Methods of synthesizing polynucleotides are disclosed involving the simultaneous ligation of a set of oligomer 5'-phosphates onto a template-bound primer. The set of these oligomers can be preselected to contain oligomers which are complementary to the template strand or the oligomers can be supplied as a library and allowed to self select. The synthesis by ligation can proceed unidirectionally or bidirectionally from the primer and can be used to synthesize both strands simultaneously by the use of two primers. The ligation is preferably performed with a ligase enzyme. The methods of synthesis are useful in a variety of applications, including cloning, amplification, labeling, diagnostic assays, mutation analysis and screening, gene expression monitoring and sequence analysis.

The enzymatic ligation of pairs of oligonucleotides bound to a target nucleic acid is widely known. It is generally thought that the oligomers must each be of a minimum length to be ligated efficiently. Recent work has shown this minimum length to be about 6-8 bases (C. E. Pritchard and E. M. Southern, Nucl. Acids Res., 25, 3403-3407 (1997)). It is generally thought that ligation of oligonucleotides shorter than about 6 bases is not possible.
Under certain conditions, primer independent ligation can be accomplished using oligomers of at least six bases long. In this manner, PCR primers were prepared in situ from concatenated groups of a small number hexamers, heptamers or octamers (T. Kaczorowski and W. Szybalski, Gene, 179, 189-193 (1996); L. E. Kotler, D. Zevin-Sonkin, I. A. Sobolev, A. D. Beskin and L. E. Ulanovsky, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90, 4241-4245 (1993)). Such ligation in the absence of a primer is undesirable in the present methods and must be avoided. The success in replicating a polynucleotide sequence in a controlled and defined manner rests in knowing the point of origination of the newly synthesized strand.
Nucleic acids can be synthesized from a template, primer and nucleotide triphosphates (NTPs) by the action of a polymerase action. Labels can be incorporated by substituting a percentage of labeled NTPs. The ability to achieve a high degree of label incorporation is limited and the precise spacing of labels is not controllable.
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a method of amplifying the amount of a polynucleotide by the use of a primer complementary to each strand which span the region to be replicated. Nucleic acid synthesis proceeds by extension of each primer with a polymerase and the four dNTPs. Thermal cycling allows multiple copies of the template to be synthesized, approximately doubling the quantity of amplicon in each cycle. A variant termed Ligase Chain Reaction (LCR) involves the ligation of two pairs of oligonucleotides with a ligase enzyme to replicate the sequence of interest (D. Y. Wu and R. B. Wallace, Genomics, 4, 560-569 (1989)). The two oligonucleotides to be ligated constitute the entire length of the strand. Ligation of a large number of small oligomers to a primer to replicate a nucleic acid has not been achieved to the best of Applicant's knowledge.
Methods of providing sequence information using oligonucleotide ligation are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,341 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,367 and a publication (S. Dubiley, E. Kirilov, Y. Lysov and A Mirzabekov, Nucl. Acids Res., 25, 2259-2265 (1997)). The reported methods differ fundamentally from those of the present invention in requiring that oligomers be ligated one at a time and the sequence be analyzed after each step. These methods are therefore far more laborious than those of the present invention.
Methods of Labeling Nucleic Acids--Present methods of labeling nucleic acids or oligonucleotides include the tailing method, random primed labeling, nick translation, the labeled branched DNA and end labeling using a labeled primer. Each method suffers disadvantages in certain applications. Use of an end labeled primer extended by PCR with unlabeled bases leads to only one or a few labels per product nucleic acid.
The tailing method incorporates an indeterminate and uncontrolled number of labels by appending a tail of noncomplementary bases onto the nucleic acid of interest. This adds many additional bases, which not only adds expense, but may interfere with hybridization and lead to nonspecific binding. In addition it is not readily applicable to the synthesis of short nucleic acids or oligonucleotides since the length of the tail could exceed the length of the sequence of interest.
The random prime method, applicable to the labeling of long nucleic acids, uses a mixture of primers which are extended by a polymerase with a mixture of labeled and unlabeled bases. The number of bases which can be incorporated is variable and arbitrary in number. A mixture of numerous nucleic acid fragments of varying lengths are produced from both strands. Similarly, nick translation produces a mixture of numerous nucleic acid fragments of varying lengths from both strands. Breaks in both strands of DNA are created and new nucleic acid strands are synthesized from the position of the nick using a mix of labeled and unlabeled bases. Since the position of nicking is arbitrary, label incorporation is not controlled either.
The branched DNA technology has been used in diagnostic tests as a means to attach several labels to a target DNA. The methodology relies on the creation of several branches of synthetic nucleic acid each bound to a probe, followed by hybridization of multiple labeled oligonucleotides to each of the branched amplification multimers. The method requires the costly preparation of many probes and branched DNA and is not generally applicable, especially for the generation of short pieces of highly labeled DNA.

Methods of synthesizing labeled polynucleotides by ligation of multiple oligomers


An apparatus (1) for tissue preparation for the tissue embedding, having a transport plate (15) that is surrounded by a housing (5). The housing defines an inner upper side (8a), a heating and cooling device (3), that is provided on the inner upper side (8a) of the housing (5) and a mechanic module (24) for turning the transport plate (15) and for raising and lowering the transport plate (15). The mechanic module (24) comprises a first motor (42) exclusively for turning the transport plate (15) around an axle (18) and a second motor (44) exclusively for raising and lowering the transport plate (15) in the direction of the axle (18).

The U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,517 discloses an apparatus for processing tissue samples. On a rotatable table a plurality of processing containers is provided for the sample processing. The table is rotatable so that the processing containers can be transported to a processing station at which the tissue samples are successively immersed in different processing liquids. For a suitable tempering of the actually used processing liquids a heating and cooling device is permanently mounted to the housing of the apparatus. The table is not only rotatable but also raisable and lowerable in the direction of the axle. The rotation, the raising and the lowering are executed with a single motor, which requires a complicated transmission.
A further apparatus for tissue preparation for the tissue embedding is disclosed with the LEICA TP 1020™. The processing liquids are supplied in processing containers which are arranged in a circle. The samples which are to be processed, are stored in suitable sample containers arranged in the cover of the device. The samples are transferred by raising and rotating the cover from one processing bath into the next. The device cannot handle two processing containers of different size.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus for tissue processing for the tissue embedding


Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for providing a customer network in which customers are incentivized to “opt-in” to a marketing program. For example, the invention builds a network of customers, collects and stores customers' demographic information, compiles mailing lists based on list purchasers' requested demographic criteria, sells the compiled mailing lists to list purchasers, and compensates those customers included on the mailing lists.

Businesses are increasingly utilizing targeted mailing lists to contact potential customers. For example, a business may identify a market segment that may be interested in the business's products and/or services. The business may define the market segment using criteria such as income level, shopping preferences, homeowner or renter, number of children, occupation, ethnicity, education level, age, or any other combination of demographics. After defining the market segment, the business purchases a mailing list consisting of customers within that market segment. Additionally, many businesses that buy and use these targeted mailing lists also desire to use permission-based marketing, where the customers' permission is obtained before the customers are added to the mailing list. For example, permission-based marketing only sends advertisements after customers "opt-in," rather than sending advertisements and then allowing customers to "opt-out." Many believe permission-based marketing is more effective and efficient than non-permission-based marketing because resources are not wasted sending advertisements to customers that are not interested in the products and/or services. Also, many believe permission-based marketing enables a business to advertise through direct mailing, yet keep intact, and to some extent foster, its integrity and goodwill.
However, most marketing companies that specialize in compiling and selling to businesses these targeted mailing lists have access to a limited number of customers and have a limited amount of information about those customers. What's more, because these marketing companies do not have an established relationship with customers, the marketing companies are unable to obtain permission from the customers. Accordingly, mailing lists provided by most marketing companies include a limited number of customers that did not give, permission.
Large institutions are well positioned to compile and sell comprehensive targeted mailing lists because these institutions have a large amount of information about a large number of customers. However, these institutions have been ineffective at obtaining permission from their customers.


