Systems and methods for end-of-life disabling of a diagnostic test system are described. In one aspect, a diagnostic test system that includes a test unit and a disabling unit. The test unit performs at least one diagnostic test on a diagnostic assay to determine whether at least one analyte is present within a sample. The disabling unit determines a measure of current lifetime of the test unit and disables the test unit in response to a determination that the current lifetime measure meets an end-of-life threshold. In a diagnostic test method, at least one diagnostic test is performed on a diagnostic assay to determine whether at least one analyte is present within a sample. A measure of current lifetime of the test unit is determined. The test unit is disabled in response to a determination that the current lifetime measure meets an end-of-life threshold.

Patient samples often are analyzed for the presence of analytes to determine, for example, if a patient is carrying a disease, has an infection, or has been using drugs. Analytes typically are detected with immunoassay testing using antigen-antibody reactions. Conventionally, such tests have been carried out in specialized laboratories using diagnostic test systems that are large and expensive. The need for on-site examination, however, is growing rapidly. This need currently is being met by various point-of-care diagnostic test systems that can be used in a wide variety of different locations, such as hospitals, emergency rooms, health clinics, nursing homes, practitioner offices, and the homes of patients. The deployment of such point-of-care diagnostic test systems depends on the ability to keep costs below relatively low price points. In addition, point-of-care diagnostic test systems should be relatively easy to use by persons with little or no training. Ideally, such point-of-care diagnostic test systems should be capable of automatically performing diagnostic tests with minimal user input.
The relatively low price points required for the large-scale adoption of point-of-care diagnostic test systems typically results in the use of analyte testing components that are less sensitive than laboratory diagnostic test systems. What are needed are high-sensitivity point-of-care diagnostic test systems and methods that can be produced within the cost constraints that are required for large-scale adoption.

End-of-life disabling of a diagnostic test system


In an example, a conditioner module may include a bridge to receive media from a media path of an imaging device and to deliver the media to a media input of a finisher module. The conditioner module may include a calender nip disposed at an output end of the bridge. The calender nip may compress the media and may feed the media into the media input of the finisher module.

Imaging devices may perform actions on or with media. Imaging devices may print, scan, copy, or perform other actions on or with the media. Imaging devices may deposit print fluid on to media. Further, imaging devices may transport media throughout the imaging device, into or out of the imaging device, or from a first imaging device to a second imaging device or other device.

Conditioner modules with calender rollers

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A device for the precise replacement of liquids before, during, or after operation of a mechanism such as, for example, an automobile motor or automatic transmission, includes a housing and a piston or diaphragm for separation of the housing into inlet and exit portions. A plurality of bags can be employed in the housing for inlet and exit portions and as a diaphragm. Pressure from the volume of liquid in a closed vessel that is to be replaced is used to measure the amount of liquid replacing the liquid that is in the closed vessel. The device can be employed during normal operation of the mechanism, and a method for the precise replacement of liquids employs the device during normal operation of the mechanism.

The inventor hereof, using years of experience, has observed a need for such a device and has sought fulfillment of that need.
The following art is now known. However, the citation of such art is not to be construed as an indication that the same is necessarily relevant to the present invention and its claims.
Courcy, U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,870, discloses a transmission fluid exchange apparatus. Its tank structure is arranged to include a piston to divide the tank into a first and second chamber, wherein the first chamber is arranged to receive used transmission fluid and simultaneously direct fresh transmission fluid into an associated transmission pressure line. Generally, its piston is attached to a piston rod which is directed through and in a sealed sliding relationship with the second end wall.
Viken U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,080, discloses a transmission fluid changer. Its fluid changing, in an automatic transmission, is by opening the cooler line and draining used fluid, at the flow of normal circulation, out the cooler line from the transmission into a drain receptacle for receiving used fluid and simultaneously supplying fresh fluid, from a pressurized supply receptacle, into the cooler return line to the transmission at a similar controlled rate that is equal to or greater than the rate of flow of the used fluid into the drain receptacle.
Bethurum, U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,425, discloses an apparatus for dispensing sparkling wines. Generally, a sparkling wine storage vessel has a flexible diaphragm for pneumatic pressurization without gas coming in contact with the wine.
Sancoff et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,851, discloses a liquid delivery device. Generally, the device is uniquely suited to meet the requirements of hospitals for long shelf life in inert condition and ready activation when needed, and it includes a hollow gas- and liquid-tight casing, which is preferably spherical or cylindrical, a flexible gas- and liquid-tight membrane disposed entirely across the casing interior to divide the interior into a propellant chamber and a liquid chamber; an outlet port from the liquid chamber; two mutually reactive chemicals in the propellant chamber but separated by a barrier; and a member to breach the barrier and permit the chemicals to come into contact, the two chemicals being reactive upon contact to form a propellant gas, for expulsion of the contained liquid in the liquid chamber on the opposite side of the membrane.
Takeuchi, U.S. Pat. No. 4,193,487, discloses a combined new oil vending and waste oil removing apparatus. That apparatus has a waste oil removing device, a fresh oil feeding device, and a control device for controlling the removal and feeding devices. Oils to and from the removing and feeding devices are moved by separate pumps. The device is a coin-operated vending machine.
Watts, U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,120, discloses a flushing apparatus for a vehicle oil pump pickup tube and screen. Generally, in combination with a vehicle engine, a pickup tube in the crankcase at one end is connected to the pump inlet, and at its other end has an intake with a screen near the bottom of the oil pan. A reservoir containing a flushing fluid has an outlet pipe, and a pressurized air source is connected to the outlet pipe. An adapter on the outlet pipe is mounted on a filter mount boss on the oil pump and is connected to its outlet for feeding flushing fluids through the pump and through the pickup tube and its screen in the reverse direction to clean out the intake filter.
Edgar et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,033,311, discloses an oil removal and gauging apparatus. In brief, it includes the provision of a tube of sufficient diameter to form a sheath or guide tube for the dip stick on an internal combustion engine and to extend this tube inside the crankcase to the bottom thereof. The external upper end of the tube is provided with means for connecting the inlet of a pump for withdrawal of the crankcase oil.
Bedi, U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,334, discloses a process for clean, simple and high-speed oil change and/or flushing of the moving components of the crankcase in an internal combustion engine. The device includes an oil filter adapter adapted to be positioned in the oil filter boss, a remote oil filter mounting boss, and inlet and outlet hoses connecting the two. Spent oil is removed by suction force. Fresh oil is next pumped in.
Fisher, U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,223, discloses an apparatus and method for monitoring oil levels in marine outdrives. It may be known as a vent apparatus, and it may have a gravity flow lubricator.
The following domestic patents were cited in Courcy:
Lynch, U.S. Pat. No. 1,630,899. It discloses a pressure operated grease dispenser.
Bryant, U.S. Pat. No. 3,112,845. It discloses bulk fluid transport.
Thomas, U.S. Pat. No. 3,223,291. It discloses a measured charge dispenser.
Johansson, U.S. Pat. No. 3,370,759. It discloses a fluid dispenser with an alternate discharge floating piston.
Becnel, U.S. Pat. No. 3,513,941. It discloses a fluid change means for automatic transmissions.
Johnston, U.S. Pat. No. 3,565,287. It discloses a beverage dispensing and measuring unit. Dooley et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,438,872. It discloses dispensing apparatus.
DiMatteo, U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,989. It discloses a valve for draining automatic transmission fluid and a method of using the same.
Art additionally cited herein includes the following:
Hall U.S. Pat. No. 637,250: Automatic Compound Feeder for Steam Boilers. PA1 Mitchell, U.S. Pat. No. 1,493,049: Pressure Lubricator. PA1 Simpson, U.S. Pat. No. 3,236,268: Device for Transferring Liquid. PA1 German Auslegeschrift 1 023 597.
The following U.S. Patents are also noted: Peralta, U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,219; Bedi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,445; Engelmann, U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,085; and Nelson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,346. In general, these patents disclose devices for changing engine oil, and in such art, pumping and monitoring systems operate to change the oil.
Finally, Burman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,474, discloses an apparatus and method for changing automatic transmission fluid. In nature and gist, it describes a system and method for extracting used transmission fluid from an automatic transmission in a motor vehicle utilizing the vehicle engine. A reservoir is provided having a free floating piston therein, dividing the reservoir into two chambers. A first flexible line connects from a first chamber to a transmission fluid outlet of the transmission, and a second flexible line connects from a second chamber to a fluid input of a transmission fluid cooler. The second chamber is initially filled with fresh fluid, forcing the piston toward the first chamber. Operation of the vehicle engine causes the transmission pump to pump used fluid into the first chamber, forcing the piston to expel fresh fluid from the second chamber, and into the cooler and transmission. A sight gauge in the first flexible line permits visual monitoring of the flow of dark, used fluid to determine when all of the fluid in the transmission has been ejected, collected in the first chamber for disposal, and completely replaced with fresh fluid.

