The present invention relates to water-soluble binuclear cationic nitrosyl iron complexes with natural aliphatic thiolyls of general formula [Fe2(SR)2(NO)4]SO4,                wherein R is sulfur-containing aliphatic ligands of natural origin, preferably, cystamine or penicillamine, to a method for the preparation thereof, to use thereof as an anticancer agent, to an apoptosis inducer, to a pharmaceutical composition comprising said complexes in an effective amount, and to a kit useful for the treatment of cancer diseases.

In recent years in order to develop medicinal preparations of a new generation for use in the therapy of oncological diseases, an intensive search is being carried out for anticancer agents based on complexes of transition metals with an improved activity spectrum and reduced side effects as compared with already used clinical preparations, for example, cisplatin, sodium nitroprusside and the like.
The use of NO donors as a new class of anticancer agents is associated with the important role of NO in the process of growth of malignant neoplasms [Wink D., Vodovoz J., Cook J., Biochemistry, 1998, 63, 7, pp. 948-957]. Nitric oxide was shown to change the level of apoptosis of the tumor cells, the activity of the p53 gene and neoangiogenesis [Brune B., Schenederhan N., Nitric oxide evoked p53-accumulation and apoptosis, Toxicol Letters, 2003, 193, 2, pp. 19-23], to suppress the activity of a key reparation protein O6-methyl-guanine-DNA-methyl-transferase of mammals [L. Liu, M. Xu-Welliver, S. Kanagula, H. E. Pegg, Inactivation and degradation of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase after reaction with nitric oxide. Cancer Res., 2002, 62, pp. 3037-3043]. However, the currently known synthetic NO-donors of different classes (organic nitrates, diazonium diolates, nitrosothiols and others) are not used as clinical therapeutic agents for treating cancer diseases but they are only used to enhance (to a different degree depending on chemical nature) the effect of existing chemotherapeutic agents or radiotherapy [Wink D., Vodovoz J., Cook J., Biochemistry, 1998, 63, 7, pp. 948-957; N. P. Konovalova, S. A. Goncharova, L. M. Volkova, T. A. Raevskaya, L. T. Eremenko, A. M. Korolev, Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry, 2003, 8, pp. 59-64; Yang, W., Rogers P. A., Ding H., J. Biol. Chem., 2002, 277, pp. 12868-12873; 0. Siri, A. Tabard, P. Pullumbi, R. Guilard, Inorg. Chim. Acta, 2003, 350, p. 633; J. L. Burgaud, E. Jngini, Del Soldato P. Ann, N.Y. Acad. Sci. 2002, 962, p. 360; T. I. Karu, L. V. Pyatibrat, G. S. Kalendo, Toxicology Letters, 2001, 121, p. 57].
On the other hand, in the last 15 years, nitrosyl iron complexes with sulfur-containing ligands have been reliably established as one of the natural forms of natural reservoirs of NO. Such compounds are formed in cells as a result of endogenous NO effect on active sites of non-heme iron-sulfur proteins [Butler A. R., Megson I. I., Chem. Rev., 2002, 102, pp. 1155-1165] and they are cellular NO "depot". Binding NO to active sites of metal enzymes, in particular to non-heme iron-containing proteins is being extensively studied [Ford P. C., Lorkovic L. M., Chem. Rev., 2002, 102, 993; Hoshino M., Layeran L. E., Ford P. C., Coord. Chem. Rev., 1999, 187, p. 75]. Their synthetic models (Roussin's "red salt" esters) have the following formula [Fe2(SR)2(NO)4], wherein R is Et, t-Bu, (CH2)4—CH3, C6H5F, Ph [T. Thomas, J. H. Robertson, E. G. Cox, Acta Crystallogr., 1958, 11, p. 599; C. Glidewell, M. E. Harman, M. B. Hursthouse, I. L. Johnson, M. Motevalli, J. Chem. Res., 1998, 212, p. 1676; R. E. Marsh, A. L. Spek, Acta Crystallogr., Sect. B. Struct. Sci., 2001, 57, p. 800; C. Jinhua, M. Shaoping, H. Jinling, L. Jiaxi, Chinese J. Struct. Chem., 1983, 2, p. 263; T. B. Rauchfuss, T. D. Weatherill, Inorg. Chem., 1982, 21, pp. 827-830.]. These binuclear diamagnetic sulfur-nitrosyl complexes of μ-S type with R=Alk generate NO upon thermo- or photo-activation [J. L. Bourassa, P. C. Ford, Coord. Chem. Rev., 2000, 200-202, pp. 887-900] and may serve as new promising anticancer NO-donor agents. In the article by A. Janczyk et al. Nitric Oxide, 2004, 10, 1, pp. 42-50, the direct cytotoxic effect of a nitrosyl iron complex Na[Fe4S3(NO)7] on the human and mouse melanoma cells has been studied for the first time. However, this nitrosyl iron complex generates NO upon photoactivation only, and it cannot be used as an anticancer medicament because of the high toxicity with regard to normal cells.
Binuclear paramagnetic sulfur-nitrosyl iron complexes with aromatic ligands of μ-N—C—S type [N. A. Sanina, S. M. Aldoshin, Funktsional'niye modeli nitrozil'nykh [Fe—S] proteinov ("Functional models of nitrosyl [Fe—S] proteins")// Izv. AN. Ser. Khim. (News of the Academy of Sciences, the Chemical series) (2004), 11, 2326-2345; N. A. Sanina, S. M. Aldoshin, T. N. Rudneva, N. I. Golovina, G. V. Shylov, Yu. M. Shul'ga, V. M. Martynenko, N. S. Ovanesyan, "Sintez, structura I tverdofazniye prevrascheniya nitrizil'nogo complexa zheleza Na2[Fe2(S2O3)2(NO)4].4H2O" ("Synthesis, structure and solid phase conversions of nitrosyl iron complex Na2[Fe2(S2O3)2(NO)4].4H2O"), Koordinatsionnaya Khimiya (Coordination Chemistry), 2005, 31, 301-306; N. A. Sanina, T. N. Rudneva, S. M. Aldoshin, G. V. Shylov, D. V. Korchagin, Yu. M. Shul'ga, V. M. Martynenko, N. S. Ovanesyan, "Influence of CH3 group in 1-methyl-imidazole-2-yl on the properties of binuclear sulfur-nitrosyl iron complex with the ligand of μ-N—C—S type"// Inorganica Chimica Acta (2006), 359, 2, 570-576; N. A. Sanina, T. N. Rudneva, S. M. Aldoshin, A. N. Chekhlov, R. B. Morgunov, E. V. Kurganova, N. S. Ovanesyan, "Sintez, stroeniye i NO-donornaya activnosty paramagnitnogo complexa [Fe2(SC3H5N2)2(NO)4] kak modeli nitrozil'nykh [2Fe-2S] belkov" (Synthesis, structure and NO-donor activity of the paramagnetic complex [Fe2(SC3H5N2)2(NO)4] as a model of nitrosyl [2Fe-2S] proteins"// Izvestiya Akademii nauk. Seriya khimicheskaya (News of the Academy of Sciences, the Chemical series), 1 (2007) 28-34; A. F. Vanin. N. A. Sanina, V. A. Serezhenkov, D. Sh. Burbaev, V. I. Lozinsky and S. M. Aldoshin, Nitric oxide: biology & chemistry 2007, 16, 82-93] which spontaneously generate NO in protonic media are also known, and they have been shown by the recent studies to be useful as highly efficient NO donors in chemotherapy [N. A. Sanina, O. S. Zhukova, Z. S. Smirnova, T. N. Rudneva, G. V. Shylov, S. M. Aldoshin "Biyademiye nitrrozil'niye complexy zheleza s benzagetercyclicheskimi proizvodnymi, sposob ikh polucheniya, donor monooxida azota, pharmacevticheskaya kompozitsiya soderzhashchaya ikh I ikh primeneniye v kachestve protivoopukholevykh lekarstvennykh sredstv" (Binuclear nitrosyl iron complexes with benzazaheterocyclic derivatives, a method for preparing the same, a nitric oxide donor, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same, and use thereof as anticancer agents)—the application No PCT/RU2007/000286 of 30 May 2007; N. A. Sanina, O. S. Zhukova, S. M. Aldoshin, N. S. Emel'anova, G. K. Gerasimova, "Primenenie tetranitrozil'nogo complexa zheleza s tiophenolom v kachestve protivoopukholevogo lekarstvennogo sredstva i pharmacevticheskiye kompozitsii i nabory soderzhashchiye etot complex" ("Use of tetranitrosyl iron complex with thiophenol as an anticancer agent, and pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising this complex")—the application No PCT/RU2007000285 of 30 May 2007]. Their wide clinical use, however, is restrained by their low solubility in water and normal saline solution. Thus, there is need in water-soluble (and thus more bioavailable) anticancer agents with enhanced efficacy and lowered toxicity. In the article [S. A. T. Dillinger, H. W. Schmalle, T. Fox, H. Berke, "Developing iron nitrosyl complexes as NO donor prodrugs"// Dalton Trans., (2007)3562-3571] syntheses of binuclear cationic nitrosyl iron complexes with cystamine having the formula [Fe(NO)2S(CH2)2NH3]2X2 (X=Cl, I); performing reactions in toxic tetrahydrofuran using iron dinitrosyls (Fe(CO)2(NO)2 or {Fe(NO)2I]2) preparable in a multi-step process is required to prepare the main products.
The object of the instant invention is to expand the arsenal of anticancer agents and develop nitrosyl iron complexes-based anticancer agents with improved activity spectrum and decreased side effects, in particular, water-soluble binuclear nitrosyl iron complexes with sulfur-containing aliphatic ligands of natural origin (preferably cystamine, penicillamine) acting as NO-donors and possessing enhanced activity and lowered toxicity.

