Systems and apparatus are provided for interfacing a digital controller with an analog input means. The system comprises a digital controller with the input of the digital controller coupled to the output of the analog-to-digital converter. The system further comprises a digital-to-analog converter coupled to an analog interface circuit. The analog interface circuit comprises a reconfigurable RC network switchably coupled to a first amplifier or to a second amplifier. The analog interface circuit further comprises a third amplifier having an input being coupled to an output of the second amplifier and the output of the third amplifier being coupled to the one or more input signal paths to the first amplifier.

It is estimated that it currently costs about $1 million per kilogram to put a payload on the lunar surface. Further, limited power generating capability and the subsequent heat load produced by onboard electronic circuitry result in operating issues that constrain the capability of a spacecraft of any given size and configuration. Therefore the cost, size, weight and capability of spacecraft components are always issues of concern. Frequently, trade offs must be made between cost, weight and size and capability.
Spacecraft command and control electronics are indispensable and their complexity increases geometrically as demand for system capability grows. Command and control electronics monitor the condition of various conditions and various components of the spacecraft using a plurality of analog and digital sensors/transducers. The command and control electronics are programmed to make a decision based in part on sensor input and cause the spacecraft to do something via a plurality of mechanical actuators that may be analog or digital devices.
In the analog world, a signal may be derived that represents a particular physical parameter. Non-limiting examples of such parameters include temperature, displacement, pressure, flow rate, force and acceleration. This derivation is accomplished with an appropriately configured sensor or transducer, which converts the physical quantity into an electrical voltage or current. Such sensors are typically located remotely from the command and control electronics and require a signal conditioning system to preprocess the voltage or current for use by the command and control electronics.
Specifically, a signal conditioning system is used to prepare input signals for data acquisition and processing. Signal conditioning includes such exemplary processes as anti-aliasing, amplification, attenuation and filtering. After conditioning, the processed signals may be transmitted to a sample-and-hold circuit that keeps a signal sample stable for subsequent conversion to a digital form by an analog-to-digital converter (AD).
Further, actuators are used in a spacecraft to impart an action that controls the spacecraft. Positional thrusters are but one non-limiting example of actuators onboard a spacecraft. Actuators may be analog devices that are controlled by a digital controller or a processor. To provide analog control signals to the plurality of actuators, each control signal must be converted from a digital form to an analog form, must be processed into a form to properly drive a particular actuator, and then be transmitted to the actuator.
Given that signal processing circuitry is indispensable, it is desirable to minimize the size and weight of any such electronics package to reduce launch costs. In addition, it is desirable to minimize the heat generated by the electronics package. Other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.
Although discussed herein in the context of a spacecraft or satellite, the subject matter disclosed herein may be applied to other types of vehicles or other electronic systems. Any reference to spacecraft applications is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the scope of the following disclosure in any way.

Re-configurable multipurpose analog interface


An automotive alternator has slip-rings connected to a rotor shaft and a brush device covering the slip-rings. The brush device is composed of a brush holder supporting brushes therein and a slip-ring cover firmly connected to the brush holder. The slip-ring cover includes a wall curved in a U-shape and a pair of flat walls closing the axial ends of the curved wall. Openings for ventilating the brushes and the slip-rings are formed between the curved wall of the slip-ring cover and the sidewalls of the brush holder. When the brushes are positioned downward of the slip-rings, the openings are open to the downward of the slip-rings. Therefore, water is prevented from entering into the brush device through the openings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an alternator to be mounted on an automotive vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
It is important, in an automotive alternator, to prevent abnormal abrasion of slip-rings caused by water, oil or foreign particles entering onto a sliding surface of the slip-rings. It is also important to exhaust brush powders to suppress heat generated by abrasion. For these purposes, JP-A-2000-139058 proposes an alternator having a brush device, in which a separating wall formed in a slip-ring cover is inserted into a depressed portion formed in a brush holder. A ventilation passage is surely secured in this brush device because the ventilation passage is formed by a resin material, of which the brush holder and the slip-ring cover are made, without using deformable sealing rubber. JP-A-2002-359951 proposes another alternator that includes a slip-ring cover having a ventilation window in a peripheral wall surrounding the slip-rings. In this brush device, no ventilation opening is formed at an axial end of a brush holder.
In the alternator proposed in JP-A-2000-139058, however, an axial length of the brush device becomes long because the depression has to be formed in the brush holder at its axial end. In the alternator shown in JP-2002-359951, it is difficult to prevent water from entering into the brush device because the ventilation opening is formed on the peripheral wall of the slip-ring cover. If brushes are positioned downward of the slip-rings, water easily enters into a space containing the brushes. Further, there has been a problem that water sneaks-in due to interfacial tension from a portion where the brush holder contacts the slip-ring cover, even if water does not directly enters from the peripheral opening.

Alternator having a slip-ring cover connected to brush holder


A system for operation and integrity management of a pipeline stores field data obtained from an operational system, and in-line data obtained from an in-line inspection vehicle and external data from a video camera on an external companion device. The system performs data processing on the in-line data and field data to generate input for risk modeling and performs risk modeling of the pipeline using the input to predict a risk of one of a plurality of failure mode states at a portion of the pipeline. The system may initiate risk monitoring for the portion of the pipeline by the operational system and the in-line inspection vehicle.

Long distance pipelines transport products between cities, countries and even continents. A pipeline network is widespread, running alternately through remote and densely populated regions. Nearly three million miles of pipeline transporting natural gas, oil, refined products and other hazardous liquids crisscross the United States, and pipelines transport nearly two-thirds of country's energy supply and convey flammable or explosive materials. Therefore, improving pipelines' safety and security is so critical for not only securing "the Veins of the American Economy" but also eliminating any potential risk for public injury, destruction of property, and environmental damage.
Pipeline risk models are a foundational part of the assessment of operational pipeline risk. Risk models are the heart of an operator's risk management system. Pipeline risk models and the results they produce are at the core of many pipeline integrity programs, both in the US and internationally. A risk model is a simplified representation of a pipeline system and represents the relation of important risk factors, a set of algorithms or rules that use available information and data relationships to perform risk assessment.
The pipeline industry had begun to apply risk modeling to support risk assessment and decision in planning maintenance and capital projects as early as the mid-1980s and worked to develop industry standards and recommended practices such as API Recommended Practice (RP) 1160—Managing System Integrity for Hazardous Liquid Pipelines, and ASME B31.8S—Managing System Integrity of Gas Pipelines.
Federal pipeline safety integrity management (IM) regulations require pipeline operators to use risk assessments. The risk model should support risk analysis, risk management decisions, and help operators evaluate and quantify the effects of various risk mitigation activities and options.
However, based on the results of pipeline inspections and failure investigation findings, both the Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have identified general weaknesses in the risk models used by pipeline operators in performing risk assessments for their IM programs.
Operators should select the best model approach and then populate the model with the best information available on risk factors or threats for each pipeline segment and improve that data over time.
Currently, more than 90 applied methodologies of risk assessment have been developed. Risk models employed in pipeline risk analysis can be categorized based on the nature of the model's inputs, outputs, and the nature of the algorithms used to convert the inputs to outputs. Below gives the breakdown of risk model categories:
The Qualitative model
The Relative Assessment or Index model
The Quantitative System model
The Probabilistic model
Based on a definition by Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, a risk model provides a representation of the risks throughout a pipeline system by combining inputs associated with both likelihood and consequence aspects of unintended pipeline releases. The conceptual definition of risk used to structure risk assessment is given by the equation:Risk=Likelihood×Consequence
Risk is defined as a measure of potential loss in terms of both the likelihood (or frequency of occurrence) of an event and the magnitude of the consequences from the event.
For hazardous liquid and natural gas pipeline systems, the basic undesired event is the failure of any segment of a pipeline or pipeline system that results in a release of the gas or hazardous liquid. Likelihood is the probability or frequency of failure due to threats that affect the pipeline, and consequence is the severity of impacts to different receptor categories (e.g., human safety, environment, property) because of a pipeline failure.
A risk analysis considers the likelihood of failure from all potential and existing threats at each segment along the pipeline. So, the risk modeling and analysis should include three key elements:                1. Identify the threats;        2. Determine the probability of failure due to threats;        3. Evaluate the consequence because of a pipeline failure.Obviously, identifying the threats is the corner stone and foundation for risk modeling.
However, based on the data from Rick Kowalewski's report on "Program Evaluation: Pipeline Integrity Management," (Oct. 31, 2013), there are 1355 significant accidents of hazardous liquid pipelines from 2002 to 2012, among them, 824 incidents were caused by corrosions and material failures, count about 60%. The rest—40% incidents were caused by excavation damages, human errors, natural forces and others. Among the 821 significant accidents of gas transmission pipelines from 2002 to 2012, there were 420 incidents that were caused by corrosions and material failures, count about 51%. The rest—49% of the incidents were caused by excavation damages, human errors, natural forces and others.
If we consider "corrosion and material failure" as time-dependent threats, there are still about 40-50% significant accidents caused by time-independent risk factors. In another words, the out force damages, human casualties, economic and environmental adverse effects all bring uncertainty and ambiguity for the failures of pipelines. So, we need enough data, complete data, accurate data and on-time data to identify the threats, and find a mechanism to deal with unknown, or uncertainty of the risk factors causing pipeline's failure.
Therefore, a system approach should include a thoroughly considered, more effective, and more efficient means of inspecting pipeline systems. In addition, inspection methods need to be innovated. Then, a new system-wide solution or well-designed framework based on technical innovations and data integrations may overcome the challenges from insufficient or uncertain data in the problems of real world pipelines, so that the issues with risk ambiguity and uncertainty may be solved.

