Diagnostic assay system for conducting a luminescent test and recording luminescent signals generated thereby on an image recording material. The system comprising a light-tight housing assembly, an image recording system, and an assembly for holding at least one chemical implementation device mounted in the assembly. The system also including a movable shutter mechanism and a biasing device for moving the shutter. The present invention also includes, in one embodiment, a method of conducting a chemiluminescent test comprising: providing a implementation and diagnostic testing device; placing the implementation device in the assembly; applying a force to a penetrating member; moving a shutter actuator; actuating a timer; returning the shutter; and then ejecting the image.

The present invention relates generally to diagnostic assay systems and methods thereof that are capable of conducting and recording assays in a simple and reliable manner.
A wide variety of systems and approaches exist which allow the occurrence and recording of luminescent reactions, such as of the chemiluminescent or fluorescent types for qualitative and quantitative results. One class of analytical instruments typically used in this field is referred to as luminometers. Luminometers conduct and record luminescent reactions generated, for instance, by a biological test fluid sample that contains a reagent of interest, such as an analyte, and a reagent in an assay element. Examples of these approaches include single-sample luminometers fitted with photographic multipliers; single-sample luminometers fitted with solid-state detectors; multiple sample luminometers; automatic luminometers with imaging systems based on CCD cameras; and photographic camera type luminometers. Some of the foregoing devices using photographic films of the conventional and self-developing type for recording luminescent activity are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,863,689; 5,035,866; and, 5,188,965. Heretofore known prior art tends to be limited in a number of ways, such as being expensive due to the relatively expensive electronics required, training of personnel required because of their relatively complicated nature, and being relatively cumbersome in use and expensive in construction. In addition, the prior art contains many devices that deliver a solution containing an analyte of interest to a testing solution for generating a luminescent read-out signal that indicates the presence of an analyte of interest. It is important in conducting these assays for the solution containing such an analyte to be delivered to a testing solution in a manner that enhances the reliability of the testing. One known testing device is commercially available from Biotrace, Inc., Plainsboro, N.J. that uses a pick-up device or swab having testing rings that swipe a surface to be tested. The ampoule includes a generally hollow tubular housing for slidably receiving the pick-up device. The ampoule is transparent, and has an open end portion that is adapted to receive the sample pick-up, and a closed end portion that is transparent whereby luminescent activity can form a latent image on a recording film. A sealing membrane is located generally transversely to the ampoule housing to define a chamber or reservoir with the closed end portion to sealingly accommodate an assay fluid therein. The sealing membrane is made of a thin-walled metallic material that is impervious to fluid and ambient atmosphere. The sealing membrane is adapted to be punctured by the sample pick-up device when the latter is inserted by an operator therethrough. The assay fluid can be one that generates a chemiluminescent signal in response to a reagent, such as ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) being present on the sampling rings. ATP is used as an indicator of the presence of organic debris, such as microorganisms. The sample pick-up device includes a handle, a stem, and a plurality of laterally extending sampling rings. The sampling rings are used to engage a surface to be tested for microorganisms. A user merely rubs the rings against a surface to be tested, for instance, a food preparation surface and inserts the sampling ring into and through the membrane, whereupon the rings are immersed into the assay fluid. If ATP is present, in significant amounts on the sampling rings, it will react with the reagent in the fluid and generate a luminescent read-out signal that is recordable on the film.
Despite the existence of a wide variety of known diagnostic luminescent type testing systems and approaches, however, it is, nevertheless, desired to improve upon the overall ease, versatility, and reliability of such systems and their testing procedures, as well as reduce overall costs associated with their construction and use.
In accordance with the present invention, provision is made for a diagnostic assay system for conducting a luminescent test and recording luminescent signals generated thereby on an image recording material. Included in the system is a light-tight housing assembly including a base and a cover member; an image recording system coupled to the base including an image recording medium for recording lumuinescent reactions thereon; an assembly for holding at least one chemical implementation device mounted in the base wherein the assembly allows a bottom of the implementation device to be in juxtaposed relationship to an image recording medium; a shutter mechanism movable between non-exposing and exposing positions in response to an operator moving the shutter mechanism; and, a biasing device for automatically returning the shutter mechanism to the non-exposing condition from the exposing condition.
In an illustrated embodiment the system includes a locking assembly for locking the shutter mechanism in the exposing condition and a timing mechanism coupled to the locking assembly that is operable for releasing the shutter mechanism after a preselected period of time.
In accordance with another preferred aspect of the present invention, provision is, preferably, made for a hand-held, portable diagnostic assay system. The system is operable for conducting and recording luminescent reactions, that generate luminescent signals, such as chemiluminescent and fluorescent signals, that are recordable an image recording medium, such as a film assemblage of the self-developing type. Included in the system, in one embodiment, is a housing assembly defining a light-tight enclosure carrying at least the film unit and an exposure opening that optically communicates the film unit and the luminescent read-out signal. A film processing unit in the housing is operable for processing exposed self-developing film units passing therethrough. Provision is made for a sample carrier means or assembly that has one condition for receiving a luminescent testing assembly and a second condition for exposing the film. The sample carrier assembly can carry, in a light-tight manner, at least one luminescent testing assembly that is capable of generating a luminescent read-out signal recordable on the image recording medium in response to the testing assembly being actuated. Whenever the sample carrier is in the second condition, the generated signal exposes the film unit. Developing the resultant latent image is initiated when the film unit is advanced from the housing after passing through the film processing unit.
In an illustrated preferred embodiment, the sample carrier has an opening for receiving a test container of the luminescent testing assembly. The test container comprises a reservoir that stores a luminescent testing means; which in a preferred embodiment is in the form of a fluid that is sealed by means of a sealing device. A portion of the reservoir is transparent for allowing transmission of the generated read-out signal to the film through an open exposure opening. A sampling device of the luminescent testing assembly can sample a surface to be tested and is inserted, in a light-tight manner, within the test container such that a portion thereof is immersed in the fluid. If the sampling device contains a reagent that reacts with a reagent in the assay fluid, the generated luminescent signal can expose the film through the open exposure opening and transparent portion. In this embodiment, movement of the sample carrier carrying the luminescent testing assembly opens the exposure opening and registers the transparent reservoir portion therewith for exposing the film. Movement of the sample carrier back to the receiving position closes the exposure opening. Further in another illustrated embodiment, the test container includes opaque means therein which serves, when the container is held in the sample carrier, to block ambient light from reaching the exposure opening.
In another illustrated preferred embodiment, provision is made for effecting and recording a luminescent read-out signal of a control test generally simultaneously with a luminescent signal of the test sample.
In an illustrated embodiment, a sample carrier assembly carries a luminescent sample test assembly and a luminescent control test assembly. Fluid transfer means, such as light-tight capillary grooves, allow transfer of the control and test fluids from separate ports therefor to the respective test assemblies. When the sample carrier is inserted into a recess in a processor housing containing the film, a shattering mechanism is opened which allows luminescent read-out signals emitted from the test sample and control luminescent testing assemblies to respectively expose the film. Removal of the sample carrier from the processor housing closes the shutter. The film can be advanced as indicated above in the other embodiments.
In still another illustrated embodiment of the present invention, provision is made for a means and method for achieving a quantification of the luminescent signal generated and recorded on the film. In one such embodiment, such quantification is achieved by reason of an optical filter. The filter can have alternating light attenuating zones, such as transparent and opaque zones that act to delineate different sized read-out signals. The different sized images correlate to corresponding different test results. Because of the light attenuation, different sized luminescent images will be visible through correspondingly different sized attenuation zones; thereby providing a visual measurement of the test results. In yet other embodiments, the quantification can be obtained by pre-exposing the film with a gradation of different sized images. The different sizes correspond to different predetermined outputs of the luminescent signals. Alternately, provision is for a film overlay comprising a series of different sized images thereon with each overlay image corresponding to different test outputs. In use the test image that is captured during the actual test can be compared to images on the overlay for quantifying the test result.
Methods are contemplated for conducting and recording read-out signals that can expose the image recording material.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and system for conducting and recording luminescent reactions, wherein the results can be immediately and reliably ascertained by an operator.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved method and system for conducting and recording luminescent reactions in a hand-held assay processor using self-developing type film.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved method and system of the last noted types for conducting and recording multiple sample tests.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved method and system for conducting and recording luminescent reactions in a hand-held assay processor wherein both test sample and control fluids are applied to corresponding different test strips.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved method and system of the last noted types for conducting and recording luminescent reactions wherein the output signals are recorded on film and quantified.
It is another object of the present invention to detect the luminescent signals electronically and print relevant information on the film.
It is another object of the present invention to provide for an improved method and system which is simple and reliable to operate and which is low-cost in cost.
The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent when reading the following description taken conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like parts are indicated by like reference numerals throughout the several views.

