The invention is directed to fiber-reactive polymeric dyes, which comprise a dye covalently bound to a carboxyl-containing polymer. By xe2x80x9cfiber-reactivexe2x80x9d is meant that the polymeric dye will form a chemical covalent bond with the fiber, textile, or web to be treated, via functional groups for binding or attachment to the fibers of the webs to be dyed. The invention also encompasses textile dye preparations comprising a solution or suspension of the fiber-reactive polymeric dye. The resulting polymeric dye preparations have improved colorfastness and retention on the textile or web fiber structure, even after a large number of washings. The textiles or webs treated with the fiber-reactive dye are also included in the invention.

The present invention is directed to the field of fiber and textile dyeing. More specifically, this invention relates to polymeric dyes and their use in providing substantially permanent retention of dye color in textiles. Such polymeric dyes may also improve the hand of the fabric.
Dye retention on fabrics is important to retain the original shade of the garment. There are a number of different classes of dyes that are used to color cotton and other cellulosics. One group is the direct dyes. These are dyes that are typically inexpensive, water-soluble and have large, planar aromatic structures. The cloth is simply dipped in a solution of the dye, padded, dried, and then washed. While cost of the dyestuff and dye application is low, the washfastness (dye retention following laundering) is poor.
Reactive dyes are dyes containing reactive groups, often derivatives of cyanuric chloride or containing vinyl sulfone groups (or those that can be converted into vinyl sulfones). In dyeing, cotton is typically padded with caustic and dried, and then padded with the reactive dye and dried, and finally heated/steamed for about 15 minutes and washed. The washfastness of reactive dyes is much higher than that of direct dyes. However, application is more complex and costly and the dyes are more expensive.
Vat dyes are applied in a reduced and alkali-soluble form (the leuco form). They revert back to their insoluble structures upon exposure to air. Disadvantages of this technology include the need for a reducing agent and possible poor washfastness, as there is no chemical bond between the fiber and the dye. Sodium hydrosulfite, which is commonly used as the reductant, is fairly expensive and may be an environmental hazard.
Sulfur dyes are important for cotton, although their structures are often poorly defined. They can often be applied in a water-soluble form: dye-Sxe2x80x94SO3Na (dye-thiosulfate) in the presence of sodium sulfide. When heated, the sulfide ion causes a coupling of the dyes to occur via an Sxe2x80x94S bond through a loss of the xe2x80x94SO3Na group. The loss of these hydrophilic groups decreases the solubility of the product. If there is more than one thiosulfate group on the dye molecule, an insoluble polymer may be produced. However, in general no covalent bond to the fiber is made.
To dye nylon (and wool), acid dyes are commonly used, Acid dyes are named as such because they are applied from weakly acidic baths (pH 2-6). Chemically, the functional groups on these dyes are usually the same as those found in the direct dyes, including sulfonate, hydroxyl, amine, and nitro groups. Like the direct and reactive dyes, these dyes are usually water-soluble and are often synthesized via azo coupling chemistry. Acid dyes dye wool through an ion exchange mechanism. Because wool is drycleaned with organic solvents, the water solubility of these dyes does not usually present a problem.
Polymeric dyes have been disclosed for use in the food industry, because they are not readily absorbed by the body when eaten, and for use in printing inks.
This invention is directed to textile dye preparations useful for the permanent or substantially permanent dyeing of textiles and other webs.
More particularly, the invention is directed to fiber-reactive polymeric dyes, which comprise a dye covalently bound to a carboxyl-containing polymer. By xe2x80x9cfiber-reactivexe2x80x9d is meant that the polymeric dye will form a chemical covalent bond with the fiber, textile, or web to be treated, via functional groups for binding or attachment to the fibers of the textiles or other webs to be dyed. The invention also encompasses textile dye preparations comprising a solution or suspension of the fiber-reactive polymeric dye. The resulting polymeric dye preparations have improved colorfastness and retention on the textile or web fiber structure, even after a large number of washings.
The invention is further directed to the process for treating textiles and other webs with the fiber-reactive polymeric dyes, wherein the fiber-reactive polymeric dye preparation is applied to the fiber, yarn, textile, or other web. In a presently preferred embodiment, the application process is a dip-pad-cure process. That is, the web is placed into the dye preparation (dipped), then padded and cured in a single continuous process. This greatly increases the efficiency of the treatment.
This invention is further directed to the yarns, fibers, fabrics, textiles, finished goods, or nonwovens (encompassed herein under the terms xe2x80x9ctextilesxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cwebsxe2x80x9d) treated with the fiber-reactive polymeric dye preparation. Such textiles and webs comprise a covalently attached polymeric dye and exhibit a greatly improved colorfastness and resistance to fading in comparison to textiles and webs treated by prior art dyes, even after multiple launderings.
The textile-reactive preparation of the invention comprises a combination of a dye and a carboxyl-containing polymer to give polymeric dyes that are reactive to the fibers of textiles or other webs. The polymeric dye includes functional groups for binding or attachment to the fibers of the textiles to be treated. The resulting fiber-reactive polymeric dye preparations have improved colorfastness and retention on the textile or web fiber structure.
The polymeric dyes of the invention are formed, in one embodiment, by dispersing a carboxyl-reactive dye and a carboxyl-containing polymer in a suitable solvent. The reaction solution may be, and preferably is heated. The dye and the polymer react together by covalent bonding to give a fiber-reactive polymeric dye.
The term xe2x80x9ccarboxyl-reactive dyexe2x80x9d as used herein refers to a water-soluble dye that contains groups that can react with carboxyl groups. Such carboxyl-reactive groups include amine, hydroxyl, vinyl sulfone, Cxe2x80x94Cl in cyanuric chloride, and the like, which groups are well-known to those skilled in the art. The dye may be a direct dye or an acid dye, which are easily obtained and are inexpensive, but which do not normally exhibit good colorfastness. However, any dye with the appropriate reactive groups may be used in this invention, including disperse dyes, mordant dyes, solvent dyes, and pigments.
The term xe2x80x9ccarboxyl-containing polymerxe2x80x9d as used herein refers to a polymer that contains carboxyl groups. The number of carboxyl groups on the polymer should be such that there will be sufficient carboxyl groups remaining after reaction with the carboxyl-reactive dye so that the groups can be re-formed into a reactive anhydride by a catalyst when the catalyst and the fiber-reactive polymeric dye are heated in the presence of a material that contains hydroxyls or amines (such as, for example, cotton or wool). Such polymers include, but are not limited to, poly(acrylic acid) and copolymers that contain acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, and itaconic anhydride, for example. In a presently preferred embodiment, the polymers are of low molecular weight; that is, they will have a molecular weight of less than 10,000. In another preferred embodiment, the polymer is poly(acrylic acid), which is inexpensive and readily available. In yet another preferred embodiment, the polymer is a copolymer of butadiene/maleic anhydride (xe2x80x9cmaleinized polybutadienexe2x80x9d), which in addition to being inexpensive also gives a superior hand to the treated textile.
In one example of the preparation of a fiber-reactive polymeric dye, maleinized butadiene and a carboxyl-reactive dye are dissolved in a solvent such as methylethylketone or tetrahydrofuran. The mixture is then refluxed until reaction occurs, or the solvent is removed by rotary evaporation and the mixture is heated to drive a reaction. In a second example, polyacrylic acid and a carboxyl-reactive dye are dissolved in water, after which the water is evaporated off at elevated temperature and the dye/polymer mixture is heated to drive a reaction.
In another embodiment of the invention, the fiber-reactive dyes are prepared by first reacting a reactive monomer (such as glycidyl methacrylate, (meth)acryloyl chloride, maleic anhydride, or itaconic anhydride) with an aromatic hydroxyl or amine group on a dye molecule. This composite molecule is then polymerized (by heating, for example) with a carboxyl-containing polymer to give the fiber-reactive polymeric dye. In a presently preferred embodiment, the reactive monomer is glycidyl methacrylate, which is not expected to significantly shift the color of the dye when it reacts with the dye, and the carboxyl-containing polymer is poly(acrylic acid) or maleinized polybutadiene.
In yet another embodiment, the fiber-reactive dyes are prepared by reacting poly(vinyl alcohol) (xe2x80x9cPVAxe2x80x9d) and a commercially available reactive dye, after which this composite dye-PVA polymer is mixed together with a carboxyl-containing polymer in aqueous solution and applied to a web to be treated. Upon cure, the carboxyl-containing polymer will act to attach the dye-PVA polymer to the fiber. In a presently preferred embodiment, the carboxyl-containing polymer is poly(acrylic acid) or a copolymer of acrylic acid/maleic acid.
In reacting together the dye and the carboxyl-containing polymer to give the fiber-reactive polymeric dye preparation of the invention, the pH range should be chosen to be compatible with the reactants. For example, where the dye contains amines or hydroxyls and the system is heated to drive the reaction, a pH of 2-4.5 is preferred. Where the dye is a commercially available reactive dye, a higher pH of about 3-8 is preferred to bind the dye to the polymer.
The present invention is further directed to the yarns, fibers, fabrics, finished goods, or other textiles (encompassed herein under the terms xe2x80x9ctextilesxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cwebsxe2x80x9d) treated with the fiber-reactive polymeric dye. These textiles or webs will display improved colorfastness and retention on the textile or web fiber structure, even after multiple launderings.
The colorfast webs of the present invention are intended to include fabrics and textiles, and may be a sheet-like structure (woven, knitted, tufted, stitch-bonded, or non-woven) comprised of fibers or structural elements. Included with the fibers can be non-fibrous elements, such as particulate fillers, binders, sizes and the like. The textiles or webs include fibers, woven and non-woven fabrics derived from natural or synthetic fibers or blends of such fibers, as well as cellulose-based papers, and the like. They can comprise fibers in the form of continuous or discontinuous monofilaments, multifilaments, staple fibers, and yarns containing such filaments and/or fibers, which fibers can be of any desired composition. The fibers can be of natural or synthetic origin. Mixtures of natural fibers and synthetic fibers can also be used. Examples of natural fibers include cotton, wool, silk, jute, linen, and the like. Examples of man-made fibers include regenerated cellulose rayon, cellulose acetate, and regenerated proteins. Examples of synthetic fibers include polyesters (including polyethyleneterephthalate), polyamides (including nylon), acrylics, olefins, aramids, azions, modacrylics, novoloids, nytrils, aramids, spandex, vinyl polymers and copolymers, vinal, vinyon, Kevlar(copyright), and the like.
To prepare the colorfast webs, the fiber, the yarn, the fabric, or the finished good is exposed (by methods known in the art such as by soaking, spraying, dipping, fluid-flow, padding, and the like) to an aqueous solution of the fiber-reactive polymeric dye. If needed for the reaction, a catalyst, such as for example an anhydride-reforming catalyst, is also present in the solution. The treated web is then removed from the solution, dried, and cured. The fiber-reactive functional groups on the carboxyl-containing polymer react, by covalent bonding, with the textile or web during cure (which is preferably through heating) to permanently attach to the textile. This can be a one-step, continuous process, which has the advantages of being much faster and less expensive than the prior art piece-dyeing processes. The concentration of the fiber-reactive polymeric dye in solution can be from about 0.01% to about 30.0%, preferably from about 0.05% to about 5.0%; depending, however, on the characteristics of the particular polymeric dye selected and on the amount of color intensity desired.
Additional additives may be included in the fiber-reactive polymeric dye bath. For example, a hydroxyl-containing polymer, such as poly(vinyl alcohol) or starch, may be added to help improve colorfastness. Softeners, such as maleinized polybutadiene for example, or surfactants may also be added.
In applying the fiber-reactive polymeric dye preparation of the invention to the web to be treated, the pH range should be chosen to be compatible with the reactants. For example, in the cases of a maleinized butadiene or polyacrylic acid polymeric dye system, the pH of the dye bath is preferably between 0.5 and 7.0, more preferably between 2.5 and 4.0. The process (cure) temperature can vary widely, depending on the reactivity of the reactants. However, the temperature should not be so high as to decompose the reactants or so low as to cause inhibition of the reaction or freezing of the solvent. Unless specified to the contrary, the curing process described herein takes place at atmospheric pressure over a temperature range from about 110xc2x0 C. to about 250xc2x0 C. The time required for the processes herein will depend to a large extent on the temperature being used and the relative reactivities of the starting web and fiber-reactive polymeric dye. Unless otherwise specified, the process times and conditions are intended to be approximate.
A significant advantage of using dyes that are pendant on maleinized polybutadiene, poly(acrylic acid), or a similar polymer is that the resulting polymeric dye can be precipitated by use of an inexpensive polycation, thus cheaply, easily, and significantly reducing problems with waste water treatment. Suitable polycationic polymers include those that contain positively charged groups such as poly(allylamine) hydrochloride, poly(ethylenimine), poly(diallyidimethylammonium chloride), and chitosan.
In order to further illustrate the present invention and advantages thereof, the following specific examples are given, it being understood that the same are intended only as illustrative and in nowise limitative.


