An optical element having an optical multi-layer coating which can function as a phase plate without using quartz crystal or an optical film. The optical multi-layer coating is deposited on a plane which is set up on the optical element by way of a perpendicularly intersecting plane located on perpendicularly intersecting X- and Y-axes in perpendicularly intersecting relation with optical axis of an incident light beam on the optical multi-layer coating, the perpendicularly intersecting plane being inclined through a predetermined angle about the X- and/or Y-axis to establish a phase differential between two linearly polarized components of the incident light beam.

1. Field of the Art
This invention relates to an optical element with an optical multi-layer deposition film to serve as a phase plate, and an optical pickup to which the optical element is applied.
2. Prior Art
Optical pickups are in general use for reproducing and recording optical discs such as CD (compact disc), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) and the like. As an example of optical pickup, there has been known an optical pickup system which is composed of a light source, collimator lens, polarized beam splitter, λ/4 phase plate, objective lens, condenser lens, and a detector. In such an optical pickup system, a p-polarized light beam (polarized in a direction parallel with a plane of incidence) or an s-polarized light beam (polarized in a direction perpendicular to p-polarized light) which is projected from a light source is collimated into a parallel light beam by a collimator lens and fed to a polarized beam splitter. The polarized beam splitter transmits either p- or s-polarized light only while reflecting off other polarization components. (In this particular case, the polarized beam splitter transmits p-polarized light only and reflects off s-polarized light.) The p-polarized light component transmitted through the polarized beam splitter is fed to a λ/4 phase plate. At the λ/4 phase plate, p-polarized light is converted into circularly polarized light and converged to a spot on an optical disc by an objective lens.
Circularly polarized light which is reflected off a disc surface is passed through the objective lens as return light and once more fed to the λ/4 phase plate. At the λ/4 phase plate, the return light is converted from circularly polarized light to s-polarized light, and resulting s-polarized light is fed to the polarized beam splitter which has characteristics of reflecting off s-polarized light. The reflected s-polarized light is directed toward a sensor for information reproducing or recording purposes.
Thus, as described above, a λ/4 phase plate is one of essential constituent elements of an optical pickup. By the λ/4 phase plate, incident p- and s-polarized light components are rotated to undergo a 90 degrees shift in phase. Therefore, incident light is converted from linearly polarized light to circularly polarized light. Similarly, the return light from a disc undergo again a 90 degrees phase shift through the λ/4 phase plate, and thereby converted from circularly polarized light to linearly polarized light. In this instance, on the way from a light source, p-polarized light is shifted 90 degrees in phase by the λ/4 phase plate, and shifted again 90 degrees in phase on the way back from an optical disc. That is to say, the light beam which is fed to the polarized beam splitter as return light is shifted 180 degrees in phase in total and converted to s-polarized light, as compared with the p-polarized light beam initially projected from the light source.
On the other hand, there is a λ/2 phase plate is used for a 180 degrees phase shift. By shifting the phase 180 degrees, a λ/2 phase plate rotates the direction of polarization by 90 degrees.
In order to utilize functions of these λ/4 and λ/2 phase plates (and other phase plates), it is necessary to use materials of different refractive indices respectively for p- and s-polarized light for the purpose of differentiating propagation velocity of p-polarized light from that of s-polarized light. As a material which can serve for this purpose, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2001-124925 discloses an optical film, while Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application H3-78704 discloses quartz crystal.
Both the optical film and quartz crystal which are disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications 2001-124925 and H3-78704 have crystallinity and can function as a phase plate. Namely, by the action of crystal axis formed in the film or quartz crystal, a phase differential is established between perpendicularly intersecting phase advancing axis and phase retarding axis of incident light. That is to say, in these cases, crystallinity is utilized for obtaining functions as a phase plate. That is to say, in the case of conventional phase plates, crystal axis has been necessary for performing functions as a phase plate.
In the case of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2001-124925, a cyclic polyolefin-base resin film is bonded on a surface of a substrate for the purpose of improving heat resistance and hygroscopic property as a phase plate. However, the cyclic polyolefin-base resin film itself has a large thermal expansion coefficient, so that it causes distortions of the film as well as degradations of optical characteristics under high temperature conditions. Therefore, for an optical film to function as a phase plate, it still has problems from the standpoint of weatherability. Besides, in the case of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application H3-78704 using quartz crystal as a phase plate material, it is difficult to realize phase plates of a large size due to difficulties of obtaining crystals with a large surface area.


A display apparatus and method of forming the same comprise an insulating substrate; a thin film transistor formed on the insulating substrate; a first electrode electrically connected to the thin film transistor and having a first maximum roughness; a buffer layer formed on the first electrode and having a second maximum roughness lower than the first maximum roughness; an organic emission layer formed on the buffer layer; and a second electrode formed on the organic emission layer. Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same which reduce the number of defects due to roughness of a pixel electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display apparatus and a fabricating method thereof, and more particularly, to a display apparatus in which a buffer layer with low surface roughness is formed on a pixel electrode and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Among flat panel displays, organic light emitting diode ("OLED") displays have recently attracted attention because they may be driven with a low voltage, they are both thin and lightweight, have a wide viewing angle, and have a relatively short response time. OLED displays may be classified into either passive matrix type or active matrix type displays according to the driving methods used.
In the active matrix type of OLED display, a thin film transistor is connected to each pixel region and accordingly controls the emission of an organic emission layer. Each pixel region includes a pixel electrode. Each pixel electrode is electrically disconnected from every other pixel electrode adjacent thereto, so that each pixel can be driven independently. An organic layer, such as a hole injection layer and an organic emission layer, are provided on the pixel electrode.
Typically, the pixel electrode is formed by applying indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO) via a deposition method such as sputtering onto a passivation layer. One disadvantage of this technique is that the pixel electrode is formed with spikes protruding from the surface thereof, and thereby has a relatively large surface roughness. This large surface roughness prevents the organic layer to be formed on the pixel electrode from obtaining a uniform surface. In particular, the organic layer formed on top of the spikes is relatively thin. This thin organic layer is more likely to be broken due to an electric field which concentrates on the spike when driving the OLED. Once a break occurs, the broken organic layer acts as a path for a leakage current, thereby causing a dark spot or a dark pixel.

Display apparatus and fabricating method thereof


Leading and trailing metal features in a dense array of conductive lines bordering an open field are formed with side surfaces that gradually taper in the direction of the open field toward an underlying substrate. Each side surface bordering the open field is formed with a sufficient slope to reduce cracking of the subsequently deposited dielectric gap fill layer at high stress areas bordering the open field.

The escalating requirements for high density and performance associated with ultra large scale integration demand design features of 0.25 microns and under, e.g., about 0.18 microns, increased transistor and circuit speeds, and high reliability. These requirements challenge the limitations of semiconductor technology.
Conventional methodology for forming patterned metal layers comprises a subtractive etching or etchback step as the primary metal patterning technique. Such a method involves the formation of a first dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate, typically doped moncrystalline silicon, with conductive contacts formed therein for electrical connection with an active region on the semiconductor substrate, such as a source/drain region. A metal layer is deposited on the first dielectric layer. The metal layer is typically a composite comprising a first metal layer such as tungsten or titanium, a second intermediate primary layer such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and an upper anti-reflective coating, which also serves as an etchstop layer, such as titanium nitride. A photoresist mask is formed on the metal layer having a pattern defining a plurality of conductive features in accordance with design requirements. The metal layer is etched, using the photoresist mask, to form a conductive pattern comprising metal features separated by gaps, such as a plurality of metal lines with interwiring spacings therebetween. A dielectric layer, such as spin-on glass (SOG), is then applied to the resulting conductive pattern to fill the gaps. Another dielectric layer is deposited, such as silicon oxide derived from tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) or silane by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). Planarization is then effected, as by etching or chemical mechanical polishing (CMP).
The conductive pattern typically comprises a dense array of metal features, typically separated by gaps less than about 1 micron, e.g., about 0.375 microns for metal features of about 0.50 microns. Such a dense array is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, and comprises leading metal feature 11A and trailing metal feature 11B formed on first dielectric layer 10. A layer of gap filling material 12, such as SOG, is deposited to fill in the gaps. A preferred gap filling material is hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ).
However, it was found that when a dense array is bordered by an open field, i.e., a distance extending beyond about 1 micron, such as beyond about 1.5 microns, e.g., greater than 2 microns, cracking occurs in the dielectric gap fill layer 12 proximate leading 11A and trailing 11B metal features bordering the open field, as indicated by reference numeral 13. Such cracking typically occurs where the gap filling layer is deposited at a relatively high thickness and at a relatively severe angle, as where a leading or trailing metal feature borders an open field. Such cracks adversely impact circuit speeds and device reliability.
Accordingly, there exists a need for semiconductor methodology for gap filling patterned metal layers without experiencing cracking in high stress areas, such as adjacent leading and trailing edges of a dense array bordering an open field.

