A method and system for in-basin neutralization is provided. More specifically, neutralizer is added to a basin in excess of an amount of neutralizer suitable to neutralize a treatment solution in a reservoir in fluid communication with the basin. A first portion of the treatment solution is added to the basin and is contacted with the first portion of the treatment solution to form a secondary solution. The first portion of the treatment solution is neutralized with the neutralizer. A first portion of the secondary solution is removed from the basin. A second portion of the treatment solution is added to the basin. The second portion of the treatment solution is contacted with a second portion of the secondary solution remaining the basin to form a tertiary solution. The second portion of the treatment solution is neutralized with neutralizer in the second portion of the secondary solution.

The medical field employs various devices for medical procedures. One such device is an endoscope that examines the interior of a hollow organ or cavity of the body. A critical aspect of all medical procedures and devices is the prevention of cross-contamination and the spread of disease. In this regard, treatment solutions such as, for example, cleaning solutions, disinfectant solutions, and/or sterilant solutions are used on medical devices and facility surfaces. These solutions, by their nature, include relatively harsh constituents in order to effectively clean, disinfect, and/or sterilize devices and/or surfaces. Disposing of the treatment solution after use can be inconvenient for an operator and/or expose the operator to the treatment solution.
Improvement in the health and safety conditions of the environment, operators, and patients are an important focus of the medical field. In this regard, efforts have been made to limit exposure of operators and hospital personnel to treatment solutions.

Process and system for in-basin neutralization


Thiadiazole-poly(ether)glycol reaction products and adducts useful as extreme pressure additives. Lubricating compositions (e.g., greases) containing the reaction products and adducts exhibit improved Timken Load properties.

The present invention relates to 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole reaction products and adducts useful as extreme pressure additives, and more particularly to 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole/glycol reaction products and adducts useful as extreme pressure additives.
A variety of additives are used in lubricants to substantially improve performance. For example, extreme pressure additives are routinely incorporated into an untreated (i.e., base) lubricating composition (e.g., grease) to significantly improve performance. Extreme pressure additives are believed to produce a film on the surface of a metal which can both increase the load carrying capacity of lubricant, and protects the metal surface under high load conditions from deterioration due to wear, welding, and abrasion.
Lead naphthenates and lead -dialkyldithiocarbamates are frequently used as additives to improve the EP performance of greases. However, lead is a heavy metal which is considered xe2x80x9cpoisonousxe2x80x9d in all forms. As an alternative, metal additives (such as antimony, zinc, and bismuth) have been used as a replacement for lead. However, these heavy metals still provide environmental concerns regarding the use. Accordingly, it has long been a goal in the art to develop non-metal lubricating materials to replace heavy metal additives while providing acceptable extreme pressure performance.
The effectiveness of potential extreme pressure additives is conventionally ascertained by the 4-Ball Weld Test (ASTM D-2596) and the Timken Load Test (ASTM D-2509). An ideal candidate compound should exhibit good results in both tests since each test quantitates different extreme pressure properties.
Known to those skilled in the art 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole (DMTD) derivatives are effective as anti-wear additives in lubricants. Examples of DMTD derivatives useful as anti-wear additives include the monosulfide and disulfide dimers of DMTD as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,517,103 and 5,194,621, maleate adducts of DMTD as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,102,568, 5,055,584 and 5,138,065 and mono-alkylated and thioacteal derivatives as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,925.
DMTD derivatives are also known to provide good 4-Ball Weld properties. In fact, the 4-Ball Weld properties of DMTD derivatives often exceed commercial requirements. Unfortunately, these same derivatives generally exhibit poor Timken Load performance since the DMTD derivatives do not generally provide Timken Loads levels greater than 35 pounds. As a result, commercialization of DMTD derivatives as extreme pressure additives has been limited.
In view of the above, there exists a need in the art for DMTD derivative that provide both adequate 4-Ball Weld and Timken Load properties. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide DMTD derivatives that provide adequate 4-Ball Weld and Timnken Load properties, which will allow for the effective utilization of DMTD derivatives as extreme pressure additives.
The present invention provides 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole/glycol reaction products and adducts useful as extreme pressure additives. In one embodiment, an additive is provided including a reaction product of:
(A) a thiadiazole compound having formula (I):
where Z is a branched or straight chain C1 to C20 alkyl radical, a C1 to C20 thioalkyl radical, an alpha bound succinate half or full ester, where the ester alkyl is a C1 to C5 alkyl radical, an alkali metal, an alkyloxy linkage having formula (II):
or combinations thereof, where R1 is hydrogen, a C1 to C20 branched or straight chain alkyl radical, a phenyl radical, a C1 to C20 branched or straight chain alkyl-substituted-phenyl radical, or combinations thereof and R2 is hydrogen, a C1 to C20 branched or straight chain alkyl radical, a phenyl radical, a C1 to C20 branched or straight chain alkyl-substituted-phenyl radical, or combinations thereof; and
(B) a poly(ether)glycol having formula (III):
where Q is a hydroxyl radical, a branched or straight chain C1 to C20 alkoxy radical, a branched or straight chain C1 to C20 alkoxycarboxyl radical, a mono-substituted, di-substituted, or tri-substituted glycerol residue, hydrogen, or combination thereof; where R3 and R5 are hydrogen, or a methyl radical; where R4 is hydrogen, a branched or straight-chain a C1 to C20 alkyl radical, a phenyl radical, a C1 to C8 branched or straight chain alkyl-substituted-phenyl radical, a C1 to C20 branched or straight chain acyl radical, or combinations thereof; and where n is 1 to 300.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides an additive including a thiadiazole-glycol adduct having formula (IV):
where R1 is hydrogen, a branched or straight chain C1 to C20 alkyl radical, a phenyl radical, a branched or straight chain C1 to C20 alkyl-substituted-phenyl radical or combination thereof; where R3 is hydrogen, a methyl radical, or combinations thereof, where R4 is hydrogen, a C1 to C20 branched or straight chain alkyl radical, a phenyl radical, a branched or straight chain C1 to C20 alkyl-substituted-phenyl radical, a branched or straight chain C1 to C20 acyl radical, or combinations thereof, and where m is from 1 to 50.
Lubricating compositions including the reaction products and adducts of the present invention are also provided. Advantageously, the lubricating compositions of the invention exhibit significantly improved Timken load properties as compared previous DMTD derivatives. These and other advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the detailed description set forth below.
Present invention provides reaction products and adducts of mono-substituted-2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives (hereinafter xe2x80x9cthiadiazole compoundsxe2x80x9d) and poly(ether)glycols useful as extreme pressure additives in lubricants. The thiadiazole-glycol reaction products and adducts have unexpectedly been found to provide good Timken Load properties in addition to good 4-Ball Weld properties. Advantageously, the reaction products and adducts provide an alternative to the heavy metal extreme pressure additives commonly used in lubricants.
In one embodiment the present invention provides an additive including a reaction product of a thiadiazole compound and a poly(ether)glycol. The thiadiazole compound is a mono-substituted 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole having formula (I):
in which the substituent xe2x80x9cZxe2x80x9d is either: (1) a branched or straight chain C1 to C20 alkyl radical, with C1 to C8 radical being preferred; (2) a branched or straight chain C1 to C20 thioalkyl radical with a C1 to C8 radical being preferred; (3) an alpha bound succinate half or full ester, where the ester alkyl is a C1 to C5 alkyl radical; (4) an alkyloxy linkage having formula (II)
(5) an alkali metal; or a combination thereof. In this context, xe2x80x9calpha boundxe2x80x9d means that the thiadiazole moiety is bound to a carbon atom in an alpha position relative to the carbonyl moiety of the full or partial ester. When Z is an alkyloxy linkage the substituent R1 is either: (1) hydrogen; (2) a branched or straight chain C1 to C20 alkyl radical, with a C1 to C8 alkyl radical being preferred; (3) a phenyl radical; (4) a branched or straight chain C1 to C20 alkyl-substituted-phenyl radical, with a C1 to C8 alkyl substituent being preferred; or a combination thereof. Likewise, the substituents for R2 are independently chosen from the same group of substituents described for R1. In a preferred embodiment, when Z is an alkyloxy linkage R1 is hydrogen and R2 is a C3 to C8 alkyl radical.
Thiadiazole compounds falling within the above-described parameter are known in the art and are easily synthesized following known techniques. For example, thiadiazole compounds having an alpha bound succinate half or full ester are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,584, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The second component for synthesizing the thiadiazole-glycol reaction product is a poly(ether)glycol having formula (III):
in which Q is either: (1) a hydroxy radical; (2) a branched or straight chain C1 to C20 alkoxy radical, with a C1 to C10 radical being preferred; (3) a branched or straight chain C1 to C20 alkoxycarboxyl radical, with a C1 to C10 radical being preferred; (4) a mono-substituted, di-substituted, or tri-substituted glycerol residue; (5) hydrogen; or a combination thereof. The substituents R3 and R5 are either: hydrogen; or a methyl radical. The substituent R4 is either: (1) hydrogen; (2) a branched or straight chain C1 to C20 alkyl radical, with a C1 to C8 radical being preferred; (3) a phenyl radical; (4) a branched or straight chain C1 to C20 alkyl-substituted-phenyl radical, with a C1 to C8 alkyl substituent being preferred; (5) a branched or straight chain C1 to C20 acyl radical, with a C1 to C10 radical being preferred; or a combination thereof. The number of ether repeating units xe2x80x9cnxe2x80x9d ranges from 1 to 300, with 1 to 150 being preferred, with 1 to 10 being more preferred.
Poly(ether)glycols falling within the above described parameters are known in the art. Representative examples of the glycols include, but are not limited to, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, ethyloxytriethyleneglycol, butoxytriethylene glycol, dimethoxytriethyleneglycol, triethyleneglycol di-nonanoate, butoxytriglycol, and triethyleneglycol dimethylether. One particularly preferred glycol is butoxytriethylene glycol. The glycols are commercial available from a variety of sources. Preferably, the glycols have a molecular weight from 340 to 4000, with 340 to 1000 being preferred. The glycols should have a viscosity less than 4000 centistokes at 25xc2x0 C. for ease of handling. Likewise, the glycols should have a minimal effect on the dropping point of greases.
The reaction product is formed by combining the two sole components with or without a solvent and subsequently heating the components, if necessary. Preferably, the thiadiazole compound is dispersed in the glycol, which is normally in a liquid state at room temperature. Heating the thiadiazole/glycol mixture is not required when the thiadiazole compound is in a liquid state at room temperature. However, if the thiadiazole compound is in a solid state at room temperature, the mixture may be heated (e.g., to at least 100xc2x0 C.) to facilitate formation of the reaction product. The requisite temperature and time needed to facilitate formation of the reaction product is variable and can easily be determined by one skilled in the art. The formation of the reaction produced can approximated by observing the dissolution of the thiadiazole compound, which is normally solid at room temperature. The formation of the reaction product can also be confirmed by Infrared Spectroscopy (IR) since shifts in absorption are observed when comparing the IR spectra for the individual components versus the IR spectra for the reaction product.
The thiadiazole compound and the poly(ether)glycol are preferable reacted in a
molar ratio or the starting materials of at least 0.2:1, with a ratio of at least 0.4:1 being more preferred. However, for further improved extreme pressure properties an equimolar or an excess ratio of the thiadiazole compound can be used (e.g., a molar ratio of 1:1, 2:1 or greater).
In another embodiment the present invention provides an additive including a mon-substituted thiadiazole-glycol condensation adduct having formula (IV):
in which R1, R3, R5 and R4 are independently selected from the above-described group of substituents for the reaction products. The number of repeating ether units xe2x80x9cmxe2x80x9d in the glycol moiety is 1 to 50, with 1 to 10 being preferred, and 1 to 3 being more preferred.
The thiadiazole-glycol adduct is prepared by reacting in a 1:1:1 molar ratio 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole (DMTD) with an aldehyde containing the substituent R1 and a poly(ether)glycol as previously described for the reaction products. The components are mixed and heated for a sufficient amount of time to form the condensation adduct. Examples of the synthesis of similar condensation adducts with monohydric alcohols instead of glycols are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,621, which is incorporated herein by reference. These parameters can be easily modified by one skilled in the art.
The thiadiazole reaction products and adducts are incorporated as additives into lubricating compositions in an effective amount to impart adequate extreme pressure properties. In this context, adequate extreme pressure properties are considered to be passing a Timken Load of at least 40 pounds, with at least 50 pounds or greater being preferred. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, the amount of the reaction products and adducts needed to provide adequate extreme pressure properties is variable. The additives can be added in a range from 0.1 to 10 weight percent of the lubricating composition, with at least 1 weight percent being preferred and at least 2 weight percent being more preferred.
In accordance with the present invention lubricating compositions suitable for incorporation of the extreme pressure additives include, but are not limited to, lubricating oils, engine oils and lubricating greases containing a major amount of base oil. A xe2x80x9cmajor amountxe2x80x9d in this context means that greater than 50 weight percent (wt. %) of the composition is base oil. Base oils to be used include, but are not limited to, napthenic, aromatic, parafinic, mineral, and synthetic oils. Representative synthetic oils include, but are not limited to, polysiloxanes, carboxylic acid esters and polyglycol ethers.
In a preferred embodiment, the lubricating composition is a grease which is prepared by adding to a base oil thickeners such as salts and complexes of fatty acid soaps, polyurea compounds, mixed and complex soaps of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, aluminum, modified clays and quaternary ammonium bentonite complexes. Various other additives can be incorporated as desired.