Systems and methods are disclosed for optical coherence tomography (OCT). For example, imaging can use optical phase modulators based on optical delay lines that, in conjunction with a swept-source laser, can be used to achieve heterodyne swept source optical coherence tomography (SSOCT). These techniques resolve the complex conjugate ambiguity in SSOCT, thereby doubling the usable imaging range. This increased imaging range has numerous important clinical applications in ophthalmology, cardiology and radiology, as well as applications in small animal and non-biological imaging. These methods are superior to prior disclosed methods requiring acousto-optic or electro-optic modulators with respect to complexity, efficiency, imaging speed and image quality.

OCT is a non-invasive imaging modality that provides micrometer scale resolution of tissue structures over depth ranges of a few millimeters. The technique has found a number of biomedical applications, most notably in ophthalmic and cardiovascular imaging.
Swept-source OCT (SSOCT) is an improvement to OCT that provides a dramatic sensitivity advantage over traditional time domain techniques. However, SSOCT suffers from an inherent (i.e. sample independent) reduced imaging depth range, typically limited to between 1 and 4 mm. Optical attenuation from absorption and scattering in tissue typically limit how much light is recovered from depths beyond a few millimeters, and thus for many applications this inherent reduced depth range is not the limiting factor in determining the practical imaging depth. However, several important OCT applications would benefit from extended imaging depths, including ophthalmic imaging of the anterior segment, small animal imaging, endoscopic imaging, and catheter imaging of coronary arteries.
Extending the imaging range of SSOCT has thus been an area of interest for which a number of techniques have been developed. However, all of these techniques are accompanied by drawbacks including reduced sensitivity, reduced axial resolution, reduced imaging speed, required lateral oversampling, increased system complexity, increased cost and/or increased signal processing overhead. In addition, many of these techniques produce incomplete suppression of the complex conjugate artifact, resulting in distracting "ghost" images.
SSOCT suffers from a limited inherent imaging depth range due to two factors. The first of these stems from the fact that SSOCT extracts depth information from the Fourier transform of a spectral interferogram. As the spectral interferogram can only be recorded as a real signal, its Fourier transform is necessarily Hermitian symmetric. Consequently, positive and negative displacements from the zero pathlength difference position (DC) cannot be unambiguously resolved, giving rise to mirror image artifacts. This phenomenon is termed the complex conjugate ambiguity. These artifacts can be avoided by placing the zero pathlength difference position outside of the sample, which results in two mirror images of the sample being acquired in the positive and negative frequencies. While this technique resolves the ambiguity between positive and negative displacements, it also effectively halves the useful imaging range of SSOCT systems, and may result in the appearance of "wrapped" mirror image artifacts if the sample moves unexpectedly.
The complex conjugate ambiguity would not pose such a problem if it were not for the fact that the total imaging range is also limited by a phenomenon known as sensitivity fall-off. The instantaneous linewidth of the swept laser in SSOCT systems (and the spectral bandwidth of each spectrometer pixel, in SDOCT systems) can be thought of as a sampling function that interrogates the intrinsic spectral interferogram. The spectral interferogram is sampled by, and thus convolved with, the laser linewidth (or spectrometer pixel bandwidth), which results in reduced fringe visibility when the fringe period is small. As smaller fringe periods (i.e. higher fringe frequencies) correspond to deeper imaging depths, this reduced visibility results in decreasing sensitivity with increasing imaging depth.
An effective method for resolving the complex conjugate ambiguity is heterodyne SSOCT (HSSOCT), which resolves the ambiguity by shifting the peak sensitivity position image away from DC, such that positive and negative displacements from that position can be discerned. As this technique shifts, rather than suppresses, the complex conjugate signal, it completely resolves the artifact. In addition, HSSOCT does not result in any reduction in imaging speed or require lateral oversampling. In this method, two frequency shifters, usually acousto-optic modulators (AOM's) (though electro-optic modulators (EOM's) have been used) are used to apply different modulation frequencies to the sample and reference arm. While effective, this technique is limited in that the modulators are expensive and difficult to implement. More significantly, AOM's tend to have appreciable insertion losses, resulting in reduced sensitivity, and also often restrict optical bandwidth, resulting in reduced axial resolution. In addition, processing of the acquired data requires either hardware demodulation or significant additional post-processing steps.

Systems and methods for complex conjugate artifact resolved optical coherence tomography


Methods and apparatus for assessing cardiac risks in a specific patient. One embodiment of a method in accordance with the invention comprises providing heart rate activity of a specific patient including a windowed time series relating to heart rate variability during a heart rate test. This method further includes determining a frequency domain value based on energy values of frequency bands of the heart rate variability in the windowed time series, and/or determining an aggregate power for a frequency band of the windowed time series. This method further includes assessing the risk of a cardiac event based on the frequency value and/or the aggregate power.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) accounts for approximately 300,000-400,000 deaths per year in the United States. Although the individual risk of SCD in the adult U.S. population is only about 0.1-0.2% per year, when applied to the large population base, SCD is often the first and only manifestation of the presence of a cardiovascular disease in a majority of cardiovascular related deaths. Deaths associated with recovering from large myocardial infarctions actually represent the minority of the total cardiovascular related deaths per year. As a result, a low cost screening tool that would provide early detection of patients at risk for SCD would be tremendously valuable for early treatment and intervention.
However, it can be difficult to accurately predict or assess the risk of SCD because many underlying pathologies support or trigger the events leading to SCD instead of any single condition. Of these various conditions, most data suggests that regulation of the heart through the sympathetic and parasympathetic (vagal) branches of the autonomic nervous systems is extremely important in maintaining stable rhythms. In particular, it appears that vagal stimulation mitigates the development of ventricular arrhythmias in a variety of experimental studies.
One promissory marker related to SCD is the variability of the heart rate under various conditions. For example, studies using Holter records have shown that low heart rate variability (HRV) is a marker for SCD. Holter studies predominately follow individuals over the course of an average day, mostly reflecting low exercise conditions.
In 1993, a study by van Ravenswaaji et al. reviewed four years of published HRV papers and summarized the various time and frequency domain methods for computation of HRV, which remain largely the same today. This study concluded that HRV is an important surveillance tool for post infarction and diabetic patients to prevent SCD. Although HRV was noted as having a higher association with risk for death than other variables obtained by Holter monitoring, this study also concluded that HRV has a rather low positive predictive value in mass screening (less than 20%). Nonetheless, other studies establish that reduced HRV obtained from 24 hour Holter recordings is an independent predictor of death in chronic heart failure patients.
Another study by Arai et al. analyzed HRV in a cohort of patients undergoing exercise testing and found that the power in the low frequency band [0.03-0.15 Hz] systematically decreased with an increase in exercise and rebounded during recovery after exercise. The low frequency band may be modulated by both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system related to baroreflex activity, temperature regulation and maintenance of homeostasis. The low frequency response to exercise testing was found to be muted in patients with severe congestive heart failure. Conversely, this study found that power in the high frequency band [0.15-0.8 Hz] increased with exercise, decreased through recovery and was highly correlated to respiration—the respiration sinus arrhythmia effect.
Many of the HRV studies have been predicated upon an assumption that a balance between the operation of the parasympathetic (vagal) and sympathetic arms of the autonomic nervous system controls heart rate. For example, as the heart rate increases it has been assumed that sympathetic control increases and vagal influence decreases. Additionally, the low and high frequency bands have been assumed to be related to sympathetic and vagal influence, respectively. Based on these assumptions, the concept of a spectral ratio of these two bands, indicative of this implied balance, was adopted as a potentially useful metric for risk stratification. Because of the low predictive value of the ratio, teachings of Verrier et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,285 are predicated upon this ratio of low and high frequency components in combination with other metrics for assessing myocardial instability.
Although the concept of a balance between the two components of the autonomic system has been a widely embraced, and presumed to be quantified through a HRV spectral ratio, some studies show that calculations of such a balance of control may not be useful. One study by Eckberg (1997), for example, finds that vagal contributions to baseline low frequency RR-interval fluctuations are great, and evidence that baseline low frequency RR-interval spectral power is related quantitatively to sympathetic-cardiac nerve traffic is nonexistent. This same study concludes that calculations of sympathovagal balance may obscure rather than illuminate human physiology and pathophysiology.
As noted by Kannankeril et al. (2002), risk of SCD is about 17 times higher during or immediately following exercise than at rest. Kannankeril et al. also finds that the vagal influence of heart rate decreases with exercise, and that it appears likely that poor return of vagal control in the post exercise recovery period may be a very critical factor in the progression from instability to fatal arrhythmia.
Although the above described methods for measuring heart rate variability are well known to practitioners of the art and it also is recognized that the patient risk profile may be substantially unveiled during vigorous exercise and recovery, there is no effective method based on HRV for quantifying patient risk from heart rate data collected during exercise and recovery. Therefore, existing methods and apparatus for quantifying risk of SCD based on HRV do not provide an accurate low cost screening tool for mass screening.

