This invention relates to a tomato plant, seed, variety and hybrid. More specifically, the invention relates to a tomato plant having a mutant allele for allflesh which results in the tomato fruit having a cavity area which is solid and lacks a gel or liquid. The invention also relates to crossing inbreds, varieties and hybrids containing the allflesh allele to produce novel types and varieties of tomato plants.

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive tomato mutant allele, designated "PSAF" for Peotec Seeds allflesh. There are numerous steps in the development of any novel, desirable plant germplasm. Plant breeding begins with the analysis and definition of problems and weaknesses of the current germplasm, the establishment of program goals, and the definition of specific breeding objectives. The next step is selection of germplasm that possess the traits to meet the program goals. The goal is to combine in a single variety or hybrid an improved combination of desirable traits from the parental germplasm. These important traits may include higher yield, field performance, fruit and agronomic quality such as firmness, color, content in soluble solids, acidity and viscosity, resistance to diseases and insects, and tolerance to drought and heat. With mechanical harvesting of the tomato fruits for process purpose, i.e. juice, paste, catsup, etc, uniformity of plant characteristics such as germination, growth rate, maturity and plant uniformity is also important.
Practically speaking, all cultivated and commercial forms of tomato belong to a species most frequently referred to as Lycopersicon esculentum Miller. Lycopersicon is a relatively small genus within the extremely large and diverse family Solanaceae which is considered to consist of around 90 genera, including pepper, tobacco and eggplant. The genus Lycopersicon has been divided into two subgenera, the esculentum complex which contains those species that can easily be crossed with the commercial tomato and the peruvianum complex which contains those species which are crossed with considerable difficulty (Stevens, M., and Rick, C. M. 1986. Genetics and Breeding. In: The Tomato Crop. A scientific basis for improvement, pp. 35-109. Atherton, J., Rudich, G. (eds.). Chapman and Hall, New York). Due to its value as a crop, L. esculentum Miller has become widely disseminated all over the world. Even if the precise origin of the cultivated tomato is still somewhat unclear, it seems to come form the Americas, being native to Ecuador, Peru and the Galapagos Island and initially cultivated by Aztecs and Incas as early as 700 AD. Mexico appears to have been the site of domestication and the source of the earliest introduction. It is supposed that the cherry tomato, L. esculentum var. cerasiforme, is the direct ancestor of modem cultivated forms.
Tomato is grown for its fruit, widely used as a fresh market or processed product. As a crop, tomato is grown commercially wherever environmental conditions permit the production of an economically viable yield. In California, the first largest process market and second largest fresh market in the United States, processing tomato are harvested by machine. The majority of fresh market tomatoes are harvested by hand at vine ripe and mature green stage of ripeness. Fresh market tomatoes are available in the United States year round. Process tomato season in California is from late June to September. Process tomato are used in many forms, as canned tomatoes, tomato juice, tomato sauce, puree, paste or even catsup. Over the 500,000 acres of tomatoes that are grown annually in the US, approximately 40% are grown for fresh market consumption, the balance are grown for processing.
Tomato is a simple diploid species with twelve pairs of differentiated chromosomes. The cultivated tomato is self fertile and almost exclusively self-pollinating. The tomato flowers are hermaphrodites. Commercial cultivars were initially open pollinated. Most have now been replaced by better yielding hybrids. Due to its wide dissemination and high value, tomato has been intensively bred. This explains why such a wide array of tomato are now available. The shape may range from small to large, and there are cherry, plum, pear, standard, and beefsteak types. Tomatoes may be grouped by the amount of time it takes for the plants to mature fruit for harvest and, in general the cultivars are considered to be early, midseason or late-maturing.
Tomatoes can also be grouped by the plant's growth habit; determinate or indeterminate. Determinate plants tend to grow their foliage first, then set flowers that mature into fruit if pollination is successful. All of the fruit tend to ripen on a plant at about the same time. Indeterminate tomatoes start out by growing some foliage, then continue to produce foliage and flowers throughout the growing season. These plants will tend to have tomato fruit in different stages of maturity at any given time. More recent developments in tomato breeding have led to a wider array of fruit color. In addition to the standard red ripe color, tomatoes can be creamy white, lime green, pink, yellow, golden, or orange.
Choice of breeding or selection methods depends on the mode of plant reproduction, the heritability of the trait(s) being improved, and the type of cultivar used commercially (e.g., F1 hybrid cultivar, pureline cultivar, etc.). For highly heritable traits, a choice of superior individual plants evaluated at a single location will be effective, whereas for traits with low heritability, selection should be based on mean values obtained from replicated evaluations of families of related plants. Popular selection methods commonly include pedigree selection, modified pedigree selection, mass selection, and recurrent selection.
The complexity of inheritance influences choice of the breeding method. Backcross breeding is used to transfer one or a few favorable genes for a highly heritable trait into a desirable cultivar. This approach has been used extensively for breeding disease-resistant cultivars. Various recurrent selection techniques are used to improve quantitatively inherited traits controlled by numerous genes. The use of recurrent selection in self-pollinating crops depends on the ease of pollination, the frequency of successful hybrids from each pollination, and the number of hybrid offspring from each successful cross.
Each breeding program should include a periodic, objective evaluation of the efficiency of the breeding procedure. Evaluation criteria vary depending on the goal and objectives, but should include gain from selection per year based on comparisons to an appropriate standard, overall value of the advanced breeding lines, and number of successful cultivars produced per unit of input (e.g., per year, per dollar expended, etc.).
Promising advanced breeding lines are thoroughly tested and compared to appropriate standards in environments representative of the commercial target area(s) for three years at least. The best lines are candidates for new commercial cultivars; those still deficient in a few traits are used as parents to produce new populations for further selection.
These processes, which lead to the final step of marketing and distribution, usually take from eight to 12 years from the time the first cross is made. Therefore, development of new cultivars is a time-consuming process that requires precise forward planning, efficient use of resources, and a minimum of changes in direction.
A most difficult task is the identification of individuals that are genetically superior, because for most traits the true genotypic value is masked by other confounding plant traits or environmental factors. One method of identifying a superior plant is to observe its performance relative to other experimental plants and to a widely grown standard cultivar. If a single observation is inconclusive, replicated observations provide a better estimate of its genetic worth.
The goal of plant breeding is to develop new, unique and superior tomato inbreds and hybrids. The breeder initially selects and crosses two or more parental lines, followed by repeated selfing and selection, producing many new genetic combinations. The breeder can theoretically generate billions of different genetic combinations via crossing, selfing and mutations. The breeder has no direct control at the cellular level. Therefore, two breeders will never develop the same line, or even very similar lines, having the same tomato traits.
Each year, the plant breeder selects the germplasm to advance to the next generation. This germplasm is grown under unique and different geographical, climatic and soil conditions, and further selections are then made, during and at the end of the growing season. The varieties which are developed are unpredictable. This unpredictability is because the breeder's selection occurs in unique environments, with no control at the DNA level (using conventional breeding procedures), and with millions of different possible genetic combinations being generated. A breeder of ordinary skill in the art cannot predict the final resulting lines he develops, except possibly in a very gross and general fashion. The same breeder cannot produce the same line twice by using the exact same original parents and the same selection techniques. This unpredictability results in the expenditure of large research monies to develop a superior new tomato varieties.
The development of commercial tomato hybrids requires the development of homozygous inbred lines, the crossing of these lines, and the evaluation of the crosses. Pedigree, backcross or recurrent selection breeding methods are used to develop lines from breeding populations. Breeding programs combine desirable traits from two or more lines or various broad-based sources into breeding pools from which mutant alleles are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes. The new inbreds are crossed with other inbred lines and the hybrids from these crosses are evaluated to determine which have commercial potential.
Pedigree breeding is used commonly for the improvement of self-pollinating crops or inbred parents of cross-pollinating crops. Two parents which possess favorable, complementary traits are crossed to produce an F1. An F2 population is produced by selfing one or several F1′s or by intercrossing two F1′s (sib mating). Selection of the best individuals is usually begun in the F2 population; then, beginning in the F3, the best individuals in the best families are selected. Replicated testing of families, or hybrid combinations involving individuals of these families, often follows in the F4 generation to improve the effectiveness of selection for traits with low heritability. At an advanced stage of inbreeding (i.e., F6 and F7), the best lines or mixtures of phenotypically similar lines are tested for potential release as new cultivars or new parents for hybrids.
Mass and recurrent selections can be used to improve populations of either self- or cross-pollinating crops. A genetically variable population of heterozygous individuals is either identified or created by intercrossing several different parents. The best plants are selected based on individual superiority, outstanding progeny, or excellent combining ability. The selected plants are intercrossed to produce a new population in which further cycles of selection are continued.
Backcross breeding has been used to transfer genes for a simply inherited, highly heritable trait into a desirable homozygous cultivar or inbred which is the recurrent parent. The source of the trait to be transferred is called the donor parent. The resulting plant is expected to have the attributes of the recurrent parent (e.g., cultivar) and the desirable trait transferred from the donor parent. After the initial cross, individuals possessing the phenotype of the donor parent are selected and repeatedly crossed (backcrossed) to the recurrent parent. The resulting plant is expected to have the attributes of the recurrent parent (e.g., cultivar) and the desirable trait transferred from the donor parent.
Descriptions of other breeding methods that are commonly used for different traits and crops can be found in one of several reference books (e.g., "Principles of Plant Breeding" John Wiley and Son, pp. 115-161, 1960; Allard, 1960; Simmonds, 1979; Sneep et al., 1979; Fehr, 1987).
Proper testing should detect any major faults and establish the level of superiority or improvement over current cultivars. In addition to showing superior performance, there must be a demand for a new cultivar that is compatible with industry standards or which creates a new market. The introduction of a new cultivar will incur additional costs to the seed producer, the grower, processor and consumer; for special advertising and marketing, altered seed and commercial production practices, and new product utilization. The testing preceding release of a new cultivar should take into consideration research and development costs as well as technical superiority of the final cultivar. For seed-propagated cultivars, it must be feasible to produce seed easily and economically.
Once the inbreds that give the best hybrid performance have been identified, the hybrid seed can be reproduced indefinitely as long as the homogeneity of the inbred parent is maintained. A single-cross hybrid is produced when two inbreds are crossed to produce the F1 progeny.
Tomato is an important and valuable field crop. Thus, a continuing goal of plant breeders is to develop stable, high yielding tomato hybrids that are agronomically sound. The reasons for this goal are obviously to maximize the amount of fruit produced on the land used as well as to improve the fruit qualities. To accomplish this goal, the tomato breeder must select and develop tomato plants that have the traits that result in superior parental lines for producing hybrids.
According to the invention, there is provided a novel mutant allele, designated "PSAF". This invention thus relates to a tomato seed, a tomato plant, a tomato variety, a tomato hybrid and to a method of producing a tomato plant. More specifically, the invention relates to a mutant allele designated PSAF which when present as a homozygous recessive produces a tomato fruit having solid cavity areas and lacking the gel or liquid which is present in the cavities of normal tomato fruits.
Another aspect of the invention relates to any tomato seed or plant having the mutant allele PSAF.
In another aspect, the present invention provides regenerable cells for use in tissue culture. The tissue culture will preferably be capable of regenerating plants having the physiological and morphological characteristics of the foregoing inbred tomato plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially the same genotype as the foregoing inbred tomato plant. Preferably, the regenerable cells in such tissue cultures will be embryos, protoplasts, meristematic cells, callus, pollen, leaves, anthers, stems, petioles, roots, root tips, fruits, seeds, flowers, cotyledons, hypocotyls or the like. Still further, the present invention provides tomato plants regenerated from the tissue cultures of the invention.
Another objective of the invention is to provide methods for producing other inbred tomato plants derived from a tomato plant having the PSAF allele. Tomato lines derived by the use of those methods are also part of the invention.
The invention also relates to methods for producing a tomato plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic tomato plant produced by that method.
The invention further provides methods for developing tomato plant in a tomato plant breeding program using plant breeding technique including recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding, restriction fragment length polymorphism enhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection and transformation. Seeds, tomato plant, and parties thereof produced by such breeding methods are also part of the invention.