Computational risk modeling system and method for pipeline operation and integrity management


An optical fiber comprises a glass fiber comprising a core and a cladding, and a coating resin layer, wherein the coating resin layer has a primary resin layer being in contact with the glass fiber and coating the glass fiber, and a secondary resin layer coating the primary resin layer, and the primary resin layer and the secondary resin layer are resin layers containing inorganic oxide particles.

An optical fiber has generally a coating resin layer for protecting a glass fiber that is an optical transmission medium. The optical fiber has been required to have excellent lateral pressure characteristics in order to reduce an increase in transmission loss induced by micro-bend generated when lateral pressure is applied to the optical fiber.
The coating resin layer can be formed by using an ultraviolet curable resin composition containing an oligomer, a monomer, a photopolymerization initiator and the like. For example, in Patent Literature 1, the improvement of the lateral pressure characteristics of the optical fiber is investigated by forming a resin layer using an ultraviolet curable resin composition containing a filler made of synthetic silica.


A novel quick release fastener system for efficient and reliable attachment, disengagement and reattachment of components secured by the fastener system. The fastener system includes an elongated fastener having a shank, a drive structure on one end, an opposite end of which having a threaded portion. The fastener system also includes an expandable nut body which is engaged with the threaded portion of the fastener, which nut body is adapted to be engaged in a bore. Nut spreading structures are provided on the nut member and the fastener which spread or expand the nut when the fastener is rotated and engaged axially of the nut member. The nut is initially retained on the threaded portion of the fastener with the nut spreading structures disengaged. A work piece is provided with a bore for receiving the expandable nut body. A key is provided in the bore and a slot is provided in the nut body being sized and dimensioned for receiving the key therein. The slot allows the nut body to expand with the key engaged in the slot preventing the nut body from rotating in the bore. Nominal rotation of the fastener relative to the nut results in engaging of the nut spreading structures on the fastener and nut to expand the nut body and thereby forcibly contact and engage abutting inside surfaces of the bore. The fastener system is particularly useful in attaching wheel assemblies to an in-line skate and for attaching cleats to footwear, or similar such assembly or fastener uses.

This invention is generally directed to a novel quick release, quick attach fastener system. The present invention relates to a fastener system which includes a fastener and an expandable nut body engaged with the fastener, wherein the nut body is adapted for engagement in a bore. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fastener system for use in quickly and easily removing, attaching, and/or adjusting wheel assemblies used with in-line skates and for quickly and easily removing and attaching cleats in footwear, or the like.
A variety of fastener systems are currently in use for attaching a wheel assembly to in-line roller skates. A typical fastener system includes a fastener having a head, shank and threaded portion formed on the shank opposite the head. The threaded portion is engageable with a corresponding threaded nut. A chassis or frame portion of an in-line skate is provided with structures for retaining a plurality of wheel assemblies in generally linear alignment. Each wheel assembly is retained on the frame by a fastener which is inserted through one side of the frame and extends through a bore formed therein through a central sleeve bore in the wheel assembly, and through an opposing bore in the frame. The nut is engaged with the threaded portion of the fastener thereby securing the wheel assembly in position relative to the frame.
One of the problems with prior art fastener systems is that it is time consuming to remove the wheel assembly for purposes of repair, replacement or for adjusting the wheels to reconfigure or reposition the wheels of the skates, or for example, to provide a "rockering" effect. While the ordinary skater may not be concerned about the time to replace one or more wheel assemblies, there are many situations in which rapid repair and replacement are important, such as in competitive in-line hockey. Moreover, easy, efficient and reliable removal and replacement of wheels are important for the initial assembly of in-line skates as well as the repair of in-line skates by repair professionals.
Increasing popularity of competitive sports which use in-line skates has increased the demand for fast, efficient and reliable removal and replacement of the wheel assemblies. For example, in-line skate hockey is an increasingly popular sport both at the professional level, as well as the amateur level. Further, there are numerous races throughout the country in which in-line skaters race for distance, as well as time. In these applications, fast, efficient and reliable removal and replacement of wheel assemblies is critical. Even recreational in-line skaters may need to replace wheel assemblies either for purposes of repairs or for using a different composition of wheel material depending on the surface in which they plan to skate. While speed and efficiency may not be a requirement, it would still be desirable to make the wheel repair or replacement as quick and as easy as possible for the recreational skater.
Ease of use and reliability of a fastener system are also important for recreational, amateur and professional competitors when they desire to reconfigure their in-line skates for such purposes as a "rockering" configuration. Whereas in-line skates typically are configured with the wheels generally abutting or tangent to a common plane or skating surface, a "rockering" configuration moves one or more end wheels out of the common plane, thereby providing an approximated curved surface. The rocketing configuration is analogous to a hockey skate whereby the blade of the skate is ground with a slight convex arch rather than being a flat blade as is used in figure skating. As such, it should be clear, that it would be desirable to quickly and easily reconfigure in-line skating wheel assemblies for such uses.
Another problem with the prior art is that the hardware associated with the fastener system typically is provided in multiple components, including at least the elongated fastener/axle and an engaged nut. The fact that these fastener systems involve two or more components which must be separated to remove, attach or adjust the wheels can result in losing a component thereby further increasing the time to effect the operation on a wheel assembly. Because the nut is not captively retained on the fastener/axle, the nut may fall away and become lost thereby requiring the person replacing the wheel assembly to find another nut in order to proceed. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that it may be desirable to have a recessed nut thereby requiring the nut to be positioned in a recessed area to prevent damage to the nut. By recessing the nut, the problem is complicated by trying to align the threaded portion of the fastener through the sleeve bore of the wheel and the opposite opening on the opposite portion of the frame.
Examples of prior art fastener systems for use on in-line skates are shown in the following United States patents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,523 issued Mar. 20, 1990 to Olson; U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,058, issued Jul. 2, 1991 to Olson; U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,848, issued Sep. 17, 1991 to Olson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,068,956, issued Dec. 3, 1991 to Malewicz; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,614, issued Mar. 3, 1992 to Malewicz. The device as shown in Malewicz '956 employs a cap which covers a nut thereby eliminating the need to recess the nut. However, the device in Malewicz '956 still requires numerous rotations of a fastener to securely engage the fastener with the nut. The requirement of numerous rotations of the fastener to engage it securely with a nut is found in each of the references cited hereinabove.
Athletic footwear cleat systems is another application in which quick, easy and reliable removal and replacement of a device is required. Athletic footwear cleats are widely used for a variety of sporting activities. For example, cleats are used in professional and amateur sports such as soccer, baseball, football, track and field, and rugby, to name a few. Periodically, it becomes necessary to replace cleats as they become worn or damaged or to change cleats depending on the type of surface used for a playing field.
Typically, prior art cleat systems employ a nut body which is molded into the sole of athletic footwear. A threaded cleat is driven into the in-molded nut body. While these cleat systems provide secure engagement of cleats with the sole of footwear, such engagement can be time consuming.
With the foregoing examples of the in-line skate wheel assembly fastener system and the athletic footwear cleat system in mind, it should be clear that there are many other applications which would benefit from a fastener system which improves the speed, efficiency and reliability of fastener removal and replacement.

