An apparatus and a method for determining the permeability of a circulating band, in particular a water-absorbing dewatering band in a papermaking machine. The apparatus is equipped with a nozzle from which a measuring fluid flows onto or through the band. Fluctuations in the flow of the measuring fluid and in the nozzle exit pressure can distort the measurement of the permeability. The apparatus has a device for determining the speed of the band and/or a device for determining the nozzle exit speed and the nozzle exit pressure of the measuring fluid. These three measured variables are measured simultaneously, so that a fluctuation in one of these measured variables cannot impair the accuracy of the permeability measurement.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for determining the permeability of a circulating band, in particular a water-absorbing dewatering band in a papermaking machine, having a nozzle from which a measuring fluid flows onto or through the band.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, apparatuses for measuring the permeability at circulating bands are known. In these apparatuses, water is pressed through the band and the permeability of the band is determined by way of a pressure measurement. However, the disadvantage with the apparatuses known is that these require either a constant water pressure or a constant water flow. If the water pressure or water flow cannot be kept constant, the measured result is distorted.
What is needed in the art is an improved apparatus which permits an accurate determination of the permeability even in the event of variable flow conditions in the measuring fluid.

Apparatus and method for determining the permeability of a circulating band in a paper machine


A method and system for depositing a film with tunable optical and etch resistant properties on a substrate by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. A chamber has a plasma source and a substrate holder coupled to a RF source. A substrate is placed on the substrate holder. The TERA layer is deposited on the substrate. The amount of RF power provided by the RF source is selected such that the rate of deposition of at least one portion of the TERA layer is greater than when no RF power is applied the substrate holder.

Integrated circuit and device fabrication requires deposition of electronic materials on substrates. The deposited film may be a permanent part of the substrate or finished circuit. In this case, the film characteristics are chosen to provide the electrical, physical, or chemical properties required for circuit operation. In other cases, the film may be employed as a temporary layer that enables or simplifies device or circuit fabrication. For example, a deposited film may serve as a mask for subsequent etching processes. The etch-resistant film may be patterned such that it covers areas of the substrate are not to be removed by the etch process. A subsequent process may then remove the etch-resistant film in order to allow further processing of the substrate.
In another example of a temporary layer, a film may be employed to enhance a subsequent lithographic patterning operation. In one embodiment, a film with specific optical properties is deposited on a substrate, after which the film is coated with a photosensitive imaging film commonly referred to as photoresist. The photoresist is then patterned by exposure to light. The optical properties of the underlying deposited film are chosen to reduce reflection of the exposing light, thereby improving the resolution of the lithographic process. Such a film is commonly referred to as an anti—reflective coating (henceforth: ARC). Methods for using and fabricating vapor deposited materials with tunable optical properties are presented in U.S. Pat. No. 6,316,167.
Various physical and/or chemical deposition techniques are routinely employed for film deposition, and often more than one technique may be used to deposit a particular film. The preferred deposition method is determined by considering the desired film properties, physical and/or chemical constraints imposed by the device being fabricated, and economic factors associated with the manufacturing process. The selected process is often the one that provides an acceptable trade-off to address the pertinent technical and economic concerns.
Thermally excited chemical vapor deposition (henceforth: CVD) is a common technique used to deposit materials for integrated circuit fabrication. In a typical embodiment, a substrate is placed in a low-pressure reactor and maintained at a controlled temperature. The wafer is exposed to gaseous ambient of one or more precursors that contain the chemical elements to be incorporated in the film. The gaseous precursors are transported to the substrate surface and combine via one or more chemical reactions to form a solid film. The conditions of the reactor chamber, substrate, and precursor are typically chosen to favor chemical reactions that produce films with the desired physical, chemical, and electrical properties.
A plasma can be employed to alter or enhance the film deposition mechanism. A deposition process that employs a plasma is generally referred to as a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (henceforth: PECVD). In general, a plasma is formed in a vacuum reactor by exposing a gas mixture to an RF signal and exciting electrons to energies sufficient to sustain ionizing collisions with a supplied process gas. Moreover, the excited electrons can have energy sufficient to sustain dissociative collisions and, therefore, a specific set of gases under predetermined conditions (e.g., chamber pressure, gas flow rate, etc.) are chosen to produce a population of charged species and chemically reactive species suitable to the particular process being performed within the chamber.
Plasma excitation generally allows film-forming reactions to proceed at temperatures that are significantly lower than those typically required to produce a similar film by thermally excited CVD. In addition, plasma excitation may activate film-forming chemical reactions that are not energetically or kinetically favored in thermal CVD. The chemical and physical properties of PECVD films may thus be varied over a relatively wide range by adjusting process parameters.

Method and apparatus for depositing materials with tunable optical properties and etching characteristics


Systems and methods are provided for computing write margins for dual-port memory. A design for a dual-port memory array cell is generated using a circuit design tool. A user modifies the design of the dual-port memory array cell to incorporate two voltage sources. The voltage sources are used to represent differential noise on the memory cell. A write margin calculation tool uses a circuit simulation tool to perform transient simulations of write-during-read operations on the modified dual-port memory array cell. During the transient simulations, the voltage level on the voltages sources is systematically varied. The write margin for the dual-port memory is determined by analyzing the results of the transient simulations for each of the voltage levels used for the voltage sources.

This invention relates to dual-port random-access-memory circuits, and more particularly, to determining write margins for dual-port random-access memory circuits.
Random-access memory is used in a variety of integrated circuits, such as stand-alone memory chips, programmable logic device integrated circuits, and application-specific integrated circuits. Random-access memory is formed from an array of random-access memory cells. Memory arrays on a programmable logic device typically range in size from a few kilobits to about a megabit or more.
Both single-port and dual-port random-access-memory arrays are used.
Single-port random access memory arrays are accessed using a single port. The single port can be used for read operations or can be used for write operations, but cannot be used for simultaneous read and write operations.
Dual-port random-access memory arrays have two independent ports. If desired, one port can be used for write operations while the other port is used for read operations. The ability to concurrently read and write data allows dual-port random-access-memory arrays to be used in applications such as clock conversion first-in-first-out (FIFO) circuits. In a typical scenario, data is written into a FIFO using one clock signal and is read out of the FIFO using another clock signal.
Single-port memory array circuits are characterized by read and write margin figures of merit. The write margin of a single-port memory array is generally expressed as a voltage. The write margin voltage for a given design is indicative of the tolerance of the design to imperfections due to fabrication variations and operating variations such as changes in temperature and voltage. Designs with large margins are robust. Designs with negative margins are expected to fail.
Because there are numerous possible variations in components and operating conditions for a dual-port memory array, accurate calculation of the read and write margin for the array can be critical. If a logic designer is unable to use read and write margin calculations to evaluate how a given memory design will perform, it will not be possible to properly design a complex memory array.
Conventional methodologies for calculating single-port write margins have been applied to dual-port memory arrays. Unfortunately, write margins that have been calculated in this way have proven to be unreliable. For example, application of conventional single-port margin calculation techniques to a dual-port memory may produce write margin values that are negative, even when the dual-port memory array operates properly.
It would therefore be desirable to be able to calculate write margins satisfactorily for dual-port memory arrays.

Write margin calculation tool for dual-port random-access-memory circuitry


A method to simultaneously configure a plurality of adapters disposed within a computer system, where that computer system includes one or more external computers, and/or one or more data input devices, and/or one or more data output devices, and/or one or more data storage devices. A computer system which includes a computer useable medium having computer readable program code disposed therein to implement Applicants' method to simultaneously configure a plurality of adapters disposed within said computer system. A computer program product usable with a programmable computer processor having computer readable program code embodied therein for simultaneously configuring a plurality of adapters disposed within a computer system.

Computer systems may be formed using a variety of hardware and software components. Certain computer systems may, for example, comprise a single processor or multiple processors. Furthermore, individual computers may be connected in intra- or inter-network arrangements to form a larger, distributed computer system. A data storage and retrieval system many times comprises such a distributed computer system.
Such a data storage and retrieval system typically includes a plurality of devices, each dedicated to a particular function. These devices include one or more external host computers in combination with a plurality of data input devices, data output devices, and data storage devices. Such data input/output/storage devices include modems, scanners, hard disk drive units, magnetic tape units, optical disk units, sound/video cards, network adapters, printers, SCSI ports, keyboards, and pointing devices, amongst others. It is often a challenge to configure a computer system such that each of these devices has access to the computer's resources such as interrupt request lines, direct memory access (DMA) channels, memory or input and output address space, etc.
As the complexity of a computer system, such as a data storage and retrieval system, increases, so does the complexity of obtaining a working configuration. Thus, an increase in configuration time is necessarily encountered in configuring computer systems that include multiple processors, multiple host computers, multiple data input devices, multiple data output devices, and/or multiple data storage devices.
In certain data storage and retrieval systems, a plurality of host computers and data input/output/storage devices are typically connected to a number of direct access storage devices (DASDs) comprised of hard disk drives (HDDs). The DASDs may be organized in a redundant array of independent disks, i.e., a RAID array. A RAID array is comprised of multiple, independent disks organized into a large, high-performance logical disk. A controller stripes data across the multiple disks in the array and accesses the disks in parallel to achieve higher data transfer rates.
Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that many computer systems utilize different operating systems, including but not limited to UNIX, DOS, OS/2 and Windows platforms. In many cases obtaining a working configuration is dependent upon the assignment preferences of the operating system.
What is needed is a method to configure a computer system, such as a data storage and retrieval system, which minimizes the time period between power-up/reset of the system and the time when that system is placed in a ready state. In addition, a need thus exists for a configuration method that is applicable to different operating systems.

