A rectangular flexible fabric sheet has mounted corner holders. A horizontally oriented support is engaged with the corner holders for securing the sheet so as to enable a person to recline on the sheet. A pillow having a circular fabric outer cover is positioned at one end of the sheet. The pillow is split into two portions sharing the outer cover; each one of the portions providing a planar fabric inner panel. The inner panels share a common edge functional as a hinge enabling the two portions to assume an unfolded attitude wherein the inner panels lie abutting the sheet for supporting the neck and head of the reclining person, and a folded attitude wherein the inner panels mutually abut and thereby provide a more robust pillow.

1. Field of the Present Disclosure
This disclosure relates generally to blankets, and more particularly to roll-up blankets with straps.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
Walden, U.S. Des. 377,879 describes a combined lounging mat and compartmented pillow with carrying handle and roll-up straps design. Sullivan, U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,309 describes A beach towel-pillow apparatus allowing a user to rest comfortably on a beach towel while his or her head is supported by a cylindrically-shaped pillow, permanently affixed to one end of the towel portion of the apparatus. One or more elastic securing straps are affixed to one end of the apparatus and are used to secure the towel portion when it is wrapped around the pillow thereby allowing for easy storage and transporting of the apparatus. An adjustable carrying strap, much like a belt, is affixed to one end of the pillow allowing for a user to sling the carrying strap over his or her shoulder for easy carrying of the apparatus once the towel has been secured around the pillow by the securing straps. A pillow covering with a zipper hidden from view by a portion of the covering encloses the pillow, allowing for easy insertion and removal of the pillow. Balicki et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,767 describes a beach blanket having a perimeter and a plurality of tabs of hook and loop type material attached to and spaced about the perimeter. A pillow has matching tabs of hook and loop type material on one side of the pillow for attaching the pillow to any one of the tabs of hook and loop type material on the blanket. The pillow may be inflatable. Sand clamps are used to hold down the blanket. Each of the sand clamps has a spike with a point at one end and a spring-biased clamp section on the spike. Reeves, U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,435 describes a portable beach towel with a built-in hidden pouch for storing valuables. The towel comprises an elongated rectangular fabric portion having top and bottom surfaces, top and bottom end edges, and side edges. A pair of elastic loops and a carrying strap are sewn onto the bottom surface near the bottom edge. A pocket is formed by folding the top end edge over the top surface, thereby defining an enclosure space for holding an elongated rod-shaped pillow made from a soft, compliant material. An access aperture between the top end edge and the top surface opens into the pouch, which is sewn into the pocket. The aperture can be closed with a zipper or other suitable type of closure. In use, with the towel resting upon the ground, the access aperture is normally hidden from view from passers by. Hwang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,923 describes an improved camping sleeping mat and/or chair arrangement having improved lateral edge stiffening rod retention pockets and having coupling members for coupling various portions together in various configurations. A separate inflatable pillow may be detachably mounted on the camping sleeping mat and/or chair arrangement. Fritz et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,529 describes a combination beach mat and carrying device. The mat has a pillow section and several storage sections closed by a closure having a flap to protect the closure from sand. Additionally, the mat has securing straps for binding up the mat for easy transportation, and a carrying strap for carrying the bound up contents. The carrying strap is located along the seam of the pillow and mat sections. The securing straps are extended beyond the bounds of the mat to be located out of the way. Zuehlke et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,931 describes a pillow blanket comprising a broad flat pliable sheet and a pocket member onto the broad flat pliable sheet at one corner, with an open mouth of the pocket member facing inwardly on the broad flat pliable sheet. In a first instance, the broad flat pliable sheet when unfolded can be utilized as a blanket. In a second instance, the broad flat pliable sheet when folded up and tucked into the open mouth of the pocket member after the pocket member is turned inside out can be utilized as a pillow and seat cushion.
The related art described above discloses a combined lounging mat and compartmented pillow with carrying handle and roll-up straps, a sun dial beach blanket with pillow, a portable beach towel with security pocket, a sleeping mat and seating arrangement, a combination beach mat and carrying device, and a pillow blanket, but does not teach a blanket apparatus having diagonal straps on its bottom surface for securement of the blanket apparatus to a support device when in use. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.

Roll-up blanket with straps and method of use


The present distribution system is formed by a plurality of clients enabled to receive a plurality of channels of signals and a distribution server enabled to output the plurality of channels of signals to respective clients. Each of the plurality of clients includes a switch unit and a transmission unit. The distribution server includes a plurality of transceiver units, a delay amount determining unit and a delay adjusting unit. The respective transceiver units output the plurality of channels of signals to the plurality of clients and receive selection information and dependent information from the respective plurality of clients. The delay amount determining unit determines delay amount to be instructed to the respective plurality of transceiver units based on the dependent information. The delay adjusting unit controls delay amount for the respective plurality of transceiver units based on the delay amount determined by the delay amount determining unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a distribution system and a distribution server for preventing distribution of an inappropriate video signal and/or an inappropriate audio signal through task-sharing and task-check by a plurality of workers in executing distribution of a video signal and/or an audio signal selected from a plurality of channels of video signals and/or a plurality of channels of audio signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, devices have been popular that record a set of video data and/or a set of audio data in a file format into a randomly accessible recording medium (e.g., an optical disc, a semiconductor memory, etc.). For example, even in broadcasting stations and audio/video distribution companies, editing devices including such recording media have been used for executing editing tasks of a video signal and/or an audio signal.
On the other hand, audio and video of an event and etc., and edited audio and video have been distributed and transmitted using a communication network, a broadcasting network and etc. It takes some time to execute an editing task with a video signal processing. Therefore, when propriety is placed on instantaneousness, real-time distribution and real-time broadcasting are executed while an editing task is executed using a switcher device of a video signal and/or an audio signal, a distribution/broadcasting device of a video signal and/or an audio signal, and etc. For example, when a worker herein erroneously executes a switching operation, an inappropriate video signal and/or an inappropriate audio signal may be unexpectedly distributed.
A technology of creating a playlist based on a selection signal of a switcher has been disclosed as a method of efficiently executing such editing and checking tasks. For example, Japan Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2004-274627 discloses a technology that a playlist is created based on a user's switch operation and is referred as an aid in executing an editing task.
However, the conventional configuration disclosed in the publication has drawbacks in executing distribution using a communication network or a broadcasting network. For example, it is difficult to check whether or not a switching operation is executed without errors and whether or not an appropriate signal is distributed, and if any, to modify an erroneous operation and inappropriate signal before distribution or transmission thereof.
In view of the aforementioned drawback, the present invention is intended to provide a distribution system and a distribution server whereby a switch operation or an editing task can be shared by a plurality of workers and can be easily checked and modified for preventing a worker from erroneously executing a switch operation and for achieving better distribution of a video signal and/or an audio signal.

Distribution system and distribution server

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGMENT CO. LTD.


In embodiments of the present invention, an optical device tester performs stressed eye testing on several optical receivers and transmission and dispersion penalty testing on optical transmitters at a variety of data rates wavelengths using single mode optical signals and multimode optical signals using a variety of supply voltages and temperatures.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate to optical transceivers and, in particular, to testing optical transceivers.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Optical transmitter-receiver pairs, or transceivers, may be used in communication systems and/or networks to transmit and receive data and/or other information on optical signals. To ensure proper operation, optical transceiver performance may be tested. Traditional optical transceiver testing has limitations, however.


A rotating electric machine control device for controlling a rotating electric machine having a winding set with windings for multiple phases includes: an inverter having upper and lower arm elements connected to high and low potential sides, respectively, and converting an electric power of the rotating electric machine; a terminal voltage detection device detecting a terminal voltage of each phase; a resistor connecting each phase and a positive side of a power supply; and a control device having a signal generation device generating a control signal for the upper and lower arm elements and a failure detection device detecting a failure based on a sum of the terminal voltage in all phases when all control signals represents an off command, and a rotation speed of the rotating electric machine is lower than a threshold.

A failure detection device is used to detect a failure of an inverter. For example, JP-2006-81327-A (corresponding to US 2006/0056206) describes an inverter failure detection device that determines a failure of an inverter on the basis of a sum of terminal voltages of respective phases while the inverter is driven under PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control.
Above-mentioned JP-2006-81327-A, however, neither describes nor implies in which manner a failure detection is performed when a motor is not driven. Further, in the case of a motor applied to, for example, an electric power steering device, the motor may possibly rotate even before the motor is driven in response to an operation on a steering wheel by a driver. When a rotating electric machine is set in motion by an external force, the inverter failure detection device may possibly fail to perform a pre-drive failure detection normally due to the influence of a counter-electromotive force.

Rotating electric machine control device and electric power steering device using the same


The present invention provides a method for detecting a drug resistant microorganism by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Values of SPR angle shift (V) and the drop of SPR angle shift (D) of control group (V1 and D1) and sample (V2 and D2) can determine the microorganism is drug resistant by identifying (I) ration of V1/V2 larger than 1.001, (II) ration of D1/D2 larger than 1.001 and (III) the SPR angle shift of the sample more smooth or monotonic that that of the control. The present invention further provides SPR as a device used for the method of the present invention.

