The invention is a pot holder that will insulate the hand from heat, have adequate friction for holding, and be readily available and usable with one hand. The holder or handgrip of the invention comprises an elastomer sheet such as silicone rubber with a small permanent magnet affixed adjacent one edge. The magnet has sufficient attractive force to support the holder in place against a ferromagnetic surface such as the vertical side of a refrigerator or microwave oven, for example. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a small piece of ferromagnetic material may be affixed to an opposite edge of the sheet to removably attach to the magnet on the opposite edge to thereby form the sheet into a tube that may be used to removably attach to a handle. The sheet may have one or both broad surfaces provided with a texture to enhance friction to provide a non-slip surface. The sheet has sufficient insulating properties to protect a hand from a hot handle. It has sufficient surface friction properties to provide a good grip on a pot or jar.

Pot holders of laminated fabric are well known for grasping hot handles such as those on cast iron skillets and metal pots. They are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,372 issued Sep. 5, 2000 to Zhou et al. Holmes in U.S. Patent application 2005/0177983 of Aug. 18, 2005 teaches a surface treated elastomeric sheet laminated to a fabric with opposing edges that removably fasten together with hook and loop fasteners to form a tubular handgrip. Silicone rubber gloves are well known for protecting hands from hot pans. These items must be stored somewhere when not in use. Cooks often grasp a towel for use because it is more convenient that finding a suitable pot holder, or putting on a glove.


The present invention discloses a level shift circuit which comprises: a basic level shift circuit for receiving inputs of first high and low operational voltage levels and generating outputs of second low and high operational voltage levels at a first node; and an output circuit for outputting a signal of one of the second operational voltage levels according to a voltage level switching at the first node.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a level shift circuit, and in particular to a level shift circuit with faster output level switching, and a method for the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A power control circuit chip often requires a level shift circuit to convert one DC voltage level to another. The conversion may increase the voltage difference between the high and low levels, decrease the voltage difference between the high and low levels, or shift the high and low levels to different voltages without changing the voltage difference between them. FIGS. 1-3 respectively show three examples:
The circuit of FIG. 1 converts VS1/0V (high/low level of an input signal) to VS2/0V (high/low level of an output signal), and usually VS2>VS1. VS1 and VS2 for example may be 1.5V and 3.3V, respectively. Sometimes the circuit is also used in the case where VS2<VS1. The low level of the input signal and that of the output signal are the same in this circuit.
The circuit of FIG. 2 converts VS1/0V (high/low level of an input signal) to VS1/VG2 (high/low level of an output signal), wherein 0V>VG2, VG2 being −3.3V, for example. The high level of the input signal and that of the output signal are the same in this circuit.
The circuit of FIG. 3 converts VS1/0V (high/low level of an input signal) to VS2/VG2 (high/low level of an output signal), wherein VS2>VS1, and VS2>VG2. This circuit shifts both the high and low levels, and it can increase or decrease the voltage difference between the high and low levels. VS1, VS2 and VG2 are, e.g., 1.5V, 3.3V and 1.8V, respectively. The high and low levels of the output signal are both different from that of the input signal in this circuit.
All the above-mentioned prior art circuits have a common drawback: their output level switching speed is slow. Taking the circuit of FIG. 1 for example and referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in order to ensure that the driving strength of the NMOS transistors M3 and M4 is larger than the driving strength of the corresponding PMOS transistors M1 and M2, in particular when the NMOS transistors M3 and M4 are in their worse case and the PMOS transistors M1 and M2 in their best case, the width of the NMOS transistors M3 and M4 is typically enlarged to increase their driving strength. However, this makes the driving strength of the PMOS transistor M1 weaker than that of the NMOS transistors M3, and the driving strength of the PMOS transistor M2 weaker than that of the NMOS transistors M4, resulting in the waveforms as shown in FIG. 5, wherein the time required for the output signal of the level shift circuit to switch from low to high is much slower than the time required to switch from high to low, as referring to the time points T1, T2, T3, and T4.
In the circuit of FIG. 2, the input signal IN controls the gates of the upper transistors M1 and M2, and likely, the width of the transistors M1 and M2 will also be enlarged to increase their driving strength. As a result, in this level shift circuit, the time required for the output signal to switch from high to low is much slower than the time required to switch from low to high.
In view of the foregoing drawback, the present invention proposes a level shift circuit, which is capable of speeding up the switching time of the output signal.

Level shift circuit and method for the same


A magnetic positioner is provided which is capable of providing long travel in two dimension and short travel in the remaining four dimensions. The positioner has a movable stage and a stator oriented adjacent and substantially parallel to this stage. At least three sets of first magnetic elements, which for preferred embodiments are winding sets capable of generating forces in two directions, are on the portion of the stator adjacent to the stage at any given time, and at least two second magnetic elements, which are magnet arrays for the preferred embodiment, are on the stage adjacent to the stator. At least one of the second magnetic elements overlaps multiple first magnetic elements for all positions of the stage relative to the stator, with one magnet overlapping multiple windings for one preferred embodiment of the invention and two magnets on the stage overlapping multiple windings on the stator for a second embodiment. The windings form a linear motor providing forces in both a corresponding long travel dimension and in a dimension perpendicular to both long travel dimensions.

Positioning mechanisms find wide application in industry, research, and military environments. For low-tolerance application in friendly environments, simple two-stage devices having mechanical bearings are frequently adequate. However, for high-precision applications, such as the increasingly fine positioning required in lithography systems used in applications such as semiconductor manufacture, mechanical systems frequently have neither the accuracy, speed, nor reliability required. Further, since such applications are frequently carried out in "clean-room" environments where space is at a premium, and sometimes in low-pressure environments where air-bearings cannot be utilized, magnetic actuators and bearings having as small a footprint as possible are becoming increasingly important options. Magnetic actuators are also advantageous in that they are frictionless, thereby allowing more accurate operation, not generating particles which may result from mechanical bearings and operating at higher speed. Further, magnetic bearings are capable of each providing multiple degrees of freedom, thereby permitting an actuator to provide multiple degrees of freedom with a lesser number of bearings/actuators than would be required with comparable mechanical structures. An example of such a magnetic positioner is shown in "Design and Analysis Framework For Linear Permanent-Magnet Machines," David L. Trumper, Won-Jong, Kim and Mark E. Williams, I.E.E.E. Transactions on Industry Applications, 1232 Vol. 32 No. 2, March-April, 1996, pp. 371-79. Other such magnetic positioner systems are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,621 issued Dec. 23, 1997 entitled POSITIONER WITH LONG TRAVEL IN TWO DIMENSIONS, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,618 issued May 20, 1997 entitled MAGNETIC ARRAYS, both of which are assigned to the Assignee of the current application.
While such systems function well in most applications, there are applications, such as those in a clean-room environment or where the positioner is being used in a satellite or space station, where a need exists to keep size to a minimum and to make the system as power-efficient as possible. A need therefore, exists for an improved magnetic positioner which is more compact and more power-efficient than such prior systems, while still providing long travel for a single moving platform or stage in two dimensions and short travel or position control for the stage in the remaining four dimensions.

Magnetic positioner having a single moving part


A diagnostic tool has a packet based network medium attachment unit, a measurement interface, a network interface, and a microprocessor for reading DLPDUs from a network segment and for taking simultaneous measurements of DLPDUs on the segment. The measurement data is associated with a stored DLPDU if the DLPDU is still active on the network segment when the measurement data is read by the microprocessor. The diagnostic tool utilizes a currently active attribute to determine the status of a DLPDU.

