A transistor device may include a first source portion including a first InSb material set and a first first-type dopant set. The transistor device may include a first drain portion including a second InSb material set and a first second-type dopant set. The transistor device may include a first gate and a corresponding first channel portion disposed between the first source portion and the first drain portion and including a third InSb material set. The transistor device may include a second drain portion including a first GaSb material set and a second first-type dopant set. The transistor device may include a second source portion including a second GaSb material set and a second second-type dopant set. The transistor device may include a second gate and a corresponding second channel portion disposed between the second source portion and the second drain portion and including a third GaSb material set.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof. In particular, the present invention is related to a tunneling field effect transistor (TFET) device and a method for manufacturing the TFET device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a tunneling field effect transistor (TFET) may be a gate-controlled reverse-biased PIN diode. FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram that illustrates a structure of a TFET. The schematic diagram may represent a cross-section that is taken alone the channel direction of the TFET. In the TFET, the N+ doped region is a drain region, and the P+ doped region in a source area. FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B illustrate operation of the TFET illustrated in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 2A, when a positive gate bias is applied, the potential of the channel region may be reduced, such that the barrier between the source region and the channel region may become substantially thin. As a result, electrons can tunnel from the source region to the channel region and then drift to the drain region under the effect of the electric field. OFF state. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the barrier between the source region and the channel region may become substantially thick, such that tunneling may not occur.
In comparison with a conventional metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), a TFET may have a relatively smaller sub-threshold swing (SS) and therefore may have a relatively smaller on-state-off-state voltage swing. At room temperature, the minimum SS of a conventional MOSFET may be 60 mV/dec, and the minimum SS of a TFET may be smaller than 60 mV/dec.
Advantages of a TFET may include low leakage current, small SS, low power consumption, etc. Nevertheless, conventional TFETs are typically based on lateral tunneling. Limited by tunneling area and tunneling probability, the on-state current of a conventional TFET may be undesirably small, such that application of a conventional TFET device may be limited.

Tunneling field effect transistor device and related manufacturing method

Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation


A toner, which is semispherical and has plural dents on the surface, including a binder resin; and a pigment, wherein a circle circumscribing a circular profile of the toner provides an average envelopability (AE) of 10 to 10,000 particles thereof of from 74 to 84%, which is measured by the following formula:AE(%)=(AC−AD)/AC×100wherein AC is an area of the circle and AD is a total sum of areas of the dents.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toner for use in electrophotography, and more particularly to the shape of a polymerized toner.
2. Discussion of the Background
A polymerized toner is prepared by solidifying a liquid droplet in a liquid emulsion or liquid suspension, i.e., oil in water, and alternatively dispersing and agglutinating particles and melting or softening the agglutinated particles to be associated in an aqueous medium. Formed through a liquid status, the particles tend to be spherical due to oil phase surface tension.
However, a spherical toner is more difficult than a pulverized toner to clean with a blade, which is currently a major cleaning device used in the industry, because the spherical toner is thought to have less edges than the pulverized toner. This problem is widely known in the electrophotographic field as disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Applications Nos. 2002-287400, 2003-058009, 2004-226663 and 2005-037923.
The more deformed the spherical toner, the more edges the toner has and the easier it is to clean. However, the more deformed, the more technically difficult and the lower the image quality. Therefore, the cleanable minimum deformity is an important subject in the electrophotographic field.
On the other hand, global environmental protection is more desired recently, and an energy-saving toner is required even in electrophotography.
A polymerized toner has a minimum fixable temperature of from 140 to 150° C. at lowest, and a fixable temperature width, i.e., hot offset temperature minus minimum fixable temperature, of from 50 to 60° C. at most.
Many toners prepared by non-pulverization methods using a dispersion or a solution of a resin or its precursor are known. For example, conventional polymerized toners prepared not only by a dispersion polymerization method disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 63-297402 are just spherical, not semispherical having plural dents, and thus do not have sufficient cleanability. Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2005-37923 discloses a toner having the shape of a rugby ball, which has sufficient cleanability, but produces images having quality worse than those produced by use of a spherical toner. In addition, to have the shape of a rugby ball, an extra process is necessitated.
Because of these reasons, a need exists for a toner having good cleanability and low-temperature fixability, and producing quality images.


A new Petunia plant named ‘Petrewis’ particularly distinguished by the medium sized bold deep-red flowers, early flowering and good floriferousness, medium green foliage, excellent branching, and an outwardly spreading plant habit with exceptional cold tolerance.

The present invention comprises a new Petunia, botanically known as Petunia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'Petrewis'.
'Petrewis' is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar has medium sized bold deep-red flowers, early flowering and good floriferousness, medium green foliage, excellent branching, and an outwardly spreading plant habit with exceptional cold tolerance.
'Petrewis' originated from a hybridization made in August 2005 in a controlled breeding environment in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The female parent was a bulk population of plants from a proprietary, unpatented population designated 'E5327', that had flowers ranging in color from red to dark salmon. The seed was harvested in bulk and sown in February 2006.
The male parent of 'Petrewis' was a proprietary, unpatented population designated as 'B1256-1', with burgundy flowers.
'Petrewis' was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in May 2006, in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, Netherlands.
The first act of asexual reproduction of 'Petrewis' was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in May 2006 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, Netherlands.


An alternator pulley includes a driving member driven and rotated via a belt from an output shaft of an engine. A driving member is disposed on an inner surface of the driving member and a one-way clutch is interposed between the driving and driven member. The one-way clutch includes rollers capable of rolling in a locked side direction along which a rotating power of the driving member is transmitted to the driven member or a free side direction along which the rotating powder is interrupted. Depending on a relative speed difference between the driving member and the driven member, the rollers are biased for pressing in the locked side direction and a torque value of the pressing is set preferably to less than 4 Nm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an alternator pulley equipped with a one-way clutch. This alternator pulley is driven by the engine's crankshaft of an automobile, for example, via a belt and causes an alternator to generate electricity.
2. Description of the Related Art
An engine's crankshaft does not rotate at a constant speed but varies according to the operating condition of the vehicle in which the engine's is mounted. An alternator directly driven by such an engine's crankshaft generates electric power at efficiency proportional to the engine's output power.
Another alternator has been devised as disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-17256. This alternator is fitted with a one-way clutch. When the rotational speed of the crankshaft drops, the rotation of the rotor of the alternator is continued by making use of its inertial force, thereby enhancing the power generation efficiency of the alternator. This enhances the efficiency at which the alternator generates electricity. This one-way clutch uses rollers and is of normal construction. As the rotational speed of the crankshaft varies, the one-way clutch is switched between a free state and a locked state. In the free state the power is not transmitted, whereas in the locked state the power is transmitted.
In the related art technique described above, if the load applied by a spring of the one-way clutch is set high, when the rotational speed of the crankshaft decreases, the rollers of the one-way clutch become difficult to roll from their locked positions to their free positions. Therefore, a switching operation for interrupting the power transmission becomes delayed and so it becomes impossible to maintain the rotation of the alternator rotor at high speed. As a result, the power generation efficiency deteriorates.


Versatility of access to a register set within a direct memory access (DMA) controller is increased. The DMA controller controls direct memory access transfers to and from a main memory. When a first control field in a configuration register has a first value, normal operating access is provided to a register set within the DMA controller. The register set provides control and status of the direct memory access transfers to and from the main memory. When the first control field in the configuration register has a second value special access is provided to the register set. The special access allows storage and restoration of a state of a DMA transfer.

