An aerosol particle spectrometer utilizes a high voltage central electrode and a series of annular, axially arranged collector electrodes maintained at ground, for collecting positively charged particles suspended in an aerosol flowing between the electrodes. Each collector electrode provides current to an integrating electrometer including circuitry that rapidly charges and discharges the integrating capacitor during a brief reset cycle, to generate accurate particle characterizing information based on low currents, with high bandwidth and high dynamic range, virtually in real time.

The present invention relates to devices for measuring electrical currents, and more particularly to integrating electrometers for measuring fluctuating currents. The invention further relates to instruments that use integrating electrometers to measure electrical currents to generate particle concentration distributions based on electrical mobility.
Since the late 1960s, those skilled in the art have relied on electrical mobility in a variety of instruments for counting and sizing the particles in aerosols, i.e. suspensions of particles in gaseous media. One such instrument is shown schematically in FIG. 1. An aerosol including a polydisperse particulate suspension is introduced into a cylindrical housing 1 at an entrance 2 where an electrical charge is applied to the particles. A sheath flow of filtered air is introduced to the housing through a conduit 3. A cylindrical center electrode 4 is maintained at a high voltage to attract the charged particles, while an outer wall 5 of the housing is maintained at ground. As the aerosol and sheath flows merge and proceed downward, the charged particles move inwardly toward electrode 4 at different rates that depend on their electrical mobility. Particles with higher mobility, typically the smaller particles, impinge upon electrode 4 above a slot 6. Particles with lower mobilities impinge upon the electrode below the slot. Particles within a desired electrical mobility range enter the slot and travel out through a conduit 7 as a monodisperse aerosol. The remainder of the original aerosol, and sheath flow, exit the instrument through an exhaust conduit 8.
By stepping the voltage applied to electrode 4 through a series of different levels, and separately counting particles exhibiting the desired electrical mobility at each level, this instrument can be used to generate a size distribution or spectrum of the particles. This approach is satisfactory when the particle distribution in the aerosol is expected to remain fairly stable, e.g. in environmental monitoring. However, in situations where the particulate makeup of the aerosol is likely to experience rapid fluctuations, such as in studies of engine exhaust particles, the time required for stepping the electrode voltage through the desired series of levels can interfere with the need to track rapidly changing conditions. Further, this approach cannot be used to generate discreet measurements representing different sizes of particles within the same packet or volume of the aerosol as it progresses through the instrument.
To address these concerns, particle measuring instruments have been developed with modified electrode configurations to enable simultaneous generation of multiple currents for particle sizing. In particular, one recently developed instrument features a single central column electrode biased to one or more positive voltage levels, surrounded by an axially extending series of annular collector electrodes maintained at ground. Smaller, higher-mobility particles are collected at the upstream electrodes, while larger, lower-mobility particles are collected at the downstream electrodes. Each electrode generates its own measurement current, based on the collection of particles within its range of electrical mobility, which is used to represent a particle size range. Accordingly, multiple size measurements are taken simultaneously, with no need to step through multiple levels of biasing voltage. Further, individual volumes or packets of the aerosol can be measured in multiple channels or stages, each corresponding to one of the collector electrodes, as the aerosol volume proceeds through the instrument.
Electrical currents generated by particle collection at the annular electrodes are measured by electrometer amplifiers, each generating an output voltage representative of the incoming current. Traditionally, the electrometer amplifier circuits have employed operational amplifiers with low input bias currents and high value resistors in their feedback loops. Currents to be measured are provided to the negative input terminals of the operational amplifiers. As a result, the output voltage U is generated according to the formula U=−IR, where I is the incoming current and R is the resistance.
While this arrangement is better suited to track changing particulate levels in monitored aerosols, thermal noise due to the high value feedback resistor requires use of a low pass filter to remove the noise component. This limits the bandwidth of the measuring circuit, reducing its ability to accurately follow fluctuations in particle sizes and concentrations. Accordingly, this approach is not entirely satisfactory for following the transients inherent in engine exhausts.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an instrument for characterizing aerosol particles based on their electrical mobility, with the capacity to accurately classify particles by size, based on low amplitude particle collection currents subject to rapid fluctuations.
Another object is to provide an aerosol particle spectrometer capable of generating, simultaneously, multiple currents representative of particles in different ranges of electrical mobility, sampled at a high rate to achieve improved tracking of fluctuations in the multiple currents.
A further object is to provide an integrating electrometer circuit configured to generate an output that rapidly and accurately characterizes the incoming current, to provide more reliable tracking of rapidly fluctuating incoming currents.
Yet another object is to provide a process for measuring an electrical current by integrating the current over a range predetermined by at least one threshold signal level, using the threshold level to rapidly reset an output based on the incoming current by positively driving the output back into the operating range for further integration.

Integrating electrometer amplifying circuit


Method of recovering fluids from an underground tar sand reservoir or heavy oil reservoir comprising (a) drilling and completing a first pair of wells and a second pair of wells, each pair comprising an injection well terminating in the reservoir and a production well terminating in the reservoir below the injection well; (b) circulating steam through the injection wells and performing alternate steam injection and fluid production through the production wells; and (c) injecting steam through the injection wells while producing fluids through the production wells, wherein the injection pressure of the injection well of the first pair of wells is greater than the injection pressure of the injection well of the second pair of wells.

A method of recovering hydrocarbon liquid and gas fluids from an underground tar sand or heavy oil reservoir is known which comprises (a) drilling and completing a pair of wells, which pair comprises an injection well terminating in the reservoir and a production well terminating in the reservoir below the injection well; and (b) creating a permeable zone between the injection well and the production well.
After having created permeable zones between the injection well and the production well steam injection through the production well is stopped and steam is only injected through the injection well while fluids are produced through the production well.
It is believed that the injected steam forms in the reservoir a steam-containing, heated zone around and above the injection well and that fluids (throughout) are mobilized in the heated reservoir and drain by gravity through the heated zone to the production well which is located below the injection well. Therefore this method is referred to as steam assisted gravity drainage.
It is an object of the present invention to improve the known method.

Recovering hydrocarbons from tar sand or heavy oil reservoirs


A method for controlling engagement and release of friction clutches in a multiple-ratio transmission for a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain uses electric motor torque to augment engine torque as a power-on downshift is commanded. Near the end of a downshift event, total powertrain torque is modulated or reduced to reduce torque disturbances.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a multiple-ratio power transmission mechanism in a hybrid vehicle powertrain.
2. Background Art
An example of a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,066, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The powertrain includes an electric motor, such as a high voltage induction motor, situated between an internal combustion engine and a multiple-ratio power transmission mechanism, wherein driving torque of the engine is supplemented with electric motor torque. The combined engine torque and electric motor torque is transferred to vehicle traction wheels through multiple-ratio gearing of the power transmission mechanism. A wet clutch assembly may be included in the power flow path between the torque input element of the multiple-ratio power transmission mechanism and the crankshaft of the engine. The torque output side of the clutch is connected to the rotor of the electric motor, which functions as a motor/alternator unit. The engine and the electric motor are controlled so that the engine and the electric motor function in their respective optimum efficiency operating ranges, thereby improving fuel economy and reducing undesirable exhaust gas emissions from the engine.
During operation from a standing start, the powertrain of the '066 patent receives a power request or command by the vehicle driver for power to effect controlled acceleration. The driver command is in the form of a signal that is a function of the depression of a vehicle accelerator pedal. During a power-on downshift in a powertrain with a conventional automatic transmission, the engine torque will increase because of the advancement of the accelerator pedal. That increase in engine torque is used to both accelerate the vehicle and overcome the engine's inertia as the engine speed increases to the value corresponding to a higher gear ratio.
During the speed ratio change, the transmission remains initially in the upshifted torque ratio. A torque ratio change takes place at the end of the speed ratio change. During the speed ratio change, there is no significant change in wheel torque, which causes a delay in the desired acceleration. The length of the delay depends on the amount of torque that the engine is producing and the amount of the effective inertia mass connected to the engine.
Torque fluctuations in the powertrain can occur also at the end of the downshift as friction torque establishing elements of the transmission are engaged and released synchronously. This also can result in a lack of smoothness of a downshift.

Control of power-on downshifts in a multiple-ratio powertrain for a hybrid vehicle


An action teaching method is provided for teaching a robotic arm of a robotic arm system through a gesture teaching device. In a step (a), a touch condition of a user's finger is sensed by the touch sensing unit. In a step (b), a sensing result of the touch sensing unit is transmitted to an identification unit, so that a touch information is identified by the identification unit. In a step (c), the touch information is transmitted to a teaching unit, so that the teaching unit actuates a corresponding operation of the robotic arm system according to the touch information. In a step (d), an operating result of the robotic arm system is shown on a display unit, so that the user judges whether the operating result of the robotic arm system is successful through the display unit.