Water-soluble binuclear nitrosyl iron complexes with natural aliphatic thiolyls possessing cytotoxic, apoptotic and no-donor activity

Institute of Problems of Chemcial Physics RAS (IPCP RAS)


A hydraulic valve lifter assembly including a lifter body and a cam follower. The cam follower is mounted to an end of the lifter body wherein the lifter body has a first diameter over a first body portion for engaging a wall of an engine bore. The lifter body also including a second diameter smaller than the first diameter over a second body portion supportive of the cam follower. The hydraulic valve lifter assembly further including a contiguous annular transitional chamfer between the first and second diameter portions of the lifter body.

Hydraulic lifter assemblies for actuating intake and exhaust valves in internal combustion engines are well known. A typical lifter assembly includes a lifter body supportive of cam follower such as a roller. In use, the body is disposed for reciprocal motion in a bore in an engine block for translating rotary motion of a cam lobe into reciprocal motion of a pushrod. A piston within a well in the lifter body defines a high-pressure chamber in the well between the piston and the bottom of the well. The piston includes a low-pressure reservoir supplied with engine oil, from which the high-pressure chamber is replenished via a check valve. A pushrod seat closes the low-pressure chamber and receives the pushrod. A spring within the high-pressure chamber urges the piston outwards, thus removing mechanical lash in the valve train. The low-pressure chamber is provided with oil via an axial passage in the pushrod in communication with an oil gallery in the engine rocker arm assembly, such that there are no air voids in the oil supply system during engine operation.
It is necessary to completely purge air from an engine oil supply system after assembly of the engine and before the first starting. Of necessity, when the rocker arm assembly is bolted to the engine head, some of the intake and exhaust valves are placed in an open position. In a relatively short time, those lifter assemblies associated with the open valves will leak oil from their high-pressure chambers in response to force exerted by the valve springs. When this happens during normal operation of an engine, as during periods of inoperation, it is of little consequence, as the lifter automatically refills from the low-pressure reservoir through the check valve as soon as the engine is re-started and the force is relieved from the lifter. However, upon first starting an engine after assembly, it is essential that the low-pressure reservoir have sufficient oil to refill the high-pressure chamber immediately. A failure to provide oil for filling of the high-pressure chamber immediately results in a noisy lifter, a false indication of lifter failure, a failure of the first-start-after-assembly engine test, and substantial engine rework costs.
To guard against this problem in the prior art, lifters are carefully filled with oil after assembly of the lifter and are shipped in a vertical position. However, engine assembly can require a lifter to be placed in an orientation wherein oil can drain from the lifter. In addition, some engines have normal lifter positions wherein oil can drain from the low-pressure reservoir during and after engine assembly.
Prior to starting a newly-assembled engine, oil is forced through the oil distribution system under pressure for a predetermined time period, typically on the order of one minute, to purge air from the system. A large amount of air is initially present in galleries in the rocker arm shaft, rocker arms, and pushrods, which air must be expelled from the pushrods at or through the hydraulic valve lifters. Because there is no lash between elements in the valve-open valve trains, air purging is difficult and frequently incomplete, resulting in a noisy lifter upon initial starting. Further, any lifter with residual air trapped in the low-pressure reservoir may suck that air into the high-pressure chamber upon start-up, producing a void therein resulting in prolonged lifter noise and test failure.
Another known problem in prior art hydraulic valve lifters is that a burr is formed at a lower edge of the lifter body when machining the lifter body to form a wheel groove for the cam follower. If not removed, the burr is known to cause undesirable scratching and wear of the surface of the engine bore during use. In the prior art, the burr is typically removed in a separate deburring operation, adding to the cost of manufacture of prior art hydraulic valve assemblies.
What is needed in the art of hydraulic valve lifters is an improvement that eliminates the need to remove a residual burr contained in a lifter body after a wheel groove is cut therein.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a lifter body that eliminates the need to remove a residual burr from the lifter body after a wheel groove is cut.


A method for forming an ultra shallow junction on a substrate is provided. In certain embodiments a method of forming an ultra shallow junction on a substrate is provided. The substrate is placed into a process chamber. A silicon carbon layer is deposited on the substrate. The silicon carbon layer is exposed to a dopant. The substrate is heated to a temperature greater than 950° C. so as to cause substantial annealing of the dopant within the silicon carbon layer. In certain embodiments the substrate is heated to a temperature between about 1000° C. and about 1100°. In certain embodiments the substrate is heated to a temperature between about 1030° C. and 1050° C. In certain embodiments, a structure having an abrupt p-n junction is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the same, and in particular, to a method of fabricating an ultra-shallow junction in Field Effect Transistor (FET) devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ultra-large-scale integrated (ULSI) circuits typically include more than one million transistors that are formed on a semiconductor substrate and which cooperate to perform various functions within an electronic device. Such transistors may include complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) field effect transistors and metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFET).
A CMOS transistor includes a gate structure that is disposed between a source region and a drain region defined in the semiconductor substrate. The gate structure generally comprises a gate electrode formed on a gate dielectric material. The gate electrode controls a flow of charge carriers, beneath the gate dielectric, in a channel region that is formed between the drain region and the source region, so as to turn the transistor on or off. The channel, drain, and source regions are collectively referred to in the art as a "transistor junction". There is a constant trend to reduce dimensions of the transistor junction in order to facilitate an increase in the operational speed of such transistors.
The gate electrode is generally formed of doped polysilicon (Si) while the gate dielectric material may comprise a thin layer (e.g., <20 Å) of a high dielectric constant material (e.g., a dielectric constant greater than 4.0) such as silicon dioxide (SiO2) or N-doped silicon dioxide, and the like.
The CMOS transistor may be fabricated by defining source and drain regions in the semiconductor substrate using an ion implantation process. However, smaller dimensions for the transistor junctions have necessitated the formation of source and drain regions with reduced depths (e.g., depths of between 100 to 500 Å). Such ultra shallow junctions require abrupt interfaces that are difficult to form using ion implantation techniques due to ion-channeling and transient enhanced diffusion phenomena (TED). Dopants experience greatly enhanced diffusion or TED during post-implant annealing due to interaction of the dopants with excess silicon interstitials. This enhanced diffusion results in a deeper source/drain junction and poorer junction profile.
Several methods have attempted to reduce TED during formation of ultra shallow junctions. One method for fabricating the ultra shallow transistor junctions is called carbon co-implantation in which carbon is co-implanted with a dopant such as boron. Although carbon co-implantation is successful in reducing TED, carbon co-implantation suffers from the disadvantage of creating a high number of point defects in the film.
Another method uses fluorine co-implants to reduce TED during annealing. However, this method suffers from the same disadvantages as carbon co-implantation, i.e. point defects remain after annealing.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved method for fabricating an ultra shallow junction of a field effect transistor.

Method of ultra-shallow junction formation using Si film alloyed with carbon


Examples may include a computing platform having a host driver to get a packet descriptor of a received packet stored in a receive queue and to modify the packet descriptor from a first format to a second format. The computing platform also includes a guest virtual machine including a guest driver coupled to the host driver, the guest driver to receive the modified packet descriptor and to read a packet buffer stored in the receive queue using the modified packet descriptor, the packet buffer corresponding to the packet descriptor.

The introduction of the Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV) and Sharing specification, version 1.1, published Jan. 20, 2010 by the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG), was a notable advancement toward hardware-assisted high performance I/O virtualization and sharing for PCI Express devices. PCI Express (PCIe) is defined by PCI Express Base Specification, revision 4.0, version 1.0, published Oct. 5, 2017. Since then, the compute landscape has evolved beyond deploying virtual machines (VMs) for computer server consolidation to hyper-scale data centers which need to seamlessly add resources and dynamically provision containers. The new computing environment demands increased scalability and flexibility for I/O virtualization.
Applications running in an operation system (OS) do not have strict memory protection. That is, memory and I/O resources assigned to one application could be shared or manipulated by other applications. This can be an issue of security as well as performance and efficiency of an application. One approach is to run applications inside a virtual machine (VM) or a container. When an application runs in a VM or a container, the application is protected from other applications maliciously sniffing the application's data or writing the application's memory and/or I/O resources. However, protection of an application using VMs or containers comes with an overhead of managing VMs and containers. In addition, running an application in a VM or container results in a performance impact as compared to an application running in a "bare-metal" OS.

