This invention provides a system and method that allows a therapeutic device, such as an atrial fibrillation microwave ablation catheter or ablation tip to be guided to a remote location within a body cavity and then accurately immobilized on the tissue, including that of a moving organ, such as the heart.

Minimally invasive surgery is becoming the preferred technique for accessing internal organs and systems in an ever increasing number of procedures. Its advantages are manifold. For example, recovery times are greatly decreased due to smaller incisions and less damage to internal structures while gaining access to the procedure site. Also, the risk of post-operative infection is somewhat reduced as the internal tissues are less exposed to non-sterile environments. In addition, the procedure is often simplified and expedited due to the lack of complex incisions and post-procedure suturing of large incisions.
Typically, in minimally invasive procedures, instruments are inserted into the body through steerable catheters that are initially inserted and brought adjacent to the affected organ or other procedure site. However, standard catheters do not stabilize the instrument in place while it is being used by the surgeon. Similarly, standard catheters can only be coarsely steered and are not generally capable of following a serpentine path.
Some specialized mechanisms for stabilizing particular instruments have been devised for procedures that require a close and immobile relationship between the instrument and the tissue being operated upon. For example, Bertolero et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,849,075 teaches a cardiac ablation device that employs a plurality vacuum orifices to hold an ablation electrode in position on the heart. However, this reference does not provide a mechanism to move the electrode along a serpentine path on the heart or other organ, as may be required in certain procedures, most notably cardiac ablation, as described below. Likewise, there is no mechanism in Bertolero to bring, for example, a microwave ablation catheter into selective contact with heart tissue, as may be required for effective ablation.
An alternate approach suggested for transporting and positioning minimally invasive surgical instruments inside the body is taught by Riviere, et al. in Published U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/982,670, using a walking robot. The robot comprises two pedestals connected by a spring. The distal pedestal includes a tool, typically a scope for viewing the affected area. The foot of each pedestal has vacuum orifices, with a separate vacuum line running to each pedestal. A pair of pull wires is connected to each pedestal, allowing control of the relative position between the distal pedestal and the proximal pedestal. By properly sequencing the application of vacuum and the tension on the pull wires, a surgeon can cause the robot to "inchworm" across the surface of an organ. Surgical instruments are attached to the front of the distal pedestal.
The Riviere robot employs a large vacuum region that interfaces best with flat organ tissue that is reasonably resilient. Under certain conditions its hold down could become dislodged or allow lateral slippage of the corresponding tool—particularly where the tissue surface is non-flat or roughened. To remedy such slippage, the vacuum applied to each pedestal may be increased. However, under other conditions tissue could be damaged by too intense local vacuum.
Moreover, these and other available devices lack the ability to perform more complex procedures, such as drug delivery, dissection and biopsy. Accordingly, it is highly desirable to provide improved mechanisms and devices for minimally invasive surgical procedures that afford improved function as well as superior mobility, immobilization once positioned, and control of an ablation device or other attached tool.

System and method for advancing, orienting, and immobilizing on internal body tissue a catheter or other therapeutic device


A multi-functional exercise device that enables a user to exercise different muscle groups. The exercise device has a first planar support member, a second planar support member extending from the first planar support member, and a handle having a first end coupled to the first planar support member, a second end coupled to the second planar support member, and a gripping portion therebetween. The gripping portion of the handle is oriented generally parallel to the first planar support member and generally perpendicular to the second planar support member. The exercise device also includes a first plurality of rotatable components engaging the first planar support member and adapted to rotate relative thereto, and a second plurality of rotatable components engaging the second planar support member and adapted to rotate relative thereto. The rotatable elements may comprise spheres.

Prior art translatable (i.e., slidable, rollable, etc.) portable body weight exercise devices for the upper body and core allow for exercise of the muscles of the upper body in a limited range of motion and associated development of limited muscle groups. Prior art devices generally provide for primarily exercising the muscles of the chest (pectoralis major) and the core/abdomen with the hands in a pronated (palms down) position.
Accordingly, use of prior art translatable exercise devices may result in imbalanced muscle group development that adversely affects flexibility, strength, appearance and functionality, and also contributes to injury.
Presently, there are believed to be no suitable translatable multi-orientation portable body weight exercise devices for the upper body and core that are safe, easy-to-use, and allow for exercise of virtually all of the muscles of the upper body in multiple ranges of motion, with the hands in supinated (palms up) as well as pronated (palms down) positions, and with associated full rotation and full movement of shoulders and arms, and development of multiple muscle groups, for example, the chest, shoulders, arms, back, abdomen/core and others including, but not limited to, the trapezius, subclavius, deltoids, pectoralis minor, pectoralis major, serratus major, latissimus dorsi, rhomboids, infraspinatus, teres groups, and erector spinae. Thus, an exercise device capable of being utilized in more than one orientation is desirable so as to improve the development of multiple muscle groups.


Improved pharmaceutical and diagnostic business systems and methods are disclosed. One or more genomes are scanned for single nucleotide polymorphisms. The polymorphisms are assigned to haplotype blocks, and representative SNPs from the haplotype blocks are used in association studies for pharmaceutical and diagnostic development.

The DNA that makes up human chromosomes provides the instructions that direct the production of all proteins in the body. These proteins carry out the vital functions of life. Variations in DNA often produce variations in the proteins or changes in expression of protein, thus affecting the function of cells. Although environment often plays a significant role, variations or mutations in DNA are directly related to almost all human diseases, including infectious diseases, cancers, inherited disorders, and autoimmune disorders. Moreover, knowledge of human genetics has led to the realization that many diseases result from either complex interactions of several genes or from any number of mutations within one gene. For example, Type I and II diabetes have been linked to multiple genes, each with its own pattern of mutations. In contrast, cystic fibrosis can be caused by any one of over 300 different mutations in a single gene.
Additionally, knowledge of human genetics has led to a limited understanding of differences between individuals when it comes to drug response—the field of pharmacogenetics. Since the first correlation over half a century ago of adverse drug responses with amino acid variations in two drug-metabolizing enzymes, plasma cholinesterase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, careful genetic analyses have linked sequence polymorphisms in drug metabolism enzymes, drug targets and drug transporters with compromised levels of drug efficacy or safety. In the clinic, such information is being used to prevent drug toxicities; for example, patients are often screened for genetic differences in the thiopurine methyltransferase gene that cause decreased metabolism of 6-mercaptopurine or azathiopurine. Yet only a small percentage of observed drug toxicities have been explained adequately by the set of pharmacogenetic markers validated to date. In addition, insufficient therapeutic efficacy or unanticipated side effects in "outlier" individuals when administered drugs previously demonstrated to be both safe and efficacious in clinical trials is a tremendous problem for health care practitioners and presents a significant dilemma to the pharmaceutical industry.
Disease-related and pharmacogenetic gene validation relies on elements of population and quantitative genetics and robust statistical metrics; however, the first step normally relies upon identification of a candidate target gene. To date, various biotechnological methods have been employed to identify candidate genes. For example, differential gene expression has been employed, essentially looking for differences in gene expression between affected and unaffected individuals or between treated and untreated individuals. In addition, protein-protein interaction maps to identify drug receptors and their immediate effectors have been used. Another approach involves mining human sequence databases for sequences similar to accepted disease-related or pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic regulators.
Because any two humans are 99.9% similar in their genetic makeup, most of the sequence of the DNA of their genomes is identical. However, there are variations in DNA sequence between individuals. For example, there are deletions of many-base stretches of DNA, insertion of stretches of DNA, variations in the number of repetitive DNA elements in noncoding regions, and changes in single nitrogenous base positions in the genome called "single nucleotide polymorphisms" or "SNPs". It is estimated that there are 3 to 4 million common SNPs that occur in at least 10 percent of people. These common SNPs do not occur independently but are passed from generation to generation in variable-length blocks of multiple SNPs, forming patterns across the genome. Such blocks of SNPs are called SNP haplotype blocks herein.
The candidate gene identification strategy most relevant to SNPs is whole-genome association of various populations of individuals—that is, scanning the entire genomes of populations of individuals to correlate SNPs to disease or drug response. Such whole-genome analyses would provide a fine degree of genetic mapping and pinpoint specific regions of linkage. Methods have been proposed and are used in connection with whole genome analysis. For example, the methods described in U.S. Ser. No. 60/327,006, filed Oct. 5, 2001, "Identifying Human SNP Haplotypes, Informative SNPs and Uses Thereof," assigned to the assignee of the present invention (incorporated herein by reference for all purposes) have been proposed for use in such applications. U.S. Ser. No. 10/166,341, filed Sep. 18, 2001, "Human Genomic Polymorphisms", assigned to the assignee of the present invention incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, provides the identity of SNPs and SNP haplotype blocks across one representative chromosome, ie. Chromosome 21.
It is desirable to establish new and useful business methods to capitalize on the understanding of genetics.