Device for precise replacement of liquids, before, during, or after operation of a mechanism with method of use thereof


A circuit comprising a generation circuit for providing a clock signal. A number of compensation circuits may receive the clock signal and may present essentially simultaneously a compensated clock signal at their outputs. The compensated clock signals are generally presented to a plurality of synchronous external devices.

Certain conventional memory modules have a common input clock signal that is presented to a number of discrete chips that make up a particular product. A dual in line memory module (DIMM) is one example of such a conventional approach. If the input clock signal is presented to each of the individually clocked chips located at different portions of the DIMM, the particular traces used to connect the clock to the individual memory modules generally have different lengths. As a result, one generally compensates for the varying distances of the particular chips from the clock circuit in a DIMM module.
A conventional approach to reducing board design clock skew is to make the physical length of each of the traces to the particular modules equal. The propagation delay of an electrical signal down a particular trace is generally a fixed amount per length of the trace. As a result, if a particular trace is slightly longer than another trace, an undesirable clock skew will result. The clock skew due to different trace lengths may be as much as the skew contributed by the clock driver that generates the original clock signal.
Referring to FIG. 1, a memory module 10 is shown implementing such an approach. The memory module 10 generally comprises a circuit board portion 12, a clock buffer 14 and a number of discrete memory modules 16a-n. The clock buffer 14 receives an input clock signal CLK. Each of the individual memory modules 16a-n is physically located at a particular and distinct distance from the clock buffer 14. The memory module 16a is shown located the furthest distance from the clock buffer 14. As a result, a trace 18a is shown connected directly between the memory module 16a and the clock buffer 14. The memory module 16b is located slightly closer to the clock buffer 14. As a result, the trace 18b is shown have a serpentine portion 20b. The serpentine portion 20b provides compensation for the reduced physical distance between the clock buffer 14 and the memory module 16b by increasing the overall length of the trace 18b. The overall length of the trace 18a is generally equal to the overall length of the trace 18b. As a result, the overall signal propagation delay in each of the traces 18a and 18b is generally equal, which allows the memory module 10 to function properly. Each of the traces 18c-n has corresponding serpentine portions 20c-g. However, the trace 18n does not have a corresponding serpentine portion, which is similar to the trace 18a.
A disadvantage with the memory module 10 shown in FIG. 1 is the module area allocated to each of the serpentine portions 20b-20g. As a result, the overall size of the memory module 10 may increase relative to an otherwise identical scheme.
Another conventional approach provides a clock driver having one or more outputs that are phase aligned to an input clock using an integrated phase locked loop (PLL). With this approach, the output can be maintained with a very low propagation delay from the input of the device. The PLL approach generally requires the PLL output to be fed back to the PLL input. A phase frequency detector (PFD) generally causes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) to run faster or slower based on the relationship between the input and the outputs. Such a conventional approach may be designed to select or produce an output frequency within a predetermined frequency range. Since all of the outputs switch simultaneously, it is still necessary to serpentine module wiring to account for different distances between memory devices.

Buffer for memory modules with trace delay compensation


A method of treating an Hepatitis C Virus infection in a patient, comprising providing a therapeutically effective amount, to a patient in need thereof, of a compound of Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: G1 is a group of the formula or where n is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 and Het is a 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl group containing 1 to 4 heteroatoms independently chosen from N, O, and S, which Het is optionally substituted.

An estimated 3% of the world's population is infected with the hepatitis C virus. Of those exposed to HCV, 80% to 85% become chronically infected, at least 30% develop cirrhosis of the liver, and 1-4% develop hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is one of the most prevalent causes of chronic liver disease in the United States, reportedly accounting for about 15 percent of acute viral hepatitis, 60 to 70 percent of chronic hepatitis, and up to 50 percent of cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, and liver cancer. Chronic HCV infection is the most common cause of liver transplantation in the U.S., Australia, and most of Europe. Hepatitis C causes an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 deaths annually in the United States. While the acute phase of HCV infection is usually associated with mild symptoms, some evidence suggests that only about 15% to 20% of infected people will spontaneously clear HCV.
HCV is an enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus that contains a positive-stranded genome of about 9.6 kb. HCV is classified as a member of the Hepacivirus genus of the family Flaviviridae. At least 4 strains of HCV, GT-1-GT-4, have been characterized.
The HCV lifecycle includes entry into host cells; translation of the HCV genome, polyprotein processing, and replicase complex assembly; RNA replication, and virion assembly and release. Translation of the HCV RNA genome yields a more than 3000 amino acid long polyprotein that is processed by at least two cellular and two viral proteases. The HCV polyprotein is: NH2-C-E1-E2-p7-NS2-NS3-NS4A-NS4B-NS5A-NS5B-COOH.
The cellular signal peptidase and signal peptide peptidase have been reported to be responsible for cleavage of the N-terminal third of the polyprotein (C-E1-E2-p7) from the nonstructural proteins (NS2-NS3-NS4A-NS4B-NS5A-NS5B). The NS2-NS3 protease mediates a first cis cleavage at the NS2-NS3 site. The NS3-NS4A protease then mediates a second cis-cleavage at the NS3-NS4A junction. The NS3-NS4A complex then cleaves at three downstream sites to separate the remaining nonstructural proteins. Accurate processing of the polyprotein is asserted to be essential for forming an active HCV replicase complex.
Once the polyprotein has been cleaved, the replicase complex comprising at least the NS3-NS5B nonstructural proteins assembles. The replicase complex is cytoplasmic and membrane-associated. Major enzymatic activities in the replicase complex include serine protease activity and NTPase helicase activity in NS3, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity of NS5B. In the RNA replication process, a complementary negative strand copy of the genomic RNA is produced. The negative strand copy is used as a template to synthesize additional positive strand genomic RNAs that may participate in translation, replication, packaging, or any combination thereof to produce progeny virus. Assembly of a functional replicase complex has been described as a component of the HCV replication mechanism. U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/669,872 "Pharmaceutical Compositions and Methods of Inhibiting HCV Replication" filed Apr. 11, 2005, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for its disclosure related to assembly of the replicase complex.
Current treatment of hepatitis C infection typically includes administration of an interferon, such as pegylated interferon (IFN), in combination with ribavirin. The success of current therapies as measured by sustained virologic response (SVR) depends on the strain of HCV with which the patient is infected and the patient's adherence to the treatment regimen. Only 50% of patients infected with HCV strain GT-1 exhibit a sustained virological response. Direct acting antiviral agents such as BI 201335 (Boehringer Ingelheim), TMC435 (Tibotec), Telaprevir (Vertex), and Boceprevir (Merck) may be used for treatment of chronic HCV. Each of these drugs, may be used in combination with an immune modulator, such as interferon, or an additional anti-viral agent. Due to the high mutation rate of HCV and dearth of effective HCV therapeutics, new therapies are needed. Compounds that inhibit HCV replication via a different mechanism than those currently employed are particularly desirable.
HCV infection and the expression of the HCV non-structural protein NS3 has been proposed as a cause of double-stranded DNA breaks, possibly leading to the enhanced mutation rate of cellular genes in HCV-infected cells. DNA damage sensors, such as ataxia-telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM), ATM- and Rad3-related kinase (ATR), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) and checkpoint kinase 2 (Chk2) play central roles in the response to genotoxic stress. Ariumi, et al. determined that replication of genome-length HCV RNA and subgenomic HCV replicon RNA was suppressed in ATM- and Chk2-knockdown cells. (J. Virology, (2008) 82(19): 9639-9646). Ariumi identified the ATM-signaling pathway as a possible target for novel therapeutics useful for treating chronic HCV infection.
The present disclosure fulfills the need for HCV replication inhibitors that act via a novel mechanism, in this case Chk2 inhibition, and provides additional advantages, which are described herein.