A device has at least one storage container for material to be treated with at least one inlet line and at least one return line for circulating process air therethrough. At least one heating device for heating the process air is provided as well as at least one blower for circulating the process air. A control device for receiving a nominal dew point value is provided. At least one dew point measuring device is connected to the control device for measuring the actual dew point of the process air and transmitting the actual dew point value to the control device. A first mixing valve is connected either to the inlet line or to the return line. The control device controls the first mixing valve by comparing the actual dew point value to the nominal dew point value and sending a respective control signal to the first mixing valve such that the process air has a dew point corresponding to a specific nominal, residual moisture-dependent air dew point of the material to be treated.

The present invention relates to a device with at least one storage container for material to be treated, preferably for plastic material granules, with at least one inlet line and at least one return line for process air and with at least one heating device for the process air and at least one blower for conveying the process air.
In certain applications in the drying technology, it is necessary to dry material resulting from a manufacturing process to a certain defined residual moisture contents. For a plastic material in granular form, it is, for example, possible to achieve a minimum residual moisture contents of 0.01%. Depending on the production conditions of the plastic material, the residual moisture contents may vary upon delivery, for example, between 0.02% and 1.8%. For further processing of the plastic material granules, it is however necessary to reduce the moisture contents to, for example, a value of exactly 0.05% to at most 0.06% in order to achieve certain material properties of the finished part produced from the plastic material granules.
In conventional devices process air is generated with a dew point of approximately -20.degree. C. to -50.degree. C. The process air is guided through the material to be treated and takes up moisture while passing through the material. The return air flowing out of the storage container is introduced into a drying agent cartridge which takes up the moisture contained in the process air so that dry process air can be returned into the storage container. The dew point is subject to fluctuations because the drying agent cartridge will be saturated over the course of its period of use which is, in general, approximately 2 to 5 hours. Thus, the drying capacity will be reduced over time. FIG. 3 shows this relationship in a diagram in which the dew point is represented as a function of the drying time T. At the beginning of the drying process the dew point is very low; in the represented embodiment it is below -50.degree. C. With increasing treatment time, respectively, drying time the drying cartridge is loaded increasingly with moisture so that it can take up less and less moisture from the process air. This results in an increase of the dew point until the drying agent cartridge is saturated and must be replaced. The drying agent cycle of the drying agent cartridge is represented in FIG. 3 and identified with I. When a new drying agent cartridge is introduced, a new drying cycle II begins. Since the new drying agent cartridge has not taken up any moisture yet, the dew point is suddenly reduced and is again very low. With increasing process time, the dew point climbs again to the system-specific maximum dew point which is, in general, approximately -20.degree. C. Upon reaching this maximum value, the drying agent cartridge is again replaced with a fresh, regenerated drying agent cartridge. A new drying cycle III begins. In this manner a dew point curve 34, as a function of the degree of saturation of the drying agent cartridge, results for each drying process.
Attempts have been made to smoothen this curve. This is represented by the curve 35 in FIG. 3. In this case, drying agent dampers are introduced into the system which are in the form of molecular sieve cartridges. Thus, the dew point curve 35 is smoother than the dew point curve 34. It is also possible to reduce the degree of fluctuation of the dew point over the course of the process with a multi-cartridge technique.
It is furthermore known to realize a continuously low dew point with drying agent wheels. However, the dew point will fluctuate with the moisture load of the system. Thus, in the past the material to be treated was subjected to drying air with a dew point as low as possible for a certain amount of time in order to achieve a minimal residual moisture contents as low as possible. However, since the initial moisture contents of the material fluctuates, this drying technique cannot provide any improvement. Thus, the drying parameters are to be adjusted for the worst case scenario. However, for good drying conditions, this will result in an overdrying of the material leading to unfavorable processing parameters and material properties.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve a device of the aforementioned kind such that, for controlling in a directed manner a defined residual moisture contents of the material to be dried, a preselected dew point temperature can be maintained constant at least within certain limits.

Device with at least one storage container for material to be treated, preferably plastic material granules