The present invention generally relates to a diagnostic device for use with process control systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to hand-held diagnostic devices for interfacing with a packet based network (such as Fieldbus) in a process control system and for interacting with the communications of the field devices linked to the network in order to associate communication packets with specific field devices for the purpose of diagnosing problems on the network.
In industrial settings, control systems monitor and control inventories, industrial and chemical processes, and the like. Typically, the control systems perform these functions using field devices distributed at key locations in the industrial process and coupled to the control circuitry in the control room by a process control loop. The term "field device" refers to any device that performs a function in a distributed control system, including all devices currently known in the control art.
Generally, each field device includes a transducer or actuator. A transducer (including actuators) is understood to mean either a device that generates an output signal based on a physical input or that generates a physical output based on an input signal. Typically, a transducer transforms an input into an output having a different form. Often, one system provides power to actuate a transducer, which in turn supplies power usually in another form to a second system. For example, a loudspeaker is a transducer that transforms electrical signals into sound energy. Types of transducers typically include various analytical equipment and sensors, pressure sensors, thermistors, thermocouples, strain gauges, flow transmitters, positioners, actuators, solenoids, indicator lights, and the like.
A communication network links the controllers with the sensors and actuators located in the field. One such communications network is a packet based network such as Fieldbus. Fieldbus is a generic term used to describe a digital, bidirectional, multidrop, serial communication network for connecting isolated field devices, such as controllers, actuators and sensors, in industrial applications. The Instrument Society of America (ISA) adopted a standard for Fieldbus communications, which is identified as ISA SP50.02. The ISA standard Fieldbus system utilizes a two wire bus to provide simultaneous digital communication and DC power to remotely located field devices.
In general, the Fieldbus communication protocol is a known open communication protocol that is employed in many process control networks. Generally, Fieldbus provides synchronous (i.e., scheduled) communications and asynchronous (e.g. token ring) communications on a network bus. The scheduled/synchronous communications are used for signals relating to actual process control activities, while the asynchronous communications are used to convey secondary information (such as communications to and from a user or for measurements not directly related to process control).
Field devices derive power from the two-wire bus, and transmit data to and receive messages from a central controller, which is separated physically from the field devices. When problems arise in communicating with a particular field device or if data received from the field device is anomalous, it is sometimes necessary to diagnose the problem manually.
Some attempts have been made to incorporate diagnostic circuit elements within individual field devices to allow the field devices to diagnose themselves. However, such additional circuitry increases the cost of the individual field device. Additionally, when transmission errors arise, such internal circuitry may be insufficient to properly identify the problem, sending messages indicating the field device is okay when in fact there is a problem. Moreover, such extra circuitry places a power drain on the Fieldbus power supply that most of the time is unnecessary, resulting in wasteful power dissipation.
It is also possible to connect a device, such as a Fieldbus Monitor FBT-3 produced by RELCOM, Inc. of Forest Grove, Oreg., to examine a "live" Fieldbus network without interfering with its operation. Such a device is intended to verify and to troubleshoot network operation, but, by itself, it cannot communicate on the Fieldbus segment.
As previously mentioned, Fieldbus is a type of serial communication network for connecting isolated field devices, such as controllers, actuators and sensors or transmitters, in industrial applications. Typically, the network involves homerun cabling connecting a control center with various field devices, either directly or via junction boxes, which connect one or more serial devices to the network. Generally, a fieldbus capable field device includes a fieldbus interface chip and a sensor, transducer, actuator or other similar circuit element for functioning on the network.
Since the precise requirements of each field device vary, it is not always possible to provide a direct interface from the Fieldbus Interface Chip to the measurement circuit of the field device. Moreover, on a "live" Fieldbus network, multiple data-link-protocol-data-units (DLPDUs) may be traversing the communication path in quick succession. This requires that the diagnostic circuit be capable of correctly associating a DLPDU with its source.
With current diagnostic devices and methods, troubleshooting communication problems and configuration errors associated with the field devices on the protocol bus is difficult. As a result, users at the system level cannot easily identify the source of problems and are typically only informed by the system that the overall process is not operating properly. When such an alert arises, it is difficult to identify and fix the errant field device.

System and method for associating a DLPDU received by an interface chip with a data measurement made by an external circuit


Disclosed herein is a process for producing a color filter, which comprises the steps of:. providing a glass base equipped with black matrices; PA1 etching the glass base using the black matrices as a mask to form pixel holes in the base; and then PA1 applying inks into the pixel holes to form colored pixels of different colors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a production process of a color filter suitable for use in color liquid crystal display panels and the like, a color filter obtained by the production process and a liquid crystal display panel equipped with this color filter.
2. Related Background Art
Color filters of the dyeing type that a mordanting layer composed of a hydrophilic polymeric substance is provided and then colored in a dyeing bath to form color filter patterns have heretofore been most common. However, it has been pointed out that the production process of a color filter using this dyeing process involves the following problems.
The production process of a color filter using the dyeing process has a merit that many available dyes exist. On the other hand, as a process for dyeing a mordanting layer, it adopts a wet process difficult to control in that the mordanting layer is immersed in a dyeing bath in which a dye has been dissolved. Upon the dyeing, it requires a complicated step such as the provision of an intermediate layer for preventing color mixing every time the dyeing is performed with individual colors of red (R), green (G) and blue (B). It is hence difficult to enhance a yield. As a result, increase in production cost is unavoidable.
In order to omit such a complicated step, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 59-75205 and 63-235901, etc. have proposed a process for producing a color filter using an ink-jet system.
When a color filter is produced by an ink-jet system, the formation of the individual colored patterns of R, G and B can be performed at once. Therefore, it is an important problem to prevent color mixing between adjacent colored patterns of different colors. However, this problem cannot be satisfactorily solved by the techniques described in the above publications.

Production process of color filter for LCD employing black matrix as mask for etching


A computing system can include a radio transceiver and tracking manager software for tracking the location of objects such as tools. Radio frequency identification tags are attached to the objects and can communicate with the radio transceiver. During an initial registration process, the tracking manager software sends an initial registration signal to each object so that the object can be identified in a registered objects file. In one instance, the tracking manager software subsequently sends periodic interrogation signals to the objects to confirm that the objects are within a certain proximity. In another instance, after completing a task a worker can check-in each object wherein the tracking manager software sends interrogation signals to the objects to confirm that all of the objects are accounted for.

Oil and gas extraction often involves workers performing work at substantial heights. As one example, oil and gas extraction typically requires rigs that support drilling and extraction equipment. The rigs are used for both on-shore and off-shore drilling and can range from 30 to 80 feet tall as measured from the base of the rig. The rigs can include many parts that require maintenance, repair and replacement, which is handled by workers who must ascend the rigs. The workers often bring tools or other equipment up into the rigs to perform tasks and one common risk involves workers forgetting the tools or other equipment up in the rig. An unsecured tool or piece of equipment left at a height in a rig poses a danger in that if the unsecured tool or piece of equipment falls from a substantial height it can injure people located below. Dropped objects striking workers is one of the more common types of injuries encountered on the oil and gas rigs. Similar risks can exist at other sites such as refineries where workers often perform work on structures at significant heights.
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration ("OSHA") of the U.S. Department of Labor sets certain safety standards to try to prevent the risks associated with dropped objects in work environments. For example, OSHA standard 1926.759 sets guidelines for protection from falling objects. To comply with safety guidelines and address the risk posed by falling objects in the oil and gas industry, various approaches to improving safety have been attempted. For example, prior approaches have used tethers attached to tools and holsters for securing tools. However, these prior approaches can be subject to human error, such as when workers are fatigued or distracted.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a system that assists the worker in keeping track of tools and other equipment that are used in performing work at significant heights. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to have a system that prevents tools and other equipment from being forgotten on tall structures where they can pose a danger.


A microelectronic device may include a substrate, a plurality of components on the substrate, an insulating layer adjacent the substrate, and a plurality of metallic interconnection levels within the insulating layer and for the plurality of components. The plurality of metallic interconnection levels may include at least one given metallic level including a plurality of conductive lines of a first metallic material, and at least one other metallic level adjacent the at least one given metallic level. The at least one other metallic level may include at least one conductive zone of the first metallic material and coupled to at least one of the plurality of conductive lines of the at least one given metallic level, and at least one other conductive zone of a second metallic material and coupled to at least one other of the plurality of conductive lines of the at least one given metallic level.

The new generations of integrated circuits have several levels of copper based interconnections made using Damascene technology. Complementary Metal Oxide Semi-conductor (CMOS) image sensor type integrated circuits generally include, in addition to the various copper based interconnection levels, a last aluminum based metal level, that may be dedicated to the assembly, for example, by welding, of the integrated circuit with a circuit package, and/or to the testing of the integrated circuit.
In FIG. 1, an example of an image sensor device of the prior art is shown. This device has 4 levels of interconnections, L1, L2, L3, L4, of which 3 levels, L1, L2, L3, are formed by copper based interconnections. A last level, L4, is aluminum based. The first level features interconnection lines 10a positioned opposite the active matrix pixels (shown by a block reference 50) of the sensor, interconnection lines 10b positioned opposite one or several processing and/or command analog and/or digital circuits (shown by a block reference 52), and interconnection lines 10c opposite an interface circuit (shown by a block reference 54).
The second level L2 features interconnection lines 20a positioned opposite the pixels, as well as interconnection lines 20b positioned opposite the circuits 52. Interconnection lines 20c are positioned opposite the circuit 54 dedicated to testing. The third level L3 features interconnection lines 30a positioned opposite the active matrix pixels 50, interconnection lines 30b positioned opposite the several circuits 52, and interconnection lines 30c opposite a circuit equipped with dedicated components, for example, for testing the sensor.
The last level L4 of interconnections includes aluminum based pads 40 created on the periphery of the sensor, and positioned opposite the electrical interface circuit 54. This last level L4 poses a problem, as shown in FIG. 1, in that the dielectric layer and the passivated layer 62 covering the four metallic levels, L1, L2, L3, L4, are not flat. This lack of flatness may lead to non-uniformity in the thickness of the color filter 64, made, for example, by spin coating a colored resin onto the passivated layer 62. Filters of different thicknesses induce a non-uniform optical response from the sensor.
To overcome this problem, a method may be used which deposits an additional dielectric thickness followed by CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing). However, the additional dielectric thickness increases the distance between the micro-lenses 66 on the color filter and the photodiodes of the active matrix 50, which causes a drop in the optical performances of the device, especially in terms of quantum efficiency, crosstalk, and angular response.

