A microphone has an arm in a manner such that vibration generated by a loudspeaker or the like is transmitted to the microphone. The microphone characterized in that the arm supporting the microphone is constructed of a plurality of split arms, which are connected with each other through elastic members.

As a conventional accessory of communication instruments such as ones shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, there is provided a set of a loudspeaker and a microphone provided with an arm extending toward a user's mouth, wherein the microphone is mounted on a front end portion of the arm. In the set shown in FIG. 8 there is provided a headphone provided with a housing portion 31 of a loudspeaker, on which portion 31 an arm 32 provided with a microphone 33 in its front end is fixedly mounted. In the set shown in FIG. 9, there is provided the loudspeaker 31 with which the arm 32 is directly connected.
When two-way communication is conducted between a user and his or her communication partner using such a set of cell phone and the like, voices and sounds issued from the loudspeaker are transmitted and returned to the microphone through the arm, which disturbs the communication partner in hearing and often causes howling to occur at the side of the communication partner. This howling tendency is remarkably recognized when the cell phone or like communication instrument used by the communication partner is of a type employing a bone conduction loudspeaker.
In order to solve this problem, in the conventional communication-instruments, a soft rubber boot and like articles is disposed in a space between a microphone unit and a casing receiving the microphone unit therein to prevent vibrations of the loudspeaker from being transmitted to thee microphone. However, this is not sufficient in effect as is in various other conventional measures.
Although there are the other conventional measures such as one using a microphone provided with an arm disposed on a desk, any one of these conventional measures is insufficient in effect since all the vibrations and impacts applied to the desk are transmitted to the microphone through the arm and picked up by the microphone as noises.
Since the conventional microphone provided with the conventional arm suffers from the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a microphone provided with an arm, which is free from the above-mentioned problems. In other words, the microphone provided with the arm of the present invention is capable of preventing any vibration produced in the loudspeaker and the like from being transmitted to the microphone.


By using a non-metallic hard mask for patterning low-k dielectric materials of advanced semiconductor devices, an enhanced degree of etch fidelity is obtained. The present invention may readily be applied to via first-trench last, trench first-via last schemes.

1. Field of the Invention
Generally, the present invention relates to the formation of integrated circuits, and, more particularly, to patterning low-k dielectrics used in metallization layers by means of sophisticated lithography and anisotropic etch techniques.
2. Description of the Related Art
In modern integrated circuits, minimum feature sizes, such as the channel length of field effect transistors, have reached the deep sub-micron range, thereby steadily increasing performance of these circuits in terms of speed and/or power consumption. As the size of the individual circuit elements is significantly reduced, thereby improving, for example, the switching speed of the transistor elements, the available floor space for interconnect lines electrically connecting the individual circuit elements is also decreased. Consequently, the dimensions of these interconnect lines have to be reduced to compensate for a reduced amount of available floor space and for an increased number of circuit elements provided per chip.
In integrated circuits having minimum dimensions of approximately 0.35 μm and less, a limiting factor of device performance is the signal propagation delay caused by the switching speed of the transistor elements. As the channel length of these transistor elements has now reached 0.09 μm and less, it turns out, however, that the signal propagation delay is no longer limited by the field effect transistors, but is limited, owing to the increased circuit density, by the close proximity of the interconnect lines, since the line-to-line capacitance is increased in combination with a reduced conductivity of the lines due to their reduced cross-sectional area. The parasitic RC time constants therefore require the introduction of new types of material for forming the metallization layer.
Traditionally, metallization layers are formed by a dielectric layer stack including, for example, silicon dioxide and/or silicon nitride, with aluminum as the typical metal. Since aluminum exhibits significant electromigration at higher current densities than may be necessary in integrated circuits having extremely scaled feature sizes, aluminum is being replaced by copper or copper alloys, which have a significantly lower electrical resistance and a higher resistivity against electromigration. For devices having feature sizes of 0.09 μm and less, it turns out that simply replacing aluminum with copper does not provide the required decrease of the parasitic RC time constants, and therefore the well-established and well-known dielectric materials silicon dioxide (k≅4.2) and silicon nitride (k>5) are increasingly replaced by so-called low-k dielectric materials. However, the transition from the well-known and well-established aluminum/silicon dioxide metallization layer to a low-k dielectric/copper metallization layer is associated with a plurality of issues to be dealt with.
For example, copper may not be deposited in relatively high amounts in an efficient manner by well-established deposition methods, such as chemical and physical vapor deposition. Moreover, copper may not be efficiently patterned by well-established anisotropic etch processes. Therefore, the so-called damascene or inlaid technique is frequently employed in forming metallization layers including copper lines. Typically, in the damascene technique, the dielectric layer is deposited and then patterned with trenches and vias that are subsequently filled with copper by plating methods, such as electroplating or electroless plating. Although the damascene technique is presently a well-established technique for forming copper metallization layers in standard dielectric materials, such as silicon dioxide, the employment of low-k dielectrics, however, requires the development of new dielectric diffusion barrier layers to avoid copper contamination of adjacent material layers, as copper readily diffuses in a plurality of dielectrics. Although silicon nitride is known as an effective copper diffusion barrier, silicon nitride may not be considered as an option in low-k dielectric layer stacks owing to its high permittivity. Therefore, presently, silicon carbide is deemed as a viable candidate for a copper diffusion barrier. It turns out, however, that copper's resistance against electromigration strongly depends on the interface between the copper and the adjacent diffusion barrier layer. Therefore, in sophisticated integrated circuits featuring high current densities, it is generally preferable to use up to 20% nitrogen in the silicon carbide layer, thereby remarkably improving the electromigration behavior of copper compared to pure silicon carbide.
A further problem in forming low-k copper metallization layers has been under-estimated in the past and is now considered a major challenge in the integration of low-k dielectrics. During the patterning of the low-k dielectric material, advanced photolithography is required to image the structure, including vias and/or trenches, into the photoresist that is sensitive in the deep UV range. In developing the photoresist, certain portions of the resist, which have been exposed, may however not be completely removed as required and thus the structure may then not be correctly transferred into the underlying low-k dielectric material during the subsequent etch process. The effect of insufficiently exposing and developing the photoresist is also referred to as resist poisoning. It is believed that a significant change of the resist sensitivity may be caused by an interaction of nitrogen and nitrogen radicals with the resist layer, thereby locally modifying the resist structure after resist development. The problem is becoming even more important as the wavelength of the lithography used is reduced as a consequence of more sophisticated process requirements. For instance, currently the patterning of critical features sizes of cutting edge devices may be performed on the basis of a 193 nm light source, requiring appropriately designed photoresists that are highly sensitive in this wavelength range. It turns out, however, that with increased sensitivity at shorter wavelengths, the available photoresists also exhibit an increased sensitivity for resist poisoning mechanisms. Since the introduction of the 90 nm technology may also require a correspondingly advanced lithography in the formation of a metallization layer contacting the circuit elements, increased problems may occur during the patterning of the low-k dielectric as nitrogen and/or compounds may readily be present within the low-k material and other layers in the layer stack, which then may interact with the resist exhibiting the increased sensitivity to resist poisoning.
Furthermore, the reduction of sizes of the trenches and vias to be etched into the low-k dielectric may increase the burden of the resist mask in terms of etch selectivity as for high precision photolithography, possibly requiring an exposure wavelength of 193 nm, moderately thin resist layers are necessary, thereby reducing the "fidelity" of the etch process due to excessive "erosion," for instance, corner rounding, of the resist mask. With increasing aspect ratio of vias and trenches, the reduced etch fidelity may increasingly cause inter-connect failure or reduced interconnect reliability.
In view of the situation described above, there is a need for an improved technique enabling the patterning of a low-k dielectric layer for highly scaled semiconductor devices while avoiding or at least reducing one or more of the problems identified above.

