Provided is a method and a kit for testing the immune status of patients with chronic inflammatory diseases by measuring the TCR zeta chain (CD247) expression levels, and in particular a method and a kit for testing the selective downregulation of TCR zeta chain expression in T cells, NK cells, or NKT cells of such patients. Zeta chain expression is measured using antibodies directed against the intracellular zeta chain region, and these levels are compared with the expression levels of other T cell receptor subunits and NK cell markers. Thus, a kit for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring the immune status, of patients with chronic inflammatory diseases is presented herein.

The T cell receptor (TCR) complex consists of the clonotypic TCRα and β chains and the invariant CD3 γ, δ, ε and ζ chains, which are assembled in the endoplasmic reticulum and transported to the cell surface.
In various chronic pathologies such as cancer, autoimmune disorders and infectious diseases, partial or severe T lymphocyte and Natural Killer (NK) cell dysfunctions associated with a bystander down regulation of the ζ chain (CD247) was reported (reviewed in [1]). ζ chain is expressed in both T lymphocytes and NK cells as part of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) and NK cytotoxic receptors (NCRs), respectively. In both cell types, the ζ chain has a key role in receptor assembly, expression and signaling function. The in vivo immunological mechanism underlying this phenomenon, which is observed as noted above in various diseases that largely differ in their etiology and physiology, was recently explored. It was shown that chronic inflammation is responsible for the induction of the bystander T and NK cell dysfunctions associated with ζ chain down regulation (2, 3 and 4). These studies revealed that low levels of ζ chain expression directly correlate with a chronic inflammation-dependent immunosuppressive environment. ζ chain down-regulation is not detected during acute inflammation. Moreover, elimination of the stimulus inducing the chronic inflammatory response leads to the recovery of ζ expression to normal levels.
Thus, ζ down regulation is a reversible event that depends upon the duration and severity of the inflammatory response. Our cumulative data led us to suggest that ζ chain down regulation could serve as a biomarker distinguishing between acute and chronic inflammation in patients suffering from diseases characterized by chronic inflammation and detects the ensuing immunosuppression. Moreover, due to its characteristics ζ chain could serve as a biomarker for detecting the patient's immune status; an immunosuppressive immune system and its recovery, upon a given treatment that will induce neutralization of the immunosuppressive environment and thus, recovery of the immune function.
WO05025310 describes the use of ζ chain expression level as a marker for an immunosuppressive environment, wherein down regulation of TCR ζ chain expression indicates the presence of an immunosuppressive environment. This application mentions the immunosuppressive environment as being indicative of one of the following conditions: chronic inflammation, cancer, infections and autoimmune disorders. This application also mentions the use of ζ chain expression as a prognostic marker for the emergence of an immunosuppressive environment (as a predictive biomarker) for predicting the immune status in any of the above-mentioned conditions.
Various studies reported the detection of zeta chain expression in autoimmune disease patients or in cancer patients (6, 7) using either isolated T-cells or PBLs isolated on Ficoll gradient. In such samples T cells are isolated from the original immunosuppressive cells in the environment that could lead to zeta chain recovery and gain of immune function. Eleftheriadis et al (5) showed that zeta chain expression is downregulated in hemodialysis patients (HD) as compared to healthy subjects. In this study although both diabetic and non-diabetic HD patients were studied, the study emphasized the effects of HD on zeta chain expression and did not suggest involvement of zeta chain downregulation in non-HD diabetic patients.
The metabolic system and the immune system are among the most fundamental systems required for survival. Many metabolic and immune response pathways or nutrient- and pathogen-sensing systems have been evolutionarily conserved throughout species. As a result, immune response and metabolic regulation are highly integrated and the proper function of each is dependent on the other. This interface can be viewed as a central homeostatic mechanism, dysfunction of which can lead to a cluster of chronic metabolic disorders characterized by chronic inflammation, particularly obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease (8). Collectively, the risks and complications of these diseases constitute the greatest current threat to global human health and welfare.
Diabetes mellitus comprises a group of diseases that manifest hyperglycemia associated with end organ complications (9). Up to date, no linkage between chronic inflammation-induced immunosuppression and complication appearance in diabetes was made.
One of the major medical problems today of patients suffering from diabetes is the inability to predict complications prior to their diagnosis and there is a lack in parameters measuring competency of a given therapy. Currently, inflammation measurements rely mainly on CRP levels, blood sedimentation rates and levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, since these compounds are elevated under both acute and chronic inflammation, neither of them can uniquely point at a chronic inflammatory state and therefore, most complications of diabetes patients are diagnosed only upon their occurrence (10, 11).

Kit for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring the immune status, of patients with chronic inflammatory diseases

YISSUM RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT COMPANY OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM, LTD.


A paper feeder includes a storage section, a feed path, a delivery section, and a receiving section. The storage section is configured to store therein plural sheet members to be fed to a processing apparatus which is operative to perform processing on the sheet members. The feed path allows each of the plural sheet members fed from the storage section to pass therethrough in a feed direction toward the processing apparatus. The delivery section is located most downstream on the feed path in the feed direction. The feed path is open to exterior in the delivery section. The receiving section is located upstream of the feed path in the feed direction for communication with a delivery section of a separate paper feeder having an identical construction with the present paper feeder when the separate paper feeder is disposed upstream of the present paper feeder in the feed direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a paper feeder configured to store in a storage section thereof a plurality of sheet members to be feed to a processing apparatus configured to perform processing on such sheet members, the paper feeder having a feed path for transporting the sheet members from the storage section to the processing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus is one example of a processing apparatus configured to perform processing on sheet members, such as recording sheets, fed from a paper feeder. In recent years, such image forming apparatus have progressed toward increases in multifunction capability and in printing speed. For example, an image forming apparatus has been developed which has plural processing modes including a copier mode, printer mode and FAX mode and exhibits a printing speed of one or more sheets per second. Such a high-speed image forming apparatus calls for a paper feeder capable of feeding a large number of recording sheets. The necessity of such a paper feeder becomes high particularly when the image forming apparatus operates in such a mode as the printer mode or FAX mode which does not necessarily need the presence of the user near the apparatus.
In the FAX mode, in particular, a large-capacity paper feeder is indispensable. This is because where the image forming apparatus accumulates in its memory a large quantity of information received in the absence of the user, for example, during nighttime without performing printing for avoiding running out of recording sheet, the memory of the image forming apparatus is required to have a large capacity and a time loss will occur in later printing of the information accumulated in the memory.
However, even such a large-capacity paper feeder cannot store an unlimited number of recording sheets. Generally, the upper limit of a storable number of recording sheets ranges from about 2,000 to about 4,000. This is because the load to be imposed on the lift-up mechanism increases with increasing number of recording sheets to be stored and, when the number of recording sheets becomes excessive, the lift-up mechanism needs to be made more solid, which will result in increases in the size of the paper feeder and in cost while making it difficult to adjust the height of a stack of recording sheets precisely. The lift-up mechanism is configured to lift up such a recording sheet stack in order to keep the height position of the topmost sheet of the stack held in the paper feeder within a predetermined range, whenever necessary.
In view of this situation, a large-capacity paper feeder to be disposed adjacent to such an image forming apparatus separately from the paper feeder section provided within the image forming apparatus is under development. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 5-193766 discloses a paper feeder having plural sheet storage sections vertically arranged in tier for storing an increased number of recording sheets. Each recording sheet fed from this paper feeder is taken into the image forming apparatus through a sheet feed inlet which is continuous with sheet feed path defined in the image forming apparatus. The sheet feed inlet of the image forming apparatus is positioned so as to be continuous with the sheet feed path.
Since the sheet feed inlet of the image forming apparatus is thus positioned so as to be continuous with the sheet feed path for communication, a sheet storage section of the conventional paper feeder which is positioned at a height different from that of the sheet feed inlet defines a bent or curved sheet feed path between the sheet storage section and the sheet feed inlet. For this reason, each recording sheet being fed within the paper feeder is likely to curve due to increasing possibility of folding or bending, which will incur the occurrence of jam during feeding and degradation in print quality.
A feature of the present invention is to provide a paper feeder which is capable of feeding a large number of sheet members such as recording sheets while preventing such sheet members from curving, hence, from jamming during feeding.