An improved loss recovery method for coding streaming media classifies each data unit in the media stream as an independent data unit (I unit), a remotely predicted unit (R unit) or a predicted data unit (P unit). Each of these units is organized into independent segments having an I unit, multiple P units and R units interspersed among the P units. The beginning of each segment is the start of a random access point, while each R unit provides a loss recovery point that can be placed independently of the I unit. This approach separates the random access point from the loss recovery points provided by the R units, and makes the stream more impervious to data losses without substantially impacting coding efficiency. The most important data units are transmitted with the most reliability to ensure that the majority of the data received by the client is usable. The I units are the least sensitive to transmission losses because they are coded using only their own data. While they provide the best coding efficiency, the P units are the most sensitive to data loss because the loss of one P unit renders useless all of the P units that depend on it. The remotely predicted units are dependent on the I unit, or in an alternative implementation, on another R unit.

The invention relates to the coding of streaming media, and in particular, relates to loss recovery in streaming media applications.
Streaming media is a form of data transfer typically used for multimedia content such as video, audio, or graphics, in which a transmitter sends a stream of data so that a receiver can display or playback the content in real time. When multimedia content is streamed over a communication channel, such as a computer network, playback of the content becomes very sensitive to transmission delay and data loss. If the data does not arrive reliably or bandwidth on the client falls below an acceptable minimum, playback of the content is either delayed or discontinued. The rate of data transfer (e.g., the bit rate) required to achieve realistic output at the receiver depends on the type and size of the media being transmitted.
In a typical application of streaming media, a server transmits one or more types of media content to a client. Streaming media is becoming more prevalent on the World Wide Web, where server computers deliver streaming media in the form of network data packets over the Internet to client computers. While multimedia data transfer over computer networks is a primary application of streaming media, it is also used in other applications such as telecommunications and broadcasting. In each of these applications, the transmitter sends a stream of data to the receiver (e.g., the client or clients) over a communication channel. The amount of data a channel can transmit over a fixed period of time is referred to as its bandwidth. Regardless of the communication medium, the bandwidth is usually a limited resource, forcing a trade-off between transmission time and the quality of the media playback at the client. The quality of playback for streaming media is dependent on the amount of bandwidth that can be allocated to that media. In typical applications, a media stream must share a communication channel with other consumers of the bandwidth, and as such, the constraints on bandwidth place limits on the quality of the playback of streaming media.
One way to achieve higher quality output for a given bandwidth is to reduce the size of the streaming media through data compression. At a general level, streaming media of a particular media type can be thought of as a sequential stream of data units. Each data unit in the stream may correspond to a discrete time sample or spatial sample. For example, in video applications, each frame in a video sequence corresponds to a data unit. In order to compress the media with maximum efficiency, an encoder conditionally codes each data unit based on a data unit that will be transmitted to the client before the current unit. This form of encoding is typically called prediction because many of the data units are predicted from a previously transmitted data unit.
In a typical prediction scheme, each predicted data unit is predicted from the neighboring data unit in the temporal or spatial domain. Rather than encoding the data unit, the encoder uses the neighboring data unit to predict the signal represented in the current unit and then only encodes the difference between the current data unit and the prediction of it. This approach can improve the coding efficiency tremendously, especially in applications where there is a strong correlation among adjacent data units in the stream. However, this approach also has the drawback that a lost data unit will not only lose its own data, but will also render useless all subsequent data units that depend on it. In addition, where a stream of data is converted into a stream of units each dependent upon an adjacent unit, there is no way to provide a random access point in the middle of the stream. As a result, playback must always start from the beginning of the stream.
In order to solve these problems, conventional prediction schemes typically sacrifice some compression efficiency by breaking the stream into segments, with the beginning of each segment coded independently from the rest of the stream. To illustrate this point, consider the typical dependency graph of data units of a media stream shown in FIG. 1.
The dependency graph in FIG. 1 shows the data units in the order that they are located in the input data stream. From left to right, the data units represent an ordered sequence of data units in streaming media. In video coding applications, for example, each of these data units corresponds to a video frame that is encoded, and then transmitted to a receiver for playback.
Conventional prediction schemes classify the data units in the stream as either independent data units (shown marked with the letter I, e.g., 100, 102, and 104) or predicted data units (shown marked with the letter P, e.g., 106-128). The I units are independent in the sense that they are encoded using only information from the data unit itself. The predicted units are predicted based on the similarity of the signal or coding parameters between data units. As such they are dependent on the preceding data unit, as reflected by the arrows indicating the dependency relationship between adjacent data units (e.g., dependency arrows 130, 132, 134, and 136).
Because independent units are encoded much less efficiently than predicted units, they need to be placed as far apart as possible to improve coding efficiency. However, this causes a trade-off between coding efficiency, on the one hand, and data recovery and random access on the other. If a data unit is lost, the predicted units that depend on it are rendered useless. Therefore, independent data units need to be placed closer together to improve data recovery at the sacrifice of coding efficiency. As the independent units are placed closer together, coding efficiency decreases and at some point, the available bandwidth is exceeded. When the bandwidth is exceeded, the quality of the playback of streaming media suffers excessive degradation because the given bandwidth cannot maintain adequate quality with such poor coding efficiency.
Another drawback of the scheme shown in FIG. 1 is that the data recovery points must coincide with the random access points. Even if the need for random access does not force I units closer together, the need for improved data recovery may anyway. As such, the coding scheme lacks the flexibility to treat data recovery and random access separately.
The invention provides a coding method for streaming media that uses remote prediction to enhance loss recovery. Remote prediction refers to a prediction-based coding method for streaming media in which selected data units are classified as remotely predicted units. The coding method improves loss recovery by using remotely predicted units as loss recovery points and locating them independently of random access points in the data stream. The remotely predicted units improve loss recovery because they depend only on one or a limited number of units located at a remote location in the encoded data stream. As a result they are less sensitive to data loss than a conventional predicted unit, which often depends on multiple data units. The remotely predicted units can be inserted closer together than independent units without substantially decreasing coding efficiency because they have a much higher coding efficiency than independent data units.
One aspect of the invention is a process for classifying the data units in streaming media to enhance loss recovery without significantly decreasing coding efficiency. Typically performed in the encoder, this process classifies data units as independent units (I units), predicted units (P units), or remotely predicted units (R units). Operating on an input stream of data units (e.g., a sequence of video frames), the process groups contiguous sequences of units into independent segments and classifies the data units within each segment so that it includes an I unit, followed by P units, and one or more R units. The R units provide improved loss recovery because they depend only on the I unit in the segment, or alternatively, another R unit. In addition, they are encoded more efficiently than I units because they are predicted from another data unit, as opposed to being coded solely from the unit""s own data.
To support remote prediction, an encoder implementation classifies the data units as either I, P, or R type units, and then encodes each differently according to their type. The encoder predicts both the P and R type units from a reference unit, but the reference unit is usually different for these data types. In particular, the R unit is predicted from the I unit in the segment, or alternatively, from another R unit. The P units are predicted from an adjacent unit in the stream (e.g., the immediately preceding data unit). To support both forms of prediction at the same time, the encoder allocates two memory spaces, one each for the reference units used to predict R and P units. In this encoding scheme, the independent segment typically starts with an I unit, which is followed by multiple P units, each dependent on the immediately preceding unit. R units are interspersed in the segment as needed to provide data recovery, while staying within bandwidth constraints.
In the decoder implementation, the decoder identifies the type of data unit, usually based on an overhead parameter embedded in the bit stream, and then decodes the data unit accordingly. Like the encoder, the decoder allocates two memory spaces for storing reference data units, one used to reconstruct the R type units and another to reconstruct P type data units. When the decoder identifies a data unit as an R unit, it reconstructs the original data unit using the I unit for the current segment, or alternatively, a previous R unit. When the decoder identifies a data unit as a P unit, it reconstructs the original data unit using the immediately preceding data unit, which has been previously reconstructed.
A variety of alternative implementations are possible. In particular, the data units, and specifically the R type units, can be classified dynamically based on some criteria derived or provided at run-time, or can be inserted based on a predetermined spacing of R units relative to the P units in a segment. Also, the I, P, and R units can be prioritized for transfer to improve error recovery and make the transmission more robust with respect to data losses. In particular, the data units are preferably prioritized so that I units are transferred with the most reliability, R units the second most reliability, and P units the least.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent with reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Media coding for loss recovery with remotely predicted data units