It is necessary to use antibiotics to treat patients, and this method has been commonly used in every big hospital. However, under the excessive use of antibiotics, drug resistance of bacteria has gradually increased. Therefore, when patients are infected or being ill, it is important to distinguish whether this microorganism is susceptible or resistant to antibiotics that are used to treat patients. Besides, the application for detection of drug resistance in human infection diseases, fast detection of drug resistance of microorganisms is also very important in the field of agriculture.
Cells can be separated into two fundamentally different types: eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Bacteria belong to prokaryote. The essential components of bacteria include cell wall composed of peptidoglycan that gives rigid support and protects cell against osmotic pressure, cytoplasm that is the site of transport and oxidative, ribosome that serves as the site of mRNA translation, and chromosome that is the genetic material passed generation to generation. There are also some nonessential components like capsule which protects cells from phagocytosis, flagellum that increases the motility of cells, pilus or fimbria that provides the adherence to cell surface and the attachment to bacteria during conjugation, and plasmid that contains a variety of genes for antibiotic resistance and enzymes.
Escherichia coli is a gram-negative rod, about 3-5 μm*0.5 μm. Escherichia coli lives in gut where it helps to digest food and produces Vitamin K. E. coli causes a variety of diseases both within and outside the intestinal tract by pili, capsule, endotoxin and exotoxins. The most common diseases caused by E. coli is urinary tract infection, gram-negative rod sepsis, neonatal meningitis and the agent most frequently associated with traveler's diarrhea.
Penicillin acts by inhibiting transpeptidase, the enzymes that catalyze the final cross-linking step in the synthesis of peptidoglycan. Penicillin-treated cells die by rupture as a result of the influx of water causing the high-osmotic-pressure interior of the bacterial cell, and ampicillin has activity against several gram-negative rods that the earlier penicillin did not have. The damage of bacteria cell wall caused by antibiotics changes the compartment and shape of bacteria thus alternates the refractive index of bacteria.
There are three mechanisms that mediate bacterial resistance to drugs. (i) Bacteria produce enzymes that inactivate the drug, for example, β-lactamase, which can inactivate penicillin by cleaving the β-lactam ring of drugs. (ii) Bacteria with mutant protein on the ribosomal can result in resistance to streptomycin. (iii) Bacteria can change their permeability so that the drug effect on intracellular concentration can not work. Drug resistance of most bacteria is due to genetic change, chromosomal mutation, or transformation of plasmid. The frequency of spontaneous mutation, usually ranging from 10−7 to 10−9, is much lower than that of acquisition of resistance plasmid. In this case, when it comes to clinical problem, chromosomal resistance occurs less than plasmid-mediated resistance.
Surface plasmon was first predicted by Ritchie in 1957 and verified by Powell and Swan in 1960. Optical surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was not demonstrated until 1968 by Otto. Ever since, SPR is widely applied to the study of biomaterial process including immunodiagnostics and kinetic analysis of antibody-antigen interactions, and also provides valuable dynamic information which includes gas adsorption, binding kinetics, epitope mapping, and film thickness measurements.
Although some prior art (1) Backman, V., L. T. Perelman, et al. (2000). "Detection of preinvasive cancer cells." Nature 406(6791):35; (2) Arimoto, H., T. Oishi, et al. (2001). "Affinity of a vancomycin polymer with bacterial surface models." Tetrahedron Letters 42(19): 3347-3350; (3) Chen, K. H., C. C. Hsu, et al. (2002). "Measurement of wavelength shift by using surface plasmon resonance heterodyne interferometry." Optics Communications 209(1-3): 167; (4) Chien, F. C., K. T. Huang, et al. (2005). Direct detection of the interaction of tiny analytes with receptors using an advanced plasmonic biosensor. Progress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging—Proceedings of SPIE; and (5) Choi, J. W., K. W. Park, et al. (2005). "Cell immobilization using self-assembled synthetic oligopeptide and its application to biological toxicity detection using surface plasmon resonance." Biosensors and Bioelectronics 20(11): 2300-2305, have provided some progress, some defects of the prior art need to be modified.

Method of detecting drug resistant microorganisms by surface plasmon resonance system


The invention is a method and system for controlling emissions, such as malodorous emissions that form during asphalt paving. The method includes spraying an emission-causing substance (such as an asphalt substance) on a surface while moving over the surface, and releasing a liquid agent so that molecules of the liquid agent mix with molecules of the emission-causing substance. The liquid agent is pressurized to about 200–600 psia before being released, and therefore forms a mist. This mist mixes with the emission-causing substance either on the surface or in the air space above the surface. The system of the invention includes a first outlet for supplying an asphalt substance, wherein the outlet is attached to a vehicle, and a second outlet for releasing a liquid agent, wherein the second outlet is positioned to mix odor-controlling molecules with asphalt substance molecules.

Since automobiles are a primary mode of transportation for many people today, paving the roads to keep them in a good condition has become increasingly important. Among the suitable paving materials, asphalt and asphalt mixtures such as asphalt-rubber mixtures and asphalt-polymer mixtures are popular for their physical properties. The rubber-asphalt mixture, which contains recycled crumb rubber mixed into asphalt, is especially popular because it provides a use for scrap tires, which can pile up and become an environmental problem.
To form the rubber-asphalt, scrap tires are mixed with paving grade liquid asphalt at a temperature of approximately 400° F. The resulting liquid is then sprayed onto a surface at 385–400° F. or used as a binder in hot mix asphalt. When the hot rubber-asphalt molecules come in contact with the air and the road surface, both of which are much cooler than the rubber-asphalt, a thick cloud of emissions is released into the air. The amount of emissions is especially large for rubber-asphalt compared to other types of asphalt paving materials. Although emissions from the spraying of rubber-asphalt mixtures have not been proven to have significant health effects, they adversely affect the atmospheric air quality.
This adverse effect of rubber-asphalt paving can be reduced by installing a vacuum hood in a paving truck. The vacuum hood inlet is located near where the rubber-asphalt is sprayed, and is thereby able to suck up a lot of the emissions. The emissions are then filtered before being released back into the atmosphere.
Although the vacuum pump system helps reduce the amount of emissions released into the atmosphere, installation of a full vacuum pump system on a paving truck can be costly. Furthermore, the filter system has to be changed periodically for the vacuum pump system to work. If the filter system is not changed in time, it could result in the release of the emissions back into the atmosphere. Thus, an alternative method/system that does not have these disadvantages is desired.

Controlling emissions during asphalt paving


The invention relates to a fuel injector for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber, having a solenoid valve for controlling a mini-servo valve. A movable armature can be placed in a sealing fashion on a valve seat in a lower armature chamber, wherein in addition, the mini-servo valve is held in an injector body and seals a control line against a flat seat. By means of the flat seat, during an actuation of the solenoid valve, the control line can be relieved of pressure from a high fuel pressure to a return pressure into at least one return line. A mechanism for reducing pressure oscillations are provided in the at least one return line, which includes at least one diaphragm cell which is held in a recess and which is placed in fluidic connection with the at least one return bore. A fuel injector with the mechanism for reducing pressure oscillations is therefore created in the at least one return line which operates without a leakage flow and has a simple and effective function.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel injector.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fuel injectors of the type of interest here serve to control the fuel that is injected into the combustion chamber in an internal combustion engine. They are constructed essentially of a magnet valve and a miniature servo valve, and they actuate a nozzle needle the opening and closing position of which is controllable by the magnet valve, so that injection bores in the injector are opened and closed for injection of the fuel.
A fuel injector of this kind is known from German Patent Disclosure DE 101 59 003 A1. In it, a fuel injector is disclosed which is embodied with a magnet valve for controlling the miniature servo valve, with an armature that can be placed in a valve seat in the lower armature chamber. The lower armature chamber communicates fluidically via bores with a control pressure chamber, and leakage quantities that occur via at least one return bore can be returned to a tank via the lower armature chamber. Upon closure of the valve seat by the armature, in order to avoid pressure fluctuations in the system of return bores below the valve seat, means are provided in the lower armature chamber for reducing these pressure fluctuations. The means for reducing pressure fluctuations include recesses to be machined in the lower armature chamber or fixtures in it, as well as increased volume of the return bores or of the lower armature chamber. Thus certain portions in both the magnet valve and the injection valve that are affected by the return of the leakage quantities can be embodied with enlarged volumes. Such an enlargement of the volume, with a defined outflow cross section, markedly reduces pressure fluctuations, but the requisite volume near the injector for the purpose is not available in the existing installation space.
Such pressure fluctuations are a substantial disadvantage of the known versions of fuel injectors; they can lead to a variable opening performance of the miniature servo valve and hence to fluctuations in the quantity of fuel injected. Pressure fluctuations that spread via connecting bores into the adjoining magnet valve chamber and magnet spring chamber cause waviness of the characteristic quantity curve, which cannot be reduced or avoided satisfactorily even by means of the enlarged fluidic volumes. Moreover, a high pressure level in the fuel return causes impermissibly high stresses in fuel return hoses or increased costs for high-pressure-proof hoses. In the leakage bore in the injector body, cavitation damage occurs, which is caused by pressure fluctuations and high flow speeds.
To avoid excessive pressures and the recoil behavior of the armature that impedes clean closing of the injection ports by the nozzle needle, an unclean injection of the fuel in the concluding phase of the opening cycle is brought about, but that causes poor emissions of the internal combustion engine.
From German Patent Disclosure DE 102 21 383 A1, pressure limiting devices for limiting peak pressure values occurring in the fluidic system of a fuel injector are known. These devices relate to a fuel injector which has a high-pressure fuel pump with a pump piston, which is driven in a reciprocating motion and defines a pump work chamber that communicates with at least one fuel injector, by which fuel is injected into the combustion chamber of the engine. Here, by an electrically actuated control valve, at least one connection of the pump work chamber with a relief region is controlled. By the pressure limiting device, if a predetermined pressure is exceeded in the pump work chamber, a connection of the pump work chamber with a relief region is opened up. The pressure limiting device has an elastically deformable diaphragm, which is acted upon by the pressure prevailing in the pump work chamber and which by its elastic deformation, if the predetermined pressure in the pump work chamber is exceeded, opens the connection of the pump work chamber with the relief region.
However, a disadvantage of the proposed pressure limiting device is the outflow of fuel into a relief region, which does not make it possible to make a closed system, or in other words to integrate the pressure limiting device with the closed fluidic system of return bores, without a leakage flow.