Fastener system with expandable nut body


One embodiment of the invention includes a system for shifting a torsional mode frequency of a rotary device, the system comprising: a plurality of mass rings, each of the plurality of mass rings comprising: a pair of radially-segmented half rings; and at least one channel through each of the radially-segmented half rings, the at least one channel oriented substantially perpendicular to the radial segmentation of the mass ring, whereby the plurality of mass rings may be aligned and secured through the at least one channel of each radially-segmented half ring such that the radial segmentation of each mass ring is staggered with respect to the radial segmentation of an adjacent mass ring.

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to rotary devices and, more particularly, to systems, devices, and methods for shifting a torsional mode frequency of a rotary device.
Rotary devices are known to suffer from various vibration problems during their operation. One such vibration problem is torsional vibration. In all practical rotor systems there is no inherent ability to damper torsional vibration.
When a power train torsional mode is near to a continuous forcing function, such as twice a line frequency of a power generating unit (e.g., a steam turbine-generator system), torsional vibration may be so severe that continuous safe operation of the unit is not possible. Typically, this results in activation of a tripping system and the unit is shut down.
Currently, since the line frequency cannot be changed, torsional vibration is addressed by disassembling the device and shrink fitting a large number of rings on an outer surface of a rotor flange. The device is then reassembled and tested to confirm a reduction in torsional vibration. This process is both time consuming (typically 30-40 days) and consequently expensive, resulting in significant downtime for the device and a concomitant loss of revenue.


A feed device for a unit for sorting elongate items, particularly vegetables such as carrots, includes a slanted conveyor (23) with a plurality of freely rotatable transverse rollers (24) driven by two endless chains. The conveyor includes three longitudinal sections, i.e. a lower section (23a) having a device (30) for rotating the rollers (24) in the same direction as the forward direction of the conveyor (23), an intermediate section (23b) where the rollers (24) are freely rotatable, and an upper section (23c) having an element (33) for rotating the rollers (24) in the opposite direction to the forward direction of the conveyor. A unit for sorting elongate items is also disclosed.

The grading operations of fruit or vegetables requires that these latter be individualized in order for them to be analyzed optically. This operation has proved to be difficult when such fruit or vegetables consist of elongate produce, such as for example carrots, owing to the fact that the feeding of the graders requires an assembly line of the produce starting from a shipment of products delivered in bulk.
Such an assembly line requires in fact the arrangement of the produce with a constant flow in parallel rows, so as to ensure a good yield by the grader,in each of which rows the items of produce are sufficiently widely spaced to allow their individual optical analysis.

Feeding, sorting and grading system for elongate produce


An ion implanted semiconductor surface is illuminated with a flood illumination of monochromatic radiation, and an image of the surface is taken using light which has been Raman scattered. The illumination and imaging system are calibrated by flood illuminating a uniformly Raman scattering surface.

Chemical imaging is a new scientific discipline, which combines the chemical analysis power of optical spectroscopy, including Raman, infrared, photoluminescence and fluorescence techniques, with high-resolution optical imaging. It has powerful capability for materials characterization, process monitoring, quality control and disease-state determination. This invention relates to a system for obtaining spectroscopically resolved images of materials using electronically tunable imaging spectrometers employing liquid crystal elements.
Raman and infrared image contrast is derived from a material's intrinsic vibrational spectroscopic signature, which is highly sensitive to the composition and structure of the material and its local chemical environment. As a result, Raman and infrared imaging can be performed with little or no sample preparation and are widely applicable for materials research, failure analysis, process monitoring and clinical diagnostics.
Several approaches to Raman imaging have been demonstrated that employ means to simultaneously record spatial and Raman spectral information. Specifically, such Raman imaging data consists of 2 spatial (x,y) locations and one spectral dimension—the Raman intensity as a function of Raman frequency. Almost exclusively, modem Raman imaging methods employ multi-channel charge-coupled device (CCD) detection. CCDs are employed to record two dimensions of the three-dimensional information inherent in Raman image data sets. Raman imaging systems can be differentiated by the means they employ to collect the third dimension of information. Raman imaging systems employing dispersive monochromators coupled to CCDs have been devised that rely on two-dimensional point scanning, one-dimensional line scanning, and spatial multiplexing. In addition, Michelson interferometers have been employed in point scanning systems, while a number of tunable filter spectrometers have been described in the past several years.
Of the imaging spectrometers that have been employed for Raman imaging, including liquid crystal tunable filters (LCTFs), acousto-optic tunable filters (AOTFs) and Fabry-Perot filters, LCTFs are the most effective. In general, tunable filter methods employ wide-field laser illumination in combination with multichannel detection. The two spatial dimensions of the image are recorded directly by the CCD camera, while the multispectral information is acquired by capturing images at discrete wavelengths selected by the tunable filter. Under computer control it is possible to collect a data set with a Raman spectrum at each pixel of the image. An advantage of tunable filters is that they provide image fidelity that is limited only by the number of pixels in the camera. As a result, the use of high-definition detectors allows the efficient collection of high-definition images. Prior to the introduction of LCTFs, a key limitation of tunable filters that had handicapped Raman microscopy had been the lack of the availability of tunable filters that simultaneously provided narrow spectral bandpass, broad free spectral range and high image quality. For example, AOTF Raman imaging systems provide high throughput and broad spectral coverage, but AOTFs have distinct limitations. AOTFs suffer from broad spectral bandpass, and imaging performance is degraded appreciably from the diffraction-limited conditions. In effect, AOTFs provide spectral resolution that is an order of magnitude worse than that of a typical Raman spectrometer, and spatial resolution that is approximately 2.5 times worse than the diffraction limit.
A better alternative to the AOTF is the LCTF. In general, LCTFs are electro-optically controllable spectral bandpass filters that can function from the visible to the near-infrared. A number of LCTF designs have been demonstrated for use in multispectral imaging. LCTFs based on the Lyot filter design have been used primarily as red-green-blue (RGB) color filters and fluorescence imaging filters. A nematic LCTF based on the design of the Lyot birefringent filter has been used in a Raman imaging system. The multistage Lyot filter is comprised of a fixed retardance birefringent element and a nematic liquid crystal wave plate placed between parallel linear polarizers. The nematic liquid crystal wave plates incorporated within the Lyot filter act as electronically controlled phase retarders. The LC wave plates can be adjusted over a continuous range of retardance levels, enabling continuous tunability of wavelength. In general, Lyot filters suffer from low peak transmittance. The two main sources of optical loss in the Lyot LCTFs are absorption in the polarizers and imperfect waveplate action arising from the use of simple λ/2 plates to construct the wide-field retarder stages. An LCTF based on a Fabry-Perot design has been demonstrated for Raman microscopy. However, Fabry-Perot filters suffer from low transmittance, low out of band rejection efficiency, limited free spectral range and low spectral bandpass (25 cm−1). In addition, Fabry-Perot filters are susceptible to thermal-induced drift in spectral bandpass unless contained in temperature-controlled housings.
Raman spectroscopy has been used extensively in the prior art to characterize semiconductor materials such as the elemental semiconductors silicon and germanium, as well as compound semiconductors exemplified by III-V and II-VI semiconductors such as GaAs, GaInAs, GaInAlAs, GaAlInP, GaN, GaP, ZnSe, and CdTe. Early work on these materials used a focused or an unfocused laser beam illuminating a uniform material. Later work used a laser microprobe focused through a high quality micoscope to investigate microscopic features of interest in the materials. Images were obtained by scanning the microscopic laser spot over the surface, and recording the Raman scattered light gathered as a function of time, or by focusing the laser to a line focus and using a two dimensional detector to record one spatial dimension and one wavelength dimension. The material could then be moved in a second spatial dimension to record another scan and so on to build up a three dimensional (two spatial dimensions and one wavelength dimension) image.

