This present invention relates to the processes for the purification of succinic acid from a fermentation broth containing ammonium succinate. The process for the purification of succinic acid described in this invention involves the use of ion exchange resins for splitting the ammonium succinate in the fermentation broth. During the passage of the fermentation broth through a cationic ion exchange resin, the ammonium succinate is split into ammonium cation and the succinate anion. The proton on the resin surface is exchanged for the ammonium ions and the succinate anion is reduced to succinic acid with the protons released from the ion exchange resin. The bound ammonium is released from the resin with the addition of a strong acid such as sulfuric acid and thereby the ion exchange resin is regenerated for subsequent use. The ammonium sulfate by-product resulting from the regeneration step of this process can be used as a source of fertilizer. This process for the separation of succinic acid from the fermentation broth containing ammonium succinate can also be carried out with an anionic ion exchange resin wherein the succinate anion is retained on the surface of the ion exchange resin and subsequently released from the ion exchange resin during the regeneration step.

The advances in our ability to do genetic manipulations in the microbial biochemical pathways accompanied by improvements in fermentation process technology have made it possible to produce commercially significant quantities of succinic acid using agricultural and forestry renewable feedstocks. All of the microbial organisms engineered to produce succinic acid reach their maximum productivity within a narrow pH range. For this reason, during the fermentative production of succinic acid, the pH of the fermentation medium is kept at near neutral pH by means of compensating the drop in the pH of the medium with the addition of certain neutralizing base compounds. This results in the accumulation of succinic acid in the fermentation medium in the form of a basic salt of succinic acid. Thus depending on the nature of the neutralizing base used, the succinic acid accumulates in the fermentation medium as sodium or potassium or calcium or ammonium succinate. Therefore, further downstream processing of the fermentation broth is required to extract the pure succinic acid from the fermentation broth containing a basic salt of succinic acid. A downstream processing method that recovers succinic acid from the fermentation broth along with the release of the neutralizing agent is desirable in the succinic acid manufacturing in a commercially successful way.
Several different approaches have been followed to purify the organic acids from fermentation broth including precipitation, steam distillation, liquid-liquid extraction, counter-current extraction, esterification, and a combination of electrodialysis and extraction. In general, the fermentation broth is subjected to microfiltration and ultrafiltration to remove cellular debris before subjecting to any specific process to recover succinic acid.
A number of methods have been reported for the recovery of succinic acid from the fermentation broth containing a basic salt of succinic acid. All these known processes for the recovery of succinic acid from fermentation broth are found to be lengthy and expensive for the production of succinic acid from fermentation broth in a commercial scale.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,105 assigned to Michigan Biotechnology Institute provides a process for preparing succinic acid from a fermentation broth containing sodium succinate. This process comprises steps of subjecting the broth to conventional electrodialysis to prepare an aqueous but unsaturated succinate solution, subjecting the unsaturated succinate solution to water splitting electrodialysis to produce a supersaturated succinic acid solution and then crystallizing the succinic acid from the supersaturated solution. This process is not suitable for the purification of succinic acid from the fermentation broth in a large scale as evidenced by the lack of commercial exploitation of this process during the last twenty years of its existence.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,958,744 and 6,265,190 assigned to Applied CarboChemicals provide a method for recovering succinic acid from fermentation broth containing calcium succinate. According to this method, the fermentation broth is acidified with the addition of sulfuric acid. As a result of this acidification process, the succinate anion is released from calcium succinate, gets protonated and the resulting succinic acid precipitates out of the fermentation broth. The resulting precipitate is filtered and washed with alcohol to obtain succinic acid. It remains to be seen whether the succinic acid thus produced would satisfy the required level of purity. In addition, the disposal of calcium sulfate (gypsum) poses an environmental concern.
A recently published United States Patent Application Publication No. U.S. 2010/0297715 assigned to Roquette Freres describes a process for separating and purifying succinic acid from fermentation broth containing magnesium succinate. The separation process described in this published patent application is complicated and expensive. The separation process involves bipolar electrodialysis, evaporative crystallization, and high temperature treatment to recover the reagents for recycling purpose. As a result of these process steps involved in the recovery of succinic acid from fermentation broth, the cost of production of succinic acid using this process in a commercial scale is going to be very expensive.
A recent U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0137825 assigned to BASF has disclosed a reactive distillation process for esterifying succinic acid from fermentation broth. However, this Patent Application Publication does not provide any actual method for recovering succinic acid from fermentation broth that has been reduced to practice.
A number of efforts have also been made to recover carboxylic acid from the fermentation broth using the process involving ion exchange resins. The ion exchange resins are used in two different ways in the separation of carboxylic acids from the fermentation broth comprising carboxylic acid salts. According to one method, the ion exchange resins are used in the ion exclusion mode. In another method, the ion exchange resins chemically interact with the salts of carboxylic acid in the fermentation broth to achieve the separation of the carboxylic acid from the carboxylic acid salts. The first method is referred as ion exclusion chromatography and the second method is known as ion exchange chromatography.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,456 provides a method for recovering carboxylic acid from aqueous feedstock in which the carboxylic acid is first adsorbed onto a basic solid adsorbent or moderately basic ion exchange resin, and then released from the adsorbent by treating it with aqueous alkylamine or ammonia leading to the formation of alkylammonium or ammonium carboxylate which is decomposed to the desired carboxylic acid and the alkylamine or ammonia.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,834 provides a method for recovering succinic acid from fermentation broth using desalting electrolysis and water-splitting electrolysis followed by a strongly acidic ion exchanger to remove any sodium or other cations and a weakly basic ion exchanger in the free base form to remove any sulfate ion or sulfuric acid to obtain a highly purified succinic acid product.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,055 provides a method for recovering succinic acid from fermentation broth containing calcium succinate. In the first stage, the fermentation broth is acidified to release succinic acid from calcium succinate. The succinic acid thus released is passed through a strongly acidic ion exchange resin and a weakly basic ion exchanger to obtain a highly purified succinic acid product. During the passage through the cation exchanger, calcium and other cations are removed. During the subsequent passage through a second column containing anionic exchange resin, the anionic impurities such as sulfate and other nitrogenous impurities are removed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,406 provides a method for extracting pure lactic acid from fermentation liquors containing lactic acid salt by ion exchange chromatography on a strongly acidic cation exchange resin. In the first stage of this method, the lactic acid salt is converted into free acid by means of genuine ion exchange in one or more "preliminary columns" containing weakly acidic cation exchanger in H+ form. In the second stage of this method, the free lactic acid is separated from the carbohydrates and other impurities present in the fermentation solution by using a strongly acidic ion exchange resin in one or more "separation columns." The process is carried out at temperature higher than 50° C. and preferably between 70° C. to 80° C.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,068,418 and 5,068,419 provide a method for the separation of an organic acid from a fermentation broth using an adsorbent comprising a water-insoluble macro reticular or gel type weakly basic anionic exchange resin possessing tertiary amine or pyridine functional groups or a strongly basic anionic exchange resin possessing quaternary amine functional groups. The organic acid is desorbed from the ion exchange resin with water or dilute inorganic acid like sulfuric acid.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,185 provides an improved fermentation process for producing lactic acid. As per this process, the fermentation broth comprising free lactic acid is contacted with an effective amount of solid-phase polymer containing pyridine groups to adsorb the lactic acid as it is accumulated and returning the treated fluid fermentation broth back to the fermentation vessel.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,160,173 describes the use of water immiscible anion exchanger to recover lactic acid from a feed solution comprising lactic acid and lactic acid salt mixture. In the first step, the feed solution is contacted with an anion exchanger and an anion exchanger-lactic acid adduct is formed. From this anion exchanger-lactic acid adduct, the lactic acid ester or amine is produced through condensation reaction.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,985 assigned to Roquette Freres discloses a method for separation and purification of lactic acid from a fermentation broth using an ion exclusion chromatography with cation exchange resin. This method involves several unit operations besides chromatographic separation through a cation exchange resin. Thus, the original fermentation broth is concentrated in the first stage followed by acidification with concentrated acid to reach a free lactic acid/ammonium lactate ratio of 85/15. The acidified broth is passed through cation exchange resin of the polystyrene sulfonic acid type cross-linked with at least 4% of divinylbenezene to obtain a fraction that has a maximum of 25% lactic acid salts. All the impurities such as unconsumed sugars and proteins and of the inorganic acid salts of the type with polyvalent ions calcium, magnesium and any base corresponding to any dissociated lactic acid salt in the fermentation broth are removed in the first fraction by elution with water. The next fraction contains lactic acid in the free from and at most 25% by dry weight of lactic acid salt present in the original fermentation broth. This fraction is further subjected to bipolar fractionating electrodialysis to obtain purified, concentrated lactic acid.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,284,904 discloses a method for purification of organic acids using anion exchange chromatography in which the organic acid such as succinic acid is bound to the anion resin followed by displacement of the organic acid by a strong basic anion solution or an acid having a pKa lower than that of the organic acid bound to the anion resin.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,319,382 teaches a method for recovering lactic acid from a fermentation broth containing ammonium lactate wherein the said method comprises steps of nanofiltration, ion exchange using a chelating resin that primarily removes the divalent cations such as calcium and magnesium and a final two-step electrodialysis procedure.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,238,837 provides a method for recovering lactic acid from aqueous solution containing lactate salt with a conversion efficiency of 56% of the sodium lactate to lactic acid through a method using cation exchange resin.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,439,392 provides a method for separating citric acid from a fermentation broth by using an adsorbent comprising a water-insoluble, macro reticular or gel, strongly or weakly basic anionic exchanger resin possessing quaternary or tertiary amine functional groups, anionic exchange resin having a cross-linked acrylic or styrene resin matrix and a desorbent comprising water or dilute sulfuric acid. The pH of the feed is maintained below the first ionization constant (pKa1) of citric acid to maintain selectivity.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0276674 describes a method for purifying succinic acid from fermentation broth. According to this method, the impurities in a succinic acid containing liquid could be efficiently removed by combining ion-exchange using a certain amount of an H-type strongly acidic cation-exchange resin with a crystallization process to produce high purity succinic acid in good yield.
International application No. WO 2007/040458 published under the Patent Cooperation Treaty provides a method for removing cationic and anionic impurities using ion exchange resin in the process of recovering lactic acid from fermentation broth containing lactic acid. The ammonium ions were removed using a strong cationic exchange resin and the anion exchange resin was used to remove sulfate impurity.
International patent application No. WO 98/30712 published under the Patent Cooperation Treaty and assigned to Amylum Belgium provides a method for recovering crystalline aspartic acid from ammonium aspartate using a cation exchanger resin.
Various methods tested so far to recover organic acids from fermentation broth have presented limitations and thus offer opportunities for improvement. Thus the objective of the present invention is to provide a commercially viable process for recovering succinic acid from a fermentation broth comprising ammonium succinate.