Method of patterning a low-k dielectric using a hard mask


The invention provides a tag communication system, an interference preventing method and a tag communication controller suitable for prevention of a radio wave interference able to be caused by radio waves mutually emitted when plural tag communication devices are arranged. Plural reader-writers are oppositely arranged through a belt conveyer for conveying an article. A null of the reader-writer is opposed to a null of the reader-writer. A null of the reader-writer is opposed to a null of the reader-writer. Main lobes are directed to a direction causing no mutual interference.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tag communication system, an interference preventing method and a tag communication controller suitable for prevention of a radio wave interference able to be caused by radio waves mutually emitted when plural tag communication devices are arranged.
2. Background Art
When plural reader-writers as tag communication devices are arranged and wireless communication is performed through a RFID tag attached to baggage and an antenna, there is a case in which radio waves mutually emitted interfere and cause an obstacle of the communication. As a method for preventing this interference, there are formerly a method for preventing the interference by synchronizing signal transmission timing of the reader-writer, a method for preventing the interference by adjusting a direction of the antenna and arranging an absorbing body, a method for normalizing a new interference preventing function such as LBT (Listen Before Talk) and DRM (Dens Read Mode), etc.
However, in these methods, there are problems such as a reduction of a system speed due to wiring between the reader-writers and time division communication, arranging cost and a reduction of a freedom degree of the arrangement, a reduction of the system speed due to the time division communication, an increase of a required frequency band.
Therefore, for example, there is a technique disclosed in JP-A-2006-42268 as an interference preventing method replaced with these methods. In the following description, reference numerals within parentheses are described in JP-A-2006-42268. The technique disclosed in this JP-A-2006-42268 reduces an interference from other electronic authenticating devices in an environment for arranging plural electronic authenticating devices. For example, this JP-A-2006-42268 discloses a show case for arranging two element antennas (12a, 12b) as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 (views corresponding to FIGS. 7 and 8 of JP-A-2006-42268). This JP-A-2006-42268 discloses a method for preventing an interference between reader/writer when the RFID reader/writer constructed from a main body (10), an electricity supply network (11), plural element antennas (12a, 12b) and a personal computer (13) is arranged every show case as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Concretely, synthetic directivity of the antenna constructed by two element antennas (12a, 12b) is changed by changing the amplitude and phase of an electricity supply signal given to the element antenna (12a). The interference between the reader/writer is reduced by directing a null in a direction of the show case of a partner side, i.e., by directing a zero point or a low sensitivity portion between lobes of directivity of the antenna.
However, in JP-A-2006-42268, the element antennas (12a, 12b) are arranged within the show case. Accordingly, for example, when an article of commerce is taken in and out, and this element antenna (12a, 12b) comes in contact with a person's hand and is moved and a shift is caused in the directivity of the radio wave, a situation for directing no null to an interference wave is caused. As a result, an interference can be caused. Accordingly, it cannot be said that it is sufficient as the interference preventing method. Further, when the reader-writer used for a purpose except for management of the show case is newly arranged, there is a possibility that a new interference is generated and an obstacle is caused in the system.

Tag communication system having a controlled antenna array to prevent interference


Provided are a terminal and a method for searching access points performed by a terminal supporting a multi-RAT (Radio Access Technology) in a wireless communication system. The method includes: receiving, by the terminal, information on one or more access points (APs) located within a cell coverage of a base station; determining whether there are any accessible APs within the cell coverage of the base station based on the received information; searching and selecting an AP according to the determining, wherein: if there are accessible APs, the terminal searches and selects the AP within a first time period, the first time period is shorter than a current time period for searching the AP, if there are no accessible APs, the terminal searches and selects the AP within a second time period, and the second time period is longer than the current time period for searching the AP; and accessing the selected AP.

Second generation mobile communication, including CDMA and GSM, means transmission and reception of voice through digital data. As an advance from the GSM, GPRS has been proposed, which is a technology for providing a packet switched data service based on the GSM system.
Third generation mobile communication means communication of image and data as well as voice, and 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) developed mobile communication system (IMT-2000) technology and adopted WCDMA as the Radio Access Technology (RAT). The IMT-2000 technology and Radio Access Technology (RAT), i.e. WCDMA, are comprehensively referred to as UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) in Europe. And, UTRAN stands for UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network.
Now the Third generation mobile communication is evolving into Fourth generation mobile communication.
As a Fourth generation mobile communication technology, two methods have been proposed, one being Long-Term Evolution Network (LTE) technology which has been under development for standardization by 3GPP and another being IEEE 802.16 which has been under development for standardization by IEEE. For LTE, the term E-UTRAN (Evolved-UTRAN) is being used.
In the Fourth generation mobile communication technology, OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing)/OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) has been introduced. OFDM uses multiple orthogonal subcarriers. OFDM uses orthogonality characteristics between IFFT (inverse fast Fourier Transform) and FFT (fast Fourier Transform). The transmitter transmits data by performing data IFFT to the data. The receiver restores original data by performing FFT to the data received. The transmitter uses IFFT for combining multiple subcarriers and the receiver uses corresponding FFT for separating the multiple subcarrier.
Meanwhile, many efforts are being made in Third or Fourth generation mobile communication system to increase the capacities of cells to support high bandwidths and bidirectional services such as multimedia contents and streaming.
Also, there have been approaches to use higher frequency bandwidths for increasing cell capacities and reduce cell radii. By using cells with small radius such as pico cell, it is possible to use higher bandwidth than the frequencies used in conventional cellular system, thereby providing the merit of transmitting more information. These method, however, have disadvantage of more cost for installing more base stations in the same area.
In the efforts to increase the capacities of cells, the methods of using femtocell have been proposed recently.
Femtocell means providing small scale wireless environment by installing compact base stations which consume low power at indoor space of home or office. The femtocell can enhance the quality of service by extending the area where the service is available and improving the capacities of the service, and is expected to stabilize next generation mobile communication system by providing data service.
Meanwhile, recent communication terminal devices are generally equipped with Wi-Fi module or Bluetooth. Especially, as smart phones are widely used, it is common that various heterogeneous radio access technologies such as cellular (Third generation or Fourth generation communication) access technology, WLAN, Bluetooth and ZigBee are equipped in a handset. These types of devices equipped with various heterogeneous radio access technologies in a handset is called dual mode handsets.
As the dual mode handsets described above is widely used, the technology of FMC (Fixed Mobile Convergence) is newly being proposed.
According to the FMC technology, when the user with a handset of the technology approaches a UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) based Access Point (or wireless base station), the service identical with the Third generation or Fourth generation communication technology is provided by using unlicensed wireless frequencies.
FIG. 1 illustrates the technology of FMC.
As can be seen by referring to FIG. 1, terminal 10 and access point 20 are within the coverage of the base station 30. The access point 20 can use Wireless LAN or Bluetooth which are based on Wi-Fi.
When the terminal 10, which is under communication with the base station 30, enters the coverage of the access point 10 using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, the base station 30 performs a handover to the access point 20 so that the communication can be performed seamlessly.
Recently, various methods are being developed including the method of communication in which a user can communicate by using femto base station, Third generation or Fourth generation cellular communication technology at personal space such as home or office by combining the FMC communication method and femto base station method, and also can communicate, as needed, by using unlicensed bands such as Wi-Fi.
In order to use the FMC technology, the terminal should search for neighboring access points. Periodic search of access points, however, requires much power consumption and the resources of the terminal are also consumed, thereby affecting the cellular mobile communication under current connection.

Method and Terminal for Quickly Searching for an Access Point


A coding system is disclosed wherein the receive side includes a decoder capable of producing, in addition to the hard information decoded output, either or both symbol and/or bit soft information values. For a certain information bit position, a value proportional to the joint probability that a received symbol and the set of all hypothesized transmitted codewords that led to the estimated or detected hard information output is calculated. The calculated probabilities with respect to plural codewords having a zero in that certain information bit position are compared to the calculated probabilities with respect to the plural codewords having a one in that certain information bit position. The result of the comparison provides an indication of whether the hard information output in that same information bit position is more likely a one or a zero. The output soft information values are further processed in comparison to a preset threshold, with instances exceeding the threshold triggering block rejections and/or retransmissions.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the coding and decoding of digital data for transmission over a communications channel and, in particular, to a system decoder utilizing soft information outputs to minimize error rates in the transmitted digital data.
2. Description of Related Art
There exist many applications where large volumes of digital data must be transmitted and received in a substantially error free manner. In telecommunications systems, in particular, it is imperative that the reception of digital data be accomplished as reliably as is possible. Reliable communication of digital data is difficult, however, because the communications channels utilized for data transmission are plagued by error introducing factors. For example, such errors may be attributable to transient conditions in the channel (like noise or multi-path fading). The influence of such factors results in instances where the digital data is not transmitted properly or cannot be reliably received.
Considerable attention has been directed toward discovering methods for addressing the instances of errors which typically accompany data transmission activities. For example, it is well known in the art to employ forward error correction (FEC) codes and other means to locate, counteract, correct and/or eliminate these errors. The data stream is thus encoded in accordance with a plurality of predefined codewords established in a codebook for that particular encoding scheme. Once encoded, the random errors introduced therein during transmission are relatively easily located and corrected during a corresponding decoding process using well known mathematical processes.
The codewords output from the encoder are transmitted over a communications channel and corrupted to some degree by noise to create a vector. During decoding, the received vector comprising the encoded data (perhaps including errors) is compared against each of the plurality of codewords in the codebook for the specific encoding process used. The codeword closest to the received vector is selected, and its corresponding data word is output from the decoder. This output is often referred to as the hard information output.
In many coding systems, a decoder additionally produces soft (or side) information outputs to help another decoder identify, and perhaps correct, introduced errors. For example, in one scenario used in the Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication, an inner decoder comprising an equalizer generates a soft information output derived from path metric differences, and an outer decoder comprising an error control decoder utilizes the output soft information to detect and correct introduced errors. In another scenario used in the PRISM-TDMA communications system, the inner decoder comprises an improved multiband excitation (IMBE) error control decoder generating estimates of the number of channel errors, and the outer stage decoder comprises a speech decoder which utilizes the output error estimates in determining whether to discard data.
Soft information outputs have historically been generated by the decoder in conjunction with the selection of the closest codeword and its associated hard information output. The reliability information comprising the soft information output is calculated for each individual symbol (bit) within the hard information output. Accordingly, in such decoders the reliability of each symbol (bit) within the hard information output vector is derived without taking into consideration either the remaining symbols within that hard information output vector or any other considered codewords (and associated hard information output vectors). This is achieved by comparing the probability of the received data given a bit with a logical value of one was transmitted to the probability of the received data given a bit with a logical value of zero was transmitted.