Method of treating HCV infection with a small molecule CHK2 inhibitor

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


A device and method for creating beam formed X-Ray radiation using radio frequency (RF) modulated field emission X-ray sources is described. A radio frequency RF source generates a RF control signal which is supplied to an array of phase delay elements to generate multiple individually controlled phase delayed RF signals. These are then directly provided to each of a plurality of field emission sources (via a matching circuit) to generate a plurality of RF modulated electron current, or beam, each at the same frequency and phase delay of the phase delayed RF signals. Each of the electron beams impacts a target anode to generate X-rays also at the same frequency and phase delay of the phase delayed RF signals. By controlling each of the phase delay elements a beamformed X-ray radiation pattern can be generated.

Conventional X-ray radiation sources use thermionic emission from a heated cathode as the electron source used to generate X-rays; this thermionic emission resulting either directly from a hot filament or a filament heated cathode electrode. These devices release electron flux that is a function of the cathode source temperature and the applied electric field appearing adjacent to the cathode from the anode and other electrodes in the vacuum tube such as the focus and grid electrodes. The electron beam is accelerated towards a heavy metal target anode, and the impact generates a broad spectrum of X-rays limited to the peak energy the electrons are accelerated to. Mechanical collimators are then used to direct the X-rays towards and through an object.
Conventional X-ray sources produce a continuous dose or flux of X-ray radiation, and have thus been used for a variety of imaging applications including conventional projection radiography, computed tomography, tomosynthesis, phase contrast imaging, and backscatter imaging. In conventional projection radiography, computed tomography, and tomosynthesis, the x-ray measurement is based on the change in the intensity of the X-rays as they move through the target. In computed tomography and tomosynthesis an X-Ray source is rotated around an object and the slices are reconstructed to generate a three dimensional image. In phase contrast imaging, spatial domain phase offsets at the X-ray wavelengths are measured, for example by spatially moving the detector or using gratings in the detector; this measurement is technical challenging due to the small wavelength of X-rays In all these applications the X-ray radiation is considered fixed (i.e. constant flux through the object for a given period).
Backscatter X-ray imaging techniques measures backscattered X-rays of a target, rather than those passing through as in projection radiography. Recently a backscatter based X-Ray RADAR has been developed. In this system a single thermionic source (i.e. heated filament) generates an electron beam which is then modulated using a klystron and focused onto a single focus point on the anode target. In this device, a receiver at an RF frequency tracks the modulation and the phase delay in the backscattered X-ray radiation to identify the depth of the backscattering event. However a significant disadvantage of this system is that it requires a large vacuum system to operate the Klystron and complex electronics to control it.
One problem with conventional X-ray sources is the limited ability to control or focus the X-rays outside of a vacuum tube, as the direction is limited by the ability to physically locate the collimators and the fact that the X-ray radiation will naturally spread out from the end of the collimator. The limitation of directional control of X-ray radiation thus makes it challenging to consolidate (or tightly focus) X-ray radiation within a small region inside of an object to provide improved imaging or radiation therapies.
More recently field emission X-ray radiation sources have been developed. Field emission based X-ray sources generate X-rays in the same way as conventional X-rays but produce the electrons by applying a high electric field over a conductor surface instead of using a thermionic emitter. The electron flux is a function of the conductor used, the size and shape of the conductor surface, and the intensity of the electric field. For the same conductor, the electron flux intensity is directly proportional to the intensity of the electric field (once above the critical field turn-on threshold). This electric field is typically created by applying a voltage potential over the surface of the conductor. By rapidly applying a voltage potential over the conductor surface, a corresponding precise electron flux is created simultaneously with the establishment of the field. This property has been used in field emission based X-ray sources to create short precisely controlled X-ray pulses used for high speed X-ray imaging.
Field emission X-ray radiation sources do not require heat to generate an electron flux and are commonly referred to as cold cathode sources. The reduced heat load enables close placement of multiple electron sources within a single vacuum envelope. Each electron source can be designed to be isolated, both electrically and thermally, from its neighbours and independently controlled. An individually controllable distribution of field emission electron sources has been used to create an X-ray radiation source with a distribution of focal spots, referred to as a multibeam tube.
Multibeam tubes have applications in tomosynthesis, computed tomography, and lightweight backscatter. Multibeam tubes have also been used in multi-focal point multiplexing to increase image resolution. In all current applications, multibeam tubes are used to creating sets of x-ray images using a fixed x-ray dose resulting from fixed electron flux amplitude for a specified period. In tomosynthesis applications, variations in flux are considered noise and sources are designed to keep the amplitude of electron flux stable.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have recently been developed for use as multibeam cold-cathode sources. Due to their large aspect ratios and thermal and conductive stability, CNTs make ideal field emitters. Recent applications of CNT based multi-beam X-ray tubes to tomographic imaging systems have demonstrated significant improvement in image quality and increased flexibility in system design.
CNT multibeam tubes generate a spatially distributed array of individually controllable X-ray focal spots within a single vacuum tube. By sequentially scanning each focal spot, a tomographic scan of an imaged object is acquired with no movement of the source. Generating a tomographic scan without moving the X-ray source removes motion induced blurring, resulting in increased resolution in the reconstructed images. The spatial distribution of X-ray focal spots within the multibeam tube determines the geometry of the tomographic scan, as compared to the physical rotation of an X-ray source.
It would be desirable to provide a method where the X-ray radiation is directed through the irradiated object with a greater degree of control than is possible with a mechanical collimator. Applications where improved directionality of X-ray radiation may include higher resolution X-ray imaging and radiation therapy.
It would be also be desirable to provide a method where the dose of X-ray radiation is consolidated within a small region of an object while limiting the dose away from that region. While it may not be possible to restrict dose away from the target region, it would be desirable to ensure that the ratio of dose in the small region to that outside it is large enough to enable imaging of that small region or to prevent a damaging dose in regions not in that location.
Applications where applying a consolidated dose to a small region may include imaging the X-ray scatter emanating from the region, using the location of the dose to do localized inverse computed tomography, and applying radiation therapy to address cancerous tissue.
There is thus a need to provide an X-ray source apparatus with improved ability to directionally control the X-ray direction, or to at least provide a useful alternative to existing systems.