Pharmaceutical and diagnostic business systems and methods


The invention provides a semiconductor light-emitting device with II-V group (or II-IV-V group) compound contact layer and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor light-emitting device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention includes a substrate, a first conductive type semiconductor material layer, a light-emitting layer, a first electrode, a second conductive type semiconductor material layer, a II-V group (or II-IV-V group) compound contact layer, a transparent conductive layer, and a second electrode. The existence of the II-V group (or II-IV-V group) compound contact layer improves the ohmic contact between the second conductive type semiconductor material layer and the transparent conductive layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a semiconductor light-emitting device, and more particularly, to one with II-V group (or II-IV-V group) compound contact layer. With respect to the technology background of the invention, please refer to the following references:    [1] K. Kuriyama, Yukimi Takahashi, F. Sunohara. Optical band gap of Zn3N2 films. PHYSICAL REVIEW B 1993;48(4):2781-2782;    [2] B. Chelluri, T. Y. Chang, A. Ourmazd, A. H. Dayem, J. L. Zyskind, A. Srivastava. Molecular beam epitaxial growth of the II-V semiconductor compound Zn3As2. Appl. Phys. Lett. 1986;49(24):1665-1667;    [3] M. Sieberer, J. Redinger, S. Khmelevskyi, P. Mohn. Ferromagnetism in tetrahedrally coordinated compounds of I/II-V elements: Ab initio calculations. PHYSICAL REVIEW B 2006,73(024404):1-9; and    [4] C M Fang, R A de Groot, R J Bruls, H T Hintzen, G de With. Ab initio band structure calculations of Mg3N2 and MgSiN2. J. Phys. 1999;Condens. Matter 11:4833-4842.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Light-emitting diodes can be applied to various kinds of equipments, such as optical display equipments, regulatory signs, telecommunication equipments, and illuminating equipments. Light-emitting diodes, distinct from the conventional light sources, are applicable to different industries.
Compared to the tungsten lamps of prior art, light-emitting diodes consume less electricity and respond more quickly. Furthermore, light-emitting diodes have better illuminating efficiency, longer life time, and smaller size; they also consume less power and do not have hazardous substances like mercury.
The radiating principle of the light-emitting diodes is that the bonding of electrons and holes in the light-emitting layer of P-type and N-type semiconductors forms photons to generate light on forward bias. Because the P-type GaN semiconductor is hard to be doped, the contact of P-type GaN semiconductor and conductive layer produces higher resistance and consequently decreases the efficiency of P-type GaN semiconductor.
Taiwanese Patent No. 459,407 provides a proposal to reduce the contact resistance between a P-type GaN semiconductor layer and a conductive layer. Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 illustrates a light-emitting diode structure having an n+ type reverse tunneling layer. The light-emitting diode structure includes an insulated sapphire substrate 11, a GaN buffer layer 12, an N-type GaN contact layer 13, an N-type AlGaN constraint layer 14, an InGaN light-emitting layer 15, a P-type AlGaN constraint layer 16, a P-type GaN contact layer 17, an n+ type reverse tunneling layer 18, a transparent conductive layer 19, a first electrode 21, and a second electrode 22.
The GaN buffer layer 12 is formed on the insulated sapphire substrate 11. An N-type GaN contact layer 13 is formed on the GaN buffer layer 12 such that a partial area of the N-type GaN contact layer 13 is exposed. The first electrode 21 is formed on the exposed partial area of the N-type GaN contact layer 13. The N-type AlGaN constraint layer 14 is formed on the N-type GaN contact layer 13. The InGaN light-emitting layer 15 is formed on the N-type AlGaN constraint layer 14. The P-type AlGaN constraint layer 16 is formed on the InGaN light-emitting layer 15. The P-type GaN contact layer 17 is formed on the P-type AlGaN constraint layer 16. The n+ type reverse tunneling layer 18 is formed on the P-type GaN contact layer 17. The transparent conductive layer 19 is formed on the n+ type reverse tunneling layer 18 such that a partial area of the n+type reverse tunneling layer 18 is exposed. The second electrode 22 is formed on the exposed partial area of the n+ type reverse tunneling layer 18 and contacts the transparent conductive layer 19.
The light-emitting diode improves the ohmic contact between the P-type GaN contact layer 17 and the transparent conductive layer 19 by adding an n+ type reverse tunneling layer 18 between them.
However, due to a complex manufacturing process and difficult control of the n+type reverse tunneling layer 18, the finished products of light-emitting diodes are not stable and have a higher production cost as well.
Accordingly, a scope of the invention is to provide a semiconductor light-emitting device with II-V group (or II-IV-V group) compound contact layer, capable of improving the ohmic contact between the P-type GaN contact layer and the transparent conductive layer. Moreover, the semiconductor light-emitting device with II-V group (or II-IV-V group) compound contact layer has an easier manufacturing process; it also increases the stability for production and consequently has a lower production cost.

Semiconductor light-emitting device and method of fabricating the same


A communications node (FIG. 1, 5) communicating with an individual subscriber unit (80) determines that a nominal-load condition exists. The communications node (5) then reduces the number of elements of the transmit and receive phased array antennas (10, 60) used to form receive and transmit communication beams. This reduces the amount of power required by the transmit and receive digital beamformers (15,50) which control the transmit antenna (10) and the receive antenna (60). In order to maintain the radio link with the individual subscriber unit (80), the communications node (5) adjusts the modulation characteristics of the radio link between the communications node (5) and the individual subscriber unit (80). This compensates for the loss of the antenna elements and thus reduces the power consumption of the transmit and receive phased array antennas (10, 60) under nominally-loaded conditions.

In a radio communication system, in which a communications node establishes and maintains contact with a plurality of subscribers, it is desired to transmit energy to and receive energy from only those areas where subscribers are located. In a space-based communication system, where the communications node is an orbiting satellite, it becomes especially advantageous to control the direction to which receive and transmit antenna beams are pointed due to the need to maximize costly satellite resources. For this reason, in many space-based communication systems, digital beamformers can be used as a flexible means for generating receive and transmit communication beams. The use of a digital beamformer in such a system allows the communications node to generate beams which service subscribers located within specific areas on the Earth's surface and steer these beams as the subscribers move relative to the satellite. Beams can be created and collapsed according to the particular demand on the satellite communications node at any given time. In a low earth orbit satellite system, where the satellite moves with high velocity relative to a terrestrial-based subscriber, a digital beamformer allows subscribers to be tracked within the entire field of view of the communication satellite.
In future space-based communication systems which provide wideband communication services to earth-based subscribers, the antennas used to transmit to and receive signals from the subscribers are expected to require an increasing number of antenna elements. As the number of antenna elements increases, the associated digital beamformer requires a greater amount of primary power in order to generate both transmit and receive antenna beams. Even when a digital beamformer is generating very few transmit or receive antenna beams, the primary power demand can still be quite high. This inability to reduce the power consumption of a digital beamformer operating under nominally-loaded conditions makes size, weight, and cost reductions in the primary power generation system difficult to achieve. Consequently, reductions in the overall operating costs of the communication system are also difficult to achieve.
Therefore, what is needed are a method and system which will enable a communication satellite to reduce primary power required in a digital beamformer operating under nominally-loaded conditions.

Method and system for beamformer primary power reduction in a nominally-loaded communications node


An actuator arm of a magnetic disc drive having a mounting surface includes a mounting block having a sloped mounting surface. A base plate of a head gimble assembly is attached to the sloped mounting surface. The head gimbal assembly is unbent in its free state and is bent upon being loaded onto the disc.

The present invention relates to disc drive suspension systems and particularly to a head gimbal assembly in which the hinge region of the head gimbal assembly is unbent in its free state.
The head gimbal assembly generally includes a base plate, a hinge region, a load beam, a gimbal, a slider and a transducing head. The base plate and proximal region of the load beam are attached to a mounting block of an arm assembly.
Typically, the head gimbal assembly is pre-bent at the hinge region to place the load beam into an angled position. This is known as "forming a preload bend." Therefore, in its free state, prior to attachment to an actuation assembly, the head gimbal assembly has a convex appearance after the preload bend has been formed. This preload bend allows a specific amount of preload to be applied to the slider when the head gimbal assembly is loaded onto the media and in use. When loaded, or placed on the magnetic media, the hinge region flattens and the load beam is then relatively parallel to the magnetic media. In its loaded state, the preload, in combination with positive and negative pressures created by the slider's air bearing surface, allows the slider to fly at the proper clearance from the media.
Generally, head gimbal assemblies are shipped in the pre-bent free state where the fragile bent portion is susceptible to shipping and handling damage. This creates an increase in cost as the damaged head gimbal assemblies require retooling or scrapping.
Another problem with preloading is that the specific bend in the hinge region may not be consistently repeatable. The head gimbal assembly is very sensitive to where and how it is bent. During manufacturing special care must be utilized to ensure that the hinge region is properly bent. A change in the bend could change the force that is applied to the slider and therefore change the ability of the slider to fly over the magnetic media.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a load beam less susceptible to damage from transportation handling, but with the ability to still provide the additional downward negative force necessary for the slider to properly fly over the media.

Slanted mounting for preload flat suspension


A mobile grout plant for preparing structural grout comprising a mixer having an opening for receiving at least a portion of the components for preparation of the grout, a remixer located downstream of the mixer, a deck and at least one motor to power the mixer and remixer, wherein the mixer is oriented vertically above the remixer and at a terminal end of the grout plant so that a truck with aggregate can back up to the mixer for offloading directly into the mixer, with the opening of the mixer adapted to be about waist height to a worker standing on the deck.

