A memory device including; a memory cell array including memory cells connected to word lines and bit lines, and redundancy memory cells connected to a redundancy word line and the bit lines, and control logic configured to control execution of a post package repair operation by the memory device. The control logic includes a PPR control circuit that programs a bad row address to a non-volatile memory during a normal PPR operation in response to the normal PPR command, and programs the bad row address to a volatile memory during a fast PPR operation in response to the fast PPR command, and replaces the bad row in the memory cell array with a redundancy row associated with the redundancy word line.

The inventive concept relates to semiconductor devices, and more particularly, to semiconductor devices that perform one or more post package repair (PPR) operation(s).
Semiconductor memory devices usually include one or more memory cell arrays (e.g., two dimensional and/or three dimensional) including memory cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns. Memory devices often include so-called "redundancy memory cells" that may be used to functionally replace bad memory cell(s) identified among memory cells of a memory cell array. It is common to replace a row of memory cells containing one or more bad memory cells with a row of redundancy memory cells, "redundancy row". A collection of steps required to replace a row of memory cells with a corresponding redundancy row may be termed a "repair operation". In this context, a PPR operation refers to a repair operation that is performed after a memory device has been packaged.
As integration density of contemporary memory devices increases and semiconductor manufacturing processes become ever more fine, single memory cell failures have increased. In a PPR operation, a bad row having as few as a single bit failure may be replaced by a redundancy row. However, since the memory cells connected to the redundancy row will store unknown data, it is possible that the blind replacement of a bad row with a redundancy row might introduce additional bits errors into the data stored (or attempted to be stored) in the bad row.

Memory device performing post package repair (PPR) operation


A message communication system employing one or more centralized communication stations transferring messages through Earth orbit repeater satellites to or from mobile terminals with at least one central communication station having a first transceiver for transmitting a first communication signal to one or more mobile terminals and at least one mobile terminal having a second transceiver for receiving the first communication signal and demodulating it, and for transmitting at a predetermined duty cycle of the second transceiver, a second communication signal to at least one of the central communication stations. The preferred duty cycle over which the second communication signal is transmitted is about fifty percent of the second transceiver duty cycle. The communication system uses Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) communication signals using a number of channels as designated address channels with the remainder being used for data transfer. Information transmitted on the address channels is used by terminals to determine both the presence of a message and its corresponding data transmission or reception channel. In addition the terminals use the reception of the first communication signal to adjust return link transmission frequency to compensate for transmission path errors. The alternating duty cycle allows mobile terminals to use a single set of local oscillators for both transmission and reception modes of operation. To decrease interference with other systems the present system employs a power dispersal modulation function to achieve the footprint of a video signal for high transfer rate digital communication signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communication systems and more particularly to two-way telecommunication systems employing central message transmitting stations and Earth orbit relay satellites to transfer messages between mobile terminals and the central stations. The invention further relates to a two-way telecommunication system using a sequential, alternating, half duplex communication pattern to reduce complexity and power requirements for each terminal while providing reliable communications between a large number of mobile system users.
2. Background of the Art
There is an ever increasing need for communication systems to provide message delivery or brief transfers of information between a central communication office or dispatcher and a number of remote system users. There are a substantial number of commercial, governmental, and private applications requiring the delivery of relatively short messages to or from a large number of geographically dispersed terminals, or mobile transceivers, often on an irregular basis. The need for message services includes such diverse applications as government services (military, law enforcement, legislative) where secure communications are desired, forestry, resource management, disaster relief or coordination, aviation, navigation, commercial transport or transportation, and message delivery services.
Other examples include the interstate trucking industry where dispatchers wish to communicate short messages to trucks located anywhere in the continental United States, especially in rural areas. Presently the transfer of such messages is restricted to periodic telephonic communication between drivers and a central dispatcher or contact person. Currently, truck drivers must call long distance from many remote geographic locations to retrieve messages or to update delivery and pick-up schedules. However, it is hard, if not impossible, for drivers to consistently "call in" at fixed, scheduled, times since telephone services are not always readily available in many areas. The conventional "call in" approach also creates accounting problems and major personal inconvenience by requiring vehicle drivers to use money or charge cards for long distance calls at substantial cost even when no updated message or information is transferred.
Aside from conventional telephone systems, other communication systems have attempted to address the mobile market. Radio telephone, cellular telephone, and portable radio transceivers (CB) are all capable of providing some form of communication between a mobile transceiver and a base unit. However, these communication systems suffer from several drawbacks and have proven inadequate as message communication systems for serving a large number of widely dispersed users.
Current mobile communication services operate on a limited number of high frequency, low data rate, channels and have many more potential users than system capacity. Many systems, like cellular telephone, employ frequency reuse across an array of cells to increase capacity, with each cell having a short transmission range to increase frequency reuse and reduce interference. However, these lower power transmissions are more prone to frequency selective fading and signal blocking and require highly mobile users to frequently change channels as new cells are traversed. These systems are also prone to sudden communication loss when no channels are available in adjacent cells.
Cellular systems economically serve large metropolitan areas but leave many urban and most rural areas without any service or direct coverage at all. Messages for these areas are switched to conventional telephone or satellite carriers for long distance transfers to ground based systems which eliminates the flexibility desired. There are no direct satellite communication systems.
Direct communication, non-cellular, using traditional mobile radio transceivers also required constant monitoring of a variety of frequencies all of which are crowded with existing traffic. These services, like cellular telephone, are subject to frequent system overload and signal degradation from several interference sources which makes them incapable of handling a large volume of traffic. These transceivers also have a low range imposed by the need to prevent interference with other communication systems.
Communication systems based on Earth orbital relay satellites have been proposed as a new approach to solve many communication problems, especially coverage of geographically diverse, low user density or rural areas. Several systems have been proposed or developed to operate through orbital relay satellites and central communication stations. Examples of such systems are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,291,409 and 4,455,651.
However, the high gain, low interference requirements imposed on such systems, especially in regard to adjacent Earth orbit relay satellites or concurrent satellite users, requires the use of large, narrow-beam, receiver antennas on the order of 4 feet or more in diameter, which eliminates mobile applications. In addition, these satellite systems are limited to low data transfer rates which severely limit the number of potential users and data transfer capacity. Otherwise, tracking and demodulating a high data rate satellite signal requires very high speed, complex, and expensive receivers that also consume substantial amounts of power for signal scanning and processing even when not receiving messages. Such equipment is impractical for a commercial message system.
What is needed is a communication system that allows continuous delivery of messages and related communication parameters or control information to a large number of users over a large geographical area. The system needs to provide a return link for message acknowledgment and responses. The system also needs to allow development of a complete private digital data network. The system needs to be cost effective; simple to operate, maintain, and install; and minimize antenna requirements. The system should also automatically adjust to handle many transfer errors associated with a mobile environment.

Alternating sequential half duplex communication system


The present application is directed to a method and apparatus for processing a transparent or semitransparent material with a laser beam resulting in deterministic separation of a single sheet of the material into two or more pieces.

Transparent and semitransparent substrates are presently used in a vast number of applications. For example, most consumer electronics devices such as cellular phones, "smart" phones, tablet computers and the like include glass, sapphire, and/or glass-like substrates to protect display devices, cameras, and the like. Further, electronic devices incorporating touch-screen technology displays are becoming commonplace. In addition, transparent and semitransparent substrates such as various glasses are frequently used in microelectronics packaging, solar cell manufacturing, aerospace applications, medical devices, manufacturing systems, and the like. As a result, glass substrates are presently manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes with any variety of geometric features formed therein.
Currently, there are a number of processes used to manufacture glass substrates. For example, mechanical drilling, cutting, sand-blasting, and surface polishing are all processes used to some degree for fabricating various features in a glass substrate. While these mechanical processes have proven somewhat useful in the past, a number of shortcomings have been identified. For example, consumable materials are used in mechanical processing. As such, the cost of processing is somewhat variable depending on the cost of consumable materials. In addition, consumption and disposal of such consumables may also be environmentally undesirable or problematic. Further, mechanical processing may be a labor intensive, time consuming process that may not provide the requisite accuracy and precision for many applications.
Increasingly, however, lasers are being used for processing glass or similar transparent/semitransparent substrates. Unlike mechanical processes, the laser-based processing techniques do not require the use of consumable materials. In addition, high-quality laser processes require less post-processing procedures (i.e. polishing, etc.) than mechanical processing. As such, laser-based processing offers a throughput and accuracy advantage over comparable mechanical processing.
Presently, CO2 laser processing is a well-known laser based glass-cutting process, most typically used for cutting glass in straight-lines and curves with very large radii of curvatures (curves with a radius of curvature greater then several centimeters). This process typically uses a CO2 laser to locally heat the glass and a trailing cooling gas jet to cool the glass, resulting in a fracture propagating in the approximate direction determined by relative motion between the glass substrate and the CO2 laser beam/gas jet. Typically, CO2 laser processing is used for crude but fast straight-line cutting of relatively large glass sheets. While CO2 laser processing has proven to be somewhat useful, a number of shortcomings have been identified. For example, cutting intricate shapes, small holes (less than about 200 mm), and curved lines (curves with a radius of curvature of less than about 200 mm) with CO2 laser processes has proven to be problematic.
As a result, alternate laser-based glass cutting systems have been developed. For example, pulsed laser system have been used to create so-called "stealth dicing" cutting processes. These pulsed laser-based cutting processes use pulsed laser sources to create sub-surface modification features (cracks, melt zone, refractive index change) that are used to guide a cleaving fracture along an intended linear path. The very common application of this technology is for dicing of micro-electronic and micro-optical devices built on, for example, crystalline silicon (integrated circuits) and sapphire (light-emitting diodes) wafer substrates. Similar laser-based cutting processes have been developed for cutting high stress, thermally and/or chemically strengthened glass (for example, "Gorilla Glass" manufactured by Corning, Inc., "Dragontrail" manufactured by Asahi Glass, "Xensation" manufactured by Schott, etc.). While the various pulsed laser-based cutting processes have proven somewhat successful in the past a number of shortcomings have been identified. For example, these prior art laser-based cutting processes and systems have been largely unable to efficiently and effectively cut or separate glass along curved paths with small radii of curvature (e.g. radius of curvature of less than about 100 mm).
In light of the foregoing, there is an ongoing need for a method and apparatus for effectively and efficiently cutting transparent and semitransparent substrates in any variety of desired shapes.