Thiadiazole additives and lubricating compositions containing the same


A rocker arm assembly having a rocker arm with a first end defining a first cavity, a second end opposite the first end, a bore positioned between the first end and the second end for pivotally mounting the rocker arm within an engine, and an oil passage extending from the bore to the cavity. A hydraulic lash adjuster is positioned within the cavity and has an oil inlet in fluid communication with the oil passage. The rocker arm has a vent passage configured to place the oil inlet in fluid communication with an area exterior to the rocker arm.

Internal combustion engines typically utilize valve actuation systems to control the flow of fuel and air to one or more combustion chambers during operation. Valve actuation systems may include a variety of components, such as for example, one or more rotating camshafts, cam followers, push rods, rocker arms, and other elements disposed in a valvetrain to transfer the motion from the camshaft to the valves. Lash adjustment features are typically provided on valve actuation systems to eliminate lash, which is the mechanical clearance between valvetrain components.
One type of lash adjustment feature is a hydraulic lash adjuster ("HLA"). HLAs typically includes mechanical components that cooperate to expand under hydraulic pressure to eliminate lash during one portion of the valve cycle, typically when the valvetrain is under low load or unloaded, and then assume a hydraulically "locked" or incompressible state during another portion of the valve cycle, typically when the valvetrain is under high load. HLAs may be incorporated, for example, in the rocker arm design. U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,551, to Arai et al., for example, discloses a valve actuating device for an internal combustion engine having a cam and a valve stem that includes a hydraulic valve lifter slidably disposed in the end of a rocker arm, a hollow rocker arm shaft pivotally supporting the rocker arm, a first fluid supply passage formed in the rocker arm shaft, a second fluid supply passage formed in the rocker arm to supply the hydraulic valve lifter with oil.
HLAs require high oil pressure at the HLA inlet to effectively operate. Air, however, may be trapped in the oil during some operating conditions, such as during start-up and start-stop conditions. The trapped air may lead to HLA malfunction leading to high valvetrain dynamics and eventually failure.


Esters of O-substituted hydroxy carboxylic acids are provided having Formula 1, or 2, or both Formulas 1 and 2:

Retinol (Vitamin A) and its derivatives have a long history as active ingredients in cosmetic compositions to improve the overall appearance of the skin. Retinol itself is unstable and is toxic upon excessive use. Long-chain retinyl esters are sometimes preferred because they are more stable and less irritating to the skin. These esters are expected to be readily hydrolyzed in the skin to afford retinol for metabolism and thus efficacy. Depending on the fatty acids, the hydrolysis product may introduce additional benefits too. Besides fatty acids, other structures, with various biological properties, are also desired in retinyl conjugates in order to improve and/or broaden the biological benefits. Thus, a mild and general method is needed to link retinol or other skin care ingredients with interesting structures.
The most commonly used chemical preparation of esters involves the reaction of an alcohol and an acid chloride or anhydride (activated carboxylate) in the presence of a base. Nucleophilic substitution of a carboxylate on an alkyl halide or sulfonate is another effective method, provided that the halide or sulfonate is readily available. In the case of retinyl esters, both routes proved to be suboptimal since retinol and retinyl esters tend to be unstable under these types of reaction conditions.
There have been several reports of chemical and enzymatic syntheses of retinyl esters. The preparation of a retinol-ascorbic acid conjugate has been described in the literature where the two substructures are connected by a glycolate linker using a two-step chemical route. Enzymatic esterification or trans-esterification preparation of retinyl esters are usually catalyzed by native or modified enzymes. These reactions generally only afford incomplete conversion to the desired retinyl ester product unless the by-product is removed from the reaction by the use of a large amount of molecular sieves, using reduced pressure, and/or by purging the reaction mixture with an inert gas. The substrate specificity of many enzymes generally limits this type of transformation to straight-chain carboxylic acids, especially fatty acids. Since the synthesis and hydrolysis of esters are catalyzed by the same family of enzymes, i.e. lipases, esters that cannot be enzymatically prepared are less likely to be readily hydrolyzed by enzymes in the skin to release the active agent retinol. Although in some cases it is possible to esterify retinol by chemical methods with challenging species, such as branched carboxylic acids or other sterically-hindered species, these esters might only offer marginal efficacy since they still need to be hydrolyzed in the skin to release retinol to be effective. Thus, a process for conjugating retinol or other skin care ingredients with a broad variety of species which would release retinol in vivo would be of interest.
A specially-designed linker, which is used to connect skin care ingredients with a variety of species, can be envisioned to solve this challenge. It would be highly desirable that this connection occur under mild conditions and in high yield. This would allow the preparation of conjugates of skin care ingredients and other species that are difficult to directly connect. More importantly, this linker should also facilitate the enzymatic ester hydrolysis and thus the ready release of the free skin care ingredient in the skin.

