An insert for insertion into a pressurized container for liquids has a component chamber for receiving an active substance and a pressure chamber for introducing the active substance into the liquid when opening the container for liquids. The pressure chamber has at least one small outer bore. The insert is freely movable in the container for liquids but has such a stable floating position on a surface of the liquid within the container for the liquids that the outer bore always points upwardly and optimizes a pressure compensation with the environment. After opening the container for liquids, the resulting relative overpressure in the pressure chamber in relation to the released pressure in the container for liquids effects an opening of the component chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an insert for pressurized containers for liquids, in particular, beverage containers. The insert comprises a component chamber for receiving a liquid, paste-like, powder-like or solid component, for example, a flavoring agent, coloring agent, or other agents. The insert moreover comprises a pressure chamber as a means for introducing the component into the liquid when opening the container for liquids, wherein the pressure chamber has a small outer bore.
2. Description of the Related Art
The introduction of a component or active substance into a liquid with the goal of changing the properties of this liquid in a certain way is known for different fields of application. In this connection, generally two different applications are to be differentiated, in particular:                the introduction of the active substance into the liquid already during manufacture of the final product, for example, the introduction of coloring or flavoring agents in the manufacture of beverages such as sodas, liquor, etc.;        the introduction of the active substance only upon using or consuming the liquid, for example, the introduction of milk and sugar into coffee which has been previously prepared.
For introducing the active substance already during the manufacture of the liquid, known devices, such as, for example, metering pumps or weighing devices, are employed which have to meter correspondingly large quantities depending on the manufacturing process. The introduction of the active substance into the liquid with delay after the production process, wherein the point in time of the introduction of the active substance can be selected freely, presents the difficulty of metering, depending on the amount of liquid, correspondingly small amounts of active substance and of storing the liquid and the active substance separate from one another and of bringing them into contact only as needed.
From European patent document 0 965 536 an insert for receiving a solid, paste-like, or liquid agent, for example, a coloring agent or a flavoring agent, for use in beverage containers is known for the purpose of a metered introduction of this agent into a beverage. The introduction of the active substance is carried out automatically when opening the beverage container which is pressurized by gas pressure. The known active substance container is cylindrical and of a stepped configuration with two chambers and with a dispensing opening. It is connected fixedly to the inner bottom of the beverage container. The configuration and the introduction of the insert or active substance container are relatively complex and cost-intensive, and, moreover, this insert is neither suitable for all types of containers for liquids nor for special applications.

Insert for pressurized containers for liquids, especially beverage containers


A method and apparatus for mitigating multipath effects in a satellite signal receiver is described. The method includes computing at least one pseudorange residual as a function of (i) a measured pseudorange to a given satellite, and (ii) an expected pseudorange to the given satellite, which is derived by mathematically projecting a pseudorange to the given satellite. The method also includes applying the measured pseudorange to a sequential-estimation filter, which is configured to solve a navigation-solution problem, when the pseudorange residual satisfies a given threshold.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a position location system and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for mitigating multipath effects at a satellite signal receiver.
2. Description of the Related Art
Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers use measurements from several satellites to compute position. GPS receivers normally determine their position by computing time delays between transmission and reception of signals transmitted from satellites and received by the receiver on or near the surface of the earth. The time delays multiplied by the speed of light provide the distance from the receiver to each of the satellites that are in view of the receiver. The GPS satellites transmit to the receivers satellite-positioning data, so called "ephemeris" data. In addition to the ephemeris data, the satellites transmit to the receiver absolute time information associated with the satellite signal, i.e., the absolute time signal is sent as a second of the week signal. This absolute time signal allows the receiver to unambiguously determine a time tag for when each received signal was transmitted by each satellite. By knowing the exact time of transmission of each of the signals, the receiver uses the ephemeris data to calculate where each satellite was when it transmitted a signal. Finally, the receiver combines the knowledge of satellite positions with the computed distances to the satellites to compute the receiver position.
More specifically, GPS receivers receive GPS signals transmitted from orbiting GPS satellites containing unique pseudo-random noise (PN) codes. The GPS receivers determine the time delays between transmission and reception of the signals by comparing time shifts between the received PN code signal sequence and internally generated PN signal sequences.
Each transmitted GPS signal is a direct sequence spread spectrum signal. The signals available for commercial use are provided by the Standard Positioning Service. These signals utilize a direct sequence spreading signal with a 1.023 MHz spread rate on a carrier at 1575.42 MHz (the L1 frequency). Each satellite transmits a unique PN code (known as the C/A code) that identifies the particular satellite, and allows signals transmitted simultaneously from several satellites to be received simultaneously by a receiver with very little interference of any one signal by another. The PN code sequence length is 1023 chips, corresponding to a 1 millisecond time period. One cycle of 1023 chips is called a PN frame.
Each received GPS signal is constructed from the 1.023 MHz repetitive PN pattern of 1023 chips. At very low signal levels, the PN pattern may still be observed, to provide unambiguous time delay measurements, by processing, and essentially averaging, many PN frames. These measured time delays are called "sub-millisecond pseudoranges", since they are known modulo the 1 millisecond PN frame boundaries. By resolving the integer number of milliseconds associated with each delay to each satellite, then one has true, unambiguous, pseudoranges. The process of resolving the unambiguous pseudoranges is known as "integer millisecond ambiguity resolution". A set of four pseudoranges together with the knowledge of the absolute times of transmissions of the GPS signals and satellite positions at those absolute times is sufficient to solve for the position of the GPS receiver. The absolute times of transmission are needed in order to determine the positions of the satellites at the times of transmission and hence to determine the position of the GPS receiver.
The process of measuring pseudoranges in a GPS receiver begins with a procedure to search for the GPS signals in the presence of noise by attempting a series of correlations of the incoming signal against the PN codes. The search process can be lengthy, as both the exact frequency of the signal and the time-of-arrival delay are unknown. To find the signal, GPS receivers traditionally conduct a two dimensional search, checking each delay possibility at every possible frequency. To test for the presence of a signal at a particular frequency and delay, the GPS receiver is tuned to the frequency, and the incoming signal is correlated with the known PN code delayed by an amount corresponding to the time of arrival. If no signal is detected, the search continues to the next delay possibility, and after all delay possibilities are checked, continues to the next frequency possibility. Each individual correlation is performed over one or more milliseconds in order to allow sufficient signal averaging to distinguish the signal from the noise. A correlation between the incoming signal and the PN code results in a "peak" at the code delay position where the PN code of the incoming signal matches the known PN code.
Conventionally, GPS receivers use few correlators per channel to track the GPS PN codes, such as one early-late (E-L) correlator pair per channel. E-L correlator spacing is usually from ±0.5 PN code chips to ±0.05 code chips. Blockage of the direct satellite signal will cause the true correlation peak to fade, while the presence of a reflected signal will cause a false peak to appear offset from the true peak. If the true correlation peak fades, and a reflected signal causes a false peak to appear more than 0.5 chips away from the (now invisible) true peak, then this reflected signal is invisible to the E-L correlator pair and it causes no measurement error. However, upon initially searching for a GPS signal (as opposed to tracking a GPS signal), E-L correlator pairs are susceptible to large errors if only the reflected signals are visible. Moreover, E-L correlator pairs do not provide for high sensitivity in low signal-to-noise ratio environments.
To increase sensitivity at the GPS receiver, designers add additional correlators per channel. For a given sensitivity level, the addition of correlators decreases search times in proportion to the number of additional correlators added to the channel. In contrast to an E-L correlator pair, however, a GPS receiver with a large number of correlators per channel will "see" a false peak from a reflected signal, even if the reflected signal suddenly appears more than one chip away from the true peak. Since the false peak is visible, the GPS receiver may produce erroneous measurements. When one or more reflected signals are received by the receiver, the signals form "multipath" components that can result in one or more false peaks or peak distortion. There are known techniques for mitigating multipath effects when the reflected signal overlaps a direct signal, causing a distortion in the correlation peak. These techniques, usually based on narrow correlator spacing, somewhat mitigate the distortion effect of multipath components in the presence of a direct-path signal. However, in some instances of receiver use, the entire direct signal path may be blocked resulting in the receiver only receiving the reflected signals. In those instances, the existing techniques are ineffective at mitigating reception errors do to multipath components.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for an improved method and apparatus for mitigating multipath effects at a satellite signal receiver.