A workpiece positioning device for translating elongate workpieces conveyed on a first workpiece conveyor in a conveyance direction and for positioning the elongate workpieces on an adjacent second workpiece conveyor, wherein the elongate workpieces are generally laterally aligned across the first workpiece conveyor, generally perpendicular to the conveyance direction, has a selectively actuable rotatable member extending between the first and second workpiece conveyors, rotatable so as to translate workpiece engaging means, coordinated by coordinating means, into engagement with an elongate workpiece at a workpiece engaging position on the first workpiece conveyor generally at an end of the first workpiece conveyor adjacent the second workpiece conveyor, and to translate the workpiece engaging means and the elongate workpiece so engaged from the first workpiece conveyor to the second workpiece conveyor so as to position the elongate workpiece on the second workpiece conveyor.

Previously, most positioning tables of the general type, have overhead or underneath positioners that reach out and grasp the flitch or cant (hereinafter referred to as the workpiece) and then pull the workpiece onto the feed line.
It is therefore an object of the invention to produce an apparatus that requires less parts and improves the cycle speed of the positioning of the workpiece.

Method and apparatus for positioning flitches or cants for a board edger or gang saw

CAE Electronics Ltd. CAE Electronique Ltee


A method of melting a charge in a double-pass tilt rotary furnace having a door, including operating a first burner at a first firing rate, the first burner being mounted in a lower portion of the door and producing a first flame having a length; operating a second burner at a second firing rate, the second burner being mounted in an upper portion of the door and producing a second flame having a length, the second flame being distal from the charge relative to the first flame; in an initial phase when the solids in the charge impede the first flame, controlling the second firing rate to be greater than the first firing rate; and in an later phase after melting of the solids in the charge sufficiently that the first flame is not impeded, controlling the first firing rate to be greater than the second firing rate.

A multi-burner system and method are described herein for improving melting operations of a rotary furnace.
FIG. 1 illustrates, in a rotary furnace 100 with a single burner 10 in the door 44, how a diffusion flame 12 naturally evolves without any obstructions. The flue gases 18 circulate over the molten metal bath 14 before leaving via flue duct 16. But when the furnace 100 is charged with material to heat or melt, the combustion space may be classified into two types as illustrated in FIG. 2, a combustion space with high material porosity 20 often greater than 99% (i.e. open space), typically located in an upper portion of the furnace 100, and a combustion space with low material porosity 22 often less than or equal to 99% (i.e., space that is partially or completely blocked by charge material), typically located in a lower portion of the furnace 100.
Burners are conventionally located close to the material charged to ensure that energy is transferred preferentially to the charge (rather than to the refractory). Although direct heat transfer rate to the scrap is high, depending on the location of the flue, there is a tendency for process challenges, including: (1) incomplete mixing or combustion prior to encountering the scrap, (2) separation of fuel and oxidizer, leading to short-circuiting of flows to the flue, and (3) uneven heat distribution, which results in overheating of one side of the charge while underheating of the other side, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The combination of these challenges can result in higher fuel consumption, oxidative melt losses, and reduced furnace capacity (due to buildups at the cold end). These issues also limit how hard the furnace can be fired, which quickly diminishes the returns on additional energy input via the burner. In FIG. 3, a charge 24 blocks the complete evolution of the flame 12, leading to a hotter front portion 26 of the furnace 100 and a colder back portion 28 of the furnace 100. This charge 24 may be a large chunk of scrap, or a large pile of scrap, ingots, or dross. In addition, as a result of the hotter front portion 26 and flame impingement on the charge 24, a portion of the charge 24 can overheat and be oxidized, leading to a loss of yield. FIG. 4 shows a top view of the same rotary furnace 100.
These challenges are more significant in instances when the porosity of the scrap or charge is low (i.e., large, dense charge). When the charge is light and porous, the flame can partially penetrate through it to reach the back of the furnace.

Multi-burner rotary furnace melting system and method


The application provides a field programmable gate array (FPGA) and a communication method. At least one application specific integrated circuit based (ASIC-based) hard core is embedded in the FPGA. The ASIC-based hard core includes a high-speed exchange and interconnection unit and at least one station. Each station is connected to the high-speed exchange and interconnection unit. The station is configured to transmit data between each functional module in the FPGA and the ASIC-based hard core. The high-speed exchange and interconnection unit is configured to transmit data between the stations. In the FPGA provided by the application, an ASIC-based hard core is embedded, which can facilitate data exchange between each functional module and the ASIC-based hard core in proximity and reduce a time delay.

A field programmable gate array (FPGA) is a product further developed based on a programmable device such as a programmable logic array (PLA), a gate array logic (GAL), or a complex programmable logic device (CPLD). The FPGA emerges as a semi-customized circuit in the application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) field. The FPGA not only remedies deficiencies of customized circuits, but also overcomes a disadvantage that a quantity of gate circuits in an original programmable device is limited. The FPGA is a main hardware platform in a current digital system design. A main feature of the FPGA is that the FPGA is completely configured and programmed by a user by using software, so as to implement a particular function, and the FPGA can be erased repeatedly. Therefore, the FPGA is applied increasingly widely.
Currently, a structure of an FPGA chip is mainly based on a lookup table (LUT) technology, and includes a hard core (ASIC type) integrating common functional modules (for example, RAM, clock management, and DSP).
Because the LUT-based FPGA has very high integration, and density of the FPGA includes tens of thousands or even tens of millions of gates, the FPGA can implement a circuit function having an extremely complex time sequence and logic combination. Main components of the FPGA include a programmable input/output unit, a basic programmable logic unit, complete clock management, an embedded block RAM, rich routing resources, an embedded underlying functional unit, and an embedded dedicated hardware module.
Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an application of an FPGA in the prior art.
A scale of the FPGA has reached a mega-level, including (K*K) logic elements (LE). Functions that can be implemented by the FPGA are also extremely rich and complex. Therefore, during development, the FPGA is divided into many functional modules (Module). Each functional module implements some relatively independent functions, and implements some circuits on the entire chip; however, interfaces need to be used to implement transmission of data and information between functional modules.
For example, in an application instance in FIG. 1, 10 functional modules (functional module 0 to functional module 9) may be used, and there is communication between many functional modules. Using the functional module 0 as an example, there are communication between the functional module 0 and the functional module 1, and communication between the functional module 3 and the functional module 5.
Communication between functional modules needs to be performed by using a defined interface. Because of heavy data traffic, some data bit widths are relatively great. If some functional modules perform communication with multiple functional modules, multiple communications interfaces need to be defined, so that communication is performed with different functional modules by using different communications interfaces.
Each functional module uses an LUT and a flip-flop to implement a circuit function. Interconnection between various circuits is implemented by using routing of the FPGA.
Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an internal structure of an FPGA in the prior art.
Horizontal lines and vertical lines represent routing resources. Interconnection between inputs and outputs of various configurable logic blocks (CLB) may be implemented by programming. The FPGA in FIG. 2 is connected to the outside by using an input/output block (IOB).
Some CLBs that are distributed in proximity implement a circuit of one functional module together. Some other CLBs in proximity implement a circuit of another functional module together. Communications interfaces and interconnection between functional modules may be implemented by using some CLBs and routing.
Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of mappings of functional modules in an FPGA in the prior art.
The FPGA in FIG. 3 includes three functional modules: a functional module 0, a functional module 3, and a functional module 8.
Each functional module includes multiple CLBs in proximity (small checks in FIG. 3), and the functional modules are connected to each other by using routing (arrows in FIG. 3).
The functional module 0, the functional module 3, and the functional module 8 in FIG. 3 are respectively deployed in upper left, right middle, and lower left positions in the FPGA. An interface is required for interconnection and communication between the functional module 0 and the functional module 3. Likewise, an interface is also required for interconnection and communication between the functional module 3 and the functional module 8.
As can be seen, interconnection and communication between functional modules can be implemented by multi-stage cascading of routing, but multi-stage cascading occupies routing resources and CLE resources of intermediate nodes. Therefore, when many CLBs and routing are passed through, a distance is long, and a long delay is caused. For a 40 nm component, a one-stage jump may need to take 0.7 ns to 1 ns. If the distance is long, a routing delay reaches more than 10 ns. However, logic can hardly run at a frequency higher than 100 MHz. On the other hand, resource utilization is low, and low overall performance is caused. In addition, routing resources of the FPGA are precious and limited. If local routing resources are insufficient, place and routing failure of an entire design is caused, or routing resources in a remote area need to be used.
Therefore, an FPGA that can resolve a problem of a long delay and poor performance of the conventional FPGA needs to be provided.