A gaming system includes an input device, a display device, a processor, and a memory device. The memory device stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the gaming system to receive a wager for playing a wagering game having an overall volatility. A plurality of volatility components are displayed on the display device, the volatility components having respective component ratings. Each component rating contributes to a total rating of the overall volatility. The wagering game is selected from a plurality of wagering games, each of the plurality of wagering games having (a) the same total rating and (b) at least one different component rating.

Gaming terminals, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines, features, and enhancements available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Therefore, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to continuously develop new games and improved gaming enhancements that will attract frequent play through enhanced entertainment value to the player.
Traditionally gaming machines operate under control of a processor which has been programmed to execute base games and bonus games on the machine according to a predetermined mathematical model, which generally determines the volatility of the gaming machines. For example, the volatility of a game may refer to size of awards versus frequency of the awards. Some players enjoy playing gaming machines with a greater volatility, whereby the size of the awards for winning outcomes is relatively large, but the frequency of awarding the awards is relatively low. Other players enjoy games with a lower volatility, whereby the size of the awards for winning outcomes is relatively small, but the frequency of awarding the awards is relatively high. Players select their volatility by choosing amongst the variety of gaming machines available to be played at a casino.

Display mechanism for volatility-alteration features


An image display device includes: pixels in first and second directions; a polarization controller providing first and second polarization axis light; and a controller. The polarization controller includes first electrodes extending in the first direction on a first substrate with a predetermined interval in the second direction, and second electrodes extending in the first direction on a second substrate with an interval in the second direction twice the predetermined interval. The controller switches display between dual-screen and three-dimensional modes. In the dual-screen mode, the controller applies voltages to the second electrodes so adjacent electrodes have opposite phases, and applies the same phase voltage as one of the second electrode voltages to the first electrodes. In the three-dimensional mode, the controller applies voltages to the first electrodes so adjacent electrodes have opposite phases, and applies the same phase voltage as one of the first electrode voltages to the second electrodes.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to image display devices and electronic apparatuses, and more particularly to an image display device provided with a polarization axis controller and to an electronic apparatus.
2. Related Art
One known method for an image display device displaying a three-dimensional stereo image is a system employed in a three-dimensional image display device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2,857,429.
In the three-dimensional image display device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2,857,429, an electronic parallax barrier disposed on a viewer side of an image display surface is controlled by a controller, such as a microcomputer, thereby forming apertures and light-blocking portions of the electronic parallax barrier so that an image for the left eye enters the left eye of the viewer and an image for the right eye enters the right eye of the viewer.
However, since the electronic parallax barrier is disposed on the viewer side of the image display surface of the three-dimensional image display device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2,857,429, part of light emitted from the image display surface is blocked by the light-blocking portions of the electronic parallax barrier. As a result, the luminance of an image viewed by the viewer is reduced, and the image seems dark to the viewer.
A known dual-screen display device is available for providing different images to viewers at different viewing positions by disposing a barrier having slit apertures and light-blocking portions on a viewer side of a display panel. This type of display device is disadvantageous in that part of light emitted from the display panel is blocked by the barrier, and, as a result, an image seems dark.

Image display device and electronic apparatus


An illustrative geo-temporal analysis system analyzes telecommunications-event records and other records associated with wireless terminals to infer a collaborative relationship between users who do not telecommunicate with each other, based on how precisely a first geo-temporal pattern matches a second geo-temporal pattern. When a collaborative relationship is inferred, the system transmits an indication thereof and a request for an estimated location of the respective wireless terminals.

FIG. 1 depicts a diagram of the salient components of wireless telecommunications network 100 in accordance with the prior art. Wireless telecommunications network 100 comprises: wireless terminals 101 and 110, cellular base stations 102-1, 102-2, and 102-3, Wi-Fi base stations 103-1 and 103-2, wireless switching center 111, and location system 112. Wireless telecommunications network 100 provides wireless telecommunications service to all wireless terminals within its coverage area, in well-known fashion. Global Positioning System ("GPS") constellation 121 is also depicted in FIG. 1, but is not part of wireless network 100.
Data that is generated by wireless network 100 can provide clues to the investigator. For example, a suspect's calling records can be obtained to determine what telephone and/or data communications that suspect has engaged in. Network-supplied calling records are well known in the art, and a calling record typically comprises one or more of:                an International Mobile Subscriber Identity ("IMSI") number that is assigned to the wireless terminal of the subscriber, or to a removable and swappable subscriber identification module ("SIM") card that is receivable in the wireless terminal,        the telephone number assigned to the subscriber's account,        the origination time of the call,        the ending time of the call,        the origination time of a text (e.g., SMS) message,        the receiving time of a text (e.g., SMS) message, and        cell ID or enhanced cell ID location information (as is well known in the art) relative to the respective times.These records are often referred to as "call-detail records" or "CDRs."
Identifying potential suspects according to telephone calling records and CDRs is well known in the art, but is limited because those who seek to avoid detection or surveillance can work around these records. Moreover, when investigating a crime, a terrorist attack, a missing persons case, a threat, and like situations, the cost of a false positive is high. A falsely identified suspect can be irreparably harmed by a false positive. Conversely, the true suspect or perpetrator remains at large. Therefore, investigators would benefit from automated tools that can help minimize the incidence of false positives.

Inferring relationships based on geo-temporal data other than telecommunications


A film deposition method of a silicon carbide thin film having a high transmissivity and high film strength applicable for optical use purposes is provided. The film can be formed safely and efficiently in a short time and on a low heat resistance substrate. The method can include depositing a silicon carbide thin film on a moving substrate by using a film formation apparatus configured such that a reaction process region and film formation process regions are arranged spatially separated from one another in a vacuum container. Silicon targets can be sputtered in one region and carbon targets can be sputtered in another region. Thereby, an interlayer thin film containing silicon and carbon is formed on the substrate. Next, in another region, the interlayer thin film can be exposed to plasma generated in an atmosphere of a mixed gas including inert gas and hydrogen.