Method and apparatus for mitigating multipath effects at a satellite signal receiver using a sequential estimation filter


Methods and apparatus for use in reducing residual phase error (RPE) in orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) communication signals are described. In at least one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus includes a residual phase error estimator configured to estimate a residual phase error at least partially based on a plurality of phases of a first channel-compensated received signal and a plurality of phases of a sliced version of the first channel-compensated received signal. The residual phase error estimator is configured to correct a channel estimate at least partially based on the residual phase error estimate to thereby generate a corrected channel estimate. The apparatus includes a channel compensator configured to generate a second channel-compensated received signal at least partially based on a received signal and the corrected channel estimate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of radio communication receivers. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of reducing residual phase error (RPE) of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals in OFDM communication receivers.
2. Description of the Related Art
An increasing need for broadband mobile/fixed wireless communications services has motivated researchers and radio engineers to search for a variety of feasible radio airlink interface techniques for such wireless communication systems. An airlink interface technique based on the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) modulation is considered an attractive candidate for a broadband wireless transmission system due to its spectral efficiency, its robustness in different multipath propagation environments and its ability to combat intersymbol interference (ISI).
OFDM is a multi-carrier modulation method. It divides an entire frequency band into many, say N, subchannels or frequency tones, and each subchannel is modulated with a constellation symbol to be transmitted. In its application as a multiple access method for a point-to-multipoint wireless communication system, OFDM arranges these total N subchannels as follows. M adjacent subchannels are grouped together (where M<<N) without overlapping between adjacent groups. Each mobile user is assigned a cluster of M subchannels when it needs to transmit information data between its serving base station and its terminal. In each cluster of M subchannels assigned to an individual user, one or more subchannels may be used to transmit pilot signals and are called "pilot subchannels." The rest of the subchannels bear information data and are called "information subchannels." For an available bandwidth of B MHz, there are a total of N subchannels with a frequency space of B/N MHz; this band can simultaneously support N/M users.
An OFDM-based wireless system, however, is very sensitive to channel phase errors and the phase noise of the receiver local oscillator (LO). Therefore, an effective fading channel estimation and the transform domain channel compensation become necessary to restore OFDM signal orthogonality, to correct phase error, and to conduct coherent demodulation in the receiver.
Pilot symbol-aided approaches are widely used to estimate the fading channel properties which corrupt the transmitted signal. In an OFDM/TDMA system, an OFDM data block is the block of M constellation symbols to be transmitted within a TDMA time slot. When the transmission channel or phase noise changes significantly from one OFDM data block to the next, channel estimation and transform domain channel compensation must be performed in each individual data block with the pilot symbols inserted in the given data block. For example, the interval between two OFDM data blocks may be on the order of 3-5 milliseconds. In such a relatively long time period, the phase noise effect of the receiver LO may change significantly.
Co-channel interference due to any frequency reuse pattern, multipath fading, and additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) are primary constraints to an acceptable performance in a cellular/wireless communication system. In addition, intercarrier interference (ICI) due to channel variation and phase noise always exists in an OFDM-based wireless system. Thus, the pilot symbols as well as the information symbols are corrupted by co-channel-interference, intercarrier-interference, noise, and other channel impairments. All of these impairments in the received pilot signals significantly affect the accuracy of the channel estimation. A residual phase error (RPE) is the phase error that remains after the received constellation symbols are compensated based on an inaccurate channel estimation.
With conventional techniques, the accuracy of the channel estimation may be improved by either increasing the number of pilot signals and/or increasing their transmission power. On one hand, using a larger number of pilot symbols results in a higher transmission overhead and hence a lower system capacity. On the other hand, a larger transmission power for pilot sub-channels results in larger ICIs for information-bearing tones and hence causes implementation difficulties. Accordingly, there is an existing need to reduce the residual phase error in OFDM communication signals without the deficiencies of the prior art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and apparatus for use in reducing residual phase error in OFDM communication signals


An alarm system that monitors and selectively handles incoming telephone calls at a premises in disclosed. The alarm system includes, a telephone network interface, for receiving a subscriber line from a telephone network that further includes a caller-ID decoder for decoding caller-ID information for telephone calls received on said subscriber line; and a switch for selectively interconnecting said subscriber line to a telephone feed at the premises. A processor is in communication with the caller-ID decoder and the switch to selectively interconnect calls from the subscriber line to the telephone feed at the premises, based on associated caller-ID information.

Since its introduction, the telephone has been used as a marketing instrument, and often it has served as an instrument for unsolicited advertisers. In recent years, such unsolicited "telemarketing" has become widespread, and annoying to many telephone subscribers.
Fortunately, the advent of digital telephony has given users and telephone companies the ability to limit the effectiveness of such calls. In particular, incoming telephone calls are now typically accompanied with calling party identification ("caller-ID") information. Telephone companies and equipment providers have allowed telephone subscribers to handle calls from unknown or unwanted callers.
For example, many telephone service providers now provide subscribers with a service that prevents unwanted incoming calls from ringing through to the subscriber's phone. A conventional call blocking service enables subscribers to maintain a blocked numbers list. Incoming calls that originate from any one of the listed numbers are prevented from ringing through to the subscriber's phone at the telephone company local office. Upon attempting to call the subscriber, a blocked caller will typically hear a pre-recorded message stating that the subscriber is not accepting the call. Typically, the call blocking service is provided by the telephone service provider for an additional monthly fee.
As an alternate to the telephone company services, an incoming call screening device may be attached at the customer premises (usually integrated into the telephone set). Typical call screening devices decode the caller-identification signal, which is sent over the local loop between the first and second ring signals of an incoming call, in order to ascertain the originating telephone number and block unwanted calls. These devices are advantageous because the user typically does not need to pay monthly fees. However, typical call screening devices block calls at individual telephone sets, thus premises with multiple telephone sets may require separate devices at each telephone set.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved call handling methods and devices.


An object manipulation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a memory and a hardware processor coupled to the memory. The hardware processor is configured to: calculate, based on an image in which one or more objects to be grasped are contained, an evaluation value of a first behavior manner of grasping the one or more objects; generate information representing a second behavior manner based on the image and a plurality of evaluation values of the first behavior manner; and control actuation of grasping the object to be grasped in accordance with the information being generated.

Conventionally, a robot system has been known, which automates an object handling work, such as a picking automation system that handles baggage or the like stacked in a physical distribution warehouse. Such a robot system automatically calculates a grasping position or posture of an object and a boxing position and posture of an input destination based on sensor data, such as image information, and actually executes object grasping or releasing by a robot having a manipulation planning mechanism. In recent years, with the development of a machine learning technology, a technology of realizing appropriate actuation of a robot by learning has been used.

Object manipulation apparatus, handling method, and program product


A piston pump assembly for pumping a fluid including a pump housing defining a bore. The pump housing further defines a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a fluid flow path extending therebetween for conveying the fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. A piston is slidably disposed in the bore of the pump housing, and an eccentric engages the piston to propel the fluid through the fluid flow path. An inlet check valve and an outlet check valve body are disposed in the bore for only allowing the fluid to flow in one direction from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. A filter is disposed in the fluid flow path downstream of the inlet check valve and the outlet check valve body and adjacent to a damper orifice for filtering debris from the fluid before the fluid is conveyed to the fluid outlet.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a piston pump assembly for pumping a fluid.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Piston pump assemblies are often used in electronic stability control braking systems of automobiles. One such piston pump assembly is shown in US Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0183911 to Maeda et al. (hereinafter referred to as Maeda '911). Maeda '911 shows such a pump assembly including a pump housing defining a bore extending along an axis. The pump housing further defines a fluid inlet for conveying the fluid into the bore and a fluid outlet spaced axially from the fluid inlet for dispensing the fluid out of the bore. A fluid flow path extends along the bore from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. The Maeda '911 pump assembly further includes a piston slidably disposed in the bore of the pump housing, and an eccentric engages and drives the piston to propel the fluid through the fluid flow path. The Maeda '911 pump includes two check valves for only allowing the fluid in the fluid flow path to flow in one direction from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. A filter is disposed in the bore of the pump housing between the two check valves for filtering debris from the fluid.