Construction jobs, such as the building or repair of foundations, facings, etc., often require the use of large amounts of structural grout. One example of such a job is the reinforcing of hollow concrete block walls, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,107, dated Dec. 2, 2003.
These types of jobs are generally done over a period of time, with the need for prepared grout being everywhere from virtually continuous to often interrupted over the duration of the job. For these jobs, the grout must be available when needed, so that the workers are not waiting for grout, but also such that the grout is not sitting so long as to set prior to use.
Preparation of structural grout at the job site requires having the components for making the grout available at the site for workers to mix. These components are well known in the art and generally include a Portland cement, an aggregate such as sand and water. When mixed at a job site, the grout is generally prepared in batches of about one-half cubic yard each, based on the prepackaged nature of Portland cement generally used that comes in bags of about 94 pounds.
Although such batches can be mixed individually in tubs or mixers, they must then be used quickly after mixing stops to avoid setting prior to use. To accomplish this, a batch of structural grout that has been prepared but cannot be used quickly must be continuously mixed so that it will not set. On the other hand, to ensure that workers are not standing idle waiting for more prepared grout to continue a job, another batch must always be prepared and ready for use.
Based on these requirements, efforts have been made to prepare grout more efficiently at the job site. These have included grout stations comprising a mixer for mixing the grout components, a hopper with an auger or agitator for maintaining the mixed grout in a usable state, a motor to run the mixer and agitator and a pump to move the grout to the location where it is being used. Several examples of such grout stations with the components mounted on a skid for mobility are CHEMGROUT® models CG-500, CG-600 and CG-680.
Other mobile plants used for mixing concrete or other such materials comprised of components mixed at a job site have been described for use at the site. Examples include U.S. Pat. No. 4,071,226, directed to a transporting vehicle having separate hoppers for the components to be mixed that discharge to a conveying and mixing trough; U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,420, directed to a trailer having a hopper divided into compartments for the components and a conveyer to convey the components to a mixer; U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,890, directed to a portable mixing device with an upper frame for a hopper which drops dry ingredients onto a conveyer which deposits the ingredients into a mixer where water is introduced; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,982, directed to a trailer for continuously blending a viscous liquid having hydraulically driven pumps and motors to feed the viscous liquid and solids to a blending chamber.
However, the prior art does not provide a mobile device that meets the demands encountered when a supply of grout is required on an as needed basis. In this regard, there is a need for a device that can provide grout at a job site on an as needed basis, which can be easily and efficiently operated by a limited number of workers.


A method of printing an image on a substrate, where a solid border is printed on the substrate, the solid border corresponding to the perimeter of the image. A dead zone, in which no media is applied, is defined adjacent to and interior of the solid border, and a gray pattern is printed adjacent to and interior of the dead zone. A printer according to the present invention is for printing an image on a substrate, and has a data processing means and printer elements. The data processing means has a solid border controller for adjusting the width of a solid border corresponding to the perimeter of the image, and for producing a solid border parameter. Also included in the data processing means is a dead zone controller for adjusting the width of a dead zone adjacent to and interior of the solid border, and for producing a dead zone parameter. The data processing means also includes a gray pattern controller for adjusting the shape and density of a gray pattern printed adjacent to and interior of the dead zone, and for producing a gray pattern parameter. The printer elements are responsive to the data processing means, and receive the solid border parameter, the dead zone parameter, and the gray pattern parameter. The image on the substrate is printed by the printer elements in response to the solid border parameter, the dead zone parameter, and the gray pattern parameter.

One of the many benefits of producing a document by computer is the ability to quickly and easily modify the document, and print out several revisions before deciding on the final version. Also convenient is the ability of a computer or a digital copier to produce multiple copies for distribution to and review by many people.
While interim printed and copied drafts of a document are useful, production of such may dramatically increase the overall cost of the final document, as each copy of the document produced requires additional consumable materials, such as print media and paper. The cost of each copy of a document produced can be reduced by reducing the consumables used.
One method of reducing the cost of the print media required by a printer or a digital copier is to use less of it for each copy of the document produced. For an ink jet printer, this may mean using less ink to form the images on the paper, and for a laser printer or digital copier it may mean using less toner to form the images.
The amount of media that is used to form an image may be reduced by adjusting the method by which the image is formed. For example, in portions of the image where a solid, unbroken field of media would typically be applied, an intermittent pattern of media and unprinted areas could be used. Various methods for reducing the print media are available. One such technology may be termed graying, and may be used not only to conserve media, but to approximate gray areas on a printed page.
Different graying methods have been used to reduce the amount of media required to print an image. For example, all of the portions of an image which would usually be solidly covered by media could have a gray pattern applied to them. Thus, those portions that would have otherwise been solidly covered with media, now only require a fraction of that amount of media. The amount of media saved depends on the density of the gray pattern used, or in other words, the ratio of printed and unprinted areas in the gray pattern. Another method would be to apply the gray pattern to only some portions of the image, and solid media to other portions. This latter method can be especially useful for images such as letters and other alphanumeric characters.
Letters which are printed by forming a solid border of media at the outside edge of the character, and then filled in with a gray pattern of media, may be easier to read than those characters which are completely formed of a gray pattern of media. Legibility of the font at different sizes tends to be affected by the width of the solid border, and the density of the gray pattern. However, these parameters are typically not adjustable in current technology devices.
Further, as image size decreases, the solid border of an image comprises a greater portion of the image, and there is less space inside the image for a gray pattern. For such images an interior gray pattern does not offer much of a savings in print media.


The present invention is directed to an absorbent article which is configured to prevent drooping and to improve fit. The article comprises attachment means for attaching the article about the waist of a wearer such that attachment points are located on the sides of the article and behind a transverse center plane of the article.

The present invention relates to absorbent articles. Specifically, the present invention relates to a fastening system for an absorbent article which helps prevent drooping of the articles.
Disposable absorbent articles, such as disposable diapers, training pants, adult incontinent garments, and the like, are known. Disposable diapers and adult incontinent garments often comprise a two-dimensional structure which is placed between the legs of a wearer and held in position through a wide variety of known fastening means. Examples of known fastening means are adhesive tapes, hook-and-loop type fasteners, belts, straps, and the like.
In the past, particularly in the case of infant diapers, known fastening means generally involve overlapping a rear ear portion of the diaper onto the front portion of the diaper where it is attached through the use of, for example, adhesive tapes. While a generally acceptable fit can be obtained with known fastening means, it is not unusual for infant diapers to sag or droop in the front portion of the diaper due to movements by the infant. In an attempt to lessen this drooping, waist elastics have been added to infant diapers in order to maintain a tighter fit about the waist of an infant and to prevent drooping in the front portion of the diaper. Again, the presence of waist elastics has been found to help obtain a better fit and to prevent drooping. Nonetheless, current fastening systems still allow for a degree of drooping and an associated ill-fitting appearance in infant diapers. It is, therefore, desired to provide an absorbent article having a fastening system which helps prevent drooping.

Absorbent article with fastening system to prevent drooping


A shock absorber includes a rebound valve assembly which performs the flexing disc function normally required for allowing the passage of fluid from one side of a piston assembly to the opposite side during the stroke of the shock absorber. The rebound valve assembly also incorporates a blow off function which increases the fluid flow through the piston when the fluid pressure being exerted upon the rebound valve assembly exceeds a specified level. The blow off feature utilizes a coil spring to protect both the shock absorber as well as the suspension system into which the shock absorber is assembled.

Shock absorbers are used in connection with automotive suspension systems and other suspension systems to absorb unwanted vibrations which occur during movement of the suspension system. In order to absorb this unwanted vibration, automotive shock absorbers are generally connected between the sprung mass (the body) and unsprung mass (the suspension) of the automobile.
The most common type of shock absorber in automobiles is the dashpot type in which a piston is located within a pressure tube. The piston is connected to the sprung mass of the vehicle through a piston rod. The piston divides the pressure tube into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber, both of which are filled with a damping fluid. Because the piston, through valving, has the ability to limit the flow of the damping fluid between the upper and lower working chambers within the pressure tube when the shock absorber is compressed or extended, the shock absorber is able to produce a damping force which counteracts the vibrations which would otherwise be transmitted from the unsprung mass to the sprung mass. In a dual tube shock absorber, a fluid reservoir is defined between the pressure tube and the reserve tube. A base valve is located between the lower working chamber and the fluid reservoir to produce a damping force which also counteracts the vibration which would otherwise be transmitted from the unsprung mass to the sprung mass of the automobile.
Automotive shock absorbers are generally provided with bleed orifices which allow the restricted flow of damping fluid from the upper side of the piston, which is know as the rebound side, to the lower side of the piston, which is known as the compression side. These bleed orifices provide the shock absorber with a portion of its damping characteristic. Automotive shock absorbers also may include a blow off valve of some type. The blow off valve is normally in a closed position. However, when fluid pressure within the pressure cylinder reaches a predetermined level, the blow off valve opens reducing considerably the restriction of damping fluid flow between the two sides of the piston.
Various designs in the prior art combine the conventional piston valving with a blow off valve. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,130, issued on Jan. 26, 1988 to Hayashi for "Valve Structure of Hydraulic Buffer," discloses a valve structure used in a hydraulic buffer. A valve body is used for opening and closing ports in the piston. As the piston rod is extended, a free end of the valve body deflects about a first fulcrum point to allow fluid to pass. When the piston is moving at a high rate of speed and the force of the fluid passing through the port exceeds the pre-load set by the spring, the spring seat is depressed so that more fluid flows through the port while deflecting the valve body about a second fulcrum point.
Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 2,717,058, issued to Brundreit on Sep. 6, 1955 for "Shock Absorber Control Valve," discloses a shock absorber control valve for controlling restricted flow of hydraulic fluid between opposite ends of a pressure tube. A valve disk flexes upwardly against a rigid retainer plate as permitted by the angularity of the face portion of the plate. As the requirement for fluid flow increases, the valve member and the retainer are moved against the compression spring to change the fluid flow rate.
While these prior art systems have performed acceptably, they are relatively complex and they fail to produce optimum results in the terms of efficiency and cost. The continued development of shock absorbers includes the development of systems which combine the flexing disk function of a rebound valve with the blow off function in a system that is less complex and less expensive while providing the necessary damping acquirements.