A semiconductor integrated circuit device has power source lines capable of supplying sufficient power to a cell string area without increasing the area of the device. The device has an I/O cell area arranged at the periphery of the device, to transmit and receive signals to and from the outside of the device. The cell string area contains cell strings each made of a sequence of logic gate cells and connected to the power source lines extending from the I/O cell area. The device further has a macro block between the I/O cell area and the cell string area, to provide at least one function. The power source lines extend from part of the I/O cell area, which is opposite to the cell string area across the macro block, to the cell string area by passing over the macro block. An insulation layer is formed between the macro block and the power source lines, to electrically isolate the macro block from the power source lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit device having an improved arrangement of power source lines and special signal lines such as clock signal lines.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of power source lines in a semiconductor integrated circuit device according to a prior art. Although actual power source lines include power supply lines and ground lines, the following explanation collectively expresses them as power source lines for the sake of simplicity.
The device includes a macro block 101 to provide at least one function and cell strings 102 that form a cell string area 103. An I/O cell area 104 is formed at the periphery of the device. The macro block 101 includes a CPU and memories such as RAMs and ROMs. Each of the cell strings 102 consists of a sequence of logic gate cells. The I/O cell area 104 includes I/O cells 105 that transmit and receive signals to and from the outside of the device.
The macro block 101 and cell strings 102 receive power from the I/O cells 105. Power source lines 110A extend from corresponding I/O cells 105 directly to the cell strings 102. These lines 110A are connected to power source lines 110B, which are formed in the cell strings 102 and are connected to power source lines 110C.
Power source lines 110D extend from corresponding I/O cells 105 to a power source ring of the macro block 101. The power source ring is connected to the power source lines 110C, which are connected to the cell strings 102.
Power source lines 110E extend from corresponding I/O cells 105 to the cell strings 102. These lines 110E are connected to power source lines 110F, which are formed in the cell strings 102 and are connected to inter-cell power source lines 110G.
FIG. 2 shows the details of the power source ring formed around the macro block 101.
Due to the limitation of an automatic wiring technique employing, for example, CAD, macro blocks usually have a ring-shaped power source line. In FIG. 2, the macro block 101 is surrounded with the power source ring 101A consisting of a ground ring 101a and a power supply ring 101b.
The power source lines 110D extending from the corresponding I/O cells 105 are connected to the power source ring 101A, which is connected to the power source lines 110C that are connected to the cell strings 102.
FIG. 3 shows a clock signal line arranged in a semiconductor integrated circuit device according to another prior art. The device has a macro block 201, cell strings 202, 203, and 204, and I/O cells 205. These elements correspond to those of FIG. 1. The I/O cells 205 include an internal clock generator 205a made of, for example, a PLL circuit for generating an internal clock signal, which is supplied to the cell strings 202 to 204.
The macro block 201 is arranged between the internal clock generator 205a and a cell string area where the cell strings 202 to 204 are formed. As a result, the clock signal line from the generator 205a must detour around the macro block 201 to the cell string area.
The internal clock signal generated by the generator 205a is passed through the clock signal line 206A to clock buffers 202a to 204a, which drive the clock signal and supply the same to the respective cell strings 202 to 204. The problems of these prior arts will be explained.
(1) In the prior art of FIG. 1, power passing through the power source lines 110A is directly supplied to the cell strings 102 for the full width of the lines 110A. On the other hand, power passing through the power source lines 110D is indirectly supplied to the cell strings 102 through the power source ring 101A due to the presence of the macro block 101. The reason of using the ring 101A instead of making a detour around the macro block 101 is to reduce the area of the device.
The width of the power source ring 101A determines the quantity of power supplied to the cell strings 102 through the power source lines 110C, which connect the ring 101A to the cell strings 102. If the total width "P1+P2+P3" (FIG. 2) of the lines 110C is greater than the width P0 of the ring 101A, the quantity of power supplied to the cell strings 102 will be short. Namely, the width of the ring 101A must be greater than the total width of the lines 110C, to prevent a power supply shortage.
(2) In the prior art of FIG. 3, the clock signal line 206A extending from the internal clock generator 205a detours around the macro block 201. This arrangement increases the area of the device, elongates the line 206A, and worsens a clock skew.


The present invention provides an externally applied composition capable of enhancing a stimulatory effect of an essential oil on IGF-1 secretion, the composition including (A) essential oil; and (B) at least one member selected from the group consisting of purine substances and salts thereof. Further, the present invention provides an externally applied composition capable of increasing the stratum corneum water content of the skin and maintaining transepidermal water loss at an appropriate level.

Various types of skin-aging phenomena are caused by diverse factors, such as aging, sunlight (ultraviolet radiation) exposure, eating habits and stress. Examples of skin-aging phenomena include pigmentation that produces skin problems such as blemishes, freckles and chloasmas, skin dullness, dryness and wrinkles. Prevention of such skin aging is a great health and aesthetic concern, particularly for women.
Essential oils are known as organic compounds that contain volatile aromatic substances found in plants. Commonly, essential oils are used as fragrances. Essential oils are also known for their antibacterial and antifungal effects and periodontal disease-preventive effects (Patent Document 1). However, the effects of application of essential oils on the skin are not well known.
An o/w-type composition containing substances such as adenine is known as a means to reverse skin aging (Patent Document 2 and 3). Purine substance are known to stimulate skin turnover by increasing the intracellular ATP level and prevent pigmentation such as blemishes and chloasma.
Additionally, flexibility, elasticity and water-holding ability are also related to skin-aging prevention. Their levels drop due to aging, stress and other various external factors. An IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1) is known as a protective factor that contributes to the maintenance or improvement of flexibility, elasticity and water-holding ability. However, the ability of purine substances to stimulate IGF-1 secretion is yet unknown.
With the recent trend toward more diverse and advanced physiological effects required for compositions for external use, there has been a demand for the development of an externally applied composition that exerts further multifaceted effects on the skin.
Such an externally applied composition is also expected to provide an effect of creating a fresh-looking skin. The skin consists of the epidermis (top layer), dermis (deep layer) and subcutaneous tissue, and the stratum corneum is present on the outermost surface of the epidermis. The stratum corneum, formed by epidermal cells, acts as a barrier between the external environment and the inside of the body. The quality of the stratum corneum is the crucial factor in determining the freshness of the skin. The stratum corneum contains substances such as intercellular lipids and natural moisturizing factors (NMF). The stratum corneum not only prevents water evaporation from inside the skin, but also maintains the flexibility and smoothness of the skin surface by retaining an adequate amount of water in the stratum corneum itself. This important quality of stratum corneum is evaluated using "stratum corneum water content", which indicates the water-holding ability of the stratum corneum, and "transepidermal water loss (TEWL)", which indicates the amount of water that evaporates from the surface of the stratum corneum.
Along with aging, the skin undergoes various characteristic changes such as atrophy of the epidermis, thickening of the stratum corneum and loss of the granular layer that is present below the stratum corneum. Aged skin having such above-described characteristics has a low stratum corneum water content compared to younger skin, and the level of TEWL also tends to decline. It is known that dry ambient air roughens the surface of such aged skin, and is accompanied by light chapping and itching. A conventional skin cream preserves the stratum corneum surface and thereby suppresses evaporation from the skin. Although a temporal increase in the stratum corneum water content can be expected from the conventional skin cream, its effect immediately disappears once the use is discontinued. This is because of a low amount of moisture supply from the inside to the stratum corneum, i.e., low moisture penetration. Thus, maintenance of a youthful and healthy skin condition requires maintenance of an appropriate level of TEWL in addition to an increase in the stratum corneum water content accomplished by normalizing the function of the stratum corneum. Accordingly, there has been a demand for a composition that works for both the TEWL and stratum corneum water content.


A load handler with a modular frame and the manufacture and assembly of the frame and loader and components that may be used therein. A frame is provided that has a low pivot point for a boom. The frame has left and right side rails, and front and rear cross rails, each having a closed cross-section construction. The side rails and cross rails are modular and the cross rails of a selected size are configured to fit a plurality of sizes of side rails, such that the same size cross rails may be used to construct a variety sizes and capabilities of load handling vehicles in a flow type manufacturing process. A structural beam is provided having plates interconnected along their lengths to form the beam having a box-shaped closed cross-section having a perimeter generally along the widths of the plates and forming a beam cavity within the perimeter.

The present invention relates generally to material handling equipment, including but not limited to mobile machinery of the type used for material handling jobs that require moving or positioning of a load. In particular, the present invention relates to a load handler with a modular frame and the manufacture and assembly of the frame and loader and components that may be used therein.
In construction jobs, it is desirable to lift heavy loads such as equipment, building materials, or earth, and to move, position or place the loads at other locations. This may require movement of a load high above and forward from the loader. Load handling vehicles, also referred to as loaders, loader vehicles or load handlers, employ pivoting booms that may be raised or lowered about a pivot point on the loader frame, and may be telescoped to move the load to the desired position. Attachments for the booms may be used for performing various jobs. For example, fork and bucket attachments may be used for moving materials like bricks or earth. Other attachments may be used for pouring concrete, handling roof trusses, boring holes in the earth, or other tasks.
The capability of loader vehicles is measured in some respects by how heavy a load it can lift and how high it can lift a load. For example, loaders may lift loads weighing up to twenty to sixty thousand pounds or more, to heights of up to twenty to one hundred feet or higher. The factors affecting the loader capability include, for example, the strength of the boom structure, the power of hydraulic cylinders for lifting and telescoping the boom, and the stability of the loader vehicle against tipping over. The stability depends on factors such as the weight of the loader vehicle, the positioning of the boom pivot point on the vehicle, the front to back and side to side spacing of the wheels, and the center of gravity of the load and vehicle.
In use, a load handling vehicle is subjected to tremendous stress forces resulting from the positioning of heavy loads at the end of the boom. These stress forces include twisting forces about the longitudinal axis of the frame of the vehicle. Depending on the work site conditions, the load handler may have to travel over or stand on uneven surfaces while carrying or positioning the load. This may increase the stress forces, such as due to leveling forces exerted by stabilizing hydraulic cylinders acting between the axles and the vehicle frame. Consequently, the vehicle frame may be subjected to compound bending and twisting stress forces due to the heavy loads and movement. The vehicle frame is desirably constructed with sufficient stiffness and torsion strength to withstand these forces without experiencing unacceptable deformation.
To achieve sufficient stiffness and torsion strength, frames for loader vehicles have been built using a box-shaped generally closed overall frame cross-section configuration. Although such a configuration provides good stiffness, the box shape may require that the boom pivot point be positioned relatively high. A relatively lower boom pivot point may be desirable to lower the center of gravity to increase stability of the vehicle. Some load handlers are configured to achieve a low boom pivot point by mounting the vehicle engine and operator cab to the sides of the vehicle with the boom nestled between them in the boom's lowered position. This configuration also provides a good field of vision for the operator in many uses of the load handler. However, to accommodate the lower boom position, the top of the box-shaped closed overall frame cross-section configuration may have to be opened up to an extent, thus adversely affecting stiffness and torsion strength. For example, such opened frames may lose stiffness and torsion strength particularly with respect to twisting forces along the vehicle front to rear longitudinal axis, with twisting occurring along the length of the frame's longitudinal structural beam members, or side rails.
In addition, the frames of load handling vehicles are commonly made in a unitary construction with components particularly designed for a particular vehicle capability. The frames are assembled using a "cell" type manufacturing process in which all the components for the frame of the vehicle are brought to a location and all the components are assembled at that location. Such an assembly process is relatively inefficient in that it requires dedicated floor space for extended periods of lead time during assembly.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Modular frame load handler with translatable boom carriage


