A method of fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a gate electrode over a substrate and forming deep amorphous regions within the substrate. And implanting dopants to form deep source/drain regions at a depth less than that of the deep amorphous regions, partially re-crystallizing portions of the deep amorphous regions to reduce their depth, and re-crystallizing the reduced amorphous regions to form activated final source/drain regions.

A typical metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) device generally includes a semiconductor substrate on which a gate electrode is disposed. The gate electrode, which acts as a conductor, receives an input signal to control operation of the device. Source and drain regions are typically formed in regions of the substrate adjacent the gate electrodes by doping the regions with a dopant of a desired conductivity. The conductivity of the doped region depends on the type of impurity used to dope the region. The typical MOS transistor is symmetrical, in that the source and drain are interchangeable. Whether a region acts as a source or drain typically depends on the respective applied voltages and the type of device being made. The collective term source/drain region is used herein to generally describe an active region used for the formation of either a source or drain.
MOS devices typically fall into one of two groups depending the type of dopants used to form the source, drain and channel regions. The two groups are often referred to as n-channel and p-channel devices. The type of channel is identified based on the conductivity type of the channel which is developed under the transverse electric field. In an n-channel MOS (NMOS) device, for example, the conductivity of the channel under a transverse electric field is of the conductivity type associated with n-type impurities (e.g., arsenic or phosphorous). Conversely, the channel of a p-channel MOS (PMOS) device under the transverse electric field is associated with p-type impurities (e.g., boron).
A type of device, commonly referred to as a MOS field-effect-transistor (MOSFET), includes a channel region formed in the semiconductor substrate beneath the gate area or electrode and between the source and drain regions. The channel is typically lightly doped with a dopant having a conductivity type opposite to that of the source/drain regions. The gate electrode is generally separated from the substrate by an insulating layer, typically an oxide layer such as SiO2. The insulating layer is provided to prevent current from flowing between the gate electrode and the source, drain or channel regions. In operation, a voltage is typically developed between the source and drain terminals. When an input voltage is applied to the gate electrode, a transverse electric field is set up in the channel region. By varying the transverse electric field, it is possible to modulate the conductance of the channel region between the source and drain regions. In this manner an electric field is used to control the current flow through the channel region.
As the dimensions of the MOSFET shrinks, the reduction in effective gate length requires a proportional scaling in the vertical junction depth of the source/drain regions. The reduction in the junction depth of the source/drain regions is to reduce short channel effects.
As the distance between the source region and the drain region of the MOSFET (i.e., the physical channel length) decreases, in the effort to increase circuit speed and complexity, the junction depth of source/drain regions must also be reduced to prevent unwanted source/drain-to-substrate junction capacitance. However, obtaining these smaller junction depths tests the capabilities of current processing techniques, such as ion implantation with activation annealing using rapid thermal annealing. Rapid thermal annealing typically involves heating the silicon wafer, after implanting, under high-intensity heat lamps. Implanting or doping creates an amorphitizes the silicon substrate, and the activation annealing is used to recrystallize the amorphitized silicon region.
A problem associated with source/drain regions is the formation of "end-of-range defects," which are believed to stem from an interstitial-rich region proximate the lower portion of an amorphous silicon region. These interstitial-rich regions are formed during doping of the source/drain regions. Referring to FIG. 1, an amorphous silicon region 35 is formed during the doping of a silicon substrate 10 to form source/drain regions 31. The amorphous silicon region 35 has a lower portion characterized by an interstitial-rich region 33. After the activation anneal and upon recrystallization of surface amorphous region 35, interstitials in the interstitial-rich region 33 are believed to agglomerate, thereby generating end-of-range defects 60, such as dislocations and stacking faults, bordering the lower portion of the source/drain regions 31. When these end-of-range defects 60 are present in the source/drain regions 31, the defects disadvantageously cause junction leakage. Accordingly, a need exists for a process that minimizes the effects of end-of-range defects in the source/drain regions.

End-of-range defect minimization in semiconductor device


A thin walled, plastic bottle or other container having a high rupture strength comprises a length L having a top and a bottom, and width W. The integrity of the bottle or container is compromised by a post manufacture, complete transverse cut made parallel to the width W. The top is completely severed from the bottom at a point along the length L. The top may be discarded. The bottom is comprised of, in part, collapsible side walls. A generally annular insert rim is pressure fitted onto the top-cut member of the bottom, which is formed at the cut line, thus rigidly securing the side walls and preventing any collapse thereby. A cap or closure means is matably engagable with the insert rim to seal the container.

Plastic, thin and collapsible-walled bottles are a common type of container for beverages. These bottles are generally used for carbonated beverages such as carbonated sodas, and specialty waters. Once a consumer empties the contents of this type of bottle packaging, he or she disposes of it, or may cause it to be recycled. In either event, the consumer no longer has use for the bottle as a container.
The bottle of this discussion is manufactured of a thin walled plastic material. It generally has a round or annular cross section when a transverse cut is made through the width of the bottle. The plastic material used in the manufacturing of this bottle type is lightweight and has a high rupture strength. Furthermore, due to the manufacturing material coupled with the thinness of the bottle's walls, the walls are easily collapsible. Also, many manufacturers make this bottle in clear plastic. While the bottles discussed herein are used for liquid beverages such as two-liter sized soda beverages, they, or similarly situated bottles, may be used for other commodities such as cleaning chemicals or solids.
In order to utilize these mentioned bottles after the initial commodities are displaced therefrom, the present invention contemplates transversely severing the bottle into top and bottom members and inserting a rim thereon the bottom member to support the otherwise collapsible thin wall. In this regard, others have addressed the use of rims for containers. For example, the reader is directed to Great Britain Pat. No. 782,591; Belgian Pat. No. 539,920; French Pat. No. 1,149,828; U.S. Pat. No. 3,744,657, and; U.S. Pat. No. 2,065,501. While these references address the particular designs therein, they do not approach the present invention in terms of structure, function or purpose.

Disposable containers and insert rim therefore


Apparatus and associated methods relate to compacting scan chain output responses of vectors into an on-chip multiple-input shift register (MISR) in the presence of unknown/indeterministic values X in design. In an illustrative example, a system may include a processing engine configured to generate a control signal for a MISR, and the control signal may hold information of what cycle has deterministic output response. The MISR may be configured to compact deterministic output responses of actual scan chain output responses in response to the decoded control signal and compare on-chip MISR signatures with expected MISR signatures to generate pass/fail status of the test. By using the system, unknown/indeterministic values X on the output responses may be blocked from being compacted into the MISR. Accordingly, the on-chip MISR signatures may not be corrupted by the unknown/indeterministic values X, and accuracy of the scan test may be advantageously improved.

An integrated circuit (IC), such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or the like, are designed using design for testability (DFT) techniques. DFT techniques add testability features to circuit design, such as scan chains. A scan chain may be formed by a number of flip flips connected sequentially in a chain. The input of the first flip-flop is connected to an input pin (a "scan-in"), and the output of the last flip-flop is connected to an output pin (a "scan-out").
Scan chains may be inserted into designs to shift in test input data and shift out test result data, and automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) tool may be used to generate test vectors for different fault models. ATPG vectors may be shifted into scan chains first by asserting a scan-enable signal and pulsing scab-clock. Circuit response may be captured into scan flip-flops by de-asserting scan-enable and pulsing functionable clock for few cycles.
An IC can also be designed to perform self-testing using a logic built-in-self-test (LBIST) feature. LBIST can test circuitry in the field and can test internal circuits that have no direct connections to external pins. LBIST can also provide test input to and receive test output from scan chains. An IC can perform LBIST upon being powered on.

Method to compress responses of automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) vectors into an on-chip multiple-input shift register (MISR)


A system and method for connecting electronic spreadsheets through a local area network are provided in which the spreadsheet programs are separate from the databases upon which they operate. The databases are multidimensional with each cell or datum identified by a unique set of element identifiers. The system and method allow users to create and control their own spreadsheet models while working with one, consistent pool of information. Changes in data effected by one user are reflected in the spreadsheets of all users, thereby guaranteeing consistent results for an entire work group at all times. Access restriction parameters for each user for each element of each dimension of the database also are provided. Multiple levels of consolidation values for each dimension of the database are calculated and updated automatically.