International Business Machines Corporation


A multi-cladding optical fiber includes a core that conveys visible light used by a scanner for imaging a site within a patient's body, and an inner cladding that conveys high-power light, such as infrared light, used for providing therapy to site. The distal end of multi-cladding optical fiber is driven to scan the site when imaging or rendering therapy using an actuator. High-power light is coupled into inner cladding at proximal end of optical fiber using several different techniques. Some techniques use an axicon to direct the high-power light into the inner cladding, while visible light is coupled directly into the core. Another technique uses a multimode optical fiber in a coupling relationship with the multi-cladding optical fiber, to transfer high-power light from a core of the multimode fiber into the inner cladding of the multi-cladding optical fiber.

The maximum transmissible optical power in a high-resolution scanning fiber endoscope system is limited by the requirement for small-core singlemode light propagation. The generally accepted threshold for material damage of a singlemode silica optical fiber is about 1 MW/cm2 for solid fiber and higher thresholds for photonics crystal or microstructured singlemode optical fibers. Thus, using an optical fiber that has a mode field diameter of 3.5 microns limits the optical power that can be delivered for therapy to a maximum of about 100 mW, when a conventional single resonant optical fiber is employed for both imaging and therapy. This level of power can easily be provided in the visible wavelengths by currently available diode-pumped solid-state or argon-ion gas lasers, and by high-power ultraviolet laser diodes and ultraviolet lasers that are being developed. Use of light in the visible range of wavelengths is desirable for rendering therapy in current configurations that employ the same optical fiber for both imaging and therapy, because of the potential for increased bending and launching losses that occur if infrared (IR) wavelengths are used in a visible wavelength optical fiber, or if shorter wavelength ultraviolet light is used in conventional multimode optical fiber scanners. Although tissue absorption levels are low in the visible range, it is expected that this amount of power will enable some limited therapeutic capability.
However, in the case where higher levels of optical power are needed for advanced levels of therapy, the existing scanning fiber endoscope design does not provide sufficient power handling capability. This problem only becomes an issue if it is necessary to both image and provide therapy to an internal site. If one or more fixed optical fibers are used to provide therapy, the nature and quantity of the therapeutic fibers and laser sources can be selected solely on the basis of therapeutic effect, with no regard to imaging. For example, the most commonly used laser in digestive endoscopy is the Nd:YAG laser which emits light at 1.06 micron wavelength that is usually conveyed to the tissues by a sheathed optical fiber within the working channel of the endoscope or within a cannula alongside the endoscope (Brunetaud, J. M., Maunoury, V., and Cochelard, D., Lasers in Digestive Endoscopy, Journal of Biomedical Optics 2(1): 42-52 January 1997). To deliver these much greater optical power levels, large-core multimode optical fibers would typically be used, rather than the small-core, singlemode optical fiber that is required for high-resolution imaging. To deliver more than fixed spots of laser irradiation to an imaged field, the separate large-core optical fiber(s) must be inserted through a larger endoscope within a working channel or secondary cannula that allows moving delivery of the optical therapeutic dosage across the stationary endoscopic field by hand. A drawback to this approach is that additional channels are required for combining imaging and therapy for minimally-invasive medicine.
One advantage of employing a dedicated fixed fiber configuration for a separate therapy channel is that it can operate at optical powers below the material damage threshold and still deliver sufficient power to perform a broad range of laser therapies. The disadvantage of such a configuration, however, is that the resulting endoscope system is more bulky and more invasive to the patient. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a configuration for an endoscope system that can achieve maximal power operation in one single illumination fiber endoscope to provide the desired optical power therapeutic capacity, while also enabling imaging (and perhaps diagnostic) procedures to be conducted of the site to which the optical therapy is to be delivered. A compact single optical fiber endoscope with such properties has not yet been commercially available.


In a color separation optical system in a camera, subject light entering focus-imaging elements, to which optical path lengths from the taking lens are different, is obtained with a light dividing face. The focusing state is determined with focus evaluation values according to high frequency components of images captured by the focus-imaging elements. Thus, the focusing state can be quickly determined by a simple construction without using the wobbling method. The green light in the subject light entering the color separation optical system is transmitted through a blue light separation prism and a red light separation prism, and is divided into a reflected light and a transmitted light by a beam splitter face, which is a contact face between a first green light separation prism and a second green light separation prism. The light reflected on the beam splitter face exits from the color separation optical system as the subject light for determining the focusing state, and enters the focus-imaging element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a focusing state determining apparatus, and more specially, to a focusing state determining apparatus applied for a television camera and so on in which subject light separated in a color separation optical system is imaged by a picture-imaging element for each color.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a device for determining a focusing state of a television camera and a video camera for example, a method is known that a high frequency component is extracted from an image signal captured by an imaging element, and a focus evaluation value representing sharpness (contrast) of the image is obtained from the high frequency component so that the largest (maximum) focus evaluation value is detected.
A wobbling method is also known where a focus lens of a taking lens or the imaging element is vibrated periodically (wobbled) so that the focusing state is determined from the fluctuation of the focus evaluation value.
Concerning the wobbling method, in order to solve the problem in that image quality is deteriorated because of the wobbling of the imaging element and a camera cannot function quickly, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-50227 discloses the following technique. Subject light entering the camera body through the taking lens is generally separated by a color separation optical system and applied to each picture-imaging element for each color. In the color separation optical system, a branch optical path is formed, which is different from optical paths of the subject light applied to the picture-imaging elements. The subject light on the branch optical path is applied to a focus-imaging element different from the picture-imaging elements. Then, the focus-imaging element is wobbled along the optical axis. According to this technique, the image quality is not deteriorated by the wobbling, and a focusing can be quickly performed because the amount of the wobbling can be increased.
In the wobbling method, a plurality of focus evaluation values that are obtained in time series while wobbling are compared to each other so as to determine the focusing state. Hence, the focusing state cannot be determined quickly in the wobbling method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-50227. Moreover, there are problems that a construction of the apparatus is complicated, the apparatus is large and the cost is high, since a special driving device for wobbling the imaging element is required.


A mower blade assembly (10) includes an elongated blade bar (11) having two oppositely disposed cutting ends (13). A pair of removable bottom blades (22) and a pair of removable top blades (23) are removably mounted to the blade bar. The bottom blade has two oppositely disposed serrated cutting edges (27) so that either of the two cutting edges may be utilized for cutting purposes. Each top blade has a forward portion (31) which includes a series of blade segments (32) with serrated cutting edges (33) and a series of mulching blades (34) with serrated cutting edges (35). The top blade also has an elongated rear portion (37) that is oriented at an angle with respect to the cutting blades and blade bar. The angle of the rear portion creates or defines an airfoil deflector which increases the vacuum effect of the rotating blades.

Rotary lawnmowers utilize a blade that is rotated about a central axis by a motor. The blade includes two oppositely disposed leading edges which cut the grass over which the lawnmower passes. These grass clippings are oftentimes collected in a removable bag so that the clippings may be gathered and disposed.
The mower operator however may opt to leave the grass clippings on the lawn for mulch with subsequent decomposition for fertilization and a reduction in water needs for the lawn. When grass clippings are left on the lawn it is desired to have the clippings cut into the smallest pieces possible so that they do not rest upon the freshly cut grass, this is referred to as mulching the grass.
Accordingly, it is seen that a need for a lawnmower blade which may reduce the size of grass clipping. It thus is to the provision of such that the present invention is primarily directed.


A system for capacitive detection of seat occupancy in a vehicle comprises a sensing electrode and a shielding electrode arranged in substantially parallel layers. A spacer is arranged between the sensing electrode and the shielding electrode to keep the sensing electrode and the shielding electrode at a certain distance from each other. The spacer comprises an inner textile layer and at least one of the electrodes comprises a film-based electrode.