The present invention concerns personal computers and pertains particularly to a direct memory access controller with full read/write capability.
The standard personal computer (PC) architecture facilitates data movement between an input/output (I/O) device and system memory by providing a hardware mechanism entitled Direct Memory Access (DMA). This hardware method of data transfer allows data to be read from an I/O device and written to a designated location in memory, or read from a designated location in memory and written to an I/O device without involvement by a central processing unit (CPU). This functionality in the PC architecture is basically a legacy feature from a time when hardware controlled system data transfers were usually faster than the comparatively slower CPU transfers.
Software compatibility issues currently requires that DMA functionality be propagated in current PC system designs to ensure older software execution on current machines. In the PC architecture the DMA process is administered by three controller chips: two 8237 DMA controllers, and an associated 74LS612 page register chip. These chips are available, for example, from VLSI Technology, Inc., having a business address of 1109 McKay Drive, San Jose, Calif. 95131.
In an integrated device, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or PC core logic device, the DMA controllers and page registers exist as functional blocks. The page registers do not affect the actual control of the DMA transfer but simply hold the address of the memory page to be accessed and drive this information onto the address bus when appropriate.
Working in concert the two DMA controllers provide eight DMA channels that can address up to 16 megabytes of memory. Channels zero through three are eight bit (1 byte) channels, and channels four through seven are 16 bit (2 byte) channels. Once configured by software, the DMA controller is free to move "blocks" of data as small as a single byte or as large 64 kilobytes, the largest number programmable in the word count register for each channel. Each data move is referred to as a "transfer" and each transfer consist of one or more data transfer cycles that may be either a single byte or two bytes in size (i.e., 8 bit or 16 bits), depending upon the DMA channel selected.
Each transfer is initiated by a device asserting a DREQ signal associated with a specific channel to request the DMA transfer for that channel. The DMA controller arbitrates for control of the system and places the CPU in a hold state, and then returns an acknowledge signal, DACK, to the requesting device. The DMA controller then executes the DMA transfer according to the configuration set in the associated registers for the specific channel. The eight channels are independent and are set up on a rotating priority scheme so that only one specific channel is transferring data at a time.
Each channel in the DMA controller can be set to one of three modes of data transfer: Single, Block and Demand mode. Single mode permits a single transfer from the requesting I/O device to or from the specified memory address. Block mode permits a block of data to be transferred of a size specified by a value programmed into the DMA controller. Demand mode is similar to Block mode except that the transfer may be started, stopped, and restarted by asserting and de-asserting the DREQ.
Each of the three modes can be divided further into a transfer type. The available transfer types are: Read transfer that moves data from memory to the I/O device by asserting MEMR# and IOW#; Write transfer that moves data from the I/O device to memory by asserting MEMW# and IOR#; and a Verify transfers which are "pseudo transfers" that function the same as the Read and Write, except that the memory and I/O command lines remain inactive. A fourth type of transfer, memory-to-memory, also exists.
Historically, DMA systems in the PC architectures have functioned under the assumption that DMA transactions will always be permitted to proceed to completion and that a need to interrupt a DMA cycle prior to completion did not truly exist. However, with the advent of power management strategies and the implementation of "suspend" or "sleep" mode states in computers, it is now desirable to facilitate an interruption to a DMA transaction prior to completion. Such a situation presents a problem for a DMA architecture using DMA controllers as currently implemented. That is, currently, DMA controllers are not designed to permit such an interruption nor to facilitate restoration of system conditions to permit completion of an interrupted DMA cycle.

Direct memory access controller with full read/write capability


A pluggable video module (PVM) having a housing with a top, a bottom, a front and a back; a locking and release mechanism proximate the front of the module for securing the module within a host device; an electrical connector proximate the back of the module for electrically connecting the module to a host device; an optical connector proximate the front of the module for receiving an optical connector; and a key slot on the bottom and proximate the rear of the module for receiving a key tab from a host device, thereby allowing the module to be inserted into a host receptacle having a key tab.

Pluggable converter modules, such as optoelectronic transceiver modules, are well-known in the computer industry. Conventional optoelectronic transceiver modules are utilized to interconnect circuit cards of communication links and other electronic modules or other subassemblies. Optoelectronic transceiver modules are designed to receive electrical data signals and retransmit these signals as optical signals, and vice versa. Various international and industry standards define the type of connectors used to interface computers to external communication devices, such as modems, network interfaces, and other transceivers. It is desirable to make transceiver modules pluggable so the modules can be easily replaced. It is also desirable to miniaturize transceiver modules in order to increase the port density associated with the network connection (switch boxes, cabling patch panels, wiring closets, computer I/O, etc.).
Numerous standards are known that define form factors for miniaturized electronic devices, such as the Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) standard that specifies an enclosure 9.8 millimeters in height, 13.5 millimeters in width, and a minimum of 20 electrical input/output connections. The specific standards for SFP transceivers are set forth in the "Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) Transceiver Multisource Agreement (MSA)," dated Sep. 14, 2000, which Applicants hereby incorporate by reference. Patents identified by issued U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,570,768, 5,879,173, 5,864,468, 5,734,558, 5,717,533, and U.S. Pat. No. Re 36,820, which were originally assigned to Methode Electronics, Inc, and are now assigned to Stratos Lightwave, both located in Chicago, Ill., disclose improvements to pluggable transceiver modules. Applicants hereby incorporate by reference U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,570,768, 5,879,173, 5,864,468, 5,734,558, 5,717,533, and Re 36,820.
Due to current designs and specifications, conventional optoelectronic transceiver modules are not compatible with video circuitry or connectors. For example, video subassemblies typically require different connectors, such as ST or BNC connectors. Moreover, video subassemblies commonly utilize unidirectional signals, and thus do not always require a bidirectional signal interface as provided by transceiver modules. Furthermore, a conventional transceiver module can only be installed into a host device specifically designed to receive that specific transceiver module.
Additionally, a video signal typically includes pathological problems, which a conventional transceiver module would be unable to accommodate. Most transmitters in optical modules have an automatic power control (APC) circuit that keeps the optical power output at a set level. These circuits assume incoming data will have a constant average duty cycle of about 50% over a period of time. Such a time period is usually in the range of 1 millisecond (ms). Since the pathological condition may last for about 50 ms, the laser driver of the optical transmitter would be adjusted too high or too low, depending upon the duty cycle of the signal. A detailed explanation of "Pathological Conditions in Serial Digital Video Systems" can be found in the publication having said title by SMPTE Engineering Guideline, Number EG 34-1999, by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers approved and published Jan. 15, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Accordingly, there is a need for a small, pluggable optical/electrical interface module that has the advantage of a conventional, pluggable, optical/electrical transceiver module, but in addition, the module is compatible with video circuitry and numerous video connector interfaces.


An apparatus and method for maneuvering a trailer having jockey wheel assembly comprising a ground engaging wheel (33) rotatably mounted on an axle (34). The apparatus comprising a link member (20) which is adapted to be pivotally mounted on the jockey wheel assembly adjacent the axle (34) and a lever assembly (10) removably securable to said link (20) and adapted to engage a peripheral surface (39) of said wheel (33), whereby movement of said lever (10) rotates said wheel (33).

Typically trailers, caravans, boat trailers, horse floats and the like are provided with a jockey or manoeuvring wheel assembly. The wheel assembly is provided to facilitate movement of the trailer over relatively short distances. The wheel assembly typically includes a raising and lowering mechanism for both levelling of the trailer, and the engagement of and/or removal of the towing hitch from the tow-ball.
Manually manoeuvring of the trailer via the jockey wheel is relatively simple when the trailer is carrying a light load. However in instances where the trailer is carrying a large load, manual manoeuvring the trailer can be exceedingly difficult. In such situations the trailer may escape the control of a person manoeuvring the trailer and start to freewheel. This freewheeling can result in the trailer colliding into the towing vehicle, or worse still running down the person manoeuvring the trailer. Accordingly, a number of jockey wheel manufacturers have implemented several arrangements in order to aid manoeuvring and to reduce the risk of freewheeling.
One such arrangement is disclosed in WO 2004037567 entitled 'Jockey Wheel Assembly', which describes a jockey wheel assembly having a drive system including a crank coupled to a rotatable shaft which is inturn coupled to the wheel hub. Rotation of the crank causes rotation of the shaft, this rotation then being translated into linear movement by the wheel, in a forward or reverse direction depending on the direction of rotation of the crank. The assembly is also provided with a tiller which enables the user to control the direction the wheel is facing and thus control the direction of movement of the trailer. The problem with such an arrangement is that it utilises a number of gears and these gears under the strain of moving such large loads are prone to wear, sheering and slippage, which can lead to a momentarily loss of control over the trailer. This momentary loss of control may be all that is required to cause the trailer to freewheel.
Another example of such a jockey wheel assembly is disclosed in AU 2002100165 to Ark Engineering Pty Ltd entitled 'Jockey Wheel'. The assembly includes a frame mountable on a trailer, a wheel frame and a lever arm. The lever includes a ratchet arm which mates with a corresponding pawl mounted on the frame. The pawls being operable upon pivotal movement of the lever to selectively move or restrain rotation of the wheel in the frame. Again such an arrangement utilises a complex mechanical arrangement which is prone wear to shearing and slippage.
Furthermore in both the above arrangements the tyre of the jockey wheel is prone to slip on the wheel hub when the hub is mechanically driven. Such a slippage again can lead to the trailer freewheeling. If the tyre is a pneumatic tyre this slippage can tear out the valve stem leading to deflation of the tyre requiring the replacement of the stem or entire inner tube.
Clearly it would be advantageous to provide an alignment apparatus which substantially ameliorates one or more of the aforementioned problems and that is relatively simple to manufacture and use.


A curable polymeric composition is herein disclosed. According to one embodiment, a curable polymeric composition comprises a thermoplastic block copolymer containing at least two polymer blocks A separated by at least one polymer block B. Each polymer block A is primarily a poly(monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbon) block, and polymer block B includes hydrogenated conjugated didne. The solid curable polymeric composition further comprises a curable functional compound compatible with polymer block A. The solid curable polymeric composition optionally comprises an initiator, a plasticizer, an antioxidant; a tackifyer and an aromatic resin.