The present invention pertains to methods and apparatus for storing and retrieving information and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for storing and retrieving information from a multidimensional array.
The use of electronic spreadsheets on personal computers marked the beginning of the "microcomputer revolution." Electronic spreadsheets make it possible for people in the business community to become productive on computers quickly, without having to become programmers. The row and column structure, or table format, of electronic spreadsheets gives users an easily understood means for comparing and contrasting numbers and other information.
The proliferation of electronic spreadsheets has caused several problems, however. Within many business entities, a plurality of spreadsheets are employed by a number of users, often working on related matters. Although the same data may be pertinent to some or all of these spreadsheets, these data are entered into, and updated within, each of the spreadsheets independently of each other. For example, an accountant in the financial department and a market analyst in the sales department are likely to use electronic spreadsheets which rely upon the same basic data. Since these data are entered and updated by each spreadsheet user independently, however, these data may be different and the modeling results produced by the spreadsheets inconsistent.
Present spreadsheet systems also do not allow two users to simultaneously work on the same electronic spreadsheet. Even if the personal computers of the various spreadsheet users are connected through a local area network, each spreadsheet, and the data and calculations which it contains, cannot be worked on or updated by two users at the same time.
Another deficiency of present electronic spreadsheet systems are that they are flat, or two-dimensional. Recently, a three-dimensional spreadsheet, known as LOTUS 1-2-3.RTM. Rel. 3.0, has been introduced. Business data, however, often have more than three dimensions. For example, the budget for a department in a large corporation may be structured with expense items as line items and months as column items. If the same structure were applied to all departments in the corporation, this two-dimensional format would require a third dimension. Months would comprise one axis or dimension, expense items a second axis or dimension and departments a third axis or dimension. If this same structure were applied to each of a number of subsidiaries of the corporation and for the current year and a number of forecasted years, the data would require five dimensions. Using present electronic spreadsheets, data for each dimension after the third dimension would require a new spreadsheet.
As spreadsheets become larger, another problem is presented. A budget for a company that lists, e.g., 25 expense items, for a 12-month period, for each of 10 departments, over 5 years, requires 15,000 cells simply to store the raw data. After the analyst enters these data, he or she must locate the data for use in calculations. Current spreadsheet systems provide no simple means for accomplishing this task because they require that the address of each element of the data be known before it can be retrieved. This problem is further exacerbated in three-dimensional spreadsheets which use cryptic cell references that are even more complex than those used in two-dimensional spreadsheets.
The capabilities of current electronic spreadsheets also are limited because they store both raw data and calculation instructions together. Even though two users may be modeling off the same raw data, therefore, two spreadsheets are required, each having the separate calculation instructions and all the raw data.
In many cases, it is desirable to restrict access to a portion of the data in the spreadsheet to some of the users to which the spreadsheet is accessible, e.g., restricting particular users from viewing or changing certain data. Although some electronic spreadsheets are capable of "locking out" certain users, this all or nothing approach is undesirable when only a small segment of the data requires restriction.
Electronic spreadsheets are particularly useful for budgeting, financial consolidation, financial planning, financial analysis, profit and loss reporting, sales analysis, market research, forecasting and other applications involving tabular data. In such applications, it often is desirable to consolidate figures to present, for example, monthly, quarterly and yearly averages for various line and column items. Although current electronic spreadsheets may provide some formulas for determining some of these values, these spreadsheets are limited in the range, flexibility and dimensional variety of consolidation figures available.

System and method for storing and retrieving information from a multidimensional array


A method for restoration of stability and painfree rotation of the distal radio-ulna joint is based on raising the capsulo-retinacular flap by dissection off the dorsal part of the triangular fibro-cartilage complex distally and off the neck of the ulna proximally. After resection of the ulna head and reaming the distal end of the ulna to an appropriate depth and inserting the prosthesis into a suitable position the dorsal aspect of the triangular fibro-cartilage complex is reattached to the underside of the flap. Finally, the flap is reattached to the sigmoid notch of the radius and the wound is closed. By this way, painfree forearm rotation is restored and at the same time any length discrepancy is corrected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the operative treatment of the distal radio-ulnar joint and more particularly to the restoration of painfree rotation of the forearm and stability of the ulna and wrist by means of a soft tissue repair combined with a reconstruction of the triangular fibro-cartilage complex.
2. Relevant Background
The distal radio-ulnar joint consists of a shallow "ball and socket" articulation between the head of the ulna and the sigmoid fossa of the radius (FIG. 1a). This articulation allows for 180.degree. of forearm rotation which is essential for normal function of the hand. The triangular fibro-cartilage complex acts as a cushion between the head of the ulna and the proximal row of the carpus. By means of its strong soft tissue attachments to the apex of the ulnar head and the capsule of the distal radio-ulnar joint, it is also the major stabiliser of the distal radio-ulnar joint. Similarly, its distal expansions merge with the wrist capsule to stabilise the ulnar side of the carpus on the wrist. It allows for a free range of flexion, extension, ulnar deviation at the ulno-carpal joint.
Disorders of the distal radio-ulnar joint are common and usually associated with pain, weakness, instability and loss of forearm rotation. Any loss of congruity between the sigmoid fossa of the radius and the ulnar head will result in painful loss of forearm rotation. Causes include congenital abnormalities such as Madelung's deformity, radial fractures, inflammatory arthritis and tears of the triangular fibro-cartilage complex. Tears of the triangular fibro-cartilage complex are extremely common, particularly in patients with ulnar plus variance. Tears may be due to acute or chronic trauma, and leads to pain and loss of motion in the ulnar side of the wrist. The loss of integrity of the triangular fibro-cartilage complex results in instability of both the distal radio-ulnar joint and the ulno-carpal joint which is likely to result, in time, in a fixed deformity leading to a secondary osteoarthritis. If normal alignement between the distal radius and ulna is lost an "ulnar plus" deformity will increase to the extent that the ulna starts to impact on the lunate and/or triquetrum. This impaction may result in triquetro-lunate instability and ulno-carpal osteoarthritis.
The most common cause of these problems is fracture of the distal radius. This may be associated with avulsion fracture of the ulnar styloid process, leading to fractional instability of the triangular fibro-cartilage complex. More commonly radial malunion results in a secondary ulnar plus deformity. Occasionally direct damage to the sigmoid fossa may lead to the development of secondary osteoarthritis.
Furthermore, trauma may result in acute dislocation of the distal radio-ulnar joint itself, often in association with radial head fracture and tear of the interosseous membrane.
Other conditions affecting the distal radio-ulnar joint and triangular fibro-cartilage complex include growth disorders (Madelung's deformity), primary osteoarthritis, metabolic disorders (e.g. gout), rheumatoid arthritis.
Finally, many patients suffer from painful instability following previous surgical procedures on the distal radio-ulnar joint.
Several prior art operative procedures exist regarding the removement of disorders of the distal radio-ulnar joint.
Darrach's procedure comprises the excision of the ulnar head and thus destabilises the triangular fibro-cartilage complex leading to ulno-carpal and radio-ulnar instability often resulting in painful radio ulnar impingement (FIG. 1b).
Bowers procedure attempts to overcome the above-mentioned problems by preserving the attachment of the triangular fibro-cartilage complex to the ulnar styloid process, thus retaining some stability (FIG. 1c). However, soft tissue interposition between the sigmoid fossa and the resected surface of the ulna is seldom strong enough to prevent some degree of ulno-carpal and radio-ulnar instability, due to loss of the normal alignement between the radius and the ulna. Furthermore, in cases of ulnar plus variance, ulno-carpal impaction will occur unless the ulna is shortened at the same time.
Another surgical treatment is the Sauve-Kapandji procedure (FIG. 1d) which relieves any ulno-carpal impaction whilst maintaining function of the triangular fibro-cartilage complex if performed correctly. However, rotation is only restored at the expense of an unstable ulnar pseudoarthrosis which commonly results in painful radio-ulnar impingement. Furthermore, exact positioning of the radio-ulnar fusion is difficult which may lead to ulno-carpal impaction and triangular fibro-cartilage complex problems.
To prevent radio-ulnar instability following ulnar head resection silastic ulnar head replacement was designed (Swanson, FIG. 1e). With modifications it may also allow for reconstruction of the triangular fibro-cartilage complex and restoration of ulno-carpal instability. However, the silastic prosthesis is subject to excessive wear which may be complicated by the development of silicone synovitis. As a result many of these prostheses have had to be removed resulting in painful ulno-carpal instability.
Although any of the above procedures may produce reasonable results if correctly carried out and in appropriate patients, there are, however, many patients who are discontented with the results of surgery and who are seeking a suitable revision procedure to restore stability and painfree rotation at the distal radio-ulnar joint. None of the above-mentioned prior art operative procedures comprises a surgical treatment which can be guaranteed to restore painfree rotation and at the same time correct any underlying instability of length discrepancy.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a new operative procedure for restoration of the distal radio-ulnar joint which, combined with a careful reconstruction of the triangular fibro-cartilage complex and the use of a ulnar based capsulo-retinacular flap, results in stability and painfree rotation.