In order to protect the lives of passengers during a traffic accident, modern vehicles are generally provided with a protection system comprising several airbags and seat belt pretensioners, which are used to absorb the energy of a passenger released during the collision due to the accident. It is clear that such protection systems are most effective when they are well adapted to the specific requirements of actual seat occupancy. That is why microprocessor-controlled protection systems have been designed which provide several operational modes, allowing for example an adaptation of the instant at which airbags are deployed, the volume to which the airbags are inflated, the instant at which safety belts are released after the collision, etc, as a function of the stature of a passenger on the seat. In order to enable the control microprocessor to select the optimum operational mode for a given seat occupancy status, it is of course necessary to detect one or several parameters characterizing the occupancy status of the seat and to classify the occupancy into one of several classes, each of which is associated to a specific operational mode of the restraint system.
One approach for gathering relevant parameters of seat occupancy is based on the detection of the capacitive coupling of a body to one or several electrodes arranged in the seat. Such a measurement system is for instance described in LU-A-88 828. This measurement system comprises at least one transmitting electrode and at least one receiving electrode that are capacitively coupled by a conductive body. The receiving electrodes are connected to an analysis circuit that determines the capacitive coupling of the transmitting antenna with the conductive body by comparing the measured signal with a reference signal.
Various other systems have been disclosed with electrodes arranged at different locations in the passenger compartment in order to detect the presence and/or the nature of seat occupancy and to classify the occupancy status in one of several classes.
European patent application EP 1 457 391 A1 discloses a system for the detection of seat occupancy in a vehicle, which comprises a capacitive seat electrode and a capacitive foot-area electrode arranged in a compartment of the vehicle. During operation, capacitive coupling between the seat electrode and an object placed on the seat is determined, as well as capacitive coupling between the foot-area electrode and the seat electrode. The seat electrode comprises a shielding electrode (guard electrode), directed towards the seat frame, and a sensing electrode, directed towards the occupant of the seat. An insulating layer is arranged between the sensing electrode and the shielding electrode. In operation, the shielding electrode and the sensing electrode are driven by the same signal, so that the guard electrode prevents the electric field from the sensing electrode to couple with the seat frame. Thus the sensing electrode is active only in the direction of a seat occupant and not towards an object placed below the seat.
Integration of electrodes into the compartment of a vehicle implies certain requirements to the configuration of the electrodes in terms of mechanical robustness, protection against humidity or water, and comfort.

System for capacitive detection of a seat occupancy

IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.


We propose a method that uses formatting options of Font, Font Size, Font Color, Shading, Font Style, Font Effects, Font Underline, Character Effects, Picture coloring, as a part of user passwords, credentials, electronic signature, challenge for user authentication and captcha verification. User personalizes user name and or password or text by choosing combination of proposed factors for each character or word in password. Method includes optional time range where user would have different password and factor combinations for each time range. We also propose a method to use these factors for multi-factor authentication where user is required to format given text as per remotely sent instructions. We propose variation of proposed method that would send text and the instruction to format it using different factors through separate communication channels.

The proposed invention concerns security. In particular, proposed method is to provide/improve/strengthen security for individual's any kind of data, information, credit, finances, services obtained (online and or offline), authenticate application user using formatting options.
Users are required to authenticate themselves before they access service such as file storage, emails, bank accounts, view and edit data, use cloud hosted applications, make purchases or make comments for example. They are also required to identify themselves as real valid human user and not a robo program before they can access many websites and web services.
In spite of many new authentication schemes, password-based user authentication is still widely used by installed software applications, smartphone apps, websites and web services due to its convenience, and ease in use and deployment. With ever growing instances of passwords and credentials getting compromised its necessary to invent strong mechanism which is multi-layered but at the same time simple enough for users to work with.
In password-based user authentication users are required to input textual password to identify them as valid user. Now because of its simplicity passwords are prone to hacking. Users are always asked to increase complexity of their passwords which leads to user forgetting them often and as a result instances user getting locked out of their own accounts.

Method of using text and picture formatting options as part of credentials for user authentication, as a part of electronic signature and as a part of challenge for user verification

Abstract: For user verification, our method asks user to format the given text or given picture as instructed using different formatting options.


An avalanche photodiode (APD) has a two tier passivation layer disposed over the silicon APD body. The passivation layer includes an inorganic moisture barrier layer and an organic dielectric layer. The inorganic material forming this layer is preferably silicon nitride or silicon oxide, and the organic dielectric material is a polyimide or benzocyclobutene.

Avalanche photodiodes (APDs) detect incident optical photons and amplify the resultant charge generated, typically by an order of magnitude or more. See, for example, B. Saleh and M. Teich, Fundamentals of Photonics (1991), pp 666-673, which is incorporated herein by reference. APDs have use in nuclear imaging applications, for example, gamma cameras and other devices in which the nature of the radiation imaged is such that not many optical photons are generated by the interaction of the incident radiation and the scintillator material. Crystalline silicon (Si) is commonly used in the fabrication of APDs due to the advantageous photoelectric characteristics of silicon and the relative ease of fabrication.
APDs typically include an island or body of layers of appropriately doped crystalline silicon disposed between two electrodes electrically coupled to opposite surfaces of the APD body. Relatively high voltages (e.g., about 1000 V to 1500 V) are applied across the APD to generate the electric field necessary to cause the avalanche effect. As incident radiation is absorbed in the silicon, holes and electrons are produced and accelerate toward the upper or lower surface of the photodiode dependent on the electric field established by the electrodes, and as they accelerate they displace more holes and electrons, causing the amplification of the signal. The amount of charge collected at the electrodes is a function of the energy flux of the incident light and the amplification of the APD. Periodic measuring of charge collected on a photodiode, and resetting the diode to a known charge condition, is used to process electrical signals generated by the photodiode in response to incident radiation.
Noise in an array of APDs is critical because of the high electric fields and the consequent amplification of any noise-inducing factor. Noise arises from bulk leakage current, device capacitance, and charge injection into the high (electric) field region of the device from the surface of the APD. Because surface conditions are difficult to control in semiconductor processing, the APD must be structured so as to reduce the peak surface electric field well below the peak bulk electric field for stable device operation. This structuring is accomplished by beveling the periphery of a discrete device, or, alternatively, the mechanical grooves that provide isolation of individual APDs in a monolithic array of the devices. The beveling process results in a structure in which the doped material on one side of the p-n junction has been preferentially removed, leaving a beveled edge that slopes away from the vicinity of the p-n junction. Subsequent to beveling, the silicon surface must be treated with a suitable passivant to prevent charge injection from the surface and to limit the surface leakage current, thereby permitting low noise operation.
It is desirable that the passivating layer have the following characteristics: First, it should act as an electrically insulating barrier between the upper electrode, the APD body, and other underlying electrically conductive components that are used in reading and processing electrical signals generated by the photodiode. Second, the passivating layer should be capable of being selectively etched with respect to the silicon body of the APD to enable formation of a non-leaky contact connection between the upper electrode and the upper surface of the photodiode body. Third, the passivating layer should cover the photodiode body without cracking or inducing stresses that adversely effect photodiode performance or the dielectric integrity of the passivating layer. Fourth, the interface between the passivating layer and the beveled edge of the photodiode body should have minimal conductivity so that photodiode leakage in reverse bias is not degraded by the presence of the dielectric. Fifth, the passivating layer should be thick enough (on the order of about 5 microns) so that the electric field inside the dielectric does not become very large (e.g., less than about 2.times.10.sup.6 V/cm). Additionally, the passivating layer should desirably protect the APD beveled surfaces from degradation due to humidity, moisture, or chemical attack from materials in the environment or present on the wafer. This latter concern is present both during fabrication and also over time as the device is exposed to a variety of environments.
Passivating layers are commonly made up of one layer of material. Certain polyimides, particularly preimidized polyimides, have been found to provide a satisfactory passivating layer with regard to several of the desirable characteristics listed above. Drawbacks to polyimide passivating layers include the poor moisture barrier provided by polyimides. Indeed, most polyimides providing otherwise satisfactory passivating layer characteristics are hygroscopic, that is they tend to absorb moisture from the environment. This characteristic is particularly undesirable in light of the increased leakage resulting from degradation of the APD beveled surface in contact with polyimide. One manner of providing moisture protection has been to hermetically seal the entire chip containing the array of photosensors, a process that leads to bulkier arrays and increased steps in fabrication of the arrays.
Single layer inorganic dielectrics have been used in some situations, but typically such layers cannot be deposited to the required thickness to provide the desired passivating characteristics without experiencing debilitating stresses that affect the structural integrity of the dielectric layer and degrade device performance and longevity.
A two-layer dielectric structure is disclosed by R. Kwasnick and J. Kingsley in the application entitled "Photosensitive Element with Two Layer Passivation Coating", Ser. No. 07/891,117, filed Jun. 1, 1992 and allowed Feb. 3, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,181, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference. The two-layer passivation structure comprises an organic dielectric layer and an inorganic moisture barrier layer. In devices comprising amorphous silicon, however, the inorganic dielectric layer is advantageously disposed adjacent to the amorphous silicon and the polyimide dielectric disposed over the inorganic layer in order to prevent moisture leaching from the polyimide into the amorphous silicon. Further, in devices in which amorphous silicon comprises the photosensitive semiconductive material, constraints of temperature in the formation process relative to the optimal cure temperature for the polyimide make it undersirable to place the polyimide immediately adjacent to the photosensitive material. Specifically, the maximum temperature to which the amorphous silicon structure can be exposed in the fabrication process without damaging the semiconductor material is about 250.degree. C., thus limiting the cure temperature of the polyimide and preventing all moisture from being driven out of the polyimide. Thus the moisture inherent in the polyimide itself contaminates the amorphous silicon structure.
It is thus an object of this invention to provide an APD having a passivating layer that provides a high integrity moisture barrier.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a passivating layer for an APD that provides a high integrity dielectric layer that is structurally sound.
Another object of this invention is to provide a low noise APD.