Decoder utilizing soft information output to minimize error rates


In one embodiment, a tape drive includes a drive buffer, a processor, and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to cause the processor to: receive a list including: user data segments recorded on tape media, wherein the user data segments are arranged in the list according to a predetermined order, and information associated with each user data segment, wherein the information includes a description of a physical location of each of the user data segments on the tape media. The logic is further configured to cause the processor to locate each of the user data segments on the tape media according to the order in the list, read each of the user data segments from the tape media according to the order in the list, and write each of the user data segments to a buffer according to the order in the list.

The present invention relates to data storage systems, and more specifically, this invention relates to recall operations in hierarchical storage management (HSM) systems.
An ever increasing amount of computer readable storage space is needed to keep pace with expanding data storage demands. Increasing data storage capacity requires improved storage management systems to backup and protect data sets, and migrate less active data sets to secondary storage to increase primary storage space. A data set may be composed of any collection or grouping of data. In certain systems, a data set may include control information used by the system to manage the data. The terms data set and file are generally equivalent and sometimes are used interchangeably. Hierarchical storage management (HSM) programs manage storage devices, such as tape libraries, to control the flow of data between primary and secondary storage facilities.
In a hierarchical storage management system, data is stored in different types of storage devices depending upon the frequency of usage of the data. For instance, a system may include multiple storage media types to store data having different usage patterns and likelihoods of access. More frequently used data may be stored on direct access storage devices (DASD) comprising high-performance rapid access storage devices, such as hard disk drives. Less frequently used data may be archived on slower and less expensive, demountable storage media, such as optical disks, magnetic tape cartridges, etc.
Two common functions initiated by host systems in hierarchical storage management systems include migration and recall. Migration typically involves the movement of data from a rapid access storage device to a slower access storage device, e.g. a tape cartridge. Conversely, a recall operation generally involves data transfer in the opposite direction. For example, when a migrated data set stored on a tape volume is requested by an application in a recall operation, the respective tape volume is mounted, the tape drive moves to the location of the data records associated with the data set, and the requested data records are read.
With regard to recall operations in HSM systems, the time taken to recall a file from the mount point of the respective tape volume is important. The time to locate a requested data record may be influenced by the length of the tape medium, the reposition velocity, the physical position of the requested data sets on the tape media, etc. Additionally, a tape drive may not know, with certainty, the actual physical position of the target data files on the tape medium, which may lead to longer than desired elapsed times.
Moreover, the time that elapses to recall a file from a lower storage tier to a higher storage tier in an HSM system may be influenced and/or longer than desired due to the difference in data rates associated with a host reading data from a tape drive versus a tape drive reading data from a tape medium. For instance, the data rate for a tape drive to read data from a tape medium is generally much faster than the data rate for a host to read data from the tape drive. As an illustration only, consider the case where the total bandwidth of a higher storage tier (e.g. comprising hard disk storage) is 2500 MB/sec, and an application running on a host system uses 2000 MB/sec. The total bandwidth for a recall operation is 2500 MB/sec−2000 MB/sec=500 MB/sec. If there are 10 tape drives, the data rate between the higher storage tier (the hard disk drives) and each tape drive is only 500 MB/sec/10=50 MB/sec, which may be significantly slower than a tape drive having a data rate of, for example, 250 MB/sec.
Accordingly, it would be beneficial to have a system, method and/or computer program product which could reduce the inefficiencies in accessing data during a recall operation in systems which employ hierarchical storage.

Reducing elapsed time to access data from a storage medium during a recall operation


A dielectric layer (e.g., an interpoly dielectric layer) is deposited over low and high voltage devices of a peripheral memory device. The dielectric behaves as an oxidation and wet oxide etch barrier. The dielectric prevents the devices from being stripped by a wet oxide etch that can result in the exposure of the silicon corners. The exposure of a silicon corner may increase thinning of a gate oxide at the field edge. This causes variability and unreliability in the device. The dielectric is not removed from a device until the device is ready for processing. That is, the dielectric remains on a device until the growing of a gate oxide on that device has begun. This reduces the exposure of the silicon corner. Hedges that result may be removed by exposing a trench in the field oxide at the hedge.

This invention relates to reducing gate oxide thinning at the field edge of complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) devices and, more particularly, to reducing field edge thinning in peripheral devices.
Some CMOS devices are fabricated in such a way that a thin gate oxide and a thick gate oxide are grown on the device. In some processes for fabricating these peripheral CMOS devices, the thin gate oxide devices are sometimes stripped with a wet oxide etch prior to gate oxidation. In other processes, the thick gate oxide devices are sometimes stripped with a wet is oxide etch prior to gate oxidation. When a device is stripped with a wet oxide etch, the silicon corners at the field edges may be exposed. This results in increased gate oxide thinning at the field edges (e.g., at the exposed corners). This increased thinning may lead to undesirable variability in the electrical parameters of the peripheral devices.
For example, the increased thinning at the field edges may cause a MOSFET (metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor) to break down at the corners due to the non-uniformity of the gate oxide. This results in what is sometimes called a threshold kink. That is, a MOSFET may turn on closer to the device's field edges before the rest of the device turns on. When enough voltage is applied to the rest of the gate, the rest of the device may turn on. In essence, this results in two devices in parallel. This variability and other factors may lead to degradation in functionality, yield, and reliability in these devices.
It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide fabrication processes that reduce field edge thinning in peripheral devices.

Reduction of field edge thinning in peripheral devices


The present invention uses a conventional telephone keypad to input alphanumeric information, wherein the user follows directions in automatically generated audio prompts heard over the telephone, to take appropriate action to provide the necessary alphanumeric information in an easy and convenient manner. No prior knowledge of the invention or training of the user is required. User input is confirmed in audio as the keypad is used, and the alphanumeric meaning of the input is confirmed in audio when such input is complete. The information is logged into a memory and added to a translation database if the information is not present in the translation database when the user confirms the alphanumeric meaning.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to telecommunication methods and apparatus. More specifically, this invention relates to methods and apparatus for the use of telephone key pads for inputting alphabetic information.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Telephone keypads are known in the prior art (see FIG. 1). Telephone keypads have numerical keys numbered from 0 to 9, a star key, and a "#" (pound or hash or number) key. The original purpose of telephone keypads was to input the ten digits of the decimal number system into the telephone system for purposes of calling telephone numbers. Because the telephone keypad is limited to the twelve indicated keys, which are marked in the well known manner shown in FIG. 1, these keypads do not readily lend themselves to the input of the alphabet, with twenty six characters (or any other alphabet), as would a conventional alphabetic keyboard for a typewriter or word processor.
In the conventional telephone keypad, the "1" button has no letters on it. The "2" button is marked with the letters "ABC", and so forth through the "9" button, all marked in a well known manner. The "0" button is marked with "OPER" for the operator. The "*" button and the "#" button are marked only with "*" and "#", respectively.
From time to time in the use of the telephone instrument, it would be useful to input letters of the alphabet to provide alphabetic information, for example, to spell a person's name using the telephone keypad. There is no easy way to do this in the prior art, and this is a long felt frustrated need in the telecommunications industry. In theory, a number of dedicated buttons, one for each letter of the alphabet, could be added to a telephone instrument, in much the same manner as a typewriter, word processor or computer keyboard. However, in practice this is prohibitively expensive. Another solution is needed.

Method and apparatus for specifying alphanumeric information with a telephone keypad


Systems and methods for heat exchange in accordance with the invention define adequately long-interchange distances for two fluids by wrapping a tube containing a first fluid about the wall of an inner cylindrical tank, within a gap formed with a second concentric tank. A second fluid is transmitted in the space defined between the turns of the tube and the two walls, providing effective short length thermal interchange through the tube walls. The tube is in the line contact with both tank walls and the fluids can flow rapidly over an adequately long length, so that high efficiency is provided in a low cost system.

The tremendous variety of heat exchangers that is currently available is actually insufficient to satisfy the needs and goals of current developments and technology. The heat exchangers available include many metal, plastic and other configurations in which thermal energy is transferred between different liquids, between gases and liquids, between liquid/vapor fluids and liquids, and between other combinations of media. Such heat exchangers are used for cooling or heating or both purposes.
As the art has developed, however, increasing demands have been made on the heat exchangers and the temperature control units that utilize them, in terms of efficiency, size and particularly cost. For example, in semiconductor fabrication facilities controlling the temperature of a cluster tool may require that different temperature levels be established and closely maintained in different modes of operation. Since floor space in such installations is very expensive, the footprint of the temperature control unit should be as small as feasible. In addition, the unit should operate reliably for long periods so as not to impede or interrupt tool or overall system operation. The emphasis on lowering cost applies not only to labor and materials but to fabrication techniques. The design should also permit the alternative incorporation of a pump or heater. The present system has been devised as a radically different approach in hardware and method having many potential applications not only in this context, but also in a variety of other applications.