Thermoplastic elastomers are well known in the art and are available commercially. An important class of thermoplastic elastomers is styrenic block copolymers. These block copolymers are typically characterized by at least two polymer blocks of primarily polymerized monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomers separated by at least one elastomeric polymer block, such as a polyolefin or (an optionally hydrogenated) polymer block of primarily polymerized conjugated diene monomers. Their behavior is explained on the basis of the so-called domain theory, wherein the poly(monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbon) polymer blocks cluster together and the elastomeric polymer blocks form a separate rubber phase that is the matrix.
Upon heating of a styrenic block copolymer above the glass-transition temperature of the poly(monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbon) blocks (about 95° C. in case of polystyrene), the viscosity and the elasticity of the block copolymer remains high compared to a homopolymer of the same molecular weight due to non-Newtonian behavior of the melt. This behavior is attributed to the persistence of a two-phase "domain" structure found in the melt below the so-called order-disorder transition temperature. In such a domain structure, flow can only take place by the poly(monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbon) polymer blocks of the block copolymer being pulled out of the domains.
Selectively hydrogenated block copolymers containing at least two mostly non hydrogenated poly(monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbon) blocks, e.g. polystyrene blocks, separated by at least one partially to completely hydrogenated conjugated diene block have very high and very non-Newtonian viscosities because of their extreme segmental incompatibility. Accordingly, processing is difficult and must take place under high shear conditions.
In many practical applications, the hydrogenated styrenic block copolymers are mixed with other ingredients being compatible with the rubber phase, compatible with the poly(monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbon) phase or simply being easily dispersed with the block copolymer system.
Styrenic block copolymers have also been used in the field of fiber optics. Fiber optic cables are an increasingly important technology in communications. The cables are made up of a core of optical fibers surrounded by a sheath that encompasses and protects them. A protective layer of material is provided between the inner and outer layers of the cable. Often a tape can be provided around the protective material along with some metallic or hard layer to contain the material. Moreover, the cable is usually encased in a plastic jacket for added protection and durability.
Traditionally, the layer of protective material around the fiber core has been made up of a composition composed of oil and styrenic block copolymers. Such a system has been used based on Kraton G polymers, for example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,013. In these fiber optic systems where the fill material is based on styrenic block copolymers, a large portion of the composition is comprised of the hydrocarbon oil. This facilitates flow of the polymer composition and permits pumping of the material into the fiber optic cables during their formation.
A drawback however is that when the cables are cut, the grease or oil drips from the cables. Accordingly, when cutting or repairing the cables, this oil from the polymer composition must be cleaned off the fibers. Although efforts are made to improve the consistency of such compositions, they still tend to be greasy or oily. Accordingly, this can lead to difficulty when working on such cables as a residue may be left behind or make clean-up more problematic. Therefore, although such compositions are easy to pump in small diameter fiber optic cables, they are not user-friendly. Dry gels are much easier for operators to work with, however, they are difficult to pump or introduce into the fiber optic cables.
Therefore, what is needed is a composition that can be pumped into a fiber optic cable as a protective material in fiber optic cables, yet reduces or avoids the difficulties associated with oil leakage and cleanup.

Curable polymeric compositions for cable filling


The present invention provides an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a substrate and a photosensitive layer thereupon, wherein a surface protecting layer of the photosensitive member contains a resin which is obtained by curing a curable organosilicon polymer and an organosilicon-modified positive hole transporting compound; a process-cartridge which has, in addition to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, at least one from among a primary charging means, a developing means, and a cleaning means placed into a housing, and which can be reversibly mounted to an image forming apparatus; and the image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a specific surface coat thereupon, a process cartridge containing the photosensitive member, and an image forming apparatus.
2. Related Background Art
The surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member must be sufficiently durable, because mechanical and electric forces involved in the operation of a charging means, developing means, transferring means and cleaning means are often imposed upon it from outside.
To be more explicit, the surface must be sufficiently durable to withstand wear and damages due to friction, and deteriorating effects by ozone often generating in association with corona charging at high humidity. Further, it is often exposed to toner dusts scattered by repeated developing and cleaning. Therefore, the surface of the photosensitive member must be provided with improved cleaning property.
To provide the surface of the photosensitive member with properties to cope with above problems, surface protective layers containing various resins as their main ingredients have been tried. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-30843 proposes a protective coat whose resistance to wear and electric resistance are controlled by the addition of metal oxide particles to act as electro-conductive particles.
Besides, studies have been made to improve the physical properties of the surface of the photosensitive member by adding various materials thereto. Such materials include, to take silicone compounds as an example which have been known to have a low surface energy, silicone oil (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-132954), polydimethylsiloxane, silicone resin powders (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-324454), cross-linked silicone resins, poly(carbonate-silicon) block copolymers, silicon-modified polyurethanes, and silicon-modified polyesters.
The representative polymers which have a low surface energy include fluorine polymers which are represented further by polytetrafluoroethylene powders and carbon fluoride powders.
A surface protective layer comprising a metal oxide or the like tends to have a big surface energy while having a sufficient hardness, and thus it may cause problems of the cleaning property. The silicone resin, though being excellent in having a small surface energy, is not readily compatible to other resins. Therefore, when such a resin is used in an addition system, it tends to agglutinate to cause light scattering, or to bleed upon the surface to crystallize there, thereby impairing the stability of the product. The fluorine polymer which is known to have a low surface energy is usually insoluble to solvents and has a poor dispersability. Therefore, the surface of a photosensitive member made from the fluorine polymer may be short in lubricity or smoothness, and, having so small a refraction index as to cause light scattering, in transparency. Further, as the fluorine polymer is usually soft, it is susceptible to mechanical damages.

Electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process-cartridge inclusive thereof, and an image forming apparatus


A bone plate for treating acromioclavicular dislocations includes a shaft including a lateral portion sized and shaped to be positioned along a superior aspect of a lateral clavicle, the shaft including a plurality of openings extending therethrough for receiving bone fixation elements therein and a hook member extending from the shaft so that, in an operative position, the hook member is hooked under an acromion and the lateral portion of the shaft is positioned on the superior aspect of the lateral clavicle, the lateral portion of the shaft being substantially rounded so that the hook member is movable in one of an anterior direction and a posterior direction while the shaft maintains contact with the superior aspect of the lateral clavicle without any portion of the lateral portion of the shaft protruding beyond a surface of the lateral clavicle.

Acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocations caused by ruptures of the AC and coracoclavicular (CC) ligaments are commonly treated with osteosynthesis plates, which include a hook member for hooking under the acromion and a shaft portion for positioning along a lateral portion of the clavicle. These osteosynthesis plates, however, are generally not specifically designed for treating AC joint dislocations. Rather, osteosynthesis plates are generally designed to treat isolated lateral clavicle fractures, lateral clavicle fractures in combination with AC and CC ligament injuries and isolated AC joint dislocations. Thus, in some cases, it may be difficult to optimally place the hook member of an osteosynthesis plate under the acromion while, at the same time, positioning the shaft portion of the osteosynthesis plate on the lateral clavicle. In addition, in some case, the osteosynthesis plate may not be suited to a patient's specific anatomy, leading to conditions such as subacromial impingement and osteolysis, which creates pain and potentially leads to fractures of the acromion or early removal of the plate.


An SOI substrate and method for forming is described incorporating the steps of forming strained layers of Si and/or SiGe on a first substrate, forming a layer of Si and/or S.sub.i O.sub.2 over the strained layers, bonding a second substrate having an insulating layer on its upper surface to the top surface above the strained layers, and removing the first substrate. The invention overcomes the problem of forming strained Si and SiGe layers on insulating substrates.

Electron mobility in strained Si channels is significantly higher than in bulk Si layers. Measured values at room temperature are about 3,000 cm.sup.2 /Vs as opposed to 400 cm.sup.2 /Vs in Si at the same electron density. Similarly, hole mobilities in strained SiGe layers with high Ge content (60% to 80%) have room temperature mobilities that are 5 times larger than in Si (800 cm.sup.2 /Vs compared to 150 cm.sup.2 /Vs). The implementation or use of such layers in high speed applications is thus expected to result in higher operating speeds than in state-of-the-art Si devices.
One problem, however, for high speed applications is that of the underlying substrate which may be conducting. GaAs microwave devices benefit from the fact that semi-insulating GaAs substrates are readily available. In Si technology, the normal ways to achieve insulating substrates is by resorting either to Separated by Implanted Oxygen (SIMOX) to form Si on insulator (SOI), Si on sapphire (SOS), or bond and etch back Silicon-On-Insulator (BESOI).
If one would start with any of these substrates in order to grow strained Si layers, one would have to grow a relaxed SiGe buffer first. In order to achieve such a buffer with low dislocation densities, the Ge content in the SiGe has to be graded over a distance that is about 1 .mu.m thick. U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,187 (Ser. No. 08/474,209) filed Jun. 7, 1995 by F. LeGoues et al. describes an incommensurate or relaxed top layer of low defect density single crystal material above a graded layer where the Ge content in SiGe is varied as a function of thickness. The thickness of the graded layer violates the requirement of a thin epitaxial layer on the insulator, which is the main advantage of SOI.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,713 which issued Jul. 9, 1996 to K. E. Ismail and F. Stern and is assigned in part to the assignee herein, a plurality of epitaxial semiconductor layers are grown on a semiconductor substrate. One layer of the plurality of layers is silicon or silicon germanium under tensile strain and one layer is silicon germanium under compressive strain whereby an n channel field effect transistor may be formed with a channel under tension and a p channel field effect transistor may be formed with a channel under compression.
Therefore, there is a need for a technique capable of achieving Si channels under tensile strain, relaxed SiGe layers, and SiGe channels under compressive strain, all standing on an insulating substrate.