Method and apparatus for performing diagnostic tests


An outboard motor replacement skeg which is thin and flat and has a cavity formed in one of its edges is disclosed. The replacement skeg is slid over the stub which remains after the original skeg is broken off, and is fastened to the skeg stub with silicone sealant and rivets. As an alternative, the replacement skeg may be part of an original design to replace a specific breakaway skeg having a particular mounting structure.

All outboard motors and outdrive units have a downwardly directed fin attached to the lowest extremity of the motor, below a rounded housing which contains a propeller drive shaft, i.e. the lower unit. The fin, which is commonly called a skeg, provides lateral stability and steering capability to the motor, and protection of the propeller from contact with submerged objects.
If the motor lower unit strikes an object, either when the boat is in the water or being trailered, the skeg is usually the first part of the motor to make contact. Ideally, the contact between the skeg and the object will cause the motor to pivot upwardly about an axis significantly above the skeg and propeller, causing the motor to pivot out of harm's way. However, this contact between the skeg and the object frequently causes a portion of the skeg to be broken off or bent. Attempts at repositioning a bent skeg result in breakage of the skeg, which is a casting. Most frequently, only a portion of the skeg is broken off, leaving behind a stub. Skegs are designed to fracture preferentially to prevent more extensive and expensive damage to gears, shafts and bearings which are higher in the motor housing. When the skeg has been broken away from the motor the steering is less sure, the propeller is more vulnerable to fracture, and the torque effect makes steering more difficult.
Conventionally, skeg repairs involve either replacing the entire lower unit or welding a new fin-shaped plate onto the remaining portion of the skeg. When the lower unit is replaced, the operation is expensive (ranging from $400.00 to $1200.00), dependent upon motor size (i.e. H.P.). If a new, typically aluminum, skeg is welded onto the housing, the cost is usually less than replacing the lower unit. Welders willing to work aluminum are few, and those willing require removal, drainage, and disassembly of the lower unit to prevent thermal damage to the nearby seals and bearings. Both conventional repairs are time-consuming, expensive and difficult to accomplish in low population areas where boaters frequently find themselves in need of repairs.
An invention related to the field of boat motor attachments is U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,840 by Seale et al. Seale et al. disclose a fin-shaped attachment which is attached horizontally to a boat motor and is meant to be an extension of the original horizontal appendage. The attachment is intended to enhance the performance of the original boat motor due to its curvature. The curvature of the fin forces the boat motor in the upward direction when a pair of the fin-shaped appendages are attached in their preferred position. Seale et al. do not teach attaching the fin to repair an originally existing appendage, but to enhance the performance of the boat motor.
Zoellner, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,869, discloses a device which is attached to the original vertical skeg of a boat motor. Zoellner's device is a vertical sleeve having a horizontal plate attached to its lowest edge. The horizontal plate adds vertical stability to the boat and protection to the propeller. Zoellner's device is attached to a boat motor skeg to prevent damage to the motor and to enhance its performance. In this respect, Zoellner's device is prospective rather than retrospective since its function is to prevent damage to the motor, not to repair the motor after damage. However, since it increases the lowermost dimensions of the motor, it also increases the probability that it will strike a submerged object and cause damage.
Neither Seale et al. nor Zoellner teach a structure for making a repair on a boat motor or replacing an appendage which originally existed but no longer performs as designed. Both of these devices merely affect the original performance of the boat motor, and are intended primarily to increase vertical lift to enhance planing.


A thermally conductive sheet including: an acrylic polymer; a high-soda alumina in an amount of 70 to 75% by volume; and a magnesium hydroxide having a particle size smaller than a particle size of the high-soda alumina in an amount of 2.7 to 5.3% by volume, the magnesium hydroxide is coated with a higher fatty acid. The thermally conductive sheet has a compressive force required in a deformation with a compressibility of 20% or less of 200 N or less, and has a thermal resistance of 0.45° C./W or less.

Conventionally suggested as a thermally conductive sheet for transferring a heat that is generated from an electronic device, an element, or the like, to a heat sink, has been a thermally conductive sheet prepared by filling an acrylic resin with a thermally conductive filler such as aluminum oxide (alumina) or the like having a high thermal conductivity (see Patent Document 1).

Thermally conductive sheet and method for manufacturing thermally conductive sheet


A method for joining a ceramic component to a metallic component is described. At least one initial layer of an active metal is applied to one of the joining surfaces, by a cold spray technique. At least one second layer of a nickel-based braze composition is then applied over the initial layer by cold-spraying. The braze composition and components are then heated, so as to form an active braze joint between them. A method of sealing an open region of a sodium metal halide-based battery is also disclosed, using the brazing technique described herein to form braze joints that seal various components in the battery cells, such as metallic rings and ceramic collar structures.

A variety of electrochemical devices require processes and compositions for providing seals on or within the devices. The seals may be used to encapsulate the entire device, or they may separate various chambers within the device. As an example, many types of seal materials have been considered for use in high-temperature rechargeable batteries/cells for joining different components.
Sodium/sulfur or sodium/metal halide are good examples of high-temperature batteries that may include a variety of ceramic and metal components. The ceramic components often include an electrically insulating alpha-alumina collar, and an ion-conductive electrolyte beta-alumina tube, and are generally joined or bonded via a sealing glass. The metal components usually include a metallic casing, current collector components, and other metallic components which are often joined by welding or thermal compression bonding (TCB). While mechanisms for sealing these components are currently available, their use can sometimes present some difficulty. For example, metal-to-ceramic bonding can be challenging, due to thermal stress caused by a mismatch in the coefficient of thermal expansion for the ceramic and metal components.
Since metal-to ceramic bonding is most critical for the reliability and safety of the cells for high-temperature batteries, many different types of seal materials and sealing processes have been considered for joining such components, including ceramic adhesives, brazing, and sintering. However, most of the seals may not withstand high temperatures and corrosive environments. A common bonding technique involves multiple steps of metalizing the ceramic component, followed by bonding the metallized ceramic component to the metal component using thermal compression bonding (TCB).
The bond strength of such metal-to-ceramic joints is controlled by a wide range of variables, such as the microstructure of the ceramic component, the metallization of the ceramic component, and various TCB process parameters. In order to ensure good bond strength, the process requires close control of several parameters involved in various process steps. In short, the method is relatively expensive, and complicated, in view of the multiple processing steps, and the difficulty in controlling the processing steps.
In some instances, metallization of a ceramic surface for bonding with a metal component involves the use of molybdenum or molybdenum/manganese-based inks, as described in "Zebra Electric Energy Storage system: From R&D to Market", Renato Manzoni et al, HTE hi.tech.expo—Milan 25-28 Nov. 2008 (website record). In a typical process, the ink or paste is formulated with various alcohols, amines, and alkanes, along with binder materials. (Various other components may also be present, e.g., ether esters, aromatic compounds, and functionalized silanes). The inks are often screen-printed on top of the ceramic, effectively metallizing the component. The ceramic can then be clamped to an appropriate metal component, e.g., a nickel ring for a battery cell, followed by heating in a kiln or other suitable furnace to join the parts by a TCB technique.
While the use of the molybdenum inks can be useful in some types of metallization applications, they can also present various disadvantages. For example, some of the binder materials present in the inks may remain in the composition, even after high-temperature brazing. The binder residue can hinder the brazing process, and decrease the strength of the overall braze joint. In the case of assembling sodium nickel halide cells, the residue can also adversely affect the reaction chemistry for the cells, if contact is made with the reaction components. Moreover, the ink processes will still usually be part of a TCB process, with its attendant disadvantages, as noted previously.
With these considerations in mind, new types of sealing structures and compositions for energy storage devices and other types of electrochemical cells would be welcome in the art. The new technology should provide hermetic sealing with a joint strength sufficient to meet rigorous end use requirements for the cell. Moreover, the overall sealing structure should be compatible with electrochemical cell contents that might come into contact with the seals. It would also be desirable if the sealing structures can be obtained with relatively low fabrication costs, e.g., as compared to some of the metallization/TCB processes used in conventional situations.