Fulcrum blow off valve for use in a shock absorber

Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.


An agent of a domain management intermediary service obtains a security key using a client credential indicated in a request for a read-write domain management operation. A registry credential is obtained using the security key, and the read-write domain administration operation is initiated using the registry credential. A separate read-only agent obtains the completion status of the read-write domain administration operation and provides the status to the client.

In recent years, more and more organizations enable their customers to interact with the organizations using computer servers accessible via the World Wide Web. A given organization may acquire the rights to use one or more domain names (e.g., domain names ending in ".com", ".net", etc.) using a process defined by an organization called the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). ICANN is responsible for coordinating the maintenance of databases related to the namespaces and numerical spaces of the Internet, and thereby helping to ensure the Internet's stable and secure operation. Much of ICANN's work is concerned with the Internet's global Domain Name System (DNS), including policy development (e.g., to help internationalize DNS), introduction of new top-level domains, and the operations of root name servers. The numbering facilities ICANN manages include the Internet Protocol (IP) address spaces for IP version 4 and version 6, and the assignment of address blocks to regional Internet registries.
In order to begin using a particular domain name for its operations, an organization or entity needs to register the domain name with a domain name registry operator accredited by ICANN, or other organizations which authorize the registration of country code top-level domains. The domain name registry operator is often referred to simply as a registry, and the organization or entity on whose behalf domain names are registered is referred to as a registrant. The domain name registry operator maintains a database of domain names for which it is responsible, and associated registrant information. In order to register new domain names ending in any given top-level domain such as ".com", and/or to perform administrative tasks regarding such registrations (such as extending/renewing the registrations, changing name servers, etc.), interactions with the registry for that top-level domain may be required. Traditionally, such interactions with registries are handled on behalf of registrants by business entities referred to as registrars.
Over time, as more and more customers or clients of an organization start using the domain name(s) registered by the organization, the domain names tend to become closely linked to the identities or brands of the organization, and as such become more and more valuable from the perspective of the organization. If the name servers associated with an organization's registered domain names are somehow incorrectly configured, or other types of undesired administrative changes pertaining to the domain names are made (e.g., as a result of a network attack), the business activities of the organization may potentially be hampered significantly, and the organization may suffer reputational damage.
While embodiments are described herein by way of example for several embodiments and illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments are not limited to the embodiments or drawings described. It should be understood, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit embodiments to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims. The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words "include," "including," and "includes" mean including, but not limited to. When used in the claims, the term "or" is used as an inclusive or and not as an exclusive or. For example, the phrase "at least one of x, y, or z" means any one of x, y, and z, as well as any combination thereof.


A measurement apparatus includes a measurement unit configured to execute first measurement at each of a plurality of measurement points on a substrate, which are juxtaposed in one of a direction perpendicular to a scanning direction and an oblique direction with respect to the scanning direction, and to execute a second measurement at each of the plurality of measurement points, while the substrate is shifted in a direction different from the scanning direction and a processing unit configured to select some measurement points from the plurality of measurement points on the basis of a change in a measurement value at each measurement point, which is obtained by the first measurement and the second measurement.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique of measuring the surface position of a substrate by irradiating the surface of the substrate with light and photo-receiving the light reflected by the surface of the substrate and, more particularly, to a scanning exposure apparatus comprising an apparatus which measures the surface position of a wafer serving as an exposure target substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
The manufacture of a fine semiconductor element by photolithography, such as a semiconductor memory or a logic circuit, a liquid crystal display element, or a thin-film magnetic head, adopts a projection exposure apparatus which causes a projection optical system to project and transfer the circuit pattern drawn on the reticle (mask) onto a wafer, or the like.
Along with an increase in the degree of integration of semiconductor elements, a demand has arisen that a projection exposure apparatus should project and transfer the circuit pattern of the reticle onto a wafer by exposure with a higher resolving power. A minimum dimension (resolution) with which the projection exposure apparatus can transfer is proportional to the wavelength of exposure light, and inversely proportional to the numerical aperture (NA) of a projection optical system. The shorter the wavelength is, the higher the resolution becomes. In recent times, the light source is shifting from superhigh pressure mercury lamps, a g-line with a wavelength of approximately 436 nm, and an i-line with a wavelength of approximately 365 nm, to a short-wavelength KrF excimer laser, with a wavelength of approximately 248 nm, and an ArF excimer laser, with a wavelength of approximately 193 nm. A practical application of an F2 laser, with a wavelength of approximately 157 nm, is also in progress. A demand has also arisen for a further increase in exposure area.
To meet these demands, a step and scan exposure apparatus, i.e., a scanner, which scans a reticle and a wafer relative to each other at a high velocity by using a rectangular slit-like exposure area to accurately expose a wide area, is becoming mainstream in place of a step and repeat exposure apparatus, i.e., a stepper, which reduces an almost square-shaped exposure area to execute cell projection for a wafer.
As shown in FIG. 1, the scanner comprises an illumination unit 10, a reticle stage 25, which supports a reticle 20, a projection optical system 30, a wafer stage 45, which supports a wafer 40, a focus/tilt detection system 50, an alignment detection system 70, and a control system 60. The control system 60 comprises a CPU and a memory, electrically connects to the illumination unit 10, the reticle stage 25, the wafer stage 45, the focus/tilt detection system 50, and the alignment detection system 70, and systematically controls the overall operation of the apparatus.
The alignment detection system 70 detects a misalignment of the wafer 40 in the X- and Y-axis directions. Referring to FIG. 1, the alignment detection system 70 is a so-called off-axis optical system, which uses non-exposure light and is inserted on an optical axis that is shifted from the optical axis of the projection optical system 30.
The wafer stage 45 supports the wafer 40 via a wafer chuck 46. At least three wafer chuck marks are laid out on the wafer chuck to cause the focus/tilt detection system 50 to acquire Z height information and to cause the alignment detection system 70 to acquire X-Y position information. Using a linear motor, or the like, the wafer stage 45 moves the wafer 40 and wafer chuck 46 in the X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, Z-axis direction, and the rotation directions about the respective axes. A laser interferometer, for example, monitors the positions of the reticle stage 25 and the wafer stage 45, to drive the respective stages at a constant velocity ratio.
The focus/tilt detection system 50 detects the position information about the surface position, in the Z-axis direction, and the surface tilt of the wafer 40 during exposure.
Before a predetermined position on the wafer 40 reaches the exposure slit area during exposure, the scanner causes the focus/tilt detection system 50 to measure the surface position at the predetermined position, and executes a correction to match the wafer surface with an optimal image forming position, in exposing the predetermined position.
Various kinds of focus and tilt measurement methods are proposed; see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1994-260391.
In recent years, along with a recent decrease in the wavelength of exposure light and a recent increase in the NA of a projection optical system, the depth of focus is becoming very small. A so-called focus accuracy for matching the wafer surface to be exposed with an optimal image forming position is also becoming stricter. Nowadays, especially, a measurement error of the surface position due to the density fluctuations of the pattern on the wafer or the thickness non-uniformity of the resist applied to the wafer is becoming non-negligible.
The measurement error due to the thickness non-uniformity of the resist occurs when a step that is small for the depth of focus, but is fatal for focus measurement is formed near the peripheral circuit pattern or scribe line. Since the tilt angle of the resist-coated surface increases, the focus/tilt detection system 50 detects reflected light at an angle deviated from the regular reflection angle upon reflection or refraction.
The measurement error due to the density fluctuations of the pattern on the wafer occurs when, e.g., the reflectance of the wafer varies such that a sparse pattern area on the wafer has a high reflectance, while a dense pattern area on the wafer has a low reflectance, as shown in FIG. 10. The reflection intensity of the reflected light detected by the focus/tilt detection system 50 is changed as a result, causing an asymmetry, as indicated by (B), with respect to a signal waveform (A) that is free from any pattern density fluctuations. A measurement error, or offset, results, upon a signal process such as a barycentric process.
The foregoing measurement errors degrade the performance of the CD. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, in generating an approximate plane within a certain area in the wafer to match the exposure image forming plane with the wafer surface, when the measurement point mk3 suffers from a large measurement error due to the reflectance difference by Cu, a deviation ΔZ from an actual plane occurs as defocus. When the measurement error is stably measured per unit area (shot) in the wafer, it is possible to manage it as an offset. However, a place like the measurement point mk3 in FIG. 11 exhibits a variation in measurement value. In many cases, the place exhibits low reliability as a measurement error, and even as an offset.