Recently, with the development of mechanisms, automatic control technologies and computer technologies, the robotic arm system has been widely used in various industries. The robotic arm system can be used to control the robotic arm to perform various highly-repetitive tasks in order to automatically produce and assemble the products in the highly-efficient and stable manner. For operating the robotic arm, it is necessary to perform three steps of moving the robotic arm, teaching the robotic arm and writing an application program. In the step of moving the robotic arm, the robotic arm has to be moved to a required position in the space. In the step of teaching the robotic arm, the robotic arm memorizes the required position or the trajectory in the space. The step of writing the application program is to automatically move the robotic arm according to the user's intention.
Conventionally, there are three methods of teaching the robotic arm. The first method uses a teach pendant. The teach pendant is equipped with various interfaces and buttons. The user can operate the teach pendant to implement the steps of moving the robotic arm, teaching the robotic arm and writing the application program. The second method uses a computer software. The computer software contains various virtual interfaces and buttons. The user can operate the computer program to implement the steps of moving the robotic arm, teaching the robotic arm and writing the application program. The third method uses a teaching technology. After the robotic arm is manually moved by the user's hand, the teach pendant or the computer software is used to perform the step of teaching the robotic arm and the step of writing the application program.
Since the above three methods of teaching the robotic arm have to use the teach pendant or the computer software, the action of the robotic arm is neither nimble nor intuitive. In other words, the user is unable to intuitively operate the robotic arm to simultaneously complete the steps of moving the robotic arm, teaching the robotic arm and writing the application program.
Therefore, there is a need of providing an action teaching method for a robotic arm and a gesture teaching device using the action teaching method in order to overcome the above drawbacks.

Action teaching method for robotic arm and gesture teaching device


An apparatus for effecting base pair length separations of DNA fragments by matched ion paired chromatography comprising a separation column containing separation media having non-polar DNA separation surfaces, separation solution supply means, and a separation solution conduit communicating with the separation column and the separation solution supply means, and a cleaning solution valve means positioned in the separation solution conduit for injecting cleaning solution into the separation solution conduit. A process for cleaning the non-polar DNA separation surfaces in the apparatus comprising interrupting the flow of separation solvent with a block of cleaning solution injected into the flow of separation solution passing to the column, the cleaning solution containing agent which removes accumulated residues from the non-polar surface. The cleaning solution can have an alkaline pH and contain a chelating agent such as EDTA.

