An organic x-ray detector is presented. The organic x-ray detector includes a layered structure. The layered structure includes a thin-film transistor (TFT) array disposed on a substrate, an organic photodiode disposed on the TFT array, and a scintillator layer disposed on the organic photodiode. The organic x-ray detector includes an encapsulation cover at least partially encapsulating the layered structure. The organic x-ray detector further includes at least one of a moisture getter layer and an oxygen getter layer disposed proximate to the organic photodiode, and in the path of an x-ray radiation incident on the layered structure. X-ray system including the organic x-ray detector is also presented.

Embodiments of the invention generally relate to organic x-ray detectors. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to organic x-ray detectors including oxygen and moisture getter layers.
Digital x-ray detectors fabricated with continuous photodiodes have potential applications for low cost digital radiography as well as for rugged, light-weight and portable detectors. Digital x-ray detectors with continuous photodiodes have an increased fill factor and potentially higher quantum efficiency. The continuous photodiode generally includes organic photodiodes (OPDs). A scintillator which converts x-ray to visible light is generally disposed on top of the OPDs.
Typical organic x-ray detectors are subject to performance degradation upon exposure to oxygen and/or moisture. Possible degradation mechanisms include one or both of oxidation of electrode materials and oxidation of organic materials (e.g., OPD materials). During the post OPD deposition process, such as, scintillator deposition, encapsulation, laser repair, or operation, OPD has a high chance of exposure to air. Most organic based photodiodes are sensitive to oxygen and/or moisture, and hence need to be protected from the oxygen-containing air. A hermetic seal is thus desirable to achieve a reliable OPD and organic x-ray detector. Typical x-ray detectors include a top cover along with edge seals. However, edge sealants are generally more permeable for moisture and oxygen than the top cover, and edge ingress of moisture/oxygen may be a limiting factor for long-term stability.
Therefore, there is a need for x-ray detector configurations with improved oxygen and moisture getter layers.

Organic x-ray detector and x-ray systems


This invention provides methods for imaging and/or treating a tumor in a subject which comprise administering to the subject an amount of a radiolabeled antibody effective to image and/or treat the tumor, where the radiolabeled antibody binds to a cellular component released by dying tumor cells. This invention also provides methods for imaging and/or treating melanin-containing melanomas in a subject which comprise administering to the subject an amount of a radiolabeled anti-melanin antibody effective to image and/or treat the melanoma. The invention also provides compositions and methods of making compositions comprising radiolabeled antibodies for imaging and treating tumors, including melanin-containing melanomas.

Throughout this application various publications are referred to in parenthesis. Full citations for these references may be found at the end of the specification immediately preceding the claims. The disclosures of these publications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties into the subject application to more fully describe the art to which the subject application pertains.
There is a clinical need for new therapies for melanoma which is among the few cancers with a rising incidence (1). Malignant melanoma affects ˜40,000 new patients each year in the United States and an estimated 100,000 world-wide (2, 3). Melanoma is an important cause of cancer among young patients (30-50 years) which increases the economic importance of the disease. While primary tumors are successfully removed surgically, a satisfactory treatment for patients with metastatic melanoma has not been developed (4). The median survival time of patients with metastatic melanoma is 8.5 months, with an estimated 5-year survival of 6% (4). There has been little change in these results over the past 25 years.
Immune approaches to the therapy of metastatic melanoma have been evolving steadily and include treating patients with 1) non-specific immune stimulants with a focus on the use of tumor-associated antigens by passive immune therapy with antibodies targeted directly to tumor cells; and 2) active immune therapy via vaccination with tumor cells, tumor cell lysates, peptides, carbohydrates, gene constructs encoding proteins, or anti-idiotype antibodies that mimic tumor-associated antigens (5).
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) radiolabeled with diagnostic radioisotopes 99 m-Technetium (99mTc) and 111-Indium (111In) as well as with 131-Iodine (131I) have been used extensively for radioimmunoimaging (RII) of metastatic melanoma. A recent review by Kang and Yong (6) summarizes 58 patient trials (excluding case studies) involving a total of 3638 patients. The majority (>80%) of these studies used mAbs to high molecular weight melanoma associated antigen (HMW-MAA) proteoglycan. The sensitivity of RII using various anti-HMW-MAA mAbs or mAbs against other melanoma associated antigens such as P97 (7) is 65-88% (5, 6) which compares favorably with standard diagnostic methods (6). RII is also able to survey the entire body for metastases in a single study and can detect a substantial number of otherwise occult lesions.
Although RII has filled a niche in detection and disease assessment of metastatic melanoma, the ultimate goal is radioimmunotherapy (RIT). RIT takes advantage of the specificity of the antigen-antibody interaction to deliver lethal doses of radiation to target cells using radiolabeled antibodies (8). RIT is experiencing a renaissance, and so far has been most successful for the treatment of "liquid" and "semi-liquid" malignancies such as lymphoma and leukemia (9). The recent FDA approval of Zevalin® (IDEC Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, Calif.), which is 90-Yttrium (90Y) labeled monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody for treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is proof of the enormous potential of RIT in cancer treatment.
There have been relatively few attempts to use RIT for treatment of melanoma in either the pre-clinical or clinical settings. One possible explanation for this might be the perception of melanoma as a relatively radioresistant cancer (10, 11) resulting from the outcomes of radiation therapy of melanoma with external beam radiation. Radioresistance in melanoma has been associated with melanin contents which presumably provide a non-specific shield that absorbs photons. The perception that melanoma is radioresistant is changing now (11) and, more importantly, it has been shown that radioresistance of certain tumors towards external radiation beam is higher compared to treatment of the same type of tumors with radioimmunotherapy. The difference in efficacy is due to different mechanisms of interaction between tumor cells and gamma rays of external beam compared to the particulate radiation delivered by radiolabeled antibodies (12, 13). Significant killing of melanoma cells in monolayers was observed as a result of treatment with antibodies radiolabeled with 125-Iodine (14), 211-Astatine (15), and 111-Indium (16). 131-I-labeled mAb caused shrinkage of human malignant melanoma multicellular spheroids (17). In an animal model of human melanoma, intratumoral injection of mAb radiolabeled with alpha-emitter 213-Bismuth caused complete disappearance of xenografted tumors while systemic RIT was less efficient with some delay in tumor progression followed by eventual re-growth (18). In a pilot study in patients with metastatic melanoma (19), a patient who received total dose of 374 mCi 131-I-labeled Fab′ fragments of anti-HMW-MAA mAb showed a greater than 50% reduction in the size of pelvic and pericaval nodes, with stabilization of disease at the smaller nodal size for a period of several months.
The majority of human melanomas are pigmented with melanin. Although several antibodies have been tried for the therapy of melanomas (notably monoclonal antibodies against high molecular weight melanoma-associated antigen, against chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, and against transferrin receptor), the approach of targeting melanin with an anti-melanin antibody has not been utilized. One factor which teaches away from the use of anti-melanin antibodies is that melanin is an intracellular pigment that is normally found in the melanosome. Hence, one might dismiss this pigment as a target as being inaccessible to a serum antibody. Another factor is that the amount of intracellular melanin is inversely related to the radiosensitivity of human melanoma cells (20-22). Melanin is thought to absorb radiation and thereby protect the cells.

Radiolabeled antibodies for treatment of tumors

Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University


A soft robot hand includes a palm, a first fabric-reinforced textile actuator coupled to the palm, and a second fabric-reinforced textile actuator coupled to the palm. The first actuator is moveable relative to the palm between a collapsed position and an inflated position to approximate a joint in a first human finger. The second actuator is spaced apart from the first actuator. The second actuator is moveable relative to the palm between a collapsed position and an inflated position to approximate a joint in a second human finger.

Soft pneumatic actuators (SPAs) are frequently used in soft robots in applications such as mobile and assistive devices. SPAs are generally lightweight, have a high power-to-weight ratio, are inexpensive to fabricate, are compliant, and can safely interact with a user as well as the surrounding environment. SPAs are often classified based on the materials used to fabricate them as well as the type of motion they can create. These motions can vary from bending, twisting, extending, contracting, or a combination of these.

ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY


Out of a plurality of digit lines consisting of first layer aluminum wirings that are connected respectively to a plurality of memory cells forming a memory cell array region, and sense amplifiers that have the digit lines selected by Y selector circuits as the inputs are arranged in the direction of the digit lines of the memory cell array region. At least a part of the wirings between the plurality of the digit lines and the sense amplifiers are disposed as second layer aluminum wirings on the memory cell array region. By so arranging it is possible to provide sophisticated sense amplifiers in a semiconductor memory device which has a large number of output bits and yet a high speed operation is required for it.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device, and more particularly to the wiring of sense amplifiers and the like of a semiconductor memory device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A semiconductor memory device has in general a memory cell array region formed by arranging memory cells with digit lines and word lines connected thereto in an array form. In the direction parallel to the digit lines of the memory cell array region there are provided X decoders that are connected to the word lines, and in the direction parallel to the word lines there are provided Y selectors and sense amplifiers that are connected to the digit lines.
In such a semiconductor memory device, a word line is formed of polycrystalline silicon with a relatively high resistance value (about 20 .OMEGA./square). Consequently, the length of the word lines has to be made as short as possible in designing a memory with high speed. A method of diminishing the length of the word lines is to reduce the number of digit lines in order to decrease the length in the direction of the word lines within the memory cell array region. In accordance with this method, the number of the memory cells that are connected per digit line is increased by augmenting the length of the digit lines in proportion to the degree of reduction in the number of the digit lines.
Among memories for which high speed is required, in a memory with a large number of output bits such as a micro ROM that is storing micro codes and a cache memory the number of the sense amplifiers becomes large corresponding to the number of the output bits. Since the sense amplifier circuits are formed in the direction of the word lines of the memory cell array region, as mentioned above, which becomes narrow by the aforementioned arrangement, the available width of the formation per sense amplifier circuit becomes small.
In short, in a memory device which requires high speed and has a large number of output bits, the width of the region for forming the sense amplifiers is narrow so that there is a drawback in that it is not possible to obtain a complicated circuit with large number of elements, namely, a sophisticated sense amplifier circuit.


This invention relates to a photographic element comprising a support having thereon light sensitive silver halide layers comprising at least one red light sensitive silver halide layer, at least one green light sensitive silver halide layer, and at least one blue sensitive silver halide layer, wherein the green light sensitive silver halide layer has an absorption spectra having a maximum absorption at a wavelength xcexmax from 530 to 560 nm and a half bandwidth less than 50 nm; and the red light sensitive silver halide layer has an adsorption spectra having a maximum absorption at a wavelength xcexmax from 610 to 640 nm, and exhibiting from 30 nm hypsochromic of the wavelength of maximum absorption and below an area less than 40% based on the total area of the red light sensitive silver halide layer adsorption spectra. It further relates to a method of processing said element using an electronic filmwriter device.

This invention relates to a new spectral sensitized silver halide film. Specifically, the invention relates to a new sensitized silver halide film used to form images by exposure to electronic filmwriter devices and a method for forming the image.
It is well known to expose silver halide photographic elements using light radiation, the silver halide element being usually placed in a camera. Electronic filmwriter devices represent a different means of exposing a photographic film other than a camera. These devices usually contain three different light sources, one that exposes the red portion of an image, one that exposes the green portion, and one that exposes the blue portion. Examples of electronic filmwriter devices are the Saphire and Solitaire by MGI, Lightjet by CSI, Miruswriter Turbopro II by Mirus Industries, and LVT by Dice. These devices have different types of light sources having different spectral power distributions. The Saphire, Solitaire, and Miruswriter all have CRT light sources, Lightjet contains laser sources, and the LVT contains LED sources.
Information is supplied to the device that digitally describes the original scene""s content. This information originates from either a camera image or a computer. In the case where the camera image is the source of the information to the device, the image is scanned so that digital values can be supplied to the device. The supplied information is then used to expose an output film. In the case where the original image is generated by a computer, the information is already in digital form.
Signal processing of the supplied information is performed within the device to determine the intensity and time of exposures that the three light sources are to give the output film. Typically, when the film is exposed, the filmwriter device must scan over the entire area of the film to expose each color record of the output film. The extent of exposure of the output film, and hence, the amount of dye formation, depends in part on the spectral sensitivity distributions of the film and the spectral power distributions of the light sources of the electronic filmwriter device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,429 discloses a film for laser recording. The disclosed film is spectral sensitized to minimize unwanted dye formation to prevent xe2x80x98color mixing.xe2x80x99 The result is obtained from the specific ratio of the sensitivity of the light sensitive emulsion layers constituting the film.
Often films which are exposed by electronic filmwriter devices are films which are spectrally optimized to be exposed by natural light radiation, not the light source of an electronic filmwriter device. As a result, when these films are used as the imaging media from an electronic filmwriter device, extra xe2x80x98scansxe2x80x99 by the light sources are often needed. It is know that extra scans are often required for proper exposure by the green light source of the filmwriter device. When conventional reversal films are exposed by an electronic filmwriter device, extra scans by the red light source are also often required to decrease the amount of cyan density that forms in the low density region of images. These extra scans undesirably increase the completion time of the image. This affects the throughput of the machine.
This invention provides a photographic element comprising a support having thereon light sensitive silver halide layers comprising at least one red light sensitive silver halide layer, at least one green light sensitive silver halide layer, and at least one blue sensitive silver halide layer, wherein
the green light sensitive silver halide layer has an absorption spectra having a maximum absorption at a wavelength xcexmax from 530 to 560 nm and a half bandwidth less than 50 nm; and
the red light sensitive silver halide layer has an adsorption spectra having a maximum absorption at a wavelength xcexmax from 610 to 640 nm, and exhibiting from 30 nm hypsochromic of the wavelength of maximum absorption and below an area less than 30% based on the total area of the red light sensitive silver halide layer adsorption spectra. This invention also provides a process for forming a photographic image which comprises exposing the above photographic element with light sources from an electronic filmwriter device.
The present invention provides a silver halide element that shows sensitometric advantages when exposed by an electronic filmwriter device. The film of the present invention exhibits increased green and red spectral sensitivities. The increased red and green sensitivities decrease the time the element needs to be exposed by the red and green light sources of the electronic film writer. This provides an advantageous time saving for the completion of the image. Other and further advantages of the invention will appear from the description of the present invention

Spectral sensitized silver halide element for electronic filmwriter device


A countertop video terminal uses a cooperating structural framework which receives and protects the computer control module, the touchscreen module and the financial transaction module. The touchscreen module is cantilevered from an upright tower support provided at one side of the base. The computer control module is provided on said base and is of a reduced height to define a thin rearwardly extending module. A clear gap or recess is provided between the touchscreen module and the computer control module. The touchscreen preferably partially overlaps with the financial transaction module provided in the tower support.

Countertop video game terminals have been popular for many years and these terminals continue to change as technology improves. The capabilities of countertop video terminals expands as the cost of the computer chips and memory decreases. In the early 1990's a significant advance was made by adopting touchscreens as both an input device and an output display.
Countertop video terminals have traditionally been of a box-shape similar to small portable televisions. The terminals are generally rectangular but the corners have been smoothed or a gentle curved transition introduced to improve the box like appearance thereof.
Most countertop video terminals are coin operated and therefore to one side of the touchscreen a separate financial transaction module is provided. These modules are built into the housing, at one side of the touchscreen, and thus substantially increase the width of the terminal. The computer control module including the various circuit boards memory and other electrical components are provided behind the touchscreen. Some of these terminals include a large top opening access door to access the control module for resetting of the operator terminal or operator reprogramming of the terminal. In addition, the financial transaction module typically includes a coin slot for receiving quarters, dollar coins or other coin currency and preferably includes a banknote receiver. Typically, there is a separate access door to allow an operator to gain access to the funds which have been deposited to the terminal. Interior to the financial transaction module a removable container is provided that collects the coins and/or bills.
Many countertop video terminals do not include a credit card or smart card capabilities as this typically requires a communication capability for the terminal which is not always available or may not be justifiable. If desired terminals can be provided with this option.
The existing designs are functional and operate in a satisfactory manner. Video terminals can be subject substantial abuse and these terminals require a robust construction to reduce service requirements and provide in an appropriate product life.
Often these video terminals include more than 80 different games and these games typically operate for a relatively short period of time of two minutes to four minutes. Typically, the games include two or three rounds and perhaps a bonus round.
The present invention provides a countertop video terminal which includes effective space utilization and provides a modern appearance reflective of the significant technology and capabilities of the terminal. Thus the terminal assists in promoting the desirability of playing the games provided thereon. Effective protection of the various modules of the terminal is maintained while providing a terminal which is both pleasing and inviting to a patron. In a preferred embodiment of the invention some of the modules partially overlap in an effective way to decrease the width of the terminal and provide more effective space utilization to the rear of the terminal.


A method of creating a diamond includes the steps of creating entry points and internal passages in a natural or synthetic diamond, infiltrating a mixture comprising ashes produced from living human and animal parts or deceased human or animal parts into the diamond, and crystallizing the mixture. The diamond may then be repolished or refacetted. The invention also includes diamonds having discrete internal portions comprising ashes made from living human and animal parts, which internal portion are substantially transparent and which have an index refraction substantially matching that of the diamond.

Many people commemorate or celebrate various special occasions such as birthdays, engagements, weddings, anniversaries, graduations by giving gemstones such as diamonds and diamond jewelry as a gift. Many people develop a deep and lasting attachment with an animal such as the very close relationship which often develops between pets such as dogs and their owners. As a result, it is often desired to provide a natural gemstone as a precious gift that is somehow identified with or related to a particular person or animal. There is a desire to incorporate some part of that particular person or animal into a keepsake, such as a gemstone or jewelry.
In one prior art method described in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/100,666 (Publication No. 20030017932), synthetic gemstones are created from carbon recovered from the cremated remains of a person or animal. However, synthetic diamonds are difficult and costly to produce. Despite their additional cost, they are far less valuable than naturally occurring diamonds and are readily distinguishable from natural diamonds.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for natural gemstones which have incorporated or encapsulated material from a human or an animal.