Tapered isolated metal profile to reduce dielectric layer cracking


The invention concerns ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme-like protein (UBCLP) nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, antibodies, and modulators. The invention also concerns screening assays which can be used to identify compounds useful for the treatment of prostate cancer and diagnostic assays which can be used to detect prostate cancer, and prognostic assays which can be used to monitor prostate cancer therapy.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of death from cancer in American men. Prostate cancer cells often initially rely on androgen (e.g., testosterone) for their growth and maintenance. Therefore, androgen withdrawal, by castration or through the use of an anti-androgenic drug, is a common treatment for prostate cancer. In many cases, however, prostate cancer patients develop androgen-independent prostate cancer so that androgen withdrawal treatment is no longer effective.
The complex process of prostate tumor growth and development involves multiple gene products. Therefore, it is important to identify genes involved in tumor development, growth, and androgen dependence, particularly those genes and gene products that can serve as targets for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of prostate cancer.
The present invention is based, at least in part, on the discovery of a cDNA molecule encoding a novel protein called Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzyme-Like Protein (UBCLP). This protein, fragments, derivatives, and variants thereof are collectively referred to as xe2x80x9cpolypeptides of the inventionxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cproteins of the invention.xe2x80x9d Nucleic acid molecules encoding polypeptides of the invention are collectively referred to as xe2x80x9cnucleic acids of the invention.xe2x80x9d
The polypeptides, and nucleic acids of the invention are potential targets for the development of therapeutic compounds. Because androgen is required for growth and survival of androgen-dependent prostate cancer cells, genes such UBCLP whose expression is decreased in the presence of casodex, an anti-androgen, are potential therapeutic targets. An agent which decreases the expression or activity of UBCLP may slow the growth of, arrest the growth of, or kill prostate cancer cells, including androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. An agent which reduces the expression or activity of UBCLP may reduce the growth of androgen-independent prostate cancer or cause an androgen-dependent cancer to become androgen-dependent so that it can be treated with standard androgen withdrawal therapy. Of course, such an agent might also be useful for the treatment of an androgen-dependent prostate cancer.
Useful therapeutic agents can be identified using androgen-dependent prostate cancer cells (e.g., CWR22 cells or LNCaP cells) or androgen-independent prostate cancer cells (e.g., CWR22R cells or L3 LNCaP cells) which express UBCLP. The growth of such cells in the presence and absence of a test agent is measured (in the presence or absence of an androgen). Compounds which reduce cell growth, reduce UBCLP expression, or reduce UBCLP activity are potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of prostate cancer (e.g., androgen-independent prostate cancer).
Because UBCLP expression is decreased in the presence of casodex, an antiandrogen, UBCLP expression or activity can serve as a marker for monitoring prostate cancer therapies. For example, UBCLP should not be expressed at a significant level in the prostate cancer cells of patients undergoing anti-androgen therapy. An increase over time in UBCLP expression or activity in a patient undergoing anti-androgen therpay indicates that the therapy is becoming less effective. Such an increase can also indicate that the prostate cancer is becoming androgen-independent. In this and other assays of UBCLP expression, the nominal level of expression is usually normalized to the level of a non-regulated (e.g., housekeeping) gene such as actin.
Using the above-described methods one can predict whether a selected compound, e.g., an anti-androgenic compound, can be used to treat a prostate cancer. Importantly, this determination can be made on a patient by patient basis. Thus, one can determine whether or not a particular prostate cancer treatment is likely to benefit a particular patient.
In the various methods of the invention, gene expression can be measured at the mRNA or protein level. Alternatively, expression can be measured indirectly by measuring the activity of UBCLP protein.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for detecting the presence of UBCLP activity or expression in a biological sample by contacting the biological sample with an agent capable of detecting an indicator of UBCLP activity such that the presence of UBCLP activity is detected in the biological sample.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method for treating prostate cancer by modulating the expression or activity of UBCLP, the method comprising contacting a cell with an agent that modulate""s (inhibits or stimulates, preferably inhibits) UBCLP activity or expression such that UBCLP activity or expression in the cell is modulated. In one embodiment, the agent is an antibody that specifically binds to UBCLP. In another embodiment, the agent modulates expression of UBCLP by modulating transcription, modulating mRNA splicing, or modulating mRNA translation. In yet another embodiment, the agent is a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence that is antisense to the coding strand of UBCLP.
In one embodiment, the methods of the present invention are used to treat a subject having a prostate cancer characterized by aberrant UBCLP protein activity or expression (e.g., constitutive expression in absence of an androgen or abnormally high expression in the presence of estrogen) by administering an agent which is a UBCLP modulator to the subject. The modulator can be a peptide, peptidomimetic, or small molecule, e.g., an organic molecule.
The present invention also provides a diagnostic assay for identifying whether a patient has or is at risk of developing prostate cancer by detecting the presence or absence of a genetic lesion or mutation in the UBCLP gene of the invention characterized by at least one of: (i) aberrant modification or mutation of a gene of the invention; (ii) mis-regulation of a gene of the invention (e.g., constitutive expression in the absence of androgen); and (iii) aberrant post-translational modification of a protein encoded by a gene of the invention.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method for identifying a compound for the treatment of prostate cancer (e.g., an androgen-independent prostate cancer or an androgen-dependent prostate cancer) by identifying a compound that binds to or modulates the activity of UBCLP protein. In general, such methods entail measuring a biological activity of UBCLP in the presence and absence of a test compound and identifying those compounds which alter the measured activity of UBCLP.
The invention also features methods for identifying a compound which modulates the expression of UBCLP (at the mRNA or protein level) by measuring the expression of UBCLP nucleic acid or protein of the invention in the presence and absence of a compound.
Differential expression refers to both quantitative, as well as qualitative, differences in the expression pattern of a gene in tumor cells treated with a particular compound (e.g., casodex) and untreated tumor cells. A differentially expressed gene can be a target gene. A target gene is a differentially expressed gene involved in a disorder (e.g., prostate cancer) such that modulation of the level of target gene expression or of target gene product activity can act to prevent and/or ameliorate symptoms of the disorder (e.g., androgen-dependent or androgen-independent prostate cancer). Compounds that modulate the expression of the target gene or the activity of the target gene product can be used in the treatment or prevention of the disorder. Thus, compounds that modulate the expression of a prostate cancer target gene or the activity of the gene product of a prostate cancer target gene can be used in treatments to deter benign cells from developing into prostate cancer cells. Still further, compounds that modulate the expression of a prostate cancer target gene or the activity of the gene product of a prostate cancer target gene can be used to design a preventive intervention in pre-neoplastic cells in individuals at high risk for developing prostate cancer.
An androgen-dependent prostate cancer cell is a cell that requires androgen for continued cell division. Conversely, and androgen-independent prostate cancer cell is a cell that can continue to divide in the absence of androgen.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and claims.
The invention features nucleic acid molecules which are at least 45% (or 55%, 65%, 75%, 85%, 95%, or 98%) identical to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3.
The invention features nucleic acid molecules which include a fragment of at least 300 (325, 350, 375, 400, 425, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 800, 900, 1000, or 1200) nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
The invention also features nucleic acid molecules which include a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least 45% (or 55%, 65%, 75%, 85%, 95%, or 98%) identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
In preferred embodiments, the nucleic acid molecules have the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
Also within the invention are nucleic acid molecules which encode a fragment of a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, the fragment including at least 15 (25, 30, 50, 100, 150, 300, or 400) contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2.
The invention includes nucleic acid molecules which encode a naturally occurring allelic variant of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the nucleic acid molecule hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding SEQ ID NO:2 under stringent conditions.
Also within the invention are: isolated polypeptides or proteins having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 65%, preferably 75%, 85%, 95%, or 98% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
Also within the invention are: isolated polypeptides or proteins which are encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence that is at least about 65%, preferably 75%, 85%, or 95% identical to a nucleic acid sequence encoding SEQ ID NO:2; and isolated polypeptides or proteins which are encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence which hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3.
Also within the invention are polypeptides which are a naturally occurring allelic variant of a polypeptide that includes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3 under stringent conditions.
The invention also features nucleic acid molecules that hybridize tinder stringent conditions to a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1or 3. In other embodiments, the nucleic acid molecules are at least 300 (325, 350, 375, 400, 425, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 800, 900, 1000, or 1290) nucleotides in length and hybridizes tinder stringent conditions to a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3.
In another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule which is antisense to the coding strand of a nucleic acid of the invention.
Another aspect of the invention provides vectors, e.g., recombinant expression vectors, comprising a nucleic acid molecule of the invention. In another embodiment the invention provides host cells containing such a vector. The invention also provides methods for producing a polypeptide of the invention by culturing, in a suitable medium, a host cell of the invention containing a recombinant expression vector such that a polypeptide of the invention is produced.
Another aspect of this invention features isolated or recombinant proteins and polypeptides of the invention. Preferred proteins and polypeptides possess at least one biological activity possessed by the corresponding naturally-occurring human polypeptide. An activity, a biological activity, and a functional activity of a polypeptide of the invention refers to an activity exerted by a protein, polypeptide or nucleic acid molecule of the invention on a responsive cell as determined in vivo, or in vitro, according to standard techniques. Such activities can be a direct activity, such as an association with or an enzymatic activity on a second protein or an indirect activity, such as a cellular signaling activity mediated by interaction of the protein with a second protein.
In one embodiment, a polypeptide of the invention has an amino acid sequence sufficiently identical to an identified domain of a polypeptide of the invention. As used herein, the term xe2x80x9csufficiently identicalxe2x80x9d refers to a first amino acid or nucleotide sequence which contains a sufficient or minimum number of identical or equivalent (e.g., with a similar side chain) amino acid residues or nucleotides to a second amino acid or nucleotide sequence such that the first and second amino acid or nucleotide sequences have a common structural domain and/or common functional activity. For example, amino acid or nucleotide sequences which contain a common structural domain having about 65% identity, preferably 75% identity, more preferably 85%, 95%, or 98% identity are defined herein as sufficiently identical.
In one embodiment, the isolated polypeptide and lacks both a transmembrane and a cytoplasmic domain. In another embodiment the polypeptide lacks both a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic domain and is soluble under physiological conditions.
The polypeptides of the present invention, or biologically active portions thereof, can be operably linked to a heterologous amino acid sequence to form a fusion protein. The invention further features antibodies that specifically bind a polypeptide of the invention such as monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies. In addition, the polypeptides of the invention or biologically active portions thereof can be incorporated into pharmaceutical compositions, which optionally include pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.
In another aspect, the present invention provides methods for detecting the presence of the activity or expression of a polypeptide of the invention in a biological sample by contacting the biological sample with an agent capable of detecting an indicator of activity such that the presence of activity is detected in the biological sample.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and claims.