Methods for joining ceramic and metallic structures


A method utilizes information provided by performance monitoring hardware to dynamically adjust the number of levels of speculative branch predictions allowed (typically 3 or 4 per thread) for a processor core. The information includes cycles-per-instruction (CPI) for the processor core and number of memory accesses per unit time. If the CPI is below a CPI threshold; and the number of memory accesses (NMA) per unit time is above a prescribed threshold, the number of levels of speculative branch predictions is reduced per thread for the processor core. Likewise, the number of levels of speculative branch predictions could be increased, from a low level to maximum allowed, if the CPI threshold is exceeded or the number of memory accesses per unit time is below the prescribed threshold.

The present invention relates to processors, and more specifically, to a method and apparatus for enhancing or improving the performance of the processors. In general, processors may be classified as single core and multiple cores. The multiple cores processors consist of processing logic, termed core, repeated several times on a substrate; while bus and memories are shared among the cores. A typical processor may be regarded as a set of entities consisting of logic to perform specific operations, for example, arithmetic operations, logic operations, and other data processing functions, coupled with mechanism to store data, retrieve data, and instructions from memory.
A measure of performance of a processor is the number of instructions executed per clock cycle. The current trend in processor technology is to increase this number; thereby improving the performance of the processor. Several techniques and features have been added to the architecture of processors to achieve this end. Some examples of features and techniques include cache memories, translation look up blocks (TLB), pipelining, branch prediction logic, etc. One area of concern is the branch prediction logic, which guesses the path through the code that the processor will take. If the guess is correct, the feature does enhance the performance of the processor. However, if the guess or prediction is in error (i.e. wrong), this may reduce the performance of the processor rather than enhance it. The likelihood of under performance by the processor due to erroneous branch prediction is addressed in the embodiment set forth herein.

Performance of processors is improved by limiting number of branch prediction levels

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A tunable impedance network and a method for tuning the tunable impedance network are disclosed. In one aspect, the tunable impedance network comprises a plurality of transformers connected in series. Each transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding. The transformers have a voltage transformation ratio of N:1 with N>1. An impedance structure, acting as a resonant circuit together with the inductance of the secondary winding, is connected at the secondary winding of each transformer. A control circuit or processor is configured to tune the imaginary part of at least one of the impedance structures so as to change its resonance frequency to mimic a reference impedance. The control circuit is further configured to tune the real part of at least one of the impedance structures so as to change its Q-factor to mimic the reference impedance.

Field
The present invention relates generally to tunable impedances. In particular, the present invention relates to tunable impedances that can for example be used in wireless communications and more particularly in radio transceivers.
Description of the Related Technology
Many modern wireless standards such as HSPA+ (Evolved High-Speed Packet Access) and LTE (Long Term Evolution) require frequency division duplexing (FDD) operation. FDD is the process of transmitting and receiving with one wireless node at the same time, but at a frequency offset. Isolation between the transmitter and receiver is a critical issue to guarantee a reliable communication channel, since a typical receiver saturates in the presence of the interference generated by the transmitter (commonly referred as a self-interference). Surface acoustic wave (SAW)-based duplexers are typically used in modern cell phones to tackle the issue of self-interference by providing the necessary isolation. SAW components, however, have several issues. First of all, they cannot be integrated with a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) die, leading to a higher bill of material (BOM). Second, they are fixed frequency filters, and with the ever increasing amount of bands, this means more and more SAW duplexers are required.
A promising method has already been proposed to implement a tunable duplexer in CMOS, called electrical balance duplexing. Using this method, several fixed frequency SAW-based duplexers may be replaced by a single tunable duplexer, which decreases the bill of material. The concept of electrical balance duplexing is illustrated in FIG. 1. In electrical balance duplexing, the power amplifier (PA) 110 signal (i.e. at the transmitter (TX) port) is equally split across both the antenna impedance ZANT 120 and a so-called balance impedance network ZBAL 130. When the impedance of the balance impedance network ZBAL 130 is equal to the antenna impedance ZANT 120, the TX signal is common-mode to the differential balun 140, and ideally no signal couples to the low-noise amplifier (LNA) 150 side, i.e. no current is induced in the secondary winding of the transformer on the low-noise amplifier (LNA)-side 144 (i.e. the receiver (RX) 150 port). This is called electrical balance. In this way, the low-noise amplifier 150 from the RX is isolated from the TX, so that no self-interference problems occur.
Ideally, both the balun 140 and the balance network ZBAL 130 are integrated together with the transceiver to save on the bill-of-materials. Modern software-defined radio (SDR) implementations are implemented in digital CMOS so that the baseband processor are integrated on the same die as the analog front-ends.
Several implementation problems of the antenna impedance balancing network (ZBAL in FIG. 1) limit practical implementations of electrical balance duplexing. First, the impedance of the balance impedance network ZBAL 130 has to be tunable to cover the required antenna impedance ZANT 120 across frequency. Tunable components implemented as for example a network of switched passive components (inductors, capacitors and resistors) may provide a tunable passive impedance, which depends on the passives that are switched on.
Second, the tunable components need to be highly linear in order not to degrade achieved transmitter chain linearity performance, even upon high PA power. At high PA power levels, a certain adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) performance is achieved by the transmitter chain, to adhere to the transmission mask as defined by the standard. When a non-linear component is added between the PA 110 and the antenna 120 (e.g. a duplexer with non-linear switches), this ACLR performance should not be degraded. A simple measure of linearity performance of any RF component is the input-referred 3rd order intermodulation extrapolation point (IIP3). A typical example shows that the required IIP3 should be as high as +53 dBm at 30 dBm output power while achieving a TX chain performance of −40 dBc ACLR.
Third, the switchable components in the balance impedance network ZBAL 130 have to withstand the high voltage swings of the PA 110 (which may have peak RMS levels as high as about 10 to 20V). In digital CMOS, the main method of switching passive impedance components is with thin-oxide transistors. Thin-oxide MOS transistors have low breakdown voltages (up to about 3V) and the PA signal severely limits lifetime expectancy of such implementations, if it would not cause immediate breakdown. If, as described by Minsik Ahn et al. In "A 1.8 GHz 33-dBm P 0.1-dB CMOS T/R Switch Using Stacked FETs With Feed-Forward Capacitors in a Floated Well Structure", IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 57, No. 11, November 2009, stacked-FETs with feed-forward capacitors in a floating well structure are used as switches, high-voltages could potentially be sustained in CMOS.
However, in this solution, multiple devices are used to be able to withstand higher voltages. For some implementations, sufficient linearity may not be achieved. Unlike generic CMOS switches, these stacked-FET switches may suffer from additional parasitics, possible impacting tuning range performance. Finally, implementation may not be straight-forward, since models of such devices may not be readily available.


The present invention relates to an interdigitated microelectrode biosensor using the reaction between receptors and target biomaterials, the interdigitated microelectrode biosensor comprising: an insulating layer formed so as to cover all of the sensor formation area of a substrate; a first interdigitated microelectrode formed such that a plurality of first protruding electrodes are arranged in a comb shape on the insulating layer of the substrate; a second interdigitated microelectrode, facing the first interdigitated microelectrode and formed such that a plurality of second protruding electrodes are arranged in a comb shape on the insulating layer of the substrate such that the plurality of second protruding electrodes are arranged to respectively interdigitate with the plurality of first protruding electrodes formed at the first interdigitated microelectrode; and a plurality of receptors arranged in the space between the first and second interdigitated microelectrodes, which are arranged to interdigitate with each other, so as to specifically react with the target biomaterial, thereby increasing an impedance detection width and detection limit, and improving detection accuracy according to the characteristics of each monomer and each polymer.

In recent years, many biosensors have been developed for detecting the presence and concentration of a variety of biological substances, such as genes and proteins, by electrical methods. One example is to use interdigitated microelectrodes. Since biosensors using interdigitated microelectrodes have a very substantially broad region in a zigzag configuration where receptors capable of binding specifically to biological substances are immobilized, they are praised for their ability to measure even a low concentration of the biological substances.
Such a biosensor using interdigitated microelectrodes is disclosed in Korean Patent No. 777973 (published on Nov. 29, 2007). According to this patent, since the concentration of a biological substance is measured based on an electric current flowing between the electrodes, it is necessary to use conductive particles for the flow of electric current between the electrodes. However, the use of the conductive particles is troublesome.
Further, the biosensor has the problem that a larger amount of an electric field having an influence on the impedance between the electrodes escapes upward from the electrodes than the amount generated between the electrodes. That is to say, the impedance variation is more affected by changes generated above the electrodes than by reactions generated between the electrodes. As a result, a narrow width and a low limit of impedance detection as well as a low accuracy of impedance detection are obtained, thereby implying poor reliability and availability of the biosensor.

