A beam brush includes one lens fixed for receiving a laser beam propagating along a first beam axis, a retroreflector positioned for redirecting the laser beam onto a second beam axis through a change in beam path length, and a second lens transmitting the redirected beam. The retroreflector is rotatable about an offset axis and has its angle of rotation controlled for affecting a change in beam path length. The angle of rotation resulting in the path length change is selected for providing a focus or divergence of the reflected beam transmitted through the second lens. Such a system is useful as a Z-axis focusing device operable an X-Y scanner located downstream the modified beam.

Lasers are used in a variety of fields, from surveying, to supermarket bar-code scanners, and to optical disk drives such as CD and DVD drives, by way of examples. One particular class of laser application involves scanning the laser beam using X-Y galvanometer scanners for the purpose of marking or cutting material, or for the purpose of creating a visual image.
When lasers are used for marking or cutting, it is typical that the laser beam is deflected by X and Y scanners, and then sent through a "scan lens," which is usually implemented as an F-Theta lens or as a Telecentric lens. Such a lens is used to focus the laser beam onto the material being marked or cut. Normally the beam diameter exiting from the laser source is between 6 and 12 mm, and it is necessary to focus the beam onto the material to achieve a high enough energy density in order to mark or cut the material.
The scan lens, such as the F-Theta lens or the Telecentric lens, is typically a significant part of the cost of the overall laser marking system. The scan lens generally must be two to four inches in diameter, and is often made of exotic materials in order to pass the wavelength of interest. Moreover, the F-Theta and Telecentric lenses create a focus that is onto a planar target. So this means that the material being marked or cut must be flat, so that the beam will remain in focus all along the material's surface. It is typically not achievable or practical to mark onto a non-uniform surface such as a cylindrical soda can or wavy product. This planar and non-changeable focus distance and the typically high cost of the scan lens are two disadvantages of using scan lenses. It is therefore desirable to have a system that provides a dynamic focus while the beam is being scanned so that non-uniform surfaces can be marked.
Another application for lasers includes laser displays. Laser displays are used for many things, including optical layout templates. In a related application, a laser display can be used for entertainment applications, for example, to project company logos, animated cartoon figures and the like, and also to project directly into an audience. Lasers projected into an audience are referred to as "audience scanning."
When creating a displayed image of a company logo or cartoon, typically the "raw laser beam" is used directly out of the laser source, and then sent to X-Y scanners. Vector graphics being sent to the X-Y scanners from a computer then create an image on a target surface. Focusing, defocusing, or changing the beam diameter during the X-Y scanning is not typically done in laser display projectors known in the art. As a result, the image has a roughly constant size laser beam across the entire projection surface. However, it is desirable to have a device that provides variable focus or defocus capability, such that certain parts of the projected image can have a larger spot size (for example, big blushy cheeks on a woman's face) while other parts of the image can have a very small spot size (for example, eye lashes on a woman's face).
Likewise, when creating an audience scanning display, normally the raw laser beam is used right out of the laser, sent to an X-Y scanner, and then directly into the audience. In audience scanning laser projectors known in the art, focusing, defocusing, or changing the beam diameter of the X-Y scanning beam is typically not done. Therefore, just as in the case of a typical laser graphics projector discussed above, the entire audience receives the same diameter laser beam at all times and all places in the projected display. However, it is desirable to have a device that can provide variable focus or defocus such that parts of the image being created can have a higher beam diameter, and other parts can have a lower beam diameter. With audience scanning applications, this can be especially important because the safety of the laser beam is increased as the diameter of the laser beam is increased within the audience. If a variable focus device were used, it could increase the beam diameter for areas of the laser projection where audience members are particularly close to the laser projector, and thus safety features and benefits also increased.
Several devices are known that try to create a precision, variable-focus system for a laser beam. These devices have generally taken one of two forms. One form is where a normal galvanometer scanner (which is a rotary device) is employed into a system that uses a rotary-to-linear mechanical translator, such as a taut-band Rolamite. The motion of the moving member is then restricted such that it can only move axially, and not radially or rotationally, by a rod-bearing system. A lens or other optical element is then mounted to the moving member. In this way, an off-the-shelf galvanometer scanner can be used to move a lens in a linear fashion, instead of moving a mirror in a rotary fashion, as is typically the case for galvanometer scanners. Although galvanometer scanners are off-the-shelf devices, they really were not designed to be applied as lens translators. As a result, there are a number of problems with this technique. By way of example, the rod bearings eventually wear out, and also have limited maximum speeds. Further, the linkage between the rotary scanner shaft and linear sliding member cannot be made desirably stiff. Therefore, resonance problems will prevent the speed of such a device from being as high as desired.
Another approach for creating a precision, variable-focus system for a laser beam is to use a moving-coil actuator coupled to a rod-bearing system similar to that described above. The rod-bearing system allows the coil and moving optical element to move axially, but neither radially nor rotationally. Oftentimes, the lens is located in the center of the moving coil. Performance of this type of system is generally more desirable than the approach described above, but still not satisfactory for some applications, including laser display and audience scanning applications. In one particular known system, wherein the moving element and coil ride along a rod-bearing system, the maximum slew rate achievable is 1600 millimeters per second, and maximum acceleration is 50 G (e.g. m/s2).
The use of a rod-bearing system provides a disadvantage for a Z-axis focusing system for certain applications. As a result, there have been attempts to replace the linear bearing system with flexures of various forms, such as a flat-spring flexure or even wires used to provide flexure. However, known flexure systems exhibit self-resonances that prevent the overall Z-axis focusing device from achieving speeds that are anywhere near the frequency of the flexure self-resonances.
In one configuration using metal flexures, an undesirable additional motion is imparted to the moving member. For example, one such approach uses three flat-spring flexures arranged in a triangular fashion. As the moving element is moved along the Z-axis, the flexures maintain axial motion while restricting radial motion. However, due to triangular and flat-spring nature, as the element is moved, a parasitic rotational motion is also imparted onto the member as it is moved axially. The net result appears as a "screwing" action, which is undesirable when compared with pure linear motion.
In another configuration commonly employed in CD and DVD drives, simple wires are used to restrict the motion of the moving element. However, the diameter of the wires must be quite small in order to allow axial motion, and thus the self-resonant frequency and stiffness in the radial direction are not sufficient for laser display or audience scanning applications.
Whether implemented as a rotary-to-linear device or a moving coil device, there is one thing that currently known systems have in common, and that is that the moving member itself has an undesirable amount of mass. For example, within industrial Z-axis focusing devices used for laser marking and cutting, the lowest typical moving mass typically available is at least 20 grams, and a moving mass of 50 grams is much more common. Such a high moving mass is detrimental to achieving very high speeds. Even with the in Z-axis focusing devices used in CD and DVD players, the moving mass is typically around 0.3 grams, which is a lot of mass when compared with the force that CD/DVD actuators produce (typically less than 0.2 Newtons). Thus, the frequency attainable by Z-axis focusing devices at present is insufficient for use within those applications that require very fast dynamic focus action, such as laser displays and audience scanning.

Z-axis focusing beam brush device and associated methods


A customizable towing hitch ball mount arrangement for a vehicle is provided. The arrangement includes a ball mount and a customizing element. The ball mount includes a proximal end for insertion into an opening in the hitch receiver, an elongated tube portion, a drop portion extending from the elongated tube portion and angled with respect to a length of the elongated tube portion, and a plate extending substantially horizontally from the drop portion. The drop portion includes at least one mounting feature, and the plate includes a ball mount aperture for attachment of a hitch ball. The customizing element includes at least one mating feature disposed on a mounting surface of the customizing element. The customizing element is removably attachable to the ball mount by engaging the at least one mating feature of the customizing element with the at least one mounting feature of the ball mount.

The device used to attach a towing hitch ball to a vehicle is generally referred to in the art as a ball mount, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C. These devices fit into a hitch receiver which is permanently mounted to the center rear of the vehicle. Ball mounts usually contain an elongated tube for insertion into the hitch receiver and a flat horizontal area for the hitch ball to sit. When not is use, ball mounts may be removed from the vehicle at the discretion of the vehicle operator.
Plugs which cover the opening in the hitch receiver when the ball mount is not installed are available with a wide range of cosmetic options like sports team logos, vehicle brand logos, etc., as shown, for example, in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C. However, these popular plugs can only be used when the hitch ball is removed.
To satisfy a demand for ball mounts that include a cosmetic element, ball mounts with logos or other ornamentation have been developed. Ball mounts are typically made by an investment cast process, or similar process, which requires unique molds for each ball mount having a new cosmetic element. A new wax mold for investment casting needs to be made for every new logo or configuration with the existing design. Each new cosmetic design must be re-tested in case the cosmetic features cause a change in the manufacturing process that affect the strength. Each test must also be repeated for each available ball mount size (e.g., 2″ drop, 4″ drop, etc.). Certified testing is expensive and time consuming. Further, cast ball mounts typically have their surfaces polished or sand blasted after casting to give an acceptable surface finish. This process can be very time consuming due to the detail of the cosmetic elements and the polishing process can basically wipe away features making them less defined. Additionally, some cosmetic features/finishes cannot be produced by the casting process.