Imaging device equipped with a last copper and aluminum based interconnection level


A wheelchair adapted for use both on smooth surfaces and uneven or rough ground wherein a cleated belt is trained around a plurality of wheels on both sides of the chair and is driven by a spring-loaded handgrip engaging therewith. Means are provided for tensioning the belt and for locking the hand grip in engagement with such belt.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wheelchairs and more particularly pertains to such chairs which may be used over varied terrain.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of track-driven wheelchairs is known in the prior art. More specifically, such chairs heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of negotiating rough terrain are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Specifically, such a chair is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,818 to Stuart G. Oxford. Motive power is provided by a pump-type action of a rachet arm. The usual wheelchair user is accustomed to a forward and back hand motion, gripping the wheel to provide motive power. Other more conventional wheelchairs are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,805,712; 4,666,170; and 4,825,971.
In this respect, the wheelchair according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of all terrain use operable much in the accustomed manner of a conventional wheelchair.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and improved wheelchair which can be operated over rough terrain. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal display panel having a plurality of data lines and a plurality of gate lines crossing each other; a data drive circuit which supplies data voltages to the data lines; a gate drive circuit which supplies scan pulses to the gate lines; and first dummy pads on a substrate of the liquid crystal display panel at both sides of the data drive circuit, and wherein the data drive circuit is joined onto the substrate with a first anisotropic conductive film and both sides of the first anisotropic conductive film are joined to the first dummy pads.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly to a chip-on-glass type liquid crystal display device and the fabricating method thereof that is adaptive for preventing a joint defect of an anisotropic conductive film.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display device controls the light transmittance of a liquid crystal in use of an electric field, thereby displaying a picture. To this end, the liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel where liquid crystal cells are arranged in a matrix pattern; and a drive circuit for driving the liquid crystal display panel.
In the liquid crystal display panel, gate lines and data lines are arranged to cross each other, and liquid crystal cells are located in areas provided by the crossing of the gate lines and the data lines.
The drive circuit includes a gate driver for driving the gate lines and a data driver for driving the data lines.
Each of the gate driver and the data driver includes a plurality of drive integrated circuits (hereinafter, referred to as "IC"). Each of the data drive IC and the gate drive IC is mounted on the liquid crystal display panel by a chip-on-glass (hereinafter, referred to as "COG") method in a small and medium size liquid crystal display device, as in FIG. 1.
The COG process is explained centering on the data drive IC as follows.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a lower glass substrate 9 includes a data line 4; a data link 3 connected to the data line 4; a data pad 2 formed at an end of the data link 3; an FPC connection line 6; and first and second FPC connection pads 5, 7 formed at both ends of the FPC connection line 6. The lower glass substrate 9 is bonded with an upper glass substrate 8, in which a color filter and a black matrix are formed, in use of a sealant.
The COG process includes a process of temporarily pressing an anisotropic conductive film (hereinafter, referred to as "ACF") 1 onto the lower glass substrate 9, as in FIG. 1; and a process of permanently pressing the data drive IC onto the ACF 1 in use of a heat pressure process, as in FIG. 2.
The temporary pressure process joins the ACF 1 to a non-display surface 10 the edge of the lower glass substrate 9 so as to sufficiently cover the data pads 2, parts of the gate links 3, the first FPC connection pads 5 and parts of the FPC connection lines 6, which are disposed in the non-display surface 10 of the edge of the lower glass substrate 9 that are not overlapped with the upper glass substrate 8, and then temporarily pressing thereonto, as in FIG. 1. The ACF 1 is covered by a protection sheet 1a.
The permanent pressure process peels off the protection sheet 1a from the ACF 1 after cutting the ACF 1 covered by the protection sheet 1a, as in FIG. 1, and then aligns output bumps of the data drive IC 11 to the data pads 2 and aligns input bumps of the data drive IC 11 to the first FPC connection pads 5 as in FIG. 2. And, the permanent pressure process applies heat to the ACF 1 by a heat pressure process using a bonding head and simultaneously press the data drive IC 11 onto the lower glass substrate 9, thereby completely bonding the data drive IC 11 onto the lower glass substrate 9.
And, the ACF 1 has a characteristic of being badly joined with glass, thus the ACF 1 is peeled off along with the protection sheet 1a, as in FIG. 3, when the protection sheet 1a is peeled off from the ACF 1 which is joined to the lower glass substrate 9 in the temporary pressure process. And, as a result thereof, there is generated a joint defect of the data drive IC because of being stuck to other part than the joint part of the data drive IC.

Liquid crystal display and fabricating method thereof


An order processing method comprises: obtaining, by a third party payment institution, an order that is paid but not successfully delivered; and initiating, by the third party payment institution, a refund operation for the order.

With the constant development of internet technologies, people are increasingly using the internet to meet life's basic demands, such as online shopping, online navigation, online searching, and online registration, etc. Online shopping, in particular, has become an increasingly important way for people to make purchases.
When making online payments, people generally use a credit card or third party payment institution to carry out the payment. Typically, these payment modes are relatively simple when the payment is domestic, i.e., made within a country, but certain problems can arise in cross-border e-commerce. This is because, in cross-border e-commerce, if a user uses a browser to make a payment, it is often necessary to use browser redirection to notify the delivering party that a payment has been made. If the user closes the browser after making the payment, the delivering party has no way of learning of the information that the user has paid, and under these circumstances, the delivering party will not deliver.
In this situation, the user needs to actively initiate a refund request, at which point the delivering party conducts review and confirmation. Only after the delivering party has carried out the review and confirmation, the third party payment institution is notified to issue a refund. The refund review cycle is quite long, and the refund request flow is rather complicated.
An effective solution to this problem has yet to be addressed.


This invention relates to fuel staged premixed dry low NO.sub.x gas turbine combustors of the type that are constructed with multiple concentric cylinders to which fuel manifolds are mounted. The cylinders are spaced in a staggered arrangement. Such structures of this type achieve stable combustion over a wide range of fuel-to-air ratios and low flame temperature in the combustor resulting in low emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fuel staged premixed dry low NO.sub.x gas turbine combustors of the type that are constructed with multiple concentric cylinders to which fuel manifolds are mounted. The cylinders are spaced in a staggered arrangement. Such structures of this type achieve stable combustion over a wide range of fuel-to-air ratios and low flame temperatures in the combustor resulting in low emissions of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide(NO.sub.x and CO, respectively).
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known, in combustor systems, that in order to reduce NO.sub.x emissions, the flame temperature in the combustor must be reduced. A well known method of reducing the flame temperature is to premix the fuel and the air prior to the mixture being combusted. However, it is also known that a premixed combustor, typically, runs over a relatively narrow operation window which is determined by lean blow-out at low fuel/air ratios and high NO.sub.x emissions at high fuel/air ratios. Flame stability is very sensitive to the fuel-to-air ratio and the fuel/air velocity. For example, if the velocity of the mixture is too high, the flame in the combustor can be blown out. But, if the velocity is too low, the combustor flame may propagate backwards into the premixing area which is commonly referred to as flashback. Also, if the fuel-to-air ratio is not properly maintained and the flame temperature gets too high, the amount of NO.sub.x created will increase which is also highly undesirable. Therefore, a more advantageous premixed low NO.sub.x combustor, then, would be presented if the combustor could be run over a larger operating window. This is particularly important with regard to the operating range of the gas turbine.
It is apparent from the above that there exists a need in the art for a premixed low NO.sub.x combustor which is efficient through simplicity of parts and uniqueness of structure, and which at least equals the NO.sub.x emissions characteristics of known premixed combustors, but which at the same time can be run over a larger operating window. It is a purpose of this invention to fulfill this and other needs in the art in a manner more apparent to the skilled artisan once given the following disclosure.

Fuel staged premixed dry low NO.sub.x combustor


Systems and methods for building a monitoring fabric are described. The system receives a duplicate of a first portion of traffic information from a first network as first traffic information and communicates the first traffic information in the monitoring fabric. The first traffic information is communicated to a controller that configures the monitoring fabric. The system receives a duplicate of a second portion of the traffic information from the first network as second traffic information. The system forwards the second traffic information to at least one tool.

A production network may interconnect multiple devices by utilizing multiple technologies. Sometimes it does not function as anticipated. In such cases, the traffic being communicated on the production network may be passively monitored with one or more electronic tools. The tools may be utilized to identify a problem, design a work-around to avoid the problem, and test a long-term solution that solves the problem. Nevertheless, the tools may be expensive and difficult to manage.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods to build a monitoring fabric