Avalanche photodiode with moisture resistant passivation coating disposed to cover the outer periphery of the photodiode body except at a selected top contact area


A comparator includes a first comparison unit configured to compare an input signal with a first signal and a second comparison unit configured to compare the input signal with a second signal having a voltage value lower than a voltage value of the first signal in a case where a voltage value of the input signal is lower than the voltage value of the first signal and compare the input signal with a third signal having a voltage value higher than a voltage value of the first signal in a case where a voltage value of the input signal is higher than the voltage value of the first signal.

Conventionally, there is a signal detection device for detecting an input signal that includes noise. This signal detection device has N comparison units for comparing respective N parallel input signals (wherein N is a natural number equal to or greater than 2) with threshold values, respectively, and a computing unit for computing the number N+ of comparison units with the respective input signals greater than the threshold values. This signal detection device further has analysis means for computing a ratio N+/N of the number N+ of comparison units with the respective input signals greater than the threshold values to the number N of elements of the comparison units, based on an output from the computing unit, and estimating waveforms of the input signals by using this ratio of N+/N and statistics of noise (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-045622).
Because a conventional signal detection device as described above uses N comparison units for comparing input signals with N threshold values, respectively, for example, 3 comparison units are needed to compare input signals with 3 threshold values.
Thus, there is a problem of a high electric power consumption of a conventional signal detection device because N comparison units are used to compare input signals with N threshold values, respectively.


An optical disc consisting of a substrate and at least a recording layer formed on the substrate is recycled by peeling off the recording layer from the substrate; and bonding another substrate having a recording layer formed thereon to the substrate from which the recording layer has been removed, whereby a renewed optical disc is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disc recycling method and a recycled optical disc.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the recent fields of data recording, research has been made for optical data recording and many optical recording methods are practically used. Because of many advantages, including non-contact recording and/or reproduction, recording density more than one level higher than the magnetic recording, and availability of various types of recording such as read-only, write-once and rewritable, the optical recording is conveniently used in a wide range of applications, from industrial to household.
The turnout of the optical discs such as compact discs (CD) and recordable compact discs (CD-R) has been increasing year after year, and with this increasing turnout of optical discs, unnecessary optical discs including used or unusable ones at the users and unaccepted ones at the factories have been increasing.
In the current circumstances, each of the users and manufacturers dispose such unnecessary optical discs. The optical disc is composed of a plurality of layers including a substrate of a light-transparent synthetic resin such as polycarbonate or the like, a reflecting layer of aluminum to reflect a light beam used for writing and/or reading an information signal, a protective layer of ultraviolet-curable-curable resin or the like, and a printed-label layer. So, the optical disc cannot be recycled or reused as it is. Most of those unnecessary optical discs are discarded, not recycled, which is not desirable for the standpoints of the global environment and effective utilization of natural resources.
There has been proposed an approach for recycling unnecessary optical discs, in which the unnecessary or discarded optical discs are crushed as they are and a mixture of the crushed substrate, and metal, protective and printed-label layer materials is used as a molding material. Also, there is another proposed approach. In the latter approach, the metal, protective and printed-label layers are removed from the substrate of the unnecessary optical disc by mechanical grinding or chemical treatment, and only the substrate is reused as a molding material.
There has been proposed an approach for recycling unnecessary optical discs, in which the unnecessary or discarded optical discs are crushed and a mixture of the crushed substrate, metal, protective and printed-label layer materials is used as a molding material. Also, there is another proposed approach. In the alternative approach, the metal, protective and printed-label layers are removed from the substrate of the unnecessary optical disc by mechanical grinding or chemical treatment, and only the substrate is reused as a molding material.
In the former method, the resulting mixture contains many impurities such as metallic material of the metal layer. Therefore, a product molded from the mixture will have unstable physical characteristics such as flexural strength or Young""s modulus in flexure. Thus, the mixture resulted by crushing the discarded optical disc can have only a limited application. When the chemical treatment is adopted, a large amount of chemicals has to be used, which will lead to a secondary contamination and give an adverse impact to the environment.
Further, in many write-once type optical discs such as CD-R, an expensive precious metal such as gold is used as the reflecting layer. In the latter one of the above methods, however, no consideration is actually given to recycling of such an expensive metal.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks by providing an optical disc recycling method by which an unnecessary or unwanted optical disc can be recycled easily and inexpensively, and an optical disc renewed carrying out the optical disc recycling method.
The above object can be attained by providing an optical disc recycling method for an optical disc consisting of a substrate and at least a recording layer formed on the substrate, the method including, according to the present invention, steps of:
peeling off the recording layer from the substrate; and
bonding another substrate having a recording layer formed thereon to the substrate from which the recording layer has been removed, whereby a renewed optical disc is provided.
As in the above, the new substrate having the new recording layer formed thereon is bonded to the existing substrate of the optical disc, from which the old recording layer has been removed. Thus the renewed optical disc will have the new recording layer formed on the existing substrate thereof.
Also, the above object can be attained by providing an optical disc recycling method for an optical disc consisting of a substrate and at least a recording layer formed on the substrate, the method including, according to the present invention, steps of:
grinding at least one side of the optical disc substrate; and
bonding another substrate having a recording layer formed thereon to the ground side of the optical disc, whereby a renewed optical disc is provided.
As in the above, at least one side of the optical disc substrate on which at least the recording layer is formed is ground, and another substrate having a recording layer is bonded to the ground side of the existing substrate.
Thus, the new substrate having the new recording layer formed thereon is bonded to the ground side of the optical disc substrate. Therefore, the renewed optical disc will have the new recording layer formed on the existing substrate thereof.
Also, the above object can be attained by providing a recycled optical disc having a substrate from which a recording layer has been peeled off and to which another substrate having a recording layer formed thereon is bonded.
Since the above recycled optical disc still uses the substrate from which the recording layer has been removed, it is excellent in physical properties such as bending strength and Young""s modulus in flexure.
Also, the above object can be attained by providing a recycled optical disc having bonded to at least one ground side thereof another substrate having a recording layer formed thereon.
Since the above recycled optical disc still uses an optical disc of which at least one side is ground, it is excellent in physical properties such as bending strength and Young""s modulus in flexure.
These objects and other objects, features and advantages of the present intention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Optical disc recycling method and recycled optical disc


A method (100) of route selection in a wireless communication system and a control system (40) is provided. The method includes selecting a route between a first node (1) and a second node (2) and comprises: —evaluating (110) a plurality of possible routes (R1, R2, R3, R4), at least one route (R2, R3, R4) including a third node (3, 4) between the first and the second node; and —selecting (160) the route that has the lowest latency among the possible routes. Especially the method (100) includes: —selecting (120) parameter settings for each link of the possible routes, said selecting (120) comprising; —selecting (130) the length of the cyclic prefix, —evaluating (140) combinations of the selected cyclic prefix and different settings of the at least one further parameter of the physical layer; —selecting (150) the parameter settings that has lowest estimated latency and fulfils at least one communication quality criterion.

Route selection within wireless communication networks is a concept wherein a route that may contain several hops between two nodes, or base stations, are selected. Typically, a route having as few hops as possible may be selected in order to provide a fast transmission. In a further approach a route that provides a specific quality of service-level (QoS) may instead be selected. See for example patent application U.S. Pat. No. 6,954,435 B2 (document A) were individual links of possible routes are investigated in terms of QoS (col. 5, line 36-col 6 line 3; col. 2 line 20-25 in document A). The quality requirements of the system in document A include for example delay, number of hops or error rate (col 3 line 23-26 of document A).
Different quality measurements have been used for route selection, and the selection may also be updated. U.S. Pat. No. 7,058,021 (document B), for example, describes a route selection method that continually determine a quality of different routes. A success ratio of received packets for the routes are compared and the most successful route is selected (see abstract of document B).
US 2015/0319629 (document C) shows a further example where the communication quality is improved. A purpose of the method of document C is to improve the quality a selected communication route. The method of document C includes estimating a signal quality on an adjacent channel and switch to the adjacent channel if the quality is better on the adjacent channel than on the present channel (abstract of document C). Also, the method of document C may select another route. Thus, a further purpose is to select a better route as determined by the quality determination (§ 0017 of document CV). The quality of a channel, and/or route, may be determined from signal-to-noise measurements (§ 0019 of document C).

Route selection in a wireless communication system


A semiconductor LED package includes a package body having first and second electrode structures and an LED chip connected to at least one of the first and second electrode structures using a wire. The LED chip includes a light emitting structure and first and second electrode parts. At least one of the first and second electrode parts includes a bonding electrode layer made of a material having the same composition as a material of the wire and bonded to the wire, and an uneven electrode layer disposed on the bonding electrode layer and having at least one through hole filled with the wire. The at least one through hole allows a top surface of the bonding electrode layer to be exposed therebelow.