This invention relates to DNA separation systems suitable for effecting a size-based (base pair length) separation of DNA. In particular this invention relates to a process for restoring matched ion polynucleotide chromatography (MIPC) columns without removing them from the separation system. This process can be used to remove DNA residues from the column between separations or to regenerate columns which have become less effective as a result of extended use.
DNA molecules are polymers comprising sub-units called deoxynucleotides. The four deoxynucleotides found in DNA comprise a common cyclic sugar, deoxyribose, which is covalently bonded to any of the four bases, adenine (a purine), guanine (a purine), cytosine (a pyrimidine), and thymine (a pyrimidine), referred to herein as A, G, C, and T respectively. A phosphate group links a 3xe2x80x2-hydroxyl of one deoxynucleotide with the 5xe2x80x2-hydroxyl of another deoxynucleotide to form a polymeric chain. In double stranded DNA, two strands are held together in a helical structure by hydrogen bonds between what are called complimentary bases. The complimentarity of bases is determined by their chemical structures. In double stranded DNA, each A pairs with a T and each G pairs with a C, i.e., a purine pairs with a pyrimidine. Ideally, DNA is replicated in exact copies by DNA polymerases during cell division in the human body or in other living organisms. DNA strands can also be replicated in vitro by means of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
Sometimes, exact replication fails and an incorrect base pairing occurs. Further replication of the new strand produces double stranded DNA offspring containing a heritable difference in the base sequence from that of the parent. Such heritable changes in base pair sequence are called mutations.
As used herein, double stranded DNA is referred to as a duplex. When a base sequence of one strand is entirely complimentary to a base sequence of the other strand, the duplex is called a homoduplex. When a duplex contains at least one base pair which is not complimentary, the duplex is called a heteroduplex. A heteroduplex is formed during DNA replication when an error is made by a DNA polymerase enzyme and a non-complimentary base is added to a polynucleotide chain being replicated. Further replications of a heteroduplex will, ideally, produce homoduplexes which are heterozygous, i.e., these homoduplexes will have an altered sequence compared to the original parent DNA strand. When the parent DNA has a sequence which predominates in a naturally occurring population, the sequence is generally referred to as a xe2x80x9cWild typexe2x80x9d.
Many different types of DNA mutations are known. Examples of DNA mutations include, but are not limited to, xe2x80x9cpoint mutationxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9csingle base pair mutationsxe2x80x9d in which an incorrect base pairing occurs. The most common point mutations comprise xe2x80x9ctransitionsxe2x80x9d in which one purine or pyrimidine base is replaced for another and xe2x80x9ctransversionsxe2x80x9d wherein a purine is substituted for a pyrimidine (and visa versa). Point mutations also comprise mutations in which a base is added or deleted from a DNA chain. Such xe2x80x9cinsertionsxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cdeletionsxe2x80x9d are also known as xe2x80x9cframeshift mutationsxe2x80x9d. Although they occur with less frequency than point mutations, larger mutations affecting multiple base pairs can also occur and may be important. A more detailed discussion of mutations can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,039 to Modrich (1995), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,400 to Cotton (1997). These references and the references contained therein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
The sequence of base pairs in DNA is a code for the production of proteins. In particular, a DNA sequence in the exon portion of a DNA chain codes for a corresponding amino acid sequence in a protein. Therefore, a mutation in a DNA sequence may result in an alteration in the amino acid sequence of a protein. Such an alteration in the amino acid sequence may be completely benign or may inactivate a protein or alter its function to be life threatening or fatal. On the other hand, mutations in an intron portion of a DNA chain would not be expected to have a biological effect since an intron section does not contain code for protein production. Nevertheless, mutation detection in an intron section may be important, for example, in a forensic investigation.
Detection of mutations is therefore of great importance in diagnosing diseases, understanding the origins of disease, and the development of potential treatments. Detection of mutations and identification of similarities or differences in DNA samples is also of critical importance in increasing the world food supply by developing diseases resistant and/or higher yielding crop strains, in forensic science, in the study of evolution and populations, and in scientific research in general (Guyer, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92:10841 (1995); Cotton, TIG 13:43 (1997)).
Alterations in a DNA sequence which are benign or have no negative consequences are sometimes called xe2x80x9cpolymorphismsxe2x80x9d. For the purposes of this application, all alterations in the DNA sequence, whether they have negative consequences or not, are defined herein as xe2x80x9cmutationsxe2x80x9d. For the sake of simplicity, the term xe2x80x9cmutationxe2x80x9d is used herein to mean an alteration in the base sequence of a DNA strand compared to a reference strand (generally, a wild type). As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cmutationxe2x80x9d includes the term xe2x80x9cpolymorphismxe2x80x9d or any other similar or equivalent term of art.
Prior to this invention, size based analysis of DNA samples was accomplished by standard gel electrophoresis (GEP). Capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE) has also been used to separate and analyze mixtures of DNA fragments having different lengths, e.g., the digests produced by restriction enzyme cleavage of DNA samples. However, these methods cannot distinguish DNA fragments which have the same base pair length but have a differing base sequence. This is a serious limitation of GEP.
Mutations in heteroduplex DNA strands under xe2x80x9cpartially denaturingxe2x80x9d conditions can be detected by gel based analytical methods such as denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and denaturing gradient gel capillary electrophoresis (DGGC). The term xe2x80x9cpartially denaturingxe2x80x9d is defined to be the separation of a mismatched base pair (caused by temperature, pH, solvent, or other factors) in a DNA double strand while other portions of the double strand remain intact, that is, are not separated. The phenomenon of xe2x80x9cpartial denaturationxe2x80x9d occurs because a heteroduplex will denature at the site of base pair mismatch at a lower temperature than is required to denature the remainder of the strand.
These gel-based techniques are difficult and require highly skilled laboratory scientists. In addition, each analysis requires a lengthy setup and separation. A denaturing capillary gel electrophoresis analysis can only be made of relatively small fragments. A separation of a 90 base pair fragment takes more than 30 minutes. A gradient denaturing gel runs overnight and requires about a day of set up time. Additional deficiencies of gradient gels are the difficulty of adapting these procedures to isolate separated DNA fragments (which requires specialized techniques and equipment), and establishing the conditions required for the isolation. The conditions must be experimentally developed for each fragment (Laboratory Methods for the Detection of Mutations and Polymorphisms, ed. G. R. Taylor, CRC Press, 1997). The long analysis time of the gel methodology is further exacerbated by the fact that the movement of DNA fragments in a gel is inversely proportional, in a geometric relationship, to the length of the DNA fragments. Therefore, the analysis time of longer DNA fragments can often be untenable.
In addition to the deficiencies of denaturing gel methods mentioned above, these techniques are not always reproducible or accurate since the preparation of a gel and running an analysis can be highly variable from one operator to another.
Separation of double stranded nucleic acid fragment mixtures by GEP or DGGE produces a linear array of bands, each band in the array representing a separated double stranded nucleic acid component of that mixture. Since many mixtures are typically separated and analyzed simultaneously in separate lanes on the same gel slab, a parallel series of such linear arrays of bands is produced. Bands are often curved rather than straight, their mobility and shape can change across the width of the gel, and lanes and bands can mix with each other. The sources of such inaccuracies stem from the lack of uniformity and homogeneity of the gel bed, electroendosmosis, thermal gradient and diffusion effects, as well as host of other factors. Inaccuracies of this sort are well known in the GEP art and can lead to serious distortions and inaccuracies in the display of the separation results. In addition, the band display data obtained from GEP separations is not quantitative or accurate because of the uncertainties related to the shape and integrity of the bands. True quantitation of linear band array displays produced by GEP separations cannot be achieved, even when the linear band arrays are scanned with a detector and the resulting data is integrated, because the linear band arrays are scanned only across the center of the bands. Since the detector only sees a small portion of any given band and the bands are not uniform, the results produced by the scanning method are not accurate and can even be misleading.
Methods for visualizing GEP and DGGE separations, such as staining or autoradiography are also cumbersome and time consuming. In addition, separation data is in hard copy form and cannot be electronically stored for easy retrieval and comparison, nor can it be enhanced to improve the visualization of close separations.
Separation of double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acids (dsDNA) fragments and detection of DNA mutations is of great importance in medicine, in the physical and social sciences, and in forensic investigations. The Human Genome Project is providing an enormous amount of genetic information and yielding new information for evaluating the links between mutations and human disorders (Guyer, et al., Proc. NatL. Acad. Sci. USA 92:10841 (1995)). For example, the ultimate source of disease is described by genetic code that differs from the wild type (Cotton, TIG 13:43 (1997)). Understanding the genetic basis of disease can be the starting point for a cure. Similarly, determination of differences in genetic code can provide powerful and perhaps definitive insights into the study of evolution and populations (Cooper, et. al., Human Genetics vol. 69:201 (1985)). Understanding these and other issues related to genetic coding requires the ability to identify anomalies, i.e., mutations, in a DNA fragment relative to the wild type.
Traditional chromatography is a separation process based on partitioning of mixture components between a xe2x80x9cstationary phasexe2x80x9d and a xe2x80x9cmobile phasexe2x80x9d. The stationary phase is provided by the surface of solid materials Which can comprise many different materials in the form of particles or passageway surfaces of cellulose, silica gel, coated silica gel, polymer beads, polysaccharides, and the like. These materials can be supported on solid surfaces such as on glass plates or packed in a column. The mobile phase can be a liquid or a gas in gas chromatography. This invention relates to liquid mobile phases.
The separation principles are generally the same regardless of the materials used, the form of the materials, or the apparatus used. The different components of a mixture have different respective degrees of solubility in the stationary phase and in the mobile phase. Therefore, as the mobile phase flows over the stationary phase, there is an equilibrium in which the sample components are partitioned between the stationary phase and the mobile phase. As the mobile phase passes through the column, the equilibrium is constantly shifted in favor of the mobile phase. This occurs because the equilibrium mixture, at any time, sees fresh mobile phase and partitions into the fresh mobile phase. As the mobile phase is carried down the column, the mobile phase sees fresh stationary phase and partitions into the stationary phase. Eventually, at the end of the column, there is no more stationary phase and the sample simply leaves the column in the mobile phase.
A separation of mixture components occurs because the mixture components have slightly different affinities for the stationary phase and/or solubilities in the mobile phase, and therefore have different partition equilibrium values. Therefore, the mixture components pass down the column at different rates.
Since chromatographic separations depend on interactions with the stationary phase, it is known that a separation can be improved by increasing the surface area of the stationary phase.
In traditional liquid chromatography, a glass column is packed with stationary phase particles and mobile phase passes through the column, pulled only by gravity. However, when smaller stationary phase particles are used in the column, the pull of gravity alone is insufficient to cause the mobile phase to flow through the column. Instead, pressure must be applied. However, glass columns can only withstand about 200 psi. Passing a mobile phase through a column packed with 5 micron particles requires a pressure of about 2000 psi or more to be applied to the column. Today 5 to 10 micron particles are standard. Particles smaller than 5 microns are used for especially difficult separations or certain special cases. This process is denoted by the term xe2x80x9chigh pressure liquid chromatographyxe2x80x9d or HPLC.
HPLC has enabled the use of a far greater variety of types of particles used to separate a greater variety of chemical structures than was possible with large particle gravity columns. The separation principle, however, is still the same.
Certain components and operations of HPLC separation systems have been partially automated to facilitate the traditional partition-based separations. An example is the HSM control system provided by Hitachi with their HPLC chromatography apparatus. In using these controls, a chromatography expert manually inputs detailed instructions to an autosampler to obtain a specific sample for separation, detailed simple instructions to proportioning valves to effect a desired solvent gradient, and specific temperature instructions to a column oven. The control system automatically implements these instructions to effect a HPLC separation.
An HPLC-based ion pairing chromatographic method, reverse phase ion pairing chromatography was recently introduced to effectively separate mixtures of double stranded polynucleotides in general, and DNA in particular, wherein the separations are based on base pair length (U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,236 to Bonn (1996); Huber, et al., Chromatographia 37:653 (1993); Huber, et al., Anal. Biochem. 212:351 (1993)). These references and the references contained therein are incorporated herein in their entireties. The term xe2x80x9cMatched Ion Polynucleotide Chromatographyxe2x80x9d (MIPC) is defined herein and applied to this method because the mechanism of separation was found to be based on binding and release of the DNA from the separation surfaces rather than traditional partitioning. MIPC separates DNA fragments on the basis of base pair length and is not limited by the deficiencies associated with gel based separation methods.
Matched Ion Polynucleotide Chromatography, as used herein, is defined as a process for separating single and double stranded polynucleotides using non-polar separation media, wherein the process uses a counter-ion agent, and an organic solvent to release the polynucleotides from the separation media. MIPC separations are complete in less than 10 minutes, and frequently in less than 5 minutes.
As the use and understanding of MIPC developed, it was discovered that when MIPC analyses were carried out at a partially denaturing temperature, i.e., a temperature sufficient to denature a heteroduplex at the site of base pair mismatch, homoduplexes could be separated from heteroduplexes having the same base pair length (U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,976; Hayward-Lester, et al., Genome Research 5:494 (1995); Underhill, et al., Proc. Nati. Acad. Sci. USA 93:193 (1996); Doris, et al., DHPLC Workshop, Stanford University, (1997)). These references and the references contained therein are incorporated herein in their entireties. Thus, the use of Denaturing HPLC (DHPLC) was applied to mutation detection (Underhill, et al., Genome Research 7:996 (1997); Liu, et al., NucleicAcid Res., 26;1396 (1998)).
DHPLC can separate heteroduplexes that differ by as little as one base pair. However, separations of homoduplexes and heteroduplexes can be poorly resolved. Artifacts and impurities can also interfere with the interpretation of DHPLC separation chromatograms in the sense that it may be difficult to distinguish between an artifact or impurity and a putative mutation (Underhill, et al., Genome Res. 7:996 (1997)). The presence of mutations may even be missed entirely (Liu, et al., Nucleic Acid Res. 26:1396 (1998)). The references cited above and the references contained therein are incorporated in their entireties herein.
The accuracy, reproducibility, convenience and speed of DNA fragment separations and mutation detection assays based on DHPLC have been compromised in the past because of DHPLC system related problems. Important aspects of DNA separation and mutation detection by HPLC and DHPLC which have not been heretofore addressed include the treatment of materials comprising chromatography system components; the treatment of materials comprising separation media; solvent pre-selection to minimize methods development time; optimum temperature pre-selection to effect partial denaturation of a heteroduplex during MIPC; and optimization of DHPLC for automated high throughput mutation detection screening assays. These factors are essential in order to achieve unambiguous, accurate, reproducible and high throughput DNA separations and mutation detection results.
A need exists, therefore, for an HPLC system which can separate DNA fragments based on size differences, and can also separate DNA having the same length but differing in base pair sequence (mutations from wild type), in an accurate, reproducible, reliable manner. Such a system should be automated and efficient, should be adaptable to routine high throughput sample screening applications, and should provide high throughput sample screening with a minimum of operator attention.
The MIPC separation process differs from the traditional HPLC separation processes in that the separation is not achieved by a series of equilibrium separations between the mobile phase and the stationary phase as the liquids pass through the column. Instead, the sample is fed into the column using a solvent strength which permits the sample dsDNA to bind to the separation media surface. Strands of a specific base pair length are removed from the stationary phase surface and are carried down the column by a specific solvent concentration. By passing an increasing gradient of solvent through the sample, successively larger base pair lengths are removed in succession and passed through the column. The separation is not column length or stationary phase area dependent.
This MIPC process is temperature sensitive, and precise temperature control is particularly important in the MIPC separation processes described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/129,105 filed Aug. 4, 1998, for example.
In DMIPC, precise temperature control is required for maintaining both mobile and stationary phases at a partially denaturing temperature, that is, a temperature at which mismatched DNA present at the mutation site of a heteroduplex strand will denature but at which the matched DNA will remain bound into the double strand.
The application of the Matched Ion Polynucleotide Chromatography (MIPC) under the partially denaturing conditions used for separating heteroduplexes from homoduplexes in mutation detection is hereafter referred to as DMIPC.
The MIPC systems have introduced system operation requirements which cannot be satisfied with existing control systems. Sample trays with an increased number of wells have been introduced, requiring corresponding detailed autosampler instructions for extracting a separation aliquot of each of the samples. More complex and varied solvent concentration and gradient instructions are required. More precise temperature control is essential, and in some operations, aliquots from the same sample are to be separated at different preset temperatures. The MIPC system will be used to isolate pure fractions, each having a single base pair size; these are needed for PCR or cloning amplification techniques. This requires use of a fragment collector operating in coordination with the MIPC separation process. Furthermore, the expanding application of MIPC separation processes requires the system to be operable by a trained technician rather than a chromatography expert.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,889 and co-pending applications Ser. Nos. 09/081,040, 09/183,123, 09/183,450 describe processes for removing or avoiding metal cations from apparatus, separation media, and solutions to obtain maximally effective separation of DNA fragments. If these precautions and procedures are followed, the separation columns can be used for more than 1000 separation cycles before significant loss of effectiveness and efficiency can be observed and the routine cleanup procedures fail to fully restore the column. Ultimately, the column efficiency decreases.
DNA separations to prepare materials for cloning or PCR should be free from cross-contamination from prior separations conducted on the separation system and column. A method is needed to insure removal of all DNA residues from the column in preparation for separation of purified DNA fragments for amplification.
It is an object of this invention to provide a cleaning system and procedure for regenerating or recovering a MIPC column which has become less effective because of extensive use.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a column regenerating system which does not require removal of the separation column to carry out the cleaning procedure.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an in situ cleaning method for insuring removal of DNA residues prior to separations designed to produce purified fractions for cloning or PCR amplification.
In summary, the apparatus of this invention effecting base pair length separations of DNA fragments by matched ion paired chromatography comprises a separation column containing separation media having non-polar DNA separation surfaces, separation solution supply means, and a separation solution conduit communicating with the separation column and the separation solution supply means, and a cleaning solution valve means positioned in the separation solution conduit for injecting cleaning solution into the separation solution conduit. The cleaning solution valve can be a rotary valve.
One embodiment of this apparatus for effecting base pair length separations of DNA fragments by matched ion paired chromatography comprises a separation column containing separation media having non-polar DNA separation surfaces, a cleaning solution injection valve having a DNA separation solvent inlet conduit port communicating with a separation solvent supply means, a cleaning solution port communicating with a cleaning solution supply means, a cleaning solution loop, a waste outlet port, and an outlet port communicating with the separation column. The cleaning solution loop communicates with the cleaning solution supply means and the waste outlet port in a first position, whereby the cleaning solution loop can be filled with cleaning solution. The cleaning solution loop communicates with the separation solvent supply means and the outlet port communicating with the separation column in a second position, whereby cleaning solution in the cleaning solution loop can be displaced by separation solvent through the outlet port communicating with the separation column.
In summary, a process of this invention for cleaning the non-polar DNA separation surfaces with the above apparatus comprises interrupting the flow of separation solvent with a block of cleaning solution injected into the flow of separation solution passing to the column, the cleaning solution containing agent which removes accumulated residues from the non-polar surface. The cleaning solution can have an alkaline pH, for example a pH of from 8 to 13. The cleaning solution can contain a chelating agent and can contain an organic solvent. The above apparatus can also be used in the separation of RNA.