Bio-sensor having interdigitated microelectrode using response of receptor and target bioproducts

Korea Institute of Science and Technology


A mirror system having a common framework that allows interchangeability of mirror styles. The mirror system includes a first skeleton support structure operatively attached to a portion of a vehicle. The support structure including a mounting bracket therein. A removable cover adapted to be attached thereover for providing a stylistic appearance to the bracket portion. A second support structure is provided for attachment to the bracket portion. A second support structure includes attachments for supporting a mirror assembly therein. The support assembly includes a connection structure. An outer interchangeable cover portion is provided, which is interchangeably fitted to the support structure for providing a variable stylistic outer surface to the mirror.

The present invention relates to vehicle side view mirrors. More particularly, the present invention relates to a side view mirror assembly with interchangeable appearance covers, generally shown at 10 in the drawings.
The style, features and functions of vehicle side view mirrors have become increasingly important to both manufacturers and consumers in today's automotive and vehicle market. Typically, in the past, vehicle mirrors and features therein are designed for a particular model, with little, if any, interchangeability of parts.
A particular mirror design is designed specifically for a particular application with both mechanical features, such as a manually adjustable mirror or an electrically adjustable mirror, and stylistic design considerations being created for a single specific design. While these mirrors have been adequate, they require a separate manufacture for each type of design, whether foldable, manually adjustable or electrically adjustable or the like. Therefore, design changes either stylistically or feature-wise are hard to accomplish in a timely manner.
Thus, in the past, typically stylistic changes require entire rebuilds of the internal component and framework, along with the external stylistic changes. Therefore, it has been desirable to provide a system which will allow interchangeability of aesthetic features and various options. Preferably, the system would include a generic mirror control module over which various stylistic covers could be fitted to provide different stylistic looks to the mirror assembly.

Mirror with interchangeable appearance covers


A multiple magnification optical system has a single objective focused upon a specimen at a given working distance. A graded-index lens receives light passing through the objective from the specimen. A beam splitter splits the light exiting the gradient-index lens into a first optical axis and a second optical axis. A first lens is aligned in the first optical axis between the beam splitter and a first camera to focus a magnified image at the first camera. A second camera is situated along the second optical axis from the rear principal plane of the objective so as to obtain unity magnification when the working distance of the objective is set at twice its focal length. Multiple magnifications can be obtained with a single objective by moving the optical system axially to set different working distances from a specimen, and by using multiple beam splitters, or combinations thereof.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure is related to microscopes adapted for use in charged-particle instruments, where the microscope provides multiple magnifications with a single objective lens.
2. Background
It is often desirable to optically monitor the processing of a sample inside the closed space of a charged-particle beam apparatus, such as a focused ion-beam microscope or scanning-electron microscope, or any other vacuum chamber lacking the capability to render an image with high magnification. The distance from the vacuum chamber wall to the sample imaging location, the limited space between the sample and the charged-particle beam pole piece, the limited number of ports available in the charged-particle beam apparatus and the necessity to keep the vacuum pressure unchanged make it difficult to find a reliable and simple solution to this problem.
In this disclosure, we solve these problems using a single-objective lens combined with a gradient index lens (also called a self-focusing rod lens) to provide images of a specimen with different magnifications to two or more cameras or imaging devices. We also disclose systems adaptable to existing nanomanipulators, so that the working distance from the specimen to the objective can be easily varied as the nanomanipulator moves the system toward or away from the specimen. Such a system would also preferably be integrated with light sources for illumination of the specimen The light delivered inside the vacuum chamber can be of any wavelength from the optical region of deep UV (starting from 190 nm) to far IR (up to 10 microns).

Multiple magnification optical system with single objective lens


Testing I/O (input/output) eye width for an interface with an inverted modulated strobe or clock signal. An I/O interface includes multiple signal lines, each with a hardware I/O buffer with timing characteristics. A system generates a strobe signal with a triggering edge that triggers a write, and a trailing edge that is modulated by adjusting the duty cycle of the strobe signal. The system inverts the modulated strobe signal to generate an inverted strobe signal, wherein the inverted strobe signal has a modulated triggering edge generated from inverting the modulated trailing edge. The device under test writes test data based on the triggering edge of the original strobe signal and reads test data based on the triggering edge of the inverted strobe signal.

Computing and electronic devices continue to get smaller, even while performance remains the same or increases. Smaller computing and electronic devices are made possible by smaller electronic components due to smaller geometries on the components. Manufacturing processes can currently generate components that have a large number of I/O (input/output) signal lines in an I/O interface, and with a smaller pitch between the signal lines than is practically possible to contact for direct AC and DC performance testing. DC (direct current) performance settings refers to biasing and/or voltage levels associated with the signaling, while AC (alternating current) performance refers to the timing of the edges of the signals over the interface, where testing for AC performance can be referred to as margining.
The decreasing size of the electronic components and the pitch between signal lines increases the difficulty of testing the devices. For many devices, the number of signal lines and the small pitch makes it impractical to directly test the I/O interface. A lack of direct testing has increased the risk that device manufacturers will not be able to achieve ultralow defects per million (DPM) targets with traditional testing. One specific area of technology in which such risks are currently being presented is with wide interface memory devices. Available testing methods are not practical in mass production (e.g., HVM (high volume manufacturing)) where the time required to test devices serially would be prohibitive.
The manufacturers of the electronic component chips (e.g., such as DRAM (dynamic random access memory) suppliers) test the I/O interface or the I/O signal array. Traditional methods for testing I/O AC timing are structural testing that attempt to exercise a particular electronic component block. Structural testing requires different tests for each different component and/or element of a circuit block. Structural testing does not capture noise, making the testing results optimistic if not outright incorrect. Traditional testing relies on margining on a single data bit within a burst pattern. Traditional testing methods screen for outliers in AC timings (e.g., setup and hold timing margins at the receiver), but are very slow and costly.
Descriptions of certain details and implementations follow, including a description of the figures, which may depict some or all of the embodiments described below, as well as discussing other potential embodiments or implementations of the inventive concepts presented herein.

Duty cycle based timing margining for I/O AC timing


A bicycle transmission includes a hub axle, a drive member rotatably mounted around the hub axle, a hub body rotatably mounted around the hub axle, and a gear mechanism coupled between the drive member and the hub body for communicating rotational force from the drive member to the hub body through multiple transmission paths. A clutch is rotatably mounted around the hub axle, wherein the clutch is movable in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the hub axle for selecting a rotational force transmission path through the gear mechanism. A clutch operator for operating the clutch includes a first guide surface formed along the hub axle and a first shift key that operates the clutch when the first shift key is moved along the first guide surface. The clutch includes a first cam face that is inclined relative to the axis of the hub axle for contacting the first shift key and for converting rotational force of the clutch into axial displacement of the clutch to ensure operation of the clutch.

The present invention is directed to bicycle transmissions and, more particularly, to bicycle transmissions internally mounted within a wheel hub.
An example of a conventional internal shifter unit is the shifter unit disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,664. An internal shifter unit is usually provided with a clutch that is used to select among a plurality of drive force transmission paths via a gear mechanism equipped with a planet gear or the like provided on the inside. When the shift operation unit attached to the handlebar or the like is operated, the inner cable of the shift cable is pulled or relaxed to operate the clutch. When the inner cable is pulled, the clutch can be operated by this pulling force, but since this pulling force is absent when the cable is relaxed, the energizing force of a return spring or the like is utilized to operate the clutch in the reverse direction.
In the case of an internal shifter unit, when the pedal is forcefully pressed down and a large drive load is applied, a large separation resistance is generated in the gear mechanism inside the internal shifter unit. More specifically, when a drive force is applied, the friction increases at the engaged portion between two gears or between a pawl and a tooth in the transmission, which is a problem in that clutch switching becomes more difficult. The spring force of the return spring can be increased so that the return spring will overcome this separation resistance and allow operation when the cable is relaxed, but then when the cable is pulled it will must pull against this increased spring force of the return spring, so a greater cable pulling force is needed. Thus, if the strength of the return spring is reduced, the operating force with respect to the clutch is weakened during relaxation of the cable, and if the spring strength is increased, a greater force is needed to pull the cable.


An electrical switch has two fixed contacts and a moving contact, a spring urging the moving contact towards contacting the fixed contacts, and an actuating mechanism for moving the moving contact away from the fixed contacts against urging by the spring and, alternatively, allowing the moving contact to contact the fixed contacts under the action of the spring. The actuating mechanism has an engaging member for engaging and retaining the moving contact and includes a spring acting on the engaging member for separating the moving contact from the fixed contacts through an instant spring-release action. One of the engaging member and the contacts is configured such that the moving contact will be engaged and moved by the engaging member out of contact with one of the fixed contacts earlier than with the other fixed contact.