Method and apparatus for laser cutting transparent and semitransparent substrates


Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving a request for media content, the media content being divided into a plurality of chunks, obtaining information about the chunks and constraints, determining whether there is a remaining layer to be downloaded, in response to determining that there is a remaining layer to be downloaded, determining a list of chunks that can be downloaded at a current layer and a downloading schedule according to the list of chunks that can be downloaded at the current layer, in response to determining that there is no remaining layer to be downloaded, producing a composite schedule for downloading the media content, and downloading the media content according to the composite schedule. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Mobile video has emerged as a dominant contributor to cellular traffic. It accounts for around 40-55 percent of all cellular traffic and is forecast to grow by around 55 percent annually through 2021. While its popularity is on the rise, delivering high quality streaming video over cellular networks remains extremely challenging. The video quality under challenging conditions such as mobility and poor wireless channel qualities is sometimes unacceptably poor.

Method and system for scalable video streaming


A bipolar SRAM which includes a forward bipolar transistor and a reverse bipolar transistor on an identical semiconductor substrate, is disclosed. Concretely, the base region of the reverse bipolar transistor is formed at a deeper position of the substrate than the base region of the forward bipolar transistor, thereby to heighten the cutoff frequency f.sub.T of the reverse bipolar transistor.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit device, and more particularly to techniques which are effective when applied to a semiconductor integrated circuit device having bipolar transistors.
More concretely, the present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit device having a bipolar memory. In particular, it relates to techniques which are effective when applied to a bipolar-static random access memory (hereinbelow, abbreviated to "SRAM") which includes a Schottky barrier diode element and a resistance element connected in series with the cathode region of the diode element.
A semiconductor integrated circuit device, such as memory LSI or logic LSI, constructed mainly of bipolar transistors tends to be heightened in the density of integration. A bipolar transistor which the inventors are developing adopts a side wall base contact structure (hereinbelow, termed "SICOS") as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 225738/1984.
The SICOS-bipolar transistor is such that a base region is constructed in a salient (convex) island region of silicon which is formed in an active region, and that a base lead-cut electrode is connected to the base region at the side wall of the salient island region. Thus, the SICOS-bipolar transistor has the feature that the occupation area of the base region is reduced in correspondence with the contact area between the base region and the base lead-out electrode, so a higher density of integration can be attained.
In the semiconductor integrated circuit device having the memory LSI, there are employed a forward bipolar transistor which utilizes a transistor action in the forward direction of the SICOS and a reverse bipolar transistor which utilizes a transistor action in the reverse direction of the SICOS (noting that in this specification the term "reverse" transistor will be used to have an identical meaning to the term "inverse transistor" which is frequently used in this art).
The forward bipolar transistor is constructed of a vertical structure in which an emitter region, a base region and a collector region are provided in the direction of the depth of a semiconductor substrate successively from the front surface side of a salient island region formed of an epitaxial layer of single-crystal silicon grown on the principal surface of the semiconductor substrate. The emitter region is constructed of an n-type semiconductor region of high impurity concentration. The base region is constructed of a p-type semiconductor region. The collector region is constructed of an n-type epitaxial layer of low impurity concentration which is provided on a side lying in contact with the base region, and a buried n-type semiconductor region of high impurity concentration which is provided under the n-type epitaxial layer. Such bipolar transistors are used in a peripheral circuit and a logic portion except a resistance switching type memory cell with Schottky barrier diodes (hereinbelow, abbreviated to "SBDs") which the inventors are developing. Since the forward bipolar transistor holds the lightly-doped part (the epitaxial layer) of the collector region in contact with the base region, it has the feature that a p-n junction capacitance which is formed between the base region and the collector region can be lowered, so the operating speed of this transistor can be raised.
The reverse bipolar transistor is constructed of a vertical structure in which a collector region, a base region and an emitter region are provided in the direction of the depth of a salient island region successively from the front surface side thereof. The collector region is constructed of an n-type semiconductor region of high impurity concentration. The base region is constructed of a p-type semiconductor region. The emitter region is constructed of an n-type epitaxial layer of low impurity concentration which is provided on a side lying in contact with the base region, and a buried n-type semiconductor region of high impurity concentration which is provided under the n-type epitaxial layer. Such reverse bipolar transistors constitute the resistance switching type memory cell with SBDs. The reverse bipolar transistor is such that the collector region to serve as the charge storage portion (storage node portion) of the memory cell is constructed on the front surface side of the substrate through the base region. Thus, the reverse bipolar transistor has the feature that the influence of minority carriers created by the entrance of alpha particles into the substrate can be relieved to enhance the soft-error immunity of the transistor against the alpha particles.
The SICOS is a peculiar structure in which the respective operating regions are defined into the vertical structure by the salient island region of silicon. The reverse bipolar transistor is constructed of the simple structure in which the collector region and emitter region of the forward bipolar transistor are replaced with each other. In addition, the respective operating regions of the reverse bipolar transistor are formed by the same manufacturing steps as those of the respective operating regions of the forward bipolar transistor. More specifically, the collector region, base region and emitter region of the reverse bipolar transistor are respectively formed by the same manufacturing steps and at the same impurity concentration distributions as those of the emitter region, base region and collector region of the forward bipolar transistor. The semiconductor integrated circuit device thus constructed has the feature that the number of manufacturing steps can be reduced.
Besides, a bipolar memory to be carried in a semiconductor integrated circuit device which the inventors are developing is an SRAM. Each memory cell in the bipolar memory is constructed of the resistance switching type memory cell with SBDs. This memory cell is configured mainly of the forward bipolar transistors, the reverse bipolar transistors, the SBD elements, low resistance elements and high resistance elements.
Each of the forward bipolar transistor and the reverse bipolar transistor is constructed of the SICOS.
The SBD element is constructed of a cathode region which is formed of an n-type semiconductor region, and a metal film which is held in contact with the front surface of the n-type semiconductor region being the cathode region. The metal film used is, for example, a platinum silicide film.
The low resistance element is constructed of an n-type semiconductor region which is formed to be unitary with the cathode region of the SBD element. The n-type semiconductor region constructing the low resistance element, and the n-type semiconductor region constituting the SBD element are formed in such a way that, at one manufacturing step, an n-type impurity is introduced into the principal surface part of the semiconductor substrate by ion implantation and is subjected to drive-in diffusion. Thus, the low resistance element and the cathode region of the SBD element are formed by the identical manufacturing step, to bring forth the feature that the number of manufacturing steps of the semiconductor integrated circuit device can be reduced.
The high resistance element is constructed of a p-type semiconductor region or an n-type semiconductor region.

Semiconductor integrated circuit device having bipolar memory, and method of manufacturing the same


An agricultural implement comprising a first frame section, a portion which is moveable relative to the first frame section, and an actuator for controlling a relative movement between the first frame section and the portion. The agricultural implement has a first sensor arranged to provide a first value corresponding to the angle of the first frame section relative to a predetermined reference plane or a predetermined reference direction, and a second sensor arranged to provide a second value corresponding to the angle of the portion relative to the predetermined reference plane or the predetermined reference direction. The reference plane or reference direction is defined in relation to a direction of gravity.