High performance electronic stability control pump assembly


A process is provided for cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing substrates comprising the steps of: (a) placing the contaminated substrate in a cleaning vessel; (b) contacting the contaminated substrate with dense phase carbon dioxide in liquid form; (c) subjecting the substrate and the dense phase carbon dioxide to ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength within the range of about 180 to 300 nm for a duration and intensity sufficient to produce a photochemical reaction capable of destroying the DNA of microorganisms on the substrate; (d) substantially simultaneously subjecting at least the dense phase carbon dioxide to agitation; and (e) removing the dense phase carbon dioxide from the cleaning vessel and thereby transporting the contaminants from the substrate such that the substrate is cleaned and, in the case of contaminated garments, disinfected or, in the case of medical and dental instrumentation, sterilized. Substantially simultaneously with the UV exposure and agitation, the substrates are also subjected to an oxidizing sterilant, such as H.sub.2 O.sub.2.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a process for cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing materials, and, more particularly, to a process for employing the combination of dense phase gas, ultraviolet radiation, and sterilants such as H.sub.2 O.sub.2 to clean, disinfect, and sterilize materials such as fabrics and medical implements.
2. Description of Related Art
(A) Medical and Dental Instruments
In the health field, medical and dental instruments that enter the blood stream or sterile tissue should be sterilized before each use. Sterilization means the use of a physical or chemical procedure to destroy all microbial life and endospores. Today, main hospital sterilizing means are (a) moist heat by steam autoclaving, (b) dry heat, and (c) ethylene oxide gas. However, many medical devices and implements cannot be subjected to heat, as it leads to degradation of the device or implement.
A variety of chemical germicides (sterilants) have been used to process reusable heat-sensitive medical devices, as they promote a high level of disinfection (virtual elimination of pathogenic microorganisms, but not all microbial forms, such as bacterial endospores). There are three levels of disinfection: (1) high (kills all organisms except high levels of bacterial spores with chemical germicides registered as sterilants by the EPA), (2) intermediate (kills mycobacteria, bacteria, and most viruses, with a chemical germicide registered as a "tuberculoside" by the EPA, and (3) low (kills some viruses and bacteria with a chemical germicide registered as a hospital disinfectant by the EPA).
In general, items that only intact skin, such as garments, headboards, blood pressure cuffs, and other medical accessories, can usually be processed by washing with a detergent or using a low level disinfectant.
In all cases, the main chemical sterilization or disinfecting technology involves the use of 12/88% ethylene oxide (ETO)/hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) mixture, hydrogen peroxide (H.sub.2 O.sub.2) plasma, peracetic acid (C.sub.2 H.sub.2 O.sub.3)/H.sub.2 O.sub.2 plasma, and vapor phase H.sub.2 O.sub.2. More recently, a 10/90% ETO/CO.sub.2 gas mixture has been used, where the CO.sub.2 is a more environmentally "friendly" diluant for the active sterilizing species than the HCFC in the 12/88% ETO/HCFC mixture.
The most efficient of the sterilizing technologies cited are the 12/88% ETO/HCFC and 10/90% ETO/CO.sub.2, as they are conducted at positive operating pressures (10 to 12 psig and 50 to 80 psig, respectively). The other known processes are conducted at sub-atmospheric pressures. The sterilization efficacy of positive pressures against challenge barriers is quoted at 97% on surfaces, but only 44% in the lumen for the 12/88% ETO/HFCF. The other sub-atmospheric technologies cited range lower still, between 32 to 78% on surfaces and 6 to 35% in the lumen. See, MacNeal et al., "Comparison of Health Care-Based Sterilization Technologies: Safety, Efficacy, and Economics", Journal of Healthcare Safety, Compliance & Infection Control, vol. 1, No. 2 (December 1997). Across the board, the substantially lower sterilization efficacy cited for hard to access surfaces such as that of a lumen, is due to the difficulty in cleaning biological debris from cavities prior to sterilization or to the presence of inherently higher levels of bioburden in these cavities. Though the positive pressure in the current systems does not ensure a high level of "kill" in cavities, it is better in overcoming the penetration obstacles to the sterilants in cavities, or in the face of heavy bioburden or biomass.
In addition to the above, the chemical sterilants are highly toxic, and even minor residual levels in the sterilizer, or on sterilized surfaces, can act as irritants to operators or patients.
In summary, the current challenges of chemical sterilization for medical and dental devices is related mostly to difficult to access surfaces such as that of a lumen for the rigorous pre-cleaning required for bioburden reduction, delivery of adequate levels of active sterilant for these "challenged" surfaces throughout the sterilization cycle, ability of rapidly delivering sterilants to these surfaces in order to reduce cycle time, and ability to then deactivate or efficiently separate out the residual sterilizing species to minimize the risk to the operator or patient.
(B) Garments
In the field of commercial garment cleaning/dry-cleaning, typically, garments from multiple customers are co-processed in the same machine-cleaning cycle, posing the risk of some forms of pathogen transmission through garment cross-contamination. Fluids used in conventional garment dry-cleaning do not have disinfecting properties, and disinfection in commercial dry-cleaning is not addressed.
The challenge to the commercial garment cleaning/dry-cleaning is to effect the pathogen destruction within the short agitation steps within the cleaning cycle (typically less than 10 minutes) without leading to the degradation of the fabrics themselves and without producing toxic waste.
(C) Dense Phase Carbon Dioxide; UV Radiation
Dense phase carbon dioxide is an inexpensive and virtually unlimited natural resource that is non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-smog producing. Dense phase carbon dioxide is compressed to either supercritical or subcritical conditions to achieve liquid-like densities, and is often simply termed "liquid carbon dioxide". Liquid carbon dioxide exhibits solvating properties typical of hydrocarbon solvents. Its properties make it a good organic solvent-like cleaning medium in general, and specifically, a good dry-cleaning medium for fabrics and garments.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,591, issued to Chao et al. and assigned to Hughes Aircraft Company, addresses part cleaning by cavitation in liquified gases. U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,740, issued to Chao et al. and assigned to Hughes Aircraft Company, addresses chemical decomposition of organic materials by sonication in liquid carbon dioxide. U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,366, issued to Jackson et al. and assigned to Hughes Aircraft Company, addresses a part cleaning process using phase shifting of dense phase carbon dioxide with or without the aid of UV, sonication, and chemical oxidants. U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,602, issued to Jackson and assigned to Hughes Aircraft Company, addresses a dense phase fluid photochemical process for liquid substrate treatment using UV, with or without chemical oxidants to chemically alter toxic materials into non-toxic species. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,068,040 and 5,215,592, both issued to Jackson and assigned to Hughes Aircraft Company, address a dense fluid photochemical process for solid substrate treatment using UV, with or without chemical oxidants. U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,619, issued to Jackson et al., addresses a process for cleaning, sterilizing, and implanting materials using high energy (acoustic radiation or non-uniform electrostatic field) dense fluids.
Although each of the foregoing patents addresses cleaning in dense phase carbon dioxide in general, and specifically, organic chemical destruction with the aid of UV, with or without chemical oxidants, the disinfection or sterilization in dense phase carbon dioxide by UV radiation with or without chemical oxidants is not addressed. Furthermore, although U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,619 addresses a process for cleaning, sterilizing, and implanting materials using dense fluids that are energized by a non-uniform electrostatic field and high powered acoustic radiation, costly sterilizing equipment is needed, and more importantly, removal of soil from substrates is not effective.
The initial patent referencing dens phase carbon dioxide as a suitable solvent for garment dry-cleaning applications is that of Maffei, U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,194. Other patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,455, issued to Dewees and assigned on its face to The Clorox Company and U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,492, issued to Chao et al. and assigned to Hughes Aircraft Company, also reference liquid carbon dioxide as a suitable garment dry-cleaning medium. Again, these patents fail to address garment disinfection in dense phase carbon dioxide.
UV light has proven benefits in a broad range of applications, including the disinfection of solid surfaces, liquids, air, and photochemical processes. The advantage of using UV light for disinfection lies in the fact that it controls pathogens without the use of harmful chemicals. For example, UV germicidal energy has been used to purify water. UV energy between 180 and 300 nm disrupts the DNA strands of micro-organisms and prevents cell replication. A microbe that cannot replicate dies. Microbes are particularly vulnerable to the effects of light at a wavelength at or near 253 to 254 nm, due to the resonance of this wavelength with molecular structures. This resonance breaks organic molecular bonds which in turn translate to cellular or genetic damage for microorganisms.
A major disadvantage of this photochemical destruction is that the targeted area must be in the line of sight of the radiation, in order for sterilization to occur and is thus by itself ineffective for all but relatively clean and directly irradiated targets. Addition of oxidizing species that can be readily photo-dissociated upon exposure to the UV radiation into more active species increases the efficacy of the UV sterilization, but it does not resolve the challenge of cleaning hard to access cavities and holes, such as that of a lumen, or the challenge of efficiently delivering the sterilants into these holes.
It is desirable to provide a single-step dense gas cleaning process that, in addition to cleaning a substrate, also achieves the disinfection and sterilization of substrates using simple, faster, economical, and less toxic techniques. The present invention fulfills these needs.

Process for cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing materials using the combination of dense phase gas and ultraviolet radiation


A push-to-connect electrical conduit fitting and assembly facilitates the connection of multiple types of metallic conduit regardless of connection type and finish. In various embodiments, an axially internal portion of the fitting has an interior surface that tapers from a narrower radius to a wider radius as it extends axially outwardly from a tube stop element. A packing arrangement including a sealing member, fastening ring and release pusher are maintained within axially intermediate and/or outer portions of the fitting to facilitate retention of inserted conduits.

Wiring, cable and other elongated elements require proper protection from weather, sharp objects and other external sources of potential damage. Conduits can be made of metal (e.g., RMC, IMC), rigid or flexible plastic (e.g., PVC) and other materials, and wiring or cabling can vary from very thin wires that may be bundled for passage through a conduit to very thick cables that may not be joined to any other wires or cabling when passed through a conduit. For purposes of the present disclosure, the term "cable" or "cabling" may be used throughout the present disclosure to refer to any type of wire, cable or similar elongated element that can be inserted and pulled through a conduit.
Rigid metal conduit (RMC) and intermediate metal conduit (IMC) are forms of metal conduit designed to handle indoor, outdoor and underground environments with strong connections which have conventionally been threaded to join the conduit. Applications can include residential and commercial applications, including service masts, panel connections and other outdoor applications. RMC is generally thicker and heavier than IMC, although IMC is generally considered to be nearly as strong as RMC. RMC may be manufactured with inside diameters ranging from 0.5 inches to six inches, whereas IMC may be manufactured with inside diameters ranging from 0.5 inches to four inches. RMC and IMC are generally formed of steel and may be galvanized depending upon the application. Further, the axial ends of RMC and IMC conduits may be finished and/or formed with a thread or without a thread (i.e., "plain" or "unthreaded").
Unfortunately, conventional installation and/or attachment of RMC and IMC conduit with couplings and fittings generally requires threading, large pliers, pipe wrenches and specialized fittings. RMC and IMC are generally provided with the same thread and can use the same couplings and fittings when connected by threading. In some environments, compression couplings with external locknuts and threads are employed to secure a conduit without threads to a coupling or fitting. Nevertheless, regardless of connection type, it is often the case that IMC fittings and couplings are not interchangeable with RMC fittings and couplings. For instance, an RMC fitting or coupling may be designed for an RMC conduit having a slightly larger diameter than an IMC conduit.