Field programmable gate array and communication method


A method for producing a thin film multilayer substrate having a base substrate, and, which a plurality of conductor pattern layers superposed thereon through dielectric layers therebetween comprises the steps of: optically detecting the uppermost conductor pattern layer whenever the conductor pattern layer is formed on the base substrate; inspecting an absence and/or presence of a fault of the conductor pattern layer; and repairing a faulty portion in accordance with fault position data detected by the inspecting. According to this method, it is possible to enhance a production yield of relatively large size of thin film multilayer substrates which needs a relatively small amount of production at a high production cost, for mounting LSI chips thereon.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a thin film multilayer substrate or multilayer circuit board which is made by superposing a plurality of conductor pattern layers through dielectric or insulating layers interposed between the conductor pattern layers, and more particularly to a method for producing a thin film multilayer substrate by depositing thin film multilayer conductor patterns on a substrate for mounting LSI chips and the like in an electronic computer or the like.
The present invention relates also to a conductor pattern detecting method which is available for inspection of a configuration of an uppermost conductor pattern of a thin film multilayer conductors superposed alternatingly with dielectric or insulating layers, and it relates to an apparatus therefor.
A technique for using a polyimide resin having a low dielectric constant and a high heat resistance as an insulating layer of a thin film multilayer substrate for mounting LSI chips and the like at a high mounting density is shown in, for example, NEC Technical Report 39, No. 1 (1986), pages 36-41.
Such a technique is also disclosed in NIKKEI MICRODEVICES, January 1988, pages 70 to 77.
However, since this technique is relatively new, only NIKKEI MICRODEVICES, January 1988 shows an outline of a production method, and the prior art fails to show a specific step for inspection of faults of the product during a production process and other steps.
On the other hand, an inspection step of a conductor pattern in a manufacturing process of a thin film multilayer substrate including a semiconductor wafer for LSIs and the like is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 57-208153. In addition, a technique for inspecting how the pattern has been produced, by using a line width measuring device, is shown in Precision Engineering Association's monthly report 54/4/1988, pages 34 to 38 entitled "TECHNIQUE FOR MEASURING FINE DIMENSION OF WAFER." However, these techniques disclosed in these printed publications are used for checking the manufacturing process of the multilayer substrate and the like and for controlling the condition of the manufacturing process to keep the manufacturing process itself at an optimum condition, by monitoring a pattern formed on a midway of the manufacturing process. The faulty chips and the like which were picked up in the inspection step were finally disposed.
Namely, the above-described prior art inspection methods are available for producing a large amounts of products by using silicon wafers such as LSI chips but are not intended to produce a small amount of products which need a high cost per one product, as in a step for forming a thin film multilayer circuit conductor pattern on a ceramic substrate.
Incidentally, the above-described Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication 57-208153 discloses a method in which, in order to inspect the configuration of a circuit conductor pattern of an uppermost layer of a thin film multilayer circuit conductors superposed alternatingly with insulating films and circuit conductor patterns, a downward or bright field illumination light and a dark field illumination light are simultaneously projected to brightly sense the uppermost layer of circut conductor pattern irrespective of stepped portions and flat portions thereof, whereby an aluminum circuit conductor pattern of the uppermost layers of the multilayer patterns of the LSI wafer is visualized for detection. However, in this case, it is assumed that only one aluminum circuit conductor pattern be formed in the uppermost layer of the multilayer patterns, and the aluminum circuit conductor pattern is visualized due to the fact that the aluminum circuit conductor pattern can be sufficiently brightly sensed in comparison with the lower layers.
On the other hand, the above-described paper entitled "TECHNIQUE FOR MEASURING FINE DIMENSION 0F WAFER" shows a method in which, by utilizing the fact that an organic material such as a resist absorbs ultraviolet rays, the ultraviolet rays are used as illumination light. In this case, the resist pattern which is transparent with the visible light is detected as a dark pattern under the ultraviolet rays with a contrast relative to the other parts.
However, in the prior art, in case of the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined publication No. 57-208153, if the aluminum conductor layer is included in the lower layers, the aluminum layer of the lower layers is also brightly sensed, so that it would be impossible to distinguish the uppermost pattern from the lower aluminum conductor pattern. Moreover, in this technique, although the bright field illumination and the dark field illumination light are simultaneously projected, in the case where the stepped portions are provided in the insulating layers and the stepped portions of the insulating layer are inclined in such a angle that a regular reflective light from the stepped portions is received by an optical detector system, the regular refractive light from the insulative film stepped portions would be also detected as a light having a relatively large or substantial instensity. In this case, there is a fear that it would be impossible to detect only the conductor pattern.
On the other hand, in the technique disclosed in the paper entiled "TECHNIQUE FOR MEASURING FINE DIMENSION OF WAFER", there is no consideration of the case where the stepped portions are formed in the circuit conductor pattern. In other words, the light projected on the stepped portions of the circuit conductor pattern is reflected sidewards, as a result of which the stepped portions are detected as dark parts and it would be impossible to distinguish the stepped portions from disconnections of circuit conductors.
Accordingly, the first object of the present invention is to provide a method for enhancing a yield of a thin film multilayer substrate which needs a small-amount production system with a high cost.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a method for enhancing an efficiency of the inspection and the repair of the product.
The second object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for detecting a pattern of an upper most conductor pattern layer of a thin film multilayer substrate relative to stepped portions, lower pattern layers, insulating films and the like.

Method for producing thin film multilayer substrate, and method and apparatus for detecting circuit conductor pattern of the substrate


A system for retrieving a source element from a well may include a logging tool made of a first material, a milling tool, and a control device. The logging tool may include a cylindrical housing having a central chamber housing the source element and extending through a portion of the cylindrical housing along a central axis thereof. The logging tool may include a first communication device mounted on the cylindrical housing. The milling tool may include a tubing mounting structure that secures the milling tool to a tubing of the well. The milling tool may include a drill bit head made of a second material, the drill bit head may be configured for milling through the first material. The control device may include a second communication device configured to communicate with the first communication device.

Obtaining well information during well evaluation operations requires the use of logging tools to be lowered and raised along a wellbore. The logging tools are configured for sampling physical phenomena inside the wellbore and/or outside a casing of the wellbore. The logging tools may be lowered along the wellbore using a conveyance mechanism. In this regard, certain phenomena may require specialized equipment (i.e., devices including sensitive or radioactive materials) to be lowered for sampling one or more formation characteristics. As logging tools may be stuck in the wellbore during evaluation operations, it becomes necessary to retrieve the specialized equipment using specialized retrieving operations. Current specialized retrieving operations involve the use of rigs and piping that retrieve the entirety of the logging tool, which cause evaluations to be paused for several days until the entirety of the logging tool is removed from the wellbore.

System and method for retrieving a source element from a logging tool located in a well


A system, method, and computer program product are provided for evaluating confidence level of predicting a network situation in a communication network managed using artificial intelligence. In use, for a configuration of a communication network, at least one network situation is determined requiring a change of the configuration of the communication network. A minimal configuration time period is determined required to implement the change of the configuration of the communication network. Additionally, a detection entity including a first classifier is determined that includes one or more event log data associated with the configuration of the communication network, and that further includes a prediction of an occurrence of a particular network situation of the at least one network situation. Further, a first confidence level of the detection entity is determined, the first confidence level representing, at least in part, a probability of the prediction.

In common AI learning systems training data (including labeled objects) may be provided to the AI learning system, and AI the learning system may produce an AI model to detect the objects. The AI model may then be tested with testing data including similar objects which are similarly labeled. There are various methods to determine the accuracy or confidence of the results of the AI model, usually according to a number of accurate, false positive, and false negative results. In one situation, the AI learning system (which may be used to manage a communication network) may learn to detect a classifier (event pattern) preceding the label, rather than the labeled object (network situation). However, there is no guarantee that the particular classifier may be present in the testing data preceding a respective label, which may directly affect the accuracy or confidence of the AI model.
As such, there is thus a need for addressing these and/or other issues associated with the prior art.

System, method, and computer program for evaluating confidence level of predicting a network situation in a communication network managed using artificial intelligence


Isotopically labeled formaldehyde (*C§H2O) is prepared from labeled methyl iodide (*C§H3I) by reaction with an oxygen nucleophile having a pendant leaving group. The mild and efficient reaction conditions result in good yields of *C§H2O with little or no *C isotopic dilution. The simple, efficient production of 11CH2O is described. The use of the 11CH2O for the formation of positron emission tomography tracer compounds is described. The reaction can be incorporated into automated equipment available to radiochemistry laboratories. The isotopically labeled formaldehyde can be used in a variety of reactions to provide radiotracer compounds for imaging studies as well as for scintillation counting and autoradiography.