A method of forming a silicon type thin film (SiO2, SiC and Si3N4, etc.) on a substrate by using a so-called reactive sputtering method of introducing a reaction gas (O2, N2 and CH4, etc.) together with an inert gas (Ar) during sputtering a Si target is known (Background art in Patent Document 1). Also known is a method of forming a SiC single-crystal thin film on a substrate by using SiH4 as a Si material gas and by using a CVD (chemical vapor deposition) apparatus configured to instantaneously switch a hydrocarbon gaseous species to be supplied in a step of a preprocessing of a substrate (heating process and high temperature process) and in a step of growing a thin film on the substrate or furthermore in a temperature lowering step, so that an optimal kind of hydrocarbon gas can be supplied in each step during performing one process for forming a SiC thin film (Patent Document 2). Also, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor film by sputtering a silicon target and a carbon target in a mixed atmosphere of an inert gas and hydrogen, forming a SixC1-x film (note that 0<x<1) on a substrate and performing thermal annealing after the film formation has been known (Patent Document 3).

Method for depositing silicon carbide film


A retainable reniform-shaped flask for dispensing potable liquids and more particularly to a housing comprising an outer rigid case with a pre-filled inner disposable bag having a spout for dispensing the liquids.

1. Field of the Invention
As a new device, the present invention relates to a retaining reniform-shaped flask for dispensing potable liquids and more particularly to a housing comprising an outer rigid case with a pre-filled inner disposable bag having a spout for dispensing the liquids.
2. Discussion of the Background
Commercially packaged bottles for water and other soft drinks are used by cyclists, hikers, emergency response teams and military personal alike, and are typically made of a hard synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET does not decompose naturally and therefore impacts negatively upon the environment. Thus, for both the hiker in the fields and mountains and the military personnel in a theater of operations, there exists the problem of disposing with used PET bottles once their content has been consumed. Commercial water bottles are also burdensome to transport since they do not provide a means for attaching the bottle to the user's person.
The U.S. military canteen is another example of a refillable container for carrying and dispensing liquids. The basic design of the refillable canteens used by the military today has essentially remained unchanged throughout World Wars I and II, and the wars in Korea and Vietnam. The most commonly known disadvantage of canteens is that they do not remain sterile once opened and are only capable of being refilled when a source of potable water is available, resulting in considerable logistical problems in a theater of operations.
Container assemblies having an inner container for liquids and an retaining vessel for holding and carrying the bottle are known. U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,344 describes an insulated container assembly that includes an inner, refillable vessel and an outer jacket equipped with straps for carrying the assembly and dispensing the liquid.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,344 describes a housing for accommodating therein a container having a spout, and the spout being attached to the package body.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,731,021 and 5,904,267 describe other types of containers for carrying and dispensing potable liquids. However, these containers are not suited for the carrying and dispensing of sterile liquids.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a device for carrying and dispensing liquids that overcomes the disadvantages of the known containers.


A method is provided for filling undesired sublithographic contact hole defects in a semiconductor structure caused by misalignment and undesirable overlap of metal line images over contact openings during photolithographic patterning. Unwanted contact between conductive metallization levels through these defects is thereby diminished. The method also provides self-alignment of the lines and contact holes for subsequent formation of stud via connections through which contact is desired to underlying metallization levels. Deposition of a conformal sacrificial material film fills the small, undesired sublithographic contact hole image formed and covers both mask surfaces through which the misaligned line image and contact opening were etched. Isotropic etching removes the conformal layer from all planar surfaces except those of the undesired sublithographic contact hole image. Translation into the underlying insulating layer results in the formation of only contact holes through which contact with underlying substrate metallization is desired. The method of the present invention may alternativety be practiced after the undesired sublithographic contact hole image is etched into the insulating layer to the underlying substrate metallization. Translation of sublithographic defects in a single mask layer overlying an insulating layer disposed over a substrate having metallization therein can also be avoided.

The formation of closely-spaced integrated circuits on the same silicon wafer is well-known, as is technology for conductive interconnection of such circuits. Traditional interconnection techniques use patterned wire metallurgy to form desired wiring levels. In VLSI devices, metal patterns are multi-layered and separated by layers of insulating material. Interconnection between different levels of metal wiring patterns is made by contact holes (or vias), which are etched through the layer of insulating material and filled with metallization to form stud via connections.
As described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,648 to Chow et al., which is assigned to the same assignee as the present application, patterned conductive lines may be formed simultaneously with stud via connections through an insulating layer to underlying metallization in multilevel VLSI chips. FIG. 1 shows a semiconductor structure 10 in which a first insulating layer 15 is deposited over a patterned metallization level 20 to which contact is desired. Contact holes or vias 25, which will then be used to form a stud via connection, are defined by photolithography aria in a first mask. layer 30, such as an etch stop material or photoresist, covering first insulating layer 15. A second insulating layer 115 is deposited onto first mask layer 30 followed by a second mask layer (not shown), which may be a photoresist or etch stop material, on second insulating layer 115. Second insulating layer 115 is etched by photolithography to first mask layer 30 to define desired wiring lines or grooves 40 and 50, some of which are in alignment with the previously formed contact holes 25. Alignment is facilitated by standard alignment means. Where contact holes 25 are exposed, the etching is continued into the first layer of insulation 15 to uncover underlying substrate metallization level 20. Where no contact hole is needed, etching stops on first mask layer 30, and second mask layer (not shown) is removed. Lines 40 and 50 and contact holes 25 are then overfilled with metallization, and the excess metallization is removed by etching or chemical mechanical polishing techniques. Device 10 having metallization lines 140 and stud via connections 130 is thereby formed. The etch and mask sequences and subsequent metal deposition and planarization techniques disclosed above are generally known as damascene techniques when one mask is used or dual damascene techniques when two masks are used.
In an alternative dual damascene embodiment (not shown), second insulating layer 115 is not deposited onto first mask layer 30. Instead, a second mask layer, comprising a photoresist or an etch stop material, is placed directly on first mask layer 30. where no contact hole is exposed, lines 40 and 50 are etched through second mask layer, underlying first mask layer 30, and about half way through first insulating layer 15. Contact holes 25 are defined through first insulating layer 15 where line 40 is aligned with a previously etched contact opening. Both masks are then removed, and the process continues as above with the deposition of a metal into the lines and contact holes.
In a multi-level device in which each level contains various conductive elements. inadvertent contact between levels can lead to electrical shorts and failure of the semiconductor device. For example, in a given device, some of the conductive metallization elements on a lower level are designed to contact conductive metallization elements on an adjacent upper level, while other level conductive metallization elements perform different functions and must remain isolated from upper level elements which happen to be situated immediately above them.
As used below, especially in the dual damascene structures described herein, the term "line image" refers to the openings 40 and 50 defined in the second mask layer overlying first mask layer 30, prior to translation through first mask layer 30 and into first insulating layer 15. "Lines" or "grooves" refer to the openings underlying the line images 50 that are etched through first mask layer 30 and into first insulating layer 15 and subsequently filled with metal to form metallization lines or conductive metallization elements. The term "contact opening" refers to the opening initially etched into first mask layer 30 which may be subsequently filled with a second mask layer prior to line image formation. The term "contact hole image" or "via image" refers to the opening defined where the line image overlaps or is aligned with the contact opening. The term "contact hole" is the opening underlying the line image/contact opening overlap and translated through first insulating layer 15 to substrate metallization 20. The contact holes are then filled with metal and planarized to form stud via connections. A "space" is the material that laterally separates adjacent metal lines or line images.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing a dual damascene structure having a line image/space/line image combination where the line images are defined photolithographically and have a minimum image size, M, for five different cases. In the first case, shown in Section A, the line image 40 is perfectly aligned to the underlying contact opening 100a, and the final contact hole image size 60a has dimensions, M.times.M. However, perfect alignment is generally not attained due to a bias of .DELTA. and tolerances across the wafer that exist in creating both the line image 40 and contact opening 100a. Section B shows a worst case alignment in which the overlay of the line image 40 over the contact opening 100b is half the minimum image size or M/2, as illustrated in the final contact hole image 60b. For example, for a 1.mu..times.1.mu. contact opening 100b, a worst case overlay of about 1/2.mu. across the entire wafer would result. The worst case alignment of Section B is further illustrated in FIG. 3 showing a cross-sectional view of the standard dual damascene multiple resist structure 10 taken along line B--B. A first resist 30, used for defining the contact hole 100b, underlies the second resist 35 used for line image 40 and 50 definition. As shown, misalignment of the resist images subtracts from the final size of the contact hole image 60b from M to M/2.
In order to avoid the above-mentioned problem and to ensure maximum contact hole size, the contact opening 100 in first resist 30 is initially made larger, up to about M/2 in both directions along the X-axis to form a contact opening 100 having the dimensions 2M.times.M. If the contact opening 100c is perfectly aligned with line image 40. the top view shown in Section C of FIG. 2 would be obtained. However, in a worst case misalignment where the overlay is M/2, as seen in Section D, the 2M contact opening 100d simply overlaps an adjoining space 80. Maximum overlap of dimension M is thus achieved between the line image 40 and the contact opening 100d, and the contact hole image 60d has a final size of M.times.M.
However, in practice, there are size variations in the contact hole images and line images formed in the wafer due to biases and tolerances across the wafer. If either the line image 40 or the contact hole image 60 size increases beyond the minimum image size M due to a bias .DELTA., then an unwanted overlap occurs, and hence unwanted contact with the underlying substrate metallization is made when the contact hole image 70 is later translated to the underlying insulator. This is shown in Section E of FIG. 2 and illustrated by contact hole images 60e and 70. For example, if there are variations, due to a bias (.DELTA.) of 0.1.mu., in the width of line images 40 and 50 having the dimensions of 1.mu..times.100 .mu., where M=1.mu., then in some locations of the wafer, the line may have a width of 1.1.mu., and in other locations, a width of 0.9.mu.. If an underlying contact opening 100e having the dimensions 2M.times.M is misaligned with line image 40 having a width of 1.1.mu., a worst case overlay of M/2 may occur such that the contact opening 100e also underlies a small. sublithographic line image area 70 in which contact to the substrate metallization is not wanted. Thus, when the contact hole image 70 is translated into the insulating layer and filled with a metal, undesired contact with the underlying substrate metallization occurs. The term "sublithographic" as used herein refers to an opening that is very much smaller than an opening formed using standard photolithographic patterning techniques, typically about 5% or less but may be as great as 10%.
The unwanted sublithographic contact described above is further illustrated in FIG. 4, which is a standard dual damascene structure 10 showing a cross-section of FIG. 2. Section E, taken along line E--E. Contact opening 100e has a width of 2M. Due to tolerances and bias factors, unwanted overlap 70 exists between line image 50 and contact opening 100e. As stated above, subsequent translation of the sublithographic contact hole image 70 through the underlying insulator 15 to device metallization within the substrate will result in the creation of not only contact holes at points of desired contact, but also very small contact holes, referred to herein as sublithographic, (in the areas of unwanted overlap or contact hole image 70) in which contact to the substrate metallization is not desired. Circuit shorting and failure will then occur when the resulting contact hole is filled with metal. Thus, a method is needed to fill the undesirable sublithographic contact hole images 70 or the sublithographic contact holes that are translated through the insulator 15 prior to metal deposition.
A conventional method for eliminating sublithographic surface defects in the insulating layer overlying a metallization level includes depositing a second insulating film over the first insulator to fill the defects followed by chemical mechanical polishing to planarize the surface. However, if in addition to the undesired sublithographic surface defects, there are contact holes etched through the first insulator that must remain open to underlying metallization, then the aforementioned method is not useful because the desired contact holes would also remain filled with the second insulating film material.
Cronin et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,382 disclose a method for filling unwanted undercuts in contact holes etched through an insulating layer. The undercut is filled with a layer of silicon dioxide or silicon nitride using chemical vapor deposition techniques. The deposited fill material conformally covers all surfaces including the underlying substrate surface exposed by the contact hole, the top surface of the insulating layer through which the contact hole is etched, the sidewalls of the contact hole, and the undercut. After sputter etching, a non-directional reactive ion plasma etch is used to remove the fill material from all the covered surfaces while leaving the undercut filled. Because the fill material is removed from the contact hole sidewalls and the substrate surface. contact to the substrate metallization through the contact hole is still possible. Thus, where the contact hole is unwanted and sublithographic. the method is ineffective because as well as reopening the larger, desired contact holes, the method also reopens the unwanted sublithographic contact hole to the underlying metallization.
A need therefore exists for a practical method that fills unwanted sublithographic contact hole defects formed in an insulating layer during dual damascene sequencing. Alternatively, a method is desired that prevents translation of such sublithographic contact holes into the insulator by filling the images prior to etching. A method is also desired that fills sublithographic openings formed during lithography or deposition of a single mask layer overlying an insulator. Such a method would diminish the amount of unwanted contact between metallization levels by eliminating stud via connections formed from sublithographic contact holes in the insulator. The method must permit contact holes to remain open where an opening is desired for subsequent metal deposition. In addition, self-alignment of the lines with the desired contact holes is necessary. Finally, the method should be efficient, inexpensive, and easy to practice without adding a complex number of process steps.