Method of encapsulating material from humans or animals in a natural gemstone and its product


A method for implementing a variable optical splitter and a variable optical splitter are provided. The method includes that: the variable optical splitter is divided into one or more virtual optical splitting units according to wavelengths/wavebands of optical signals, wherein the virtual optical splitting units and the wavelengths/wavebands are in a one-to-one correspondence, and moreover, the wavelengths/wavebands and splitting ratios are also in a one-to-one correspondence; and optical guiding or optical splitting is performed on the incident optical signals through the virtual optical splitting units. By adopting the technical solutions provided by the present disclosure, the technical problems that there is yet no optical splitter with a variable splitting ratio in the related technology and the like are solved, and controllability of the splitting ratios of the optical splitter is achieved.

Along with mature development of an optical fiber communication technology and continuous promotion of a requirement of the modern information society on a network, an optical fiber network has taken the place of a copper wire communication network, and networks from a core network and a bearer network to an access network and further Fiber To The Home (FTTH) almost cover all communication networks.
However, an access network is confronted with multiple challenges, and in order to save resources, three networks of mobile communication, telecommunication and broadcast and television are integrated, that is, the same optical access network is shared. This causes diversity of access terminal users and diversifies requirements as well as fixation of an Optical Distribution Network (ODN). As shown in FIG. 1, a splitting ratio of the users may not be changed once the ODN selects a corresponding optical splitter, so that it is difficult to achieve adaptability to changes, i.e. mobility, of the terminal users. Therefore, there is an urgent need of an Intelligent Passive Optical Network (iPON) which may be adapted to such a requirement. In view of this, it is necessary to find a passive optical splitter with a controllable splitting ratio. An Optical Line Terminal (OLT) may provide a communication channel with a corresponding splitting ratio for a terminal of a corresponding branch optical fiber according to a requirement, and a key for meeting such a requirement is to find an optical splitter with a variable splitting ratio, which is called a variable optical splitter for short hereinafter.
For the problem in a related technology, there is yet no effective solution.

Method for implementing variable optical splitter and variable optical splitter


A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip, a protective wiring layer, and an abnormality detector. At least one of integrated circuits is formed on the semiconductor chip. The protective wiring layer is formed to be spread on the integrated circuit at a very small interval, and made of a conductive light-shielding material. The protective wiring layer is applied with a power supply voltage upon operating the integrated circuit. The abnormality detector monitors the voltage applied to the protective wiring layer and outputs an abnormality detection signal when the monitored voltage is an abnormal voltage.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device constituted by a semiconductor chip having a protective wiring layer on an integrated circuit.
In recent years, electrically erasable programmable read only memories (EEPROMS) are being used as external memory devices in portable computers giving importance to communication functions.
A basic cell of a conventional EEPROM has a structure shown in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 4, a source 303 and a drain 304 are formed at a predetermined interval in a region defined by a field oxide film 302 on a p-type semiconductor substrate 301. A floating gate 306 electrically insulated from surroundings is formed through a gate insulating film 305 on the semiconductor substrate 301 and the drain 304 between the source 303 and the drain 304. A control gate 308 is formed on the floating gate 306 through an insulating film 307. The floating gate 306 and the control gate 308 are made of heavily doped polysilicon. Reference numeral 309 denotes an insulating film formed on the field oxide film 302 and the control gate 308.
In the above structure, part of the gate insulating film 305 between the floating gate 306 and the drain 304 is formed as thin as about 10 nm. In a data erase, when the control gate 308 is applied with a positive voltage much higher than a voltage to the drain 304, electrons enter the floating gate 306 from the drain 304. In a data write, by changing the polarity of the voltage applied to the control gate 108, the electrons within the floating gate 306 are removed to the drain 304. The electron flow passes through the thin gate insulating film 305 by a tunnel phenomenon.
When the floating gate 306 contains no electron, the transistor is turned on; when the floating gate 306 contains many electrons, a channel is hardly induced between the source 303 and the drain 304 by negative charges of electrons within the floating gate 306, and the transistor is not turned on. The two, ON and OFF states of the transistor correspond to data "0" and "1", respectively.
As described above, the EEPROM is advantageous in that data can be electrically written/erased in/from individual memory cells. However, data stored in the EEPROM is naturally erased by irradiation of ultraviolet rays.
For this reason, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-38915, a light-shielding film is conventionally formed on an EEPROM cell to shield the entrance of ultraviolet rays which causes a data erase. FIG. 5 shows a semiconductor chip having such a light-shielding film. An ultraviolet-shielding layer 403 is formed every memory cell in the region of an EEPROM 402 on a semiconductor chip 401 on which an integrated circuit is formed.
In the conventional semiconductor device, the ultraviolet-shielding layer 403 is only formed in the region of the EEPROM 402. If the ultraviolet-shielding layer 403 is damaged due to any reason, the damage to the layer 403 is not recognized until it is externally observed. Accordingly, the reliability of stored data cannot be assured.
More specifically, if the ultraviolet-shielding layer 403 is damaged, an EEPROM cell is irradiated with ultraviolet rays through this damaged region to damage the stored data. The damage to the ultraviolet-shielding layer 403 can be recognized by externally observing the semiconductor chip having an integrated circuit made up of the EEPROM 402. When, however, the semiconductor chip is incorporated in a data communication device or the like, the state of the EEPROM 402 cannot be always externally observed.
In this case, even if the ultraviolet-shielding layer is damaged, and thus the data is damaged, this state cannot be detected, and information processing is performed using abnormal data.
Since the ultraviolet-shielding layer 403 is formed on a word line or the like, the damage to the ultraviolet-shielding layer 403 may lead to damage or disconnection of an upper wiring layer constituting the EEPROM 402. Also in this case, the damage cannot be detected, and the device may malfunction owing to a defective semiconductor chip.


The present teaching is generally directed to soft magnetic alloys. In particular, the present teaching is directed to soft magnetic alloys including Samarium (“Sm”). In a non-limiting embodiment, an Sm-containing magnetic alloy is described including 15 wt % to 55 wt % of Cobalt (“Co”), less than 2.5 wt % of Sm, and 35 wt % to 75 wt % of Iron (“Fe”). The Sm-containing magnetic alloy may further include at least one element X, selected from a group including Vanadium (“V”), Boron (“B”), Carbon (“C”), Chromium (“Cr”), Manganese (“Mn”), Molybdenum (“Mo”), Niobium (“Nb”), Nickel (“Ni”), Titanium (“Ti”), Tungsten (“W”), and Silicon (“Si”). The Sm-containing magnetic alloy may further have a magnetic flux density of at least 2.5 Tesla.

Of the various types of soft magnets, Iron ("Fe")-Cobalt ("Co") alloys are one of the more prominent versions. As seen within U.S. Pat. No. 1,739,752, a soft magnetic Fe—Co alloy is described having a high magnetic flux density ("B"). However, the Fe—Co alloy of U.S. Pat. No. 1,739,752 is extremely brittle due to the presence of a′ below approximately 730-degrees C. This undesirable property makes the Fe—Co alloy of U.S. Pat. No. 1,739,752 unsuitable for certain industrial purposes, such as the production of plates, sheets, bars, tubes, and other objects that require good processability.
The addition of Vanadium ("V") to the aforementioned Fe—Co alloys was determined to effectivity inhibit α to α′ phase transformation. Also, the addition of V to Fe—Co alloys caused an increase to the alloy's resistivity, reducing eddy current loss. However, the addition of V to Fe—Co alloys results in a lowered magnetic flux density. Such Fe—Co—V alloys are described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,862,559.
Adding in other alloying elements to Fe—Co alloys was found to introduce similar negative effects (e.g., lowered magnetic flux density). However, in comparison to other alloying elements, the addition of V to Fe—Co alloys had a less significant magnetic flux density decrease. At the same time, the Fe—Co—V alloys were determined to have enhanced mechanical properties and processability relative to other alloying elements. Thus, while there is some reduction in magnetic flux density, Fe—Co—V alloys are commonly used and accepted for manufacturing soft magnets having high magnetic flux densities, low eddy current loss, good mechanical properties, and high processability. In particular, the composition of such commonly used Fe—Co—V alloys, which have a good balance between magnetic flux density, resistivity, and mechanical properties, include approximately 47 wt % to 52 wt % of Co, approximately 2 wt % of V, with the remainder being Fe (and inevitable impurities).
Further modifications to Fe—Co—V alloys, such as those having approximately 50 wt % of Co and approximately 2 wt % of V, also have been developed. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,940 describes a Fe—Co—V alloy, having approximately 2.1 wt % to 5 wt % of V, which has an improved energy efficiency under greatly fluctuating direct current conditions by reducing eddy currents. U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,026 further describes an Fe—Co—V alloy having 0.1 wt % to 2.0 wt % of Niobium ("Nb"), which provides good ductility. Further still, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,685,882, 6,946,097, and 7,776,259 describe Fe—Co—V alloys further including an addition of Boron ("B"), Carbon ("C"), Molybdenum ("Mo"), Nb, Nickel ("Ni"), Titanium ("Ti"), and Tungsten ("W"), which facilitates an alloy having high strength and high temperature creep resistance.
There are many examples of conventional Fe—Co—Vo alloys, such as those described above, in industrial settings. For instance, one commercial alloy—Hyperco 50HS alloy available from Carpenter Technology Corporation—includes 48.75 wt % Co, 1.90 wt % V, 0.30 wt % Nb, 0.05 wt % Si, 0.05 wt % Manganese ("Mn"), and 0.01 wt % C, with the remaining balance being Fe. Another commercial alloy—Hyperco 50A also available from Carpenter Technology Corporation—includes 48.75 wt % Co, 2.00 wt % V, 0.05 wt % Si, 0.05 wt % Mn, and 0.004 wt % C, with the remaining balance being Fe. Additional commercial alloys include Vacoflux 48 and Vacodur 49, from Vacuumschmelze Gmbh & Co., which respectively include 49 wt % Fe, 49 wt % Co, and 2 wt % V; and 49 wt % Fe, 49 wt % Co, and 2 wt % V+Nb.
Each of the aforementioned alloys has certain benefits, such as improved electrical and mechanical properties. However, most of these alloys achieve such improved electrical and mechanical properties at the expense of certain magnetic properties, such as magnetic flux density. By sacrificing magnetic flux density, the applicability of such alloys is limited. Thus, there is a need for improved magnetic alloys, such as those of the Fe—Co—V variety, that provide increased magnetic flux density and increased resistivity while also having good mechanical properties.