Scanning exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method


A multi-tile system for attachment to a mounting surface is provided. Each of the tiles includes an upper edge configured to be oriented upward relative to the mounting surface and a lower edge configured to be oriented downward relative to the mounting surface. The tiles include a receiving member formed on an exterior side of the upper edge and a locking member formed on an interior side of the lower edge. The receiving member of the tile is configured to interlock with the locking member of an adjacent tile to limit movement of the lower edge of one tile away from the upper edge of the other tile. The receiving member and the locking member are configured to define a vertical range of continuous vertical adjustment between adjacent tiles.

Exterior siding or roofing systems may include a plurality of tiles, panels, or combinations thereof. Generally, tiles simulate one or two individual decorative units while panels simulate a greater number of individual decorative units. For example, tiles or panels may emulate wooden shakes, wooden shingles, or slate tiles. However, the decorative units may be formed to simulate other siding or roofing materials, including stone, ceramics, et cetera.


There are disclosed a fixing solution for a light-sensitive silver halide color photographic material which comprises containing a water-soluble surfactant and a processing method using the same.

This invention relates to a processing solution for a light-sensitive silver halide color photographic material and a processing method using the same, more specifically, it relates to a technique to prevent deposition of a fixing solution and also to prevent fixing at a rack portion or a cross-over portion of an automatic processor.
In a light-sensitive silver halide photographic material, a dye image can be generally formed, after image exposure, by a series of photographic processings comprising a color developing steps and a desilvering step as basic steps.
In the color developing step, according to coupling reaction between an oxidized material of a color developing agent and a color coupler co-presented, a dye image having an image-wise pattern is formed and simultaneously reduced silver is also formed. The silver herein formed is oxidized in the subsequent desilvering step by a bleaching agent and changed to a soluble silver complex by accepting an action of a fixing agent, and then dissolved and washed away in a washing step.
In an automatic processor having such a developing processing step; a washless photofinishing technique having an aim of low pollution has been introduced in recent years. At present, a washless photofinishing system automatic processor has been employed in almost all mini-laboratories. As a reason of such a fact, it can be considered that, in the mini-laboratory market, demands for simplification of processings and saving space for installing the processor are highly requested so that the washless photofinishing system which is plumbing-free satisfies such demands
However, after introduction of the washless photofinishing system automatic processor in the mini-laboratory market, there have been found the problems that frictional drag is often generated in an automatic processor for a color negative film, and at worst, transporting of a color film cannot be carried out to cause jamming of the film.
The above problems remarkably decreases commercial value of a color negative film and a color negative film of a client is damaged or a film itself spoiled whereby reliance of a mini-laboratory is markedly injured. Therefore, immediate solution of these problems has been demanded.

Processing solution for light-sensitive silver halide color photographic material and processing method using the same


A refiner that reduces solid material to a particulate form includes a rotatable sidewall, a bottom, at least one exit hole, and a rotatable toothed disk. One or more baffles may be attached to the chamber sidewall to form one or more surfaces that extend into the chamber. The baffles help move the solid material toward the rotating toothed disk. The baffles also limit material from being inadvertently thrown out of the chamber. A moveable gate may be positioned to change the size of the exit hole and thus regulate the size of particulate material exiting the chamber. The position of the gate may be adjusted during the operation of the refiner chamber. A gate indicator indicates the relative position of the particle size gate. One or more attachments to the bottom of the chamber may be used to limit the amount and/or size of material engaging the toothed disk.

There exists a need in many industries to reduce large pieces of solid material to a particulate form. For instance, in managing wood and tree waste, it is desirable to grind stumps, branches, and wood scraps into smaller wood chips. Wood chips are more easily and efficiently transported, stored, and used for a variety of purposes. In other instances, it is desirable to reduce large pieces of waste material, such as plastic, for recycling or disposal.
Refiners of various size and operation are generally available for performing this function. One style of refiner includes a refining chamber defined by a sidewall and a bottom floor at one end of the sidewall. An annular ring in the same plane and surrounding the bottom floor is attached to the sidewall and rotates with the sidewall. For instance, reissue U.S. Pat. No. Re. 36,486 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,624, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, disclose a comminuter, or refiner, of this style. Inside the comminuter chamber, a rotatably-mounted toothed disk impacts solid material introduced into the chamber and reduces the material to particulate form.
The comminuter, or refiner, disclosed in the above-noted patents operates by rotating both the chamber sidewall and the toothed disk, usually in opposite directions. The rotation of the sidewall imparts rotational motion to the solid material placed in the chamber. As the material in the chamber rotates with the chamber sidewall, the material comes into contact with the rotating toothed disk. The teeth on the disk impact the material and thereby rip and tear the material into successively smaller pieces. The annular portion of the bottom of the chamber that rotates with the sidewall typically includes a screened exit through which the material, once refined to a particular size, may pass out of the chamber.
During the refining process, the solid material being refined may be thrown about within the comminuting chamber, particularly when the comminuting chamber is only partially filed. Portions of the material may ricochet off the rotating sidewall and fly out of the open top end of the comminuting chamber. To address this problem, reissue U.S. Pat. Re. 36,486 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,624 describe a curtain assembly mounted on top of a hopper stationed above the comminuting chamber. However, the curtain assembly can be complicated to assemble and partially blocks the opening of the hopper, adding some difficulty to loading material into the comminuter. Solid shrouding has also been suggested but that also partially blocks the opening of the hopper and/or comminuting chamber.
Screened exits in the comminuting chamber regulate the size of material that can exit the chamber. U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,624 describes an annular screened exit comprised of a series of grate segments. The grate segments have a plurality of holes, the size of which determine the particle size that can exit the chamber. When the operator desires to change the size of the particulate matter exiting the chamber, the comminuter must be stopped and unloaded, the grate segments removed and replaced with other grate segments having holes of a different size or configuration. Significant downtime of the machine thus occurs every time a change of particulate size is desired.
There is, therefore, a need in the prior art for a refiner with a refining chamber that better confines the material placed in the chamber to prevent it from inadvertently being thrown out. There is also a need for a refiner that is capable of changing the size of particulate matter exiting the refiner in a manner that is faster and easier than hitherto known. These needs, and other shortcomings in the prior art, are addressed by the present invention discussed herein.


A method of managing a network including maintaining a database of network configuration profiles, each network configuration profile corresponding to a network device type and a physical location relative to the network, determining with a network device a physical location of the network device relative to the network upon the network device being initially connected to the network, the network device being of a network device type, and determining a network configuration profile with which to configure the network device from the database based on the physical location and the network device type of the network device.

Broadly speaking, a computer network consists of a collection of network devices, including network end-points or nodes devices such as personal computers and servers, for example, which are linked via an interconnect structure consisting of any number of network infrastructure devices such as, for example, routers, switches, hubs, and wireless access points. Initially, network devices are not configured to meet any specific requirements or purpose prior to being installed into a particular computer network. Configuration is a process of setting or selecting the operating or configuration parameters of network devices, such as network operating protocols and security keys, for example, so that the network device is able to properly connect to, operate on or provide connectivity within the network. Because of the wide variety of network devices, as well as the variety of networks which may be connected to form internetworks, the configuration process can be a difficult task requiring detailed knowledge of the various networks and, the protocols used to link the various networks, and the multitude of network devices installed thereon, and often one of the most daunting facing network administrators.
Even after initial configuration is complete, network administrators responsible for managing large networks, such as in a campus setting, for example, frequently have to add or replace network devices that attach to the network, either as end-point devices or network infrastructure devices that form part of the network infrastructure itself. Such additional network devices and replacement devices are typically configured to provide services tailored to their specific locations on the network (e.g. an engineering building on a campus), with replacement devices typically configured to operate exactly the same as the failed devices they replace. In either case, individually configuring such devices is resource intensive and prone to human error, particularly with regard to large scale deployments, such as outfitting a network in a new building, which might require that hundreds of devices be configured.
In attempts to simplify the configuration process, network configuration management tools have been developed for configuring network devices remotely coupled to a network. Such configuration management tools typically manage device configurations based on individual device serial numbers or network MAC (Media Access Control) addresses and not based on a location of the device relative to the network, such as a point of connection to the network. As a result, conventional configuration management tools configure network devices, be they added devices or replacement devices, with only generic or default configurations since the replacement device is identified via its MAC address or serial number, which while indicative of the type of device, is not indicative of its location on the network.
For these and other reasons, a need exists for the present invention.

Network device configuration management by physical location

HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.


A method of synthesizing particles containing nucleic acid sequences is disclosed. This method comprises the steps of introducing a non-endogenous packageable nucleic acid sequence and a sequence encoding a suitable non-endogenous capsid protein into yeast cells and inducing particle assembly, wherein at least one nucleic acid is encapsidated. Preferably, the particle is an infectious virion and the method additionally comprises the step of inducing viral nucleic acid replication before particle assembly. A method of replicating an animal or Nodaviridae virus nucleic acid sequences in yeast is also disclosed.