It is known to utilize agricultural implements comprising a plurality of frame sections, which are moveable relative to each other. Examples of such agricultural implements are cultivators and seed drills, which have two or more side sections that are retractable or extendable between a transport position and a working position.
In the working position, such agricultural implements often allow some relative movement between the frame sections, for example in order to compensate for unevenness of the ground being cultivated by the agricultural implement.
Retracting or extending the agricultural implement is often carried out using hydraulic cylinders. In connection with retracting or extending, it is desirable to keep a check on the position in which the frame sections are situated, for example in order to ensure that the retracting or extending is completed, that the retracting or extending does not exceed a limit value and/or that the agricultural implement does not risk overturning.
Measuring the relative positions of the frame sections using sensors that detect the position of one or more hydraulic cylinders is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,366B1. Measuring the relative positions of the frame sections using measuring devices arranged near a joint between the frame sections is also known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,366B1.
Arranging sensors that detect the positions of the hydraulic cylinders is in itself a well-known and functioning technique but relatively expensive. Detecting the angular position of a joint is also in itself a well-known and functioning technique, but likewise expensive and besides more complex, since it generally requires modifications on both sides of the joint in order to determine the position of the latter. In addition, the environment in which the sensors are required to operate is fairly difficult, including vibrations, dust, dirt and moveable objects which may damage the sensors. Therefore, there is a need for a simpler and less expensive solution for monitoring the retraction/extension operation.

Agricultural implement having frame sections moveable relative each other


A verification apparatus that verifies whether a reference circuit and an implemented circuit are logically equivalent deletes, respectively therefrom, all buffers and an even number of inverters between flip-flops. On each of the circuits, the apparatus further deletes and merges a flip-flop to another flip-flop that is logically equivalent. The name of the deleted flip-flip is added to the name of the flip-flop to which it is merged. The apparatus compares all of the names of the flip-flops and pairs the flip-flops by name. From the input pin of each of the paired flip-flops, logic cones are defined and using these logic cones, comparison of and verification between the reference circuit and the implemented circuit is performed.

1. Field
The embodiment relates to a technology of equivalence verification.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the design of integrated circuits, a synchronizer for compensating timing is inserted in a (asynchronous) path between two flip-flops driven by different asynchronous clock signals to avoid metastability. Generally, a synchronizer includes one or more flip-flops. A signal input to a flip-flop is delayed by one clock and output. Hence, even when the flip-flop is inserted in the asynchronous path, it does not affect the logic values of other combinational circuits.
FIG. 1 is a schematic of a typical algorithm indicative of two circuits to be subjected to logic equivalence verification. In a reference circuit 1, a first logic cone 4 is coupled to a second logic cone 8 to which a third logic cone 10 and a sixth logic cone 11 are coupled. The first logic cone 4 starts from an output port of the reference circuit 1 and includes a first combinational circuit 2. The second logic cone 8 starts from input terminals of a flip-flop to be deleted after the merge process A (FF_A) 3 and includes a second combinational circuit 5. The third logic cone 10 starts from input terminals of a flip-flop to remain after the merge process B (FF_B) 6 and includes a third combinational circuit 9. The sixth logic cone 11 starts from input terminals of a third flip-flop C (FF_C) 7. The second and the third flip-flops (FF_B) 6 and (FF_C) 7 are driven by a clock signal F (CLK_F). The flip-flop to be deleted after the merge process (FF_A) 3 is driven by a clock signal G (CLK_G).
In an implemented circuit 21, a fourth and a fifth flip-flops D (FF_D) 22 and E (FF_E) 23 are inserted in an asynchronous path between the second combinational circuit 5 and the flip-flop to be deleted after the merge process (FF_A) 3. The fourth and the fifth flip-flops (FF_D) 22 and (FF_E) 23 are driven by the click signal G (CLK_G). A fourth logic cone 24 that starts from the input terminals of the flip-flop to be deleted after the merge process (FF_A) 3 is coupled to the first logic cone 4. A fifth logic cone 25 that starts from input terminals of the fourth flip-flop (FF_D) 22 is coupled to the fourth logic cone 24. The second logic cone 8 that starts from input terminals of the fifth flip-flop (FF_E) 23 is coupled to the fifth logic cone 25.
Inverters 26 and 27, buffers 28 to 30 may be inserted between the fourth flip-flop (FF_D) 22 and the fifth flip-flop (FF_E) 23. In the logic equivalence verification, the logic cones having an identical name between the reference circuit 1 and the implemented circuit 21 are paired, and verification between the logic cones of the two circuits is performed. When all the logic cones logically match each other, it is judged that the reference circuit 1 and the implemented circuit 21 are logically identical. Generally, a logic cone is a unit block for logic equivalence verification; starts from an output terminal, input terminals of a flip-flop, or an input pin of a black box module; and ends at an input terminal, an output terminal of a flip-flop, or an output pin of a black box module.
A logic-equivalence verification method has been disclosed for the case in which among two logics subjected to the logic equivalence verification, one of the logic includes an additional logic that is not included in the other logic. In the method, equivalence between the logic from which the additional logic is deleted and the other logic is verified based on information concerning the additional logic (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2001-67379).
However, according to the conventional logic-equivalence verification method, since the elements having an identical name are paired to compare logic cones with each other, mismatch occurs between the second logic cone 8 that starts from the input terminal of the flip-flop to be deleted after the merge process (FF_A) 3 and the fourth logic cone 24 though the reference circuit 1 and the implemented circuit 21 are logically identical in the case of FIG. 1. In this case, a designer has to check each part at which an error is detected as a mismatch, or add, to a specification file, information indicating that the fifth flip-flop (FF_E) 23 in the implemented circuit 21 and the flip-flop to be deleted after the merge process (FF_A) 3 in the reference circuit 1 are paired. Such manual operations are troublesome, time consuming, and may lead to mistakes. Furthermore, in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2001-67379, deletion of the additional logic based on information concerning the additional logic is troublesome.

Method and apparatus for logic equivalence verification, and computer product


An image reading apparatus is provided with a scanning optical system movable to scan an original, the scanning optical system having a slit for passing therethrough part of light from the original, a sensor for reading the light passed through the slit, and detecting means for detecting the relative positional relationship between the slit and the sensor. The detection by the detecting means is effected at a plurality of detecting positions in the direction of movement of the scanning optical system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image reading apparatus for digitally reading image light from an original by a sensor through a slit.
2. Related Background Art
The relative alignment (such as positioning in a sub-scanning direction and inclination) of a slit and a line sensor in an image reading apparatus has heretofore been done during the assemblage of the image reading apparatus. That is, it has been highly accurately done in a well-equipped factory by the use of a jig exclusively for use for optical adjustment.
However, when installing and using an image reading apparatus in the market, there arises a problem that distortion is created in the entire apparatus due to the vibration or fall of the apparatus by transportation or the like or to the planarity or the like of the installation plane and the relative positional relationship between a slit and a line sensor shifts to thereby reduce image reading accuracy.
Particularly, in an apparatus as shown in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 3-179868 previously proposed by the applicant wherein a light beam from a colored image is separated into three color lights such as R (red), G (green) and B (blue) by color resolving means using a diffraction grating and the colored image is read on the basis of said three color lights, the positional accuracy of the light beam incident on the diffraction grating has been very severe and very high accuracy has been required of the position of the slit.
So, the applicant has previously proposed in U.S. Application Ser. No. 863782 , now U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,698 an apparatus in which a scanning optical system is provided with means for detecting the relative position between a slit for forming an image on a line sensor provided in the scanning optical system.
In this apparatus, however, there has been a problem that the detection of the relative positional relationship between the slit and the line sensor is only effected at one location such as the home position corresponding to the back side of the shading correcting plate of an original supporting table and the image of the whole glass of the original supporting table cannot the ensured.

Image reading apparatus with split position detection


A beverage container has a wall with a thickness that progresses from relatively thinner to relatively thicker in a selected direction that travels around the container. A permanent graphics pattern is applied to the outer surface of the wall to progress in the same direction across the container. A layer of thermochromic ink is applied to the outer surface of the container wall to initially mask the graphics pattern (or at least portions thereof) progressing across the container wall. The thermochromic ink layer is of a composition that reacts to heat or cold and changes from opaque to transparent when the temperature transferred to it through the wall of the container changes to a relatively higher or relatively lower transition temperature. The gradient in wall thickness of the container causes a non-uniform transfer of thermal energy to the thermochromic layer, causing the thermochromic mask to disappear at a controlled rate, thereby causing the graphics pattern underneath to be revealed in a time-delayed sequence that reveals elements of the graphics pattern that progress across the container wall in a left-to-right, or right-to-left, or down-to-up, or up-to-down time-related sequence.

Thermochromic materials such as thermochromic ink layers can be applied to a substrate as image layers that hide a non-thermochromic image. Application of heat can cause the thermochromic layers to reach their transition temperatures at which they change state from opaque to transparent or colorless, for example. Different thermochromic materials (in different colors, for example) can have different transition temperatures. Thermochromic materials are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,202,677 to Parker et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,805,245 to Davis, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,958 to Berry, which are incorporated herein by reference. A ceramic beverage holding cup having a thermochromic time-sequence display is disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication 2002/0097777 to Ronci, also incorporated herein by reference.