Provided are an apparatus and method of displaying an image. In particular, provided are an apparatus and method of controlling an image enlarging/reducing region of a displayed image by resetting a reference point, which is a center point of the displayed image, enlarging/reducing a region of the displayed image with respect to the reset reference point, and displaying the enlarged/reduced region when a location of a displayed region of the displayed image changes within the displayed image. The method of includes: resetting a reference point, which is a center point of a currently displayed image, when a location of a displayed region of the currently displayed image is changed within the displayed image; and enlarging or reducing a region of the displayed image with respect to the reset reference point and displaying the enlarged or reduced region. Thus, there is no need to change the location of the displayed region after enlarging/reducing in order to obtain an image before enlarging or reducing, and a user can easily know which region of the entire image is being displayed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for displaying an image, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling an image enlarging/reducing region of a displayed image by resetting a reference point, enlarging/reducing a region of the displayed image with respect to a reset reference point, and displaying the enlarged/reduced region when the location of a displayed region is changed from the original displayed image.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating a conventional method for enlarging/reducing an image. Referring to FIG. 1, after an image is displayed on a monitor, display screen or the like (100), a controlling unit (not shown) receives a signal from an enlargement or reduction button is received to enlarge (i.e., zoom in) or reduce (i.e., zoom out), respectively, the displayed image on the monitor (102). Then, the displayed image is displayed after being enlarged or reduced with the center coordinate of the displayed image as a reference point (104).
FIGS. 2A through 2C are views illustrating how a displayed image is enlarged after an enlargement button is pressed while the image is displayed. In FIGS. 2A through 2C, although display screens a-1, b-1, and c-1 are shown in the context of where the displayed image is located relative to an original image, the display screens a-1, b-1 and c-1 should be understood as occupying the entire display monitor.
The display screen a-1 illustrated in FIG. 2A displays a zoomed-in or enlarged region of the original image when the enlargement button is pressed while the original image is displayed. A reference point (●), which is the center of a displayed image, is also the center coordinate of the original image.
The display screen b-1 illustrated in FIG. 2B displays a further zoomed-in or enlarged region of the original image (and the displayed image on the display screen a-1 of FIG. 2A) when the enlargement button is pressed while the display screen a-1 is displayed. A reference point for the image enlargement of the enlarged region displayed on the display screen b-1 remains unchanged and is still the center coordinate of the original image, that is, the same as the reference point of the display screen a-1.
The display screen c-1 illustrated in FIG. 2C displays a still further zoomed-in or enlarged region of the previously enlarged region displayed on the display screen b-1. A reference point for the image enlargement from screen b-1 to screen c-1 still remains unchanged and is the center coordinate of the original image, that is, the same as the reference points of the display screens a-1 and b-1.
As can be appreciated, a reference point in conventional image enlarging and reducing means such as digital cameras is typically the center coordinate of the currently displayed image.
Further, when a displayed image is an enlarged (i.e., zoomed-in) portion of an original image, when a location change button is pressed (106), a displayed region of the original image is changed (i.e., moved) (108). Now, when the enlargement or reduction button is pressed after the region of the original image displayed is changed, the displayed region is enlarged or reduced with respect to the center coordinate of the displayed image, which is not the center of the original image and the enlarged or reduced region is displayed.
FIGS. 3A through 3D are views illustrating how a displayed image is enlarged/reduced after performing the location change described in the method of FIG. 1. In FIGS. 3A through 3D, although display screens a-2, b-2, c-2, and d-2 are shown in the context of where the displayed image is located relative to an original image, the display screens a-2, b-2, c-2, and d-2 should be understood as occupying the entire display monitor.
The display screen a-2 illustrated in FIG. 3A displays an enlarged (i.e., zoomed-in) region of the original image after the location of the displayed region of the image has been changed to the top right-hand corner of the enlarged image. A reference point (●), which is the center of a displayed image, is not the center coordinate of the original image, but is displaced according to the change in the region of the original image that is displayed.
The display screen b-2 illustrated in FIG. 3B displays a reduced (i.e., zoomed-out) region of the image displayed on the display screen a-2 when the reduction button is pressed while the display screen a-2 is displayed. A new reference point for the reduced image is the center coordinate of the display screen a-2. By comparing FIGS. 3A and 3B one can appreciate that the reference point has moved generally downward and left with respect to the original image.
Now, the display screen c-2 illustrated in FIG. 3C displays an enlarged (i.e., zoomed-in) region of the image displayed on the display screen b-2 when the enlargement button is pressed while the display screen b-2 is displayed. A reference point for the image enlargement (i.e., zooming in) of the displayed image is the center coordinate of the display screen b-2 and therefore one can appreciate that the displayed image has been moved (i.e., translated) although only enlarging and reducing operations have been performed.
If the image is reduced and then enlarged from the image displayed on the display screen a-2 with the display region changed, the display screen c-2 is displayed, not the original display screen a-2. Therefore, to obtain the image of the display screen a-2, the location of the displayed region needs to be changed to the display screen d-2 illustrated in FIG. 3D.
When enlarging or reducing an image in a conventional apparatus for displaying an image, a reference point for the enlargement or reduction of an image is the center coordinate of a currently displayed image. Therefore, since a reference point changes when a location of a displayed region of the image is changed, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A through 3D, the location of the displayed region needs to be changed in order to display the image that had its location of the displayed region changed before the enlargement or reduction. In addition, a center coordinate of a displayed image instantly changes when enlarging or reducing an image. Thus, a user may not be aware of which part of an overall image is currently being displayed.

Apparatus and method for controlling position of image when the image enlarged or reduced


Embodiments of the invention provide a single apparatus for connecting a flat antenna to a plurality of surfaces, including vertical, horizontal or other inclined surfaces, by screws, suction components or other connectors.

There is a need for connecting and attaching a flat antenna to plurality of surfaces, for example, horizontal surfaces and vertical surfaces made of different materials, for example, wood, concrete, glass, plastic or other materials. Furthermore a flat antenna may be positioned in variety of locations in accordance with the specific use and/or user preferences, for example, indoor locations such as, a window, a wall, a desk or outdoor locations.


A blood leakage detection device for attachment to the skin of a patient at a wound such as one caused by insertion a cannula into a vein or artery comprises a support of a flexible material having a top side and an opposite bottom side, a zone of adhesive for attachment to the skin on the bottom side of the support extending along its periphery except for a sector of from about 5° to about 150°, a blood absorbent patch disposed on the support and extending inwardly of the adhesive zone and, optionally, in the sector, and a blood detection probe comprising a probe head disposed at or near the center of the support in the absorbent patch or abutting the bottom side thereof. A blood transport element can be disposed between the support and the absorbent patch.

In blood dialysis wounds are caused by puncturing an artery or vein by a cannula or an arteriovenous (AV) fistula or graft by a cannula or fistula catheter to remove blood for dialysis. The purified blood is returned to the patient by venous infusion through a second cannula or fistula catheter. A cannula or fistula catheter of this kind is usually secured to the patient's skin by adhesive tape. During dialysis the cannula or fistula catheter may be accidentally withdrawn. This results in immediate bleeding which, if is not noticed and stopped at once, may lead to the loss of a large volume of blood. Also other wounds that have been closed by surgery or by mere coagulation may start to bleed again, for instance during sleep, and thereby put the patient at risk if the bleeding is not noticed and stopped with in a short time.
An apparatus for detection of blood leakage from wounds is disclosed in WO 2006/001759 A1. The known apparatus comprises a single use disposable blood leakage detection device comprising a patch, a means for temporary fixation of the patch at a wound, an optical fibre for conducting light from electronic emission means to electronic detection means of the apparatus, the fibre at its passage via the patch comprising a zone in which the reflectance of the fibre wall in respect of the light conducted by the fibre is affected by blood conducting the wall in the zone, a difference in returned light indicating a leakage of blood from the wound. At its free ends the fibre comprises connectors to put it in radiative communication with the emission and detection means.


A pharmaceutical composition comprises microparticles in micelle. The microparticles contain at least one pharmaceutically-active agent, at least one water soluble or miscible phospholipid, at least one lipid soluble or miscible phospholipid, at least one non-ionic surfactant having an HLB value of about 15 or greater, at least one non-ionic surfactant having an HLB value of about or less, and at least one water soluble or miscible sterol compound. The microparticles are suspended in at least one fatty acid having a chain length of C.sub.14 or less. The composition may optionally contain at least one fatty acid having a chain length of C.sub.16 or greater in a concentration of about 5 w/v % or less. The composition is prepared by admixing the pharmaceutically-active agent, phospholipids, surfactants, and sterol, micronizing the admixture to form microparticles, and suspending the microparticles in at least one fatty acid of chain length of C.sub.14 or less to form microparticles in micelle. The invention may be useful in the oral administration of drugs and other therapeutic agents, as well as for the trans-umbilico-dermal administration of such drugs and therapeutic agents.