An electrical switch of the kind concerned typically has a casing, two fixed contacts, and a moving contact which is resiliently biased towards contacting the fixed contacts, whereby the switch is closed. A spring-loaded actuator is used to bring about movement of the moving contact relative to the fixed contacts, and in particular to move the moving contact out of contact from the fixed contacts for opening the switch.
During opening of the switch, it is unpredictable as to which one of the fixed contacts the moving contact is to leave last. This is a concern in the design of heavy-current switches as arcing and/or flashover often occur at where the circuit is opened i.e. across the moving contact and the fixed contact it departs last. Of course, both fixed contacts together with the moving contact can be enhanced for better performance, for example made larger and/or coated with platinum, but production cost will escalate. Another consideration is the speed at which the moving contact is separated from the fixed contacts.
The invention seeks to provide an improved electrical switch of this type in general.


A left coronary catheter including a hub, a linear flexible tubular body stock extending from the hub and a curved flexible tubular stem extending from the body stock. The curved stem includes a first, arcuate section extending from a distal end of the body stock, a second, arcuate section from a distal end of the first section, a third, arcuate section extending from a distal end of the second section, and a fourth, linear section including a soft tip extending from a distal end of the third section. The first and second sections curve toward the body stock. The third section curves away from the body stock.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to coronary catheters. In particular, the present invention is a catheter for use in connection with medical procedures on the left coronary artery.
2. Description of the Related Art
Catheters used in connection with medical procedures on the coronary system are generally known and disclosed, for example, in the following U.S. patents, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety and for all purposes:
______________________________________ Inventor U.S. Pat. No. ______________________________________ Ruiz 4,973,306 Ruiz 4,735,620 Bower 5,299,574 Rickerd 5,322,509 Voda 5,401,258 ______________________________________
Coronary catheters of the type described in the above-identified patents typically include an elongated and flexible tubular member mounted to a hub. The tubular member includes a relatively long and generally straight section sometimes referred to as the body stock which extends from the hub, and a nonlinear or curved section sometimes referred to as the stem which extends from the body stock. The distal end of the stem is often terminated with a tip.
The size, flexibility and other characteristics of catheters will vary depending upon their intended use. One particular type of catheter used for catheterization of the left coronary artery is known as a left coronary catheter. Left coronary catheters are inserted tip first into the femoral, brachial or radial artery of the patient and directed upwardly through the aorta until the tip is positioned adjacent to and engaged with the ostium or opening of the left coronary artery. During this catheterization procedure the tip of the catheter passes in sequence through the descending aorta, the aortic arch and the ascending aorta. Once it has been inserted, the catheter can be used for a wide variety of medical procedures. By way of example, interventional devices such as stents, rotational and directional atherectomy devices, guidewires and other devices can be deployed to the left coronary artery through the lumen in the catheter. Catheters of this type can also be used to guide and support balloon dilation catheters for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or percutaneous transluminal peripheral angioplasty (PTA), and for injecting dyes and other contrast media into the artery in connection with these procedures.
To be efficacious, left coronary catheters must be capable of being quickly inserted and removed from the aorta. The catheters must also be capable of accurately positioning their tips at the ostium of the artery being treated, without suddenly extending into and damaging the artery, a characteristic known as diving. The catheter also must provide a back-up support since after it is inserted, a force known as the deployment force will be exerted on the interventional device being directed to the artery through the catheter. Without sufficient back-up support insertion of an interventional device may not be possible and trauma to the body vessels or ostium may occur. It is desirable that the inserted catheter be capable of retaining its position to allow the interventional device to be accurately deployed within the artery, even if relatively high deployment force is required. The catheter should, of course, be capable of providing these characteristics and properties while avoiding damage to the body vessels through which it is directed.
The shape of the catheter stem is an important factor contributing to the overall success of the procedures described above. Decisions on whether a given device can be delivered to a treatment site and the procedure successfully performed often depend upon the ability to appropriately catheterize the patient. There is, therefore, a continuing need for catheters having improved stem shapes.


A drainage bag for receiving bodily waste, such as an ostomy bag, comprises an outer bag of material soluble in cold water, e.g. polyvinyl alcohol, and an inner bag of material insoluble in water at ambient temperature and body temperature but soluble in organic solvent, e.g. 2-oxepanone polymer (polycaprolactone). When the bag (and contents) are to be disposed of, appropriate organic solvent (e.g. benzyl alcohol) is applied to the inner bag. The bag can then be placed in a WC bowl and is flushable after about 1-2 minutes.

Ostomy bags are in widespread use for collecting unabsorbed or excreted bodily waste material from the digestive tracts of colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy patients. Disposal of used ostomy bags and their contents presents a serious practical problem for users. This has led to various proposals for ostomy bags that can be disposed of (with contents) by being flushed down a conventional domestic water closet (WC). Potential problems that arise in this connection include bags floating and failing to flush and bags flushing but causing blockage of drains. Flushable ostomy bags should also ideally be biodegradable, for environmental reasons.
GB 2083762 discloses a WC-disposable ostomy pouch made of composite sheet material comprising an inner layer of mechanically weaker, water-impermeable material, e.g. polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) and an outer layer of mechanically stronger, water-soluble or disintegratable material, e.g. appropriate grades of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).
WO 94/12128 discloses an ostomy bag comprising a water-impermeable outer bag, e.g. of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and a water impermeable inner bag, e.g. of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) of a grade that is slowly soluble in cold water. The outer and inner bags are detachably secured together such that when the bag has been used and is ready for disposal, the outer bag is detached from the inner bag for separate disposal, e.g. in a domestic household waste bin. The inner bag and contents are removed from the body of a user and can be flushed away down a WC.
Another approach is to provide flushable ostomy bags comprising pH-sensitive material. See, e.g., GB 2195919 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,677.
WO 96/37171 discloses other approaches including flushable ostomy pouches comprising water-insoluble but organic solvent-soluble materials.

Bioprogress Technology International, Inc.


A system and method for calibrating a multi-port S-parameter measurement device reduces the number of full calibrations necessary to characterize the multi-port S-parameter measurement device by utilizing a reciprocal network concept. The multi-port S-parameter measurement device includes a network analyzer having network ports connected to respective sets of switch ports on a switch. Full calibrations are performed on selected port pairs of the switch to determine the calibration arrays for each of the port pairs. Each port pair includes one switch port from two different sets of switch ports. A switch error having three switch error terms attributable to a reciprocal network introduced by an unselected one of the switch ports not included within any of the one or more port pairs is determined, and the switch error is de-embedded from the calibration arrays to construct a complete set of calibration arrays for all of the measurement paths in the multi-port S-parameter measurement device.

In the RF and microwave frequency ranges (1 MHz to over 40 GHz), devices can be characterized by their scattering (S) parameters. S-parameters provide information on device performance and can be easily measured by commercially available S-parameter measurement devices, also known as network analyzers. Network analyzers can be grouped into two categories: scalar network analyzers (SNAs) and vector network analyzers (VNAs). SNAs measure the amplitudes of the S-parameters, while VNAs measure both the amplitudes and phases of the S-parameters.
In operation, when the ports of a device under test (DUT) are connected to the ports of a network analyzer, the network analyzer applies a signal to each device port in succession and measures the amplitude and the phase (when using a VNA) of the reflected and transmitted waves to determine the S-parameters of the DUT. However, with virtually any network analyzer, there are inevitable hardware imperfections that can produce significant measurement errors if the imperfections are not accounted for in the measurements. The process of characterizing the imperfections in the network analyzer is known as calibration.
The basic premise of calibration is to use a mathematical error model of the network analyzer with a number of unknown error terms to describe all of the main error contributions. In practice, calibration involves connecting certain well-known devices, called standards, to the network analyzer, and using the resulting measurements to mathematically solve for the error terms of the error model. After calibration, the error terms can be removed from the measurement of any DUT to correct for imperfections in the network analyzer.
Most network analyzers are designed to measure the S-parameters of two-port devices, typically with coaxial or waveguide interfaces. However, as technology advances, more complicated DUTs that require multi-port S-parameter characterization are becoming common. To accommodate multi-port DUTs with a two-port network analyzer, the two-port network analyzers are often connected to programmable switch boxes that contain at least as many ports as the number of ports on the DUT. The network analyzer measures the S-parameters of the DUT between two device ports by setting the switch to couple the two switch ports connected to the two device ports to the two network analyzer ports. The remaining switch ports are terminated in the switch box.
However, the addition of a programmable switch box introduces new errors into the measurement system. To remove the switch box errors, each transmission path through the switch box (i.e., each switch port pair) must be calibrated. Thus, with N switch ports, N(N−1)/2 transmission paths must be calibrated. For example, for a 10-port DUT, in one calibration method, 45 separate two-port measurements are required to determine the error terms for the switch box. Calibrating such a large number of transmission paths is time consuming, difficult and cost-prohibitive.
Therefore, what is needed is a calibration system and method that reduces the number of full calibrations necessary to characterize a multi-port S-parameter measurement device.