A semiconductor light emitting device such as an LED is a device including a material that emits light using electric energy, in which energy generated through electron-hole recombination in semiconductor junction parts is converted into light and emitted therefrom. LEDs are commonly used as light sources in lighting devices, display devices, and the like, and development of LEDs has thus been accelerated.
In particular, the recent increase in development and use of gallium nitride-based LEDs and the commercialization of mobile keypads, turn signal lamps, camera flashes, and the like, using such gallium nitride-based LEDs, has led to accelerated development of general lighting devices using LEDs. Applications of LEDs are gradually moving from small portable products toward larger products having high output and high efficiency, such as a backlight unit of a large TV, a vehicle headlamp, a general lighting device, and the like. Accordingly, light sources satisfying requirements for corresponding applications are in need.
As the applications of semiconductor light emitting devices are extended, a method of improving reliability of semiconductor light emitting devices is being required.

Semiconductor light emitting diode package and lighting device using the same


Provided is an imaging system and a method of autofocusing the same. The imaging system includes a camera array including a plurality of cameras to image an image, and a control circuit to control the plurality of cameras to autofocus, and to output a single image by combining images output from the plurality of cameras.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure herein relates to an imaging system and a method of autofocusing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Autofocus (AF) is a function of an optical system automatically focusing on a subject. An AF scheme is largely divided into active and passive schemes. In the active scheme an ultrasonic wave or an infrared ray is emitted to measure a distance to the subject.
In the active scheme, when a glass or other transparent object is interposed between a camera and a subject, the subject is not properly focused because the object reflects the ultrasonic wave or the infrared ray. Also, it is difficult for the optical system in the active scheme to focus on a distant subject due to the limit of a distance that the ultrasonic wave or the infrared ray can reach.
In the passive scheme, a subject is focused on by using a light naturally reflected by the subject. The passive scheme is largely divided into an optical triangulation scheme, a contrast detection scheme, and a phase detection scheme. Here, in the contrast detection scheme, contrast of a portion of an image is continuously calculated while a lens is moved, and, when the contrast becomes a maximum, the image is determined as being in focus.

Imaging system and method of autofocusing the same


The invention comprises a staple gun with highly compact accessory apparatus for attaching a planar tab or label to a fixing surface. The accessory has a housing and a positioning and indexing assembly associated with the housing which is operable to feed and hold a tab or label between the staple gun head and fixing surface, thereby allowing single-handed fixing of a label or tab to a fixing surface. The apparatus can include a roller assembly, staple gun and accessory apparatus or have all components integrated into the construction of a staple gun apparatus. Preferably, the apparatus is mated with a tab or label holding magazine. Some exemplary embodiments of the invention are suitable for securing protective covering to lumber product and may be configured for rectangular polyolefin tabs measuring approximately 0.035 inch thick and 1.0 inches by 2.0 inches.

This invention relates to a staple gun and will have specific reference to a staple gun for attaching tabs or labels to wood products and the like.
It is becoming common place for lumber companies and mills to use labels bearing bar codes, commonly referred to as UPC labels, for inventory control and computer pricing. Previously such labels were attached by a user carrying a roll of the UPC labels placing one against the board, stapling it to the board and then severing the stapled label from the remainder of the roll. This process, when performed by hand, is very time consuming which increases the price of lumber to the consumer.
Lumber is often shipped great distances and stored in harsh environmental conditions for extended periods of time. In particular, the lumber may be left on sea docks or in open lumberyards for months at a time. During these periods the lumber is subject to harsh environmental conditions such as rain, snow and high winds, and other conditions such as pollution and bird droppings. During transit on trains or on open semi-tractor trailers, the lumber units may be subjected to flying debris such as small sticks and stones, which may hit the lumber at speeds of seventy miles an hour. Due to the high cost of lumber, and in order to minimize the damage done to the lumber during transport and storage, it is desirable to protect the lumber from exposure to these harsh environmental conditions.
Lumber units, which are shipped in a variety of sizes, typically are wrapped in a protective covering, such as Nova-Thene Plus TP (Trademark owned by Intertape Polymer Group of Nova Scotia, Canada), a high strength, lightweight coated fabric consisting of a reinforcing high density polyethylene scrim coated on both sides with a film of low density polyethylene blended with other specialty resins. The protective covering typically is secured to the lumber unit by fasteners such as staples that are shot from a staple gun through the covering and into the lumber. The staple typically retains the sheeting on the lumber unit during transport and storage but must be removed prior to sale or use of the lumber.
When covered lumber unit is subjected to high winds, the high winds may tend to tear the protective covering from the lumber unit due to the small surface area of the staple in contact with the cover. In other words, as the covering is pulled from the lumber, the staples tend to tear through the cover (termed staple "pull through"). Moreover, during purposeful removal of the covering from the lumber prior to use, pulling of the covering from the lumber tends to result in the staple tearing through the cover such that the staples remain in the lumber. When staples remain in the lumber, the staples may damage or destroy saw blades used to cut the lumber. Partially removed staples with a single leg remaining in the product ("leg-out" condition) are also hazardous to personnel who may be injured from the protruding staple leg. In addition, staples left remaining in the lumber mar the appearance of the lumber and decrease the value of expensive specialty lumbers.
One solution is to secure the protective cover to the lumber by use of a polymeric tab, stapled through the covering into the product. Tabs are used to distribute strain on the protective covering. This reduces staple pull throughs providing for a stronger and more durable covering. The tabs can be imprinted with the company's trademark, safety designation, product information, etc. During purposeful removal of the cover, the tabs and staples normally come free. Experience has shown that 95% to 100% of the staples will be thus removed when tabs are used.
Presently the tabs are separately positioned and stapled. This results in higher labor expenditures and requires two-handed operation. Because the protective covering must also be held in position during the stapling process, two workers are typically required (first worker holds the covering in place, second worker positions and staples tab).
When only a single worker is available, the awkwardness of affixing a tab is quickly apparent. First the covering is brought into position and a tab positioned. The worker uses one hand to both hold the tab in position as well as holding the covering in position then uses the other hand to operate the staple gun. This awkwardness leads to many poorly covered products as either the covering or tab slips before the staple is driven. Worker injuries also occur when staple guns are engaged prematurely or staples penetrate into the hand holding the tab in position.
It is therefore desirable to reduce the labor requirements, injuries and awkwardness of affixing tabs and labels to lumber and products covered with protective coverings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Columbia River Staple & Lumber Wrap, Inc.


A telescopic chopstick including an upper section, a lower section and a press member. The upper section is a hollow rod formed with an upper opening and a lower opening. A locating section is formed on an inner side of the upper section. The lower section has an upper end and a lower end. The upper end has a peripheral length larger than a peripheral length of the lower end. The upper end of the lower section has a connecting section for engaging with the lower end of the upper section. The press member is fitted in the upper opening of the upper section and located by the locating section of the upper section. A leaf spring integrally extends from a bottom end of the press member. When the lower section is retracted into the upper section, the leaf spring resiliently abuts against and engages with a lateral wall of the connecting section of the lower section. The lower section can be easily taken out from the upper opening of the upper section for washing.

The present invention is related to an improved telescopic chopstick in which a lower section can be retracted into an upper section of the chopstick. In addition, the lower section can be easily taken out from the upper opening of the upper section for washing to meet the requirement for sanitation.
FIG. 5 shows a conventional telescopic chopstick 5. The telescopic chopstick 5 includes an upper section 51, a lower section 52 and a press member 6. The top end of the lower section 52 is engaged with the bottom end of the upper section 51 to integrally connect the lower section 52 with the upper section 51. The upper section 51 has an upper opening 511 and a lower opening 512. The lower section 52 can be fitted into the upper section 51 from the upper opening 511.
The press member 6 includes a press button 61 and a jacket 62. The press button 61 has a press section 611 and a stem 612 formed with a stopper section 613. The jacket 62 is a hollow member fitted in the upper opening 511 of the upper section 51. The jacket 62 has a locating section 621 and a stop flange 622. The locating section 621 is formed with a pair of transverse locating holes 623 opposite to each other. In addition, the inner wall face of the locating section 621 is formed with a slide channel 624 having a lower opening. The stopper section 613 of the stem 612 is slidably inlaid in the slide channel 624.
The inner wall face of the upper section 51 is further formed with a pair of opposite lower protuberances 513 and a pair of opposite upper protuberances 514 near the upper opening 511. When the lower section 52 is retracted into the upper section 51, the lower protuberances 513 are compressed to locate the lower section 52. The upper protuberances 514 serve to engage with the press member 6 for combining the press member 6 with the upper section 51.
The width of the top end of the lower section 52 is larger than the interval between the opposite lower protuberances 513. In addition, the lower protuberances 513 are formed on an inflexible portion of the upper section 51. Therefore, when it is desired to take out the lower section 52 of the telescopic chopstick for washing, it is hard to change the interval between the lower protuberances 513. Consequently, it is uneasy to take out the lower section 52 from the upper section 51. A user often needs to push the lower section 52 with an alien piece such as another telescopic chopstick. This is quite inconvenient. Moreover, it is laborious and time-consuming to process the upper section 51 to form the lower protuberances 513 and the upper protuberances 514. Therefore, the manufacturing cost is increased.