The present invention relates generally to pharmaceutical compositions comprising microparticles suspended in micelle. More particularly, the microparticles comprise at least one pharmaceutically-active agent, at least one water soluble or miscible phospholipid, at least one lipid soluble or miscible phospholipid, at least one water soluble or miscible sterol, at least one non-ionic surfactant having an HLB value of about 15 or greater, and at least one non-ionic surfactant having an HLB value of about 6 or less, and the microparticles are suspended in micelle in at least one water soluble or miscible fatty acid having a chain length of C.sub.14 or less. This invention also relates to a method of preparing such compositions, methods of therapeutically treating various illnesses and conditions with such compositions, and methods of delivery of such compositions to human beings.
By binding a pharmaceutically-active agent (e.g. insulin) in accordance with this invention, enhanced bioavailability and bioactivity results from the bound pharmaceutically-active agent. For example, after oral or transdermal administration of the embodiment of this invention where insulin is the pharmaceutically-active agent, the composition is channeled into the liver, where the initially protected insulin is gradually released, mimicking an endogenously secreted insulin as found in human beings. An exogenous insulin, for example, has been successfully delivered by routes other than parenteral injection. The compositions of this invention may be applied by rectal, buccal, sublingual, intranasal, intrapulmonic, ocular or by other means of administration for management of disorders, for example diabetes mellitus. The compositions may be delivered selectively, after parenteral infusion, oral, transdermal, or other means of administration to achieve precise targeting of the pharmaceutically active agent to a given organ or tissues as a slow, controlled release-dosage formulation. The invention may be useful for, but not limited to, delivering pharmaceutically-active agents which include peptides (e.g. insulin), glycoproteins (e.g. erythropoietin), organic and inorganic chemicals (e.g. glyburide or steroids), herbals (e.g. vinca alkaloids), and other materials useful as pharmaceutically active agents.
For example, diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder affecting carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. It is generally characterized by high blood sugar level (hyperglycemia) and sugar in urine (glycosurea) from a defective or deficient insulin secretory response. In the United States, over 10 million people are diagnosed as diabetics and this figure is increasing annually at a rate of about 6%. Two major variants of the disease exist. For about 10% of diabetics, the disease onsets as a juvenile insulinopenic diabetes requiring daily injection of insulin (referred to herein as insulin dependent diabetics or IDDM). The majority of diabetics are adult-onsetting diabetics (referred to herein as non-insulin dependent or NIDDM) for whom oral antihyperglycemics may be introduced to control hyperglycemia and glycosurea. Such compounds include chlorpropamide, tolbutamide (the first generation group of sulfonylureas), glyburide and glipizide (the second generation group). The sulfonylureas are believed to stimulate the beta cells of the pancreas, causing secretion of an endogenous insulin, and are also known to reduce hepatic production and to increase peripheral muscular utilization of glucose.
Ultimately, however, sulfonylureas will become less effective and eventually totally ineffective in lowering blood sugar in many long-term NIDDM patients, thus requiring injections of insulin as well, which causes restoration of the bioactivity of the sulfonyl urea (e.g. glyburide). According to one embodiment of the present invention, insulin-containing compositions of this invention, glyburide-containing compositions of this invention, and their combination markedly improved the bioavailability and activity of glyburide and oral insulin in NIDDM patents, who typically resist commercial glyburide and thus require daily injections of insulin.
Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to trans-umbilico dermal (referred to herein as TuD) delivery systems of the above-described compositions in human beings. More specifically, the TuD drug delivery system is concerned with well protected pharmaceutically-active agent or agents prepared in accordance with the compositions of this invention which are channeled into the liver, where the protected agent is released at a slow controlled rate, inducing the bioactivity of such compounds. In accordance with the present invention, the composition or compositions are applied on the dermal area of the human navel, that is the falciform ligament (paraumbilical veins) and its related system. The falciform ligament and Lig. teres in the liver, which are connected to tributaries of the epigastric veins and around the umbilicus, form anastomoses between the portal and the systemic venous systems. The umbilical foci is different from ordinary dermal layers. It is an artificially made scar tissue, having a thin epidermal layer with a direct connection to the falciform ligament (paraumbilical veins) and the epigastric vein. After applying the compositions of the present invention via the trans-umbilico-dermal delivery system to the navel foci, the compositions are rapidly and readily absorbed via the falciform ligament, and distributed within the liver and the systemic venous system. The trans-umbilico-dermal delivery of compositions of the present invention may also be employed as a means of targeting cancer chemotherapeutics (e.g. doxorubicin) into the liver, uterus, ovaries, lungs, the gastrointestinal system including the stomach, rectum, colon, etc. as well as other organs and systems.
By replacing inhibitors (e.g. nonulosaminic acid) with potentiators (e.g. a triantennary galactose terminated cholesterol), an affinity to the macrophageal system may be modified and it is possible to make compositions of this invention which can be predominantly channeled into the liver and other reticuloenthothelial systems (RES), thereby modifying the bioactivity of the pharmaceutically active agents employed while the systemic blood concentrations of such agents are kept at relatively low, non-toxic, non-side effect-inducing levels. Such hepato-specific delivery system-bound compositions may be given orally, rectally, trans-umbilico-dermally, parenterally or by other means. The therapeutic efficacy (i.e. the ratio between the side effect or toxic dose over the effective dose) of the agent may be increased by its binding in accordance with this invention. This may be exemplified as follows: disulfiram is biotransformed in the liver, forming an active diethyl dithiocarbamic acid; benzamidosalicylate forms amino-salicylic acid; biguanide forms cycloguanil; diazepam forms oxazepam; imipramine forms desipramine; phenacetin is activated in forming paracetamol; phenytoin forms di-phenyluredoacetic acid, and so forth. Also, the therapeutic effectiveness of pharmaceutically active agents may be induced by their transportation into the liver, where the agent or agents are actively biotransformed into therapeutically effective agents. For example, the antimalarial activity of primaguine as a pharmaceutically active agent is increased by its intrahepatic biotransformation into quinone derivatives while the side effects are reduced.
The present invention is dissimilar from other types of drug or pharmaceutical agent delivery systems. For example, compared to other routes, oral administration of compositions of the present invention containing insulin are more acceptable and convenient for diabetics. More particularly, absorption of insulin from the intestines to cause lowering of blood glucose levels has been reported when pancreatic enzymes are inactivated (Inouye, W. Y. et al. in Surg. Forum 13:316 (1962); Danforth, E. et al. in Endocrinology 65:118 (1959); and Crane, C. W. et al. in Diabetes 17:625 (1968)). However, the absorption of non-degradated insulin was found to be poor. To promote absorption of the macromolecules (e.g. insulin) from the intestinal membrane, surfactants, triglycerides, and lipid-surfactant mixed micelles have been reported with poor or unsatisfactory results (Muranishi, S. et al. in J. Pharm. Dyn. 1:28 (1978); J. Pharm. Dyn. 2:286 (1979); Int. J. Pharm. 4:219 (1980); Inouye et al., Danforth et al., and Crane et al.).
Insulin and a few adjuvants (anticholinergics) have been combined with a non-ionic surfactant (i.e. BRIJI 98), causing absorption of insulin; however, the minimum effective dose of insulin in human beings was too large (Galloway, J. A. et al. in Diabetes 21:637 (1972)). The non-ionic surfactant BRIJI 58 combined with insulin was found to be effective in increasing intestinal absorption of insulin, but the effective dose of insulin required was too large (Meshia, M. S. et al. in J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 33: 733 (1981)). After a water-oil-water (w-o-w) emulsion form of insulin was administered into a ligated jejunal pouch in rabbits, less than 8% absorption of insulin was reported, which was increased to about 58% of absorption of insulin administered as w-o-w micelle into the ligated jejunal pouch (Kawamori, R. and Shichiri, M. in Diabetes (1982) in Int. Cong. Ser. 600:315 (1983)). An oral insulin in nanoparticles was reported in Oppenheim, R. C. et al., Drug Dev. Ind. Pharm 8:531 (1982), but a large dose of insulin was needed. (Galloway et al.; Meshia et al.; Kawamon et al., Int. Cong. Ser. 600:315 (1983); Oppenheim et al.).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,499 (Rosano) discloses several methods for preparing oil-in-water (o-in-w) forms of microemulsion systems by applying an amphiphatic surfactant into the oil phase, and a second surfactant having its HLB value above the primary surfactant into the aqueous phase of water or buffer solutions. The oil soluble substance is dissolved in the solvent (e.g light mineral oil) having low boiling hydrocarbons (e.g. hexane), halocarbons containing a hydroxy group (e.g. carbon tetrachloride), and water immiscible oxygenated hydrocarbons (e.g. diethyl ether). The dispersion of the oils into the aqueous solvent converts the lactescent in dispersion into a microemulsion. No data on its biologically applicable efficacy are given.
Although the oral insulin forms obtained from the above-cited references may be absorbed from the intestinal membrane with limited efficiency, they apparently are inactivated at the liver and cleared by various macrophageal systems, which may include the Peyer's patch, various circulating scavenger blood cells, lymphoid tissues, the reticulo-endothelial systems, and others.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,730 (Kidron et al.) discloses a pharmaceutical composition for the oral administration of insulin which comprises insulin, bile salt or its derivatives and a protease-inhibitor. The composition can be enterocoated not only to protect the delivery system in the stomach but also to make the mixture slow release within the intestinal tract, and after its oral absorption from the intestinal membrane, enable delivery through the portal vein into the liver. The formulation disclosed in Kidron may not survive in the liver, as there are no means of protecting the system in the liver (other than the protease-inhibitor added), and Kidron's sustained-releasing form for insulin in the intestine would cause it to be too slowly absorbed. Biological test results of the oral insulin disclosed in Kidron were found to be poor and even less active than some other systems of applying surfactants, such as micelle, o-in-w emulsions and others (Muranishi, S. et al.; Galloway, J. A. et al.; Kawamori, R. et al.). In contrast, in the present invention only nonionic surfactants are employed in conjunction with the water soluble or miscible sterol and phospholipid bound microparticles suspended in micelle.
Significantly altered pharmacokinetics and efficacy of a polyglycol suspension of glyburide after oral or intravenous infusion was reported by Roger, H. J. et al. in Diabetologia 23:37 (1982). A micelle-forming polymeric adriamycin was made by using polyethyleneglycol and polyaspartic acid, which prolonged the survival time of cancerous mice while toxicity was reduced (the particle size was about 46 nm measured by laser scattering). Also, the system decreased antigenicity and prolonged its half-life in the circulating blood. It is also known that polyethyleneglycol is a nontoxic, nonimmunogenic water soluble and biodegrading polymer, as disclosed by Yokoyama, M. et al. in Makromol. Chem. 8:431 (1987). This system was intraperitoneally injected into the mice. Water soluble and targetable polymeric drug carriers based on N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacryl-amide (HPMA) were bound with, for example, 5-aminosalicylic acid and galactosamine as the targeting moiety to cancer cells, as reported by Kopecek, J. in Advanced Drug Deliv. System 4 (ed. by Anderson, J. M. et al., at 279-290 (1990)). In contrast, the present invention is not used in conjunction with any polymeric or co-polymeric systems, and is effective for oral or TuD delivery of peptides.
Liposomes have been used as an oral delivery system for insulin. However, liposomes have shown a lack of dose-responsiveness, and inter- and intra-patients variations in the bioavailability and efficacy of insulin were noticed (Patel, H. M. et al. in FEBS Letters 62:60 (1976); Dapergolas, G. et al. in Lancet 2:824 (1976)). A modified liposome and a multiple emulsion has been disclosed in Eur. Pat. Appln. No. 0140085 (Yoshida). A drug containing lipid vesicle was prepared by stir-mixing an aqueous solution with phospholipids containing lipophilic surfactant. The lipid vesicles were dispersed in a dispersion medium and were freeze or spray dried (Patel et al.; Dapergolas et al.).
Europ. Pat. Appl. No. 0277776 (Huang) discloses a solid core liposome obtained by encapsulating a polymer mixture of emulsified warm (70.degree. C.) aqueous agarose and gelatin used as a topical or local administration as a sustained release drug carrier for an enzyme or peptide. This is similar to the system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,250,236 (Gasco), discussed further herein.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,324 (Fujiwara et al.) discloses a lipovesicle form made by dispersing a nonionic surfactant into a hydrophilic or hydrophobic component in an isolated state from an aqueous dispersion medium. The vesicle is formed by polyoxyethylene castor oil ethers and polyoxyethylene hardened castor oil ethers in the presence of sorbitan polyesters of long chain (C14-C18) fatty acids. An oil component of cosmetics may be contained in the vesicle, which has as its membrane component a lipophilic surfactant.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,384 (Horikoshi et al.) discloses a pharmaceutical liposomal formulation containing coagulation Factor-VIII or IX and a protease inhibitor. The liposome forming materials were egg yolk lecithin, phosphatidic acid or phosphatidylserine (to improve the stability and forming ability of liposome), cholesterol (to strengthen the liposomal membrane), lyso-lecithin (to promote the fusion of the liposomal membrane with the membrane of absorptional cells), and phosphatidic acid (to enlarge the particle sizes of liposome).
However, Fujiwara et al.'s lipid vesicles and Horikoshi et al.'s liposome are entirely different from the phospholipid-bound pharmaceutically-active agents in the form of microparticles suspended in micelle of the present invention. Horikoshi et al. selected negatively charged phosphatidic acid (referred to herein as PA) or phosphatidylserine (referred to herein as PS), which was bound with a cholesterol moiety. These elements together may possibly mechanically stabilize and strengthen the liposomal membrane. However, in the present invention, the pharmaceutically active agent-containing microparticles are prepared by using a water soluble or miscible phospholipid (noncovalently bound with the agent) and then bound to a water soluble or miscible sterol, in conjunction with a lipid soluble or miscible phospholipid. For example, in the present invention a lysophospholipid (referred to herein as lyso-PL) such as lyso-phosphatidylcholine (referred to herein as lyso-PC) may be used to improve the adherence of the microparticle to the membrane of absorptive cells and to enable and induce an additive effect with the surfactants in a physiological manner without inducing any histopathological damage to intestinal membranes, which are known to be induced by lyso-PC at relatively higher concentrations, e.g. 0.01-1 mM (Tagesson, C. et al. in Gut. 26:369 (1985)).
French Pat. No. 85-06998 (Tressens) discloses a multivesicular liposome where the lipid phase consists of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), cholesterol, PS, trioleine in chloroform and ether, while the aqueous phase contains an insulin--maltose solution. The multivesicular liposome was lyophilized and packed into intestinal capsules. In contrast, in the present invention the pharmaceutically active agent (e.g. insulin) is reversibly bound and made into a micro-particle comprising a phospholipid such as a glycerophospholipid. The present invention is neither a liposome nor a multivesicular liposome.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,090 (Wallach) discloses multilamellar lipid vesicles (liposomes) having a high encapsulating mass and volume for hydrophilic or lipophilic materials. The lipophilic phase contains a surfactant (e.g. polyoxyethylene fatty ethers, polyoxyethylene cetyl ether, lauryl ether) with a sterol (e.g. cholesterol) and a charge producing amphiphile having a higher melting point than that of the surfactants. No biological data are given to indicate any efficacy of the claimed formulae in delivering peptides.
European Pat. Appl. No. 143,949 (Nakagama et al.) discloses a conventional liposome applying hydrogenated naturally occurring phospholipids to obtain a stable form of liposome. A fatty acid, preferably oleic acid at above 10 w % but preferably below 15 w % yields the most stable form of liposome capable of holding a drug within. Under these conditions, lecithin at its optimal weight percentage will form a lamellar liposome having oleic acid in the middle. However, at higher weight percentages of oleic acid, the phospholipids will form a micelle with oleic acid in the core, not a liposome. As disclosed by Wallach, Nakagama et al. applied cholesterol and tocopherol to strengthen the physical stability of the liposomal membrane, and applied negatively charged materials to achieve a slow releasing liposomal formulation within the body. After an intravenous infusion of liposomes containing 10,000 U of urokinase, a slow and sustained release of urokinase was observed in rabbits.