Multi-port scattering parameter calibration system and method


A process for recovering at least one of CF.sub.4 and C.sub.2 F.sub.6 from a vent gas from an aluminum electrolysis cell. The process includes the steps of:. (a) removing inorganic fluorides from a vent gas comprising inorganic fluorides and at least one of CF.sub.4 and C.sub.2 F.sub.6 to obtain a purified vent gas; and PA1 (b) contacting the purified vent gas with a membrane at conditions effective to obtain a retentate stream rich in at least one of CF.sub.4 and C.sub.2 F.sub.6, and a permeate stream depleted in at least one of CF.sub.4 and C.sub.2 F.sub.6.

Currently, aluminum metal is commercially manufactured in two steps. The first step involves extracting alumina (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3) from bauxite using a Bayer process. The second step involves reducing the alumina which is dissolved in a mixture of molten cryolite (Na.sub.3 AlF.sub.6) and aluminum trifluoride (AlF.sub.3) in an electrolysis cell at about 950 to 960.degree. C. using the Hall-Heroult process. In the second step, aluminum-containing ions are reduced electrochemically to produce metallic aluminum at the metal cathode surface.
During normal electrolysis, carbon anodes are consumed as oxygen-containing ions react with the carbon anodes to form carbon dioxide and aluminum metal according to the following equation: EQU 2Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 +3C.fwdarw.4Al+3CO.sub.2
However, at certain conditions, the electrolysis cell approaches an anode effect. This approach is characterized by the following events:
(1) The alumina concentration in the bulk of the electrolyte decreases below 2% by weight; PA1 (2) Higher concentrations of fluoride ions prevail near the anode as the concentration of oxygen containing ions decreases; PA1 (3) The anode polarization voltage increases significantly; PA1 (4) The critical current density of the carbon anode is exceeded for the discharge of only oxygen-containing anions; and PA1 (5) F.sub.2 is eventually discharged at the anode surface from the decomposition of cryolite. PA1 (a) removing inorganic fluorides from a vent gas comprising inorganic fluorides and at least one of CF.sub.4 and C.sub.2 F.sub.6 to obtain a purified vent gas; and PA1 (b) contacting the purified vent gas with a membrane at conditions effective to obtain a retentate stream rich in at least one of CF.sub.4 and C.sub.2 F.sub.6, and a permeate stream depleted in at least one of CF.sub.4 and C.sub.2 F.sub.6. PA1 (a) electrolytically reducing alumina dissolved in a mixture of molten cryolite and aluminum trifluoride in an electrolysis cell to produce aluminum; PA1 (b) withdrawing a vent gas comprising F.sub.2, HF, and at least one of CF.sub.4 and C.sub.2 F.sub.6 from the electrolysis cell; PA1 (c) contacting the vent gas with alumina at conditions effective to react F.sub.2 and HF with the alumina to produce aluminum trifluoride and a gas stream comprising the at least one of CF.sub.4 and C.sub.2 F.sub.6 ; PA1 (d) recycling at least a portion of the aluminum trifluoride from step (c) to the electrolysis cell; and PA1 (e) contacting the gas stream comprising the at least one of CF.sub.4 and C.sub.2 F.sub.6 with a membrane at conditions effective to obtain a retentate stream rich in at least one of CF.sub.4 and C.sub.2 F.sub.6, and a permeate stream depleted in at least one of CF.sub.4 and C.sub.2 F.sub.6.
During anode effects, the fluorine discharged at the anode reacts with the carbon to form CF.sub.4 and C.sub.2 F.sub.6 according to the following equation: EQU 2Na.sub.3 AlF.sub.6 +2C.fwdarw.2Al+2NaF+CF.sub.4 +C.sub.2 F.sub.6
For a more detailed discussion of the anode effect, see Alton T. Tabereaux, Anode Effects, PFCs, Global Warming, and the Aluminum Industry, JOM, pp. 30-34 (November 1994).
For a typical electrolysis cell, the emission rate of CF.sub.4 and C.sub.2 F.sub.6 per day is 0.25 kg. There are normally 100 to 200 cells per plant. Therefore, the daily emission of CF.sub.4 and C.sub.2 F.sub.6 per plant is about 50 kg.
The emission of CF.sub.4 and C.sub.2 F.sub.6 from aluminum plants has typically been vented directly into the atmosphere. However, these gases, which are 10,000 times more potent than CO.sub.2, have recently been classified as global warming gases. Thus, with the signing of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change which is aimed at reducing the emission of global warming gases, there is a significant need in the industry for a way to minimize or eliminate the emission of these gases into the atmosphere.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to address this need in the aluminum industry.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent in light of the following specification, and the appended drawings and claims.

Process for recovering CF.sub.4 and C.sub.2 F.sub.6 from vent gases of an aluminum production cell


A reciprocating piston-type internal combustion engine includes an engine cylinder, an intake port, an intake runner providing a passage through which intake gas enters the cylinder through the intake port, an intake valve for opening and closing the intake port, and a first flap located in the intake runner upstream from the intake valve, arranged in series with the intake valve, and having first and second positional states that vary during each engine cycle. The first state opens the intake runner passage to permit intake gas to enter the cylinder through the intake port. The second state at least partially closes the intake runner passage to control the flow of gas exiting or entering the cylinder through the intake port.

The present invention relates generally to a variable intake control system for an internal combustion (IC) engine. More particularly, it pertains to an intake system that employs cycle-by-cycle control of airflow and compressible fluid resonance techniques to efficiently use or enhance intake gas pressure pulses when charging the cylinders.
Camless variable valve actuation systems have been developed to control engine intake valves and exhaust valves using electrohydraulic and electromagnetic technology rather than conventional mechanical camshafts to provide variability in the charging process that cannot be obtained with fixed camshaft actuation of the engine valves. But these camless valve actuation systems are costly and complicated.
Various techniques are used to improve the intake gas supply of reciprocating piston-type internal combustion engines. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,699 describes an intake gas resonance system associated with a group of engine cylinders whose suction strokes do not significantly overlap. The system includes a resonator communicating with intake openings of the cylinders. The system further has a resonance tube communicating with the resonator. The resonance tube has a length portion terminating at the resonator vessel and having cross-sectional areas increasing towards the resonator vessel. The cross-sectional area taken at the end of the resonance tube where it joins the resonator vessel is at least 1.2 times greater than the minimum cross section of the resonance tube. The distance between the end of the resonance tube joining the resonator vessel and an oppositely located inner wall face of the resonator vessel is greater than the diameter of a circle whose area equals the cross-sectional area taken at that end of the resonance tube.
There is need for a simple, low cost technique to improve engine intake gas charging control, in which intake and exhaust valves are controlled by single or double lobed camshafts, preferably camshafts designed to produce the longest valve open periods that are required anywhere in the engine operating map. Such cam timing features are best suited for optimal high speed, high power engine operation, and are accomplished with fixed cam timing. However, these long opening periods will be detrimental during other modes of engine operation, at lower speeds and loads, and thus require additional controls to provide variability which produces optimal performance at all points in the operating map.
There is a further need also to enhance exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) into an IC engine using conventional structural components and simple electronic control strategies. Additionally, a two stroke IC engine having no engine intake or exhaust valves would be controlled during each engine cycle to prevent back flow of engine exhaust gas from the exhaust runner into the combustion cylinder.
It is desirable, therefore, to provide means for improving the air handling capabilities of a naturally aspirated engine using inexpensive components that do not require extensive modification to the valve train system of the engine.

Indirect variable valve actuation for an internal combustion engine


Methods, apparatus, systems and computer program products are provided for an improved media content rating system. The rating system herein disclosed is highly-granular in nature, in that, the rating system allows for ratings to be based on the number of times that portions, segments, clips of the media file are played or otherwise executed, as opposed to basing the media content rating solely on the number of times that the media file is played. In this regard, the aspects herein described may further provide for ratings of the portions, segments, clips of the media content as opposed to limiting the rating to a rating for the overall media content file.