Samarium-containing soft magnetic alloys


A surface light source (4) includes a light guide plate (2) and a light source (5). The light guide plate has an incident surface (21) and an emitting surface (22). The light source is adjacent to the incident surface of the light guide plate for radiating light beams into the light guide plate through the incident surface. The emitting surface defines a large number of prisms (221), in which the distance (L) separating each two adjacent prisms changes according to an intensity of the light beams received from the light source. In particular, the pitch between two prisms decreases with increasing distance away from the light source. By the cooperation of the prisms and the light source, the surface light source has uniform illumination over the whole emitting surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light guide plate of a surface light source used in a liquid crystal display (LCD), and particularly to a surface light source having a light guide plate with prisms configured to provide uniform illumination.
2. Prior Art
In general, LCDs have two main advantages in comparison with cathode ray tubes (CRTs): LCDs are thin, and have low power consumption. It has been said that LCDs might one day completely replace CRT display devices, and LCDs have aroused great interest in many industries in recent times. In general, an LCD needs a surface light source to provide even light for a clear display.
A surface light source comprises a light source and a light guide plate. The light source may be a linear light source, or one or more point light sources. The light guide plate has an end face through which light is introduced, and two opposite major faces one of which functions as an emission face. The performance of the surface light source greatly depends on the characteristics of the light guide plate employed therein.
A light guide plate functions to change a direction of propagation of light beams emitted from the light source and introduced into the light guide plate, from a direction roughly parallel to the emission face of the light guide plate to a direction perpendicular to the emission face. That is, the light guide plate effectively changes the linear or point light source(s) into a surface light source, for evenly illuminating a whole display screen of the LCD.
FIG. 4 shows a conventional surface light source 1, which comprises a reflector 12, a light guide plate 13, a diffuser 14, a brightness enhancing film (BEF) 15, and two point light sources 11. The reflector 12, the light guide plate 13, the diffuser 14 and the BEF 15 are stamped together from bottom to top in that order. The point light sources 11 are disposed adjacent an incident surface 131 of the light guide plate 13. The BEF 15 has a plurality of parallel prisms 151 evenly disposed on a surface (not labeled) thereof. In use, light beams from the point light sources 11 enter the light guide plate 13 through the incident surface 131, and then are introduced into the BEF 15 in a direction perpendicular thereto. The BEF 15 converges the light beams in a predetermined direction to evenly illuminate a whole display screen of an associated LCD.
FIG. 5 shows an essential optical intensity distribution of the light beams in the light guide plate 13. FIG. 6 shows an essential optical intensity distribution either one of the point light sources 11. Each point light source 11 emits light beams over a limited predetermined range of angles, and the light beams enter the light guide plate 13 with an uneven distribution. As a result, three dark areas 261, 262, 263 are created in the light guide plate 13. The luminance of the dark areas 261, 262, 263 is less than that of a remaining main area of the light guide plate 13. The surface light source 1 does not attain uniformity of light beams exiting therefrom.
In addition, the surface light source 1 comprises the plural above-described elements, including the diffuser 14 and the BEF 15, for enhancing brightness. This adds to the size and the cost of the surface light source 1.
A new surface light source and a light guide plate for the surface light source which overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages are desired.

Surface light source having light guide plate with prisms


Methods and apparatus related to wireless terminal reporting alternative selection for a fixed bit size control information request report, e.g., a 4 bit uplink traffic channel request report, are described. A wireless terminal maintains a plurality of different request groups corresponding to uplink traffic to be transmitted. The same request report format includes a plurality of reporting alternatives, different reporting alternatives corresponding to different request groups. Backlog can and sometimes does exist simultaneously corresponding to request groups corresponding to different reporting alternatives. The wireless terminal uses priority information associated with the request groups having non-zero backlog to select a reporting alternative. In some embodiments, at least some of the request groups have priorities which are calculated by the wireless terminal and change as a function of determined transmission deadline information.

In multiple access wireless communications systems, multiple wireless terminals are typically in competition for limited air link resources. A wireless terminal, operating in a state supporting uplink traffic signaling, typically needs to communicate control information to a base station attachment point. The information may be communicated in the form of one or more control information reports which allow the base station attachment point to characterize the wireless terminal and allocate resources such as uplink transmission resources.
A wireless terminal may support uplink traffic corresponding to a plurality of different types of applications. At different times the wireless terminal may have different traffic channel reporting needs. Accordingly, there is a need for methods and apparatus which would allow for a variety of reporting alternatives. For example, in systems which used a fixed bit size request report format, it would be beneficial if reporting alternatives corresponding to different groupings of traffic could be supported without changing the number of bits used for a report. In addition, assuming methods and apparatus for supporting reporting alternatives were developed, it would also be beneficial if methods and/or apparatus which could be used to select between available reporting alternatives could also be developed and/or supported. Improvements in reporting, and/or selection between reporting alternatives, if available, could facilitate efficient air link resource allocation and/or help to satisfy a wireless terminal's changing traffic needs and/or quality of service requirements.

Methods and apparatus related to selecting reporting alternative in a request report


An automatic journalizing method and system enable even a novice in accounting to conduct automatic journalizing of transaction data by employing a reverse-journalizing technique. Further, the automatic journalizing method and system are capable of conducting exact journalizing by using preset binary transaction classification criteria. Further, by integrating multi-aspects of transaction classification including fundamental characteristics of transaction, original characteristics of journalizing and simplicity/complicacy characteristics of transaction, the automatic journalizing method and system allow even the novice to correctly perform automatic journalizing for both a simple and a complex transaction.

