a 9V battery, a solar cell, an evaluation unit for recording signals and the overall control of the measurement process.
In this case, the biosensor has an advantage over other biosensors as it is portable, but it takes the measurement from previously extracted samples. It is therefore not valid for performing a continuous control of a given patient parameter, but it does take measurements from previously obtained samples.
Document ES-2014649-A6 refers to a biosensor-inserting device, comprising an arched needle, a biosensor secured in the arched needle behind its tip, and means for inserting the needle under the skin in order to insert the biosensor subcutaneously.
In this case, it is a device for inserting a low biosensor under the user's skin, which again shows the tendency to use invasive biosensors located in an inner layer of the skin, which are not comfortable or practical.
It can therefore be observed that all the currently available state-of-the-art sensors, or those used in monitoring—with the drawback of having to be inserted in an invasive and uncomfortable manner in the user's body and proving impractical in their day to day-, are either sensors that do not aim to monitor but simply obtain isolated values over time.

WITOOTH DENTAL SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGIES, S.L.


A rotating type cup lid, includes a cover having a cover portion with a first through hole formed therein, a wall surface disposed around the cover portion, and a flange connecting surface extended from the bottom edge of the wall surface. The rotating type cup lid further includes a rotating body corresponding to the cover portion of the cover. A protruding knob passes through a central circular hole and a downwardly tapered edge is formed at the periphery of the rotating body that is embeddable into an internal surface of the a first latch portion of the cover. The rotating surface of the rotating body includes a second through hole corresponding to the position of the first through hole, a punchable hole with X-shaped break lines, a small opening corresponding to a smaller straw, and a closed surface having no hole, each of which may be rotated into alignment with the first through hole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cup lid structure, and more particularly to a multifunctional cup lid structure that allows users to selectively open and close a drinking opening by rotating the cup lid, and insert a large straw or a small straw.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fast food restaurant, coffee shops, convenience stores and the like, typically distribute beverages in disposable drinking cups. These cups are often provided with drink-through lids having reversible openings, which permit the consumption of liquids contained therein, while at the same time preventing unwanted spillage. Drink-through lids with reversible openings are especially desirable when distributing hot beverages, such as coffee, tea, hot chocolate and the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,245 to Narushko provides an example of a container lid with a movable closing flap. The lid has a raised segment that forms a channel, which is adapted to receive the closing flap. The closing flap is a curved piece that must be inserted into the channel. The closing flap is movable between an open position and a closed position. Because the movement of the closing flap is controlled by a series of notches, grooves, tabs and handles located on the channel and the closing flap, the closing flap is difficult to operate and the effectiveness of the lid is compromised.
Referring to FIG. 1 for a cup lid 40 disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,456 that is issued to Wincup Holdings, Inc., a cover portion 41 of the cup lid 40 includes a recess 42 and a hinged portion 43. If a user wants to drink from the cup, the user can press the hinged portion 43 to break open its front edge to form a hole, and then turn the hinged portion 180° backward to be latched into the recess 42. The method of this patented invention gives a convenient application, but the hinged portion 43 cannot be sealed repeatedly after it is pressed open. If a user has not finished with the drink, the liquid content in the cup may be split out easily when the cup is tilted.
Referring to FIG. 2 for a reclosable container lid 50 as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,732,875 that is issued to Solo Cup Company, the reclosable container lid 50 includes a cover 51 and a movable second piece 52, wherein the surface of the second piece 52 has a projection 521 exposed from an opening 511 of the cover 51 and a post 522 disposed on another side and exposed from a slot 512; such that the post 522 can be turned and moved to control the opening 511 in an open state or a closed state. However, the operation of turning the post 522 according to the abovementioned method is not easy. The opening 511 can be opened or closed only, but it does not come with other functions.