1. Field
The described aspects relate to media content, and more particularly, to apparatus, methods and systems for an improved media content rating system.
2. Background
Communication devices, and more specifically wireless communication devices, such as cellular telephones, have rapidly gained in popularity over the past decade. These devices are rapidly becoming multifaceted devices capable of providing a wide-range of functions. For example, a cellular telephone may also embody computing capabilities, Internet access, electronic mail, text messaging, GPS mapping, digital photographic capability, an audio/MP3 player, video gaming capabilities and the like.
In addition, wireless communication devices are increasingly being manufactured with the ability to receive media content, such as audio content, video content, multimedia content or the like. As such, the communication devices may be configured to receive one-to-many transmissions, such as broadcast transmissions and/or multicast transmissions and/or one-to-one transmissions, such as unicast transmissions or the like. An example of a current multicast system is the MediaFLO™ system available from Qualcomm Incorporated of San Diego, Calif. The MediaFLO™ system utilizes orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)-air interface based technology designed specifically for multicasting a significant volume of rich multimedia content cost effectively to wireless device subscribers.
Additionally, as memory capacity on wireless communication devices continues to increase the ability to store a larger volume of media content on the wireless communication device becomes apparent. In this regard, when the wireless device possesses the capability to store numerous media content files, the user of such a device can enjoy the experience of repeatedly playing, listening or otherwise executing a favorite or preferred media content file while the file is stored and accessible on the device. For example, an 80 GigaByte (GB) device can store approximately 10,000 song files, approximately 50 full-length movies or a combination thereof. Such large storage volumes allow the user to accumulate a library of media content.
Various entities may benefit from knowing what media content a user of wireless device is playing or otherwise executing and, equally important, a user's preference for a particular media content file (i.e., how much a user enjoys a media content file or how they rate the media content file). For example, network operators, content providers, recording labels, motion picture studios and the like may benefit from such information. This information provides the entity with insight into the popularity of specific media content and the repeatability in terms of frequency of playing/executing. In turn, the entities can rely such information to provide future marketing strategies, media content pricing and the like.
Currently systems are deployed for rating media content, however, the systems are limited and do not necessarily provide the entities of interest the degree of information that they desire. In certain known systems, the user is relied upon to input ratings for media content. For example, a user can record a rating or score for a particular media content file based on their subjective preference for the media content file. This type of system requires the user to take an action beyond just playing or executing the media content in order for a rating to be recorded. Such a system does not provide for comprehensive ratings because a user will typically only provide ratings to a mere portion of the media content files that are played or otherwise executed. Thus, any rating results that are subsequently communicated to network entities, such as service providers, network operators or the like do not provide an accurate picture of the overall user's preference for the media content.
Other rating systems rely solely on the number of times that a media content file is played or otherwise executed as a means of gauging the user's preference for the media content. However, this type of rating system is also plagued with inaccuracies. In most instances, these types of rating systems will log a "play" each time a media content file is launched, regardless of whether the file is played in its entirety. Thus, if the user is experiencing technical difficulties in executing the file, causing numerous re-launches, the rating system will inaccurately inflate the user preference for this file. In the same regard, if a user does not view a video file, such as a movie, in its entirety during a single play but rather views the entire video file over numerous plays (e.g., the user watches a movie in fifteen minute segments), the rating system will inaccurately inflate the user preference for this file.
Conversely, if the rating system is configured to record a "play" only if the media content is played in its entirety, the rating system will not account for instances in which the user desires to only play a portion of a media content file (e.g., the user desires to only watch a certain scene in a movie or listen to a certain portion of a song.) and therefore, the rating system will inaccurately deflate the user preference for this file. Additionally, such rating systems only provide for a rating of the overall media content file and do not provide the ability to rate portions of the media file. Thus, in the above example in which the user only desires to play a portion of the media content, the rating system can not differentiate between a preference to play or otherwise execute the media content in its entirety versus playing or otherwise executing only a portion of the media file.
Therefore a need exists to develop methods, apparatus, systems and computer program products that provide for an improved media content rating system. The desired content rating system should be automated, such that ratings can be provided without any additional user input beyond selecting an executing the media content. Additionally, the desired media content rating system should provide for a higher level of granularity than current media content rating systems, thereby increasing the accuracy of the rating system. By providing for a rating system with a greater degree of accounting and higher level of accuracy, network entities, such as service providers, content providers and the like, can more readily rely on the rating information for marketing, sales and/or advertising purposes.