Embodiments include techniques and objects related to a wearable audio device that includes a microphone to detect a plurality of sounds in an environment in which the wearable audio device is located. The wearable audio device further includes a non-acoustic sensor to detect that a user of the wearable audio device is speaking. The wearable audio device further includes one or more processors communicatively to alter, based on an identification by the non-acoustic sensor that the user of the wearable audio device is speaking, one or more of the plurality of sounds to generate a sound output. Other embodiments may be described or claimed.

When speaking, one may hear a mixture of the sound emitted from their mouths and the vibrations within their head/ears. This is why a person's voice may sound differently in recordings as compared to what a person is used to under normal circumstances. Most people may find it uncomfortable to listen to their own voice through a speaker because the mixture of sounds may be different than what the user is used to. This difference may translate to an undesirable difference in perception of the sound of the user's voice.


A container for food product includes a film affixed to a food tray. The film forms a top of the container and has an access opening. The sealing label, adhesively sealed to the top around the opening, is resealable when a tab of the sealing label is pulled back. The sealing label is resealable against the top layer to seal the opening when the label is moved back against the top. In one form, the sealing label extends along the top of the container and seals along a portion of the film which is affixed to one or more top end surfaces of walls forming the tray.

Containers for food products often come packaged in plastic trays. One conventional type includes a thermoformed tray. Several conventional lidding materials are available for covering conventional food trays. Lidding materials may be metal foil, flexible plastic wrap or rigid plastic.
One such package disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,054 is designed for containing breath films or other oral care strips in which the package includes a blister pack having a hinged flap which is resealable against the top surface of the blister pack. The package has a top surface which forms a flange around the perimeter opening of the tray compartment. Another package which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,691,886 shows a plastic tray with lid film which includes a sealing area around its perimeter which seals to a flange surface of the tray. U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,506 discloses another resealable container comprising a dispenser for moisture-impregnated articles such as moist tissues using a rigid plastic container with an opening formed in its top surface. A resealable label reseals the top opening.
In another prior dispensing package manufactured under the trade name RESEAL-IT, a thermoformed tray includes a lidding film affixed to an upper flange which encircles the opening of the tray. The lidding includes a die cut flap. A label larger than the flap opening is placed over the flap and spans completely across the lidding between but not onto the flange surfaces of the package. Thus, the label abuts the flange but does not extend onto the flange surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,493 discloses a reclosable dispenser packet. In one form, the packet includes a semi-rigid container which is thermo-formed or injection molded. A thin, flexible material such as vinyl film or aluminum foil is sealed to a flange of the container. An opening is cut into the flexible material. An adhesive flap is placed over the cut opening and seals with the container top so that the cut portion is permanently affixed to the adhesive flap as it is withdrawn from the top to expose the container opening.
There exists a need in the art for improved resealable containers suitable for containing food items.


As a rubber composition having an elasticity further increased as compared with the conventional rubber composition while preventing the lowering of the fracture resistance, there is provided a rubber composition comprising a rubber component of at least one of natural rubber and synthetic diene rubbers and a phenolic resin compounded therein and represented by the following formula (I):

As a countermeasure for increasing an elasticity of a rubber, there have hitherto been proposed a method of increasing an amount of a filler, a method of increasing an amount of sulfur to increase the number of crosslinking points, and the like. However, these methods have a problem that the characteristics such as fracture resistance and the like are considerably deteriorated.
On the contrary, as a countermeasure for increasing the elasticity of the rubber while suppressing the lowering of the fracture resistance of rubber, there are proposed a method of adding a non-modified novolac-type or resole-type phenolic resin, and a method of adding a phenolic resin modified with an unsaturated oil such as tall oil or cashew oil or an aromatic hydrocarbon such as xylene or mesitylene. These methods are widely used for increasing the elasticity while suppressing the lowering of the fracture resistance (see, for example, JP-A-5-98081 and JP-A-2001-226528).
However, performances required in the rubber become very severer in recent years, and hence it is required to further increase the elasticity of the rubber while suppressing the lowering of the fracture resistance of the rubber. The aforementioned method of adding the non-modified phenolic resin or the modified phenolic resin is insufficient in the meaning that the elasticity of the rubber is further increased while suppressing the lowering of the fracture resistance.

Abstract: (wherein R0 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a phenyl group or a methylol group, and each of R1 and R2 is an arylene group, an alkylene group having a carbon number of 2-10, an aralkylene group, a cycloalkenylene group or a cycloalkadienylene group, and n is 0-10).


A storage phosphor cassette comprising a shell including upper and lower rectangular panels, first and second side members, and a front end member, the side members and the front end member joining the upper and lower panels to form a five sided cavity having an open end; wherein the lower panel includes a segment at the open end, the segment formed of folded over stainless steel having latch cars cut into the front edge thereof; a storage phosphor assembly including a back end member, an insert plate having an upper face and being cantilevered from the back end member, and an x-ray storage phosphor disposed on the upper face of the insert plate, wherein the storage phosphor assembly is removably contained in the shell such that the back end member closes off the open end of the shell; wherein the insert plate is rectangular with front, back, and side edges , and is formed of a rigid composite having upper and lower aluminum skins and an aluminum honeycomb core, the core having recesses along the front, back, and side edges; wherein the back end member extends into the back recess, the composite being secured to the back end member; wherein the insert plate includes side inserts which are secured in the side recesses of the composite, which are interlocked at their back ends with the back end member, and which extend slightly beyond the upper and lower skins of the composite to form a bumper system to absorb and distribute forces away from the composite to the back end member, and further includes a front insert secured in the front recess of the composite.

In computed radiography, a photographic element has an image formed thereon by x-rays, and the element is subsequently provided to a reader where the photographic element is stimulated to emit a radiation pattern that is captured for storage and use. Cassettes of the kind used in computed radiography may comprise a container having upper and lower parts that are hinged together so that they can be opened for insertion of a thin, flexible film sheet or rigid film plate comprising the photographic element. The cassette is closed and latched so that the cassette with the element therein can be used with an x-ray apparatus to produce an image on the photographic element. Then the cassette is taken to a reader where the cassette must be opened and the photographic element extracted by suitable feeders, such as suction feeding devices. The photographic element separate from the cassette is transported through the reader where it is stimulated to emit a radiation pattern and subsequently erased before being returned to the cassette for re-use.
The cassettes and the photographic elements as described above have generally been satisfactory, however, the cassettes are susceptible to various types of damage when dropped or handled roughly. Accordingly, it is desirable to increase the durability of the cassette, while minimizing cost, and preserving the same basic nature of design.
The following patents disclose various types of cassettes which do not solve these problems: U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,333; U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,059; U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,866; U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,567; U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,136; EP Patent 0394564; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,229.