Zero copy host interface in a scalable input/output (I/O) virtualization (S-IOV) architecture


A magnetic device adapted for various engine oil filtering apparatuses is proposed in the present invention. It includes an elastic metal plate; multiple holding bases, each of which has at least a containing portion, the holding bases being disposed on the elastic metal plate; and multiple magnets disposed in the containing portions of the holding bases respectively. The magnetic device has a sectional design and has various flexible combinations. Hence, it is more applicable and reduces the costs of production.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a magnetic device adapted for various engine oil filtering apparatuses, and more particularly, to a magnetic device suitable for installation onto various engine oil filtering apparatuses to filter out the iron powder or other impurities in the engine oil. The magnetic device has a sectional design and has various flexible combinations. Hence, it is more applicable than the prior art.
2. Description of Related Art
Reference is made to FIG. 1, which is a conventional magnetic device suited to be installed onto an engine oil filtering apparatus. The magnetic device 5 has a base 51 with an arc shape. The base 51 has multiple powerful magnets 52, which are closely arranged and fixed at the inner side of the base 51.
Reference is made to FIG. 2. The magnetic device 5 can be installed on an engine oil filtering apparatus 6. The magnetic device 5 is fixed on the housing 61 of the engine oil filtering apparatus 6. Thus, a magnetic field is formed inside the engine oil filtering apparatus 6. The powerful magnets 52 of the magnetic device 5 attract the iron powder or impurities via the housing 6. Hence, the engine oil is well filtered.
However, the conventional magnetic device mentioned above has a fixed shape and size. When in practical use, the engine oil filtering apparatuses may have different shapes and sizes and thus the conventional magnetic device is usually not suitable for installation on these apparatuses. Hence, the conventional magnetic device is inconvenient for installation and not applicable for different engine oil filtering apparatuses. In the prior art, for different engine oil filtering apparatuses, a wide variety of molds are usually made to produce the magnetic devices with different shapes and sizes. This greatly increases the costs of production.
Furthermore, the base of the conventional magnetic device should have more powerful magnets installed thereon. That also increases the costs of production. Moreover, the powerful magnets cannot be flexibly arranged in different manners to suit practical requirements.
Accordingly, as discussed above, the prior art still has some drawbacks that could be improved upon. The present invention aims to resolve the drawbacks of the prior art.

Magnetic device adapted for various engine oil filtering apparatuses


Aspects relate to systems and methods for dynamic active noise reduction including at least a sensor configured to sense a physiological characteristic of a user and transmit a physiological signal correlated to the sensed physiological characteristic, at least an environmental microphone configured to transduce an environmental noise to an environmental noise signal, a processor configured to receive the environmental noise signal, generate a noise-reducing sound signal as a function of the environmental noise signal, and, modify the noise-reducing sound signal as a function of the physiological signal, and a speaker configured to transduce a noise-reducing sound from the modified noise-reducing sound signal.

Active noise cancelling technology has been known for almost 100 years. In the past 20 years active noise cancelling technology became available in headphones to the general consumer. This technology cancels out environmental sound with an antiphase sound by way of destructive interference. Typically, noise cancelling headphone use result in the user experiencing nothing but silence. Silence may be good for a long transatlantic flight but experiencing most of life's activities in silence is nonideal, uncanny, and at times even dangerous.

Systems and methods for dynamic noise reduction


An antenna mount is comprised of a base plate, an antenna mounting base to be mounted on the base surface of an antenna, and guide pins having a frange which are secured to the base plate. The antenna mounting base have insertion portions and retaining portions. The flanges of the guide pins are retained by the retaining portion, by inserting the guide pins into the insertion portion and rotaing the base plate and the antenna mounting base relative to one another. Accordingly, an antenna is obtained whereby mounting and removing of the antenna can be easily performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antenna mount for mounting an antenna on, e.g., the roof, trunk, etc., of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a flat automobile antenna mounted on the trunk of an automobile (refer to Japanese Patent Laid open 4-225604). The antenna 2 is fixed to the automobile trunk 1 by means of double-sided adhesive tape 3.
The known antenna 2 is fixed to the automobile trunk 1 by means of double-sided adhesive tape 3, and in the event that the antenna 2 must be removed from the automobile for repair of the antenna 2 or replacement thereof, the double-coated adhesive tape 3 which firmly adheres to the trunk 1 and the antenna 2 obstructs removal of the antenna 2, and consequently, such an arrangement has caused problems because removal of the antenna 2 from the automobile can not be conducted in a smooth manner.