A method for monitoring data flow in a web application hosted on a server includes obtaining a list of HTTP requests processed on the server while interacting with the web application, selecting a number of HTTP requests from the list, and sending a request to the server to re-process the selected number of HTTP requests in a predetermined sequence.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to web application development systems. More specifically, the invention relates to a mechanism for monitoring data flow in a web application, particularly during testing and debugging of the web application.
2. Background Art
A web application is a web site where users can access the information they need and change the state of application logic on a server through a set of web pages. Development of web applications is usually centered around tools and technologies. A web application centered around the Java™ technology may include the following: JSP™ pages and Java™ servlets that handle HTTP requests and generate dynamic content, server-side beans that encapsulate application behavior and state, static HTML files, DHTML files, image files, sound files, and libraries with additional Java™ components, such as client-side Java™ applets and any Java™ class files used by the other Java™ components. The J2EE™ specification describes a standard for how to organize such files into web modules, including describing how they are accessed. The web modules could be developed in an IDE, such as sold under the trade name Forte™ for Java™ by Sun Microsystems, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif.
The process of test-running and debugging web applications that provide dynamic responses to different user inputs involves testing each component that generates pages with every possible type of user input. This includes user input that is technically incorrect (e.g., entering "&&^%" into a field where the expected input is a U.S. zip code). To understand how the process works, consider an e-commerce application that contains a set of pages (A–G) that allows a user to move through a checkout process. The sequence of events for the checkout process is outlined in Table 1 below. A common architecture for this type of web application would be to have each of the pages (A–G) correspond to an individual JSP™ page. Further, because the order in which the pages can be traversed needs to be controlled, all requests for these JSPs™ are handled by a servlet, which allows them to be displayed in appropriate circumstances.
TABLE 1Sequence of events for checkout processPageEventAThe user views the contents of the shopping cart for thepurposes of accepting the selected items. Page A is displayed onlyif the user has selected some items.BThe user enters their credit card information and home address.CThe information from page B is displayed, giving the userthe option to go back to page B to correct the information ormove forward to page D.DThe user enters the shipping address.EThe shipping address from page D is displayed, giving the user theoption to go back to page D to correct the shipping addressor move forward to page F.FAll the information entered by the user (i.e., items purchased,credit card information, home address, and shipping address)is displayed. Page F gives the user the option to proceedwith or cancel the transaction.GA thank-you note is displayed if the user completes the transaction.
Now, suppose that the developer has identified a problem with how the input from page D (i.e., the shipping address) is processed. In order to reproduce the problem, the developer has to achieve a certain state with respect to the web application. This would involve first performing the HTTP transactions required to put something in the shopping cart, or else the controller servlet will not allow the pages to be accessed at all. Then the developer has to move through page A, fill in credit card information and home address on page B, move through page C, and fill in shipping address on D in order to reproduce the problem. HTML forms need to be filled in order to allow the resource that needs debugging to be accessed.
In the scenario described above, it is clearly desirable for the developer to be able to place the web application in the desired state without having to enter data through HTML forms in order to put something in the shopping cart and reenter the same data into the different pages. The mechanism described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/789,238, supra, allows a user to collect information about HTTP transactions and replay the HTTP transactions at a later time. If the HTTP transactions during shopping (i.e., while selecting items) and the checkout process are recorded, they can be replayed at a later time. To use this mechanism for debugging the web application described above, the developer would have to find the desired transactions to replay, and then replay each one individually. This process has to be repeated for each debugging cycle.

HTTP transaction monitor with sequence replay capacity


A prosthesis or an orthosis and a method of controlling movable components of the same. The prosthesis or orthosis comprises a plurality of movable components, each component being movable by a respective motor and a control device operative to determine when movement of at least a first component is arrested when the at least first component bears against a surface, and to move one or more further components with respective one or more further motors so that each subsequent component is moved upon determination that the movement of the preceding component is arrested when the preceding component bears against a surface.

Prosthetic hands with motor powered digits are known. For example, WO 2007/063266 describes a prosthesis with a mechanically operable digit that is moved by an electric motor. In the prosthesis of WO 2007/063266 the electric motor is located within the digit. Shortcomings with known prostheses having motor driven digits, such as the prosthesis of WO 2007/063266 are dealt with in WO2010/149967 which provides a method of controlling a mechanically operable digit to improve the grip of the digit upon an object. The present inventor has appreciated a further need to improve known prostheses having motor driven digits, such as the prostheses of WO 2007/063266 and/or WO2010/149967.

Prosthesis or an orthosis and a method for controlling a prosthesis or an orthosis


An integrated circuit for processing communication packets having separate data buffers and separate state information buffers. Each data buffer and each state information buffer (hereinafter termed resources) has an associated in-use counter. Multiple events can share the same resource. The counter associated with a resource is incremented when a resource becomes associated with a particular event. The counter associated with a resource is decremented when an event completes the use of that particular resource. When the in-use counter for a resource becomes zero, the in-use counter indicates that the resource is unassigned and that the resource can be assigned to a new event.

Many communication systems transfer information in streams of packets. In general, each packet contains a header and a payload. The header contains control information, such as addressing or channel information, that indicate how the packet should be handled. The payload contains the information that is being transferred. Some examples of the types of packets used in communication systems include, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cells, Internet Protocol (IP) packets, frame relay packets, Ethernet packets, or some other packet-like information block. As used herein, the term "packet" is intended to include packet segments.
Integrated circuits termed "traffic stream processors" have been designed to apply robust functionality to high-speed packet streams. Robust functionality is critical with today's diverse but converging communication systems. Stream processors must handle multiple protocols and inter-work between streams of different protocols. Stream processors must also ensure that quality-of service constraints, priority, and bandwidth requirements are met. This functionality must be applied differently to different streams, and there may be thousands of different streams.
Co-pending applications Ser. No. 09/639,966, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,760,337, Ser. No. 09/640,231, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,804,239, and Ser. No. 09/640,258, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,754,223 the content of which is incorporated herein by reference, describe an integrated circuit for processing communication packets. As described in the above applications, the integrated circuit includes a core processor. The processor handles a series of tasks, termed "events". These events consist of tasks such as CPU processing steps as well as the scheduling of subsequent events. These subsequently scheduled events may consist of CAM lookups, DMA data transfers, or other generic events based on conditions in the current event. All events have an associated service address, "context information" and "data". Information about the event such as the resource that requested the event, how much data is associated with the event, and other key information from the event requestor is stored in "special state" information associated with the event. When an external resource initiates an event, the external resource supplies the core processor with a memory pointer to "context" information and it also supplies the data to be associated with the event.
The context pointer is used to fetch the context from external memory and to store this "context" information in memory located on the chip. If the required context data has already been fetched onto the chip, the hardware recognizes this fact and sets the on chip context pointer to point to this already pre-fetched context data. Only a small number of the system "contexts" are cached on the chip at any one time, and their allocation needs to managed and sometimes shared among multiple processing events. Each cached "context" has an in-use counter so that one context can be associated with multiple sets of data. The rest of the system "contexts" are stored in external memory. This context fetch mechanism and the storage of these contexts in the co-processor is described in the above referenced co-pending applications.
In the circuit described in the above references co-pending applications, data and context information for a number of events are stored in buffers in a co-processor. In order to process an event, the core processor needs the service address of the event as well as the "context" and "data" associated with the event. The service address is the starting address for the instructions used to service the event. The core processor branches to the service address in order to start servicing the event.

Method for automatic resource reservation and communication that facilitates using multiple processing events for a single processing task


A bioadhesive applicator is disclosed in the present invention that allows a user to easily spread a melted adhesive material over a surface area surrounding an incision in an eye after a surgery thereby sealing the incision. The applicator generally includes a housing, a heat sink and tip assembly and a cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly includes an adhesive material and a plunger assembly for advancing the adhesive material into the heat sink. The heat sink and tip assembly is attached to the front of the housing for melting and dispensing the material onto the surface area of the incision.

The present invention is directed to a bioadhesive applicator that dispenses a bioadhesive material in liquid form onto a surface area of an incision in order to bond the incision. A typical application for the bioadhesive applicator would be to bond a cornea/sclera incision commonly made for interocular (IOL) lens insertion or replacement.
Prior art techniques have relied upon sutures to close the IOL incision. However, these sutures often lead to scarring and discomfort. In order to remedy this problem, cyanoacryite glues or adhesives have been employed. However, these glues bond instantly and lack the open time needed by a surgeon for adjusting the incised tissue to a proper desired location before the adhesive sets.
Preferably, the adhesive should be applied along a 0.120-0.190 inch width and 0.002 inch thickness in order to properly seal the incision. However, problems arise in that the viscous bioadhesive has a very rubbery consistency even upon melting and tends to reform immediately after extrusion into a bead of approximately 0.018 inch thickness.
The present invention presents a novel bioadhesive applicator and adhesive cartridge assembly that is intended to overcome many of these prior art problems as well as to present several other advantages and improvements over the prior art procedure and techniques.