Heat exchanger and temperature control unit


An access ladder configurable from an extended position for providing access to a structure and a stowed position. The access ladder comprises an elongated first member having a first step extending laterally therefrom. An elongated second member is associated with the first member and configured for translational movement relative thereto and has a second step extending laterally therefrom. A link extends between the second member and the structure such that rotation of the first member moves the second member translationally relative to the first member, thereby moving said at least one second step towards said at least one first step.

Many machines have operator controls located a distance from the ground. For example, large machines, such as large construction machines and large mining machines, often include cabs containing operator controls that are located atop the machines several feet from the ground. In order to access the controls, an operator needs the ability to ascend the distance from the ground to the cab. Many machines include access systems to aid the operator in accessing the controls of the machine. For instance, many machines include ladders, ramps, stair steps, and the like.
In many instances, machines must traverse rough terrain during their operation. For instance, wheel tractor scrapers, trucks, excavators, loaders, and other machines often pass over rough, ungroomed or unpaved ground of a construction or mining site. As a result, a large distance, often several feet, between the ground and the machine is desirable to allow the machine to pass over the terrain without hindrance or damage. In addition, large machines must pass vegetation, structures, and other machines while traversing a work site. Therefore, it is desirable that any access system provide adequate clearance to the ground and not project outwardly when the machine is in use, so as to avoid unintended contact with external objects.


A deboning machine according to some embodiments of the disclosure includes a housing, a separation chamber and auger. The housing has a passageway and ports for expelling meat and bone. The separation chamber is mounted in the passageway, and the auger extends through said separation chamber and the housing. An engagement structure provided on the housing and separation chamber engage with a camming action to provide a space between the separation chamber and the auger. During engagement, the auger is held stationary and the separation chamber is rotated relative to the auger.

Conventional deboning machines are disclosed in Applicant's U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,189,104 and 5,813,909. Conventional deboning machines may have difficulty establishing and maintaining acceptable working space between an auger and an interior surface of a separation chamber.
A deboning machine is provided herein which provides improvements to the existing prior art and which overcomes the disadvantages presented by the prior art. Other features and advantages will become apparent upon a reading of the attached specification, in combination with a study of the drawings.


The present invention is directed to the systemic administration of Fosfluridine Tidoxil, (5-fluorouridine)-5′-phosphoric acid (3-dodecylmercapto-2-decyloxy)propylester or a salt thereof, for the treatment of intraepithelial proliferative diseases such as actinic keratosis. The Fosfluridine Tidoxil can be systemically administered alone or in combination with topical treatment agents.

Actinic Keratosis (AK) is a carcinoma in situ of the epidermis, an early stage of squamous cell carcinoma (Guidelines for the Management of Actinic Keratoses, Subcommittee of the European Dermatology Forum, 2004/2005). Actinic keratosis often develops in fair-skinned people, particularly in regions of the earth with high UV irradiation. In the US actinic keratoses are the most common premalignant lesions in humans. The incidence is much higher in the Sun Belt and is directly related to light skin and sun exposure. In a study performed in Great Britain, 15% of all men and 6% of all women were affected (Memon A A, Tomenson J A, Bothwell J, Friedmann P S. Prevalence of solar damage and actinic keratosis in a Merseyside population: Br J Dermatol 2000; 142: 1154-1159). The prevalence in Australia is even higher. In approximately 10% of all patients with actinic keratosis and approximately 30% of patients with actinic keratosis and additional immune suppression, the progression to an invasive squamous cell carcinoma at a later stage occurs. In order to avoid this progression an efficient treatment is required.
The current treatments for actinic keratosis consist basically of operative and physical methods and topical pharmacological therapy options. Possible treatments include cryosurgery (freezing), surgical excision, curettage (scraping) with or without electrosurgery (heat generated by an electric current) and topical (applied to the skin) medications. Lasers, chemical peels, dermabrasion, and photodynamic therapy may also be used. Unfortunately, operative and physical methods frequently cause serious adverse reactions and often have a high rate of relapse. Diclofenac-Hyaluronic-Acid (Solaraze®), 5-Fluorouracil and Imiquimod are currently available as topical pharmacological therapies for early stages of AK. Retinoids which could be administered orally against actinic keratosis are not authorized on the German market due to their very serious adverse reactions. The rate of full recovery when using topical therapies is only about 50%. In addition to this moderate success rate, subclinical manifestations of actinic keratosis (frequently occurring in addition to visible lesions) can trigger relapses. They are not visible and therefore the cream is often not applied to them. A further disadvantage of topical application is the fact that the agents must be administered for long periods of time and after a certain time patient compliance decreases. For example, a cream like Imiquimod has to be administered for up to 16 weeks.
The current treatments for actinic keratosis are therefore unsatisfactory and prior to the present invention, there was no adequate oral treatment for actinic keratosis. This is particularly bad in the treatment of advanced actinic keratosis, for which the topical treatments seem to be even less effective

Use of Fosfluridine Tidoxil (FT) for the treatment of intraepithelial proliferative diseases


The invention relates to a slubbing machine, the use of a twist application means, and a method for the manufacture of a roving yarn (9). The roving yarn (9) is manufactured according to the invention from a fiber assembly (3), which undergoes a true twist application (rotation) by mean of one or more air flows.

Slubbing machines according to the present disclosure are often speed frames. A speed frame serves to manufacture roving yarn. Roving yarn may also be referred to as slubbing or roving. The roving yarn serves as the basis for the spinning process which includes the spinning of fibers into a fiber yarn, for example on a ring-spinning machine.
The process for manufacturing a roving yarn may include the following steps. First, the fiber bands coming from the preliminary process (carding room) are doubled with the aid of drafting devices and deposited in cans. The fiber assembly produced by this process is then presented to the stubbing machines for further processing. In these slubbing machines, the fiber assembly is first drawn through a drafting device and then slightly twisted by the application of a suitable twist. The fiber assembly is then wound up as a roving yarn on a supply bobbin. The roving yarn, also referred to as the fiber stubbing, the flyer slubbing, or generally as the slubbing, manufactured according to this process usually serves as presentation material for ring-spinning machines.
A slubbing machine usually includes its own drafting device. In most cases, this drafting device is a double apron drafting device. After being drawn through the drafting device, the fiber assembly undergoes a slight twist, also referred to as a protective twist, in order for the slubbing to exhibit sufficient strength to be wound on a bobbin without disintegrating. The twist must only be of sufficient strength for the fiber assembly to be held together for the winding and later unwinding of the fiber assembly and for the transport of the bobbins. The twist must also be sufficiently strong to avoid wrong draftings (thin places in the roving yarn). On the other hand, the twist must be easy to be released again so that the roving yarn is capable of being drawn for the subsequent spinning process, for example in a ring-spinning machine.
A speed frame is often used as a slubbing machine to manufacture flyer slubbing. The speed frame is equipped with a drafting device and a spindle for winding up the flyer slubbing onto a cylinder bobbin by means of a flyer which supports the slubbing against the centrifugal force incurred by the bobbin revolutions. The speed frame is an expensive machine in the spinning process as a whole, due to the complicated winding mechanism. In addition, the usual output from a speed frame is about 20-25 meters of roving yarn per minute. This low production cannot be increased in view of the winding system with flyers because a higher speed is limited by the centrifugal force which the flyers and roving bobbin must withstand.
Attempts have been made to bypass the use of the slubbing machine by direct spinning In this process, a ring-spinning machine is supplied with a fiber sliver. The high draft produced by sliver direct spinning only achieves the result to a restricted degree compared to that obtained with the supply of a flyer stubbing on a ring spinning machine. This is particularly true if fine yarns of 50 Nm and finer are being spun. In addition, the supply fiber slivers to ring-spinning machines is elaborate and complicated.
One possibility for replacing a speed frame slubbing machine is disclosed in the European Patent Application No. EP 375 242 A2. This publication describes a machine for the manufacture of a roving yarn from a fiber assembly which has a twist application means utilizing a rotating rotor. The rotor exhibits a continuous longitudinal hole on its axis of rotation, through which the fiber assembly that is to be rotated is guided. The rotor has at a specific height several holes arranged rotationally symmetrically. These radial holes connect the longitudinal hole with the outer surface of the rotor. The outer surface of the rotor is subjected to a vacuum or a strong under-pressure. As the fiber assembly is drawn through the longitudinal hole, individual free fiber ends are sucked off the surface of the fiber assembly into the radial holes. In operation, the rotor rotates while the fiber assembly is drawn through the longitudinal hole. The fiber ends located in the radial holes are wound around the moving fiber assembly. As a result, a rotation or true twist is applied to the fiber assembly. The device according to the process described is relatively expensive in manufacture and operation due to the mechanical elements (rotating rotor) and the vacuum technology.
De 32 37 989 C2 teaches the principle of drawing a fiber stubbing or drawing sliver in a drafting device and then applying a twist to the drawn fiber assembly. The application of the twist is effected by air jets in two sequential twist chambers. The application of the twist in the first pneumatic twist chamber is performed in a direction counter to the application of twist in the second pneumatic twist chamber. For example, the first twist application causes, a left-hand rotation, while the following twist application in the second twist chamber causes a right-hand rotation. A yarn manufactured in this manner is produced in accordance with what is known as the false twist process.
Patent Specification CH 617 465 teaches a false twist nozzle used for the manufacture of a staple fiber yarn, which is also a false twist spinning process. During the production of a yarn, the individual fibers are twisted together to the extent that the twisting is irreversible, and the yarn produced cannot be drawn any further. The strengthening achieved by the twisting is necessary because it is the only way the yarn will obtain the necessary high tensile strength. The consequence of this, however, is that the devices and spinning processes referred to are not suitable for forming a roving yarn. The roving yarn exhibits only what is referred to as a protective twist, which must not impede the further spinning processes on following machines, for example the process of drafting on ring-spinning machines. The devices described in these two aforementioned publications are therefore only suitable for the manufacture of yarns and are not suitable for manufacturing a roving yarn that remains capable of being drafted.
An object of the present invention is to provide a stubbing machine and method for the manufacture of a roving yarn that avoids the disadvantages referred above and exhibits the characteristics of conventional flyer slubbings or roving yarns.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Device and method for the manufacture of a roving yarn by means of air spinning processes