International Business Machines Corporation


The attaching/removing workability of the collecting vessel of a conditioning apparatus with respect to a port block is increased. A primary-side port and a secondary-side port are formed in a port block 13, and a female screw part 27 that is screwed to a male screw part 23 is provided to the collecting vessel 24 that is mounted to the port block 13. An annular lock member 31 is mounted to the opening end of the collecting vessel 24 so as to be movable in the axial direction. A tongue piece 38 that presses the annular lock member 31 towards the outside in the axial direction of the collecting vessel 24 is provided to the inside of the annular lock member 31. A movable-side engagement part 41 that engages a fixed-side engagement part 42 of the port block 13 when the collecting vessel 24 is rotated to a position of fastening completion is provided to the annular lock member 31.

Compressed air is supplied to a pneumatic equipment such as a pneumatic cylinder from an air pressure source through a pneumatic line such as a pipe or a hose. A pneumatic circuit is formed by connecting the air pressure source and the pneumatic equipment with the pneumatic line. In order to remove droplets and dusts in the air supplied from the air pressure source to the pneumatic equipment, a filter is provided in the pneumatic circuit. When a lubricant is to be constantly supplied to the pneumatic equipment, a lubricator to inject the lubricant in the form of a mist into the compressed air is provided in the pneumatic circuit.
The filter and the lubricator are referred to as a conditioning apparatus or an FRL including a regulator which adjusts a pressure of the compressed air supplied to the pneumatic equipment. The filter has a filter bowl, that is, a vessel to capture and contain moisture, dusts, and oil components in the air supplied from the air pressure source. In the filter described in Patent Document 1, in order to remove droplets and foreign objects in the air flowing in from a primary-side port and to supply the purified air to a secondary-side port, a filter element is mounted in a collecting vessel. At a bottom part of the collecting vessel of this filter, a drain discharge mechanism for discharging the fluid accumulated inside is provided.
The lubricator has a vessel to contain a lubricant to be injected into the compressed air, and the lubricant contained in the vessel is supplied in the form of a mist to the air flowing into the secondary-side port. As described above, the vessel in which the conditioning apparatus is housed is attached to a port block having a primary-side port and a secondary-side port formed therein. Since the filter and the lubricator each have a port block, a port block which is shared including a regulator, that is, a port unit is described in Patent Document 2.

Vessel attaching/removing device for conditioning apparatus


An immersion liquid cooling tank assembly includes a generally elliptical tank, at least one condenser including a plurality of condenser tubes, at least one cooling fan adjacent to the condenser, a manifold system coupled to the at least one condenser to assist in distributing liquid flow to and from the plurality of condenser tubes, and a top cover disposed over the generally elliptical tank. The top cover includes an air baffle.

Computer components, such as servers, include numerous electronic components that are powered by a common power supply. Servers generate an enormous amount of heat due to the operation of internal electronic devices such as controllers, processors, memory, and the like. Overheating from the inefficient removal of such heat has the potential to shut down or impede the operation of such devices. Due to the improvement of high-performance systems, the amount of heat that needs to be removed becomes higher with each new generation of electronic components. With the advent of more powerful components, traditional air cooling in combination with fan systems alone is inadequate to sufficiently remove heat generated by newer generation components.
Liquid cooling is the currently accepted solution for rapid heat removal due to the superior thermal performance from liquid cooling. Liquid cooling is more effective in absorbing and transporting heat from the heat-generating components, and allows heat removal with reduced or no noise pollution. In an immersion liquid cooling system, heat-generating components, such as servers, switches, and storage devices, will be immersed in a tank holding coolant. One existing type of immersion tank is a passive, rectangular-shaped immersion tank. This existing type of tank has disadvantages in terms of circulation of the coolant, and the associated inefficiencies resulting therefrom.
Thus, there is a need for an immersion liquid cooling tank assembly that overcomes one or more of such disadvantages.

Immersion liquid cooling elliptical tank assembly


A ROV-deployable gas hydrate diverter comprising a body having a circular disc shape with a center hole, and a handle attached to and protruding from a surface of the body, wherein the handle is adapted to be grasped by the grasping arm of an ROV to facilitate installation of the gas hydrate diverter over a subsea wellhead.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for diverting gas hydrates away from a subsea connector attached to a subsea wellhead. More particularly, the present invention provides a gas hydrate diverter adapted to be installed over a subsea wellhead using a remotely operated vehicle for the purpose of diverting gas hydrates away from a subsea connector attached to the wellhead.
2. Description of Relevant Art
Hydrates of hydrocarbon gases have long presented serious problems in the drilling of oil and gas wells, particularly in polar drilling and in wells drilled under very deep water in temperate or equatorial regions. Gas hydrates, also referred to as gas clathrates, are crystalline solid structures made up of an ice-like mixture of gas and water. In particular, the gas molecules are trapped within a cage of water molecules. Natural gas hydrates may contain a wide range of gas molecules including hydrocarbons, most commonly methane, as well as other gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and inert gases. Due to cold temperatures and high pressures, these naturally occurring gas hydrates are trapped beneath the ocean floor in a frozen state. However during deep water drilling of hydrate-containing strata, the hydrate-containing strata surrounding a hole (i.e., borehole) being drilled is heated due to heat generated from the rotation of the drilling bit as well as from pumping surface temperature drilling fluids down the out the drill bit and through the drill pipe. The heat generated during the drilling process heats the surrounding hydrate-containing strata around the drill pipe, or conductor pipe, to a temperature above freezing which causes melting of the frozen hydrates and release of the gas hydrates in the liquid and gas phases which are then free to migrate up and through the ocean floor. The released gas hydrates in liquid and gas phases tend to migrate up via a path of least resistance and typically travel along the exterior of the drill pipe or conductor pipe due to the micro-fractures formed in the strata adjacent the pipe during drilling. After the gas hydrates travel along the exterior of the pipe and exit the ocean floor, the gas hydrates continue to migrate upwardly through the sea water near a conductor housing (or conductor pipe) protruding above the ocean floor, then pass a subsea wellhead positioned above the conductor housing, and then the migrating gas hydrates tend to collect and become trapped inside a subsea connector attached to an upper portion of the subsea wellhead. At cold ocean floor temperatures the gas hydrates freeze again while trapped within the subsea connector that is designed to be removably attached by latching mechanisms within the connector to an upper portion of the subsea wellhead. When the gas hydrates freeze while trapped within the subsea connector, the subsea connector gets frozen or stuck to the wellhead as the connector or connector latches cannot be shifted or unlatched due to the presence of the frozen gas hydrates trapped inside the connector.
To remove a subsea connector frozen to a subsea wellhead, typically a subsea remotely operated vehicle (ROV) is deployed from the drilling rig to perform the task of heating the connector by pumping warm water or ethanol on the connector for hours in order to get the frozen gas hydrates to thaw enough to unlatch the connector from the wellhead. This process is extremely time consuming and costly as it can take hours to days to get a connector to unlock. In addition, a frozen connector presents a dangerous condition for a drilling rig to be attached to the wellhead, via the frozen connector, without being able to disconnect from the wellhead at a moments notice. Such dangerous situations may arise for example during a storm, loss of dynamic positioning, or during an underwater blowout when a drilling rig can not move off location in an emergency situation because the drilling rig is effectively latched to the ocean floor due to the rig being tethered to the connector which is frozen to the subsea wellhead.
Currently a heavy metal hydrate diverter attached to the exterior of the conductor housing is used to deflect gas hydrates away from the subsea connector located above a subsea wellhead which is positioned atop the conductor housing. One problem with a conventional metal hydrate diverter is that the metal hydrate diverter does not effectively provide an adequate seal around the conductor housing that prevents gas hydrates from collecting at the subsea connector. Another disadvantage of the conventional metal hydrate diverter is that it is very heavy weighing in excess of 1000 pounds (e.g., 1400 lbs.) which requires the heavy metal diverter to be installed onto the conductor housing at the surface rendering the drilling rig idle for about an hour while this operation is completed. This requirement means that expensive rig time (e.g., $12,000 per hour) must be devoted to the installation of the heavy metal hydrate diverter onto the conductor housing and the subsequent placement of the conductor housing onto the ocean floor.
Thus an objective of the present invention is to provide a gas hydrate diverter that effectively diverts gas hydrates away from the subsea connector in order to prevent collection of these hydrates at the connector which subsequently freeze and render the connector unreleasably connected to a subsea wellhead. Another objective of the present invention is to provide gas hydrate diverter that can be installed subsea without requiring the use of a drilling rig. There is a great economic incentive to allow the drilling rig to carry on with other tasks while another means such as an ROV is used to deploy and install a gas hydrate diverter that effectively diverts gas hydrates away from the subsea connector.