Both Wallach's and Nakagama et al.'s compositions are different from the compositions of the present invention. For example, both Wallach and Nakagama et al. have applied cholesterol, in combination with tocopherol and oleic acid, to strengthen liposomal membranes, and both have also applied a series of charged phospholipids, but neither have directly treated pharmaceutical agents such as peptides or drugs with, for example, phospholipids or cholesterol, although they have added surfactants.
In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, microparticles comprising the pharmaceutically active agent urokinase (referred to herein as uPA) may be made by using glycerophosphorylcholine (referred to herein as GPC) and a water soluble cholesterol in the presence of a nonionic surfactant having an HLB value of above 15, and the microparticles are suspended in micelle in a fatty acid having a chain length of C.sub.14 or less (referred to herein as MCT). A small amount of PC and/or PS may be added together with another nonionic surfactant (having an HLB value of less than 6). The liposomal uPA of Honda and Nakagama et al. is believed to be absorbed via alpha-glycerophosphate pathways which are involved in intramembranous syntheses of chylomicron, apoproteins, etc. and drained through the lymphatics. However, in the present invention, the uPA-containing microparticles in micelle (and not in liposome), for example, are believed to be (and preferably are) absorbed via the monoglyceride pathways (as is MCT) and channeled into the portal system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,227 (Cho) disclosed a system in which a pharmaceutically active peptide was "pinned" into solid cholesterol granules in the presence of sodium lauryl sulfate, coated with a solution containing mono-, di-, or tri-glycerides and fatty acids; coated with water soluble materials, e.g. hydroxypropylcellulose, and enteriocoated. The resultant dried powder was packed into a hard gel capsule or made into a pressed tablet. The absorbed cholesterol-bound insulin was believed to form chylomicron in vivo. It was found to be bioavailable and bioactive in some diabetics: i.e. an oral insulin dosage between 0.33-0.74 U/kg (average 0.5U/Kg) effectively lowered blood sugar and increased serum insulin levels.
PCT Pat. Appl. PCT/GB91/00510 (Cho) discloses the oral delivery of peptides by the integration of peptides with specially selected, neutrally charged phospholipids and apoproteins (e.g. apoprotein B48, AI, AII, etc.) or those known precursors of in vivo formation of such apoproteins (e.g. oleic acid, etc.). It is believed that membrane-integrating compounds are associated with the biologically active materials and integrated into forming the membrane system of chylomicron. Chylomicron forms a remnant chylomicron in the blood circulatory system, which is channeled into the liver. Thus, a peptide (e.g. insulin) bound with the membrane system of chylomicron may be channeled into the liver. Such a system is absorbed and forms part of a chylomicron, and is distinguishable from the disclosures of Wallach and Nakagama et al., in that neither Wallach nor Nakagama et al. are directed to formation of the membrane of remnant chylomicron.
The present invention, for use in oral insulin formulations and other applications, is significantly different from all the above-cited disclosures. For example, in cholesterol--and the phospholipid-bound insulin microparticles in micelle embodiment of this invention after oral or TuD administration, the composition is absorbed and predominantly channeled into the portal system and then the liver as well as systemic circulation.
In the above-cited disclosures, various lipids and/or surfactants are used to deliver (orally or otherwise) peptides/drugs through mechanisms of known or as yet unknown transmembranous absorptions. Such mechanisms may involve, e.g. liposomes, lipospheres, lipoprotein-microparticles, lipid vesicles, and others, which are predominantly known to involve syntheses of chylomicron, apolipoproteins, lipoproteins or others within the absorptive membrane, and which are ultimately drained through the lymphatic vessels and thoracic duct. The overall absorption of such peptides/drugs by applying the above described formulations may be sporadic, erratic, unpredictable, and lacking uniformity in terms of bioavailability. This is expected from the characteristic physiological flow-kinetics of lymph fluids from the thoracic duct as the lymph fluid outflow from the thoracic duct is sporadic and not a uniform steady flow.
More particularly, PCT Patent Application PCT/GB91/00510 (Cho) discloses oral delivery systems for peptides, such as insulin, by dissolving the insulin into a hydrophilic solution, which contains a surfactant having an HLB value of 14 or above, and a lipophilic solution containing cholesterol:PC (at usually 6-8:1 ratio), apolipoproteins, 50 w/v % or more of oleic acid to hopefully enhance an in vivo syntheses of apoprotein, chylomicron, lipoproteins, etc. at the intestinal membrane, involving the glycerophosphate pathways. In the present invention, the water soluble-phospholipid bound microparticles are suspended in MCT micelle. However, the solutions of Cho (PCT/GB91/00510) were microfluidized and made into a microemulsion.
Gasco discloses formulations containing various drugs in solid lipid microspheres. More particularly, Gasco discloses a microemulsion prepared by contacting a molten lipid (which may contain a drug) with a mixture of water and surfactant heated to the lipid's melting temperature, and dispersing the microemulsion in water to create a lipid microsphere dispersion. It is believed, based upon the disclosure of Gasco, that such microspheres resemble a liposome described by Fabre, H. et al. in J. Phys. Chem. 85: 3493, (1981). Gasco also discloses lyophilization of the microsphere dispersion. However, it is believed that any freeze-drying or heating of an emulsion, microemulsion, liposphere, liposome, lipid vesicle, micelle, or solid emulsion (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,227 (Cho)) will cause irreversible damage to the system and may deteriorate the bioactivities of the pharmaceutically active agents, especially peptides, glycoproteins, etc. Gasco does not disclose any biological data after applying the lipospheres containing deoxycorticosterone, salbutamol, salmon calcitonin, somatostatin, and erythropoietin. It is believed that these compounds may be partially inactivated by heating together with the fatty acids applied by Gasco.
In addition, there are no related known disclosures relating to the embodiment of the present invention wherein trans-umbilico-dermal delivery of the compositions of this invention is employed. Other formulations and methods for delivery of drugs or peptides, although different than the present invention, are summarized as follows:
Liu, J. C. in Internat. J. Pharm. 44: 197 (1988) applied an iontophoresis of d.c. current of various wave form to facilitate and regulate the transdermal ("TD") delivery of insulin in rats. U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 804661 and 899049, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,252 (Hsieh) disclose anhydrides and esters of macrocyclic lactone and ketones at 0.1-30 wt. % as a TD enhancer for a drug (e.g. triamcinolone acetonide). U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,075 (Jost) discloses a foam device which is a disk on a truncated inverted cone of macroporus cellular polymer core containing insulin, nonoxylnol-9, ocotoxynol, etc. and an outlayer containing a microporous cellular polymer. Makino, Y. et al. (Japan Pat. Appl. 84/182724) have used pyroglutamates as a dermal penetrating enhancer for TD delivery of indomethacin. PCT Publication No. WO 85/05036 (Weber, C. J. et al.) discloses the use of 33-50% DMSO and 2.5% of HPMC gel as a penetrating enhancer for TD delivery of insulin. M. Ferreira Mouta, Jr. (Braz. Pedido PI BR 84/1369 A) discloses mixed insulin with an oily excipient and incorporated with a plaster for TD delivery of insulin. Nagai, T. J. in Controlled Release 2:121 (1985) has incorporated triamcinolone with carbopol-934, a brand of carbomoer, and applied it on an adhesive layer of HPC for buccal mucosal delivery of insulin. German Pat. No. DE 3406497 (Franzky et al.) discloses dissolved isosorbide dinitrate in a mixture of polyethyleneglycol-glycerin partial ester with oleic acid, glycerin partial ester with capric and caprylic acids, isopropyl palmitate and water in the presence of a surfactant having an HLB value of 8 and cosurfactant having an HLB value below 8, and applied isosorbide for use as a trans-dermal (TD) system. Kazim, M. et al. in Surg. Forum 35: 64 (1984) has mixed insulin with the penetration enhancers DMSO and n-decylmethyl sulfoxide, and applied the mixture over the skin of streptocin-induced diabetic rats, covered it with a nonporous polyethylene patch, and observed antihyperglycemic effects in rats.
The above and other cited references have not made any disclosures of any compositions useful in transdermal applications of compositions which are similar to the compositions of the present invention. More particularly, the dermal areas on which these other TD formulations were applied are entirely different from the embodiment of the present invention which is specifically concerned with a trans-umbilico-dermal application of compositions of the present invention via falciform ligament and its anatomically associated system.
In the early 1980s, the Belmac firm of Tampa, Fla., developed a "navel drop" which consisted of camphor which was dropped into the navel foci, was absorbed through the falciform ligament and its related system into the mesenteric and portal vasculatures, induced a vasodilation and was supposed to have improved hemorrhoidal conditions in humans. Camphor, among other compounds, causes cutaneous vasodilation (Bowman, W. C. & Rand, M. J. in Textbook of Pharmacology, 2nd ed., p. 16.3 (1980)). Therefore, after dropping the navel drop (camphor) into a human navel, its being a cutaneous vasodilator, it is readily absorbed via the falciform ligament and its surroundings. However, an administration of any other TD forms of macromolecules or drugs, unlike the pure camphor, may not be readily absorbed through the falciform ligament. Such a TD formulation has to be modified specifically for the trans-umbilico-dermal delivery system. The trans-umbilico-dermal delivery system embodiment of the present invention and the "navel drop" containing camphor as its main component are thus entirely different, as the present invention relates to transdermal delivery formulations for pharmaceutically-active agents (e.g. peptides or drugs) which may be effectively administered via the falciform ligament.
The micelles of this invention, like compounds such as glycerol and fatty acids having a chain length of less than about C.sub.14, monoglycerides, diglycerides, and the products of triglyceride hydrolysed by pancreatic lipase (e.g. 2-monoglycerides) are believed to be absorbed, via monoglyceride pathways, readily and rapidly from the cellular membrane by a passive diffusion mechanism, and are directed into the portal system. The absorption of relatively large and completed systems, as discussed by Larsen, K. et al. in Chem. Phys. Lipid, 12:321 (1980) or, e.g. an infinite periodic minimal surface (IPMS) as discussed by Longley, W. et al. in Nature 303:612 (1983) may be by a mechanism grossly similar to those involving pinocytosis or endocytosis. However, in such a mechanism the absorbed lipid apparently does not involve alpha-glycerophosphate pathways but rather the emonoglyceride path and is thereby channeled into the portal system. This is different from the known mechanism of absorption of fatty acids having a chain length of C.sub.16 and above (referred to herein as LCT), emulsions, liposomes, lipid vesicles, lipospheres, etc. which are absorbed via the alpha-glycerophosphate pathways at the membrane, are involved in syntheses of chylomicron, membranes for chylomicron, lipoproteins, apoproteins and others at the cell membrane, and are channeled through lymphatics into the thoracic duct. LCT are primarily absorbed from the cell membrane by pinocytoses or other as yet unknown mechanisms. An involvement of Pyer's patch at the small intestinal membrane, for the absorption of IPMS, liquid-crystalline phase of micelle, etc., is a plausible hypothesis. (Larson et al.; Longley et al.).
Without wishing to be bound by any one theory, it is believed that after the microparticles (containing a pharmaceutically active agent) in micelle of this invention are absorbed by the human body, they are channeled into the portal system. The formulation may contain one or more inhibitors for reticuloenthothelial system (RES) activity. The invention is capable of being passed through the absorptive columnar enterocytes, the Pyer's patch and others. The pharmaceutically active agent may thus be channeled into the portal system. When a fatty acid having a chain length of C.sub.14 or less (referred to herein as MCT), a lysophospholipid (referred to herein as lyso-PL), and a fatty acid salt are added into the water, a lamellar L-alpha (lamellar or liquid crystalline) phase of the micelle is formed. At relatively high lipid concentration of the micelle, in the presence of phosphatidylcholine (PC), sphingomyelin, phosphatidyiserine (PS), etc., the spherical micelle is transformed into a rod shaped micelle. When the lipid concentration is increased further, especially in the presence of cardlollpin, phosphatidic acid (referred to herein as PA), a hexagonal lipid cylinder (liquid crystalline phase, or H1) is formed. It is possible to formulate, e.g. by using PC, a lamellar liquid crystalline phase with solvents other than water, such as ethylene glycol, and properly secreted surfactants. The spherical, rod-shaped, lamellar L-alpha or liquid crystalline phases may be obtained by simply altering the concentrations and the types of lipids used, by changing the temperature of solvents used, by selecting appropriate phospholipids, (referred to herein generally as PL), by changing the fluidity of protein-bound lipids, etc. These various phases involving the lipids-water (or other selected solvent) interactions, are generally known as micelle. (Larsson, K. et al. J. Colloid, Interface Sci. 72: 152, (1979); El-Nokaly, M. et al., J. Colloid Interface Sci. 84:228 (1981)).
A microemulsion is the reversed type of liquid phase of an ordinary L1 phase micelle. For example, water aggregates in a continuous hydrocarbon chain medium and water lamellae are separated by lipid bilayers (L2 phase) in aqueous systems of polar lipids and triglyceride oil. In the presence of, for example, lyso-phophatidylcholine (referred to herein as lyso-PC) it becomes a microemulsion. Liposomes are formed when water is added into the lamellar liquid-crystalline phase at above its swelling limit by gentle stirring. The lamellar liquid crystalline phase may consist of concentric lipid bilayers alternating with water layers. Sonicating the unilamellar aggregates under certain conditions may yield lipid vesicles. By further diluting the liposome, a so-called liposphere may be formed. The pharmacokinetic properties of a micelle, especially during its absorption from the cellular membrane and the transporting systems involved, are significantly different from that observed after introducing a pharmaceutically active agent within a liposome, microemulsion, lipid vesicle, liposphere, emulsion, or lipid suspension. (Ekwall, P., Advances in Liquid Crystals, Vol. 1, Chapter 1, Academic Press, N.Y. (1975)).
For example, in one embodiment of this invention, urokinase (referred to herein as uPA) is employed as the pharmaceutically active agent, the microparticles were made with specially prepared, water soluble cholesterol made in accordance with the method of Proksch et al. in Clin. Chem. 24/11:1924-26 (1978) (i.e. polyoxyethanyl-cholesteryl adipate, containing about 30% water soluble cholesterol and GPC, a water soluble enzymatically hydrolysed PC, i.e. sn-3-glycerophosphorylcholine, obtained after incuvating PC with its specific hydrolysing enzyme, phospholipidase-B, prepared by the method of Kates described in Techniques in Lipidology, Elsevier, Amsterdam (1972). The uPA in sodium phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.4) was bound with GPC:GPS (4:2-1 Mol ratio), and the water soluble cholesterol (4:2-1 Mol ratio of C:PC) in the presence of lyso-PC (i.e. sn-1-acyl-3-glycerophosphorylcholine, a lipid soluble end product of PC hydrolysed by phospholipidase-A2) and a nonionic surfactant (polyoxy-40-stearate), and made into microparticles in 15-20 v/v % of the final volume of MCT. The MCT contained another nonionic surfactant having an HLB value of less than 6. The MCT and above-described mixture were micronized to form uPA-containing microparticles suspended in MCT micelle. The overall bioavailability and bioactivity of the uPA-microparticles in MCT micelle was excellent. In addition, assaying for uPA from serum/plasma samples and for uPA microparticles in MCT-micelle, in vitro, using the ELISA method, was found to be easier when uPA was bound to GPC/GPS-water soluble cholesterol, as compared with when uPA was `bridge-locked` with PC, PA apoproteins cholesterol, etc., as disclosed for example in PCT/GB91/00510 (Cho), and Chung, K. H., Chung, J. S. & Cho, Y. W.: Presented at 13th Congress International Soc. Thrombosis & Homeostasis, Jul. 3, 1991, Utrecht. discussed above. The stability of this embodiment of the invention was good; however, it was further stabilized by adding less than 5 w/v % of LCT into the MCT-micelle, and by adding a small quantity of PC and PS, into the MCT solution.
In another embodiment of this invention, the pharmaceutically active agent is quinine which is contained within microparticles suspended in the MCT micelle. After oral or TuD administration and absorption, it is targeted to erythrocytes and hepatacytes hosting plasmodium malarial parasites which may utilize the components therein (i.e. microparticles containing quinine which are suspended in micelle to repair the damaged membrane of erythrocytes and hepatocytes. Also, microparticles containing vincristin have been successfully targeted to experimental IgM Immunocytoma cells in Wister rat and introperitoneally inoculated P388 mouse leukemic cells.
In one particularly, preferred embodiment, water soluble cholesterol is added as a sterol, to stabilize the microparticles in MCT micelle. Optionally, an LCT (i.e. having a chain length of C.sub.16 or higher, preferably C.sub.18 such as 1; 9-octadecenoic) may be added to the MCT micelle (at a concentration of 5 w/v % or less of the final MCT-micelle) to augment and stabilize the MCT-micelle. After adding properly selected surfactants to the LCT at or above the critical-micelle-concentration (CMC) (but preferably at or below 5 w/v %), a second micelle (i.e. LCT micelle) is formed. This LCT-micelle is compatible with the MCT-micelle containing the microparticles.
The objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the claims.