Problems such as insufficient brightness, caused by a reduction in duty ratio (the ratio of a light emitting period and a non-light emitting period), are improved upon in accordance with using a novel method of driving and a novel circuit in an electronic device. Signals are written into pixels of a plurality of differing lines during one gate signal line selection period. By arbitrarily setting, to a certain extent, the time from when a signal is input into the pixels of a certain line until the next signal is input to the same pixels, while ensuring the time for writing into the pixels, a sustain (turn on) period can be arbitrarily set and a high duty ratio is realized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic device and to a method of driving an electronic device. In particular, the present invention relates to an active matrix electronic device having a thin film transistor (TFT) formed on an insulating substrate, and to a method of driving an active matrix electronic device. From among all active matrix electronic devices, the present invention relates, in particular, to an active matrix electronic device using a self light emitting element, such as an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) element, and to a method of driving such an active matrix electronic device.
2. Description of the Related Art
OLED displays have been gathering attention in recent years as flat display substitutes for LCDs (liquid crystal displays), and research into OLED displays is proceeding apace.
LCDs can roughly be divided into two types of driving methods. One is a passive matrix type using an LCD such as an STN-LCD, and the other is an active matrix type using an LCD such as a TFT-LCD. OLED displays are similarly divided roughly into two types; one a passive type, and the other an active type.
For a case of the passive type, wirings which become electrodes are arranged in portions above and below an OLED element. Voltages are applied in order to the wirings, and the OLED elements turn on due to the electric current flowing. On the other hand, each pixel has a transistor in a case of the active type, and a signal can be stored within each pixel.
A schematic diagram of an active type OLED display device is shown in FIG. 21A. A source signal line driver circuit 2151, a gate signal line driver circuit 2152, and a pixel portion 2153 are arranged on a substrate 2150. The gate signal line driver circuit is arranged on both sides of the pixel portion in FIG. 21A, but it may also be placed on only one side. A signal for driving the display device is input to each driver circuit in accordance with a flexible printed circuit (FPC) 2154.
FIG. 21B shows an enlargement of a portion of the pixel portion 2153, 3×3 pixels. The portion surrounded by a dotted line frame 2100 is one pixel. Reference numeral 2101 denotes a TFT which functions as a switching element when a signal is written into the pixel (hereafter referred to as a switching TFT). The switching TFTs may be n-channel TFTs or p-channel TFTs in FIGS. 21A and 21B. Reference numeral 2102 denotes a TFT (hereafter referred to as an OLED driver TFT) which functions as an element (electric current control element) for controlling the electric current supplied to an OLED element 2103. The OLED driver TFT is arranged between an anode of the OLED element 2103 and an electric current supply line 2107 when the OLED driver TFT is a p-channel TFT. As another type of separate structure, it is also possible to use an n-channel TFT or to arrange the OLED driver TFT between a cathode of the OLED element 2103 and a cathode wiring. However, a method in which the OLED driver TFT is arranged between an anode of the OLED element 2103 and the electric current supply line 2107 is best when using a p-channel TFT as the OLED driver TFT because the transistor operation is good with its source grounded and because of the constraints on the production of the OLED element 2103, and therefore this method is often employed. Reference numeral 2104 denotes a storage capacitor for storing a signal (voltage) input from a source signal line 2106. One of the terminals of the storage capacitor 2104 is connected to the electric current supply line 2107 in FIG. 21B, but it is also possible to use a dedicated wiring. A gate signal line 2105 is connected to a gate electrode of the switching TFT 2101, and the source signal line 2106 is connected to a source region. Further, the anode of the OLED element 2103 is connected to one of a source region and a drain region of the OLED driver TFT 2102, while the electric current supply line 2107 is connected to the remaining region.
Operation of the active type OLED element is explained. The relationship between the electric current flowing in an OLED element and the brightness of the OLED element is shown in FIG. 22A. It can be understood from FIG. 22A that the brightness of the OLED element increases nearly in direct proportion to the electric current flowing in the OLED element. The electric current flowing in the OLED element will therefore be mainly argued hereafter. Next, the voltage vs. Electric current characteristics of the OLED element are shown in FIGS. 22B and 22C. When a voltage exceeding a certain threshold value is applied to the OLED element, an exponentially large electric current begins to flow. From another point of view, even if the amount of electric current flowing in the OLED element changes, the value of the voltage applied to the OLED element does not change much. On the other hand, if the value of the voltage applied to the OLED element changes even by a small amount, the amount of electric current flowing in the OLED element changes greatly. It is therefore difficult to control the amount of electric current flowing in the OLED element, namely the brightness of the OLED element, by controlling the value of the voltage applied to the OLED element. The brightness in the OLED element is then controlled in accordance with controlling the amount of electric current flowing in the OLED element.
Refer to FIGS. 23A and 23B. FIG. 23A is a figure showing only the structure portions of the OLED driver TFT 2102 and the OLED element 2103 in the OLED element pixel portion of FIG. 21. An electric current supply line 2301, a cathode wiring 2302, an OLED driver TFT 2304, a gate electrode 2303 of the OLED driver TFT 2304, and an OLED element 2305 appear in FIG. 23A. FIG. 23B shows the voltage current characteristics in order to analyze the operational points of FIG. 23A. The voltage applied to the OLED element 2305 is taken as VOLED, the electric potential of the electric current supply line 2301 is taken as VDD, the electric potential of the cathode wiring 2302 is taken as VGND (=OV), the voltage between a source and a drain of the OLED driver TFT 2304 is taken as VDS, and the voltage between a gate electrode 2303 of to the OLED driver TFT 2304 and the electric current supply line 2301, namely the voltage between a gate and a source of the OLED driver TFT 2304, is taken as VGS. In order to clarify the explanation, it is assumed that a p-channel TFT is used as the OLED driver TFT 2304 here, and that a source terminal is set to the high side voltage terminal, while a drain terminal is set to the low side voltage terminal. As can be understood from FIG. 23B, the value of the electric current flowing in the OLED driver TFT 2304 becomes larger as the absolute value of the voltage between the gate and the source of the OLED driver TFT 2304 |VGS| gets larger.
Operational points of an OLED circuit are explained next. First, the OLED driver TFT 2304 and the OLED element 2305 are connected in series in the circuit of FIG. 23A. The value of the electric current flowing in both elements (the OLED driver TFT 2304 and the OLED element 2305) is therefore equal. The operation point of the circuit of FIG. 23A consequently becomes the point of intersection on the graph of the voltage current characteristics of both elements (see FIG. 23B.) VOLED becomes the voltage between VGND and the electric potential of the operation point in FIG. 23B. VDS becomes the voltage between VDD and the electric potential of the operation point. In other words, the voltage from VDD to VOLED is equal to the sum of VOLED and VDS.
A case in which VGS is changed is considered here. The OLED driver TFT 2304 is a p-channel TFT, and therefore becomes a conducting state if VGS becomes smaller than the threshold voltage Vth of the OLED driver TFT 2304. If VGS becomes even smaller, namely the absolute value |VGS| becomes additionally larger, then the amount of electric current flowing in the OLED driver TFT 2304 becomes additionally larger, and the value of the electric current flow in the OLED element 2305 naturally becomes larger as well. The brightness of the OLED element 2305 becomes higher in proportion to the value of electric current flowing in the OLED element 2305. However, VOLED also becomes larger at this point.
In order to analyze the operation in a rather detailed fashion, the operational region of the OLED driver TFT 2304 for a case in which |VGS| is large is discussed first. In general, the operation of a transistor can be roughly divided into two regions. One region is one in which the electric value of the electric current almost does not change even when there is a change in the voltage between the source and the drain; namely, a saturation region in which the current value is determined by only the voltage difference between the source and the drain (|VDS|>|VGS−Vth|). The other region is a linear one in which the value of the electric current is determined by the voltage between the source and the drain, and by the voltage between the gate and the source (|VDS|<|VGS−Vth|). The operation region of the OLED driver TFT 2304 is considered based upon the above. First, when the value of the electric current is low, namely in a case when |VGS| is small, the OLED driver TFT 2304 operates in the saturation region as shown in FIG. 23B. If |VGS| then becomes larger, the value of the electric current also becomes large. At the same time, VOLED also gradually becomes larger. Therefore, VDS becomes smaller the larger that VOLED becomes at this point. However, the OLED driver TFT 2304 is operating in the saturation region in this case, and even if VDS changes, the value of the electric current changes very little. In other words, when the OLED driver TFT 2304 is operating in the saturation region, the amount of electric current flowing in the OLED element 2305 is determined only by |VGS|.
In addition, if |VGS| becomes larger, the OLED driver TFT 2304 begins to operate in the linear region. Then VOLED gradually becomes larger. VDS consequently becomes smaller the larger VOLED becomes. In the linear region, the amount of electric current also becomes smaller if VDS decreases. Therefore, the value of electric current does not increase easily even if |VGS| becomes larger. Assuming the case that |VGS|=∞, the value of the electric current becomes equal to IMAX. Namely, however large |VGS| becomes, an electric current of more than IMAX will not flow. IMAX is the value of the electric current flowing in the OLED element 2305 when VOLED is (VDD−VGND)(VGND=0 V here, and therefore VOLED=VDD).
Bringing together the above operation analysis, when |VGS| is changed, the value of the electric current flowing in the OLED element is shown in a graph of FIG. 24. As the value of |VGS| becomes larger and exceeds the absolute value of the threshold voltage of the OLED driver TFT |Vth|, then the OLED driver TFT is placed in a conducting state, and electric current begins to flow. The value of |VGS| at this point is referred to as the turn on start voltage. If |VGS| becomes additionally large, the value of the electric current becomes larger, and finally the value of the electric current saturates. The value of |VGS| at this point is referred to as the brightness saturation voltage. As can be understood from FIG. 24, almost no current flows when |VGS| is smaller than the turn on start voltage. The amount of electric current changes in accordance with |VGS| when |VGS| is between the turn on start voltage and the brightness saturation voltage. When |VGS| then becomes sufficiently larger than the brightness saturation voltage, the value of the electric current flowing in the OLED element changes very little. Control of the value of the electric current flowing in the OLED element, namely control of the brightness of the OLED element, can thus be performed in accordance with changing |VGS|.
Operation of an active type OLED circuit is explained next. FIGS. 21A and 21B are again referred to.
First, the gate of the switching TFT 2101 opens when the gate signal line 2105 is selected, and the switching TFT 2101 is placed in a conducting state. The signal (voltage) of the source signal line 2106 is thus stored in the storage capacitor 2104. The voltage of the storage capacitor 2104 becomes the voltage VGS between the gate and the source of the OLED driver TFT 2102, and therefore the electric current, which responds to the voltage of the storage capacitor 2104, flows in the OLED driver TFT 2102 and in the OLED element 2103. As a result, the OLED element 2103 turns on. As explained by FIGS. 23A to 24, the brightness of the OLED element 2103, namely the amount of electric current flowing in the OLED element 2103, can be controlled by VGS. VGS is the voltage stored in the storage capacitor 2104, and is the signal (voltage) of the source signal line 2106. In other words, the brightness of the OLED element 2103 is controlled by controlling the signal (voltage) of the source signal line 2106. Finally, the gate signal line 2105 in unselected, the gate of the switching TFT 2101 closes, and the switching TFT 2101 is placed in a non-conducting state. The electric charge stored in the storage capacitor 2104 continues to be stored at this point. VGS is therefore stored as is, and the electric current in response to VGS continues to flow in the OLED driver TFT 2102 and in the OLED element 2103.
Information regarding the above explanation is reported in papers such as the following: "Current Status and Future of Light-emitting Polymer Display Driven by Poly-Si TFT", SID99 Digest, p. 372; "High Resolution Light Emitting Polymer Display Driven by Low Temperature Polysilicon Thin Film Transistor with Integrated Driver", ASIA DISPLAY 98, p. 217; and "3.8 Green OLED with Low Temperature Poly-Si TFT", Euro Display 99 Late News, p. 27.
A method of gradation display of an OLED element is explained next. As FIG. 24 shows, when the absolute value of the gate voltage of the OLED driver TFT |VGS| is equal to or above the turn on start voltage and equal to or below the brightness saturation voltage, the brightness of the OLED element, namely the gray scale, can be controlled in an analog manner by changing the value of |VGS|. This method is therefore referred to as an analog gray scale method.
The analog gray scale method has a disadvantage in that it is weak with respect to dispersion in the electric current characteristics of the OLED driver TFTs. In other words, if the electric current characteristics of the OLED driver TFTs differ, the value of the electric current flowing in the OLED driver TFTs and the OLED elements will differ even if the same gate voltage is applied. As a result, the brightness of the OLED elements, namely their gray scale, changes. FIG. 25 shows a graph of the absolute value of the gate voltage of an OLED driver TFT |VGS| and the electric current flowing in the OLED element for a case in which the threshold voltage value and the mobility of the OLED driver TFT change. For example, the voltage effectively applied to the gate of the OLED driver TFT becomes smaller if the threshold voltage of the OLED driver TFT becomes larger (|VGS|−|Vth|), and therefore the turn on start voltage becomes larger. Further, if the mobility of the OLED driver TFT becomes smaller, then the electric current flowing between the source and the drain of the OLED driver TFT becomes smaller, and therefore the slope of the graph becomes smaller.
In order to reduce the effect of dispersion in the characteristics of the OLED driver TFTs, a method referred to as a digital gray scale method was proposed. This method is a method of controlling the gray scale by two states, a state in which the absolute value of the gate voltage of the OLED driver TFT |VGS| is below the turn on start voltage (when almost no electric current flows), and a state in which |VGS| is greater than the brightness saturation voltage (in which the value of the electric current is nearly IMAX). In this case, if the value of the absolute value of the gate voltage of the OLED driver TFT |VGS| is sufficiently higher than the brightness saturation voltage, the electric current value stays near IMAX even if the electric current characteristics of the OLED driver TFTs are dispersed. The influence of the OLED driver TFT dispersions can therefore be made extremely small. The gray scale is controlled by two states, an ON state (a bright state in which the maximum electric current flows) and an OFF state (a dark state in which the electric current does not flow), and therefore this method is referred to as the digital gray scale method.
However, only two gray scales can be displayed with the digital gray scale method in this state. Several techniques of changing to multiple gray scales by combining this method with another method have been proposed.
One of these techniques is a method in which a surface area gray scale method and a digital gray scale method are combined. The surface area gray scale method is a method of outputting gray scales by controlling the surface area of portions which are switched on. Namely, one pixel is divided into a plurality of sub-pixels, and the number of sub-pixels turned on and their surface area are controlled, and a gray scale is expressed. Disadvantages of this method include the fact that it is difficult to increase the resolution, and that it is difficult to make a lot of gray scales, because the number of sub-pixels cannot be made large. The surface area gray scale method is reported upon in papers such as: "TFT-LEPD with Image Uniformity by Area Ratio Gray Scale", Euro Display 99 Late News, p. 71; and "Technology for Active Matrix Light Emitting Polymer Displays", IEDM 99, p. 107.
Another method capable of making many gray scales is a method which combines a time gray scale method and a digital gray scale method. The time gray scale method is a method of outputting gray scales by controlling the amount of turned on time. In other words, one frame period is divided up into a plurality of subframe periods, and gray scales are expressed by controlling the number and the length of the subframe periods turned on.
A case of combining the digital gray scale method, the surface area gray scale method, and the time gray scale method is reported in "Low-Temperature Poly-Si TFT driven Light-Emitting-Polymer Displays and Digital Gray Scale for Uniformity", IDW '99, p. 171.
A method applied for in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 11-176521 is discussed as a method of combining the digital gray scale method and the time gray scale method. A three bit gray scale is expressed here, and therefore as an example a case of dividing one frame period into three subframe periods is discussed.
FIG. 26 is referred to. As shown in FIG. 26, one frame period is divided into three subframe periods (SF). A first subframe period is referred to here as SF1. Subframe periods from the second onward are similarly referred to as SF2 and SF3. One subframe period is additionally divided into an address (write in) period (Ta) and a sustain (turn on) period (Ts). The sustain (turn on) period of SF1 is denoted by Ts1. The sustain periods for SF2 and SF3 are similarly denoted by Ts2 and Ts3.
Operations performed in the address (write in) period Ta are explained. FIGS. 21A and 21B, and FIG. 26 are referred to. First, the electric potential difference between the electric current supply line 2107 and a cathode wiring 2108 is set to 0 V. The electric potential of the cathode wiring 2108 is actually increased and placed at the same electric potential as that of the electric current supply line 2107. The cathode wiring 2108 is connected to all pixels, and therefore this operation is performed in all pixels simultaneously. The aim of this operation is so that no electric current flows in the OLED elements 2103, without depending upon the value of the voltage of the storage capacitor 2104 of each pixel. Signals (voltages) are then stored in the storage capacitors 2104 of each pixel through the source signal lines 2106. To set a pixel into a display state, the absolute value of the voltage between the gate and the source of the OLED driver TFT 2101 is set to a voltage sufficiently higher than the brightness saturation voltage. When a pixel is set to not display, the |VGS| of the OLED driver TFT 2101 is set to a voltage sufficiently lower than the turn on start voltage. The signals (voltages) are stored in the storage capacitors 2104 of all pixels. The operation of the address (write in) period Ta is thus complete.
The sustain (turn on) period Ts1 begins next. The electric potential difference between the electric current supply line 2107 and the cathode wiring 2108 was in a state of 0 V during the address (write in) period (Ta). In the sustain (turn on) period (Ts1), a voltage is applied between the electric current supply line 2107 and the cathode wiring 2108 simultaneously to all pixels. As a result, an electric current flows in the OLED driver TFT 2101 and in the OLED element 2103 of pixels in which |VGS| is sufficiently larger than the brightness saturation voltage, and the OLED elements turn on. An electric current does not flow in the OLED driver TFT 2101 and in the OLED element 2103 for pixels in which is sufficiently lower voltage than the turn on start voltage, and those pixels remain dark. This state continues, and the electric potential difference between the electric current supply line 2107 and the cathode wiring 2108 is once again set to a state of 0 V when the sustain (turn on) period Ts1 is complete. This naturally occurs across all the pixels simultaneously. Electric current then does not flow in the OLED elements 2103, without depending on the value of the storage capacitor 2104 voltage of each pixel, name |VGS|, and the OLED elements 2103 become dark.
The above is the operation of one subframe period (SF1). Similar operations are also performed in SF2 and SF3. However, the length of the sustain (turn on) periods differ in accordance with the subframe period. The length ratios become Ts1:Ts2:Ts3=22:21:20. In other words, the sustain (turn on) periods change in accordance with powers of 2. The changing of the sustain (turn on) period lengths by powers of 2 is in order to easily conform to digital operation.
The OLED element 2103 does not turn on during the interval until the end of the address (write in) period even if a predetermined voltage is applied to the gate of the OLED driver TFT 2101, and the OLED driver TFT 2101 is in a conducting state. The OLED element 2103 is made to turn on at the same time as the sustain (turn on) period begins. This is in order to more accurately control the length of the sustain (turn on) periods. A timing chart relating to the electric potential VGND of the cathode wiring of the OLED element 2103 is shown in FIG. 26. The cathode wiring is connected to all pixels, and therefore reference numeral 2601 denotes the electric potential VGND of the cathode wirings of all pixels in FIG. 26. The electric potential of the cathode wiring is set to the same electric potential as that of the electric current supply line, or to a higher electric potential, in the address (write in) period (Ta). the electric potential of the cathode wiring is then reduced in the sustain (turn on) period, and an electric current flows in the OLED elements.
The brightness is controlled by controlling whether or not the OLED elements turn on in the sustain (turn on) periods Ts1 to Ts3 in the gray scale display method. With this example, 23=8 turn on time lengths can be determined by combining the sustain (turn on) periods, and therefore 8 gray scales can be displayed. This method of performing gray scale display by thus utilizing the lengthening and shortening of the turn on times is referred to as the time gray scale method.
In addition, the number of divisions of one frame period may be increased for a higher number of gray scales. It becomes possible to express 2n gray scales, in which the ratio of lengths of the sustain (turn on) periods becomes Ts1:Ts2: . . . :Ts(n-1):Tsn=2(n-1):2(n-2): . . . :21:20 for a case of dividing one frame period into n subframe periods.
Note that gray scale display is also possible even when the lengths of the sustain (turn on) periods are not ratios of powers of 2.
The division of the subframe periods into address (write in) periods and sustain (turn on) periods, is in order to be able to freely set the length of the sustain (turn on) periods. In other words, it becomes possible to set the sustain (turn on) periods shorter than the address (write in) periods by dividing up the subframe periods. If the sustain (turn on) period is short for a case in which the period is not divided, then there are cases in which the address (write in) period overlaps with the address (write in) period of another subframe, and therefore normal signal write in is not performed.
Problems associated with the method of dividing into address (write in) periods and sustain (turn on) periods for a case of multiple gray scale in which the time gray scale method and the digital gray scale method are combined, namely the technique submitted in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 11-176521, is mainly discussed.
First, the fact that the OLED element is not turned on in the address (write in) period Ta can be given. The ratio of the display period to an entire one frame period (this is referred to as a duty ratio) therefore becomes small. Assuming that the ratio of the total time occupied by the sustain (turn on) periods (Ts) in one frame period is half, namely that the duty ratio is 50%, a brightness can be obtained which is only half that for a case in which the duty ratio is 100%. It is necessary that the brightness at the time light is emitted in the sustain (turn on) period, namely the instantaneous brightness, be twice as high in order to obtain a brightness equal to that of a case of a 100% duty ratio. It is therefore necessary for an electric current which is twice as large to flow in the OLED elements.
A second problem point is that it is necessary to complete the write in of the signals to all of the pixels within the address (write in) period (Ta), and therefore it is necessary to have high speed circuit operation. If the circuit operation is slow, then the address (write in) period (Ta) becomes longer. As a result, the duty ratio becomes smaller, and various problems develop. Further, the energy consumption becomes large if a high speed circuit operates, and this also becomes problematic.
A third problem point is that it is difficult to increase the number of pixels. The reason this is true is that the address (write in) period (Ta) becomes longer by increasing the number of pixels, and as a result, the duty ratio becomes smaller.
A fourth problem is that it is difficult to increase the number of gray scales. This is because it is necessary to increase the number of divisions in the subframe periods in order to increase the number of gray scales, and as a result, the number of address (write in) periods (Ta) increases, and the duty ratio becomes smaller.