The understanding of virus-host interactions, including the identity of the host factors with which viruses interact to mediate their replication and cytopathic effects, remains a challenging frontier in virology. For a number of viruses, specific host factors have been implicated in some important infection processes such as cell attachment, DNA transcription and replication, and others. However, for many important virus functions, such as genome replication by (+) strand RNA viruses, the nature of the host factors is not completely known. For most viruses, identification of relevant host factors would be greatly assisted by ready genetic dissection of the host. Particularly effective eukaryotic genetics exists for the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as illustrated by prior identification of host genes required for the maintenance of its endogenous L-A double-stranded RNA virus (Wickner, R. B., eds. Broach, J. R., Pringle, J. and Jones, E. W. (Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.), pp. 263-296, 1991). S. cerevisiae has been previously shown to support the replication and assembly of other viruses endogenous to fungi (Lhoas, P. Nature-New Biology, 236:86-87, 1972; Schmitt, M. J. and Neuhausen, F., J. Virol. 68:1765-1772, 1994).
The present invention involves viruses that are non-endogenous to fungi, such as flock house virus (FHV). We show in the Examples that the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae can support replication of FHV resulting in the production of infectious virions.
Previously, virus-like particles (VLP) with unspecified nucleic acid content have been synthesized in yeast from the plasmid-expressed capsid proteins of other non-endogenous viruses; hepatitis B virus (Valenzuela, P., et al., Nature 298:247-350, 1982; Miyanohara, A., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80:1-5, 1983; Kniskern, P. J., et al., Gene 46:135-141, 1986; Miyanohara, A., et al., J. Virol. 59:176-180, 1986), the potyvirus johnsongrass mosaic virus (Jagadish, M. N. et al., J. Gen. Virol. 72:1543-1550, 1991), the papillomaviruses HPV-6, HPV-16, HPV-6a, HPV-A18, and CRPV (Hofmann, K. J., et al., J. Gen. Virol. 77:465-468, 1996; and references therein), and the picornavirus polioviruis (Jore, J. P. M., et al., Yeast 10:907-922, 1994). Retrovirus human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-III) VLP have been produced, although VLP production was inferred from protein processing (Kramer, R. A., et al., Science 231:1580-1584, 1986). There is also a report of retrotransposon gypsy "VLP" production, although the VLPs did not resemble "normal" VLPs (Yoshioka, K., et al. FEBS Letters, 302:5-7, 1992). Spanning three of four subfamilies in the family Saccharomycetaceae, these non-endogenous VLPs have beer produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Hansenula polymorpha, Yarrowia lipolytica, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and Pichia pastoris (Shen, S.-H., et al., Gene 84:303-309, 1989; Janowicz, Z. A., et al., Yeast 7:431-443, 1991; Hamsa, P. V. and B. B. Chatto, Gene 143:165-170, 1994; Sasagawa, T., et al., Virology 206:126-135, 1995; Tschopp, J. F., et al., Biotechnology 5:479-485, 1987).
A description of increasing yields of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) with time following incubation of S. cerevisiae spheroplasts with TMV virions (not irrefutable evidence) has been reported (Coutts, R. H. A. and Cocking, E. C., Nature 240:466-467, 1972).
Systems were recently developed that demonstrate the RNA-dependent replication, transcription and persistence in yeast of derivatives of brome mosaic virus (BMV), a plant-infecting member of the alphavirus-like superfamily (Janda, M. and Ahlquist, P., Cell 72:961-970, 1993; Quadt, R., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92:4892-4896, 1995; for a simple review see Gallepp, G. Understanding infection, UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Science Report, pp. 28-29, 1996). Yeast expressing the viral components of the BMV RNA replicase support replication and gene expression by BMV RNA derivatives. Such RNAs are transmitted through mitosis, so that Ura.sup.+ strains can be obtained by transfecting Ura.sup.- yeast with a BMV RNA replicon expressing the URA3 gene. This system provides a basis for selecting mutations in host genes required for BMV RNA replication.
Thus, BMV is the first instance of genomic replication of a non-endogenous virus in S. cerevisiae. Attempts to replicate the poliovirus genome in yeast have failed (Coward, P. and Dasgupta, A., J. Virol. 66:286-295, 1992; Das, S., et al., J. Virol. 68:7200-7211, 1994).
The expression of wild-type BMV RNA3, which contains the BMV coat protein gene, has been reported in conjunction with viral replicase proteins in yeast (Quadt, R., eta. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92:4892-4896, 1995).
Flock house virus (FHV) belongs to the Nodaviridae: family of (+) strand RNA viruses, whose members infect invertebrates and vertebrates (for review see Miller, L. K., in Fields Virology, eds. Fields, B. N., et al. Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, Vol. I, pp. 549-551, 1996). Several members which infect hatchery-reared fish have recently been identified (Nishizawa, T., et al., J. Gen. Virol. 76:1563-1569, 1995).
The 4.5 kb genome of FHV is one of the smallest among animal viruses. FHV particles are infectious to insect cells, and naked FHV genomic RNA is infectious to insect, plant (Selling, B. H., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:434-438, 1990) and mammalian (Ball, L. A., et al., J. Virol. 66:2326-2334, 1992) cells.
An FHV plaque assay (Selling, B. H. and Rueckert, R. R., J. Virol. 51:251-253, 1984) and neutralizing antibodies (Gallagher, T. M., Ph.D. thesis (University of Wisconsin, Madison), pp. 84-111, 1987) allow sensitive detection of infectious FHV virions.
Infectious transcripts from full-length FHV cDNAs can be produced in vitro (Dasmahaptra, B., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:63-66, 1986) and in vivo (Ball, L. A., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:12443-12447, 1994). Nodaviruses use unique regulatory cis-elements, including Nodaviral-specific RNA replication (Zhong, W., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:11146-11150, 1992; Ball, L. A. and Li, Y., J. Virol. 67:3544-3551, 1993; Li, Y. and Ball, L. A., J. Virol. 67:3854-3860, 1993; Ball, L. A., J. Virol. 69:720-727, 1995) and packaging signals (Zhong, W., et al., supra, 1992; Zhong, W., Ph.D. thesis (University of Wisconsin, Madison, pp. 119-138, 1993), which offer the potential for new mechanisms of RNA and protein expression regulation. FHV RNAs have been used to carry and express heterologous sequences (Zhong, supra, 1993). The ability to package these chimeric RNAs into FHV particles has been demonstrated (Zhong, supra, 1993). In addition, a replicase capable of full in vitro replication of added FHV RNA has been isolated from infected cells (Wu, S.-X. and Kaesberg, P., Virology 183:392-396, 1991; Wu, S.-X., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:11136-11140, 1992).
The X-ray structure of FHV (Fisher, A. J. and Johnson, J. E., Nature 361:176-179, 1993) and the related black beetle virus (Hosur, M. V., et al., Proteins: Struct. Funct. Genet. 2:167-176, 1987) have been solved at 3.0 .ANG. resolution, allowing for insertion of antigens on the particle surface.
The FHV genome is bipartite (FIG. 1A) (Scotti, P. D., et al., Arch. Virol. 75:181-190, 1983), with both RNAs packaged in the same particle (Selling, B. H. and Rueckert, R. R., supra, 1984; Gallagher, T. M., supra, 1987). RNA1 (3.1 kb) (Dasmahapatra, B., et al., J. Mol. Biol. 182:183-189, 1985) encodes all viral contributions to the FHV RNA replicase and can replicate autonomously (Gallagher, T. M., et al., J. Virol. 46:481-489, 1983). RNAL serves as mRNA for protein A (112 kDa) (Friesen, P. D. and Rueckert, R. R., J. Virol. 37:876-886, 1981), which contains the GDD amino acid sequence motif characteristic of RNA polymerases and is essential for FHV RNA replication (Ball, L. A., J. Virol. 69:720-727, 1995). An RNA1-encoded subgenomic RNA, RNA3 (0.4 kb) (Guarino, L. A., et al., Virology 139:199-203, 1984), serves as mRNA for protein B (10 kDa) (Friesen, P. D. and Rueckert, R. R., J. Virol. 42:986-995, 1982). Protein B is not required for production of (+) or (-) strand RNA1 or RNA3 (Ball, L. A., supra, 1995). RNA2 (1.4 kb) encodes the virion capsid protein precursor, .alpha. (43 kDa) (Friesen, P. D. and Rueckert, R. R., supra, 1981; Dasgupta, R. and Sgro, J.-Y., Nucl. Acids. Res. 17:7525-7526, 1989).
Before the present invention, the art of molecular biology lacked a method of producing non-endogenous particles containing nucleic acid sequences in yeast and of replicating animal virus nucleic acid sequences, most particularly Nodaviridae virus nucleic acid sequences, using non-endogenous viral nucleic acid replication proteins in yeast.