The present invention methods and materials relate to the simple, efficient production of isotopically labeled formaldehyde for use in the formation of radiotracer compounds.
Synthesis of formaldehyde containing isotopes of carbon (11C, 13C and 14C, hereinafter denoted as *C) and isotopes of hydrogen (deuterium (D) and tritium (T)) are contemplated embodiments of this invention. A preferable embodiment of the present invention is the simple, efficient production of [11C]formaldehyde (11CH2O) for use in the formation of 11C-labeled radiotracer compounds for positron emission tomography.
In some embodiments, the hydrogen atoms of 11CH2O may be replaced with deuterium (11CD2O) or tritium (11CT2O). Deuterium-substituted radiotracers can have different pharmacokinetics, which can be used to alter the utility of various radiotracer compounds (Fowler, et al. (1994) J. Nucl. Med. 36:1255). The radioactive tritium substitution of various radiotracers can be useful for validation of in vivo imaging through in vitro radiographic studies as well as for validation of serum concentrations of the radiotracer compound through scintillation counting.
Carbon-13 and carbon-14 formaldehyde can be synthesized through the methods of the invention and used for various applications. For example, 13CH2O may be used in place of 11CH2O when developing a new synthetic route for the preparation of a new radiotracer compound. 14CH2O can be used to incorporate radioactivity into the same radiotracer compound which can then be used to validate in vivo imaging results through the use of the carbon-14 labeled compound for in vitro autoradiography studies and through scintillation counting.
Positron emission tomography (PET) is an analytical imaging technology which utilizes compounds labeled with positron emitting radioisotopes as molecular probes to image and measure biological and biochemical processes. To image biological processes using PET, atoms in particular biological compounds are replaced or substituted with the positron emitting radioisotopic atoms to form various radiotracer compounds. Oxygen, nitrogen and carbon atoms of organic compounds can be substituted with their positron emitting isotopes (15O, 13N and 11C). Because there are no positron emitting isotopes of hydrogen, the positron emitting fluorine-18 (18F) isotope is used as a substitute for hydrogen. Other, less frequently used positron emitting isotopes include those of Cu, Zn, K, Br, Rb, I, P, Fe, Ga and others. For the most typically used PET isotopes (O, N, C and F) the short half-life of the radioisotope demands that the synthetic chemical reaction incorporating the radioisotope be quick, efficient and of high yield, with little or no isotope dilution. In particular, for 11C, which has a half-life of 20.4 minutes, production of the radio-carbon through completion of the imaging scan must be accomplished in two to three hours (Fowler, et al. (1997) Acc. Chem. Res. 30:181-188). A typical preparation includes about 10 minutes for isotope production (generally in the form of 11CO2 or 11CH4), 40 to 60 minutes or less for radiotracer synthesis and up to about 90 minutes for PET imaging.
The incorporation of carbon-11 into small molecules has been paramount to the success of positron emission tomography for in vivo molecular imaging and drug research and development. However, many of the properties that make [11C] an ideal radionuclide for PET have impeded its chemical development. For instance, as noted above, the short half-life (t1/2=20.4 min) necessitates rapid chemical syntheses and purifications. Moreover, high specific activity, which makes it possible to image low concentration receptors and molecular targets, places the working concentration of [11C] labeling reagents in the low nanomolar range. But perhaps the biggest challenge in the synthesis of [11C]-labeled compounds is the lack of available labeling reagents.
Nearly all carbon-11 syntheses begin with a nuclear reaction [14N(p, α)11C] using a cyclotron or other accelerator to produce 11CO2 or 11CH4 from which labeling reagents are prepared.
By far the most common, almost canonical method, to label a molecule with [11C] is through methylation, typically with 11CH3I, which is simply prepared using commercially available reagents and equipment (e.g., General Electric TRACERlab™ FX C Pro). While methyl groups appear quite frequently in relevant compounds and [11C]-methylation has led to many successful radiotracers, reliance on methylation limits the range of potential radiotracer probe compounds. Consequently, there exists a need for new reaction development to focus on methods to incorporate [11C] in skeletal positions of target molecules. Several research groups have developed or adapted synthetic methods for 11C incorporation into benzene rings, carbocycles, and heterocycles as well as non-pendant locations. By using carefully designed synthetic organic reactions, each of these has expanded the types of radiotracers that can be accessed.
[11C]Formaldehyde has shown great promise as a labeling reagent for the preparation of PET compounds. Due to its versatile oxidation state, [11C]formaldehyde (11CH2O) provides a way to insert carbon-11 into compounds through routes that cannot be synthesized using the more readily available 11CH3I. For example, it has been used in synthesis of a variety of compounds through reductive methylations (Straatmann et al. (1975) J. Nucl. Med. 16:425; Marazano, et al. (1977) Int. J. App. Radiat. Isot. 28:49; Maziere, et al. (1977) J. Label. Comp. Radiopharm. (1977) 28:196; Berger et al. (1979) Int. J. App. Radiat. Isot. 30:393), ring-closure reactions (Nader et al. (1998) Appl. Radiat. Isot. 49:1599; Roeda, et al. (2002) J. Label. Comp. Radiopharm. 45:37; Van der Mey, et al. (2006) Bioorg. Med. Chem. 14:4526) and electrophilic aromatic substitutions (Langer, et al. (2005) J. Label. Comp. Radiopharm. 48:577) among others (e.g., Pike et al. (1984) Int. J. Appl. Radiat. Isot. 35:103).
However, the widespread development and use of synthetic methods employing [11C]formaldehyde in the preparation of PET-compounds has been hindered by its lack of availability to most radiochemistry facilities. Several methods have been developed for the synthesis of [11C]formaldehyde from [11C]methanol beginning in 1972 (Christman, et al. (1972) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 69:988), improved over time with new catalysts (Roeda, et al. (2003) J. Label. Comp. Radiopharm. 46:449), and quite elegantly synthesized enzymatically (Slegers, et al. (1984) J. Nuc. Med. 25:338; Svärd, et al. (1984) J. Label. Comp. Radiopharm. 21:1175; Hughes, et al. (1995) Nucl. Med. Biol. 22:105). Although these methods have been developed for synthesis of [11C]formaldehyde from [11C]methanol, none have been adapted to be operable in the equipment available to the majority of radiochemists.
While each of these methods has found utility, they each have disadvantages preventing more widespread use. The previous methods for the preparation of [11C]formaldehyde have relied on the partial or the complete reduction of 11CO2 to 11CH3OH followed by oxidation, as shown in reaction schemes 1.1 and 1.2.
Partial Reduction:11CO2→11CH2O+H11COOH+11CH3OH  1.1Complete Reduction:11CO2→11CH3OH →11CH2O+H11COOH  1.2
Because these methods rely on a reduction step that occurs in solution, typically with lithium aluminum hydride, a reduction in specific activity occurs.
We sought to avoid these previously used routes and to make use of the widely available and gas-phase produced 11CH3I as the starting material for the efficient, simple production of 11C-formaldehyde. In developing the methods and materials we sought to bear in mind that for generalized utility it would be most useful if the production could be made without the need for new equipment, further bearing in mind that the reaction conditions needed to be mild and of short duration.

Simple, rapid method for the preparation of isotopically labeled formaldehyde


A recording material and coating therefor for an ink jet process wherein the coating forms an ink absorbing layer on a support material. The coating contains a hydrophilic binder and an oxidized polyethylene, and the oxidized polyethylene is present in the aqueous coating material which forms the ink absorbing layer as a cationic active emulsified oxidized polyethylene.

This invention relates to a recording material for the ink jet process as well as to a coating material for the manufacture of an ink absorbing layer for the ink jet process.
In the ink jet process droplets of a recording fluid or ink are applied to a recording material according to various techniques. For example, in the Hertz process images are printed directly from electronic data with very high resolution by means of digital electronic control of fine ink droplets ejected from special nozzles.
With increasing improvement in the operation of ink jet printers, greater and greater demands are placed on recording materials. The image produced by the ink jet process should possess the following:
high resolution. PA1 high color density. PA1 sufficient color gradations. PA1 good stability against wiping. PA1 the recording material must absorb ink as fast as possible. PA1 the ink droplets sprayed on the material must spread out as precisely as possible in a circular fashion and in an exactly delimited manner. PA1 the ink diffusion in the recording material must not be too high, so that the diameter of the ink spots will not increase more than absolutely necessary. PA1 the recording material must have a glossy surface in order to achieve a high visual reflection density and a high brilliance of colors.
The following fundamental conditions must be fulfilled to attain these goals:
These requirements are contradictory. For example, when stability against wiping occurs too fast, then an ink drop does not spread out at all or only slightly, thus jeopardizing the clarity of the developing image. Based on the requirements set for the recording material, means are being sought which would produce an image with the highest possible color density, consistent with the greatest possible resistance to wiping.
A recording material for multicolored ink jet printing comprises as a rule a support material and an ink absorbing layer applied thereupon.
A plastic foil, such as polyester resin or diacetate resin, or paper, among others can be employed as the support material.
The ink absorbing layers essentially comprise a pigment/binder mixture. In addition to increasing the brightness of the material, the pigments serve to retain the dyestuffs from the recording liquid onto the surface of the sheet. A high pigment concentration leads to greater porosity of the layer (DE-PS 30 24 205). In this manner, while good stability to wiping is attained, nonetheless at the same time pigments are drawn from the ink inside the recording material, thus making the color density of the image worse.
It is known that paper coated with gelatin (DE-PS 22 34 823) is used for an ink jet recording material. This coating is supposed to improve the stability to wiping and increase the resolution power. The principal disadvantage of this recording material is above all the fact that the images which are formed do not become sufficiently smudgeproof in the short time period desired, but only after more than 10 seconds. Another disadvantage is that the ink droplets do not spread out sufficiently or fast enough.
A claim is made in DE-OS 30 167 66 for a recording material which will assure high ink density and resolution of the printed image by applying a coating from a water soluble polymer on a paper support material which shows a defined water absorption capacity through internal sizing. This recording material has the disadvantage that the material must be additionally smoothed out in a separate working step, for example, using a glazing or super calender in order to achieve the desired ink density following application of the ink absorbing layer.
In the Japanese publication JP 58-193 185 two layers are applied on one support material. The upper layer consisting of a polyvinyl alcohol provides for a rapid ink absorption. The lower layer containing a synthetic silicic acid assures a high color density. The disadvantage of this system is that many working steps are required in the preparation of this recording material, namely the separate application of two layers and glazing with a calender.
A purpose of the present invention is to prepare a recording material for the ink jet process which does not exhibit the above mentioned disadvantages, and excels in high color density and high resolution, while at the same time the ink droplets quickly reach stability to wiping.
A purpose of this invention also is to prepare a coating material for the preparation of an ink absorbing layer for an ink jet recording material, which would make possible the preparation of the recording material without the disadvantages mentioned above.
These tasks are accomplished by applying on a polyolefin coated base paper, an ink absorbing layer which contains a hydrophilic binder and an oxidized polyethylene. The oxidized polyethylene is present in the aqueous coating material used for the ink absorbing layer as a cationic active emulsified oxidized polyethylene.
In a preferred form of the invention the hydrophilic binder is a protein containing binder, especially gelatin.
The oxidized polyethylene contained in the ink absorbing layer is present in the coating material used for this purpose in a cationic active emulsified form. Preferably the oxidized polyethylene is cationic-actively emulsified with compounds from the group of the fatty amines, fatty amino acetate and quaternary ammonium compounds among others. Especially, the oxidized polyethylene is an oxidized polyethylene cationic-actively emulsified with a stearyl fatty amino acetate.
The quantity of the cationic active emulsified oxidized polyethylene in the aqueous coating material amounts to between 0.1 and 5% by weight, and more preferably between 1 and 4% by weight.
The quantity of binder in the ink absorbing layer amounts to at least 50% by weight, and preferably 70 to 99% by weight referred to the dry layer.
In addition the ink absorbing layer can contain white pigments, coloring agents, hardening agents, dispersing agents, wetting agents, among other auxiliary agents.
The quantity of the ink absorbing layer amounts from 0.5 to 10 g/m.sup.2, and preferably 2 to 7 g/m.sup.2. The coating material for the ink absorbing layer can be applied onto the support material using all the customary coating and metering procedures, such as roller coating, engraving or nip processes, as well as air brushing or blade knife metering.
A coating material was prepared in the following manner with amounts as in Examples 1 and 2 to follow.
An aqueous gelatin solution with a gelatin content of 20% by weight was added, under agitation, to water heated to 45.degree. C. Next, under agitation, a cationic--actively stabilized 32% aqueous emulsion of an oxidized polyethylene was added. The pH of the mixture was adjusted to a value of 8.5 by means of caustic soda. The addition of other components followed according to the sequence set forth in Examples 1 and 2.
A mixing time of approximately 3 to 5 minutes should be observed between individual additions. After adding the last components, the mixture was stirred 30 minutes longer at 45.degree. C. and subsequently processed.
The polyolefin used for coating the base paper is preferably a low density polyethylene (LDPE) and/or high density polyethylene (HDPE). Other polyolefins, for example LLDPE or polypropylene, can also be used. The applied quantity of the polyolefin coating, which in addition can contain pigments and other additives, amounts to at least 5 g/m.sup.2.
It was surprising that a combination of the hydrophilic binder with an oxidized polyethylene which in the aqueous coating material was present in the form of a cationically adjusted emulsion, gave such an outstanding printing quality because the hydrophilic binder alone or in combination with an oxidized polyethylene, whose emulsion was not cationic-actively stabilized, did not give correspondingly good results. The gloss of the recording material according to the invention does not require any additional secondary treatment, for example, by using a glazing calender.
It is also surprising, that the very good color density can be attained also without pigmentation of the ink absorbing layer.
Additionally the printed images exhibit good water resistance and resistance to abrasion.