Surgical procedure for restoration of stability and painfree rotation of the distal radio-ulnar joint


A position measuring instrument for detecting a relative position, the position measuring instrument including a scale having a measuring graduation extending in a measuring direction and a scanning unit that can be moved in the measuring direction in relation to the scale so as to generate a resultant scanning signal, wherein the scanning unit has a scanning graduation arranged on a side of the scanning unit. Either the measuring graduation or the scanning graduation includes graduation areas located periodically in the measuring direction, the graduation areas extend perpendicular to the measuring direction along an extension direction, and the graduation areas, along the extension direction, have differentiable contour shapes, which are dimensioned such that unwanted harmonic components can be eliminated from the resultant scanning signal by way of them.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an optical position measuring instrument for detecting the relative position of a scanning unit, as well as a scale, which can be moved in at least one measuring direction in relation to it, wherein the scale includes at least one measuring graduation extending in the measuring direction, and at least one scanning graduation is arranged on the side of the scanning unit.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In known incremental optically based position measuring instruments, a scale with a periodic measuring graduation is typically scanned by a likewise periodic scanning graduation. The latter is arranged together with further components, such as a light source and a detector array, in a scanning unit that is movable relative to the scale in at least one measuring direction. In the ideal case, there is an exact sinusoidal scanning signal or incremental signal, which can be further processed—or further subdivided—in suitable follow-up electronic devices using known interpolation processes. Typically, the form of the detected scanning signals that actually results, however, deviates more or less sharply from the ideal sinusoidal form. The most various causes may be responsible for this, such as deviations in the graduation periods on the scale and/or on the scanning side from ideal conditions, imprecise edges of the graduation markings, and so forth. The scanning signals that actually result are therefore in practice burdened by harmonics, which in particular can impair the further processing of the signals in the form of the interpolation. It is therefore a fundamental goal to minimize the harmonic content of the scanning signals as much as possible.
Such harmonics result in connection with the most various optical scanning principles, or in other words both in conjunction with shadow-casting scanning principles and in the case of high-resolution, interferential scanning principles, or so-called grating-interferometric position measuring instruments. Harmonic filtering approaches for the last-named grating-interferometric position measuring instruments have already been disclosed in EP 547 270 B1. This reference proposes various variants for harmonic filtration, in each of which a specially embodied graduation structure is provided on the side of the scanned measuring graduation. Thus, the graduation areas located periodically in the measuring direction have a defined periodic transversal structure. To that end, the graduation areas have modulated contour shapes along their longitudinal extension direction. The exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 5 of the aforementioned reference, of this kind of measuring graduation is also known as a "fish-eye grating". Although a measuring graduation embodied in this way assures adequate harmonic filtration, it nevertheless makes stringent demands with regard to the proposed contour shapes of the production of the applicable measuring graduation structures. For instance, in the embodiment of the contour shapes that taper to a point, very fine structures must be exactly transferred, which makes for complicated and expensive production of the measuring graduation. This is all the more serious if in this kind of harmonic filtration the filtering structure is not limited to a small scanning plate but instead is provided on the side of the measuring graduation. The measuring graduation may then have a length of several meters, so that for this reason if no other, stringent demands must be made of the homogeneity of the production process for the measuring graduation.


Updating inactive compute instances is disclosed. It is determined that a first compute instance that boots from an operating system image on a first storage device is in an inactive state. It is determined that updates to the operating system image on the first storage device exist. The operating system image is copied from the first storage device to a second storage device. The operating system image on the second storage device is updated with the updates to generate an updated operating system image on the second storage device. The updated operating system image is copied form the second storage device to the first storage device in place of the operating system image.

A compute instance, such as a bare metal machine and/or a virtual machine, periodically require operating system updates to the operating system image from which the compute instance boots, or initiates. There are circumstances under which a compute instance may be inactive, such as being physically powered off or logically marked as not being available for service for a period of time, during which time period multiple operating system updates may be released by the vendor of the operating system. When the compute instance next initiates, or otherwise returns to service, the number of operating system updates that have accumulated over the period of time may then be consecutively installed.

Updating operating system images of inactive compute instances


A near-infrared fluorescing contrast medium which exhibits superior imaging capability and is also difficult to accumulate in a living body, is disclosed, comprising a cyanine compound containing water-solubilizing groups and represented by the following formula. The imaging method by use thereof is also disclosed.

In the initial stage of disease, to provide a suitable medical treatment for a disease, precise and prompt detection of morphological change of organ and tissue which has been caused in organism by the disease is desired through a simple method. Specifically in cases when treating cancer, it is essential for early treatment to specify the lesion region in the initial stage of carcinogenesis to definitely determine its size. Commonly known medical treatments for this purpose include, for example, living organ examination using an endoscope and imaging diagnosis such as radiography, MRI and sonography.
Living organ examination, whereby the lesion region can be directly observed, is effective for diagnostic definition; however, it is painful procedure for an examinee. Radiography or MRI exposes an examinee to radiation rays or a magnetic field potentially harmful to the human body, and when tracing the focus or lesion region with the elapse of time, the exposure time increases in proportion to the tracing time. In the measurement for MRI diagnosis, the photographing time is generally long and noises generated by the MRI photographing apparatus gives an examinee mental pressure. In addition, its facility and apparatus are large and require a large amount of labor and the cost for installation and operation is high.
On the other hand, light is a means capable of performing noninvasive diagnosis of organs using a relatively simple apparatus. There have been practically used, for example, a clinical thermometer in which the temperature of an infant is measured by detection of infrared rays emitted from the eardrum, a device for diagnosis for neonatal jaundice by numerical evaluation of the yellowing degree of bilirubin deposited onto subcutaneous tissue, a pulse oximeter for noninvasive measurement of aerated blood oxygen saturation (SaO2) based on the degree of light absorption, and endoscopical observation of auto-fluorescence, employing the characteristic that auto-fluorescing of oncocyte is less than that of a normal cell (being excited at 450 nm and fluorescing at 520 nm). However, there is raised the problem that many hemoglobins exhibiting absorption in the visible region exist in organs and only information of the outermost surface of organ can be measured or collected.
In the near-infrared region at the wavelengths slightly longer than visible light, absorption of the respective substituents having a hydrogen bond occurs but such absorption is relatively small so that near-infrared rays are easily transmitted through tissue. It is contemplated that employing such characteristics of near-infrared rays make it feasible to measure bio-information without loading a useless load onto the body. However, light is strongly scattered by tissue so that it is generally not easy to know through which portion of the organ detected light has passed or from which portion information is transmitted. Recently, information of the deep portion of the body can also be obtained by combinations of a high-sensitive sensor, a laser generating extremely short pulses and simulation for internal light scattering employing Monte Carlo method.
There is noted fluorescent photography as a diagnostic method using near-infrared rays, in which near-infrared dyes are injected into a tumor portion to image the tumor portion. In this method, a compound capable, as a contrast medium, of fluorescing upon exposure to exciting light at wavelengths in the near-infrared region is dosed into a live body. Then, exciting light of near-infrared wavelengths is irradiated from outside the body and detection of emitted fluorescence from the fluorescent contrast medium concentrated at the tumor portion provides definite decision of the lesion portion.
There is known, as such a fluorescing contrast medium, indocyanine green which has been confirmed to be safe within a living body. It is said that veins in tumor portions are randomly open and close, causing retention of bloodstreams (so-call blood pool). When the indocyanine green is dosed to an animal exhibiting a tumor, the retention time of blood differs between the normal portion and the tumor portion (i.e., the indocyanine green is promptly discharged from the tissue comprised of normal cells), so that irradiation of exciting light at the wavelengths in the near-infrared region can cause the tumor portion to come out (Ohata et al., Basic Study of Cancer Diagnosis Using Indocyanine Green and Near-Infrared Topography in Rat Experiment Tumor, Nippon Ihokaishi, 62 (6), 284-286, 2002).
Since fluorescing contrast medium of cyanine type compounds was reported, there have been disclosed techniques using various peripheral cyanine type compounds as a contrast medium to achieve modification into a compound exhibiting enhanced hydrophilicity, molar absorption coefficient and quantum yield, as described in JP-A No. 2000-95758, 2002-526458, 2003-517025, 2003-160558 and 261464 (hereinafter, the term, JP-A refers to unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication). In addition to resolving performance (imaging power) capable of discriminating lesion tissue from normal tissue, the medium needs to completely decomposed to be nontoxic or be completely discharged after imaging (non-accumulativeness). However, there has not been found any safer compound providing both of the foregoing or any other contrast medium containing the said compound.

Near-infrared fluorescent contrast medium


The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa seed designated 45-149 RZ, which exhibits resistance to downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) races Bl:1-28 Ca-I to Ca-VIII, and strains F837 and USA927, resistance to currant-lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri), moderately glossy leaves, and a medium head size. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa plant produced by growing the 45-149 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 45-149 RZ.