Method for Raman imaging of semiconductor materials


A process for making a fiber finish composition having anti-sling properties involving: (a) providing a lubricant component; (b) providing water; (c) providing a powder-form polyethylene oxide having a weight average molecular weight of more than 106; (d) providing a static in-line mixing apparatus; and (e) mixing (a)-(c) in the static in-line mixing apparatus to form the fiber finish composition.

Not Applicable.
In the manufacture of synthetic fibers spun from the melt, the first processing step immediately after the capillaries emerge from the spinning jet, i.e., immediately after formation of the filaments, is the treatment of the fiber surface with spinning finishes containing lubricants and antistatic agents as their principal active substances. It is generally known that synthetic fibers can neither be produced nor used in textile fiber processing without such finishes. A lubricant has to be applied because the original surface of most polymeric fibers gives rise to considerable friction forces so that chafing of the fibers occurs through the constant contacts, for example with guide elements, during the production and processing cycles and can ultimately result in filament or yarn breakages. In addition, polymeric filament materials generally absorb only a little water so that they tend to develop electrostatic charges.
For general commercial acceptability, it is important that fiber finishes for synthetic fibers reduce friction between the yarn and contact surfaces, for example, surfaces of processing machinery or interfaces with other fibers; adhere to the yarn to reduce sling-off during processing; and be scourable to permit substantially complete removal before downstream operations such as dyeing and finishing, with which lubricant residue would substantially interfere. It is particularly important that lubricant compositions consistently function well to perform these tasks under a variety of operating conditions, in order to obviate the necessity of re-evaluating and reformulating each finish/lubricant composition on an ad hoc basis.
Anti-sling additives for fiber lubricants and finishes, especially coning oil type lubricants, are well-known in the art as protective coatings for fibers in a variety of textile operations. Many of these additives, particularly relatively low molecular weight polymers such as polyisobutylene, are in common use to improve adherence of the finish to the fibers, and reduce finish xe2x80x9csling-offxe2x80x9d during yarn winding operations.
While these types of additives have proven to be generally useful in lubricants for low-to-medium speed fiber winding operations, i.e., yarn speeds of up to about 300 meters/minute, in ultra high speed winding operations, conventional low molecular weight polyisobutylene and comparable low-sling polymer additives have not sufficed to reduce lubricant sling-off/spraying to acceptable levels. Moreover, these known additives are not uniformly reliable and tend to perform erractically under varying process parameters, particularly with respect to fiber type, yarn speed, machinery characteristics, processing temperatures, and recirculation conditions. In addition, spraying of the finish also results in a reduction in safety, for example, slippery floors in the immediate vicinity of the machines and also breathing difficulties and skin irritation produced by sprayed droplets which are dispersed in the form of a fine mist.
While the use of polyethylene oxides having weight average molecular weights of more than 106 have been found to be useful as anti-sling additives in spin finishes, they are typically incorporated into fiber finishes in the form of an aqueous suspension, i.e., a suspension of polymer powder in water is mixed with a fiber finish. Although the incorporation of an anti-sling additive in the form of an aqueous suspension is generally acceptable, it does pose certain problems with respect to packaging and formulation. The packaging required when distributing an aqueous suspension is significantly larger and more involved due to the presence of water in a packaging container. Moreover, as to the formulation of an end-use finish composition, the formulator must take the water into account when mixing the aqueous anti-sling additive suspension with the components comprising the finish composition.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to devise a way in which the polymer acting as an anti-sling additive can be incorporated into a fiber finish composition, in powder form, thereby eliminating the need of using it as an aqueous suspension.
The present invention is directed to a process for making a fiber finish composition having anti-sling properties involving:
(a) providing a lubricant component;
(b) providing a water component;
(c) providing a powder-form polyethylene oxide having a weight average molecular weight of more than 106; and
(d) mixing (a)-(c) in a static in-line mixing apparatus.

Process for making a textile finish composition having anti-sling properties


The present disclosure relates to a method of obtaining a cell where fucosylation pathways are modified, leading to production of partially fucosylated and non-fucosylated protein products, specifically antibodies from the cell. The present disclosure employs the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) technology. The method of the present disclosure targets the Fut8 gene and GMD gene in a cell. Such products are used in developing therapeutics and biomarkers, and in diagnosis and prognosis of diseases.