Various transactions in business activities of an enterprise should be converted into accounting data to be utilized as financial information necessary for management and administration of the enterprise. To convert basic data generated in the transactions into the accounting data in a journalizing process, the transactions are analyzed by using a double entry book-keeping principle. Specifically, accounts of debit and credit sides are determined and then amounts corresponding to each of the accounts are distributed based on balance of credits and debits in the journalizing process.
Recent development of information processing technology using computers makes fast processing of transaction data feasible. In this environment, various methods have been suggested and employed in order to automate the journalizing process, wherein the transaction data are converted into the accounting data (usually, financial accounting data).
A key technique for the automation of the journalizing process is to classify debits and credits and determine accounts based on 8 elements of transaction. That is, the matter of classifying types of transaction and determining debits and credits and accounts is of central importance in achieving the automation of the journalizing process. Hereinafter, conventional semi-automatic or automatic journalizing systems will be described.
In Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-0003666 (Patent Application No. 10-2000-0034993) (hereinafter, referred to as prior art #1), there is disclosed an automatic journalizing system using a key word search method. If a user inputs a familiar transaction word, e.g., a word 'payment', as a search keyword, account list information that can be matched with transaction outline data corresponding to the key word is offered to the user. Then, the user selects accounts to thereby enable journalizing.
Though the prior art #1 has an advantage in that it provides a semi-automatic journalizing system which a user, even a novice in accounting, can conduct the journalizing process, it also has a critical defect in that classification of debits and credits (hereinafter referred to as a D/C classification) cannot be automatically performed in this system. Thus, it is still the user who determines debits and credits. Therefore, in a case of a complex transaction, the complex transaction being defined herein as a transaction in which a plurality of accounts of debit and/or credit sides are involved at the same time, it is probable that the user fails to make a proper D/C classification. Further, in processing the complex transaction, the keyword search process and the journalizing process should be performed several times, wherein the user frequently has difficulty in selecting accounts. To ameliorate this problem, the prior art #1 employs an additional correcting process in which an expert examines the journalizing process and corrects errors therein. In this regard, it is apparent that the prior art #1 has a limit in implementing an automatic journalizing system. Furthermore, it happens frequently that a target transaction outline and accounts corresponding thereto are not found until the keyword search process is performed many times, thereby lowering its efficiency.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-167221 (Patent Application No. 2000-797079) (hereinafter referred to as Prior Art #2) discloses a journalizing system using a two-step classification mechanism. In accordance with the journalizing system in the Prior Art #2, all transactions are classified into 16 patterns and the 16 patterns are offered to a user's computer screen. If the user selects one of them in a first step, detailed transaction items corresponding to the selected transaction pattern are displayed on the screen. Then, if the user selects one of the transaction items in the second step, an account corresponding to the selected transaction item is automatically determined.
As described, the Prior Art #2 classifies all transactions into the transaction patterns through the two-step classification mechanism. However, in case a transaction that belongs to none of the transaction patterns prescribed in the system is involved, journalizing thereof becomes very difficult and confusing. In other words, since the user should select one of the transaction patterns classified in the system in advance, flexibility in selecting a transaction pattern may not be secured. Further, in the case of a complex transaction, the user needs to separate the complex transaction into several simple transactions in order to use the automatic journalizing system in accordance with the Prior Art #2. Thus, it is difficult for a user, a novice in accounting, to use the system and there still exists limitation in achieving real automation of the journalizing process.
Korean Patent No. 10-0230455 (Patent Application No. 10-1997-0030825) (hereinafter referred to as Prior Art #3) suggests an automatic journalizing system in which a journalizing process is performed after a transaction type (e.g., cash inflow or cash outflow), a transaction pattern (e.g., purchase, storage of inventories in a warehouse, payment, etc., and sub-patterns thereof), and a transaction condition (e.g., cash, bank deposit, note, credit, setoff, etc.) are determined when a transaction occurs. To be specific, the transaction type, the transaction pattern and the transaction condition are designated by the user through input and selection of transaction data and, then, the journalizing process is performed based on these preset data.
The prior art #3 provides itemized transaction types to the user, thereby improving accuracy in the journalizing process. However, this system requires for the user to be familiar with accounting knowledge. Further, since the user should select one of the transaction types prescribed by the system, flexibility in selecting a transaction type may not be secured. Further, in a case of a complex transaction, the user needs to separate the complex transaction into several simple transactions in order to use the automatic journalizing system in accordance with the Prior Art #3. Thus, it is difficult for an accounting novice user to use the system of the Prior Art #3. In addition, there still exists limitation in achieving real automation of the journalizing process.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,173 and its corresponding Korean Patent Application No. 1993-0014324 which has been registered as Korean Patent No. 1996-001486 disclose an automatic journalizing method, which is referred to as prior art #4 hereinafter.
In the prior art #4, the user should determine for a transaction to which field, among 5 fields of 'purchase activity', 'sales activity', 'financial activity', 'production activity ' and 'management activity', the transaction belongs. If the user selects one of the five fields, a menu of secondary business activities in that field, the menu being already prepared in the system, is offered to the user, and the user chooses one of the secondary business activities from the menu. Then, if the user selects a settlement type (e.g., cash, bank deposit, credit, note, etc.) and inputs settlement amount, the system performs the journalizing process.
Although the prior art #4 succeeds in realizing automation of the journalizing process while improving user friendliness, there still exist unsolved problems that the journalizing process cannot be successfully performed in case a complex transaction is involved. Further, since it is required to specify all possible transaction patterns in a system processor unit in order to match the secondary business activities menu with final accounts in accordance with the prior art #4, construction of the system becomes very difficult. To reduce the construction difficulty of the system, it is inevitable to increase the user's burden in selecting menu and inputting data. Further, if, for example, a certain transaction involves "purchasing goods by getting a loan from a bank", it can be classified as a purchase activity and also as a financial activity. Thus, the duplicity of journalizing as in the above example may give the user difficulty in selecting the menu and the design of the system itself becomes difficult.
As described above, the conventional automatic journalizing methods and systems have many drawbacks. In order to overcome the limits of the conventional systems, a new automatic journalizing method and system should satisfy several requirements as follows. The new method and system should be able to correctly and fully match a transaction outline determined by a user with final accounts of debit and/or credit sides while improving friendliness to a novice. Further, the new system should be able to automatically process various transactions including a complex one. Furthermore, the system should be designed in such a way that it should be capable of providing a higher degree of flexibility for the user and overcome the processing difficulty caused by the duplicity of journalizing.

Automatic journalizing method and system


In a method and system for providing clinical knowledge from a provider to a medical user based on one or more diagnostic questions submitted by the user to the provider, a clinical knowledge communication server is provided with an associated knowledge database. The at least one or more diagnostic questions are sent by the user to the server. With the server, an initial examination of the at least one or more diagnostic questions is conducted. Examination steps are associated with the at least one or more diagnostic questions and placed in a sequence. The sequence of examination steps are then sent to the medical user. The provider may also request clinical knowledge from the medical user such as, for example, relating to the diagnostic questions submitted by the user.

In the prior art clinical scenario, a patient diagnosis/therapy is dependent on resources available in the clinical facility. However, given the growing complexity and costs of imaging devices such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), Nuclear Medicine (NM), and Ultrasound (US), a lot of experience and clinical expertise are needed to make optimum use of the potential of these imaging devices, e.g. how a patient suffering from Acute Cerebral Insult has to be treated within a clinical facility, what is the sequence of examination at CT, US, and Magnetic Resonance (MR) devices, which examination protocols are to be used, which post processing application/tools are to be used etc.
Due to research and/or business focus of the clinical facility in many cases certain special sequences, protocols, post processing applications, etc. are rarely used, and the cost of having them all is very high. Also, it is difficult to maintain updates of the developments taking place (e.g. what are best protocols, sequences for treating a patient with prostate cancer).
MR, for example, being a non-invasive modality, offers a variety of image contrasts through numerous techniques. During the last decades, rapid technological advancements in the area of new applications, sequences, hardware, post-processing, therapies based on results, etc. pose challenges to the MR scientific community (Radiologists and MR Manufacturers) to maintain updated knowledge about best possible clinical applications. However, such clinical expert knowledge would be useful to streamline workflow and optimize the use of MR innovative applications.
Medical care providers issue increasingly clear process documents for their medical and diagnostic capacities. The examination indication is linked, conditional upon the patient and the disease, with very specific questions that are to be answered by the examination.
Complex examination methods (modalities) allow the examiner an adaptation of the examination flow path (for example measurement protocol in Magnetic Resonance Tomography (MRT)) to the question to be answered. The complexity can pertain both to the "measurement" itself and to possibly necessary post-processing and document steps. Complex examination methods are, for example, MRT, CT, and laboratory diagnostics.
The association of a medical question with a commensurate examination flow path can be difficult and at the same time require deep understanding of the examination methods and of the diseases to be examined. However, the examination is often conducted by personnel who do not possess the qualification to adapt the examination flow path to the question.
The same problem also arises one level higher, where it is imperative to select the diagnostic procedures and modalities commensurate with the medical question.
In the prior art, standardized examination protocols are pre-defined at the examination apparatus. The examiner makes a selection under the standard protocols corresponding to the question. The standard protocols are, if applicable, still adapted by expensive, highly-qualified personnel.
However, in many cases this procedure leads to unsatisfactory results. For example, the medical questions are many-sided and can often not be directly associated with one standard protocol. The user then selects one or more standard protocols that, however, in summation incorporate the answer to the question, but however, often also exceed it. The examination is thus more extensive (more expensive) than is necessary.
Both the number of the medical questions that are addressed at one modality and the number of the possible examination flow paths (for example in MRT: questions from all organ regions and very many diseases—typically >1000 standard protocols) can be very large. In these cases, medical expertise is already necessary in order to associate a standardized examination flow path with a medical question.
Moreover, combinations of questions are always provided for which an optimal standard protocol cannot be defined in advance.
The selection of the commensurate procedure and modality is often regulated internal to a department at the higher levels.
The rules are in part fixed in writing, however are also in part only present as an oral consensus between the participating doctors.