Electronic device and method of driving electronic device

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A network switching system includes a storage device including a plurality of application-provided flow-based rules provided by a plurality of applications. A packet processor is coupled to the storage device and includes a flow-based handler that is operable to receive a packet, determine that the packet is associated with a flow session, and associate a plurality of the application-provided flow-based rules with the packet based the association of the packet with the flow session. The packet processor also includes a flow-based rule processing engine that is operable to determine a priority for the plurality of application-provided flow-based rules and apply at least one of the plurality of application-provided flow-based rules to the packet according to the priority. The system allows a plurality of SDN applications to operate in a network switching system independently and without knowledge of each other.

The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems (IHS's), and more particularly to a network switching IHS implementing software defined networking (SDN) applications for transferring information between IHS's.
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an IHS. An IHS generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, IHSs may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in IHSs allow for IHSs to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, IHSs may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Conventionally, the control of network switches and routers has been proprietary and determined by the manufacturers of the equipment. Software Defined Networking (SDN) seeks to change this by making the control plane (e.g., the information defining what to do with incoming packets such as, for example, the information in the routing table) remotely accessible and modifiable using SDN applications. SDN applications have been developed that can manage security policy, network load balancing, power, routing algorithms, packet modification and redirection, and/or a variety of other network criteria known in the art.
However, SDN applications expect to have full control over the incoming packets, which becomes a problem when multiple SDN applications are added to the system, and particularly when those SDN applications are provided by different vendors. For example, a first SDN application may be desirable for associating rules or actions with packets that provide for network load balancing, while a second SDN application may be desirable for associating rules or action with those packets that provide a security policy. In some situations, the rules or actions provided using the first SDN application will conflict with the rules or actions provided using the second SDN application, which can result in conflicting logic that creates unpredictable network behavior. The solution to this problem is to build an SDN application that perform all the functions needed by the system (e.g., an SDN application that provides for both network load balancing and security policy), and that SDN application may then be designed such that no rules or actions conflict. However, this solution makes it difficult to quickly and easily leverage new innovations in SDN because of the need to build a SDN application that provides all of the desired SDN functionality in a system in order to implement a new SDN functionality.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved SDN network switching system.