Storage phosphor cassette with improved durability


A DSP (Digital Signal Processing) architecture with a wide memory bandwidth and a memory mapping method thereof. The DSP architecture includes: a first communication port; first, second, and third memory devices, which are connected with the first communication port and are arranged in a first row direction of the DSP architecture; a fourth memory device, a calculation element, and a fifth memory device, which are arranged in a second row direction below a first row direction of the DSP architecture; and sixth, seventh, and eighth memory devices, which are connected with the first communication port and arranged in a third row direction of the DSP architecture, wherein the calculation element is connected with the first through the eight memory devices. In the DSP architecture, the calculation element and the first through the eighth memory devices form one arrangement unit, wherein the calculation element is disposed in the center of the arrangement unit, the first through the eighth memory devices are connected to the calculation element, and a plurality of arrangement units are arranged in row directions and column directions of the DSP architecture. Therefore, since a wide data bandwidth is provided between the calculation element of the DSP architecture and the memory devices, it is possible to reduce memory access times when data is processed, and accordingly, to process data with a high data rate, such as a moving image with a high resolution.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a DSP (digital signal processing) architecture, and more particularly, to a DSP architecture that provides a wide memory bandwidth according to an image processing algorithm, and a memory mapping method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
One among basic functions that are performed by a digital processor is to access a memory for data reading and writing. The memory is generally accessed by an address provided from a digital processor. The memory access operation of the digital processor is greatly influenced by the input-output structure of the memory, and particularly, is closely related to a memory bandwidth which represents the number of data capable of being input/output at one time.
A Digital Signal Processing (hereinafter, referred to as "DSP") architecture performs image processing such as image enhancement, compression, and decompression. Particularly, in a DSP architecture which processes moving images as shown in FIG. 1, for example, when an algorithm which accesses three frames and creates a new frame is executed, three video image frames 101, 102, and 103, as sources, are stored in a memory 120 through the DSP CE architecture 110, and the three frame data stored in the memory 120 are read out and processed by a calculation element of the DSP architecture 110, thereby creating one frame 130.
Assuming that the DSP architecture 110 processes moving images with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels at 60 Hz, the number of pixels to be processed per second is 1920×1080×60≈124M. Here, considering R, G, and B color components, the number of pixels to be processed per second is 124M×3=373M. To store the 373M pixels in the memory 120, the access operations between the DSP architecture 110 and the memory 120, that is, writing operations and reading operations should be repeated several times.
Meanwhile, to operate a DSP architecture at a high speed, a Harvard architecture that includes a data path and an instruction path separately is generally used as a DSP architecture. FIGS. 2 through 4 show examples of Harvard architectures used as DSP architectures.
FIG. 2 shows a conventional representative Harvard architecture wherein image data is loaded into data buses, stored in an external SDRAM under the control of an SDRAM controller, and then read out.
However, image data processed by the DSP architecture 200 of FIG. 2 is dependent on the data bandwidth of the memory devices, as seen in FIG. 2. For example, if an algorithm that accesses three frames and creates a new frame is executed according to a three-dimensional de-interlacing method, memory access operations for 8 pixels per one motion check are required, and accordingly, memory access operations for 64 pixels are required since the 8 memory access operations should be performed 8 times in a three-dimension de-interlacing method. Such a memory access operation requires a predetermined cycle time consumed for operations to address memory cells and operations to read cell data. Particularly, in a case of the resolution of 1920×1080 pixels, 24 memory access cycles are necessary if a DSP architecture with an operation speed of 3.0 GHz is used to process 124M pixels. Therefore, it is difficult to process high resolution images due to the existence of such a physical access cycle required to access the memory in the DSP architecture.
Accordingly, to process high resolution images, a new DSP architecture with a wide memory bandwidth is necessary.

Digital signal processing architecture with a wide memory bandwidth and a memory mapping method thereof


System, methods and apparatus are described that facilitate transmission of data, particularly between two devices within electronic equipment. Transmission lines are selectively terminated in an N-phase polarity encoded transmitter when the transmission lines would otherwise be undriven. Data is mapped to a sequence of symbols to be transmitted on a plurality of wires. The sequence of symbols is encoded in three signals. Each of the three terminals may be driven such that transistors are activated to couple a terminal to first and second voltage levels through a pair of impedances when the terminal would otherwise be undriven. The terminal is then pulled toward an intermediate voltage level while the terminal presents a desired impedance level to a transmission line.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to high-speed data communications, and more particularly, to asymmetric communications between components of electronic devices and in particular to multi-phase encoding and decoding.
2. Background
High-speed interfaces are frequently used between circuits and components of mobile wireless devices and other complex apparatus. For example, certain devices may include processing, communications, storage and/or display devices that interact with one another through communications links. Some of these devices, including synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), may be capable of providing or consuming data and control information at processor clock rates. Other devices, such as display controllers, may require variable amounts of data at relatively low video refresh rates.
High-speed interfaces are often limited by clock skew and are subject to interference. High frequency signals are often transmitted using differential interfaces to provide common-mode rejection for critical signals. In devices such as memory devices, which transmit and receive large amounts of data over wide data and control buses, interfaces maybe expensive and may consume significant power and real-estate on a circuit board.

Voltage mode driver circuit for N-phase systems


Compounds having neutral endopeptidase (NEP) and/or human soluble endopeptidase (hSEP) inhibitory activity corresponding to the formula I,

The present invention relates to novel amidomethyl-substituted 1-(carboxyalkyl)-cyclopentylcarbonylamino-benzazepine-N-acetic acid derivatives which are useful e.g. for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of cardiovascular conditions or diseases, especially cardiac insufficiency, in particular congestive heart failure; hypertension, including secondary forms of hypertension such as essential hypertension, renal hypertension and/or pulmonary hypertension and/or for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of sexual dysfunction and/or for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of adverse conditions associated with apoptosis, and also to medicaments containing these compounds. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for the preparation of the novel amidomethyl-substituted benzazepine-N-acetic acid derivatives and intermediate products of this process.
Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a significant clinical problem which can affect both males and females. The causes of SD may be both organic as well as psychological. Organic aspects of SD are typically caused by underlying vascular diseases, such as those associated with hypertension or diabetes mellitus, by prescription medication and/or by psychiatric disease such as depression. Physiological factors include fear, performance anxiety and interpersonal conflict. SD impairs sexual performance, diminishes selfesteem and disrupts personal relationships thereby inducing personal distress.
Apoptosis is closely involved in morphogenesis and histogenesis in the development process, maintenance of homeostasis, and bio-defense, and it is cell death having an important role in maintaining individual lives. When the death process regulated by genes is congenially or postnatally hindered, apoptosis is excessively induced or inhibited to cause functional disorders in various organs, and thus diseases. Drugs showing an apoptosis inhibitory activity can be used as agents for the prophylaxis and treatment of diseases which are thought to be mediated by promotion of apoptosis.
Cardiovascular-active benzazepine-, benzoxazepine- and benzothiazepine-N-acetic acid derivatives having a marked inhibitory action on the enzyme neutral endopeptidase (=NEP) are already known from specification EP 0 733 642 A1 (=U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,297). In addition, the compounds described therein also have lesser properties which inhibit endothelin-converting enzyme (=ECE). Further favourable pharmacological properties of compounds falling within the structural scope of EP 0 733 642 A1 are known from documents EP 0 830 863 A1 (=U.S. Pat. No. 5,783,53), WO 00/48601 A1 (=U.S. Pat. No. 6,482,820) and WO 01/03699 A1 (=US-2003-0040512-A1).
Phosphonic acid substituted benzazepinone-N-acidic acid derivatives with a combined inhibitory effect on NEP and ECE are disclosed in document EP 0 916 679 A1 (=U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,327).
Pharmaceutical preparations are known from specification WO 02/094176 A2 which contain compounds having an advantageous combinatory action which inhibits the metalloprotease enzymes NEP and IGS5 and have, inter alia, cardiovascular-active properties. Suitable compounds for such combination preparations are also compounds which fall within the scope of specifications EP 0 733 642 A1 and EP 0 916 679 A1. The enzyme IGS5, as it is to be understood in the context of this invention, and its physiological role in connection with cardiovascular diseases, is known per se from the specification WO 01/36610 A1. The aforementioned enzyme IGS5 is also known as "human soluble endopeptidase" (=hSEP).
International application no. WO 99/55726 A1 discloses that certain thiol inhibitors of ECE are useful among other things for treating or inhibiting erectile dysfunction.
European patent application no. EP 1 097 719 A1 discloses the use of NEP inhibitors for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction (=FSD).
Publication WO 02/06492 A1 discloses i.a. antibodies against and inhibitors of a specific polypeptide having soluble secreted endopeptidase (=SEP) activity.
Published U.S. patent application no. US 2003-0045449 discloses that matrix-metalloprotease inhibitors are useful for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Problems associated with that invention are first that matrix-metalloprotease inhibitors comprise a broad group of protease inhibitors, and second that according to the said application the metalloproteases must be used in a pharmaceutical composition also containing an N—NOS inhibitor.
Published U.S. patent application no. US 2002-0013307 teaches the use of vasopeptidase inhibitors to treat or slow the progression of cognitive dysfunction and to treat and/or prevent dementia.
M. Sumitomo et al. (see Clinical Cancer Research 10 (2004) 260-266) describe the chemosensitization of androgen-independent prostate cancer with NEP.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Amidomethyl-substituted 1-(carboxyalkyl) cyclopentyl-carbonylamino-benzazepine-N-acetic acid compounds, process and intermediate products for their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing them

Abstract: wherein the substituents R1, R2, R3 and R4 have the meanings given in the description and also pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, in particular pharmaceutical compositions suitable for treating or inhibiting cardiovascular diseases, sexual dysfunction and/or adverse conditions associated with apoptosis.