Article of manufacture having non-uniform thermochromic display


Absorbent articles of the disclosure may comprise first and second belt webs, a folded fastening tab member comprising first and second fastening elements, first and second landing zones, and laterally opposing permanent side seams directly or refastenably joining the first and second belt webs. The fastening tab member may be joined to the first and second fastening elements. And, the absorbent article may be packaged in refastenably closed form.

Disposable absorbent articles in pant form may comprise an elasticized belt that encircles the wearer's waist and may form the waist edge about the entire pant. A central chassis may be joined to the elasticized belt, usually on the inside thereof, with its ends disposed at locations in the front and rear waist regions somewhat below the waist edges of the elasticized belt. This configuration is sometimes known as a "belt" or "balloon" configuration (hereinafter, "belt" configuration). An example of this type of configuration is currently manufactured and sold in Asia by The Procter & Gamble Company under the trademark PAMPERS, and also by Unicharm Corporation under the trademark MAMY POKO.
For purposes of ease of use it may be desired that the pant have a refastenable feature for enabling ease of opening and reclosing of the belt-like structure. This may be accomplished by incorporating for example mechanical fastening elements into the structure of the absorbent article as part of the belt-like structure, the central chassis, other elements of the article and/or combinations thereof. The refastenable feature may help maintain and/or establish the leg openings and the waist opening. Although some currently manufactured belt configuration pants include refastenable features they may be considered to be too complex to produce—especially at high production speeds, and too complex to use. And, some may be considered to have a rough or unfinished appearance.
The present disclosure reveals improvements to the structural design and process for making of disposable absorbent pants having a belt configuration comprising fastening components for forming a refastenable feature compatible with high speed manufacturing.
Particularly, the present disclosure reveals advantages of folding the fastening tabs. For instance, a folded fastening tab (e.g., 210) enables a narrower footprint of the absorbent article via an increased pathlength of the fastening tab's carrier layer and hooks because the extended carrier layer acts as a folded belt. The narrow footprint makes for a neater looking product. Also, this helps drive smaller packaging and portability and convenience. Further, this reduces the need to fold or tuck the belt.
Another advantage of folding the fastening tab is that it can be made of a different more expensive, higher stretch material than the rest of the belt. This enables the belt to be lower stretch or nonelastic. The fastening tab can be a much higher basis weight material than the belt, which is cost effective and which improves fastening performance by providing a cushion for the fastening elements, which may be made of a stiffer material. The more expensive material (that the fastening tab could be made of) could be a film versus a nonwoven to enable alternative forms of fastening like adhesives, cohesive, and the like. Another material that may be used for fabricating the fastening tab may include a film-strand laminate.
Further, folding the fastening tab enables disposition of the fastening elements more on the front or back on belts without folding either of the belts. For example, the fastening tabs may be back-biased on larger sizes for older wearers to avoid having the child remove or open the fastener. Alternatively, the fastening tabs may be front-biased for younger kids who lay on their backs to get changed.

Refastenable articles comprising folded fastening tab members


An optical wavelength division multiplexed system uses wavelength splitters to split channels included in input light into different paths within the system. Odd-numbered channels are split into one path, and even-numbered channels are split into another path, providing increased isolation between channels. Using filters, the system then drops one or more of the isolated, split channels into paths referred to as dropped paths and allows the remaining channels to continue through the filters into output paths. The dropped paths are then combined into one, common dropped path, and the output paths are also combined into one, common output path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to optical systems, and, more particularly, to optical wavelength division multiplexed systems in which channels are multiplexed and demultiplexed.
2. Description of the Related Art
An optical wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) system is an optical system carrying many different wavelengths, or frequencies, of light. The frequencies are closely spaced, and, from an information systems perspective, are also referred to as channels, which channels carry information.
In WDM systems as described above, optical filters, such as optical wavelength demultiplexers, have a very important role. One configuration of the channel dropping systems is shown in FIG. 1 where channels having predetermined frequencies are dropped by a filter 10 from the main signal stream of light A into another light path C (referred to as the dropped channel(s)), and all other channels are transmitted along path B (referred to as the transmitted channels). In this system, the frequencies of the dropped channels are predetermined. If channels at arbitrary frequencies can be dropped, more flexible systems will be built. One of the interesting filters is a wavelength tunable filter, an example of which is shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, wavelength tunable filter 12 drops (or separates out) arbitrary frequencies from the main signal stream of light A to another light path C (referred to as the dropped channel), and transmits the remaining frequencies along path B (referred to as the transmitted channels). An interesting tunable filter is an acousto-optic waveguide filter, which filters frequencies of light from the main stream in response to electric power provided to the acousto-optical waveguide filter. The frequencies of light which are dropped from the main stream are determined by acoustic frequencies which are applied to the device, and, accordingly, may be dynamically altered. If more than one acoustic frequency is applied simultaneously to the wavelength tunable filter, all of the corresponding channels are dropped.
With an acousto-optic waveguide filter, shown in FIG. 2, light wave A, which includes 4 frequencies (or channels) 1, 2, 3, and 4, is input to wavelength tunable filter 12. Wavelength tunable filter 12 drops channel number 3 into path C, while transmitting remaining channels 1, 2, and 4 along output path B. If the wavelength tunable filter 12 of FIG. 2 were, for example, an acousto-optic tunable filter, then the channel dropped along path C would be in response to an output of an acoustic wave generator 14 provided in the filter.
As channels in WDM systems become more closely spaced, demultiplexers have increasing difficultly isolating one or more channels from the other input channels and extracting the selected channel(s). Because the channels are so closely spaced in prior art WDM systems, problems with filtering shape and crosstalk (or leaked light) affect the WDM systems, as do problems with instability of optical power in adjacent channels. Most troublesome in WDM systems of the prior art are problems of crosstalk and instability of optical power in adjacent channels. Problems of crosstalk and instability of optical power most seriously affect the transmitted light, and problems of crosstalk most seriously affect the dropped light, as explained with reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 4, and 5.
Problems of filtering shape and of crosstalk in the context of filtering and dropping channels are explained with reference to FIGS. 3A-3E, which respectively show spectrums of light for input channels from which channel 3 is dropped.
FIG. 3A shows an ideal filtering shape surrounding channel 3. An ideal filtering shape F is rectangular, having a flattened top and a base of equal width W with the top of the filtering shape (as shown in FIG. 3B).
However, because of imperfections in conventional filters, an ideal filtering shape is difficult to achieve. Three common problems which occur with conventional filters include providing a filtering shape F with a top that is not flat (FIG. 3C), a filtering shape F with a base (W) considerably wider than the top of the filtering shape F (FIG. 3D), and a filtering shape F filtering an input light wave shifted by a distance S from the center of the spectrum (FIG. 3E).
The example of the filtering shape shown in FIGS. 3C results in a reduced amount of power present in channel 3, and, further, an altered shape of the optical spectrum in channel 3, after filtering. As shown in FIG. 3C, area C has been cut off of channel 3 by the filter F. To compensate for this loss of power, the width of the filter F may be expanded, resulting in crosstalk from adjacent channels 2 and 4, as shown in FIG. 3D. Of course, the shape of the filter F shown in FIG. 3D could have also resulted simply from imperfections in filter F which has a wider base than the top width. Crosstalk C in channel 3 resulting from either of adjacent channels 2 or 4 (crosstalk C is shown in FIG. 3E resulting from adjacent channel 2) also occurs when the center of the spectrum of the input light for channel 3 is shifted a distance S from the center of the spectrum of the filter F. Because of the close proximity of adjacent channels 2 and 4 to channel 3, channel 3 receives crosstalk C upon being filtered.
FIG. 4 shows a spectrum of light transmitted along path B of FIG. 2. If, in the example shown in FIG. 2, channel number 3 is dropped to path C, the output stream B should include only remaining channel numbers 1, 2, and 4. However, as shown in the spectrum of transmitted light of FIG. 4, a small portion of the light in channel number 3 remains and is transmitted along path B. This transmission of a small portion of the light in channel number 3 along path B, even though channel number 3 was dropped into path C, is due to insufficient isolation of channel 3 from channels 1, 2, and 4.
Also as shown in FIG. 4, the optical powers in channels 2 and 4, which are adjacent to channel 3, fluctuate in time and, therefore, provide channels 2 and 4 with instability in their signals. The problem of instability of the optical power due to the dropped channel (such as channel 3) is most acute in the channels adjacent (such as channels 2 and 4) to the dropped channel, but the instability also affects non-adjacent channels (such as channel 1), with decreasing intensity as the distance (in terms of frequency) from the dropped channel increases.
FIG. 5 shows a spectrum of the dropped light transmitted along path C of FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 5, a problem arises with the dropped channel 3 transmitted along path C because the light dropped into path C includes light power contributions not only from channel 3 (which are desired) but, also, light power contributions from channels other than channel 3 (such as channels 1, 2, and 4). Light power from channels 1, 2, and 4 is undesired and is leaked along path C. The problem of the leaked optical power into the dropped channel (such as channel 3) is most acute in the channels adjacent (such as channels 2 and 4) to the dropped channel, but the leak also occurs in non-adjacent channels (such as channel 1), with decreasing intensity as the distance (in terms of frequency) from the dropped channel increases.
All of the above-mentioned problems are caused by interference between the channels. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and as explained above, the effects on and of channel number 1 are weaker, because the channel position of channel 1 is further from the position of channel 3. A typical isolation of an acousto-optic waveguide filter is xcx9c20 dB for the adjacent channels when the channel spacing is 0.8 nm.
Therefore, filters providing increased isolation between the channels of the input light are desired. Also desired is a WDM system having increased isolation between the channels of the input light, but being of low cost and providing low optical loss.
An object of the present invention is to increase isolation between channels of input light.
Another object of the present invention is to drop a channel from input light and transmit output light free of crosstalk.
A further object of the present invention is to drop a channel from input light and provide output light free of instability of optical power channels adjacent to a dropped channel.
Yet another object of the present invention is to drop a channel from input light and output the dropped channel free of crosstalk.
To achieve the above-mentioned objects, the present invention is an optical wavelength division multiplexed system using wavelength splitters.
The fundamental idea of the present invention is to split the even channels and the odd channels of the wavelength division multiplexed system into different optical paths, and then insert an optical filter into each optical path.
The optical wavelength division multiplexed system of the present invention receives input light, and splits, using a splitter, odd-numbered channels into one path and even-numbered channels into another, different path.
After the input light (which includes alternating odd- and even numbered channels adjacent to each other) is split in the present invention, the resulting split light traveling along each path includes only channels which are not directly adjacent to each other, thereby increasing the isolation between the channels.
Then, in the present invention, filters (preferably tunable) placed in each path drop the selected channel(s) from the input, split light, and both the output transmitted channels and the dropped channels are output by the present invention free of crosstalk present in the WDM systems of the prior art. In addition, the output transmitted channels are output by the present invention free of the instability of optical power present in WDM systems of the prior art.
In the present invention, an optical wavelength division multiplexed system comprises a splitter splitting input light into paths, one of the paths including even-numbered channels and another of the paths including odd-numbered channels, each of the paths comprising an optical filter. In another aspect of the present invention, an optical wavelength division multiplexed system comprises a splitter splitting input light into paths in which channels with channel numbers of multiples of 3, channel numbers of multiples of 3 plus 1 (including channel 1), and channel numbers of multiples of 3 plus 2 (including channel 2), are split into different paths, and each of the paths includes an optical filter.
In a further aspect of the present invention, an optical wavelength division multiplexed system comprises splitters splitting input light into paths, in which channels with channel numbers of multiples of 4, channel numbers of multiples of 4 plus 1 (including channel 1), channel numbers of multiples of 4 plus 2 (including channel 2), and channel numbers of multiples of 4 plus 3 (including channel 3), are split into the different paths, and each of the paths includes an optical filter.
In addition, the present invention includes a method of dropping channels carried in input light received by an optical wavelength division multiplexed system. The method of the present invention comprises splitting by the system a portion of the channels into one path within the system and another portion of the channels into another path within the system, such that neither of the paths carry adjacent channels, and dropping by the system one of the channels into a dropped path.
Further, the present invention includes a method of dropping channels carried in input light received by an optical wavelength division multiplexed system. The method of the present invention comprises splitting by the system the channels into at least two, separate paths carrying non-adjacent channels within the system, then dropping by the system one of the channels into a dropped path.
In addition, the present invention includes a method of isolating and dropping channels carried by input light. The method of the present invention comprises splitting by a splitter the channels into separate paths, one of the paths carrying odd-numbered channels and another of the paths carrying even-numbered channels, then dropping by a filter one of the channels into a dropped path.
These together with other objects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