Methods for quantifying the risk of cardiac death using exercise induced heart rate variability metrics


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for performing a prefetch processing to prepare an ambient computing device to operate in a low-power state without waking a memory device. One of the methods includes performing, by an ambient computing device, a prefetch process that populates a cache with prefetched instructions and data required for the ambient computing device to process inputs to the system while in the low-power state, and entering the low-power state, and processing, by the ambient computing device in the low-power state, inputs to the system using the prefetched instructions and data stored in the cache.

This specification relates to systems having integrated circuit devices.
A cache is a device that stores data retrieved from memory or data to be written to memory for one or more different hardware devices in a system. The hardware devices can be different components integrated into a system on a chip (SOC). In this specification, the devices that provide read requests and write requests through caches will be referred to as client devices. Some caches service memory requests for multiple different client devices integrated into a single system, e.g., an SOC, as a last cache before reaching memory. Such caches can be referred to as system-level caches (SLCs).
Caches can be used to reduce power consumption by reducing overall requests to main memory. In addition, as long as client devices can access the data they need in the cache, power can further be saved by placing the main memory as well as data paths to the main memory in a low-power state. Therefore, cache usage is correlated with overall power consumption, and increasing cache usage results in a decrease in overall power consumption. Therefore, devices that rely on battery power, e.g., mobile computing devices, can extend their battery life by increasing cache usage for the integrated client devices.
Some SOC client devices are ambient computing devices that are capable of monitoring and processing sensor inputs while the SOC remains in a low-power state. If the ambient computing device detects a sensor input, e.g., sound arriving at a microphone, a the ambient computing device can trigger the SOC to exit the low-power state if additional processing power is needed to handle the sensor input.


A technology capable of effectively and stably correcting brightness unevenness in an image obtained by imaging is provided. An image processing method includes an image obtaining step of obtaining an original image obtained by imaging an imaging object together with a substantially uniform background, an approximation step of specifying an approximation formula for approximating a two-dimensional luminance profile of the original image to a probability density function of a two-dimensional normal distribution, and a correction step of correcting a luminance value of each pixel constituting the original image on the basis of a luminance value of the two-dimensional luminance profile expressed by the approximation formula.

In a technology for imaging an imaging object under illumination, brightness unevenness may appear in an image due to properties of an illumination system or an imaging system. Even if a background of an imaging object has a substantially uniform optical density, such brightness unevenness possibly occurs, for example, due to light quantity unevenness or the like of illumination light incident on the imaging object. A shading correction technology is known as a technology for correcting such brightness unevenness. For example, in a technology described in patent literature 1, shading correction data generated on the basis of shading properties of an image imaged without a specimen is applied to each pixel of an image obtained by imaging the specimen (imaging object) using a microscope. In this way, image density unevenness due to an optical system is solved.

Image processing method and shading reference data generation method


The inventors has been anticipated that there is no problem in employing electron gun deposition as a method of forming a metallic layer on the EL layer because the TFT is disposed below the ET layer in the active matrix light-emitting device. However, since the TFT is extremely sensitive to ionized evaporated particles, the secondary electron, the reflecting electron, and so on generated by the electron gun, little damage was observed on the EL layer, but significant damages were found on the TFT when electron gun deposition is employed. The invention provides an active matrix light-emitting device having superior TFT characteristics (ON current, OFF current, Vth, S-value, and so on), in which an organic compound layer and a metallic layer (cathode or anode) are formed by means of resistive heating having least influence to the TFT.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and, more specifically, to a light-emitting device having a light-emitting element formed on a substrate with an insulated surface and a method of manufacturing the same. The invention also relates to an organic light-emitting module having an IC or the like including a controller mounted on an organic light-emitting panel. In this specification, both the organic light-emitting panel and the organic light-emitting module are referred to as a light-emitting device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, research on a light-emitting device having a light-emitting element as a self-luminous element has been accelerated, and specifically, a light-emitting device employing organic material as EL material attracts people's attention. This light-emitting device is also referred to as EL display or light-emitting diode.
The light-emitting element includes a layer containing an organic compound that provides an electro luminescence generated by being applied with an electric field (hereinafter referred to as EL layer), an anode, and a cathode. The luminescence of the organic compound includes light emission (fluorescent radiation) generated when restoring from a singlet excitation state to the normal state and light emission (phosphorescence) when restoring from a triplet excitation state to the normal state. The light-emitting device manufactured by a film forming device and a method of forming a film according to the invention may be applied to both of the cases employing these light-emissions.
The light-emitting device is characterized by having no limitation in angle of visibility because it is a self-luminous type, which is different from the liquid crystal display unit. In other words, it is superior to the liquid crystal display as a display to be used in the open air, and usages in various ways have been proposed.
The light-emitting element has such a structure that the EL layer is interposed between a pair of electrodes, and the EL layer generally has a laminated structure. Typically, such a laminated structure as "hole transport layer/light emitting layer/electron transport layer" is employed. This structure has very high light-emitting efficiency, and most of the light-emitting devices that are currently under research and development employ this structure.
The structure laminating in order of "hole injection layer/hole transport layer/light emitting layer/electron transport layer, or hole injection layer/hole transport layer/light emitting layer/electron transport layer/electron injection layer may also be employed on the anode. It is also possible to dope the fluorescent coloring matter to the light-emitting layer. These layers may be formed only from low molecular material or only from high molecular material.
In this specification, all the layers provided between the cathode and the anode are referred to as EL layer as a generic name. Therefore, the hole injection layer, the hole transport layer, the light emitting layer, the electron transport layer, and electron injection layer are all included in the EL layer.
In this specification, the light-emitting diode constructed of the cathode, the EL layer, and the anode is referred to as a light-emitting element, which includes a system in which the EL layer is formed between two kinds of striped electrodes arranged so as to be orthogonal with each other (simple matrix system) and a system in which the EL layer is formed between the pixel electrode and the opposite electrode connected to the TFT (Thin Film Transistor) and arranged in matrix (active matrix system).
The EL material forming the EL layer is generally divided into the low molecular (monomeric) material and the high molecular (polymeric) material. In the case of the low molecular material, the film is formed mainly by vapor deposition.
Publicly known representative vapor deposition includes resistive heating in which resistive heaters are disposed around a container containing deposition material therein to heat it indirectly by energizing the resistive heaters so that the deposition material is heated and evaporated, and electron gun deposition (also referred to as EB vapor deposition) in which a beam of electron is irradiated on the deposition material to allow it to evaporate. A method in which a container formed of metal (containing an deposition material therein) is directly energized and heated to allow the deposition material contained therein to evaporate, and a method in which a container formed of a light transmittance material such as quartz (containing an deposition material therein) is radiated and heated by an infrared ray lamp to allow the material contained therein to evaporate.
Since the deposition material formed of an organic compound is resolved when irradiated by a beam of electron because energy of a beam of electron is too high, other types of vapor deposition are employed in many cases. In contrast to it, electron gun deposition is generally employed for depositing a metallic thin film, which is an inorganic material whereof the fusing point is relatively high as a cathode or an anode of the light-emitting diode, because it can easily stabilize the film formation rate.