A solid support based hybridization assay is provided which allows for the systematic and reproducible analysis of repeat and tandem repeat oligonucleotide sequences of DNA and RNA by hybridization to a reverse dot blot array comprising strings of such repeats complementary to those found in particular nucleic acid targets (e.g., analyte PCR product). An addressable library (i.e., an indexed set) of complementary repeats is synthesized on a suitable support. Preferably, the support comprises a low fluorescent background support, thereby facilitating the use of non-radioisotopic modes of detection (such as fluorescence or chemiluminescence); particularly suitable in this regard is an aminated polypropylene support or similar material. Preferred arrays permit screening of DNA and RNA samples for complete sets of particular types of nucleotide repeat sequences (e.g., all nucleotide doublet or triplet repeats).

The present invention relates generally to the fields of biochemistry and medicine. In particular, the invention is directed to materials and methods useful in the diagnosis of genetic mutations of clinical relevance.
Short tandem repeats (STR) have been identified in a number of genes. It has been proposed that particular unstable triplet repeat oligonucleotides are correlated with a number of genetic diseases in humans, including Kennedy's disease [La Spada, A. et al., Nature, 352, 77-79 (1991)], fragile-X syndrome [Verkerk, A. J. M. H. et al., Cell 65, 905-914 (1991)], myotonic dystrophy [Fu, Y. H. et al, Science 255, 1256-1258 (1992)], Huntington disease [The Huntington's Disease Collaborative Research Group, Cell 72, 971-983 (1993)] and spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 [Orr, H. T. et al., Nature Genet. 4, 221-226 (1993)]. Similarly, doublet repeats have also been reported to be associated with particular disease states; for example, correlations have been proposed with cystic fibrosis [Chu, C.-S. et al., Nature Genetics 3, 151-156 (1993)] and colorectal cancer [Thibodeau, S. N. et al., Science 260, 816-819 (1993)]. Higher-order repeats, such as tetramers [see, e.g., Gen, M. W. et al., Genomics 17, 770-772 (1993)], have also been identified.
One gene which has been subject of intense scrutiny is the Huntington's disease gene. The trinucleotide hybridization approach was recently utilized to map out tandem repeats across a section of the gene. In this section, 51 triplet repeats spanning a 1.86 Mbp DNA segment were identified by Southern transfer of restriction enzyme digests of a specific cosmid and probing with .sup.32 P-labelled oligonucleotide probes [Hummerich, et al., "Distribution of trinucleotide repeat sequences across a 2 Mbp region containing the Huntington's disease gene," Human Molecular Genetics 3, 73 (1994)].
DNA polymorphisms which arise from allelic differences in the number of repeats have been identified by such terminology as short tandem repeats (STR), variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR), minisatellites (tandem repeats of a short sequence, originally defined as 9-60 bp) and microsatellites (originally defined as 1-5 bp) [McBride, L. J. & O'Neill, M. D., American Laboratory, pp. 52-54 (November 1991)]; minisatellites and microsatellites would be considered subclasses of the VNTR. It is estimated that there are up to 500,000 microsatellite repeats distributed throughout the human genome, at an average spacing of 7000 bp. Therefore, it is apparent that most genes will contain VNTR regions and that these regions can be used as genetic markers. For example, VNTRs are currently being used as markers in studies concerned with the inheritance of certain mutations leading to various forms of cancer. Recently, it has been discovered that certain triplet repeat expansions are associated with a predisposition towards certain diseases; a large expansion is typically associated with the onset of the disease. For example, the (CGG) triplet repeat region associated with Fragile X occurs at a frequency of 10-50 repeat units in the normal population, while in those afflicted with the disease the expansion is between 200-2000 repeats.
As it becomes possible to determine whether a particular genotype comprises an unstable repeat and/or is associated with a particular disease state, there is a considerable incentive to develop useful methods to characterize STRs. The heretofore available methods for initial scanning for STRs have generally required time-consuming sequential oligonucleotide hybridizations to filter-bound target DNAs to identify specific STRs [see, e.g., Litt, M. and Luty, J. A., Am. J. Hum. Genet. 44, 397-401 (1989); Weber, J. L. and May, P. E., Am. J. Hum. Genet. 44, 388-396 (1989); Fu et al., supra]. In particular, the analysis of oligonucleotide repeats is typically carried out at the present time by Southern blotting of restriction fragments followed by hybridization analysis using a specified repetitive sequence probe. Alternatively, it is possible to probe dot blots of the target DNA [Iizuka, et al., GATA 10:2-5 (1993)].
Both of these heretofore-known techniques are time-consuming and tedious for large sample populations. Moreover, multiple probings may be required to identify which repeat might be present. Further, it is often difficult to reproducibly spot or transfer equivalent amounts of DNA to these supports; thus, conventional dot blots and transfers show variation in signal intensity from batch to batch. In addition, any regions of DNA that might become cross-linked to the support (e.g., through UV light) would be inaccessible to probes.
It would be highly useful for clinical investigators to be able to screen large sample populations of patients DNAs in an effective manner. As additional STRs are identified and associated with particular conditions, the need for simple and effective screening methods becomes greater.
PCT published application No. WO 89/10977 describes methods and apparatus for analyzing polynucleotide sequences in which an array of the whole or a chosen part of a complete set of oligonucleotides are bound to a solid support. The different oligonucleotides occupy separate cells of the array and are capable of taking part in hybridization reactions. For studying differences between polynucleotide sequences, the array may comprise the whole or a chosen part of a complete set of oligonucleotides comprising the polynucleotide sequences. While it is suggested that a small array may be useful for many applications, such as the analysis of a gene for mutations, there is no teaching or suggestion of a specific array or method for using same which would permit the rapid and accurate screening of a wide range of biological materials for tandem repeats. Moreover, the arrays described in WO 89/10977 are designed specifically for use in sequencing by hybridization; the presence of long tandem nucleotide repeats can present a significant problem in attempts to sequence a sample using the methods described in WO 89/10977.
It is an object of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus for rapid and accurate identification of nucleotide tandem repeats in DNA and RNA sequences from a wide variety of sources.


Feature is a fixing device equipped in an image forming device enabling reduction of electronic noise and preventing hot-offset and fixing disorder. The fixing device includes a rotatable fixing roll, a heater for heating the fixing roll, a temperature detector for detecting the surface temperature of the fixing roll, and temperature control circuitry. The temperature control circuitry is for controlling the fixing roll surface to maintain a predetermined temperature by supplying a predetermined electric power to the heater, wherein the temperature of the fixing roll during continuous image forming operation is detected periodically by the temperature detector, and in correspondence to the difference between a fixed reference temperature and the detected temperature, controlling the electric power quantity to be supplied to the heater during a cycle by increasing or decreasing a half-wave unit cycle number of the commercial power source.