Optical wavelength division multiplexed system using wavelength splitters


A bone connector including a first joint which is inserted and secured in one of cut bone pieces to be interconnected at the cut end thereof, a second joint which is inserted and secured in the other bone piece at the cut end thereof, and engaging portions provided on the first and second joints to connect the same.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bone connector which is adapted to connect cut bone pieces.
2. Description of Related Art
For instance, in a surgical operation of the chest for exposing the lungs and the heart, for example, a part of the ribs is usually cut and temporarily removed. After the surgical operation is completed, a piece of bone cut from the rib (referred to as a bone piece) is reconnected to the associated rib.
To connect the cut ends of a bone piece and the associated rib, a wire (or biedegradable thread), or a metal or plastic connecting plate is normally used. When the connecting with wire, a ceramic pin is inserted in the marrow of the bone piece at the cut end thereof initially. Then, a through hole is pierced in the vicinity of the cut end of the rib. Consequently, the cut end of the rib can be bound by the wire or the thread which is tied to the ceramic pin. The insertion of the ceramic pin and the tying and stringing operations are troublesome, however. Moreover, it is necessary to strip a substantial part of the intercostal muscles in the vicinity of the cut ends of the ribs, which both burdens a patient during the operation and increases recovery time.
When connecting with a metal or plastic connecting plate, holes are pierced in the cut ends of both the bone piece and the associated rib, so that the connecting plate which lies along the outer surfaces of the bone piece and the associated rib is secured to the bone piece and the associated rib by securing pins which are inserted in the connecting plate and the holes of the bone piece and the associated rib to connect the bone piece and the associated rib.
In this method, it is also necessary to strip a substantial part of intercostal muscles in the vicinity of the cut ends of the ribs. Furthermore, the metal plate is heavy, and accordingly, increases the burden on a patient; and the plastic plate has less biocompatibility or bioaffinity with the surrounding tissue of the cut ends of the ribs.