Recording material for the ink jet process


An improved opto-electronic device includes a metallic anti-reflection mirror. The metallic anti-reflection mirror has a first metal layer that is disposed on the substrate of the opto-electronic device, a dielectric layer that is disposed on the first metal layer, and second metal layer that is disposed on the dielectric layer. This layer structure, in combination with particular layer thicknesses and materials selection, creates a cavity that enhances the optical field in second metal layer such that any stray light that is generated by or received by the opto-electronic device is substantially absorbed.

The present invention relates generally to opto-electronic devices, and more particularly, to an apparatus for absorbing stray light that is generated in or received by opto-electronic devices.
The performance of light-emitting and light-receiving opto-electronic devices is compromised by stray light. Simply stated, stray light is light that, from the perspective of opto-electronic device performance, is in the wrong place at the wrong time. In some cases (e.g., lasers, etc.), stray light is generated by the opto-electronic device itself, in others (e.g., optical modulators, etc.), stray light originates from an external source. In either case, stray light causes problems, as the following examples illustrate.
FIG. 1 depicts an illustration of opto-electronic device 100, which comprises vertical cavity surface emitting laser (xe2x80x9cVCSELxe2x80x9d) 102 and photodetector 104 that are co-located on first major surface 108 of substrate 106. The substrate comprises electronic driver circuitry (not depicted) for energizing VCSEL 102. Opto-electronic device 100 also incorporates a heat sink (not depicted) that removes the heat that is generated by the electronic driver circuitry and VCSEL 102. Metal backing 112, which is disposed on second major surface 110 of substrate 106, is used to attach the heat sink to substrate 106.
VCSEL 102 is configured to emit output light 114A away from semiconductor circuitry chip 106 in direction 116. But as a result of design and manufacturing compromises, a portion of the output light from VCSEL 102, ray of stray light 114B, is typically emitted toward substrate 106 in direction 118.
The substrate of an opto-electronic device is often transparent to light. For example, substrate 106 is transparent to light having a wavelength of 1.3 microns, an important telecommunications wavelength, when the substrate is made of silicon. In such a case, stray light 114B that is emitted in direction 118 passes through substrate 106, reflects off of metal backing 112 (e.g., at location 120) and is redirected toward first major surface 108.
At first major surface 108, stray light 114B might be received by parts of opto-electronic device 100 that are light sensitive, such as photodetector 104. If stray light 114B is received and absorbed by photodetector 104, cross-talk between input signal 122 and output signal 114A occurs.
FIG. 2 depicts an illustration of opto-electronic device 200. This opto-electronic device comprises micro-mechanical optical modulator 224, the design and operation of which are well-known in the art. The modulator includes membrane 226 that is supported by supports 228 over first major surface 108 of substrate 106. Cavity 230 is formed in the region between membrane 226 and first major surface 108. In micro-mechanical optical modulator 224, substrate 106 is not an active device.
When actuated, such as by an applied voltage, membrane 226 moves toward substrate 230. As membrane 226 moves, the size of cavity 234 (i.e., the distance or gap between the membrane and first major surface 108) changes. This change alters the reflectivity of modulator 224 and, as such, modulator 224 is capable of modulating reflected light. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,761.
In many of the applications for modulator 224, substrate 106 is transparent to light. For example, substrate 106 is transparent to light having a wavelength of 1.55 microns, another important telecommunications wavelength, when the substrate is made of silicon. To prevent stray light from passing out of substrate 106 and into, for example, an output port (not depicted), metal-backing 112 is advantageously disposed on second major surface 110 of substrate 106. Consequently, when modulator 224 is in a low-reflectivity state, most of light 232A that is received by modulator 224 passes through substrate 106 and is reflected off metal backing 112 (e.g., at location 234). Reflected (ie., stray) light 232B adds to the overall reflected signal thereby degrading the contrast (i.e., the ratio of maximum reflectivity to minimum reflectivity) of modulator 224.
The problems caused by stray light in two different types of opto-electronic devices have been discussed above. And it will be understood that stray light causes similar problems in other types of opto-electronic devices as well. Therefore, incorporating a means to capture stray light in opto-electronic devices would improve such devices and, more generally, benefit this art.
In accordance with the present invention, the performance of opto-electronic devices is improved by a metallic anti-mirror. The metallic anti-mirror, which is disposed on a substrate of an opto-electronic device, substantially absorbs stray light that is generated by or received by the opto-electronic device.
In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, metallic anti-reflection mirror comprises a first metal layer that is disposed on the substrate of an opto-electronic device, a dielectric layer that is disposed on the first metal layer, and a second metal layer that is disposed on the dielectric layer. This arrangement of layers, when of suitable thickness, creates a cavity that enhances the optical field in second metal layer. While the metal layers can comprise virtually any metal, those that adhere well to the substrate and dielectric layer (e.g., aluminum, chromium, etc.) are advantageously used.
Specific values of the thickness of the first metal layer and the dielectric layer will produce a metallic anti-reflection mirror that completely absorbs light (i.e., has zero reflectivity). These values are dependent on the wavelength of the light and the composition of the materials comprising the various layers. Deviations in thickness will result in an increase in the reflectivity of the anti-reflection mirror. Typically, the first metal layer has a thickness that is in a range between about 100 angstroms and about 400 angstroms and the dielectric layer has a thickness that is in a range between about 750 angstroms to about 4500 angstroms.
In one variation of a metallic anti-reflection mirror in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the second metal layer is partitioned into a first sub-layer and a second sub-layer. The first sub-layer is disposed on the dielectric layer,.and the second sub-layer is disposed on the first sub-layer. The second sub-layer comprises a metal, such as gold or aluminum, that advantageously protects the first sub-layer from oxidation.

Article comprising a metallic anti-mirror


A method for provisioning client devices securely and automatically by means of a network provisioning system is disclosed. Provisioning occurs before the client is granted access to the network. The provisioning is determined dynamically at the time a client connects to the network and may depend on a multitude of factors specified by data dictionaries of the provisioning system.

Currently, protocols exist and are in use to authenticate a user or device, referred to as a client, when the client connects to a network for the purpose of authorizing the use of network resources by the client. If the authentication is unsuccessful, then the network denies access to the client. In order to perform the authentication, the client exchanges authentication and perhaps other credentials with an authorization server (AS). The authorization server decides whether or not to admit the client to the network and then informs the network device to which the client is connected of that decision.
One well-established protocol for this exchange, for both wired (generally Ethernet) and wireless (generally 802.11) network access, is the IEEE 802.1X protocol. With the IEEE 802.1X protocol, the client exchanges credentials with the AS at a time the client connects to the network. To facilitate this exchange between the client and AS before access to the network is granted, the first network device connecting to the client acts as a relay, taking messages sent by the client and forwarding them to the AS, and taking messages from the AS and forwarding them to the client. The 802.1X protocol refers to this network device as the authenticator and refers to the client as the supplicant. The Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) protocol is widely used for sending messages between the authenticator and the AS. As a result, the AS is usually also a RADIUS server.
The 802.1X protocol does not provide details of how the messages between the supplicant and AS are secured. The protocol does define an extensible protocol called the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) for this purpose. Several EAP methods have been defined and are in use to secure communication between the supplicant and AS including EAP-FAST, EAP-TLS and PEAP. In all of these methods an encrypted, integrity-protected communication channel is established as the initial part of the 802.1X protocol exchange between the supplicant and the AS.
In addition to exchanging 802.1X protocol messages with the supplicant, the AS also exchanges RADIUS messages with the authenticator in order to inform, or provision, the authenticator with the configuration required for it to implement the resulting policy decision. Originally, the policy decision comprised a simple, binary permit or deny decision. However, with today's more sophisticated network uses and diverse client population, the policy decision can be a rich one, specifying complex access rules and also levels of service quality that should apply to messages to or from the client. Examples of policy that the authenticator might enforce include the VLAN to assign the client to, access control filters to apply to the clients packets, how much bandwidth to allocate to the client, and what priority to give the client's packets. Furthermore, this policy is often dynamically determined based on a multiplicity of factors such as location, time-of-day, and the type of client device.
In today's dynamic networks with their more sophisticated access control requirements, it is beneficial to provision the client with some of the policy decisions so that it can make decisions locally that match the level of access and level of service the network has authorized. However, there is currently no method for provisioning the client that does not require full network access or that uses the AS to determine the appropriate policy dynamically rather than a static configuration on the client itself or at a configuration server.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide dynamic provisioning of a client with policy decisions or other information before network access is granted.