DNA sequences encoding human androgen receptor protein and polypeptides and proteins having substantially the same biological activity as human androgen receptor protein and the amino acid sequences of human androgen receptor protein and polypeptides and proteins having substantially the same biological activity as human androgen receptor protein are disclosed. Methods for the production and use of such compositions are also disclosed.

The naturally occurring androgenic hormones, testosterone and its 5α-reduced metabolite, dihydrotestosterone, are synthesized by the Leydig cells of the testes and circulate throughout the body where they diffuse into cells and bind to the androgen receptor protein ("AR"). Androgens, acting through their receptor, stimulate development of the male genitalia and accessory sex glands in the fetus, virilization and growth in the pubertal male, and maintenance of male virility and reproductive function in the adult. The androgen receptor, together with other steroid hormone receptors constitute a family of trans-acting transcriptional regulatory proteins that control gene transcription through interactions with specific gene sequences.
When prostate cancer is found to be confined to the prostate gland, the treatment of choice is surgical removal. However, 50 to 80% of prostate cancer patients already have metastases at the time of diagnosis. Most of their tumors (70 to 80%) respond to the removal of androgen by castration or by suppression of luteinizing hormone secretion by the pituitary gland using a gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue alone or in combination with an anti-androgen. The degree and duration of response to this treatment is highly variable (10% live<6 months, 50% live<3 years, and 10% live>10 years.) Initially cancer cells regress without androgen stimulation, but ultimately the growth of androgen independent tumor cells continues (35). At present it is not possible to predict on an individual basis which patient will respond to hormonal therapy and for how long. If poorly responsive patients could be identified early, they could be treated by alternative forms of therapy (e.g. chemotherapy) at an earlier stage when they might be more likely to respond.
Studies on androgen receptors in prostate cancer have suggested that a positive correlation may exist between the presence of androgen receptors in cancer cells and their dependence on androgenic hormone stimulation for growth. (An analogous situation exists in mammary carcinoma where there is a correlation between estrogen receptors and regression of the tumor in response to estrogen withdrawal). However, methodological problems in the measurement of androgen receptors have prevented the routine use of androgen receptor assays in the diagnostic evaluation of prostate cancer. Prior to our preparation of androgen receptor antibodies, all androgen receptor assays were based on the binding of [3H]-labeled androgen. These assays have been unreliable in human prostate cancer tissue because of the extreme lability of the androgen binding site and the presence of unlabeled androgen in the tissue. Endogenous androgen occupies the binding site on the receptor and dissociates very slowly (t ½ 24–48 hr at 0C). A further problem is that biopsy samples are quite small, making it difficult to obtain sufficient tissue for [3H−]-androgen binding assays. Moreover, prostate cancer is heterogenous with respect to cell types. Thus within a single biopsy sample there is likely to be an uneven distribution of cells containing androgen receptors.
Development of the male phenotype and maturation of male reproductive function are dependent on the interaction of androgenic hormones with the androgen receptor protein and the subsequent function of the receptor as a trans-acting inducer of gene expression. It has become well established over the past twenty-five years that genetic defects of the androgen receptor result in a broad spectrum of developmental and functional abnormalities ranging from genetic males (46,XY) with female phenotype to phenotypically normal males with infertility. Isolation of the structural gene for the androgen receptor makes it possible to define the nature of these genomic defects in molecular terms. Analysis of the functional correlates of the genetic defects may lead to a better understanding of the regulation of androgen receptor gene expression and of the mechanism of androgen action in male sexual development and function.
The androgen insensitivity syndrome, known also as testicular feminization, is characterized by an inability to respond to androgen due to a defect in the androgen receptor, the protein that mediates the action of androgen within the cell. Androgen insensitivity is an inherited X-linked trait that occurs in both complete and incomplete forms. The complete form results in failure of male sex differentiation during embryogenesis and absence of virilization at puberty. The result is a 46,XY genetic male with testes and male internal ducts. The testes produce normal amounts of testosterone and Mullerian inhibiting substance. Consequently development of the uterus is inhibited as in the normal male. Because of the inability to respond to androgen, the external genitalia remain in the female phenotype with normal clitoris and labia. A small vagina develops from the urogenital sinus and ends in a blind pouch. At puberty feminization with breast development and female contours occur in response to testicular estrogen, however, there is no growth of sexual hair even though circulating testosterone concentrations are equal to or greater than levels in the normal male.
Incomplete forms of the androgen insensitivity syndrome include a spectrum of phenotypes resulting from varying degrees of incomplete androgen responsiveness. At one extreme, individuals have mild enlargement of the clitoris and sparse pubic hair. The opposite extreme is characterized by more complete masculinization with varying degrees of hypospadias deformity but predominantly a male phenotype. It has been reported that some adult men with severe oligospermia or azoospermia who are otherwise normal, have defects in the androgen receptor. These may include as many as 10% of infertile males.
The genetic defect eliciting this range of abnormalities is thought to be a single biochemical event at the level of the gene for the androgen receptor. The androgen receptor is a high affinity androgen binding protein that mediates the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone by functioning as a trans-acting inducer of gene expression. For proper male sexual development to occur, there is a requirement for androgen and its receptor at a critical time during embryogenesis and during puberty. The majority of individuals with the androgen insensitivity syndrome have a history of affected family members, although about a third are thought to represent new mutations of this X-linked disorder. The incidence ranges from 1 in 20,000 to 60,000 male births.
In studies of families with clinical evidence of the androgen insensitivity syndrome, four main categories were recognized that range from the most severe, complete absence of receptor binding activity in a genetic male with female phenotype, to qualitatively normal receptor in affected individuals. Second in severity are affected individuals with qualitatively abnormal androgen binding by receptor present in normal levels. Examples include the failure of sodium molybdate (a reagent often used in studies on steroid receptors) to stabilize the receptor of affected individuals when molybdate is known to stabilize the wild-type receptor. Lability of the receptor under conditions that normally cause transformation has also been reported. A third group expresses a decreased amount of receptor with wild-type in vitro binding characteristics. The final grouping contains those androgen insensitivity patients in whom no abnormality in receptor is detected. In a recent study of this form of the syndrome, the androgen receptor was as capable of binding oligonucleotides as the wild-type receptor. Indeed, with the techniques available until only recently, it has been difficult in certain cases to document an androgen receptor defect in affected individuals.
Experimental methods used in assessing receptor defects in the past have relied on the ability of receptor to bind androgen with high affinity. The limitation of this methodology is that it is not possible to distinguish between the lack of expression of the receptor and loss of androgen binding activity. An example of how inadequate methodology complicates diagnosis is the absence of detectable receptor binding activity in patients who are partially virilized. It is theoretically possible for a mutation to occur which allows the receptor with defective androgen binding activity to induce gene transcription. Biologically active truncated forms of the glucocorticoid receptor that lack steroid binding activity but retain the DNA binding domain have been demonstrated using genetically engineered mutants.
Purification of the androgen receptor has been difficult to accomplish due to its low concentration and high degree of instability. Reported attempts at purification using either conventional methods of column chromatography or steroid-affinity chromatography have yielded insufficient amounts of receptor protein to allow even the preparation of monoclonal antibodies.
An early report on the partial purification of the androgen receptor was disclosed by Mainwaring et al. in "The use of DNA-cellulose chromatography and isoelectric focusing for the characterization and partial purification of steroid-receptor complexes," Biochem J, 134, 113–127 (1973). They used DNA-cellulose chromatography and isoelectric focusing to isolate the receptor from rat ventral prostate and determined its physiochemical properties. This group was among the first to attempt the use of steroid affinity chromatography in conjunction with conventional chromatography, using the affinity label 17B-bromoacetoxytestosterone in receptor purification (See Mainwaring et al., "Use of the affinity label 17B-bromoacetoxytestosterone in the purification of androgen receptor proteins," Perspectives in Steroid Receptor Research, (1980)). Partial purification of androgen receptor has also been attempted from other tissue sources, such as ram seminal vesicles (See Foekens et al., Molecular Cellular Endocr, 23, 173–186 (1981) and Foekens et al., "Purification of the androgen receptor of sheep seminal vesicles," Biochem Biophys Res Comm, 104, 1279–1286 (1982)). The partially purified receptor displayed characteristics of a proteolyzed receptor, but a purification of 2,000 fold was reported with a recovery of 33% (See Foekens et al., "Purification of the androgen receptor of sheep seminal vesicles," Biochem Biophys Res Comm, 104, 1279–1286 (1982)). Later attempts at purification continued to combine steroid affinity chromatography with conventional techniques, reportedly achieving significant purification, but recoveries too low for further analysis (See Chany et al., "Purification and characterization of androgen receptor from steer semenal vesicle," Biochemistry 21, 4102–4109 (1982), Chany et al., "Purification and characterization of the androgen receptor from rat ventral prostate," Biochemistry 22, 6170–6175 (1983) and Chang et al., "Affinity labeling of the androgen receptor in rat prostate cytosol with 17B-[(bromoacetyl)oxy]-5-alpha-androstan-3-one," Biochemistry 23, 2527–2533 (1984)). More recent studies examine the effectiveness of a variety of immobilized androgens for their ability to bind the androgen receptor (See De Larminat et al., "Synthesis and evaluation of immobilized androgens for affinity chromatography in the purification of nuclear androgen receptor," The Prostate 5, 123–140 (1984) and Bruchovsky et al, "Chemical demonstration of nuclear androgen receptor following affinity chromatography with immobilized ligands," The Prostate 10, 207–222 (1987)). Despite these efforts, the receptor has not been purified to homogeneity and the quantities of purified androgen receptor obtained have been insufficient for the production of antisera.
Clinical assays for the androgen receptor now include several methods. The most common is the binding of tritium-labeled hormone and measurement of binding using a charcoal adsorption assay. Either a natural androgen, such as dihydrotestosterone, or synthetic androgen, such as mibolerone or methyltrienolone (R1881), can be used. An advantage of the latter in human tissue is that it is not significantly metabolized and does not bind to the serum androgen binding protein, sex steroid binding globulin. A limitation of radioisotope labeling of receptor is interference caused by endogenous androgen. Although exchange assays for the androgen receptor have been described (See Carroll et al., J Steroid Biochem 21, 353–359 (1984) and Traish et al., J Steroid Biochem 23, 405–413 (1985)), their effectiveness is limited by the slow kinetics of dissociation of the endogenous receptor-bound androgen.
Another method used to assess receptor status is autoradiography. In this method disclosed in Barrack et al., "Current concepts and approaches to the study of prostate cancer," Progress in Clinical and Biological Research, 239, 155–187 (1987) the radioactively labeled androgen is incubated with slide-mounted tissue sections of small tissue biopsy specimens which are then frozen, sectioned and fixed. Nuclear localization of radioactivity is detected by exposure of tissue sections to x-ray film. This technique requires considerable technical expertise, is labor intensive, and requires extended periods of exposure time. It is therefore of limited usefulness in general clinical assays. Another problem is high levels of background signal, i.e. a high noise/signal ratio, making it difficult to distinguish receptor-bound nuclear radioactivity from unbound radioactivity distributed throughout the cells.
WO 87/05049(Shine) discloses a method for the production of purified steroid receptor proteins, specifically estrogen receptor proteins, through the expression of recombinant DNA encoding for such proteins in eukaryotic host cells. However, the reference does not disclose the sequence for androgen receptor protein, nor does it disclose a method for obtaining such a sequence.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