Bone connector adapted for joining cut bone ends


A low gossypol, high protein cottonseed product is produced by passing cottonseed meal through a certain series of steps utilizing conventional solvent extraction equipment, and culminating at a point where the cottonseed meal is rendered edible--for human consumption and animal feed--by disruption of gossypol glands and extraction of gossypol pigments.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a product and a process for producing edible low gossypol, high protein cottonseed meal.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
An abundant supply of low cost, high protein cottonseed meal remaining after the extraction of cottonseed oil provides an attractive source of edible protein. However, the use of cottonseed proteins in edible products is rare because of the presence of the toxic gossypol pigments in small pigment glands scattered throughout the cottonseed kernel. The Food and Drug Administration, HEW, permits cottonseed products used for human consumption to contain a free gossypol content not to exceed 0.045% (see Federal Register, Vol. 39, No. 177, page 32735, Sept. 11, 1974). Solvent extracted cottonseed meals often have a free gossypol content of 1-1.5% or more, and the liquid cyclone process (LCP) underflow cottonseed meals, 2.5% or more. Before the gossypol pigments can be extracted from the cottonseed meal, it is necessary to effectively rupture the pigment glands. Cottonseed meal processed by the LCP route has been dried to a moisture level of about 1.5% in order to toughen the pigment glands. Rupture of the toughened glands in the LCP underflow cottonseed meal is difficult, and thus, extraction of the gossypol pigments to a level of free gossypol acceptable for food use, is more difficult to obtain.
Over a period of a number of years there has been a marked interest in the improvement of the nutritive value of cottonseed meals. The U.S. Pat. No. 2,726,155 discloses a method for treating soybean and cottonseed meals with 20-50% water, adjusted to either an acid or alkaline pH, followed by mixing and heating to dehydrate the meal, thereby increasing the soluble nitrogen content and, consequently, the nutritive value of the meal. Although it is suggested that compounds could be added to the aqueous phase to react with gossypol and/or other components in the meals, detoxification or removal of free gossypol is not included in this method.
Pre-extraction of pigments, including gossypol, from full fat glanded cottonseed flakes with methanol containing 2.5% soap prior to the extraction of the oil by hydrocarbon is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,485,916. The purpose of this invention is to obtain a high yield of oil of a purity comparable to that obtained from expensive refining procedures. No mention is made in this invention as to the level of free and bound gossypol pigments present in the solvent-extracted cottonseed meal.
Detoxification of defatted glanded cottonseed meal, after adjustment of the pH to between 7 and 10 with aqueous sodium hydroxide and adjustment of the moisture content to between 5 and 14%, by extraction with hot 2-propanol is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,873,190. Free gossypol is reduced to 0.04% by a single extraction with hot 2-propanol, and 0.01% after multiple extractions. No data are given as to the levels of bound gossypol present in the cottonseed meal treated and extracted as described treatment ruptures the pigment glands, releasing gossypol and related pigments that rapidly combine with cottonseed meal constituents to form non-toxic "bound" derivatives. It is known that gossypol combines with epsilon aminolysine to lower the nutritive value of the cottonseed meal.
A process for the detoxification of defatted cottonseed meal by reacting the free or unbound gossypol pigments with organic primary amines is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,934,432. The reaction product and the unreacted amine are removed by extraction with a non-polar solvent. The free gossypol content in the cottonseed meal was reduced from 1.4% to 0.002% by this process.
Preparation of cottonseed meal suitable for unrestricted use in laying hen diets by a process in which the gossypol in cottonseed meats, prior to removal of oil, is chemically modified without causing detrimental changes in cottonseed protein and, thereby, producing a feed that does not cause hen eggs to become discolored on storage, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,873,191. Full fat cottonseed flakes are increased in moisture content to about 74% at an alkaline pH and reacted with fatty amine at 125.degree. F. for 30 minutes with stirring, to rupture the gossypol glands, after which the heating rate is increased, causing the temperature of the material to reach a final temperature of 212.degree. F. in approximately 30 minutes, during which the fatty amine reacts with the free gossypol. After cooling to ambient temperature the oil is extracted from the treated cottonseed meat with a liquid hydrocarbon. The resulting cottonseed meal contains less than 0.010% free gossypol.
A similar process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,607,687 wherein the free gossypol pigments present in defatted cottonseed meal are reacted with aniline in the presence of additional water and heat to form dianiline gossypol. Excess aniline is removed by steam distillation. The resulting animal feed is of improved color and nutritive value, with a free gossypol content of 0.015%-0.04%.
The analine process cottonseed meal was in commercial use in the 1950's marketed as degossypolized meal and later as low gossypol cottonseed meal. However, in view of the results from animal feeding tests, which showed enlarged organs, including the spleen, the product was removed from the market. The process utilizing the detoxification of gossypol by reaction of organic primary amines with free or unbound gossypol pigment has not been commercialized.
An acetone-hexane-water extraction process for the removal of free or unbound gossypol pigments from defatted cottonseed meal is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,950,198. This process effectively removes free gossypol pigments to a level of 0.00-0.040%.
Aqueous acetone extraction of free or unbound gossypol, as well as aflatoxins (toxic mold metabolites) from cottonseed followed by hexane extraction of the cottonseed oil is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,557,168. Free gossypol levels of the extracted cottonseed meal average 0.020%.
The two above mentioned procedures have not been commercialized because of unpleasant flavor and odor problems brought about by reactions of acetone condensation product "mesityl oxide" breakdown products of sulfur-containing amino acids to provide a "catty odor." Fore etal JAOCS 52 (3) 84-87 (1975). Also, problems with adaptation of the axeotrope process to commercial practice have lead to a lack of interest in this approach.
Production of an edible cottonseed protein concentrate from cottonseed is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,615,657 and No. 3,972,861, wherein the cottonseed meats are dried to a moisture level of 1.5-2.5%, comminuted in a mill, and processed in a liquid cyclone with hexane to separate the cottonseed into an overflow fraction essentially free of gossypol glands with a free gossypol content of 0.03-0.04%, an underflow fraction containing gossypol glands, hulls, seed fragments, etc., and the hexane containing the extracted cottonseed oil. The liquid cyclone process produces a cottonseed protein concentrate of acceptable flavor and free gossypol content. However, 60-65% of the processed cottonseed is contained in the underflow fraction, which is extremely high in free gossypol and can be used for livestock feed only. In addition, the liquid cyclone process requires special equipment for implementation.
A method for processing glanded cottonseed for protein and oil using acetic acid-hexane mixtures to more effectively separate the oil from cottonseed is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,941,764. Relatively few gossypol pigment glands were disrupted by the solvent-acid mixtures although the amounts of gossypol pigments in the miscella increased as the concentrations of acetic acid in hexane increased. The addition of 2% and 4% acetic acid to the hexane did not affect the solubility of the protein of the neutralized extracted cottonseed meal in 0.02 N sodium hydroxide. Addition of 10% acetic acid to hexane denatured the protein somewhat and the protein solubility was reduced to 91.3%. The cottonseed meal produced by this process, however, is high in free gossypol inasmuch as the gossypol remains in the intact pigment glands.
The extraction of cottonseed flours with solvent mixtures containing a non-polar solvent, a polar solvent, water and a food grade acid to prepare protein isolates of improved color, is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 943,893, filed Sept. 19, 1978. The described solvent mixture when used to extract the liquid cyclone process cottonseed flour concentrate does not appreciably reduce the free and total gossypol content of the extracted concentrate.

Treatment of cottonseed meals followed by extraction with certain solvents to remove gossypol

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture


Immunohistochemical methods and compositions for the typing of molecular subgroups of medulloblastomas are provided. The methods comprise determining a protein expression profile for a sample obtained from a medulloblastoma by detecting expression of GAB1, filamin A, or at least two biomarker proteins selected from the group consisting of β-catenin, YAP1, GAB1, and filamin A, and typing the medulloblastoma as a WNT pathway tumor, a SHH pathway tumor, or a non-WNT/non-SHH tumor based on this protein expression profile. Kits for typing a medulloblastoma according to these three molecular subgroups are provided. The kits comprise at least two antibodies, wherein each of said antibodies specifically binds to a distinct biomarker protein selected from the group consisting of β-catenin, YAP1, GAB1, and filamin A, and can optionally comprise one or more of instructions for use, reagents for detecting antibody binding to one or more of said biomarker proteins, and one or more positive control samples.

Medulloblastoma, the most common type of primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET), is a malignant embryonal tumor of the nervous system, occurring mainly in children and accounting for 25% of all pediatric brain tumors. Most medulloblastoma patients are diagnosed between five and ten years of age (Louis et al. (2007) Acta Neuropathol. 114(2):97-109), and these tumors occur more often in males than in females. Few medulloblastomas occur under the age of one. These tumors arise in the cerebellum, a region of the brain that continues to develop after birth, during the first two years of human life.
Typically a childhood tumor, medulloblastoma does occur at a very low frequency in adults. Of all medulloblastomas diagnosed in the United States less than ten percent (5%) are found in adults, usually between the ages of 20-44 years. The incidence in adults sharply decreases in frequency after age 45, with very few older adults having this tumor.
A preliminary diagnosis of medulloblastoma is based on clinical symptoms and signs, supplemented by radiological investigations (neuroimaging).
Current treatment regimens for medulloblastoma depend on the age of the patient and the size and/or position of the tumor. In most cases, surgery is performed to remove as much of the tumor as possible with minimal neurological damage. In a minority of patients, the tumor has grown into the brain stem making total removal impossible. Surgery is then followed by radiation therapy to the brain and spinal cord to minimize spreading through the CSF and possible regrowth. Chemotherapy is also given to further deter the spread or regrowth of tumor cells.
The success of current treatments depends, inter alia, upon the accurate staging and subtyping of medulloblastomas. Generally, staging is dependent upon the extent of resection, evidence of tumor spread as determined by radiography, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology and is graded according to the Chang system (M0-M4). Patients are categorized as low-risk if they undergo gross total tissue resection, with no radiographic evidence of spread, and show no malignant cells on CSF cytology.
Further classification of medulloblastoma depends upon detailed pathologic examination. Histologically, medulloblastomas are divided into five categories according to the WHO classification of tumors of the nervous system based on their morphology, the classic tumor and four variants: desmoplastic/nodular (D/N), medulloblastoma with extensive nodularity (MBEN), large cell medulloblastoma and anaplastic medulloblastoma. The last of these two are sometimes combined into a large cell/anaplastic (LC/A) category, because of their shared aggressive behavior (Kleihues et al. (2002) J. Neuropath. Exp. Neurol. 61(3):215-225).
Although significant strides have been made in diagnosing and treating these tumors, medulloblastomas remain one of the most challenging pediatric tumors, and improved survival rates have come at a significant cost with significant long-term cognitive and/or neuroendocrine adverse effects among survivors. Presently, identification of pathobiologic/molecular correlates of heterogeneous behavior that could facilitate therapeutic stratification and the application of novel therapies for children with brain tumors, including medulloblastoma, remains a major challenge in the field.
Specifically, cells within medulloblastomas that survive radiation treatment can repopulate the tumor, for example, via activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI3) kinase pathway. Thus, effective and optimal techniques to identify, type/characterize, and then target these cells to eliminate the tumor in its entirety while sparing the rest of the brain are still needed. In order for the appropriate therapy to be effectively applied, it is necessary that the type of medulloblastoma present in patients be determined as soon as possible. Therefore, the development of novel ways to type medulloblastomas that may benefit from a distinct therapeutic protocol and, thus improve outcome of patients with these specific medulloblastomas, are also urgently needed.

Methods and compositions for typing molecular subgroups of medulloblastoma


Method and apparatus for transferring data between a host device and a data storage device having a first memory space and a second memory space. The host issues access commands to store and retrieve data. The device stores commands in the first memory space pending transfer to the second memory space. An interface circuit evaluates relative proximity of first and second sets of LBAs associated with pending first and second commands, and delays promotion of later pending commands in front of earlier pending commands during an overlap condition. If the overlap is caused by performance enhancing features (PEF) the PEFs are disabled so the commands can be scheduled for disc access. Indicators are set in the commands to signal that a PEF has caused the overlap and that PEF can be disabled. Values are added to indicators in the commands such that the PEFs can be modified and avoid overlaps.