ROV-deployable subsea wellhead gas hydrate diverter


Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for analyzing defect backlogs that arise in the software development process. Analysis is based on a validity ratio that projects the number of open defects that are likely to actually require fixes, a fix rate that describes the performance of the development team charged with fixing the defects, defect census data, and team performance census data. One outcome of the analysis may be an estimate of the date by which the defect backlog should be resolved. Another outcome of the analysis may be an estimate of the capacity of a team to resolve defects between a given start date and a given target date.

An important aspect of the software development process centers on understanding the resources needed to complete projects on-time and according to budget. This often involves real-time forecasting of the completion dates for dynamically generated populations of tasks.
Such tasks may arise as a product of the various test phases of the development process, such as functional verification. Here, pre-planned units of work such as test cases lead to the discovery of defects, which must be fixed. Hence, further units of work are generated dynamically, as defects are discovered during execution of the test cases.
At present, project planning methods for dealing with the dynamically generated work items are imprecise at best. For example, a predetermined percentage of the development team budget may be forecast to cover fixing the defects discovered during the functional verification tests.
Unfortunately, such methods suffer from important drawbacks. Principal among these is the challenge presented to day-to-day project management, which must decide whether the current allocation of resources is adequate to resolve the current backlog of defects in the allotted time. The primary methods for deciding this question are generally ad hoc, as the typical defect lifetime is shorter than the minimum planning unit for most projects; moreover, the cost of updating the project plan with the newly identified tasks would be prohibitive.
Often, the ad hoc forecasts result in overly optimistic estimates of the available capacity of the development team. As a result, development resources may be over-committed to draining the defect backlog, at which point fewer resources are available for the development of new code. In the worst case, this may lead to a positive feedback situation, wherein the increasingly thinly stretched developers generate increasingly more defects, which necessitate the shift of an ever-larger portion of the available resources from developing new code to draining the defect backlog.
Thus there is a need for a better way to forecast the completion date for a dynamically generated defect backlog, or, conversely, to forecast the resources needed to drain a dynamically generated defect backlog by a specified date.

Estimating software project requirements for resolving defect backlogs

International Business Machines Corporation


Systems, computer program products, and methods are described herein for automated error analysis in an application testing environment using robotic process automation. The present invention is configured to electronically receive one or more exceptions from one or more automated test scripts; determine one or more exception types associated with the one or more exceptions; and initiate an exception handling bot configured to handle the one or more exceptions based on at least the one or more exception types.

Entities are beginning to integrate robotic process automation (RPA) together with cognitive technologies such as speech recognition, natural language processing, and machine learning to automate perpetual and judgement-based tasks. This integration of cognitive technologies and RPA is extending automation to new areas and can help companies become more efficient and agile as they move down the path of becoming fully digital.
End-to-end application testing is used to test whether the flow of an application from start to finish is behaving as expected. This includes executing test automation scripts to validate the end-to-end application flows. However, application environment issues and data integrity issues may cause the test automation scripts to fail, requiring increased human intervention.
There is a need for a system for automated error analysis in an application testing environment using robotic process automation.

System for automated error analysis in an application testing environment using robotic process automation


A fluid sensing system includes a microfluidic chip, multiple sensors, and a communication device. The microfluidic chip includes at least one microfluidic channel extending a length through the microfluidic chip. The microfluidic chip is fluidly connected to a process fluid such that a fluid sample from the process fluid flows through the at least one microfluidic channel. The multiple sensors are operatively connected to the at least one microfluidic channel of the microfluidic chip. The multiple sensors are configured to monitor multiple different properties of the fluid sample within the at least one microfluidic channel. The communication device is operatively connected to the multiple sensors. The communication device is configured to receive data parameters representative of the multiple different properties of the fluid sample from the multiple sensors and wirelessly transmit the data parameters to a remote location.

The subject matter herein relates generally to fluid sensing systems that monitor various properties of fluids in fluidic processes.
Fluid baths that are used in various fluidic processes, such as electroplating, often contain multiple chemical components. The performance of the fluidic processes is dependent on the type and concentration of the chemical components in the fluid bath, as well as other properties of the fluid bath such as temperature, conductivity (e.g., for electrolyte baths), and the like. For example, the concentrations of the components, the temperature, and the conductivity of an electroplating bath may affect a rate of plating on a target object as well as characteristics of the resulting coating, such as plating thickness. In order to maintain a level of consistency in the fluid process and resulting products, various properties of the fluid bath should be monitored over time.
A conventional process for monitoring one or more properties of a fluid bath is to remove a fluid sample from the bath and perform one or more tests on the fluid sample in a lab environment. In the lab, multiple different types of tests may be performed to measure different properties of the fluid. This conventional process is inefficient and costly. For example, the different properties of the fluid bath may be measured using labor-intensive analytical processes, such as titrating. Furthermore, the time required for transport of the fluid sample to the lab and the various testing apparatuses and the performance of the multiple analytical tests results in a relatively long lag time before obtaining an analysis result for the fluid bath. Due to the lag time, cost, and/or manual effort, the properties of the fluid bath may be monitored relatively infrequently, such as once an hour, once every few hours, or once a day. The infrequent monitoring presents a risk that one or more properties of the fluid bath may deviate from a designated operating range without timely detection, resulting in the production of non-conforming products that cannot be sold and/or must be recalled. Furthermore, the significant volume of the fluid sample required for the laboratory tests may also negatively affect the properties of the fluid bath when the sample is removed from the bath. Due to the extraction of the fluid samples, the volume of the fluid bath may decrease, requiring the addition of fresh fluid. The addition of the fresh fluid may increase material costs and may also undesirably modify component concentrations and other properties of the fluid bath.
A need remains for fluid sensing systems that provide frequent and efficient monitoring of multiple properties of fluids in fluidic processes for better control of the fluid bath and reduced cost.


A system and method for generating user-centric directories including analyzing a plurality of relationships of a user. A contact directory for the user is defined based upon the plurality of relationships of the user.

Oftentimes individuals in an organization require contact and personnel information from peers across the organization. Such information may pertain to employee contact information, employee location or department, employee manager information, and so on. Such information may be found in a corporate directory, e.g., which may include contact information and corporate organization structure. Typically, a corporate directory may be accessed from a browser, rich client, PDA client, cellular phone, and similar devices/application.
Situations may arise in which an individual is disconnected from the network (e.g. working off-line, on the road, in a meeting room with no network connectivity, on a train), but may require information on a peer, for example to make contact with a peer. In conventional systems, in which a corporate directory is accessible via a network such as the internet, the individual may be unable to look up the peers contact information. To overcome this problem, the individual may have the ability to replicate the entire corporate directory locally for accessing off-line.
In large organizations, replicating an entire directory locally may not be feasible or desirable. For example, when using memory constrained devices (such as PDA's or cellular phones), the device may not have the memory resources to store a multi-thousand employee corporate directory. Issues associated with the size of the directory are sometimes resolved by eliminating some of the content to reduce the off-line footprint. For example, the off-line directory may only include user name and contact number, removing photo/images, organizational position, and such. However, removing some of this content may challenge or dilute specifics of a query that an off-line user may have.
Even if the off-line footprint is not limited, an individual may not need or desire the entire corporate directory. For example, the individual may only regularly interact with a relatively small number of peers. It may be considered cumbersome and undesirable to have to search through an entire corporate directory for the desired information every time contact information is needed.

System and method for creating user-specific directory


A thermal print head modulator (300) for generating modulation signals for printing a halftone dot (145) whose size corresponds to a data value (205) represented by a plurality of bits. The modulator (300) includes a programmable look-up table (235) containing modulation values (236) that are selectable by control circuitry (245). By storing modulation values (236) in a pre-determined pattern and selecting each value sequentially for comparison with each data value (205), the modulator (300) is compatible with both pulse count modulation and partial pulse modulation having any number of designated partial pulse bits in the data value (205).