Provided is a wearable device for displaying translucent stones and the like. The wearable device comprises a base, a back plate, a bezel and a locking element. The base comprises a cavity, at least one base locking element a recess comprising a recess void and an illumination assembly in the cavity wherein the illumination assembly comprises an illuminator capable of emitting light. The back plate is reversibly mountable on the base. The back plate comprises at least one back plate locking element. The back plate locking element is reversibly engageable with the base plate locking element. A tab is provided on the back plate which is receivable by the recess. The tab comprises a tab void which is alignable with the recess void. An illumination window in the back plate allows light to transmit through said illumination window. The back plate also comprises at least one securing recess. The bezel is reversibly mountable on the back plate. The bezel comprises a viewing window and a securing tab wherein the securing tab is received by the securing recess. A locking element extends through the aligned tab void and recess void.

There has always been a desire to display natural elements of beauty as jewelry. Diamonds, sapphires, rubies and such have long adorned jewelry and clothing. Stones, particularly translucent stones, have been more difficult to display since their natural beauty is typically only evident in the presence of light and particularly light transmitting through the stone.
The availability of light emitting diodes (LED's) has generated a new interest in jewelry which can incorporate translucent stones since LED's are small, generate little heat, and can be powered by a small battery. Still the packaging required to contain the LED lights, electronics related thereto and a power source has resulted in heavy, unattractive articles. The difficulty in attaching a stone has also thwarted those attempting to provide a backlit translucent stone without risk of the stone becoming dislodged during wearing.
The present invention provides a wearable article which can have mounted thereto a translucent stone wherein the translucent stone is secure yet removable to allow for different stones to be used in different environments.

Wearable article for display of precious stones


A case packer has a product-supplying mechanism for transporting packaged products sequentially to a product-aligning mechanism including a plurality of conveyors arranged longitudinally towards a packing unit for packing a container with these transported products. The aligning mechanism starts to move intermittently every time a product is delivered from the supplying mechanism so as to sequentially align them. The aligned products are thereafter moved in a continuous motion towards the packing unit. Each conveyor of the aligning mechanism is again caused to move in the same intermittent mode of motion every time the products aligned thereon are discharged therefrom.

This invention relates to a case packer, or an apparatus for sequentially depositing articles such as packaged products inside a case, or a container such as a cardboard box.
Products such as potato chips, already weighed and sealed in bags by means of a bag maker-packaging machine, are shipped to the market in containers such as cardboard boxes, each containing a specified number of these bags. Japanese Patent Publication Tokkai 6-263106, for example, disclosed a case packer which may be used for such a purpose, using conveyors to sequentially transport packaged products supplied from a bag maker-packaging machine and a packing mechanism for automatically arranging these packaged products inside a given container such as a cardboard box.
The aforementioned packing mechanism may comprise a holder member which is freely movable between a starting position above where the packaged products are brought in and a delivery position above where the container is placed to be filled, having a suction pad on its lower surface for sucking up and releasing products. If such a holder member is moved back and forth between its starting and delivery positions and lowered and raised at each of these positions, each packaged product brought in by the conveyor can be picked up from above by the suction pad and lowered into and deposited inside the container.
For a reason of economy, for example, it is often desirable to put as many packaged products as possible in a container by overlapping the side edges of mutually adjacent packages inside the container. FIG. 23 will be referenced next to explain how this is usually done.
As shown in FIG. 23, packaged products X are sequentially transported by a first belt 501, say, from a bag maker-packaging machine and dropped onto the upstream end of a second conveyor belt 502 to be further transported in the downstream direction indicated by arrow A. Each time a product X is dropped onto the upstream end of the second conveyor belt 502, the second conveyor belt 502 is advanced by a distance n which is shorter than the length of the (bag of the) product X by m (the overlapping length). After this process of intermittent motion is repeated for a specified number (four, in the example) of times, this specified number of products X are now aligned in a sequentially overlapping relationship in the direction of motion A. The second conveyor belt 502 is thereafter advanced in a continuous motion, sending off the aligned products x all at once onto a third conveyor belt 503 such that this group of products X can be captured together by the suction pad of the packing mechanism as they remain overlapped.
As soon as one such group of products X is transported over to the third conveyor belt 503, the mode of operation of the second conveyor belt 502 is switched from continuous to intermittent, beginning to receive another group of packaged products X from the first conveyor belt 501.
In this cycle of operations, the first conveyor belt 501 must be temporarily stopped as soon as the aforementioned continuous motion of the second conveyor belt 502 is started and made to wait until the group of products X then on the second conveyor belt 502 is completely transported over to the third conveyor belt 503 by advancing it by a distance indicated by letter L in FIG. 23. It is because, if the first conveyor belt 501 were not stopped and the next product X were allowed to drop onto the continuously moving second conveyor belt 502, this product X would advance farther than its length, and the following product X to be dropped from the first conveyor belt 501 would not be able to overlap properly with the preceding one. Thus, not only the first conveyer belt 501 but all processes which are being carried out on the upstream side of it must also be stopped temporarily and wait. This would delay the entire packing operation of the system as a whole.
With a packing mechanism as described above, furthermore, the holder member cannot be moved too fast back and forth between the starting position and the delivery position. Because only one group of products can be transported from the starting position to the delivery position as the holder member makes one cycle of its reciprocating motion, prior art packing mechanisms of this type are not sufficiently efficient. Moreover, the suction pad is not always successful in sucking up all of a group of products intended to be sucked up at any one time. If one or more of them fail to be picked up, or if all of them are picked up but some of them are not properly positioned when they are lifted up, the specified number of products may not be successfully deposited in the container or they may not be properly aligned inside the container as intended.