A tool sled having a body with a concave top surface and a convex bottom surface is provided and includes a flat plate and a handle. The bottom surface is symmetric about a transverse axis and passes through the body in a direction perpendicular to a direction of movement of the sled. A flat plate in contact with the top surface along two contact lines runs across the concave surface where each contact line is parallel to the transverse axis. A handle attached to the body extends upwardly from the top surface and outwardly from the body along a longitudinal axis parallel to the direction of movement of the sled.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to drag sleds.
2) Description of Prior Art
Sleds transport items across surfaces while being pushed or pulled by a human or a motorized vehicle. The sleds are configured to carry a variety of tools and to accommodate the surface over which the sleds traverse. Drag sleds are pushed and pulled over the ground, over snow and ice or through water. The ground may be uneven and may include unanticipated obstacles such as ravines and rocks. In more urban environments, these obstacles include curbs, ramps and steps. Applications of, sleds in tactical environments must also accommodate craters and debris.
A drag sled, therefore, should be able to accommodate unknown terrain and obstacles, passing over or surmounting those obstacles. As the sled may need to be extradited from a position, the sled should be shaped to overcome the obstacles in both a forward and reverse direction. The drag sled should stand up to use over harsh terrains and in tactical environments.

The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A printing machine comprising a conveyance path for conveying printing paper, and a position sensor for detecting the end of the printing paper passing through the conveyance path. Printing is carried out at a prescribed position on the printing paper, in accordance with this position sensor. The position sensor is located movably in a transverse direction to the conveyance path. It can be withdrawn to a position where it poses no obstacle when setting printing paper in the conveyance path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing machine which conducts printing while winding out labels wound in a roll with a backing paper, or continuous tags wound in a roll, or receipt paper wound in a roll, or the like (hereinafter, referred to generally as "rolled printing paper").
2. Description of the Related Art
In order that continuous tags, or the like, wound out from a roll (hereinafter, simply referred to "printing paper") are guided correctly to the printing position of a printing machine, and that printing is conducted at the correct position on the printing paper with good timing, a printing machine is provided with a printing paper width guide, which is adjustable according to the width dimension of the paper, and a position sensor for detecting a prescribed position of the printing paper, located in the conveyance path of the printing paper.
Since the position detection sensor will pose an obstacle to paper setting if it is positioned above the conveyance path of the printing paper, it is located either beneath the conveyance path, or to one side thereof. Therefore, the composition becomes complex and it becomes impossible to detect the position of the printing paper accurately.
For example, when printing on tags, string attachment holes located centrally in the transverse direction of the tags may be detected to locate the printing position, but usually, even if the tag width dimensions are changed, this string attachment hole will always be in a central transverse position. Consequently, when the width of the printing paper changes, the central position of the printing paper with respect to the printing machine also changes, and therefore it is necessary to move the positional sensor at the same time as moving the printing paper width guide in accordance with the printing paper width.
Moreover, since the printing paper width guide and the position sensor must be positioned such that they project into the paper conveyance path, they present an obstacle when the printing paper is set at the start of the printing operation. Because the paper width guide can be adjusted in accordance with the width of the printing paper, it does not present a significant obstacle if it is set to maximum width in advance, but since the position sensor should desirably be located in a position where it can detect the central portion of the printing paper, it presents a particular obstacle.
A printing machine is also provided with guide rollers for guiding the printing paper accurately into the paper conveyance path. Furthermore, a paper sensor for detecting the end of the printing paper is also provided, in order to halt operation of the printing machine when the whole roll has been wound out and the printing paper has run out.
However, such guide rollers and paper sensors are located close to the paper conveyance path and when fresh printing paper is loaded into the printing machine, a problem arises in that the printing paper must be inserted into a narrow gap between the guide roller and paper sensor and the paper conveyance path.
In Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei. 8-58168, a paper holder supported by arms on either side is installed rotatably in a frame, such that the printing paper sensor can project into and withdraw from the paper conveyance path with the rotation of the head holder. Accordingly, it seems this prior art has resolved the problems associated with loading new printing paper into the printing machine.
However, even in this printing machine, the leading end of a new roll of printing paper must be inserted inbetween the arms positioned on either side, and therefore the paper setting operation is still difficult. Moreover, since the rolled printing paper is inserted from the roll directly inbetween the head holder and platen, no guide roller is provided to keep the position of the printing paper stable at this point.

Printing machine having movable position sensor and paper width guide


In a method of opening of a housing of a plastic-housed electronic module by a laser, the electronic module is protected from the effects of the laser beam and the laser beam is stopped at a suitable time by providing an end point signal detection due to the laser beam impinging on a protective layer. Thereby, after opening the housing, electrical measurements can be carried out on the electronic module.

Generally, methods for opening an electronic module, such as an integrated circuit, for example, are used to control electrical parameters of the potted module. A further important application of the housing-opening methods is in the field of the reject refurbishing or repairing processing, in order to find the cause of an electrical malfunction and especially to investigate or test the reliability of the potting/molding process of the electronic module. In this context it is advantageous to open the housing of an electronic module and to carry out electrical measurements on contact surf aces that lie within the housing. For this purpose it is necessary to open the potting compound masses of the plastic housings, which comprise both various different binder agents as well as various different filler materials, in a selective manner, that is to say without damaging the internally arranged electronic assemblies or modules. Thereafter, it is possible, for example, to recognize or determine a delamination between the connection of a connecting wire (bond) and a contact surface lying in the housing, or to test the function of circuit blocks of an integrated circuit by an electrical measurement on those contact surfaces that are not connected by connecting wires. The purpose of this process is to find the cause of an electrical malfunction, especially in connection with complaints or rejects from customers. In this context, there exists the difficulty, that while opening the housing, upon long term influence of the laser beam on the surface of the electronic module, the electrical parameters may possibly be changed.

Method for opening the plastic housing of an electronic module


A kneepad pocket is created inside the front of a trouser leg knee by making a cutout in the front of the trouser leg above the knee cap and associating an article (10) with the cutout in a way that creates the pocket. A first part has a fabric piece that forms a perimeter margin surrounding a closeable opening which has a long dimension transverse to the length of the trouser leg and through which a kneepad can be inserted into the pocket. The first part is fit to the cutout in the front of the trouser leg with the fabric piece being attached to the trouser leg. A second part is disposed inside the trouser leg and attached to the trouser leg to form top, bottom, and sides of the pocket. A third part has opposite margins that are transverse to the length of the trouser leg, one of which is attached to the fabric piece of the first part above the closeable opening and the other of which is attached to the second part below the top of the pocket. Other embodiments provide for suspension of the knee pad by a strap. The suspension allows the height of the kneepad along a trouser leg to be adjusted and the kneepad to be disconnected.

Knee protection is important to people who for whatever reason need to kneel on any fairly hard surface. It is especially important to tradespeople who often must kneel on particularly hard surfaces like brick, concrete, etc. while performing their jobs.
One type of knee protection device is held in covering relation to the anterior of the knee by adjustable and/or elastic straps that girdle the leg both above and below the knee. The straps are tightened to some degree around the leg and that may cause some discomfort to the wearer due to constriction of the leg. When worn around a trouser leg, the straps also bunch the trouser material while constricting the leg. Such a knee protection device may be constructed to have a hard outer shell with a softer, cushioned pad lining the inside. When the person wearing such a device stands and ambulates after kneeling, the presence of the device is often noticeable.
An alternate arrangement for knee protection comprises a kneepad disposed in a pocket on the outside of a trouser leg knee. Such a pocket can be sewn onto a new or a used pair of trousers.
The environment in which a person uses knee protection may be one in which debris accumulates on the kneeling surface. A pocket that is not fully closed, or another type of device that is somewhat open, may provide an opportunity for such debris to find its way into the pocket, or between the knee and the protection device, and that is undesirable because intrusion of harder pieces of debris behind the pad or protector will be felt by the wearer, often painfully. In any event, the intrusion of debris, dust, and the like dirty a pocket and pad, and the pad eventually requires removal.
Examples of various knee protection arrangements for use with trousers appear in various patents. Many are poorly suited for use in an environment that contains debris. Many are not especially comfortable to wear. None of those patents that the inventor has seen show or suggest the inventive article that is being disclosed here for enabling a trouser leg to be provided with a kneepad in a novel way.