Method for provisioning policy on user devices in wired and wireless networks


Disclosed is a method of directing a cellular immune response against an HIV-infected cell in a mammal involving administering to the mammal an effective amount of therapeutic cells which express a membrane-bound, proteinaceous chimeric receptor comprising (a) an extracellular portion which includes a fragment of CD4 which is capable of specifically recognizing and binding the HIV-infected cell but which does not mediate HIV infection and (b) an intracellular portion which is capable of signalling the therapeutic cell to destroy the receptor-bound HIV-infected cell. Also disclosed are cells which express the chimeric receptors and DNA and vectors encoding the chimeric receptors.

T cell recognition of antigen through the T cell receptor is the basis of a range of immunological phenomena. The T cells direct what is called cell-mediated immunity. This involves the destruction by cells of the immune system of foreign tissues or infected cells. A variety of T cells exist, including "helper" and "suppressor" cells, which modulate the immune response, and cytotoxic (or "killer") cells, which can kill abnormal cells directly.
A T cell that recognizes and binds a unique antigen displayed on the surface of another cell becomes activated; it can then multiply, and if it is a cytotoxic cell, it can kill the bound cell.
HIV and Immunopathogenesis
In 1984 HIV was shown to be the etiologic agent of AIDS. Since that time the definition of AIDS has been revised a number of times with regard to what criteria should be included in the diagnosis. However, despite the fluctuation in diagnostic parameters, the simple common denominator of AIDS is the infection with HIV and subsequent development of persistent constitutional symptoms and AIDS-defining diseases such as a secondary infections, neoplasms, and neurologic disease. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 12th ed., McGraw Hill (1991).
HIV is a human retrovirus of the lentivirus group. The four recognized human retroviruses belong to two distinct groups: the human T lymphotropic (or leukemia) retroviruses, HTLV-1 and HTLV-2, and the human immunodeficiency viruses, HIV-1 and HIV-2. The former are transforming viruses whereas the latter are cytopathic viruses.
HIV-1 has been identified as the most common cause of AIDS throughout the world. Sequence homology between HIV-2 and HIV-1 is about 40% with HIV-2 being more closely related to some members of a group of simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIV). See Curran, J. et al., Science, 329:1357–1359 (1985); Weiss, R. et al., Nature, 324:572–575 (1986).
HIV has the usual retroviral genes (env, gag, and pol) as well as six extra genes involved in the replication and other biologic activities of the virus. As stated previously, the common denominator of AIDS is a profound immunosuppression, predominantly of cell-mediated immunity. This immune suppression leads to a variety of opportunistic diseases, particularly certain infections and neoplasms.
The main cause of the immune defect in AIDS has been identified as a quantitative and qualitative deficiency in the subset of thymus-derived (T) lymphocytes, the T4 population. This subset of cells is defined phenotypically by the presence of the CD4 surface molecule, which has been demonstrated to be the cellular receptor for HIV. Dalgleish et al., Nature 312:763 (1984). Although the T4 cell is the major cell type infected with HIV, essentially any human cell that expresses the CD4 molecule on its surface is capable of binding to and being infected with HIV.
Traditionally, CD4+ T cells have been assigned the role of helper/inducer, indicating their function in providing an activating signal to B cells, or inducing T lymphocytes bearing the reciprocal CD8 marker to become cytotoxic/suppressor cells. Reinherz and Schlossman, Cell 19:821–827 (1980); Goldstein et al., Immunol. Rev. 68:5–42 (1982).
HIV binds specifically and with high affinity, via a stretch of amino acids in the viral envelope (gp120), to a portion of the V1 region of the CD4 molecule located near its N-terminus. Following binding, the virus fuses with the target cell membrane and is internalized. Once internalized it uses the enzyme reverse transcriptase to transcribe its genomic RNA to DNA, which is integrated into the cellular DNA where it exists for the life of the cell as a "provirus."
The provirus may remain latent or be activated to transcribe mRNA and genomic RNA, leading to protein synthesis, assembly, new virion formation, and budding of virus from the cell surface. Although the precise mechanism by which the virus induces cell death has not been established, it is believed that the major mechanism is massive viral budding from the cell surface, leading to disruption of the plasma membrane and resulting osmotic disequilibrium.
During the course of the infection, the host organism develops antibodies against viral proteins, including the major envelope glycoproteins gp120 and gp41. Despite this humoral immunity, the disease progresses, resulting in a lethal immunosuppression characterized by multiple opportunistic infections, parasitemia, dementia, and death. The failure of the host anti-viral antibodies to arrest the progression of the disease represents one of the most vexing and alarming aspects of the infection, and augurs poorly for vaccination efforts based upon conventional approaches.
Two factors may play a role in the efficacy of the humoral response to immunodeficiency viruses. First, like other RNA viruses (and like retroviruses in particular), the immunodeficiency viruses show a high mutation rate in response to host immune surveillance. Second, the envelope glycoproteins themselves are heavily glycosylated molecules presenting few epitopes suitable for high affinity antibody binding. The poorly antigenic target which the viral envelope presents allows the host little opportunity for restricting viral infection by specific antibody production.
Cells infected by the HIV virus express the gp120 glycoprotein on their surface. Gp120 mediates fusion events among CD4+ cells via a reaction similar to that by which the virus enters the uninfected cells, leading to the formation of short-lived multinucleated giant cells. Syncytium formation is dependent on a direct interaction of the gp120 envelope glycoprotein with the CD4 protein. Dalgleish et al., supra; Klatzman, D. et al., Nature 312:763 (1984); McDougal, J. S. et al., Science 231:382 (1986); Sodroski, J. et al., Nature 322:470 (1986); Lifson, J. D. et al., Nature 323:725 (1986); Sodroski, J. et al., Nature 321:412 (1986).
Evidence that the CD4-gp120 binding is responsible for viral infection of cells bearing the CD4 antigen includes the finding that a specific complex is formed between gp120 and CD4. McDougal et al., supra. Other investigators have shown that the cell lines, which were noninfective for HIV, were converted to infectable cell lines following transfection and expression of the human CD4 cDNA gene. Maddon et al., Cell 46:333–348 (1986).
Therapeutic programs based on soluble CD4 as a passive agent to interfere with viral adsorption and syncytium-mediated cellular transmission have been proposed and successfully demonstrated in vitro by a number of groups (Deen et al., Nature 331:82–84 (1988); Fisher et al., Nature 331:76–78 (1988); Hussey et al., Nature 331:78–81 (1988); Smith et al., Science 238:1704–1707 (1987); Traunecker et al., Nature 331:84–86 (1988)); and CD4 immunoglobulin fusion proteins with extended halflives and modest biological activity have subsequently been developed (Capon et al., Nature 337:525–531 (1989); Traunecker et al. Nature 339, 68–70 (1989); Byrn et al., Nature 344:667–670 (1990); Zettlmeissl et al., DNA Cell Biol. 9:347–353 (1990)). Although CD4 immunotoxin conjugates or fusion proteins show potent cytotoxicity for infected cells in vitro (Chaudhary et al., Nature 335:369–372 (1988); Till et al., Science 242:1166–1168 (1988)), the latency of the immunodeficiency syndrome makes it unlikely that any single-treatment therapy will be effective in eliminating viral burden, and the antigenicity of foreign fusion proteins is likely to limit their acceptability in treatments requiring repetitive dosing. Trials with monkeys affected with SIV have shown that soluble CD4, if administered to animals without marked CD4 cytopenia, can reduce SIV titer and improve in vitro measures of myeloid potential (Watanabe et al., Nature 337:267–270 (1989)). However a prompt viral reemergence was observed after treatment was discontinued, suggesting that lifelong administration might be necessary to prevent progressive immune system debilitation.
T Cell and Fc Receptors
Cell surface expression of the most abundant form of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) requires the coexpression of at least 6 distinct polypeptide chains (Weiss et al., J. Exp. Med. 160:1284–1299 (1984); Orloffhashi et al., Nature 316:606–609 (1985); Berkhout et al., J. Biol. Chem. 263:8528–8536 (1988); Sussman et al., Cell 52:85–95 (1988)), the α/β antigen binding chains, the three polypeptides of the CD3 complex, and ζ. If any of the chains are absent, stable expression of the remaining members of the complex does not ensue. ζ is the limiting polypeptide for surface expression of the complete complex (Sussman et al., Cell 52:85–95 (1988)) and is thought to mediate at least a fraction of the cellular activation programs triggered by receptor recognition of ligand (Weissman et al., EMBO J. 8:3651–3656 (1989); Frank et al., Science 249:174–177 (1990)). A 32 kDa type I integral membrane homodimer, ζ (zeta) has a 9 residue extracellular domain with no sites for N-linked glycan addition, and a 112 residue (mouse) or 113 residue (human) intracellular domain (Weissman et al., Science 238:1018–1020 (1988); Weissman et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:9709–9713 (1988)). An isoform of ζ called η (eta) (Baniyash et al., J. Biol. Chem. 263:9874–9878 (1988); Orloff et al., J. Biol. Chem. 264:14812–14817 (1989)), which arises from an alternate mRNA splicing pathway (Jin et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:3319–3233 (1990)), is present in reduced amounts in cells expressing the antigen receptor. ζ-η heterodimers are thought to mediate the formation of inositol phosphates, as well as the receptor-initiated programmed cell death called apoptosis (Merćep et al., Science 242:571–574 (1988); Merćep et al., Science 246:1162–1165 (1989)).
Like ζ and η, the Fc receptor-associated γ chain is expressed in cell surface complexes with additional polypeptides, some of which mediate ligand recognition, and others of which have undefined function. γ (gamma) bears a homodimeric structure and overall organization very similar to that of ζ and is a component of both the mast cell/basophil high affinity IgE receptor, FcεRI, which consists of at least three distinct polypeptide chains (Blank et al., Nature 337:187–189 (1989); Ra et al., Nature 241:752–754 (1989)), and one of the low affinity receptors for IgG, represented in mice by FcγRIIα (Ra et al., J. Biol. Chem. 264:15323–15327 (1989)), and in humans by the CD16 subtype expression by macrophages and natural killer cells, CD16TM (CD16 transmembrane) (Lanier et al., Nature 342:803–805 (1989); Anderson et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:2274–2278 (1990)) and with a polypeptide of unidentified function (Anderson et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:2274–2278 (1990)). Recently it has been reported that γ is expressed by a mouse T cell line, CTL, in which it forms homodimers as well as γ-ζ and γ-η heterodimers (Orloff et al., Nature 347:189–191 (1990)).
The Fc receptors mediate phagocytosis of immune complexes, transcytosis, and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) (Ravetch and Kinet, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 9:457–492 (1991); Unkeless et al., Annu. Rev. Immunol 6:251–281 (1988); and Mellman, Curr. Opin. Immunol. 1:16–25 (1988)). Recently it has been shown that one of the murine low affinity Fc receptor isoforms, FcRγIIIB1, mediates internalization of Ig-coated targets into clathrin coated pits, and that another low affinity receptor, FcrγIIIA mediates ADCC through its association with one or more members of a small family of 'trigger molecules' (Miettinen et al., Cell 58:317–327 (1989); and Hunziker and Mellman, J. Cell Biol. 109:3291–3302 (1989)). These trigger molecules, T cell receptor (TCR) ζ chain, TCR η chain, and Fc receptor γ chain interact with ligand recognition domains of different immune system receptors and can autonomously initiate cellular effector programs, including cytolysis, following aggregation (Samelson et al., Cell 43:223–231 (1985); Weissman et al. Science 239:1018–1020 (1988); Jin et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:3319–3323 (1990); Blank et al., Nature 337:187–189 (1989); Lanier et al., Nature 342:803–805 (1989); Kurosaki and Ravetch, Nature 342:805–807 (1989); Hibbs et al., Science 246:1608–1611 (1989); Anderson et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 87:2274–2278 (1990); and Irving and Weiss, Cell 64: 891–901 (1991)).
In drawing parallels between the murine and human low affinity Fc receptor families, however, it has become clear that the human FcRγIIA and C isoforms have no murine counterpart. In part because of this, their function has yet to be defined.
Because humoral agents based on CD4 alone may have limited utility in vivo, previous work explored the possibility of augmenting cellular immunity to HIV. Preparations of protein chimeras in which the extracellular domain of CD4 is fused to the transmembrane and/or intracellular domains of T cell receptor, IgG Fc receptor, or B cell receptor signal transducing elements have been identified (U.S. Ser. Nos. 07/847,566 and 07/665,961, hereby incorporated by reference). Cytolytic T cells expressing chimeras which include an extracellular CD4 domain show potent MHC-independent destruction of cellular targets expressing HIV envelope proteins. An extremely important and novel component of this approach has been the identification of single T cell receptor, Fc receptor, and B cell receptor chains whose aggregation suffices to initiate the cellular response. One particularly useful application of this approach has been the invention of chimeras between CD4 and ζ, η, or γ that direct cytolytic T lymphocytes to recognize and kill cells expressing HIV gp120 (U.S. Ser. Nos. 07/847,566 and 07/665,961, hereby incorporated by reference).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Targeted cytolysis of HIV-infected cells by chimeric CD4 receptor-bearing cells