Light-emitting device and method of manufacturing the same, and method of operating manufacturing apparatus

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


Optimization apparatus for photographic image data with a data input device for input of first image data which are present in a first color space and represent a photographic image or a set of photographic images, an optimization device for optimizing the first image data and a data output device for output of the optimized first image data which optimally represent the photographic image or the set of photographic images, whereby the optimization device carries out an optimization transformation on the first image data, whereby the optimization transformation corresponds to a combination of at least the following transformations: a first transformation which transforms the first image data from the first color space into another, second color space; a correction transformation, which corrects the transformed first image data in the second color space; and a second transformation which transforms the corrected first image data into a third color space.

The present invention relates to optimization apparatus for photographic image data with a data input device an image data optimization device and an output device. It further relates to a photographic copier or printer with an optimization apparatus and a process corresponding to the optimization apparatus and a program for carrying out the process.
The term xe2x80x9cphotographyxe2x80x9d as used herein refers to the (especially permanent) capturing of images produced by electromagnetic radiation (especially light) with means suited therefor (for example photographic apparatus with film, digital photographic camera with CCD chip, film camera, video camera and so on).
The field of the present invention relates to the processing of photographic image information, which represents the photographically produced image. The photographic image information, for example, is conventionally captured or stored on a film. The photographic image information so stored can then be converted into digital photographic image data, for example by way of a scanner. But, the photographic image information can also be only digitally captured right from the start, for example by way of a digital camera. It can then be electronically stored, for example, (CD-ROM, DVD) and can, for example, be transmitted through a network (for example LAN or Internet).
The present invention relates to the processing of photographic image data (in the following also called first image data) which represent images produced by photography. The photographic image data are processed with a data processor in such a way that they are suited for picture production. The picture production can thereby be carried out, for example, on a monitor, on (light sensitive) photographic paper by suitable exposure or by way of a printer or by way of another photographic copier apparatus. However, the quality of the representation of the photographic image data is often unsatisfactory whether done conventionally, for example, on photographic paper or as slide or by way of a monitor (for example LCD screen or TV screen) or printer.
A significant cause for the unsatisfactory quality resides in the capturing and storage of the images or the photographic image information. The causes herefor reside, for example, in the optical capturing of the image by the camera, namely, for example, in the quality of the lens system, in the operation of the camera by the user, namely, for example, incorrect exposures, in the quality of the image capturing means, namely the film or the CCD, in the illumination of the photographic object, and so on. The less than optimal conditions during the image capturing and storage of the photographic image information result in so-called color shifts, which means a fixed, preselected color shade is differently captured and stored depending on the color density or brightness. Thus, a color shade shift results relative to the actual color shade to be represented. In other words, the captured and stored image information does not correspond with respect to the color values to the color values of the photographed object. If the photographic image information is further processed prior to producing a picture, for example, by scanning a film with a scanner, this can result in further changes of the color values.
The photographic image data are conventionally obtained from photographic image information by way of color filters. This is the case for example, with a scanner but also with the digital photographic camera. The data so obtained describe thereby the intensity of different colors of an image point. Conventionally, the representation is done with so-called RGB image data in the so-called RGB color space, or by RGB stands for red, green and blue. Respectively one coordinate of the color space is thereby reserved for one color, i.e. for red, green or blue.
It is an object of the invention to optimize photographic image data, such as, for example, the RGB image data. This means that errors made during the photographic capturing and/or storage and/or processing of the photographic image information (especially color value changes) should be reversed, if possible.
This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are apparent from the dependent claims.
Preferably an optimization apparatus is provided in accordance with invention which optimizes (digital) photographic image data. The optimization apparatus carries out an optimization transformation. The optimization transformation corresponds to a combination of a first transformation which brings the first image data from the first color space into the second color space, the above described correction transformation and a second transformation, which transforms the first image data corrected in the second color space into a third color space, which is suited for the picture production. The third color space may correspond to the first or second color space or may be any other color space. The third color space may also be different from the second color space. The process in accordance with invention also carries out such an optimization transformation together with the improvements described below. The program in accordance with invention is able to run especially on the computer or a workstation and carries out the process steps in accordance with invention.
The optimization apparatus includes a (digital) data input device for the input of first image data which are the photographic image data. The data input device can be, for example, a data interface, a modem or a scanner. If it is a scanner, the first (photographic) image data are, for example, captured by scanning a film which represents the photographic image information to be processed. Alternatively, the first image data can also be obtained, for example, through a network. These first image data are present in a first color space. Typically, this is a color space wherein the coordinates respectively describe one color i.e., for example, the RGB color space. The first image data represent an image or several images which have been photographically captured. Subsequent to the data input device is the optimization device in accordance with invention in which the first image data are optimized. Subsequent to the optimization device is then the data output device in order to output the optimized first image data which now optimally represent the image or the images. The data output device can also be a data interface for a modem. The data interface is, for example, connected with a computer or a photographic copier or with a network. However, the data output device can also be a picture producing device, which on a medium produces a picture based on the image data. For example, it can be a printer which based on image data prints the optimized picture. The printing can be carried out, for example, on normal paper or light sensitive paper by suited printers or other photographic copiers. The optimized first image data thereby describe image information which is processed by the data output device. This processing can include especially an adaptation and thereby change of the optimized first image data with regard to the output apparatus. Depending on whether the image data are intended for a monitor or printer of a specific type and depending on the dynamic range of the output medium (photographic paper, normal paper, monitor) the optimized image data can be manipulated and adapted to the dynamic range in order to achieve the best compromise with regard to the output medium. For example, the optimized image data can be digitally overlaid with a mask which brightens or darkens certain image regions in order to carry out an adaptation to the output medium and to the subjective human observation capabilities.
For optimization of the first image data, the latter must be corrected. The inventors have found that it is of significant advantage for the execution of such a correction when it is described by a transformation which corresponds to a correction which is carried out in another color space suited for the correction. The first image data to be optimized are present in a certain color space before the optimization which is in the following referred to as xe2x80x9cfirst color spacexe2x80x9d. The color values in the first color space described by the individual first image data are to be changed by the optimization. This change is preferably carried out by an optimizing transformation. In order that the optimizing transformation uses the advantage of a correction in a suitable color space, the optimizing transformation preferably corresponds to a combination of transforms, namely a so-called first transform, the mentioned correction transform and a so-called second transform, which have the properties described in the following.
The first transform transforms the first image data to be optimized from the first color space into the other, second color space suited for the correction. When the first image data are then found in the second color space, which is different from the first color space, a correction transform is carried out therein, which corrects the first image data within the second color space. When the first image data are corrected, they are transformed by a second transform into a third color space, which is especially different from the second color space and suited for the image reproduction (for example, photographic copier, monitor). In particular, the third color space is again the same color space as the first color space or a standard color space, such as, for example, sRGB or Lab. However, the transformation into the standard color space can also be carried out in a separate step, as described further below. If the first image data are, for example, in the RGB color space, and if the printout is to be carried out by way of a color laser printer including cyan, magenta, yellow and black toner, the transformation can be carried out in a corresponding CMYK color space (xe2x80x9cCxe2x80x9d for cyan, xe2x80x9cMxe2x80x9d for magenta, xe2x80x9cYxe2x80x9d for yellow and xe2x80x9cKxe2x80x9d for black). If the print production is carried out, for example, by exposure of photographic paper to differently colored lasers of three different wavelengths, the transformation can be carried out in a third color space the coordinates of which describe the wavelengths of the 3 lasers.
By transformation of the image data to be processed for the print production into a color space suited for the correction, optimal correction results can be achieved with little processing cost.