Esters of O-substituted hydroxy carboxylic acids and preparations thereof

Abstract: wherein R and R1 are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted, branched- and straight-chain, saturated, unsaturated, and polyunsaturated C1-C22 alkyl, substituted and unsubstituted C3-C8 cycloalkyl, substituted and unsubstituted C6-C20 carbocyclic aryl, and substituted and unsubstituted C4-C20 heterocyclic; wherein the heteroatoms are selected from sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen; and wherein n is 1-6. Process of producing esters of O-substituted hydroxy carboxylic acids are also provided.


Disclosed is a semiconductor layout design for use in integrated circuits that use balance circuitry. The semiconductor layout design includes a set of four substantially self enclosing gate transistors being arranged symmetrically about a common point. Wherein, each of the set of four substantially self enclosing gate transistors have a gate width that is defined by a perimeter around each of the set of four substantially self enclosing gate transistors. The semiconductor layout design preferably includes a balanced circuit having a set of first transistors and a set of second transistors. The set of first transistors being wired diagonally across the set of four substantially self enclosing gate transistors. In a preferred embodiment, the set of second transistors are wired diagonally across the set of four substantially self enclosing gate transistors in a manner that ensures that the set of second transistors are wired substantially perpendicular to the set of first transistors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to integrated circuits, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for improved integrated circuit layout techniques.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the design of integrated circuits, serious consideration is typically placed on ensuring that the circuit design not only meet operational specifications, but also anticipated fabrication imperfections. For example, when an integrated circuit is initially designed, all of the circuit elements and interconnections are characterized by numerous lines and shapes that are intended to lie on one or more levels of a device. It is therefore these lines and shapes of the integrated circuit device that will typically undergo the fabrication imperfections when the lines and shapes are fabricated onto a semiconductor wafer.
Typically, these imperfections are due to layers being deposited or grown at different rates throughout the surface of the wafer, to the etching variations, to diffusion dopant variations, to photolithography errors or misalignments, etc. Because these imperfections are anticipated by those who design integrated circuits on semiconductor devices, designers typically build some amount of tolerance into their designs. Commonly, these built-in tolerances are characterized by designing devices slightly larger than optimum, or designing devices having a less dense arrangement. Although most circuit devices can handle such imperfections by making a number of modifications to a design, balanced-type circuits are typically affected more severely, even when the fabrication imperfection is small.
Generally, a balanced circuit is one that requires complementary devices to have the same drive strength, to have the same input capacitance, and to have the same output load. For ease of description, FIG. 1A shows a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device having a pair of transistors that may be part of a balanced circuit. In balanced circuits, the fabrication imperfections that occur between devices oriented in close proximity of each other is some times referred to as a "local mismatch." As used herein, a local mismatch may be between devices that are designed to be within about 20 microns of separation. These local mismatches are what cause an imbalance in the circuit that should ideally be balanced.
By way of example, the cross-sectional view of the semiconductor device shows a first transistor device 14 having diffusion regions 15, a gate oxide 18 and a polysilicon gate 16. Separated by a field oxide 13 is a second transistor device 20 that also has diffusion regions 15, a gate oxide 18' and the polysilicon gate 16. In this example, the diffusion regions 15 are n+ doped regions and a well 12 in a semiconductor wafer 10 is p+ doped. As illustrated, the gate oxide 18 in the first transistor device 14 has a thickness Ox (H), which is about 10% thinner than the gate oxide 18' in the second transistor device 20 that has a thickness of Ox (H+.DELTA.H). Because of this local mismatch, a balanced circuit that utilizes transistors 14 and 20 will necessarily experience unequal drive strength. For example, the first transistor device 14 will generally turn ON faster than the second transistor device 20 due to the thinner gate oxide thickness Ox (H).
Another problem that tends to occur during normal fabrication is an unequal application of impurities when the doping processes are performed. Again, FIG. 1A illustrates the doping profile in the well 12 that may occur when the region under the second transistor device 20 is doped with a high concentration of dopant atoms (i.e., p++), and the region under the first transistor 14 is doped with a lighter concentration of dopant atoms (i.e., p+). As pictorially shown, the doping profile has a depth of about D under the first transistor device 14, which increases up to about D+.DELTA.D under the second transistor device 20.
When this occurs, a channel 11 of the first transistor device 14 will form before a channel 11' forms in the second transistor device 20, because the mobility of the carriers in the diffusion region 15 is higher in channel 11. In addition, the lighter doping under the first transistor device 14 will provide improved current carrying capabilities over the second transistor device 20. As can be appreciated, these local mismatches will necessarily cause a balanced circuit, such as those used in memory sense amplifying circuitry to operate in a state that is less than optimum.
FIG. 1B shows another problem that may occur due to known and expected fabrication imperfections. FIG. 1B provides a top view 40 of a the semiconductor structure of FIG. 1A, which illustrates a problem. The problem is most evident in the etching imperfections that produced the widths of the polysilicon gates 16. For example, the length of the polysilicon gate 16 of the first transistor device 14 is shown to be L+.DELTA.L, while the length of the polysilicon gate 16 of the second transistor device 20 is only L. As is well known to those skilled in the art, when the length of a transistor is longer, the transistor will turn ON with less current drive than those with narrower gate lengths. As a result, the drive strength and input capacitance differences produced by the local mismatch of these transistors in, for example, balanced memory sense amplifying devices may be less than acceptable in a given application.
FIG. 1C is a top view of the semiconductor device of FIG. 1A, which is provided to illustrate yet another type of anticipated fabrication imperfection that is counterproductive in balanced circuit applications. In this example, the fabrication imperfection may be a result of misalignments in reticle masks used in a stepper apparatus that is used in the photolithography process. Therefore, the polysilicon gates 16 are shown shifted to the right, to simulate the result of a misalignment. When this type of misalignment occurs, the area in the diffusion regions 15 change, thereby causing a variation in output load capacitance. As shown, the first transistor device 14 is shown having a drain 15a that is substantially larger than the drain 15a' in the second transistor device 20. Similarly, the source 15b in the first transistor device 14 is substantially smaller than the source 15b' in the second transistor device 20.
Although these variations are known and anticipated by those who design semiconductor devices, when the circuits being fabricated are balanced circuits, these variations produce substantially inferior performance, especially when the balanced circuits are implemented in sense amplification devices that are used to detect very slight changes in voltage. Therefore, if the balanced circuit is implemented in a sense amplification device, the variations in capacitance produced by the misalignments of FIG. 1C will necessarily make it very difficult for the balanced circuit to detect very small changes in voltage, for example, a change in voltage from a pre-charge voltage level. In addition, because the drain 15a has a substantially larger capacitance (i.e., larger load) than drain 15a', the switching speed of the first transistor device 14 will be much slower than the switching speed of the second transistor device 20.
In sum, all of these local mismatches in balanced circuits generally force designers to accept circuit designs that are less than optimum. In fact, when the local mismatch becomes too large, the balanced circuit may even fail to operate for its intended purpose.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for improved semiconductor device layout techniques that assist balanced circuits in being more resilient to fabrication imperfections that cause mismatches.

Integrated circuit layout methods and layout structures


Thermally developable materials that comprise a support have an antistatic backside layer that includes a quaternary ammonium salt. The same or different backside layer can also include another antistatic agent such as conductive metal particles or conductive polymers. These thermally developable materials include both thermographic and photothermographic materials that can be suitably imaged to provide images useful for medical diagnoses.