Articles for making and supporting a kneepad inside a trouser leg


This document discusses, among other things, a system comprising a sensor signal processor configured to receive a plurality of electrical sensor signals produced by a plurality of sensors and at least one sensor signal produced by an implantable sensor, a memory that includes information indicating a co-morbidity of a subject, a sensor signal selection circuit that selects a sensor signal to monitor from among the plurality of sensor signals, according to an indicated co-morbidity, a threshold adjustment circuit that adjusts a detection threshold of the selected sensor signal according to the indicated co-morbidity, and a decision circuit that applies the adjusted detection threshold to the selected sensor signal to determine whether an event associated with worsening heart failure (HF) occurred in the subject and outputs an indication of whether the event associated with worsening HF occurred to a user or process.

Implantable medical devices (IMDs) include devices designed to be implanted into a patient. Some examples of these devices include cardiac function management (CFM) devices such as implantable pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), cardiac resynchronization therapy devices (CRTs), and devices that include a combination of such capabilities. The devices can be used to treat patients using electrical or other therapy or to aid a physician or caregiver in patient diagnosis through internal monitoring of a patient's condition. The devices may include one or more electrodes in communication with one or more sense amplifiers to monitor electrical heart activity within a patient, and often include one or more sensors to monitor one or more other internal patient parameters. Other examples of implantable medical devices include implantable diagnostic devices, implantable drug delivery systems, or implantable devices with neural stimulation capability.
Additionally, some IMDs detect events by monitoring electrical heart activity signals. Some IMDs derive measurements of hemodynamic parameters related to chamber filling and contractions from electrical signals provided by sensors. Sometimes patients who receive IMDs have experienced heart failure (HF) decompensation or other events associated with worsening HF. Some patients have experienced repeated HF decompensations. Symptoms associated with worsening HF include pulmonary and/or peripheral edema, dilated cardiomyopathy, or ventricular dilation. Early attention to signs and symptoms of HF decompensation is needed for the health of the patient and allows early initiation of treatment.

Differentiating decompensation detection based on co-morbidities in heart failure


The present invention is directed to the isolation and purification of an L1-like molecule (i.e. L1CAM) from human brain. It has been found that the isolated L1CAM molecule supports neurite growth in vitro. Applicants have also cloned and sequenced the entire coding region of human L1CAM, and found that it shows a very high degree of homology to mouse L1cam with 92% identity at the amino acid level. This similarity suggest that L1CAM is an important molecule in normal human nervous system development and nerve regeneration. Overall, there is substantially less homology to chick Ng-CAM; they are 40% identical at the amino acid level but many regions are highly conserved. Comparison of the sequences from human, mouse, chick and Drosophila, indicates that the L1 immunoglobulin domain 2 and fibronectin type III domain 2 are strongly conserved and thus are likely functionally important.

Cell adhesion molecules (abbreviated CAMs) are neuronal cell surface glycoproteins which help to mediate the cohesive interactions between developing or regenerating neurities. It is believed that proper adhesion of neuronal cells to each other and to their surrounding extracellular matrix is essential for maintaining and/or promoting growth of the neuronal cells.
A number of cell adhesion molecules have been isolated and identified, including neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM), nerve growth factor-inducible large external glycoprotein (NILE), neuron-glial CAM (Ng-CAM) and closely related proteins L1 (L1antigen). These integral membrane glycoproteins, or molecules closely related thereto, have been described by Applicants and others in the nervous system of several species.
Representative examples of such identification and description include L1cam in mouse, (Rathjen, F. G., Schachner, M., Immunocytological And Biochemical Characterization Of A New Neuronal Cell Surface Component (L1Antigen) Which Is Involved In Cell Adhesion. EMBO J. 3: 1-10 (1984)); NILE in rat, (McGuire, J. C., Greene, L. A., Furano, A. V., Nerve Growth Factor Stimulates Incorporation Of Fucose Or Glucosamine Into An External Glycoprotein In Cultures Rat PC12 Pheochromocytoma Cells. Cell 15: 357-365 (1978)); Ng-CAM/8D9/G4 in chick, (Grumet, M., Edelman, G. M., Neuron-Glia Cell Adhesion Molecule Interacts with Neurons and Astroglia via Different Binding Mechanisms. J. Cell Biol. 106: 487-503 (1988); and, Lemmon, V., McLoon, S., The Appearance Of An L1-Like Molecule In The Chick Primary Visual Pathway, J. Neurosci. 6: 2987-2994, (1986)); and Neuroglian in Drosophila (Bieber, A. J., Snow, P. M., Hortsch, M., Patel, N. H., Jacobs, J. R., Traquina, Z. R., Schilling, J., Goodman, C. S., Drosophila Neuroglian: A Member Of The Immunoglobulin Superfamily With Extensive Homology To The Vertebrate Neural Adhesion Molecule L1. Cell 59: 447-460 (1989)).
These molecules share similar biochemical properties, immunological crossreactivity, localization predominantly on axons of projection neurons, homology in nucleotide sequence as well as functional similarity.
The L1 cell adhesion molecule, which was first isolated and characterized in mouse (i.e. L1 cam) is a membrane-spanning glycoprotein that has sequence similarity with both fibronectin and the immunoglobulin superfamily. Specifically, L1 cell adhesion molecules possessing six extracellular Ig-like domains, three to five fibronectin (Fn) type III-like repeats, a transmembrane segment, and a small cytoplasmic region. The membrane-spanning region links the extensive extracellular domain to the substantial cytoplasmic domain.
Several lines of evidence suggest that the L1 cell adhesion molecule plays an important role in neuronal growth and fasciculation. First, it is expressed by subpopulations of neurons in the central nervous system and on nerons and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system. This expression is early on in developing (Martini, R., Schachner, M., Immunoelectron Microscopic Localization Of Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules (L1 , N-CAM, MAG) And Their Shared Carbohydrate Epitope And Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) In Developing Sciatic Nerve. J. Cell Biol. 103: 2439-2448 (1986)) and regenerating axons (Daniloff, J. K., Chuong, C. -M., Levi, G., Edelman, G. M., Differential Distribution Of Cell Adhesion Molecules During Histogenesis Of The Chick Nervous System. J. Neurosci. 6: 739-758 (1986); and, Martini, R., Schachner, M., Immunoelectron Microscopic Localization of Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules (L1, N-CAM, MAG) and Their Shared Carbohydrate Epitope and Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) in Developing Sciatic Nerve. J. Cell Biol. 103: 2439-2448 (1986)).
Secondly, since antibodies to L1 disrupt fascicle formation in vitro (Stallcup, W. B., Beasley, L., Involvement Of The Nerve Growth Factor-Inducible Large External Glycoprotein (NILE) In Neurite Fasciculation In Primary Cultures Of Rat Brain. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82: 1276-1280 (1985)) and in vivo (Landmesser, L., Dahm, L., Schultz, K., Rutishauser, U., Distinct Roles For Adhesion Molecules During Innervation Of Embryonic Chick Muscle. Dev. Biol. 130: 645-670 (1988)), L1 participates in axonal fasciculate formation.
Finally, it has been shown by Applicants and others that purified L1 is a potent substrate for neurite growth and development (Lagenaur, C., Lemmon, V., A L1-Like Molecule, The 8D9 Antigen, Is A Potent Substrate For Neurite Extension. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84: 7753-7757 (1987)).
Moreover, a number of observations are consistent with the existence of a L1 human homologue. Human tumors, especially neuroblastoma, demonstrate immunoreactivity to L1 antibodies (Mujoo, K., Spiro, R. C., Reisfeld, R. A., Characterization Of A Unique Glycoprotein Antigen Expressed On The Surface Of Human Neuroblastoma Cells. J Biol. Chem. 261: 10299-10305 (1986); and, Figarella-Branger, D. F., Durbec, P. L., Rougon, G. N., Differential Spectrum Of Expression Of Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule Isoforms And L1 Adhesion Molecules On Human Neuroectodermal Tumors. Cancer Research 50: 6364-6370 (1990)). In addition, Biochemical analysis of a glycoprotein isolated from human brain using an anti-neuroblastoma monoclonal antibody revealed that the antigen was very similar to mouse L1cam (Wolff, J. M., Frank, R., Mujoo, K., Spiro, R. C., Reisfeld, R. A., Rathjen, F. G., A human Brain Glycoprotein Related To The Mouse Cell Adhesion Molecule L1. J. Biol Chem. 263: 11943-11947 (1988)). To conform with the HGMW approved nomenclature, (Human Gene Mapping Workshop, published 1987 in Cytogenet. Cell Genet., Vol. 46, pages 11-28) mouse L1 cell adhesion molecule is referred hereinafter as "L1cam" and human L1 cell adhesion molecule is referred to as "L1CAM".
Recently, partial sequences obtained for a human genomic clone (Djabali, M., Mattei, M. G., Nguyen, C., Roux, D., Demengeot, J., Denizot, F., Moos, M., Schachner, M., Goridis, C., Jordan, B. R., The Gene Encoding L1, A Neural Adhesion Molecule Of The Immunoglobulin Family, Is Located On The X-Chromosome In Mouse And Man, Genomics 7: 587-593 (1990)) and a human melanoma cDNA clone (Harper, J. R., Prince, J. T., Healy, P. A., Stuart, J. K., Nauman, S. J., Stallcup, W. B., Isolation And Sequence Of Partial cDNA Clones of Human-L1- Homology Of Human And Rodent-L1 In The Cytoplasmic Region, J. Neurochem. 56: 797-804 (1991)) confirmed that a human L1-like molecule exists.
Further studies localized the gene for human L1 to the q28 band on the X chromosome (Djabali, M., Mattei, M. G., Nguyen, C., Roux, D., Demengeot, J., Denizot, F., Moos, M., Schachner, M., Goridis, C., Jordan, B. R., The Gene Encoding L1, A Neural Adhesion Molecule Of The Immunoglobulin Family, Is Located on the X-Chromosome in Mouse and Man, Genomics 7: 587-593 (1990)), the homologous region to the A6-B region of the mouse X chromosome where the L1 cam gene is located.
The knowledge that a L1-like molecule exists in humans leads to the conclusion that L1CAM may be important in promoting axon regeneration in trauma or disease states of the human nervous system. Therefore, the Applicants have isolated and purified L1 from human brain and conducted in vitro experiments on the natural substance that demonstrate that human L1CAM, like chick and mouse L1 cam, can support neuron attachment and neurite growth.
In addition, Applicants have cloned and sequenced cDNAs (SEQ ID NOS: 3-6) encompassing the entire coding region of L1CAM (SEQ ID NO: 2). This information will allow future studies on the structure and function of L1CAM and permit the construction of cell lines expressing L1CAM for in vitro and in vivo experiments on nerve growth and regeneration.
These and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the claims.