An arrangement to increase the thermal fatigue resistance of glass tubes having fluid flowing therethrough and being pressure-loaded. This arrangement comprises a glass tube, into which an interior component is inserted. The interior component can be designed as thin-walled tube or tubular component. In accordance with a first example the cavity enclosed by the interior component is hydraulically connected with the interior of the glass tube. The wall thickness of the interior component is smaller than the wall thickness of the glass tube and the interior component is partially free from a direct heat connection with the glass tube. In accordance with a second example the interior component increases the wall thickness of the glass tube. In this case the interior component is touching the interior circumference of the glass tube.

The invention relates to an arrangement to increase the thermal fatigue resistance of glass tubes through which fluid flows and are pressure-loaded and the use of such an arrangement in a heat exchanger or an absorber tube for solar collectors.
Tubular components made from glass are frequently used to guide a flow medium in heat exchangers and absorber tubes of solar collectors. The thermal fatigue resistance presents a substantial problem, whereby said thermal fatigue resistance can be described as a function of the type of glass, the geometrical design and the dimensioning. Such glass tubes must usually exhibit a minimum wall thickness due to the pressure prevailing in the interior. This leads to the fact that extreme temperature changes of the fluid flowing in the interior can lead to glass breaks due to the thermal conducting behavior of the tube wall and the associated stresses. In particular when filling an absorber tube made from glass in high-evacuated solar collectors, which is filled during downtime conditions with a cold heat transfer medium, temperature change of approx. 250 K can occur. This leads then to the fact that the inside of the glass tube cools down significantly, however a high difference between the interior circumference and the outer circumference of the glass tube can be observed due to the thermal conducting behavior in the wall of the glass tube. The ensuing unacceptable high temperature gradient in the wall of the glass tube usually causes a damage of the glass tube due to the associated stresses, which can often lead to a complete break. In order to solve this problem so far, essentially two solution courses were followed. In accordance with a first solution fluid contact with the inner wall of the glass tube was avoided by a hydraulically separated fluid-containing tube, which was slid into the glass tube, whereby said separate tube was connected heat-conclusively to the glass tube by suitable dimensioning and/or additional heat-transferring measures. A substantial disadvantage of this design consisted in the associated higher costs as well as a poor heat transfer between the glass tube and the fluid, as the heat transfer could not take place directly, but took place first at the wall of the fluid-containing tube and then via convection in the gas contained in the gap and then again heat transfer took place from the wall of the glass tube to the inner wall of the glass tube respectively in reverse order with a cooled down flow medium.
In accordance with a second solution it was directed to the use of high-quality glasses, which already exhibit a sufficient thermal fatigue resistance. This solution is however characterized by substantially higher costs, whereby the availability of such materials must be ensured. Furthermore it is not possible to use known standardized prefabricated simple glass tubes for certain standard applications, but only these special, high-quality tubes.

Arrangement to increase the thermal fatigue resistance of glass tubes flowed through by fluid and pressure-loaded


A method of cooling both surfaces of steel plate, which stably secures precision of cooling control from a start of cooling to an end so as to uniformly cool the top and bottom surfaces of the steel plate and thereby stably secures the steel plate quality and cools the steel plate down to a target temperature with a good precision. The method comprises dividing a steel plate cooling region into at least a spray impact part region and a spray non-impact part region, predicting a heat transfer coefficient for each divided region in advance, computing a predicted temperature history of the steel plate based on this predicted value, and setting and controlling amounts of sprayed coolant on the spray impact part regions by top and bottom surface nozzles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of cooling steel plate applied in order to enable uniform top and bottom cooling in a case of spraying a coolant (cooling medium comprised of water or a mixture of water and air, hereinafter referred to as "cooling water", "coolant", and "water") on the top and bottom surfaces of steel plate (mainly thick-gauge steel plate, hereinafter referred to as "steel plate") with a temperature of several hundreds of degrees or more when constrained and conveyed between a plurality of pairs of constraining rolls in a hot rolling process or a heat treatment process of the steel plate so as to thereby obtain steel plate having uniform shape characteristics and material characteristics and a high quality.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, a steel plate production facility provided with a process referred to as "controlled cooling" which rapidly cools (acceleratedly cools) high temperature steel plate right after hot rolling by cooling water to obtain a quenching effect and impart high strength characteristics to the steel plate is in practical use.
As the controlled cooling apparatus used here, Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 61-1420, FIG. 1, etc. discloses the technology of arranging header mechanisms provided with pluralities of nozzles at the top and bottom surface sides of steel plate after hot rolling by a hot finishing mill and spraying cooling water from the groups of top and bottom nozzles to forcibly cool the steel plate.
However, in such a conventional steel plate production facility provided with such a controlled cooling apparatus, there is the problem that when acceleratedly cooling steel plate by the controlled cooling apparatus, shape defects occur due to warping more easily than the conventional case using air cooling due to the unbalance of cooling etc. of the top and bottom surfaces of the steel plate.
These shape defects are mainly caused by the difference of cooling rates due to the difference of behaviors of cooling water sprayed from the top surface side and the bottom surface side of the steel plate or the difference of flows of the cooling water in the plate width direction. Asymmetric internal stresses are generated in the plate thickness direction and the plate width direction causing deterioration of the shape of the product. In remarkable cases, in addition to these shape defects, there sometimes arises the problem of a drop in the mechanical properties such as the strength and elongation of the steel material.
Further, there is also the problem of easy occurrence of variations in quality among products when producing a large number of products having the same specifications. This is mainly due to variations in transformation of the steel material structure due to fluctuations in the cooling stop temperature.
In recent years, tougher restrictions have been placed on uniformity of mechanical properties of steel plate and on variations in production lots when producing products having the same specifications.
At the present, in order to allow variation at the time of cooling and maintain the products at a constant quality or more, variation of the cooling stop temperature is being compensated for by the control of steel ingredients, rolling pattern, etc., by reheat treatment after production, etc. If the variation of the cooling stop temperature is reduced, the economical effects enjoyed become very large, for example, production conditions such as the steel ingredients and rolling pattern can be eased and the heat treatment after production can be omitted.
Further, as technology preventing variation of the cooling stop temperature at the time of cooling the top and bottom surfaces of steel plate to prevent occurrence of shape defects and realizing stability of mechanical properties, conventionally there has been the technology of measuring the temperatures at the top and bottom surfaces of the steel plate at the time of water cooling, predicting the amount of deformation from the temperature difference, and controlling the amounts of water sprayed to the top and bottom surfaces of the steel plate so as to prevent the deformation.
For example, as described in the claim of Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 2-179819, there is disclosed a cooling control apparatus of hot rolled steel plate having the functions of securing a cooling end temperature previously determined based on the quality of the material and controlling the amounts of cooling water sprayed from the top and bottom surfaces so that the amount of warping of the hot steel plate at the time of the water cooling falls within a prescribed value.
In the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 2-179819, the relationship between the amounts of cooling water and heat transfer coefficients is found in units of the top surface and bottom surface based on various physical properties of the hot steel plate given in advance, the temperature histories in the cooling process in the distribution of temperature in the plate thickness direction are predicted from this relationship, the amount of warping of the hot steel plate is predicted from the temperature distribution histories, and the amounts of cooling water sprayed from the top and bottom surfaces are controlled so that this amount of warping falls within the prescribed range.
In this technology, a cooling zone is formed using the spaces in the conveyance direction between a plurality of pairs of constraining rolls as the control units. In this cooling zone, the amounts of cooling water of the groups of top surface nozzles and the groups of bottom surface nozzles between the pairs of constraining rolls are controlled to the same amounts. A plurality of these cooling zones are arranged to enable adjustment (selective use) of the cooling zones used according to the plate thickness, plate length, and other conditions and the cooling start temperature, cooling stop temperature, and other factors. Then, it is disclosed to control the cooling of the steel plate by changing the amounts of the sprayed water and the conveyance speed. Further, it is disclosed to correct the cooling rate, which differs between mask portions at the end portions and a center portion, in the width direction of the hot steel plate. At this time, as the predicted value of the heat transfer coefficient at the time of cooling used for computation of the temperature histories, the heat transfer coefficient, which changes due to the amounts of the sprayed water and the steel plate temperature as factors, is set in each cooling zone described above.
However, in the technology of Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 2-179819, for example, as shown FIG. 10, when cooling steel plate 1 being constrained and conveyed between the pairs of constraining rolls 21 and 22 in a steel plate cooling region (distance L: about 0.7 m to 1.5 m in usual cases) of a cooling apparatus 6 provided with groups of top and bottom surface nozzles 6a and 6b each having pluralities of nozzles 3, it is difficult to stably secure precision of cooling control and it is difficult to sufficiently respond to the above-described demands.
According to discoveries by the present inventors, in order to predict the temperature histories of steel plate with a good precision and control the amounts of sprayed coolant in accordance with the prediction with a high precision, it is necessary to sufficiently consider the transition of the heat transfer coefficient as it changes in the steel plate conveyance direction and the steel plate width direction in the steel plate cooling region between pairs of constraining rolls.
However, in the technology of Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 2-179819, this is not sufficiently considered, therefore the precision of prediction of the heat transfer coefficient becomes insufficient. This is particularly remarkable when changing the conveyance speed in the steel plate conveyance direction.
Accordingly, in the technology of Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 2-179819, in order to further reduce the difference in temperature histories between the top and bottom surfaces of the steel plate, stably secure the shape characteristics and mechanical characteristics, and secure steel plates able to sufficiently respond to the increasing severe demands for quality, further reinforcement of the cooling control conditions is demanded.