Silver-containing thermographic and photothermographic imaging materials (that is, thermally developable imaging materials) that are imaged and/or developed using heat and without liquid processing have been known in the art for many years.
Silver-containing direct thermographic imaging materials are non-photosensitive materials that are used in a recording process wherein images are generated by the direct application of thermal energy and in the absence of a processing solvent. These materials generally comprise a support having disposed thereon (a) a relatively or completely non-photosensitive source of reducible silver ions, (b) a reducing composition (acting as a black-and-white silver developer) for the reducible silver ions, and (c) a suitable binder. Thermographic materials are sometimes called "direct thermal" materials in the art because they are directly imaged by a source of thermal energy without any transfer of the image or image-forming materials to another element (such as in thermal dye transfer).
In a typical thermographic construction, the image-forming thermographic layers comprise non-photosensitive reducible silver salts of long chain fatty acids. A preferred non-photosensitive reducible silver source is a silver salt of a long chain aliphatic carboxylic acid having from 10 to 30 carbon atoms, such as behenic acid or mixtures of acids of similar molecular weight. At elevated temperatures, the silver of the silver carboxylate is reduced by a reducing agent for silver ion (also known as a developer), whereby an image of elemental silver is formed. Preferred reducing agents include methyl gallate, hydroquinone, substituted-hydroquinones, hindered phenols, catechols, pyrogallol, ascorbic acid, and ascorbic acid derivatives.
Some thermographic constructions are imaged by contacting them with the thermal head of a thermographic recording apparatus such as a thermal print-head of a thermal printer or thermal facsimile. In such constructions, an anti-stick layer is coated on top of the imaging layer to prevent sticking of the thermographic construction to the thermal head of the apparatus utilized. The resulting thermographic construction is then heated imagewise to an elevated temperature, typically in the range of from about 60 to about 225° C., resulting in the formation of a black-and-white image.
Silver-containing photothermographic imaging materials (that is, photosensitive thermally developable imaging materials) that are imaged with actinic radiation and then developed using heat and without liquid processing have also been known in the art for many years. Such materials are used in a recording process wherein an image is formed by imagewise exposure of the photothermographic material to specific electromagnetic radiation (for example, X-radiation, or ultraviolet, visible, or infrared radiation) and developed by the use of thermal energy. These materials, also known as "dry silver" materials, generally comprise a support having coated thereon: (a) a photocatalyst (that is, a photosensitive compound such as silver halide) that upon such exposure provides a latent image in exposed grains that are capable of acting as a catalyst for the subsequent formation of a silver image in a development step, (b) a relatively or completely non-photosensitive source of reducible silver ions, (c) a reducing composition (usually including a developer) for the reducible silver ions, and (d) a suitable binder. The latent image is then developed by application of thermal energy.
In photothermographic materials, exposure of the photosensitive silver halide to light produces small clusters containing silver atoms (Ag0)n. The imagewise distribution of these clusters, known in the art as a latent image, is generally not visible by ordinary means. Thus, the photosensitive material must be further developed to produce a visible image. This is accomplished by the reduction of silver ions that are in catalytic proximity to silver halide grains bearing the silver-containing clusters of the latent image. This produces a black-and-white image. The non-photosensitive silver source is catalytically reduced to form the visible black-and-white negative image while much of the silver halide, generally, remains as silver halide and is not reduced.
In photothermographic materials, the reducing agent for the reducible silver ions, often referred to as a "developer," may be any compound that, in the presence of the latent image, can reduce silver ion to metallic silver and is preferably of relatively low activity until it is heated to a temperature sufficient to cause the reaction. A wide variety of classes of compounds have been disclosed in the literature that function as developers for photothermographic materials. At elevated temperatures, the reducible silver ions are reduced by the reducing agent. This reaction occurs preferentially in the regions surrounding the latent image. This reaction produces a negative image of metallic silver having a color that ranges from yellow to deep black depending upon the presence of toning agents and other components in the photothermographic imaging layer(s).
Differences Between Photothermography and Photography
The imaging arts have long recognized that the field of photo-thermography is clearly distinct from that of photography. Photothermographic materials differ significantly from conventional silver halide photographic materials that require processing with aqueous processing solutions.
In photothermographic imaging materials, a visible image is created in the absence of a processing solvent by heat as a result of the reaction of a developer incorporated within the material. Heating at 50° C. or more is essential for this dry development. In contrast, conventional photographic imaging materials require processing in aqueous processing baths at more moderate temperatures (from 30° C. to 50° C.) to provide a visible image.
In photothermographic materials, only a small amount of silver halide is used to capture light and a non-photosensitive source of reducible silver ions (for example, a silver carboxylate or a silver benzotriazole) is used to generate the visible image using thermal development. Thus, the imaged photosensitive silver halide serves as a catalyst for the physical development process involving the non-photosensitive source of reducible silver ions and the incorporated reducing agent. In contrast, conventional wet-processed, black-and-white photographic materials use only one form of silver (that is, silver halide) that, upon chemical development, is itself at least partially converted into the silver image, or that upon physical development requires addition of an external silver source (or other reducible metal ions that form black images upon reduction to the corresponding metal). Thus, photothermographic materials require an amount of silver halide per unit area that is only a fraction of that used in conventional wet-processed photographic materials.
In photothermographic materials, all of the "chemistry" for imaging is incorporated within the material itself. For example, such materials include a developer (that is, a reducing agent for the reducible silver ions) while conventional photographic materials usually do not. The incorporation of the developer into photothermographic materials can lead to increased formation of various types of "fog" or other undesirable sensitometric side effects. Therefore, much effort has gone into the preparation and manufacture of photothermographic materials to minimize these problems.
Moreover, in photothermographic materials, the unexposed silver halide generally remains intact after development and the material must be stabilized against further imaging and development. In contrast, silver halide is removed from conventional photographic materials after solution development to prevent further imaging (that is in the aqueous fixing step).
Because photothermographic materials require dry thermal processing, they present distinctly different problems and require different materials in manufacture and use, compared to conventional, wet-processed silver halide photographic materials. Additives that have one effect in conventional silver halide photographic materials may behave quite differently when incorporated in photothermographic materials where the underlying chemistry is significantly more complex. The incorporation of such additives as, for example, stabilizers, antifoggants, speed enhancers, supersensitizers, and spectral and chemical sensitizers in conventional photographic materials is not predictive of whether such additives will prove beneficial or detrimental in photothermographic materials. For example, it is not uncommon for a photographic antifoggant useful in conventional photographic materials to cause various types of fog when incorporated into photothermographic materials, or for supersensitizers that are effective in photographic materials to be inactive in photothermographic materials.
These and other distinctions between photothermographic and photographic materials are described in Unconventional Imaging Processes, E. Brinckman et al. (Eds.), The Focal Press, London and New York, 1978, pp. 74-75, in D. H. Klosterboer, Imaging Processes and Materials, (Neblette's Eighth Edition), J. Sturge, V. Walworth, and A. Shepp, Eds., Van Nostrand-Reinhold, New York, 1989, Chapter 9, pp. 279-291, in Zou et al., J. Imaging Sci. Technol. 1996, 40, pp. 94-103, and in M. R. V. Sahyun, J. Imaging Sci. Technol. 1998, 42, 23.
Problem to be Solved
Photothermographic and thermographic materials have been designed and commercialized with one or more backside (non-imaging side) layers for a number of years. Such layers are designed to have various functional properties including antistatic (or conductive), antihalation, protective, and improved machine feeding and transport properties. Efforts have been continuing to provide backside layers with improved functional properties as well as to reduce manufacturing and component costs.
Many of the chemicals used to make supports or supported layers in thermally developable materials have electrically insulating properties, and electrostatic charges frequently build up on the materials during manufacture, packaging, and use. The accumulated charges can cause various problems. For example, in photothermographic materials containing photosensitive silver halides, accumulated electrostatic charge can generate light to which the silver halides are sensitive. This may result in imaging defects that are a particular problem where the images are used for medical diagnosis.
Build-up of electrostatic charge can also cause sheets of thermally processable materials to stick together causing misfeeds and jamming within processing equipment. Additionally, accumulated electrostatic charge can attract dust or other particulate matter to the materials, thereby requiring more cleaning to insure rapid transport through the processing equipment and quality imaging.
Build-up of electrostatic charge also makes handling of developed sheets of imaged material more difficult. For example, radiologists desire a static free sheet for viewing on light boxes. This problem can be particularly severe when reviewing an imaged film that has been stored for a long period of time because many antistatic materials loose their effectiveness over time.
In general, electrostatic charge is related to surface resistivity (measured in log ohm/sq) and charge level. While electrostatic charge control agents (or antistatic agents) can be included in any layer of an imaging material, the accumulation of electrostatic charge can be prevented by reducing the surface resistivity or by lowering the charge level. These results can most often be achieved by including charge control agents in surface layers such as protective overcoats. In thermally processable materials, charge control agents may be used in backing layers that are on the opposite side of the support as the imaging layers.
A wide variety of charge control agents, both inorganic and organic, have been devised and used for electrostatic charge control. Metal oxides are described in conductive layers in U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,676 (Anderson et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,413 (Oyamada), U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,995 (Christian et al.), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,013 (Christian et al.). U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,119 (Eichorst et al.) describes the use of acicular metal oxides in aqueous-coated conductive layers for use in antistatic compositions.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,355,405 (Ludemann et al.) describes thermally developable materials that include very thin adhesion-promoting layers on either side of the support. These adhesion-promoting layers are also known as "carrier" layers. U.S. Pat. No. 6,689,546 (LaBelle et al.) describes thermally developable materials that contain a buried backside conductive "carrier" layer comprising non-acicular metal antimonate particles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,849 (Ito) describes the use of various surfactants for various purposes in the preparation of hydrophilic colloid based photographic emulsion layers. Dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride is listed as a cationic surfactant.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,885 (Fujita et al.) describes dodecyltrimethyl-ammonium chloride as an emulsifier for the preparation of water-dispersible latexes used as binders for photothermographic emulsion layers.
Japanese Kokai 2001-013660 (Kazuhiko) describes the use of quaternary onium compounds as hardeners on the imaging side of photothermographic materials.
While the metal oxide particles described above are desirable antistatic agents, they are quite expensive and there is a need to reduce the amount used in conductive layers on the backside of photothermographic materials without a loss in conductive properties.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Thermally developable materials with backside antistatic layer


A vision test pattern indicator is provided with a color display for displaying optotypes used for binocular vision tests which are conducted with a red filter set in front of an eye of an examinee and a green filter set in front of the other eye, and an arithmetic control part which controls the color display as a first optotype figure is displayed in a green color, a second optotype figure is displayed in a red color, a third optotype figure for fusion stimulus is displayed in a color excluding red and green components and a background of the optotypes is displayed in a white color.