Method and system to offer and to acquire clinical knowledge using a centralized knowledge server


The present invention includes: an ON-timer configured to control a period of time in which a main switching element is on; a voltage detecting circuit configured to detect an output voltage of a filter circuit; a triangular wave generator; a feed-forward circuit configured to generate a feed-forward output whose value decreases as a value of a DC voltage from a DC power supply increases; and a comparator configured to compare a second reference voltage generated by adding together a first reference voltage, a triangular wave signal from the triangular wave generator, and the feed-forward output from the feed-forward circuit, with the output voltage of the voltage detecting circuit, and based on a result of the comparison, output an ON-trigger signal for turning on the main switch element to the ON-timer.

A DC/DC converter supplies a power-supply voltage to a digital-signal processing LSI such as an image-processing engine or a CPU. The DC/DC converter is required to have high load responsiveness for a dynamically fluctuating digital load to minimize a fluctuation range of an output voltage. To meet this requirement concerning a digital load, a ripple control method has been proposed and used widely. In the ripple control method, the load responsiveness is improved by not having an error amplifier which is a main factor of a delay element.
In this ripple control, a valley voltage of an output voltage ripple is compared with a reference voltage, and when the valley voltage of the output voltage ripple falls below the reference voltage, a high-side MOSFET is turned on for a certain period of time to enable fast-response operation.
Next, operation of the ripple control including what is described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-199973 is described with reference to a circuit diagram of a prior art shown in FIG. 1 and a timing chart shown in FIG. 2.
A triangular wave generator 101 is configured to generate a triangular wave signal which increases a second reference voltage Vref2 while a high-side MOSFET 5 is off and decreases the second reference voltage Vref2 while the high-side MOSFET 5 is on. An adder 103 is configured to generate the second reference voltage Vref2 by adding the triangular wave signal from the triangular wave generator 101 to a first reference voltage Vref1 and output the second reference voltage Vref2 to a non-inverting input terminal of a feedback comparator 2.
A feedback voltage Vfb obtained by dividing an output voltage Vo by feedback-voltage dividing resistances 10 and 11 is inputted to an inverting input terminal of the feedback comparator 2. When this feedback voltage Vfb falls below a ceiling voltage of the second reference voltage Vref2, the feedback comparator 2 outputs an ON-trigger signal to an ON-timer 3.
The ON-timer 3 is configured to receive the ON-trigger signal as input, and output a high-side MOS ON-length signal to a drive circuit 4, the signal being proportional to the output voltage and inversely proportional to the input voltage. The drive circuit 4 is configured to receive the high-side MOS ON-length signal as input, and turn on the high-side MOSFET 5.
Once an ON-duration set by the on-timer 3 ends, the high-side MOSFET 5 is turned off, and a low-side MOSFET 6 is turned on. Thereafter, when the output voltage Vo decreases to cause the feedback voltage Vfb to fall below the ceiling voltage of the second reference voltage Vref2, the low-side MOSFET 6 is turned off, and the high-side MOSFET 5 is turned on again.
By repeating such operation, an inductor current is controlled, thereby supplying energy to an output capacitor 8 and an output load 9.
However, the ripple control method described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-199973 has the following drawback. Specifically, in the ripple control method, feedback control is performed by a comparison between the valley voltage of the output voltage ripple and the reference voltage. Thus, when the output voltage ripple changes according to a change in the input voltage, an average value of the output voltage also fluctuates. As a result, the line regulation characteristics are degraded.
The ripple control method is described in detail with reference to the timing chart shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B and to line regulation characteristics shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a variation range ΔIL of an inductor current tends to be higher when the input voltage is high than when the input voltage is low. This variation range ΔIL is represented by Formula (1):ΔIL=Vo·Tsw·(1−Vo/Vi)/L  (1),
where Tsw denotes a switch cycle.
An output voltage ripple Vorip is generated when this variation range ΔIL flows to the output capacitor 8 and the output load 9. Assuming that the output load is sufficiently larger than the impedance of the output capacitor, the output voltage ripple Vorip is represented by Formula (2):ΔVorip=Vo·Tsw·(1−Vo/Vi)·(1/(2π·Fsw·Co))/L  (2).
Further, the output voltage Vo is a voltage obtained by superimposing a half of the output voltage ripple Vorip on a DC component Vo(DC) of the output voltage, and is represented by Formula (3):Vo=Vo(DC)+Vorip/2=Vo(DC)+Vo·Tsw·(1−Vo/Vi)·(1/(2π·Fsw·Co))/2L  (3).
As can be seen in Formula (3), the higher an input voltage Vi is, the larger an average value of the output voltage ripple in the second term becomes and accordingly the higher the output voltage Vo becomes. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, the line regulator characteristics are degraded.

Switching power supply device of the ripple control method


An output control device includes an output instruction unit configured to give an instruction for outputting a single output information item, to an application requesting output of the single output information item as plural output information items having the same identification information based on an output instruction, and to subsequently give an instruction to output end information indicating an end of the single output information item; a storage control unit configured to store the output information items output from the application in a save area upon changing the identification information of the output information items into different identification information items; a determination unit configured to determine whether the instruction to output the end information has been given; and a combining unit configured to combine the output information items stored in the save area, when the determination unit determines that the instruction to output the end information has been given.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an output control device and an output control method.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is known a system for switching an application for each file type with respect to files created with document editing software and spreadsheet software, and printing and computerizing the file. In this system, an application is activated, and an instruction such as "print with printer" or "computerize by PDF (Portable Document Format) file" is given, to output each file in the instructed format.
For example, when printing a file (data), print data is created from the target file with a predetermined printer driver, and the created print data is sent to a printer via a TCP/IP port monitor. Furthermore, when computerizing a file, the computerized data created with a computerizing driver such as a PDF driver is output to a folder, etc., via a local port monitor.
Note that conventionally, there is known a system for combining a print job with another print job (output request) to create a single job, and printing the job (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
However, by the conventional method as described in Patent Document 1, when computerizing a single job (output request) in a predetermined format, there are cases where a single job is determined as including a plurality of jobs by the application. In this case, when the jobs are saved in a folder via a local port monitor, the jobs are sequentially overwritten, and consequently only the file (output information) of the final job is computerized. Therefore, even when a user opens a computerized file, only the final job is displayed, and the entire single job expected by the user cannot be confirmed.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2012-113591

Output control device and output control method


Disclosed is a recording and/or reading device with magnetic heads including at least two magnetic heads. A magnetic circuit for the closing of the magnetic flux has a pad common to both heads. A first pole of a first type magnetically couples the common pad to the gap of the first head through a non-magnetic link. A second pole of a second type, separated from the first pole by a non-magnetic interval, magnetically couples the common pad to the gap of the second head. Such a device finds applications to a system for recording and/or reading, notably on magnetic tapes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording and/or reading device with magnetic heads arranged notably in matrix form.
This device is designed to be mounted, for example, in magnetic recorders such as those used in computers or in on-board equipment or else in video recorders and tape recorders for professional use as well as for large-scale consumer applications.
A magnetic head is formed by a magnetic circuit, with a gap, associated with at least one conductor to which there is applied the signal to be recorded on a medium positioned in the vicinity of the gap. This signal creates a magnetic field in the magnetic circuit and this is used to magnetize a small portion of the medium that is in a position facing the gap.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For the recording and reading of information elements, it is increasingly being sought to miniaturize recording/reading heads so as to increase the density of information elements on a recording medium. For this purpose, it has been necessary to make heads in thin layers or thin films.
It is also sought to associate several magnetic heads so as to get rid of the movements of the head. This enables also an increase in the speed of writing of information elements on the medium. This has led to the grouping of several heads in rows or even in matrix form.
The patent FR 2 630 853 describes a matrix device with magnetic heads made in thin layers.
This device is formed by a grooved magnetic substrate with pads arranged in rows and columns. Row conductors and column conductors are positioned in the grooves and covered and/or embedded in a non-magnetic material. A first magnetic layer is deposited on one in every two columns of pads. This layer is designed to form the first poles of each magnetic head. On this first magnetic layer and on the rest of the substrate, a layer of a non-magnetic material is deposited. This layer includes a flank of the first layer. This non-magnetic layer is designed to form the gaps of the magnetic heads. Then, on the layer of non-magnetic material, a second layer of magnetic material is deposited. This second layer is designed to form the second poles of the magnetic heads.
It surmounts the pads that are not covered by the first magnetic layer. A machining operation, a polishing operation and a cutting operation enable the poles to be made flush and makes it possible to demarcate them as well as the gaps.
A non-magnetic link is made beneath the second formed poles. It connects the gaps of two heads located in neighboring columns.
In this type of device, two magnetic heads located in neighboring columns do not have identical performance characteristics during a recording caused by one and the same flux for two linked gaps are symmetrical.
This difference in performance characteristics is further increased when the gap, instead of being perpendicular to the surface of the substrate, is now tilted.
A pole whose upper surface forms an acute angle with the gap starts getting saturated for a lower intensity of flux than does a pole whose upper surface forms an obtuse angle with the gap.

Recording and/or reading device with magnetic heads and method for the manufacture thereof


A gate barrier includes two parallel posts, a folding collapsible barrier pivoted to one post and turned by a power drive to close/open the passage way between the posts, wherein the folding collapsible barrier has a barbed bottom rail which is supported on the ground to prevent vehicles from passing when the folding collapsible barrier is turned to a horizontal position to close the passage way.