A keyboard for a hand held computer device including an array of keys representing characters of an alphabet of a language, wherein the array includes: (a) keys representing frequently used vowel characters of said alphabet arranged together in series; (b) keys representing frequently used consonant characters of said alphabet arranged adjacent to said keys representing vowel characters; and (c) keys representing infrequently used consonant characters of said alphabet arranged in positions remote from said keys representing vowel characters, wherein the keys representing frequently used consonant characters are arranged in alphabetical order around the keys representing the vowel characters.

Keyboards of various permutations and configurations have been proposed over the years to try and provide for the efficient entry of alphanumeric characters to computer devices and systems. The English QWERTY keyboard that is currently used on a number of devices evolved from the keyboard that is used for typewriters. The QWERTY layout of keys for typewriters was required to prevent the mechanical mechanism associated with the keyboard from jamming. This, of course, is no longer a problem that besets today's electronic keyboards, but the QWERTY layout is still favoured by experienced touch typists. The QWERTY layout, however, continues to pose difficulties for anyone who is not an experienced touch typist. In particular, the QWERTY layout also imposes significant difficulties for users of small computer devices.
Typing textual information quickly, easily and without error into small computer devices such as mobile telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and the like, is a challenge that limits the potential use of such devices. Mobile telephones include, for example, a 10 or 12 button numeric key pad, where text entry is effected by way of multi-tapping keys or by way of Tegic T9 word disambiguation software. Text entry into such devices is generally limited to SMS messages of less than 160 characters. PDAs are typically better adapted for use in entry of longer passages of text but key layouts still pose difficulties. "Smartphones" that combine the functionality of mobile telephones and PDAs are becoming increasingly more popular, but these devices suffer the same difficulties. It is possible to connect a Smartphone or a PDA with a QWERTY keyboard, however, the addition of such a device somewhat defeats the original aim of having a small portable device.
The full QWERTY keyboard has also been miniaturised to fit small handheld computer devices with either hardware buttons and thumb-boards on recent mobile messaging devices, or as a virtual software input panel. However squeezing a 10 column QWERTY keyboard across the width of a device that can comfortably sit in the hand results in a very small key board with tiny buttons that are hard to use. Further the indicia of such keyboards are typically difficult to read and use without error. These difficulties especially impact those with poor eyesight and/or large hands.
The QWERTY keyboard is designed for two-handed use where frequent two-pair letter combinations are hit by alternate hands and different fingers. As such, if one finger, or stylus, is being used to tap the keys on a QWERTY keyboard, then considerable time is spent unproductively moving the stylus from one side of the keyboard to the other. Besides slowing down text entry, this continual hand movement can be very fatiguing after typing even short passages of text.
Text entry through handwriting recognition systems is typically slower than text entry by way of a QWERTY keyboard, for example. This is largely due to the time involved in writing and recognising a full character or word being more than the time involved in simply tapping a key.
Speech recognition systems have also been used but generally require low background noise and powerful software and hardware. Moreover, it may not always be appropriate to enter text via dictation when in the company of others. Sophisticated chording and gesture driven techniques based on shorthand techniques can typically only be applied with special interfaces and software. Furthermore, such systems generally require users to practice for a long time to acquire proficiency and acceptable productivity.
With just a single stroke or tap per character, keyboard based techniques still have potential for rapid text input. One such method involves analysis of all the letter pair frequencies in a corpus of text and use of an algorithm to create and test layouts that minimise the "travel distance" between the keys or the "travel time". This distance-based approach has resulted in circular or square arrangements of keys of dimensions 6×5 rows with the Space keys located near the centre of the keyboard, high frequency keys closer to the centre and the lowest frequency at the far corners of the keyboard. On first appearance, these keyboards almost appear to have random, illogical letter placement. Consequently, these keyboards have proven to be difficult to learn and require a lot of practice to achieve the same level of productivity as is achievable with a QWERTY keyboard, for example.
Accordingly, it is desired to address the above, or at least provide a useful alternative.


Lane Boundary Estimation and Host Vehicle Position and Orientation, within the host lane estimation, using V2V (vehicle to vehicle) system, are discussed here. Lane boundary detection and tracking is essential for many active safety/ADAS application. The lane boundary position enables the tracking of the host vehicle position and orientation inside the lane. It also enables classifying in-lane, adjacent lanes, and other lanes vehicles. These two functionalities (lane boundary estimation and vehicle lane classifications) enable active safety applications (such as LDW, FCW, ACC, or BSD). It also enables the lateral control of the vehicle for lane keeping assist system, or for full lateral control for automated vehicle (automated for one or multiple lane changes).

The present invention relates to a system that uses the Vehicle to Vehicle and/or the Vehicle to infrastructure communication for safety and mobility applications. The invention provides methods for lane boundary estimation and even some LDW functionality using V2V and/or V2I systems.
Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) is the main enabling technology for connected vehicle applications that will reduce vehicle crashes through fully connected transportation system with integrated wireless devices and road infrastructure. In such connected system, data among vehicles and with road infrastructure will be exchanged with acceptable time delay. DSRC is the enabler for the V2X communication and provides 360 degrees field of view with long range detection/communication capability up to 1000 meter. Data such as vehicle position, dynamics and signals can be exchanged among vehicles and road side equipments, which make the deployment of safety applications, such as crash avoidance systems (warning and control), possible. V2X technology will complement and get fused with the current production crash avoidance technologies that use radar and vision sensing. V2V will give drivers information needed for safer driving (driver makes safe decisions) on the road that radar and vision systems cannot provide. This V2X capability, therefore, offers enhancements to the current production crash avoidance systems, and also enables addressing more complex crash scenarios, such as those occurring at intersections. This kind of integration between the current production crash avoidance systems, V2X technology, and other transportation infrastructure paves the way for realizing automated vehicles system.
The safety, health, and cost of accidents (on both humans and properties) are major concerns for all citizens, local and Federal governments, cities, insurance companies (both for vehicles and humans), health organizations, and the Congress (especially due to the budget cuts, in every level). People inherently make a lot of mistakes during driving (and cause accidents), due to the lack of sleep, various distractions, talking to others in the vehicle, fast driving, long driving, heavy traffic, rain, snow, fog, ice, or too much drinking. If we can make the driving more automated by implementing different scale of safety applications and even controlling the motion of the vehicle for longer period of driving, that saves many lives and potentially billions of dollars each year, in US and other countries. We introduce here an automated vehicle infrastructure and control systems and methods. That is the category of which the current invention is under, where V2X communication technology is vital component of such system, with all the embodiments presented here and in the divisional cases, in this family.

System and method for lane boundary estimation and host vehicle position and orientation


An apparatus, program product and method support the automated conversion of a table formatted in a CALS-compatible format to an HTML-compatible format, e.g., for use by presentation of the table by a screen reader or other application requiring knowledge of what headers apply to a given cell in a table. A table may be converted from a CALS-compatible format to an HTML-compatible format by assigning an identifier to each header cell in the table, in particular by embedding the identifier in an HTML identifier attribute for such header cell. Then, for each non-header cell in the table, any overlapping header cells therefor may be detected, and the identifier for any detected overlapping header cell may be embedded in an HTML headers attribute for such non-header cell.