An approach which enables the overhead of performing a task associated with performing a procedure (function) call to be shifted to clients from a reverse proxy server when the reverse proxy server forwards web pages, the content of which may be dynamically created on the clients according to a description (e.g., using Java Script Language). The reverse proxy server may include instructions associated with the description to re-define the procedure call such that the task (in addition to the logic of the pre-defined procedure call) is performed on the clients. For example, with reference to a procedure call containing a URL accessible only within an intranet, the reverse proxy server may insert instructions which cause each client to insert the URL of the reverse proxy server such that any requests for a resource (corresponding to the URL) are passed through the reverse proxy server.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to reverse proxy servers commonly used in the Internet environment, and more specifically to a method and apparatus for reducing overhead in reverse proxy servers when processing web pages.
2. Related Art
Reverse proxy servers generally refer to devices which are located at a logical edge of an intranet (e.g., a network owned/operated entirely by a corporation or administrative entity) and enable clients (e.g., a personal computer with a browser software) on the Internet to access web servers located within the intranet. In an example situation, all requests (from a client to a server) for web pages from outside of an intranet, and the corresponding responses are channeled only through a reverse proxy server.
By using a reverse proxy server, providing direct access (typically at the internet protocol layer level) to the web servers (from clients on the Internet) may not be necessary, thereby potentially enhancing data security on the web servers. In other words, the reverse proxy server may serve as an intermediary between web servers (located in an intranet) and the clients (on the Internet) such that direct access of web servers from the clients on Internet may not be required.
While operating as an intermediary, a reverse proxy server may process web pages to perform several tasks. One such task is modification of URLs in a web page being forwarded to a client on Internet. The URL may be modified, for example, to ensure that a client can access web pages represented by the URLs (uniform resource locator) encoded in a web page presently being transmitted to a client. Challenges may be presented if a URL contains an address (e.g., domain name address or IP address) which is accessible only in the intranet but not from the Internet, because the client may not have direct (i.e., at IP/network layer level) access to a web server at the address.
Accordingly, a prior reverse proxy server may change a URL (in a web page presently being forwarded) to point to the reverse proxy server itself with the prior URL being provided potentially as a parameter. As a result, the reverse proxy server (accessible from Internet) receives any web page requests corresponding to the subject URL and the parameter may be used to serve the web page request, as is well known in the relevant arts.
However, it may be desirable to reduce the overhead on reverse proxy servers while processing web pages, for example, to enable a reverse proxy server to serve more requests quickly.