A keratometer in which at least three point sources of light in an area exceeding a semicircular area are projected onto the cornea of an eye to be examined and the center of an ellipse is specified on the basis of the position information of all the three cornea-reflected images and the shape of an ellipse linking the positions of the reflected images when the point sources of light exist on the circumference of the same circle is found to thereby measure the shape of the cornea of the eye to be examined.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a keratometer used in ophthalmic hospitals for measuring the shape of the cornea of an eye to be examined,
2. Related Background Art
There is known a keratometer as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No 1-19896 wherein three point sources of light on the circumference of the same circle including two points in a diametrical direction are projected onto the cornea of an eye to be examined, the positions of the images reflected by the cornea are detected and the center of an ellipse is found from the intermediate position of the reflected images of the two points in the diametrical direction and further an ellipse linking the three reflected images is specified to thereby measure the shape of the cornea.
However, in the above-described example of the prior art, in the process of calculating the shape of the ellipse, the information of the positions of only two of the three reflected images is used to calculate the center of the ellipse linking the three reflected images and thus, although the information of the positions of the three reflected images is measured, all the information is not utilized and the accuracy of the measured value of the shape of the cornea is reduced.
Also, three point sources of light are provided on a plane perpendicular to the optic axis of the eye to be examined and on a half of the circumference of the circle centered at the optic axis and therefore, when these point sources of light are projected onto the cornea of the eye to be examined, the projected positions incline toward one side of the cornea and the point sources of light are not at all projected onto the other side of the cornea and thus, the measured value of the shape of the cornea does not at all contain the information of that half of the cornea. Since generally the cornea is asymmetrical, this measured value of the shape of the cornea which does not at all contain the information of that half of the cornea is low in reliability. To obtain the information of the remaining half of the cornea to thereby enhance the accuracy of measurement, a total of four or more point sources of light is necessary if further point sources of light are provided. Also, the point sources of light must be provided on a half of the circumference of a circle and therefore, their design positions are considerably limited and the degree of freedom in designing the apparatus is small.


Provided is a method for producing 5-hydroxy-1H-imidazole-4-carboxamide.3/4 hydrate, including:                reacting 2-aminomalonamide with a compound represented by the following formula [1] in the presence of a carboxylic acid to obtain 5-hydroxy-1H-imidazole-4-carboxamide:

5-Hydroxy-1H-imidazole-4-carboxamide (herein below, also referred to as "compound A") is a compound which is useful as a cancer inhibitor (see, Patent Document 1, for example).
The compound A is produced, for example, from 2-aminomalonamide (see, Non-Patent Document 1 and Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example).
It is disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 that the compound A can be obtained by reacting 2-aminomalonamide with ethyl formimidate. However, because the production method has low yield, it is not completely satisfactory.
It is disclosed in Patent Document 1 that benzene sulfonate of the compound A can be obtained by reacting benzene sulfonate of 2-aminomalonamide with trimethyl orthoformate in the presence of benzene sulfonic acid. It is also disclosed that, by neutralizing the benzene sulfonate of the compound A with sodium hydrogen carbonate, it is possible to obtain the compound A.
However, this production method has disadvantages in that benzene sulfonic acid ester having genetic toxicity is generated and trimethyl orthoformate is required in a large amount. Therefore, it is difficult to say that the production method is indeed an industrially excellent production method. Further, the compound A obtained is colored and has poor storage stability. It is disclosed in Experimental Examples 1 and 2 of the Patent Document 1 that, even though the sulfonate of the compound A and the hydrochloric acid salt of the compound A are stable, color of the compound A itself is changed to navy or blue color. It is also disclosed in Patent Document 1 that, to obtain the compound A having excellent storage stability, a trace amount of acid needs to be included in the compound A. In Example 6, the compound A containing about 2.5% of benzoic acid is described. However, there is no concrete description regarding the stability.
It is disclosed in Patent Document 2 that crude crystal of the compound A can be obtained by reacting 2-aminomalonamide with triethyl orthoformate in the presence of sulfuric acid. However, this production method has disadvantageous in that a large amount of triethyl orthoformate is required and also a large amount of activated charcoal is required. Thus, it is difficult to say that the production method is indeed an industrially favorable production method. It is also described in Patent Document 2 that, by reacting crude crystal of the compound A with an acid and neutralizing it with ammonia, the compound A can be obtained. However, there is no concrete description regarding the stability.
For formulation production of the compound A, it is known that coloration with blue color can be prevented by containing an acidic material (see, Patent Document 3, for example). It is described in Patent Document 3 that "the present compound has a property of exhibiting color either by itself or caused by oxygen, heat, or light, and in a case in which the present compound is applied as an oral agent, for example, a tendency of showing more significant coloration based on more complex reaction pathways resulting from an interaction with co-existing excipients is observed."

Crystal of 5-hydroxy-1H-imidazole-4-carboxamide hydrate and pharmaceutical composition thereof

Abstract: wherein, in formula [1], each R independently represents a C1-3 alkyl group;        reacting the resulting 5-hydroxy-1H-imidazole-4-carboxamide with an acidic compound to obtain a 5-hydroxy-1H-imidazole-4-carboxamide acid salt or a hydrate thereof; and        reacting the resulting 5-hydroxy-1H-imidazole-4-carboxamide acid salt or hydrate thereof with a salt in the presence of an acidic solvent to obtain the 5-hydroxy-1H-imidazole-4-carboxamide.3/4 hydrate.


Golf putting training devices are disclosed that include a toe line alignment rod that is perpendicularly connected to a lead foot alignment rod. The devices include a lead toe indicator rod, which is perpendicularly connected to the lead foot alignment rod through a first sliding connector. The devices also include a ball position indicator that is perpendicularly connected to the toe line alignment rod through a second sliding connector. The lead toe indicator rod and first sliding connector are configured to slide along an axis of the lead foot alignment rod to assist the golfer in identifying an optimal distance from a golf ball, while the ball position indicator and the second sliding connector are configured to slide along an axis of the toe line alignment rod to assist the golfer in identifying an optimal position of the golf ball relative to the golfer's left and right feet.

During a round of golf, when a golfer putts, the golfer will often place his/her golf ball in various positions within his/her stance (i.e., in various positions in relation to the golfer's left and right feet). Many golfers fail to place the ball in a consistent position, with variances occurring in how close the golfer is positioned to the ball, as well as the position of the ball between the golfer's left and right feet. In addition, many golfers struggle to accurately align their feet and shoulders toward the optimal target line towards the hole. Such inconsistency in golf ball position translates into poor putting results. Many putting training devices have been developed over the years. However, most devices do not effectively train a golfer to place a golf ball in a consistent location, particularly training devices that are easy to assemble, disassemble, and store in a golf bag.
As the following will demonstrate, the golf putting training devices described herein address such demands (and others) in the marketplace.


A garment bag is sleeved over an ozone generator generating ozone therein. The garment bag includes a hollow bag body and an ozone filter unit. The ozone filter unit is disposed on the bag body. When the ozone in the bag body flows to the ozone filter unit, the ozone can be decomposed by the ozone filter unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a garment bag, more particularly to a garment bag sleeved over to an ozone generator.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Some dresses of high cost or value (such as silk, leather, feather dresses and furs) are generally sent to laundry for dry cleaning to prevent damage done onto them. However, it is noted that the dry cleaning fee is relatively high and therefore incurs an extra burden for every person or family.
The dresses or uniforms we generally wear in work or offices are usually contaminated with peculiar smell (unwanted smell), thereby causing discomfort to the wearers. For instance, the dress of a smoker is contaminated with cigarette smell that seldom disperses off and the smell is unbearable for those nearby persons. In the event, high-cost dresses worn by the persons accustomed to smoking are always sent to laundry for dry cleaning, there may occur a great extra expense.
A general method for getting rid of the undesired smell is to dispose a smell remover (including drying agent, desiccating agent, an exsiccator and desiccant) within a clothes wardrobe or cabinet, where the dresses are deodorized by the smell remover. However, since each wardrobe has a considerable space and a relatively large quantity of smell removers must be disposed therein so as to deodorize specific suits of dresses, thereby causing extra expense for purchasing new sets of the smell remover. In addition, majority of the wardrobes have no sealed chamber to prevent leakage of the deodorizing effect, the deodorizing effect produced by the smell remover is decreased due to presence of the gap, which, in turn, causes the user to purchase a new set of smell remover at a predetermined short period of time. In case other electronic deodorizing device, which is relatively expensive when compared to the smell remover, is disposed within the wardrobe to deodorize the dresses, an extra expense will be caused to the user and therefore using electronic deodorizing device is not economized.