Device for applying beamforming signal processing to RF modulated X-rays


The present invention is directed to a single crystal Czochralski-type silicon wafer, and a process for the preparation thereof, which has at least a surface layer of high resistivity, the layer having an interstitial oxygen content which renders it incapable of forming thermal donors in an amount sufficient to affect resistivity upon being subjected to a conventional semiconductor device manufacturing process. The present invention further directed to a silicon on insulator structure derived from such a wafer.

The present invention generally relates to the preparation of a semiconductor material substrate, especially a silicon wafer, which is suitable for used in the manufacture of electronic components. More particularly, the present invention relates to a silicon wafer, and a process for the preparation thereof, which has a surface layer of high resistivity, the layer having an interstitial oxygen content which renders it incapable of forming thermal donors in an amount sufficient to affect resistivity upon being subjected to a conventional semiconductor device manufacturing process. The present invention further relates to a silicon on insulator structure derived from such a wafer.
Single crystal silicon, which is the starting material for most processes for the fabrication of semiconductor electronic components, is commonly prepared with the so-called Czochralski (CZ) process wherein a single seed crystal is immersed into molten silicon and then grown by slow extraction. Molten silicon is contaminated with various impurities, among which is mainly oxygen, during the time it is contained in a quartz crucible. At the temperature of the silicon molten mass, oxygen comes into the crystal lattice until it reaches a concentration determined by the solubility of oxygen in silicon at the temperature of the molten mass and by the actual segregation coefficient of oxygen in the solidified silicon. Such concentrations are greater than the solubility of oxygen in solid silicon at temperatures typical for the processes for the fabrication of electronic devices. As the crystal grows from the molten mass and cools, therefore, the solubility of oxygen in it decreases rapidly, whereby in the remaining slices or wafers, oxygen is present in supersaturated concentrations.
Thermal treatment cycles which are typically employed in the electronic device manufacturing processes can cause the precipitation of oxygen in silicon wafers which are supersaturated in oxygen. Depending upon their location in the wafer and their relative size, the precipitates can be harmful or beneficial. Small oxygen clusters are electrically active thermal donors and can reduce resistivity regardless of location in the wafer. Large oxygen precipitates located in the active device region of the wafer can impair the operation of the device but when located in the bulk of the wafer, however, are capable of trapping undesired metal impurities that may come into contact with the wafer during, for example, device fabrication processes. This is commonly referred to as internal or intrinsic gettering ("IG").
Certain applications, such as advanced wireless communication applications, require silicon wafers of relatively high resistivity. For example, conventional advanced wireless communication applications require silicon wafers having a resistivity of greater than 100 ohm cm, and certain advanced applications require resistivities of greater than about 1000 ohm cm. Traditionally, silicon grown by the floating zone (FZ) method has been used for high resistivity applications instead of silicon grown by the Czochralski (CZ) method because of its inherent higher purity. In addition, the relatively high levels of Oi present in CZ silicon, typically in the range of 10–15 parts per million atomic or "ppma," can be problematic. Although the presence of interstitial oxygen can be beneficial for intrinsic gettering purposes, the formation of electrically active thermal donors in the device layer, due to the agglomeration of interstitial oxygen into small clusters in the temperature range of 300–500° C. (temperatures commonly employed in device manufacturing processes), can be a major problem for high resistivity applications since the final steps of device processing involves the formation of alloys between the metal layers and silicon in this temperature range. Resistivity may be negatively impacted by small oxygen clusters located in the active device region, as well as in the wafer bulk. Conversely, the formation of relatively large oxygen clusters in the wafer bulk at temperatures greater than about 500° C. can be beneficial because the large precipitates do not significantly degrade wafer resistivity, and can provide a site for internal gettering.
The formation of thermal donors is generally not problematic in low resistivity wafers because the residence time in the 300–500° C. temperature range is relatively short (typically about one to two hours), and the majority carriers, introduced in n-type or p-type doping, will normally dominate. For high resistivity applications where the added dopant concentration is low, however, the formation of thermal donors in the device processing steps is a major factor in final wafer resistivity. (See, e.g., W. Kaiser et al, Phys. Rev., 105, 1751, (1957), W. Kaiser et al, Phys. Rev., 112, 1546, (1958), Londos et al Appl. Phys. Lett., 62, 1525, 1993.) Thus, for high resistivity CZ applications, residual interstitial oxygen concentration will strongly influence the rate of thermal donor formation during device processing. For example, a wafer having an initial resistivity of about 1000 ohm cm (p-type) and a residual interstitial oxygen concentration of about 13 parts per million atomic ("PPMA") immediately prior to the final low temperature alloy sintering steps will, after typical alloy sintering conditions of about 450° C. for about one hour, form about 1014 cm−3 thermal donors. The resistivity of the wafer would first increase and then "flip" to n-type as thermal donors are generated, assuming that each thermal donor generated behaves as a double donor. (See, e.g., M. Claybourn and R. C. Newman; Appl. Phys. Lett., 52, 2139, 1988.) As a result, the final resistivity of the wafer is approximately two orders of magnitude less than the initial resistivity. Conversely, if the initial interstitial oxygen concentration was only about 5 PPMA, the thermal donor concentration after the same 450° C., one hour, anneal would be about 2×1012 cm−3 and the resistivity would remain at about 1000 ohm cm.
Abe et al. reported a process for the preparation of high resistivity CZ crystals. (See, e.g., Electrochemical Society Proceedings, vol. 2000-17, 491–500.) In the reported process, CZ crystals were annealed at 650° C. for 2 hours for oxygen nucleation, then at 800° C. for 4 hours for nucleation growth, and then at 1000° C. for 16 hours for oxygen precipitation. Such long periods and associated expense can be prohibitive. Furthermore, this process was reported to be ineffective for crystals with oxygen concentrations of less than about 16 ppma. It is also known that the nucleation rate at 650° C. is strongly influenced by the initial oxygen concentration and therefore the precipitate density is likely to vary from wafer to wafer. In addition, it is likely that pre-existing oxygen precipitates formed during crystal growth will grow during the 4 hr 800° C.+16 hr 1000° C. anneal. This is the so called "thermal history effect" which requires elimination by subjecting the wafers to an additional high temperature anneal thus adding additional complexity and cost to the process.
Accordingly, a need exists for a silicon wafer, and an efficient and reliable process for the preparation thereof, which is capable of internal getting and which has a high resistivity denuded zone, the denuded zone therefore not being capable of forming thermal donors in an amount to appreciably affect the resistivity thereof when subjected to a semiconductor device manufacturing process. Such a wafer would be suited for a number of different applications, include the preparation of high resistivity silicon on insulator devices.

Method for controlling of thermal donor formation in high resistivity CZ silicon


Early techniques for object inspection relied on human inspectors to visually examine objects for defects. However, automated object inspection techniques were subsequently developed due to the labor intensive and subjective nature of human operated inspections. Additionally, object characteristics such as object power and object thickness need to be determined after the objects have been examined for defects. Conventionally, corresponding inspection stations are along the manufacturing lines for determining each of the object characteristics. However, the need for human intervention and time spent to move the objects from one inspection station to another adversely affect the efficiency of the object manufacturing process. An embodiment of the invention disclosed describes a high-resolution object inspection system for performing object inspection.