A dual fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes a gaseous fuel subsystem and a liquid fuel subsystem. A plurality of fuel injectors each define a gaseous fuel passage fluidly connected to a gaseous fuel manifold of the gaseous fuel subsystem, a liquid fuel passage fluidly connected to a liquid fuel manifold of the liquid fuel subsystem, and a liquid fuel leak path from the liquid fuel passage to the gaseous fuel passage. A liquid fuel purging mechanism includes a drain conduit and at least one valve positioned fluidly between the drain conduit and the gaseous fuel manifold, and being adjustable to fluidly connect the drain conduit to the gaseous fuel manifold, to drain leaked liquid fuel to a low pressure outlet.

One relatively new class of engines seeks to utilize two different fuels to gain efficiencies associated with compression ignition combined with advantages associated with burning gaseous fuel such as natural gas. In particular, one type of dual fuel engine utilizes a small pilot injection quantity of liquid diesel fuel that is compression ignited to in turn ignite a much larger charge of natural gas fuel in each engine cylinder. In one strategy for this type of engine, both fuels are directly injected from a single fuel injector associated with each engine cylinder.
For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 7,627,416 appears to teach a dual fuel common rail system in which liquid diesel fuel and natural gas fuel are both injected from a single fuel injector associated with each engine cylinder. This reference recognizes there may be instances in which the engine will need to operate solely on liquid diesel fuel due to exhaustion of the natural gas fuel supply or possibly some fault in the natural gas portion of the system. Certain problems and challenges associated with liquid fuel only operation are neither recognized nor addressed, however.

Dual fuel system and engine system operating method


Methods and systems for processing a digital magnetic resonance (MR) image volume in an image data set using intensity standardization to provide standardized MR image slices are described which generally involve determining an image volume scaling factor to align an image volume landmark of a volume histogram of the digital MR image volume with a reference volume landmark of a reference histogram of a reference image volume; and scaling intensity values of the digital MR image volume based on the image volume scaling factor to generate a scaled digital MR image volume. Methods and systems are also described for generating standardized image slices that can be used in various MR image processing methodologies such as image segmentation and object detection.

There are several neurological disorders that have a significant impact on the well-being of patients, while presenting a heavy economic burden on healthcare systems. While neurodegenerative disease may respond to therapy for a time, unfortunately, there are currently no cures [40]. People with these diseases may live for some time with certain conditions and will slowly degenerate, leading to reduced brain function, and eventually resulting in death. The economic burden for all neurological disorders in Canada is roughly $60 billion per year, or about 38% of the total burden presented by disease [40].
To reduce mortality rates and long-term disability, as well as to alleviate the associated economic burden, the pathology of neurological disease must be understood so that treatment and intervention can be applied early in disease progression. To this end, researchers have begun to investigate magnetic resonance images (MRI) of the brain to look for clues and precursors of disease. One feature that has been identified on MRI are white matter lesions (WML), which are thought to be expressions of vessel disease [2], and are associated with ischemic stroke [3], Alzheimer's Disease (AD) [2], and multiple sclerosis (MS) [4].
To better understand the relationship between disease and WML, images from large patient cohorts are analyzed. Accurate and quantitative measurement of WML volume, as well as other characteristics, can be used to model disease progression, correlate with outcome/survival, and identify new risk factors [41-48]. As opposed to single centre studies, results from large multicenter studies have more statistical significance and power and therefore, greater clinical utility [49]. Unfortunately, visual analysis of medical images is subjective (observer-dependent), qualitative, error prone, and inefficient, which ultimately affects diagnostic accuracy and the ability to conduct large research studies [7, 50]. Furthermore, digital medical images may be acquired under various conditions including different acquisition parameters, acquisition systems manufactured by different vendors and different image reconstruction algorithms. As a result, there may be variations across multiple images making comparisons between these images difficult.

Method and system for standardized processing of MR images


In a video camera having an image sensor for converting an object image into a video signal, a viewfinder for visualizing the object image and a power source, waste of electric energy is prevented by controlling the supply of power to the viewfinder by detecting the access or non-access of the eye of a photographer to the viewfinder. Waste of electric energy is further prevented by controlling the power supply to the image sensor by detecting the state of the access of the eye to the viewfinder. In a case where the video camera is provided with a recorder for recording the video signal on a recording medium, waste of the recording medium is prevented by detecting the access or non-access of the eye to the viewfinder and by inhibiting a recording action of the recorder according to the result of detection, so that unintended meaningless shooting can be prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a video camera and more particularly to a video camera which is arranged to permit confirmation of an object through a viewfinder.
2. Description of the Related Art
Photographers compose pictures to be taken by looking at the objects through viewfinders. However, unlike an optical camera or an electronic still camera, shooting with a video camera repeatedly alternates between a recording mode and a pause mode.
However, a person who is unaccustomed to shooting sometimes happens to unconsciously shoot the ground or some meaningless object without knowing that the camera actually remains in the recording mode while the camera is considered to be in the pause mode and thus wastes a tape, and electric energy as well, with the picture of an unwanted scene.
In other words, it has been a shortcoming of the conventional video camera that the tape and the electric energy tend to be wasted by a lengthy unintended shooting at the ground or some other meaningless scene.

Video camera having viewfinder and a power saving function feature


Generating test signals for a device under test (DUT) involves generating a master reference signal, using a vernier technique to generate test pattern signals based on the master reference signal, generating a test clock signal that is phase-matched with and frequency similar to the test pattern signals by providing the master reference signal as input to a phase-locked loop (PLL) and controlling one or more programmable dividers in the PLL to adjust the test clock signal to be a multiple or sub-multiple of a frequency of the test pattern signals, applying the test clock signal to the clock input pin of the DUT, and applying the test pattern signals to data pins of the DUT. When the frequency of the test pattern signals is changed, the test clock signal frequency may be adjusted to calibrate to the changed frequency of the test pattern signals by re-programming the programmable dividers.

This application relates to test system clocks used to generate test patterns and clock signals for test circuits, such as integrated circuit devices.
Test systems for testing high-speed integrated-circuit devices (i.e., device under test (DUT)), such as microprocessors, have become increasingly sophisticated due to the need for generating precise clock signals and test pattern signals. The clock signals are provided to a DUT's clock input pin and used to run the DUT, while the test pattern signals are used to drive and strobe the DUT's data pins.
Test pattern signals (which are also referred to as "event sequences") generally include a pattern of events, such as binary values (1s and 0s), and an associated time for the occurrence of each event at its rising and falling edges, which is usually referred to as a test period. Events usually are one of two event types—drive events that drive a DUT data pin to a particular state, and strobe events (also called test events) that test the state of a DUT data pin. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a test pattern 100, such as may be generated for testing a DUT. In this example, the test pattern 100 includes four events. An event is a pair (S,T) where "S" is a state and "T" is the time associated with the transition to the state. For example, test pattern 100 has four drive events which can be written as (D1,1), (D0,8), (D1,13) and (D0,18). The first event is driving the signal to a high state (1) at time equal to 1. The second event is driving the signal to a low state (0) at time 8. The third event is driving to a high state (1) at time 13. The fourth event is driving to a low state (0) at time 18. The test period of the test pattern 100 is the time between time 1 and time 13, which is repeated for successive generations of the drive events.
In developing a test pattern signal, a test system needs a mechanism for generating a pattern of events in which rising and falling edges can be placed at precise times within a chosen test period with reference to the test system's master clock. Assuming the master clock has a period of 2.5 nanoseconds (ns), the test system should be able to place rising/falling edges with a precision on an order of 10 picoseconds (ps). As shown in FIG. 2, generating a test pattern signal with a test period that is a multiple of the master clock 200's period (e.g., 2.5 ns or 5.0 ns) can be done by using a programmable divider 204. Generating a test pattern signal having a test period that is between a multiple of the master clock period (e.g., 2.7 ns or 5.5 ns) can be done by using a vernier technique, which is implemented by a vernier circuit 210, to provide a programmable period off-set 212 (which is referred to as a "period vernier") to the master clock 200's period or multiple of the master clock 200's period. Generally, the period vernier 212 value is used to adjust the master clock period to achieve a desired test period 216 suitable for a particular test pattern signal. Test systems, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,128,754, 5,673,275 and 5,212,443, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference, describe the use of a vernier technique to generate a period vernier.
Because the vernier technique is a digital approach to frequency synthesis, it generally has certain advantages, such as increased flexibility (i.e., the ability to easily place events in the test periods) and the ability to change period instantaneously during run-time. However, the vernier circuit is inherently analog in nature, and, therefore nonlinear. The vernier circuit's nonlinearity tends to have a large effect on the edge placement accuracy (EPA) of the test period and the period-to-period jitter of the test period. Typically values of the period-to-period jitter can be 20 ps. On a spectrum analyzer, jitter typically shows up as spurs spaced by the frequency at which the vernier-based clock cycles.
A clock signal that is used to run the DUT generally needs to be phase synchronized with and frequency similar to the test pattern signal. Frequency similar means the clock signal is a multiple of a sub-multiple of the test pattern signal. Generally, a vernier-based clock is used to generate the clock signal for the DUT.