A thermally conductive material includes a supercritical fluid and a number of carbon nanotubes incorporated in the supercritical fluid. The supercritical fluid may be selected from a group consisting of carbon dioxide, water, ammonia, ethane, ethane, nitrous oxide, propane, butane, pentane, and so on. The carbon nanotubes may be selected from the group consisting of single-wall carbon nanotubes, double-wall carbon nanotubes, mult-wall carbon nanotubes, or other kinds of carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes have an average length of less than 1 micron and an average diameter of less than 100 nanometers. The supercritical fluid has dual characteristices of a liquid and a gas, and the carbon nanotubes have excellent thermal conductivity. As a result, the thermally conductive material becomes a nano-super heat conductor with excellent thermal conductivity and high efficiency of thermal conductivity, and is suitable for heat dissipation of various heat sources.

Cooling is an important means for ensuring that a high-density integrated electronic device such as a CPU is kept within its operational temperature limit. Generally, the types of apparatuses for cooling is selected from extruded metal heat sinks, fans, water, air conditioning, heat pipes, etc. Compared to heat pipes, the other cooling units have certain inherent limitations such as large size, heavy weight, and low heat transferring efficiency. A typical heat pipe generally includes a wick structure attached an inside wall of a shell, and a working fluid received in the wick structure.
In the heat pipe, the working fluid is utilized as a heating medium to transfer heat by an evaporation-condensation cycle with the help of capillarity action. The types of working fluid generally are a main factor in determining the operation performance of the heat pipe. Nowadays, a variety of working fluid may be suitable used, depending on the particular application. The basic requirements for working fluids are as follows:                Compatibility with the wick and the wall of the shell materials;        Good thermal stability;        Wettability of the wick and the wall;        High latent heat;        High thermal conductivity;        Low liquid and vapor viscosities;        High surface tension.
The working fluids employed in the heat pipe typically include water, ammonia, methanol, acetone, heptane, etc. However, none of the working fluids is capable of satisfying all of the aforementioned requirements. This limits the heat-transferring efficiency of heat pipe. Consequently, some other techniques have been developed to overcome the limitation. For example, China Patent Application No. 02137681.6 discloses a nano-fluids having nanoparticles incorporated therein. The nano-fluid employs water or ammonia as the working fluid. Nanoparticles are dispersed in the working fluid. The nanoparticles are made of a material selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, alumina, and magnesium oxide. A thermal conductivity of the overall working fluid may be increased to a certain extent due to the nanoparticles. However, the nanoparticles effectively make no contribution for improving the viscosity and diffusivity of the working fluid. In other words, the nanoparticles are incapable of improving the fluidity of the nano-fluids. In addition, the nanoparticles are unable to fully exhibit their excellent properties due to the limitation of the conventional working fluid.
In view of properties limitations of the conventional working fluid has led people to seek other suitable thermally conductive materials for use as working fluid in a heat pipe. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,420 issued on Mar. 11, 2003 discloses a heat carrier including a closed or looped heat pipe having a heat receiving section and a heat radiating section, and a heating medium received in the heat pipe. The heating medium becomes a low-viscous supercritical fluid when it is heated. The closed or looped heat pipe is entirely covered with a thermal insulation layer, except for the heat receiving section and the heat radiating section. Carbon dioxide is used as the heating medium received in the looped heat pipe. Carbon dioxide in the looped heat pipe becomes a very convective low viscous supercritical fluid under a pressure above 7.3 MPa and at a temperature of about 31° C. When a temperature gradient is created in the supercritical fluid in the looped heat pipe, it creates a density gradient. This causes the fluid to undergo natural convection without any external driving means, thereby transporting heat from the heat receiving section to the heat radiating section while circulating through the looped heat pipe. The supercritical fluid has a low viscosity, which is capable of enhancing the heat-transferring efficiency. However, the thermal conductivity of the supercritical fluid is relatively low. This limits the overall heat-transferring efficiency of the heat pipe.
What is needed, therefore, is a thermally conductive material which has both excellent thermal conductivity and fluidity.


An apparatus and method for forwarding data on a digital data network are provided. The network includes optimized routers and a plurality of routers connected on the network. A route optimizer receives information from the optimized routers and plurality of routers with regard to traffic congestion. The information can include queue lengths of one or more queues within the optimized routers. The route optimizer uses the congestion information from the optimized routers and plurality of routers to define optimum paths for transfer of data. The defined paths can be MPLS paths, which are then transmitted to the optimized routers and any other routers in the network.

The deployment of optical transmission and switching equipment in data networks has significantly increased data rates over earlier electrical technologies. Optical technology promises to provide an increasing data transmission and switching capability that will quickly exceed that of even the most ambitious electronic designs. Optical transmission and rates of 40 Gb/s, 100 Gb/s, and 160 Gb/s, will soon be implemented in the network core. Switching, however, is a non-deterministic process, subject to congestion, and therefore always requires adjacent queuing. No practical optical queuing mechanism is presently available, and it is clear that such capability, in a practical form, will not be available for many years. As a consequence, fast optical components will require equally fast and large electronic queuing, which will be impractical or impossible to design.
Over the last five years, approximately 85% of hardware-based router projects failed to deliver working equipment at data rates of 2.5 Gb/s and 10 Gb/s. The most significant difficulty faced in these designs was, and remains, complexity. Hardware based IP routers are simply too complex to allow one to be confident of a timely development cycle. Moreover, it is becoming increasingly clear that the network core, where data rates are highest, does not benefit from much in the complex feature set of IP routing; a simpler protocol such as multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) is entirely adequate. Along with greater simplicity, MPLS offers the ability to readily engineer traffic flows so as to avoid congestion and thereby improve network throughput. Indeed, MPLS based traffic engineering is currently deployed in many networks for this reason.

System and method for transferring data on a network using a single route optimizer to define an explicit route and transfer the information related to the explicit route to a plurality of routers and a plurality of optimized routers on the network


Provided is a satellite network communication method. The method includes: establishing for a user equipment a satellite network communication channel between a proxy service apparatus on an end station side and a proxy service apparatus on a master station side; intercepting a resource access request sent by the UE; and when a target resource corresponding to the resource access request does not locally exist, acquiring the target resource through the satellite network communication channel and sending the target resource to the user equipment. Further provided are a proxy service apparatus and a gateway.