All cultivated forms of lettuce belong to the highly polymorphic species, Lactuca sativa, which is grown for its edible head and leaves. As a crop, lettuces are grown commercially wherever environmental conditions permit the production of an economically viable yield.
Lactuca sativa is in the Cichoreae tribe of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. Lettuce is related to chicory, sunflower, aster, scorzonera, dandelion, artichoke and chrysanthemum. Sativa is one of about 300 species in the genus Lactuca.
Lettuce cultivars are susceptible to a number of pests and diseases such as downy mildew (Bremia lactucae). Every year this disease leads to millions of dollars of lost lettuce crop throughout the world. Downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) is highly destructive of lettuce grown at relatively low temperature and high humidity. Downy mildew is caused by a fungus, Bremia lactucae, which can be one of the following strains: NL1, NL2, NL4, NL5, NL6, NL7, NL10, NL12, NL13, NL14, NL15, NL16, Bl:17, Bl:18, Bl:20, Bl:21, Bl:22, Bl:23, Bl:24, Bl:25, Bl:26, Bl:27, Bl:28 (Van Ettekoven, K. et al., "Identification and denomination of 'new' races of Bremia lactucae," In: Lebeda, A. and Kristkova, E (eds.), Eucarpia Leafy Vegetables, 1999, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic, pp. 171-175; Van der Arend et al. "Identification and denomination of "new" races of Bremia lactucae in Europe by IBEB until 2002." In: Van Hintum, Th et al. (eds.), Eucarpia Leafy Vegetables Conference 2003, Centre for Genetic Resources, Wageningen, The Netherlands, p. 151; Plantum NL (Dutch association for breeding, tissue culture, production and trade of seeds and young plants), IBEB press release, "New race of Bremia lactucae Bl:27 identified and nominated", May 2010; Plantum NL (Dutch association for breeding, tissue culture, production and trade of seeds and young plants), IBEB press release, "New race of Bremia lactucae Bl:28 identified and nominated", March 2011), Ca-I, Ca-IIA, Ca-IIB, Ca-III, Ca-IV (Schettini, T. M., Legg, E. J., Michelmore, R. W., 1991. Insensitivity to metalaxyl in California populations of Bremia lactucae and resistance of California lettuce cultivars to downy mildew, Phytopathology 81(1). p. 64-70), and Ca-V, Ca-VI, Ca-VII, Ca-VIII (Michelmore R. & Ochoa. O. "Breeding Crisphead Lettuce." In: California Lettuce Research Board, Annual Report 2005-2006, 2006, Salinas, Calif., pp. 55-68). Also new strains appear, which are overcoming resistance gene combinations in present varieties. An example is strain F837 which is overcoming the Bremia-resistance in the varieties "Design", "Bedford" and the IBEB-test line "RYZ-2164". Another example is strain USA927 which is overcoming the Bremia-resistance in the variety "Kibrille" and the IBEB-test line "RYZ-910457". New strains can be described by a sextetcode based on resistance test results on a set of 25 publicly available lettuce lines (IBEB press release May 2010. F837 has sextetcode EU-B 63-63-13-11 and USA927 has sextetcode 57-63-02-05.
Downy mildew causes pale, angular, yellow areas bounded by veins on the upper leaf surfaces. Sporulation occurs on the opposite surface of the leaves. The lesions eventually turn brown, and they may enlarge and coalesce. These symptoms typically occur first on the lower leaves of the lettuce, but under ideal conditions may move into the upper leaves of the head. When the fungus progresses to this degree, the head cannot be harvested. Less severe damage requires the removal of more leaves than usual, especially when the lettuce reaches its final destination.
Of the various species of aphids that feed on lettuce, the currant-lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri) is the most destructive species because it feeds both on the leaves of the lettuce as well as the heart of the lettuce, making it difficult to control with conventional insecticides. The lettuce aphid feeds by sucking sap from the lettuce leaves. Although direct damage to the lettuce may be limited, its infestation has serious consequences because the presence of aphids makes lettuce unacceptable to consumers.
Vegetables are generally considered as healthy food. Both consumers as well as producers benefit from an increase of vegetable consumption. Higher vegetable consumption can be promoted by education, marketing, and improvement of certain product traits, like taste, aroma, and visual attractiveness. Visual attractiveness of iceberg lettuce heads is promoted by absence of leaf damage and related discolorations and a fresh, shiny green color. Between iceberg varieties there exists genetic variability in the glossiness of the head leaves. With respect to visual attractiveness of iceberg lettuce heads moderately glossy green head leaves are desirable over dull green head leaves.
Citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention.


There is provided an underwater measurement system (20, 30, 40) for monitoring an underwater region (10). The system (20, 30, 40) includes a sensor assembly operable to sense at least one physical variable in the region (10) for generating at least one corresponding sensor signal, and a data processing arrangement (170, 510, 520) for processing the at least one sensor signal to generate processed data for presentation and/or logging. The sensor assembly (20) includes one or more voltage sensors (190) configured to sense electric fields present in the underwater region (10) and provide information in the at least one signal indicative of the electric fields. Moreover, the sensor assembly (20) includes one or more hydrophones (200) operable to receive sonic energy generated in the underwater region (10) and to include corresponding information in the at least one sensor signal for communicating to the data processing arrangement (170, 510, 520).

Underwater vessels such as submarines are well known. More recently, mini-submarines have been used to monitor fish stocks for farm cultured salmon and for inspecting submerged structures in deep-sea oil exploration. Monitoring and inspection is often performed using optical cameras for capturing images of underwater regions, as well as employing active sonar equipment for emitting sonic energy and receiving corresponding sonic reflections from submerged structures.
However, such methods of monitoring and inspection do not enable certain types of defects in structures to be detected, especially those of an electrical nature. More recently, there has been increased use of underwater cables for coupling power between electrical networks separated by regions of water, for example between southern Sweden and the Danish island of Sjælland, as well as across the English Channel between England and France. Moreover, underwater electrical cables are employed to provide power to submerged equipment during oil and gas exploration and extraction. Furthermore, telecommunications links including optical fibre waveguides often include electrical supply lines for providing power to erbium doped fibre optical amplifiers (EDFAs) for providing periodic regeneration of optical signals to compensate for optical attenuation occurring along the optical fibre waveguides.
Raising an underwater cable for repair is often an extremely expensive operation and there is a great need to be able to detect locations whereat submerged cables and electrical equipment are potentially defective or have developed faults. Optical inspection often provides an inadequate approach for identifying and localizing defects and faults.
In U.S. Pat. No. 7,116,108, which is based on published international PCT patent application no. WO 03/104844 (PCT/US03/18522), there is described a system for mapping electrical conductivity of the seafloor. The system incorporates several data logging units. Each unit is an assembly adapted for being deployed at a location on the seafloor for measuring horizontal electric and magnetic fields there. A vertically-orientated substantially rigid arm extends vertically from the unit assembly and includes a pair of vertically-displaced electrodes disposed on the arm to create a vertically-orientated dipole antenna. The electrodes of the arm are in electrical communication with an amplifier located within the assembly which generates an amplified signal which is then provided to a data logging processor also located within the assembly. The processor collects time series of amplified electric field and magnetic signals over a predetermined period of time.
Moreover, in a published U.S. Pat. No. 6,867,596, there is disclosed a method of detecting breakdowns in insulation and corresponding earth faults in a buried land cable; a test signal is applied to the cable, the signal being detected using a differential voltage probe placed in a conductive medium in near proximity to the cable. The differential voltage probe generates a received signal which is processed in a signal processing circuit operable to decompose components of the received signal corresponding to the test signal. The decomposed components are then subject to a phase comparison to determine a direction of current leakage associated with the earth fault.
Hostile aquatic environments can be subject to considerable water flows and other disturbances which render techniques hitherto employed unsuitable. There thus arises a challenging technical problem of detecting electrical faults in hostile aquatic environments.
A standard manner of testing for earth-connection faults in power distribution networks is to perform an insulation tests by "megging". When implementing "megging", a high potential signal is applied to a conductor surrounded by an insulator and a resistance of the insulator is measured in response to the signal being applied. Performing tests by "megging" is not feasible in a situation for detecting an earth fault on an electrically-floating secondary winding of an underwater transformer. There is no known contemporary method that is able to detect an earth fault associated with such a secondary winding of an underwater transformer without special instrumentation being built into the transformer for detecting occurrence of any such faults. This special instrumentation is susceptible to increasing installation complexity and cost and represents a sub-optimal solution. Transmission of a test signal into a transformer circuit is not satisfactory when the secondary side of the transformer is positioned in the sea bed and in operation.


The present invention is directed to a method for acquiring elevation data for an area. The method includes using a GPS receiver to map ground elevations while driving back and forth over an area and periodically recording position, elevation, and time. Then, at least one track is made across the parallel tracks so that the cross track intersects the parallel tracks. The data obtained is processed and elevation data from the cross track is used to adjust elevation data for the parallel tracks, compensating for elevation drift in measurements recorded by the GPS receiver. The adjusted data for the entire area is processed using the method of the present invention to obtain an elevation map for the area.