As an optotype presenting apparatus, in addition to an apparatus of a conventional type arranged to project and present an optotype on a screen, an apparatus of another type arranged to present an optotype on a color liquid crystal display (LCD) has recently been proposed. One of apparatus using the LCD for binocular vision tests such as an aniseikonia test and a stereoscopic vision test has been proposed as an apparatus including two LCDs placed in tandem and two polarization filters having polarization axes perpendicular to each other. This apparatus is arranged, as with the conventional screen projection type apparatus, two polarization filters having polarization axes perpendicular to each other are set in front of both eyes of an examinee to present an optotype for right eye and an optotype for left eye to both eyes of the examinee (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,358 (JP5 (1993)-130975A)).
However, such configuration having two LCDs and two polarization filters is complicated and expensive and leads to a large-sized apparatus.


According to certain aspects of the disclosure, a computer-implemented method may be used for providing a vehicle recommendation based on user gestures. The method may include displaying at least one image of a vehicle to a user and receiving at least one gesture from the user performed on the at least one image of the vehicle. Additionally, the method may include assigning a value to the at least one gesture from the user and determining a feature of the vehicle based on the at least one gesture from the user. Additionally, the method may include receiving gesture information related to the at least one gesture and determining a vehicle preference of the user based on the value, the feature of the vehicle, and the gesture information. Additionally, the method may include identifying at least one available vehicle based on the vehicle preference of the user and displaying the at least one available vehicle to the user.

Consumers of relatively expensive items, such as cars, real estate, mattresses, boats, computers, etc., may conduct part or all of their shopping for such items online, via the Internet. In researching and completing such a purchase, a consumer may visit multiple websites in search of appropriate information. When a consumer searches for a vehicle, for example, the options may be very basic and depend on the consumer knowing specifically their preferences in predefined categories. For example, a consumer may view inventory information or perform other research regarding a purchase on multiple websites. However, current vehicle purchase websites rely on drop downs and hard filters with strict predefined categories. Thus, a user may be unable to find certain information on a particular website and/or may be unsure of where such information is located.
Furthermore, in vehicle purchases such as those described above, consumers may spend countless hours researching due to the current rigid search options relying only on specific predefined categories set by the manufactures, dealers, and websites. This process may cause frustration among the consumers and may lead to disengagement from the vehicle purchasing experience.
The present disclosure is directed to addressing one or more of these above-referenced challenges. The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art, or suggestions of the prior art, by inclusion in this section.

Systems and methods for vehicle recommendations based on user gestures


Methods for stimulating in-vitro paecilomyces hepiali or hirsutella sinensis growth, and nutritional supplement formulations containing such fungal strains are disclosed and described. In some embodiments, such a method may include providing a an effective amount of a p. hepiali fungus strain for use as a stimulating agent on a culture medium for which h. sinensis is grown and regulating the temperature to induce and maintain the growth of the h. sinensis fungus. Alternatively, a p. hepiali fungus may be grown in a similar manner using h. sinensis as the stimulating agent. In some aspects, the growth of one fungus may be sequentially switched with the other in order to improve fungi potency.

Cordyceps sinensis (c. sinensis) extracts have been used by Chinese people for many centuries as a part of traditional Chinese medicine, and is purported to have broad nutritional health benefits. C. sinensis is a parasitic fungus which grows by attaching to and feeding from one of several species of moth caterpillar living about six inches underground in the Tibetan plateaus. The fruiting body of c. sinensis is typically black and somewhat resembles the host body in appearance.
In 1993, c. sinensis was used as an integral part of the winning Chinese women's track team's diet regime. Since that time, the demand for c. sinensis has risen sharply. However, since the cultivation and harvest season for c. sinensis is only during late spring and fall of each year, demand continues to outweigh supply, and continuing research and development efforts have been hindered.
C. sinensis is reported to have a number of specific health imparting benefits, including anti-oxidant, anti-viral, anti-tumor, and anti-fatigue properties, as well as aiding in the treatment and prevention of hyperglycemia, renal dysfunction, liver disease, and in stimulation of immune, cardiovascular, respiratory, and reproductive responses. See, Zhu, Halpern, and Jones, "The Scientific Rediscovery of an Ancient Chinese Herbal Medicine: Cordyceps sinensis, Part I" The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Vol. 4, pp. 289-303 (1998), and Zhu, Halpern, and Jones, "The Scientific Rediscovery of an Ancient Chinese Herbal Medicine: Cordyceps sinensis, Part II" The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Vol. 4, pp. 429-457 (1998), incorporated herein by reference.
Many different fungi have been reportedly isolated from c. sinensis. However, there has been considerable dispute over the correctness of these reports, and the exact source of all reported fungi. Additionally, there has been much confusion as to the relationship and action between the various fungi found in the mycelium of c. sinensis.
In view of the truncated cultivation and harvest season for c. sinensis, a number of artificial culturing efforts have occurred. While such efforts have been moderately successful, it is now believed that cultured c. sinensis is less potent than the natural product.
In view of the foregoing, additional information concerning the characterization and relationship of the various fungi in c. sinensis mycelia, as well as methods for artificially reproducing such fungi which have the potency of naturally obtained fungal products continues to be sought.

Fungal-derived formulations and associated methods


A power amplifier module includes a first amplification transistor that amplifies and outputs a radio frequency signal, a second amplification transistor that is connected in parallel to the first amplification transistor and that has a smaller size than the first amplification transistor, a bias circuit that supplies a bias voltage or a bias current to the first and second amplification transistors, a current detector circuit that detects a current flowing in the second amplification transistor, and a bias control circuit that controls the bias voltage or the bias current supplied from the bias circuit to the first and second amplification transistors depending on the detection result of the current detector circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power amplifier module.
2. Background Art
Mobile communication apparatuses such as mobile phones are equipped with a transmission unit that transmits a radio frequency (RF) signal to a base station. The transmission unit employs a power amplifier circuit that amplifies power of an RF signal to be transmitted to a base station. In such a transmission unit, for example, when impedance of a load such as an antenna varies, a large current may flow in the power amplifier circuit. Accordingly, in the transmission unit, a current flowing in the power amplifier circuit is limited so as to prevent the power amplifier circuit from being destroyed due to the large current.
For example, a transmission unit disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a regulator circuit that supplies power to a power amplifier circuit, and a current limit circuit that limits the current flowing in the power amplifier circuit, in addition to the power amplifier circuit.
[Patent Document 1] WO2006/049800


Methods and systems of displaying response data provide for initiating a retrieval of response data such as a web page and initiating an update of the web page to a screen having a display area. Additionally, a user selection of a subset of the display area can be detected, wherein the subset of the display area is defined as a pegged area corresponding to a subset of the web page. Moreover, at least the subset of the web page may be prevented from being updated to the screen in response to the user selection while retrieval of the web page continues.

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the display of user requested data. More particularly, embodiments relate to the user based pegging of display areas while requested data continues to be retrieved.
When a user requests a web page, the display of that web page may not occur all at once. For example, the page may include a login area, targeted advertisements, and other data that might not all be retrieved and displayed at the same rate. In such a case, data may be updated to the display screen on a periodic basis until the page load is complete, based on the sequence and order the developer coded the page. If the user attempts to interact with a portion of the page before the page load is complete, however, a number of difficulties may arise. For example, user identifier and/or password information typed into a login area of a page could be deleted with each screen update, forcing the user to start over.

Selective update of a page having a pegged area

International Business Machines Corporation


In the transmission of user data for a user equipment and control information on the user data to the user equipment using a plurality of carrier waves by a base station in a wireless communication system, the control information can be transmitted over a portion of the plurality of carrier waves, and carrier waves over which only the user data is transmitted can be generated without the control information. Here, the base station transmits, at a certain number of subframes following the subframes at which the control information is transmitted, the user data over the carrier waves to which only the user data is allocated. Thus, the user equipment can minimize the buffering of the user data during the detection of the control information, and decode the user data.