A dental laser system is disclosed having an erbium doped YAG laser which is excited so that the YAG laser produces a plurality of laser pulses. A novel delivery system for the YAG laser is disclosed which includes an elongated sapphire strand which consists of a single crystal. The sapphire strand has a diameter between 10 and 1000 microns so that it maintains its flexibility and the sapphire strand is encased within a flexible protective coating. The sapphire strand is also essentially devoid of water content.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dental laser system and, more particularly, to a dental laser system using an erbium laser and a sapphire fiber strand for delivering the laser output to the treatment site in a dental application.
II. Description of the Prior Art
There are previously known dental laser systems which have been developed by the assignee of the present invention which utilize a pulsed YAG laser to perform various dental treatments in the mouth of the patient. These previously known lasers typically utilize a neodimium doped YAG laser.
With these previously known systems, the YAG laser is contained within a housing having a laser output port. In order to deliver the YAG laser output to the mouth of the patient, an elongated quartz fiber strand extends between the laser output port on the housing and a handpiece which is manipulated by the dentist. The quartz fiber strand has a small diameter, typically about 300 microns, and is flexible in use thereby allowing the dentist to manipulate the strand to the desired delivery site in the patient's mouth.
These previously known quartz fiber strands, however, have been unsuitable for use with an erbium doped YAG laser. More specifically, the erbium doped YAG laser, due to its wavelength, tends to break down and otherwise degregate the integrity of the quartz fiber so that the quartz fiber cannot be used with the erbium doped laser.
Although articulated arms with mirrors may be used to deliver the erbium doped laser output to the treatment site, such articulated arms have proven to be awkward, clumsy and therefore undesirable to use.


Disclosed is a torque indicating device including: a first indicating section that indicates a torque transmitted to primary drive wheels of a vehicle; and a second indicating section that indicates a torque transmitted to secondary drive wheels of the vehicle. The second indicating section indicates a quantity that is less than or equal to the quantity indicated by the first indicating section.

Conventional four-wheel-drive vehicles are known that include clutch means to distribute driving force between front wheels and rear wheels (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
The four-wheel-drive vehicle disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes driving force distribution indicating means that indicates distribution of driving force between front wheels and rear wheels.

Torque indicating device and vehicle including same


An audio power amplifier includes a stacked pair of complementary transistors having the emitters commonly coupled to a load. A driver stage couples the bases of the stacked pair to a source of audio frequency signal. A bootstrap capacitor is coupled between the commonly coupled output node and the supply voltage. An isolation diode is interposed between the bootstrap capacitor and the operating supply to prevent discharge of the bootstrap capacitor into the operating supply during positive signal swings.

Within most, if not all, television receivers, sound or audio information present in the received signal is detected and processed at a low power level to provide an audio signal. This low level audio signal is then amplified by one or more audio frequency amplifiers to a voltage and power level sufficient to drive the television receiver speakers.
As with other audio power amplifiers, television audio amplifiers are to the extent possible optimized for power output and linearity. In most circumstances, the needs of such power amplifiers relate directly to full use of the available supply voltage and optimum drive current to the output amplifying stage. In consumer oriented television receivers, however, competitive costs must be maintained and thus unlimited resources are not available to provide substantial power and linearity at the expense of great cost premiums.
As a result, designers of television receiver audio systems generally are required to limit the number and type of audio power amplifiers used within television receivers. One of the most cost effective high performance amplifier structures used in the art is that known commonly as a "bootstrap" amplifier. In such bootstrap amplifiers, stacked output transistor stages are coupled to a bootstrap capacitor which charges during one portion of the audio signal cycle and thereafter discharges during the remaining portion of the signal cycle to supplement the drive current provided to the stacked transistor pair. Thus, the bootstrap capacitor is intended to supply more drive current to the output transistor pair without the use of more expensive additional predriver stages or higher power supply voltage. Bootstrap amplifiers themselves, are subject to certain operational limitations. One of such limitations arises through the loss of drive energy during portions of the signal cycle resulting from bootstrap capacitor discharge into the operating supply source. This loss of drive energy during a portion of the signal cycle results in nonlinearity of high amplitude output signal swings. Faced with this problem, most practitioners in the art attempt to comprise the signal handling capability of the power amplifier against the undesired nonlinearity during large signal swings.
There arises, therefore, a need in the art for evermore improved cost effective power amplifiers for use in television receiver audio systems.