The correction transformation in the second color space corresponds preferably to a transform which includes a rotation and/or shear in this second color space. In particular, errors during the photographic capturing, especially errors in the color values (for example, color shift errors), can be corrected with this rotation. Preferably, the second color space is selected such that at least one coordinate describes the color density of the color. This has proven especially advantageous for carrying out a correction, especially when a color density transformation, in particular a rotation and/or shear and/or shift of the coordinate origin is used for the correction or if the color density transformation supports the correction. The color density transformation, especially rotation or shear, is preferably structured such that image data which represent a gray value or gray shade are after the color density transform closer to and/or at a smaller distance from the axis which describes the color density in the second color space (see also FIG. 5 of EP 0 586 772 A1 and description). Preferably a determination of the correction transformation is not carried out based on the first image data to be corrected, in particular because of the large data volume of these first image data. Preferably, the determination of the correction transform and especially the rotation is carried out based on the analysis of second image data. Although these second image data can be directly connected with the first image data (for example, statistically correlated therewith), they cannot be transformed into the first optimized image data because of their information content which is different from the one of the first image data. This is in particular due to the reduced local resolution, as will be described further below.
Preferably, not only a simple offset correction is carried out in the correction transform but a multidimensional correction or transform, and in particular the above-mentioned rotation or shear is carried out.
As mentioned, the correction transformation is preferably based on the analysis of second image data which preferably are also present in the second color space. Based on this analysis, which is in particular a statistical analysis of the second image data, the correction, in particular a multidimensional transformation or rotation, is then carried out in the second color space.
The second image data preferably have a significantly smaller data size than the first image data to be corrected in order to so minimize the processing cost for the analysis and the correction. In particular, the second image data have a significantly smaller local resolution than the first image data. Preferably, the second image data represent the image or images, which are also represented by the first image data. They at least represent a part of the image or images. Thus, a (statistical) correlation preferably exists between the first image data and the second image data. The second image data can be in particular image data which have proven a suitable basis for an analysis and correction. They can be continuously improved throughout the period of operation of the optimization apparatus. In particular, different second image data can be used depending on the type of the first image data to be processed, which means the film type used, the camera type used, and so on.
If the second image data are at least partly obtained from the same photographic image information as the first image data, this can take place independent of the extraction of the first image data or the second image data can be derived from the first image data. An independent extraction of the second image data is for example the scanning of a picture (for example film), which is the basis of the first image data, by a separate scanner, which in particular can have a higher spectral (but lower local) resolution than a scanner which is used for the extraction of the first image data.
If the second image data are obtained from the first, the first image data are therefor transformed in the second color space. Furthermore, a reduction of the local resolution preferably takes place in order to minimize the data volume for the analysis, based on the second image data.
The data volume and/or the local resolution of the second image data is preferably at least one order of magnitude below the data volume of the local resolution of the first image data, which are corrected based on the second image data, more preferred is a data volume or local resolution which is at least two orders of magnitude smaller and especially preferred is a data volume or local resolution which is at least three orders of magnitude smaller. A local resolution of less than 10,000 image points per image for the second image data and especially of the magnitude of about 1,000 image points has proven sufficient.
Processes are used for the analysis and correction, which are known from EP 0 586 773 A1 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,353, which are both incorporated herein by reference. However, no optimization takes place therein of the data to be processed for the image reproduction, but a determination of control data for the control of an exposure unit based on image data. A transformation of the control data from the color space in which the correction is carried out to another color space suited for the image reproduction does not take place. The actual image reduction is carried out by exposing a film onto a photographic paper. Especially, in contrast to the present invention, the image information to be reproduced (and stored on the film) is not transformed into (digital) image data or input as digital image data which are then subjected to the optimization transformation in accordance with invention.
Furthermore, in contrast to the processes described in the above-mentioned references, those data which are corrected are preferably not also used for the basis of the analysis. Preferably, a special data set, namely the already mentioned second image data, is produced which is then used as a basis for the analysis, whereby the result of the analysis is then not used for the correction of the second image data, but for the correction of the first image data which are present in particular in high resolution.
As is known from EP 0 586 773 A1 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,353, corrections can be carried out which are based on a statistical analysis of one set of images or on a statistical analysis of a single image. The set of images is thereby selected such that a statistical correlation between the images results, for example on the basis of the same film being used or the same camera being used. The second image data are therefore based in this case both on the image presently to be transformed as well as on a set of images in which the image presently to be transformed is included.
Through the correlation between the first and second image data all first image data which represent a certain image are therefore associated with a certain correction transformation.
Several correction transformations can also be used for the correction of first image data which represent a single image. This can be an advantage especially when the image has several dominant areas which greatly vary with respect to brightness and/or color shade. In that case, different correction transformations optimally suited for the respective region of the image can be determined and used in the optimization transformation.
As already mentioned above, undesired changes of the color values of the individual image points can be caused during the photographic recording and/or storing of the photographic image information. The data input device, especially a scanner, can also cause further undesired changes, especially when the scanner has a so-called color shift. The variance properties can be exactly measured for each scanner, for example, by way of color tables. However, it is necessary to carry this out for all color shades and color density levels. As a result of these measurements, a so-called profile of the data input device is obtained, especially of the scanner, for example, in matrix form or in the form of a table. Based on this profile, each individual image point of the first image data can then be corrected so that the variance properties of the input device can be equalized or reversed.
Alternatively, the second image data can be obtained from the first image data through a compensation transformation of the reduced first image data in the second color space. This compensation transformation is based preferably on a statistical analysis of reduced first image data, which represent a multitude of images input through the data input device and which reflect the color value variance properties of the data input device. The color value variance properties of the data input device are at least about equalized through the compensation transformation. A Karhunen-Loxc3xa8ve-Transformation can be used, for example, as compensation transformation. If the data input device is a scanner, a multitude of different film types and image types are preferably scanned in order to obtain base data for the analysis.
For data input devices which are constructed as a data interface, and which do not change the image data or image information, it is not necessary to generate a profile for the data input device or to use a compensation transformation. One can forego the profile even with a scanner, but at the expense of the data output quality.
Once first image data have been obtained in the manner mentioned above, which data are free of influences of the data input device, they are then advantageously subjected to the optimization transformation, or the processing operations for clearance of the first image data from these influences are included in the optimization transformation. For example, the first transformation can be implemented by the mentioned compensation transformation. Subsequently, the transformation from the first color space into the second color space takes place as well as the clearance of the first image data from influences of the data input device. Subsequent to the optimization transformation, another transformation into a standard color space, for example, sRGB or Lab, can take place, which is adjusted to the human eye or the human color perception and is independent of the output apparatus. With this transformation into the standard color space, a dynamic range and a gradation of the transformed image data can be achieved which are adapted to an average paper. An alignment of the dynamic range and gradation can subsequently take place. Such a transformation into the standard color space is carried out especially when the input first image data originate from a film. The dynamic range of a photographic paper, for example, is substantially smaller than the dynamic range of a film with which the photographic image information was captured. Especially the gradation of the photographic paper must be taken into consideration. In contrast, a transformation into the standard color space may not be necessary, when the first image data originate from a digital camera. Subsequent to the optional transformation into the standard color space, an adaptation of the optimized and standardized first image data to the output medium can be carried out. The same applies, albeit to a lesser degree, when the data are to be displayed on a monitor. The image data prepared in this way for a specific output can then be transferred to the output device or stored on a storage medium or transferred through a network (for example Internet) to a data receiver.
It is especially preferred to shape the second image data in such a way that they are free of influences from the data input device. Preferably, this applies especially also to the first image data transformed by the first transformation.
The first and second transformation can be determined depending on whether, for example, the second image data are obtained independent from the first image data, or whether they are obtained from the first image data before or after the reduction of the image data and before or after the application of a profile. The different variants are described in the following by way of a digital system and a hybrid system.


A method of determining the presence of a pneumothorax includes obtaining a series of frames of image data relating to a region of interest including a pleural interface of a lung. The image data includes at least a first frame and a second frame. The method further includes identifying, via processing circuitry, the pleural interface in at least the first frame and the second frame, determining, based on computing optical flow between the first and second frames, a pleural sliding classification of the image data at the pleural interface, and determining whether a pneumothorax is present in the pleural interface based on the pleural sliding classification.