A modular watercraft capable of both surface and submersible accommodation and transport of passengers. In one embodiment of the submersible watercraft of this invention, the hull comprises air bladders, thereby avoiding the engineering complexity, weight and cost of constructing a pressure hull.

There have been a number of efforts at producing watercrafts that have the ability to accommodate passengers safely above the water as well as below the surface of the water. For the most part, watercraft seeking to achieve this objective from the past have not been commercially viable at any reasonable cost. Accordingly, the need remains for a commercially viable watercraft for both surface and submersible travel and accommodation of passengers. This invention addresses that need by providing a modular watercraft which can operate as a conventional speedboat while on the surface of the water, and as a submarine, when deployed for travel below the water surface.

Combination surface and submersible watercraft

Marion Hyper-Submersible Powerboat Design LLC


Semiconductor avalanche photo transistors and methods of manufacturing the same, operable for internal amplification of a photo signal and for use in detection of weak light signals, gamma rays and nuclear particles. The multi-pixel avalanche photo transistor devices can comprise a semiconductor layer, a plurality of semiconductor areas (pixels) forming a p-n-junction with the semiconductor layer, a common conductive grid separated from the semiconductor layer by a dielectric layer and individual micro-resistors connected to said semiconductor areas with the common conductive grid. Systems and methods described can be operable to decrease optical crosstalk at high signal amplification and the special capacity of the multi-pixel avalanche photo transistor, as well as improve speed of its photo response.

Photosensitive semiconductor devices are used in many scientific and household devices for detection and processing of optical information. The key element of such devices is a photodiode that converts optical information into an electric signal. Photo-sensitivity and fast response time are basic working parameters of the photodiode. Conventionally, vacuum photo multipliers are used in such optical devices. However, semiconductor photoelectron multipliers or multi-pixel avalanche photodiodes (MAPD) (also named as multi-pixel photon counters (MPPC) or silicon photomultipliers (SiPM)) have also been developed which are an alternative to vacuum photoelectron multipliers.
For example, Russian patent 1702831 teaches a silicon substrate surface on which a matrix of small independent p-n-junctions (pixels) is formed. The residual surface of the substrate is filled by a dielectric layer (silicon dioxide). On the surface of both the pixels and the dielectric layer is formed a thin resistive layer of about 107 Ohm-cm resistivity and a semitransparent metal layer (field electrode). Avalanche amplification of photoelectrons is carried out in small dependent p-n-junctions (pixels). The avalanche current flows to the field electrode through the resistive layer fully covering the sensitive surface of pixels. However, this device is deficient because it provides low quantum efficiency in the visible spectrum because of low transparency of both the resistive layer and the field electrode.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,291 teaches a silicon substrate surface of n-type conductivity on which a resistive layer is disposed that comprises silicon carbide with certain resistivity, a dielectric layer, and an epitaxial silicon layer of p-type conductivity. Inside the dielectric layer, highly doped areas of n-type conductivity are formed having an electric contact with the resistive layer from one side, and with the epitaxial layer from another side. The photosensitive layer, in which photoelectrons are created, is an epitaxial layer grown on the surface of alien materials (i.e., dielectric and resistive layers). This device is also deficient because of the complexity of growing a silicon epitaxial layer on a dielectric surface.
Russian patent 2102820 teaches an MAPD device that comprises an array of small size p-n junctions (pixels) with characteristic sizes from 10 μm up to 100 μm formed on a semiconductor layer surface. The pixels are arranged at a certain spacing (about 10 μm) that is necessary to prevent charge coupling. Each pixel is connected to a common conductive grid by an individual micro resistor with a resistance of 105-106Ω. Due to low sizes of pixels, the MAPD may perform at overvoltage mode (i.e., above the breakdown potential). Then, the generation of a photoelectron (or a dark electron) in the sensitive region of a pixel the self-quenching avalanche process starts. This process is an analogous to the Geiger mode discharge.
The avalanche process is quenched when the potential on the pixel drops below the breakdown voltage due to the individual micro-resistor, which does not allow the pixel to be charged from the voltage source during the avalanche process. As a result, the unique combination of fast photo response (i.e., width of a pulse at half height of the amplitude which is about 10 ns) and high avalanche amplification of a signal (˜106) is achieved. The signals from operating pixels are added on the common conductive grid, which provides linearity of the MAPD photo response. The response remains linear as far as the probability for two or more photons to strike one pixel is insignificant.
However, some applied tasks need MAPD devices with faster photo response (about 1 ns) and larger sensitive area (at least 10 mm2 or more). Increasing the sensitive area leads to stretching its photo response because of high special capacity of the known MAPD devices. Additionally, high amplification of a photo signal in the known MAPD devices results in an undesirable effect—optical crosstalk. This effect is connected with high avalanche amplification (˜106) photo signals which are accompanied by additional emission of optical photons in avalanche region of the semiconductor. These photons are absorbed in the neighbor pixels of the MAPD device and cause false start of the avalanche process. In order to avoid the crosstalk effect, the avalanche amplification factor should be reduced below 105, but this low amplification factor is not enough for work in single photoelectron detection mode.
In view of the foregoing, a need exists for an improved multi-pixel avalanche photodiode (MAPD) systems and methods in an effort to overcome the aforementioned obstacles and deficiencies of conventional photosensitive semiconductor systems.
It should be noted that the figures are not drawn to scale and that elements of similar structures or functions are generally represented by like reference numerals for illustrative purposes throughout the FIGURES. It also should be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the preferred embodiments. The FIGURES do not illustrate every aspect of the described embodiments and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure.