A disc drive is a data storage device used to store digital data. A typical disc drive includes a number of rotatable magnetic recording discs that are axially aligned and mounted to a spindle motor for rotation at a high constant velocity. A corresponding array of read/write heads access the discs to write data to and read data from the discs.
The discs are divided into a number of addressable blocks that are assigned host-level addresses (sometimes referred to as logical block addresses or LBAs). Each LBA typically has a corresponding physical block address (PBA) used by servo control circuitry to align a head with the appropriate portion of the medium to access the desired LBA.
In addition to the servo control circuitry to move the heads to the various tracks, the disc drives are also provided with read/write channel circuitry to write data to and read data from the discs, and interface control circuitry to facilitate communication and data transfer with a host device. A disc drive is typically configured to operate in accordance with an industry standard interface protocol, such as Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) or AT Attached (ATA, and known widely as IDE). Communications and data transfers are carried out between host and drive in accordance with these protocols.
Disc drives of the present generation typically accommodate command queuing, which allows multiple input/output (I/O) commands to be received in a command queue and executed by the drive in an order different than that received. SCSI protocols currently support up to 256 pending commands in the command queue, while ATA protocols allow up to 32 commands. A search strategy is used to execute the commands in an order that will potentially provide the highest transfer rate. For example, if several commands require access to data blocks close to the current position of the heads, and other commands require access to data blocks at distant locations on the discs, the drive may proceed to execute all of the local accesses before moving the heads to the distant locations and accessing the data blocks at the distant locations to minimize seek time (i.e., time spent moving from one track to the next).
The time required for a particular data block to rotate around and reach the head (latency) is an important factor when selecting the execution order, as delays in waiting for the disc to rotate significantly decrease the resulting transfer rate. Selection of the execution order typically includes estimating how much time it would take to reach each of the data blocks associated with the pending access commands based on latency and the time required to perform any necessary head switches and seeks.
A disc drive can typically employ various run-time selectable strategies (parameters) to improve the host throughput and read cache hit ratio, such as read on arrival (ROA) and read look ahead (RLA). ROA and RLA generally entail reading data blocks and placing the contents into the data buffer even though the host has not specifically requested the data from such data blocks, on the basis that the host may request the data in the near future.
ROA involves performing a seek command to move the head to a destination track on which a target data block resides, and commencing to read the data blocks on the track that precede the target data block until the target data block reaches the head. By contrast, RLA involves receiving a command to move to a new target track, but because the target data block is a large angular distance away from the head, the drive delays seeking to the new track and instead maintains the head on the current track and reads additional data blocks on the current track before moving to the destination track and reading the target data block. The foregoing strategies can provide improved performance under certain circumstances, such as when the command stream has a high degree of locality.
Another run-time selectable parameter that can improve host throughput is write caching. Write caching involves delaying the writing of data received from the host in favor of execution of other previously requested accesses (as opposed to immediately writing the data upon receipt). Advantages associated with write caching include the fact that more commands are available to choose from during the sorting strategy, which statistically improves overall access times.
However, allowing a command to be considered for disc access before other commands that have been in the system longer creates potential overlap problems. One of these problems occurs when a newer read command is promoted ahead of an older write command. If the older write command has cached data or a pending command that has not yet been written to disc and the newer read command is requesting data in the same LBA range as that of the older write command, old data will be accessed by the read command. If the read command goes to disc without recognition of the older cached write data an undesired overlap occurs. Other variations of overlap conditions can occur as well.
Overlap problems can also occur when a newer write command is improperly promoted ahead of an older read command. A write command that is given disc access before an older read command that is requesting data that overlaps the LBA range of the write command results in a read of newer data than that requested. Similarly, an older read command could recognize and send newer write cache data as a read cache hit instead of going to disc.
Disc drives typically avoid the improper promotion of commands by performing overlap checking. An overlap check takes place when a newer command is considered for promotion in front of older commands. The LBA range of a command considered for promotion is compared to the LBA range of the older commands. If the LBA ranges do overlap then the newer command is prevented from promotion until the overlap condition no longer exists, i.e., the older command has been executed.
The process of overlap checking can be complicated by the use of performance enhancing features (PEF) such as ROA and RLA. Unlike an overlap check that takes place with PEFs disabled, the LBA ranges of pending read commands are not known. Although the LBA range attributable to the requested data is known, the LBA range attributable to the PEFs is not known. The uncertainty is due to the inability of the system to determine the LBA range prior to the scheduling of a command for disc access since the LBA range added by a PEF cannot be determined until the order of commands is determined.
Disc drives compensate for the inability to check for overlap of the LBA ranges due to PEFs by adding LBAs to the existing LBA range of pending read commands. The added LBAs reflect the largest case scenario that could be attributed to a PEF. The extended amount can be the size of a cache segment or of some virtual cache structure. The enlarged ranged of LBAs then undergoes an overlap check with the LBA ranges of pending commands.
However, the enlarged LBA range creates an additional problem due to the overlap check. The significant increase in LBA range results in an increased incidence of detected overlaps. Since the commands responsible for the overlap are not granted disc access until the overlap condition ends and pending write commands are not allowed to be cached, commands are forced to remain in the buffer for a longer period of time. The delay diminishes disc data throughput.
Accordingly, there is a need for improvements in the art to provide effective control of cached commands in a disc drive to improve data transfer performance.

Reducing delay of command completion due to overlap condition


Heat exchanger, particularly for use as a rack evaporator in refrigerators or freezers, including a plurality of stacked shelves and comprising for each shelf: a coil, constituted by a tubular body extending along a path with bends alternated with straight and substantially mutually co-planar portions and by a supporting and/or heat-exchange enhancement structure constituted by metal rods welded to the coil and forming, above the coil, a supporting surface which is substantially parallel to the plane of arrangement of the coil. The coil has, for each shelf, at least one portion that is disconnected from the supporting and/or heat-exchange enhancement structure, and this portion lies substantially parallel to the longer straight portions of the coil and proximate to one side of the shelf. This portion disconnected from the supporting and/or heat-exchange enhancement structure is connected to a tubular portion that mutually connects the coils of two shelves which are not mutually co-planar.

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger, particularly for use as a rack evaporator in refrigerators or freezers.
Refrigerators are known which are constituted by a box-like structure inside which a plurality of mutually stacked and spaced shelves is arranged to support the goods to be preserved.
In order to achieve higher efficiency of the refrigeration circuit and to keep the temperature inside the refrigerator or freezer as uniform as possible, in some types of refrigerator each shelf is constituted by a coil evaporator formed by means of a tubular body extending along a path that forms bends alternated with straight and substantially mutually co-planar portions. A structure is furthermore associated with the coil of each shelf and may be constituted by rods welded to the coils or by a plate-like element which is seamed or rigidly connected (for example by welding or glueing or other known rigid coupling methods) to the associated coil and has the purpose of forming a supporting surface for the products to be arranged on the shelves and, at the same time, of increasing the heat exchange surface of the coil.
In many kinds of these evaporators, indeed termed rack evaporators, the coils of the various shelves are formed by means of one or more tubular bodies which are variously folded so as to form the straight portions and the bends of each coil and mutually connect the coils of the various shelves.
During the manufacture of the entire evaporator and/or during surface treatment and/or handling, transport and packaging, it is sometimes necessary to apply an axial torsion to some appropriate straight portions of the tubular body, and in particular to one or both of the outermost portions of the set of parallel co-planar tube portions that forms, together with the bends, the coil of the individual shelf (this set is hereafter simply termed "grid").
This possibility exists, and is sometimes used, in the tubular system of evaporators in which the supporting and/or heat-exchange enhancement surface is constituted by a plate which is seamed to the grid (rotation by axial torsion of the tube inside the seams), whereas in the evaporator, in which the supporting and/or heat-exchange enhancement surface is constituted by metal rods welded to the grid that constitutes the individual shelf, this possibility has never been available, since the rods have always been welded or otherwise rigidly coupled to all of the above mentioned tube portions: the required angle of axial torsion is in fact usually such that it does not allow to discharge the entire torsion onto the small portion of tube that has no welds to the rods and is in any case such as to cause unacceptable deformations on the rods and/or deformations/breakages of the tube portion affected by the rotation.
In some types of rack evaporator there is an additional branch which is arranged proximate to one side of the shelf, is orientated at right angles to tile longer straight portions of the coil, and is not affected by the supporting structure constituted by the rods. Although this solution at least partially solves the problem of torsion on the additional branch, it has the drawback that it greatly complicates the production of the evaporator, indeed due to the arrangement of the additional branch, and for this reason it can be adopted with some benefit only in the manufacture of evaporators having at the most two shelves formed with a single curved tube, thus forcing to mutually connect multiple pairs of shelves by welding.