Mapping ground elevations for a series of locations in an area, such as for creating a topographical map of the area, may be accomplished by traversing the area and periodically measuring positional and elevation data for various locations in the area. Measuring the position and elevation of each location is typically accomplished using a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, such as a wide area differentially corrected global positioning system (WADGPS) receiver, or the like. When creating a topographical map of an area for slope sensitive applications, such as for analyzing water flow, drainage for agricultural fields, and the like, relative elevation accuracy is required. For example, topographical maps for analyzing water flow and/or drainage for agricultural fields may require relative accuracies in the 1 to 2 centimeter range. It should be noted that absolute vertical accuracy is not required for such applications, as long as the elevation measurements are taken relative to a consistent baseline.
Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) systems may be used to provide elevation measurements for producing survey quality topographical maps. These maps aid in the analysis of water flow and drainage for agricultural fields, as well as for other slope sensitive applications outside agriculture. These applications typically require elevation measurements having accuracies in the 1 to 2 centimeter range relative to a consistent baseline. Because of atmospheric interference with satellite signals received by a GPS receiver, such as interference from the ionosphere, troposphere, cloud cover, weather, and the like, elevation data measured by a GPS receiver may tend to drift over time. RTK systems continuously compare data received from a GPS system to positional and elevation measurements for a surveyed location, such as a surveyed base station. The data comparison is used to generate correction factors for adjusting measurements taken by GPS receivers in the vicinity of the surveyed base station, since the satellite signals received by the GPS receivers will be subject to atmospheric interference similar to that detected by the RTK system at the base station.
RTK systems use radio links with the base station to send the correction factors to GPS receivers for adjusting elevation measurements taken by the receivers, subsequently allowing corrected measurements to have absolute vertical accuracies in the range of several centimeters. The absolute vertical accuracies of the corrected elevation measurements ensure relative accuracies between the measurements. The range of the equipment used to transmit and receive signals over the radio links, as well as differing atmospheric conditions in the vicinity of the base station, which may make correction factors less accurate than desired, limit the area over which an RTK system may provide the accuracy desired to within a relatively small radius of a surveyed base station. Typically, this radius is a maximum of 10 to 20 kilometers. Additional problems with RTK systems include the need for achieving line of sight between radio transmitters and receivers, as well as the presence of external interference sources which may use the same band as a radio link, interfering with the reception of signals from an RTK system.
Consequently, it would be advantageous to provide a method for acquiring elevation data for an area using a GPS receiver, such as a wide area differentially corrected GPS receiver, or the like, without requiring communication with a base station of an RTK system or the like.

System and method for creating accurate topographical maps using low-drift DGPS


A method of reducing the internal reflected light in an OLED device comprising the step of either scattering light emitted from the OLED or removing light emitted from the OLED. An OLED device comprising a color changing medium film, a transparent substrate, and either a means for scattering light emitted from the OLED or a means for removing light emitted from the OLED such that the internal reflected light is reduced.

OLEDs have been known for approximately two decades. All OLEDs work on the same general principles. One or more layers of semiconducting organic material is sandwiched between two electrodes. An electric current is applied to the device, causing negatively charged electrons to move into the organic material(s) from the cathode. Positive charge, typically referred to as holes, moves from the anode. The positive and negative charges meet in the center layers (i.e., the semiconducting organic material), combine, and produce photons. The wave-length—and consequently the color—of the photons depends on the electronic properties of the organic material in which the photons are generated.
Light emitting devices, which may be generally classified as organic or inorganic, are well known in the graphic display and imaging art. Among the benefits of organic light emitting devices are high visibility due to self-emission, as well as superior impact resistance, and ease of handling of the solid state devices. Organic light emitting devices may have practical application for television and graphic displays, as well as in digital printing applications.
An OLED is a thin film structure formed on a substrate. A light emitting layer of a luminescent organic solid, as well as adjacent semiconductor layers, are sandwiched between a cathode and an anode. The light emitting layer may consist of multiple sublayers. When a potential difference is applied across the device, negatively charged electrons move from the cathode to the electron-injecting layer and finally into the layer(s) of organic material. At the same time, positive charges, typically referred to as holes, move from the anode to the hole-injection layer and finally into the same light emitting organic layer. When the positive and negative charges meet in the organic material layer(s), they recombine and produce photons. The wave length—and consequently the color—of the photons depends on the electronic properties of the organic material in which he photons are generated.
In a typical matrix-addressed OLED device, numerous OLEDs are formed on a single substrate and arranged in groups in a grid pattern. Several OLED groups forming a column of the grid may share a common cathode, or cathode line. Several OLED groups forming a row of the grid may share a common anode, or anode line. The individual OLEDs in a given group emit light when their cathode line and anode line are activated at the same time.
Fabrication of color displays generally requires side-by-side patterning of red, green and blue ("RGB") sub-pixels. Since the OLED devices are extremely moisture sensitive, any type of wet processing is normally not possible. Moreover, suitable red, blue and green color emitter materials, with good color gamut and lifetime, have not yet been realized. As such, most color OLED displays are fabricated using either color filters or color changing media ("CCM").
A problem arises in the case of CCM materials, wherein, the emitted fluorescent light can be trapped inside the CCM film as well as the transparent substrate on which the CCM film is deposited. This problem is due to the effect of total internal reflection (wave-guiding effect), which is significant if the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle for that material. The effect is observed when the light exits out of a medium with a higher index of refraction and enters a medium with a lower index of refraction. This situation is identical to the case of a CCM coating over a glass substrate. As a result of light trapping the total amount of useful light (fluorescent) obtained from the CCM material is vastly reduced. FIG. 1 shows an example of light trapping effect.

Light extraction from color changing medium layers in organic light emitting diode devices


In an embodiment, a cloud server determines a point in time in a current task, and identifies a corresponding point in time in each of a number of completed tasks retrieved from a first database. User activity data from a second database is used to calculate time spent on the current task up to the identified point in time, a ratio between time spent on each completed task after the corresponding point in time and time spent on the completed task before the corresponding point in time. The cloud server also calculates a similarity score between each completed task and the current task based on a number of parameters and using a predetermined algorithm. A weighted arithmetic mean of the time ratios can be calculated using the similarity scores as weights, and can be used in conjunction with the time spent on the current task up to the identified point in time, to calculate time required to complete the current task.

In today's organizations, estimating time required to complete certain tasks can play an important role in budgeting, resource allocation, work prioritization, and performance assessment.
For example, with an estimated time required to complete each task assigned to a task performer, the task performer can determine which task to work on first, so that the task performer's productivity can be improved for a particular evaluation period. Such estimation can also provide deeper quantitative visibility into a task performer's performance and effectiveness.
Task performers typically rely on gut feelings and past experiences to estimate time required to complete a particular task, which is unreliable and inconsistent. What is needed is a systematic approach that is based on factual data to make such estimations.

Method for determining amount of time spent on a task and estimating amount of time required to complete the task


In a connector to be mounted to a board having a pair of first through holes and at least one second through hole, a pair of supporting portions is formed on a housing holding a plurality of contacts arranged in a first direction. Each of the supporting portions protrudes from the housing in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. First bosses protrude from the supporting portions to be inserted into the first through holes, respectively. At least one second boss is coupled to the housing to be inserted into the at least one second through hole.

This invention relates to a connector to be mounted to a board.
As a connector of the type, a connector having a coupling surface parallel to a board and generally high in profile is known (for example, see Japanese Utility Model Registrations Nos. 2500036 and 2549644). The connector comprises a housing made of an insulating material, a number of contacts arranged in parallel to one another at a predetermined pitch and held by the housing, and a shell covering the housing. The housing is provided with an expanded lower portion formed at its lower part. The housing is provided with a boss having a generally rectangular section and formed at a lower center part thereof. The shell is also provided with a plurality of bosses each having a generally rectangular section and formed at a lower part thereof. When these bosses are inserted into through holes of the board, the contacts are connected to contact point patterns of the board. In this state, a mating connector can be connected to the connector.
In order to prevent the connector from falling down when it is mounted to the board, the connector is provided with, for example, the expanded lower portion formed at its bottom. In this case, however, the connector is increased in size and can not meet the demand for a compact structure.
Alternatively, the bosses of the connector may be press-fitted into the through holes of the board. In this case, however, the connector must be pushed so that the bosses are fitted into the through holes. Therefore, depending upon the type of the connector, it is impossible to automatically mount the connector to the board.
Alternatively, the connector is fixed to the board by the use of a hook. In this case, however, the connector is increased in size and can not meet the demand for a compact structure.

Board mount connector suitable for automatic mounting

Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited


The disclosure herein describes a device to assist in the teaching of a golfer's swing and includes a rigid rod having one end mounted to a vertical surface attachment and an opposite end on which slides, through an appropriate connecting member, the shaft of a golf club or simulated club. The connection between rod and shaft allows a pivotal movement therebetween while that part of the connecting member in which is mounted the rod, allows it to freely slide longitudinally thus allowing an instructor or the golfer himself or herself to have an indication, as a result of the location of the connecting member on the rod, whether the golf swing is proper or improper for a given golfer.