A system for monitoring and/or controlling operation of a machine is particularly designed for agricultural machines such as seeders or planters. The system includes a central monitor unit and a plurality of sensors all connected in series on a communication bus. Each sensor is manufactured with a unique ID code. The central monitor unit on installation of the system polls each sensor as it is installed in a particular order of installation determined by the central monitor so that central monitor knows the location, function of each sensor in conjunction with its ID code. The central monitor then controls polling of the sensors by commands addressed to the individual sensors. Each sensor has a processor, transducer and a memory for storing data arising from the transducer. The memory can comprise a rollover memory of a simple nature which counts pulses or clock pulses and transmits the stored data when polled by the central monitor.

This invention relates to a method for communication between components of a machine which can be used for monitoring operation of a machine and/or for actuating or controlling various aspects of the machine. The invention is particularly but not exclusively designed for use with agricultural machines such as seeders, planters and the like.
Devices for monitoring seeders, planters and the like have previously been proposed, and generally these include sensors or transducers at various locations on the device for detecting various parameters of the operation of the machine. Thus one well known requirement for a sensor is that of detecting seed flow or seed movement. In an air seeder it is often desirable to detect the flow of seeds in an air tube to provide an indication of the rate of flow which can be also used to detect a blockage or zero flow. Further sensors have been provided for detecting the rate of rotation of shafts of the machine either for detecting seed supply rate or for detecting other parameters such as ground speed as detected by rotation of an axle. Yet further sensors have been provided for detecting a level of filling of a supply tank.
Generally the detection apparatus includes a central control unit with a key pad for allowing manual data entry, a display for providing information to the operator and a communication system for communication between the central control unit and the individual sensors. Generally devices of this type have used sensors which are simply switches or transducers which therefore provide a simple detection of a parameter to be detected and transmit a signal to the central control unit on detection of the parameter. Thus the conventional sensor does not include any memory or logic control so that the information is not acted upon or stored at the sensor itself. Such sensors require direct communication from the sensor itself to the control unit thus requiring individual wiring from each sensor to the control unit.
As the monitoring devices of this type become more complex and require more parameters to be monitored, the complexity of such individual wiring arrangements significantly increases cost and installation complication.
In addition to the monitoring function the present invention can also be used in relation to combined monitoring and control functions and also in relation to communication protocols between elements of a control system which does not include any monitoring function.

Communication between components of a machine


This invention relates to butyrate prodrugs derived from lactic acid and pharmaceutical compositions and methods employing them, either alone or in combination with other agents, for increasing gamma globin and fetal hemoglobin in a patient. These compounds, compositions and methods are particularly effective in treating .beta.-hemoglobinopathies, including sickle cell syndromes and .beta.-thalassemia syndromes. This invention relates to the use of these prodrugs, alone or in combination with other agents, to stimulate cell differentiation which prevents proliferation of malignant cells. These methods are particularly useful in treating cancer, especially malignant hematological disorders. In addition, this invention relates to the use of these prodrugs in treating inflammatory bowel diseases.

.beta.-hemoglobinopathies are a group of inherited disorders of .beta.-globin biosynthesis. Although efforts have concentrated on a variety of therapeutic regimens, feasible clinical treatments for these debilitating diseases remain scarce.
Various therapies have been utilized in the treatment of .beta.-hemoglobinopathies, each accompanied by drawbacks. G. P. Rogers et. al., "Current and Future Strategies for the Management of Hemoglobinopathies and Thalassemia", Hematology 1994, Education Program American Society of Hematology, pp. 9-20 (1994). Although the chemotherapeutic agent hydroxyurea stimulates fetal hemoglobin production and reduces sickling crisis in sickle cell anemia patients, its use in monotherapy is potentially limited by myelotoxicity and the risk of carcinogenesis. Potential long term carcinogenicity is also a drawback of 5-azacytidine-based therapies. Red blood cell transfusions expose patients to the potential of a wide range of infectious viral agents, as well as alloimmunization. Bone marrow transplants are not a readily available option for a large number of patients. Erythropoietin-based therapies have not proved consistent among a range of patient populations. Such varying drawbacks contraindicate the long term use of such agents or therapies.
It is clear from multicenter studies involving numerous patients with sickle cell disease that increased blood levels of fetal hemoglobin are associated with lower events of sickle cell crisis and longer survival time O. S. Platt et al., "Pain in Sickle Cell Disease, New Eng. J. Med., 325, pp. 11-16 (1991); O. S. Platt et al., "Mortality ion Sickle Cell Disease", New Eng. J. Med., 330, pp. 1639-44 (1994)!. Accordingly, in an effort to avoid the disadvantages of conventional therapies for .beta.-hemoglobinopathies, therapies have centered around ways to increase fetal hemoglobin production. Recent clinical trials have used butyrate analogs, including arginine butyrate and isobutyramide, to stimulate fetal hemoglobin production as a means of treatment S. Perrine et al., A Short Term Trial of Butyrate to Stimulate Fetal-Globin-Gene Expression in the .beta.-globin Disorders", N. Eng. J. Med., 328, pp. 81-86 (1993); S. P. Perrine et. al., "Isobutyramide, an Orally Bioavailable Butyrate Analogue, Simulates Fetal Globin Gene Expression In Vitro and In Vivo", British J. Haematology, 88, pp. 555-61 (1994); A. F. Collins et al., "Oral Sodium Phenylbutyrate Therapy in Homozygous .beta. Thalassemia: A Clinical Trial", Blood, 85, pp. 43-49 (1995).
Following the observation that butyric acid induces cell differentiation in vitro A. Leder and P. Leder, "Butyric Acid, a Potent Inducer of Erythroid Differentiation in Cultured Erythroleukemic Cells", Cell, 5, pp. 319-22 (1975)!, that compound was found to demonstrate promising effects in leukemia patients, by inducing cell differentiation A. Novogrodsky et al., "Effect of Polar Organic Compounds on Leukemic Cells", Cancer, 51, pp. 9-14 (1983)!. Aside from their use in treating .beta.-hemoglobinopathies, butyrate derivatives such as arginine butyrate, an arginine salt of butyric acid, have been shown to exert anti-tumor and anti-leukemia effects in mice C. Chany and I. Cerutti, "Antitumor Effect Of Arginine Butyrate in Conjunction with Corynebacterium Parvum and Interferon", Int. J. Cancer, 30, pp. 489-93 (1982); M. Otaka et al., "Antibody-Mediated Targeting of Differentiation Inducers To Tumor Cells: Inhibition of Colonic Cancer Cell Growth in vitro and in vivo", Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 158, pp. 202-08 (1989); O. Vincent-Fiquet, J. C. Rogez, F. Boitte, M. Brazier and G. Desmet, "Effects of Arginine Butyrate and Tributyrylxylitol on Cultured Human Sarcoma Cells", Anticancer Research, 14, pp. 1823-28 (1994)!.
Sodium butyrate has been found to induce apoptosis in retinoblastoma cell lines Robert M. Conway, Michele C. Madigan, Philip L. Penfold and Francis A. Billson, "Induction of Apoptosis by Sodium Butyrate in the Human Y-79 Retinoblastoma Cell Line", Oncology Research, Vol. 7, No. 6, pp. 289-97 (1995)! and modify antigen expression in pancreatic cancel cells Stefano Corra, Katherine Kazakoff, Masatoshi Mogaki, Martin Cano, and Parviz M. Pour, "Modification of Antigen Expression in Human and Hamster Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines Induced by Sodium Butyrate", Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis, 13, pp. 199-215 (1993)!.
The differentiating ability of butyrates is enhanced when administered in conjunction with other active agents. The combination of butyrates with the active metabolite of vitamin D shows enhanced differentiation of human colonic carcinoma cells in vitro Y. Tanaka, K. K. Bush, T. M. Klauck, P. Higgins, "Enhancement of Butyrate Induced Differentiation of HT-29 Human Colon Carcinoma Cells by 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D.sub.3 ", Biochem. Pharmacol. 38, pp. 3859 (1989)!. Other agents known to exhibit this synergism with butyrates include all trans-retinoic acid Z. Chen and T. Breitman, "Tributyrin: A Prodrug of Butyric Acid for Potential Clinical Application in Differentiation Therapy",Cancer Res., 54, pp. 3494-99 (1994)!, TNF-.alpha. (Tumor Necrosis Factor)Yifan Zhai et al, Development and Characterization of Recombinant Adenoviruses Encoding MART1 or gp100 for Cancer Therapy, The Journal of Immunolgy, pp. 700-710 (1996)! and dibutyryl adenosine-3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate Paul S. Ebert and Michael Salcman, "Differentiation Therapy Is Potentiated by Chemotherapy and Hyperthermia in Human and Canine Brain Tumor Cells In Vitro", Neurosurgery, Vol. 34, No. 4, pp. 657-663 (1994)!.
Butyrates have also been tested for use in combination therapy in conjunction with a known therapeutic agent. A combination of Interleukin 2 and sodium butyrate has been investigated for treatment of colo-rectal cancer Pacale Perrin et al, An Interleukin 2/Sodium Butyrate Combination as Immunotherapy for Rat Colon Cancer Peritoneal Carcinomatosis, Gastroenterology, 107, pp.1697-1708 (1994)!.
Butyrate salts induce differentiation of colon cancer cell lines and arrest the growth of neoplastic colonocytes O. C. Velazquez, H. M. Lederer, and J. L. Rombeau, "Butyrate and the Colonocyte. Implications for Neoplasia", Dig. Dis. Sci., 41, pp.727-39 (1996)!. Sodium butyrate has been shown to induce apoptosis in colorectal carcinoma cell lines and to inhibit urokinase plasminogen activator and its receptor mRNA expression in colon cancer cell lines A. Hague, D. J. Elder, D. J. Hicks, and C. Paraskeva, "Apoptosis in Colorectal Tumour Cells: Induction by the Short Chain Fatty Acids Butyrate, Propionate And Acetate and by the Bile Salt Deoxycholate", Int. J. Cancer, 60, pp.400-6 (1995); Jinjin Dang, Yao Wang and William F. Doe, "Sodium Butyrate Inhibits Expression Of Urokinase And Its Receptor mRNAs At Both Transcription And Post-transcription Levels In Colon Cancer Cells", FEBS Letts., 359, pp. 147-50 (1995)!. Butyrates, in conjunction with a known therapeutic agent, are known to be effective in the apoptosis of colon cancer cells John A. McBain et al, "Phorbol Ester Augments Butyrate-Induced Apoptosis Of Colon Cancer Cells", Int. J. Cancer, 67, pp. 715-723 (1996)!.
In addition to colon cancer, butyrates have been investigated for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, such as colitis and Crohn's disease. Butyrates enhance the synthesis of colonic mucin, a glycoprotein present in the colonic mucus. The mucus adheres to the colonic epithelium, thereby preventing invasion by colonic bacteria and protecting against damage by bacterial toxins and enzymes. Butyrate enemas are used in the treatment of diversion colitis and ulcerative colitis W. Frankel et al, "Butyrate Increases Colonocyte Protein Synthesis In Ulcerative Colitis", Journal of Surgical Research, 57, pp. 210-214 (1994); A. Finnie et al, "Colonic Mucin Synthesis is Increased by Sodium Butyrate", Gut, 36, pp. 93-99 (1995)!.
Although butyrate salts have the advantage of low toxicity as compared with conventional chemotherapeutic agents, their short half-lives in vivo have been viewed as a potential obstacle in clinical settings A. Miller et al., "Clinical Pharmacology of Sodium Butyrate in Patients with Acute Leukemia", Eur. J. Clin. Oncol., 23, pp. 1283-87 (1987); Novogrodsky et al. supra!. The rapid clearance of these agents results in an inability to deliver and maintain high plasma levels of butyrate which necessitates administration by intravenous infusion. Another potential obstacle to the use of butyrate salts is salt overload and its physiological sequelae.
In view of these observations, various prodrugs of butyric acid have been proposed for use in .beta.-hemoglobinopathy and leukemia differentiation therapies. Such prodrugs include tributyrin and n-butyric acid mono- and polyesters derived from monosaccharides Z. Chen and T. Breitman, "Tributyrin: A Prodrug of Butyric Acid for Potential Clinical Application in Differentiation Therapy", Cancer Res., 54, pp. 3494-99 (1994); H. Newmark et al., "Butyrate as a Differentiating Agent: Pharmacokinetics, Analogues and Current Status", Cancer Letts., 78, pp. 1-5 (1994); P. Pouillart et al., "Pharmacokinetic Studies of N-Butyric Acid Mono- and Polyesters Derived From Monosaccharides", J. Pharm. Sci., 81, pp. 241-44 (1992); C. Calabresse et al, "Selective Induction Of Apoptosis In Myeloid Leukemic Cell Lines By Monoacetone Glucose-3 Butyrate", Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., Vol. 201, No. 1, pp. 266-82 (1994)!.
Such butyrate prodrugs have not proved useful as therapeutics, however, due to factors such as short half-life, low bioavailability, low C.sub.max, or lack of effective oral deliverability. Other prodrugs, such as AN-9 and AN-10 A. Nudelman et al., "Novel Anticancer Prodrug of Butyric Acid", J. Med. Chem., 35, pp. 687-94 (1992)!, elicit metabolites that may produce formaldehyde in vivo, leading to toxic effects in patients.
To date, conventional methods and therapeutic agents have not proved to be safe and effective for all patients in the treatment of .beta.-hemoglobinopathies. This is also the case for diseases characterized by neoplastic, tumorigenic or malignant cell growth, or malignant hematological disorders Dennis A. Casciato and Barry B. Lowitz, Manual of Clinical Oncology, Little, Brown and Company, Third Edition, pp. 39-71 (1995); Roland T. Skeel and Neil A. Lachant, Handbook of Cancer Chemotherapy, Little, Brown and Company, Fourth Edition, pp. 123-197 (1995)!. Accordingly, the need exists for alternatives having advantages over, and avoiding the disadvantages of, such conventional methods and agents, while providing effective therapy for those target diseases.