Methods and apparatus for an enhanced media content rating system


The present invention relates to a process for preparing hydroformylation products of olefins having at least four carbon atoms, in which a high proportion of both the linear Ci-olefins having a terminal double bond comprised in the olefin-comprising feed used and of the linear Ci-olefins having an internal double bond is converted into hydroformylation products. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for preparing 2-propylheptanol which comprises such a hydroformylation process.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing hydroformylation products of olefins having at least four carbon atoms, in which a high proportion of both the linear Ci-olefins having a terminal double bond comprised in the olefin-comprising feed used and of the linear Ci-olefins having an internal double bond is converted into hydroformylation products. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for preparing 2-propylheptanol which comprises such a hydroformylation process.
Hydroformylation or the oxo process is an important industrial process and is employed for preparing aldehydes from olefins, carbon monoxide and hydrogen. These aldehydes can, if appropriate, be hydrogenated by means of hydrogen to give the corresponding oxo alcohols in the same process. The reaction itself is strongly exothermic and generally proceeds under superatmospheric pressure and at elevated temperatures in the presence of catalysts. Catalysts used are Co, Rh, Ir, Ru, Pd or Pt compounds or complexes which can be modified with N- or P-comprising ligands to influence the activity and/or selectivity. In the case of the hydroformylation reaction of olefins having more than two carbon atoms, mixtures of isomeric aldehydes can be formed as a result of the possible addition of Co to each of the two carbon atoms of a double bond. In addition, when olefins having at least four carbon atoms are used, double bond isomerization, i.e. shifting of internal double bonds to a terminal position and vice versa, can also occur.
Owing to the significantly greater industrial importance of the α-aldehydes, optimization of the hydroformylation process so as to achieve very high conversions combined with a very low tendency to form olefins having double bonds which are not in the α position is sought. In addition, there is a need for hydroformylation processes which, even starting out from internal or linear olefins, lead to α- and in particular n-aldehydes in good yields. Here, the catalyst used has to make both the establishment of an equilibrium between internal and terminal double bond isomers and the very selective hydroformylation of the terminal olefins possible.
Thus, for example, there is a need for plasticizer alcohols having from about 6 to 12 carbon atoms and a low degree of branching (known as semilinear alcohols) and corresponding mixtures thereof for the production of ester plasticizers having good use properties. These include, in particular, 2-propylheptanol and alcohol mixtures comprising this. They can be prepared, for example, by subjecting C4-hydrocarbon mixtures comprising butenes or butenes and butanes to hydroformylation and subsequent aldol condensation. When hydroformylation catalysts having an insufficient n selectivity are used, the hydroformylation can easily result in formation of not only n-valeraldehyde but also undesirable product aldehydes, which adversely affects the economics of the entire process.
The use of phosphorus-comprising ligands for stabilizing and/or activating the catalyst metal in rhodium-catalyzed low-pressure hydroformylation is known. Suitable phosphorus-comprising ligands are, for example, phosphines, phosphinites, phosphonites, phosphites, phosphoramidites, phospholes and phosphobenzenes. The most widespread ligands at present are triarylphosphines such as triphenylphosphine and sulfonated triphenylphosphine since these have a satisfactory activity and stability under the reaction conditions. However, these ligands have the disadvantage that they generally give satisfactory yields, in particular of linear aldehydes, only in the presence of very large excesses of ligand and internal olefins are not reacted to any appreciable extent.
On the other hand, it has been reported that particular catalysts make hydroformylation of linear olefins with increased selectivity to unbranched reaction products possible. Thus, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,668,651, 4,748,261, 4,769,498 and 4,885,401 disclose particular rhodium/bisphosphite catalysts which allow hydroformylation of various linear olefins, e.g. propylene, butenes and hexenes, with sometimes good selectivity to unbranched reaction products. The conversion of olefins having an internal double bond into linear hydroformylation products can sometimes also be successfully carried out using the rhodium/bisphosphite catalysts described there.
J. Kolena, P. Morávek, J. Lederer, DGMK Tagungsbericht (2001), 2001-4 (Proceedings of the DGMK Conference "Creating Value from Light Olefins—Production and Conversion", 2001), 119-126, it is mentioned on page 121 that rhodium/bisphosphite catalysts as are described in the abovementioned US patent texts have been used in Union Carbide's UNOXOL 10 process for preparing 2-propylheptanol from raffinate II.
A similar process for preparing 2-propylheptanol using 2-butene is described in the patent application WO 03/018192, where chelating phosphordiamidites are used as cocatalysts.
The abovementioned processes using specific rhodium/bisphosphite catalysts have the advantage of partial utilization of olefins having an internal double bond, but the phosphite ligands used or their derivatives have the disadvantage that they undergo various degradation reactions under customary hydroformylation and/or distillation conditions. These include, for example, hydrolysis, alcoholysis, transesterification, Arbusov rearrangement and reaction with cleavage of O—C and P—O bonds, as are described in P. W. N. M. van Leeuwen, Appl. Cat. A: General 2001, 212, 61.
In the process described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,426,542, the hydroformylation is carried out using cobalt catalyst under high-pressure conditions, as a result of which utilization of olefins having an internal double bond is likewise made possible. However, the proportion of n compounds in the hydroformylation products obtained is comparatively low. In addition, the process comprises a step which is carried out under high pressure. The capital costs for high-pressure processes are significantly higher than for low-pressure processes, so that the process is economically disadvantaged.
To achieve virtually complete utilization of olefins in olefin mixtures such as raffinate II using stable rhodium/phosphane catalysts, the process variant described in WO 01/55065 A1 has been developed. This describes a process for the integrated preparation of C9-alcohols and C10-alcohols from raffinate II, in which the butenes comprised in the raffinate II are largely utilized in the hydroformylation step, However, only the α-olefin 1-butene in the raffinate II is utilized for producing the C10-alcohol by means of aldol condensation and hydrogenation. Utilization of the 2-butene is achieved only by means of unavoidable coproduction of C9-alcohols.
If the hydroformylation is carried out as a single-stage process, complete or virtually complete conversions of the olefins used into preferably linear hydroformylation products can therefore frequently not be realized for technical reasons or reasons of process economics. This applies particularly to the use of olefin mixtures which comprise olefins of differing reactivity, for example olefins having internal double bonds and olefins having terminal double bonds. Processes in which the hydroformylation is carried out in two or more reaction stages have therefore been developed. Here, the reactors are, for example, in the form of a cascade in which the individual reactors are operated under different reaction conditions. In this way, it is possible, at a given reaction volume, to achieve a higher conversion than in an individual reactor of the same volume. Thus, for example, DE-A-100 35 120 and DE-A-100 35 370 describe processes for the hydroformylation of olefins in a two-stage reaction system.
EP-A-0 562 451 and EP-A-0 646 563 describe processes for preparing mixtures of isomeric decyl alcohols by two-stage hydroformylation of an olefin mixture comprising 1-butene and 2-butene, aldol condensation of the resulting aldehyde mixture and subsequent hydrogenation. In the process described in EP-A-0 562 451, the first stage predominantly converts 1-butene into valeraldehyde with an n selectivity of greater than 90%, while the unreacted olefins, predominantly 2-butene, are converted into n- and i-valeraldehyde in the second reaction stage. The second stage gives a valeraldehyde having a comparatively low proportion of the n compound. The total proportion of n compounds is thus significantly less than 90%. In addition, the process comprises a step which is carried out at high pressure. The capital costs for high-pressure processes are significantly higher than for low-pressure processes, so that the process is economically disadvantaged.
It is generally known that the isomerization of 2-butenes to 1-butene is an equilibrium reaction. Cis-2-butene, trans-2-butene and 1-butene are present in equilibrium with one another. The thermodynamic data are presented in D. Stull, "The Chemical Thermodynamics of Organic Compounds", J. Wiley, New York 1969. An appropriate combination of isomerization and hydroformylation enabled the utilization possibilities for olefins having an internal double bond and for olefin mixtures comprising such olefins to be considerably improved.
Thus, Beller et al. in Chem. Eur. J. 5 (1999), 1301-1305, describe a process in which an isomerization step and a hydroformylation step are carried out in parallel. Here, two different homogeneous catalyst systems are used in one reactor. One of these catalyzes the isomerization and the other catalyzes the hydroformylation. A disadvantage of this process is that the two catalysts have to be matched to one another in a complicated fashion.
A process sequence in which the isomerization step and the hydroformylation step are carried out separately therefore comes into consideration. Although the double bond isomerization of olefins is known per se, specific requirements have to be taken into account in an industrial reaction which requires efficient coupling with a hydroformylation stage.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,418 teaches that internal olefins can be isomerized to terminal olefins over Zr phosphates which are doped with Cr and/or Th.
It is known from EP-A-751 106 that 1-butene can be obtained from a C4-hydrocarbon stream by subjecting the C4-hydrocarbon stream to a selective hydrogenation and a fractional distillation, separating off a pure 1-butene fraction and then separating off the paraffins from the remaining 2-butene-comprising fraction by means of a molecular sieve and subjecting the resulting olefin-comprising stream to a double bond isomerization and recirculating it to the selective hydrogenation. A disadvantage of this process is that the fraction which has been subjected to the isomerization is recirculated to the hydrogenation step instead of directly to the distillation step. As a result, the volume of the circulating stream is inflated and the reactor in which the hydrogenation is carried out is burdened to a high degree with compounds which are inert toward the hydrogenation and are removed only in the subsequent distillation.
WO 02/096843 describes a process for obtaining 1-butene from 2-butenes. Here, a hydrocarbon stream comprising mainly 2-butenes is subjected to an isomerization and the reaction mixture formed is subjected to a distillation. In the distillation, a 1-butene-rich stream is separated off from a 2-butene-rich stream and the latter is recirculated to the isomerization step. However, this process is uneconomical for a hydrocarbon stream which comprises significant amounts of 1-butene. As a result of the distillation being carried out after the isomerization step, interfering volatile constituents of the feed (e.g. alkynes) can get into the isomerization reactor and there damage the catalyst or lead to formation of undesirable by-products.

Method for the hydroformylation of olefins


A power semiconductor device includes a substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface. A source region of first conductivity is formed within a well region of second conductivity. The source region is provided proximate to the upper surface of the substrate. The well region has a non-polygon design. A gate electrode overlies the upper surface of the substrate. A drain electrode is provided proximate to the lower surface of the substrate.

The present invention relates to power semiconductor devices.
Power metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors and insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) can be grouped as either enhancement-mode or depletion-mode devices. Depletion-mode devices inherently include a pair of P/N junctions that form a parasitic bipolar transistor. Generally, it is preferable to prevent the parasitic transistor from being turned on during operation of the power devices, so that the switching speed of the device is not degraded. Also, if the parasitic transistor does turn on, the primary bipolar device may become latched in the on state that may result in destruction of the device.
As used herein, the term "power device" or "power semiconductor device" refers to the power MOS transistor, an IGBT, or other power switching devices.
Attempts have been made to minimize the likelihood of turning on the parasitic transistor. One method has been to short the source electrode of the MOS device to the body region of the device. This effectively shorts the base and emitter of the parasitic transistor together at the surface of the device. However, because of series resistance in the device body, other portions of the base and emitter are not shorted but have a relatively high impedance bridging the two elements. A highly doped region can be added to reduce the effective resistance of the bridging impedance. Another method has been to provide a resistive path between a source contact area and a channel section to provide a ballast voltage, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,072, which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.


Embodiments of the invention relate to managing a messaging state across multiple clients and devices which use respective communications systems. In one embodiment, a plurality of users are connected to multiple messaging communications systems. The multiple messaging communications systems use a plurality of associated messaging clients on each of the users' respective devices, for messaging communications between the users. The users' messaging communications are stored from the multiple messaging communications systems and their respective messaging clients, using a proxy service. A device, of the plurality of messaging clients, being used by a messaging user of the plurality of users is tracked. A current messaging communication of the messaging user from the stored messaging communications is routed to the currently used device, using the proxy service, for maintaining a state of the messaging communications of the users.

Embodiments of the invention relate to managing electronic messaging across multiple clients. Communicative exchanges by multiple users using a communications network can be extensive. Users may communicate via electronic messaging which may be accessible by a computer or personal data assistant (PDA), and further may include, on-line chat groups, blogs, e-mails, instant messaging between users, document libraries, and social networking websites accessible using the Internet. Messaging Applications such as Instant Messaging and group messaging are becoming prolific on computing devices. Simultaneously, the use of multiple clients, for example, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, netbooks, car communication systems, etc., is also growing.

Managing a messaging state across multiple clients