Many devices have been developed to assist a golfer to improve his or her swing. Swing theories tend to describe and materialize the golf swing as a wheel, the axis being the golfer's neck and the rim being at the ball. The club, or simulated club, slides backward on the rim or on a plane parallel to the radius of the wheel, up to the top of the swing. At this point, there is a re-route of the club head, described as a "loop"; then, the downward swing follows the same path, parallel to the rim or to the radius of the wheel. According to golf instructors, such loop is necessary to promote a squared club face at impact on the target line. During the follow-through and finish, the club continues the same process.
Another important feature is the action of the hands. In a correct right-handed golf swing, the left hand "climbs" over the right hand on the backswing (pronation) to finish at the top in a position known as the tray position. On the downswing, it reverses, the right hand "climbing" over the left hand (supination). Depending on golf instructors, beliefs, this should be done with or without alteration of the angle at the back of the wrist, formed by the left forearm and the hand.
In order to achieve one of the above features or both, many devices have been developed with or without attachments.
Canadian patent No. 518,637 of Plunkett issued Nov. 15, 1955 describes a device without an attachment, the club bearing on guides to control the orientation and position of the club face when swung.
Various devices have been developed with an attachment wherein a line or a rope is anchored to an immoveable object at one end and is attached and secured at the other end to part of a golf club: see, for example, Canadian patent No. 872,391 of Gentry issued Jun. 1, 1971.
A more recent patent, Canadian patent No. 1,185,633 issued Apr. 16, 1985 to Kane et al , describes a golfer practice swing device which uses an elongated rigid rod and a clamp which engages the shaft of a golf club by gripping a portion thereof to secure against unpurposeful disengagement. Connection means are associated with the clamp to mechanically connect the clamp to the rod for pivotal movement of the clamp and the shaft with respect to the rod about an axis parallel to that of the shaft. The length of the rod is such that, when the device is in use, the shaft will be guided towards a proper swing plane and will be turned a require amount for pronation and supination. Consequently, the head of the club will be guided towards a proper swing path. Hence, with this device, the golfer is forced to swing in a predetermined golf swing path.
There are two important elements in a golf swing: the plane and the arc. Referring to the above described "wheel" swing, the rim is the arc (which is the path of travel of the club head) and the radius is the plane. It has been established, through computer analysis, that, in a reasonable proper swing, the arc should not be shortened during the backswing but, on the downswing, it must slightly shorten and move to the left (for a right-handed golfer). The plane and its angle is dictated by two elements: the golfer's club (known as the shaft plane) and the golfer's own physical aptitudes. Hence, a golfer has his or her "own swing plane" and there are as many swing planes as there are golfers.
Hence, the concept of a swing being a wheel needs to be carefully revised.
Because of the loop created at the top of the swing, due to a change of direction and weight transfer, the golfer creates a second path or a "second wheel" which is above the one created during the backswing. These "wheels" meet at the bottom but separate at the top. In other words, the downswing is slightly above the backswing. This promotes and encourages a position, known as the delay, which consists in keeping the club head away from the ball as long as possible. After impact, as the golfer turns his or her body to the left and begins to raise, he or she also turns and moves the axis of the wheel and the rim (right to left, down to up); it also slides slightly to the left. This means that the epicenter of the swing moves constantly during the swing.
Referring to the devices described above and others which tend to materialize these concept, none describes and achieves all the movements in a very simple and efficient device. If the action of the hands is an important aspect of the teaching, then the plane and the arc remain constant factors of a swing. If the concept is that of a hoop, it should be able to move constantly right to left, up and down in order to follow the positions of the wheel and the displacements of the epicenter.
In a device using an anchor to an immoveable object or surface at one end thereof and an attachment to a club at the other end thereof, the variations of the radius created between the anchor and the club must be considered. From full length at address position and, preferably at waist level, this radius decreases from waist to top. Then, on the downswing, it returns to its full length while approaching the impact zone. This full length is kept until more or less at waist level on the follow-through and decreases again up to the finish position.


A method is provided for receiving uplink control information (UCI) in a wireless access system supporting a carrier aggregation. An evolved Node-B (eNB) transmits, to a user equipment (UE), two or more physical downlink shared channels (PDSCHs) via two or more downlink component carriers, respectively. The eNB receives, from the UE, the UCI for the two or more downlink component carriers. The UCI includes acknowledgement information and channel quality information (CQI) for each of the two or more downlink carriers. The UCI is performed by using a channel coding with respect to the UCI according to a payload size of the UCI when the UCI is transmitted by using a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 3. The UCI is performed by using a rate matching with respect to the channel coded UCI for the PUCCH format 3.

The present invention relates to a wireless access system, and more particularly, to a method of coding and transmitting uplink control information (UCI) including channel quality control information in a carrier aggregation environment (that is, a multi-component carrier environment) and an apparatus for supporting the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of coding and transmitting channel quality control information through a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).
A 3rd Generation Partnership Project Long Term Evolution (3GPP LTE) (or Rel-8 or Rel-9) system (hereinafter, referred to as an LTE system or a Rel-8 system) uses a multi-carrier modulation (MCM) scheme for segmenting and utilizing a single component carrier (CC) into several bands. However, in a 3GPP LTE-Advanced (hereinafter, referred to as an LTE-A system or a Rel-10 system), in order to support a system bandwidth wider than that of the LTE system, a method such as carrier aggregation (CA) for aggregating and utilizing one or more CCs may be used. CA is also called carrier matching, multi-CC environment or multi-carrier environment.
In a single CC environment such as an LTE system, only the case in which uplink control information (UCI) and data are multiplexed on one CC using a plurality of layers is described.
In addition, only ACK/NACK and scheduling request (SR) of up to 20 bits were transmitted in the existing PUCCH format 3 and only channel quality control information (CQI/PMI) of up to 11 bits was transmitted in another PUCCH format.

Method and apparatus for transmitting channel quality control information using PUCCH format 3 in a wireless access system


A current detectable transistor T.sub.r comprises a main transistor in which a main current flows and a sense transistor for detecting the current flowing in the main transistor. A sense resistance R.sub.S having a temperature coefficient .alpha..sub.S suitable for maintaining the constancy of a sense voltage V.sub.S regardless of a temperature change .DELTA.T is provided at the emitter of the sense transistor. Because the sense voltage V.sub.S can be measured between the two ends of a sense resistor R.sub.S with little temperature drift, the sense voltage V.sub.S obtained as a detection result remains constant regardless of the temperature change .DELTA.T, thereby enabling a current to be detected with high precision.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to a current detectable transistor equipped with a main transistor in which a main current flows and a sense transistor for detecting a current flowing in the main transistor, and more particularly to a current detectable transistor having a stable sense voltage little affected by a temperature change by providing a resistor whose temperature coefficient is suitable for maintaining the constancy of the sense voltage regardless of temperature change.
2. Description of the Related Arts
A power transistor having a large current flow requires a swift detection of an overcurrent for its protection. For this purpose, a power transistor having an emitter terminal for detecting a current in addition to a sense transistor for detecting a current has been designed and put into a commercial use.
A current detectable transistor equipped with a main transistor in which a main current flows and a sense transistor for detecting the current flowing in the main transistor necessitates a resistance (hereafter referred to as a sense resistance) for obtaining the sense voltage as a voltage drop due to the current flowing in the sense transistor. Ordinarily, a sense resistance without a temperature dependency is used for accurately measuring the sense current value.
FIG. 1 shows an equivalent circuit when a current detectable transistor having a sense resistor is in saturation.
Generally in saturation, a main transistor and a sense transistor can be regarded as two resistances having a certain ratio. Assuming the main transistor and the sense transistor is formed by the plurality of cells, and the ratio of a member of cells of a main transistor to those of a sense transistor is n:1, and R.sub.CE, is the on-resistance (the resistance to current flow in the normal direction between a collector and an emitter) of a main transistor, and the on-resistance of a sense transistor is expressed as nR.sub.CE.
In the equivalent circuit shown in FIG. 1, the on-resistance R.sub.CE of the main transistor between its collector C and its emitter E is connected in parallel with the on-resistance nR.sub.CE, of the sense transistor between the collector C and sense emitter E.sub.S. Further, on-resistance nR.sub.CE, of the sense transistor connects to the sense resistance R.sub.S in series.
Defining a collector current and a sense current respectively as I.sub.C and I.sub.S, the sense voltage V.sub.S can be expressed as: ##EQU1##
Because the on-resistance R.sub.CE, of a semiconductor element is temperature dependent, it can be expressed as EQU R.sub.CE =(1+.alpha..sub.K .DELTA.T)R.sub.CEO ( 2)
where .alpha..sub.K is the temperature coefficient of a semiconductor element, .DELTA.T is a temperature change, and R.sub.CEO is the initial value of on-resistance R.sub.CE.
Because the sense resistance R.sub.S is not temperature dependent, sense voltage V.sub.S can be expressed as ##EQU2##
As described above, even though the sense resistance R.sub.S is not temperature dependent, on-resistance R.sub.CE is temperature dependent. Therefore, as is evident from above expression (3), a temperature change causes the sense voltage V.sub.S to change. Consequently, the value of an overcurrent cannot be determined accurately, thereby preventing a current from being detected with high precision.
A solution to this problem has been considered, in which a separate resistance is provided for compensating for the change of the sense resistance R.sub.S due to temperature change, thereby making the sense voltage V.sub.S constant regardless of a temperature change. However, because this solution invites an increase in the number of parts, it is contrary to the need for miniaturizing the transistor.

Current detectable transistor having sense resistor with particular temperature coefficient

Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho


A method and apparatus for baling crop materials using a baler with a pickup thereon for picking up crop materials from the ground and moving such crop materials towards a baling chamber. The pickup has a pickup frame operatively attached to the baler, the frame having a plurality of laterally spaced apart tines of a type which is typical for balers. A powered rotor is rotationally attached to the baler a predetermined distance above and forwardly of the pickup frame, the rotor being powered to rotate in at least one direction. A plurality of blade assemblies are disposed on the rotor having blades extending radially outwardly from the axis of the rotor wherein at least at times one or more of the blade assemblies are disposed between one or more of the tines.