Network switching system using software defined networking applications


It is an object of the present invention to provide a detergent builder comprising a copolymer excellent in compatibility with a liquid detergent and capable of exhibiting excellent basic abilities such as prevention of recontamination and detergency ratio, and a detergent composition containing the detergent builder. The above-mentioned detergent builder comprises a copolymer obtained by copolymerization of monomer components containing a polyalkyleneimine unsaturated monomer and other monomers.

A polyalkyleneimine-alkyleneoxide adduct comprising a polyalkyleneimine as a main chain and an alkyleneoxide such as ethylene oxide added to a nitrogen atoms of the polyalkyleneimine is efficient to exhibit a function as a polymer builder. Such a polymer is soluble in a liquid detergent, so that it has become an essential ingredient composing a liquid detergent. If a polyalkyleneimine-alkyleneoxide adduct and a surfactant are added together to a detergent recontamination by stains removed by cleaning can be prevented and the detergent exhibits high cleaning power.
As the polyalkyleneimine-alkyleneoxide addition copolymer, polycarboxylic acid copolymers obtained by copolymerizing a polyalkyleneimine unsaturated monomer (A1) and an unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer (B) are disclosed in Japan Kokai publication No. 2003-128738 (page 1). With respect to the polycarboxylic acid-based copolymers, the repeating unit composed of the polyalkyleneimine unsaturated monomer (A1) has a function of making the water-reducing property and the workability of cement compositions or the like excellent and the repeating unit composed of the unsaturated polycarboxylic acid-based monomer (B) has a function of making the polycarboxylic acid copolymer absorbable in cement particles, and use of such a polycarboxylic acid copolymer as a component of a cement additive makes the water-reducing property and workability of cement compositions excellent and also makes the hardened products of the compositions excellent in the strength and durability. However, use of the copolymer as a polymer builder for detergents or the like is not disclosed and thus there was a room for contrivance in this point.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Detergent builder and detergent composition


Systems and processes for interactive off-track wagering are provided. A user reviews racing information and places bets using an off-track terminal. The user interactively selects a desired racetrack and race. Odds, pools, and payoff amounts may be viewed for a variety of complex wager types. To place a wager, the user selects a wager type, wager amount, and the desired runners. Account information can be reviewed. If desired, the user can transfer funds from a bank account to in account used for wagering. Racing videos can be viewed while the user reviews odds and places bets. Video clips of past races can be ordered. Related advertisements can be presented using text or video clips. Merchandise may be ordered interactively. Information regarding system usage may be gathered.

This invention relates to interactive wagering systems and particularly to interactive wagering systems for racetrack wagering. More particularly, this invention relates to off-track interactive wagering systems having user terminals for receiving racing videos and racing information via a medium other than conventional telephone lines and for displaying this information on a television monitor.
Wagering on sporting events such as horse, dog, and harness racing is a popular leisure activity. However, it is sometimes inconvenient to attend racing events in person. Not all racing fans have sufficient time to visit racetracks as often as they would like and some fans have difficulties in obtaining suitable transportation to the track. Thus, there is a need for wagering services for fans who cannot attend racing events in person.
Off-track betting establishments, which are generally more readily accessible than racetracks, have attempted to fill this need. However, a racing fan who desires to place a wager still faces the prospect of traveling to the off-track betting establishment.
Wagering via telephone is another option. A user of a telephone-based system typically sets up a telephone account against which wagers may be made. In order to place wagers, the user must interact with a computerized telephone ordering system by pressing appropriate buttons on a touch-tone telephone. This type of system is mainly used for placing wagers. Detailed racing information is typically obtained from other sources, such as printed racing programs.
Another approach for off-track wagering involves the use of dedicated devices that permit twoway serial modem communications with wagering equipment at a racetrack. These devices receive limited wagering information from the racetrack via telephone lines and provide it to a user on a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. The user places a wager by making entries into the device which are then transmitted to the racetrack using the modem. Typical of this category of off-track wagering device are the Tiny TIM terminal of Autotote Systems, Inc., Newark, Del. and the terminal sold under the trademark "BetMate" of AmTote, Hunt Valley, Md.
Although it is possible to use terminals such as these in the home, doing so would monopolize the users' telephone line at certain times. And because the only data link with the racetrack using terminals such as the Tiny TIM or BetMate terminals is via telephone, it is not possible to receive racing videos with such terminals. In addition, the LCDs in these terminals make it difficult to display racing information in a way that may be easily viewed by the user. Because the Tiny TIM and BetMate terminals cannot be used with a television monitor, it is not possible for a user of such a terminal to display racing information on his home television set. Further, systems capable of interacting with off-track wagering terminals that use telephone lines to receive wagering information must provide a large number of simultaneous telephone connections to service each of the of the terminals. Because there is typically an extended connect time associated with each user, such systems are often unwieldy.
In addition, the racing information available through known off-track betting terminals is limited to a subset of the racing information provided by the racetracks. For example, presently available terminals may allow a user to view "twin" odds (the amount wagered on a runner to win versus the amount wagered on competing runners to win). However, such terminals do not allow the user to view odds, pools, or predicted payoffs for wagers such as show, place, or more advanced wager types, such as exactas, trifectas, daily doubles, pick threes, pick fours etc.
Further, with presently known terminals, the user cannot receive or display any additional information, such as handicapping information, weather conditions, or information regarding which races at a particular track are available as video transmissions on a given day.
It would therefore be desirable to provide interactive wagering systems and processes that provide racing data to off-track wagering terminals via a medium other than conventional telephone lines.
It would also be desirable to provide interactive wagering systems and processes that provide racing data to off-track wagering terminals that display the racing data on a home television monitor.
It would also be desirable to provide wagering systems and processes that provide racing data and racing videos to off-track wagering terminals on which the racing data and racing videos are displayed.
It would also be desirable to be able to provide wagering systems and processes that provide an improved level of racing data to off-track wagering terminals.

Interactive wagering systems and processes


A computerized method for dynamically generating and displaying a catalog including a plurality of items, each item being classified by at least group information and product information is disclosed. The method allows a merchant user to generate a catalog by classifying new items by entering into pre-defined fields at least group and product information text for each item, and by optionally specifying a multimedia object associated with the new item, where each field optionally has an associated link to a linked object. The user selects a display template which defines a pre-designed catalog page layout having generally designated areas for placement of text and multimedia objects relating to an associated item. After the user inputs information regarding an item into the form fields, the field contents are associated with corresponding areas of the selected template. The field contents are then stored as a part of a page of the catalog. Upon receiving a request to display a page, the stored field contents are retrieved and checked as to whether the requested page includes any multimedia objects. If so, the logical framing for each area designated for placement of multimedia objects is adjusted to accommodate all of the multimedia objects. The retrieved field contents, including any associated links to linked objects, of the requested page are then combined with the display template to generate a display page, which is displayed to a consumer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to computer systems, and more particularly to a computerized system for dynamic generation and display of catalog information, especially for the Internet.
2. Description of Related Art
The Internet increasingly has become used for online transaction processing (OLTP). One particular type of OLTP involves electronic purchase of goods. The growth of such transactions in the past few years has been phenomenal. For example, according to the April 1996 issue of the Nielson Report, there were 2.7 million credit card processing terminals, and credit card transactions processed in the U.S. reached 6.3 million.
Considering the expected growth in such transactions with the advent of the Internet, there will be a concomitant demand for computer systems that can process the increased volume of transactions. A major requirement for such systems will be the ability to adapt quickly to market demands.
Traditional OLTP systems have been expensive for three main reason. First, the systems were closed or proprietary. Transactions processing providers typically offered hardware and software from the same vendor. However, limited competition and expensive hardware and operating system software license and maintenance fees made transaction processing cost prohibitive for small users. Second, the use of communication technology, such as leased lines and wide area network, was typically quite costly and thus the cost of establishing an infrastructure for wide availability of OLTP for a particular enterprise was often prohibitive for small users. Third, customized OLTP systems were developed with expensive development tools and programming languages that required a substantial investment in acquisition, personnel, training, and support, again beyond the means of small users.
The Internet has substantially reduced the cost of communication for an OLTP system. Further, the cost of computing has been substantially reduced and operating systems capable of supporting OLTP on standard computing equipment are now available at reasonable cost. However, the cost of implementing a customized OLTP system still remains quite high for small users. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an easy to use system that a small user could customize to its needs without having to be trained in OLTP programming or incurring a large expense in hiring trained staff capable of such programming. The present invention provides a system and method for permitting users to implement an OLTP system that meets this need.

Dynamic generation and display of catalogs


A microprocessor executable resource monitor operable to determine that a less skilled and/or qualified resource has been assigned to service a work item or is servicing the work item, wherein a more skilled and/or qualified resource exists but is not currently available to service the work item, monitor at least one of a level of service provided by the less qualified resource to the work item and/or a customer associated with the work item and an availability of the more skilled and/or qualified resource to service the work item, and, in response to the monitoring step and while the work item is being serviced, transfer the work item to the more skilled and/or qualified resource for servicing.