The present invention relates to an image forming device equipped with a fixing device for heat-fixing toner, such as analog or digital copying machines and facsimile machines, laser beam printers and the like utilizing an electrophotograph method.
In the prior art, the image forming device utilizing an electrophotograph method included forming a visible image by powder toner from a latent image formed on a photosensitive body, and transferring said visible image or toner image to a predetermined sheet of paper, and then melting the toner by heat and pressurizing the same, in order to fix the toner image onto the paper, thereby forming a permanently visible image.
The conventional control block for the fixing device comprises a fixing heater, a temperature detector, a fixing control circuit, a control circuit, a zero-cross circuit and the like.
An AC (alternating current) driven halogen lamp and the like are widely used for the fixing heater conventionally, and a thermistor is generally used as the temperature detector.
The surface temperature of the fixing heater will rise when power is supplied to said heater, and the temperature detector mounted either in the vicinity of or in contact with the fixing heater detects the surface temperature of the heater, and the temperature detection data of the heater is outputted from the fixing control circuit to the control circuit.
For example, a microcomputer is provided In the control circuit. Said microcomputer comprises an analog port, and when an analog voltage Is inputted from the thermistor to the analog port, the analog voltage value is converted to digital data, which will be taken Into the microcomputer in the control circuit.
The analog port has an analog voltage resolving power of approximately 256 level (equally divided into 255 parts) of the reference voltage in general.
Further, the fixing temperature Is set to a temperature enabling heat-fixing the toner on the paper, considering the feeding rate of the paper passing through the fixing device of the image forming device, or the toner material and the like. If the temperature of the fixing heater detected by the temperature detector is lower than said fixing temperature, the signal for providing electricity to the fixing heater will be outputted from the control circuit to the zero-cross circuit, and driving signal is outputted from said zero-cross circuit to the fixing heater, thereby providing electricity to the heater.
On the other hand, when the temperature of the heater being detected by the temperature detection circuit is higher than said fixing temperature, the signal for not providing power to the fixing heater will be outputted from the control circuit to the zero-cross circuit, and the fixing heater is turned off. Thereby, the fixing heater is controlled to maintain a predetermined fixing temperature.
Moreover, since the above temperature control method is controlled by the microcomputer in the control circuit, if the microcomputer becomes out of control by electric noise, disorder, temperature rise and the like, no fixing temperature control will be performed, or the heater lamp will be lighted continuously, generating smoke or fire.
Therefore, the prior art device is quipped with a high-temperature protect circuit comprising only hardware, other than the above-mentioned software process. The detailed explanation of said high-temperature protect circuit is omitted, since it is not directly related to the present invention.
Further, the structure of the conventional fixing device is explained in the following description. The fixing device comprises of a heater lamp, a thermistor, an upper heat roll (fixing roll), and a lower heat roll (pressurization roll).
The heater lamp is mounted in the interior of the rotatable upper heat roll, which is for heating the upper heat roll to a predetermined temperature as was explained above. A silicon rubber and the like are used as the material of the lower heat roll, and a metal pipe treated with TEFLON and the like is used for the upper heat roll.
The thermistor is mounted either in the vicinity of or in contact with the upper portion of the upper heat roll that detects either the surface or approximate temperature of the upper heat roll. According to the detection results, the heater lamp is either turned on or off, in order to control the upper heater roll to maintain an appropriate temperature.
On the other hand, as was disclosed above, the fixing device is positioned in front of a discharge opening in a conveyance passage passing through the image forming portion. There, the paper to where the toner image was transferred is conveyed through the upper heat roll and the lower heat roll, where the toner on the paper is melted by the heat of the upper heat roll, and pressurized between the upper heat roll and the lower heat roll. Thereby, the toner image on the sheet is turned into a permanently visible image.
A halogen lamp is widely used as the heating means for heating the fixing roll.
The outline of the circuit block, the structure, and the temperature control method of the fixing device in the prior art was as explained above. Further, the control method of the fixing temperature is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 55-89879, Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publication No. 1-171471, and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 58-54365.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 55-89879 discloses an art for varying the power supply to the heater per period time by determining the temperature varying rate of the heater in the fixing device.
Instead of controlling the fixing temperature to a fixed value, the above publication discloses to vary the temperature control corresponding to the temperature change or heat taken by the paper, and to vary the power corresponding to the temperature varying rate at the initial power turn-on time, thereby reducing overshooting and the like.
Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publication No. 1-171471 discloses an art for preventing the deterioration of the fixing roll, wherein during the stand-by state of the image forming device, the fixing roll is driven when the fixing heater temperature is high, and the roll is not driven when the temperature is low.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 58-54365 discloses an art for preventing the temporary stop of the copying operation caused by the reduction of temperature, by temporarily stopping the copying operation when the fixing temperature is reduced during the operation, and reducing the speed of the number of sheets copied per unit time (number of sheets/minute)when continuous printing is restarted.
According to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 55-89879, the fixing temperature is not controlled to a fixed temperature, but rather, the temperature varying rate of the heater in the fixing device is determined, and the power supply to the heater per unit time is changed. Further, the temperature control is changed based on the temperature change or heat taken by the sheet paper, and the power is varied similarly by the temperature varying rate at the initial power turn-on time.
Accordingly, the above method is effective in that an appropriate fixing temperature control and reduction of overshooting and the like is possible in a high-speed facsimile device and the like to which a band compression is applied, where the feeding rate of the record paper is not fixed.
Moreover, it is effective in that the initial overshooting and the like could be prevented in the copying machine or the printer whose feeding rate of the record paper is generally constant, when turning the power on after the power has been turned off for a long period of time.
However, according to the disclosure of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 55-89879, the method is for controlling the supply of power based on the temperature varying rate among certain reference temperatures being measured. Therefore, in the continuous copying operation by copying machines and printers where the feeding rate (conveyance speed) of the paper is generally constant, which is in a comparatively stable region, the temperature difference between the reference temperature and the measured temperature is comparatively small, and the temperature varying rate is comparatively slow, there was a problem that accurate temperature measurement and temperature control was difficult.
Further, Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publication No. 1-171471 discloses driving the fixing roll when the fixing heater temperature is high, and not driving the fixing roll when the temperature is low, during the stand-by state. This is effective in that the deterioration of silicon rubber caused by adding pressure for a long period of time to the fixing roll could be prevented.
However, according to the contents of the Publication, the fixing roll and the heater are only controlled by a predetermined fixing temperature, and the fixing roll is driven for each time of the fixing temperature control. This caused problems such as unnecessary power consumption, and occurrence of noise.
Further, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 58-54365 discloses stopping the copying operation when the fixing temperature is decreased while copying, and when continuous copying is restarted, the copying paper speed per unit time (number of sheets/minute) is decreased. This is effective in that copying operation could be continued without stopping the copying operation temporarily when the temperature is reduced.
However, according to the disclosure of the above Publication, instead of the necessity to temporarily stop the copying operation, the copying paper speed is decreased when the temperature is decreased. Therefore, it had problems such as the productivity being dropped compared to normal operation, and the time needed for the copying operation being longer. Accordingly, none of the above-mentioned prior art techniques realized a control method for minimizing the temperature ripple of the fixing device, and preventing reduction of productivity, even when the paper size or commercial power is changed, in the comparatively stable region such as during the continuous copying by the copying machine or printer having a generally fixed conveyance speed of the paper.
On the other hand, a zero-cross control and a phase control were generally known conventionally as the power control method of the heater applied in the temperature control of the fixing process.
The zero-cross control method is a method where the heater is turned on or off at the zero-cross point (zero point) of the AC waveform. This is not suitable for the temperature control of a thin heat roll since detailed power control is troublesome and temperature ripple is comparatively large, but it is advantageous in that occurrence of electric noise is comparatively small.
The phase control method is a control method where power is turned on only between a predetermined phase in the AC waveform. This is suitable for the temperature control of a thin heat roll since detailed power control is possible and temperature ripple is comparatively small, but the occurrence of electronic noise is larger compared to the zero-cross control method.
When the temperature ripple of the heat roll is large, a so-called hot offset may occur where the stain of toner adheres to the heat roll, or fixing disorder due to low temperature may happen.
The restriction against the electronic noise (noise terminal voltage) flowing from the electronic devices to the commercial power source is getting strict year after year. Further, from the energy-saving point of view, in the attempt to shorten the time needed to achieve the printable (image forming) status from the power switch-on time, which is so-called a warm-up time, the thickness of the heat roll in the fixing device is getting thinner year after year.
However, though there is a need to raise the power of the heater in order to shorten the warm-up time, said electronic noise will also be increased when the heater power is increased. Another problem was that temperature ripple was also likely to increase when the heat roll thickness was decreased.

Fixing device having temperature control means


A query difficulty prediction unit includes a query difficulty predictor to determine the extent of overlap between query documents received from a search engine operating on an input query and sub-query documents received from the search engine operating on sub-queries of the input query. The unit generates a query difficulty prediction from the extent of overlap.

Most computer search engines respond to user queries by generating a list of documents (the "query documents") deemed relevant to the query. Document relevancy is determined by measuring the similarity of the retrieved query documents to the query, usually by estimating the similarity between the words in the document and the keywords of the query. The "keywords" usually are the words of the query excluding prepositions, articles, etc.
FIG. 1 shows a search query 10, for "workplace situation awareness" and a list of 10 query documents 12. Each query document 12 is listed by its title, a date for the document and the relevancy of the document to search query 10. Moreover, query documents 12 are presented in the order of relevancy; the first document is the one with what the search engine determines is the highest relevancy (80%) and the remaining documents are less relevant according to the search engine.
Unfortunately, the search engine's assumption of relevancy is not always correct and the user may determine that few of the top 10 query documents are truly relevant. One measure of this is called "precision at 10" or "P@10" and is the number of documents in the top 10 results that are truly relevant to the query. The P@10 is manually generated by having a specialist on the subject of the query read each document in the collection and mark it as relevant or irrelevant to answering the query.
Another measure of the quality of the search results is the mean average precision (MAP). This is a metric that measures how high the relevant documents were ranked compared to the irrelevant ones. There are several methods to compute the average precision, but all essentially measure the area under a precision versus recall curve, where precision is the precision at N (N varying between 1 and a large number, for example 1000) and recall is the number of documents ranked as better than the Nth relevant document. The book Modern Information Retrieval by Ricardo Baeza-Yates and Berthier Ribeiro-Neto, Addision-Wesley, 1999, discusses many of these issues.
Most search engines have difficulty answering certain queries. For example, consider the query "What impact has the Chunnel had on the British economy and/or the life style of the British?" Most search engines will return many irrelevant documents, containing the words 'British', 'life', 'style', 'economy', etc. But the gist of the query, the Chunnel, is usually lost.
There has been a movement to predict the quality of a search results. The following two articles discuss query prediction.
Cronen-Townsend, S., Zhou, Y. and Croft, W. B., ."Predicting Query Performance," Proceedings of SIGIR 2002, Tampere, Finland, Aug. 11-15, 2002, pp. 299-306.
Giambattista Amati, Claudjo Carpineto, and Giovanni Romano "Query Difficulty, Robustness and Selective Application of Query Expansion", Advances in Information Retrieval, 26th European Conference on IR Research, ECIR 2004, Sunderland, UK, Apr. 5-7, 2004, pp 127-137.
Unfortunately, these articles discuss methods which are tied to particular search engines and thus, are not easily transferable to another search engine.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

Prediction of query difficulty for a generic search engine

International Business Machines Corporation


An interface alignment pattern for de-skewing data bits received on an elastic interface is disclosed. The interface alignment pattern is “busy” in that it has a high number of logic state transitions. The busy interface alignment pattern can be used for scrambling and unscrambling operational data. The interface alignment pattern has a unique timing sequence for determining the location of a data bit's first data beat.