Servo pattern bursts are recorded with two frequencies that are detected using heterodyne detection with oscillators at the same frequency as the respective recorded frequencies. The two frequencies are selected to be orthogonal so the sensed servo pattern of one frequency is zero when detected with the detecting circuitry of the other frequency. The servo pattern bursts of the two frequencies are placed close together on the disk so they are sensed simultaneously so that, with orthogonality processing, a PES signal from a three phase pattern is sufficient to provide a robust linear signal, thereby eliminating one of the bursts from a quadrature pattern and reducing the disk surface area needed in each track for the servo pattern by 25% or more.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to magnetic head servo control systems and, more particularly, to disk drive position control systems that determine the location of a head relative to disk tracks.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional computer data storage system having a rotating storage medium, such as a magnetic or magneto-optical disk system, data is stored in a series of concentric or spiral tracks across the surface of the disk. A magnetic disk, for example, can comprise a disk substrate having a surface on which a magnetic material is deposited. The digital data stored on a disk is represented as a series of variations in magnetic orientation of the disk magnetic material. The variations in magnetic orientation, generally comprising reversals of magnetic flux, represent binary digits of ones and zeroes that in turn represent data. The binary digits must be read from and recorded onto the disk surface in close proximity to the disk. That is, a transducer or read/write head is provided to produce and detect variations in magnetic orientation of the magnetic material as the disk rotates relative to the head.
Conventionally, the read/write head is mounted on a disk arm that is moved across the disk by a servo. A disk drive servo control system controls movement of the disk arm across the surface of the disk to move the read/write head from data track to data track and, once over a selected track, to maintain the head in a path over the centerline of the selected track. Maintaining the head centered over a track facilitates accurate reading and recording of data in the track. Positioning read/write heads is one of the most critical aspects of recording and retrieving data in disk storage systems. With the very high track density of current disk drives, even the smallest head positioning error can potentially cause a loss of data that a disk drive customer wants to record or read. Accordingly, a great deal of effort is devoted to servo systems.
A servo control system generally maintains a read/write head in a position centered over a track by reading servo information recorded onto the disk surface. The servo information comprises a position-encoded servo pattern of high frequency magnetic flux transitions, generally flux reversals, that are pre-recorded in disk servo tracks. The flux transitions are recorded as periodic servo pattern bursts formed as parallel radial stripes in the servo tracks. When the read/write head passes over the servo pattern flux transitions, the head generates an analog signal whose repeating cyclic variations can be demodulated and decoded to indicate the position of the head over the disk. The demodulated servo signal is referred to as a position error sensing (PES) signal.
In a sector servo method for providing servo track information to a disk servo control system, each disk surface of the disk drive includes servo track information and binary data recorded in concentric or spiral tracks. The tracks on a sector servo disk surface are divided into radial sectors having a short servo track information area followed by a customer data area. The servo track information area typically includes a sector marker, track identification data, and a servo burst pattern. The sector marker indicates to the data read/write head that servo information immediately follows in the track. The servo read head can be the same head used for reading data or can be a separate, dedicated servo head. The PES signal is used to generate a corrective input signal that is applied to the read/write head positioning servo.
FIG. 1 is a representation of a conventional quad-burst servo pattern in which magnetic transitions are recorded in bursts labeled as A, B, C, and D. The servo tracks are indicated by the track numbers along the left side of the drawing figure. The tracks extend across the page from left to right. The portion of the disk 22 shown in FIG. 1 extends approximately from servo track N-1.0 toward the inner diameter of the disk to servo track N+2.5 toward the outer diameter. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that position information is decoded by demodulating the signal generated by the head passing over the PES burst patterns to form a signal P based on: EQU P=A-B
and to form a quadrature signal Q based on: EQU Q=C-D
The signals P and Q are quadrature signals because they are cyclic and are out of phase by 90 degrees (one-quarter signal phase). The magnetic transitions that comprise the servo pattern are represented in FIG. 1 by vertical bars. The letter within each group of bars represents the servo burst recorded therein. One burst is distinguished from another by relative position in a track and relative position to the other bursts. Thus, for a servo head that can detect magnetic transitions from more than one track at a time, the signal P should be zero when the head is tracking exactly along the centerline of servo track N in FIG. 1, because when tracking along the centerline the head will receive equal amounts of magnetic field from the A and B servo pattern bursts. A similar situation exists for servo tracks N+1, N+2, and so forth. For servo track N+0.5, the signal Q should be zero when the head is tracking exactly along the N+0.5 track centerline because the head will receive equal amounts of field from the C and D servo pattern bursts. The signal Q should be zero also for servo tracks N+1.5, N+2.5, and so forth when tracking along their respective centerlines.
Conventionally, it is typical to use the same write element for recording the servo bursts and for recording customer data when the disk is thereafter used, and to use the same read element for reading servo bursts and for reading customer data recorded in the data tracks. The servo bursts of FIG. 1 are recorded in a trimming process, in which a portion of each servo burst, recorded so it extends into an adjacent track width on one servo writer step, is overwritten (erased) in the next servo writer step.
Assuming that "e" is an inaccuracy or error produced by each servo write step, and P and Q defined as above are produced by reading from adjacent servo bursts formed in different servo write steps with trimming, the P or Q inaccuracy can be approximated statistically as: EQU a=e*sqrt(2.0),
where e is the 3-sigma servo writer position error (tracking error) caused by one servo writer step.
FIG. 2 is an equivalent representation of the A, B, C, and D servo bursts of FIG. 1 arranged so that the servo tracks run vertically up and down the drawing sheet, the disk inside diameter (ID) is to the right side of the drawing and the disk outside diameter (OD) is to the left side of the drawing. Thus, the read/write head moves relative to the servo pattern from the top of the FIG. 2 illustration to the bottom of the FIG. 2 illustration. FIG. 3 is a graph of the P and Q values associated with the corresponding read/write head position relative to the FIG. 2 servo pattern. For example, if the read/write head is tracking exactly between the A, B bursts and through the mid-point of either the C or D bursts shown in FIG. 2, then the value of the P component of the PES signal should be zero because: EQU i P=(A-B),
and the value of the Q component of the PES signal should be at a maximum, because: EQU Q=(C-D).
This should be apparent from review of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. Similarly, if the read/write head is tracking exactly between the C, D bursts and through the mid-point of either the A or B bursts, then the value of the Q component should be zero and the value of the P component should be at a maximum.
Thus, the P and Q signals are cyclic, having peaks and valleys, as the read/write head is moved laterally across the disk. This is how read/write head position can be determined from the PES signal. Unfortunately, due to readback head characteristics, the peaks and valleys of the corresponding PES signal will not necessarily provide a linear function with respect to the head position; rather, there are regions of nonlinear response. To ensure a more linear combined PES signal, it is typical to create a stitched PES signal by selecting between either the P signal or the Q signal, depending on which signal is in a linear operating range.
FIG. 4 shows the stitched PES signal formed by selecting between the P and Q values according to the following: EQU stitched PES=P*sgn(Q) if.vertline.Q.vertline.>.vertline.P.vertline.; EQU else=Q*sgn(P),
where sgn(x) indicates the sign or polarity (positive or negative) of the value x. In this way, the switched PES signal comprises a signal formed by selecting the magnitude of either the P or the Q signal and then adjusting its polarity, depending on which is operating in its linear range. It should be apparent that the switched PES signal represents the linear portions of the respective P and Q signals shown in FIG. 3. The resulting stitched PES signal indicates the direction in which the read/write head should be moved to maintain the head centered between the corresponding track centers, either A and C or B and D.
There is a demand for ever-increasing amounts of storage capacity for customer data. One constraint on the amount of disk surface area for storing customer data is the amount of space required by the PES servo pattern itself, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It should be appreciated that every bit of disk surface space freed from servo pattern usage can be shifted to customer data. It also should be appreciated that reducing the amount of error caused by the servo writer should permit high track density disk storage designs.
From the discussion above, it should be apparent that there is a need for a disk drive system with a servo pattern that increases the amount of disk surface area available for storage of customer data and reduces the time needed to produce the pattern. The present invention fulfills this need.