A contact center manages all client contacts of a business or other entity through a variety of mediums, such as telephone, fax, letter, e-mail and, increasingly, online live chat. Distinct from call centers, that purely handle telephone correspondence, contact centers have a variety of roles that combine to provide an all encompassing solution to client and customer contact. Contact centers have many different configurations.
A common type of contact center employs queues of contact center agents and work items and complex work assignment algorithms in an attempt to provide optimal customer service. For example, in skill-based queues a work item queue is paired with a corresponding resource queue. When work items are received at the Automated Contact Distributor (ACD), the attributes of the work item are analyzed, and the work item is placed in a specific queue based on its attributes. Similarly, when a contact center resource (often an agent) comes on line they are assigned to one or more resource queues that also have a corresponding skillset associated therewith. Since skill queues are provided in work item/resource pairs, the next available agent in a resource queue is assigned the next work item waiting in the work item queue. While there have been some solutions to make this queue and assignment structure more flexible, every solution has always been hampered by the notion of utilizing a number of queues.
To improve efficiency, a contact center will typically segment contacts into many different queues. This segmentation may be by service, language, media type, region, and/or customer type. This can quickly result in many thousands of queues. Each of these queues needs to be configured, managed, monitored and reported on. Also, as agents gain new skills and improve their expertise levels, there is a need to constantly reassign agents to queues. Furthermore, when an agent gains new skills there is a significant cost in administration and operational costs of the contact center. Complexity increases because agents are typically in multiple queues simultaneously, and the new skills of an agent need to be updated in all relevant queues. Updating these changes in agent skills is a time-consuming and expensive task, which usually has to be performed with some amount of manual oversight. All of these factors add significant complexity and cost to the running of the center.
To address these issues, a queueless contact center has been developed. A queueless contact center discards queues and uses pools of resources, work items and qualifier sets and creates a qualification bit map for each pool. One-to-one optimal matching of work items and resources can be achieved by determining which resources are qualified to be assigned to a selected work item, which qualified resources are eligible to be assigned to the selected work item, and which eligible resources are most suitable to be assigned to the selected work item. The bit maps can enable ultra-fast mapping to determine which of the various resources is most suitable to be assigned to the selected work item.
Contact centers often cannot achieve perfect matching. Specifically, it is often the case that a customer is not initially routed to the best agent for handling his or her contact. When the contact is a call, this is usually not a significant consideration as the customer is more concerned with receiving immediate and adequate assistance rather than waiting for the best or optimal agent to service the customer's needs. When a first agent is unable to handle a call, then the agent can transfer the call to a supervisor or some other optimal agent when such an agent becomes available. These transfers are almost always done with the customer's knowledge.
When a contact is an instant message or webchat, there is still the desire to receive immediate assistance, which means that the contact does not typically get routed to the optimal agent.


A composition for the treatment of a liquid, particularly a body of water, such as a swimming pool, spa, or the like. The composition includes calcium hypochlorite, a water soluble zinc salt for controlling algae, and sodium aluminate as an agglomerating agent that may safely be combined with said calcium hypochlorite and said zinc salt. A floating chemical dispenser for containing and dispensing chemicals to treat a body of water. The dispenser includes an upper end float, a container adapted to contain chemicals, the container removably joined with the upper end float, and a free end float joined with the container. The free end float is configured so that a central axis of the container and upper end float is not substantially orthogonal to a surface of the water.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a composition for the treatment of a liquid, particularly a body of water, such as a swimming pool, spa or the like. The invention provides for the controlled release of the components of the composition for continuous and effective sanitisation and algae control to such a body of water.
2. Brief Description of Art
Compositions for the sanitization and algae control of bodies of water, such as swimming pools, spas and the like, are well known. It is particularly well known for one of the components of the composition to be calcium hypochlorite. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,109 to Wojtowicz, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, describes a composition consisting essentially of calcium hypochlorite and a water soluble zinc salt. The US patent teaches that the control of algae is enhanced by use of such a composition and that the combination of these components tends to avoid a common problem, which is encountered in the use of other compounds, namely the reduction in the amount of available chlorine available for sanitization.
It would be a further advantage to provide a compound, such as that described above, having enhanced algicidal properties and which, in addition contains a agglomerating agent to facilitate the removal of suspended solids from the body of water and to thereby reduce biological load in the body of water (in this specification, an agglomerating agent is to be given a wide meaning and includes coagulating agents and flocculating agents). However, calcium hypochlorite is notoriously averse to combination with many other chemical compositions and the safety of the public must always be borne in mind in combining calcium hypochlorite with, or even housing calcium hypochlorite in proximity to, any other chemical components. Accordingly, there is a need for a chemical composition, which includes a sanitizer in the form of calcium hypochlorite (in anhydrous or hydrated form) together with an algicide comprising a soluble zinc salt (which may be either an inorganic or organic salt), and an agglomerating agent which may be safely combined therewith for storage, transport, sale and use in the treatment of a body of water.


A glow-in-the-dark night light for a control device allows the control device to be easily found when the control device is located in a dark space. The night light may be provided on an actuator of the control device and may comprises a glow-in-the-dark material that has a luminance spectrum that decays with time after initial excitation. The night light is illuminated by an electromagnetic-energy-generating element to periodically recharge the glow-in-the-dark material with adequate energy to keep the glow-in-the-dark material visible in low ambient light conditions. The electromagnetic-energy-generating element draws relatively little current, such that the night light may be provided in a battery-powered remote control that has an acceptable battery lifetime.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless battery-powered remote control for remotely controlling the operation of an electric or electronic device. In particular, the invention can be used with a wireless load control system for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load from a source of alternating-current (AC) power, and more particularly, with a remote control for a radio-frequency (RF) lighting control system. Even more particularly, the invention relates to a wireless battery powered remote control having a "glow-in-the-dark" or "night light" feature so that it can be located in the dark.
2. Description of the Related Art
Control systems for controlling the power delivered from an alternating-current (AC) power source to electrical loads, such as lights, motorized window treatments, and fans, are known. Such control systems often use the transmission of radio-frequency (RF) signals to provide wireless communication between the control devices of the system. The prior art lighting control systems include wireless load control devices, such as wall-mounted and table top dimmer switches. The dimmer switches included toggle actuators for turning controlled lighting loads on and off, and intensity adjustment actuators (e.g., rocker switches) for increasing and decreasing the intensities of the lighting loads. The dimmer switches also included one or more visual indicators, e.g., light-emitting diodes (LEDs), for providing feedback of the status of the lighting loads to users of the lighting control system.
The prior art wireless lighting control system also includes wireless remote controls, such as, wall-mounted and table top master controls (e.g., keypads) and car visor controls. The master controls of the prior art lighting control system each include a plurality of buttons and transmit RF signals to the dimmer switches to control the intensities of the controlled lighting loads. The master controls may also each include one or more visual indicators (i.e., LEDs) for providing feedback to the users of the lighting control system. The car visor controls are able to be clipped to the visor of an automobile and include one or more buttons for controlling the lighting loads of the lighting control system. An example of a prior art RF lighting control system is disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,442, issued on May 18, 1999, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AND DETERMINING THE STATUS OF ELECTRICAL DEVICES FROM REMOTE LOCATIONS, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
In order to make it easy for the users of the control system to find the control devices in a dark room, the control devices of prior art lighting control systems have often included night light features. For example, some prior art dimmer switches illuminated one or more of the visual indicators to a dim level when the controlled lighting load was off to provide a night light. In addition, some prior art dimmer switches dimly backlit one or more of the actuators when the controlled lighting load was off. However, if the dimmer switch is a "two-wire" device without a connection to the neutral side of the AC power source, the current required to illuminate the night light often needs to be conducted through the lighting load. When the magnitude of the current conducted through the lighting loads is too great, the lighting loads may flicker or provide otherwise poor performance.
Some master controls of the prior art load control system were powered from the AC power source and provided night light features, for example, by dimly illuminating one or more of the visual indicators. However, some of the wireless remote controls of the prior art lighting control systems were powered by batteries, which have limited lifetimes that are dependent upon the usage and the total current drawn from the batteries as well as how often the remote controls are used. The prior art battery-powered remote controls did not provide night lights, and simply illuminated the visual indicators for a period of time after one of the buttons of the remote control was actuated.
Therefore, there is a need for a low-power night light for use in battery-powered remote controls and two-wire load control devices.

Wireless battery-powered remote control with glow-in-the-dark feature


This invention provides a purified heterodimer comprising an RXR and a hormone receptor. The invention also provides a method of screening ligands for their effect on the activity of an RXR-containing hormone receptor heterodimer comprising combining the heterodimer with the ligand and determining the effect on activity. Also provided is a method of amplifying the activity of a hormone receptor comprising forming a heterodimer with another hormone receptor.