A seat cushion having a flexible and semi-rigid body is provided. The body has a seating surface, having a first area, and a support surface, having a second area, spaced apart from the seating surface forming a body thickness. The body has a body composition with a first percentage by volume of EVA (Ethyl Vinyl Acetate), substantially evenly mixed with additional materials, such as polyethylene, color pigment, polycarbonate, and/or dicumyl peroxide, in various percentages of the body composition. The seat cushion also has a plurality of spacing members spaced apart and substantially evenly distributed across the second area. The plurality of spacing members each have a spacing member composition with a second percentage by volume of EVA and with a third percentage by volume of rubber. The seat cushion further has a plurality of ventilation holes extending through the body from the seating surface to the support surface.

Sporting and entertainment facilities typically provide seating areas including one or more sections of solid surface seating, such as benches or bleachers, that are hard and uncomfortable to sit on for extended seating periods. Such solid surface seating, for example, may be made from metal or wood, and may be thermally conductive. Accordingly, on particularly hot or cold days, for example, such benches or bleachers may add to seating discomfort by transmitting the cold or heat directly to a person's posterior.
Attempts have been made to reduce seating discomfort by proving a cushion that has a substantially continuous and uniform thickness. Such cushions may be made, for example, foam or other materials. Such cushions, while softening the seating surface over that of a solid surface, substantially block air flow to the person's posterior, thereby adding to the person's thermal and sweating discomfort. In addition, prior seat cushions, when made from rubber, are heavy are not easy to transport from, for example the trunk of the user's automobile, to a stadium seat. Further, when made from a foam, the seat cushion may not have a sufficient level of rigidity to support the user without bending or collapsing the seat cushion structure. Moreover, prior seat cushions were not easy to clean, to remove stains or the smell of beverages which may have spilled on such prior seat cushions.


Methods, systems and designs are provided for removing mercury from crudes. Crude oil is heated to a temperature above 100° C. and held at that temperature for a specified period of time to convert all of the forms of mercury in the oil into the elemental mercury form. The elemental mercury is then stripped from the crude oil by e.g., flashing the hot oil and/or contacting it with a gas phase. This process transfers the elemental mercury from the oil phase into the gas phase. Elemental mercury can then be removed from the gas phase by methods such as condensation, precipitation, or absorption either alone or in combination.

Coal is the largest source of human-generated mercury emissions in the United States. Coal-fired power plants release about 48 tons of mercury annually, according to EPA data. In contrast, the total amount of mercury in crude oil processed in the U.S. annually is less than five percent of the amount contained in the U.S. coal produced and consumed annually.
Mercury concentrations in crude oil have been reported from as low as <1 ng/g to as high as 50,000 ng/g of oil (see e.g., FIG. 1). Some of the variability observed in crude oil mercury data is due to difficulties encountered in performing the analyses. A wide variety of measurement techniques, including neutron activation and many types of sample preparation systems coupled with detectors as diverse as mass spectrometers, ICP/MS, atomic absorption, and atomic fluorescence have been used to perform these analyses. As such, it can be very difficult to compare mercury analysis results obtained in different laboratories using different analytical techniques. The handling of samples can also significantly affect the measured results. A recent study found that the number of times a sample bottle had been opened could significantly affect the measured concentration.
Although analytical difficulties are responsible for some of the variability in crude oil mercury data, geological factors such as depositional environment and thermal history are more important influence on the concentrations of mercury that are observed in currently produced oils. The mercury concentrations shown in FIG. 1 vary by more than a factor of 1000, which is largely indicative of the wide variety of environments from which these oils originate.
Mercury has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years because its presence in oil creates problems throughout the production, transportation, storage and refining systems. These problems include environmental concerns, contamination of refinery products, catalyst poisoning, corrosion of equipment, health risks for personnel, as well as expenses for disposal of contaminated tank sludge, cleaning of contaminated equipment, shipping restrictions, etc. These issues have led companies to search for methods of reducing the mercury content of crude oil.
Several processes for removing mercury from crude oil have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,350,372, U.S. Pat. No. 6,537,443, U.S. Pat. No. 6,685,824, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,806,398 and in an article by Salva (2010). All of these processes essentially involve reacting the crude oil with a sulfur compound to precipitate HgS and then separating the HgS particles from the oil by filtration or another technique for solids removal. In some cases the process requires an additional filtration step prior to contacting the oil with the sulfur compound.
Such processes require the addition of reagent chemicals as well as filtration of the crude oil. The filtration step in particular is problematic because of filter plugging by other components in the crude oil such as waxes and sediments. The HgS will only comprise a small percentage of the total solids removed by filtration. The maintenance of a crude oil filtration unit can become cost prohibitive in terms of manpower, filtration media, and disposal.
The process disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,080,156, in contrast, involves the use of natural gas to strip mercury from the crude oil. However, this process is only effective for the removal of elemental mercury. The efficiency of this process is thus limited by the ratio of elemental mercury to total mercury in the oil, and, in some cases, the efficiency of mercury removal can be very low.
Thus, what are needed in the art are better methods of evaluating and removing mercury from crude hydrocarbons.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A digital up-converter (DUC) circuit for performing digital channel filtering of an incoming baseband digital signal. The proposed circuit reduces the complexity of the channel module filter of the DUC. This is achieved by taking advantage of the structure of the underlying symbol waveforms carried by the incoming baseband digital signal which have one or more known discontinuities comprising random amplitude and/or phase. Namely, the channel filter module is activated only for the digital samples located around the known discontinuities and is deactivated for the remaining digital samples. Further, the switching of the channel filter module from one state to another can be performed according to a smooth function so that further discontinuities are not introduced in the incoming baseband digital signal. A method and a computer program are also disclosed.

Demands for higher data rates for mobile services are steadily increasing. At the same time modern mobile communication systems such as 3rd Generation systems (3G) and 4th Generation systems (4G) provide enhanced technologies, which enable higher spectral efficiencies and allow for higher data rates and cell capacities. Conventional base station transmitter in wireless communication systems like the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) and Long Term Evolution (LTE) system can be split into two separate units, a Remote Unit (RU), which is also referred to as Remote Radio Head (RRH), and a Central Unit (CU), connected either by electrical or optical links through a backhaul network.
One of the interface protocols which enable such a distributed architecture is called Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI). With such architecture, RUs offload Intermediate Frequency (IF) and Radio Frequency (RF) processing from the base station transmitter. Furthermore, the base station transmitter and RF antennas can be physically separated by a considerable distance, thus providing greater deployment flexibility of the system.
The RU comprises a Radio Frequency (RF) front-end, i.e. analog transmit RF components. Typical advanced processing algorithms on RUs include Digital Up-Conversion (DUC), Crest Factor Reduction (CFR) and Digital Pre-Distortion (DPD). DUC interpolates baseband digital signals to a much higher sample rate via a cascade of interpolation filters and further mixes the complex data channels with Intermediate Frequency (IF) carrier signals so that RF modulation can be simplified. Filtering may be needed for baseband digital signal occupying a single component carrier, as is the case in a LTE downlink, in order to get rid of unwanted out-of-band emissions, and comply with regulatory spectrum emission masks (SEM).
One of the reasons for frequency leakage to adjacent channels is that discontinuities often occur between the waveforms of symbols comprised in the baseband digital signal, where the symbols are contiguously arranged. For instance, in the generation of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) baseband digital signal, there is generated a discontinuity between an OFDM symbol and the cyclic prefix of the next adjacent OFDM. This signal discontinuity can cause undesired spectral leakage into nearby frequency bands that may need to be suppressed by filtering. Such discontinuity may be suppressed by digital filtering techniques which are usually agnostic to the type of symbols being conveyed by the baseband digital signal.
However, the complexity of the filtering processing may be reduced by considering the type of symbols conveyed by the baseband digital signal during digital filtering.