According to U.S. pat. application Ser. No. 09/037,272, the gate barrier comprises a first post, a drive shaft and a driven shaft revolvably supported on the first post at different elevations, a second post disposed in parallel to the first post, the second post having at least one angled holder plate, and a folding collapsible barrier having a fixed end fixedly connected to the drive shaft and the driven shaft and a free end for resting on the at least one holder plate at the second post. The folding collapsible barrier is extended out when lowered to rest its free end on the at least one angled holder plate at the second post. The folding collapsible barrier is collapsed when lifted from the second post to a vertical position in vertical alignment with the first post. This structure of gate barrier is functional, however it cannot prevent vehicles from passing.


A micro-miniature ion trap device comprises a wafer (or substrate) having a major surface, a multiplicity of electrodes forming a micro-miniature ion trap in a region adjacent the major surface when voltage is applied to the electrodes, characterized in that the multiplicity includes a first, planar annular electrode located over and rigidly affixed to the major surface, and at least one second, planar annular electrode located over and rigidly affixed to the major surface, the at least one second electrode being concentric with the first electrode. The at least one second electrode may be completely annular, in that the annulus forms a closed geometric shape, or it may be partially annular, in that the annulus has a slot or opening allowing access to the first electrode. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of our invention, the at least one second electrode is C-shaped, and the angle subtended by the C-shape is greater than 180 degrees.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to ion trap devices and, more particularly, to such devices in which the electrodes are co-planar on a suitable substrate or wafer.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Conventional ion traps enable ionized particles to be stored and the stored ionized particles to be separated according to the ratio (M/Q) of their mass (M) to their charge (Q). Storing the ionized particles involves applying a time-varying voltage to the ion trap so that particles propagate along stable trajectories therein. Separating the ionized particles typically involves applying an additional time-varying voltage to the trap so that the stored particles are selectively ejected according to their M/Q ratios. The ability to eject particles according to their M/Q ratios enables the use of ion traps as mass spectrometers.
Exemplary ion traps are described, for example, by W. Paul et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 2,939,952 issued Jun. 7, 1960. One such ion trap, known as a quadrupole, is described by R. E. March in "Quadrupole Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer," Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry, R. A. Meyers (Ed.), pp. 11848–11872, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Chichester (2000). Both of these documents are incorporated herein by reference.
FIG. 1 herein shows one type of quadrupole ion trap 10 that has an axially symmetric cavity 18 akin to that depicted in FIG. 2 of March. More specifically, the ion trap 10 includes metallic top and bottom end cap electrodes 12–13 and a metallic central ring-shaped electrode 14 that is located between the end cap electrodes 12–13. Points on inner surfaces 15–17 of the electrodes 12–14 have transverse radial coordinates r and axial coordinates z. These coordinates satisfy hyperbolic equations; i.e., r2/r02−z2/z02=+1 for the central ring-shaped electrode 14 and r2/r02−z2/Z02=−1 for the end cap electrodes 12–13. Here, 2r0 and 2z0 are, respectively, the minimum transverse diameter and the minimum vertical height of the trapping cavity 18 that is formed by the inner surfaces 15–17. Typical trapping cavities 18 have a shape ratio, r0/z0, that satisfies: (r0/z0)2≈2, but the ratio may be smaller to compensate for the finite size of the electrodes 12–14. Typical cavities 18 have a size that is described by a value of r0 in the approximate range of about 0.707 centimeters (cm) to about 1.0 cm. We refer to cavities of this approximate size as macro-cavities.
For the above-described electrode and macro-cavity shapes, electrodes 12–14 produce an electric field with a quadrupole distribution inside trapping cavity 18. One way to produce such an electric field involves grounding the end cap electrodes 12–13 and applying a radio frequency (RF) voltage to the central ring-shaped electrode 14. In an RF electric field having a quadrupole distribution, ionized particles with small M/Q ratios will propagate along stable trajectories. To store particles in the trapping cavity 18, the cavity 18 is voltage-biased as described above, and ionized particles are introduced into the trapping cavity 18 via ion generator 19.1 coupled to entrance port 19.2 in top end cap electrode 12. During the introduction of the ionized particles, the trapping cavity 18 is maintained with a low background pressure; e.g., about 10−3 Torr of helium (He) gas. Then, collisions between the background He atoms and ionized particles lower the particles' momenta, thereby enabling trapping of such particles in the central region of the trapping cavity 18.
To eject the trapped particles from the cavity 18, a small RF voltage may be applied to the bottom end cap electrode 13 while ramping the small voltage so that stored particles are ejected through exit orifice 19.4 selectively according to their M/Q ratios. Alternatively, ions can be ejected by changing the amplitude of the RF voltage applied to the ring electrode 14. As the amplitude changes, different orbits corresponding to different M/Q ratios become unstable, and ions are ejected along the z-axis. Ions can also be excited by application of DC and AC voltages to the end cap electrodes 12–13. In any case, the ejected ions are then incident on a utilization device 19.3 (e.g., an ion collector), which is coupled to orifice 19.4.
For quadrupole ion trap 10, machining techniques are available for fabricating hyperbolic-shaped electrodes 12–14 out of base pieces of metal. Unfortunately, such machining techniques are often complex and costly due to the need for the hyperbolic-shaped inner surfaces 15–17. For that reason, other types of ion traps are desirable.
A second type of ion trap 20, as shown in FIG. 2, has a trapping macro-cavity with a right circularly cylindrical shape. This trapping cavity is also formed by inner surfaces of two end cap electrodes 22–23 and a central ring-shaped electrode 24 located between, but insulated from, the end cap electrodes. Here, the end cap electrodes 22–23 have flat disk-shaped inner surfaces, and the ring-shaped electrode 24 has a circularly cylindrical inner surface. For such a trapping cavity, applying an AC voltage to the central ring-shaped electrode 24 while grounding the two end cap electrodes 22–23 will create an electric field that does not have a pure quadrupole distribution. Nevertheless, a suitable choice of the trapping cavity's height-to-diameter ratio will reduce the magnitude of higher multipole contributions to the created electric field distribution. In particular, if the height-to-diameter ratio is between about 0.83 and 1.00, the octapole contribution to the field distribution is small; e.g., this contribution vanishes if the ratio is about 0.897. For such values of this shape ratio, the effects of higher multipole distribution are often small enough so that the macro-cavity is able to trap and store ionized particles. See, for example, J. M. Ramsey et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,469,298 issued on Nov. 22, 2002 and M. Wells et al., Analytical Chem., Vol. 70, No. 3, pp. 438–444 (1998), both which are incorporated herein by reference.
For this second type of ion trap, standard machining techniques are available to fabricate the electrodes 22–24 of FIG. 2 from metal base pieces, because the electrodes have simple surfaces rather than the complex hyperbolic surfaces of the electrodes 12–14 of FIG. 1. For this reason, fabrication of this second type of ion trap is usually less complex and less expensive than is fabrication of quadrupole ion traps whose electrodes have hyperbolic-shaped inner surfaces.
Nevertheless, the metallic components of such ion traps are expensive to manufacture and assemble. Moreover, these metallic components cause equipment in which they are incorporated to be large and bulky. The latter property has limited the widespread application and deployment of these ion traps in equipment such as mass spectrometers and shift registers.
More recently C. Pai et al., have described cylindrical geometry ion traps with micro-cavities formed in multi-layered semiconductor or dielectric wafers. See, for example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/656,432 filed on Sep. 5, 2003 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/789,091 filed on Feb. 27, 2004, both of which are assigned to the assignee hereof and incorporated herein by reference. In the designs of Pai et al. the metal electrodes are stacked and separated from one another by insulating, dielectric layers. A significant number of layers, and hence relatively complex processing is utilized, which increases production cost.
Thus, a need remains in the art for a micro-miniature ion trap that can be inexpensively and readily implemented on a suitable substrate, such as semiconductor or dielectric substrate. In particular, there is a need for such an ion trap that has a micro-cavity that can be readily and inexpensively fabricated without the need for complex, multi-layered structures.


A centrifuge (10) and a method for preventing the ignition of combustible temperature control media in centrifuges (10) after a crash of the centrifuge rotor are presented. Ignition is prevented by the release of a protective gas in the event of a crash. More precisely, the released protective gas forms a flow that displaces the oxygen, distributes the escaping temperature control medium and fundamentally changes the momentary ratio of the concentration of oxygen to temperature control medium in such a manner that no ignition can take place either inside or outside the centrifuge (10). Thereby, combustible temperature control media can be used without safety concerns for controlling the temperature of centrifuges (10).