Early techniques for inspecting lenses typically relied on human inspectors to visually examine the lenses for defects (hereinafter referred to as lens defects) usually by placing the lenses under magnification or projection onto a screen whereupon the human inspectors then visually search for lens defects. However, the labour intensive and subjective nature of human operated inspections prompted interest in automating the inspection process. Numerous methods have been investigated, foremost of which are those whereby an image of a lens is acquired and the image then being electronically evaluated for lens defects. Commonly, these methods take advantage of the fact that light, under certain circumstances when encountering a lens irregularity, scatters in a manner that can be qualitatively assessed. These methods generally operate by manipulating a light beam before and/or after passing through a lens in order to extract optical information that is subsequently analysed to assess for flaws.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,732 to Ebel et at al and U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,342 to Doke et at describe a conventional system and method for lens inspection. The conventional system and method as described by Ebel and Doke transport lenses using a holder, such as a curvette. However, the conventional system and method is only suited for inspecting lenses that are dry and cannot be applied to inspect ophthalmic or contact lenses that are transported in a medium such as saline solution. Most contact lenses in the market are packaged in saline solution. This causes technical challenges for obtaining high definition images of contact lenses in saline solution for inspection thereof.
As demands for detecting defects of smaller dimension increases, it is necessary to use images of higher resolution to detect such defects. U.S. Pat. No. 6,301,005 to Epstein et al describes a conventional system and method for high resolution lens inspection. However, such high resolution lens inspection requires cameras that are costly and subject to availability. It is therefore difficult to obtain high definition images of the lenses without the use of the foregoing cameras.
Additionally, lens characteristics such as lens power and lens thickness are typically determined after the lenses have been examined for defects. Conventionally, inspection stations are along the lens manufacturing lines in which each inspection station independently measures and determines the corresponding lens characteristics. However, the time spent to transfer the lenses from one inspection station to another adversely affects the efficiency of the lens manufacturing process and hence lowers the overall yield of lens production. Moreover, the need for human intervention during the transferring of lenses from one inspection station to another potentially creates opportunities for human-related mistakes to occur.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a system for addressing the foregoing problems of existing lens inspection systems by minimizing the need to physically transfer the lenses between inspection stations thereby improving the overall efficiency for lens manufacturing.


An advanced encryption system (AES) architecture includes a maximum parallel encryption module which implements one round of the AES algorithm in one clock cycle, and a maximum parallel key scheduling module which generates sub-keys in one clock cycle in parallel with the encryption module, thereby permitting feedback modes of operation to be used without adversely affecting AES throughput. A controller controls the operation of the encryption and key scheduling modules such that one round is completed per clock cycle. The controller is preferably part of a hierarchical distributed control scheme comprising communicating finite state machines (FSMs). The architecture also preferably includes asynchronous input and output buffers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of encryption systems, and particularly to advanced encryption standard (AES) architectures.
2. Description of the Related Art
The advanced encryption standard (AES) is a new encryption standard which implements the Rijndael algorithm. The Rijndael algorithm accepts data blocks and key sizes of 128, 192, or 256 bits; the AES implementation is a symmetric block cipher with 128 bit data blocks and a key size that can be chosen from 128, 192, or 256 bits.
Several possible implementation modes of the AES standard are shown in FIG. 1. The AES algorithm may be employed as an electronic code book (ECB) which receives plaintext (P) and produces an encrypted output (C). The algorithm may also be employed in one of several feedback modes of operation; such feedback modes include Cipher Block Chaining (CBC), Cipher Feedback (CFB), and Output Feedback (OFB).
Ideally, an implementation of the AES standard will have a high data rate. Several AES designs have been proposed to achieve a high data rate based on pipelined architectures. These work well when employing the AES algorithm as an ECB, with no feedback. However, the AES standard is most often used in the feedback modes of operation; in these modes, the output of the AES algorithm is fed back to the input. Unfortunately, this arrangement is incompatible with pipeline structures, due to the long latency of each pipeline path.


A wireless telephone communication device is operated in a hands-free mode with detected received audio being relayed for output on the speakers of a radio. A single two-frequency FM transmitter or a multi-frequency transmitter that transmits simultaneously on a plurality of channels relays the audio to the FM radio.

As the RF performance of a hand-held cellular telephone increases, the likelihood that it will be used by the driver of a moving vehicle also increases. This raises a safety concern. In response to this concern, the hands-free accessory to the cellular telephone has evolved. The basic purpose of the hands-free accessory is to affix the cellular telephone to the vehicle in an advantageous way, and thereby free the driver from distractions having to do with holding, manipulating and positioning the telephone.
Because the hands-free unit is an external accessory to the vehicle as well as to the telephone, the hands free-unit must live within certain design constraints. Among the most pressing of these constraints are physical bulk and aesthetics, both of which impose strict limits on the size of loudspeakers and the capacity of related audio components that can be included in the hands-free unit. As a result, hands-free units on the market today generally have poor audio-output characteristics, which compromise their effectiveness in the high-noise environment that is typical of a moving vehicle.
The prior art offers several devices to combat the limitations outlined above, but none is entirely satisfactory.
One device from the prior art is an automatic mute device for the vehicle's AM/FM radio. Such a device senses the presence of RF energy emanating from the transmitter of a cellular telephone that is powering-up to engage in a call and mutes the radio.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,391, an automatic mute device comprising an antenna connected to a tuned circuit is used to sense voice channel activity on the cellular telephone. In response to sensing voice activity, the device provides a signal which disconnects power to the radio.
Another kind of automatic mute device, interposed in the audio path between the radio output and the vehicle's speakers, serves to interrupt the audio path and thereby mute the radio output in response to the electrical signal when that cellular telephone is actively engaged. This approach does nothing, of course, to improve the audio output quality of the cellular telephone, although it does remove an important source of interfering audio noise.
In a prior art refinement of the device just described, the automatic mute device includes its own power output audio amplifier. When the vehicle's radio is muted, the mute device also switches the vehicle's loudspeakers from the output of the radio to the output of the mute device's internal amplifier, and thereby makes the vehicle's speakers available to the audio signal produced by the cellular telephone.
This approach improves the audio output quality of the cellular telephone. Unfortunately, the installation of such a device is somewhat involved, as the vehicle's plurality of speakers must be routed through and controlled by the mute device. Also the volume of the mute device's audio output needs to be re-set as the level of external noise changes. Perhaps more importantly, the power output audio stages already present in the radio are unproductively duplicated in the mute device, thereby leading to unnecessary cost. Moreover, the DC electrical power required by the added power output audio stages is significant, which necessitates the presence and expense of a heavy-duty electrical service to the automatic mute device.

Audio-output for a portable radio telephone utilizing a vehicle's AM/FM radio


A rip saw with multiple saws adjustably positionable along a power-driven arbor. A clamp or hold-down assembly is provided on its upstream side, and on the downstream side, of the arbor and its saws. Each assembly is passable along an inclined path that converges on the path of travel of work through the machine. The assemblies inhibit fluttering in and otherwise stabilize boards as they are being cut by the saws.