An apparatus and a method for moving frameworks such as window frames or sashes from a plastic frame welding machine to a work station for further processing of the frameworks are disclosed. Two tracks are mounted at an elevated position so they extend horizontally from the welding machine to the workstation and an arm assembly is mounted for movement along each track. Preferably each arm assembly has gripping devices arranged one above the other each capable of releasably engaging and gripping one of the frameworks. An actuator is provided to move each arm assembly along its track from a position where the arm assembly can engage the frameworks when they are in the welding machine and then move them to a position where the grippers can grip the frameworks at the workstation.

This invention relates to apparatus and methods for moving frameworks, such as window frames or sashes between manufacturing workstations such as between a welding machine and a workstation for "cleaning" of the frameworks.
It is known to provide for the welding of plastic window frames and in particular to provide a horizontal four-head welding machine capable of positioning plastic sections for two or more window frames for simultaneous welding. Subsequent to welding the window frames or sashes, it is typically necessary to clean the corners of the welded frames or sashes of excess material resulting from the welding process. This is commonly achieved with "corner cleaning machines". It is also known to have automated processes and/or equipment which transfer the welded frames to the corner cleaning machine for processing.
Despite the existing capacity of known welding machines to weld two or more window frames or sashes simultaneously, known corner cleaning machines are typically only capable of cleaning one window frame or sash at a time and many known processes and apparatus are typically only capable of transferring one frame at a time to the corner cleaning machine. Accordingly it is a desired objective of the window frame manufacturing industry to be able to quickly and reliably transfer two welded window frames from the welding machine to a corner cleaning machine (or other work station) for carrying out a manufacturing step on the frames and to have the two frames processed or cleaned at substantially the same time. In this way the workstation or workstations downstream from the welding machine can operate at a speed that closely matches that achievable by the welding machine, thus achieving maximum efficiencies and increasing the output of the production line.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,703 issued Jul. 11, 2000 to Willi Sturtz Maschinenbau GmbH teaches a method and apparatus for manufacturing two plastic window frames at substantially the same time using a horizontal four-head welding machine. Plastic sections are clamped in the welding machine and are welded so as to create two window frames at the same time, these being arranged one above the other in the welding machine. After at least partial cooling, the welded window frames are released and removed. Support elements, which may be in the form of guide rails or rollers are moved at two opposite sides underneath each of the two window frames, these elements being located adjacent two welding heads. When these two welding heads are moved outwardly to release the frames, the frames rest on the support elements on one side of the machine and on the other side on the two other welding heads which are located on a movable carriage. This carriage is then moved horizontally to cause the frames to be moved at least partially out of the welding machine. The frames are then moved to an intermediate station on two conveyor belts located one above the other. The frames can then be moved to a workstation such as a bead cleaning machine.
Recent U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,408 issued Dec. 28, 1999 to Wegoma, Inc. teaches a widow frame weld seam cleaner having a fixed support head and a movable support head. This machine cleans only one window frame at a time. The window frame is engaged by an inner conveyor belt that moves the frame into and out of a first cleaning position for cleaning and machining the top corners of the window frame, and into and out of a second cleaning position for cleaning and machining the bottom corners. The inner conveyor includes fixed and movable fences, tabletop back fences, and clamps.
It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for moving frameworks, such as window frames or sashes from a welding machine or other work station to another work station for further processing of the frameworks, this apparatus being able to efficiently move more than one framework at one time.
It is a further object of an aspect of this invention to provide an apparatus for moving frameworks from one work station to another work station for further processing, this apparatus being reliable and able to move the frameworks relatively quickly in a manner so they will not be damaged during transport to the next workstation.
It is an additional object of another aspect of the invention to provide an improved method of manufacturing plastic frameworks, such as window frames, using a four-head welding machine wherein two frameworks are welded simultaneously in the welding machine and then they are pulled simultaneously and horizontally to the next workstation for further manufacturing steps.

Apparatus and method for moving frameworks between workstations


A semiconductor structure including: a set of first fins in a pFET region and a set of second fins in an nFET region, the first fins and the second fins are on a buried insulator layer, the first fins have a bottom surface coplanar with a bottom surface of the second fins, the first fins have a first pitch between adjacent first fins that is equal to a second pitch between adjacent second fins, the first fins include a group IV semiconductor material, the second fins include a group III-V semiconductor material.

The present invention generally relates to semiconductor device manufacturing, and more particularly to a III-V fin and a IV fin having a similar fin pitch on a shared surface.
The downscaling of the physical dimensions of metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) has led to performance improvements of integrated circuits and an increase in the number of transistors per chip. Multiple gate MOSFET structures, such as fin field effect transistor's (finFETs) and tri-gate structures, have been proposed as promising candidates for 14 nm technology nodes and beyond. In addition, high-mobility channel materials, such as III-V and germanium, have been proposed as technology boosters to further improve MOSFET scaling improvements.
Integration of lattice mismatched semiconductor materials is one path to high performance semiconductor devices such as complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) field-effect transistors (FET) due to their high carrier mobility. For example, the heterointegration of lattice mismatched semiconductor materials with silicon will be useful for a wide variety of device applications. However, disadvantages associated with structural characteristics of lattice mismatched devices can decrease device performance, require additional processes or design constraints to counter-effect such structural characteristics or reduce manufacturing yield.

Forming IV fins and III-V fins on insulator

International Business Machines Corporation