Centrifuge rotors are used in centrifuges, in particular laboratory centrifuges, to separate the components of samples centrifuged in them by utilizing mass inertia. In doing so, increasingly higher rotation speeds are used to achieve high segregation rates. Laboratory centrifuges are centrifuges whose rotors operate at preferably at least 3,000, preferably at least 10,000, in particular at least 15,000 revolutions per minute and are usually placed on tables. In order to be able to place them on a worktable, they have a form factor of less than 1 m×1 m×1 m; thus, their installation space is limited. In doing so, the depth of the device is preferably limited to max. 70 cm.
Such centrifuges are used in the fields of medicine, pharmacy, biology and chemistry, etc.
The samples to be centrifuged are stored in sample containers, and such sample containers are driven in rotation by means of a centrifuge rotor. In doing so, the centrifuge rotors are usually set in rotation by means of a vertical drive shaft driven by an electric motor. There are different centrifuge rotors that are used depending on the application. Thereby, the sample containers can either contain the samples directly, or the sample containers have their own sample receptacles that contain the sample, such that a multiple number of samples can be centrifuged simultaneously in one sample container. Generally, centrifuge rotors in the form of fixed-angle rotors and swing-out rotors are known.
In most cases, it is provided that the samples are centrifuged at defined temperatures. For example, samples containing proteins and similar organic substances must not be overheated, such that the upper limit for the temperature control of such samples is normally in the range of +40° C. On the other hand, certain samples are cooled by default in the range of +4° C. (the anomaly of water starts at 3.98° C.).
In addition to such predetermined maximum temperatures of, for example, approximately +40° C. and standard test temperatures of, for example, +4° C., additional standard test temperatures are also provided for, for example, at +11° C., in order to, at such temperature, check whether the refrigeration system of the centrifuge is running in a controlled manner below room temperature. On the other hand, it is necessary for occupational safety reasons to prevent the touching of elements that have a temperature greater than or equal to +60° C.
In principle, active and passive systems can be used for temperature control. Passive systems are based on air-assisted ventilation. This air is guided directly past the centrifuge rotor, which results in temperature control. In doing so, the air is sucked through openings into the centrifuge vessel and, through further openings, the heated air is discharged again at another point of the centrifuge vessel, whereby the suction and discharge takes place independently by means of the rotation of the centrifuge rotor.
On the other hand, active cooling systems have a refrigerant circuit that regulates the temperature of the centrifuge container, which indirectly cools the centrifuge rotor and the sample containers contained therein. Many different media are used as cooling or temperature control media. Since, in principle, not only cooling (that is, heat reduction), but also heat increases can be desired, specifically during centrifugation, the present invention refers to controlling temperature and temperature control media. In addition to the temperature control media usually used for centrifuges, such as chlorodifluoromethane, tetrafluoroethane, pentafluoroethane or difluoromethane and many others, there are also combustible temperature control media such as butane or propane, or also various synthetic mixtures.
Although such combustible temperature control media have very good heat transfer properties, they are usually not used for safety reasons, as the temperature control means can escape and ignite in the event of a crash of the centrifuge rotor. In the event of such a crash, fragments of the centrifuge rotor can act at high speed and thus with very high energy within the centrifuge, thereby also destroying the evaporator and lines carrying the temperature control medium. The escaping combustible temperature control medium can then be easily ignited by the energy released in the crash and by electrical or electronic components inside the centrifuge or in its vicinity, which can cause very serious damages, in particular personal injuries.
In order to prevent a crash of the centrifuge rotor from causing damage outside the centrifuge, stiffening and reinforcing means inside the centrifuge have already been proposed. However, this would not prevent temperature control media from escaping, because the lines of the temperature control means, which form the evaporator, run around the centrifuge container, with respect to such reinforcing means between the centrifuge rotor and the reinforcing means.

Temperature-controlled centrifuge with protective gas release in case of rotor crash


A process for manufacturing a multilayer flexible wiring board, which allows individual layers of wiring boards to be precisely positioned and to be readily stacked. A mask for exposure is prepared in which a plurality of pattern holes corresponding to individual layers of wiring boards of a multilayer flexible wiring board are arranged in the direction perpendicular to the transporting direction P of substrate. This mask for exposure is used to form a plurality of wiring patterns corresponding to individual layers of wiring boards of a multilayer flexible wiring board on the same sheet-like substrate.

Flexible printed wiring boards comprising a circuit formed of a layer of a conductor such as a copper foil stacked on a flexible insulating film are known in the art.
With recent trends toward smaller electronic components, such flexible wiring boards involve connecting electrodes with finer pitches and an advanced multilayer structure.
This type of multilayer flexible wiring boards have typically been prepared by positioning each layer of wiring board to form a wiring pattern and bonding these layers into a multilayer structure.
With the prior art as described above, dimensional changes may vary between layers of wiring boards due to heat shrinkage during manufacturing processes or other factors, which means difficulty in stacking the wiring boards to electrically connect them.
Further, it is difficult to control dimensional changes in each layer of wiring board by this technique.
A film-like mask for exposure is sometimes used to form a circuit pattern in each layer of wiring board, which may add the influence of the shrinkage of the mask for exposure itself.
What is needed, therefore, is a process for manufacturing a multilayer flexible wiring board, which allows individual layers of wiring boards to be precisely positioned and to be readily stacked.

Processes for manufacturing multilayer flexible wiring boards

Sony Chemical & Information Device Corporation


Disclosed is a method for introducing additives into an oil, gas, or water injection well or pipeline in solid form at a location other than at the bottom. The method is practiced using pellets having a density sufficient to suspend the pellet at a top phase, bottom phase or at the interface of two phases of fluid within a wellbore. The pellets are prepared from a pellet matrix, such as an ethoxylated wax, and a weighting agent as well as an additive. By varying the amount of weighting agent, the density of the pellet can be varied to suspend it at a desired point to for a time sufficient to deliver the additive to the desired point within the wellbore.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for treating oil, gas, and water injection wells with chemicals useful for reducing corrosion, scale, asphaltenes and other undesirable conditions, and a composition for practicing the method. This invention particularly relates to a method for the controlled placement of such chemicals, the controlled release of these chemicals, and a composition useful for practicing the method.
2. Background of the Art
Fluids produced from oil wells penetrating an oil-bearing formation primarily include crude oil and water and are herein referred to as formation fluids. A formation fluid may also contain natural gas which may or may not be desirable and may be the primary product of a given well in which case the well is referred to as a gas well. A formation fluid may also contain CO2 and will often contain oil and water insoluble compounds such as clay, silica, waxes, and asphaltenes, which exist as colloidal suspensions. In addition to the already listed components, formation fluids can also include inorganic components that can precipitate to form mineral scales These materials may be undesirable in the exploration for and production of oil and gas.
It is known in the art of oil and gas production to eliminate or mitigate the effects these undesirable materials. For example, during oil and gas production in production wells, the drilling of new wells, or workovers of existing wells, many chemicals, referred herein as "additives", which include scale inhibitors, paraffin inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors and the like, are often injected from a surface source into the wells to treat the formation fluids flowing through such wells to prevent or control the precipitation of mineral scale, paraffins, and to protect the well against corrosion. These additives can be injected continuously or by batches through a conduit or tubing that is run from the surface to a known depth within the formation, typically upstream of the problem location. In addition, an additive can be injected into a near wellbore formation via a technique commonly referred to as "squeeze" treatment, from which the additive can be slowly released into the formation fluid. Sometimes, additives are introduced in connection with electrical submersible pumps, as shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,131, or through an auxiliary line associated with a cable used with the electrical submersible pump, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,824. In addition, in wells without a packer in the completion, additives may be applied via pump or truck into the annular space between the tubing and the casing with a fluid flush driving the additive into the formation fluids.
In most of these operations, the additives are in the form of aqueous microemulsions or admixtures, although organic solutions are also known. The use of liquid additives is not without problems. In cold weather, the additives may freeze or gel during transportation or use. Supplying a source of heat, particularly for remote well sites can be a problem.
Supplying additives in the form of emulsions and solutions can also be an expense. Solutions and emulsions are, by their natures, composed of mostly inactive materials: water and/or solvents. It would be desirable in the art of treating oil wells to supply additives in a form that is economical to ship and handle and does not require co-shipping inactive components.
While using solid additives would seem to be a good means of avoiding the problems associated with additive solutions and emulsions, it too is not without problems. One such problem is metering solids. The metering of solids into an oil well could be both expensive and prone to blockages and other conditions requiring maintenance. One solution to this problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,335 B1, to Kowlaski, et al. Therein it is disclosed to prepare a microencapsulated additive wherein the additive is incorporated into a gelatin capsule, weighted with a heavy metal compound. In Kowlaski, the capsules are prepared to have a density such that they sink to the bottom of the well.
It would be desirable in the art of treating oil and gas wells with additives, to use solid additives that would release slowly with time. It would be particularly desirable to treat oil and gas well with solid additives that would not require heavy metals as weighting agents. It would also be particularly desirable in the art of treating oil and gas wells with additives to locate the additives at the point within the well that requires the treatment for which the additives are used.

Method for controlled placement of oilfield chemicals and composition useful for practicing same