A filter assembly for a vacuum cleaner including a filter cartridge a first substantially rigid pleated filter element having a plurality of pleats with pleated edge and a flexible pre-filter element positioned over the pleated edge of the filter cartridge. The pleats may be radial, longitudinal or conical with the pre-filter a disc, cylinder or frusto-conical in shape. In each case the pre-filter is positioned on the pleats so that dirt laden air is drawn through the pre-filter element and then through the pleated filter element before being drawn into a vacuum motor

The invention relates generally to filters for vacuum cleaners, and more particularly to a filter assembly that includes a filter cartridge having a fixed element and a pre-filter that improves removal of dust particles before the air stream enters the vacuum motor.
Vacuum cleaners are well known and a common household appliance. Most vacuum cleaners include some type of filter, often held in a filter cartridge. Filter cartridges are used to entrain dust before the air stream reaches the motor to prolong and protect the life of the vacuum cleaner motor. Some filter cartridges contain one filter whereas other filter cartridges have two or three filters arranged in series in order to extract as much dirt as possible from the air flowing to the vacuum motor.
There are many different types of filter known in the art that are used in filter cartridges, such as HEPA filters, foam filters, electrostatic filters and the like.
Notwithstanding the wide variety of filters cartridge available for use in vacuums cleaners, there exists the need to provide continued improvements and alternative designs to improve vacuum cleaner filter cartridge performance by providing a pre-filter that are economical to use, simple in design and easy for the user to operate.


An electronic notebook includes a case; a sheet-like display medium provided in the case, containing charged particles, and having a first surface and a second surface; a first electrode disposed on the case; and a second electrode disposed on the case. By changing a positional relationship between the display medium and the first electrode and the second electrode, the display medium and the first electrode and the second electrode take on either an arranged state in which the display medium is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode so that the first surface of the display medium opposes the first electrode and the second surface of the display medium opposes the second electrode, or a non-arranged state that is a state other than the arranged state.

In an electronic paper well known in the art, an electric field is applied to charged color particles, causing the particles to move in order to display an image. One technology that employs this electronic paper is called an electronic notebook in which a plurality of sheets of the electronic paper is bound in a notebook format, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,851.
The electronic paper employed in the electronic notebook includes a film containing two types of charged particles having a different color depending on the polarity of the charge; a first substrate having a first electrode; and a second substrate having a second electrode. The electronic paper is integrally formed by interposing the film between the first and second substrates in a sandwiched arrangement.
With electronic paper having this configuration, when an electric field is applied to the charged particles via the first and second electrodes, particles charged with the opposite polarity from the first electrode are attracted to the first electrode side, while particles charged with the opposite polarity from the second electrode are attracted to the second electrode.
Hence, by controlling the direction of the electric field applied to the charged particles, it is possible to control the movement of the charged particles in the electronic paper and to form images through the contrasting colors contained in the particles.
An electronic notebook includes a plurality of sheets of this electronic paper bound in a notebook form, facilitating the management of the sheets of electronic paper much like a normal notebook including a plurality of bound sheets of paper.


A method for allowing a correlation function to be applied to binary codes f length 3 to length 128. A user may specify the desired length of the binary codes for correlation processing; whether the binary code is to use a phase sidelobe level as the threshold or a sidelobe amplitude as the threshold. The user will also be asked to specify the threshold as well as an in phase coefficient referred to as alpha and an out of phase coefficient referred to as a beta. The user may also specify that the codes be expanded which results in correlated compounds having a length twice that of the specified length being displayed to the user. When the user has specified the parameters for correlation processing of the binary code length selected by the user, the program of the present invention will process the binary codes eliminating allomorphic and symmetrical forms of the codes from correlation and then display the results to the user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to pulse compression methods and, in particular, to a method which utilizes binary sequences for maximum sidelobe suppression in a pulse compression radar system or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Pulse compression involves the transmission of a long coded pulse and the processing of the received echo to obtain a relatively narrow pulse. The increased detection capability of a long pulse radar system is achieved while retaining the range resolution capability of a narrow pulse system.
Several distinct advantages are obtained utilizing pulse compression radar systems. For example, transmission of long pulses permits a more efficient use of the average power capability of the radar system. The average power of the radar system may be increased without increasing the pulse repetition frequency and, hence, decreasing the radar system's unambiguous range. Further, pulse compression radar systems are less vulnerable to interfering signals that differ from the coded transmitted signal. The use of long pulses also provides an increased system resolving capability.
A problem that has limited the utility of pulse compression and correlation receivers in radar systems has been the existence of temporal/range sidelobes in the correlation function of the radar waveform. These sidelobes allow out-of range gate returns, such as clutter, to compete with a target in a particular range gate.
A number of research efforts have addressed this problem in the past and several waveform designs have resulted in the potential reduction or elimination of the range sidelobe problem.
For example, in pulse compression radar systems, the Barker code (also known as perfect binary words) is one of the most commonly used Binary phase coded waveforms, because it has a relatively high ratio between its mainlobe and sidelobes. However, the length of the Barker code is relatively short with the maximum length of the Barker code being thirteen binary bits for a minimum sidelobe peak of one.
Several properties of binary coded waveforms are desirable if they are to be used in implementing pulse compression in pulse compression radar and tracking systems such as the target sensor component of a missile or a fire control system. These properties include very low or zero temporal sidelobes in the correlation function and very low or zero cross-correlation with other binary codes that may be implemented in sensors deployed nearby. These properties would ensure that there would be little or no degradation in sensor system performance due to out of range gate clutter returns, multiple target sidelobes or from mutual interference between deployed sensors using different codes.

Method of phased magnitude correlation using binary sequences

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


Disclosed is a method for developing novel strains deleted specific chromosome sites, using transposon and Cre/loxP site-specific recombination by Cre expression vector, wherein the transposon comprises a selectable marker and loxP site. The method comprises the steps of: (1) preparing a transposon comprising a selectable marker and loxP site; (2) inserting the transposon into an optional position of microbial chromosome, and determining the inserted site; (3) integrating two transposons comprising a different selectable marker to one chromosome; (4) deleting a chromosomal site between the two lox sites by introducing a Cre expression vector into the chromosome of step (3); and (5) repeating steps (3 and 4) for the mutant deleted a part of chromosome, to shorten the chromosome of mutant gradually.