Balers are used for many different crops. Most balers are used to bale hay. Hay is usually classified as any type of grass or legume, such as alfalfa, that is fed to livestock such as cows and horses.
Balers also bale straw, which is of course the part of the plant above ground that is left after grain such as wheat, oats barley or the like are harvested, for example with a combine harvester. A primary use for straw is for bedding for animals. Straw is also commonly used as mulch for gardens or the like.
A third category of crop material which is baled using a baler is a stiff stalk crop, such as corn stover including corn stalks which are typically baled after the corn is removed from the stalk, such as with a combine harvester which saves only the corn kernels or with a corn picker, which saves only the corn while it is still on a cob. It is this third category of crop material which is the most problematic to bale, primarily because of the stiff long pieces of plant stalk. Corn stalks are commonly used as feed for animals, such as cattle, or can be used as a raw material for making a bio-fuel, such as ethanol.
When baling corn stalks, the flow of material is not always a steady flow. Because the corn stalks do not fold together like hay and straw material, sometimes the corn stalks do not flow easily into the baler pickup. This causes the cornstalks to pile up in front of the pickup as the baler is towed through a field, causing a large pile of corn stalks to be pushed along in front of the baler pickup instead of evenly entering the baler. This requires the operator to stop the baler, reorganize the pile of cornstalks in front of the pickup of the baler and resume the baling operation. Additionally, these cornstalks can plug up the pickup of the baler so that the baler can no longer be used until such plug of material is removed, or at a minimum repositioned. This problem can occur numerous times during the process of baling a field and happens most often when the crop comprises cornstalks.
When the pickup of a baler becomes plugged with crop, the operator has a few options. Some operators will wait for the pickup to clear itself which is very damaging to the pickup; some will shake the pickup with a hydraulic lift, which is damaging to the pickup itself, some will increase and decrease the revolutions per minute of the controls of the baler which can damage the drive line and the tractor, and the most desperate operators will get out of their tractor and cab and try to clear the plug by hand. All of these methods take valuable time. Some of the methods cost money in repairs because they damage the equipment. And whenever the operator is out of the cab of the tractor, safety can be an issue.
Another problem with using a baler to bale a crop is that if the crop does not enter the pickup evenly, the bale will not be formed evenly, which devalues the bales produced and the negatively impacts the perception of quality of the baler itself because even, consistent bales are desired. This is especially true when the bales being made are large round bales. Also, uneven entry of the crop also causes extra stress on the baler, in particular of the pickup portion of the baler. This can cause premature wear and or premature failure of the components thereof.
The speed of baling is controlled to a great degree by how fast the operator can drive through the field and pickup the crop. Usually it is the pickup portion of the baler that is the limiting factor as to the speed that the baler can be towed during operation because once the crop is in the baling chamber the baler can usually handle a high capacity of crop. So although a faster pickup of the crop will increase the efficiency of the baler, operators soon learn the maximum speed that they can tow the baler for a particular crop under particular conditions and they will try to operate at such maximum speed whenever possible. Pushing beyond that optimum speed for such crop and conditions will typically cause plugging of the pickup. In general, the maximum baling speed for certain crops under the conditions existing at the time is proportional to the amount of crop material that enters evenly through the pickup portion of the baler. For certain crops, such as alfalfa, the more the crop "slips" in the pickup portion of the baler the more likely that there will be leaf shatter and leaf loss, decreasing the value of the crop. So to the extent that a pickup of a baler can be made to minimize this slippage of the crop with respect to the pickup, it will be more efficient and more of a valuable feature of such a baler.
Accordingly, there is a need for a baler apparatus that overcomes the aforementioned problems with the pickup portion of balers for baling crop materials. Because existing prior art pickup systems have built in limitations as to how quickly an even flow of the crop can be moved from the ground to the baling chamber, it is desired to overcome those limitations to create a more efficient baler by creating an even flow of crop materials through the pickup portion to the baling chamber from the instant the crop materials first enter the pickup portion of the baler and consistently maintain that flow of crop materials during the use of the baler.

Powered rotor for assisting crop pickup for a baler


A casino game comprising one or more decks of standard playing cards and a layout which designates a first area for the placing of two to five community cards and a second area composed of a plurality of betting areas. The object of the game being to make a good poker hand with the advantage of discarding and being dealt replacements, such poker hand of 5 cards being composed of players' individual cards in conjunction with the community cards. A further object of the game is to win the Pot Bets by holding the highest poker hand. The preferred game apparatus includes a single deck of standard playing cards and a layout that provides betting areas 5, 6, 7 & 8 for placing counters.

Poker is a popular game throughout the world. It combines principles of card games known for centuries in Europe but in it's present form it is distinctly of American origin. There are numerous forms of poker and the main divisions are: Draw Poker, in which all of a player's cards are unknown to his opponents; and Stud Poker, in which some of a player's cards are face up and others face down.
In modern casinos the game of poker takes one of three forms: `live` poker where players compete against one another but the games are controlled and supervised by a house dealer--the games are not a contest between the players and the casino--and the casino imposes a levy either in the form of a participation fee or as a percentage of winning hands; electronic video style machines offering Draw Poker; and poker played as a bankers game either where the game involves players in contest with the dealer's hand or where the object is for the players to obtain a good poker hand, in both cases the paytable is structured in such a way that the pay-offs are not based on the true mathematical odds thereby resulting in the casinos enjoying a favourable advantage.
The present invention named Showdown Poker, marries the principles of `live` poker and poker played as a banker's game; players compete against one another and they play against the house in that the pay-offs on some of the wagers give the house a favourable edge. The present invention combines the two basic forms of poker; Showdown Poker is a blend of Draw Poker and Stud Poker wherein players receive cards, the identity of which is unknown to one another and which they may discard and in return receive replacements face-down and each player's hand is partly composed of community cards, one or more of which are face up.
In essence Showdown Poker introduces new features and structures not found in any of the three forms of poker found in casinos. The game of Showdown is innovative in that no other casino game in the United States or elsewhere is structured whereby players are offered both the option of discarding and a Pot Bet which is a bet solely between the players and where the house is not in contest with the players.
Despite the fact that the principle of using cards or other means as a result selector in a board game to constitute a game of chance and/or skill is well established, room exists for the improvement of such games and for devising new layout designs coupled with the modification, adaptation and innovation of conventional structures of play. This principle is accepted by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office and is exemplified by the granting of Patents to inter alia:
______________________________________ McKeever No. 2,712,446 July 5 1955; De Keller No. 3,693,977 Sept 26 1972 Monek No. 3,826,498 July 30 1974 Berman No. 4,902,019 Feb 20 1990 Page No. 5,133,559 July 28 1992. ______________________________________
The principle objective of the present invention is to provide a gaming layout arrangement and set of structures and rules of play which effectively blends the old and new in casino poker whereby a game is produced which is a balanced mixture of skill and chance and which is both easy to operate and easy for players to understand. In the past `table games` generated a larger volume of money wagered than slot machines. The picture has changed in recent years and today slot machines account for a higher revenue than traditional table games. This situation has arisen for a number of reasons. Innovation in design and technology have made slot machines more exciting and the jackpot element in slots has grown into mammoth payouts. As a consequence of the above situation casino owners are receptive to the introduction of new table games in order to revive the aura and excitement of live gaming. Showdown poker is a game designed to achieve the above objective.
Various other objects and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment thereof and the novel features will be particularly apparent in the accompanying drawings in conjunction with the appended claims.


A method is provided for estimating a frequency offset value. This method includes: receiving a signal from the transmitting device at the receiving device, the received signal having a transmitter frequency (510); generating a local signal at the receiving device, the local signal having a starting frequency (520); comparing a received signal phase and a local signal phase to determine an adjusted error signal representing a phase difference between the received signal and the local signal (530); adjusting a current frequency of the local signal from the starting frequency to the transmitting frequency over a time period (540); integrating the adjusted error signal over the time period to generate an integrated error signal (550); and filtering the integrated error signal to generate a frequency difference estimate indicative of the frequency difference between the transmitter frequency and the starting frequency (560).