Methods of using cement compositions comprising phosphate compounds in subterranean formations are provided. An example of a method is a method of cementing in a subterranean formation. Other examples of methods include methods of avoiding the loss of circulation in a subterranean formation. Other examples of methods include methods of drilling in a subterranean formation.

The present invention relates to subterranean well cementing operations, and more particularly, to methods of using cement compositions comprising phosphate compounds in subterranean formations.
Hydraulic cement compositions commonly are utilized in subterranean operations, particularly subterranean well completion and remedial operations. For example, hydraulic cement compositions are used in primary cementing operations whereby pipe strings, such as casing and liners, are cemented in well bores. In performing primary cementing, a hydraulic cement composition is pumped into an annular space between the walls of a well bore and the exterior surface of the pipe string disposed therein. The cement composition sets in the annular space, thereby forming therein an annular sheath of hardened, substantially impermeable cement that supports and positions the pipe string in the well bore and bonds the exterior surface of the pipe string to the walls of the well bore. Hydraulic cement compositions also are used in remedial cementing operations, such as plugging highly permeable zones or fractures in well bores, plugging cracks and holes in pipe strings, and the like.
Conventional well completion operations commonly involve a period of time wherein subsequent operations (e.g., casing perforation operations, stimulation operations, and the like) may be delayed in order to permit the cement composition to set, and develop sufficient compressive strength in the subterranean formation to permit further drilling to be performed. These time periods may be referred to as "waiting-on-cement time" or "WOC time." Given the high cost to place a drilling rig or workover rig on a job site, excessive WOC time may increase the cost of performing subterranean operations dramatically on a particular well.
Conventional attempts to reduce WOC time commonly have involved the use of magnesium phosphate cement compositions, which are known to set relatively rapidly. However, in some cases conventional magnesium phosphate cement compositions may set so rapidly that a retarder must be included to permit pumping of the magnesium phosphate cement composition to its desired location in a subterranean formation. Though the inclusion of a retarder in the magnesium phosphate cement composition may be suitable in certain circumstances, such retarders often fail to retard the setting of the magnesium phosphate cement compositions at temperatures of about 200° F. and above.


Video data with enhanced dynamic range (EDR) are color graded for a first and a second reference display with different dynamic range characteristics to generate a first color-graded output, a second color graded output, and associated first and second sets of metadata. The first color-graded output and the two sets of metadata are transmitted from an encoder to a decoder to be displayed on a target display which may be different than the second reference display. At the receiver, a decoder interpolates between the first and second set of metadata to generate a third set of metadata which drives the display management process for displaying the received video data onto the target display. The second set of metadata of metadata may be represented as delta metadata values from the first set of metadata values.

As used herein, the term 'dynamic range' (DR) may relate to a capability of the human psychovisual system (HVS) to perceive a range of intensity (e.g., luminance, luma) in an image, e.g., from darkest darks (blacks) to brightest brights (whites). In this sense, DR relates to a 'scene-referred' intensity. DR may also relate to the ability of a display device to adequately or approximately render an intensity range of a particular breadth. In this sense, DR relates to a 'display-referred' intensity. Unless a particular sense is explicitly specified to have particular significance at any point in the description herein, it should be inferred that the term may be used in either sense, e.g. interchangeably.
As used herein, the term high dynamic range (HDR) relates to a DR breadth that spans the some 14-15 orders of magnitude of the human visual system (HVS). For example, well adapted humans with essentially normal vision (e.g., in one or more of a statistical, biometric or ophthalmological sense) have an intensity range that spans about 15 orders of magnitude. Adapted humans may perceive dim light sources of as few as a mere handful of photons. Yet, these same humans may perceive the near painfully brilliant intensity of the noonday sun in desert, sea or snow (or even glance into the sun, however briefly to prevent damage). This span though is available to 'adapted' humans, e.g., those whose HVS has a time period in which to reset and adjust.
In contrast, the DR over which a human may simultaneously perceive an extensive breadth in intensity range may be somewhat truncated, in relation to HDR. As used herein, the terms enhanced dynamic range (EDR) or visual dynamic range (VDR) may individually or interchangeably relate to the DR that is simultaneously perceivable by a HVS. As used herein, EDR may relate to a DR that spans 5 to 6 orders of magnitude. Thus while perhaps somewhat narrower in relation to true scene referred HDR, EDR nonetheless represents a wide DR breadth.
Most consumer desktop displays support luminance of 200 to 300 cd/m2 or nits. Most consumer HDTVs range from 300 to 1000 cd/m2. Such conventional displays thus typify a low dynamic range (LDR), also referred to as a standard dynamic range (SDR), in relation to HDR or EDR. As the availability of EDR content grows due to advances in both capture equipment (e.g., cameras) and EDR displays (e.g., the PRM-4200 professional reference monitor from Dolby Laboratories), EDR content may be color graded and displayed on EDR displays that support higher dynamic ranges (e.g., from 1,000 nits to 5,000 nits or more).
As appreciated by the inventors here, due to the broad range of supported dynamic ranges in display devices (e.g., from as low as 50 nits for today's cinema projectors to 5,000 nits or more for future EDR televisions), improved techniques for the workflow and distribution of EDR signals and related metadata for the proper display management of EDR video are desirable.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section. Similarly, issues identified with respect to one or more approaches should not assume to have been recognized in any prior art on the basis of this section, unless otherwise indicated.

Workflow for content creation and guided display management of EDR video

Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation


The present disclosure relates to an automotive virtual personal assistant configured to provide intelligent support to a user, mindful of the user environment both in and out of a vehicle. Further, the automotive virtual personal assistant is configured to contextualize user-specific vehicle-based and cloud-based data to intimately interact with the user and predict future user actions. Vehicle-based data may include spoken natural language, visible and infrared camera video, as well as on-board sensors of the type commonly found in vehicles. Cloud-based data may include web searchable content and connectivity to personal user accounts, fully integrated to provide an attentive and predictive user experience. In contextualizing and communicating these data, the automotive virtual personal assistant provides improved safety and an enhanced user experience.

As internet-connected devices are now ubiquitous, the development of technology focused at the mobile user has rapidly accelerated. Nowhere, in recent years, is this more evident than the automobile as manufacturers seek to provide users with an improved and connected experience. Currently, vehicles are capable of ascertaining the status of various sensors placed throughout the vehicle cabin and on the exterior of the vehicle, enabling generic identification of an open window, an unfastened seatbelt, the distance between vehicles, etc. In some vehicles, an advanced driver assistant system can aid the driver with dynamic cruise control, lane change assist, and blind spot detection, utilizing sensors on the exterior of the vehicle to enhance passenger safety while destressing the driving experience. Often existing in parts if at all, an improved and fully integrated automobile able to provide an automotive virtual personal assistant that is responsive and proactive to user and vehicle demands remains elusive. U.S. Publication No. 2015/0306969 entitled "Automotive Recharge Scheduling Systems and Methods" by Sabripour describes a system for receiving a user input from a microphone and, through cloud-based interactions, scheduling a vehicle event with the user.
The foregoing "Background" description is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description which may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly or impliedly admitted as prior art against the present invention.

TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.


A process cartridge includes: a first unit including a first side plate, a second side plate and a photosensitive drum; and a second unit including a developing member and an electrical terminal for supplying power to the developing member. The second unit is pivotally movable relative to the first unit about a pivot axis between a first position and a second position. The electrical terminal is rotatably supported by the first side plate and is positioned on the pivot axis.

A conventional process cartridge may be provided with a drum unit having a photosensitive drum, and a developing unit having a developing roller. In such conventional process cartridge, the developing unit can pivotally move about a pivot axis between a position at which the developing roller contacts the photosensitive drum, and a position at which the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive drum.

Process cartridge having drum unit and developing unit including an electrical terminal