Given the increasing pervasiveness of the Internet on contemporary society, it has become imperative that Internet content is accessible to as many individuals as possible, regardless of native languages, countries of origin, or disabilities. In fact, in the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was codified into law to guarantee equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications, applies to Internet content created in association with these various affected areas.
The ADA requires, for example, that content made available on the Internet be made accessible to those with visual impairments, in particular, by requiring Internet content to be compatible with screen readers used by the visually disabled to access the Internet. A screen reader is a software program that utilizes voice synthesis to read aloud the contents of a web page or other content displayed on a computer.
For the non-visually impaired, most Internet content is viewed using a program known as a web browser. A web browser predominantly accepts web pages and other Internet content that is formatted in a language referred to as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). Likewise, most screen readers are configured to access HTML-formatted web pages, given the pervasive nature of HTML content on the Internet.
Web pages formatted in HTML are able to integrate text with a large number of components, including images, tables, audio clips, video clips, animations, etc. In addition, text may be formatted with specific fonts, colors, attributes, etc. HTML is a tag-based markup language, whereby formats and components are described via tags that are embedded in a web page.
Tables, for example, are typically defined using a number of predefined tags. HTML tables include an array of cells disposed in rows and columns, and can include header columns and/or rows in addition to regular cells.
To comply with accessibility requirements, each non-header cell in an HTML table must indicate what headers apply to that cell. By doing so, a screen reader can alert a user as to which headers apply to a particular cell being accessed by the user. This capability is typically supported by first giving every header cell an ID attribute, and then configuring each cell in the table to point to every related header cell by placing the header's ID into the "headers" attribute for that cell.
In simple tables, where each non-header cell takes up no more than one row or column, it is relatively straightforward process to assign each non-header cell the ID's of the applicable row and/or column header. For complex tables, however, where individual cells may span multiple columns and/or rows, the assignment of applicable row/header ID's to each non-header cell is more problematic. In particular, any header that spans multiple columns and/or rows must be pointed to by cells in every column/row spanned by that header. Likewise, any non-header cell that spans multiple columns/rows must point to every header that fully or partially overlaps that cell.
Whenever a web page is originally authored in HTML format, the inclusion of appropriate header ID's in an HTML table for accessibility purposes is relatively straightforward. Moreover, even when a graphical HTML-based development environment is used, the inclusion of such functionality into the program code that generates table HTML code is relatively effortless.
However, this scenario is substantially more problematic when web pages are authored in other formats, and then converted to HTML by automated tools. For example, the Extensible Markup Language (XML) is often used in data-driven applications to generate tables and other data presentations. In XML, the building blocks of documents are defined by Document Type Definitions (DTD's). Tables, for example, may be defined using a DTD referred to as the CALS Table Model, which is also used as the basis for the Oasis XML Exchange Table Model. Tables defined using the CALS Table Model, as well as tables defined using other DTD's based upon the CALS Table Model such as the Oasis XML Exchange Table Model, will hereinafter collectively be referred to as "CALS-compatible" tables.
CALS-compatible tables are typically not directly readable by web browsers, and as a result, such tables typically must be converted to HTML prior to viewing in a web browser. Oftentimes, it would be desirable to be able to utilize a software tool to automate the conversion of such tables to HTML. However, it has been found that certain automated tools, such as those promulgated by the Wold Wide Web Consortium, are not readily capable of converting these tables to an HTML format for accessibility and access by screen readers, typically because such tools are intended to be side-effect-free, and as a result do not permit variables to be set and reset. As a result, developers are often required to manually edit the resulting tables for compliance with accessibility requirements. Given, however, the volume of Internet content, and the frequency at which it is updated, any requirement for manual editing can be extremely burdensome for a content provider.
One factor that complicates the problem of automatically converting CALS-compatible tables to accessible HTML tables stems from the limitations of the tools that are typically used to perform such conversions. Many conversions, for example, are performed using XSLT, which is a transformation language used to convert XML documents to other formats using the XSL Stylesheet Language for XML. XSLT, however, does not permit variables, once assigned specific values, to thereafter be changed to different values. From the standpoint of converting CALS-compatible tables to HTML, this limitation of XSLT eliminates the ability to use straightforward programming techniques, such as matrix-based operations, to determine the appropriate headers to identify in each non-header cell of a table being converted to HTML. As such, XSLT has not been considered a viable environment for converting CALS-compatible tables to accessible HTML tables.
Therefore, a significant need exists in the art for a manner of automating the conversion of CALS-compatible tables to HTML, while complying with accessibility requirements for the same.

Automated conversion of CALS-compatible tables to accessible HTML tables

International Business Machines Corporation


In one aspect of the present technique, an array of electromagnetic sensors is positioned within a volume of interest. In the presence of an electromagnetic field, the array of electromagnetic sensors is sampled to acquire signals representative of the location of the electromagnetic sensors in the array. The electromagnetic field distortion within the volume of interest is determined based on the acquired signals. In another aspect of the present technique, a system for detecting electromagnetic field distortions includes an electromagnetic sensor assembly for positioning within a volume of interest, a plurality of electromagnetic sensors for transmitting or receiving signals representative of the location of the electromagnetic sensors on the sensor assembly; and a tracker. In another aspect of the present technique, an electromagnetic sensor assembly for detecting electromagnetic field distortion includes a body, and an array of electromagnetic sensors positioned on the body.

The present invention relates generally to tracking systems that use magnetic fields such as for surgical interventions, and other medical procedures. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and techniques for determining magnetic field distortion in such systems.
Tracking systems have been used to provide an operator (e.g., a physician) with information to assist in the precise and rapid positioning of a medical (e.g., surgical) device in a patient's body. In general, an image is displayed for the operator that includes a visualization of the patient's anatomy with an icon or image representing the device superimposed thereon. As the device is positioned with respect to the patient's body, the displayed image is updated to reflect the correct device coordinates. The image of the patient's anatomy may be generated either prior to or during the medical or surgical procedure. Moreover, any suitable medical imaging technique, such as X-ray, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and ultrasound, may be utilized to provide the basic image in which the device tracking is displayed.
To determine device location, tracking systems have utilized electromagnetic (EM) fields. During these procedures, signals are transmitted from one or more EM transmitters to one or more EM receivers. In one example, an EM receiver is mounted in an operative end of the device. In general, the EM transmitters generate an electromagnetic field that is detected by the EM receivers and then processed to determine the device location, for example, the position and orientation, including the X, Y and Z coordinates and the roll, pitch and yaw angles.
However, as those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate, the presence of field distorting objects may result in distortions in the magnetic field emitted from the EM transmitters and thereby change the magnitude and direction of this field. For example, the presence of a signal from another source, the magnetic field of the eddy current in a conductive object, or the field distorting effect of a ferro-magnetic object can result in these distortions. Unless compensated for, these distortions will result in error in the determined location of the device. One source of magnetic field distortions may be the equipment utilized in the tracking system itself. For example, certain tracking systems include a fixture containing one or more EM sensors that are attached to an imaging system, such to the C-arm of an X-ray fluoroscopy system. As those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, these imaging systems typically include conducting objects (e.g., the C-arm) that result in the above-described field distortions. To compensate for this known distortion, a distortion map is generally created for each tracking system during the factory calibration process. This distortion map is used by the tracking system to compensate for this known distorting effect during the medical procedure.
An exemplary technique for creating the distortion map for a tracking system that includes an X-ray fluoroscopy system containing a C-arm, involves use of a precision robot. An EM transmitter is attached to an arm of the robot and moved to numerous points in space within the navigated volume. At each point, signals from the EM transmitter are detected by one or more EM receivers and then processed to determine a measured location of the transmitter with respect to the receiver, which is rigidly fixed to the C-arm of the X-ray fluoroscopy system. Because a precision robot is used, the real world location of the transmitter at each sampled point in the navigated volume is known. Accordingly, the measured location of the device detected by the receivers is compared to the transmitter's real world location to generate the distortion map that is used by the tracking system. By way of example, the distortion map may cross-reference the measured transmitter location with the real world transmitter location. However, to generate a complete distortion map, the transmitter must be positioned at thousands of points within the navigated volume. This process of collecting thousands of data points is time consuming and resource intensive. Moreover, extra time may be required to allow for the robot arm to stabilize at each point, and extreme care must be used to ensure that the system is not disturbed during data acquisition.
In addition to the tracking system itself, field distorting objects also may be present in the clinical environment where the tracking system is used. However, the impact of these field distorting objects on the magnetic field in the clinical environment is generally not known, and the field distorting objects are frequently transient. Techniques for detecting distorting objects during medical procedures have been developed. One such technique utilizes two sensors rigidly mounted at a known fixed distance on the medical device to detect uniform distortions in the area of the medical device. However, these techniques only detect field distortions in the immediate vicinity of the two sensors and do not convey the extent of field distortions in the larger navigated volume.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved technique for detecting and correcting for magnetic field distortions. Particularly, there is a need for a technique that detects magnetic field distortions in and around a tracking system so that these distortions can be accounted for in the clinical environment.

Multi-sensor distortion mapping method and system


The present invention is an ambient noise canceling physiological acoustic monitoring system and method. The system and method utilizes a plurality of microphones to collect input data including ambient noise signals, bed frame noise signals and patient respiratory and cardiac data signals. The system and method cancels the ambient noise and bed frame noise signals, and calculates a filtered audio output signal with an algorithm that utilizes ECG rhythm patterns and impedance pneumography. The set of input data and the filtered audio output signal are then displayed in real time.