Method of producing particles containing nucleic acid sequences in yeast


A sheet includes a plurality of incisions that define a plurality of frames. The frames are arranged in a geometric pattern to facilitate selection of an appropriate frame for cropping an image displayed on photographic media. The frames are connected to each other by an adhesive layer and substrate. Alternatively, the frames are connected by tags or micro-perfs. A transparent crop selector is used to facilitate selection of an appropriately sized frame.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a cropping device, and more particularly, to an improved apparatus and method for storing a plurality of standard size cropping frames for the framing of cropped images.
2. Description of the Related Art
Frames and mattes, herein generally referred to as picture frames, are routinely used in the presentation of images that are displayed on media, such as photographs, drawings, graphics, collages, or other visual formats. U.S. Pat. No. 154,581 discloses one such picture frame. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 487,355 discloses ornamental designs for magnetic frames.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,030 discloses a set of nested magnetic picture frames. The frames are fabricated from a multilayered flexible sheet. The sheet includes a layer of magnetic material, a layer that includes an image for display, and a tie layer that bonds the magnetic material to the image. Each frame includes a plurality of linear frame elements that can be releasably attached to a ferromagnetic surface, such as a refrigerator door.
U.S. patent application Pub. Ser. No. 2003/0084600 discloses a method and print media that is used to generate customized picture frames for the framing of photographs and other visual formats. The print media is layered with standard card stock or multiple ply material, such a flexible magnetic carrier. The print media includes a backing layer that is removably attached to the print media with pressure sensitive adhesive.
Photographic film is often processed to produce photographs for framing. Generally, the original exposure is not composed of an entirely satisfactory image. Thus, it is necessary to crop or mask around the desired portions of the image in order to produce a properly composed printed photograph. Such cropping may be accomplished through the use of cropping frames or masks.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,132,480 discloses a photographic cropping mask. The mask includes a planar card that is made from paper, plastic, or cardboard. The card includes a plurality of score lines that can be severed to form neatly defined rectilinear or other shaped openings. The card also includes an adhesive area to facilitate attachment of transparent film.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,534,961 discloses a printing mask. The mask includes a plurality of score lines that form removable sections. The mask is placed over a picture negative so that a suitable portion of the picture can be selected for cropping. The mask sections are attached to the negative with adhesive tape.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,295,674, 1,862,897, and 1,805,436 disclose cropping frames. U.S. Pat. No. 3,295,674 discloses a cropping frame that can be readily adapted to accommodate different sizes of pictures. U.S. Pat. No. 1,863,897 also discloses a method for making cropping frames. U.S. Pat. No. 1,805,436 discloses a cropping frame that is made from thermoplastic board.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,971 discloses a masking guide that includes a plurality of pivotally connected frames. Each frame includes four side portions that define proportionally decreasing rectilinear aperture areas. Each frame is pivotally connected to an adjacent frame for movement relative to the remaining masking frames to position a selected frame overlying a photographic proof, so that the aperture area defines an unmasked area of the photographic proof.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,261,133 discloses a mount for a picture frame. The mount includes a plurality of incisions that define individual concentric frames that can be removed from the mount. The frames are rectangular or oval-shaped with openings that are suitable for displaying images therein. The frames are used to display photographs or pictures. The innermost frames can be removed from the mount to increase the size of the opening to permit the display of larger photographs or pictures. Accordingly, while it is known to make nested frames, there is need for an improved cropping frame storage device.


In order to reduce interference between cells through hopping and use frequencies in a good propagation situation, a scheduler section carries out scheduling for determining to which user data should be sent using CQI from each communication terminal apparatus, selects a user signal to be sent in the next frame and determines in which subcarrier block the data should be sent. An MCS decision section selects a modulation scheme and coding method from the CQI of the selected user signal. A subcarrier block selection section selects a subcarrier block instructed by the scheduler section 102 for each user signal. For the respective subcarrier blocks, FH sequence selection sections select hopping patterns. A subcarrier mapping section maps the user signal and control data to subcarriers according to the selected hopping pattern.

OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) is attracting attention as a high-speed transmission technology resistant to multipath interference, FH-OFDM (Frequency hopping-OFDM) is a scheme whereby OFDM subcarriers that are used hop around, over time, and is used in, for example, IEEE802.16, as an access scheme that is capable of achieving frequency diversity effect(see, for example, "IEEE Standard 802.16: A technical overview of the Wireless MAN Air Interface for broadband wireless access", pp. 98-107, IEEE Communication Magazine, June, 2002).
Furthermore, FH-OFDM also has an effect of averaging interference between cells in a cellular environment and is drawing attention as a future high-speed radio transmission technology. Furthermore, the 3GPP is also studying the introduction of FH-OFDM.
In FH-OFDM, base station apparatuses carry out transmission according to their respective FH patterns. An FH pattern is a pattern related to time transition and an operating frequency (subcarrier) and each base station apparatus is assigned a unique FH pattern. The frequency of FH (frequency hopping) may be once every symbol or every slot (or frame). Here, suppose FH for every symbol. Because a frequency is used over a wide range, effects of FH include a frequency diversity effect and a temporal averaging effect against interference between cells.
As a method for implementing FH, for example, a method of using frequency interleave and a method of using a pattern generated by a random sequence such as a PN sequence may be available. For simplicity, the latter will be explained here.
Furthermore, for the purpose of channel allocation per cell, there is a proposal to divide a band into sub channels and carry out DCA (Dynamic Channel Allocation) in subchannel units (e.g., see "Dynamic channel allocation schemes in mobile radio systems with frequency hopping", Verdone, R.; Zanella, A.; Zuliani, L., pp. E-157 E-162, vol. 2, Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications, 2001 12th IEEE International Symposium on, September/October 2001).
A conventional base station apparatus and mobile station apparatus will be explained below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional base station apparatus.
In FIG. 1, a scheduler section 11 carries out scheduling using CQI (Channel Quality indicator) from each mobile station apparatus to determine to which user data should be sent. There are various scheduling algorithms such as an MaxC/I method and Round Robin method. Furthermore, a coding method (coding rate) and modulation scheme to be used are determined based on this CQI. A coding section 12 carries out coding such as turbo coding on user data. Furthermore, the coding section 12 also carries out processing like interleaving as required.
A transmission HARQ section 13 carries out processing necessary for HARQ. Details will be explained using FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a transmission HARQ section of the conventional base station apparatus. As shown in FIG. 2, the transmission HARQ section 13 is constructed of a buffer 21 and a rate matching section 22. The buffer 21 stores a bit string of transmission data. The rate matching section 22 carries out rate matching determined by an RM parameter on the bit string of the transmission data and inputs punctured or repeated transmission data to a modulation section 14. The RM parameter may vary depending on a transmission count.
The modulation section 14 modulates the transmission data according to QPSK or QAM. A control data processing section 15 is constructed of a coding section 16 and a modulation section 17. The coding section 16 carries out coding on control data. The modulation section 17 modulates the control data. A multiplexing section 18 multiplexes (here, time multiplexing) the transmission data subjected to processing by the modulation section 14 with the control signal which has been likewise subjected to processing of coding and modulation.
Next, a subcarrier mapping section 19 assigns the transmission data and control signal to subcarriers according to a predetermined RI pattern.
Likewise, the subcarrier mapping section 19 also maps pilot signals in such a way as to be distributed over the entire frequency band. Then, the subcarrier mapping section 19 outputs a transmission signal to which the transmission data, control signal and pilot signals are mapped to an S/P conversion section 20.
The S/P conversion section 20 converts the transmission signal from serial data to parallel data and outputs the parallel data to an IFFT section 21.
The IFFT section 21 carries out an IFFT (inverse fast Fourier transform) on the transmission signal which has been converted to the parallel data. A GI insertion section 22 inserts a GI (Guard Interval) into a transmission signal to enhance multipath resistance. A radio processing section 23 transmits the transmission signal after radio transmission processing.
The state of subcarriers used at this time is as shown in FIG. 3, for example. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of signals of the conventional base station apparatus. In FIG. 3, the vertical axis shows time and the horizontal axis shows subcarrier frequencies. As shown in FIG. 3, subcarriers carrying pilot signals and data signals vary every time unit.
In this way, a mobile station apparatus receives signals carried by time-varying subcarriers on which transmission signals are arranged. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional mobile station apparatus.
In FIG. 4, a radio processing section 51 carries out radio reception processing such as down-conversion on a received signal and obtains a baseband signal. A GI elimination section 52 eliminates the inserted GI. An FFT section 53 carries out FFT processing and thereby extracts the signals of the respective subcarriers. A subcarrier demapping section 54 demaps this received signal according to an FH pattern and extracts the signal assigned to the own station.
Next, a channel separation section 55 separates the received signal into a user signal, control signal and pilot. A demodulation section 56 demodulates the control signal and a decoding section 57 carries out decoding processing on the control signal subjected to the demodulation processing.
A demodulation section 58 demodulates the user signal. A reception HARQ section 59 saves a predetermined number of bits (here, soft decision bits) after the demodulation of the user signal. In the case of retransmission, the bits are combined with the reception hits previously stored. A decoding section 60 carries out decoding on turbo codes, etc., using the bit string to obtain user data. Here, though not shown, a channel estimation value calculated using pilot signals is used during demodulation processing. An ACK/NACK generation section 61 decides based on a CRC result of the decoded received data whether the received data includes errors or not and transmits an ACK signal or NACK signal over an uplink.
Furthermore, a CIR measuring section 62 calculates an average reception SIR of all subcarriers using pilot signals. A CQI generation section 63 generates CQI from the average reception SIR. A transmission section 64 transmits the CQI and ACK/NACK signal over the uplink.
However, while the conventional apparatus can achieve a frequency diversity effect by expanding a band used through frequency hopping, there is a problem that it cannot obtain effects of frequency scheduling whereby transmission is performed using frequencies in a good propagation path situation. Furthermore, since the frequency hopping range of the conventional apparatus extends over a wide band, an amount of control information becomes enormous when hopping patterns are assigned to the respective users as channel resources.
Furthermore, according to conventional frequency scheduling whereby packets are transmitted using frequencies of good reception quality, when a base station apparatus in an adjacent cell also assigns the same frequency to other mobile station apparatuses, it may not be possible to receive packets due to interference.