This invention relates to saw apparatus, and more particularly, to saw apparatus which is known in the industry as a gang or rip saw, and which normally includes plural circular saws adjustably mounted on a power-driven saw arbor so as to be relatively shiftable laterally of each other to change the width of boards cut by the machine.
Saw apparatus of this description is illustrated in prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,414,875 and 3,202,189. In these patents, and as typifies the usual rip saw, plural saws are disposed side-by-side on a power-driven saw arbor, with the saws keyed to the arbor so that rotation of the arbor produces rotation of the saws. Saw shifters are provided which are actuated to shift the position of respective saws along the saw arbor. Ordinarily, the arbor extends horizontally in the saw apparatus, and a suitable conveyor system transports lumber or work-pieces in a direction extending transversely of the saw arbor and in a path which extends adjacent the peripheries of the various saws.
In saw apparatus of the above description, difficulties have been experienced in properly supporting and holding down the lumber as it moves in the vicinity of the saws and while being cut. This is particularly true in connection with the holding down and supporting of the end of a piece of lumber during its cutting. Further explaining, a board on traveling through a saw normally is held down in regions on opposite sides of where the cut is being made. As the trailing end of the board travels into a position to be cut, the board moves into a position where it is held down on the downstream side of the saw arbor only, and the extreme upstream end of the board has moved free of any hold-down means. When this occurs, the action of the saw causes the board to flutter, resulting in tear-out of wood material where the cut is being made and the production of a ragged cut. Obviously this is detrimental in equipment designed to produce precision cutting with minimum wastage of wood.
The problem of proper holding down boards as they are being cut is complicated by several factors, which include the fact that saw apparatus normally must handle material of various thicknesses, and with thinner material any flutter in a board end becomes more pronounced. Further, any gang saw mechanism includes some system for adjustably positioning the respective saws, so that any hold-down system provided must not interfere with movement of the saws or operation of the shifter mechanism producing their movement.
Generally, an object of the invention is to provide saw apparatus, such as a rip saw, which includes one or more saws shiftable along an arbor, with improved means for clamping or holding down work-pieces during their cutting.
Another object is to provide such saw mechanism where the hold-down or clamp means is adjustable, to take care of variations in thickness in the work-pieces handled.
Yet another further object is to provide a novel clamp or hold-down means in a gang or rip saw which includes shoe structure extending parallel to the arbor on one side where the cutting is performed, and a novel mounting for the shoe structure whereby it provides the support desired for thick and thin pieces.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shoe structure and a hold-down roll are both part of a moveable assembly located on the feed side where cutting occurs. The shoe structure and hold-down roll move along an inclined path down and toward support for work-pieces, thus properly engaging work-pieces of various thickness. The structure guiding the shoe and hold-down roll is relatively compact and out of the way of the working region of the machine.

Gang saw with horizontally and vertically movable hold-downs


A secondary source of braking for large hydraulically braked vehicles utilizing the available power source (38) provided by typically available anti-skid and traction control braking systems. The invention improves the time response of a secondary braking traction control system by utilizing stored fluid in the low pressure anti-skid braking system accumulators (34) to provide for faster build of pressure by the pump motor (38). Fluid is stored and utilized based on vehicle behavior and operational states and is based upon the principal the traction control, anti-skid braking and secondary braking requirements are generally mutually exclusive. This allows for a decreased response time of the secondary braking system and also provides for improved initial cycle response of typical traction control events that utilize the system configuration.

The time-honored skid avoidance technique of "pumping" the brake pedal to control a skid situation has largely been displaced by anti-lock braking systems. Many known anti-lock devices operate by cyclically increasing and decreasing the braking force exerted on the wheels so that a slipping wheel having a tendency to lock is permitted to re-accelerate back to a speed corresponding to the speed of the vehicle. This is typically achieved by control valves alternately allowing fluid to flow out of and then into the brake cylinder to first lower and then raise the brake pressure in the brake system.
Typically, anti-lock or anti-skid braking systems utilize a so-called pump-back scheme or a replenish scheme during a reapply or build operational sequence to maintain a desired level of hydraulic fluid in a brake system. In a pump-back scheme, the same hydraulic fluid is resupplied from a local accumulator to the brake pad actuators while in a replenish scheme hydraulic fluid comes from a separate source such as either a hydraulic accumulator or a separate pump and motor.
Most of such anti-lock braking systems are further capable of operating in a traction control function A traction control function is established by detecting conditions where the rotational speed of a first powered wheel substantially exceeds that of a second powered wheel. To provide a power balance in the operation of a vehicle, a braking force is applied to the powered wheel rotating at a higher speed to effectively transfer driving torque back to that wheel with better traction. Many anti-lock systems having such a traction control feature employ a motor and hydraulic pump or pumps which operate independent of the service braking system. Such a braking system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,438 where the traction control motor and hydraulic pump are called into action to provide a back-up power assisted braking feature in the event of a malfunction of the primary braking system.
It is desirable to provide a braking control system with a secondary or back-up braking source having a capability of modulating pressure to the service brakes in the event of loss of the primary brake power source.
It is also desirable to provide such a back-up braking system which is capable of rapidly responding to an actuation signal in the event of a malfunction of the primary brake system.


Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide an adjustable keeper device for securing strands, such as strands of hair, for example. The keeper device includes one or more flexible guides for conducting a cord in a desired path. The flexible guides act as a conduit to route the cord and prevent strands from snagging with cord movement. The flexible guides and the cord are operable to secure the strands in a desired position. In some implementations, the keeper device includes an interchangeable vanity cover, removeably attached to the keeper device.

Holders of various designs and types may be used to organize or hold stranded or loose items, such as hair, filaments, strings, wires, and so forth. Common holders, such as elastic (rubber, for example) bands may be used to bundle and hold items, but they are generally not adjustable in size. Accordingly, it is desirable to keep various sizes on hand for various applications, which may not be convenient. Additionally, elastic bands can sometimes snag fine strands, causing tangles, pulling out hair, or at least causing some discomfort. Eventually, many elastic bands break or lose elasticity.
Other types of holders, such as clips may be more adjustable, or more capable of broader applications. Many clips, however, do not hold as well as elastic bands, allowing some strands to escape over time and with movement. Further, many clips also break or lose grip strength with repeated use.


A multi antenna system, comprising a plurality of transceivers for an antenna array operable for communication with wireless terminals, wherein the multi antenna system comprises a radio controller, adapted to operate a first transceiver for radio communication within a first bandwidth, wherein the first transceiver is limited by hardware to radio communication within the first bandwidth, a second transceiver adapted for radio communication within a second bandwidth selectable from a plurality of bandwidths, a radio controller adapted to operate, depending on a data rate demand, either the first transceiver or the second transceiver or both for radio communication.

Wireless access systems provide radio communication to wireless terminals via radio links.
MMIMO in the context of radio communication refers to multiplying the capacity of a radio link using multiple transmit and receive antennas of the wireless access system and to control transceivers for spatial multiplexing using the multiple transmit and receive antennas in a radio communication within the same frequency band with one or more wireless terminals. In this wireless access system many more antennas are used than wireless terminals connected to the wireless access system.
In MMIMO, due to the spatial multiplexing, a data throughput per user is however limited for each wireless terminal alike.
Beamforming for directional signal transmission to an individual wireless terminal or reception therefrom may be used in wireless access systems as well to improve the data throughput for an individual wireless terminal.
Beamforming in this context relates to controlling a phase and relative amplitude of a plurality of signals within the same frequency band, in order to create a pattern of constructive and destructive interference in such a way that signals form a spatial selective beam.
This increases the data throughput for individual wireless terminals but restricts the data throughput of others. It is an objective of the present invention to provide a wireless access system and a method of operating the wireless access system having improved data throughput capabilities with reasonable equipment cost and reasonable design effort.