Push-pull amplifier having bootstrap capacitor isolation


Measurement data collected within a measurement frame of reference is fitted to geometric tolerance zones having regard for the uncertainties of the measurement. Geometric freedoms for fitting the measurement data are exploited to fit uncertainty zones associated with the measurement data within the tolerance zones. Typically, the measurement data is multidimensional and the uncertainty zones have different sizes.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates multidimensional measurement data evaluations with respect to geometrical tolerances, particularly by using best-fitting type algorithms and accounting for uncertainties of measurement.
2. Description of Related Art
Measurement data concerning the geometric dimensions of test parts can be acquired by using many different types of measuring instruments, including both contacting and non-contacting forms of measurement. Multiple data points associated with individual test parts are generally related to each other through a common datum of the measuring instrument.
Metrology programs for accepting or rejecting manufactured test parts compare the measured data points of the test parts to an ideal or nominal definition (also referred to as a nominal model boundary) of the test parts straddled by geometric tolerance zones that specify how much the measured data points can deviate from the ideal part definition and still be accepted. Best-fitting algorithms collectively fit the measured data points of the test parts to the ideal definition of the test parts. In making the best collective fit for the measured data points, the common frame of reference of the measured data points is adjusted with respect to the frame of reference of the ideal part definition.
Many best-fitting algorithms find the orientation of the measured data points with respect to the ideal part definition at which the measured data points collectively deviate from the ideal part definition by a least amount. This can be a good solution if the tolerances for all the part dimensions are equally balanced about the ideal part definition. However, such best-fitting algorithms that converge toward the ideal part definition can reject test parts, as having one or more measured data points out of tolerance, that might otherwise be fit within the tolerances.
A non-linear optimization approach proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,665,080 to Haertig et al. is carried out on a point-by-point basis to best fit all of the data points within the geometric tolerances. In other words, all of the data points are fit within the tolerance boundaries (i.e., within a tolerance zone) as best as possible without particular regard for the ideal definition of the part.
The reliability of the measured data points to represent actual dimensions of a test part also affects the reliability of the determinations as to whether measured test parts are actually within the tolerance zone. Measurement errors can lead to erroneous conclusions that some measured test parts are within the tolerance zone when they are not and other measured parts are not within the tolerance zone when they are. To reduce such errors, measurement uncertainties have been quantified, which allows for statistically better test part evaluations to be made.
The uncertainties of the test part measurements depend on a number of factors such as the accuracy of the measuring instruments, environmental conditions during the measurements, the properties of artifacts, the knowledge of metrologists, and measurement techniques. The uncertainties can vary for each point of measurement. Standards have been developed to estimate the uncertainties and to apply the uncertainties to the acceptance or rejection of test parts against known tolerances.
Applying the estimated uncertainties to the fitted data allows more statistically accurate measurement results. Based on Gaussian error estimates, each measured point can be associated with an uncertainty range corresponding to a particular confidence interval. For example, the uncertainty range of a measured point can be set to correspond to a confidence interval of 95 percent covering a range of values within two standard deviations of the measured value. A so-called acceptance zone can be defined by contracting the tolerance zone boundaries on either side of the ideal part definition through a guard band corresponding to one-half of the uncertainty range. Measured points found within the acceptance zone have at least a 95 percent chance of actually being within the tolerance zone. Test parts in which all measured points fit within the acceptance zone are generally accepted as being within tolerance.
Uncertainty zones straddle the tolerance boundaries by one-half of the uncertainty range on each side. Measured points within the uncertainty zone cannot be determined to be either inside or outside the tolerance zone with the desired level of confidence. Test parts having measured points within the uncertainty zone are generally not accepted as being within tolerance. Test parts having measured points beyond the uncertainty zone are rejected as being out of tolerance.
Often the results of best fitting techniques and subsequent uncertainty analyses of measured data points are used to make decisions about the acceptance, non-acceptance, or rejection of test parts as well as on corrective actions needed to accept the parts. The rejection or non-acceptance of test parts that might actually be within tolerance or the acceptance of parts that might actually not be within tolerance can have significant consequences.

Fitting multidimensional measurement data to tolerance zones having regard for the uncertainty of the measurements