Butyrate prodrugs derived from lactic acid


A process for creating a region of high performance logic devices, and a region of low cost memory devices, on a single semiconductor chip, has been developed. The process features CMOS logic devices, comprised of polycide gate structures, residing on a thin silicon dioxide gate insulator layer. An N type polysilicon layer, used as part of a polycide structure, is used with the N channel CMOS devices, while a P type polysilicon layer, is used with the P channel CMOS devices. DRAM memory devices are comprised of polycide gate structures, featuring only an N type polysilicon layer, on a silicon dioxide gate insulator layer, that is thicker than the gate silicon oxide layer used with the high performance logic devices. A minimum of additional photolithographic masking procedures is used to improve the performance of the logic region, one mask to allow specific polycide gate structures to be created with either P type or N type polysilicon, and another additional mask used to allow different gate insulator layers to be formed in each specific region. A large angle, ion implantation procedure, is used to form lightly doped source and drain regions, under the silicon nitride spacers on the sides of polycide gate structures, in both logic and DRAM memory regions.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to methods used to fabricate semiconductor devices, and more specifically a process used to fabricate high performance logic devices and low cost memory devices, on a single semiconductor chip.
(2) Description of Prior Art
The semiconductor industry is continually striving to increase device performance, while still maintaining, or even reducing the cost of these same devices. Micro-miniaturization or the ability to create semiconductor devices with sub-micron features, has allowed the performance, and the cost objectives, to be partially realized. The use of sub-micron features result in a decrease in performance degrading, parasitic capacitances, thus allowing performance improvements to be realized. In addition the use of sub-micron features allows smaller semiconductor chips to be created, with the smaller chips still offering device densities comparable to device densities achieved with larger chips, thus allowing a greater number of chips to be realized from a specific size starting semiconductor substrate, thus reducing processing costs.
Another direction taken by the semiconductor industry, in an attempt to reduce cost while still improving device performance, has been the integration of logic devices, and memory devices, on the same semiconductor chip. This integration improves performance by decreasing undesirable delays that occur between memory devices, located on one semiconductor chip, and logic devices, located on a different chip. In addition the processing costs for integrating memory and logic devices on the same semiconductor chip, are reduced due to the sharing of specific process steps, used to fabricate both types of devices.
Efforts have been ongoing by the semiconductor industry, in attempting to incorporate both logic and memory requirements on a single semiconductor chip. Dennison, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,677, describes a process for integrating complimentary metal oxide semiconductor, (CMOS), devices, with dynamic random access memory, (DRAM), devices, on a single semiconductor chip. However that invention does not share as many processing steps needed to realize significant cost reductions, nor does it offer a process needed for high performance logic devices. This invention will describe an integrated process, which features high performance CMOS devices, realized via many innovations such as the use of gate insulator layers, thinner than the gate insulator layers used for the DRAM devices. It will also feature the use of conductive silicide layers for source and drain regions of the CMOS devices, formed using a process sequence that reduces a possible bridging mechanism between gate structures and substrate. In addition this new process, for forming high performance logic, and embedded memory devices, on a single semiconductor chip, will be practiced using many process sequences, shared by both type devices, with the addition of only two photolithographic masking procedures, added to the CMOS logic process sequence, which enables improved performance of the logic region to be realized while and still achieve cost reductions.