Hereinafter, the structure of a wireless communication system and the assignment (or allocation) method of a radio channel, which are generally used, will be briefly described.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conceptual view of a communication system using at least one or more radio frequencies (RFs).
Referring to FIG. 1, a communication system supporting radio frequencies (RFs) may configure a communication system by using a total of N number of RFs. A BS (Base Station) may use one or more RFs so as to simultaneously transmit data to a single user equipment. And, similarly, a user equipment may also use one or more RFs so as to simultaneously transmit data to the base station. At this point, one RF may be configured by using each single Physical Channel or by using multiple physical channels. And, the base station and the user equipment may be provided with a plurality of transmission antennas (Tx). Such system may also be referred to as a multiple carrier system.
FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary structures of a transmitter and a receiver using multiple radio frequencies.
Referring to FIG. 2, the logical concept of a physical channel may be known by using an uplink channel and a downlink channel. In FIG. 2, N number of a radio frequencies may be configured (RF 1, RF 2, . . . , RF N), M number of physical channels may be configured (PHY 1, PHY 2, . . . , PHY M).
Signals that are generated from the transmitter through N number of RFs may be transmitted to a receiving end through M number of physical channels. At this point, the N number of signals may be scheduled to be simultaneously transmitted through an RF Multiplexer. The signals that are multiplexed through the RF multiplexer are transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver through Nt number of physical transmission antennas (Tx).
The signals, which are transmitted as described above, may be received through Nr number of receiving antennas (Rx) of a receiver, which supports Multi-RF reception through a radio channel. The signals that are received through Nr number of reception antennas may be divided to M number of PHY channels through a Multiple RF Demultiplexer. The receiver may recover the signals that are transmitted from the transmitter through each of the divided PHY channels.
In each physical channel of the multi-RF transmitter and receiver, all methods being used in a system using the conventional single RF may be used. In configuring the system shown in FIG. 2, multiple RF communication modules may be configured, and a single RF module may be used, so as to sequentially generate and recover singles of multiple physical channels.
In case of using multiple RFs, a multiple antennas method or a control channel should be designed based upon the channel characteristics of each frequency. Unlike the case of using a single RF, when using multiple RFs, the channel characteristic for each RF may vary. Accordingly, by designing the multi-antenna method and control channel based upon the channel characteristic of each frequency, the system may be optimized. Additionally, among the multiple carriers, when some of the carriers are configured to have the same frame structure as a specific conventional system, the carrier is required to be configured so that the user equipment designed for the conventional system and the user equipment designed for the new system can both be operated.

Downlink control information transmitting method and base station, and downlink control information receiving method and user device


A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same. The semiconductor structure includes (a) a semiconductor layer, (b) a gate dielectric region, and (c) a gate electrode region. The gate electrode region is electrically insulated from the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer comprises a channel region, a first and a second source/drain regions. The channel region is disposed between the first and second source/drain regions and directly beneath and electrically insulated from the gate electrode region. The semiconductor structure further includes (d) a first and a second electrically conducting regions, and (e) a first and a second contact regions. The first electrically conducting region and the first source/drain region are in direct physical contact with each other at a first and a second common surfaces. The first and second common surfaces are not coplanar. The first contact region overlaps both the first and second common surfaces.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to semiconductor transistor, and more specifically, to semiconductor transistor having V-shape source/drain metal contact.
2. Related Art
In a conventional semiconductor transistor, contact regions are formed on the source/drain regions of the transistor to provide electrical access to the transistor. Therefore, there is a need to reduce the resistance between the contact regions and the source/drain regions of the transistor.

Transistors having v-shape source/drain metal contacts


A smart phone or a tablet may execute an application program code to identify a diagnostic status associated with a time-coded signal emitted by a low-cost user interface of a building appliance such as a furnace or water heater and suggest a recommended action to the user. The signal emitted by the low-cost user interface may be audio or a visual signal.

A number of different building appliances may be located within a building or structure. For a typical domestic dwelling, such building appliances may include, a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, a humidifier/dehumidifier, an air cleaner, a water heater, a pool heater, a water softener, a dishwasher, a security system, a garage door opener, a sprinkler system, an oven, a clothes washer and/or any other suitable building appliance. Often because of cost constraints, some building appliances incorporate a low-cost user interface which has limited capabilities. For example, a low-cost user interface may include a blinking LED light. In some cases, the LED may emit a coded signal indicative of a diagnostic status of the building appliance. To help with maintenance and/or repair of the building appliance, the coded signal may be read and manually decoded by a user in order to derive the diagnostic status of the building appliance.

Device interface for a building appliance


To remove effects on the access of the hard disk drive apparatus (HDD), caused by the shock at a time where the user pulls out the paper tray, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an apparatus error detection unit for detecting the removal and occurrence of errors requiring the intervention of the user, an information storage unit for bringing the pickup unit near the rotating recording medium to record and reproduce information, and a memory control unit for stopping access to the information storage unit from a time where the error is detected by the apparatus error detection unit until a time where removal of the error is detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having an information processing apparatus and particularly, an image forming apparatus, applicable to a printing apparatus, having an information storage apparatus (hard disk drive (HDD)) arranged near the pickup portion to a rotating recording medium for recording and reproducing information.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, the image forming apparatus serving as a printing apparatus is connected to a hard disk drive apparatus (HDD) used as an information storage apparatus having a large amount of storage capacity. In this type of image forming apparatus, printing data are created based on data received from a personal computer (PC) or the like, and these printing data are written and stored in a recording medium capable of rotation in a hard disk drive apparatus (HDD) acting as an information storage apparatus. And printing is executed after reading the information already stored in the recording medium (hard disk medium). Other apparatuses store the printing logs in the hard disk medium for every performance of printing and, in a case where an inquiry concerning the stored printing data or the printing log up to this point is made by a host apparatus such as a PC, read the information stored on the hard disk medium and respond to the inquiry of the PC.
In the information storage apparatus (hard disk drive apparatus (HDD)), the pickup unit that reads and writes information on the rotating circular recording medium (hard disk medium) conducts reading and writing by moving from a standby condition at which it is separated from the recording medium to an access condition at which it is near the recording medium.
If the apparatus receives a shock or vibration during the writing process, however, the pickup unit cannot be held in the proper location to access the recording medium and, in a case where the apparatus suffers a violent shock, there is a danger that the pickup unit may come in contact with the rotating recording medium, causing irreparable damages.
To avoid the problem described above, an apparatus is proposed in which movement of the paper tray is detected by a detection section and, while the paper tray is being put in or taken out, reading and writing of information to the information storage apparatus is restricted (see generally, Japanese Application Publication JA2005-88554).
In the conventional image forming apparatus described above, however, access such as reading and writing of information to the information storage apparatus (hard disk drive apparatus (HDD)) can be restricted only after the detection section has actually detected that the paper tray has been removed. There is therefore the problem that the effect on the access of the hard disk drive apparatus (HDD), caused by the shock at a time where the user pulls out the paper tray, cannot be removed.

Image forming apparatus having temporary storage for management information


Illumination assemblies include a substrate having a first and second electrically conductive layer separated by an electrically insulating layer. The insulating layer includes a polymer material loaded with thermally conductive particles. At least a portion of the thermally conductive particles simultaneously contact both the first and second electrically conductive layers. A plurality of light sources such as LEDs or other miniature light sources are preferably disposed on the first conductive layer.

LEDs are a desirable choice of light source in part because of their relatively small size, low power/current requirements, rapid response time, long life, robust packaging, variety of available output wavelengths, and compatibility with modern circuit construction. These characteristics may help explain their widespread use over the past few decades in a multitude of different end use applications. Improvements to LEDs continue to be made in the areas of efficiency, brightness, and output wavelength, further enlarging the scope of potential end-use applications.
Recently, LEDs have begun to be used in illumination units for backlighting purposes in LCD television devices, as well as other types of lighting, signage, and display systems. For most lighting applications, it is necessary to have a plurality of LEDs to supply the required light intensity. Because of their relatively small size, a plurality of LEDs can be assembled in arrays having small dimensions and a high luminance or irradiance particularly if unpackaged or bare die LEDs are used.
It is possible to achieve an increase in the light density of an array of LEDs by increasing the packing density of the individual LEDs within the array. An increase in packing density can be achieved by increasing the number of LEDs within the array without increasing the space occupied by the array, or by maintaining the number of LEDs within the array and decreasing the array dimensions. However, tightly packing large numbers of LEDs in an array is a long term reliability concern since local heating, even with a globally efficient thermal conduction mechanism, can reduce the lifespan of the LEDs. Therefore, dissipating the heat generated by the array of LEDs becomes more important as the packing density of the LEDs increases.
In other applications, even those without high packing densities, the driving voltages/currents, size and brightness of LED dies are increasing, leading to increases in local temperatures around the LED dies. Consequently, there is a need for better heat dissipation at the location of each LED die, as well as across the array.
Conventional LED mounting techniques use packages like that illustrated in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2001/0001207A1 (Shimizu et al.), that are unable to quickly transport the heat generated in the LED away from the LED. As a consequence, performance of the device is limited. More recently, thermally enhanced packages have become available, in which LEDs are mounted and wired on electrically insulating but thermally conductive substrates such as ceramics, or with arrays of thermally conductive vias (e.g., U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0001488A1 (Sundahl)), or use a lead frame to electrically contact a die attached to a thermally conductive and electrically conductive thermal transport medium (e.g., U.S. Patent Application Publication 2002/0113244A1 (Barnett et al.)). An illumination assembly having improved thermal properties is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2005/0116235A1 (Schultz et al.), in which an illumination assembly includes a plurality of LED dies disposed on a substrate having an electrically insulative layer on a first side of the substrate and an electrically conductive layer on a second side of the substrate. Each LED die is disposed in a via extending through the electrically insulative layer on the first side of the substrate to the electrically conductive layer on the second side of the substrate, and each LED die is thermally and electrically connected through the via to the electrically conductive layer. The electrically conductive layer is patterned to define a plurality of electrically isolated heat spreading elements which are in turn disposed adjacent a heat dissipation assembly.
Although the more recent approaches improve the thermal properties of LED arrays, there remains a continuing need for improved thermal properties, lower cost and simpler fabrication processes.