Terminal apparatus and communication method for receiving control data and user data

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA


A self-adjusting clock generator is disclosed. The self-adjusting clock generator comprises a voltage control oscillator for generating a frequency output, a frequency to voltage converter for converting the frequency output into a voltage output, and a comparator for comparing the voltage output with a reference voltage in order to produce a comparison voltage. The produced comparison voltage is provided as feedback to the voltage control oscillator such that the frequency output generated by the voltage control oscillator is adjusted, based on the comparison voltage, to converge into a stable frequency output.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to integrated circuits, and more particularly, to clock generator circuitry that is capable of generating a stable frequency output under various conditions and a method for producing the stable frequency output.
2. Description of the Related Art
An accurate clock generator is an essential component of an integrated circuit. Although varieties of clock generators are available, such as RC-OSC or Ring-OSC, these clock generators suffer from high frequency drifts when the temperature, the supply voltage, and the production process vary.
To overcome the clock frequency drift problem, external crystals or oscillators have to be used as clock generators in order to supply stable clock frequencies to semiconductor chips. However, external clock generators not only occupy more circuit layout space, but also increase chip production cost.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a new clock generator that is capable of generating a stable frequency output under various conditions and is compatible with standard CMOS production process.

Self-adjusting clock generator with stable frequency output


A non-lasing superluminescent light emitting diode (SLED) comprises a semiconductor heterostructure forming a PN junction and a waveguide defining an optical beam path. The heterostructure includes a gain region and an absorber region in series with the gain region in the optical beam path. A voltage is applied to the PN junction in the gain region by first contact means, so that light emission from the active region and along the optical beam path is produced. According to the invention, second contact means are provided, contacting the PN junction in the absorber region and operable to remove charge carriers generated by absorption in the absorber region. The second contact means are not connected to a voltage source, but to a charge carrier reservoir such as a metal surface. According to a preferred embodiment, the two end facets of the waveguide are perpendicular to the optical beam path.

Superluminescent light emitting diodes (SLEDs) are diodes that, when biased in the forward direction, become optically active and generate amplified spontaneous emission over a wide range of wavelengths. In contrast to laser diodes, there is not sufficient feedback to achieve lasing action ("lasing" here is used to describe the function principle of a laser, i.e. to generate, by a feedback, stimulated emission in a gain medium pumped to provide population inversion and placed in a cavity providing the feedback, resulting in coherent radiation). This is usually achieved by the joint action of a tilted waveguide in which the generated radiation is guided and anti-reflection coated end facets. A tilted waveguide in this context is a waveguide which is not perpendicular to a plane defined by end facets of the device.
SLEDs (sometimes also called Superluminescent diodes, SLDs) are attractive for applications in which a higher intensity than the one emitted by conventional LEDs is required, but where an even distribution of the emitted wavelength over a broad spectral range is desired. In a SLED for delivering a large incoherent light output from the first end facet, it is thus important to suppress laser oscillation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,839 discloses a way to, in addition to non-perpendicular end facets and AR coatings, further reduce feedback generation and thus the tendency of the device to lase. This is done by providing two regions in a waveguide structure with a PN-junction, the first region being forward biased to serve as gain region, and the second region being reverse biased to serve as optical absorber region by Stark absorption or Franz-Keldysch effect. In this way, power loss in the cavity is further enhanced, feedback further reduced, and a brighter non-lasing light source becomes possible, at the cost of a more complicated set-up.
Modern SLEDs include devices with conventional bulk structures as well as devices with structures composed of a plurality of very thin layers (so-called quantum well structures) deposed on a single crystal substrate. Mass production of such bulk semiconductors and quantum well structures is well developed and would allow the production of SLEDs rationally and economically. However, the tilted waveguide or other means of achieving non-perpendicular end facets make it difficult to package SLED devices by standard production methods.


A centralized controller provides dynamic end-to-end network path setup across multiple network layers. In particular, the centralized controller manages end-to-end network path setup that provisions a path at both the transport network layer (e.g., optical) and the service network layer (e.g., IP/MPLS). The centralized controller performs path computation for an optical path at the transport network layer and for a path at the service network layer that transports network traffic on the underlying optical transport path, based on information obtained by the centralized controller from the underlying network components at both layers.

A computer network is composed of a set of nodes and a set of links that connect one node to another. For instance, a computer network may be composed of a set of routers while the set of links may be cables between the routers. When a first node in the network sends a message to a second node in the network, the message may pass through many links and many nodes. The set of links and nodes that the message passes through while traveling from the first node to the second node is referred to as a path through the network.
Networks contain physical transport elements that are managed and arranged as needed to provide paths for transporting network data. For example, a network may utilize various optical switching components so as to provide an underlying, optical network for transporting network traffic. Once configured, various higher-level network services are transported over the optical paths, such as Internet Protocol (IP), Virtual Private Network (VPN), pseudowires, and others.
As one example, many networks use label switching protocols for traffic engineering the network services provided via the underlying transport elements. In a label switching network, label switching routers (LSRs) use Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) signaling protocols to establish label switched paths (LSPs), which refer to defined packet flows carried on the underlying physical network elements and the physical paths provided by those elements. The LSRs receive MPLS label mappings from downstream LSRs and advertise MPLS label mappings to upstream LSRs. When an LSR receives traffic in the form of an MPLS packet from an upstream router, it switches the MPLS label according to the information in its forwarding table and forwards the MPLS packet to the appropriate downstream LSR.
Today, the management and arrangement of the physical transport paths (e.g., the optical paths) of a computer network and the traffic engineered flows (e.g., MPLS paths) of the network traffic traversing those physical paths are typically set up and controlled by different network administrative entities using different administrative systems. As a result, in order to set up an MPLS path or other traffic-engineering flow through a network, the IP/MPLS network administrative entity may first need to request the optical transport network administrative entity to provide and allocate network resources for an underlying optical path, which may involve some delay and require additional coordination and resources.

Dynamic end-to-end network path setup across multiple network layers


Provided are methods, systems, and computer-program products for recovering from intersections during a simulation of an animated scene when a collision detection operation is active. For example, the collision detection operation can be selectively activated and deactivated during the simulation of one or more objects for a time step based on an intersection analysis, which can identify intersections of the one or more objects for the time step. Once the collision detection operation is deactivated, a collision response can apply one or more forces to intersecting portions of the one or more objects to eliminate the intersections of the one or more objects. For example, a portion of a cloth that is in a state of intersection can be configured such that the collision detection operation is not performed on the portion, thereby allowing the cloth to be removed from inside of another object by a collision response algorithm.

Computer simulations (sometimes referred to as simulations) reproduce the behavior of a system using mathematical models. For example, a simulation may use a computer program, which relies on one or more mathematical models, to analyze a system at a time step to determine how the system should look at the time step. In some cases, the simulation may be used to generate (sometimes referred to as render) an image.
The simulation can include position information that is identified for one or more objects at the time step. The position information can be based on defined position information (e.g., that is set by an animator) and/or forces (e.g., identified by one or more mathematical models) associated with the simulation. In some examples, the position information can indicate that objects are going to collide and/or intersect such that a result of the simulation would appear unrealistic.
While there has been scholarship regarding how to accurately and efficiently prevent and/or fix intersections, many solutions require particular assumptions to hold true, such as never allowing intersections to occur. Unfortunately, such assumptions cannot always hold true in practice. Therefore, there is a need in the art for improved techniques for handling intersections.

Techniques for recovering from intersections


An integrated circuit comprises a pin coupled to receive signals from outside the integrated circuit and an input network. The input network equalizes incoming signals by attenuating lower frequency input signals more than higher frequency input signals received at the pin. The input network is configured to generate a DC bias voltage at an output of the input network in response to an AC coupled input signal or a DC coupled input signal received at the pin with a wide common-mode range.

The present invention relates to electronic circuits, and more particularly, to an input network with equalization and a wide common-mode range.
Signals transmitted through a transmission system with termination at the receiving end can be either AC (alternating current) coupled or DC (direct current) coupled. AC coupling is typically used when the common-mode voltage or power supply voltage of the transmitter is different from that of the receiver. DC coupling is typically used when the common-mode voltage or power supply voltage of the transmitter and the receiver are close to one another.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art transmission system that is typically used in a DC coupling environment. The transmission system has a transmitter, transmission lines, and a receiver. The transmitter includes NPN bipolar junction transistors 101-102, load resistors 103-104, and current source 105. The transmitter is coupled to receive a supply voltage VCC_TX. The transmitter is configured to receive a differential input signal at inputs IN+ and IN− and to transmit a differential output signal through two transmission lines to the inputs of input buffer 110 in the receiver. The two transmission lines each have a characteristic impedance of Z0.
Input buffer 110 is coupled to receive a second supply voltage VCC_RX. Two termination resistors 111-112 are coupled to the two input terminals of input buffer 110. Resistors 111-112 are also coupled to receive an exposed termination voltage VTERM. VTERM is applied through a pin 115 to resistors 111-112. Without VTERM, the receiver has a limited common-mode voltage range when the difference between supply voltages VCC_TX and VCC_RX is significant. Voltage VTERM is used to extend the common-mode voltage range in the receiver. However, VTERM requires an additional power supply voltage and an additional pin, which are undesirable requirements in many applications.

All-pass termination network with equalization and wide common-mode range