Reducing overhead in reverse proxy servers when processing web pages


A magnetic head having a spin valve sensor that is fabricated utilizing an Al2O3, NiMnO, NiFeCr seed layer upon which a typical PtMn spin valve sensor layer structure is subsequently fabricated. The preferred embodiment fabrication process of the NiFeCr layer includes the overdeposition of the layer to a first thickness of from 15 Å to 45 Å followed by the etching back of the seed layer of approximately 5 Å to approximately 15 Å to its desired final thickness of approximately 10 Å to 40 Å. The Cr at. % composition in the NiFeCr layer is preferably from approximately 35 at. % to approximately 46 at. %. The crystal structure of the surface of the etched back NiFeCr layer results in an improved crystal structure to the subsequently fabricated spin valve sensor layers, such that the fabricated spin valve exhibits increased ΔR/R and reduced coercivity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to spin valve sensors for magnetic heads, and more particularly to an improved NiFeCr seed layer for a PtMn spin valve sensor structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Magnetic heads for hard disk drives typically include a magnetoresistive read head element for reading data from the disk of the hard disk drive. The present invention specifically relates to the use of a spin valve sensor structure as the magnetoresistive element. As is well known to those skilled in the art, such spin valve sensor structures include a plurality of thin film layers having particular magnetic properties, and which are sensitive to the magnetic field of the data bits of a hard disk. A typical spin valve sensor will include at least one antiferromagnetic layer, at least one pinned magnetic field layer, and at least one free magnetic field layer. When the magnetic field direction of the free magnetic field layer is parallel to the magnetic field direction of the pinned magnetic field layer, the electrical resistance R of the spin valve sensor is lowest. When reading data, a magnetic data bit of a hard disk will cause the magnetic field direction of the free magnetic field layer to change, whereupon the electrical resistance of the spin valve sensor increases. This change in resistance (ΔR) affects the electrical current passing through the spin valve sensor, and is thus detected as a data signal. It is desirable to develop spin valve sensors having an increased ΔR/R value, as such spin valve sensors are generally more sensitive. Another parameter that is significant in spin valve sensor performance is the free layer coercivity of the spin valve sensor, and generally, the lower the coercivity, the more stable the spin valve sensor will be.
Many different materials have been utilized in the prior art in attempts to increase ΔR/R and reduce the coercivity of the spin valve sensor. The present invention relates to a spin valve sensor that is fabricated utilizing a particular seed layer composed of NiFeCr, together with a seed layer etching process step which affects the crystalline surface structure of the seed layer. An improved crystalline structure within the spin valve sensor layers deposited upon the seed layer is thereby created which results in a more desirable spin valve sensor having an increased ΔR/R together with a reduced coercivity.

Method for fabricating seed layer for spin valve sensor for magnetic heads for hard disk drives

International Business Machines Corporation


An interactive display system includes a display such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), for example, and a display controller. The display controller and display operate in concert to display graphical images that are representative of numerical, tabular, data. The display system may be used to edit, for example, to create or modify, the data tables being graphically represented. The edited data tables may be used to simulate processes, such as workflow processes.

Data are often stored as numerical representations organized in tabular form. Such data tables may be used for analyses, such as work flow analyses or for other applications, particularly in large-scale work environments. For example, in a telecommunications call center environment, data related to each operator, to each operator station, and to various call center functions may be stored in a central database and converted to data tables for analysis by call center operations managers. By analyzing the past behavior of individual operators exposed to different sets of circumstances, a manager may make predictions about future staffing requirements, for example. Although tabular organization of numerical data greatly enhances the comprehensibility of such data, large volumes of numerical data may still present analytical difficulties to managers or others attempting to employ such data for planning, reporting, or other purposes.
Data organized in tabular form may also be employed in various simulation functions. In a simulation application, data tables may provide the input data for a simulation and offer storage for data modified during a simulation. By manipulating the data stored in tables, a simulation operator may adjust the input data values used in a simulation. Again, however, the manipulation of large volumes of numerical data, even if it is organized in tabular form, may present a daunting task to a human operator that is attempting to initiate or adjust a simulation.
An apparatus and method that provide readily comprehensible representations of data for analysis and/or simulation would therefore be highly desirable

Method and apparatus for graphically manipulating data tables