The ability of clinicians to use conventional stethoscopes to hear and assess patient heart and breath sounds is significantly diminished or simply impossible in high ambient noise environments like aircraft or ambulance transport applications. The combination of ambient decibel level along with audio and vibration frequencies mean that clinicians cannot use this fundamental method to assess the patient's condition. This invention is intended to overcome both ambient noise and vibration frequencies to enable clinicians to assess heart and breath sounds adequately in such noisy environments.

Ambient noise canceling physiological acoustic monitoring system and method


A screwing part 1220 is inserted into a large through-hole 1110 from its front side and is screwed together with a male screw part of a jig. A convex part 1230 in an approximately ring shape is formed at a back end part of the screwing part 1220. The convex part 1230 is adjacent to a fitting part 1111 which is made of an approximately ring convex part projecting toward inside of the large through-hole 1110. The back of the fitting part 1111 is adjacent to a front end opening part 1310 of a back tubular part 1300. In short, the fitting part 1111 of the adaptor main body 1110 is sandwiched between the convex part 1230 and the front end opening part 1310. By inserting and pressing the back end opening part 1210 of the front tubular part 1200 into the front end opening part 1310 of the back tubular part 1300, the front tubular part 1200 and the back tubular part 1300 are connected and fixed with each other. Sign β represents their pressing part.

Conventionally, a Japanese Utility Patent Application Laid-open No. H6-2306 has disclosed an adaptor unit comprising an optical plug which connects each front facet of two ferrules facing with each other and is installed at either male or female opening part in its FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 9 of the present application illustrates its structure. The adaptor (19) comprising components such as a dividing sleeve (22) disclosed in the Japanese Utility Patent Application Laid-open No. H6-2306 has been common and well-known.
Recently, as shown in FIGS. 10A-10C, a dividing sleeve unit (u1) is formed by using an approximately tubular dividing sleeve holder (K1, K2) comprising a dividing sleeve (S), and an assembly of components (referred as an adaptor unit hereinafter) in which the dividing sleeve is held indirectly by the main body of the insulation adaptor through a dividing sleeve holder of the dividing sleeve unit (u1) tends to be installed at an opening part of the optical plug or the optical connector.
In the Japanese Utility Patent Application Laid-open No. H6-2306A, a dividing sleeve unit comprising such a structure is illustrated as an alignment tube or an alignment device, and examples for constructing an elastic contact which is used along with the dividing sleeve are also disclosed.
FIG. 11 is a side and sectional view of an adaptor unit 19′ of a general optical connector (optical plug 10′) which is consisted by using such dividing sleeve unit (alignment device; u1) and has been well-known widely in Japan. The dividing sleeve unit u1 in FIG. 11 is inserted and installed in a large through-hole h of the adaptor unit 19′. A tubular main body 2 comprising a ferrule holder 13 which holds a ferrule 18, or a contact point (: the optical contact unit), has a groove g2 formed in an approximately ring shape on the external surface of the opening part of the front end part 3. The dividing sleeve unit u1 fits a projection part g1 which is formed in an approximately ring shape at the back opening part of the dividing sleeve holder K1 illustrated in FIG. 10C with the groove g2 at a point γ illustrated in FIG. 11. As a result, the dividing sleeve unit u1 is fixed in the large through-hole h of the adaptor unit 19′.
A male screw K1a formed on the external surface of the dividing sleeve holder K1 can screw together with a female screw which is formed at the end point of a jig in an approximately cylindrical bar shape. By pulling the jig while the male screw and the female screw remain screwing with each other, the groove g2 and the projection part g1 fitting together at the point γ can be released, and further the dividing sleeve unit u1 can be pulled out of the optical plug 10′ from the opening part 10a. By employing that process, maintenance, or inspection for dirt or stain, and cleaning with tools such as a commercially available cotton-tipped swab can be carried out toward the front facet of the ferrule 18.
The Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-749776 discloses more detailed structure of the elastic contact point which holds the ferrule 18 in the optical axis direction with elasticity. That is, for example, sign 12 represents a hole of the groove formed in the tubular main body 2.


The present invention is related to a method and system for optimization of channel estimation and synchronization in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) wireless communication system. In accordance with the present invention, all of the training sequences are simply constructed based on a basic code by cyclically shifting the basic code. The training sequences are transmitted from different antennas in parallel without performing inverse fast Fourier transform. As a result, there is no peak-to-average ratio problem. Channel estimation is performed in each receiver based on the samples before fast Fourier transform and the maximum-likelihood estimate of channel response in time domain is then mapped into the frequency domain. The channel estimation is not only very simple in implementation, but also very efficient in computation.

OFDM is a data transmission scheme where the data is split into smaller streams and each stream is transmitted using a sub-carrier with a smaller bandwidth than the total available transmission bandwidth. The efficiency of OFDM is a result of the fact that the sub-carriers are selected so that they are orthogonal to each other. In other words, the sub-carriers do not interfere with each other while each is carrying a portion of the total user data.
There are practical reasons why OFDM may be preferred over other transmission schemes such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). When the user data is split into streams carried by different sub-carriers, the effective data rate on each sub-carrier is less than the total data rate. Therefore, the symbol duration is much larger. Large symbol duration can tolerate larger delay spreads. In other words, data that is transmitted with a large symbol duration is not affected by multipath as severely as symbols with a shorter duration. OFDM symbols can tolerate delay spreads that are typical in wireless communications and do not require complicated receiver designs to recover from multipath delay.
MIMO is a wireless transmission and reception scheme where both the transmitter and receiver employ more than one antenna for transmission and reception. A MIMO system takes advantage of the spatial diversity or spatial multiplexing options created by the presence of multiple antennas and improves signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and increases throughput.
In OFDM-MIMO systems, training sequence design as well as efficient channel estimation algorithm remains a challenge if different training sequence signals are transmitted from different antennas simultaneously. Several approaches based on training tones have been attempted in prior art systems. As a result, the channel estimation has to be done in the frequency domain, resulting in increased complexity and degraded performance. Other known solutions of a time orthogonal pre-amble scheme can be implemented, but this is at the expense of increased overhead.

Method and system for optimization of channel estimation and synchronization in an OFDM-MIMO wireless communication system


A catalytic converter for purifying exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine. The catalytic converter is comprised of a honeycomb monolithic catalytic element disposed in a casing. The catalytic element includes flat and corrugated metallic sheets which are formed into a cylinder by putting one upon another and spirally winding the metallic sheets. Catalyst is supported on the surface of the metallic sheets to define a plurality of axially extending gas passages through which exhaust gas flows to be purified. A metallic surface of the metallic honeycomb carrier is exposed at the outer peripheral surface of the catalytic element. The exposed metallic surface or outer peripheral surface of the catalytic element is in direct contact with the inner peripheral surface of the casing, thereby preventing the catalyst from peeling off even upon gliding contact of the catalytic element with the casing while promoting heat transmission from the catalytic element to the casing.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a catalytic converter for purifying exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine for an automotive vehicle, and more particularly to improvements in the catalytic converter having a honeycomb monolithic catalytic element whose catalyst carrier is formed of metallic sheets.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A variety of catalytic converters for purifying exhaust gas from automotive engines have been proposed and put into practical use. One of them is disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 54-13462 and will be discussed with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B. A catalytic converter shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B includes a casing 54 disposed in an exhaust pipe of an engine and houses therein a honeycomb monolithic catalyst 51 whose carrier is formed of metallic sheets. The carrier is formed by spirally winding a flat metallic sheet 52 and a corrugated Metallic sheet 53 upon putting one upon another. The thus formed carrier of the honeycomb type carries or supports catalyst on the surface of the metallic sheets 52, 53, thereby forming a plurality of gas passages 51a. The honeycomb monolithic catalyst 51 is tightly disposed in the casing 54 in such a manner that the outer peripheral surface of the catalyst 51 is in contact with the Inner peripheral surface of the casing 54. Exhaust gas from the engine is introduced into the honeycomb monolithic catalyst 51 to pass through the gas passages 51a, so that hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and the like are oxidized to purify exhaust gas from the engine.
However, difficulties have been encountered in the thus configurated catalytic converter in which the outer peripheral surface 51b of the honeycomb monolithic catalyst 51 is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface 54c of the casing 54 during assembly of the catalytic converter and under vibration due to vehicle operation, so that catalyst on the outer peripheral surface of the catalyst is peeled off and scattered to ambient air. Additionally, transmission of reaction heat generated in the catalyst 51 to the casing 54 is suppressed under existence of the layer of the catalyst in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the casing. Accordingly, the honeycomb monolithic catalyst tends to rise in temperature, thereby deteriorating the durability of the catalyst.


Interactive job channel is described. In an embodiment, a viewer having a television-based client device can register an employment profile with a content provider. Employment-related media content can then be associated with the viewer according to the employment profile registered by the viewer, and when an interactive job channel is selected for viewing at the television-based client device, the employment-related media content associated with the viewer is provided by the content provider for viewing on the interactive job channel.