Purification of succinic acid from the fermentation broth containing ammonium succinate


A system and method for the real-time management of a device, and more particularly to the establishment and enforcement of policies or rules associated with the feature or functions that may be performed with the device, such as making and receiving calls, exchanging data, playing games and music, sending and receiving email, accessing web sites, and paying for goods and services. If a child or employee is using the device, there may be a need to regulate how that device can be used and to determine who will pay for what goods or services. In addition to providing all of the features associated with a device, service providers need to be able to establish and enforce rules (policies) regulating how and when that device can be used and who will pay for a good or service requested by the user of the device.

Postpaid cellular phone (cell phone) services typically allow the user of a cell phone to spend unlimited amounts of money for services. In other words, there is nothing to stop the user from running up a huge cell phone bill. Many parents have experienced this issue with their children, prompting the parents to take their children's phones away or to otherwise restrict their children's access to the phones. Unfortunately, modern society requires that parents have the ability to contact their children by cell phone and vice versa, so the cell phones are often returned to the children despite the possibility of future abuse.
The same type of issue exists between employers and employees and other parties in similar administrator/user relationships with respect to the use/abuse of cell phones and other devices. For example, an employer may want an employee to have a communications or mobile computing device, but may not want to pay for certain services or applications that the employee can access with the device or may want to limit how, when, and how much of those services or applications can be used by the employee. Likewise, a government agency or school might be willing to pay for or subsidize certain communications services or applications, but not others. Without the ability to somehow restrict the employee's ability to use services or applications that the employer does not want to pay for or to shift payment obligations for those services or applications to the employee, many employers are forced to give their employees the devices anyway and hope for the best.
One partial solution to the problems associated with postpaid cellular phone abuse is the prepaid cellular phone. Prepaid phone services limit spending because the user of the phone can only use what has been paid for in advance. Many children, however, are not responsible or mature enough to adequately track and maintain their prepaid phone service accounts, and many parents have too many other obligations to keep close track of their children's cell phone use, so as to make sure the phone service accounts are adequately funded all of the time. The net result can be disastrous. For example, if a child uses up all of the funds in their prepaid account, and their phone service provider shuts down access to its services, the child will not be able to call a parent in the event of an emergency, or arrange to be picked up after school or a sporting event, etc.
Thus, a prepaid phone service does not solve the problem of ensuring availability of key services even if the prepaid account has run out of money. In addition to insuring the safety of their children, many parents, employers and others would like to be able to exercise administrative control over the services and activities that a child, employee, etc., is allowed to pay for out of their prepaid account, but prepaid accounts have not been structured to provide such administrative control or feature management. Feature management can encompass many activities, such as preventing a feature or service from being used entirely, limiting how much a feature or service can be used in a given time period, or limiting when a given feature or service can be used (i.e. time of day, days in month, etc).
Prior attempts by prepaid service providers to address these problems have only resulted in partial solutions. Some service providers have provided for rollover usage minutes, which are minutes that were not used as part of a user's service plan and are allowed to roll over to the same user for use in the next month. In some cases, this might prevent a user from running out of minutes in the next month, but it does not guarantee that the user will not use up all of their monthly minutes, plus the rollover minutes, and be denied access to key services anyway. Other service providers have provided an automated refill service, which automatically bills some amount to a credit card to recharge the user's prepaid account in the event the balance in the user's account gets too low. However, a prepaid phone service with an automated refill service is the equivalent of a postpaid phone service and would therefore have the same problem with potential abuse as a postpaid service. In other words, there is no spending limit on the phone service.
Postpaid services have also attempted to address these problems by offering users unlimited usage packages that limit a user's exposure to running up charges. However, for parents who are also interested in preventing their children from sending 300 text messages per day with their phone, or running up a huge bill for services that are not included in the "unlimited usage package," such as downloaded games or ringtones, unlimited usage offerings are not a complete solution. Another partial solution is to provide the administrator (parent) with an alert when a user has reached some limit for a service. For example, a parent could be alerted when a child has spent more than $10 on text messages within a certain period of time. An alert, however, does not actually limit usage of the service, it just warns the parent that the limit has been reached, at which point the parent has to intervene to prevent further abuse, such as by taking the phone away from the child, which is one of the problems with postpaid services in the first place.
It is further known in the art to provide an account for a user of a prepaid phone, such as a cellular phone, in which funds are stored electronically for future use of the phone. For example, a service provider could establish an account for a user, in which funds can be stored, such as through use of a credit card charge or electronic transfer from a bank account. In some cases, corporate customers with multiple users under the same service provider might be able to have a single account for their business, with subaccounts assigned to certain phones and charged to the particular departments within the corporation to which the employees using those phones correspond. Some service providers also provide affinity accounts, which include special rates and promotions for groups of people belonging to a similar business, club, etc. In each case, however, these accounts operate separate from one another in that all of the charges for a particular phone are charged to a particular account, rather than some charges being billed to one account while other charges are billed to another account. The same is true with respect to discounts and promotions, i.e., a discount or promotion is either applied to an existing account or it is not.
Finally, it is further known to establish some measure of parental or administrative control over an account. The Telcordia™ Converged Real-Time Charging system allows users to place limited real-time controls over prepaid and postpaid accounts. For example, when an account allows a child to download premium data (data for which a charge is imposed), parental controls over that account can be set to limit that child's spending within a set of parameters. This system and other solutions, however, are only partial solutions to the problem of providing limits on overspending and other activities by the user while simultaneously assuring that the user will always be able to use the phone when appropriately needed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Feature management of a communication device


A cut end (18) of a web (14) is held by a vacuum shuttle head (105, 106, 108, 136, 138) and a central vacuum finger (114-124) holds a central tongue (22) of the web during insertion into a preassembled cartridge (50, 52, 26). During winding the cartridge is rotated (174-184) to avoid scraping the web on the cartridge.