A terminal capable of ensuring that when a UL-DL configuration is switched over, recognition of a UL HARQ process continued in the UL-DL configuration before and after the switchover is matched between a base station and the terminal. A terminal (200) can be switched to either one of configuration patterns including a downlink subframe used in downlink communication and an uplink subframe used in uplink communication. Mapping between an uplink subframe and a retransmission process is set for each of the configuration patterns. On the basis of mapping in a unique base frame determined by a pre-switchover configuration pattern and a post-switchover configuration pattern, a determination unit (206) determines a first retransmission process to be continued after switchover from among retransmission processes in the pre-switchover configuration pattern, and a second retransmission process to be continued from the first retransmission process from among retransmission processes in the post-switchover configuration pattern.

In recent years, it has become common to transmit large-volume data such as still image data and moving image data in addition to audio data in cellular mobile communication systems, in response to the spread of multimedia information. In LTE-Advanced (Long Term Evolution Advanced), active studies have been conducted to achieve a high transmission rate using wideband radio band, MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) transmission techniques and interference control techniques.
After completion of the acquisition of the parameter specific to the base station (which may also be referred to as "eNB"), the terminal (which may also be referred to as "UE: User Equipment") sends a connection request to the base station and thereby establishes communication with the base station. The base station transmits control information to the terminal with which communication has been established via a downlink control channel such as PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel) as appropriate.
The terminal then performs "blind detection" of a plurality of pieces of control information (which may also be called "downlink control information (DCI)") included in the received PDCCH signal. That is, the control information includes a CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) portion and this CRC portion is masked with a terminal ID of the transmission target terminal by the base station. Therefore, the terminal cannot determine whether or not the received control information is control information intended for the terminal until the terminal demasks the CRC portion with the terminal ID of the terminal itself. When the demasking result shows that CRC calculation is OK, it is determined in this blind detection that the control information is intended for the terminal itself. The downlink control information includes DL (downlink) assignment indicating assignment information of downlink data and UL (uplink) grant indicating assignment information of uplink data, for example.
Next, an uplink retransmission control method in 3GPP LTE will be described. In LTE, there is an FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) system and a TDD (Time Division Duplex) system. In the FDD system, a downlink component carrier (downlink CC) and an uplink component carrier (uplink CC) are allocated to different frequency bands.
In the TDD system, a downlink component carrier and an uplink component carrier are in the same frequency band, and the TDD system realizes downlink communication and uplink communication by switching between downlink and uplink in a time-division manner. For this reason, in the TDD system, a downlink component carrier can also be expressed as "downlink communication timing in a component carrier." An uplink component carrier can also be expressed as "uplink communication timing in a component carrier." Switching between the downlink component carrier and the uplink component carrier is performed based on a UL-DL configuration as shown in FIG. 1
The UL-DL configuration is indicated to the terminal by a broadcast signal called "SIB1 (System Information Block Type 1)" (SIB1 indication), the value thereof is the same throughout the entire system and the value is not expected to be changed frequently. In the UL-DL configuration shown in FIG. 1, timings in units of subframes (that is, units of 1 msec) are configured for downlink communication (DL: Downlink) and uplink communication (UL: Uplink) per frame (10 msec). The UL-DL configuration allows for building a communication system that can flexibly respond to requests for throughput for downlink communication and throughput for uplink communication by changing a subframe ratio between downlink communication and uplink communication. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates UL-DL configurations (Config#0 to 6) with different subframe ratios between downlink communication and uplink communication. In FIG. 1, a downlink communication subframe (DL subframe) is represented by "D," an uplink communication subframe (UL subframe) is represented by "U" and a special subframe is represented by "S." Here, the special subframe is a subframe when a downlink communication subframe is switched to an uplink communication subframe. In the special subframe, downlink data communication may also be performed as in the case of a downlink communication subframe.
In LTE, a retransmission control method called "synchronous HARQ" is used in uplink to reduce the number of bits in a control signal. With synchronous HARQ, UL subframes whose UL HARQ processes are identical are determined in advance and when carrying out uplink retransmission, retransmission is carried out in UL subframes corresponding to the identical UL HARQ process. By so doing, a base station can select data to be retransmitted from a terminal without explicitly indicating, to the terminal, which of data transmitted in the past should be retransmitted. However, synchronous HARQ has a mechanism whereby uplink data transmitted in the past can be retransmitted only in a UL subframe of an identical process.
In LTE, the FDD system and TDD system assign different process numbers to UL HARQ processes, respectively. The TDD system predefines process numbers which differ depending on TDD UL-DL configurations (e.g., FIG. 1). In FIG. 1, a number assigned below a UL subframe ("U") indicates a process number of a UL HARQ process associated with the UL subframe. For example, in Config#0, the number of UL HARQ processes is 7 and UL HARQ processes of process numbers #1 to #7 (which may also be expressed as "UL HARQ processes #1 to #7" hereinafter) are assigned to UL subframes in order. In Config#2, the number of UL HARQ processes is 2 and UL HARQ processes #1 and #2 are assigned to UL subframes in order. The same applies to Config#1 and Config#3 to Config#6. In all UL HARQ processes, these numbers of UL HARQ processes are set to a minimum number of processes when an interval after uplink data is transmitted in a UL subframe until retransmission is indicated in a DL subframe is the fourth or after the fourth subframe, and at the same time an interval after retransmission is indicated in a DL subframe until retransmission data is transmitted in a UL subframe is the fourth or after the fourth subframe. Thus, a UL-DL configuration which includes many UL subframes has more UL HARQ processes and a UL-DL configuration which includes fewer UL subframes has fewer UL HARQ processes.
FIG. 2 illustrates the number of UL HARQ processes of each UL-DL configuration (Config#0 to Config#6) and a cycle (UL HARQ cycle, time [ms] or the number of frames) indicating an interval at which an association between a subframe number and a process number corresponding to the subframe number becomes identical.
In the LTE-Advanced system, studies are being carried out on changing UL-DL configuration (hereinafter referred to as "TDD eIMTA (enhancement for DL-UL Interference Management and Traffic Adaptation)," which may also be referred to as "dynamic TDD" or "flexible TDD") (e.g., see NPL 1). Exemplary purposes of TDD eIMTA include provision of a service that meets the needs of users by flexible changes of a UL/DL ratio or reduction in power consumption at a base station by increasing the UL ratio in a time zone when traffic load is low. As a method of changing UL-DL configuration, the following methods are under study in accordance with the purpose of change: (1) method using indication of an SI (System Information) signaling base, (2) method using indication of an RRC (higher layer) signaling base, (3) method using indication of a MAC (Media Access Control layer) signaling base and (4) method using indication of an L1 (Physical Layer) signaling base.
Method (1) is to change the least frequent UL-DL configuration. Method (1) is suitable for a case where the purpose is to reduce the power consumption at a base station by increasing the UL ratio, for example, in a time zone when traffic load is low (e.g., midnight or early morning). Method (4) is to change the most frequent UL-DL configuration. The number of terminals connected is smaller in a small cell such as a pico cell than in a large cell such as a macro cell. In a pico cell, UL/DL traffic in the entire pico cell is determined depending on the level of UL/DL traffic in a small number of terminals connected to the pico cell. For this reason, UL/DL traffic in the pico cell fluctuates drastically with time. Thus, method (4) is suitable for a case where UL-DL configuration is changed to follow a time fluctuation of UL/DL traffic in a small cell such as a pico cell. Method (2) and method (3) are positioned between method (1) and method (4) and suitable for a case where UL-DL configuration is changed with medium frequency.

Terminal device and retransmission method for dynamic TDD UL/DL configuration

Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America


An endoscope comprising an elongated endoscope body having a proximal end and a distal end. The endoscope body is sized and adapted for insertion into an interior body region of a patient. Optical components are carried by the endoscope body to enable viewing of the interior body region of the patient. The endoscope body has an outer surface which defines a groove having a portion which extends distally of the endoscope body.