Glycosylation in eukaryotes has been studied intensively for decades as the most common covalent post translational protein modification mechanism. About 1-2% of the human transcriptome (about 250-500 glycogenes) is predicted to translate proteins which are responsible for glycosylation (Campbell and Yarema 2005). Glycosylation of cellular proteins plays many key biological functions such as protein folding, stability, intracellular and inter-cellular trafficking, cell-cell and cell matrix Interaction.
There are four distinct groups of Glycoproteins: N-linked, O-linked, glycosaminoglycans, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins. N-linked glycosylation occurs through the side chain amide nitrogen of asparagine residues, while O-linked glycosylation uses the oxygen atom in the side chain of serine or threonine residues. N-linked glycosylation takes place in the amino acid sequence of Asn-X-Ser/Thr, where X can be any amino acid except proline and aspartic acid (Helenius and Aebi 2004).
Fucose (6-deoxy-L-galactose) is a monosaccharide that is present in many glycoproteins and glycolipids present in vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, and bacteria. Fucosylation is the process of transferring a fucose residue to various proteins and oligosaccharides. Fucosylation is regulated by several molecules, including fucosyltransferases, guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-fucose synthetic enzymes, and GDP-fucose transporter(s). A large number of fucosylated glycoproteins are secretary proteins or membrane proteins on the cell surface.
There are 14.1 million new cancer cases, 8.2 million cancer deaths and 32.6 million people living with cancer (within 5 years of diagnosis) in 2014 worldwide. The high mortality rate of cancer serves as a reminder of the need for more effective therapies. The most prominent change in oncology drug development in the last 20 years has been the shift from classic cytotoxics to drugs that affect signaling pathways implicated in cancer, known as "Monoclonal Antibodies" or mAbs. A decade ago, there are only two mAbs on the market and currently there are around 30 FDA approved mAbs of diverse therapeutic modalities, like Adalimumab, Infliximab, Rituximab etc. mAbs are the fastest growing segment in pharmaceutical industry and this rapid expansion is set to continue. There are more than 100 monoclonal antibody-based biologic drugs in clinical trials. Many of these are in phase II and phase III trials and will be coming before the Regulatory agencies for approval. Improvement of monoclonal antibody therapeutics through technologies described here will pave the way for better clinical outcome for patients.
Human IgG1 antibody is a highly fucosylated glycoprotein. Two N-linked biantennary oligosaccharides consisting of core hepta-saccharide with variable addition of fucose, galactose, bisecting N-acetylglucosamine and sialic acid are present at Asn-297 of IgG1. Antibody glycosylation leads to unique biological functions known as "effector functions"—Antibody Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC) and Complement Dependent Cytotoxicity (CDC). ADCC is a cell mediated immune system where immune cells (like natural killer cells) lyse the target cells identified through antibodies against cell surface antigens.
The effector function of IgG molecule is defined by the interaction of antibody Fc region with leukocyte receptors, known as FcγRs, or interactions with complement components. The composition of the oligosaccharide structure is critically important for effector function through FcγR binding (Shields et al. 2002; Shinkawa et al. 2003; Niwa et al. 2004; Niwa, Shoji-Hosaka, et al. 2004; Yamane-Ohnuki et al. 2004). Crystal structure analysis of human IgG1 has revealed intricate interaction of the oligosaccharide chains with the CH2 domain (Harris et al. 1998; Radaev et al. 2001).
The efficiency of the ADCC mechanism is considerably dependent on the level of antibody fucosylation. The lower the fucosylation, the higher is the rate of ADCC. Therefore, loss of fucosylation has significant biological consequences. The loss could be due to non-functional fucosyltransferase enzymes, resulting in non-fucosylation of cellular proteins. The absence of fucose from the primary N-acetylglucosamine results in the IgG1 antibody having increased binding affinity for the FcγRIIIa receptor, with consequent increase of 50-100 times higher efficacy of ADCC. Improvement of ADCC with non-fucosylated IgG is directly proportional to the increased affinity for FcγRIIIα which allows the non-fucosylated IgG Fc to overcome the competition from high concentrations of fucosylated IgG in normal serum. Plausible rationale for the increased affinity of non-fucosylated IgG Fc for FcγRIIIa may be the reduction or absence of steric inhibition at the receptor-ligand interface (Harris, 1998; Radaev, 2001).
In mammalian expression system, the enzyme α1,6-fucosyltransferase encoded by the Fut8 gene is responsible for transferring fucose moiety from GDP-fucose to N-acetylglucosamine of N-glycan chain in proteins (Miyoshi, 1999). Disruption of this gene function through various means leads to production of non-fucosylated proteins, including antibodies (Naoko Yamane-Ohnuki, 2004).
GDP-D-mannose 4,6-dehydratase (GMD) is a member of the sugar nucleotide-modifying subfamily of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) family (Webb, Mulichak et al. 2004).
In mammalian expression systems, GDP-fucose, an essential substrate of fucosylation, is synthesized in the cytoplasm through de novo and salvage pathways. In the de novo pathway of fucosylation, GDP-fucose is synthesized through conversion of GDP-mannose to GDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-mannose, catalyzed by the enzyme GDP-mannose 4,6-dehydratase (GMD). This GDP-Fucose is then transported inside the golgi and used as a substrate for protein fucosylation by the enzyme α1-6 fucosyltransferase (FUT8). The enzyme transfers the fucose moiety from GDP-fucose to N-acetylglucosamine of the N-glycan chain (Miyoshi, 1999). These critical enzymes, GDP-mannose 4,6-dehydratase and α,1-6 fucosyltransferase are encoded by GMD and FUT8 genes respectively.
Non-fucosylated forms of therapeutic antibodies developed in mammalian platforms, where fucose biosynthesis is impaired, may have clinical advantage over the fucosylated forms due to the enhanced efficiency of ADCC towards target tumor cells.
Historically, gene knock out systems completely depended on Homologous recombination (HR) mediated targeted mutation, deletion and/or insertion. The HR system, although very specific, is highly inefficient, as thousands of clones need to be screened to find one mutated clone. Moreover, deleting allelic variations would take even further time and much larger screening. Multiple technologies have evolved in the last decade to achieve targeted gene modification using a combination of a DNA sequence recognition domain and a nuclease domain. These systems are highly efficient at identifying specific sites of interest and then introducing DNA strand breaks. DNA double-strand break (DSB) at genomic target locus activates DNA repair, which is utilized for modifying genes. The DNA damage response is highly conserved in eukaryotic cells. The concept of DSB-based genome engineering is easily transferrable between highly diverse organisms. Creating double strand break increases the frequency of gene knock out at targeted loci by thousand folds through homologous recombination and non-homologous end joining mechanisms.
Zinc Finger Nuclease (ZFN) is one of the most frequently used techniques for gene disruption. It requires three bases at the DNA level for each zinc finger tandem array. Moreover, target site overlap and cross-talk between individual fingers in a zinc-finger array considerably complicate the production of sequence-specific ZFNs. Additionally, major drawback of ZFNs includes elaborate and time-consuming experimental selection process to identify the ZFN motifs for specific DNA sequence recognition.
There are methods in the prior art for disruption of Fut8 and GMD genomic loci. However, none of the methods target the specific location on the FUT8 and GMD genomic loci by the CRISPR technology.
The present disclosure overcomes the disadvantages or limitations associated with methods of the prior art by using the CRISPR technology to target a specific location on the FUT8 genomic loci or the GMD genomic loci, which results in complete disruption of the gene and related function, providing a cell that produces non-fucosylated proteins.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

DNA-binding domain of CRISPR system, non-fucosylated and partially fucosylated proteins, and methods thereof