The invention is a method and a system for the providing of service to user equipment (UE). A method of providing services to user equipment in accordance with the invention includes providing from a database (420) to a policy decision entity (405) subscriber information regarding permitted conditions for the users to obtain the services; providing service information from at least one network or server (100), regarding service offered by the at least one network or server to the user equipment, forming policy rules at the policy decision entity based upon the subscriber information and the service information. A requesting user equipment transmits a request for service to the communications network which is processed by the policy decision entity in accordance with the policy rules to determine if the service is to be allowed and if the service is allowed characteristics of the service to be provided to the requesting user equipment and the policy enforcement entity enforces at least one characteristic of an allowed service upon the communication network to insure that the allowed service obtained by the requesting user equipment has the at least one characteristic of the allowed service.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless communications. In particular, the present invention relates to control of the Quality of Service (QoS) for wireless communications.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional wireless communication networks suffer from the problem of static, limited traffic classification capability. FIG. 1 shows a network having a plurality of application provider networks (APNs) 100-1 to 100-n connected to a Gateway GPRS Service Node (GGSN) 440 through respective QoS controls 110-1 to 110-n. Communication services are provided to terminals 160 through corresponding radio access networks 150 and Service GPRS Service Nodes 130. The radio access networks 150 may be R99 compliant GPRS networks including a base station system or 3GPP R99/R4 compliant WCDMA radio access networks. A Home Location Register (HLR) 140 contains one QoS profile for each APN 100.
At least some of terminals 160 are likely to be unable to make any QoS request, or to make a QoS request for different communication services. Thus, the communications services cannot depend on a traffic class based classification from the terminals 160. Instead, the network applies the same HLR based QoS control for all services provided by a single APN and is not able to give differentiated treatment for Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) browsing and Multimedia Media Messaging Service (MMS) from the same APN even if HLR 140 can set the maximum QoS profile per traffic class. Such a static HLR based control is not service-aware and has disadvantages. It is not possible to achieve differentiated treatment for different types of service usage within one traffic class and the network is sufficient only for short-term simple communication services.
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has attempted to provide for policy based admission control in Release 5 of their specifications. See www.3gpp.org. This specification includes a Policy Control Function (PCF), which although a separate logical entity from the Proxy Connection State Control Function (P-CSCF), is described as being a physical part of the P-CSCF in Release 5. FIG. 2 illustrates the implementation of the PCF as part of the P-CSCF 180. Consequently, policy based admission control is only available for communication services provided through the IP multimedia subsystem and only the IP multimedia subsystem may request resources of the radio access network (for example, GSM or UMTS) for the communication services. The Gateway GPRS Service Node (GGSN) 440 initiates policy requests at packet data protocol (PDP) context activation or modification. For QoS control of a PDP context, the PCF of the P-CSCF/Policy Control Function 180 sends an indication of the maximum allowable QoS to the GGSN 440, and the GGSN then sets a QoS (no higher than the maximum allowable QoS) for the PDP context.
The 3GPP TS 23.207 (V5.50 (2002-09) and TS 29.207 V5.1.0 (2002-09) describe the function of the PCF. These publications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
The policy control procedure of 3GPP Release 5 of the PCF is described in more detail in FIG. 3. This policy control procedure comprises the following six steps:                1. A SIP message containing SDP payload is received by the P-CSCF 210. The Session Description Protocol (SDP) payload includes the session QoS related information such as media type and bit rate.        2. The PCF 220 is a decision point and authorizes the required QoS resources for the session and installs the IP bearer level policy based on information from the P-CSCF 210. The PCF 220 generates an authorization token and sends the token to the P-CSCF 210. Upon successful authorization of the session, the P-CSCF 210 forwards (the methodology is not illustrated, but is well known) the SDP payload to the UE 160 for the originating side, with the authorization token.        3. The UE 160 sends an Activate (Secondary) PDP Context Request to the SGSN 130 with the UMTS QoS parameters. The UE 160 includes the Binding Information (authentication token and flow IDs) in the Activate PDP Context Request. The SGSN 130 sends the corresponding Create PDP Context Request to the GGSN 440.        4. The GGSN 440 sends a Common Open Policy Service Protocol (COPS) protocol REQ message with the Binding Information to the PCF 220 in order to obtain relevant policy information. The message includes a token and flow identification(s).        5. The PCF 220 sends a COPS decision (DEC) message back to the GGSN 440. A DEC message from the PCF 220 to the GGSN 440 contains decision objects. A Decision object shall include one of the following commands:                    NULL Decision (No configuration data available)            Install (Admit request/Install configuration, Commit)            Remove (Remove request/Remove configuration)            These commands are used to: (a) Authorize QoS/Revoke QoS authorization for one or more IP flows (b) Control forwarding for one or more IP flows                        6. The GGSN 440 maps IP flow based policy information into PDP context based policy information and uses the PDP context based policy information to accept the PDP activation request, and sends a Create PDP Context Response message back to SGSN 130. The SGSN 130 sends an Activate (Secondary) PDP Context Accept to UE 160.
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is currently developing Release 6 of their specifications, including enhanced policy based admission control. It has been proposed to separate the PCF 220 from P-CSCF 210 so that services other than those provided through the IP multimedia subsystem could benefit from the policy based admission control.
A method of providing services to user equipment in a communications network including a database storing subscriber information regarding users of the user equipment obtaining the services, a policy enforcement entity to which the user equipment is coupled to obtain connection to sessions and a policy decision entity which is coupled to the policy enforcement entity and to the database which determines policy governing the providing of the services from at least one network or server coupled to the policy decision entity, in accordance with the invention includes providing from the database to the policy decision entity the subscriber information regarding permitted conditions for the users to obtain the services; providing service provider information from the at least one network or server regarding the services offered to the user equipment, which is utilized by the policy decision entity; and forming policy rules at the policy decision entity based upon the subscriber information and the service information; and wherein a requesting user equipment transmits a request for a session to the communications network which is processed by the policy decision entity in accordance with the policy rules to determine if a session is to be allowed and if the session is allowed determining characteristics of the service to be provided to the requesting user equipment and the policy enforcement entity enforces at least one characteristic of an allowed session upon the communication network to insure that the allowed session obtained by the requesting user equipment has the at least one characteristic of the allowed session. The policy decision entity may be a policy control function. The policy enforcement entity may be a Gateway General Packet Radio Access Node (GGSN). The subscriber information may comprise allowed services which may be provided to the user equipment by the at least one network or server. The allowed services may be defined by a service name, a quality of service class and a bit rate at which the requested session is provided to the requesting user equipment by the at least one network or server. The subscriber information may comprise allowed services which may be provided to the user equipment by the at least one network or server. The list of services may include a service name, quality of service class and an allowed bit rate is processed by the policy decision entity as part of forming the policy rules. The service information may comprise quality of service information. The quality of service information may comprise bandwidth. The service information may comprise quality of service information. The policy rules may be default policy rules when the subscriber information is not available which is not dependent upon information the varies with different subscribers. The communications may be a packet switched network.
A system for controlling the providing of service to user equipment in accordance with the invention includes a communication system including a database storing subscriber information regarding subscription of users of the user equipment to obtain sessions of the services, a policy enforcement entity to which the user equipment is coupled to obtain the services, and a policy decision entity which is coupled to the policy enforcement entity and to the database; and at least one network or server which is coupled to the policy decision entity that provides the sessions of the services to the user equipment through the policy decision entity; and wherein the at least one network or server provides service information to the policy decision entity regarding the sessions of the services which are offered to the user equipment, the database provides the stored subscriber information to the policy decision entity regarding subscription of the users of the user equipment to obtain the sessions of the services provided by the at least one network or server, the policy decision entity formulates policy rules defining characteristics of the sessions which may be obtained by users of the user equipment from the at least one network or server in response to the subscriber information and the service information and the policy enforcement entity in response to the policy rules enforces the obtaining of the sessions of the services by the user equipment through the wireless system in accordance with at least one characteristic. The policy decision entity may be a policy control function. The policy enforcement entity may be a Gateway General Packet Radio Access Node (GGSN). The characteristics may comprise a name of service, quality of service and a bit rate of the session to be provided to a requesting user equipment. The subscriber information may comprise allowed services which may be provided to the user equipment. The allowed services may be defined by information including a service name, a quality of service class and a bit rate at which the requested session is provided to the requesting user equipment. The service information may comprise quality of service information. The communications network may be a packet switched network.
In a system for controlling the providing of services to user equipment comprising a communication system including a policy enforcement entity to which the user equipment is coupled to obtain the services, and a policy decision entity which is coupled to the policy enforcement entity and to a database, and at least one network or server which is coupled to the policy decision entity that provides the services to the user equipment through the policy enforcement entity, an entity in accordance with the invention includes a database in the communication system which stores subscriber information regarding subscription of users of the user equipment to obtain the services from the at least one network or server; and wherein the at least one network or server provides service information to the policy decision entity regarding the services which are offered to the user equipment, the database provides the stored subscriber information to the policy decision entity regarding subscription of the users of the user equipment to obtain the services provided by the at least one network or server, the policy decision entity formulates policy rules defining characteristics of the services which may be obtained by users of the user equipment from the at least one network or server in response to the subscriber information and the service information and the policy enforcement entity in response to the policy rules enforces the obtaining of the services by the user equipment through the system in accordance with at least one characteristic. The policy decision entity may be a policy control function. The policy enforcement entity may be a Gateway General Packet Radio Access Node (GGSN). The characteristics may comprise a name of service, quality of service and a bit rate of the session to be provided to a requesting user equipment. The subscriber information may comprise allowed services which may be provided to the user equipment. The allowed services may be defined by information including a service name, a quality of service class and a bit rate at which the requested session is provided to the requesting user equipment. The service information may comprise quality of service information. The quality of service information may comprise bandwidth. The communications system may be a packet switched network.
In a communications system including a policy enforcement entity to which user equipment is coupled to obtain connection to services and a policy decision entity which is coupled to the policy enforcement entity which determines policy governing the providing of the services from at least one network or server coupled to the policy decision entity, wherein service information is provided from at least one network or server, regarding service offered by the at least one network or server to the user equipment, which is utilized by the policy decision entity to formulate, policy rules based upon subscriber information and the service information, and a requesting user equipment transmits a request for a service with at least one of the at least one network or server which is processed in accordance with the policy rules to determine if the service is to be allowed and if the service is allowed determining characteristics of the service to be provided to the requesting user equipment and the policy enforcement entity enforces at least one characteristic of an allowed service upon the communication network to insure that the allowed service obtained by the requesting user equipment has the at least one characteristic of the allowed service, a method in accordance with the invention includes providing from a database to the policy decision entity the subscriber information regarding permitted conditions for the user equipment to obtain the service which is used by the policy decision entity as part of the formulation of the policy rules; and providing services to the user equipment in accordance with the at least one characteristic of the allowed service. The policy decision entity may be a policy control function. The policy enforcement entity may be a Gateway General Packet Radio Access Node (GGSN). The subscriber information may comprise allowed services which may be provided to the user equipment by the at least one network or server. The allowed services may be defined by a service name, a quality of service class and a bit rate at which the requested session is provided to the requesting user equipment by the at least one network or server. The subscriber information may comprise allowed services which may be provided to the user equipment by the at least one network or server. The requests for services may be transmitted to the policy enforcement entity and from the policy enforcement entity to the policy decision entity; and wherein an identification and an access point name of the at least one network or server from which the service is requested may be transmitted to the policy decision entity and to a system, including the database, which in response thereto transmits a list of services allowed to be provided to the requesting user equipment. The service information may comprise quality of service information. The quality of service information may comprise bandwidth. The requests for services may be transmitted to the policy enforcement entity and from the policy enforcement entity to the policy enforcement entity; and an identification and an access point name of the at least one network or server from which the service is requested may be transmitted to the policy decision entity and to a system, including the database, which in response thereto transmits a list of services allowed to be provided to the requesting user equipment. The communications system may be a packet switched network.
Like reference numerals identify like parts throughout the drawings.