A pneumothorax is an abnormal lung condition that is characterized by the collection of air in the pleural space separating the lung from the chest wall. Pneumothoraces may occur in one or both lungs and cause a partial or complete collapse of the affected lung or lungs. The severity of the collapse of one, or sometimes both, lungs determines the oxygenation and ventilation impairment for the patient, which can lead to hemodynamic instability and/or death.
The symptoms of pneumothorax are often vague and inconclusive, so that medical imaging is required to achieve an accurate diagnosis of the condition. A trained radiologist may attempt to diagnose the existence of pneumothorax by examining chest x-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, or ultrasound images. In fact, bedside ultrasounds have been used to accurately detect pneumothorax in acute emergency and trauma settings.


The invention provides a method for fabricating a memory device. At first, a substrate having a plurality of gate electrode stacks and a source/drain region is provided, and a barrier layer and a sacrificial layer are sequentially formed on the substrate and cover the gate electrode stacks. A portion of the sacrificial layer is removed to form a sacrificial plug between the gate electrode stacks, and then a filling layer is formed over the substrate. Next, the sacrificial plug is removed, and a contact hole is formed. A clean step with a solution containing ammonia is carried out. The barrier layer at the bottom of the contact hole is removed, and a metal plug is then formed in the contact hole to electrically contact with the source/drain region.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fabrication method for memory devices, and more particularly to a method for fabricating a bit line contact of a memory device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, the bit line contact is fabricated by a self-aligned process during the fabrication of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). At first, the insulating layer and the sacrificial layer are formed on the substrate, followed by patterning by a photolithography/etching process to define the area where the bit line contact is to be later formed. Next, the sacrificial layer and the insulating layer are removed, and the contact hole is formed. The metal plug is then filled in the contact hole to complete fabrication of the bit line contact.
FIG. 1 is a cross section of an unfinished memory device fabricated by a conventional method. Referring to FIG. 1, the gate electrode stacks 2 are formed on the substrate 1, and therebetween, the doped region 3 is formed in the substrate 1. In FIG. 1, the boron phosphate silicon glass (BPSG) layer 4 is formed over the substrate 1, followed by removal of the polysilicon sacrificial layer 5 to form the contact hole 7. When the sacrificial layer 5 is being removed, the etching rate of the polysilicon sacrificial layer of the peripheral substrate is smaller than the etching rate of the polysilicon sacrificial layer of the central substrate. As a result, the polysilicon sacrificial layer 5 of the peripheral substrate remains at the bottom of the contact hole 7. Since the polysilicon sacrificial layer 5 remains at the bottom of the contact hole 7, the silicon oxide layer 6 at the bottom of the contact hole 7 can not be completely removed. Accordingly, the metal plug later formed can not be completely in contact with the doped region 3, resulting in bit line contact failure.
Thus, a fabrication method for memory devices eliminating the described problems is required.


A combination handle and safety device configured to be attached to a hand tool to enable the hand tool to be safely stored upon a timber includes a handle, configured to be grasped by a user of the hand tool. Each of a pair of hanger prongs extends outwardly from an end of the handle and define an open channel disposable over a top of the timber. One of the hanger prongs extends along a side of the timber. A handle support extends from an opposite end of the handle and has a notch formed therein. The notch includes at least two engagement points oriented to engage the top of the timber to securely engage the timber with the device to enable the hand tool to be safely stored upon the timber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a safety and storage device for use on hand held tools. More particularly, the present invention relates to a safety device that can be attached to a hand tool to enable a user to safely store the safety device, and thus the hand tool, upon a structure such as a timber.
2. Related Art
Hand tools are often used in homes and the construction industry to perform a variety of tasks. Because they are generally portable devices, hand tools have found application in a wide array of projects and can be used in a variety of locations on the job site. While hand tools provide the convenience of portability, temporarily storing a hand tool to free a user's hands to perform additional tasks has proved problematic. For instance, while building a structure, a worker or user may have to alternately measure, saw and nail lumber. When using a saw, a worker will typically put the saw down while measuring or nailing, then pick it up again to perform a cut.
Thus, while the saw or other hand tool can be simply placed upon the ground or some other structure to free a user's hands, this generally requires that the operator interrupt the present task to set the tool down, then retrieve the tool when it is needed again. While some hand tools have been provided with hooks or other devices that allow a user to temporarily "hook" the tool to his or her tool belt instead of setting the tool down, heavy hand tools or power tools cannot be so easily stored, as the user's belt cannot support the heavy load.
An area in which these problems have proved particularly troublesome is in the construction or installation of joists, rafters and trusses. Because this type of work often demands that a builder use a hand-held power saw in elevated locations, temporary storage of the saw becomes even more problematic. Placing or storing the saw upon a nearby structure is difficult and dangerous, as the saw may fall or be knocked off the structure and potentially fall many feet, possibly damaging the saw or injuring a worker below. Thus, having to temporarily set a saw aside not only affects the efficiency of the builder, but creates a dangerous working environment for all workers on the job site.
Some builders, frustrated with attempts to temporarily store a saw on a nearby structure, have taken to forming a cut in the structure and using the cut to temporarily support the saw. This practice not only adds to the time required to store the saw, but it also results in unnecessary and dangerous cuts being formed in important structural elements such as joists or rafters. Not only can important structural elements be weakened by this method, but the resulting storage solution is not reliable, as the saw blade can be easily damaged or the saw can become easily dislodged.


A docking station and a control method thereof are provided. The docking station includes a first USB interface, a second USB interface, a video signal output terminal, a microcontroller, a first signal multiplexer, a second signal multiplexer, a video signal processor, and a video signal converter. The microcontroller determines whether the first USB interface or the second USB interface is connected to an electronic device. When the first USB interface is connected to the electronic device, the microcontroller sets the first USB interface as an uplink port. The uplink port receives a signal from the electronic device, and selects and outputs a video signal through the signal. The video signal processor is configured to receive and process the video signal. The video signal converter converts the video signal into a video output signal that is capable of being output to the video signal output terminal for playing.

A conventional docking station includes a plurality of USB interfaces. When the conventional docking station leaves the factory, one of the universal serial bus (USB) interfaces is preset as an uplink port, while the other USB interfaces are preset as downlink ports. The uplink port is used to connect to an active electronic device (e.g., a computer), and the downlink ports are used to connect to passive electronic devices (e.g., pen drives).
The conventional docking station is designed by printing a pattern on a casing of the conventional docking station, in order to identify which one of the USB interfaces is the uplink port, and which ones of the USB interfaces are downlink ports. Before connecting the active electronic device to the conventional docking station, a user has to identify the uplink port through visually observing the pattern. However, the method of identifying the uplink port by the pattern is not convenient. Furthermore, when the user fails to notice the pattern and connects the active electronic device to one of the USB interfaces corresponding to one of the downlink ports, the conventional docking station will not work. Accordingly, the user led to mistakenly believe that the conventional docking station is damaged.

Docking station and control method capable of automatically setting uplink port


Miniature release mechanisms constrain objects, such as deployables during the launch of space vehicles, such as small satellites and nanosatellites, and enable the release of the objects once a desired destination is reached by the space vehicle. Constraint and release of the objects are achieved by providing a secure threaded interface that may be released by the release mechanisms. The release mechanisms include a housing structure; a release block can include a threaded interface; one or more retracting pins; one or more release springs; a breakable link, such as a plastic link; a cable harness clamp; and a circuit board. The release mechanism can be 0.1875 inches (approximately 4.8 mm) thick.