One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, performing a source/drain extension ion implantation to form a doped extension implant region in the source/drain regions of the device, performing an ion implantation process on the source/drain regions with a Group VII material (e.g., fluorine), after performing the Group VII material ion implantation process, forming a capping material layer above the source/drain regions, and, with the capping material layer in position, performing an anneal process so as to form stacking faults in the source/drain regions.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure generally relates to the formation of semiconductor devices and, more specifically, to various stress memorization techniques that may be employed when manufacturing transistor devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
The fabrication of advanced integrated circuits, such as CPU's, storage devices, ASIC's (application specific integrated circuits) and the like, requires the formation of a large number of circuit elements in a given chip area according to a specified circuit layout, wherein field effect transistors (NMOS and PMOS transistors) represent one important type of circuit element used in manufacturing such integrated circuit devices. A field effect transistor, irrespective of whether an NMOS transistor or a PMOS transistor is considered, typically comprises doped source and drain regions that are formed in a semiconducting substrate that are separated by a channel region. A gate insulation layer is positioned above the channel region and a conductive gate electrode is positioned above the gate insulation layer. By applying an appropriate voltage to the gate electrode, the channel region becomes conductive and current is allowed to flow from the source region to the drain region.
Device designers are under constant pressure to increase the operating speed and electrical performance of transistors and integrated circuit products that employ such transistors. Given that the gate length (the distance between the source and drain regions) on current generation transistor devices may be approximately 20-50 nm, and that further scaling is anticipated in the future, device designers have employed a variety of techniques in an effort to improve device performance, e.g., the use of high-k dielectrics, the use of metal gate electrode structures, the incorporation of work function metals in the gate electrode structure, etc. Another technique that device designers have employed to improve device performance is to induce a desired stress in the channel region of a device, i.e., induce a tensile stress in the channel region of an NMOS device (to improve the mobility of charge-carrying electrons) and induce a compressive stress in the channel region of a PMOS device (to improve the mobility of charge-carrying holes). Various stress-memorization techniques are known to those skilled in the art.
One typical prior art process flow that is performed to form NMOS transistors with the desired tensile stress in a CMOS application is as follows. After the gate structures are formed, N-type extension implants are formed for the N-type devices with the P-type devices masked, a first spacer is formed on both the N- and P-type devices, extension and halo implants are performed on the P-type devices with the N-type devices masked, a second spacer is formed of the P-type devices, a cavity is etched in the source/drain regions of the P-type devices and an epi semiconductor material is formed in the cavities on the P-type devices. Thereafter, a second spacer is formed on the N-type devices, an amorphization implant process (Germanium—55 keV, 3e14 ion/cm2 dose) is performed using a material such as germanium to amorphize the source/drain region. Next, a so-called SMT (Stress Memorization Techniques) processing module is performed on the N-type device. The SMT module involves forming a layer of silicon dioxide (e.g., about 4 nm thick) on the substrate, forming a capping material layer, e.g., a thick layer of silicon nitride (e.g., about 40 nm thick) with the desired intrinsic stress, heating the device for about 10 minutes at 750° C. in a nitrogen environment. Thereafter, the layer of silicon nitride and the layer of silicon dioxide are removed by performing one or more etching processes. Then, raised source/drain regions are formed by depositing epi semiconductor material in the source/drain areas of the device. Thereafter, deep source/drain implant regions are formed by performing an ion implantation process. A heating process is later performed to repair damage to the lattice structure of the substrate due to the amorphization implant process and the other ion implantation processes that were performed on the substrate up to this point in the process flow.
FIG. 1 is a TEM photograph of an integrated circuit product 10 that includes a plurality of NMOS transistors formed above an active region 11 defined in a semiconductor substrate by an illustrative isolation region 12. As depicted, the transistors comprise a gate electrode structure 16 and raised source/drain regions 18. Ideally, by performing stress memorization techniques, stacking faults 14 (sometimes referred to as edge dislocations within the industry) will be formed in the active region 11 in the source/drain areas 18 of the devices. Ideally, for current generation devices with very small gate lengths and very tight gate spacing (pitch), the stacking faults 14 will have an inverted "V" shaped configuration, as depicted in the dashed-line region 20, for a [100] substrate. The stacking faults 14 may have a configuration other than the depicted inverted "V" for devices formed on substrates other than a [100] substrate, i.e., the angle of the downward-pointing "legs" of the inverted "V" shaped stacking faults 14 may be different when the substrate has a different crystallographic orientation. In some applications, the dislocations may not even intersect one another, i.e., the stacking faults may not intersect one another so as to form the "apex" of the inverted "V" shaped stacking faults. Thus, the above reference to the stacking faults 14 having an inverted "V" shaped configuration is only a shorthand reference. However, with respect to the transistors formed adjacent the edge of the isolation region 12, such stacking faults 14 do not form in the source/drain regions of the device, as reflected by the absence of such stacking faults 14 in the dashed-line regions 22. The lack of the stacking faults 14 indicates that the particular transistor device did not receive any significant benefit from performing the process operations associated with the SMT module, i.e., the source/drain regions of such NMOS devices do not have the desired stacking faults 14. Accordingly, the transistors where the stacking faults 14 are absent, or at least not fully formed, will not perform as well as a transistor device where the stacking faults 14 are present, as depicted in the dashed line region 20 shown in FIG. 1. Some attempts have been made to use hydrogen-rich silicon nitride as the stress-inducing material layers to improve the formation of the desired stacking faults 14.
The present disclosure is directed to various stress memorization techniques that may reduce or eliminate one or more of the problems identified above.

Stress memorization techniques for transistor devices


A sensor for sensing an electric field includes a movable sensor probe including one or more pair, typically three pair, of electrically conductive electrodes, and may include one or more pair of selectively switchable auxiliary electrodes. The probe is movable and may be mounted on a vehicle or trailer. A processor may process electric field signals from the probe for providing a human perceivable indication of the electric field. The processor may perform a Fast Fourier Transform of the electric field signals to produce an indication of the magnitude of the electric field, and may perform unweighted and/or weighted averaging in relation to processing electric field data, setting a comparison threshold, providing a human perceivable indication, or a combination of the foregoing. A speed at which the sensor probe is moving may be utilized in processing the data.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for detecting an electric field.
Large power distribution systems, especially those in large metropolitan areas, are subject to many stresses, which may occasionally result in undesirable or dangerous anomalies. An infrequent, but recurrent problem in power distribution infrastructure is the presence of "stray voltages" in the system. These stray voltages present themselves when objects, such as manhole covers, gratings, street light poles, phone booths, and the like, become electrically energized, e.g., at 120 volts AC. A conductive path may be established between underground secondary network cabling and the object by physical damage to insulation that causes direct contact or by the introduction of water which serves as a conductor. These energized objects present a danger to people and animals that may come in contact with them.
Sensing the stray voltage by detecting electromagnetic radiation is impractical because the wavelength of a 60 Hz electromagnetic wave is about 5000 Km (about 3107 miles). To effectively radiate electromagnetic waves, the radiating object (manhole cover or light pole) should represent at least ¼ wavelength (about 776.75 miles) and a receiving "antenna" should be 1½ to 2 wavelengths away from the emitting source (about 6214 miles). Two wavelengths is the distance required for the electric and magnetic fields to come into time phase and space quadrature where they behave as a plane wave. A sensing system will typically be perhaps 10 ft. to 30 ft. away from the energized object, so that sensing will take place in the extreme near field where electric and magnetic fields exist in a complex temporal and spatial pattern, not as a unified electromagnetic plane wave. Therefore, the electric and magnetic fields must be considered and measured separately.
Because power distribution networks typically include many miles of buried cable carrying perhaps thousands of amperes of current, the magnetic field in any one location due to such normal load is likely to be very high. Detecting magnetic fields arising from a relatively weak stray voltage anomaly would be very difficult due to the interference from strong ambient magnetic fields arising from normal loads. Therefore, the best way to detect a stray voltage anomaly is to sense the electric field (E-field).
Because electric distribution systems are spread out over vast geographic areas, including urban, suburban and rural areas, a portable non-contacting sensor and method for sensing an electric field while moving would be desirable. For example, a sensor and method that could do so while moving at speeds of 10-25 miles per hour (about 16-40 km/hr) would be desirable.
Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus and method for detecting an electric field that is adaptable for mobility through the electric field. For example, it is desirable to provide an apparatus and method for detecting an electric field that is adaptable for mounting on and operating from a moving vehicle to allow for drive-by inspection, which would greatly increase the rate at which potentially dangerous voltage anomalies are detected and thereby significantly improve public safety.

Apparatus and method for detecting an electric field


A signal processing unit includes: a synchronizing signal control section configured to control length of a synchronizing signal for a predetermined row in a frame, in which the synchronizing signal serves as a basis of charge read processing that reads charge from a pixel array on a row basis; and a timing adjustment section configured to adjust timing of electronic shutter operation of unit pixels, according to the length of the synchronizing signal for the predetermined row controlled by the synchronizing signal control section.

The present technology relates to a signal processing unit, a signal processing method, an image pickup device, and an image pickup apparatus. In particular, the technology relates to a signal processing unit, a signal processing method, an image pickup device, and an image pickup apparatus capable of more accurately achieving a desired frame rate.
In a typical existing image sensor, charge accumulated in a light receiving section (photodiode) is read as a signal voltage, and is subjected to analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion. The charge read from the light receiving section of each of unit pixels arranged in arrays is subjected to A/D conversion by an A/D converter (also referred to as analog digital converter (ADC)) prepared for each column. Each A/D converter sequentially processes charge read from a unit pixel on each of rows along a column corresponding thereto. That is, charge read from each unit pixel of the pixel array is processed on a row basis.
In other words, charge read operation from each unit pixel is performed every row of the pixel array. Timing of processing on such read of each row is controlled based on a horizontal synchronizing signal. Specifically, length of a horizontal synchronizing signal corresponding to the total number of rows of the pixel array and rows in a blanking period corresponds to processing time for one frame. In other words, a frame rate is allowed to be controlled through control of the length of the horizontal synchronizing signal.
For example, the horizontal synchronizing signal may be generated based on an internal clock generated by multiplication and/or dividing of an externally supplied clock (for example, see Japanese Patent No. 4655500).

Signal processing unit, signal processing method, image pickup device, and image pickup apparatus