A method of controlling a gas compression system includes comparing an engine load of an engine of the gas compression system during operation to a load threshold and controlling a suction valve coupled to an intake of a reciprocating compressor. The suction valve is controlled based at least in part on the comparison of the engine load to the load threshold. Controlling the suction valve includes incrementing the suction valve toward a closed position to reduce flow of a gas into the intake when the engine load is greater than or equal to the load threshold.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to gas compression systems, and more specifically to a system and method for controlling a load on an engine that drives a reciprocating compressor of the gas compression system.
Gas compression systems may receive a gaseous fluid from an upstream source, increase the pressure of the gaseous fluid, and supply the gaseous fluid at the increased pressure to one or more downstream systems. Some gas compression systems utilize an engine to drive a gas compressor, such as a reciprocating compressor. The load on the engine may vary greatly during operation of the gas compression system. Some gas compression systems are located in remote areas, thereby increasing the time and cost associated with maintenance of components of the gas compression systems. Configuring the engine and gas compressor of a gas compression system to operate conservatively may reduce unscheduled maintenance events, but also reduce revenue and system efficiency. Configuring the engine and gas compressor of a gas compression system to operate aggressively may increase revenue and system efficiency during operation, but unscheduled maintenance events may increase costs, may occur more frequently, or both.

Method and system for gas compressor control


The present disclosure is directed to a micro-fluid ejection head for a micro-fluid ejection device. The head includes a semiconductor substrate, a fluid ejection actuator supported by the semiconductor substrate, a nozzle member containing nozzle holes attached to the substrate for expelling droplets of fluid from one or more nozzle holes in the nozzle member upon activation of the ejection actuator. The substrate further includes a thermal insulating barrier layer between the semiconductor substrate and the fluid ejection actuator. The thermal insulating barrier layer includes a porous, substantially impermeable material having a thermal conductivity of less than about 1 W/m-K.

A micro-fluid ejector device, such as a thermal ink jet printer, forms an image on a printing surface by ejecting small droplets of ink from an array of nozzles on an ink jet printhead as the printhead traverses the print medium. The fluid droplets are expelled from a micro-fluid ejection head when a pulse of electrical current flows through the fluid ejector actuator on the ejection head. When the fluid ejection actuator is a resistive fluid ejector actuator, vaporization of a small portion of the fluid creates a rapid pressure increase that expels a drop of fluid from a nozzle positioned over the resistive fluid ejector actuator. Typically, there is one resistive fluid ejector actuator corresponding to each nozzle of a nozzle array on the ejection head. The resistive fluid ejector actuators are activated under the control of a microprocessor in the controller of micro-fluid ejection device.
In the case of resistive fluid ejector actuators, electrical energy pulses applied to the fluid ejector actuators must be sufficient to vaporize the fluid, such as ink. Any energy produced by the resistive fluid ejector actuator that is not absorbed by the fluid or used to vaporize the fluid ends up being absorbed into the semiconductor substrate of the micro-fluid ejection head. Hence, the total energy applied to the fluid ejector actuator includes the energy absorbed by the substrate, the energy absorbed by the fluid, and the energy used to vaporize the fluid. Excess energy may result in an undesirable and potentially damaging overheating of the micro-fluid ejection head.
Furthermore, because it is desirable to expel fluid as quickly as possible, there is a continual push to increase the number of droplets expelled per unit of time. Unfortunately, as the number of ejection pulses in any given amount of time increases, the heat generated in the micro-fluid ejection head also increases. If the ejection head becomes too hot, the delicate semiconductor structures in the substrate may be damaged. Accordingly, it has become convention in the manufacture of micro-fluid ejection heads to incorporate a thermal barrier layer between the fluid ejector actuators and the substrate.
For example, with reference to FIG. 1, conventional micro-fluid ejection head 10 include a semiconductor substrate 12, e.g., a silicon substrate, having an oxide barrier layer 14 applied thereto to serve as a thermal barrier between the silicon substrate and a resistive layer 16 that provides the fluid ejector actuators 17. One or more protective layers 18 are provided on the resistive layer 16 to protect the resistive layer from chemical and mechanical damage. The oxide barrier layer 14 is typically a relatively dense and substantially continuous film of a thermal oxide with, optionally, a layer of borophososilicate glass on one side thereof. Conventional oxide barrier layers 14 function to prevent the energy from the ejector actuators 17 from migrating into the silicon substrate 12. However, the specific heat of the barrier layer 14 typically results in a significant absorption or collection by the barrier layer 14 of heat from the ejector actuators, which results in heat losses that reduce the thermal efficiency of the micro-fluid ejection head 10.
Therefore, a need exists for a way to reduce heat losses to adjacent layers of a micro-fluid ejection head to provide semiconductor devices, such as micro-fluid ejection heads, having improved thermal and electrical efficiency.
The foregoing and other needs may be provided by an improved micro-fluid ejection head for a micro-fluid ejection device as described herein. The micro-fluid ejection head includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of fluid ejection actuators supported by the semiconductor substrate, a nozzle member containing nozzle holes attached to the substrate for expelling droplets of fluid from one or more nozzle holes in the nozzle member upon activation of the ejection actuators. The substrate further includes a thermal insulating barrier layer disposed between the semiconductor substrate and the fluid ejection actuators. The thermal insulating barrier layer includes a porous, substantially impermeable material having a thermal conductivity of less than about 1 W/m-K.
In another embodiment, there is provided a micro-fluid ejection structure for expelling droplets of fluid. The fluid ejection structure includes a thermal fluid ejector actuator wherein the thermal fluid ejector actuator increases in temperature and vaporizes a volume of fluid in contact therewith when a voltage is applied to the thermal fluid ejection actuator. A semiconductor substrate for supporting the thermal fluid ejection actuator is provided. An insulating layer having a thermal conductivity of less than about 1 W/m-K is disposed between the thermal fluid ejection actuator and the semiconductor substrate.
Yet another embodiment of the disclosure provides a method for reducing energy consumption for a micro-fluid ejection head. The method includes depositing a thermal insulating layer having a thermal conductivity of less than about 1 W/m-K on a semiconductor support substrate. A resistive layer is deposited on the semiconductor support substrate to provide a fluid ejector actuator. The thermal insulating layer is disposed between the resistive layer and the support substrate.
According to exemplary embodiments provided herein, the porous, substantially impermeable material providing the insulating layer serves to reduce the flow of heat from the ejector actuators toward the silicon layer, thus minimizing heat losses during activation of the ejector actuators during fluid ejection operations.
The above described embodiment improves upon the prior art in a number of respects. The structure of the present disclosure may significantly lower the energy consumption of the fluid ejector actuator by reducing heat dissipation to the area surrounding the ejector actuator and thereby minimize problems associated with over heating of the substrate. The disclosure lends itself to a variety of applications in the field of micro-fluid ejection devices, and particularly in regards to energy efficient inkjet printheads.

Reduction of heat loss in micro-fluid ejection devices


Viscerotomy closure devices and methods of use close a hole in a bodily organ, such as one created during a natural orifice transgastric surgery procedure. A mesh with a hole in its center and an attached loop of suture having a Roeder knot is mounted on the protruding rod of an end-to-end anastomosis stapler between the anvil and the staple carrying member. The mesh covers the staple receiving slots. When rotated when in contact with tissue, an augur-shaped blade attached to the anvil's exterior self-feeds the tissue through a notch in the anvil's base into the space between the anvil and the staple carrying member. After the stapler is fired to staple the mesh to the tissue and create a viscerotomy, a knot pusher cinches the loop of suture and subsequently tightens the Roeder knot to maintain the cinch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a viscerotomy closure device and method of use for use in connection with closing a hole created during surgery. The viscerotomy closure device and method of use has particular utility in connection with closing a hole in a bodily'organ, such as one created during a natural orifice transgastric surgery procedure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Viscerotomy closure devices and methods of use are desirable for closing a hole in a bodily organ, such as one created during a natural orifice transgastric surgery procedure. At the inception of transgastric surgery, a gastrotomy is created by placing a hole in a patient's stomach. The gastrotomy must be closed at the completion of the procedure. Conventional methods for creating and closing the gastrotomy are time consuming and increase the possibility of undesirable reopening of the gastrotomy.
The use of circular stapler tissue retention spring methods is known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,927 to Welch discloses a circular stapler tissue retention spring method. However, the Welch '927 patent does not have a suture entrapped by a circle of staples deployed by a circular stapler that acts as a purse string, and has further drawbacks of lacking an augur-shaped blade.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,182,239 to Myers discloses a segmented introducer device for a circular surgical stapler that is capable of fitting onto the center rods of circular stapling devices having different stapler head diameters. However, the Myers '239 patent does not have a suture entrapped by a circle of staples deployed by a circular stapler that acts as a purse string, and additionally does not have an augur-shaped blade.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,648 to Gingold discloses a surgical stapling apparatus that joins hollow tubular organs. However, the Gingold '648 patent does not have a suture entrapped by a circle of staples deployed by a circular stapler that acts as a purse string, and cannot does not have an augur-shaped blade.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,920 to Main et al. discloses an anvil bushing for circular stapler that is for use with a surgical circular stapler. However, the Main et al. '920 patent does not have a suture entrapped by a circle of staples deployed by a circular stapler that acts as a purse string, and also does not have an augur-shaped blade.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,025 to Main et al. discloses an intraluminal anastomotic surgical stapler with detached anvil that is a surgical stapling mechanism. However, the Main et al. '025 patent does not have a suture entrapped by a circle of staples deployed by a circular stapler that acts as a purse string, and further lacks an auger-shaped blade.
United States Patent Application Publication Number 2007/0021759 to Griffith et al. discloses a flexible endoscopic anastomotic ring applier device that deploys an anastomotic ring device. However, the Griffith et al. 2007/0021759 patent application publication does not have a suture entrapped by a circle of staples deployed by a circular stapler that acts as a purse string, and has the additional deficiency of lacking an auger-shaped blade.
In addition, United States Patent Application Publication Number 2005/0228414 to Clanton et al. discloses an apparatus and method of use of a circular surgical stapler that removes a circumferential portion of a hollow body organ from a patient. However, the Clanton et al. 2005/0228414 patent application publication does not have a suture entrapped by a circle of staples deployed by a circular stapler that acts as a purse string, and also does not have an augur-shaped blade.
Furthermore, United States Patent Application Publication Number 2004/0217146 to Green discloses a surgical stapler apparatus and method that is a surgical stapler. However, the Green 2004/0217146 patent application publication does not have a suture entrapped by a circle of staples deployed by a circular stapler that acts as a purse string, and further lacks an auger-shaped blade.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,507 to Ahn discloses a laparoscopic or endoscopic anastomosis technique and associated instruments that performs an anastomosis. However, the Ahn '507 patent does not have a suture entrapped by a circle of staples deployed by a circular stapler that acts as a purse string, and has the additional deficiency of lacking an augur-shaped blade.
In addition, United States Patent Application Publication Number 2005/0038456 to Clanton et al. discloses an anastomosis device having a deployable section that includes a deployable section. However, the Clanton et al. 2005/0038456 patent application publication does not have a suture entrapped by a circle of staples deployed by a circular stapler that acts as a purse string, and also does not have a loop of suture.
Furthermore, United States Patent Application Publication Number 2007/0129739 to Green discloses an apparatus and method for performing a bypass procedure in a digestive system that performs a bypass procedure in a digestive system. However, the Green 2007/0129739 patent application publication does not have a suture entrapped by a circle of staples deployed by a circular stapler that acts as a purse string, and further lacks an auger-shaped blade.
United States Patent Application Publication Number 2007/0203510 to Alm discloses an annular disk for reduction of anastomotic tension and methods of using the same that forms an anastomosis between adjacent tissue sections. However, the Ahn 2007/0203510 patent application publication does not have a suture entrapped by a circle of staples deployed by a circular stapler that acts as a purse string, and has the additional deficiency of lacking an augur-shaped blade.
Furthermore, United States Patent Application Publication Number 2006/0136043 to Green discloses a filament-wound implementable devices that a self-expanding implantable medical device. However, the Green 2006/0136043 patent application publication does not have a suture entrapped by a circle of staples deployed by a circular stapler that acts as a purse string, and further lacks an auger-shaped blade.
European Patent Number EP1213989 to Ahn discloses a set of accessories for transitional operations and procedures for their use that remove a cylindrical or tubular section of mucosa from a rectal ampule. However, the Ahn EP1213989 patent does not have a suture entrapped by a circle of staples deployed by a circular stapler that acts as a purse string, and has the additional deficiency of lacking an augur-shaped blade.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,917 to Clanton et al. discloses a tissue gripper for use with intraluminal stapling device that holds tissue to be joined in the proper position with respect to the fasteners used to accomplish the fastening. However, the Clanton et al. '917 patent does not have a suture entrapped by a circle of staples deployed by a circular stapler that acts as a purse string, and also does not have a loop of suture.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,114 to Green discloses a purse string applicator and method of affixing a purse string that fixes a string about the periphery of an aperture with staples for use as a purse string. However, the Green '114 patent does not have a suture attached to a mesh entrapped by a circle of staples deployed by a circular stapler that acts as a purse string, and further lacks an auger-shaped blade.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,117 to Ahn discloses a method of endoscopic stapling and suturing and instrument therefor that removably positions a suture in front of and in registry with the staple discharge opening such that a staple discharge therefrom will affix the suture to a target tissue. However, the Ahn '117 patent application publication does not have a suture attached to a mesh entrapped by a circle of staples deployed by a circular stapler that acts as a purse string, and has the additional deficiency of lacking an augur-shaped blade.
While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a viscerotomy closure device and method of use that allows closing a hole in a bodily organ, such as one created during a natural orifice transgastric surgery procedure.
Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved viscerotomy closure device and method of use that can be used for closing a hole in a bodily organ, such as one created during a natural orifice transgastric surgery procedure. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. In this respect, the viscerotomy closure device and method of use according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of closing a hole in a bodily organ, such as one created during a natural orifice transgastric surgery procedure.

Viscerotomy closure device and method of use


Disclosed is a method for the re-compression of process generated steam to create a higher pressure steam that is useful as a heating medium in other parts of a carboxylic acid production process or, in general utilized in another process. The invention comprises the following basic steps: (a) recovering thermal energy from at least a portion of the high temperature process stream resulting from an aromatic carboxylic acid production process in a first heat transfer zone to produce a low pressure stream; (b) subjecting the low pressure steam to a compression zone to generate an intermediate pressure steam; (c) utilizing the intermediate pressure steam as a heating medium, specifically within other parts of the carboxylic acid process or generally in another process thereby generating steam condensate; and (d) optionally, recycling all or part of the steam condensate to the second heat transfer zone for low pressure steam generation.

Aromatic carboxylic acids, such as terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, and napthlene dicarboxylic acid are useful chemical compounds and are raw materials in the production of polyesters and copolyesters. In the instance of terephthalic acid, a single manufacturing facility can produce greater than 100,000 metric tons per annum as feedstock for a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) facility.
Terephthalic acid (TPA) can be produced by the high pressure, exothermic oxidation of a suitable aromatic feedstock such as para-xylene in a solvent such as acetic acid, water, or mixtures thereof. Typically, these oxidations are carried out in a liquid phase using air or alternate sources of molecular oxygen in the presence of metal catalyst(s) or promoter compound(s). Methods for oxidizing para-xylene and other aromatic compounds such as m-xylene and dimethylnapthlene are well known in the art.
In addition to oxidation, many industrial TPA processes also incorporate a hydrotreating (hydrogenation) process to produce a so-called purified terephthalic acid or PTA. Typically, these processes are conducted using a water solvent. These hydrogenation processes are also well known in the art.
TPA processes give rise to high temperature material streams. These streams are derived from both the heating needs within the process and heat removal needs. Typical would be to provide some sort of heat input which would result in the boiling or evaporation of a solvent. Energy could then be recovered via condensation of the solvent.
As the art has progressed, a significant body of literature has been developed to address the problem of efficient energy recovery within the TPA process. In general, these schemes usually involve the recovery of useful work/electricity via the use of a turbine and/or the recovery of heat energy via the use of steam generation. Both of these general schemes have certain drawbacks and limitations.
In the case of recovery of work/electricity via the use of a turbine, there are significant technical and economic problems. In the case of steam generation, the technical problems of physically producing steam are relatively insignificant. However, the limitations are generally associated with the usefulness of the steam generated. Specifically, the steam generated from TPA processes generally is at too low a temperature and/or pressure to be useful as a heating medium in general. And specifically within the remainder of the process.
Although, by themselves mechanical energy recovery via a turbine and heat energy recovery via steam generation are not necessarily novel, the objective of this invention is to describe a method of heat energy recovery involving the generation of steam followed by processing of the generated steam into a more useful form.

Steam recompression in carboxylic acid processes


A fluid shovel apparatus that pushes and lifts loose material such as snow, leaves, sand, dirt, grass clippings, mulch, or the like. The present invention includes at least one fluid exhaust port located in a blade. Pressurized fluid flows through the blade and ejects out through the at least one fluid exhaust port towards loose material. The loose material floats on a cushion of pressurized fluid that forms between the blade and the loose material. The loose material is pushed away from the blade and is lifted in an upward direction.

The present invention relates generally to shovels for pushing and lifting loose material such as snow, leaves, sand, dirt, grass clippings, mulch, grain, flour, or the like.
Shovels are well known in the art. Typically, shovels have included a blade that comes in direct contact with loose material while pushing the loose material. Additionally, the loose material must also be lifted and tossed to a desired location. This lifting requires significant energy for heavy loose material. Significant frictional force is created between the blade and the loose material as the loose material is pushed or lifted by the shovel. Significant work and effort is required to overcome this frictional force. If the loose material is wet such as snow, wet leaves, wet dirt, or the like, the scraping of the shovel along a support surface does not completely remove the loose material from the support surface. Additionally, the shovel does not remove any remaining moisture from the support surface.


There are disclosed certain bis(aminoethanethiols) and the salts thereof which find utility as intermediates in the preparation of certain dye-providing compounds useful in photographic imaging systems.

(1) Field of the Invention
This application relates to bis(aminoethanethiol) compounds and salts thereof useful as intermediates in the preparation of image dye-providing materials for use in photographic applications.
(2) Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,719,489 describes and claims photographic processes employing initially photographically inert compounds which are capable of undergoing cleavage in the presence of silver ions made available imagewise during processing of a silver halide emulsion to liberate a reagent, such as, a photographically active reagent or a dye in an imagewise distribution corresponding to that of said silver ions. In one embodiment disclosed therein, color images are produced by using as the photographically inert compounds, dyes which are substantially nondiffusible in the photographic processing composition but capable of undergoing cleavage in the presence of the imagewise distribution of silver ions and/or soluble silver complex made available in the undeveloped and partially developed areas of a silver halide emulsion as a function of development to liberate a more diffusible dye in an imagewise distribution corresponding to the imagewise distribution of said ions and/or said complex. The formation of a color image is the result of the differential in diffusibility between the parent compound and the liberated dye whereby the imagewise distribution of the more diffusible dye released in the undeveloped and partially developed areas is free to transfer. Color-providing compounds useful in the above processes form the subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,783, a continuation in part of said U.S. Pat. No. 3,719,489.
Among the color-providing materials disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,783 are the thiazolidine dyes comprising a substituted or unsubstituted thiazolidine group and a complete dye, e.g., ##STR1## As described therein, these thiazolidine dyes can be prepared by condensing a dye-substituted aldehyde, i.e., DYE-CHO, with an aminoethanethiol, e.g., ##STR2##
Copending application Ser. No. 923,843, filed Jul. 31, 1992 of M. Arnost, E. Chinoporos, D. McGowan and D. Waller, filed on even date herewith, discloses certain color-providing compounds, useful in the processes described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,719,489 and in thermally developed silver halide photographic processes such as disclosed in Japanese Kokai 59-180548, having a Laid-Open date of Oct. 13, 1984. A preferred embodiment of the color-providing compounds disclosed in the aforementioned copending application Ser. No. 923,843, filed Jul. 31, 1992 is represented by the formula ##STR3## wherein D represents a complete dye, i.e., a dye radical of an organic dye; L represents a divalent organic linking group containing at least one carbon atom; m is 0 or 1; X represents a chemical linkage joining the two cyclic 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen groups; R.sub.1 represents hydrogen, a monovalent organic radical or together with L represents the atoms necessary to complete a spiro union with one of the cyclic 1,3 sulfur-nitrogen groups when m is 1 or together with D represents the atoms necessary to complete a spiro union with one of the cyclic 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen groups when m is 0; and R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are each independently hydrogen, a monovalent organic radical or taken together, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 or R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 represent a substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring. Upon silver ion assisted cleavage, these color-providing compounds release a diffusible dye.
The present application is directed to bis(aminoethanethiol) compounds which are useful as intermediates in the preparation of the compounds of Formula I.


A packaging system (10) in which a lid portion (30) is secured to a base portion (20) by means of adhesive along two opposite sidewalls (24, 25). The system (10) includes a tear strip opening device (40) which provides access to the contents thereof. Structure (60, 66) is provided in each of the opposite sidewalls (24, 25) above the position of the opening device (40) which allows the lid portion (30) to be pressed onto the base portion (20) without detaching the lid portion (30) and base portion (20), the structure (66) in sidewall (25) also forms a hinge about which the lid portion (30) can be rotated once the opening device (40) has been operated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to packaging, and is more particularly concerned with the packaging of paper in boxes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known that paper for photocopying apparatus, and for other uses, is supplied in boxed form, typically each box of A4 or A3 paper containing five reams of paper (a ream is 500 sheets) depending on the weight of the paper, for example, 80 gm.sup.-2 or 100 gm.sup.-2, each ream being packaged separately. Each box comprises a base portion and a lid portion which is secured to the base portion by means of a plastic band which passes around the box. In most cases, it is preferred that the stack of paper within the box takes the weight of additional boxes stacked on top thereof so that the box maintains its integrity.
Each box is formed by placing a stack of five packaged reams of paper on a blank from which the base portion of the box is to be made, the stack being positioned on the portion of the blank which will form the base of the box. The other portions of the blank are folded up around the stack and glued in position to form the base portion. The lid portion of the box is formed in a similar way, that is, the blank corresponding to the lid portion is placed on top of the stack (which is now inside the base portion) and folded and glued accordingly. The lid portion of the box is secured to the base portion by the plastic band.
Such a band is often used as a means of carrying the box of paper and this damages the box as well as the uppermost and lowermost reams of paper inside the box. Furthermore, the band is often difficult to remove and needs to be safely disposed of. Moreover, as the paper size increases, it becomes more difficult to carry the box of paper, and if the plastic band is used, it can cut into a person's fingers due to the increased weight.
The following disclosures may be relevant to various aspects of the present invention:
GB-A-2 288 591 discloses a box for products in sheet form which comprises a base portion and a lid portion which is adhered to the base portion along two opposed sidewalls using adhesive The lid portion is provided with a tear-off perforation strip on one of the opposed sidewalls above the adhesive so that, when access to the box is required, the strip is readily detached from the lid portion to allow access to the interior of the box.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,950, a cardboard carton is provided which has a body with opposite side and end walls, closed bottom, and an open top defined by a top edge. A lid is fastened to a carton body by glue or other means fastening the bottom fastening sections of the lid to the carton body side wall. Typically, the carton is filled with material to be packaged extending from the carton bottom in a stack up past the top edge of the carton body.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved packaging system for paper which overcomes the problems discussed above.


Provided is a highly reliable configuration of a one glass solution touch panel, in which a sensor electrode and a wiring line can be reliably connected to each other. A touch panel (1) is provided with: an insulating substrate (10) having a sensing area (V) and a non-sensing area (P); sensor electrodes (11, 12), which are formed in the sensing area (P); terminals (13), which are formed in the non-sensing area (P); wiring lines (14), which electrically connect the sensor electrodes (11, 12) and the terminals (13); a light-shielding layer (171), which is formed to cover the non-sensing area (P); and a planarizing film (172), which is formed to cover the light-shielding layer (171). The planarizing film (172) is formed only in the non-sensing area (P).

A touch panel is used while being bonded to a cover glass or cover film (hereinafter referred to as the "cover glass or the like"). When bonding together the touch panel and the cover glass or the like, there are cases in which air bubbles or foreign objects enter, which is a cause for decreased yield.
Conventional configurations for a one glass solution touch panel are known in which the rear surface of the cover glass (surface opposite to the operating surface) or the like has formed thereon sensor electrodes, thus forming the touch panel. In other words, in this configuration, the touch panel substrate is also the cover glass (cover film).
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2011-90443 discloses a projected capacitive touch panel characterized in that row electrodes that extend in one direction and row electrodes that extend in a second direction that intersects with the first direction are formed on a surface of one transparent substrate, and that in the periphery of the transparent substrate, a black mask portion (light-shielding layer) made of a material having light-shielding properties is formed.
The black mask portion is provided so as to cover from the viewer's side the lead-out wiring lines of the electrodes and the connecting portions for signal processing formed in the periphery of the transparent substrate, for example. A pigment-type color filter material is disclosed as the material for the black mask portion.

Touch panel configured to reduce effects of moisture, and display apparatus provided with touch panel


A system and method are provided for translating gross human movement into electronic signals and therapeutic, training, or educational uses for the system. An exercising or video gaming system, comprising: a floor pad controller, and a striking controller. The floor pad controller having force sensor(s) and/or placement sensor(s) arranged in a pattern in the plane of a ground or floor. The striking controller having force sensor(s) and contact sensor(s) arranged in an curved grid between the outer layer of the striking controller and an inner core. Applying force to any sensor(s) in the floor pad controller or striking controller executes an action in response to an instruction from the exercising or video gaming system; and an inner core returnably coupled to a ground or floor of a room, so that the striking controller returns to an upright position after being struck by the user.

Systems for sensing human movement are used for therapy, recreation, and or education. Such systems translate physical dynamic movement of a person into an input value. Use of these systems can lead to muscle pulls or torn rotator cuffs. Therefore there is a need for improved systems for sensing human movement where use of these systems does not lead muscle or rotator cuff injuries.

System for sensing human movement and methods of using the same


An organic electroluminescent display device includes a substrate, pixels on the substrate and each including an organic emission layer, and a sealing member covering the pixels and configured to block moisture and gas from outside the organic electroluminescent display device to the pixels. The sealing member includes an inorganic layer of which a lower surface is opposite to an upper surface thereof and closer to the pixels than the upper surface, and each of the upper surface and the lower surface has an uneven shape.

(1) Field
The invention disclosed herein relates to organic electroluminescent display devices, and more particularly, to organic electroluminescent display devices including a sealing member covering pixels.
(2) Description of the Related Art
An organic electroluminescent display device includes pixels emitting light, and the pixels each include an anode, an organic emission layer disposed on the anode and emitting light, and a cathode disposed on the organic emission layer.
Also, the organic electroluminescent display device may further include a sealing member covering the pixels, and the sealing member blocks moisture and gas which may be introduced from outside the device to the pixels. In order to improve moisture resistance of the sealing member, the sealing member may include an inorganic material instead of an organic material. However, an inorganic sealing member may be more easily broken by external stress than an organic sealing member.

Organic electroluminescent display device


Screen ink printed film carrier having an ink screen printed electrical altering image provided on thin adhesive film carrier that is flexible and capable of deformation out of the major plane of the carrier to conform to the exterior contour presented by flat or complicated three-dimensional objects, upon which the film carrier can be affixed.

The present invention relates to an article of manufacture used to alter the electrical attributes of a substrate surface upon which it is affixed.
Conventional R-cards (i.e., resistive or conductive ink printed cards) have been fabricated by screen printing an ink having electric altering properties imparted by resistive or conductive ingredients onto a major surface of a carrier, and thereafter the ink printed carrier is bonded to a part using a separate intervening adhesive coating. However, this prior approach has been implemented using a flat, relatively stiff, cured substrate carrier to print upon. For example, one approach has been to print the ink on a cured epoxy-glass laminate and then subsequently use separate film adhesive material to bond such an R-card to a part. Such an approach increased costs and labor, e.g., due to the adhesive coat operation. Also, the use of a rigid backing as a carrier for the screen printed ink has the drawback that many parts needing electrical field modulation have three dimensional exterior contours and are not flat-surfaced to facilitate interfacial contact with an adhesive coated surface of a rigid carrier for the screen printed ink.
Also, in applications where complex electronic circuits are used, the electronic noise generated by such circuits, i.e., the radio frequency/electromagnetic interference, may be of such level as to be hazardous or detrimental to nearby personnel or other electronic circuits. If such electronic noise reaches a high level, a unit may be in violation of federal regulations or the manufacturer's design specifications, requiring the unit to be recalled by the manufacturer.
One solution to the above problem, is to redesign the circuit components per se to reduce RFI and EMI to acceptable levels. However, this is a costly remedy. It has also been proposed that a foil shield be placed around the electronic circuitry and connected to ground as another viable approach to reducing environmental radiation from electronic circuitry. Towards this end, an aluminum or copper foil has been adhesively coated on both sides of a substrate, and an outer wrapping layer of polyester or plastics material has been applied thereto. However, these metal foil shielding arrangements are relatively costly and are not especially durable.
Also in the prior art, it is known to reduce EMI within a microwave module by producing a sheet of absorber material, such as an elastomer material filled with iron powder, cutting out a pattern from the sheet of absorber material to fit around the components within the module (this pattern generally being relatively complex in shape), and then bonding the absorber to the module lid with an adhesive. However, the precision shaping and positioning required of the sheet of absorber material significantly increase costs. In an effort to lower these costs, it also has been previously proposed to directly form a screen printed microwave absorbing material on microwave module lids, such as by dispersion of a microwave absorbing material like powdered iron or ferrite particles in a thermosetting liquid resin, and curing the ink, to suppress EMI. While such direct screen printing approaches may be useful for flat, two-dimensional substrates, it is not particularly practical for implementation on three-dimensional substrates of complex surface geometries.