Non-traditional spacecraft, such as small satellites and nanosatellites, are increasing in their rate of use for space based research. These small satellites and nanosatellites, such as CubeSats, are often constrained in pre-deployment size and weight, requiring the entire spacecraft to fit into a standardized deployment mechanism. For example, a 2U CubeS at may be required to fit into a 20 cm×10 cm×10 cm space prior to deployment. Once deployed, small satellites and nanosatellites often increase in size from their pre-deployment state by extending deployables, such as solar panels, antennas, etc.
The requirement to fit into such small spaces prior to deployment has limited the ability to constrain these deployables to the small satellites and nanosatellites, because traditional restraint mechanisms utilize a considerable amount of precious internal space of the small satellites and nanosatellites. To avoid dedicating internal space of the small satellites and nanosatellites, past designs have secured the deployables to the exterior of the small satellites and nanosatellites by looping the deployables and the small satellites and nanosatellites in monofilament line (i.e., fishing line). A burning wire is then activated after the small satellites and nanosatellites are deployed to melt the monofilament line and release the deployables. While tying the deployables down with monofilament line does not sacrifice internal space of the small satellites and nanosatellites to securing deployables prior to launch, the process of burning through the monofilament line is unpredictable and unreliable and the monofilament line is prone to stretching. Additionally, the small satellites and nanosatellites secured with monofilament line wrapped around them often fail to provide a rigid preload interface and the deployables can rattle leading to potential damage and other vibration issues. Therefore, a predictable and reliable release mechanism that does not utilize internal space of the small satellites and nanosatellites is needed.

Miniature release mechanism or diminutive assembly for nanosatellite deployables (DANY)

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


Provided is a gas-barrier laminate film that has a layer containing a one-pack adhesive coating material layer having good adhesiveness to various substrates and containing a polyamine resin. The laminate film has at least a substrate, an adhesive coating material layer and a sealant layer laminated in this order, wherein the adhesive coating material to form the adhesive coating material layer contains a polyamine resin, the polyamine resin contains a skeletal structure represented by the following formula (1) in an amount of at least 40% by mass, and the polyamine resin contains a metal atom in an amount of from 2.0 to 20 mol % relative to the nitrogen atom contained in the polyamine resin:

Recently, for the reasons of the strength, the ability to protect products and the working environment aptitude as wrapping materials and of the advertising effect by printing thereon, complex flexible films containing a combination of different types of polymer materials have become the mainstream in the art. Such complex films generally have a thermoplastic film layer to be the outer layer that plays a role of product protection, and a thermoplastic film layer to be a sealant layer; and for sticking these, there is employed a dry lamination method of applying an adhesive to a laminate film layer followed by adhering a sealant layer thereto, or an extrusion lamination method of optionally applying an anchor coating agent to a laminate film layer followed by melting and applying a plastic film to be a sealant layer thereto under pressure for film-like lamination.
The mainstream of the adhesive to be used in these methods is, in general, a two-pack polyurethane adhesive that contains a main ingredient having an active hydrogen group such as a hydroxyl group or the like and a curing agent having an isocyanate group, from the viewpoint of the high adhesive performance thereof (see Patent References 1 and 2).
However, in general, the curing reaction of the two-pack polyurethane adhesive of the type is not so rapid, and therefore the adhesive requires curing promotion by aging for a long period of time of from 1 to 5 days after sticking therewith, for securing sufficient adhesion. In addition, the adhesive uses a curing agent having an isocyanate group, and therefore in case where the unreacted isocyanate group remains after curing, the remaining isocyanate group would react with moisture in air to generate carbon dioxide, therefore bringing about a problem in that bubbles may form inside the laminate film.
On the other hand, as a method for solving the problem, there are proposed a polyurethane adhesive and an epoxy adhesive for lamination (see Patent References 3 and 4).
However, the gas barrier property of the polyurethane adhesive and the epoxy adhesive for lamination mentioned above is not good, and therefore, in use thereof for wrapping materials that require gas barrier performance, a layer capable of playing a role of adhesion such as an adhesive layer, an anchor coat layer or the like must be additionally laminated between a gas barrier layer such as a PVDC coat layer, a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) coat layer, an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) film layer, a polymetaxylylenadipamide film layer, an inorganic substance deposited film layer with alumina, silica or the like deposited thereon or the like, and a flexible polymer film layer to be a sealant layer (see Patent Reference 5), which is, however, disadvantageous in that the laminate film production cost would increase and the lamination working process would be complicated.
As a method for solving the problem, there is proposed an adhesive for gas-barrier lamination (see patent Reference 6). However, though the proposed epoxy resin composition could exhibit a good gas barrier property, it is a two-pack adhesive, and therefore, its pot life is short. Accordingly, a one-pack gas-barrier adhesive coating material having good workability is desired.


A transfix blanket for a printer may include a substrate layer. A conformance layer may be disposed at least partially on the substrate layer. An adhesive layer may be disposed at least partially on the conformance layer. At least one of the conformance layer and the adhesive layer may include a plurality of infrared reflective pigments. A topcoat layer may be disposed at least partially on the adhesive layer. The topcoat may include an infrared absorptive material.

In indirect aqueous printing, an aqueous ink is jetted onto an intermediate imaging surface, typically called a blanket, and the ink is partially dried on the blanket prior to transfixing the image to a media substrate, such as a sheet of paper. As it is important not to disturb the semi-wet ink, non-contact heating is employed to dry the ink. The non-contact heating may be radiant or convection heating; however, convection heating may be impractical due to size, cost, and noise.
Radiant heat, while fast acting and effective, is not color blind. It has been observed that for a given radiant source wavelength, different colors of ink exhibit different degrees of photothermal conversion. For example, black ink ("K") absorbs heat and dries more quickly than cyan ("C"), magenta ("M"), and/or yellow ("Y"). A system and method that mitigates these differences, thereby enabling ink to dry more efficiently would be desirable.

Infrared reflective pigments in a transfix blanket in a printer


A lubricant composition having a base oil and one or more additives wherein the lubricant composition has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of more than 5.6 cSt; a cold cranking simulated dynamic viscosity at −35° C. according to ASTM D 5293 of less than 6200 centiPoise (cP); and, a mini rotary viscosity test value of less than 60000 cP according to ASTM D 4684, wherein the base oil has been obtained from a waxy paraffinic Fischer-Tropsch synthesized hydrocarbon.

Such lubricant compositions are also referred to as SAE 0W-x compositions. SAE stands for Society of Automotive Engineers in the USA. The "0" number in such a designation is associated with a maximum viscosity requirement at −35° C. for that composition as measured typically by a cold cranking simulator (VdCCS) under high shear. The second number "x" is associated with a kinematic viscosity requirement at 100° C.
The minimum high temperature viscosity requirement at 100° C. is intended to prevent the oil from thinning out too much during engine operation which can lead to excessive wear and increased oil consumption. The maximum low temperature viscosity requirement, VdCCS, is intended to facilitate engine starting or cranking in cold weather. To ensure pumpability the cold oil should readily flow or slump into the well for the oil pump, otherwise the engine can be damaged due to insufficient lubrication. The mini rotary viscosity (MRV) requirement is intended to ensure a minimum pumpability performance.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,598 describes a lubricant formulation according to 0W-20 based on so-called poly-alpha olefins. Poly-alpha olefins are prepared by oligermization of alpha olefins (PAO) as for example described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,965,018. The disadvantage of such PAO base stock is its high cost of manufacture, as for example mentioned in the introductory part of U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,437. Nevertheless PAO are widely used to formulate such lubricant compositions because no commercially available alternative exists having the cleanliness and low temperature properties as PAO. Another aspect of using PAO base stock is that additional base stock like for example ester based or aromatic based base stock will also be present in the lubricant formulation in order to confer additional desired characteristics as for example additive solvency and seal compatibility.

Lubricant composition having a base oil and one or more additives, wherein the base oil has been obtained from waxy paraffinic fischer-tropsch synthesized hydrocarbons


A system and method are provided for controlling a three-phased permanent magnet electric motor terminal voltages in relation to both changes in speed and torque of the permanent magnet electric motor, whereby phase currents are first rotated from a stationary frame to two decoupled current components in a rotor synchronous frame, which enable to derive a voltage along a quadrature axis and a voltage along a direct axis thereof, before rotating back the quadrature and direct axis voltages from the rotor synchronous frame to the stationary frame to yield the permanent magnet electric motor terminal voltages.