Modem data processing systems require the rapid transfer of data between integrated circuits ("chips"). For example, a central processing unit (CPU) transfers data to the memory system, which may include a memory controller and off-chip cache. In a multi-CPU system, data may be transferred between CPUs. As CPU speeds increase, the speed of the interface between chips (bus cycle time) becomes a limiting constraint because latencies across the interfaces may exceed the system clock period.
When data is launched from one chip to another chip, it can be launched simultaneously within numerous clock/data groups. Each clock/data group consists of multiple data bits and a clock signal, each of which travels over an individual conductor. Due to process variations and varying conductor lengths, the individual bits within a clock/data group may arrive at the receiving chip at different instances. Therefore, the individual bits of data and the clock within a clock/data group must be realigned upon arrival on the receiving chip. At the receiving end, the clock/data signals can be delayed to align the signals with respect to a sampling edge of the received clock. While, aligning the individual data bits within a clock/data group at the receiving end is necessary, such delays can cause jitter and other forms of distortion. In addition to causing jitter and distortion, delaying data signals can require extensive administrative overhead and additional circuitry.
On many high-speed communication interfaces it is necessary for the transmitting entity to send a "training" pattern to the receiving entity for the receiver to properly align and synchronize with the driver. This training pattern may consist of a repeating multi-beat pattern consisting of a single 'one' followed by n "zeroes", where n is a function of the receivers FIFO depth—typically 3 or 7 for a 4-bit deep FIFO, and 7 or 15 for an 8-bit deep FIFO. For many elastic interfaces, such training patterns are used to align (de-skew) the interface and to estimate the driver-to-receiver latency (also commonly referred to as the "target time" or "target cycle"). This method of sending training patterns, in its simplicity, has some disadvantages. First, the patterns have very few data transitions. Further, the transitions, denoting the edge of the data eyes, are used to align the bus. Second, because there is only a single 1 in a field of 0s, there is the potential for some distortion causing narrowing of the lone pulsed '1' due to various circuit and transmission line related effects.
Some elastic interface designs require the bus to first be quiesced and a training pattern be transmitted while the bus is idle from functional state. Such quiescing of the bus can require a substantial amount of administrative overhead and thereby cause a loss of performance. Further, such systems often require dedicated, non-elastic, between-chip wires that tend to introduce many bugs related to stopping and restarting interfaces. Therefore there is a need for methods and apparatus that overcome such noise problems associated with training patterns at high speeds.

Combined alignment scrambler function for elastic interface


A thermoplastic elastomer powder for powder slush molding, comprising an elastomer composition of an ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer rubber and a polyolefin resin, wherein said elastomer composition has a complex dynamic viscosity .eta.*(1) as measured at a frequency of 1 radian/sec. in a dynamic viscoelasticity measurement at 250.degree. C., of 1.5.times.10.sup.5 poise or less, a Newtonian viscosity index n calculated from the following formula by using the complex dynamic viscosity .eta.*(1) at a frequency of 1 radian/sec. and the complex dynamic viscosity .eta.*(100) at a frequency of 100 radian/sec. of 0.67 or less: EQU n=[log.eta.*(1)-log.eta.*(100)]/2.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an olefin type thermoplastic elastomer powder for powder slush molding, a powder slush molding method using the same, and a molded article thereof. More specifically, it relates to a thermoplastic elastomer powder for powder slush molding which is suitable for use, mainly, as covering materials and housings for molded articles in various fields, irrespective of backing materials, a powder slush molding method using the same and a molded article thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
With regard to covering materials used as interior decorative materials for automobiles, there is an increasing demand for those which have a light weight and a good and soft feeling, and which can be given an embossed pattern or stitch pattern to increase the value of molded articles. Also, during the scrapping of cars, acidic substances are generated by a combustion of such interior decorative materials to cause a contamination of the air, and thus create serious social problems such as acid rain, etc., and therefore, there is a strong demand for non-polluting materials.
Known covering materials of the prior art are vacuum molded olefin type thermoplastic elastomer (hereinafter called TPO) sheets and vacuum formed sheets composed mainly of vinyl chloride resins and ABS resins, or rotational molded or slush molded sols composed mainly of vinyl chloride resins for paste and plasticizers (hereinafter called sol moldings).
Vacuum formed TPO sheets attain the objects to provide a light weight and non-polluting material, but it is difficult to impart complicated shapes thereto.
Also, vacuum formed sheets contain a high residual molding stress caused during the forming process, and thus have a drawback in that cracks will appear after long term usage.
Vacuum formed sheets composed mainly of vinyl chloride resins and ABS resins have drawbacks similar to those of vacuum formed TPO sheets in that it is difficult to impart complicated shapes thereto, and further that, compared with TPO, they have the drawback of heavier weight and cause pollution.
Sol moldings composed mainly of vinyl chloride resins for paste and plasticizers give a soft feeling, and complicated shapes can be imparted thereto. However, since the gellation temperature is low, they melt rapidly while being molded, and thus many drawbacks arise, for example, problems in the processing such as flow marks, lip or a sol fiber-forming phenomenon, the inherent problems of vinyl chloride such as a heavier weight and pollution, and further problems in that the inner window glass surface of automobiles produced from said sol molding suffers from hazy appearance due to the use of a large amount of plasticizers.
Due to these drawbacks and problems of the molding method, the powder slush molding method has recently attracted attention.
Powder molding methods include, in general, a flow dipping method, an electrostatic coating method, a flame spray coating method, a powder rotational molding method, and a powder slush molding method, and particularly for an interior decorative materials for automobiles, the powder slush molding method is most suitable.
A partially crosslinked TPO composition is known from Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications (Kokai) Nos. 48-26838, 53-149240, but the known molding methods currently used for the partially crosslinked TPO are:
a. injection molding (shear rate during processing: .gamma..gtoreq.10.sup.3 sec.sup.-1); PA1 b. extrusion molding (10.sup.1 .ltoreq..gamma..ltoreq.10.sup.2 sec.sup.-1); PA1 c. calendering (10.sup.2 .ltoreq..gamma..ltoreq.10.sup.3 sec.sup.-1); PA1 d. compression molding of the primarily processed product in b. or c.; and PA1 e. vacuum forming of the primarily processed product in b. or c., PA1 "1) An embossed thermoplastic elastomer molding, having an emboss pattern formed on the surface produced by spraying of a thermoplastic elastomer powder comprising a polyolefin resin and an ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer rubber onto the inner surface of a heated mold with an emboss pattern, thereby melting and adhering said powder to the inner surface of said mold. PA1 2) A method of preparing an embossed thermoplastic elastomer molding having an emboss pattern on the surface according to a slush molding method, which comprises spraying a thermoplastic elastomer powder comprising a polyolefin resin and an ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer rubber onto the inner surface of a previously heated mold with an emboss pattern, thereby melting and adhering said powder to the inner surface of said mold, and then cooling said mold."
but all of these methods require the molding temperatures are higher or equal to the softening point, and the molding pressures must be varied depending on the viscosities and the shear rates corresponding to the respective processing conditions.
Nevertheless, in the molding method such as a powder slush molding at a shear rate of 10.sup.0 sec.sup.-1 or less or under an approximately stationary state of the polymer, at a vibration frequency of 1 radian/sec., and with no application of a pressure or under a very low pressure (.ltoreq.1 kg/cm.sup.2), the flowability becomes extremely poor, and accordingly, the molding becomes very difficult. Further, even if molding is possible, the poor flowability in the low shear rate region cause an incomplete thermal fusion between powder particles, and only molded articles with a low mechanical strength can be obtained.
For this reason, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2-57310 discloses the following inventions:
Thus, there is an example in which an improvement is effected by melting and then adhering TPO with a low flowability in a low shear rate region to the inner surface of the previously heated mold by a spray gun.
According to this method, however, because the powder is fed and adhered to the inner portion of the mold, problems arise in that the sheet thickness of the molding becomes nonuniform, and that pinholes may be formed.
Also, because the powder is sprayed onto a previously heated mold in the open state without being close contact with the powder feeding box and adhered to the inner surface of the mold, the problems arise of a scattering of the powder outside and an entrainment of foreign matter from outside, and a molding fully satisfying the appearance, physical properties and another requirements has not been obtained.

Thermoplastic elastomer powder for powder slush molding powder slush molding method using the same and molded article thereof


Secure data is written to a disk during manufacture in such a way that it can be read but not copied. Methods include writing triangular transitions or very slow transitions from positive magnetic to negative magnetic and then erasing the negative parts to yield a code that consists of positive read back amplitudes only. Or, high frequency transitions can be written during servo writing.