The present invention relates generally to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques for both spectroscopy and imaging. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods in which hyperpolarized noble gases (e.g., Xe and He) are used to enhance and improve NMR and MRI. Additionally, the hyperpolarized gas solutions of the invention are useful both in vitro and in vivo to study the dynamics or structure of a system. When used with biological systems, either in vivo or in vitro, it is within the scope of the invention to target the hyperpolarized gas and deliver it to specific regions within the system.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is an established technique for both spectroscopy and imaging. NMR spectroscopy is one of the most powerful methods available for determining primary structure, conformation and local dynamic properties of molecules in liquid, solid and even gas phases. As a whole-body imaging technique, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) affords images possessing such superb soft tissue resolution that MRI is the modality of choice in many clinical settings. MRI can produce images which allow the clinician to distinguish between a pathological condition and healthy tissue. For example, MR images clearly differentiate tumors from the surrounding tissue. Further, using MRI it is possible to image specific regions within the organism and to obtain anatomical (morphology and pathology) and/or functional information about various processes including blood flow and tissue perfusion. Functional imaging of the brain is now also well documented.
The structural and functional information available through MRI is complemented by whole-body NMR spectroscopy. NMR spectroscopic studies on organisms provides a means to probe the chemical processes occurring in the tissue under study. For example, the location and quantity of intrinsic NMR spectroscopic markers such as lactate and citrate can be studied to gain insight into the chemical processes underlying a disease state (Kurhanewicz, J., et al., Urology 45: 459-466 (1995)). NMR spectroscopy can also be used to observe the effects of administered drugs on the biochemistry of the organism or the changes in the drug which occur following its administration (Maxwell, R. J., Cancer Surv. 17: 415-423 (1993)). Efforts to improve the information yield from MRI and NMR spectroscopy through increased sensitivity or the use of appropriately designed extrinsic probes have been ongoing since the inception of these techniques.
Sensitivity poses a persistent challenge to the use of NMR, both in imaging and spectroscopy. In proton MRI, contrast is primarily governed by the quantity of protons in a tissue and the intrinsic relaxation times of those protons (i.e., T1 and T2). Adjacent tissues which are histologically distinct yet magnetically similar appear isointense on an MR image. As the proton content of a tissue is not a readily manipulable parameter, the approach taken to provide distinction between magnetically similar tissues is the introduction into the biological system of a paramagnetic pharmaceutical (i.e, contrast enhancing agent) such as Gd(DTPA) (Niendorf, H. P., et al., Eur. J. Radiol., 13: 15 (1991)). Interaction between the proton nuclei and the unpaired spins on the Gd+3 ion dramatically decrease the proton relaxation times causing an increase in tissue intensity at the site of interaction. Gd(DTPA) and analogous agents are small molecular agents which remain largely confined to the extracellular compartment and do not readily cross the intact blood-brain barrier. Thus, these agents are of little use in functional brain imaging.
Similar to MRI, NMR spectroscopic studies generally rely on detecting NMR active nuclei which are present in their natural abundance (e.g., 1H, 31P, 13C) (Sapega, A. A., et al., Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., 25: 656-666 (1993)). Additionally, the chemical species under observation must be spectroscopically distinguishable from the other compounds within the window of observation. Thus, sensitivity in NMR spectroscopy is a function of both the abundance and the spectral characteristics of the molecule(s) desired to be studied. The range of NMR spectroscopic studies has been somewhat expanded by the application of exogenous probes which contain NMR active nuclei, for example 19F (Aiken, N. R., et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1270: 52-57 (1995)).
Noble gases are of interest as tracers and probes for MRI and NMR spectroscopy (Middleton, H., et al., Magn. Res. Med. 33: 271 (1995)), however, the sensitivity of MRI and NMR spectroscopy for these molecules is relatively low. A factor which contributes to the lack of sensitivity of these techniques for the noble gases is that the spin polarization, or net magnetic moment, of the noble gas sample is low. For example, a typical molecule at thermal equilibrium at room tem has an excess of spins in one direction along an imposed magnetic field relative to those in the opposite direction of generally less than 1 in 105. Lower temperatures and higher fields, to the extent that these can be imposed, provide only limited benefit. Alternative approaches rely on disrupting the equilibrium magnetization by forcing molecules in the sample into a polarized state. Two methods known in the art for enhancing the spin polarization of a population of nuclei are dynamic nuclear polarization and optical pumping.
Dynamic nuclear polarization, originally applied to metals, arises from the cross relaxation between coupled spins. The phenomenon is known as the Overhauser Effect with early disclosures by Overhauser and others (Ovehauser, A. W., "Polarization of nuclei in metals," Phys. Rev. 92(2): 411-415 (1953), Solomon, I., "Relaxation processes in a system of two Spins," Phys. Rev. 99(2): 559-565 (1955), and Carver, T. R., et al., "Experimental verification of the Overhauser nuclear polarization effect," Phys. Rev. 102(4): 975-980 (1956)). The Nuclear Overhauser Effect between nuclear spins is widely used to determine interatomic distances in NMR studies of molecules in solution.
Optical pumping is a method for enhancing the spin polarization of gases which consists of irradiating an alkali metal, in the presence of a noble gas, with circularly polarized light. The hyperpolarized gases that result have been used for NMR studies of surfaces and imaging void spaces and surfaces. Examples are the enhanced surface NMR of hyperpolarized 129Xe, as described by Raftery, D., et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 66: 584 (1991); signal enhancement of proton and 13C NMR by thermal mixing from hyperpolarized 129Xe, as described by Driehuys, B., et al., Phys. Lett. A184: 88-92 (1993), and Bowers, C. R., et al., Chem. Phys. Lett. 205: 168 (1993), and by Hartmann-Hahn cross-polarization, as described by Long, H. W., et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 115: 8491 (1993); and enhanced MRI of void spaces in organisms (such as the lung) and other materials, as described by Albert, M. S., et al., Nature 370: 199-201 (1994), and Song, Y.-Q., et al., J. Magn. Reson. A115: 127-130 (1995).
Although hyperpolarize noble gases have proven useful as probes in the study of the air spaces in lungs, the effectiveness or sensitivity of these methods is somewhat compromised for biological materials and organs, such as blood and the parts of the body that are accessible only through the blood. During its residence time in the blood, the hyperpolarized gas is diluted considerably and the delay in transferring the gas from the lung space to the blood consumes much of the time (e.g., T1) required for the polarized gas to return to its non-hyperpolarized state. Further complicating the situation, the penetration of the hyperpolarized gas into the interior of red blood cells dramatically reduces the T1 of the hyperpolarized gas and thus, sorely attenuates the temporal range over which the gas can serve as an effective probe.
A considerable advance in both MRI and NMR spectroscopy could be achieved by the introduction of a versatile hyperpolarized noble gas-based NMR active tracer which could also function as a contrast enhancing agent or otherwise affect, in a spectroscopically discernable manner, sample molecules to which the probe is proximate. Among other applications, such an agent would be useful in conjunction with functional imaging of the brain and also to probe the dynamics of exchange between the intracellular and extracellular compartments of various tissues. Of even more profound significance would be a means of delivering the tracer, either through the blood or via direct injection into the tissue of interest, which maintains the hyperpolarization of the gas during the delivery process and through the imaging or spectroscopic experiment. Quite surprisingly, the instant invention provides both such a tracer and delivery method.

Apparatus for preparing a solution of a hyperpolarized noble gas for NMR and MRI analysis


A vane-type camshaft phaser including a bias spring to urge the rotor toward an intermediate locking position from any rotational position retarded of the locking position. The rotor comprises non-coaxially acting primary and secondary locking pins for mating with primary and secondary locking pin seats in the phaser stator. The primary seat is elongated and is readily located by the primary locking pin to provide a first limit to the rotor phase angle authority in the retard direction. Camshaft torque reversals cause the rotor phase angle to dither. With each torque reversal the secondary locking pin passes over its seat, allowing multiple opportunities for re-engagement. The clearance of the secondary locking pin to its seat defines the rotary lash in the phaser.

In a typical prior art vane-type cam phaser, a controllably selective locking pin is slidingly disposed in a bore in a rotor vane to permit rotational locking of the rotor to the stator (or sprocket wheel or pulley) under certain conditions of operation of the phaser and engine. In older prior art phasers, it is desired that the rotor be locked at an extreme of the rotor authority, typically at the full retard position. In other prior art phasers, it is desired that the rotor be lockable to the stator at an intermediate position in an increased rotor range of rotational authority.
A known problem in such phasers is that there is no mechanical means such as a stop to assist in positioning the rotor for locking in an intermediate position; thus, locking is not reliable.
Various approaches involving advance-direction bias springs are known in the art for assisting a rotor locking pin in finding and securing the intermediate locking position. It is known to employ dual locking pins acting in the same direction. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,499 B2. Manufacturing tolerances for such phasers make impractical the precise alignment of the locking pins and their respective seats for controlling lash using both locking pins. The rotary lash will be a function of the clearance between only one or the other, but not both, of the locking pins and seats. Therefore, a means must be found for providing opportunities for the lash-controlling locking pin to engage its seat.
What is needed in the art is an arrangement for reliably engaging a lash-controlling locking pin into its seat.
It is a principal object of the present invention to minimize rotational lash in a camshaft phaser.

Vane-type cam phaser having staged locking pins to assist intermediate position locking


Embodiments relate to interacting with a collection of user opinion documents associated with a topic. One aspect includes obtaining opinion data for the collection of opinion documents associated with the topic. The opinion data includes one or more features discussed in the opinion documents, one or more key phrases included in each feature, one or more text snippets included in each feature, and at least one sentiment expressed in each text snippet. A visual interface is provided in which a feature summary view of the opinion documents acts a top level of a navigational hierarchy. The visual interface allows user navigation from the top level to a lower level of the navigational hierarchy in order to display more details about a text snippet, as compared to the feature summary view, while continuing to provide the feature summary view.

The present disclosure relates generally to visual analytics, and more specifically, to a system for visualizing user-generated opinion data.
Systems that allow users to create opinions or reviews about various subjects and provide these opinions on the Internet are commonplace. For example, many electronic commerce sites allow users to submit reviews about products available on the site. Users also express opinions about many different topics on social networking sites. Users are often interested in what other users have to say, but may find navigating through a large body of reviews or opinions to be a daunting task. Some conventional solutions to viewing a body of reviews or opinions allow users to vote on the helpfulness of each review, and direct users to the most helpful favorable and critical reviews, based on these votes. Other conventional solutions provide an overview of the most frequently mentioned product/service features, and the overall sentiment expressed in a collection of reviews, then allow users to filter and rank reviews based on the features mentioned.