Even though the technology to delete specific chromosome sites of E. coli by using Cre/loxP site specific recombination is generally known, it has been required to prepare targeting vector and perform PCR (polymerase chain reaction) in every experiment to delete specific chromosome sites in the conventional methods. The random transposition of transposon into the chromosome is also well known. However, it has not been reported that chromosome sites of microorganism can be deleted using transposon together with Cre/loxP site-specific recombination

Genome minimization by tn5-coupled cre/loxP excision system

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology


An image processing apparatus for measuring concentration of concentration patterns by optical sensors and correcting image information on the basis of a correction value obtained on the basis of measured concentration values has: a measured concentration value obtaining unit which measures the concentration in different concentration patterns by the optical sensors and obtains the measured concentration values; an estimation value obtaining unit which estimates original concentration by an independent component analysis on the basis of the obtained measured concentration values and obtains an estimation value; and a correction value obtaining unit which obtains the correction value for allowing the measured concentration value to approach the obtained estimation value. An influence of color noises is reduced, thereby correcting an image.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an image processing method of an image processing apparatus for correcting an image, the image processing apparatus, and an image forming apparatus having an image correcting function.
2. Related Background Art
An image forming apparatus such as printer, copying apparatus, or the like forms an image onto a medium on the basis of image information which is obtained. As an image which is formed, particularly, it is demanded that its concentration and color are reproduced with fidelity on the basis of the image information. However, there is such a problem that reproducibility deteriorates due to an aging change or the like in the image forming function of the image processing apparatus. To solve such a problem, the image information is corrected.
For example, a technique in which concentration of a predetermined concentration pattern is measured by an optical sensor and a concentration change is corrected on the basis of a concentration value obtained by the measurement has been disclosed in JP-A-2001-186350.
In the case where the optical sensor for the concentration correction is, for example, a reflecting type, if noises are included in the measurement result due to a deterioration in light source necessary for reflection, a change in measuring characteristics of the optical sensor, a change in distance to the concentration pattern, or the like or noises generated by some cause are included in the measurement result, noises called color noises having a deviation in a noise energy in frequency components are included when they are expressed by a graph in which the frequency components of the noises are shown on an axis of abscissa and energy components of the noises are shown on an axis of ordinate.
In the color noises, the deviation exists in the noise energy in the frequency components as compared with noises called white noises having characteristics in which a noise energy in the frequency components is flat. Therefore, an influence of the white noises in which the noise energy in the frequency components is flat can be relatively easily reduced because of the uniform characteristics. In the color noises, however, since the deviation exists in the noise energy in the frequency components, it is fairly difficult to reduce its influence and it is demanded to develop a correcting method in which the influence of the color noises is reduced.

Image processing method, image processing apparatus, and image forming apparatus


The method and system of the invention provide a variety of techniques for processing a microtransaction, wherein the microtransaction is a low monetary amount. In accordance with the invention, the method starts with a customer initiating a purchase through interaction with a merchant. The purchase is associated with purchase information, which includes the particulars of the purchase, such as the purchase price. In the purchase, the customer uses a transaction account, obtained from a payment enabler. The merchant submits the purchase information for processing of the purchase information. Thereafter, the purchase is classified as a microtransaction, if the purchase price is below a predetermined monetary amount. Thereafter, the purchase information is forwarded for processing based on the classifying, i.e., as a result of the purchase being classified as a microtransaction. Then, upon receipt of the purchase information by an appropriate recipient, such as an interchange entity or an alternate interchange entity, the purchase information is processed to effect the microtransaction between the customer and the merchant.

Various transaction accounts, including transaction accounts utilizing physical credit cards, for example, are commonly used in retail, business and other transactions. A consumer may use a transaction account to purchase a good or service from a merchant using that type of instrument. When the consumer interacts with the merchant to initiate the purchase using a credit account, for example, a sequence of electronic processing takes place. This processing may involve an established interchange entity such as Visa™ or Master Card™, for example. The interchange entity may interact with a lending institution or other payment enabler, such as a hank, that extends a line of credit to the customer. Each of the customer, the interchange entity, and the lending institution interact with each other pursuant to established terms of account that each party has agreed upon.
It should be appreciated that the interchange entity performs a variety of processing in conjunction with handling an electronic transaction. Various administrative and other costs are associated with this processing. As a result, the interchange entity typically charges an "interchange fee" as compensation for executing the transaction. The amount of this interchange fee may vary. Typically, the interchange fee is a percentage of the purchase. Further, a minimum interchange fee is often imposed by the interchange entity, regardless of the amount of the transaction. Illustratively, this minimum interchange fee might be a $3 charge. This minimum threshold results in problems with purchases of small monetary value.
For example, a customer may purchase an item from a merchant for $4. The selling merchant is typically responsible for paying this interchange fee to the interchange entity. If the minimum interchange fee is $3, the merchant's net receipt on selling the item is $1, i.e., $4−$3=$1. This return may not even cover the cost of the item, and certainly reduces or eliminates the possibility of a profit margin for the merchant.
Accordingly, transactions of a low monetary amount are typically not processed using a transaction account, such as a credit card account, to which an interchange fee is applied. However, a significant portion of the transactions effectuated in the national economy are small dollar sales. It would consequently be beneficial in a wide variety of situations if a transaction account could be used to pay for low monetary amount transactions. In one regard, these low monetary amount transactions may be characterized as "microtransactions." As used herein, a "microtransaction" may be or include any transaction between a first person or entity and a second person or entity in which the cost of an interchange or other processing fee might discourage such transactions from taking place. Other problems exist.

System and method for processing microtransactions


The present disclosure describes a mechanism to digitally correct for the static mismatch of the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) in at least the first-stage of a multi-stage noise shaping (MASH) analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The correction is applicable to continuous-time implementations, and is especially attractive for high-speed applications.

In many electronics applications, an analog input signal is converted to a digital output signal (e.g., for further digital signal processing). For instance, in precision measurement systems, electronics are provided with one or more sensors to make measurements, and these sensors may generate an analog signal. The analog signal would then be provided to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) as input to generate a digital output signal for further processing. In another instance, an antenna generates an analog signal based on the electromagnetic waves carrying information/signals in the air. The analog signal generated by the antenna is then provided as input to an ADC to generate a digital output signal for further processing.
ADCs can be found in many places such as broadband communication systems, audio systems, receiver systems, etc. ADCs can translate analog electrical signals representing real-world phenomena, e.g., light, sound, temperature or pressure for data processing purposes. ADCs are used in a broad range of applications including Communications, Energy, Healthcare, Instrumentation and Measurement, Motor and Power Control, Industrial Automation and Aerospace/Defense. Designing an ADC is a non-trivial task because each application may have different needs in speed, performance, power, cost and size. As the applications needing ADCs grow, the need for accurate and reliable conversion performance also grows.
Overview
The present disclosure describes a mechanism to digitally correct for the static mismatch of the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) in at least the first-stage of a multi-stage noise shaping (MASH) analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The correction is applicable to continuous-time implementations, and is especially attractive for high-speed applications.

Cancellation of feedback digital-to-analog converter errors in multi-stage delta-sigma analog-to-digital converters


A tuning element having a second inclined plane interacts with a pushing element having a first inclined plane to accomplish adjusting the position of a printhead. The tuning element rotates relative to a printhead carrier and produces displacement in a second direction and the second inclined plane of the tuning element then pushes the first inclined plane of the pushing element and produces displacement in a first direction in a linear way corresponding to the rotation of the tuning element. Meanwhile, the printhead closely in contact with the pushing element also produces displacement in the first direction so that the tuning apparatus is endowed with highly accurate and linear adjustability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tuning apparatus, and more specifically, to a tuning apparatus for a printhead capable of linearly adjusting the displacement of the printhead via an inclined plane.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Printers at the present time are equipped with growing specific functions, design diversity, delicate process of manufacturing, and technology applied. With critical requirement for output quality, printers are made and assembled with exquisite components in which include the most substantial quality-related component, the printhead. Unfortunately, the printhead must face a challenge about its position displacement when assembled into the printer. The position displacement of a printhead is usually caused by manufacturing error of the printhead, assembly error of the components or component wearing during a period of time of operation. Many printers according to the prior art has tuning apparatus for its printer accordingly and the correction of the position displacement of the printhead is carried out before the first use of the printer or during the operation of the printer once the problem exists.
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is an illustration of a tuning apparatus 1 for a printhead according to the prior art. The tuning apparatus 1 comprises a carrier 10, an exertion component 20, and an eccentric cylinder 30. The exertion component 20 is fixed on the carrier 10 where a printhead (not shown in the figure) is located. The eccentric cylinder 30 has its eccentric hole rotatably configured on the carrier 10 and the eccentric cylinder 30 itself extending to a rectangular hole 21 of the exertion component 20, tangent to the left and right sides of the rectangular hole 21 and forming gaps between the top and bottom sides of the rectangular hole 21. The eccentric cylinder 30 pushes the exertion component 20 when rotating and therefore causes the carrier 10 to slightly move along the direction N1 or direction N2 for tuning the location of the printhead.
Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is an illustration of every primary parameter of the eccentric cylinder 30 and FIG. 3 is an illustration of the relation between the rotation degree α of the eccentric cylinder 30 and the displacement t of the printhead, where R is the radius of the eccentric cylinder's outer circle, d is the eccentric distance of the eccentric cylinder's inner circle, and α is the rotation degree of the eccentric cylinder 30. The displacement t of the printhead caused by the rotation degree α of the eccentric cylinder 30 can be expressed by the following equation:t=|√{square root over (R2+d2−2Rd cos α)}−(R−d)|;
The above equation tells that the tuning apparatus 1 in the prior art possesses a nonlinear relation between the displacement t of the printhead and the rotation degree α of the eccentric cylinder 30, which is also shown in FIG. 3. As a result, the correction amount for the displacement of the printhead cannot be precisely tuned by rotating the eccentric cylinder 30. While in other practice of the prior art, the rotation degree of the eccentric cylinder 30 is calculated and inscribed thereon for adjusting the displacement of the printhead, and the nonlinear characteristic of the structure still leads to unsatisfactory accuracy.

Silitek Electronic (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd.