Aspects of a method and system for efficient and cache-friendly TCP session lookup operations based on canonicalization tags are presented. Aspects of the method may include searching a plurality of tag fields, retrieved via a single memory read operation, to locate a reference to a control block that includes context information for a communication session. Aspects of the system may include a processor that searches a plurality of tag fields, retrieved via a single memory read operation, to locate a reference to a control block that includes context information for a communication session.

Communications networks, such as the Internet, provide a transmission medium that enables personal computers, workstations, and other computing and communications devices to exchange information. A communication may involve a transmitting station, which transmits information via a network, and one or more receiving stations, which receive the information via the network. The process of communication via a network may comprise a plurality of tasks. Examples of tasks may include identifying an applications program that is requesting to transmit data, establishing a session which may distinguish a current request from a subsequent request that may be issued by the application program, and affixing a label to the transmitted data that identifies the transmitting station and the receiving stations. Additional tasks may include partitioning the transmitted data into a plurality data sub-units, and affixing a subsequent label that comprises addressing information that may be utilized by the network to direct each of the plurality of data sub-units in a communication path between the transmitting station and the receiving station, via the network. Other tasks may involving encoding each of the plurality of data sub-units as binary information that may be transmitted via electrical or optical pulses of energy via a transmission medium.
An individual task may be referred to as a protocol. The protocol associated with communications via a network may be implemented in software and executed by a processor within a transmitting station or receiving station. In many implementations, the software may be partitioned into a plurality of software modules where a software module may perform tasks related to one or more protocols. A protocol may be defined based on a protocol reference model (PRM) such as defined, for example, by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). A protocol defined within a PRM may be referred to as a protocol layer, or layer. The separation of software into protocol software modules may increase the flexibility of software development by enabling a software module to be developed to perform specific function that are related to a protocol layer. Thus, changes in the functionality of a subsequent protocol layer, which may require modifications to software modules that perform functions related to one protocol layer, may not require modifications to software modules that perform functions related to another protocol layer.
Two protocols that may be utilized for communications via a network are the transmission control protocol (TCP) and the Internet protocol (IP). TCP provides a means by which transmitted data, which may be referred to as a packet, may be reliably transmitted between a transmitting station and a receiving station via a network connection. A transmitted TCP packet may comprise information that indicates, to a receiving station, an application, executing at the transmitting station, which transmitted the data. The transmitted TCP packet may also comprising information that indicates an application, executing at the receiving station, which is to receive the data. The transmitted TCP packet may comprise sequence number information that enables a receiving station to determine the order in which a plurality of TCP packets were transmitted by the transmitting station. The receiving station that receives the currently transmitted TCP packet may have previously transmitted a TCP packet to the transmitting station that is transmitting the current TCP packet. The currently transmitted TCP packet may comprise acknowledgement information that indicates a sequence number associated with a TCP packet that was received by the transmitted station, which had been previously transmitted by the receiving station that is to receive the currently transmitted TCP packet. TCP may assert flow control upon communications between a transmitting station and a receiving station by limiting the number of TCP packets that may be transmitted by the transmitting station to the receiving station. TCP flow control may enable a transmitting station to cease transmission of subsequent TCP packets until acknowledgement information is received from the receiving station that indicates that at least a portion of the previously transmitted TCP packets have been received by the receiving station.
IP provides a means by which TCP may transmit TCP packets via the network. The TCP packet may be contained within an IP datagram that comprises information utilized to transmit the IP datagram via the network. The IP datagram may comprise a source address that is associated with the transmitting station, and a destination address that is associated with the receiving station. The source address and/or destination address may be addresses that identify the transmitting station and/or receiving station within the network. The IP datagram may comprise protocol information that indicates that it contains a TCP packet.
Information that comprises sequence number information and/or acknowledgement information, may be referred to as state information. State information may be maintained within a transport control block (TCB) at the transmitting station and/or receiving station that are engaged in an exchange of information via a network. An individual exchange of information may be referred to as a session. A received TCP packet and/or IP datagram, for example, may comprise information that identifies a TCB. The TCB may be associated with a TCP session, for example. Upon receipt of the TCP packet and/or IP datagram, for example, the receiving station may initiate a process to locate a corresponding TCB. This process may comprise performing a lookup operation to locate the TCB. The TCB may be associated with a network connection that is utilized when receiving the packet via the network. The TCB may comprise a data structure that maintains state information about the network connection.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Method and system for supporting efficient and cache-friendly TCP session lookup operations based on canonicalization tags


Plural energy beam sources are aimed at an energy receiving device by way of feedback control signals. Each energy beam is uniquely modulated by way of amplitude, polarization and/or coning patterns to enable individual detection and control. Sensors detect individual energy beams incident to the energy receiving device and provide corresponding detection signals. Control electronics receive the detection signals and derive one or more control signals that are coupled to the plural energy sources. Aircraft and other vehicles are thus provided with electrical and/or thermal energy without the need for source-to-vehicle cabling or substantial on-board energy resources.

It is possible to provide energy to a moving target or vehicle by way of an electromagnetic energy beam, such as a microwave or laser beam. Typically, the source of the energy beam is located separate and apart from the object being powered. For example, an energy beam source can be stationary relative to a vehicle or other apparatus that is being powered (to some extent) by the energy beam. In the case of a laser beam, photovoltaic cells can be used to convert the incident laser energy directly to usable electrical power at the receiving object. In the case of microwave energy, antenna grids, focusing dishes and/or other suitable means can be used to derive electrical power at the receiver. In any case, it is possible to construct a system wherein a receiving apparatus or vehicle need not carry voluminous and/or massive sources of energy (e.g., batteries, jet fuel, etc.) in order to be partially or fully provisioned with operating power.
When a system requires a relatively small amount of energy, a single-beam arrangement is usually adequate. Under such a system, sensing devices and controls maintain suitable aiming of the energy beam on the appropriate receiving area (i.e., antenna, photovoltaic array, etc.) of the object being powered. In other cases, there are vehicles or other apparatus that require considerably more energy than a single source (laser or microwave emitter, etc.) can economically and/or technologically provide. For example, a flying vehicle may require 100 kW of power in order to operate. Economically, it is desirable to use ten 10 kW lasers, rather than a single 100 kW laser, to provide the needed power in this example. Furthermore, it is often easier to package ten 10 kW lasers and their supporting hardware into a mobile platform (if desired) than to package a single 100 kW laser and it supporting hardware into the same sort of platform. Thus, economies of scale are an important—and sometime technologically imperative—matter of consideration in designing and operating systems powered by multiple energy beams.
However, a problem arises when attempting to use several energy sources in concert to power an apparatus. Specifically, it is necessary to independently control each energy beam source so as to keep all of the respective energy beams accurately aimed at the receiving area of the powered apparatus. Furthermore, it is economically desirable to provide an energy beam receiving area (or array) on the apparatus or vehicle that is not much larger than the meaningful width of an energy beam.
Use of various means and methods for aiming a single energy beam are known in the prior art. However, these prior art systems may be unsuitable when multiple energy beams must be accurately maintained on a single receiving apparatus. Therefore, novel systems and methods that resolve the foregoing problems and concerns would have great utility.

Aiming feedback control for multiple energy beams


A method for verifying computer generated data in periodically updated and replaced files to determine if data item characteristics in the files have changed in an unexpected manner. The method involves the steps of selecting a first version of each of the data item characteristics and selecting a second subsequent version of each of the data item characteristics. The first version of each of the data item characteristics and the second subsequent version of each of the data item characteristics are analyzed to produce first and second statistical profiles. The first and second statistical profiles of each of the data item characteristics are then compared to each other to determine if any of the data item characteristics have changed in an unexpected manner. Finally, the files being periodically updated and replaced are monitored to determine if the data item characteristics in the files have changed in an unexpected manner.

The volume of information that is processed and stored by computer systems continues to expand at a remarkable pace with "desktop" personal computers and other small computer systems forming the most visible component of this growth. Most large corporations, however, still rely on mainframe systems for most of their basic data processing needs, even though the smaller systems have become faster and include computer storage media which can accommodate more data than in the past. This is because mainframe systems still hold a substantial advantage over small computer systems in terms of speed, volume of storage, and above all, capacity for large volume throughput. Accordingly, mainframe systems continue to meet data processing requirements that the smaller computer systems cannot match.
The proliferation of personal computers in the mass market has forced publishers of personal computer software to improve their products, making data on these small machines easier to access. But the benefits realized in the mass market in terms of improved personal computer software, have not been seen in the area of mainframe computer software despite the fact that mainframes, and their associated software systems, have been around for far longer. Hence, data in mainframe systems is often far more difficult to access than data on personal computers, making it harder to see the results of a computer process. One of the main reasons mainframe data is more difficult to access is due to the nature of the processing done on these differently sized hardware platforms. More specifically, the batch data typically processed by mainframe systems is far harder to access than the online data typically processed by personal computers as will be explained below.
Data processing can be divided into two classes: online and batch. Online processing is geared towards the immediate resolution of individual transactions, whereas batch processing handles large quantities of transactions as a group. Human interaction with computers is invariably through online processing, while large scale processing is most often handled in the batch mode.
Since batch data processing involves large quantities of data, the detection of errors in the data involves examining large amounts of the data. In online data processing, however, each item of information or data results, at least in part, from an interaction with a person and thus, errors in the data are more easily and likely to be detected. This personal interaction or "manual oversight" provides a degree of quality control. It should be noted, however, that large scale manual data entry may be regarded as a "batch" process in this context. Although the data is processed though human interaction, the processing is nonetheless mechanical in nature since data entry clerks generally do not read what they are typing.
In any case, when batch systems encounter undetected errors in the data, the process may or may not respond to the error. In the case where the process is affected by the error, it will either notify the user of a problem in a controlled fashion (if the possibility of that type of error was foreseen) or the process will be forced to a halt (when the error is of an unforeseen nature). The error in the data may also go undetected allowing the process to continue to completion, so that the incorrect data will not be immediately obvious.
There are many ways in which errors can be introduced into computer data. For example, errors can be introduced into computer data from "bugs" in the computer program, from external sources, from the operating system's environment, and from errors caused by the computer itself, just to name a few.
With regard to data errors which originate from bugs in computer programs, virtually all nontrivial computer programs contain some bugs. Careful design and exhaustive testing will typically identify most of the bugs, but some bugs will undoubtedly remain latent in any system, ready to affect the process when some new combination of circumstances arises in the data. Systems made up of suites of programs that work together, are prone to bugs in exactly the same way, since such software systems are in effect just large programs.
With regard to data errors which originate from external sources, computer systems which obtain information from outside sources are subject to errors from unexpected changes in the data from those external sources. Although program bugs are often blamed for such errors, many times these errors result from a failure of the personnel who are responsible for the system which produces the data to communicate with the personnel who are responsible for the system which receives the data.
As stated earlier, data errors can also be caused by the system environment. IBM's Multiple Virtual System (MVS) operating system may be responsible for more large scale batch data processing than any other system software. Unlike personal computer software which "crashes" frequently, MVS installations, which typically support hundreds or even thousands of simultaneous batch and online processes, "crash" very rarely. When a MVS operating system does crash, the crash is usually confined to individual processes or subsystems. However, MVS does have some serious limitations which relate to job control language (JCL), the programming language that links programs to the data that the programs access. The JCL is difficult to test since it has limited parameter substitution and inadequate features for process modularization. MVS also has an inflexible storage allocation scheme, which requires that storage requirements be determined in considerable detail in advance. In addition, MVS tends to require a great deal of manual (operator) intervention.
With regard to "computer errors," all such computer errors result either from hardware failures, or manual mistakes. When computer errors slip through undetected, they are generally manual in origin.
Present computer data error detection methods are generally geared towards ensuring that data moved from one place to another, arrives intact. This is generally accomplished by creating some kind of redundant representation of the data, and using the extra information to compare the original data to the copied version. However, such methods cannot detect errors in the original data. More specifically, errors created by software bugs are not detectable by present methods because such errors originate in the program itself and not in the failure of the hardware to correctly execute the program instructions.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a data verification method for detecting errors which have been introduced throughout the entire computer system.

Method for determining if data item characteristics in periodically updated and replaced files have unexpectedly changed


A method in a radio receiver arrangement for receiving data blocks of radio signalling. The method comprises receiving a plurality of data blocks over a radio interface from a transmitting side. The method also comprises applying a single hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process to the plurality of data blocks, whereby it is determined that at least one of the plurality of data blocks has been received ok and that at least one of the plurality of data blocks has not been received ok. The method also comprises generating a negative acknowledgement (NAK) for the plurality of data blocks in response to the at least one of the plurality of data blocks having not been received ok. The method also comprises outputting, from the receiver arrangement, at least one symbol obtained from the at least one of the plurality of data blocks which has been received ok.

In radio communications, a plurality of transport blocks may be bundled together when transmitted, such that a single HARQ process is used for the bundled transport blocks, instead of using a separate HARQ process for each transport block.
Multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) is the use of multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver to improve communication performance.
R1-111763 "4-branch MIMO for HSDPA", 3GPP TSG RAN WG1 Meeting #65, Barcelona, Spain, 9-13 May, 2011, proposes introducing a 4-branch MIMO for downlink HSDPA.
At RAN#53, a new work item on 4-branch MIMO transmission for HSDPA was agreed. At RAN#67, it was decided to use 2-codeword MIMO to reduce the control channel design.
R1-120356 "Data Bundling in a 2 codeword MIMO System", 3GPP TSG-RAN WG1 #68, Dresden, Germany, 6-10 Feb. 2012, discusses different options for bundling at the transmission side when using a 2 code word 4-branch MIMO. Bundling may be done at the bit level or at the symbol level.
Time-division multiplexing (TDM) is a type of multiplexing in which two or more bit streams or signals are transferred apparently simultaneously as sub-channels in one communication channel, but are physically taking turns on the channel over time. The time domain is divided into several recurrent time slots of fixed length, one for each sub-channel. Time-Division Duplex (TDD) is the application of time-division multiplexing to separate uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) signals.

Method and apparatus relating to HARQ processes


A solid solution for the desulfurization of sulfur containing gases is provided in which the solution contains oxides having oxygen ion vacancies provided therein. The solid solution has a solvent which has at least one lanthanide oxide which crystallizes in the fluorite habit. The solid solution has a solute which contains a second oxide having a valence which differs from the valence of the lanthanide oxide present in the solvent.

According to the ENERGY HANDBOOK published by Van Nordstrom and Reinhold, there are 36.5 Quads ( one Quad=10.sup.18 Btu) of energy in the coal reserves of the United States as compared to 1.4 Quads in oil and 111 Quads in natural gas. The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has taken the lead in the development of methods to utilize this energy in coal in an ecologically and economically acceptable manner. The DOE has taken the initiative in this matter because industry in the United States has been reluctant to pursue this task, and an agency of the U.S. Government has been forced to take the lead just as was the case in the development of synthetic rubber and nuclear power.
There is a further necessity to develop methods for the utilization of coal because of the political instability in the Persian Gulf which is a major source of much of the world's oil, and the wide fluctuations in the price of crude oil in the last few years are clearly indicative of this instability.
Evidence continues to mount with regard to the detrimental effects of acid rain. Most of the effort to reduce the emission of sulfur from presently operating power plants using steam turbines for the generation of electricity have been concentrated on the removal of sulfur dioxide from the flue gases after the complete combustion of the coal which requires the installation of scrubbers between the boiler of such power plans and the smoke stack.
The government of Canada has obtained an agreement with the United States for reduction of sulfur oxides (SO.sub.x) and nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) in flue gases from coal burning power plants in the United States. These power plants consume most of the coal mined in the U.S. There is a further agreement that the reduction in SO.sub.x and NO.sub.x will occur when effective and economical technology has been developed for their removal from flue gases. The U.S. Government and the power-generating industry in the U.S. are spending approximately one billion dollars in the next few years in search of this effective and economical technology for removal of SO.sub.x and NO.sub.x, but to date, no completely satisfactory solution has been found. At present, most of this work is concentrated on achieving present Environment Protection Agency (EPA) regulations which require that the effluent from new power plants contain less than 1.2 lbs. SO.sub.2/ MMBtu of the fuel consumed. Some of the latest information on this subject was reported at the Fourth Annual Pittsburgh Coal Conference held in 1987.
Almost all of this money that will be spent over the next few years will be spent on pilot scale and demonstration units in an attempt to find a method of using calcium-based sorbents that will reduce SO.sub.2 from flue gases to meet EPA requirements. The ability of these calcium-based sorbents will be investigated at both high (800.degree. C.-1200.degree. C.) and low (100.degree. C.-150.degree. C.) temperatures. The high temperature processes include the Limestone Injection Multiple Burner (LIMB) method, the pressurized fluid-bed combustion (PFBC) technique, and the atmospheric pressure fluid-bed combustion (AFBC) method. The low temperature process to be investigated is a variation of "flue gas scrubbers" or scrubbers which are currently in operation in 140 power plants in the U.S.
There are many shortcomings to these methods: (1) the expected desulfurization of all these processes is less than 50% of the input sulfur except for the fluid bed combustion processes where the sulfur reduction may be as high as 70%; (2) indications are that there will be less than 50% utilization of the calcium-oxide based sorbent; (3) the fundamentals of desulfurization of flue gases with calcium based sorbents are not well understood which may result in less than optimum desulfurization of the gases and utilization of the sorbent; (4) control of temperature in the low temperature desulfurization process must be held to plus or minus 20.degree. F. which may be difficult when a boiler is operating in a load following mode; (5) with the low temperature processes the calcium based sorbents are introduced into the flue gases with water before the electrostatic precipitators (ESP) which reduces the temperature of the flue gases so that the stacks do not operate effectively; (6) there is no certainty that it will be possible to put the partially sulfated calcium sorbent into landfills because of: ( a ) potential environmental effects associated with handling fine caustic materials, (b) the heat generated by the reaction of unreacted lime with atmospheric moisture or water, (c) the corrosive nature of very basic solutions, (d) the increased quantities of solid waste. In addition, critical pieces of the equipment necessary to utilize calcium based sorbents are not presently available particularly with respect to the AFBC.
In addition to all of the operating and ecological problems mentioned above, it has been estimated that it costs approximately $900 to remove a ton of sulfur with scrubbers and $600 to $800 to remove a ton of sulfur with the LIMB process. The costs of SO.sub.x removal from flue gases by these methods will raise the cost of electricity by as much as one third as compared to the generation of electricity without sulfur removal.
The effluent from coal fired power plants is one of the major sources of SO.sub.2, but there are other significant sources of SO.sub.2 such as the effluent from roasters utilized to convert the ores of metals such as copper and nickel from some form of sulfides or sulfates to their oxides with the emission of large quantities of SO.sub.2. The roasters of the International Nickel Co. in Sudbury, Ont. Canada are one of the major sources of SO.sub.2 emissions in North America. The analysis of the gases resulting from the roasting of nickel or copper are not sufficiently different from the analysis of stack gases from boilers that desulfurization of roaster gas cannot be obtained with cerium oxide.
Technology for the desulfurization of fuel gases in which the sulfur is mainly in the form of hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2 S) is presently oriented toward the use of in situ desulfurization with calcium-based sorbents in a fluid bed gasifier and a yet undeveloped sorbent for in situ desulfurization in entrained flow gasifiers. Desulfurization in situ with calcium-based sorbents in fluid bed gasifiers has achieved 90% reduction of H.sub.2 S in the effluent gases.
The use of calcium-based sorbents for in situ desulfurization in fluid bed gasifiers suffers from most of the same problems associated with calcium-based sorbents for flue gas desulfurization except 90% sulfur removal has been achieved. There is no assurance the 90% sulfur removal can be consistently achieved which is necessary to meet present EPA requirement (less than 1.2 lbs. SO.sub.2/ MMBtu) in the gases finally exiting the process.
To insure compliance with present and future requirements for SO.sub.2 emissions from processes using fuel gases and because of the uncertainty regarding disposal of partially spent calcium-based sorbents, additional effort is being expended to develop a regenerable sorbent for H.sub.2 S capable of (1) reducing the H.sub.2 S content of fuel gases to less than 100 part per million (ppm); (2) being regenerated back to its original form which is capable of again reacting with H.sub.2 S with little or no loss of its ability to remove H.sub.2 S from the fuel gases; (3) capable repeated cycles of sulfidation and regeneration.
Zinc ferrite is under exhaustive investigation to determine if it is capable of meeting these requirements. It is recognized that zinc ferrite has at least six possible deficiencies: (1) some solid phase boundaries which reduce stability and effectiveness; (2) sulfate formation during regeneration; (3) sorbent structural changes during sulfidation and regeneration cycles; (4) sorbent durability over many sulfidation and regeneration cycles; (5) regeneration of gas must be processed to remove sulfur; (6) the zinc component of the sorbent may vaporize at high operating temperatures. In addition, zinc ferrite cannot operate with fuel gases high in CO and H.sub.2 because such gases reduce the zinc ferrite to a form of zinc oxide and iron oxide or their metals that are less capable of reacting with the sulfur.
Almost 300 million dollars has been accumulated by pooling funding from the DOE and industry to build a demonstration unit to confirm the applicability of in situ desulfurization of fuel gases with zinc ferrite polishing to produce fuel suitable for gas turbines for the next generation of electric power generating equipment.
Cerium oxide also has the ability to desulfurize fuel gases which are high in carbon monoxide and hydrogen where the sulfur is mainly in the form of H.sub.2 S, and flue gases which are high in carbon dioxide and oxygen where the sulfur is mainly in the form of SO.sub.2. This unique ability to desulfurize gases of such wide variations in composition may be explained with the use of the Ce-S-O phase stability diagram, FIG. 1. The ordinate of this phase stability diagram is the logarithm of the partial pressure of oxygen (Log pO.sub.2) and the abscissa is the log of the partial pressure of sulfur (Log pS.sub.2). Fuel gases would be composed mainly of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, water and hydrogen sulfide. The oxygen content in such gases is very small and results from the dissociation of water and carbon dioxide at elevated temperatures. The partial pressure of sulfur in such gases results from the dissociation of the hydrogen sulfide. As a result, the ability of cerium oxide to desulfurize such gases is related to the sum of the partial pressure of oxygen from dissociation of the water and the carbon dioxide in the fuel gas.
Other gases such as those created by the distillation of crude oil necessary for the production of gasoline, motor oil etc. contain sulfur in the form of H.sub.2 S or sulfur carbonyl (COS). These gases may contain in addition to CO and H.sub.2 other hydrocarbons, but the partial pressure of oxygen in such gases is low, and they can be effectively desulfurized with cerium oxide as well as fuel gases derived from coal.
When considering flue gases, the partial pressure of the oxygen is mainly related to the amount of oxygen in the gases and the oxygen resulting from the dissociation of any carbon dioxide in the system is a minor component of the total. The partial pressure of sulfur in flue gases results from the dissociation of the sulfur dioxide. As a point of reference the partial pressure of oxygen in air is noted on the phase stability diagram (pO.sub.2 =0.21).
The limits of desulfurization with cerium are defined by the line labeled XYZ. Point B on that line is a value calculated from thermodynamic data representing a fuel gas containing 240 ppm H.sub.2 S which serves as a point of reference for the extent of desulfurization with cerium oxide.
There are two forms of cerium oxide: ceric oxide (CeO.sub.2) and cerous oxide (Ce.sub.2 O.sub.3 or CeO.sub.1.5) and there are a number of nonstoichiometric forms of cerium oxide whose composition may be expressed generically as CeO.sub.(2-x).
The extent of desulfurization of flue gases may be estimated from the phase stability diagram as being determined from the intersection of the line representing the partial pressure of oxygen in air and line XYZ. Since point B represent 240 ppm of H.sub.2 S in a fuel gas, the intersection of the line representing the partial pressure of oxygen in air and line XYZ is several orders of magnitude lower in sulfur.
The Ce-O-S system encompasses the desulfurization of gases containing both H.sub.2 S and SO.sub.2. The thermodynamic principals and the benefits of using solid solutions of cerium oxide which crystallizes in the fluorite habit apply equally well to either type of gaseous desulfurization.
Bevan and Kordis (MIXED OXIDES OF THE TYPE MO.sub.2 (FLUORITE)-M.sub.2 O.sub.3 -I: OXYGEN DISSOCIATION PRESSURES AND PHASE RELATIONSHIPS IN THE SYSTEM CeO.sub.2 -Ce.sub.2 O.sub.3 AT HIGH TEMPERATURES; Jr. Inorganic Nuclear Chem., 1964, Vol. 26, pp. 1509-1523, Permagon Press, Ireland.) have stated: "A characteristic property of MX.sub.2 compounds crystallising with the fluorite structure [habit] is the readiness with which the cation lattice can incorporate quite a large proportion of altervalent ions to form `anomalous mixed crystals` [solid solutions] for which the fluorite structure is apparently retained. Evidence that the cation lattice is virtually complete and the anion lattice highly defective [creation of oxygen ion vacancies] has been obtained from a comparison of X-ray and pycnometric densities, so that depending on the nature of the altervalent ion, the mixed crystal is thought to contain either vacancies or interstitial anions. Moreover, the distribution of altervalent cations on cation sites, and of the anion defects is generally assumed to be completely random."
The Bevan and Kordis article provides the scientific explanation for a "solid solution" as follows: "Evidence that the cation lattice is virtually complete . . . has been obtained from a comparison of x-ray and pyconometric densities . . . . Moreover, the distribution of altervalent cations on cation sites . . . is generally assumed to be completely random."
The Bevan and Kordis article does not address how the oxygen ion vacancies created could be utilized. Therefore, this article does not teach or suggest the ability of solid solutions of cerium oxide which crystallize in the fluorite habit containing oxygen ion vacancies to increase the extent of desulfurization, the utilization of the sorbent and the rate of desulfurization.
The use of cerium oxide for reaction with sulfur dioxide (SO.sub.2) is described in Longo, U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,375 and Cahn, U.S. Pat. No. 4,346,063. Cahn teaches a technology whereby gases containing SO.sub.2 and oxygen in amounts sufficient to prevent the formation of hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2 S) are desulfurized with cerium oxide. Cahn further states that the temperature of desulfurization is from 350.degree. C.-600.degree. C., but Longo states that the rate of desulfurization of flue gases containing SO.sub.2 with CeO.sub.2 is low until the temperature of the reaction reaches 500.degree. C. Because of the high rate of speed with which the products of combustion proceed through a boiler and because of the fluctuations in temperature when the boiler operates at various loads due to variations in demand for electricity it is required that a rapid rate of desulfurization be obtained at temperatures less than 500.degree. C.
In addition to the necessity to increase the rate of reaction, it is also necessary to increase the utilization of the sorbent. Longo has achieved 50-70% utilization of an unsupported sorbent, but in order to reduce the cost of flue gas desulfurization with cerium oxide (CeO.sub.2), utilization of the sorbent should be increased. Evidence will be supplied in the Examples to follow which shows that the rates of reaction of doped CeO.sub.2 is greater than that of undoped CeO.sub.2.
The use of CeO.sub.2 for the desulfurization of fuel gases has been described by Wheelock et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,002,720 and 3,974,256. However, neither Wheelock et al. reference teaches or suggests:
1. Difference between those lanthanides which crystallize in the fluorite habit and those that crystallize in other habits on their ability to desulfurize fuel and flue gases; PA1 2. The importance of oxygen ion vacancies to enhance the ability of the lanthanides which crystallize in the fluorite habit to desulfurize both fuel and flue gases; PA1 1. Gaffney, U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,823; PA1 2. Compton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,836; PA1 3. Mulhlhaupt, U.S. Pat. No. 3,980,763; PA1 4. Takada et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,398; PA1 5. Enomoto et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,901,947; PA1 6. Ryland et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,277,184; PA1 7. Bauer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,425,793; PA1 8. Mester et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,177; and PA1 9. Sergeys et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,903,020. PA1 1. That those lanthanides which crystallize in the fluorite habit are best suited for the desulfurization of gases; PA1 2. That solid solutions of lanthanide oxides which crystallize in the fluorite habit and other altervalent oxides of alkaline earth elements or lanthanide oxides which do not crystallize in the fluorite habit or combinations of the other oxides have improved ability to desulfurize gases compared to lanthanides which crystallize in the fluorite habit without the addition of other oxides; PA1 3. The function of oxygen ion vacancies created by reduction and the addition of altervalent oxides to the lanthanides which crystallize in the fluorite habit to enhance the removal sulfur from both fuel and flue gases; and PA1 4. The limitations of the amount of the addition of altervalent oxides of the alkaline earth elements or the other oxides of the lanthanide group which are altervalent to CeO.sub.2 and do not crystallize in the fluorite habit which together with the CeO.sub.2 form the solid solutions of this invention.
3. That the formation of solid solutions of those lanthanides which crystallize in the fluorite habit and the oxides of the alkaline earth elements or lanthanide oxides which do not crystallize in the fluorite habit can create additional oxygen ion vacancies in lanthanides which do crystallize in the fluorite habit; and
4. That the optimum amount of other oxides added to the lanthanide oxides which crystallize in the fluorite habit may be less than 15 mole %.
Various other patents which utilize lanthanides have been found which include:
However, none of these patents teach or suggest:
Since the basis of this application is the creation and the utilization of "oxygen ion vacancies" in the fluorite type crystal lattice of the lanthanide oxides, it is necessary to describe one of the methods whereby the "oxygen ion vacancies" are formed. For this explanation cerium oxide, one of the lanthanide oxides which crystallizes in the fluorite habit, and magnesium oxide will be used, and the same combination of cerium and magnesium oxides may be used hereafter to typify this phenomenon. The use of oxides of cerium, and magnesium in any of the illustrations or examples in no way precludes the use of any of the oxides of the other members of the lanthanide group of elements that crystallize in the fluorite habit, other than cerium, nor does the use of the oxide of magnesium preclude the use of the oxides of any of the other members of the alkaline earth group of elements unless it is specifically noted as to the use of the specific members of the group of lanthanides or the group of alkaline earth elements.
The mechanism whereby the oxygen ion vacancies are formed in these solid solutions which crystallize in the fluorite habit may be explained as follows. In the discussion which follows, the cerium oxide of the solid solution which is formed will be the solvent, and the solute will be an oxide or combinations of one or more of oxides of the alkaline metals group or the oxides of other lanthanide which do not crystallize in the fluorite habit and whose valence is different (altervalent) than that of CeO.sub.2. When one of the solute oxides of the alkaline earth elements such as MgO is in solution in the solvent cerium oxide crystal, the cation (Mg.sup.+2) substitutes for one of the cerium cations (Ce.sup.+3) or (Ce.sup.+4). Since there can be no imbalance in electrical charges, the substitution of one Mg.sup.+2 ion for one Ce.sup.+4 or two Ce.sup.+3 ions, creates one O.sup.-2 vacancy in the lattice. This is exactly in accordance with the mechanisms described by Bevan and Kordis.
The general chemical formula for substances which crystallize in the fluorite habit is MX.sub.2 where M represents one metal cation and X.sub.2 represents two oxygen anions.
When altervalent solute oxides are added to solvent oxides such as CeO.sub.2, the CeO.sub.2 is said to be "doped." Hereinafter the term "doped CeO.sub.2 will refer to solid solutions containing oxygen ion vacancies in which the CeO.sub.2 is the solvent and the altervalent oxides added to form the solid solutions which crystallize in the fluorite habit is the solute which is called the "dopant."
Again using cerium oxide and magnesium oxide for illustration purposes, the cerium oxide without the magnesium oxide is like a checkerboard with a checker in each square, which immobilizes all the checkers except those at the edge. However an oxygen ion vacancy in the crystal lattice of the cerium oxide would be analogous to removing at least one checker from the checkerboard whereby all of the other checkers become more mobile. If the goal was to replace the checker in the exact center of the board, it would be much simpler if there were many vacancies on the board so that the new checker could be maneuvered into the center by moving the other checkers to make multiple paths to the center of the checkerboard.
All dopants that have the same valence that form solid solutions with lanthanide oxides that crystallize in the fluorite habit form equal numbers of oxygen ion vacancies, and they will be referred to hereinafter as "doped oxygen ion vacancies." The effectiveness of the dopant with regard to the conductivity in solid electrolytes is a maximum when the ionic radius of the dopant is equal to the ionic radius of the lanthanide being doped. If the ionic radium of the dopant is different than the ionic radius of the lanthanide oxide being doped, there will be distortion of the crystal lattice, (the binding energy between the dopant cations and the oxygen ion vacancies will increase) and the ionic conductivity of the lanthanide oxide will be reduced. It is expected that the resistance to the entry of sulfur into the doped lanthanide crystals and the escape of oxygen from the crystals will increase as distortion of the crystal lattice increases.
The reaction for the removal of sulfur as H.sub.2 S from gases resulting from the partial combustion of coal (fuel gases) can be simply expressed as follows: EQU 2CeO.sub.2 (s)+H.sub.2 S(g)+H.sub.2 (g)=Ce.sub.2 O.sub.2 S(s)+2H.sub.2 O(g) (1)
In the reaction described in equation (1) there are two kinds of checkers (anions) that are moving in the crystal lattice. The anions of sulfur (S.sup.-2) are moving into the lattice of the cerous oxide and anions of oxygen (O.sup.-2) are moving out. The ultimate goal of all desulfurization processes is to use as much of the desulfurization agent as possible. That goal can best be achieved by increasing the ease of movement of the sulfur anions trying to get into the cerium oxide crystal lattice and by increasing the ease of movement of the oxygen anions out of the crystal lattice.
The most common form of cerium oxide is ceric oxide (CeO.sub.2). The best form of cerium oxide for removal of H.sub.2 S is cerous oxide (Ce.sub.2 O.sub.3). There is, however, a series of non-stoichiometric forms of cerium oxide between ceric oxide and cerous oxide. These non-stoichiometric forms of cerium oxide can be prepared by exposing ceric oxide to reducing gases such as hydrogen. When ceric oxide is converted to these non-stoichiometric forms, whose formula can be written as CeO.sub.2-x there is a loss of weight due to removal of oxygen from the crystal lattice (formation of oxygen ion vacancies). Oxygen ion vacancies created by exposure of cerium oxide to reducing gases will hereinafter be referred to as "reduction oxygen ion vacancies". Cerium oxide is no longer in the fluorite crystal habit when reduction of cerium oxide to an oxidation state lower than CeO.sub.1.714 is achieved, and this is likely to result in the elimination of the reduction oxygen ion vacancies. FIG. 2, from Bevan and Kordis, shows the extent of removal of oxygen from CeO.sub.2 with reducing gases whose reducing power is measured by their partial pressure of oxygen (pO.sub.2). The equation for the removal of O.sub.2 from CeO.sub.2 may be written as follows: EQU CeO.sub.2 (s)+XH.sub.2 (g)=2CeO.sub.( 2-x)(s)+H.sub.2 O(g) (2)
The effect of oxygen ion vacancies created both by reduction and doping have a cumulative effect with respect to improving the ability of CeO.sub.2 to remove sulfur from fuel gases. between that of ceric and cerous oxide such as CEO.sub.1.92. Based on this loss of oxygen and Avogadros number, it can be calculated that there are 2.75.times.10.sup.20 oxygen vacancies per gram of CeO.sub.1.92.
However, for the removal of sulfur from flue gases created by the complete combustion of sulfur containing hydrocarbons, which may contain 3 or 4% oxygen, no reduction oxygen ion vacancies are formed.

Cerium oxide solutions for the desulfurization of gases


A foldable article comprises a sheet of material (20) having a first plurality of concertina folds (22) and a second plurality of concertina folds (24). The second plurality of concertina folds (24) are oriented transverse to the first plurality of concertina folds (22). A first tab (30) is disposed at a first edge of the sheet of material.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,898 to McDonald discloses a folded sheet of paper or like material having a first set of concertina folds and a second set of concertina folds. The two sets of concertina folds define opposite corner segments of the sheet. Disposed at he opposite corner segments are two stiff portions, one at each corner segment. The two stiff portions are utilized for protecting the sheet and for folding and unfolding the sheet.
The two stiff portions are slightly larger on each side than the corner segments to facilitate grasping thereof by an individual. In particular, the individual grasps opposite edges of one stiff portion using his/her right hand and the other stiff portion using his/her left hand. Once grasped, the individual can fold and unfold the sheet without having to release the two stiff portions.
The McDonald patent discloses having the first set of folds consist of an odd number of folds, and the second set of folds consist of an even number of folds. The McDonald patent further states that the most suitable folding is to have five folds in the first set and two folds in the second set.
Although the McDonald patent provides a foldable article, it would be desirable if the article provided a user with clear and easy to follow guidance as to how to fold and unfold the article. Accordingly, there is a need for a foldable article that is more intuitive to grasp and is easier to fold and unfold.


In CCD's, the major part of the dark current is caused by surface states. This dark current is disturbing, especially in image sensors, because the sensitivity of the camera is limited thereby. When according to the invention the integrating gates are varied periodically, the subjacent surface parts of the - buried - channel being brought periodically into inversion and into depletion, while maintaining the charge-containing capacity, a considerable reduction of the dark current can be obtained. In image sensors, voltage variation preferably occurs during the fly-back time.

The invention relates to a charge-coupled device of the buried channel type comprising a semiconductor body having a charge transport channel of the one conductivity type, which is located near a surface and passes via a pn junction into an adjoining layer of the second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type, the surface being provided with a series of successive electrodes, which are separated from the surface by an isolating layer and are connected to a voltage source for applying clock voltages having a blocking level and an active level, while in the charge transport channel a potential barrier or a potential well is induced, the blocking level being chosen so that inversion of the conductivity type occurs at the surface of the semiconductor body.
The invention further relates to an image sensor arrangement comprising such a charge-coupled device. The information can be supplied both electrically, i.e. from an external electric source via a separate input stage, and optically, the charge carriers being generated by absorption of incident radiation in the semiconductor body itself. In the former case, the charge-coupled device can be used as a memory or as a signal processor, while in the latter case it can be used as an image sensor or a sensor in a camera.
A charge-coupled device of the kind described in the opening paragraph is known inter alia from the article by N.J. Saks "A Technique for Suppressing Dark Current Generated by Interface States in Buried Channel CCD imagers", published in I.E.E.E. Electron Device Letters, Vol. ED-1, No. 7 (July 1980), pp. 131/133.
In charge-coupled devices, the leakage current or dark current is kept as low as possible. With the use of the device, for example, as a memory, the leakage current determines to a great extent the maximum storage time. In charge-coupled image sensor arrangements, the sensitivity is limited to a considerable extent by the dark current of the CCD. In general, as is know, a large part of the dark current is caused by surface states in the forbidden energy band. These states are used by the electrons as intermediate station when passing from the valency band to the conduction band. A considerable reduction of the dark current in CCD's can be attained in that these surface states are freed via recombination with holes from electrons before they have made the second step to the conduction band. A method suitable for this purpose consists in bringing the surface into inversion, as a result of which this surface is overflown with holes, as described in the aforementioned publication. This known arrangement is a CCD image sensor, in which during the integration period such a voltage is applied to the electrodes that the whole surface of the transport channel is in inversion. A disadvantage is that also the semiconductor surface below the integrating electrodes is in inversion. The charge separating function of the electrodes--usually by application of different voltages to the electrodes--is practically entirely eliminated due to the fact that the surface potential is practically entirely determined by the potential in the inversion layer. As already indicated in the publication, the separation between the successive charge packets should then be obtained in a different manner.

Charge-coupled device, image sensor arrangement and camera provided with such an image sensor arrangement


An adaptor for coupling with a medical container having a collar closed by a septum including: a tubular body closed at a distal end with a transversal wall from which extends a hollow spike, and at a proximal end by a pierceable elastomeric piece including a cavity having a plurality of circumferentially distributed chambers, each chamber being connected to the hollow spike by a radial channel, the tubular body further receiving an intermediate piece including a plurality of through holes aligned on the chambers, a selecting member having a closure wall provided with one opening, capable of rotating so that the opening is successively aligned with each of the through holes, and a gripping member for securing the adaptor to the medical container. Also, an assembly including the adaptor and a medical container.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adaptor for coupling to a medical container containing a pharmaceutical product, such as a vial for a vaccine, said adaptor allowing for multiple aseptic needle piercings with an injection device to be filled with part of the product contained in the medical container.
2. Description of Related Art
In this application, the distal end of a component or apparatus must be understood as meaning the end furthest from the hand of the user and the proximal end must be understood as meaning the end closest to the hand of the user, with reference to the injection device intended to be used with said component or apparatus. As such, in this application, the distal direction must be understood as the direction of injection with reference to the injection device, and the proximal direction is the opposite direction, i.e. the direction of the transfer of the product from the medical container to the injection device.
One of the ways to improve health is to immunize entire populations against a number of diseases. To date, injection administration is the most common method of administering vaccines.
Each year, numerous drugs, for example vaccines, need to be prepared throughout the world by healthcare institutions. Many vaccine compositions are usually not stable at room temperatures and they must be stored at rather specific cold temperatures. Indeed, due to their biological nature, vaccines are complex to handle and to store. Vaccines are usually temperature sensitive and typically need to be maintained and stored at all time between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius (° C.). Some vaccines will be more sensitive to heat exposure and others will be sensitive to freezing. Therefore, maintaining and monitoring the appropriate temperatures during the storage and the handling of vaccines is a critical issue in order to sustain their efficacy. Overexposure to heat as well as overcooling may result in the destruction of the biological elements of the vaccines. Use of vaccines not stored in appropriate conditions may lead to not effective vaccination of the populations against diseases and may lead to expensive campaigns with limited results.
Furthermore, it is critical that the cold chain be not interrupted from production of the drug at a pharmaceutical company to its administration to the patient.
From a supply chain perspective, the most efficient vaccine packaging is the multidose container such as a multidose vial, that is to say, vial that may contain up to 10, 100 or 1000 doses of vaccine, one dose being intended for one patient. These vials are usually closed by a septum. In preparation of an injection of a vaccine, the user pierces the septum of the vial with the needle of an empty syringe, he then fills the syringe with one dose of vaccine and proceeds to the injection of the vaccine to the patient.
As such, multidose vials imply that the septum of the vial be pierced successively a high number of times, namely as many as the number of doses present in the vial. In order to ensure safe injections, the sterility of the septum of the vial should be maintained during the whole time the vial is used.
Anyway, in locations where it is difficult to maintain favorable hygienic conditions such as remote locations which are far from towns and from hospital facilities, the multidose vials may be handled and manipulated at ambiant air. In such cases, the septum of the vial may be contaminated either by the ambiant air, or, each time a dose of vaccine is removed, by the needle of the empty syringe used.
In addition, in regions where there is limited or potentially no supply of energy to power cooling equipment such as a refrigerator, the multidose vials may be maintained in cold conditions by simple contact with ice packs. As time goes by, part of the ice may melt and turn into water, and the septum of the multidose vials may be in contact with such water that may contaminate the septum of the vial.
It may then happen that a multidose vial, such as for example a 10-dose vial, is opened and that only three doses are used, for vaccinating three patients only, the remaining content of the vial being wasted because not intended to be administered in a sufficiently short time after opening of the vial in order to guaranty the vaccine or drug sterility.
Vaccination campaigns can therefore be made difficult in some regions and a significant proportion of vaccines may be wasted by the time they reach their target. This has an unacceptable cost to the health organizations in charge of immunization campaigns. In addition, it may happen that in case of vaccination campaigns, or pandemic, hundreds of patients need to be vaccinated in a very short time, in locations where it is difficult to maintain favorable hygienic conditions such as remote locations which are far from towns and from hospital facilities.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a device that would allow multiple successive safe piercings of a septum of a medical container, such as a multidose vial, and that would guarranty that said piercing be carried out in aseptic conditions, in particular that the septum be maintained sterile during the lifetime of the multidose vial, despite the fact that successive steps of withdrawal of doses of product are repeated with regard to the same multidose medical container.

Adaptor for coupling to a medical container


A method of packaging a semiconductor illumination module is provided. The method includes the following steps. In a step (a), a substrate is provided. The substrate is selected from one of a flexible printed circuit board, a metal core circuit board, a printed circuit board or a ceramic printed circuit board. The substrate includes a solder mask layer with an opening, and the opening has a width R. In a step (b), a light-emitting element is installed in the opening. In a step (c), an encapsulant injection device is used to inject a packaging encapsulant into the opening. In a step (d), a sealed lens structure is formed to cover the light-emitting element, wherein the sealed lens structure has a height h.

Nowadays, the trend of designing electronic device is toward miniaturization. The thickness of the circuit board of the electronic device is gradually reduced. Consequently, the arrangement of the conductor lines and the connecting terminals on the circuit board becomes more crowded and complicated and the electronic components (e.g., light-emitting elements) become smaller. Since the size of the light-emitting element is gradually decreased, the demand on the assembling precision of the light-emitting element is gradually increased.
Conventionally, the light-emitting element (e.g., a LED die) on a substrate is packaged by a resin transfer molding technology. Consequently, a sealed lens structure that covers the light-emitting element is formed. The light beam from the light-emitting element can be gathered by the sealed lens structure.
However, since the conductor lines and the connecting terminals are too crowded, the assembling complexity of using the resin transfer molding technology is increased.
For solving the above drawbacks, there is a need of providing a method of packaging a semiconductor illumination module in a simpler and quicker manner while forming a sealed lens structure with adjustable profile and height.

Method of packaging semiconductor illumination module


In a data conversion rule switching device, a data conversion rule suitable for control of a target device assigned to a data communication port is set for each of a plurality of data communication ports. When a data communication port to be used is selected, operation data corresponding to operation of a plurality of controls provided outside or inside the data conversion rule switching device and generated in response to the operation is converted into an operation data suitable for control of the target device in accordance with the data conversion rule set for the selected data communication port, and the converted operation data is sent to the selected data communication port.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a data conversion rule switching device for switching to a data conversion rule suitable for control of respective target devices, so that a plurality of target devices connected to respective data communication ports (data communication paths) can be controlled with a single control device while changing the target device, a method of switching data conversion rules, and a program for the switching. More specifically, the invention relates to a data conversion rule switching device, method of switching data conversing rules, and program for realizing an easy switching of data conversion rules.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a single control device which controls a plurality of target devices has been known. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H09-319476 discloses an invention that a plurality of personal computers (corresponding to the target devices) are respectively connected via a connecting cable to a control device (i.e., so-called "remote controller") comprised of a keyboard, a mouse and, a display, and one personal computer to be controlled with the control device can be selected.
The control device operates such that when a control such as a keyboard and a mouse is operated, the control device sends operation data generated in response to operation of the control only to a connection cable that provides connection with the selected personal computer. Thus, a user can control each of the personal computers through use of a single control device while switching the target device between the plurality of personal computers connected to the control device, wherein the control includes, for example, file transfer between the respective personal computers and activation/control of a software program stored in each of the personal computers.
The operation data for control of personal computer is in a data format common to the respective personal computers. Accordingly, in this case, even when a personal computer to be controlled is switched from one to another, the operation data generated in response to the operation of the control does not need to be converted into a data format suitable for control of the selected target device, and therefore switching between a plurality of data conversion rules (referred to also as "protocols" in this specification) is not performed.
Furthermore, an example of a single control device capable of controlling a plurality of target devices is, for instance, configured so that various different types of mixers can be controlled through use of the single control device by connecting the mixers (including not only a mixing device comprised of a dedicated hardware but a software program or the like stored in a personal computer for realizing functions of a mixer) to the single control device while changing from one to another.
In such an example, the mixer is controlled by operation data generated in response to operation of controls of the control device and therefore a data conversion rule (protocol) needs to be switched depending on what type of mixer is connected to the control device. For this reason, conventionally, a data conversion rule corresponding to the type of a mixer connected to the control device is previously selected from among data conversion rules previously prepared for mixers of different types and assigned to the control device, and then, the operation data is converted in accordance with the assigned data conversion rule so that the mixer connected to the control device can be controlled.
As described above, when a single control device is configured to control a plurality of target devices, the data conversion rule (protocol) needs to be switched to one suitable for use in each of the target devices in order to allow the control device to control different types of target devices. Since the conventional control device is configured to use only one type of data conversion rule, a user had to elaborately switch from one data conversion rule to another data conversion rule suitable for a newly selected target device by himself/herself, each time when a target device is changed from one to another. As described above, it was so problematic, troublesome and time-consuming for a user to perform an additional operation to switch a data conversion rule from one to another whenever a type of target device to be controlled is changed from one to another.


The present invention provides compounds having the formula: ##STR1## wherein A is CH or N; B is chosen from OH, NH.sub.2, NHR, H or halogen; D is chosen from OH, NH.sub.2, NHR, H, halogen or SCH.sub.3 ; R is an optionally substituted alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group; and X and Y are independently selected from H, OH or halogen except that when one of X and Y is hydroxy or halogen, the other is hydrogen; and Z is OH or, when X is hydroxy, Z is selected from hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, SQ or OQ, Q is an optionally substituted alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group; or a tautomer thereof; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; or an ester thereof; or a prodrug thereof. The present invention also provides the use of these compounds as pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds and processes for preparing the compounds.

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) catalyses the phosphorolytic cleavage of the ribo- and deoxyribonucleosides of guanine and hypoxanthine to give the corresponding sugar-1-phosphate and guanine or hypoxanthine.
Humans deficient in purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) suffer a specific T-cell immunodeficiency due to an accumulation of dGTP and its toxicity to stimulated T lymphocytes. Because of this, inhibitors against PNP are immunosuppressive, and are active against T-cell malignancies. Clinical trials are now in progress using 9-(3-pyridylmethyl)-9-deazaguanine in topical form against psoriasis and in oral form for T-cell lymphoma and immunosuppression (BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc). The compound has an IC.sub.50 of 35 nM for the enzyme. In animal studies, a 50 mg/kg oral dose is required for activity in a contact sensitivity ear swelling assay in mice. For human doses, this would mean approximately 3.5 grams for a 70 kg human. With this inhibitor, PNP is difficult to Inhibit due to the relatively high activity of the enzyme in blood and mammalian tissues.
Nucleoside hydrolases catalyse the hydrolysis of nucleosides. These enzymes are not found in mammals but are required for nucleoside salvage in some protozoan parasites. Some protozoan parasites use nucleoside phosphorylases instead or as well for this purpose. Inhibitors of nucleoside hydrolases and phosphorylases can be expected to interfere with the metabolism of the parasite and therefore be usefully employed against protozoan parasites.
It is an object of the invention to provide pharmaceuticals which are very effective inhibitors of PNP and/or nucleoside hydrolases.

Albert Einstein College of medicine of Yeshiva University


Spunlaced fabrics from poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) or mixtures thereof with poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) fibers having a specified flocked nylon surface can be dyed or printed and the flock does not significantly reduce the fire resistance of the base fabric.

As a result of a number of serious fires in public buildings, increasingly stringent standards are being developed for materials such as bedding, floor and wall coverings and furniture fabrics. Spunlaced fabrics made from poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) fibers have been found to meet the full-scale burn requirements of the Boston Fire Department--an industry standard for fire resistance in contract upholstery materials. Useful results are obtained also with fabrics made from blends of fibers from poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) and poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide). There is a need for comparable flameproof fabrics which can be dyed and/or printed more easily using conventional dyeing and printing procedures.

Fire resistant fabrics with a flocked nylon surface


An electrical circuit and method includes a transmitter in a first power domain with a first supply voltage referenced to a first voltage reference. The transmitter has an oscillator generating a first carrier signal, and an analog modulator receiving an input sensor signal and the first carrier signal and generating a modulated carrier signal. A receiver is in a second power domain with a second supply voltage referenced to a second voltage reference. The second voltage reference is different from the first voltage reference. The receiver includes a demodulator that receives and demodulates the modulated carrier signal and generates an output sensor signal. At least one coupler includes a pair of galvanically isolated elements with one galvanically isolated element in each of the first and second power domains. The modulated carrier signal couples from the first power domain to the second power domain through the at least one coupler.

1. Technical Field
The embodiments herein generally relate to electrical circuits, and more particularly to communication circuits for power technology.
2. Description of the Related Art
Within electronic devices, such as, for example power supplies or inverters, there is often a requirement to measure a parameter in a first power domain within the device and pass the measurement to a second power domain within the device. The measurement could be for example, a current, a voltage or a phase. The measurement could be used as a control variable to control circuitry within the second power domain. A power domain is characterized as a collection of circuits operated from a common voltage supply. Different power domains have different voltage supplies. Power domains could be galvanically isolated from one another in which case they also do not share a common power return or ground. Thus, if a voltage or signal from a first power domain were applied to a load in another galvanically isolated power domain, no current would flow since there is no return path to carry the current back to the originating (first) power domain. There could also be a requirement to make an isolated measurement within an electronic device.

Isolating interchip communication circuit and method


A variable bias current is provided for the differential pair of an operational transconductance amplifier to improve the gain performance, especially to overcome the slew rate limit of the operational transconductance amplifier. The bias current is adjusted according to the differential input to the differential pair, the difference between the currents of the differential pair, or any one of the currents of the differential pair.

As shown in FIG. 1, in an operational transconductance amplifier 100, a current source 110 provides a bias current I1 to a differential pair 108 of which NMOS transistors M1 and M2 are controlled by a pair of differential input voltages V− and V+ to produce two currents I2 and I3 respectively, a current mirror 102 composed of two PMOS transistors M3 and M4 mirrors the current I2 to produce a current I4, a current mirror 104 composed of two PMOS transistors M5 and M6 mirrors the current I3 to produce a current I5, a current mirror 106 composed of two NMOS transistors M7 and M8 mirrors the current I4 to produce a current I6, and the output current Io of the operational transconductance amplifier 100 is produced from the difference between the currents I5 and I6. The gain of the operational transconductance amplifier 100 is
                    GM        =                                            ⅆ              Io                                      ⅆ                              (                                                      V                    +                                    -                                      V                    -                                                  )                                              .                                    [                  Eq                                -                                                                        1                ]            Ideally, the gain GM of the OTA 100 should be constant. However, in reality, the output current Io tends to be saturated with the increase of the difference between the input voltages V+ and V− of the OTA 100, as shown in FIG. 2, that is to say, the gain GM of the OTA 100 will be less and less and go into slew rate limit range when the difference between the input voltages V+ and V− becomes larger. It is because that the bias current I1 provided by the current source 110 of the OTA 100 is constant, which causes that the differential current d(I2−I3) produced by a same differential voltage d(V+−V−) becomes less and less when the difference between the currents I2 and I3 reaches some certain value, and further causes that the variation dIo of the output current Io becomes less and less, so that the gain GM becomes less and less. For some cases, for example response to a load transient, a fast response speed is needed, whereas the OTA 100 cannot have such fast response speed due to the slew rate limit.
Therefore, an improved operational transconductance amplifier is desired.

Gain improved operational transconductance amplifier and control method thereof


A wind turbine system, comprising a tower, a plurality of blades, a rotor supported by the tower and rotatably coupled to the plurality of blades, a pitch control device for regulating pitch angles of the plurality of blades, a torque control device for regulating torque of the rotor, a processing subsystem programmed to slow down the wind turbine system by using the torque control device alone to slow down the rotor when the torque control device is fully capable of slowing down the rotor, and using both the torque control device and the pitch control device to slow down the rotor when the torque control device alone is not fully capable of slowing down the rotor.

Wind turbines are increasingly gaining importance as renewable sources of energy generation. In recent times, wind turbine technology has increasingly been applied to large-scale power generation applications. Maximizing energy output while minimizing loads of the wind turbines in varied wind conditions is a challenge that exists in harnessing wind energy.
A wind turbine typically includes a tower and a rotor rotatably coupled to two or more blades. The blades are acted upon by a wind flow to rotate the rotor. The speed of the wind turbine is dependent upon multiple factors including angle of attack, speed of wind, and pitch angle of a blade, for example. The angle of attack is an angle between a reference line of an airfoil of the blade and a direction of the wind flow acting upon the blade. The pitch angle of a blade of a wind turbine refers to a position of the blade with respect to the direction of the wind through which the blade rotates. The pitch angle of the blade may be changed to increase or decrease the speed of the wind turbine, and/or slowdown the wind turbine. Changing a pitch angle of a blade changes the angle of attack of the blade.
Typically, when a wind turbine is shut down, a pitch controller of the wind turbine changes the pitch angles of the blades of the wind turbine towards feather. However, changing the pitch angles of the blades towards feather when a rotor of the wind turbine is rotating at a high speed may induce high loads on the wind turbine. The loads, for example, may include tower top/hub loads and rotor imbalance loads and may lead to wear and tear of the wind turbine.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide improved systems and methods to shut down or slow down a wind turbine.

Methods and systems to operate a wind turbine


An ice confection is provided comprising from 11 to 30% (by weight of the confection) of glucose syrup solids having a dextrose equivalent (DE) of less than 20, and from 3 to 16 wt % low molecular weight sweeteners. A process for producing the ice confection is also provided.

Ice confections such as water ices and milk ices are well known and popular products. However, in order to maintain consumer interest there is a continual need to provide novel ice confections, for example, having new and unusual texture, taste or appearance. Conventional ice confections have hard, icy textures, and it would be desirable to be able to reproduce the chewy textures of other confections, such as caramel, gums, jellies and the like.
WO 02/089596 discloses chewy candy analogues that are compatible with ice confectionery products. Composite frozen products comprising the candy analogue and an ice confection are described. However, the ice confection itself is not chewy. Thus there remains a need for ice confections which have a chewy texture.


The device with modular structures for the relief impression or cuts onto food pastes and similar, comprises a plurality of separate parts, of the kind of half-bands, or full-coating structures, like jackets, prerferably cut, and that may be replaced and assembled for setting up again the diameter of the cylinder of the shaping group of a the machine working the paste, or even for realizing cylinders of dimensions different from the original one, for realizing "raviolis" or different products, of differentiated dimensions.

The present invention concerns a device with modular structures for applying relief impressions or cuts onto food pastes and similar materials that may be applied in all production sectors, making use of gauge rollers with fixed or adjustable thicknesses.
It is the aim of the present invention to produce a relief or a cut shape onto a product being worked in machines for the preparation of "ravioli", pastes without filling, pastry products, or other similar products.
The aim set forth is reached by means of the device according to the present invention, comprising a plurality of separate parts, of the kind of half-bands, or full-coating structures, like jackets, preferably cut, that may be replaced and assembled for setting up again the diameter of the cylinder of the shaping group of the machine working the paste, or even for realizing cylinders of dimensions different from the original one, for use with "raviolis" or different products, of differentiated dimensions.
Such variations may be obtained, according to the present invention, by varying the diameter of the cylinder according to the dimension of the "ravioli" or other similar product, maintaining unvaried the dimensions inside the cylinder, and working only with supporting thicknesses and prolonging the blocking pins below the half-bands or below the full-coating structure or jacket.
The realization of the device according to the present invention may be applied onto all already existing machines and onto those still to be realized, varying the dimensions according to the available spaces and to the specific kind of machine.
The advantages deriving from the device according to the present invention may be described as follows:
by means of impression, each producer, even an artisan, may personalize his own production by applying a mark; PA1 in the field of fresh pastes, a relief or cut realization onto the final product is made possible, operating onto the thickness or the image as in a bas-relief.

Device with modular structures for applying relief impressions onto food pastes and similar products


A device for forming a roll-to-roll pattern includes: a plurality of rollers, that are separated from each other, for transferring a substrate in one direction; a pattern former provided on the substrate between neighboring rollers from among the plurality of rollers, and forming a pattern on the substrate; an absorber facing the pattern former with the substrate therebetween, and absorbing the substrate; a light irradiator neighboring the pattern former and irradiating light to the pattern; and a controller for controlling the roller, the pattern former, the absorber, and the light irradiator so that the pattern may be formed on the substrate and light may be irradiated to the pattern.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a roll-to-roll pattern forming device and a roll-to-roll pattern forming method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a roll-to-roll pattern forming device for forming a conductive pattern, and a roll-to-roll pattern forming method.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A pattern forming method is a method for forming a pattern with a desired shape on a predetermine part of a substrate.
Recently, a skill for forming a fluid- or paste-type conductive pattern on a predetermined portion of a flexible substrate like a film including at least one of paper, PET, and polyimide by using a printing scheme, thermally treating the conductive pattern to bake or sinter it, and thereby allowing it to be absorbed into the substrate has been used.
However, when the conductive pattern is formed on the flexible substrate, the flexible substrate has a curved surface so the conductive pattern is not formed at an accurate position.
Further, when the conductive pattern is thermally treated, the flexible substrate is physically or chemically transformed by heat and the entire processing time is increased, which causes inefficiency. Techniques for sintering the pattern by use of laser beams or microwaves have are currently being attempted, and when the laser beams are in use, it is difficult to process a wide-area pattern, and when the microwaves are used, the processing time is increased.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Device and method for forming roll-to-roll pattern

KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


A printing method and a printing device, in which printing quality can be maintained without increasing time necessary for printing even if resolution is enhanced. In the printing method, a reference signal is sent at intervals shorter than a minimum time interval at which an ink head provided with plural nozzles can eject ink, at least two reference signals set longer than the minimum time interval are counted as one count, the ink is ejected every one count, and a print pattern is formed by collectivity of the ejected ink. At least a final one count used to form the print pattern is adjusted so as to be lengthened by one or plural reference signals, and the ink is ejected every one count.

A printing device that performs printing by ejecting ink from a nozzle of an ink head ejects an ink drop to a surface of a workpiece arranged below the ink head. For example, the workpiece is placed on an X-Y table, and the workpiece and the ink head move relatively in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction. The X-Y table may move and the ink head may move.
During the relative movement between the workpiece and the ink head, the ink drop is ejected from the ink head to perform the printing on the surface of the workpiece. Through an inkjet system, a desired print pattern (functional film) is printed while ink drop ejection timing is controlled, thereby producing an electronic component, an electronic device, and an electronic instrument (for example, see Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open No. 2009-292017).
In the case that the printing is performed by the inkjet system, printing speed depends on resolution. FIGS. 10A to 10C are conceptual views illustrating a relationship between the resolution and the printing speed in a conventional printing device.
As illustrated in FIGS. 10A to 10C, it is necessary to consider the resolution in a moving direction of an ink head 2 and the resolution in an array direction of nozzles 21 of the ink head 2. The resolution in the array direction of the nozzles 21 of the ink head 2 is uniquely decided by an arrangement structure of the nozzles 21. On the other hand, the resolution in the moving direction of the ink head 2 is decided based on an ejection frequency (an inverse of an ejection time interval) of the ink drop and printing speed (relative speed between the ink head 2 and the workpiece).


The ventilator control method for delivery of respiratory gas to a patient involves an apparatus which includes a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure within a gas containment vessel, the control of the flow of respiratory gas into the containment vessel responsive to pressure within the containment vessel, and the control of the outflow of respiratory gas responsive to changes in pressure in the containment vessel. Both the inflow of gas to a receiver tank and outflow of respiratory gas are responsive to modes of breathing being provided to a patient.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to breathing ventilators, and more particularly to a pneumatically driven, electronically controlled ventilator system for mixing gas proportions and delivering breathing gas for either controlled or spontaneous breaths.
2. Prior Art
Conventional breathing ventilators generally provide a positive over pressure of breathing gas to a patient, and may provide respiratory gas under pressure in a predetermined manner responsive to pressure variations in the breathing pattern of the patient, or may operate to supply a predetermined volume of respiratory gas to a patient in a controlled manner for each breath. The breathing gas is generally provided with an elevated concentration of oxygen. An oxygen concentrator having a reservoir for receiving the oxygenated product gas, including a sensor for monitoring withdrawal of the product gas from the reservoir, and a microprocessor for determining the minimum time for charging of the gas to provide a product gas with a selected oxygen concentration at the sensed rate of withdrawal is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,287 (Rowland). A plurality of canisters with molecular sieve beds for absorbing nitrogen provide the oxygenated gas to the reservoir, and a valve mechanism is provided for directing air from a compressor to alternate sieve beds. Another system for mixing the two gases in predetermined proportions involves the introduction of two gases via separate inlets into a pressure vessel receiving the first gas up to a first pressure, and then receiving the second gas up to a second pressure, to provide the proper proportioning of the mixed gases. This system is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,022,234 and 4,023,587 (Dobritz). The mixed gases are withdrawn until the initial pressure within the receiving vessel is reached, at which time the withdrawal of gas is interrupted, and the mixing cycle is again commenced. The feedback control of the rate of flow and pressure of breathing gas to a patient by an inspiration servounit is also described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,741,208 (Jonsson, et al.)
It would be desirable to provide a ventilator system which can mix the constituent gases in a respiratory gas in a manner responsive to pressure within the respiratory gas contained in the receiving vessel, and responsive to the various modes of breathing for which the respiratory gas is being provided.

Method for controlling mixing and delivery of respiratory gas


A semiconductor device for sensing infrared radiation is provided. In an embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a sensor configuration which includes a light receiving portion for converting incident photons into heat and a sensing portion integrated with the light receiving portion and having a resistance varying according to the converted heat; and a sensing circuit which includes a common mode current providing portion and a current subtraction portion, wherein the common mode current providing portion outputs a common mode current related to a value of a current which is flowing in the sensing portion when there is no incident light and the current subtraction portion outputs subtraction currents for the common mode current and a sensing current related to a current output from the sensing portion.

Various methods have been employed to implement devices for sensing infrared radiation. Among infrared sensors, microbolometer infrared sensors are notable, because of the method used to sense infrared rays; by measuring an electric signal that changes according to temperature differences caused by absorbed heat from infrared rays.
Typically, a non-cooled infrared sensor such as a micro-bolometer includes a light receiving portion and a detecting portion. The light receiving portion converts energy of photons into heat, and the detecting portion detects electric signals, such as resistance, capacitance, and pyroelectric effect, which change according to the temperature caused by the heat converted by the light receiving portion.
The conventional infrared sensors, especially, a resistive sensor includes a resistive detecting element which may be vanadium oxide (VOx), poly-silicon, amorphous-silicon, thermistor (MnNiCO)3O4 or a diode. VOx has an advantageously good resistance change rate to temperature change, whereas it has a fatal disadvantage that the flicker noise is excessively large. Thus, the conventional resistive infrared sensor using such material as the resistive detecting element, has system performance that drastically deteriorates (especially at a low frequency where the influence of flicker noise substantially increases). To solve the problem such as the flicker noise, titanium with a very small flicker noise has been used for the resistive detecting element. However, since material such as titanium has a too small resistance change rate to temperature change, it is not suitable for the detecting element of the infrared sensor.
Furthermore, according to the conventional art, sometimes a mechanical chopper is externally provided to the infrared sensor to improve the sensor's performance in sensing infrared radiation. This is used principally for ferroelectric devices and sometimes (but not necessarily) for microbolometers. The mechanical chopper periodically cuts off photons to maintain a detecting element below a reference temperature. The mechanical chopper, when used, greatly increases the complexity of an infrared detecting system. That is, the mechanical chopper complicates the assembly processes of the infrared sensing system, increases the manufacturing cost, and causes various limitations in operation.
Moreover, the semiconductor device includes a detecting element that outputs electric current, and the output electric current responding to light has a significantly weak intensity. Since the magnitude of a common mode current which is output in dark conditions is significantly large and the common mode current itself changes according to temperature, it is difficult to accurately measure a sensing current output from a sensor.
Furthermore, according to the conventional art, all non-cooled thermal imaging detectors suffer from image lag, where in image lag is the remaining parts of one frame of a video still being present in the current frame of video. This effect manifests itself as a smearing and ghosting.

Semiconductor for sensing infrared radiation and method thereof

Abstract: In another embodiment, the sensing configuration includes a heat removing portion which is disposed to form an empty space between the heat removing portion and the light receiving portion and the sensing portion, and removes accumulated heat from the light receiving portion and the sensing portion, and the sensing circuit includes an actuating voltage supplying portion which applies electric potential between the sensing portion and the heat removing portion to make the light receiving portion and the sensing portion elastically deflect into the empty space and consequently contact the heat removing portion to remove the heat.


An improved method and apparatus for using common mode feedback to maintain a predetermined DC level for an intermediate frequency output signal. A common mode feedback capacitor-select switch module is operable to use a bandwidth control signal from a radio interface of a wireless device to selectively connect a plurality of common mode feedback capacitors to an operational amplifier, thereby generating a common mode feedback signal as an input to an active mixer conversion gain module. The predetermined combination of common mode feedback capacitors is used in combination with a plurality of bandwidth capacitors to generate an overall capacitance that maintains the bandwidth of the system at a predetermined value. A predetermined capacitance value is “shifted” from the bandwidth capacitor bank to the CMFB capacitor bank, thereby providing an overall ratio that maintains the bandwidth while defining a predetermined capacitance connected to the operational amplifier to generate a desired common mode feedback signal that maintains the phase margin of the output signal at a predetermined level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed in general to wireless communication systems. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method and system for controlling the common mode feedback phase margin of a variable-output-bandwidth mixer in a wireless communication device.
2. Related Art
Communication systems are known to support wireless and wire-lined communications between wireless and/or wire-lined communication devices. Such communication systems range from national and/or international cellular telephone systems to the Internet to point-to-point in-home wireless networks. Each type of communication system is constructed, and hence operates, in accordance with one or more communication standards. For instance, wireless communication systems may operate in accordance with one or more standards including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth (BT), advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), local multi-point distribution systems (LMDS), multi-channel-multi-point distribution systems (MMDS) and/or variations thereof.
Depending on the type of wireless communication system, a wireless communication device (such as a cellular telephone, two-way radio, personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer (PC), laptop computer, home entertainment equipment, etc.) communicates directly or indirectly with other wireless communication devices. For direct communications (also known as point-to-point communications), the participating wireless communication devices tune their receivers and transmitters to the same channel or channels (e.g., one of the plurality of radio frequency (RF) carriers of the wireless communication system) and communicate over the tuned channel(s). For indirect wireless communications, each wireless communication device communicates directly with an associated base station (e.g., for cellular services) and/or an associated access point (e.g., for an in-home or in-building wireless network) via an assigned channel. To complete a communication connection between the wireless communication devices, the associated base stations and/or associated access points communicate with each other directly, via a system controller, via the public switched telephone network, via the Internet, and/or via some other wide area network.
Wireless communication devices typically communicate with one another using a radio transceiver (i.e., receiver and transmitter) that may be incorporated in, or coupled to, the wireless communication device. The transmitter typically includes a data modulation stage, one or more intermediate frequency stages, and a power amplifier. The data modulation stage converts raw data into baseband signals in accordance with a particular wireless communication standard. The intermediate frequency stages mix the baseband signals with one or more local oscillations to produce RF signals. The power amplifier amplifies the RF signals prior to transmission via an antenna. In direct conversion transmitters/receivers, conversion directly between baseband signals and RF signals is performed. The receiver is typically coupled to an antenna and includes a low noise amplifier, one or more intermediate frequency stages, a filtering stage, and a data recovery stage. The low noise amplifier receives inbound RF signals via the antenna and amplifies them. The intermediate frequency stages mix the amplified RF signals with one or more local oscillations to convert the amplified RF signal into baseband signals or intermediate frequency (IF) signals. The filtering stage filters the baseband signals or the IF signals to attenuate unwanted out of band signals to produce filtered signals. The data recovery stage recovers raw data from the filtered signals in accordance with the particular wireless communication standard.
Wireless communication devices for multimedia audio and video applications generally require a higher data rate than is currently available with devices operating under the 802.11 (a), (b), and (g) standards. Several draft standards (such as the 802.11(n) draft standard) have been proposed to implement faster data rates for wireless devices. Wireless devices operating under these standards will be capable of providing data rates up to 200 Mbps. Since these standards have not been finalized, they will be referred to generically as 802.11(x) herein.
Active common mode feedback (CMFB) is a very effective way to set the DC level of a down conversion module employing an adaptive mixer used in a wireless communication device. In general, most design criteria for wireless transceivers require 45 degrees of phase margin in the output of the adaptive mixer. In down conversion modules wherein resistance loads and bandwidth-compensating capacitors are used to control the gain and bandwidth of an output signal, however, it is very common to have a phase margin for the output signal which falls below the desired design criteria. There is a need, therefore, for an improved down conversion module that employs common mode feedback to control the DC level of the output signal.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method to improve CMFB phase margin of variable-output-bandwidth mixer