Crowd-powered self-improving interactive visualanalytics for user-generated opinion data

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A method of balancing signal interconnect path delays between an analog domain and a digital domain of an integrated circuit includes applying a test signal to a selected one of a plurality of communication paths between the analog domain and the digital domain. A rising edge delay and a falling edge delay of the test signal is equalized by adjusting a body bias voltage of a delay element configured within the selected communication path. A rising edge delay and a falling edge delay for each of the remaining communication paths is compared with the equalized rising edge delay and falling edge delay of the selected communication path, and a body bias voltage for one or more of a plurality of delay elements configured within each of the remaining communication paths is adjusted until corresponding rising and falling edge delays thereof match the equalized rising edge delay and falling edge delay of the selected communication path.

The present invention relates generally to computer system delay elements, and, more particularly, to a system and method for balancing delay of signal communication paths through well voltage adjustment.
As technology continues to advance at an unprecedented rate, the transfer of information or data has remained a high priority. In addition, as processing speeds continue to increase, the speed at which information is transferred remains key in increasing overall system speed. Traditionally, parallel busses or cables have been coupled between multiple devices to transfer information during a processing function. However, certain problems that may degrade the transferred data (such as signal loss when transmitted over long distances) have led to improvements in the manner in which such data is transferred. In addition, the multitude of wires or cables necessary for parallel connection may become cumbersome, especially in larger systems. In the past, however, alternatives to parallel connections often led to information bottlenecks, leaving parallel lines as the only viable choice.
As the need for bandwidth expands in both existing networks and those now being developed, serial backplanes (or busses) have become an advantageous alternative for solving these problems. Typically, serial backplanes employ a serializer at a transmitting end to convert and transmit data in serial order and a deserializer at a receiving end to convert the data back to parallel form once received. Such high-speed serializer/deserializer (SERDES) receivers have become the benchmark for asynchronous communication and have provided clear advantages over parallel busses. For example, SERDES receivers include transmitters and receivers, and use simplified wiring harnesses (often only a single wire per channel) that typically consume less power than their parallel-coupled counterparts. Higher performance may also be achieved because SERDES receivers reduce the cross talk that often occurs between parallel wires. In addition, SERDES receivers may be employed to transmit data over long distances without the signal degradation experienced with parallel busses, thus ultimately offering increased reliability and fidelity over parallel busses.
SERDES receivers and transmitters generally classified as mixed-signal devices are comprised of an analog function domain, a digital function domain and a parallel communication path between the analog and digital function domains. The analog domain operates to transmit and receive data over a physical medium or cable, as well as convert between serial and parallel data at high speed, while the digital domain pre or post processes data. Reliable operation of the SERDES device at high speed is dependent not only on the function of the analog and digital domains, but on the parallel communication path that connects these domains. As a result, delay matching of all data path segments that make up the parallel path is required.
Conventionally, the matching of parallel data paths between analog and digital domains has been implemented by using a combination of FET sizing and physical placement techniques in order to reduce the effect of process variance from path to path. However, such methods typically result in the use of larger devices and/or restrictions on the location thereof, both of which hamper physical implementation and can impact circuit speed. Additionally, these techniques do not fully cancel device-to-device variations that can grow, as a percentage of drawn device size, with advancing technologies.
The overall performance of an analog/digital design depends, in part, upon the ability to maintain the synchronous tracking of the two domains. Due to broad process variations, and without some means of better adjusting the delays between the two domains, maximum potential performance may not be obtained. Moreover, if the two domains do not track with one another over temperature and time, the tolerance of the overall system will be further reduced. Accordingly, an improved means of real time adjustment of the communication paths between the domains is desirable.

System and method for balancing delay of signal communication paths through well voltage adjustment

International Business Machines Corporation


A medical apparatus having a variety of electrically actuatable elements includes actuation arrangement for assisting the selection of functions of the electrically actuatable elements. The actuation arrangement includes a single actuation device, preferably a foot switch, that can be brought from an initial position into two working positions. By actuating the actuation device into one of the two working positions, function display elements provided with symbol identifiers and optical signal generators are driven in succession and are displayed on a visual field. A control arrangement processes the control signals from the signal generators, such that the optical signal generators of the function display elements are successively driven in accordance with the selected actuation direction until a desired function display element is reached. The appertaining operator elements are thereby switched in a preparatory manner. By subsequent actuation of the actuation device into the other working position, the appertaining operator element is activated.

In certain medical apparatus, such as x-ray, dental or ophthalmological apparatus, it is desireable to be able to expediently select various "functions", such as the positions of adjustable elements and the operating values thereof, with the assistance of electrical actuating devices. Previously, a plurality of hand and foot switches were arranged at different locations of the apparatus, and had to be individually actuated for selecting each of these "functions".
For example, in a dental apparatus it is important to select a variety of functions during the course of treating a patient, and to vary the position and operating values of elements contained in the apparatus. Such elements can include a patient chair, various instruments used by a physician or assistant, and auxiliary functions of the instruments. The functions of the elements to be selected or triggered can be divided into device functions, instrument functions, and auxiliary functions.
For example, device functions can include moving a physician's and/or assistant's instrument from a starting position into a working position and back to the starting position, bringing the entire patient chair, or parts thereof, such as a back rest, seat or head support, from a starting position into one or more working positions back to the starting position, and bringing the patient chair, or parts thereof, from a first working position into a second working position, such as an expectoration position, and from the second working position back to the first working position during treatment of a patient.
In known devices, the selection of device functions ensues by actuating appropriate switch elements, with which allocated electrical and/or hydraulic motor operators are actuated. The switch elements are usually manually actuated, and a few are actuated with a foot switch.
In addition, the instrument functions can include speed control of an instrument drive motor, such as an electric air motor or turbine, defining the rotational sense of the drive motor as clockwise or counter clockwise, defining and connecting cooling agents, such as air, water, or spray, preselecting the power of the instrument drive, and preselecting the type of control of the instrument drive, such as an on/off function or regulating function.
In known devices, the selection of the instrument functions ensue with switch or control elements arranged at a suitable location, by which the drives are directly or indirectly switched by valves, relays or the like.
Further, auxiliary functions can include actuating a drinking glass filling element of an assistant's instrument, actuating an expectorant basin, rinsing an assistant's instrument, actuating a call system, and actuating a door opener or the like.
Previously, the selection of auxiliary functions ensued by separate, manually actuatable switches, or buttons, arranged at different locations on the apparatus.
For purposes of simplification, the means for driving the different functions, such as motor operators, valves, relays, switch elements, power control parts, etc., are hereinafter generally referred to with the term "actuating".
Previously, a multitude of functions could only be selected (if they could be selected at all), by a multitude of actuation devices, arranged at different locations of a dental apparatus. With the exception of a few functions that were capable of being selected with foot switches, the selection of the most functions was usually accomplished manually.
However, the ever-increasing number of adjustable functions in medical apparatus has given rise to increasing problems in instrument manipulation, as well as in maintaining acceptable levels of hygiene, in apparatus requiring manual actuation to select various functions.
Recent attempts to solve this problem include the disclosure of a dental apparatus wherein a plurality of switch functions can be arranged on one or on a number of foot switches, having a corresponding plurality of actuation devices, such that the actuation devices are actuatable in different directions. However, overloading a foot switch with actuation elements in this way causes the foot switch to become unsurveyable and very difficult to operate.
Another attempt to solve this problem is disclosed in WO 89.05613, in which the execution both of instrument functions and auxiliary functions of a dental apparatus can be controlled and displayed at a display screen with the assistance of a microprocessor. To this end, the microprocessor is connected to a control and display unit that includes a plurality of function display fields, such that instrument and auxiliary functions can be selected and displayed. The apparatus also contains a switch that responds when a particular instrument is removed or replaced, such that switching can be undertaken from a first mode, in which the instrument is removed from its holder and only auxiliary functions associated with the particular instrument can be selected, to a second mode, upon returning all instruments to their holders or home positions, wherein instrument and/or auxiliary functions can be selected. The functions are contained in a hierarchically divided menu system that contains an overriding main menu, and one or more subsidiary instrument menus, having adjustment and regulating menus coupled thereto. The menus can be manually selected with the assistance of selection means in the form of an infrared light barrier that is allocated to every function display field.
When an instrument is removed from its holder, the deposited or removed condition of the instruments is determined with detectors, and a switch from "auxiliary function" mode to "instrument function" mode ensues. Within the selected mode, the foot switch then assumes a control function.