Generally, an image printed by a thermal printing system consists of rows of dots. Together, the size of individual dots and proximity of each dot to another generate the tone of a thermally printed image. By judiciously positioning and sizing such dots on a recording medium and, consequently, controlling the image tone, a thermal printer can produce high quality images including printed characters, diagrams, pictures, and the like.
To generate printed dots, a thermal printing system employs a print head modulator and thermal printing apparatus. The modulator creates signals that cause the printing apparatus to physically print the dots upon a recording medium such as paper. In particular, the print head modulator interprets a series of data values, each of which defines the size of a dot, and then generates a modulation signal corresponding to each data value. The modulation signal controls the printing printed on the recording medium.
As is well known in the art, a typical thermal printing apparatus comprises a thermal print head, an assembly for incrementally advancing a recording medium past the head after each row of dots is printed, and an ink film disposed between the print head and the recording medium. Generally, the thermal print head contains a number of thermal head elements arranged in a linear fashion. Each of these thermal elements is individually activated by an electric current. The current, in turn, causes the activated thermal element to heat and thereby melt ink located on the ink film at a position adjacent to that thermal element. As such, melted ink transfers to the recording medium to form a line of dots where each dot in the line is associated with an activated element in the print head. Subsequently, the recording medium and the ink film are incrementally moved by a roller; thereafter, another line of dots is printed, and so on. The process is repeated until a complete image is printed on the recording medium.
The modulator controls which thermal elements within the print head are active and the amount of heat each thermal element generates. The size of each dot is proportional to the amount of heat produced by that thermal element when printing that dot. As an increasing amount of heat is generated, correspondingly increasing amounts of ink melt, producing proportionally larger dots.
The art teaches two forms of print head modulators: analog and digital. In conventional analog print head modulators, analog circuitry is used to control the magnitude of the heating current applied to each thermal element. Hence, the magnitude of the heating current controls the heat produced by a given head element and, consequently, the size of the printed dot.
In contrast, digital print head modulators, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,523 (issued to H. Tanaka on Jul. 30, 1985) uses pulse count modulation (PCM). In general, a PCM-based print head modulator selectively applies a fixed amplitude current to each thermal element. To control the dot size, a fixed duration digital modulation signal (i.e., a current pulse) is repeatedly applied to a print head driver circuit. This circuit alternately switches current, which flows through a thermal element, on and off in response to the modulation signal. By repeatedly applying the current pulses for successive durations, the thermal element becomes progressively warmer with each such pulse. This, in turn, causes an increasingly larger amount of ink to be transferred to the recording medium and, hence, produces an increasingly larger dot.
In general, a PCM-based print head modulator converts a series of data values into a series of modulation signals. Each data value represents a dot size. The series of modulation signals are, in turn, applied to the thermal elements via print head driver circuitry. By applying heating current to a number of thermal elements in the print head, a line of dots is printed. Each printed dot is sized commensurate with the value of a corresponding data value. For example, if a data value uses 8 bits to define the size of a dot, the associated modulator can produce modulation signals corresponding to 256 dot sizes ranging from 0 to 255. Each dot size corresponds to a dot density level, also known as a gray scale level.
In a PCM-based print head modulator, the data value for a given dot is successively compared to a series of modulation values in order to produce modulation signals corresponding to each dot. The resulting series of comparisons determines the number of fixed duration pulses that must be applied to a thermal element to generate a desired dot size. Through the use of a simple form of PCM, a modulator directly compares a given data value to each one of a series of modulation values ranging from 0 to (2.sup.n -2). Whenever the data value is larger than a modulation value, a logical "1" is generated as a modulation signal. Thereafter, a current pulse of fixed duration is applied to an appropriate thermal element for each modulation signal having a logical "1" value. Since the modulation values linearly increase in value, as the data value increases, so will the number of current pulses that are applied to the thermal element. Consequently, the printed dot size will also increase as a result of an increase in the data value.
A complete thermally printed image is produced by repeating the modulation value comparisons for every data value representing an image and applying the resultant modulation signals to the printing apparatus. Unfortunately, since each data value must be compared to each of 2.sup.n -1 modulation levels, a relatively long processing time is required to generate a complete halftone image. Owing to the large number of comparisons, PCM based thermal printers generally print at quite a slow pace.
To reduce the number of comparisons required to generate each dot, and thereby increase the print speed of each line of dots, a technique known as partial pulse modulation (also referred to as "modified PCM") has been developed in the art. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,822 (issued to H. Caine on Feb. 19, 1991--hereinafter referred to as the Caine '822 patent), discloses a partial pulse technique in which modulating pulses of various widths are used, in lieu of fixed width pulses, to achieve each gray scale level.
Generally, a partial pulse modulator generates a series of modulation signals for each data value. The modulation signals cause the print head driver circuitry to successively apply a series of full duration current pulses (one unit in duration) plus a number of partial duration current pulses (fraction of a unit) to a thermal element. The combination of full and partial current pulses applied to such an element defines the size of a printed dot generated by that thermal element.
Specifically, a partial pulse modulator designates a number of bits within a data value as so-called "partial pulse" bits. Typically, the partial pulse bits are one or more of the least significant bits of a data value. The bits not designated as partial pulse bits are known as PCM bits. The partial pulse modulator generates the full and partial current pulses by separately operating on the PCM and partial pulse bits.
In this regard, the Caine '822 patent teaches the use of three least significant bits of a 9-bit data value as partial pulse bits. These partial pulse bits are separated from each data value. The remaining 6 most significant bits are used as PCM bits and are compared to each of 63 modulation values, i.e., 2.sup.6 -1 values. As in conventional PCM, whenever a 6-bit data value is larger than a selected 6-bit modulation value, a fixed duration pulse is applied to a thermal element associated with the data value currently being processed. The pulse duration, or pulse width, is fixed to a one unit length.
Subsequent to processing the PCM bits, the three partial pulse bits in the data value are processed individually by dedicated circuitry. In particular, the three partial pulse bits are categorized as being in positions 0, 1, or 2 corresponding to the first, second, or third least significant bit positions in the data value. Whenever a logical "1" appears in position 0, 1, or 2, a pulse 1/8, 1/4, or 1/2 the duration of the one unit pulse, respectively, is applied to the same thermal element to which the fixed duration current pulses were previously applied. In essence, the PCM bits apply integer value pulse durations to the thermal elements, while the partial pulse bits apply fractional duration pulses to the same thermal elements. Therefore, for a modulator capable of handling a 9-bit data value, 512 gray levels are achieved using only 63 modulation value comparisons. In contrast, conventional PCM would require 511 such comparisons. Since the same gray scale print is produced with far fewer comparisons, a significant increase in printing speed results with the use of modified PCM.
The minimum duration corresponding to a partial pulse bit, i.e., the pulse duration increment corresponding to each gray scale level, is limited by the minimum heat needed to generate a detectable incremental change in the size of a resulting dot. In practice, the minimum pulse width must be sufficiently long to sufficiently heat the thermal element to print a dot, while the maximum pulse width must be sufficiently short not to saturate the recording medium with ink or damage the thermal element through thermal breakdown. Each thermal print head has a thermal efficiency characteristic; this characteristic being defined as a ratio of an incremental change in thermal element drive current to the resulting change in heat so generated. The minimum pulse width is defined by both the least amount of heat necessary to melt the ink and the thermal efficiency of a thermal element. Therefore, the thermal print heads and their associated modulators must be designed sequentially, i.e., thermal element characteristics such as thermal efficiency and saturation define the minimum and maximum pulse lengths that are to be produced by the modulator, and consequently, the maximum number of partial pulse bits.
Currently, to achieve a marked improvement in printing speed by using partial pulse modulation, the modulator circuitry is designed to accommodate a specific number of partial pulse bits. Detrimentally, a different modulator design is required for each combination of data value bits and partial pulse bits. A single modulator design that can be used with any number of partial pulse bits, or none at all, is desirable to eliminate the need for a number of different modulator designs. In other words, a generic modulator is needed. Up to now, no such generic modulator exists in the art.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for a modulator useful in a thermal printing system that generates halftone images using either partial pulse modulation or pulse count modulation. Additionally, the modulator must be relatively simple and capable of accommodating any number of partial pulse bits.


A process for reclaiming sulfur-cured, vulcanized rubber by combining finely ground scrap vulcanized rubber within a specialized, twin-screw extruder capable of providing strong shearing and just-on-time mixing; adding a reclaiming agent to the extruder; and masticating the rubber scrap and reclaiming agent within the extruder until the rubber scrap is devulcanized. The present invention also discloses a unique composition of reclaiming agent, which preferably includes the following compounds: accelerators TBBS, ZMBT, MBT, and TMTM; activators zinc oxide and stearic acid; and zinc salts of fatty acids and sulfur. The reclaimed rubber is suitable for use in producing high-grade, rubber products without adding a binder, or for combining with fresh rubber compounds to produce high-specification rubber products.