Thyroid hormones as well as retinoic acid (RA) function through multiple nuclear receptors that belong to the steroid/thyroid hormone receptor superfamily (reviewed by Evans 1988; Green and Chambon, 1988). The thyroid hormone receptors (TR) are encoded by two genes (Weinberger et al., 1986; Jansson et al., 1983), referred to as TRα and TRβ from which multiple isoforms are generated (Benbrook and Pfahl, 1987; Nakai et al., 1988; Mitsuhashi et al., 1988; Lazar et al., 1989; Koenig et al., 1989; Sakurai et al., 1989; Hodin et al., 1989). The known TRα subtypes are generated by alternative mRNA splicing yielding several isoforms with distinct carboxyterminal regions (Sap et al., 1986; Benbrook and Pfahl, 1987; Thompson et al., 1987; Mitsuhashi et al, 1988; Nakai et al., 1988). Only one of these isoforms, TRα-1, is a classical ligand dependent transcriptional activator, while for the other splicing variants (TRα-2 and TRα-2V) a function as transcriptional activator could not be demonstrated (Mitsuhashi et al, 1988; Lazar et al., 1989; Koenig et al., 1989; Schueler et al., 1990; Hermann et al., 1991). Although TRα-2 has been shown to exhibit weak repressor activity (Lazar et al., 1989; Koenig et al., 1989; Hermann et al., 1991), the biological functions of the carboxyterminal TRα variants are not well understood. Two TRβ forms have been described (Weinberger et al., 1986; Hodin et al., 1989) that differ in their amino terminal regions and both are transcriptional activators. Besides their classical roles as ligand dependent enhancer proteins, TRα-1 and TRβ-1 function as transcriptional repressors and/or silencer proteins in the absence of ligand (Graupner et al., 1989; Damm et al., 1989; Zhang et al., 1991b; Brent et al., 1989; Graupner et al., 1991; Baniahmad et al., 1990).
Retinoic acid receptors (RAR) are encoded by three genes RARα, β, and γ(Petkovich et al., 1987; Giguere et al., 1987; Benbrook et al., 1988; Krust et al., 1989) from which multiple isoforms that differ in their amino terminal regions, are generated by a combination of alternative promoter usage and alternative splicing (Zelent et al., 1991; Lehmann et al., 1991; Leroy et al., 1991). All RAR isoforms can antagonize each other's activity (Husmann et al., 1991). A second type of RA receptor was more recently described that is only activated by high concentrations of RA and does not show significant homology in its ligand binding domain with RAR but has significant homology in its DNA binding domain (Mangelsdorf et al., 1990). It has been proposed that this receptor may be activated by an unknown RA metabolite derivative (Mangelsdorf et al., 1990) and it has been designated retinoid x receptor (RXRα). This receptor is highly homologous to a previously isolated orphan receptor H-2 RIIBP (Hamada et al., 1989) now usually referred to as RXRβ.
TRs as well as the retinoid receptors are believed to function as dimeric or multimeric proteins since they recognize and bind specifically to dimeric or multimeric response elements, that are either direct repeats or palindromic repeats. Certain response elements like the palindromic TRE, are activated by all three types of receptors, TRs, RARs, and RXRs (Umesono et al., 1988; Graupner et al., 1989; Mangelsdorf et al., 1990) while other response elements are receptor specific (Hoffmann et al., 1990; Umesono et al., 1991; Näär et al., 1991). A direct repeat of the sequence TGACCT can function as a specific response element for TRs, RARs and vitamin D receptors depending on whether the repeats are separated by 4, 5 or 3 spacer nucleotides, respectively (Umesono et al., 1991). However, spacing between half-sites of response elements does not solely determine receptor specificity (Naar et al., 1991; our unpublished results).
Although a large set of data appears to suggest that TRs and RARs function as homodimers, there exists no convincing experimental evidence yet that these proteins interact with their responsive elements in vivo or in vitro specifically as homodimers. To the contrary, an increasing volume of data suggests that TRs as well as RARs require accessory nuclear proteins for efficient DNA binding (Lazar and Berrodin, 1990; Glass et al., 1990; Murray and Towle, 1989; Burnside et al., 1990; Zhang et al., 1991a), consistent with recent data from others (Forman and Samuels, 1991). Deletion of a portion of the TRα carboxyterminal region appears to increase DNA binding and greatly enhances dimerization and/or oligomerization, suggesting that one dimerization domain of TRα is located in the "DNA binding domain" (DBD). This concept is supported by structural data on the glucocorticoid (GR) (Härd et al., 1990; Luisi et al., 1991) and estrogen (ER) receptors (Schwabe et al., 1990). A second dimerization/oligomerization domain was found to be located in the "ligand binding domain" (LBD), a region that has been suggested to form a leucine zipper type structure (Forman et al., 1989). Part of the carboxyterminal region appears to inhibit the dimerization function of TRα such that homodimers with a palindromic TRE are not efficiently formed (Zhang et al., 1991a). Enhancement of DNA binding and the formation of a slow electrophoretic mobility complex required the presence of a protein present in nuclear extracts from a number of cell lines including F9 cells, CV-1 cells, and GC cells (Zhang et al., 1991a).
The nature of this protein could not be determined, however it is reasonable to hypothesize that this protein(s) and/or the proteins that interact with TRs and RARs, as described by others (Lazar and Berrodin, 1990; Glass et al., 1990; Murray and Towle, 1989; Burnside et al., 1990; Rosen et al., 1991) are important components for these nuclear receptors that regulate their activity. Whether the protein(s) are members of the nuclear receptor family is not yet known, however we present data in this publication that one of the retinoid receptors, RXRα, strongly enhances binding of TRs and RARs to several response elements. Studies of the enhanced and upshifted TR or RAR complexes by antibodies and receptor mutants demonstrate that RXRα can form a heterodimer with TRs and RARs. The interaction can occur in the absence of DNA and requires both DNA and ligand binding domains of RXRα and the ligand binding domain of TRs or RARS. In cotransfection experiments, RXRα greatly enhances TR and RAR transcriptional activation activity at retinoic acid concentrations where RXRα itself is not significantly activated. Our data suggest that RXRα belongs to a novel class of nuclear receptors that we would like to term "booster receptors" (B-receptors) that at low ligand concentrations greatly enhance the activity of other receptors by heterodimer formation while, when by themselves, can not dimerize efficiently and have only low affinity for their ligands.

Heterodimers of retinoid X receptors (RXRS) and other steroid hormone receptors


A power tool comprises a driving mechanism and a gear housing space (105a) which houses the driving mechanism. A lubricant is provided to the driving mechanism inside a gear housing (105). The driving mechanism includes a driving motor (110) having a motor shaft (111). The motor shaft (111) includes an inner communicating opening (191), an outer communicating opening (192) and an air passage (193) which connects the inner communicating opening (191) and the outer communicating opening (192). At least a part of the air passage (193) is arranged inside the motor shaft (111), and the passage (193) communicates with the gear housing space (105a) via the inner communicating opening (191) and also communicates with the outer space of the gear housing (105) via the outer communicating opening (192).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-031363 discloses a power tool having a housing space for a driving mechanism with lubricant, a passage for adjusting a pressure inside the housing space, and a filter chamber arranged in the passage, the filter chamber having a predetermined volume and a filter arranged therein. In a state that an inside air is exhausted in conjunction with the lubricant through the passage to the outside of the housing space while the pressure inside the housing space is increased, the lubricant is caught by the filter thereby the lubricant is prevented from out flowing to the outside of the housing space.


A current output circuit comprises a current driver that is switchably connected across two output nodes by a switching assembly and having a switchable shunt resistor connected across the current driver. The switchable shunt resistor may be switched between a non-conducting state and a resistive conducting state. In a first data state, the current driver is connected to the output nodes by the switching assembly and the switchable shunt resistor is non-conducting so that the supplied current will flow through a load attached to the output nodes. In a second data state, the current driver is disconnected from the output nodes and the switchable shunt resistor is in a resistive conducting state. In this state the current bypasses the load and is diverted through the switchable shunt resistor. Several current drivers with appropriate switching arrangements and one or more switchable shunt resistors may be provided to allow for asymmetric current outputs in various data states.

A conventional asymmetrical data interface, such as that used in SCSI architecture, requires a base current to be always present on an active interface. An output buffer circuit connected to the interface must source current in different directions according to the output data state. In one data state, the current output by the driver is in the same direction as the base current. Thus, the net current on the interface is the output current augmented by the base current. In the other state, the current output by the driver opposes, and is thus diminished by, the base current.
A conventional current steering output buffer is illustrated in FIG. 1. The circuit contains a current driver (here consisting of a matched current source and sink) which is connected to the output nodes by a current switch. The output nodes are connected across a load which may have current flowing through it from other sources (not shown). In a first state, switches S.sub.1 are closed, switches S.sub.2 are open, and the current driver contributes a current I to the total load current. In a second state, switches S.sub.2 are closed, switches S.sub.1 are open, and the current driver contributes a current of -I to the total load current. In a third state, switches S.sub.1 and S.sub.2 are both open and the current driver contributes no current to the net load current.
Some applications require the output currents of the driver in the two data states to be asymmetrical with a ratio chosen to result in a net symmetrical current flow over the data bus. For example, an asymmetrical data bus may have a base load of -2 mA and the driver may provide output currents of +12 mA in state one and -8 mA in state two. In the first state, the net current flow is +12 mA-2 mA=+10 mA. In the second state, the net current flow is 8 mA-2 mA=-10 mA. Thus, the net result of driving asymmetrical currents into an asymmetrical load is a symmetrical current flow of +10 mA and -10 mA.
A conventional asymmetrical current steering output buffer is illustrated in FIG. 2. The circuit contains two independent current drivers, here shown as CMOS devices, which are turned on and off as the data state changes. In the first data state, current source and current sink transistors P.sub.1 and N.sub.1 are connected to the load by switches S.sub.1 to thereby contribute a current of I.sub.1 to the load. In the second data state, current source and current sink transistors P.sub.2 and N.sub.2 are connected to the load by switches S.sub.2 to thereby contribute a current of -I.sub.2 (i.e. a current of I.sub.2 in the opposite direction of I.sub.1) to the load.
These conventional circuits have several drawbacks. Principle among them is switching noise caused by turning the current flow in each current driver on and off as the data state changes. When two or more current sources are used (such as in FIG. 2), the gates of the current source transistors P.sub.1 and P.sub.2 are typically connected together and to a biasing voltage. This results in capacitive coupling between the devices during switching which temporarily effects the value of the bias reference voltage which, in turn, effects the magnitude of the output current. The switching noise and coupling effects not only upset the biasing and output levels of the switching buffer, but also the biasing of other buffers connected to the same reference voltages.

Current steering output circuit with switchable shunt resistor