Conventional 35 mm film cartridges comprise a cylindrical metal shell with formed lips covered by strips of velvet material which serve as a lightlock to prevent light from entering the cartridge and exposing the enclosed spool of film, plus annular metal end caps staked onto each end of the metal shell. As shown in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 2,940,232, the trailer end of the film is taped to the core of the spool. The spool of film is wound and then inserted axially into a preformed assembly of the metal shell, lightlock and one end cap, with the leader of the film strip extending through the lightlock, after which the second end cap is installed to complete the cartridge. An alternative approach to loading such a cartridge is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,586,258 and 3,910,516 which describe processes in which a guide tongue is inserted between the strips of velvet lightlock material of a fully assembled cartridge. An end of a film strip is inserted along the guide tongue and engaged with features on the spool of the cartridge, after which winding proceeds through the lightlock to the spool.
Various modifications to this familiar film cartridge have been suggested in the literature over the years as results of efforts to simplify and improve the structure of the cartridge and the apparatus and process for assembling and loading the cartridge. Recently, however, an improved cartridge has been developed which comprises a pair of mating cartridge halves, which may be injection molded and which totally enclose a spool for film. An elongated, axial slot is provided between the halves to permit film to be inserted into or withdrawn from the cartridge, the slot being provided with a pivotable lock or door to replace the conventional velvet lightlock. One example of a cartridge of this general type is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,615.
FIG. 1 illustrates a web 10 of a material such as photographic film, the web having longitudinal edges 12, 14 extending between a leader end 16 which will extend first from the completed film cartridge to engage a camera, and a trailer end 18 which will engage the spool for the film. A plurality of imaging areas 20 are spaced along web 10 between ends 16, 18 in the familiar manner. Leader end 18 is formed of a central tongue portion 22 having punched through its thickness a pair of elongated slots 24. A locator feature, such as an edge aperture 25, may be provided near trailer end 18 for a purpose to be discussed subsequently.
A spool 26 comprises a central core 28 having near its ends a pair of end flanges 30, 32 spaced slightly further apart than the width of web 14. Between end flanges 30, 32, core 28 is provided with an axial recess from which extend a pair of axially spaced, circumferentially curved hooks 34, 36 for engaging elongated slots 24. Each end of spool 26 is provided with an axially extending hub 38 and at least one of such hubs comprises a central bore having a radial notch 40 or similar feature for engaging a conventional quill shaft which rotates the spool to wind the web.
As those skilled in the art will understand from FIG. 1, web 14 may be attached to spool 26 simply by passing hooks 34, 36 through slots 24 and slipping the tip of tongue 22 beneath the hooks. Once this is done, spool 26 may be rotated in the direction of the arrow to wind web 14 onto the spool. If web 14 is made from a material which tends to curl back on itself longitudinally, as do many photographic film materials, web 14 may be oriented to curl toward spool 26, which tends to ease engagement of hooks 34, 36 with slots 24.
FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a cartridge into which a web of material such as photographic film may be easily and efficiently wound using the apparatus and method of the present invention. However, the apparatus and method of the invention also may be used with conventional film cartridges of the types mentioned previously. A first, essentially semi-cylindrical cartridge half 50 and a mating, essentially semi-cylindrical cartridge half 52 are provided which may be separate pieces or may be joined by an axially extended living hinge 54. Essentially semi-circular end walls 56, 58 are provided at the opposite ends of halves 50, 52, each end wall including a semi-circular aperture 60, 62 for receiving and rotatably supporting one of hubs 38. Half 50 comprises a longitudinally extended, radially outwardly projected lip 64. A longitudinally extended door or light valve 66 is supported rotatably on lip 64 by means of a pair of axially spaced trunnions 68, only one of which is visible in the illustrations. A longitudinally extended lip 70 of door 66 rests in the illustrated closed position of the door against a longitudinally extended stop surface 72 formed in lip 64. By means not illustrated, door 66 may be engaged from outside the assembled cartridge and rotated to an open position illustrated schematically in FIG. 5. Half 52 comprises a longitudinally extended, radially outwardly projected lip 74. A longitudinally extended slot or opening 76 is formed in lip 74 and is positioned opposite door 66 when halves 50, 52 are assembled about an empty spool 26 as shown in FIG. 3.
To wind web 14 into the assembled cartridge, door 66 first is rotated to its open position. Trailing end 18 is then inserted into the cartridge through slot 76 and slots 24 are engaged with hooks 34, 36. The problem of reliably achieving this engagement in a high speed production environment is solved in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 3, the initial path 78 of web 14 at the beginning of winding onto spool 26 is shown to extend tangentially to core 28. However, as winding proceeds in the direction of arrow w, the increasing diameter of the wound material will cause the path of web 14 to move steadily toward the edge of slot 76, eventually resulting in scraping of the web if the position of the cartridge and the angle of the web remain unchanged. The problem of avoiding such scraping is solved in accordance with one aspect of the present invention by causing relative movement between initial path 78 and the cartridge in the direction of arrow r, so that the final path 80 of web 14 is essentially tangent to the as-wound diameter but is spaced safely from the edge of slot 76.

Apparatus and method for winding a strip of web material onto a spool


A method of and system for presenting enriched video viewing analytics is presented. A method of presenting enriched statistical and analytical information includes receiving a catalog of a plurality of content items. Each content item has associated metacontent characterizing the content item. The method also includes receiving and storing operations of a user for interacting with one or more of the content items. The method further includes determining use and/or viewing statistics for, for example, the content items, metacontent associated with the content items, the numbers and types of devices viewing the content items, subscriber information, household information, and/or viewer demographic information for past and present time periods. The method also, optionally, includes estimating the likelihood of future user interaction operations.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to analytics associated with audio/video content items, and, more specifically, to providing statistical and analytical information on past, present, and predicted future viewing and user-interaction operations as well as providing a structured metacontent system for content items.
2. Description of Related Art
The information regarding the subscribers and households that, at any time, are tuned to a television station or program, interacting with a video-on-demand (VOD) asset, or watching an internet video can be economically very important to content providers, advertisers and service providers. Also important is information regarding the subscribers' ongoing operations (e.g., play, pause, rewind, and/or fast-forward operations) and the video frame(s) involved in the operations at that time.

Method of and system for presenting enriched video viewing analytics


A method of forming a silicided gate on a substrate having active regions, comprising the steps of: forming a first silicide in the active regions from a first material; and forming a second silicide in the gate from a second material, wherein the first silicide forms a barrier against the second material forming a silicide in the active regions during the second silicide forming step, wherein said second silicide is thicker than said first silicide.

The principle way of reducing contact resistance between polysilicon gates and source/drain regions and interconnect lines is by forming a metal silicide atop the source/drain regions and the gate electrodes prior to application of the conductive film for formation of the various conductive interconnect lines. Presently, the most common metal silicide materials are CoSi2 and TiSi2, typically formed by the so called salicide (self-aligned silicide) process. In the salicide process, a thin layer of a metal, such as titanium, is blanket deposited over the semiconductor substrate, specifically over exposed source/drain and gate electrode regions. The wafer is then subjected to one or more annealing steps, for example at a temperature of 800° C. or higher for titanium. This annealing process causes the metal to selectively react with the exposed silicon of the source/drain regions and the gate electrodes, thereby forming a metal silicide (e.g., TiSi2). The process is referred to as the self-aligned silicide process because the silicide layer is formed only where the metal material directly contacts the silicon source/drain regions and the polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) gate electrode. Following the formation of the silicide layer, the unreacted metal is removed and an interconnect process is performed to provide conductive paths, such as by forming via holes through a deposited interlayer dielectric and filling the via holes with a conductive material, e.g., tungsten.
The thickness of the silicide layer is an important parameter because a thin silicide layer is more resistive than a thicker silicide layer of the same material. Therefore, a thicker silicide layer increases semiconductor speed. The formation of a thick silicide layer, however, may cause a high junction leakage current and low reliability, particularly when forming ultra-shallow junctions. The formation of a thick silicide layer consumes silicon from the underlying semiconductor substrate such that the thick silicide layer approaches and even shorts the ultra-shallow junction, thereby generating a high junction leakage current.
It is desirable to also lower the resistance of the gate electrode to increase the speed of the device. The greater the amount of silicon converted into silicide in the gate electrode, the lower the resistance will be in the gate electrode. However, formation of silicide on the gate electrode simultaneously with the source/drain regions leads to the risk of spiking in the source/drain regions if the complete or nearly complete silicidation of the gate electrode is attempted. This process, therefore, suffers from a very narrow process window due to the strong likelihood that exposure of the metal and silicon to rapid thermal annealing conditions sufficient to completely silicidize a gate electrode will also cause the silicide in the source/drain region to spike and reach the bottom of the junction, undesirably causing leakage.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,562,718 and 6,602,781 to Xiang et al. describe methods of forming a fully or nearly fully silicided gate electrodes. However, there remains a need for simplified processes for forming different silicide structures within the source/drain and gate electrode regions that better incorporate standard integrated circuit fabrication process flow and structure, while improving the processing window.

Semiconductor structure including silicide regions and method of making same

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


Provided are novel crystalline forms of a spiro-compound which acts as a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor agonist. In particular, isolated crystalline polymorphs of (S)-2-ethyl-8-methyl-1-thia-4,8-diazaspiro[4.5]decane-3-one are described which have favorable properties in pharmaceutical manufacture. Also provided are methods to prepare said crystalline polymorphs, and to convert them into each other as well as methods for preparing medicaments containing the same which are suitable for use in the treatment of diseases and disorders that respond to modulation of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor.