International Business Machines Cororation


A dual power source retrofit kit for a single power source service entrance panel. The retrofit kit is a field installable kit for retrofitting a single power source service entrance panel to a dual power source service entrance panel. The kit includes a power source selection assembly and a mounting bracket for attaching to the service entrance panel. A deadfront trim plate having a cut-out to accept the power source selection assembly is also supplied to replace the old trim plate of the service entrance panel. The power source selection assembly permits only the selected one of the primary or auxiliary power sources to provide power to the service entrance panel at any one time. The power source selection assembly is also designed such that overload protection devices/disconnect switches for both the primary power source and the auxiliary power source must be in the OFF position before switching from one power source to the other is permitted.

It is known to use a sub-panel, mounted adjacent the main service panel, to add a second power source for designated circuits in the event power from the utility company is disrupted. The sub-panel includes a primary breaker or disconnect switch which receives power from the main service panel and an auxiliary breaker or disconnect switch for receiving power provided by an auxiliary power source, such as a generator. The primary and auxiliary breakers are generally arranged in tandem such that a bar or linkage connecting the operating mechanisms of the two breakers will operate both simultaneously. The breakers are also generally positioned such that either the ON or the OFF positions of both breakers are immediately adjacent one another thus permitting only one breaker to be ON at a time. Devices such as this are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,646 to Flegel, which issued Jul. 15, 1997, and in a brochure describing the manual transfer panels manufactured by Eylander Electric of Everett, Washington. The assignee of the present invention also manufactures manual transfer sub-panels of a similar design which are sold under Square D Catalog Numbers QO4-8M30DSGP and QO4-8M60DSGP.

Dual power source retrofit kit with power source selection interlock assembly


In an apparatus for operating a valve element consisting of a base, an operating lever pivotally journalled with respect to the base and a drive apparatus which is secured to the base and engages the operating lever which has at least one of its ends for operating on the valve element, the drive apparatus comprises two piezo-electric transistors which are secured with a nonparallel orientation between the base and the operating lever such that they are each moveable relative to the base and the operating lever about an axis parallel to the pivoting or rocking axis of the operating lever.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for operating a valve element according to the preamble of claim 1.
Generally, electromagnetics are employed for operating hydraulic multi-port valves. With these, coil currents of a few hundred milliamperes are necessary at a supply voltage of, for example, 12 volts to produce the necessary driving force of typically 100 Newtons.
With the addition of an environment posing an explosive danger (for example the individual current circuits in an underground coal mine) it is however very desirable to keep the necessary electrical power as small as possible for safety. As a rule, there are approximately eight functions to control at an installation in a coal project according to each design. Since individual networks are not available for any desired power, a network must be installed to serve approximately five installations. Under such circumstances, it is already contemplated that not all of the valves will be controlled at once.

Marco Systemanalyse und Entwicklung GmbH


A skateboard assembly is provided, including: a base plate having a plurality of first through holes, an ear part formed on the base plate, a second through hole formed on an end of the ear part corresponding to the base plate, a first stopping part formed on an inner periphery of the second through hole, and a protruding part formed on the base plate and having a first groove. The ear part and the protruding part are disposed on a same side of the base plate. The second through hole has a cross section orthogonal to the base plate. The skateboard assembly further comprises buffer members, retaining members, wheel frames, keels and plates, which are assembled and coupled together by a plurality of fastening members, such that the skateboard is assembled.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a skateboard assembly.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional skateboard is composed of a plate, a base plate, trucks having through holes, fastening levers passing through the through holes of the trucks and fastening the trucks to the base plate, buffer members disposed between the fastening levers and the through holes, and wheels pivotally mounted on two ends of the trucks.
The conventional skateboard is designed to slide on even roadways. The buffering members, though facilitating veer of the skateboard, cannot help the skateboard to slide on uneven roadways, not to mention stairs.
Hence, it would be a task for manufacturers in the art to provide a skateboard assembly, so as to allow users to use the skateboard on uneven roadways, and particularly, stairs.


A method for coordinating and controlling multiple data streams representing a data transmission session that terminate in different termination units (such as network access servers). The data streams are transmitted over two or more links, collectively forming a "bundle". The termination units are linked together preferably over a local area network. One of the termination units that receives a data stream is designated as the termination unit to receive and reconstruct the call. The designated termination unit is the "owner" of the bundle. The termination unit broadcasts an advertisement consisting of a bundle mapping update packet software structure with an identification header to alert the other termination units that it is to reconstruct the call. The identification header in the advertisement notifies the other termination units that if they should receive a portion of the data stream in the bundle, they should forward their packets of data to the designated termination unit. The sharing of bundle information between the termination units gives a great deal of flexibility in the design and type of termination units that may be employed.

A. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of telecommunication and the processes by which digital data is transmitted between computer systems over a telephone network or other communications link. The invention is particularly suitable for use in devices that support Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) digital telephone services or other serial communications.
B. Description of Related Art
The Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) provides a standard method of encapsulating network layer protocol information over point-to-point links. The PPP also defines an extensible Link Control Protocol (LCP), and proposes a family of Network Control Protocols (NCPs) for establishing and configuring different network-layer protocols. The PPP is described in detail in a series of documents known as the Request For Comments, with which those of skill in the art are familiar. The Request For Comments (RFC) 1661, which is incorporated by reference herein, gives an informative overview of the PPP.
The initial deployment of the PPP has been over short local lines, leased lines, and plain-old-telephone-service (POTS) using modems. As new packet services and higher speed lines are introduced, PPP is easily deployed in these environments as well.
The PPP has three main components:
1. A procedure for encapsulating datagrams over serial links; PA1 2. A Link Control Protocol (LCP) for establishing, configuring, and testing the data-link connection; and PA1 3. A family of Network Control Protocols (NCPs) for establishing and configuring different network-layer protocols.
In order to establish communications over a point-to-point link, each end of the PPP link must first send LCP packets to configure the data link during the Link Establishment phase. After the link has been established, PPP provides for an optional Authentication phase before proceeding to the Network-Layer Protocol phase.
PPP encapsulation of data communications is possible when the data is transmitted over digital communication lines, such as ISDN lines. ISDN Basic Rate Service comprises two data channels (referred to as bearer channels or "B" channels), and a control channel known as the "D" channel. The ISDN D-channel can also be used for sending PPP packets when suitably framed, but is limited in bandwidth and often restricts communication links to a local switch. Since the ISDN B-channel is by definition a point-to-point link, PPP is well suited to use over ISDN lines.
The ISDN Primary Rate Interface may support many concurrent B-channel links. The PPP Link Control Protocol and Network Control Protocol mechanisms are particularly useful in this situation in reducing or eliminating hand configuration, and facilitating ease of communication between diverse implementations.
In order to accommodate ISDN data links over multiple channels simultaneously, a protocol known as PPP MultiLink or MP is used. The PPP MultiLink protocol is described in the Request For Comments 1717, which is incorporated by reference herein. A good discussion of the advantages of PPP Multilink can be found in an article authored by George E. Conant, entitled "Multilink PPP: One Big Virtual WAN Pipe", Data Communications, Sep. 21, 1995. In MP, the data stream, which consists of packets, is split up and inverse-multiplexed onto multiple channels (such as the two ISDN B channels), transmitted through the ISDN network, and then directed to the destination over multiple channels. The term "bundle", as used herein, is intended to mean a collection of links or logical connections that the are used for the communication session. In ISDN basic rate service, and where the two bearer channels are used for the session, the two bearer channels comprise a "bundle." At the destination, the data packet stream arriving in separate channels must be reconstituted or reconstructed after transiting the communication channels.
The above circumstance presents a challenge to the design of equipment for running PPP Multilink on a Primary Rate Interface server at the destination, since the server or termination point is interfacing with a large number of channels of incoming calls, two of which may together comprise a bundle. Heretofore, one approach as been that of fixed mapping, i.e., restricting all calls to a single server or gateway card. An alternative approach is time division multiplexing, but this approach has limited flexibility.
The present invention provides for a much more flexible solution. As described below, bundling information is shared between all of the termination units that receive the calls at the Primary Rate Interface. The present invention provides a method for controlling and coordinating bundles of data streams among multiple termination units, and the reconstitution of the session data at a designated termination unit for transmission of the call to the intended destination.
While the discussion below is primarily directed to an ISDN application, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the invention is applicable to any communication system in which a session arrives via multiple links at different termination units.

Coordination and control of data streams that terminate at different termination units