Illumination assembly with enhanced thermal conductivity


An arrangement to generate a basic magnetic field and a gradient magnetic field in a magnetic resonance tomography system include at least one basic electromagnet without an iron core that generates the basic magnetic field, at least three gradient field electromagnets that generate the gradient magnetic field, with the basic field electromagnet situated within the gradient field electromagnets such that during acquisition of magnetic resonance data from a subject, the basic field electromagnet is closer to the subject than the gradient field electromagnets. Because the basic electromagnet is situated within the gradient field electromagnets, an active shielding of the gradient field electromagnets can be foregone, and since the basic field electromagnet is situated near the subject, it can be a water-cooled air coil.

Field of the Invention
The invention concerns an arrangement to generate the basic magnetic field and a gradient magnetic field of a magnetic resonance tomography system, a magnetic resonance tomography system with such an arrangement, and a method to operate a magnetic resonance tomography system with such an arrangement.
Description of the Prior Art
Magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) is a medical diagnostic method with the possibility to create slice images of the human body in arbitrary spatial orientations, the slice images showing selected anatomy without other anatomy superimposed thereon. Due to the high resolution and the high tissue contrast, a better depiction of the anatomical structures is achieved than with most other imaging methods. In particular, different soft tissue structures can be better differentiated.
In contrast to computed tomography (CT), x-rays are not used. Instead, the images are calculated from received electromagnetic signals that result from the interaction of hydrogen protons with a strong magnetic field. Hydrogen protons are very common in the human body. Conclusions about the chemical composition, the shape, the perfusion and pathological variations of the examined tissue can be obtained from the response of the hydrogen protons upon radiation of radio-frequency pulses (radio waves in the VHF range) and alternating magnetic fields.
An imaging magnetic resonance tomography system normally has four primary components:
A basic field magnet that generates a static, homogenous basic magnetic field across the measurement volume, so as to align or polarize nuclear spins in an examination subject situated in the measurement volume. Such magnets are executed as permanent magnets, electromagnets or as superconducting coils through which current flows. The direction of the stationary magnetic field is generally designated as the z-component in an orthogonal coordinate system. The other components are designated as x and y.
A radio-frequency transmission/reception device that generates a radio-frequency field in the examination subject so as to excite the aligned nuclear spins by suitable frequency selection. This device can likewise detect RF fields generated by the excited nuclear spins, as magnetic resonance signals (data).
A gradient coil system that is activatable to generate a magnetic field in a direction corresponding to that of the static magnetic field. The strength (amplitude) of the gradient magnetic field varies across the measurement volume. In the normal case, this change is a linear change along a spatial axis. The gradient coil system serves to generate magnetic gradient fields. The independent combination of three gradients that change in strength along three orthogonal spatial axes allows an arbitrary gradient direction to be set, as a combination of the gradient fields. A spatial encoding of the signal received with the radio-frequency transmission/reception device is implemented with the use of these gradients.
A central control unit that regulates the timing of the fields generated in a measurement (data acquisition sequence) and that processes the received signals.
Such a magnetic resonance tomography system is described as an example in DE 10 2008 018 265 A1.
In known magnetic resonance tomography systems, the complicated and expensive superconducting basic field coils and the permanently active basic magnetic field are disadvantageous.

Arrangement to generate the basic magnetic field and a gradient magnetic field of a magnetic resonance tomography system, and method to operate a magnetic resonance tomography system


A method of increasing conductivity of an ink, comprises orienting particles in the ink. The ink comprises the particles and solvent, and the particles are conductive anisotropic particles.

The use of carbon-based inks is known for the manufacture of carbon-based conductors, for example printed circuits and electrodes for sensors. In general, a carbon-based ink is an ink containing a carbon particulate such as graphite, amorphous carbon or a fullerene, suspended in a binder and a solvent. These inks are applied on a surface via a number of deposition techniques, including painting on with a brush, syringe application, and screen printing. The ink is allowed to dry and the resulting carbon-coated surface is subjected to a treatment at temperatures ranging from 50° C. to several hundred degrees Celsius. This high temperature treatment, or curing, is necessary to attain high conductivity in the resulting composite conductors.
The high temperatures needed for curing can limit the usefulness of carbon-based inks. The growing field of enzymatic electrochemical sensors is a case in point. In this type of sensor, a sensing electrode specific to a given analyte is made by linking or adsorbing a redox enzyme specific to the analyte of interest to a conductive surface. When the analyte is present in the sample being tested, electron transfer occurs and an electric signal proportional to the concentration of the analyte is thus generated. Examples include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,411,647; 5,476,776; 4,919,141; and 4,911,794. The sensor can also include an electron-transfer mediator that enhances the sensitivity of the system.
The enzyme typically is not incorporated in the ink, since it would denature and lose its activity during curing of the ink to increase the conductivity. This curing is necessary in order to optimize electron exchange between inks and enzymes. Thus, the sensor usually is manufactured by first applying and curing the carbon ink, and then the enzyme is adsorbed to the ink by immersion of the latter in a solution of the former.
One flexible and low cost way to manufacture these sensors would be by printing with a continuous ink-jet printer. However, the large particle size of the carbon particulate in the inks precludes their use in typical ink-jet printers. Thus, computers and peripherals typically cannot be used for flexible and low cost printing.

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois


A method and system for navigating through an opaque structure via a user on a display in a computer system. The method and system comprises the steps of determining if the opaque structure is within a predetermined distance of the user and changing the opaque structure to a translucent structure when the user is within the predetermined distance of the opaque structure. Accordingly through the use of the method and system, a user can navigate more easily and efficiently through a display, particularly in three-dimensional environments associated with such a display without becoming disoriented.

Presently in a computer environment the screen or display on the computer has a plurality of icons and windows thereon. In a typical environment including a window and a pointing device, to access certain information it is important to point to and then click on a particular icon or window. Oftentimes, this type of environment is not efficient unless the user has a specific understanding of the particular nomenclature and syntax of the particular environment of the computer. Hence, a user that is not familiar with that syntax or nomenclature could become easily confused and spend a significant amount of time trying to understand how to navigate and access certain information. This can cause user frustration as well as create considerable inefficiency in the system.
In addition, it is known in computer games and the like that certain navigation techniques disorient the users. For example, when a user navigates in three dimensional (3D) spaces, such as found in computer games and in virtual reality worlds using virtual reality modeling language (VRML) on the Internet, the user can become disoriented. A major cause of disorientation occurs when the user moves close to a structure such as a wall which than fills the user's view. This is like a "white-out" effect because the user can see nothing except the structure. In another cause of the disorientation the user is "inside" of the structure and this can cause an undefined effect, such as a blurry screen or the like. Users typically become disoriented in either of these situations.
In addition, it is known that a computer game is not an environment where useful work is accomplished, such as in a business environment. Therefore, in a games environment obstacles like walls and the like would be there for reasons other than for productive office work.
Hence, what is desired is a system for enhancing the ease of use of the computer system. In addition, it is desirable to minimize the disorientation associated with navigating in three dimensional environments when encountering obstacles such as walls and the like. The system should be easy to use by a novice, should be straightforward and should be easily implemented in existing computer systems. The present invention addresses such a need.

Method and system for navigating through opaque structures on a display

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for identification of anomalous structures, such as defects, includes the steps of providing a digital image and applying fractal encoding to identify a location of at least one anomalous portion of the image. The method does not require a reference image to identify the location of the anomalous portion. The method can further include the step of initializing an active contour based on the location information obtained from the fractal encoding step and deforming an active contour to enhance the boundary delineation of the anomalous portion.

Detection of defects or anomalous structures is a common problem in applications where digital imaging techniques are used to monitor a process. This is especially common in manufacturing operations where digital cameras are commonly used as "computer vision systems" to acquire images of products as they are being manufactured. Images obtained can be used to identify and remove (or rework) defective manufactured products that can otherwise lead to product malfunction.
The most common techniques used to detect defects in digital images are reference-based. Referenced-based techniques rely on a reference image of a defect-free object to be used as a means of comparison. In the referenced-based technique, an image of a defect-free object is acquired, stored, and then used as a reference image. The reference image is sometimes referred to as a "golden image." Image processing techniques are used to detect the differences between the golden image and an image of a new object. The detected differences between the images are then labeled as defects.
There are many applications in which a reference image is either unavailable or of insufficient quality to be used as a reliable basis for comparison. Detecting defects without the aid of a reference image is a difficult task for an automated computer vision system. If a reference (defect-free) image is unavailable, or is of insufficient quality to allow it to be used for defect detection, then non-reference based defect detection approaches must generally be used. However, to-date there are no available non-reference based methods for defect detection that consistently produce acceptable results. Moreover, available automated detection techniques are highly application specific in that the image processing techniques used are tuned for the specific object and background that are expected to be present in the image. As a result, such systems typically have limited application.