The degeneration of cholinergic neurons and cholinergic hypofunction are pathologies associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) mediate acetylcholine-induced neurotransmission and five mAChR subtypes (M1-M5) have been identified. Among them, M1 receptor is widely expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) and has been implicated in many physiological and pathological brain functions. In addition, M1 receptor is postulated to be an important therapeutic target for AD and several other neurodegenerative diseases; see for review, e.g., Jiang et al., Neurosci. Bull. 30 (2014), 295-307. Xanomeline, an orthosteric muscarinic agonist with modest selectivity for M1 and M4, was one of the first compounds that displayed improvements in behavioral disturbances in AD patients and efficacy in schizophrenics. Meanwhile, further compounds that display improved selectivity for M1 receptor are tried to be developed; see for review, e.g., Melancon et al., Drug Discovery Today 18 (2013), 1185-1199. However, in all clinical studies xanomeline and other related muscarinic agonists have displayed an unacceptable safety margin with respect to cholinergic adverse events, including nausea, gastrointestinal pain, diarrhea, diaphoresis (excessive sweating), hypersalivation (excessive salivation), syncope and bradycardia.
Thus, there remains a need for compounds that are capable of selectively modulating the activity of the M1 receptor, have no adverse effects seen from stimulation of other muscarinic receptors, which are safe and tolerable in humans and amenable to drug manufacturing processes which comply with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations.
This problem is solved by the present invention in accordance with the embodiments as characterized in the claims and described further below.

Crystalline polymorphs of a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor agonist


A data processing method is applied to a computing device serving as a blockchain node. The method comprises: acquiring a data processing request; according to the data processing request, determining a current version identifier; according to the data processing request, determining a target key value pair used for processing data, and processing data in the value range of the target value pair; writing a newly produced target value pair into a storage space, wherein the key domain of a key value pair in the storage area stores a key identifier and a version identifier, and the version identifier in the key domain of the newly produced target key value pair is the current version identifier.

Currently, there are many underlying data storage technologies used in the blockchain system, in which a Key Value (KV) storage system is widely used. The KV storage system supports access processing such as data reading and writing of the blockchain system under the control of upper software of the blockchain system.
In the KV storage system, many KVs are used to store various data required by the blockchain system, and some KVs may need to be modified as blocks are generated. For example, after a transaction processing request is initiated in the blockchain network, the nodes in the blockchain network are needed to execute intelligent contracts in the transaction processing request. The intelligent contracts need to be executed based on some of existing data, meanwhile some of existing data need to be modified. For example, for intelligent contracts with a money-transferring function, it is necessary to read KVs of a transfer-in account and a transfer-out account. The key in the KV stores account names, and the value in the KV stores a value field of account balances. After the intelligent contracts are executed, the respective values of the transfer-in account and the transfer-out account are modified according to the money-transferring amount. In fact, a block generation process involves a large number of KV changes.
Currently, blockchain nodes establish an index for the KV storage system to facilitate access to data. However, the index changes frequently with the varied KV, which is usually determined by the index manner adopted by the KV storage system itself. According to the data processing requirements of the upper software of the blockchain system, adjustments will be made to add KVs, delete KVs, or change KVs, so the index of KV needs to be adjusted accordingly.
When the blockchain data stored locally by some blockchain nodes need to be rolled back and redo due to bifurcations of the blockchain, the rollback operation will gradually restore the data stored in the underlying KV storage system to the bifurcations, then the redo instruction is executed in new blockchains, that is, the business logic of all the transactions is re-executed, and the generated block data is inserted into the KV storage system, which inevitably leads to excessive resource overhead.
Therefore, due to the data processing characteristics of the blockchain system, the performance of the existing KV storage system is poor when it is used to support the data storage of the blockchain nodes.

Data processing method, device, and a storage medium

BAIDU ONLINE NETWORK TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.


In accordance with the present invention, there are provided novel Siah-Mediated-Degradation-Proteins (SMDPs) and/or SCF-Complex Proteins (SCPs). Nucleic acid sequences encoding such proteins and assays employing same are also disclosed. The invention SMDPs and/or SCPs can be employed in a variety of ways, for example, for the production of anti-SMDP and/or SCP antibodies thereto, in therapeutic compositions, and methods employing such proteins and/or antibodies for drug screening, functional genomics and other applications. Also provided are transgenic non-human mammals that express the invention protein.

The temporal coordination of sequential steps within the eukaryotic cell cycle is governed in large part by protein degradation, involving targeted ubiquitination of specific cell cycle regulatory proteins followed by their destruction by the 26S proteasome (reviewed in Ciechanover, A. 1998, EMBO J., 17(24):7151-7160). Among the cell cycle regulators whose levels are controlled by ubiquitination and subsequent proteosome-dependent degradation are the cyclins (cyclins A, B, C, D1, E) and several of the cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitory proteins including p21-Waf1 and p27 Kip. Defects in this highly regulated process of protein turnover have been documented in many types of cancer.
The steps involved in polyubiquitination of specific proteins in cells involve the concerted actions of E1, E2, and E3-type enzymes. E1 proteins form thioester bonds in which the sulfhydryl group of internal cysteine residues binds the carboxyl amino acid of ubiquitin, thereby activating ubiquitin for subsequent transfer to E2-family proteins. E2 family proteins then transfer activated ubiquitin to the free amino-groups of lysine side chains in target proteins directly. More often, however, E2-family proteins collaborate with E3 proteins which bind particular target proteins and orchestrate their interactions with E2s, coordinating the polyubiquitination of these target proteins in highly regulated manners Ciechanover, A. 1998 supra. E3 functions are sometimes embodied in multiprotein complexes rather than mediated by a single protein.
The ubiquitination and degradation of a variety of cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks) and cdk-inhibitors is temporally controlled during the cell cycle by SFC complexes. Theses multiprotein complexes function as E3-like entities, and contain the Skp-1 protein, at least one Cullin-family protein, and at least one F-box protein, thus the acronym SCF: S=Skp1; C=Cullin; F=F-box) (reviewed in Patton, E. E. et al., 1998, TIG 14(6):236-243). F-box proteins contain a conserved motif, the F-box, which mediates their interactions with Skp-1. The F-box proteins also contain other domains which allow them to simultaneously bind specific substrate proteins, which are then targeted for degradation via polyubiquitination. One such F-box protein identified in humans is b-Trcp, which forms a SCF complex with Skp-1 and Cul-1, and which interacts with β-catenin, targeting it for degradation (Latres, et al., 1999, Oncogene, 18:849-854, and Winston, J. J. et al., 1999, Genes & Dev., 13:270-283).
Siah-family proteins represent mammalian homologs of the Drosophila Sina protein. Sina is required for R7 photoreceptor cell differentiation within the sevenless pathway. Sina binds a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2) via an N-terminal RING domain. Heterocomplexes of Sina and another protein called Phyllopodia form a E3-complex which interacts with a transcriptional repressor called Tramtrack, targeting it for polyubiqitination and proteosome-mediated degradation in the fly (Tang, A. H. et al., 1997, Cell, 90:459-467 and Li, S. et al., 1997, Cell, 469-478). The destruction of Tramtrack is necessary for differentiation of R7 cells.
At present, little is known about the expression of mammalian genes related to the Siah-mediated-protein-degradation family of proteins in normal cells and cancers. Moreover, the diversity of functions of the Siah-mediated-protein-degradation family proteins remain unclear. Therefore, there continues to be a need in the art for the discovery of additional proteins that interact with the Siah-mediated-protein-degradation pathway, such as proteins that bind Siah in vivo, and especially a need for information serving to specifically identify and characterize such proteins in terms of their amino acid sequence. Moreover, to the extent that such molecules might form the basis for the development of therapeutic and diagnostic agents, it is essential that the DNA encoding them be elucidated. Similarly, a need exists to identify additional components of SCF complexes which may operate in concert with or independently of Siah. The present invention satisfies these needs and provides related advantages as well.

Nucleic acid encoding proteins involved in protein degradation, products and methods related thereto


A bicycle hub comprises an axle 5, a first part 7 being seated on the axle 5 and being provided with or connected to a cog 6, a second part 8 being movable relative to the first part 7 in longitudinal and rotational direction of the axle 5, the first part 7 and the second part 8 being in contact with each other via a screw coupling provided by threads 7′ and 8′, a hub body 11 being arranged around at least the second part 8, the second part 8 being provided with a first cone surface 9, the hub body 11 having a second cone 10 surface formed thereon or connected thereto, wherein the two cone surfaces 9, 10 are engageable for power transmission, and wherein an adjustable stopper mechanism 12 is provided, limiting a gap providing space for an axial movement of the second part 8.