Process for fabricating a high performance logic and embedded dram devices on a single semiconductor chip

Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation


A projection screen apparatus comprises a support blank of a lightweight, rigid material defining a front face surface having a smooth concave curvature in two orthogonal directions. The front face surface terminates at a mounting rim skirting the front face surface peripherally. A projection screen is fixed to the front face surface of the support blank thereby assuming its doubly concave curvature. A box-like fixture supports the blank while suction is drawn between the front face of the blank and the screen material so as to draw the screen material into intimate contact with the surface of the blank in order to bond the screen to the blank.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to projection screens and more particularly to a double concave screen system and method of assembly.
2. Description of Related Art
Images projected onto compound curved reflective surfaces are optically pleasing and more akin to reality. The illusion of size of image is increased, the depth of perception is enhanced and edge distortion is reduced. Projecting images onto curved surfaces is not new, but because of complex problems, such display screens have been limited to cylindrical shapes. It also has been difficult to produce a compound curved display surface that is reflectively dynamic and affordable. Recent technology has advanced the composition of the screen surface, greatly reducing the light bounce problem inherent to curved screens. Advances in the molding process and molding materials have also advanced to a point where compound curved screens are practical and affordable. It is desirable to provide a relatively large compound curved display screen for mass audiences that can be easily and inexpensively fabricated. It is further desirable for the large compound curved screen to occupy a minimum amount of space and to be installed with the least amount of interference with existing structures. There is a further need to provide a compound curved screen for the smaller audience such as the school or home that can be inexpensively molded, occupy a minimum amount of space, be lightweight and easily portable.
Yamashita, U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,822 describes a projection screen including a substrate having a metallic aluminum surface and a transparent film overlay. The metallic aluminum surface is provided with a pattern of directional irregularities and a pattern of craters. The projection screen is produced by subjecting an aluminum surface to a mechanical surface treatment to form a dense pattern of fine irregularities, etching the treated surface to form a crater pattern thereon and coating the resulting surface with a protective transparent film.
Holzel, U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,522 describes a screen such as those generally used for exhibiting projected images. A boxlike frame has a rim formed about its front. A membrane (the projection screen) covers the front with its margin extending to the vicinity of the rim. A cover encloses the back of the frame and is connected in sealed engagement to the margin of the membrane so as to form a plenum. Gas is withdrawn from the plenum whereby the membrane forms a concave image receiving surface curved in a relatively constant degree about a single point so that the image receiving surface takes on a spherical shape.
Rain, U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,522 describes a tailored membrane supported solely by a peripheral frame forms the front panel of a chamber. A source of vacuum or an air blower maintains a pressure in the chamber which differs from that of the ambient atmosphere. As a result, the tailored membrane is either drawn forward or pushed taut to provide a concave or convex viewing surface having a configuration determined solely by its tailoring.
Schudel, U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,587 describes an improved projection screen. The screen includes a film which is constructed of at least partially deformable, resilient material. One surface of the film has in combination a random matte texture and a substantially unidirectional striated texture. A layer of reflective material is deposited on the above-mentioned surface of the film to provide a high gain, damage resistant reflective surface. In one embodiment of the present invention, the layer of reflective material is located on the back surface of the film, and the front surface has a matte texture so that light from a projector or other source passes through the matte surface of the film to be reflected by the layer of reflective material on the back surface thereof. In another embodiment of the present invention, the layer of reflective material is located on the front surface of the film so that light projected on the screen is reflected by the layer of reflective material without passing through the film.
Nash et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,808 describes a projection screen including a rectangular film having a back surface, a front surface and a periphery, a support frame and chamber connected to the periphery of the film for defining the shape of the periphery of the film, a device for creating a pressure differential between the front surface and the back surface of the film, a sensor for sensing the position of the film and indirectly sense the pressure differential on the film and a controller for controlling the device for creating the pressure differential in response to the sensor such that the position of the film is a predetermined position as a result of some pressure differential whereby the shape of the film is set by the shape of the frame which is connected to the periphery of the film and by the predetermined position of the film resulting from the pressure differential.
Zobel, Jr. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,128,130 describes a projection screen formed from a plurality of translucent fabric panels joined along overlapping peripheral edge portions to produce a reflective, curved front screen surface. Overlapping peripheral edge portions extend outwardly from the back surface of the screen and are configured to be substantially less reflective than the front or projection surface of the screen. Accordingly, the visibility of seams between adjacent fabric panels to a viewer viewing images projected onto the screen is diminished.
The prior art teaches the use of curved projection screens but does not teach a double concave screen mounted onto a lightweight and rigid blank and a method of assembly using vacuum suction. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.
The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.
The present invention addresses the above described needs by providing a compound curved display screen of sufficient dimensions for commercial theaters, conventions, trade shows, etc. The present invention further addresses these needs by providing a compound curved display screen of sufficient dimensions for home theaters, instruction classes, sports lounges, etc. The invention comprises a molded unit having a surface of a toroid. The molded unit is comprised of a material such as polyurethane for both strength and lightweight. Placed on and bonded to the concave surface of the molded component is a reflective screen material with an anti-light bounce feature. The screen is mounted to the peripheral edges of the blank and then stretched and bonded to the toroidal surface of the blank using vacuum suction.
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method of use of such apparatus that provides advantages not taught by the prior art.
Another objective is to provide such an invention method capable of mounting a flexible screen material to a double concave surface.
A further objective is to provide such an invention capable of preventing light bounce on the surface of the screen.
A still further objective is to provide such an invention comprising a fixture for holding a support blank with a screen stretched across it, and for providing vacuum suction between the support blank and the screen to enable stretch mounting the screen onto the blank.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

Double concave screen and method of assembly


The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for target identification in a video. The method may include obtaining a video including a plurality of frames of video data. The method may further include sampling, from the plurality of frames, each pair of consecutive sampled frames being spaced apart by at least one frame of the plurality of frames of the video data. The method may further include identifying, from the one or more sampled frames, a reference frame of video data using an identification model. The method may still further include determining a start frame and an end frame including the target object.

In an era of big data, the volume of data available for analysis increases dramatically. For example, with the development of high-definition cameras, videos are encoded with a higher frame rate (e.g., 48 frames per second (fps), 60 fps, etc.). It is time-consuming to identify a target object and determine a time period in which the target object appears in a video frame-by-frame. Therefore, it is desirable to develop a system or a method for determining a time period and/or a portion of the video in which the target object appears in a video with higher efficiency and accuracy.

Systems and methods for target identification in video

BEIJING DIDI INFINITY TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.


A magnetoresistive head includes a magnetoresistive element and a for-bias soft magnetic film attached to the magnetoresistive element via a spacer. The for-bias soft magnetic film has an axis of easy magnetization which is set to be non-perpendicular to a direction of a bias magnetic field applied to the for-bias soft magnetic film. The bias magnetic field is generated by a sense current flowing in the magnetoresistive element. With this structure, the for-bias soft magnetic film can be easily magnetically saturated so that a reliable characteristic of the magnetoresistive head is ensured. The axis of easy magnetization of the for-bias soft magnetic film may be inclined to the direction of the bias magnetic field by an angle of equal to or less than 60 degrees. Alternatively, the axis of easy magnetization of the for-bias soft magnetic film may be inclined to the direction of the bias magnetic field by an angle of equal to or less than 15 degrees. Alternatively, the axis of easy magnetization of the for-bias soft magnetic film may be set parallel to the direction of the bias magnetic field.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetoresistive head for use in, for example, a magnetic recording/reproducing device, such as, a magnetic disk unit and a magnetic tape unit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the magnetic disk unit, the magnetic tape unit and the like which record and reproduce data, a data recording density has been improved to be higher year after year.
In response to this situation, a magnetoresistive head (hereinafter also referred to as "MR head") has been developed since the MR head is capable of dealing with those data recorded in such a higher density.
On the other hand, in order for the MR head to reproduce an output waveform which precisely corresponds to a magnetic field generated on a magnetic recording medium, it is necessary to operate a magnetoresistive film or layer (hereinafter also referred to as "MR film") in a linear resistance variation region. In order for this, a bias magnetic field should be applied to the MR film.
As one method for applying the bias magnetic field to the MR film, there has been proposed the SAL (soft adjacent layer) bias method which can provide a high bias efficiency with a low current. In the SAL bias method, a for-bias soft magnetic film which is attached to the MR film via a spacer is magnetized by means of a magnetic field generated due to a current flow in the MR film, and a direction of magnetization in the MR film is rotated or angularly changed to be perpendicular to a surface of the MR head confronting the magnetic recording medium (hereinafter also referred to as "medium confronting surface") by means of the magnetized for-bias soft magnetic film.
The effect of the SAL bias method will be described in detail hereinbelow.
FIG. 2 is a graph showing an H-R line representing a relationship between a magnitude of the magnetic field (H) applied or inputted to the MR film as represented by the axis of abscissas and a magnitude of the electric resistance (R) of the MR film as represented by the axis of ordinates. As appreciated from FIG. 2, the electric resistance of the MR film changes depending on a magnitude of the inputted magnetic field. Accordingly, assuming that the inputted magnetic field in FIG. 2 is the magnetic field generated on the surface of the magnetic recording medium, the electric resistance of the MR film changes depending on a condition of the magnetic field on the surface of the magnetic recording medium. Therefore, when a constant current is set to flow in the MR film, the magnetic field recorded on the magnetic recording medium, that is, the recorded magnetic data can be read out by measuring a voltage applied across the MR film. However, as described above, in order to obtain the output waveform which precisely corresponds to the inputted magnetic field, the MR film should be operated in its linear resistance variation region as represented by B in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the H-R line is indicated as being shifted leftward by applying the bias magnetic field to the MR film so that the MR film can be operated in the linear resistance variation region B with respect to the inputted magnetic field, meaning that the output waveform which precisely corresponds to the inputted magnetic field, i.e. the recorded magnetic field on the magnetic recording medium can be reproduced. On the other hand, if no bias magnetic field is applied to the MR film, the electric resistance of the MR film is maximum when a magnitude of the inputted magnetic field is substantially 0 (zero), and decreases as a magnitude of the inputted magnetic field increases or decreases from the value 0 (zero). Accordingly, the MR film can not be operated in the linear resistance variation region B with respect to the inputted magnetic field so that the reproduced output waveform differs from the corresponding inputted magnetic field.
FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing a conventional MR head.
In FIG. 1, numeral 1 denotes a for-bias soft magnetic film, numeral 2 a nonmagnetic spacer film disposed on the for-bias soft magnetic film 1, numeral 3 an MR film disposed on the nonmagnetic spacer 2, and numeral 4 electrode films for supplying a sense current to the MR film 3. Further, in FIG. 1, alphabet Z represents a direction of an axis of easy magnetization of the for-bias soft magnetic film 1, alphabet Y a direction of an axis of easy magnetization of the MR film 3, alphabet U a flow direction of the sense current, and alphabet V a direction of a magnetic field generated by the sense current flowing in the MR film 3.
It has been found out, however, that the foregoing conventional structure is unsuitable for the size-reduction of the MR head.
Specifically, when reducing a size of the MR head, a thickness of each of the films 1 to 4 should also be reduced. As a thickness of the MR film 3 is reduced, an electric resistance of the MR film 3 is increased. As a result, unless a magnitude of the sense current flowing in the MR film 3 is suppressed to a lower value, the MR film 3 is subject to rupture or disconnection due to heat generation of the MR film 3 itself and to deterioration of its characteristic due to the generated heat.
On the other hand, when the sense current is lowered, a magnitude of a bias magnetic field generated around the MR film 3 is also lowered. As a result, the for-bias soft magnetic film 1 can not be sufficiently magnetized by such a weak bias magnetic field so that a direction of magnetization of the MR film 3 can not be angularly changed to a direction which is perpendicular to a medium confronting surface 5 of the MR head, resulting in distortion of the reproduced output signal.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A capacitor applied to a voltage multiplier and a modulator/demodulator of a RFID device is formed as a nonvolatile ferroelectric capacitor formed by the same process of a memory cell capacitor. The nonvolatile ferroelectric capacitor has a high dielectric constant to reduce the area of the capacitor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a RFID device having a nonvolatile ferroelectric capacitor, and more specifically, to a technology of reducing the whole size of a RFID device using a nonvolatile ferroelectric capacitor formed by the same process as that of a memory cell capacitor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a ferroelectric random access memory (hereinafter, referred to as 'FeRAM') has attracted considerable attention as next generation memory device because it has a data processing speed as fast as a Dynamic Random Access Memory (hereinafter, referred to as 'DRAM') and preserves data even after the power is turned off.
The FeRAM having structures similar to the DRAM includes the capacitors made of a ferroelectric substance, so that it utilizes the high residual polarization characteristic of the ferroelectric substance in which data is not deleted even after an electric field is eliminated.
Meanwhile, a general Radio Frequency Identification device (hereinafter, referred to as "RFID") comprises a modulator and a demodulator for modulating and demodulating a radio frequency signal and a voltage multiplier for generating a power voltage.
A conventional capacitor used in the voltage multiplier, the modulator and the demodulator has a PIP (Poly-Insulator-Poly) structure. Preferably, an insulator is SiO2 or Al2O3 which is an upper dielectric material.
However, since the above-described upper dielectric materials have a small dielectric constant, a large number of capacitors are used to obtain desired capacitance. As a result, the whole chip area is increased.
The conventional capacitor used in the voltage multiplier, the modulator and the demodulator is formed by a different process than that of a cell capacitor of a memory. Thus, rendering the fabrication process increasingly complicated and costly.

RFID device having nonvolatile ferroelectric capacitor


An image generating device includes a background image acquirer that acquires an image of a background on which an image of an object is to be superimposed, a color extractor that extracts a color about one or a plurality of places in the image of the background, and a light source decider that decides the color of light output by a light source that illuminates the object based on the color extracted about the one or plurality of places. The image generating device further includes a drawing section that draws the image of the object based on the decided color of the light of the light source and an output image generator that generates an output image obtained by superimposing the image of the object on the image of the background.

The present disclosure relates to an image generating device, an image generating method, a program, and a computer-readable information storage medium.
There is a technique in which a landscape or the like is shot by using a camera included in a portable terminal or the like and an image of computer graphics matching the image of the landscape is superimposed to display the image resulting from the superposition by a display device included in the portable terminal or the like (so-called augmented reality technique).

Image generating device, image generating method, program, and computer-readable information storage medium


Methods for fabricating a copper interconnect of a semiconductor device are disclosed. An example method for fabricating a copper interconnect of a semiconductor device deposits a first insulating layer on a substrate having at least one predetermined structure, forms a trench and via hole through the first insulating layer by using a dual damascene process, and deposits a barrier layer along the bottom and the sidewalls of the trench and via hole. The example method forms a copper interconnect by filling the trench and via hole with copper and performing a planarization process, deposits a Ta/TaN layer over the substrate including the copper interconnect, removes some portion of the Ta/TaN layer so that the Ta/TaN layer remains only on the copper interconnect, deposits a second insulating layer over the substrate including the Ta/TaN layer, forms a via hole through the second insulating layer by removing some portion of the second insulating layer, and fills the via hole with a conductive material to complete a via.

With the high-integration of semiconductor devices, known metals such as tungsten, copper, or alloys thereof have been turned out to be unsuitable for an interconnect material of a semiconductor device because they have a high specific resistance and cause electro migration (EM) or stress migration (SM), thereby deteriorating reliability of the semiconductor device. EM is a defect due to the increase in current density within a metal interconnect. In other words, EM is created because the current density increases by high-speed operation of the semiconductor device according to a fine interconnect pattern. SM is a creep rupture (failure) mode caused by imposing tensile mechanical stress on the metal interconnect. The mechanical stress is created by the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the metal interconnect and an insulating layer to protect the metal interconnect. The mechanical stress increases as the width of the metal interconnect becomes narrower.
To obviate the above-mentioned problems, copper has been suggested as an alternative for known interconnect materials. Copper has a low specific resistance and ensures reliability of a semiconductor device. In addition, copper alloy has high corrosion-resistance and ensures reliability of the interconnect although it has a relatively high specific resistance in comparison with copper.
A copper dual damascene process, which inlays metal in an interconnect line, has been developed as an alternative because efforts to improve a copper etching method proved to be unsuccessful. The copper dual damascene process has been verified as an excellent process in terms of process affinity and cost reduction although it had been confronted with barriers in terms of apparatus due to completely different structures and across-the-board changes.
FIGS. 1a through 1d are cross-sectional views illustrating a known process of fabricating a copper interconnect of a semiconductor device. Referring to FIG. 1a, an insulating layer 10 is deposited on a substrate with at least one predetermined structure. A trench and via hole is formed through the insulating layer 10 by using a dual damascene process. A barrier layer 11 is then deposited along the bottom and the sidewalls of the trench and via hole. The trench and via hole is filled with copper by using an electrochemical plating (ECP) process and then planarized by using a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process to complete a lower copper interconnect 12.
Referring to FIG. 1b, a SiN layer is deposited over the structure of FIG. 1a to form a capping layer 13. The SiN layer has a thickness of about 700 Å. Referring to FIG. 1c, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer 14 is deposited on the capping layer 13. Referring to FIG. 1d, some portion of the ILD layer 14 and capping layer 13 is removed by an etching process using a predetermined pattern to form a via hole. The via hole is then filled with a conductive material to complete a via 15.
However, the above-described known method of forming a copper interconnect has several problems. First, if there is an oxidized area on the surface of the copper interconnect, the adhesion between the copper interconnect and the capping layer weakens and, as a result, the SiN layer as the capping layer 13 loosens. Constantly, the copper of the interconnect is diffused into the portion in which the SiN layer gets loose. Such copper diffusion may cause a short circuit between interconnects. Second, when the via is formed to connect the upper and lower interconnects, the upper interconnect may not be connected with the lower interconnect if the SiN layer as the capping layer within the via hole is completely removed. Third, the SiN layer may raise the total dielectric constant of the upper and lower interconnects because the SiN layer itself has a high dielectric constant.

Semiconductor devices and method for fabricating the same


The present invention relates to a charge coupled device CCD X-ray imager for reducing split events during integration. The imager includes a semiconductor material having a photosensitive region for receiving X-ray radiation energy and for generating electrical charges corresponding to the received X-ray radiation, and having a plurality of permanent barriers formed therein to divide the semiconductor material into a plurality of columns. Barrier electrodes are coupled to the semiconductor material for establishing in said semiconductor material a plurality of temporary barriers having a sufficient potential gradient to substantially reduce the occurrence of split events. Collection site electrodes are coupled to the semiconductor material for effecting the collection of the generated electrical charges. The temporary barriers are erected in the columns to form an array of potential wells.

An imager consists of an array of sensors responsive to radiant energy incident on the array. During operation of the imager, the radiant energy is incident on the sensor array for a predetermined exposure time, called the integration period, and converted to corresponding electrical charge packets which are stored in potential wells. Typically, charge packets are periodically shifted into a parallel shift register and then shifted to an output structure for external sensing.
Charge coupled device (CCD) imagers may be of the metal-oxide-silicon (MOS) type which store a charge in potential wells created either at the surface, or in a semiconductor substrate, and separated from each other by channel stops and/or by suitably applied potentials in each of two opposite directions. The charge is transported along the surface or in the substrate by the application of bias potentials to alter the configuration of potential wells.
In an X-ray imager, soft X-ray radiation energy incident on the silicon substrate is absorbed within the substrate and converted to localized electrical charge packets. The amount of charge generated is proportional to the energy absorbed. The location within the silicon substrate where this energy-to-charge conversion occurs is dependent upon the penetration depth of the energy. When the penetration depth of the radiant energy is greater than the depletion layer of the silicon substrate, for a given applied potential, charges are generated in a neutral region of the substrate outside the confines of the potential wells. Split events occur when the generated charges spread randomly due to repulsion and diffusion effects before the charges reach the potential wells. As a result, the randomly spreading charges are divided among adjacent potential wells which in turn degrades the image resolution.
One approach to reduce the diffusion effects on resolution degradation, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,155, is to increase the depletion layer width in silicon for a suitable applied potential so that most of the radiant energy is absorbed within the depletion layer itself instead of in the neutral region. The electric field in the depletion layer sweeps the carriers towards the surface. This reduces the carrier transportation time and thus the amount of charge spreading due to diffusion effects. Since the depletion layer width in silicon increases with its resistivity, one way to improve the resolution is to make charge coupled imagers on high resistivity substrates.
For the near IR (wavelength from 0.8 to 1.0 microns) and soft X-ray (1 to 10 KeV) regions, substrate resistivities as high as 5 K.OMEGA.-cm are required to produce the required depletion layer width. There are a number of reported problems in fabricating charge-coupled imagers on such a high resistivity substrate. First, a resistivity drop has been reported due both to thermal degradation for processing temperatures greater than 950.degree. C. and to impurity contamination. Secondly, even if resistivity were preserved, transistors fabricated on such high resistivities cannot function due to the extremely low punch-through voltage between source and drain. However, due to performance requirements, charge detection is only practical with on-chip transistor circuitry. The invention of U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,155 provides adjacent regions of high resistivity and low resistivity on the same chip, wherein a charge coupled array is fabricated in the high resistivity region and an output circuit is fabricated in the low resistivity region.
Another effort in the CCD imager art, such as for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,952, has been directed toward the elimination of dark current by using a multipinned phase charge coupled device. In the invention of U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,952, the siliconsilicon dioxide interfaces of a back-illuminated CCD are passivated by biasing the Si--SiO.sub.2 interfaces in the front and back. On the front multiphase-gate side, biasing and pinning the phase-clocked array gates into inversion (hence the term "multipinned-phase") causes holes to populate at the interface, thus eliminating surface dark current generation. However, to avoid adverse effects in full well capacity, implanting p dopants in the areas confined beneath one or more of the phase-clocked gates is necessary, thus providing a potential difference between the phased gates to allow charge to gather in collecting sites free of extra dopant while maintaining the inverted condition, and thereafter transferring the charges from well to well during readout. On the backside of the CCD, the Si--SO.sub.2 interface is passivated by negative biasing a metal flash gate to heavily populate the interface with holes. This eliminates backside dark current and directs photogenerated carriers away from the back to the front where they are collected in wells and then transferred out under control of multiphased clocks. An additional advantage of negative biasing on the metal flash gate is that the bias may be used as a shutter to control the rate of exposure.
Still another effort in the CCD imager art, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,591, is a CCD imager of the field transfer type having a surface channel A register for storage and transfer of charges, having a B register of either a buried channel or surface channel type for temporary storage of field charges shifted from the A register, and having a buried channel CCD C register coupled to the B register for receiving charge signals, in parallel, a row at a time, from the B register.
Still other efforts in the CCD art have been directed toward, for example: reducing CCD chip power dissipation, as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,284; improving charge transfer, as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,067; and using a CCD as a memory device, as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,225,947.


A control device (4) for a medical imaging system drives a signal source (1) and a detector (2) so that the detector (2) registers raw data of an object (5). Said device accepts the registered raw data and conveys send data corresponding to said registered raw data via a computer-to-computer link (10) to a computing device (11) not assigned to the medical imaging system. Said device determines an end data record by means of the send data and conveys it to the control device (4) via the computer-to-computer link (10). At least one end image is defined by the end data record. The control device (4) feeds out the end image to a user (15) of the medical imaging system via a viewing device (16).

Medical imaging systems, in particular x-ray systems, and their control devices are generally known. The following steps are performed by the control device in said systems:                Said control device drives the signal source and detector so that the detector registers an object's raw data,        it accepts the registered raw data and, by means thereof, determines an end data record by which at least one end image of the object is defined, and        via a viewing device it feeds out to a user of the medical imaging system at least one two-dimensional end image defined by the end data record.

Operating methods for a medical imaging system and for a computing device, and devices corresponding thereto


A novel process for selectively removing endotoxin from an aqueous solution containing bulk, iodinated, non-ionic contrast media and endotoxin by passing the solution through an activated carbon filter. The process can be economically practiced on a factory scale.

This invention relates to the remediation of endotoxin-contaminated bulk, iodinated non-ionic contrast media. More particularly, the invention pertains to a process for removing endotoxin from such bulk contrast media.
As further background, medical imaging has come to depend to a great extent upon radiographic contrast media. In the X-ray visualization of relatively extensive regions of the human body, for example the cardiovascular system or the space containing the cerebrospinal fluid, large quantities of X-ray contrast agents of high concentration must be injected in order to provide sufficient opacity in the region concerned to produce a clear X-ray image.
As the technology surrounding the production of contrast media has advanced, a problem which has arisen relates to the presence of endotoxins which are produced by bacterial proliferation during the handling of large quantities of aqueous solutions. While the bacteria themselves are easily destroyed in various sterilization procedures, endotoxins are at times left intact.
In this regard, endotoxins have been known and studied for many years particularly in regard to the pathophysiological reactions in animals. For many years it was believed that endotoxin material was contained within gram-negative bacilli cells and was released only upon disintegration of the cell walls. Hence, the material was termed endotoxin. Recent studies, however, suggest that endotoxin is localized at the cell surface of gram-negative bacilli and may be present with viable and killed cells as well as in a free form within a liquid medium.
Endotoxins are known to cause several and varied pathophysiological reactions and have been identified as direct and contributory causes of death of many hospitalized patients. Endotoxins are known to cause febrile reactions in animals with symptoms of extremely high fever, vasodilation, diarrhea, and the like and, in extreme cases, fatal shock. It is also known that endotoxins cause leucocytosis, deleterious changes in carbohydrate and protein metabolism and widespread intravascular clotting by fibrin formation.
Studies have shown that endotoxemia in animals may be caused by gram-negative bacilli primary and secondary infections and/or the employment of intravenous apparatus or solutions contaminated with gram-negative bacilli or endotoxin. The occurrence of endotoxemia from the use of endotoxin-contaminated intravenous or parenteral solutions has recently been recognized as a particular problem in modern hospitals. Since contrast media are often injected into hospital patients in large quantities, the contrast media must first be purified of endotoxin contanimation.
It is presently a common practice in the medical profession to counteract endotoxemia by treatment with massive infusions of antibiotics. However, it has not been shown that antibiotics remove endotoxin other than by controlling gram-negative bacilli. Removal of the bacilli solves the problem of endotoxin production; however, it does nothing to remove the endotoxin that already exists in solution.
In light of this background there exists a need for fast and cost-effective ways to remediate endotoxin-contaminated bulk non-ionic contrast media. The present invention addresses this need.

Process for remediating endotoxin-contaminated bulk non-ionic contrast media


Various aspects described herein create tessellated regions by identifying tessellation lines in one or more directions based at least on fixed shape(s) or route(s). New cells or shapes are added to the design by aligning at least some of the boundary segments of the new cells or shapes with existing tessellation lines. Tessellation lines are dynamically adjustable. At least some tessellated regions are associated with initial or tentative track pattern labels some of which are iteratively updated during implementation of the design. Multiple candidate track patterns may be ranked based on consistency costs to determine a tentative track pattern. Designs may be implemented with a trackless approach in trackless region(s) followed by a tracked approach based at least in part upon the initial or tentative labels that are dynamically adjusted during implementation. Capacities and demands are assessed at boundary segments of cells by using the tracked or trackless approach.

Integrated circuits, or ICs, are created by patterning a substrate and materials deposited on the substrate. The substrate is typically a semiconductor wafer. The patterned features make up devices and interconnections. This process generally starts with a designer creating an integrated circuit by hierarchically defining functional components of the circuit using a hardware description language. From this high-level functional description, a physical circuit implementation dataset is created, which is usually in the form of a netlist. This netlist identifies logic cell instances from a cell library, and describes cell-to-cell connectivity.
Many phases of these electronic design activities may be performed with computer aided design (CAD) tools or electronic design automation (EDA) systems. For example, an integrated circuit designer may use a set of layout EDA application programs, such as a layout editor, to create a physical integrated circuit design layout from a logical circuit design. The layout EDA application uses geometric shapes of different materials to create the various electrical components on an integrated circuit and to represent electronic and circuit IC components as geometric objects with varying shapes and sizes. After an integrated circuit designer has created an initial integrated circuit layout, the integrated circuit designer then verifies and optimizes the integrated circuit layout using a set of EDA testing and analysis tools. Verification may include, for example, design rule checking to verify compliance with rules established for various IC parameters. The EDA layout editing tools are often performed interactively so that the designer can review and provide careful control over the details of the electronic design.
Typically, geometric information about the placement of the nodes and components onto the chip is determined by a placement process and a routing process. The placement process is a process for placing electronic components or circuit blocks on the chip and the routing process is the process for creating interconnections between the blocks and components according to the specified netlist. The task of all routers is the same—routers are given some pre-existing polygons consisting of pins on cells and optionally some pre-routes from the placers to create geometries so that all pins assigned to different nets are connected by wires and vias, that all wires and vias assigned to different nets do not overlap, and that all design rules are obeyed. That is, a router fails when two pins on the same net that should be connected are open, when two pins on two different nets that should remain open are shorted, or when some design rules are violated during routing.
A layout file is created from the placement and routing process, which assigns logic cells to physical locations in the device layout and routes their interconnections. The physical layout is typically described as many patterned layers, and the pattern of each layer is described by the union of a set of polygons. The layout data set is stored, for example in GDSII ("Graphic Data System II") or OASIS ("Open Artwork System Interchange Standard") formats. Component devices and interconnections of the integrated circuit are constructed layer by layer. A layer is deposited on the wafer and then it is patterned using a photolithography process and an etch process.
Traditionally, layout track patterns include parallel tracks with uniform pitches, and these tracks cover the entire layout space. This conventional approach does not satisfy the needs for electronic layouts with a typical half-pitch of 14 nm or below. With the half-pitch advancing to 14 nm or below, the track patterns for a certain metal layer may be required or desired to be region based where one track pattern may be associated with or assigned to a region on one layer, while another track pattern may be associated with or assigned to another region on the same layer. Some designs may even demand or desire non-uniform track patterns. Conventional approaches also do not allow periodic changes of track pitches and definitions of regions where one or more track pattern are active. These track pattern requirements pose a challenge for physical design implementation, especially for interactive layout editing. In addition, users may need to be able to interactively define the track patterns during the chip floorplanning or placement stage and follow these track patterns during subsequent physical design stages such as routing, post-layout optimization, engineering change order (ECO), or even specific physical design tasks such as wire editing.
In addition, advanced manufacturing groups have new requirements on where wires or interconnects may be routed. In particular, some routing tracks are intended for double-width wires, some are intended for single-width wires, and so on. Routing tracks, as they were originally devised, applied to every net or connection in the design. To address this, the user must explicitly add the constraints of the track patterns to the routing rules, which is impractical and prone to errors. Moreover, there has been no way to address trackPattern constraints on automatically-generated rules. Some advanced technologies have complex grid requirements. One such requirement is to restrict routing grids in a particular area. Another approach is to give several possible sets of grids, and then to assign one to a given area. The current track pattern representation applies to an entire layer. There is no representation that limits the bounds of a track pattern. Nor is there a representation that maps track patterns to a particular area.
Certain advanced foundries require a layer of an electronic design be tessellated into multiple tessellated regions, and each tessellated region be labeled or marked with a label of a track pattern. Nonetheless, current electronic design automation tools are not capable of determining or identifying such labels, at least not capable of doing so prior to the detail routing stage where the electronic design automation tools implement the detail routes with the geometric information for manufacturing the electronic designs.
Thus, there exists a need for methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for tessellating and labeling routing space for routing electronic designs.

Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for tessellating and labeling routing space for routing electronic designs


An image sensor is provided in the present invention, including a plurality of optical elements, wherein each optical element includes a semiconductor substrate, a dielectric layer and a color filter set. The semiconductor substrate includes a plurality of photosensitive units. The dielectric layer is disposed above the semiconductor substrate and includes a plurality of notches. The color filter set is disposed above the dielectric layer and includes a plurality of filter units and a plurality of convex substances corresponding to the filter units, and the convex substances and the notches are engaged with each other, wherein the convex substances and the notches change in accordance with the distance to the center of the image sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosed embodiments of the present invention relate to an image sensor, and more particularly, to an image sensor for filtering.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With the rapid development of communication systems, many electronic devices are equipped with image capture or video recording functions, especially portable electronic devices such as smart phones or laptops. As users are demanding electronic devices which come in extremely compact sizes, the camera module's image sensor becomes smaller and the chief ray angle (CRA) becomes larger, which causes image quality of corner or edge pixels of the image sensor array to be degraded. Therefore, how to fix lens shading and color shading issues caused by a large CRA has become an extremely important issue in the field.

Image sensor with convex substances and notches which change in accordance with distances to image sensor center


An image signal processing apparatus includes a line separation circuit. When interpolated image data is generated based on low resolution raw image data having color information distributed on a pixel of each line in the order of R, G, G, B, . . . , firstly, the line separation circuit converts a color distributing manner using two line memories. As a result of a conversion, the color information is distributed on the pixel of an odd number line in the order of R, G, R, G, . . . , and the color information is distributed on the pixel of an even number line in the order of G, B, G, B, . . . . Such a color separation toward the low resolution raw image data is performed using three line memories. On the other hand, when the interpolated image data is generated based on high resolution raw image data having the color information distributed on the pixel of the odd number line in the order of R, G, R, G, . . . , and the color information distributed on the pixel of the even number line in the order of G, B, G, B, . . . , the conversion of the color distribution is not performed, and the color separation is executed using all of the five line memories.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image signal processing apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image signal processing apparatus applied to a video camera, and applying a signal process to an image signal to which a plurality of colors of color information is assigned at the rate of one color to one pixel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An example of such the kind of a conventional video camera is disclosed in Japanese Patent laying-open No. 2001-231003 laid-open on Aug. 24, 2001. According to the prior art, before a shutter button is operated, a CCD imager is driven in a thinning-out reading manner, and a raw image signal of a low resolution read out from the CCD imager is converted into an image signal in a YUV format. As a result, a real time moving image based on the converted image signal is displayed on a monitor. If the shutter button is operated, the CCD imager is driven in an all-pixel-reading manner, the raw image signal of a high resolution read out from the CCD imager is converted into the image signal in the YUV format, and the converted image signal is recorded into a recording medium in a compressed state.
In the prior art, a distributing manner of color information included in the raw image signal output from the CCD imager is always constant before/after the shutter button is operated. That is, in either of the raw image signal of the low resolution read out before the shutter button is operated or the raw image signal of the high resolution read out after the shutter button is operated, a line of Cy, Ye, . . . , and a line of Mg, G, . . . are alternately included in the vertical direction. Thus, irrespective of an operation of the shutter button, it is possible to convert the raw image signal into the image signal in the YUV format by a common signal process. However, this means that in a case that the distributing manner of the color information included in the raw image signal is changed before/after the shutter button is operated, the signal process (color separating process, in particular) is not executed.


There is provided an optical communication connector, an optical communication cable, and an electronic device that can curb occurrence of a transmission error. The optical communication connector includes a collimating lens that collimates light from multiple optical transmission lines transmitting optical signals, and a refracting portion that refracts and emits light emitted from the collimating lens, in which in the collimating lens, at least some of transmission channels and reception channels corresponding to the multiple optical transmission lines are thinned out. The optical communication connector can be applied to an optical communication system, for example.

In recent years, with an increase in the amount of communication on the Internet and the like, a larger transmission capacity is required. It is becoming difficult to achieve such a large transmission capacity with a conventional transmission method through a copper cable. Therefore, optical communication that can achieve a larger transmission capacity has been proposed.
For example, Patent Document 1 proposes an optical communication connector aimed to prevent laser hazard due to collimated light (parallel light).

Optical communication connector, optical communication cable, and electronic device