Useful rubber products, such as automotive tires, are usually molded from vulcanized rubber. In general, vulcanization is the chemical treatment of a hydrocarbon rubber polymer such that the long polymer chain molecules cross-link with molecules of a cross-linking agent. The reaction transforms the soft, weak, plastic polymeric material into relatively strong, elastic material resistant to deterioration and permanent deformation. One of the most common cross-linking agents is sulfur. When sulfur or sulfur donors are used as the cross-linking agent, sulfur or sulfur donors and an accelerator or several accelerators, such as a primary and a secondary accelerator are mixed with the rubber polymer. The mixture is subjected to pressure and heat, resulting in the polymer chain molecules cross-linking with sulfur molecules.
The addition of sulfur provides beneficial physical properties of a final rubber product, such as strength, elasticity, and durability. Unfortunately, the benefits achieved present a problem when attempting to recycle vulcanized rubber. The cross-linked rubber polymer cannot be reclaimed into a useful product merely by heating and reprocessing. The strength of the cross-linked bonds prevents the vulcanized rubber from melting, dissolving, or binding with a virgin rubber matrix. This has, in part, facilitated the creation of a scrap tire problem in the United States.
Vulcanized rubber is the source of one of the most serious waste product problems in the United States. Millions of tons of natural and synthetic rubbers are produced and consumed every year. This volume of production yields a substantial amount of scrap rubber, including used tires. Scrap tires constitute a large percentage of the total scrap rubber stockpiled and discarded annually. For example, billions of tires have been discarded with approximately 273 million tires discarded annually. Yet, only a fraction of waste tires generated annually is truly recycled, most are burned as fuel.
The enormous quantity of scrap rubber has created a serious disposal and environmental problem. In addition to disposal concerns, waste tires pose serious fire and safety hazards. The problems and concerns continue to mount as an increasing number of landfills refuse to accept scrap rubber waste. Approximately a dozen states have banned all scrap tires from their landfills, and about twice that number, allow only processed tires in the landfills.
The demand for satisfactory recycling processes is on the rise as the availability of landfills diminishes. A number of approaches have been employed to try to solve the waste rubber problem. One method involves shredding and grinding tires into small crumbs and then binding the rubber with polyurethane into low-performance products such as rubber mats, gaskets, and vehicle mud flaps. Crumb rubber has been used as an additive in road asphalt, as ground coverings for surfaces such as parking lots and playgrounds, and as fill under road surfaces or turf such as athletic fields and golf courses. In addition, scrap rubber has been burned as fuel and subjected to pyrolysis to produce oil that is used as a fuel. However, these approaches generally produce a low quality rubber product, or present additional pollution problems.
When using crumb rubber to form new products, the crumb may be used as filler for mixing with virgin rubber. Generally, however, only low percentages of crumb filler may be added before the properties of the compound begin to degrade. The major drawback of conventional crumb to is that the cross-link bonds created by the vulcanization process are very strong. This results in rubber compound molecules having a "memory" effect. The memory effect enables rubber items to regain their original shape after being subjected to a deforming force. For example, a rubber band that is stretched returns to its original shape. Even when vulcanized rubber is processed into crumbs, the rubber molecules retain much of their physical properties. The strength of the cross-link bonds makes binding of the vulcanized rubber within a virgin rubber matrix difficult—the bonding between the new rubber and the vulcanized crumb is weak. Thus, only about 3 to 4 percent by weight of reclaimed rubber can be used in the manufacture of new tires.
More crumb may be added as filler if the surface of the crumb is modified to enhance the ability of the crumb to be incorporated into the mix. For example, the rubber molecule chains on the surface of the crumb may be chemically modified or the surface may be coated to help the rubber crumb blend into the mix. However, the process does not change the inert nature of the crumb core, and the amount of surface-modified crumb that can be added as filler is still limited.
Another approach to recycling rubber waste is devulcanization of crumb rubber. Devulcanization is intended to depolymerize rubber molecules or break the polysulfide linkages without removing the combined sulfur. Methods for devulcanization may include mechanical shear, high-energy radiation, chemical processing, and thermo-mechanical processing. Although vulcanization is not completely reversible, partial devulcanization results in a decreased resistance to deformation and allows an increased amount of devulcanized crumb to be added to fresh rubber mixes than can be added using unmodified or untreated crumb. Devulcanized or reclaimed rubber can be revulcanized with or without the addition of natural or synthetic rubbers or binders.
Current devulcanization or reclaiming methods have several drawbacks. For example, current methods may use high temperatures (e.g., 150.degree. C. to 250.degree. C.) to digest the elastomeric material being recycled, and may require stirring for many hours (e.g., 5 to 12 hours). This results in a high consumption of energy and degradation of the material being reclaimed. For example, the intense heat and mechanical shear actions of a thermo-mechanical process may cause some polymeric chain backbone to break down. In addition, because this process does not use chemicals, it is not possible to selectively cleave targeted polysulfidic bonds. Some processes, such as solvent extraction, utilize large quantities of chemicals or solvents that can damage the environment, or involve complicated solvent or chemical recovery and treatment. Still other reclamation processes, such as microwave or ultrasonic processing, employ relatively complicated equipment that is difficult to obtain and difficult to operate efficiently for industrial production.
Rubber reclaimed using such approaches tends to have poor physical properties. For example, conventionally reclaimed rubber may have tensile strength of about 5 to 6 MPa, while natural rubber may have tensile strength over 20 MPa.
For some products that do not require high strength, such as rubber mats and road markers, larger percentages of vulcanized rubber crumb from scrap tires may be used. However, the presence of recycled rubber, either treated or untreated, in a mixture with fresh rubber compounds, may adversely affect the physical properties of the final product. As a result, reclaimed rubber is typically not used in the manufacture of automobile tires.
Therefore, a need still exists for a method of devulcanization that permits a greater portion of vulcanized scrap rubber to be re-used, while still meeting required specifications of the finished product.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Recycled rubber processing and performance enhancement


Provided herein are methods and composition for immune repertoire sequencing and single cell barcoding. The methods and compositions can be used to pair any two sequences originating from a single cell, such as heavy and light chain antibody sequences, for antibody discovery, disease and immune diagnostics, and low error sequencing.

The immune system employs several strategies to generate a repertoire of T-cell and B-cell antigen receptors. The diversity of these receptors is sufficient to recognize the universe of potential pathogens. B lymphocytes mature to express antibodies (immunoglobulins, Igs) that occur as heterodimers of a heavy (H) a light (L) chain polypeptide, while T lymphocytes express heterodimeric T-cell receptors (TCR). The immune system also acts as an extrinsic tumor suppressor that neoplastic cells must evade to survive. However, tumor cells can employ mechanisms to escape immune recognition and can lead to tumor outgrowth. These include immunoediting, whereby neoplastic cells that express highly immunogenic tumor antigens are eliminated, and down-regulation of immunogenic tumor antigens. The immune system's lack of tumor specificity, antigenic modulation by tumor cells, and abnormal expression of MHC molecules and other factors, prevent detection of the tumor.

Methods of sequencing, determining, pairing, and validating therapeutic agents and disease specific antigens


Methods and apparati for fluorescence imaging using multiple excitation-emission pairs is revealed. A target object is illuminated by light in at least two spectral regions, causing fluorescence emission in at least two spectral regions. The emitted light is collected and separated for analysis.