The present invention relates generally to a bicycle freecoaster hub and, more particularly, to a bicycle freecoaster hub having an adjustable gap so that the response of the hub can be changed.
For doing tricks with BMX freestyle bicycles it is helpful if the response of the hub can be adjusted.
The purpose of adjusting the gap on a freecoaster hub is to change the response/sensitivity of the hub to one's needs. By removing some of the internal gap washers the amount of travel between turning the crank arm and the clutch engaging increases, this also means that when freecoasting backwards there is a greater amount of movement allowed in the cranks before the clutch engages. Also by increasing the amount of internal gap spacers the amount of travel between turning the crank arm and the clutch engaging decreases, this means that when freecoasting backwards there is a lesser amount of movement allowed in the cranks before the clutch engages.
To change the response, the following steps are usually necessary:
1. Disassemble the axle adapter.
2. The sprocket/driver must be removed by turns now.
3. Hold the hub with the side where the sprocket was removed showing upwards. Take a plastic hammer and hit the axle carefully. The axle including the inner parts will come out of the hub shell slowly. Do not take a steel/metal hammer, the axle will be destroyed. The only way getting the axle and the inner parts out of the hub is the former described way. The other way round will destroy parts of the freecoaster.
4. After the axle is removed the bearing must be disassembled. Disassemble the bearing carefully by pulling/pushing it at the inner ring.
5. The delivered spacers can be assembled or assembled spacers can be disassembled now. The more spacer are assembled, the quicker the coaster responds.
6. Reassemble the hub step by step. Take care of the bearings, don't hit the outer ring.
This above-mentioned procedure is quite tiresome, and, further, the hub might be damaged by the disassembling and assembling the hub or by dirt coming inside the hub when assembling. Further, in case the wrong number of spacers is removed or added, or spacers with the wrong thickness are removed or added, the whole procedure has to be repeated until the required response is adjusted.
The UK Patent Application GB 2 372 545 A discloses a bicycle freecoaster hub for BMX bicycles. Said a freecoaster hub has a body having mounted thereto an external cone clutch plate which engages with a mating cone clutch plate fixed to a chain driven cog via a clutch driver. When the cog is rotated, by pedaling in a direction to drive the bicycle forward, screw threads on the clutch driver cause matching screw threads on the clutch plate to move the clutch plate axially along the axle into engagement with the clutch plate so as to rotate the hub body. If pedaling stops the clutch plates are disengaged thereby enabling the cog and the hub body to revolve independently of one another so that a rear wheel fixed to the hub body can rotate in either direction without causing a crank and pedals to move. The clutch plates and driver are mounted on the axle in such a way that they may be readily removed without disturbing the hub body or clutch plate. No adjustability of the maximum gap between the cone clutch plates is provided by this assembly.
It is, therefore, a need for an easy change of the maximum gap, being equivalent to the response of a freecoaster hub. It is the objective of the present invention to provide such a freecoaster hub.


This can be a method of making a high strength composite reinforcing fiber using flat GO flakes coated on a conventional reinforcing fiber. This maintains some the flexibility of the fiber and aligns the flat graphene flakes along the surface of the fiber; this dramatically increases the strength of the fiber. It also allows bonding between overlapping flakes, in contrast to flakes being uniformly dispersed in a host material that is being reinforced and dramatically increases the strength of the host material.

Without limiting the scope of the invention, its background is described in connection with composite materials.
Graphene is one of the strongest materials ever tested. Various research institutes have loaded hosts with carbon allotropes such as carbon nanotubes (CNT), graphene flakes (GF), graphene oxide (GO), and graphite oxide and have seen up to a 200% increase in tensile strength in the loaded host, but with inconsistent results. Measurements have shown that graphene has a breaking strength 200 times greater than steel, with a tensile modulus (stiffness) of 1 TPa (150,000,000 psi). An atomic Force Microscope (AFM) has been used to measure the mechanical properties of a suspended graphene sheet. Graphene sheets held together by Van der Waals forces were suspended over SiO2 cavities where an AFM tip was probed to test its mechanical properties. Its spring constant was in the range 1-5 N/m and the Young's modulus was 0.5 TPa (500 GPa) thereby demonstrating that graphene can be mechanically very strong and rigid.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) depending on whether they are single walled CNTs (SWCNTs) or multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs), generally have the diameter of 1-3 nm or 5-50 nm, respectively. The length of CNTs can be up to centimeters, which gives an aspect ratio exceeding 1000. CNTs also exhibit extraordinary strength with moduli of elasticity on the order of TPa and tensile strength in the range of GPa. With the concurrent benefits of high aspect ratio and excellent mechanical performance, CNTs have been found to improve the physical properties of cementitious or asphalt materials. Not only are CNTs extremely expensive, but also poor dispersion of CNTs is generally the reason for not achieving the desired enhancement of the physical properties of the composite. CNTs and graphene are often difficult to disperse due to the strong Van der Waal's attractive forces between particles and the interaction of the particles in the host material. CNTs and graphene materials tend to form agglomerates or self-attraction/assembly similar to that seen in carbon black creating defect sites in the composites. Without the use of a dispersing agent carbon based cement composites have worse mechanical properties than the plain cement paste. Non-uniform distribution/dispersion of CNTs and graphene bundles are responsible for the deterioration of the mechanical properties.
Some classic engineered structures such as reinforced concrete may not be recognized as a composite. The fact is that cement/concrete with rebar (short for reinforcing bar) qualifies as a composite. The rebar, having specific physical properties that significantly exceed those of the surrounding matrix is placed into a pattern to optimize the strength of the composite.
Other composite engineered structures such as fiber-reinforced plastics cement and asphalt are generally recognized as composites. Such structures are often engineered to create the best combination of lowest weight and increased strength.

Graphite oxide reinforced fiber in hosts such as concrete or asphalt


A network interface controller (NIC). The NIC includes a first physical port, a second physical port, a non-transitory memory, a processor coupled to the first and second physical ports, and a data packet grooming application stored in the non-transitory memory. When executed by the processor, the application is configured to parse datagrams encapsulated within data link layer packets received by the first physical port, analyze the encapsulated datagrams based on a processing policy stored in the non-transitory memory, transmit some of the received data link layer packets via the second physical port to a server computer associated with the NIC, and transmit the remainder of the received data link layer packets via the first physical port to a second server computer.

Computers may be communicatively coupled to a data network by a network interface controller (NIC). The NIC acts as a mediator between the data network and the computer, performing what may be deemed low-order processing of data in-bound to the computer and out-bound from the computer. The NIC may be said to be a helper to the computer—a helper to the main processor of the computer—by performing functions that otherwise might burden the computer processing and distract it from heavier weight processing activities. The NIC traditionally interacts with data communication at the physical layer and at the data link layer (e.g., the two lowest layers of the OSI communication model). The NIC may be implemented as a circuit board and may be referred to as a network interface card in some contexts.

Network interface controller (NIC) with trusted execution environment (TEE) that redirects packets based on a processing policy


The present invention relates to an image data luminance compensating method and a sheet-feeding scanning apparatus using such an image data luminance compensating method. According to the reference luminance value change of the reference background strip before and after the current document passes through the scan operating region, the luminance gain associated with compensation of the image data of the next document is determined.

Nowadays, sheet-feeding scanning apparatuses such as image scanners, a multifunction peripherals or printers are commonly used as important document processing apparatuses in offices or homes. For a purpose of successively scanning many sheet documents at a time, an automatic paper feeder (ADF) is usually integrated into the sheet-feeding scanning apparatus. After a stack of documents to be scanned are placed on the sheet input tray of the automatic document feeder, the sheet-feeding mechanism of the automatic document feeder will successively transport the documents across the scanning module of the sheet-feeding scanning apparatus. After the images of the documents are read by the scanning module, image data files are generated or document copies are directly outputted.
As known, in the initial stage from start of the sheet-feeding scanning apparatus, the luminance of the lamp tube in the sheet-feeding scanning apparatus is usually unstable. After the sheet-feeding scanning apparatus has been turned on for a warm-up time period, the luminance of the lamp approaches stable. In other words, a sufficient warm-up time period is necessary in order to perform a scanning operation.
Therefore, there is a need of providing a sheet-feeding scanning apparatus capable of performing the scanning operation without the need of waiting for the warm-up time period.

Image data luminance compensating method and sheet-feeding scanning apparatus using such method


An actuator assembly and packaging feature for an electric toothbrush is disclosed. The actuator assembly includes a positionable member accessible along the outer surface of the toothbrush body. The actuator assembly further includes a spring member retained within the interior of the toothbrush body which urges a cam member against the underside of the positionable member. The positionable member defines an aperture extending through its midsection within which is disposed a depressible member. The depressible member has an outer end which is also accessible along the outer surface of the toothbrush body. Upon pressing the depressible member, the cam member and spring are urged against an electrical circuit provided within the body of the toothbrush which is used to selectively operate a motor and drive mechanism to move one or more sets of bristles. The actuator assembly additionally includes a feature of providing a raised region along an outer surface of the positionable member which guards against accidental or unintentional depressing of the depressible member. The packaging feature relates to a member formed in a package cover that is suitably sized and positioned over the depressible member of the actuator so that the cover, when pressed, may momentarily activate the toothbrush within the package.