Heterogeneously equipped multi antenna system and method of operating such system


An active device array substrate is provided. The active device array substrate comprises a substrate, multiple first lines, second lines, active devices, pixel electrodes and common lines. The first lines and second lines are disposed on the substrate and they form multiple pixel regions on the substrate. The active devices are respectively disposed in the pixel regions and each of the active devices is electrically connected to a first line and a second line, respectively. The pixel electrodes are respectively disposed in the pixel regions and each of the pixel electrodes is electrically connected to an active device, respectively. The common lines and first lines are roughly parallel and they are staggeringly disposed on the substrate. Each of the common lines has multiple branches which extend outside from their edges of two sides, and each of these branches is partly overlapped with the second lines.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a device array substrate. More particularly, the present invention relates to an active device array substrate.
2. Description of Related Art
As the need for displays grows rapidly, the industries have devoted to the developments related to displays. The cathode ray tube (CRT) display, in particular, has played a dominant role in the display market for years as result of its extraordinary displaying quality and technical maturity. Since the displays with minor power consumption and lesser radiation lead by the thriving concepts for the environment protection recently are demanded and that requires, the traditional CRT display cannot meet these requirements. Also, the traditional CRT display is strictly limited in its size and shape, and thus it cannot fulfill the market trends to design and produce the display as a light, thin, small and exquisite gadget. Hence, the thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) that features high resolution, low consumption, no radiation and so forth, has become the mainstream in the display marketplace.
FIG. 1 schematically shows a top view of a traditional TFT array substrate. Please refer to FIG. 1. The traditional TFT array substrate 100 comprises a substrate 110, a plurality of scan lines 120, a plurality of data lines 130, a plurality of common lines 140, a plurality of TFTs 150 and a plurality of pixel electrodes 160. Wherein, the scan lines 120 and data lines 130 are disposed on the substrate 100 and they construct a plurality of pixel regions 10a. The TFTs 150 are respectively disposed in these pixel regions 110a and each of the TFTs 150 is electrically connected to a scan line 120 and a data line correspondingly. The pixel electrodes 160 are respectively disposed in these pixel regions 110a and each of the pixel electrodes 160 is electrically connected to a TFT 150 correspondingly.
The common lines 140 and scan lines 120 are roughly parallel and they are staggeringly disposed on the substrate 110. Each of the common lines 140 has a plurality of branches 140a extending outside from their edges of two sides and these branches 140a are adjacent to these data lines 130. Additionally, since these branches 140a are partly overlapped with the edge of each of pixel electrodes 160, the branches 140a can not only raise the storage capacitance value Cst but provide the shielding for the abnormal alignment region between each of pixel electrodes 160 and these data lines 130. Nevertheless, due to the limitations of line widths for these branches 140a and the requirements of alignment precision for each layer in the traditional TFT array substrate 100, the aperture ratio of the TFT array substrate 100 cannot be further increased.


A silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material includes red-, green- and blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layers, and a non-light-sensitive layer, and contains a dye of the following formula (I). The emulsion layer or the non-light-sensitive layer contains a yellow coupler of the following formula (1) or (2), or an acylacetamide type yellow coupler having an acyl group of the following formula (Y): ##STR1## where X and Y represent an electron attractive group, or when coupled with each other, XY represents an acidic nucleus, Ar represents a phenyl group or a heterocyclic group, and L.sup.1, L.sup.2 and L.sup.3 represent a methine group, ##STR2## where X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 represent an alkyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group, X.sub.3 represents an organic group which forms a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group together with >N--, Y represents an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, and Z represents a split-off group, ##STR3## where D.sup.1 represents a monovalent group, and Q represents a non-metallic atomic group required to form, together with the C, a 3- to 5-membered hydrocarbon ring or a 3- to 5-membered heterocyclic ring.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material having improved photographic performances, storage stability, fastness of a color image obtained, and image quality.
2. Description of the Related Art
In manufacturing silver halide color photographic light-sensitive materials, it is well-known to employ a technique of providing a light-absorption layer, such as a light-absorbing filter, which absorbs light of a particular wavelength for the purpose of preventing halations or adjusting the sensitivity. At present, most generally used are a technique of cutting off the intrinsic sensitivities of green- and red-sensitive emulsions by providing an yellow filter layer at a position closer to the support than the blue-sensitive layer and further from the support than the other color-sensitive layers, and a technique of providing an anti-halation layer on the side closer to the support than the light-sensitive emulsion layers for prevention of unnecessary light scattering. In these light absorption layers, colloidal fine silver grains are usually used from a practical point of view. The colloidal silver grains, however, have side effects such as creating fog harmful to the adjacent emulsion layer, increasing the amount of fog during the storage of the light sensitive material, and decreasing the desilverization speed, as known. It is conventionally necessary for prevention of the fog to add an anti-foggant as disclosed in JP-A-62-32460 or JP-A-1-219743, or to introduce an interlayer mainly consisting of gelatine between the yellow filter layer and emulsion layer. Addition of an anti-foggant also creates the problem of decreasing the sensitivity, and introduction of the interlayer increases the thickness of the emulsion layer, lowering the sharpness and increasing the number of layers applied to raise a production cost.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, it has been attempted to use an organic dye in place of colloidal silver for the filter layer, and such a technique is described in patents as will be described later. Harmful fog can be removed by using the dye; however, again, use of the dye entails side effects such as increment of D.sub.min due to a poor discoloring from the light-sensitive material, leaving unnecessary absorption after processing, and as variance of the photographic properties caused by diffusion of the dye into other layers during storage due to insufficient fixation of the dye to a particular layer to which the dye was added. Therefore, many efforts have been made to obtain a material which satisfies both performances, namely, discoloring property of dye, and fixation thereof to a particular layer.
For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,548,564; 4,124,386 and 3,625,694 disclose techniques wherein a hydrophilic polymer having a charge opposite to dissociated anionic dye is provided, as a mordant, to co-exist with the dye in one layer, and the dye is localized in the layer by interaction of the polymer with the dye molecule.
Techniques for coloring a particular layer by use of a solid dye material insoluble in water, are disclosed in, for example, JP-A-56-12639, JP-A-55-155350, JP-A-55-155351, JP-A-63-27838, JP-A-63-197943, European Patents 15,601; 274,723; 276,566 and 299,435, and International Patent 88/04794. With the dye used in each of these patents, the desilverization speed can be increased without degrading the photographic properties; however, the desilverization speed achieved is still at an insufficient level, and there have been needs of the technique for further shortening the desilverization time.
Dye materials similar to that used in the present invention are disclosed in, for example, JP-A-63-64044, JP-A-1-196040, and JP-A-3-167546.
The dye materials disclosed in the above Patent Applications are not inactive in terms of photographic chemistry, and have been found to increase an amount of fog, and accordingly deteriorate the sensitivity when the light-sensitive material is stored for a long time. Further, these materials are not good in decoloring, and create color residue, or degrade the color-image fastness.
On the other hand, recently, the color-image fastness of silver halide color photographic light-sensitive materials have remarkably improved. Generally used is a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material containing three types of color couplers which form yellow, magenta, and cyan dyes when coupled with an oxidized form of an aromatic primary amine color developing agent.
Of those mentioned above, benzoyl-type and pivaloylacetoanilide-type yellow couplers are known as yellow couplers. A great attention have been paid to the malondianilide-type yellow coupler disclosed in European Patent 447,920A, and the cycloalkanecarbonyl-type yellow coupler disclosed in European Patent 447,969A, in particular, since the formed dye of each of these couplers has a high molar extinction coefficient, and the color image thereof is fast with respect to humidity and heat.
However, it was found that introduction of the malondianilide-type yellow coupler and the cycloalkanecarbonyl-type yellow coupler increases the amount of fog more than that with a benzoyl- or pivaloyl-type yellow coupler, over a long period of time of storage. After many studies, it was further found that such an increase in the amount of fog is particularly remarkable in the case where the colloidal silver is used as a light absorption layer. The amount of fog can be decreased by adding a large amount of the anti-foggant mentioned above or the like, or by introducing an interlayer mainly consisting of gelatine; however this technique entails side effects such as variation of the sensitivity and degradation of the sharpness.
In connection with a malondianilide-type yellow coupler similar to that of the invention, French Patent 1,558,452, for example, discloses a so-called oxygen atom dissociation type coupler mainly consisting of a diffusion type, in which the coupling active site has a group which splits off via oxygen atom.
JP-A-1-250950 discloses a yellow coupler as a specific compound example.
Meanwhile, in connection with a malondianilide-type coupler similar to that of the invention, those which release development inhibiting compounds are disclosed as functional couplers in JP-A-52-696624, JP-A-52-82424, JP-A-57-151944, JP-A-2-250053, and the above-mentioned European Patent Application No. 447,920. However, neither of JP-A-52-82424 or JP-A-57-151944 disclose a specific compound, nor does JP-A-52-696624 states a specific advantage obtained by the coupler.
Although some of the couplers disclosed in these documents exhibit improved color-forming property, color image fastness, and color reproduction, a demand for further improvement is strong. Further, regarding the development inhibiting compound-releasing coupler, there is a demand for further enhancement of the image improvement effect.

Silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material


A method for suppressing the blockage of a miniature Joule-Thomson cryocooler based on a photothermal effect includes: determining form and temperature of a trace impurity contained in a working medium of the cryocooler according to an operating condition of the cryocooler, and selecting an optimal wavelength of an electromagnetic wave based on the form and temperature of the impurity and a peak of absorption spectrum of the impurity to electromagnetic waves; estimating, via a prediction model of input power of the electromagnetic wave, an initial value of input power corresponding to the optimal wavelength; and emitting an electromagnetic wave with the power W by a laser capable of generating the optimal wavelength in a direction perpendicular to a passage of a throttle in the cryocooler to eliminate the impurity in the passage of the throttle.

Miniature cryogenic refrigeration technology plays an increasingly prominent role in many important fields like national defense and military, scientific research, electronic communications and biomedicine. For example, infrared detectors in missile tracking equipment, low-noise amplifiers in radio telescopes, superconducting filters in mobile communication systems and superconductor quantum interferometers in biomagnetic signal detectors all need to operate in a low temperature environment. Such low-temperature electronic devices release only a small amount of heat during operation, generally in the range of a few milliwatts to a few hundred milliwatts. Therefore, in order to effectively cool such low-temperature electronic devices, it is necessary to develop a miniature cryogenic cryocooler that matches the low-temperature electronic devices in size and cooling capacity. Miniature Joule-Thomson cryocoolers based on micro electromechanical system (MEMS) technology were born under this application background, and have attracted more and more attention in the field of miniature cryogenic refrigeration due to their compact structure, no vibration, no electromagnetic interference, and perfect coupling with electronic devices to be cooled. MEMS technology has opened up a new direction for the miniaturization of cryocoolers, but the wide application of the miniature Joule-Thomson cryocoolers based on the MEMS technology still faces many challenges, one of which is the blockage of the miniature Joule-Thomson cryocooler in long-term operation caused by the condensation and deposition of trace impurities contained in the working medium of the cryocooler, which limits the application field of the miniature Joule-Thomson cryocooler, and thus is a key issue to be solved in the field of miniature cryogenic refrigeration.
For instance, the research found that the blockage of the miniature Joule-Thomson cryocooler with a cooling temperature above the liquid nitrogen temperature range is mainly caused by trace water in the working medium. Although most of the water in the working medium can be removed by a filter, the trace water (in the ppb-ppm level) remaining in the working medium will still cause the blockage of the miniature Joule-Thomson cryocooler, thereby affecting the performance of the cryocooler. Previous studies suggested that the trace water in the working medium first condenses and deposits into ice crystals in a heat exchanger of the cryocooler, and then the ice crystals are separated from an inner wall of the heat exchanger under the flow impact of the working medium and enter into the throttle with the working medium to cause the blockage of the throttle. Based on this blocking mechanism, researchers tried to extend the continuous operation time of the cryocooler by arranging an ice crystal filter layer in the heat exchanger (Lerou, P., 2012. Micro-cooling device. European Patent, EP2444769A1). However, with the help of microscopic observations in combination with theoretical analysis, the applicant revealed that the blockage of the miniature throttle cryocooler is caused by the direct deposition of the trace water in the throttle (Cao, H. S., Vanapalli, S., Holland, H. J., Vermeer, C. H., ter Brake, H. J. M, 2013. Clogging in micromachined Joule-Thomson coolers: Mechanism and preventive measures. Applied Physics Letters 103, 034107). Therefore, arranging an ice crystal filter layer in the heat exchanger cannot prevent the direct deposition of the impurity water molecules in the throttle. At present, the main way to solve the blockage is to heat the whole cold end of the cryocooler to sublimate and remove the ice, so as to restore the channel size of the throttle and the mass flow rate of the miniature Joule-Thomson cryocooler. However, this solution cannot meet the requirements of continuous low-temperature operation of the miniature Joule-Thomson cryocooler.

Method for suppressing the blockage of miniature Joule-Thomson cryocooler based on photothermal effect


A system authenticates a first session for a first application running on a workstation and a second session for a second application running on a second screen device. The system links the first application to the second application when the first session matches the second session. The system receives data indicating the linked first application was changed at the workstation and provides update data to the second application corresponding to the change in the linked workstation application, causing a display of the second screen device to update based on the update data.

As businesses rely more on software for their workflows and business decisions, software user interfaces have become crowded and complex. Display screens have become inundated with burgeoning business workflows with additional steps for more roles and more scenarios, data fields for each rare use case, and in-context reports and impact analyses reflecting ever-broadening sets of data gathered by business intelligence and analytics tools. This is in addition to the multiple applications, whether integrated or not, that need to be used simultaneously to complete a task. Corporate software users are facing a distracting amount of information on a single screen, something that has been handled by sectioning the screen into areas of interest, dividing information into relevant tabs, or adding additional display monitors to the system. In all of these solutions, the same general interface is used to interact with the data, e.g., a mouse and keyboard.
Further, the modern computer user has become comfortable with, and adept at, using a personal mobile device to augment daily tasks. Smartphones and tablets have considerable computing power and ubiquity, to the point that they are replacing the personal computer for many tasks. The explosive growth of, and reliance on, mobile devices has made them a common sight in people's hands while, for example, waiting in line, riding a bus, conversing with others, or glancing at a newsfeed or the clock. Mobile devices have become one way to augment people's daily lives and tasks with information. For example, during family television viewing some may have a mobile device on hand for either keeping abreast of unrelated information during television programming lulls, or for expanded data about what is being watched, such as reading Twitter feeds while watching coverage of an election night or natural disaster for commentary and immediate updates. This use of mobile devices to augment television viewing has been called the "second screen" phenomenon, and some programs and channels have leveraged it to provide an application with synchronized data that augments what the viewer is watching.