1. Field of the Invention
Various optical apparati such as microscopes, endoscopes, telescopes, cameras etc. support viewing or analyzing the interaction of light with objects such as planets, plants, rocks, animals, cells, tissue, proteins, DNA, semiconductors, etc. Accordingly, reflected and/or light emitted from the interaction of objects with light, may provide multi-band spectral images yielding useful information related to physical structure (morphological image data) and/or spectral image information related to the chemical make-up, sub-structure and/or other characteristics related to the target object. These light emission images, such as luminescence or fluorescence, may also provide a means to assess endogenous chemicals or exogenous substances such as dyes employed to enhance visualization, drugs, therapeutic intermediaries, or other agents.
In the field of medical imaging and more particularly endoscopy, reflected white light, native tissue autofluorescence, luminescence, chemical emissions, near-IR, and other spectra provide a means to visualize tissue and gather diagnostic information. In addition to visualization of tissue morphology the interaction of light in various parts of the electromagnetic spectrum has been used to collect chemical information. Three general real-time imaging modalities for endoscopy that are of interest include white-light reflectance imaging, fluorescence emission and near infrared imaging modalities.
In endoscopy, conventional white light imaging is typically used to view surface morphology, establish landmarks, and assess the internal organs based on appearance. Applications for viewing the respiratory and gastro-intestinal tracts are well established. Fluorescence imaging has evolved more recently and tissue autofluorescence has been exploited for the detection of early cancer. Similarly, observations of various native and induced chemical interactions, such as labeling tissue with proteins, for example, have been accomplished using fluorescence imaging. Fluorescently-tagged monoclonal antibodies are sometimes used to label specific cellular proteins, which in turn may be detected and/or be measured, optically.
Fluorescence imaging provides a means to detect disease while aiding in the determination of the boundaries that separate diseased from healthy tissue. Accordingly, these methods have been applied to the detection of early cancer in epithelial tissues. Except for the skin, epithelial tissue imaging is usually performed with an endoscope which provides access to the internal surfaces of various body organs such as the respiratory tract (lung) and GI tract. Tissue surfaces are usually not flat, and therefore the light distribution used to illuminate tissue and the light collection efficiency may vary markedly for different image pixels. To compensate for these conditions, and other variables associated with endoscopic imaging, normalization methods are employed to help correct for the geometrical and optical non-uniformities, ideally to make acquired images more diagnostically useful. Typically, this image normalization involves acquiring one image (a sort of reference), best matching (also called aligning or registering) it to a second (diagnostic image) and using the reference image it to correct or process one or more pixels of the diagnostic image. These endoscopic imaging methods are sometimes called two channel or multi-channel imaging. In modern devices, typically the images are acquired and manipulated in the digital domain and may be mixed, matched, colored or otherwise processed prior to presentation on a display device such as a monitor.
"Optical modulator" as used herein means a device or combination of optical and/or electro-optical devices used to alter the wavelength(s), and/or to alter the intensity, and/or to time-gate various spectra of electromagnetic radiation. Various filters, filter wheels, lenses, mirrors, micro-mirror arrays, liquid crystals, or other devices under mechanical or electrical control may be employed alone or in combination to comprise such an optical modulator. Certain embodiments of the present invention utilize two optical modulators, one associated with modulating light source spectrum used to interrogate (illuminate) a target object. A second optical modulator may be used to process the reflected and/or emitted light returned after interacting with the object. In some cases, such as in vivo endoscopic use, interaction of source illumination may be with lung tissue and returned light may include various reflected and re-emitted spectra.
Light in various spectra may be used to advantage. For example, near infrared light may be used to measure tissue oxygenation and may also help visualize or make measurements through blood. These properties may be used, for example, to verify that a biopsy was taken at the correct site. In addition, the present invention discusses, and in combination with existing spectral band imaging, exploits recently discovered tissue fluorescence properties in the near infrared spectral band.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,829, to Fulghum, entitled, "Autofluorescence imaging system for endoscopy", discusses a broad-band light source used to provide both visible light (which induces minimal autofluorescence) and ultraviolet light (capable of inducing tissue autofluorescence). Images are detected, for example, by a single imaging detector located at the distal tip of an endoscope. Electronic means are provided to switch (modulate) the source illumination spectrum used to interact with a target object, such as tissue. Various light sources, filter wheels, shutters, mirrors, dichroic mirrors, spectrum, light sources, intensities and timing diagrams are discussed in this prior art and are therefore included by reference, herein.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,227, to Wagnieres, entitled, "Diagnosis apparatus for the picture providing recording of fluorescing biological tissue regions", discusses illumination spectrum and components for fluorescence imaging. In one embodiment red and green light components are directed to separate portions of a CCD detector with independent signal processing.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,591, to Freitag, entitled, "Arrangement and method for diagnosing malignant tissue by fluorescence observation", discusses a strobed white-light illumination source and laser to stimulate fluorescence. Alternatively, a desired fluorescence spectrum may be isolated and provided from a single lamp, for example, a mercury-vapor xenon lamp. Filter wheels (with red, green and blue filters as well as filters to divide fluorescence into red and green components) and timing requirements are also discussed. Acquisition of white-light images and fluorescence images are performed in sequence, although both may be displayed on the monitor. Various Figures in '591 describe light sources which are similar to those contemplated for the present invention.
The system described in '591 provides the ability to switch back and forth between white light and fluorescence visualization methods, electronically, with display rates up to 10 Hz, or higher. Unlike other prior art (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,368 which will be discussed), switching between normal visible light imaging, in full color, and fluorescence imaging is accomplished by an electronic switch rather than by physical optical modulation (switching) by the operator. The '591 patent also discusses a fluorescence excitation light at ultraviolet to deep violet wavelengths placed at the distal end of an endoscope, as well the use of gallium nitride laser diodes and mercury arc lamps for UV illumination of target objects which are also contemplated as illumination sources for various embodiments of the present invention. Also of interest, '591 discusses some limitations of endoscopes and more particularly limitations related to the UV-transmissive properties of optical fibers. Some of these limitations are addressed by co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/226,406 to Ferguson/Zeng, filed approximately Aug. 23, 2002, entitled "Non-coherent fiber optic apparatus and imaging methods".
U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,719, to Schulz, entitled, "Fully auotclavable electronic endoscope", discusses an objective lens, crystal filter, IR filter and CCD chip arranged at the distal end of an endoscope for imaging.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,424 to Heimberger, entitled, "Device for connecting a fiber optic cable to the fiber optic connection of an endoscope", discusses various aspects of coupling devices such as light sources to an endoscope.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,213 to Hafele, entitled, "Device for correcting the tone of color pictures recorded by a video camera", such as an endoscope camera, is discussed along with a rotary transducer to activate tone correction. Color correction, calibration or normalization is useful for quantization from image data or comparison of images and is considered for various embodiments of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,190, to Palcic, entitled, "Endoscope having an integrated CCD sensor", discusses illumination light sources and sensors to measure various signals associated with tissue and tissue disease.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,368, to Zeng, entitled, "Imaging system for detecting diseased tissue using native fluorescence in the gastrointestinal and respiratory tract", among other things discusses use of a mercury arc lamp to provide for white light and fluorescence imaging with an endoscope to detect and differentiate effects in abnormal or diseased tissue.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,660, to MacAulay, entitled, "Apparatus and method for imaging diseased tissue using integrated autofluorescence" discusses light source requirements, optical sensors, and means to provide a background image to normalize the autofluorescence image, for uses such as imaging diseased tissue.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,792, to Palcic, entitled, "Endoscopic imaging system for diseased tissue", further discusses light sources and means to extract information from the spectral intensity bands of autofluorescence, which differ in normal and diseased tissue.
Also co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/741,731, to Zeng, filed approximately Dec. 19, 2000 and entitled, "Methods and apparatus for fluorescence and reflectance imaging and spectroscopy and for contemporaneous measurements of electromagnetic radiation with multiple measuring devices", (a continuation-in-part of U.S. Publication No. 2002/0103439) discusses contemporaneous methods of providing one mode of imaging and spectroscopy contemporaneously, but multiple imaging and associated spectroscopy modalities in sequential. In the present invention, methods are described to perform multimodal imaging contemporaneously at various desired wavelengths. Unlike Zeng's art, Zeng's present invention does not seek to provide images and measurements of wavelength spectrum, instead it seeks to provide contemporaneous multimodal imaging, where entire images in defined spectrum are detected and acquired for display and/or analysis.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,999,844, to Gombrich, entitled, "Method and apparatus for imaging and sampling diseased tissue using autofluorescence", discusses a plurality of image detectors that receive excitation light as well as depositing biopsies in separate compartments or captive units.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,425, to Irion, entitled, "Apparatus for photodynamic diagnosis", discusses endoscopic imaging using a light-induced reaction or intrinsic fluorescence to detect diseased tissue and delivery light for therapeutic use or to stimulate compounds that in turn provide therapy, for example.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,133, to Kanno, entitled "Endoscope light source apparatus", discusses light sources, light guides and control of these elements for endoscopic use.
Endoscopes and imaging applications are further discussed in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/226,406 to Ferguson/Zeng, entitled "Non-coherent fiber optic apparatus and imaging methods", which among other things, discusses apparatus to overcome some existing limitations of fiber optic devices, such as endoscopes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,830 to Kaneko, entitled "Fluorescent endoscope apparatus", discusses use of two light sources, a first (e.g. lamp) for white light and a second (e.g. helium-cadmium laser) for fluorescence, to provide interrogating spectra. Kaneko also employs a filter wheel placed in the pathway of a single detector. For multimodal imaging the filter wheel has a plurality of filters (e.g. three in FIGS. 4a and 5 in FIG. 4b). While they illustrate the display of two imaging modalities (110 of FIG. 7.), they do not discuss simultaneous real-time multimodal imaging. As this art discusses a wide range of issues utilized within the present invention, such as combining light sources, synchronization and filter wheels, (830) is included by reference herein.
Copending application by Zeng et al., filed on May 8, 2003 and entitled "Real time contemporaneous multimodal imaging and spectroscopy uses thereof", is also included by reference.

Methods and apparatus for fluorescence imaging using multiple excitation-emission pairs and simultaneous multi-channel image detection