In a typical wired or wireless network each device in the network will have its own clock to regulate the signals it transmits or receives. And in many networks a clock in a given device will operate independently of the clocks in each of the other devices, meaning that the phase of any given clock will be effectively random with respect to the phase of any other clock in-the network. In such a network it may be necessary, therefore, for a receiver to synchronize its clock with the clock of a transmitter before it can properly process data received from the transmitter. This process of phase synchronization is typically referred to as signal acquisition.
Ideally, each compatible device will have the same clock frequency, meaning that once the phase of the receiver clock is synchronized to the phase of the transmitter clock in an acquisition process, the receiver clock should be able to stay at this acquired phase for the remainder of the transmitted signal. However, this is generally not the case.
Although two compatible devices will ostensibly have the same clock frequency, the physical realities of circuit design will result in slight differences in clock frequencies. For example, clock crystals used for timing have a frequency tolerance in terms of parts per million (PPM) of their frequency. For example, a 10 MHz clock with a tolerance of ±100 PPM would actually have a clock frequency that was between 9.999 MHz and 10.001 MHz, or a possible difference of ±1 kHz. As a result, even though each device in a network may have the same model of clock crystal, these slight variations in the individual clock crystals may give each device a slightly different clock frequency.
And since a difference in frequency represents a systematical change in phase, if the transmitter clock and the receiver clock have slightly different frequencies, their clock phases will constantly drift apart, even once they are synchronized. As a result, many systems also employ a tracking process whereby after acquisition is complete, a receiver will monitor the phase of an incoming signal and periodically adjust the phase of the receiver clock to maintain its synchronization with the transmitter clock.
Of course, the greater the separation between the frequencies of the transmitter clock and the receiver clock, the more difficult this tracking process will be. Large frequency differences may increase the number of lost connections that occur when the tracking process fails and the phase of the receiver clock slips too far from the phase of the transmitter clock. Also, the receiver has implementation-dependent limitations that cap the size of the frequency difference that is tolerable. As frequency offsets approach this limit, noisy data will have a more pronounced impact on system performance. Data that would have been successfully detected with smaller frequency offsets will fail detection at larger offsets.
The tracking process would be simplified if the receiver had some information as to what the frequency difference (sometimes called the frequency offset or the frequency difference) was between the transmitter clock and the receiver clock. This information would allow the receiver to predict how the phase difference between the received signal and the local signal would change over time. And such predictability in phase change would provide for a larger allowable frequency difference between the transmitter clock and the receiver clock, while retaining the same level of system performance.
A larger allowable frequency difference between a transmitter and a receiver would allow devices to use clock crystals with a larger frequency tolerance. And since frequency tolerance and price are linked (the smaller the tolerance, the higher the price), this would allow the devices to use cheaper clock crystals, thus reducing device cost. As a result, it would be desirable to provide a method or circuit that would provide an estimate of the frequency difference between an incoming signal received from a transmitting device and a local signal generated by a receiving device.

Method and system for estimating frequency offsets


A method for arranging metallic balls to form an array of bump electrodes comprises the steps of immersing a silicon template in ethanol dropping metallic balls through the ethanol onto the template to receive the metallic balls in the holes of the template. The metallic balls are free from cohesion caused by electrostatic charge or moisture. The template may be inclined in the ethanol. The holes are formed by anisotropic etching a silicon plate.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for arranging minute metallic electrodes to form an array of bump electrodes for use in BGA (ball grid array), CSP (chip size package), and flip chip bonding techniques.
(b) Description of the Related Art
It is essential to arrange a higher number of external pins at a smaller pitch in view of the demand for a higher mounting density, lower device area and increasing capacity of the integrated circuits. Bump electrodes are generally used for the external pins using BGA, CSP and flip chip bonding techniques. Thus, in the method for forming an array of bump electrodes by arranging minute metallic balls or solder balls, it is important to arrange a large number of minute metallic balls efficiently at a small pitch. Some proposals have been made using arrangement tools or templates for arranging the metallic balls.
Referring to FIG. 1A showing a first conventional technique, proposed in JP-A-8(1996)-330716, an arrangement tool or template 19 is set up at a speed position on a mounting board 18 having terminals 24 thereon. The setup is obtained by aligning four guide pins 22 of the mounting board 18 with respective positioning holes 23 of the template 19. The template 19 has through-holes 20 for receiving solder balls (metallic balls) 21 at the positions corresponding to the terminals 24 on the mounting board 18. After the metallic balls are scattered on the template 19, some of the solder balls are received in the through-holes 20. A squeegee is used to scan the template 19 for receiving the remaining solder balls 21 in the through-holes 20 and for removing excess solder balls 21, thereby filling the through-holes 20 with the solder balls 21, as shown in FIG. 1B. The solder balls 21 mounted on the terminals 24 of mounting board 18 in the through-holes 20 are heated in a reflow furnace, and melted to form an array of solder bumps on the mounting board 18.
In the technique as mentioned above, it is possible to accurately position the template 19 and accordingly to accurately position the solder balls 21 onto the terminals 24. However, electrostatic charge is often generated on the solder balls 21 by the friction between the solder balls 21 or between the solder balls 21 and the template 19, which results in cohesion of the solder balls 21. It involves therefore a problem in that two or more of the solder balls 21 enter a single hole 20 of the template 19 to reduce the yield of the process. The cohesion of solder balls 21 may also be generated due to moisture in the atmosphere.
Referring to FIG. 2 showing a second conventional technique, descried in JP-A-6(1994)-310515, solder balls (metallic balls) 28 are supplied onto a feeder plate 27 in which a plurality of holes each for receiving a solder ball 28 are arranged. Each of the solder balls 28 is attracted to the bottom of the hole with vacuum formed by a vacuum pump 40. Excess solder balls 28 are ejected through an outlet 30 by raising a side cover 29 and supplying vibration from a vibrator 31. The feeder 27 is then transferred to the right, wherein ion air 48 is provided from an ion generator 47 onto the surface of the solder balls 28 and the feeder plate 27, which are often electrified due to friction by the vibration, to electrically neutralize the surface of the solder balls 28 and the feeder plate 27.
Compressed inert gas 46 is then supplied from a nozzle 45 to eject the neutralized and excess solder balls 28 through the outlet 30. The use of inert gas 46 prevents occurrence of adhesion, cohesion, bridging, oxidation and electrostatic charge in the solder balls 29. After the ejection, the feeder plate 27 is then subjected to inspection using a TV camera 44 to assure whether all the holes are filled with the solder balls 28. If there is any defect wherein a hole is not supplied with a solder ball or a plurality of solder balls are attached to a single hole, the feeder plate and the solder balls are not supplied to the next step.
In the second conventional technique, there is a problem in that the neutralization is not uniform among the solder balls 28 depending on the distance from the ion source 47 and the solder balls 28, which may cause electrostatic charge remaining on some of the solder balls 28. In addition, in the case of minute solder balls 28 having a diameter as low as 100 .mu.m or less, a solder ball 28 normally received in a hole may be removed by the ion air or the compressed inert gas. The minute solder balls 28 may cohere also due to moisture.
Referring to FIG. 3 showing a third conventional technique, described in JP-A-4(1992)-75357, a template 56 has a pluarality of holes 57 arranged thereon which are communicated with a vacuum chanter 60 including therein a vacuum pump and an exhaust tube 59. Minute metallic balls 54 supplied onto a table 55 are attracted toward the template 56 while irradiated with ion beams supplied from an ion gun or ion blower 61. The minute metallic balls 54 each attracted to the array of the holes are transcribed to a semiconductor chip or a mounting board not shown. The third conventional technique has also problems similar those in the second conventional technique.
As described above, conventional techniques generally involved similar problems during arranging minute metallic balls.

Method for arranging minute metallic balls


An identity booklet such as a passport including a reinforced paper cover made up of a top cover board (16) and bottom cover board (14), an inside quire whose top (22) and bottom (20) flyleaves are laminated respectively at the back of the top cover board and in front of the bottom cover board and a radio frequency identification device (RFTD) made up of a chip (12) and an antenna connected to the terminals of the chip. The antenna includes a first part of the antenna (10) placed on the surface of the top and/or bottom cover board designed to be laminated with the corresponding flyleaf and a second part of the antenna placed on the surface of the top and/or bottom flyleaf designed to be laminated with the corresponding cover board, the first and second parts of the antenna being connected to constitute the antenna when the flyleaves are laminated with the cover boards.

Contactless Radiofrequency Identification Devices (RFIDs) are increasingly used for identification of persons moving about in controlled access zones or transiting from one zone to another. A contactless RFID is a device made up of an antenna and a chip connected to the terminals of the antenna. The chip is usually not powered and receives its energy by an electromagnetic coupling between the antenna of the reader and the antenna of the RFID, information is exchanged between the RFID and the reader and particularly information stored in the chip that relates to the identification of the holder of the object on which the RFID is located and to his/her authorization to enter into a controlled access zone.
In this manner, passports can incorporate RFIDs to identify the passport holder. The chip memory contains information such as the identity of the passport holder, his/her country of origin, his/her nationality, visas of different countries visited, dates of entry, restrictions of movements, etc. Such a passport is described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5.528.222 and in the patent application WO/00/26856. In these documents, the RFID is incorporated into the passport's top cover board. It is usually inserted between the reinforced cover board and the flyleaf of the quire of passport pages, which is laminated to the back of the reinforced top cover board.
Unfortunately, it is relatively easy for a fraudulent individual to tamper with such a passport and make a forged passport from it. The fraudulent individual simply needs to remove the flyleaf to have access to the RFID and to, either replace the cover by a new cover including another RFID, or merely replace the chip by another chip so that the information supplied by the RFID corresponds to the information contained in the forged passport.

Identity booklet with a radiofrequency identification device