Signals of a cellular mobile communication system cannot cover part of areas of offshore and land. A satellite communication as an effective supplementary means is widely used in these areas, especially in sectors of ocean transportation, drilling, surveying, fishery and so on. The satellite communication is not limited by factors such as time, place, environment and etc. It has many advantages such as a short opening time, a long transmission distance, a fast network deployment, and a communication distance unrelated to a communication cost, and a real-time bidirectional transmission of voice and data can be implemented.
As shown in FIG. 1, in a related satellite communication application scenario, after a user equipment (UE) accesses a satellite network through a gateway 1 (GW1), if the UE accesses public network resources through an air interface, the UE needs to use the transmission control protocol (TCP) and to establish a TCP channel to public network resources through a three-way handshake first, then to perform a corresponding resource transmission through Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP). A typically satellite communication has characteristics of large delay (for example, about 540 ms) and network instability, which will cause the TCP protocol to retransmit constantly, thereby causing a communication link congestion, wasting the satellite bandwidth, and affecting user Internet experience. Because the satellite bandwidth is expensive, this additional bandwidth waste will cause the user to face high Internet fees.

Satellite network communication with proxy service apparatus for acquiring targeted resources


In a method for determining a state variable of an electric arc furnace, especially for determining the level of the foamed slag (15) in a furnace, the energy supplied to the furnace is determined with the aid of at least one electric sensor while solid-borne noise is measured in the form of oscillations on the furnace. The state variable is determined by a transfer function which is determined by evaluating the measured oscillations and evaluating measured data of the electric sensor. The state of the foamed slag level can thus be reliably recognized and be monitored over time. The foamed slag level is decisive for the effectiveness with which energy is fed into the furnace. Furthermore, losses caused by radiation are reduced by covering the arc with the foamed slag. The improved measuring method allows the foamed slag level to be automatically controlled or regulated in a reliable manner.

It is known from DE 197 48 310 C1 to predict foamed slag in an electric arc furnace on the basis of feed materials of the electric arc furnace, such as scrap, steel, alloying agents or admixed materials, in combination with the energy supplied to the electric arc furnace. However, it has been found that state variables of the electric arc furnace cannot be determined sufficiently reliably and accurately enough in this way.

Method for determining at least one state variable of an electric arc furnace, and electric arc furnace


A method for manufacturing hydrogen sulphate (alpha S) of the alpha-(2-chlorophenyl)-6,7dihydrothieno[3,2-c]pyridine-5(4H)-acetic acid methyl ester (clopidogrel hydrogen sulphate) of formula I, in crystalline Form I, wherein the compound of formula is separated out of a solution of clopidogrel in the form of the free base or salt in a solvent selected from the series of primary, secondary or tertiary C1-C5 alcohols, their esters with C1-C4 carboxylic acids, or optionally of mixtures thereof.

Hydrogen sulphate (alpha S) of the alpha-(2-chlorophenyl)-6,7-dihydro-thieno[3,2-c]pyridine-5(4H)-acetic acid methyl ester (clopidogrel hydrogen sulphate) of formula I
is an anti-thrombotic agent that has been described in patent CZ 274 420 (EP 281 459), dealing with the technology for manufacturing dextrorotatory S enantiomer. The manufacturing method disclosed in the cited patent dwells in reacting the racemic mixture with optically active camphor sulphonic acid and subsequent separating the diastereoisomer.
The respective salt of clopidogrel with camphor sulphonic acid is transformed with sodium hydrogen carbonate solution in methylene chloride environment into the optically active base, which is obtained by evaporation of the solvent.
The evaporation residue—the optically active base of clopidogrel—is dissolved in acetone, where it is transformed into hydrogen sulphate by adding drops of an equivalent amount of sulphuric acid, under cooling with crushed ice. The melting temperature of the resulting precipitate is stated as 184° C.
The specification of CZ 274 420 (EP 281 459) does not deal with the crystalline form of clopidogrel hydrogen sulphate prepared in this way. A newer patent application, CZ 2000-4637 (WO 99/65915) gives a description of crystalline Forms I and II of clopidogrel hydrogen sulphate. According to this more recent patent application, the precipitation method described in CZ 274 420 (EP 281 459) had led to crystalline Form I. The above application defines an allegedly new crystalline form, Form II. The process for obtaining Form II according to example 1A of this application dwells in introduction of the salt of clopidogrel with camphor sulphonic acid into methylene chloride and its transformation into the base with a solution of potassium carbonate. Methylene chloride is evaporated and the evaporation residue is dissolved in acetone. By adding sulphuric acid, the hydrogen sulphate precipitates out of acetone.
The methods leading—according to the application CZ 2000-4637 (WO 99/65915)—to Form II, are thus very similar to those leading to Form I according to the same application. Since, moreover, the application defines Form II as thermodynamically more stable, it is obvious that the known methods allegedly resulting in Form I will be poorly reproducible. It can be assumed that even a small change in conditions will result in Form II instead of expected Form I. The Form I under generation can, under these circumstances, transform spontaneously into Form II and it can be expected that it will be at least contaminated with Form II.
The above stated expectations have been proven experimentally.
The present invention provides a reliable method for obtaining Form I of clopidogrel hydrogen sulphate without detectable impurity of Form II.

Method for manufacturing crystalline form I of clopidogrel hydrogen sulphate


The present disclosure provides compounds having affinity for the 5HT6 receptor which are of the formula (I):

The human 5-hydroxytryptamine-6 (5HT6) receptor, one of the most recently cloned serotonergic receptors, is a 440-amino acid polypeptide with seven transmembrane spanning domains typical of the G-protein-coupled receptors. It is one of the 14 receptors that mediate the effects of the neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) (Hoyer et al., Neuropharmacology, 1997, 36:419). Within the transmembrane region, the human 5HT6 receptor shows about 30-40% homology to other human 5-HT receptors and is found to be positively coupled to adenylyl cyclase.
The prominent localization of 5HT6 receptor mRNA in the nucleus accumbens, striatum, olfactory tubercle, substantia nigra, and hippocampus of the brain (Ward et al., Neuroscience, 1995, 64:1105) together with its high affinity for several therapeutically important antipsychotics and antidepressants, suggest a possible role for this receptor in the treatment of schizophrenia and depression. In fact, the prototypic atypical antipsychotic agent clozapine exhibits greater affinity for the 5HT6 receptor than for any other receptor subtype (Monsma et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 1994, 268:1403).
Although the 5HT6 receptor has a distinct pharmacological profile, in vivo investigation of receptor function has been hindered by the lack of selective agonists and antagonists. Recent experiments demonstrated that chronic intracerebroventricular treatment with an antisense oligonucleotide, directed at 5HT6 receptor mRNA, elicited a behavioral syndrome in rats consisting of yawning, stretching, and chewing. This syndrome in the antisense-treated rats was dose-dependently antagonized by atropine (a muscarinic antagonist), implicating 5HT6 receptor in the control of cholinergic neurotransmission. Therefore, 5HT6 receptor antagonists may be useful for the treatment of memory dysfunction (Bourson et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 1995, 274:173), and to treat other central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
The high affinity of a number of antipsychotic agents for the 5-HT6 receptor, in addition to its mRNA localization in striatum, olfactory tubercle and nucleus accumbens suggests that some of the clinical actions of these compounds may be mediated through this receptor. Compounds which interact with, stimulate, or inhibit the 5-HT6 receptor are commonly referred to as 5-HT6 ligands. In particular, 5-HT6 selective ligands have been identified as potentially useful in the treatment of certain CNS disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, anxiety, depression, manic depression, psychoses, epilepsy, obsessive compulsive disorders, migraine, Alzheimer's disease (enhancement of cognitive memory), sleep disorders, feeding disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, panic attacks, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), attention deficit disorder (ADD), withdrawal from drug abuse such as cocaine, ethanol, nicotine and benzodiazepines, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and also disorders associated with spinal trauma and/or head injury such as hydrocephalus. Such compounds are also expected to be of use in the treatment of certain gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as functional bowel disorder and irritable bowel syndrome (See for ex. B. L. Roth et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 1994, 268, pages 1403-14120, D. R. Sibley et al., Mol. Pharmacol., 1993, 43, 320-327, A. J. Sleight et al., Neurotransmission, 1995, 11, 1-5, and A. J. Sleight et al. Serotonin ID Research Alert, 1997, 2 (3), 115-8). Furthermore, the effect of 5-HT6 antagonist and 5-HT6 antisense oligonucleotides to reduce food intake in rats has been reported (Br. J. Pharmac., 1999 Suppl. 126, page 66 and J. Psychopharmacol Suppl. A64, 1997, page 255).
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide compounds which are useful as therapeutic agents in the treatment of a variety of central nervous system disorders related to or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor.
It is another object of this invention to provide therapeutic methods and pharmaceutical compositions useful for the treatment of central nervous system disorders related to or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor.
The following patents and publications also provide relevant background to the present invention. All references cited below are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and to the same extent as if each reference was individually incorporated by reference. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,100,291, 6,133,287, 6,191,141, 6,251,893, 6,686,374, 6,767,912, 6,897,215, 6,903,112, and 6,916,818; Published U.S. Application Nos. 2005/0124603, and 2005/0171118.

Compounds having 5-HT6 receptor affinity

Abstract: wherein R1-R3 A, B, D, E, G, Q, and x are as defined herein. The disclosure also relates to methods of preparing such compounds, compositions containing such compounds, and methods of use thereof.