Electric toothbrushes typically utilize a switch accessible along the exterior or body of the toothbrush that controls operation of the toothbrush. Generally, such switches have two positions, one position in which the toothbrush is not operating or "off" and another position in which the toothbrush is activated or "on." Generally, these switches are slidable or otherwise linearly displaceable between these two positions. Such position switches have also been modified to also activate their corresponding circuits or mechanisms upon being pushed or depressed. This pushbutton feature may be provided in combination with the previously noted linear position function in a single switch.
Most consumer goods and particularly those that relate to health and beauty are packaged in retail-friendly display cartons such that the product that is being sold may be readily viewed by a consumer contemplating its purchase. Such packaging is currently used for many different brands and models of commercially available electric toothbrushes.
Multi-motion electric toothbrushes are known which are believed to provide superior cleaning efficacy. These toothbrushes often provide multiple brushing motions by two or more brush heads. In addition to the superior cleaning action, the operation of the brush and complex motion of the brush heads often generates interest in a potential purchaser of the toothbrush. That is, many consumers find the operation of the brush to be interesting to watch.
As a result of this phenomenon, the assignee of the present invention previously developed a package for an electric toothbrush that was adapted for retail display and enabled a consumer to activate the toothbrush while sealed within the package. Accordingly, an interested consumer could simply activate a packaged toothbrush by pushing the switch of the toothbrush through its packaging. Some such arrangements are shown in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,311,837; 6,189,693; and 6,178,579, the substances of which are incorporated herein by reference.
A significant problem with such consumer friendly packaging is that the toothbrush may accidentally be activated during shipment or storage. Furthermore, it is neither practical nor economical to include actuation interlocks in the packaging or to somehow "arm" or selectively enable actuation of the toothbrush prior to retail display.
Accordingly, there is a significant need for an electric toothbrush that may utilize current retail packaging approaches and may be activated after packaging, yet which would not be prone to accidental or unintended activation particularly while in its package.

Electric toothbrushes and packages containing same


An apparatus for rapid thermal processing of silicon wafers is provided. The apparatus may include a heating element, sensing element and a cooling element, all of which are positioned in opposing relation to a backside of a silicon wafer. A method of using the apparatus includes using the apparatus to rapidly heat a wafer, apply desired processing assists, and rapidly cool the wafer. The apparatus may also include an array of sensing elements which are interposed between heating elements. The sensing elements may be a combination of absolute and relative sensors. The array permits accurate zonal control of the heating elements and prevents cross talk between the heaters. The apparatus may be used to monitor the temperature at various points across a wafer and to control the associated heating elements in response to the monitoring step. The apparatus may also include a high speed rotating support for the wafer. Further, the apparatus may include a shroud surrounding the wafer which allows for more uniform processing across the wafer. Also, an inlet structure for introducing processing assists which contours to the shape of the shroud is disclosed. A method for using the apparatus includes utilizing the inlet structure to provide processing assists over the surface of a wafer and obtaining uniform depositions by aid of the shroud.

The present invention relates to thermal processing of semiconductor wafers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for rapid thermal processing (RTP) of semiconductor wafers.
Semiconductor chip fabrication on silicon wafers requires many precisely controlled sequential steps to deposit, implant, diffuse, remove, or form key materials. During fabrication, thermal process steps include, for example, dielectric deposition, post-implant annealing, diffusion barrier formation, contact alloying, oxidation, oxide nitridation, and epitaxial silicon growth. During these process steps, the wafer temperature is elevated to enhance activation of the desired mechanisms. In the near future, further reduction of critical dimensions of integrated circuits from 0.35 microns to 0.18 microns and the implementation of shallower junctions will require tighter thermal processing temperature tolerances, from the present 10.degree.-15.degree. C. to 1.degree.-2.degree. C. Further, wafers are expected to increase in size from 200 mm to 300 mm.
To meet these requirements, thermal processing will increasingly shift from batch processing to single wafer Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP). In batch processing, many wafers are simultaneously processed and utilize relatively slow temperature transients and long cycle times. However, the temperatures experienced by each wafer depend on its location in the stack. Single wafer processing can potentially impose nearly identical wafer-to-wafer conditions, enhancing wafer-to-wafer reproducibility and allowing tighter temperature tolerances. However, to generate product throughputs comparable to batch furnaces, the RTP process must incorporate rapid heatups (50.degree. to 100.degree. C./s) and cool-downs, and higher process temperatures for shorter times, which increase difficulties of meeting temperature level and uniformity requirements.
In current commercial RTP systems, wafer heating is generally accomplished using electrically-powered lamp elements which radiate high intensity thermal energy from an extended distance onto the surface of the wafer. It would be desirable to utilize a more controllable heating technique, as lamp heating has several major disadvantages. First, it is difficult to irradiate the wafer uniformly and thereby attain a uniform wafer temperature. Second, the temperature of the wafer is generally measured pyrometrically, usually positioned outside the reactor. Pyrometric temperature measurement is difficult, though, because stray reflected and transmitted lamp radiation corrupts the pyrometer input, and because the effective emissivity of the wafer is often not accurately known and can change during the process. Other known RTP heating and measurement techniques, which fall into categories of optical heating/sensing, have similar disadvantages.
In contrast to RTP, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and etch process steps in semiconductor fabrication are known to use a heated wafer chuck at constant temperature. The chuck is simply a flat surface of suitable material upon which the wafer rests, usually in the horizontal orientation. The chuck is generally heated from its backside (the wafer rests on the front side) by a number of means, such as electrical resistance heater element, RF induction, or lamp radiation. When necessary, the thermal design of the chuck incorporates temperature leveling to promote wafer temperature uniformity. The temperature of the chuck may be measured by a thermocouple, which is straightforwardly used as a process control variable. However, such heated chucks have not been implemented in RTP systems since these standard chucks generally have a thermal mass that is too large to permit ramp rates required for RTP applications.
There are three primary design considerations in implementing the reactor concept according to the present invention. First, through heating efficiency, there are minimal pattern effects by utilization of backside heating and the frontal shield. Second, there is high space-time resolution control, thereby permitting high control authority. Finally, high gas flow/mixing permits a high processing rate and increases throughput. This creates a high efficiency reactor that allows for quick switching between processing steps. Also, the showerhead edges may be curved to provide uniform downward gas flow. Further, the showerhead edges may be used as electrodes during plasma cleaning.

Heater and temperature sensor array for rapid thermal processing thermal core


Various embodiments are described for improving network access through multi-stage signaling. Logic flow diagram 10 in FIG. 1 depicts functionality performed by a wireless communication system in accordance with multiple embodiments of the present invention. A network node configures (12) a shared indicator code for indicating an emergency and/or a group call access occurring in that sector. Thus, when an MS performs an emergency access, it transmits (13) an access signal on both the shared indicator code and on a randomly selected code. This more quickly notifies the network that there is at least one MS in the sector. Once aware that such an access is occurring in that sector, the network may (14) provision additional access resources, estimate the number of MSs transmitting based on the received power on that indicator code, start backing off non-emergency traffic, and/or begin transmitting communication without waiting for authentication to complete.

In communication systems that are being developed today, such as those based on the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.16 air interface or the WiMAX air interface, emergency calls (e.g., "911" calls) and public safety-related calls may experience delays or call latencies that are particularly undesirable given the time critical situations in which many of these calls are made. One reason for this is that these communication networks may not know that a given call is an emergency/public safety-related call until the mobile station (MS) makes two or three transmissions to the network within a contention phase of the MS's ranging process. The ranging codes used by MSs could be partitioned into emergency and non-emergency groups to enable the network to know sooner in the ranging process that a particular call was an emergency call (i.e., only an emergency caller would use a ranging code from the emergency group). However, partitioning codes in such a manner can adversely affect system performance in situations in which signaling of one type floods the system. For example, there may not be enough codes in the emergency group for a large number of emergency responders to simultaneously access the network, while at the same time the group of non-emergency codes may be under-utilized. Thus, new techniques able to better service at least some of the emergency/public safety-related calls would be desirable.
Specific embodiments of the present invention are disclosed below with reference to FIGS. 1-5. Both the description and the illustrations have been drafted with the intent to enhance understanding. For example, the dimensions of some of the figure elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements, and well-known elements that are beneficial or even necessary to a commercially successful implementation may not be depicted so that a less obstructed and a more clear presentation of embodiments may be achieved. In addition, although the signaling flow diagrams and/or the logic flow diagrams above are described and shown with reference to specific signaling exchanged and/or specific functionality performed in a specific order, some of the signaling/functionality may be omitted or some of the signaling/functionality may be combined, sub-divided, or reordered without departing from the scope of the claims. Thus, unless specifically indicated, the order and grouping of the signaling/functionality depicted is not a limitation of other embodiments that may lie within the scope of the claims.
Simplicity and clarity in both illustration and description are sought to effectively enable a person of skill in the art to make, use, and best practice the present invention in view of what is already known in the art. One of skill in the art will appreciate that various modifications and changes may be made to the specific embodiments described below without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the specification and drawings are to be regarded as illustrative and exemplary rather than restrictive or all-encompassing, and all such modifications to the specific embodiments described below are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Method and apparatus for improving network access through multi-stage signaling


The disclosed systems and methods pertain to the processing of large format images in a manner to avoid introducing imaging defects, and more particularly to dividing the large image into bands, processing these bands in parallel and then putting them back together in to create the final processed image. The methods include the use of overlapping the image bands, padding of the bands prior to processing and the redefinition of image values at common boundaries of the bands to minimize or eliminate visible defects.