An endoscope is an instrument which enables a physician to view inaccessible regions within a patient's body. A conventional endoscope may include, for example, an elongated flexible endoscope body and optical components carried by the endoscope body to enable viewing of an interior body region of a patient. The optical components may include, for example, an illumination fiber for illuminating a region to be viewed, an eyepiece and image fibers which transmit an image proximally to the eyepiece.
It is also known to provide an endoscope which has a distal region which is more flexible than a proximal region. The greater stiffness of the proximal region may be the result of reinforcing the proximal region of the endoscope body with, for example, a wire braid.
It is known to provide an endoscope body which includes a polyimide material. Although polyimide provides excellent protection for the optical components within the endoscope body, it does reduce the overall flexibility of the endoscope and may not be as lubricous as desired. Endoscope bodies constructed of polytetrafluoroethylene have the desired lubricity but are generally difficult to bond to other components.
In order for an endoscope to gain access to an interior body region, it often necessary or desirable to pass the endoscope through a catheter, and in some situations, the clearance between the endoscope and the lumen of the catheter through which the endoscope is passed is minimal. This tends to create significant surface area for sliding contact between the endoscope and the catheter thereby making the endoscope more difficult to move relative to the catheter. In addition, it is sometimes necessary or desirable to introduce a liquid, such as a flush solution, through the lumen of the catheter and around the endoscope. The existence of a very small clearance between the endoscope and the catheter makes this task difficult.
It is sometimes desirable to use an endoscope with an everting catheter. An everting catheter typically includes an outer catheter having an outer catheter lumen, an inner catheter movable longitudinally in the outer catheter lumen and having an inner catheter lumen and an everting element coupled to the outer catheter and to the inner catheter. By applying fluid pressure to the everting element and by moving the inner catheter distally in the outer catheter lumen, the everting element can be everted through a distal opening of the outer catheter. The everting element may form an extension of the inner catheter lumen.
The endoscope is positioned within the inner catheter lumen and the extension of the inner catheter lumen. With the instrument so positioned, pressurizing of the everting element causes the everting element to grip a region of the instrument.
This gripping of the instrument by the everting element is useful in that the eversion process may be used to cause the everting element to pull the instrument into the desired body region. Unfortunately, this gripping action is also undesirable to the extent that the physician wishes to move the instrument independently of, and relative to, the everting element.
Parent application Ser. No. 780,871 discloses a method and apparatus which enables the instrument to be moved relative to the everting element of the everting catheter system which includes introducing a flush solution between the everting element and the instrument where the everting element grips the instrument. This frees the instrument from the gripping action of the everting element so the instrument can be moved relative to the everting element. For example, the flush solution can be introduced to a preformed flow passage, i.e. a flow passage that exists even when the everting element grips the instrument. This assures that the flush solution can more easily pass between the everting element and the instrument.


A self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner is provided having a lower portion and an upright handle portion pivotally attached to the floor engaging portion for a pivotal motion between an upright storage position and a pivotal operating position. A drive wheel mounted to the floor engaging portion. A transmission operatively connected to the drive wheel and a motor drivingly connected to the transmission for driving the drive wheel in forward and reverse. A transmission actuator arm pivotally mounted to the floor engaging portion adjacent to the transmission for pivotal motion about a pivot axis located at a central portion of the actuator arm. A manual actuator mounted to the handle portion. The manual actuator is operatively connected to the actuator arm, whereby when an operator actuates the manual actuator actuator arm pivots in first and second directions, respectively, from a neutral position, such that the actuator arm actuates the transmission to place the transmission in forward and reverse, respectively. First and second cams extend from the handle portion and are located to engage the actuator arm at two locations spaced to either side of the pivot axis of the actuator arm when the handle is raised to the upright storage position, whereby the cams place and lock the actuator arm in the neutral position when the handle portion is pivoted to the upright storage position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to self-propelled upright vacuum cleaners. More specifically, this invention pertains to a novel transmission neutral locking structure for automatically placing and locking the transmission on a self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner in its neutral position when the handle or bag housing portion of the cleaner is placed in its upright storage position.
This invention also pertains to an upright vacuum cleaner having a structure for automatically engaging and rotating the agitator when the bag housing is located in a generally inclined operating position and automatically disengaging and stopping rotation of the agitator when the bag housing is located in the upright storage position, which structure may also be manually actuated to maintain disengagement of the agitator for cleaning bare floors.
2. Description of Related Prior Art
It is known in the prior art to provide an upright vacuum cleaner with a transmission in the foot or lower floor engaging portion of the cleaner and a transmission actuator member mounted to the foot adjacent to the transmission. A Bowden cable typically extends from the actuator on the foot to a hand grip that is reciprocally mounted for rectilinear motion to the top of the bag housing or handle portion of the cleaner. In order to prevent accidental engagement of the transmission when the bag housing is in the upright storage position, it is also known to provide a member on the lower end of the bag housing or handle portion of the vacuum cleaner that will engage the transmission actuator, or actuate a member on the foot that engages the transmission actuator, and thereby place and lock the transmission actuator in its neutral position. Thus, if an operator were to accidentally bump the hand grip while the cleaner's bag housing is in the upright storage position and the motor is running, the transmission is prevented from being engaged and the cleaner is prevented from accidentally propelling itself across the floor and causing an accident. Such transmission neutral locking arrangements for self-propelled upright vacuum cleaners are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,766,640; 4,347,643 and 4,249,281.
It is also known to place the transmission actuator on the lower end of the bag housing such that the actuator engages and actuates the transmission when the bag housing is in its inclined operating position and does not engage the transmission when the bag housing is in its upright storage position. When the transmission is not being engaged by the actuator, the transmission is self-biased into an idling neutral position. An example of this type of self-propelled vacuum cleaner can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,618,687.
As disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,712, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein as of reference, it is known to engage an agitator by pressing an idler pulley on a pivotal idler arm against the agitator drive belt, thereby placing the agitator drive belt under tension and transferring power to the agitator. It is also known to automatically engage and disengage the agitator as the handle portion of the cleaner is raised and lowered by providing a protrusion or cam on the bag housing that contacts and pivots the idler arm to lift the idler pulley out of engagement with the agitator drive belt. The U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,712 patent does not, however, disclose a means for shutting the agitator off for cleaning bare floors.

Transmission neutral locking arrangement for a self-propelled vacuum cleaner


An image device comprises an image sensor including an array of photodiodes for converting an optical image into electrical signals, a color filter comprising an array of red, green and cyan filter elements disposed opposite the array of photodiodes, and a color processor for color processing the electrical signals.

Image devices convert optical images into digital data. The image devices generate digital data of the optical images by converting the optical images into analog electrical signals and then by converting the analog electrical signals into digital electrical signals. Image devices are used, for example, in digital cameras to sense optical images and to convert the optical images into digital data.
The image devices include an image sensor and a color filter. The image sensor converts optical images into electrical signals. The color filter filters light by colors before the light is incident on the image sensor. The image sensor senses a luminance of the incident light. The image sensor includes photodiodes for generating electrical signals based on the luminance of the incident light. The image sensor including the photodiodes may be, for example, a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor or a charged coupled device (CCD) image sensor.
Each pixel includes a photodiode. The image sensor includes a plurality of photodiodes. Hereinafter, a pixel is referred to as red, green, blue or cyan pixel based on the color represented by the pixel. Red, green, blue and cyan pixels include red, green, blue and cyan color filter elements, respectively. An array of the red, green and blue pixels are disposed in a mosaic form, e.g., a Bayer pattern disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,065.
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a conventional color filter having red, green and blue pixels arranged in the Bayer pattern. Photodiodes of an image sensor are disposed below each of the R, G, and B color filter elements to sense the luminance of light incident on the photodiodes that are filtered by the color filter elements.
Each of the photodiodes generates analog electrical signals based on the luminance of the sensed light, and the analog electrical signals are color-processed to obtain digital data of an image. The analog electrical signals obtained by the photodiodes are converted into digital electrical signals via an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and the digital electrical signals are color-processed to obtain digital data of the image.
Output signal values of the photodiodes that sense light from the B color filter elements are much less than output signal values of the photodiodes that sense light from the R or G color filter elements when using the color filter having the conventional Bayer pattern. That is, when measuring output signal values of the photodiodes that sense light from the B, R or G color filter element while increasing luminance of a white light source, sensitivity of photodiodes to light from the B color element is smaller than the sensitivity of photodiodes to light from the R or G color element.
FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating the output signals of the photodiodes of R, G and B pixels. Referring to FIG. 2, when the output signals of the photodiodes of each the R, G and B pixels are measured while increasing the luminance of the white light source, the sensitivity of photodiodes to light from the B color filter is about half of that of the R or G color filter. The output signal values of the R or G pixel stop increasing at a luminance at which the output signal values of the R or G pixel are saturated. The output signals at or beyond such luminance level cannot be used as output signals. Therefore, the maximum output signal of the B pixel is about half of that of the R or G pixel.
Each of the R, G, and B pixels can be designed to have the same saturation output to overcome the weak sensitivity of photodiodes to light from the B color filter. However, the sensitivity of photodiodes to light from the B color filter is about half of that of the R or G color filter as illustrated in FIG. 2. Therefore, there is a difference in the saturation output signal values that can be actually used as an output signal due to a difference in saturation luminance between the color elements. If a number of the saturation output signal that is converted into electrons is denoted as N, shot noise is denoted as √{square root over (N)}. The maximum signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) is 10 log N. That is, the maximum S/N depends directly on the number of electrons of the saturation output signals that are used as signals. Even if the output signals of the photodiodes that sense light from the B color filter is used after amplifying it by 2 times to equalize the sensitivity of photodiodes to light from the B color filter to the sensitivity of photodiodes to light from the R and G color filters, the same S/N can be maintained because the number of electrons of the output signals of the photodiodes that sense light from B color filter remains the same.
If a noise floor per pixel channel is stable and the sensitivity to light from the B color filter is ½ of that of R or G color filter, the saturation output of the photodiodes that sense light from the B color filter with respect to the white light; source is ½ of the saturation output of the photodiodes that sense light from the R and G color filters. Accordingly, a dynamic range limit is limited by B pixel. Since the dynamic range limit of the image sensor is decreased, the sensitivity to light from the B color filter needs to be increased to improve the S/N.