A bus arbiter for a multi-processor computer provides fair access by dynamically adjusting a base variable of a counter which is determined from a processor number of a previously access-requesting processor having the highest processor number. The counter then varies priority between a minimum processor number, such as zero, and the base variable of the counter. The priority signal from the counter and the current access-requesting processors are then provided to a memory device. The memory device is used to determine which current access-requesting processor is permitted to access the bus.

Generally, a bus arbiter assigns control of a bus to a single processor when one or more of the processors in a system attempts to access the system bus. This arbitration function is often referred to as assigning priority to an individual processor in the system.
One problem with prior art bus arbiters is that they are not equitable (i.e., some processors receive highest priority more often than others) when less than the designated maximum number of processors are operating in the system. For example, in a full four-processor roundrobin scheme with only three processors, assigned to numbers 0, 1, and 2, processor 0 would receive highest priority twice during each cycle, while processors 1 and 2 would receive highest priority only once.
Other problems exist in prior art bus arbiters. For example, a flip-flop is required for each processor. Also, non-requesting, slow-requesting or improper functioning processors are included in the arbitration function which can delay the entire system. Additionally, jumper wires or switches, which easily can be improperly set, are required to select the number of processors in the system.

Bus arbiter with equitable priority scheme


A unique system and method is provided that facilitates improving relevance of search results over the initial searching ranking. The system and method involve obtaining relevancy feedback for at least one search result (user rated) and then generating a connectivity graph or web-graph (for Web searches) for the user rated result. The relative distance between results (or pages) in the graph can indicate relevancy between those results. Thus, results within a particular distance from the rated result can be considered related to the rated result and thus, relevant or irrelevant depending on the particular rating for that result. The connectivity graph can be employed to determine a re-ranking of the search results.

Despite much advancement in search technologies, search in general is still an unsolved problem. Take web search for example. Although relevance of results has steadily improved over the past decade, anecdotal evidence indicates that many queries still go unanswered. A major obstacle to further improvement of search results is understanding user intent from the query. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the average query length is between two and three words, and average query sessions consist of only a handful of queries.
The brevity of most search queries is a recognized problem, and several methods have been proposed to deal with this scenario. The approaches can be divided into passive and active systems. Passive systems observe user behavior and try to infer more information about the users' intent from their previous actions. In this area numerous personalized search algorithms have been suggested and implemented in practice. These algorithms reweigh each query asked by the users based on their stated preferences or past search histories.
On the other hand, active systems engage in some interaction with the user that better elicit user intent. This interaction can take many different forms. For example, one conventional search engine clusters the results and lets the user navigate the cluster hierarchy; while another lets users re-rank the results, giving more influence to "Shopping" or "Research" results. Other work has explored the space of query suggestion. This involves presenting a list of possible query expansions to help the user further narrow down the results. Unfortunately, none if any of these approaches have produced significant improvements in more accurate or more relevant search results in the context of Web searches or desktop searches.

Using connectivity distance for relevance feedback in search


A thin film electronic imager device has a repaired area between an upper conductive layer and an underlying component in the array in which portions of the upper conductive layer and a dielectric layer have been removed such that the upper conductive layer is electrically isolated from the underlying component. The repaired area has a bottom level having a surface comprising material of the underlying component and an intermediate step level having a surface comprising the dielectric layer material that extends around the periphery of the repaired area. The lateral dimension of the intermediate step level is greater than the lateral dimension of the bottom level such that the width of the intermediate level step surface is in the range between about 1 .mu.m and 3 .mu.m. Formation of the structure in the repair area is done by removing material by laser ablation to set back the upper conductive layer from the sidewall of the dielectric material in the region in which the defect was excised.

This invention relates generally to thin film electronic imager devices and more particularly to a low noise solid state radiation imager having repairable defects between an upper conductive layer disposed and underlying components in the imager array.
Solid state radiation imagers typically have a scintillator coupled to a photosensor imager array such that incident radiation of the type to be detected is absorbed in the scintillator, resulting in the generation of light, which in turn is detected by the photosensor array. The imager array typically comprises a number of components (such as photodiodes and switching transistors) which are coupled to address lines for conducting electrical signals to and from individual components in an imager device. A common electrode is disposed over the photosensor array to provide the common contact for each photosensor pixel in the array. The electrical signals generated by the photosensors correspond to the number of detected photons passing from the scintillator, and the signals from the respective photosensors are used to reproduce electronically an image corresponding to the photons detected by the array of photosensors.
A defect in the photosensor array can adversely affect overall performance of the thin film imager device. Common defects include electrical shorts between different components in the array, such as between the common electrode and underlying components (e.g., address lines or switching transistors), or between respective fi underlying components in the array (e.g., between a scan address line and a data address line). The components in the army are commonly formed in a series of steps in which layers of conductive, semiconductive, and insulative materials are deposited and these layers are patterned to form the desired components; unwanted conductive paths, or defects, can result from conductive debris left from the fabrication steps.
Given the expense of fabricating thin film electronic imager devices, it is desirable to have devices that are repairable. In particular, it is desirable to have a device that is repairable after deposition of the common electrode, that is, after the fabrication of the array, at which time tests can be run to check the electrical operation of the array. Any repairs made at this point typically require that the common electrode must be breached (that is, removed to gain access to underlying components that require repair). Particularly for medical imagers, in which noise is a critical factor, it is important that the repaired area not have significant residual electrical leakage that causes noise in the imager array. One problem with repairs of low noise imagers, however, is that repairs that involve breaking through the common electrode often result in leakage paths between the common electrode and underlying components that increase the noise in the array. This electrical leakage can result in noise of sufficient magnitude to degrade the performance of the array to the point where the array does not meet the specifications for use in a radiation imager.
It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a method of repairing a thin film solid state imager device having an upper conductive layer (common electrode) that provides a low-electrical leakage repair area that does not adversely affect array noise characteristics.
Another object of this invention is to provide a repair method and repair structure that increases yield of fabrication.
A still further object of the present invention to provide an efficacious thin film solid state imager device low-leakage repair structure.

Post-fabrication repair method for thin film imager devices


There is provided an information processing apparatus including a communication controller for determining, based on an influence of a second communication device on a communication network connected to one or more first communication devices, whether joining of the second communication device in the communication network is accepted.

The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing system.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication Nos. H9-238277, 2004-304809, 2011-217061, and 2011-217062, a camera system used in a television station or the like has been known. Such a camera system includes a plurality of CHUs (Camera Head Units) and a receiving device configured to communicate with these CHUs.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information processing system


A prestressed pressure vessel safety enclosure is used as a pressure safety enclosure for a nuclear reactor pressure vessel or other primary system vessel containing fluid or gaseous material under high pressure, such as, steam generators, pressurizers and pumps. The special pressure vessel enclosure comprises a first pressure vessel containment assembly surrounding the primary pressure vessel. A pair of first upper and lower pressure vessel jackets are adapted to enclose and be spaced apart, respectively, from the upper and lower portions of the first pressure vessel containment assembly with the rims of the jackets adapted to be slidable and sealed with respect to the first pressure vessel containment assembly. The spaces between the jackets and pressure vessel containment assembly are filled with a high boiling point, low melting point metal. Upper and lower ring girders, connected to each other by tension tendon members, in conjunction with upper and lower jacket bearing plates and skirts are used to apply a force to the respective upper and lower jackets for moving the jackets toward or away from each other This application of force achieves continuously adjustable compression in the pressure vessel safety enclosure walls in order to compensate for creep and relaxation of tendon members and of the enclosure walls.

This invention relates generally to pressure vessel enclosures and in particular to pressure vessel enclosures in which the compression in the enclosure walls can be continuously controlled and adjusted.
This invention also relates to pressure safety enclosures that can be disassembled and assembled for inspection of the primary pressure vessel and its welds with a minimum of time and effort.
Increasingly, in the operation of nuclear reactors, environmental degradation due to corrosion, mechanical or radiation effects on reactor vessel steels and weld materials have become a major concern. In order to extend its useful life, operating pressure or volume, a concept of a prestressed safety enclosure has been developed a nuclear reactor system.
For safety reasons, pressure vessels, particularly nuclear reactor pressure vessels, must be designed so that all pressure or load carrying welds can be inspected periodically. This inspection can be performed on the pressure vessel either prior to service or later while the system is temporarily out of service, such as, during a reactor refueling outage.
Most of the primary pressure vessels of the prior art comprised a single large vessel with one or more openings to gain access to the interior of the vessel. A flanged dome cover, usually fastened by studs to one end of the pressure vessel, provided the primary access to the interior of the vessel. To inspect the interior of the pressure vessel the studs in the peripheral flange surrounding the dome cover had to be removed in order for the dome to be removed.
The main purpose of the pressure safety enclosure (PSE) of the present invention is to contain the fragments of the primary pressure vessel (PPV), the hot radioactive coolant fluid, the fragments of the nuclear core and any fission products in the unlikely event of an explosion, leak or other failure of the primary pressure vessel (PPV).