Generally, in order to control a permanent magnet motor, characteristics of the permanent magnet motor such as the phase, the frequency and the amplitude of the electric motive force ("emf") voltage generated by the rotation of the motor rotor, need to be determined to yield a voltage to be applied to the motor terminals.
These characteristics of the permanent magnet motor may be obtained by using a position sensor, which results in increased costs and reduces the reliability of the method because feedback signals are subject to changes in the ambient environment such as noise and temperature and to the presence of impurity for example.
A possible method involves estimating the emf of the permanent magnet motor. However, in case of a high-speed motor this method requires a high computation speed, which may result costly. Moreover, since the characteristics of the motor are dependent on the ambient environment, such a control method can be complex.
European Patent EP0944164 teaches a system and a method for controlling a permanent magnet electric motor using an induced voltage estimator.
From the foregoing, it appears that although a number of methods are known to control permanent magnet motors, these methods either require position sensors and complicated computation or must be adapted to the environment according to each design of permanent magnet motors.
Therefore, there is a need for a system and a method, which allow controlling a permanent magnet electric motor in a simple, reliable way and which automatically adapts to environmental changes.

System and method for controlling a permanent magnet electric motor


An addressable illuminator is disclosed consisting of multiple optical sources used in combination with an electrical circuit so that different combinations of the optical sources can be energized without exceeding eye-safety limits. Operation of multiple optical sources may be proximate, which is eye-safe, regardless of the number of or which ones of the optical sources are energized and regardless of the position of observers. An illuminator with multiple optical sources remains eye-safe when there are single-point electrical failures, such as short circuits, in the driving circuit. Monitoring or a feedback loop for the output power is not required or necessary to control the distance of an observer in order to be eye-safe.

A number of solutions have been proposed in the past for laser light projectors or illuminators that will protect the eye-safety of users and viewers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,661,820 by Camilleri et al. (issued Dec. 9, 2003) describes controlling the output power of structured laser light projectors for maintaining eye-safety, including the use of multiple laser diodes. However, their approach provides a separately controlled laser current for each laser diode. Further, the current is controlled by a feedback system incorporating a photodetector and setting the parameters requires software running on an associated processor. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 7,925,059 by Hoyos et al. (issued Apr. 12, 2011) describes eye-safety considerations for an iris biometric system incorporating multiple illuminators. The patent teaches a method for determining eye-safety of controlled illuminators, but relies on software for controlling the illuminators. The patent references U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0274918 by Amantea et al. (published Dec. 7, 2006), that also relies on software running on a processor to compute eye-safe levels.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,922,430 by Biswas et al. (issued Jul. 26, 2005), entitled "Method and apparatus for a multibeam beacon laser assembly for optical communications," describes an illuminator system with a plurality of laser sources that can be independently adjusted. The eye-safety advantages of multibeam systems are briefly mentioned. There is no mention of circuitry or electronics. U.S. Pat. No. 7,787,767 by Wang, X. (issued Aug. 31, 2010), entitled "Eye safety in electro-optical transceivers," and patents referenced in the disclosure therein describe signal loss detection circuitry to maintain eye-safety of parallel laser communication systems. These systems rely on monitoring of the output power or received power of one or more of the laser sources.
Additional apparently less relevant patents include U.S. Pat. No. 7,796,081 by Breed (issued Sep. 14, 2010), entitled "Combined imaging and distance monitoring for vehicular applications;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,742,640 by Carlson et al. (issued Jun. 22, 2010), entitled "Reduction of background clutter in structured lighting systems;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,568,802 by Phinney et al. (issued Aug. 4, 2009), entitled "Eye-safe near infra-red imaging illumination method and system;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,232,240 by Kosnik et al. (issued Jun. 19, 2007), entitled "Extended source laser illuminator;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,373 by Kriesel (issued Dec. 13, 2005), entitled "Apparatus and methods for the volumetric and dimensional measurement of livestock;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,218 by German et al. (issued Dec. 28, 1999), entitled "Self-contained laser illuminator module;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,200 by Barrett et al. (issued Jan. 17, 1995), entitled "Eye safe laser imaging system;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,745,515 by Marta and Morgan, (issued Apr. 28, 1980), entitled "Self-limiting intrinsically eye-safe laser utilizing an increasing absorption layer;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,834,302 by Ripingill et al. (issued Nov. 16, 2010), entitled "Eye safety protection from high power laser light;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,911,412 by Benner, Jr. et al. (issued Mar. 22, 2011), entitled "Audience scanning light projector and associated methods;" and U.S. Pat. No. 7,087,886 by Almi et al, (issued Aug. 8, 2006), entitled "Method and a system for multi-pixel ranging of a scene."

Addressable illuminator with eye-safety circuitry


The present air cleaner for an engine of a vehicle, includes: a cleaner case; and a filter assembly disposed in the cleaner case. The filter assembly includes a cylindrical cleaner element, an element supporting member supporting a lower end of the cleaner element and an inner circumferential surface of the cleaner element so that the cleaner element is kept in a predetermined cylindrical shape, and a plate-shaped top cover detachably fastened on an upper surface of the element supporting member so as to press an upper end of the cleaner element downward.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air cleaner for an engine mainly mounted on a straddle-type vehicle such as a straddle-type four-wheel vehicle or a motorcycle.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 10 shows a known air cleaner 100 mounted on a vehicle such as a straddle-type four-wheel vehicle (JP-A 2003-286916). The air cleaner 100 has a cleaner case 101 formed by joining together an upper case member 102 and a lower case member 103. The cleaner case 101 contains a filter assembly 105 therein. A cleaner inlet (air intake port) 110 is formed on the side wall of the lower case member 103. A cleaner outlet (air outlet port) 111 to be connected to a carburetor is formed on the bottom wall of the lower case member 103. Air (the open air) is taken through the air intake port 110 to an inside of the cleaner case 101. The induced air passes through the filter assembly 105 from the outside to the inside so as to be filtered. The filtered air is supplied to the carburetor through the air outlet port 111 on the bottom.
FIG. 11 shows an exploded perspective view of the filter assembly 105 of FIG. 10. The filter assembly 105 includes a lower holder 120 which is made of resin, an upper holder 121 which is made of metal, a top cover 122 which is made of metal, and a cylindrical cleaner element 123 which is made of urethane foam.
The lower holder 120 includes an annular base 131, a plurality of upright support pillars 132 which are integrally formed with the base 131. The base 131 is fastened to the lower case member 103 by bolts 135. Female screw holes 137 are formed on the upper ends of the support pillars 132. The top cover 122 is formed integrally with the upper holder 121 with metal and has bolt through holes 138.
The upper holder 121 is formed in a cylindrical shape corresponding to the cylindrical shape of the cleaner element 123 and has many holes 140 which are made by punching. A wire gauze 141 as a flame arrester is integrally attached to the inner surface of the upper holder 121.
The cleaner element 123 is disposed on the outer surface of the upper holder 121. The upper holder 121 is disposed around the support pillars 132 of the lower holder 120 and is fastened to the upper end of the lower holder 120 with bolts 143. Thereby, the cleaner element 123 is held between the lower surface of the top cover 122 and the upper surface of the base 131.
When the cleaner element 123 is replaced, first, the upper case member 102 is removed. Next, the bolts 143 shown in FIG. 11 are removed, and the upper holder 121 with the top cover 122 and the cleaner element 123 are removed all together. Then, a new cleaner element 123 is disposed on the upper holder 121, and the upper holder 121 with the cleaner element 123 is mounted on the lower holder 120 together with the top cover 122.
As shown in FIG. 11, the top cover 122 of metal, the upper holder 121 of metal, and the wire gauze 141 are formed as an integral unit. Therefore, the manufacturing cost thereof increases due the increased number of assembling steps, and the weight thereof also increases. Moreover, a replacement of the cleaner element 123 requires much work since the integral metal unit including the three members 121, 122, 141 should be removed in order to replace the cleaner element 123.