A cargo bed management system for dividing or extending a bed of a motor vehicle. The cargo bed management system includes a main panel having a length approximately equal to a width of the bed, and a pair of side panels hingedly connected to the main panel so that the side panels may rotate relative to the main panel from a stowed position where the side panels are directed toward the main panel to an extended position where the side panels extend outward from the main panel. At least one bumper is affixed to an end of each of the side panels that are hingedly connected to the main panel such that the bumper increases a length of the main panel when said the panels are in the stowed position. The bumpers compress to secure the main panel and the side panels to the bed.

Motor vehicles such as pickup trucks include a bed for carrying cargo of widely ranging sizes and shapes. For smaller items of cargo, however, it is desirable to restrain such items from movement within the bed so that the articles do not move or slide around within the bed during use of the vehicle. Previous mechanisms for this purpose have met with varying degrees of success. However, what is needed is bed divider that can be positioned within the truck bed and move easily between a plurality of positions within the bed to fit cargo or articles of varying shapes and sizes. Even more particularly, what is needed is a divider that can be adjustably positioned at a number of positions within the truck bed, and that can also be quickly and easily moved out of the way to allow very large items to be easily loaded and carried within the truck bed without interference from the bed divider.


A set of tags can be identified from a first set of tagged documents in a first repository. A set of tags can be identified from a second set of tagged documents in a second repository. Access to documents in the second repository can be more restrictive than access to documents in the first repository. For each of a subset tags in the first set and/or the second set, a number of steps can occur. A ratio can be determined of tag instances in the second repository compared to tag instances in the first repository. It can be determined whether the ratio exceeds a previously determined threshold. When the threshold is exceeded, an indicator of at least one tagged document associated with the tag can be changed to indicate that the tagged document is likely to contain sensitive content.

The present invention relates to the field of content management and, more particularly, to inferring sensitive information from tags.
With the popularization of collaborative environments, mediums such as web logs (e.g., blogs) and discussion forums have become increasingly important to businesses. Employees are progressively participating more in internal and external discussions in these environments. In many instances, these environments are a central point where employees/customers discuss business products and/or services. For example, developerWorks® is a Web site encouraging employees to blog about International Business Machines Corporation's (IBM) products, development, and design issues. While these blogs provide valuable open discussions, feedback from customers, and good public relations, potentially sensitive internal information can be inadvertently disclosed to unauthorized persons.
Some of these environments typically exist within an extranet such as the Internet and therefore are publically accessible. Others are privately accessible, typically residing within an intranet commonly used for internal purposes. Within publically accessible environments, employees must take care not to accidentally disclose sensitive information. Conversely, in privately accessible environments, employees can discuss any topic in great detail without disclosing sensitive information to unauthorized personnel. To facilitate discussions, these environments are typically integrated with software, such as publishing tools, Web sites, collaboration tools, and text exchange. This can result in public and private environments being easily and transparently accessible. Thus, these two disparate environments, each having different user security expectations, can be indifferentiable to even a technically adept user. With these two differing levels of security tightly integrated, the danger of sensitive information being disclosed increases drastically.
Additionally, due to the dynamic nature of business, employees can have difficulty determining potentially sensitive/confidential information. For instance, information about a project can be considered confidential until after release, whereas information about another project can remain confidential indefinitely. Further, if sensitive information is accidentally divulged, competitors can utilize the information to gain unwanted advantages. As collaborative environments continue to proliferate, mechanisms for rapidly identifying and protecting sensitive information within these environments become paramount.

Inferring sensitive information from tags


A bug master fishing lure (16) comprising a flexible cylindrical body core (18) coated with a silicone skin (40). A pair of movable eyes (43) are attached to a forward end of the silicone skin (40), while paint (44) is placed upon the silicone skin (40), so as to give the lure (16) an extremely realistic look. It can be assembled as a surface popper (27), so as to create a surface splashing action in water and as a diver (60), so as to create a diving, wobbling action in the water.

1. Field of the Invention
The instant invention relates generally to fishing lures and more specifically it relates to a bug master fishing lure. The bug master fishing lure has a soft and flexible body for a natural feel, while artificial movable eyes that rattle will attract fish to it.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous fishing lures have been provided in prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,231,949 to Rinehart; 2,473,142 to Gilmore; 3,421,249 to Jeffers; 4,186,510 to Kimerer Jr.,; 4,738,047 to Ryan; 4,862,629 to Ryan and 4,862,630 to Welch all are illustrative of such prior art. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.


Disclosed are processes for the production of fluorinated olefins, preferably adapted to commercialization of CF3CF═CH2 (1234yf). In certain preferred embodiments the processes comprise first exposing a compound of Formula (IA)C(X)2═CClC(X)3  (IA)where each X is independently F, Cl or H, preferably CCl2═CClCH2Cl, to one or more sets of reaction conditions, but preferably a substantially single set of reaction conditions, effective to produce at least one chlorofluoropropane, preferably in accordance with Formula (IB):CF3CClX′C(X′)3  Formula (IB)where each X′ is independently F, Cl or H, and then exposing the compound of Formula (IB) to one or more sets of reaction conditions, but preferably a substantially single set of reaction conditions, effective to produce a compound of Formula (II)CF3CF═CHZ  (II)where Z is H, F, Cl, I or Br.

(1) Field of Invention
This invention relates to novel methods for preparing fluorinated organic compounds, and more particularly to methods of producing fluorinated olefins having a fluorine on an unsaturated non-terminal carbon.
(2) Description of Related Art
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), in particular hydrofluoroalkenes such as tetrafluoropropenes (including 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene (HFO-1234yf) and 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene (HFO-1234ze)) have been disclosed to be effective refrigerants, fire extinguishants, heat transfer media, propellants, foaming agents, blowing agents, gaseous dielectrics, sterilant carriers, polymerization media, particulate removal fluids, carrier fluids, buffing abrasive agents, displacement drying agents and power cycle working fluids. Unlike chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), both of which potentially damage the Earth's ozone layer, HFCs do not contain chlorine and, thus, pose no threat to the ozone layer.
Several methods of preparing hydrofluoroalkenes are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,874 (Ihara, et. al) describes a method of making fluorine containing olefins by contacting hydrogen gas with fluorinated alcohols. Although this appears to be a relatively high-yield process, commercial handling of hydrogen gas at high temperature is generally unsafe. Also, the cost of producing hydrogen gas, such as building an on-site hydrogen plant, can be, in many situations, prohibitive.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,931,840 (Marquis) describes a method of making fluorine containing olefins by pyrolysis of methyl chloride and tetrafluoroethylene or chlorodifluoromethane. This process produces a relatively low yield and a very large percentage of unwanted and/or unimportant byproducts.
The preparation of HFO-1234yf from trifluoroacetylacetone and sulfur tetrafluoride has been described. See Banks, et al., Journal of Fluorine Chemistry, Vol. 82, Iss. 2, p. 171-174 (1997). Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,594 (Krespan) discloses a process wherein tetrafluoroethylene is reacted with another fluorinated ethylene in the liquid phase to produce a polyfluoroolefin product.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for producing fluorinated organic compounds