Sensitive data such as keys for operating systems and programs, passwords, and the like can be written to a hard disk drive for subsequent access to, e.g., programs and data on the HDD. The present invention critically recognizes that it is important that once written, secure data should be rendered difficult to copy or modify. Otherwise, a hacker might, e.g., modify a password that he cannot read into one that he can, and then use the modified password to access data that is supposed to be protected. Or, the hacker might copy secure data to another device for later decoding of the data at a convenient time and place. With this recognition in mind, the invention below provides tamper-resistant data.

System and method for writing secure data to disk

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


Curable RTV-1 organopolysiloxane compositions which maintain the properties and adhesive strength even in hot moist conditions include a bis-hydroxyl-functional organopolysiloxane, an organosilicon compound comprising an α-alkoxysilane bonded through a methylene group to a heteroatom of a heterocyclic compound, and a branched, non-resinous alkoxyfunctional organopolysiloxane containing at least 20 mol percent of R5SiO3/2 moieties where R5 is a hydrocarbyl radical.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to crosslinkable compositions based on organosilicon compounds that cure by elimination of alcohols to form materials possessing very high stability, methods of producing them, and also to their use.
2. Description of the Related Art
One-component sealant compositions that are storable in the absence of water and cure on admission of water at room temperature by elimination of alcohols to form elastomers are already known. These products are used in large volumes in the building construction industry for example. Polymers terminated by silyl groups bearing reactive substituents such as OH groups, or hydrolyzable groups such as alkoxy groups form the basis for these mixtures. These sealant compositions may further contain fillers, plasticizers, crosslinkers, catalysts and also various additives.
The mechanical properties of the elastomeric products obtained on curing are virtually constant thereafter. This property makes them very useful as joint sealants for example. However, these compositions are frequently also used as coating materials or as adhesives. In such cases, the cured compositions may often be exposed for prolonged periods to the action of both high temperatures and high relative humidities. Under these conditions, the positive range of properties possessed by the cured products may still subsequently change in an undesirable manner.
It is known, for instance, that 1- and 2-component compositions based on crosslinkable organopolysiloxanes having hydrolyzable groups are very quick to irreversibly lose their adherence to glass under the action of heat and moisture. An initial improvement was achieved by using a combination of aminopropyltrimethoxysilane and glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane. In addition, DE 196 16789 A1 shows that test specimens stored in hot water do not suffer adhesive failure when the compositions additionally contain not only a silicone resin but also an alkoxysilane comprising a long-chain alkyl radical. Admixture of only one of the two organosilicon compounds alone is insufficient to bring about any improvement in adherence, only the combination of the two additives works.
DE-A1 102007037197 describes compositions based on crosslinkable α-silanes. This reference also mentions the possibility that a multiplicity of monomeric, substituted or unsubstituted silanes may be included a partial hydrolyzate or as a co-hydrolyzate. Specific advantages of selected hydrolyzates are not derived therefrom, however. The exemplary embodiments employ small amounts of an oligomeric hydrolyzate from methyltrimethoxysilane in a blend with an adhesion promoter. However, the cured compositions have the disadvantage that, at high temperatures and very high relative humidities, they can lose some of their elasticity. This manifests itself in a reduced rubber hardness in particular. How this loss of elasticity may be prevented for these compositions has hitherto not been shown.

Crosslinkable compositions based on organosilicon compounds


A driver state warning apparatus provides a safe and effective driving by non-contact haptic stimulus to a driver using an ultrasonic signal when the driver is in a drowsy or careless state. The driver state warning apparatus includes: a detector to obtain state information of a driver; a haptic stimulator to generate an ultrasonic beam and transmit the generated ultrasonic beam; and a controller to determine whether a state of the driver corresponds to a predetermined warning target state based on the obtained state information of the driver and provide a non-contact haptic stimulus by transmitting the ultrasonic beam toward the driver by controlling the haptic stimulator when the driver's state corresponds to the warning target state.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Drivers' drowsiness, neglect of forward attention, and cell phone operation while driving are one of the main causes of traffic accidents. Therefore, recently, a technology for a driver state warning that detects a driver's state and outputs a warning when the driver is not focused on driving to induce safe driving is being developed.
However, we have discovered that the existing driver status warning technology has a limitation in the manner of outputting a warning, and a driver who is familiar with the existing warning output method often ignores the warning even if the warning is output.
Therefore, it is difficult to effectively induce the driver's safe driving with this limited warning output.

Driver state warning apparatus, vehicle and warning method for driver state


A high thermal alkali-soluble novolak binder resin, comprising the addition-condensation reaction product of a phenolic mixture with at least one aldehyde source, the feedstock of the phenolic mixture for the reaction comprising:. (1) about 25 to about 40 weight percent of the phenolic mixture being a monomer selected from meta-cresol 2,5-xylenol or the combination thereof; PA1 (2) about 50 to about 70 weight percent of the phenolic mixture being para-cresol; and PA1 (3) about 3 to about 20 weight percent of the phenolic mixture being acetamidophenol; all percentages based on the weight of total phenol monomer feedstock.. The invention is also directed to a positive working photoresist made from the composition.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to specific novolak resins made from acetamidophenol monomer. The present invention further relates to radiation-sensitive compositions useful as positive-working photoresists containing these novolak resins.
2. Brief Description of the Art
As integrated circuits (IC) devices become higher in memory density, photolithographic image patterns formed on wafers are required with less than 0.3 micron in resolution. To achieve this goal, photoresists used for photolithographic imaging are required to have higher resolution, faster sensitivity, and more vertical profiles than the state-of-the-art photoresists of a decade ago.
Most common g/i-line positive working-type photoresists currently used in IC device manufacture consist of an alkaline-soluble polymer (e.g., novolak resin) as a binder resin, and a naphthoquinonediazide (DNQ) ester of a polyphenol compound as the photoactive compound. For example, combinations of novolak-type phenol resins and DNQ esters as a positive-working photoresist are disclosed in numerous U.S. Patents. A photoresist composition of cresol formaldehyde novolak and a DNQ ester of trihydroxybenzophenone is also described in "Introduction to Microlithography" edited by L. F. Thompson (ACS Publishing No. 219, p 112-121) as a typical example.
Photoresist performance is influenced by various factors; e.g., structures of the binder resins, photoactive compounds, and other additives, combinations of these components as well as exposure, development and other process parameters. In particular, the structure/property relationships of the binder resins is one of the most complicated subjects.
Binder resins useful for high-performance photoresist formulations, especially for the g/i-line applications are preferably novolak resins which are prepared by addition-condensation reaction of various phenolic derivatives with various aldehydes or ketones in the presence of acids such as oxalic acid, sulfuric acid, and the like. Among various phenolic derivatives previously used as a monomer of the novolak resins, meta-cresol and para-cresol are some of the most useful monomers.
Most novolak resins are made of various combinations of meta-cresol, para-cresol and other co-monomers such as xylenols as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,652,081 to Tan et al. This patent discloses a positive working photoresist composition comprising an alkali-soluble resin and a 1,2-quinonediazide compound, the alkali-soluble resin being a novolak resin obtained by the condensation reaction of monomers comprising, among other things, p-cresol, m-cresol, and m-acetamidophenol components, as well as several xylenols. The relative amount of p-cresol, m-cresol, and xylenol is from 95 to 55 mol percent, and the relative amount of m-acetamidophenol is from 5-45 mol percent. However, the relative amounts of p-cresol, m-cresol, and m-acetamidophenol disclosed in this patent are 40-50 mol %, 3 mol %, and 10-20 mol % respectively.
Some of the processing condition employed today in the fabrication of semiconductor devices can easily subject the photoresist patterns to high temperatures above their thermal flow points. This results in severe image distortion, loss of yield and high defects which imposes additional restrictions on the process. As the pattern density continues to increase and the printed features continue to shrink below sub-micron scale, narrow trenches and spaces surrounded by large resist patterns become particularly more vulnerable to the resist thermal deformation obliterating such geometry completely. Post development cure treatments of the resist, such as DUV cure or stepped-up post baking cycles are sometimes necessary to apply to improve the resist thermal flow temperature. This requires additional processing steps and the use of specialized equipment. Despite equipment manufacturer's efforts to produce mild temperature plasma reactors, a large portion of the currently used equipment and processes subject the resist to elevated temperatures and harsh conditions. These processes include reactive ion etching, ion milling, metal sputtering and other harsh plasma environments. The necessity of developing high temperature flow resist with adequate processing conditions is therefore unquestionable. This, however, is usually done by compromising much of the resist lithographic properties, such as photospeed and/or resolution. Novolak resins that exhibit high thermal flow temperatures are usually too high in their molecular weight to provide adequate dissolution in the developer, or too brittle to give good resolution and scum free images and adhesion to the silicon, silicon dioxide or particularly to metal substrate. In other cases, where the resist chemistry is designed to cross link the remaining patterned resist after development, it becomes unstrippable and results in scum and undesirable particles contamination to the devices.
This present invention describes a novel class of phenolic resins suitable for formulating high thermal flow temperature positive radiation sensitive resists that also are characterized by good resolution, photospeed and other desirable lithographic properties.

Selected high thermal novolaks and positive-working radiation-sensitive compositions