Television-based client devices, such as a digital video recorder (DVR), can be implemented to receive and/or record media content in the form of programs, on-demand videos, movies, and any other type of broadcast and/or interactive television-based entertainment and information. Additionally, the availability of on-demand programming, such as with recorded or cached on-demand and broadcast media content, as well as IP-based television (IPTV) media content, provides a viewer with the option to navigate and select on-demand media that may be of interest to the viewer.
A company or employer seeking to attract and hire new employees are generally not able to target job seekers and prospective employees effectively with broadcast television, newspaper, or magazine advertisements because it is difficult to evaluate demographics and target specific groups of people in specific locations. Further, it is difficult for job seekers to identify and locate prospective employers that have employment positions which are both available and within the capability of a person seeking employment.


The improved organic polymeric adsorbent is used to adsorb and remove suspended impurities present in trace amounts in the water being treated in an apparatus for producing ultrapure water for use in the semiconductor industry or in a condensate purifier in steam power generating facilities and it is composed of a particulate or powdered cation exchange resin and/or anion exchange resin. The improvement is that this adsorbent has such a surface layer structure and morphology that granules are seen to bind with one another when examined under a scanning electron microscope in a field of view ranging from a magnification of 50 to 200,000. The adsorbent may be used as the constituent of a packing layer and/or a filter layer to make a material for removing suspended impurities.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to materials for removing suspended impurities. More particularly, this invention relates to an organic polymeric adsorbent of an ion exchange resin or an adsorbing material having a unique surface and surface layer structure and morphology and by which suspended impurities chiefly comprised of metallic oxides present in trace amounts in water which, for example, is to be treated to make ultrapure water can be removed with a remarkably increased efficiency. Generally speaking, the metallic oxides in condensate water are mainly composed by iron oxides which are called as "crud" or "crud iron". This invention also relates to a use of that polymeric adsorbent or adsorbing material, and to a method of removing suspended impurities employing that polymeric adsorbent or adsorbing material.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In order to enable the interior of boilers used in steam power generating facilities to be always kept clean, the condensate water returning from the condensing turbine to the boiler is highly purified with a condensate demineralizer before it is supplied as cooling water into the boiler.
The condensate demineralizer is of a "mixed bed" type in which a cation exchange resin and an anion exchange resin are packed in admixture. Impurities in condensate water, i.e., ionic components and suspended solid components (chiefly comprised of fine particulate metal oxides), are separated by ion exchange and by adsorption and filtration so as to purify the condensate water. In this regard, ion exchange resins may be classified as organic polymeric adsorbents. Mixed beds of cation and anion exchange resins have conventionally been formed by using resins in gel form and/or porous and/or macroreticular resins.
In the conventional method of using particulate ion exchange resins, impurities such as ionic components and metal oxides that are adsorbed or trapped by ion exchange resins are removed by periodical regenerations with chemicals or through mechanical back washing so as to maintain in a clean condition the condensate demineralizer.
While the efficiency of removing impurities from condensate water is important as regards both ionic components and metal oxides, enhanced separation of metal oxides such as crud iron has recently become particularly important for the operation of boiling water nuclear power generating facilities in steam power generating facilities. Separation is carried out for the purpose of reducing the dose of radioactivity to which operators are exposed during periodical inspections of the plant at the outage by reducing the amount of metal oxides carried over from the cooling water into the nuclear reactor. It has, however, been found that this need cannot be met by the prior art method of using conventional particulate ion exchange resins since it is not highly effective for removing metal oxides.

Materials for removing suspended impurities and use thereof


An opening portion 14 of an inflator housing 12 and a diffuser portion 20 are connected by welding, and an inflow portion 42 of a gas discharging port 40 is press-fitted in and connected to a first gas discharging hole 22 of the diffuser portion 20.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inflator that can be mounted on various kinds of vehicles for protecting a passenger when a vehicle receives an impact mainly from a side of the vehicle, and an air bag apparatus using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
As an inflator for an inflating type safety system of an automobile, in order to optimally protect a passenger in accordance with a position of a seat in a vehicle such as a driver side, a passenger side and the like, there are known various inflators such as an air bag inflator for a driver side, an air bag inflator for a passenger side, an air bag inflator for a side collision, an inflator for a curtain air bag, an inflator for a knee-bolster, an inflator for an inflatable seat belt, an inflator for a tubular system and an inflator for a pretensioner. Among these inflators, the inflator for a curtain air bag inflates and develops instantaneously a curtain air bag having a thickness of some centimeters over windows of a vehicle when the vehicle received the impact from the sides.
The above various inflators are required to be reduced in weight according to the requirement for weight reduction of a vehicle itself, and simultaneously, a facilitated manufacturing process and enhanced safety at actuation are also required.
As related conventional techniques, a device for inflating a flexible container using helium and hydrogen is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,066. A gas flow device for an air bag using a pressurized insert gas is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,486. An air bag apparatus for inflating an air bag with nitrogen or helium is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,680,886. A side-collision inflator housing for an air bag using a pressurized gas and a gas generating agent is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,493. A pressurized gas inflator using argon or nitrogen as a pressurized gas is disclosed in JP-U No. 3031246.


A technique for implementing a programmable thermal model of an integrated circuit component such as a central processing unit (CPU) and its associated heat sink. The model estimates the die temperature of the component as if there were no cooling devices present in the system such as a forced air cooling fan by integrating the thermal energy added when the component is active and by integrating the thermal energy removed when it is idle. A programmable power value may be used to represent the heat added to the model at each model sample period. The effect of a heat sink in cooling the idle component may be modeled by reducing the value of the heat accumulator by a predetermined fractional amount during each sample period. The decay time constant for the model may be changed by then adjusting the sample period. With an accurate model estimate predicting the component temperature in the absence of cooling being instantaneously available, any associated cooling device such as a fan can be operated in such a manner as to turn on only when it is estimated to actually be needed and to be kept off at all other times. In addition, a turn off delay can be implemented in order to avoid undesirable cycling effects.

Highly integrated central processing unit (CPU) components such as the microprocessors available from Digital Equipment Corporation of Maynard, Mass. and Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif. enjoy increasing popularity due to their high available processing speeds, low cost, and small size. However, because of the high integration of heat generating components, personal computer (PCs) systems and workstations developed around the use of such integrated circuits (ICs) usually require the use of cooling subsystems that typically include at least one fan. The fan provides forced air cooling of the IC components in order to prevent an over-temperature situation whereby damage might otherwise occur.
One manner of designing a cooling sub-system for a personal computer is to have the cooling fan simply run all of the time that the computer system is operating. However, many users find the noise generated by the fan to be objectionable. Knowing this, together with the fact that it is often the case that the CPU component simply sits in an idle or low utilization state during prolonged periods, system designers presently include control circuits that permit the fan to be slowed or even powered down at appropriate times. A typical design approach makes use of a temperature sensitive component, such as a thermistor, to provide an electrical voltage or current proportional to the present temperature of the CPU. A fan control circuit is then arranged to be responsive to overheating conditions, such as when the measured CPU temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, and cycles the cooling fan to an on state. When the CPU returns to a safe temperature, the control circuit then shuts the fan off.

Thermal model for central processing unit


A method and system for laser processing targets of different types on a workpiece are provided. The method includes setting a laser pulse width of one or more laser pulses to selectively provide one or more laser output pulses having one or more set pulse widths based on a first type of target to be processed. The method further includes setting a pulse shape of the one or more output pulses to selectively provide the one or more output pulses having the set pulse shape based on the types of targets to be processed. The method still further includes delivering the one or more output pulses having the one or more set pulse widths and the set pulse shape to at least one target of the first type. The method finally includes resetting the laser pulse width of one or more laser pulses to selectively provide one or more laser output pulses having one or more reset pulse widths based on a second type of target to be processed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to methods and systems for laser processing targets of different types on a workpiece.
2. Background Art
Laser trimming has been a part of manufacturing processes in the semiconductor and microelectronics industries for more than 30 years. The industry has been introducing new link materials and structures, as well as different thin films and structures. One of the challenges for laser processing is to meet the needs to process all these devices with a single laser trimming system. For example, the processing conditions and the types of lasers needed for copper processing are not the same for processing conventional polysilicon links. So a laser trimming system designed for processing polysilicon links may not be able to process copper links effectively.
Another challenge is that the processing conditions and the types of lasers needed for metal link blowing or cutting may not be the best for the conventional thin film trimming. For example, a laser trimming system designed for processing copper links may not be able to process and trim thin film resistors effectively. In addition, different thin films require different processing conditions as well. In a laser processing system such as the model M310 product of the assignee of the present application, various thin film trimming jobs require different laser pulse widths, for example 7 ns and 50 ns pulse widths. Current M310/M350 systems of the assignee of this application are built with a selected laser having a single desired pulse width. However, the pulse width cannot be tuned or adjusted easily. This limits the system to a narrow range of product processing at the selected pulse width. Currently, when there are different types of targets or circuit elements to be laser processed with different laser pulse widths, multiple processing systems provide the needed different pulse width lasers. These systems may be underutilized depending on a mix of products with varying target types, thus reducing system value to the customer. A system for processing multiple types of devices with a single laser source therefore will add value to the customer.
Except where indicated, the following patents and patent applications are assigned to the assignee of the present invention and are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,756 (the '756 patent) entitled "Method For Severing Integrated-Circuit Connection Paths By A Phase-Plate-Adjusted Laser Beam."
U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,759 (the '759 patent) entitled "Laser Processing."
U.S. Pat. No. 6,727,458 (the '458 patent) entitled "Energy-Efficient, Laser-Based Method And System For Processing Target Material."
U.S. Pat. No. 6,777,645 (the '645 patent) entitled "High-Speed, Precision, Laser-Based Method And System For Processing Material Of One Or More Targets Within A Field."
U.S. Pat. No. 6,951,995 (the '995 patent) entitled "Method And System For High-Speed, Precise Micromachining An Array Of Devices."
U.S. Pat. No. 6,987,786 (the '786 patent) entitled "Controlling Laser Polarization."
Published U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0167581 (the '7581 publication) entitled "Methods And Systems For Thermal-Based Laser Processing."
Published U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0108337 (the '8337 publication) entitled "Method And System For Laser Soft Marking."
Published U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0188399 (the '8399 publication) entitled "Energy-Efficient, Laser-Based Method And System For Processing Target Material."
U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,338 (not assigned to the assignee of the present invention) discloses a high power laser optical amplifier system for material processing.