Method for non-referential defect characterization using fractal encoding and active contours


In a steering control system for a motor vehicle, the magnitude of the steering assist torque is reduced from a normal value by a value depending on the ratio of the steering angle to a maximum permissible steering angle which is determined according to the frictional coefficient between the road surface and the road wheels so that excessive steering, which may otherwise occur on a slipper road surface, can be avoided. Additionally, the value by which the steering assist torque is reduced is increased with an increase in the steering speed so that a certain damping effect may be achieved in the system. This is particularly beneficial in preventing any ill effect which may arise when the steering wheel has a large mass of inertia, for instance by being equipped with an air bag system.

Electric power steering systems comprise a manual steering system for converting a turning angle of a steering wheel to a steering angle of road wheels, and an electric motor incorporated therein to provide an assist steering torque to the manual steering system so as to reduce the effort required for the vehicle operator to turn the steering wheel. However, such conventional electric power steering systems did not take into account changes in the road condition on which the resistance to the steering effort depends, and it is known that the assist torque tended to be excessive when the frictional coefficient between the road surface and the wheels is low such as when the road surface is covered with snow. An excessive steering assist torque tends to cause an excessive steering, and creates some discomfort to the vehicle operator.
To overcome such problems or to control such an excessive steering on slippery road surfaces, it was proposed in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/704,968 filed Aug. 28, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,107, and assigned to the same Assignee to control the steering assist torque of a power steering system depending on the road condition, in particular the frictional coefficient between the road surface and the wheels. The contents of this copending application are hereby incorporated in this application by reference.
However, it was later discovered that the control action of this previously proposed system may not be adequate when the steering system involves a large inertia. In particular, when the steering wheel is equipped with an air bag system, the increase in the moment of inertia of the steering system is so significant that a certain improvement of the system was felt necessary.


A self-loading tow dolly is described. The inventive tow dolly permits components of the dolly to be easily removed and replaced. The inventive tow dolly also reduces overall weight by using aluminum slotted hubs mated with 8-inch aluminum slotted wheels and by employing dissimilar materials that do not require welding and improves lubrication by providing strategically placed lubricant ports and lubricant reservoirs for rotating components.

My invention improves upon currently available self-loading tow dollies by permitting dolly components to be replaced without requiring cutting or welding. It also improves upon currently available self-loading tow dollies by reducing the overall weight of a tow dolly and by preventing rotational component seizures through improved lubricant coverage within rotating components.
Tow truck operators commonly use self-loading tow dollies. When a tow truck tows a vehicle it lifts one end of the vehicle. To prevent damage to the towed vehicle, for example, a four wheel drive vehicle that is stuck in gear, tow truck operators use tow dollies to lift the opposite end of the towed vehicle so that the dolly's wheels contact the road instead of the towed vehicle's wheels. Removing all of the towed vehicle's wheels from the ground greatly diminishes the possibility of damage to the towed vehicle.
Those skilled in the art know that tow dollies for raising pairs of coaxial vehicle wheels typically employ a pair of frame-like bases for supporting pairs of dolly wheels. Such dolly bases are placed outside two vehicle wheels to be lifted or elevated; the two bases being cross connected by parallel spaced tubular axles which are typically longitudinally adjustable to accommodate variations in vehicle wheel lateral spacing. Suitable mechanisms are provided for positioning the dolly wheels between a lowered position and a raised towing position which serves to elevate the towed vehicle prior to the actual towing operation. Suitable locking devices are provided for maintaining dolly wheels in desired elevated or lowered positions for storing or towing operations, respectively. Other known mechanisms without separate ratchet systems are employed for maintaining dolly wheels in elevated positions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,675 to Orr, fully incorporated herein by reference, shows and describes an exemplary tow dolly.
Tow dollies of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,675 typically have several sections which are disengagable from one another for easy storage and transport of the tow dolly. For example, there are often two frame-like wheel assemblies where the dolly's wheels are mounted on spindle assemblies which are attached to the frame-like wheel assemblies. Brackets on the frame-like wheel assemblies accommodate axles that engage the wheels of the vehicle to be towed.
Tow dollies must have sturdy components that articulate in a manner when a car is lifted off the ground in just a few moments. Spindle assemblies are typically made of steel as are the brackets where the steel rail ends of the axles are fitted to complete assembly. This "steel on steel" construction permits steel dolly components to be welded together and has proved to be sturdy in the field. Over a period spanning more than thirty years the steel self-loading tow dolly has become the industry standard. Using all steel components and welding steel components together on the dolly frame results, however, in a heavy tow dolly that an operator must carry from the tow truck to the towed vehicle. Even when disassembled, the pieces of current tow dollies are heavy and cause strain on tow truck operators which may lead to back injuries and other health problems.
When tow truck operators hand carry self-loading tow dollies from and to a tow truck, weight is a key factor in eliminating back and other injuries. All steel constructed tow dollies are sturdy, but weight continues to be an issue. Thus, the need remains for an improved self-loading tow dolly configuration that is not only sturdy, but has the added benefit of weight reduction. It is an object of my invention to provide a self-loading tow dolly that solves this problem.
Because currently available self-loading tow dollies are welded together it is not possible for a tow truck operator to easily replace or fix a tow dolly that becomes damaged. Should a current tow dolly run against a curb and bend a spindle of one of the dolly's wheels the spindle assembly must be cut from the dolly and a new one welded in place. Because these cutting and welding operations require the use of metal working equipment that a tow truck operator typically does not have, the repair has to be done by a welding shop, which is time consuming and expensive. There is thus a need for self-loading tow dollies having modular components that can be replaced without resorting to a torch, saw, plasma cutter, and welder. This is particularly true in emergency situations such as emergency tows and for clearing wreckage from a jammed freeway. Thus, the need remains for an improved self-loading tow dolly configuration that is not only sturdy and lightweight, but also has modular components that can be readily replaced. Accordingly, it is a further object of my invention to provide a self-loading tow dolly that solves these problems.
Currently available self-loading tow dollies have rotating parts that require lubrication to reduce wear. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,675 to Orr shows grease fittings, 46 and 53 in FIG. 8, used to introduce a thin film of grease about pins 42 and 51. Because there is no lubrication reservoir for grease near or about pins 42 and 51 grease does not coat the entire bearing surface and is hence subject to moisture and rust causing component to seize up. There is thus a need for a self-loading tow dolly that accepts a 360 degree lubrication application to its rotating components. It is another object of my invention to provide a self-loading tow dolly that solves this problem.


A system and method of determining uniqueness properties of an expression. A root of the expression is first determined, where the root is one of a base relation, a unary operation or a binary operation. Once the root is determined, a first procedure of an augmented unique process is called to determine uniqueness properties of a child of that root. The procedure called is chosen based on the determined root. Where the root is a base relation, a first procedure of a uniqueness process is applied to determine the uniqueness properties of the base relation. Where the root is a unary or binary operation, the called procedure is suspended, a second procedure of the augmented unique process is called to determine the uniqueness properties of the child of the operation, and this process is repeated until a base relation is reached. Once a base relation is reached, the first procedure of the uniqueness process is applied to determine the uniqueness properties of the reached base relation. A next procedure of a uniqueness process is applied to determine the uniqueness properties of a parent operator of the based relation. The procedure applied is chosen based on a type of operation represented by the parent. The process then unwinds to determine the uniqueness properties for each ancestor of the base relation(s).

Relational DataBase Management System (RDBMS) products using a Structured Query Language (SQL) interface are well known in the art. The SQL interface has evolved into a standard language for RDBMS products and has been adopted as such by both the American Nationals Standard Organization (ANSI) and the International Standards Organization (ISO). In RDBMS products, all data is externally structured into tables. The SQL interface allows users to formulate relational operations on the tables either interactively, in batch files, or embedded in host languages such as C, COBOL, etc. Operators are provided in SQL that allow the user to manipulate the data, wherein each operator operates on either one or two tables and produces a new table as a result. The power of SQL lies in its ability to link information from multiple tables or views together to perform complex sets of procedures with a single statement.
The current state-of-the-art in query optimization provides few solutions for optimizing query expressions involving joins, outer joins and full outer joins. Some have suggested that queries could be optimized if certain uniqueness information is known about relations in a given expression. In particular, C. J. Date, and Hugh Darwen, in "Relational Database Writings 1989-1991," pp 133-153, indicate that uniqueness information can be used to optimize database queries.
However, there is little guidance regarding how to determine this much needed uniqueness information. Thus, if full advantage of certain optimization techniques is to be obtained, a technique for determining uniqueness information is needed.

System and method for generating uniqueness information for optimizing an SQL query