The present invention provides a semiconductor device having: a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type having a first area and a second area; at least a diffusion region of a second conductivity type being provided on the first area and in an upper region of the first semiconductor region; and a p-n junction diode provided on the second area of the first semiconductor regions the p-n junction diode having a p-n junction comprising an interface between the first semiconductor region and a first impurity doped region of the second conductivity type selectively provided in an upper region of the first semiconductor region, wherein a first distance defined between a first bottom level of the first impurity doped region and a bottom level of the first semiconductor region is smaller than a second distance defined between a second bottom level of the at least diffusion region and the bottom level of the first semiconductor region.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device provided with a p-n junction diode and a method of forming the same, and more particularly to a semiconductor device having both a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor and a p-n junction diode for protecting the transistor.
The semiconductor device having the MOS field effect transistor is provided with a p-n junction diode for preventing the MOS field effect transistor particularly a gate insulation film from being broken due to electrostatic discharge or a surge current and a surge voltage. It had been known that this semiconductor device is fabricated as follows. FIGS. 1A and 1B are fragmentary cross sectional elevation views illustrative of a semiconductor device provided with both a metal oxide semiconductor: field effect transistor and a p-n junction diode in sequential steps involved in the conventional fabrication method. The semiconductor device has a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor region 121 and a p-n junction diode region 122.
With reference to FIG. 1A, an n+-type epitaxial layer 102 is formed on a top surface of a silicon substrate 101. An nxe2x88x92-type well region 103 is selectively formed in an upper region of the n+-type epitaxial layer 102. Device isolation layers 106 are selectively formed in upper regions of the nxe2x88x92-type well region 103 so that the device isolation layers 106 define both a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor region 121 and a p-n junction diode region 122. The metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor region 121 comprises a part of the n-type well region 103 surrounded by the device isolation layers 106. The p-n junction diode region 122 also comprises another part of the nxe2x88x92-type well region 103 surrounded by the device isolation layers 106.
In the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor region 121, a gate insulation film 108 is selectively provided on the top surface of the nxe2x88x92-type well region 103. A gate electrode 107 is provided on the gate insulation film 108. A pair of pxe2x88x92-type lightly doped diffusion regions 113a and 113b are selectively formed in upper regions of the nxe2x88x92-type well region 103 by a self-alignment technique. Side wall insulation films 105a and 105b are formed on side walls of the gate electrode 107.
With reference to FIG. 1B, an ion-implantation process is then carried out by use of the gate electrode 107 and the side wall insulation films 105a and 105b as masks for selectively introducing a p-type impurity into both the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor region 121 and the p-n junction diode region 122. As a result, in the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor region 121, source and drain p+-type diffusion regions 104a and 104b are selectively formed in the nxe2x88x92-type well region 103 so that the source and drain p+-type diffusion regions 104a and 104b are self-aligned to the gate electrode 107 and the side wall insulation films 105a and 105b, whereby lightly doped diffusion regions 113a and 113b remain only under the side wall insulation films 105a and 105b. The source and drain p+-type diffusion regions 104a and 104b are deeper than the lightly doped diffusion regions 113a and 113b. Concurrently, in the p-n junction diode region 122, a p+-type region 104c is selectively formed in the nxe2x88x92-type well region 103. The p+-type region 104c is defined by the device isolation layers 6. The p+-type region 104c has the same depth as the source and drain p+-type diffusion regions 104a and 104b. In the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor region 121, a source region comprises the p+-type diffusion region 104a and the lightly doped-diffusion region 113a, whilst a drain region comprises the p+-type diffusion region 104b and the lightly doped diffusion region 113b. In the p-n junction diode region 122, the p+-type region 104c and the nxe2x88x92-type well region 103 form a p-n junction diode which has a p-n junction formed on an interface between the p+-type region 104c and the nxe2x88x92-type well region 103.
Even illustrative is omitted, an inter-layer insulator is further formed entirely which extends over both the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor region 121 and the p-n junction diode region 122. The inter-layer insulator not illustrated extends over the device isolation layers 106, the side wall insulation films 105, the gate electrode 107 and the source and drain p+-type diffusion regions 104a and 104b as well as over the p+-type region 104c. Contact holes not illustrated are formed in the inter-layer insulator so that the contact holes reach the gate electrode 107 and the source and drain p+-type diffusion regions 104a and 104b as well as the p+-type region 104c respectively. Metal plugs and metal interconnections not illustrated are formed, wherein the metal plugs are formed in the contact holes so that the metal plugs are in contact with the gate electrode 107 and the source and drain p+-type diffusion regions 104a and 104b as well as the p+-type region 104c, whilst the metal interconnections extend over the inter-layer insulator whereby the metal interconnections are electrically connected through the metal plugs in the contact holes to the gate electrode 107 and the source and drain p+-type diffusion regions 104a and 104b as well as the p+-type region 104c.
In accordance with the conventional method of forming the semiconductor device, a distance xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d of the p-n junction of the diode or the interface between the p+-type region 104c and the nxe2x88x92-type well region 103 from a bottom of the nxe2x88x92-type well region 103 or an interface between the nxe2x88x92-type well region 103 and the n+-type epitaxial layer 102 depends on a difference of a depth of the nxe2x88x92-type well region 103 from a depth of the p+-type region 104c. The p+-type region 104c serves as an anode of the p-n junction diode. The p+-type region 104c is formed in the p-n junction diode region 122 by the same ion-implantation process for forming the source and drain p+-type diffusion regions 104a and 104b in the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor region 121. Namely, the depth of the p+-type region 104c in the p-n junction diode region 122 is the same as the depth of the source and drain p+-type diffusion regions 104a and 104b in the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor region 121. The depth of the p+-type region 104c in the p-n junction diode region 122 is decided by the depth of the source and drain p+-type diffusion regions 104a and 104b in the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor region 121. The depth of the source and drain p+-type diffusion regions 104a and 104b and the depth of the nxe2x88x92-type well region 103 are also decided in consideration of the required dimensions and performances of the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor formed in the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor region 121. Namely, the distance xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d in the p-n junction diode region 122 is decided depending upon the required dimensions and performances of the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor formed in the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor region 121. A breakdown voltage of the p-n junction diode formed between the p+-type region 104c and the nxe2x88x92-type well region 103 depends upon the distance xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d in the p-n junction diode region 122. Namely, the breakdown voltage of the p-n junction diode in the p-n junction diode region 122 is decided depending upon the required dimensions and performances of the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor formed in the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor region 121. Normally, the depth of the nxe2x88x92-type well region 103 is about 900 nanometers, whilst the depth of the source and drain p+-type diffusion regions 104a and 104b and the p+-type region 104c is about 300 nanometers. The distance xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d is large, for example, about 600 nanometers. The large distance xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d causes the high breakdown voltage of the diode in the p-n junction diode region 122. The reason why the p-n junction diode is formed in the p-n junction diode region 122 is to cause a breakdown of the p-n junction diode so as to prevent the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor from being broken due to the electrostatic discharge or the surge current and voltage. If the breakdown voltage of the p-n junction diode formed in the p-n junction diode region 122 is high as the prior art, then this allows that the p-n junction diode shows no breakdown and in place the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor is broken by the electrostatic discharge or the surge current and voltage applications.
In the above circumstances, it had been required to develop a novel semiconductor device having a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor and a p-n junction diode free from the above problem.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel semiconductor device having a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor and a p-n junction diode free from the above problems.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel semiconductor device having a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor and a p-n junction diode which has a reduced breakdown voltage.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a novel semiconductor device having a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor and a p-n junction diode which has a high capability of preventing the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor from being broken due to the electrostatic discharge or the surge current and voltage applications.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a novel method of forming a semiconductor device having a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor and a p-n junction diode free from the above problems.
It is further more object of the present invention to provide a novel method of forming a semiconductor device having a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor and a p-n junction diode which has a reduced breakdown voltage.
It is moreover object of the present invention to provide a novel method of forming a semiconductor device having a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor and a p-n junction diode which, has a high capability of preventing the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor from being broken due to the electrostatic discharge or the surge current and voltage applications.
It is yet more object of the present invention to provide a novel method of forming a semiconductor device having a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor and a p-n junction diode which has a controllable breakdown voltage.
The present invention provides a semiconductor device having: a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type having a first area and a second area; at least a diffusion region of a second conductivity type being provided on the first area and in an upper region of the first semiconductor region; and a p-n junction diode provided on the second area of the first semiconductor region, the p-n junction diode having a p-n junction comprising an interface between the first semiconductor region and a first impurity doped region of the second conductivity type selectively provided in an upper region of the first semiconductor region, wherein a first distance defined between a first bottom level of the first impurity doped region and a bottom level of the first semiconductor region is smaller than a second distance defined between a second bottom level of the at least diffusion region and the bottom level of the first semiconductor region.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following descriptions.

Semiconductor device with p-n junction diode and method of forming the same