Medical apparatus, having a single actuating device


The present invention proposes a semiconductor device, its manufacturing method and to an electronic apparatus thereof equipped with the semiconductor device where it becomes possible to make a CMOS type solid-state imaging device, an imager area formed with a MOS transistor of an LDD structure without having a metal silicide layer of a refractory metal, an area of DRAM cells and the like into a single semiconductor chip. According to the present invention, a semiconductor device is constituted such that an insulating film having a plurality of layers is used, sidewalls at the gate electrodes are formed by etching back the insulating film of the plurality of layers or a single layer film in the region where metal silicide layers are formed and in the region where the metal silicide layers are not formed, sidewalls composed of an upper layer insulating film is formed on a lower layer insulating film whose surface is coated or the insulating film of the plurality of layers remain unchanged.

In recent years, it has been progressed in the process of a semiconductor device having a CMOS logic circuit for making the device with a fine construction by utilizing a scaling law. In such a process, it is general to use a method for forming a metal silicate layer of a refractory metal in a source/drain region of a MOS transistor by using a salicide technology for the purpose of reducing the parasitic resistance. The salicide technology is a process for forming a metal silicide layer of a refractory metal selectively and self-adjustingly on a surface of a silicon gate electrode and a source/drain region of a MOS transistor at the same time. Additionally, with respect to a semiconductor device having a CMOS logic circuit, total system unification on a silicon substrate has been highly demanded for the purpose of a fine construction of a device and at the same time for the purpose of reduction of power consumption, improvement of operation speed and lower cost. For example, it has become an important theme how to form a functional device such as a CMOS image sensor and a logic LSI with embedded DRAM.
However, it is technically difficult to unify a CMOS logic region where a metal silicide layer of a refractory metal is formed in a source region and a drain region with a solid-state imaging device having DRAM cells and photodiodes where there is a problem of a junction leak current on a single silicon substrate. In more detail, when metal silicide layers of a refractory metal are formed in a source region and a drain region, it causes an increase of a junction leak current and it especially becomes a fatal problem for a solid-state imaging device having DRAM cells and photodiodes where a junction leak current is a matter of a problem. The metal silicide layers of a refractory metal are formed by forming a metal of a refractory metal on the surfaces of the source region and the drain region and by reacting the silicon and the metal of a refractory metal. However, when the silicon and the metal of a refractory metal do not completely react each other and the metal of a refractory metal which does not react owing to some probability remains in the vicinity of a junction, it causes an increase of a junction leak current in response to a fact that the remaining metal of a refractory metal becomes a core.
On the other hand, it is adopted for a MOS transistor that a source region and a drain region are made as an LDD structure by utilizing an insulating film spacer formed at the gate electrode and the side wall thereof, that is, a so-called sidewall. Then, by using, for example, a photo-resist method, a method is proposed where an etchingback process is applied only to a CMOS logic region where metal silicide layers of a refractory metal are formed such that the metal silicide layers of a refractory metal are formed only in the source region and the drain region in the CMOS logic region. However, in case of this method, there is a problem that either of the source region and the drain region cannot be formed in a region where the metal silicide layer of a refractory metal is not formed.
Consequently, in case of forming a source region and a drain region having a relatively deep junction, a sidewall structure becomes necessary in order to avoid an influence towards the channel region of the MOS transistor. As mentioned above, when the same region is used for a region formed with a metal silicide layer of a refractory metal and a region formed with a sidewall, a sidewall cannot be formed in a region where the metal silicide layer of a refractory metal in not formed and it becomes impossible to form the source region and the drain region in a forming region and in a non-forming region of a metal silicide layer of a refractory metal at the same time. In a CMOS image sensor, for example, a picture quality has been attempted to improve by making the potential setting of the photodiode deeper such that the saturation signal is increased and the S/N ratio is made larger. However, in response to setting the potential of the photodiode deeper, the potential setting of the source/drain regions of the MOS transistor for reading-out should be made deeper in order to read out the signal charge of the photodiode. As to this means, it becomes indispensable to form a source/drain region by injecting an impurity of a high concentration using the sidewall as a mask. In other words, it is necessary to form source/drain regions also in an area of picture elements where a metal silicide layer of a refractory metal is not formed, but there has been a theme in the prior art technique that such a necessity cannot be cleared.
It should be noted that a JAP laid-open patent No. 2001-44404 discloses about a constitution of forming a metal silicide layer in a source/drain region of a MOS transistor connected to a light receiving portion.

Semiconductor device and its manufacturing method, and electronic device


A semiconductor inspecting apparatus includes: a buffer memory whose width is matched to the greater of parallel bus width and the width of the number of serial lanes; a preceding stage bus switching unit that fills the buffer memory with input data without making a free space; equivalent transmission capacity conversion including a following stage bus switching unit that fills read data to the width of an arbitrary number of serial lanes without making a free space; a preceding stage bus switching unit that fills a buffer memory with input data without making a free space; and equivalent transmission capacity inverse conversion including a following stage bus switching unit that fills a parallel bus of arbitrary width with data read from a buffer memory without making a free space.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor inspecting apparatus, and more particularly to a data transmission apparatus and a data transmission method in the semiconductor inspecting apparatus.
Because of the micronization of a today's semiconductor integrated circuit and the high density of substrate wirings, a circuit pattern formed on a semiconductor wafer is rapidly micronized. Accompanying with this, semiconductor inspecting apparatuses typified by a wafer appearance inspecting apparatus and a scanning electron microscope are demanded to have higher image processing power year by year. Accompanying with this, transmission capacity of image data increases, and higher data transfer speeds are desired. For example, as described in JP-A-2002-223203, in an apparatus typified by a wafer appearance inspecting apparatus and a scanning electron microscope, a huge amount of image data is serially transmitted from a transmitter to a receiver.
Recent semiconductor inspecting apparatuses are finding an increase in the size of imaging pixels and the type of inspection area size, and variations occur in the size of image data to be transferred. Besides a main image data transmission, the control system of an inspecting apparatus itself is increasingly complicated, and needs for the acquisition of monitoring data for debugging are also increasing.
Accompanying with this, within a semiconductor inspecting, many types of data transmission systems are required in terms of bus width and the magnitude of transmission capacity. To meet these needs, LSIs suitable for individual transmission systems have been individually developed and applied. Technologies for easily solving these needs are described in "SerialLite MegaCore Function User Guide", Altera Corporation, http://www.altera.com/literature/ug/ug_sl.pdf and "Aurora Protocol Specification", Xilinx Inc., http://www.xilinx.com/aurora/aurora_protocol_member/aurora_protocol_spec_sp002.pdf. These describe the binding of serial transmission control cores within a customizable LSI to achieve variable transmission capacity. Moreover, to flexibly respond to the magnitude of transmission capacity and bus width of transmission systems, general-purpose data transmission system technology having a width conversion mechanism is described in JP-A-2003-308694.