Digital image processing of large format images is often done in parallel for cost efficiency, speed, and reuse of systems (hardware as well as software and image processing algorithms) utilized for processing standard size documents. For instance, wide format scanners need to handle input documents that are up to 36 inches wide or more. In order to make use of existing image processing systems that are designed for regular-size documents (smaller sizes usually up to a maximum of 12 inches wide), or to perform parallel processing to achieve performance goals, it is desirable to divide the input documents into several segments, perform image processing on the segments separately and then stitch the results together at the end to produce a resulting image or document.
However, simply stitching several processed image segments together results in a visible defect at the common boundary(s) and "depletion" artifacts. These artifacts are especially visible when binary (already rendered) parts of the document are put together directly and/or when scanning and printing resolutions differ. A classic example is stitching of two error-diffused images together, where there arises an obvious artifact at the common boundary, as depicted in FIG. 12. There are at least two problems with the image—the artifact at the common image boundary and the "depletion" artifact at the top and bottom of the boundary region, and image boundaries. Artifacts are also visible when anamorphic printing resolutions are used to print the stitched document, such as the case of solid ink printing.
Alternatively, if rendering were performed after stitching the individual segments together, then the rendering module would be expensive because of the memory requirements for processing the larger image portions. Hence, the disclosed systems and methods are directed to various alternative embodiments to reduce the visibility of defects when processing large format images, without increasing the cost of the image-processing pipeline or hardware.
A straightforward method to avoid boundary artifacts is to keep an error buffer with error values at the right edge of the left image and use these error values for the left side of the right image as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,282,325 for "Image Processing Technique for Binarizing an Image Scanned by a Shuttle Type Scanner," issued Aug. 28, 2001 to Ji-Hoon Han, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,236 for an "Image Processing Method and Apparatus Therefor," by Nao Nagashima, et al., issued Sep. 18, 1990. Such a method could be fairly costly, however, and requires specialized hardware and complicated image manipulation.
Another method to avoid or reduce artifacts is to modulate the error diffusion threshold at the boundary as disclosed by Zhen He et al., in "Boundary Stitching Algorithm for Parallel Implementation of Error Diffusion", pp. 344-355, in Color Imaging IX: Processing, Hardcopy, and Applications, (Reiner Eschbach, Gabriel G. Marcu editors), held in San Jose, Calif., Volume 5293, No. 5293, published by SPIE and IS&T in 2004. This method requires a specialized threshold modulation circuit.
Generally, the depletion artifact causes corners to be rounded and dots to be "aligned". This defect type may be avoided by using a different threshold in highlight regions as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,285,464 for an "Apparatus and Method for Producing a Half-tone Image," by Akihiro Katayama, et al., issued Sep. 4, 2001. U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,236 proposes parallel processing by dividing the image into equally overlapping or overlapping to the left/right only segments, and also passing the error to the next band. This method requires scanline buffers storing video data.
The systems and methods disclosed herein tackle all of the noted problems, and further improve the resultant images by manipulation of the large image's parts (segments). The disclosed systems and method further avoid the difficult processing associated with diffusing error to an adjacent band. In a general sense, the disclosed embodiments include dividing the large image into bands in particular ways, processing these bands in parallel and then putting them back together in an optimal way to create the final processed image. The methods described herein include a combination of some, or all, of the following operations:                1. Overlapping the image bands;        2. Padding the bands with different values and images;        3. Redefining the binary values at the common boundary of the bands.
Disclosed in embodiments herein is a method for processing an image, comprising: dividing the image into bands; adding to each band additional image data not found in the band; processing the bands to produce processed bands; and recombining the processed bands to produce a processed image.
Also disclosed in embodiments herein is a method for processing a large-format image, comprising: dividing the large format image into N bands; adding to each of said N bands, along at least an edge additional image data not found in said band; processing each of said N bands to produce N processed bands, wherein said N processed bands each include processed image values derived from the additional image data; and recombining the processed bands while eliminating overlapping regions thereof to produce a processed image.
Further disclosed in embodiments herein is a system for processing an image, comprising: an image splitter for dividing the image into bands, each of said bands assigned to a dedicated processing channel; within the channel adding to each band, additional image data not originally found in the band; an image processor for processing all the image data in each band to produce processed bands; and an image stitcher for recombining the processed bands to produce a processed image.

System and method for boundary artifact elimination in parallel processing of large format images


A wet/dry vacuum appliance having a non-cylindrical collection canister is disclosed. In one embodiment, the collection canister has substantially cylindrical ends and substantially flatter sides. A collection canister lid is adapted to engage the canister around a top perimeter thereof, supporting the canister such that the lid cooperates with the canister to resist the collapse of the canister when subjected to vacuum forces resulting from operation of the vacuum.

Vacuum cleaner appliances capable of picking up both wet and dry material, commonly referred to as wet/dry vacuums or wet/dry vacs, are well-known. Wet/dry vacs are often used in workshops and other environments where both wet and dry debris can accumulate.
Wet/dry vacs conventionally consist of a collection tank or canister, often mounted on wheels or casters, and a cover or lid upon which a motor and impeller assembly is mounted. The motor and impeller assembly creates a suction within the canister, such that debris and liquid are drawn in to the canister through an air inlet to which a flexible hose can be attached. A filter within the canister prevents incoming debris and liquid from escaping from the canister while allowing filtered air to escape. One example of a such a wet/dry vac is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,072.
A very substantial vacuum pressure can be created within the collection canister of a wet/dry vac. This is perhaps the primary reason why, in a majority of currently available wet/dry vacs, the collection canister is substantially cylindrical in its structural configuration. As is well known, such a cylindrical configuration is very capable of withstanding high vacuum pressure forces.
There are at least several reasons why cylindrically-configured collection canisters for wet/dry vacs may be less than ideal. From a functional standpoint, a cylindrical configuration is not conveniently scalable. That is, as the capacity or size of the collection canister is increased, the overall height of the appliance likewise must increase. This is undesirable for several reasons, including the fact that it makes the appliance inconvenient to store and to move around, and that it increases the height of the center of gravity and hence the instability of the appliance. (The problem of vertical instability of wet/dry vacs has been recognized in the prior art; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,075 to Jankowski, entitled "Wet or Dry Vacuum With Low Center of Gravity".)
Other prior art examples of wet/dry vacuums include: U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,868 to Berfield et al., entitled "Pilot and Detent Apparatus for a Vacuum Device;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,500 to Stephens et al., entitled "Method for Manufacturing a Bucket for a Wet/Dry Vacuum;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,605 to Tomasiak, entitled "Wet/Dry Utility Vacuum with a Wheel Mount;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,600 to Corson, entitled "Non-Tipping Wet/Dry Vacuum;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,769 to Tomasiak, entitled "Wet/Dry Utility Vacuum Cleaner with Detachable Blower;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,945 to Crouser, et al., entitled "Wet/Dry Utility Vacuum Cleaner;" and U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,107 to Tomasiak et al., entitled "Latching Mechanism for Wet/Dry Utility Vacuum Cleaner with Detachable Blower." The above-noted Tomasiak '605, '769 and '107 patents are commonly assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their respective entireties.
While cylindrical vacuum collection canisters have some perceived disadvantages, most presently commercially-available wet/dry vacs have cylindrical canisters. Perhaps the principal reason for this is that non-cylindrical vacuum canisters can require obtrusive or extraordinary means for preventing collapse under the very high vacuum pressures generated in wet/dry vac systems. Such means could include, for example, exceptionally wide canister rims, or structural ribs and stiffeners on the inside and/or outside of the canister, or very thick wall sections. Such features would be undesirable from the standpoints of manufacturability, aesthetics, and ergonomics. In addition, internal stiffening structures could adversely affect the pneumatic/hydraulic performance of the vacuum, and would make the canister more difficult to empty and clean.
Of course, a vacuum canister can be made sufficiently strong enough to withstand the vacuum forces to which it is to be subjected by using very strong materials. However, such materials, e.g., metal, can be expensive and heavy, and are less than ideal for this purpose. Instead, conventional wet/dry vac canisters are preferably made of injection-molded plastics or the like, which are reasonably strong at appropriate thicknesses, and advantageously inexpensive and light-weight. Again, while plastic canisters can be made sufficiently strong by increasing their thickness, it is desirable from the standpoint of manufacturing expense, weight, and so on, to make the canisters as thin-walled as possible.
For smaller capacity wet/dry vacs, e.g., 3-gallon vacs, for instance, the problem of potential canister collapse is not as great, making non-cylindrical canister configurations more feasible. One reason for this is that smaller capacity vacs tend to have smaller motors which generate lower levels of vacuum pressure. Also, smaller canisters can readily be made sturdy and resistant to collapse without undue increases in weight, size, manufacturing cost, and so on. For larger capacity vacs, e.g., 12- or 16-gallon canisters, however, the potential for non-cylindrical canister collapse is considerably greater, and the approaches to making the canisters resistant to collapse that can be taken for smaller vacs are not as feasible or effective in terms of size, weight, manufacturing cost, etc . . . .