Method and system for laser processing targets of different types on a workpiece


Various methods and systems for identifying defect types on a wafer are provided. One computer-implemented method for identifying defect types on a wafer includes acquiring output of an inspection system for defects detected on a wafer. The output is acquired by different combinations of illumination and collection channels of the inspection system. The method also includes identifying defect types of the defects based on the output acquired by a set of the different combinations. The set of the different combinations is selected based on the defect types to be identified on the wafer and a wafer type of the wafer such that a different set of the different combinations of the illumination and collection channels is used for identifying different defect types on different wafer types.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to methods and systems for identifying defect types on a wafer. Certain embodiments relate to a computer-implemented method that includes identifying defect types of defects detected on a wafer based on output acquired by a set of different combinations of illumination and collection channels of an inspection system.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following description and examples are not admitted to be prior art by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
Fabricating semiconductor devices such as logic and memory devices typically includes processing a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer using a large number of semiconductor fabrication processes to form various features and multiple levels of the semiconductor devices. For example, lithography is a semiconductor fabrication process that involves transferring a pattern from a reticle to a resist arranged on a semiconductor wafer. Additional examples of semiconductor fabrication processes include, but are not limited to, chemical-mechanical polishing, etching, deposition, and ion implantation. Multiple semiconductor devices may be fabricated in an arrangement on a single semiconductor wafer and then separated into individual semiconductor devices.
Inspection processes are used at various steps during a semiconductor manufacturing process to detect defects on wafers to promote higher yield in the manufacturing process and thus higher profits. Inspection has always been an important part of fabricating semiconductor devices such as integrated circuits (ICs). However, as the dimensions of semiconductor devices decrease, inspection becomes even more important to the successful manufacture of acceptable semiconductor devices because smaller defects can cause the devices to fail. For instance, as the dimensions of semiconductor devices decrease, detection of defects of decreasing size has become necessary since even relatively small defects may cause unwanted aberrations in the semiconductor devices.
Inspection for many different types of defects has also become more important recently. For instance, in order to use inspection results to monitor and correct semiconductor fabrication processes, it is often necessary to know what types of defects are present on a specimen. In addition, since controlling every process involved in semiconductor manufacturing is desirable to attain the highest yield possible, it is desirable to have the capability to detect the different types of defects that may result from many different semiconductor processes. The different types of defects that are to be detected may vary dramatically in their characteristics. For example, defects that may be desirable to detect during a semiconductor manufacturing process may include thickness variations, particulate defects, scratches, pattern defects such as missing pattern features or incorrectly sized pattern features, and many others having such disparate characteristics.
Classifying defects found on wafers and other specimens has, therefore, become increasingly important in order to determine what kinds of defects are present on the wafers in addition to distinguishing defect types of interest from other defect types. Several fully automatic defect classification (ADC) tools are now available. Typically, these tools use classification "recipes" to perform defect classification. A "recipe" can be generally defined as a set of instructions that define an operation to be performed by a tool and that are provided to and run on the tool upon request by a user. Classification recipes are typically generated using previously acquired data for specific defect classes that may be assembled in a suitable database. In the simplest implementation, the ADC tool can then compare unknown defects to those included in the specific defect classes to determine which defect class the unknown defect is most like. Obviously, much more complicated algorithms can be used by the ADC tool to determine the defect class to which the unknown defect most likely belongs.
Sometimes ADC is performed after inspection of a wafer. However, some systems and methods have been developed that can be used to perform ADC during inspection or "on-the-fly." Examples of such systems and methods are illustrated in International Publication No. WO 99/67626 by Ravid et al., which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. The systems and methods described in this publication are generally configured to separately detect defects in the electrical signals produced by different detectors. In other words, the electrical signals produced by each of the detectors are processed separately to determine if each detector has detected a defect. At any time that a defect is detected in the electrical signals produced by one of the detectors, the electrical signals produced by all of the detectors are analyzed collectively to determine scattered light attributes of the defect such as reflected light intensity, reflected light volume, reflected light linearity, and reflected light asymmetry. The defect is then classified (e.g., as a pattern defect or a particle defect) based on these attributes.
Other currently available inspection systems are configured to inspect a specimen with more than one detection channel, to detect defects on the specimen by separately processing the data acquired by each of the channels, and to classify the defects by separately processing the data acquired by each of the channels. The defects detected by each of the individual channels may also be further processed separately, for example, by generating different wafer maps, each illustrating the defects detected by only one of the individual channels. The results generated by more than one channel of such a system may then be combined using, for example, Venn addition of the individual wafer maps.
Additional examples of systems and methods for classifying anomalies on sample surfaces are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,590,645 to Chen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,016,031 to Chen et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 7,038,772 to Chen et al., which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. In these systems and methods, two or more defect maps may be provided for the same sample surface at different detection sensitivities and/or processing thresholds. The defect maps may then be compared for better characterization of the anomalies as scratches, area anomalies, or point anomalies. The results from such map(s) can be used to monitor the process conditions to obtain better yield.
The systems and methods described in the above-referenced patents have provided significant advantages for classifying anomalies. Nevertheless, the systems and methods could be improved in a number of ways. For instance, in the systems and methods described in the above-referenced patents, two or more maps of defects detected at different detection sensitivities on a wafer can be used to distinguish the defect types by size, which is advantageous because relatively large size defects will impact the yield of semiconductor devices for a given design dimension. However, this method of finding defects by size is not sufficient to separate all killer defect types from each other and to separate killer defect types that are related to various wafer manufacturing processes.
Examples of systems and methods for a wafer inspection system using multiple angles and multiple wavelength illumination are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,956,644 to Biellak et al., which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. As described in this patent, a method for detecting an anomaly on a top surface of a substrate includes directing a first radiation beam having a first wavelength at the top surface of the substrate at a first angle measured from normal and directing a second radiation beam having a second wavelength at the top surface of the substrate at a second angle measured from normal, where the second wavelength is not equal to the first wavelength. The method then includes detecting scattered radiation from the first radiation beam and the second radiation beam to detect the presence of particles or crystal-originated pits (COPs) and to differentiate between the two. Differences in the scattered radiation detected from the first radiation beam and from the second radiation beam provide the data needed to differentiate between particles and COPs.
The systems and methods described in the above-referenced patent have provided significant advantages for wafer inspection. Nevertheless, the systems and methods could be improved in a number of ways. For instance, the methods illuminate wafers at two oblique angles of incidence and different wavelengths. The methods differentiate between COPs and particles using the scattering signal and strength. But this method may be limited to differentiating between COPs and particles. Therefore, this method may not be able to address needs of other defect type classification.
Examples of systems and methods for simultaneous or sequential multi-perspective specimen defect inspection are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,922,236 to Vaez-Iravani et al., which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. In this patent, systems and methods for inspecting a surface of a specimen such as a semiconductor wafer are provided. A system may include an illumination system configured to direct a first beam of light to a surface of the specimen at an oblique angle of incidence and to direct a second beam of light to a surface of the specimen at a substantially normal angle. The system may also include a collection system configured to collect at least a portion of the first and second beams of light returned from the surface of the specimen.
The systems and methods described in the above-referenced patent have provided significant advantages for defect inspection. Nevertheless, the systems and methods could be improved in a number of ways. For instance, the defect inspection system for semiconductor wafers described in this patent includes an illumination module with oblique and normal angles and a signal collection module. The patent addresses the hardware design of a defect inspection system, but does not include methodology of how to conduct defect type classification.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to develop methods and systems for identifying defect types on a wafer that do not have one or more of the disadvantages of the methods and systems described above.

Methods and systems for identifying defect types on a wafer