Wet/dry vacuum with non-cylindrical canister


An improved support for a telescope mirror using a system of three bars which are joined at their ends to the back of the mirror with compliant adhesive pads. Preferably, one end is joined to the center of the mirror while the others are joined on the circumference of a circle centered on the center of the mirror. In this preferred embodiment, there is an approximately right triangular relationship between the centers of the bars. The backs of the bars are coupled at their centers to mirror adjusting mechanisms by further compliant pads. The numbers of support points can be increased by coupling further bars or triangles between the circumferential support points of the original three bars and the back of the mirror. Again coupling is provided by compliant adhesive pads. The thickness and size of all pads are controlled to provide stiff support in compression and shear along with resilient support in bending. The preferred geometry of the support configuration of the back of the mirror makes collimation easier by decoupling altitude and azimuth adjustments. Stress-free assembly of the mirror and its supports is accomplished by applying the adhesive pads in liquid form, then allowing the pads to cure while the components are supported with spacers. Because the pads are pliable, spacers are easily removed after curing and, should there be any need to disassemble the mirror, the thickness of the pads allows for easy cutting.

The present invention relates to the field of telescopes and more particularly to mirrors used in such telescopes.
In a regular, Newtonian telescope, there is typically a telescope tube at the end of which is a curved silvered mirror, usually made out of glass. The mirror is supported on three points which are attached to the end of the telescope tube. This allows adjustment of the mirror in one plane. The edge of the mirror is stabilized by an edge support, and safety clips retain the mirror in case the telescope should accidently point below the horizon. This kind of three point support is useful for mirrors up to about 8 inches in diameter. Smaller mirrors can be made relatively thin but larger mirrors must be made thicker in order to reduce sagging. In larger mirrors, therefore, support is provided by more than three points. At each of the three main support points there are bars or triangles which spread the force applied by the mirror over a larger area. Consequently, the number of support points is usually a multiple of three.
Spreading of the force is important because without something that will spread the force, the mirror will deform thus affecting focusing, adjustment of the entire telescope and impairing image quality and communications gain. The problems with this kind of mirror mounting are that the supports must be loose to avoid stressing the mirror and degrading its performance. Also, the retaining clips obscure part of the mirror, introduce unwanted edge diffraction defects and may damage coatings on the mirror. Systems for larger mirrors are mechanically complex, requiring low friction bearings at the linkage points and, when the back adjustment points are in the shape of an equilateral triangle, collimation of the mirror is made more complex by the interaction between all these adjustment points. For a discussion of three and nine point support of telescope mirrors see articles by Toshimi Taki, published in the September, 1994 issue of Sky and Telescope from pages 84 through 87 and the April, 1996 issue from pages 75 through 77. Examples of complex support systems for telescope mirrors can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,523, issued to Knohl on Dec. 30, 1996 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,182,552, issued to Audy on May 11, 1965.
Development of a mounting system for telescope mirrors which will allow larger, thinner mirrors to be permanently mounted in a telescope without the need for edge clips and edge supports represents a great improvement in the field of telescope design and satisfies a long-felt need of the astronomer.


An image processing method generates a color separation table, the color separation table being used in converting an image signal to a signal for a colorant for use in a printer and storing grid-point data as the colorant signal so as to associate the grid-point data with a grid point defined by the image signal. The image processing method includes obtaining data of a first color separation table and generating a second color separation table based on the difference between a maximum allowable amount of colorant discharge for the first color separation table and a maximum allowable amount of colorant discharge for the second color separation table and the data of the first color separation table so that a total amount of colorant discharge of the second color separation table does not exceed the maximum allowable amount of colorant discharge for the second color separation table.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method, and in particular, to generation of a color separation table used in converting an image signal into a signal for the amount of a colorant, such as ink and toner.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of generation of a color separation table. First, grid-point data is determined on the basis of calorimetric values of a patch (step S11-1). Then, grid-point data on grid points lying on the lines connecting eight vertexes of the color separation table, i.e., six lines of W-C, M, Y, R, G, and B, six lines of C, M, Y, R, G, and B-K, and other lines of M-R, R-Y, Y-G, G-C, M-B, B-C, W-K, wherein W denotes white, C denotes cyan, M denotes magenta, Y denotes yellow, R denotes red, G denotes green, B denotes blue, K denotes black, is determined (step S11-2). Grid-point data of grid points other than the grid points determined in S11-2 is determined by interpolation processing (step S11-3). After the interpolation processing, the grid-point data is subjected to smoothing processing to reduce discontinuity at the boundaries of interpolation areas and other undesired states (step S11-4). Then, the grid-point data of the entire smoothed table is compared with the maximum allowable amount of discharge for a print medium, and it is determined whether a grid point that has grid-point data exceeding the maximum allowable amount of discharge is present or not. If such a grid point is present, the amount of discharge regarding the grid point is corrected (step S11-5).
For the sake of improving recording image quality, different types of recording media for use in recording are selectively used.
In the case where multiple types of recording media are selectively used, grid-point data for respective recording media is determined on the basis of adhesion characteristics of colorants to the recoding media (e.g., paper). For example, when ink is used as the colorant, grid-point data is determined so as to control the amount of the colorant on the basis of absorbency of a recording medium to the ink. In other words, the maximum allowable amount of ink that can be absorbed in the recording medium per a predetermined area is obtained in advance, and the amount of the colorant for each color is corrected so as not to exceed the maximum allowable amount.
FIG. 12 illustrates an example of color separation on the W-K line for a first recording medium before the amount of discharge is corrected. The horizontal axis represents the value of a grid point, and the vertical axis represents the value of a signal. Aside from the value of a signal, the vertical axis represents the maximum allowable amount of discharge which is, in this example, 160. Since the total amount of ink discharge exceeds the maximum allowable amount of discharge, recording on the recording medium without correcting the amount of ink discharge results in an overflow of ink.
FIG. 13 illustrates an example of the color separation on the W-K line shown in FIG. 12 after the amount of discharge is corrected. Since the amount of discharge has been corrected, the total amount of discharge does not exceed the maximum allowable amount of discharge and the recording medium can absorb ink without causing the ink to overflow.
FIG. 14 illustrates an example of color separation on the W-K line for a second recording medium before the amount of discharge is corrected.
FIG. 15 illustrates an example of the color separation on the W-K line shown in FIG. 14 after the amount of discharge is corrected. The maximum allowable amount of discharge for the second recording medium is 190 which is larger than that for the first recording medium shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.
However, generation of a color separation table for each type of a recording medium for use in recording increases the design workload. The design workload significantly increases with an increase in the number of types of recording media.
Even when color separation tables corresponding to different types of recording media are designed, the tables are often required to be designed in the same period of time as in designing of a color separation table corresponding to a single type of recording medium. Therefore, it is difficult to allocate time among the generations of the color separation tables corresponding to the different types of recording media.

Image processing apparatus and image processing method for generating a color separation table used in converting an image signal for the amount of a colorant


An ENT tool has a tool chassis having a chassis channel and a tool chassis distal end. A tubular probe is dimensioned to be inserted into a human patient orifice, the probe is rotatable about a probe axis of symmetry, and the probe has a probe proximal end rotatingly connected to the tool chassis distal end. A balloon insertion mechanism is slidingly located within the chassis channel, and is configured to fixedly accept a balloon sinuplasty mechanism penetrating the tubular probe. A guidewire adjustment section is fixedly attached to the balloon insertion mechanism, and the section has a rotatable enclosure. A plurality of rollers are disposed within the enclosure and are configured so that on rotation of the enclosure the rollers grip and rotate a guidewire positioned between the rollers, and, absent rotation of the enclosure, release the guidewire and permit distal and proximal translation of the guidewire.

An ENT procedure typically has to cope with a number of constraints which limit the flexibility of a physician performing the procedure. I.e., there is limited access to the area being operated on, the region being operated on is typically a relatively complicated structure, and in addition may be close to critical organs of the body such as the optic nerves. Some existing tools for ENT procedures are described below.
U.S. Patent Application 2014/0277043, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,629,684 on Apr. 25, 2017, to Jenkins et al. describes an apparatus for treatment of ethmoid sinusitis. The apparatus may be used to form an opening in a sinus wall, and comprises a first cutting member and a second cutting member. The first cutting member comprises a helical blade.
U.S. Patent Application 2007/0219550, now abandoned, to Thompson et al. describes a device for dissecting tissue and/or guidance of a second device to a desired physiological location. The device has an elongate shaft comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, and the distal portion has a plurality of segments that articulate with respect to one another.
U.S. Patent Application 2010/0099946, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,414,473 on Apr. 9, 2013, to Jenkins et al. describes a device for dilating an ostium of a paranasal sinus of a human or animal subject. The device may include a handle, an elongate shaft having a proximal end coupled with the handle and extending to a distal end, and a guidewire disposed through at least a portion of the shaft lumen.
U.S. Patent Application 2007/0112358 to Abbott et al., now abandoned, describes a system for treating a septal defect having an implantable treatment apparatus. The application also describes devices for controlling delivery of the treatment apparatus.