Method of making and bonding a screen printed ink film carrier to an electronic device


(B) A thermosensitive recording material comprises a thermosensitive recording layer containing an electron-donating colorless dye, an electron-accepting compound which develops color upon a reaction with the electron-donating colorless dye and a sensitizer, wherein the thermosensitive recording material satisfies at least one of the following conditions (1) to (3).                (1) An image density when thermal printing is performed with a printing energy is 1.20 or more, and the thermosensitive recording material is used for a recording device having a printing speed of 10 cm/sec or more.        (2) An image density after the thermosensitive recording material is brought into contact with a heat source of 70° C. for 5 seconds is 0.15 or less, and the sensitizer is 2-benzyloxynaphthalene or the like.        (3) the electron-accepting compound is a compound represented by R1-Ph-SO2R2 wherein R1 represents a hydroxyl group or an alkyl group, R2 represents -Ph, —NH-Ph, -Ph-OR3 or —NH—CO—NH-Ph, R3 represents an alkyl group, Ph represents a phenyl group and may be substituted with a substituent containing SO2R2, and a volume-averaged grain size is in a range of 0.5 to 1.0 μm.

Historically, dye-type thermosensitive paper containing a colorless leuco dye and a phenolic acidic substance was developed as a thermosensitive recording technology by NCR Inc. in 1960s, and this system has become the mainstream of a thermosensitive recording systems. Thereafter demands for thermosensitive paper (hereinafter referred to as "thermosensitive recording material") have increased rapidly (1) since miniaturization and price reduction of apparatuses became possible due to development of thermal heads based on semiconductor technologies and significant improvement in cost and performance; (2) since, high quality (high sensitivity, improvement of head matching property, etc.) of thermosensitive paper (thermosensitive recording material) itself was realized; and (3) since the thermosensitive recording system was evaluated to be advantageous in view of user-friendliness, i.e., convenience, low costs, freedom from maintenance, etc. as compared to other recording systems such as static recording, ink jet recording, PPC recording, etc.
However, as thermosensitive recording materials are used for facsimiles, various printers, etc. and have become familiar to daily life, defects of thermosensitive recording materials have been also recognized well. Namely, the following defects have been pointed out:    discoloration by light;    discoloration during storing at high temperature (being left in a vehicle, etc.);    fading of a recorded image by chemical agents such as a plasticizers in wrapping films, oils, organic solvents in marker pens, ink for ink jet printers, etc.;    a lack of plain paper-like feeling (good stamping property such as good drying of stamps, etc., a matted recording surface which is easy to read, good writing property with respect to a pencil, etc., resistance to staining by friction, etc., and so forth), etc.
Therefore, development and provision of a thermosensitive recording material free from the above-mentioned defects and having high value have been required.
Recently, thermosensitive recording materials have been widely used since they are relatively inexpensive and recording apparatus therefor are compact and freedom from maintenance. Under such circumstances, competition in the market of thermosensitive recording materials has become fierce, and demand for thermosensitive recording materials having higher performances that are different from those of conventional ones, and specifically thermosensitive recording materials having high density of developed color, whiteness of background, sharpness, storage stability, good hue and sharpness for a full-color image printed by an ink jet recording system, etc. has increased. Therefore, intensive investigations concerning various performances such as color developing property, storage property, etc. of thermosensitive recording materials are now being conducted in order to satisfy such demands.
The performances that the thermosensitive recording materials should have include, for example, (1) high sensitivity (capability to provide high density); (2) high whiteness of a background portion (non-printed portion) (low background fogging); (3) superior image storage property after photographic printing; (4) superior light fastness; (5) superior resistance to chemical substances; (6) sharpness and high image quality; (7) good hue and sharpness of colors for a full-color image printed by an ink jet recording system; (8) good thermal head matching property and head resistance property by which thermal head abrasion is decreased; (9) plane paper-like feeling; (10) printing applicability that enables printing on a thermosensitive recording layer, and stamping property free from bleeding; (11) applicability for high performance printers such as a high speed printer, etc.; and (12) environmental applicability, etc. Under the above-mentioned circumstances, it is required that all of these performances are simultaneously satisfied without deteriorating any of the performances. However, under the present circumstances, a thermosensitive recording material that can satisfy all of the above-mentioned performances simultaneously has not been provided yet. In particular, the following points can be conspicuously noted.
For instance, although high-speed printing (photo printing) is demanded in fields such as use for receipts in POS (point of sales) registers, a problem exists in that when high-speed printing is performed in general, head contamination is easily caused, and consequently, print quality is deteriorated as a result of the head contamination. In particular, in recent years, in order to reduce the production cost, a printer which can selectively use a thermal transfer recording is provided. However, the printer is provided with a thermal head having a so-called partial glaze structure to impart a thermal transfer recording capability. As a result, in particular, the printer has the tendency to cause head contamination when high-speed printing (photo printing) is performed on the thermosensitive recording material.
Although stability which can stably maintain recording for a long period of time, that is, image preservability with respect to temperature and humidity conditions, and stability of an image (plasticizer resistance and chemical resistance) with respect to a plasticizer or the like are very important in fields such as use for receipts in the POS registers, a thermosensitive recording material which can always sufficiently maintain a formed image has not been provided up to now.
On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 6-135159 discloses a thermosensitive recording material containing a salicylic acid derivative and/or metal salt thereof having an aryloxyalkyloxy group as a substituent as an electron-accepting compound, whereby chemical resistance is improved. However, image density and head contamination (high-speed print capability) or the like at the time of high-speed printing are insufficient, and improvement is further required.
Furthermore, such system also has a problem in view of (13) ink jet applicability. Namely, full color information is sometimes recorded on a thermosensitive recording material using ink for ink jet printing. However, when ink jet printing is carried out on a recording surface of a conventional thermosensitive recording material containing bisphenol A, hues of ink cannot be reproduced faithfully, and sharp hues can not be obtained. Further, when an image is already formed on the recording surface by thermosensitive recording, the image sometimes fades. Furthermore, when the above-mentioned conventional thermosensitive recording material is placed in contact with a medium having an image printed thereon by an ink jet printer, background fogging or fading of the recorded image sometimes occurs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


In a semiconductor device manufacturing method, when an impurity is implanted into a region for forming an impurity diffused layer in a silicon substrate, or into a polysilicon layer formed on the silicon substrate, the injection of the impurity is carried out through a protective film, such as a TiN film, which contains no oxygen and which is selectively removable from silicon. Thereafter, an annealing for activating the impurity thus implanted is applied so that an impurity diffused layer is formed, and the protective film is removed. Subsequently, a refractory metal film is adhesively provided on the silicon surface of the region where the impurity diffused layer is formed, and reaction between the silicon and the refractory metal film is caused by an annealing so that a refractory metal silicide film is formed. With this arrangement, it is possible to produce a semiconductor device which has a refractory metal silicide film having a low resistance.

In order to enhance an operating speed of a semiconductor device, generally it is necessary to decrease each capacitance and resistance which each semiconductor element constituting the semiconductor device has while it is in operation, for example, a capacitance of a gate oxide film, a junction capacitance, and a wiring resistance. For scale-down of the semiconductor devices, it is an important problem how a resistance in a source/drain region and a resistance of a gate electrode is decreased, among wiring resistances of the semiconductor element. It is considered that a sheet resistance is preferably made not higher than 10 .OMEGA./.quadrature., if possible.
Conventionally, to make a gate electrode have a lower resistance, the gate electrode is arranged so as to have a two-layer configuration having a refractory metal such as tungsten, or a silicide of such a metal as one layer, and a polysilicon as the other layer. On the other hand, as a method of making the source/drain region have a lower resistance, an impurity implantation dose is increased, or an activation ratio of the impurity is raised by annealing at a higher temperature for activating the impurity.
However, with these above methods, since the impurity is more greatly diffused sideward, characteristics of a semiconductor device such as a transistor remarkably deteriorate due to the short channel effect or the like. To avoid this problem, a method is used whereby the impurity diffused layer, where the source/drain region is to be formed, is made thinner and is made to have a low resistance. Applied to this method is a technology for causing selective reaction between a refractory metal such as Ti and a silicon substrate so as to form silicide, namely, a so-called salicide forming technology. The following description will explain a method for forming an MOS FET (metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor) to which the salicide forming technology is applied, with reference to FIGS. 8(a) through 8(d).
A gate electrode 55 made of polysilicon is formed on a p-type silicon substrate 51 on which an element isolating oxide film 52 is formed, with a gate insulating film 54 provided between the gate electrode 55 and the p-type silicon substrate 51.
Next, using the gate electrode 55 as a mask, an n-type impurity is implanted into the p-type silicon substrate 51 through the gate insulating film 54, so that a low dense impurity diffused layer 56A is formed. Thereafter, only on the side surfaces of the gate electrode 55, silicon oxide films 57 are formed. Furthermore, using the gate electrode 55 and the silicon oxide films 57 as masks, the n-type impurity is implanted into the low dense impurity diffused layer 56A through the gate insulating film 54 so that a high dense impurity diffused layer 56B is formed. As a result, an n-channel MOS transistor having an LDD structure (lightly doped drain structure) is formed, as shown in FIG. 8(a).
In the next stage, exposed parts of the gate insulating film 54 are removed, so as to expose the top surface of the gate electrode 55 and a surface of the high dense impurity diffused layer 56B formed in the p-type silicon substrate 51, as illustrated in FIG. 8(b). Then, Ti is deposited by a sputtering method or the like all over the exposed surface so that a Ti film 58 is formed thereon. Thereafter, an annealing is applied to it in a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature of 500-700.degree. C. for from 20 seconds to 1 minute, to cause reaction between Ti and silicon, that is, Ti film 58 and the high dense impurity diffused layer 56B. As a result, a TiSi.sub.x film 59 is formed, as shown in FIG. 8(c).
Thereafter, non-reacted Ti is removed, and an annealing at a temperature of 800-850.degree. C. is applied. As a result, an n-channel MOS transistor having a source/drain region 56 with a low resistance and the gate electrode 55 is formed, as illustrated in FIG. 8(d). Finally, an interlayer insulating layer 60 and a metal wire 61 are formed, so that an n-channel MOS transistor as a semiconductor device is completed.
It is known that a refractory metal silicide film such as a TiSi.sub.x film 59 tends to agglomerate thereby having a high resistance, unless it is formed under suitable conditions. Especially, it is known that when an amount of oxygen contained in silicon to be reacted with Ti increases, the Ti silicide film formed by reaction between Ti and silicon tends to agglomerate, thereby having a high resistance. Therefore, in order to form a Ti silicide film having a low resistance, it is necessary that the density of oxygen contained in the silicon is lowered.
Such a phenomenon that the Ti silicide film has a higher resistance with the increase of oxygen in silicon to be reacted with Ti is remarkable especially in a high dense n-type impurity diffused region where As.sup.+ is implanted. The reason seems that when As.sup.+ is implanted, atoms of oxygen contained in the oxide film on the silicon substrate are knocked on by the ion beam and plunge into the inside of the silicon substrate, which is the so-called knock-on phenomenon of oxygen.
On the other hand, in a high dense p-type impurity diffused region, the mass number of the implanted ion can be reduced to about one fifth, by using not BF.sub.2.sup.+ but B.sup.+ as implanted ion. Therefore, in this case, the amount of implanted ion oxygen introduced into the silicon by the knock-on phenomenon drastically decreases.
Therefore, another method whereby the impurity is implanted after the salicide formation process has been also considered. The following description will discuss the method.
First, a gate electrode is formed, then silicon oxide films are formed on side surfaces of the gate electrode, while a top surface of the gate electrode and a surface of an impurity-implanted region are exposed. Thereafter, a Ti film is formed so as to cover the exposed surfaces, and then an annealing at a temperature of from 500 to 700.degree. C. is applied so that a Ti silicide film is formed.
Thereafter, As.sup.+ is implanted through the Ti silicide film, for example, at an implantation dose of 5.times.10.sup.15 ions/cm.sup.2. After a non-reacted part of the Ti film is removed, an annealing for activation, for example, at a temperature of 900.degree. C. for 10 minutes, is applied.
However, for the activation of the implanted ion, an annealing at a temperature of not lower than 850.degree. C. for from 10 to 20 minutes is required, whereas an annealing under such conditions causes agglomeration of the Ti silicide, which increases a wire resistance especially at portions with a narrow wire width.
A method of preventing oxygen from being mixed with the salicide film during the silicide forming reaction is disclosed by the Japanese Publication for Laid-Open Patent Application No. 6-97110/1994 (Tokukaihei 6-97110). According to the method, after depositing Ti on the surface of the silicon substrate, an oxidation-resistant mask is formed thereon, and thereafter the silicide forming reaction is carried out, so that contamination by oxygen is prevented. However, though the method is effectual for preventing the contamination by oxygen during the salicide film forming process, the impurity implantation process for forming a high dense impurity diffused region in the silicon substrate is not described in the foregoing disclosure.

Method for manufacturing semiconductor device


The present invention is a network layer protocol used for free-space optical transmission utilizing an LED or LD as a light source. In order to connect to a device, the network layer issues a connection request command (LAP_con_req2) to a lower layer when the network layer has received a connection request command (LM_con_req1) from an upper layer. Furthermore, when the network layer has received a connection confirmation command reception notification (LAP_con_conf1) from the lower layer, the network layer issues a connection confirmation command reception notification (LM_con_conf2) to the upper layer without issuing a data transfer request command to the lower layer. Accordingly, the invention provides a network layer protocol with which time for a connection or disconnection is reduced.

The IrDA (Infrared Data Association) scheme is one of currently known free-space optical communication standards. The IrDA scheme uses IrLMP (Infrared Link Management Protocol) as the network layer protocol.
In IrLMP, the connection and disconnection with other devices is carried out primarily by station control which controls that connection and disconnection via an IrLAP (Infrared Link Access Protocol) which is a lower layer and a LSAP (Link Service Access Point) which logically controls the connection.
To connect to a device, as shown in FIG. 3, when the LSAP of the primary station (initiating station) receives, from the upper layer, a connection request command 1 (LM_con_req1) which contains data needed to establish a connection to the secondary station (responding station), the LSAP issues a connection request command 2 (LS_con_req2) to the station control of the primary station which then issues a connection request command 3 (LAP_con_req3) to the IrLAP (lower layer) of the primary station.
The IrLAP of the primary station receives the connection request command 3 and outputs an SNRM command at a transfer rate of 9,600 bps to the secondary station (responding device). The IrLAP of the secondary station, upon receiving the SNRM command, issues a connection request command reception notification 1 (LAP_con_ind1) to the station control which is part of the IrLMP layer of the secondary station. When receiving the notification 1, the station control of the secondary station issues a connection confirmation command 1 (LAP_con_rsp1) to the IrLAP of the secondary station.
The IrLAP of the secondary station receives the connection confirmation command 1 and outputs a UA response to the primary station at a transfer rate of 9,600 bps. The IrLAP of the primary station receives the UA response and communicates a connection confirmation command reception notification 1 (LAP_con_conf1) to the station control of the primary station. The station control of the primary station issues a connection confirmation command reception notification 2 (LS_con_conf2) to the LSAP of the primary station.
The LSAP of the primary station receives the connect command reception notification 2 and issues a data transmission request 1 (LAP_Data_req1) for a transmission of data present in the connection request command 1 to the IrLAP. Upon receiving the data transmission request 1, the IrLAP outputs an I frame to the secondary station. The transfer rate of the I frame in that situation is determined by the IrLAP layer (lower layer) by observing the exchange of the aforementioned SNRM command and UA response: for example, 115.2 kbps or 4 Mbps.
The IrLAP of the secondary station receives the I frame, issues a data reception notification 1 (LAP_Data_ind1) to the LSAP of the secondary station, and passes data to the LSAP of the secondary station.
The LSAP of the secondary station, upon the parameter reception, issues a connection request command 4 (LS_con_req4) to the station control of the secondary station. Upon receiving the connection request command 4, the station control of the secondary station issues a connection confirmation command reception notification 3 (LS_con_conf3) to the LSAP of the secondary station.
The LSAP of the secondary station issues, to the upper layer of the secondary station, a connection request command reception notification 2 (LM_con_ind2) which contains the data received from the primary station and needed to establish a connection. The upper layer of the secondary station receives the connection request command reception notification 2 and issues, to the LSAP of the secondary station, a connection confirmation command 4 (LM_con_rsp4) which contains data needed to establish a connection to the other device. The LSAP of the secondary station receives the connection confirmation command 4 and issues a data transmission request 2 (LAP_DATA_req2) to the IrLAP of the secondary station.
The IrLAP of the secondary station receives this and transmits an I frame to the primary station. Upon receiving the I frame, the IrLAP of the primary station issues a data reception notification 2 (LAP_Data_ind2) to the LSAP of the primary station. The LSAP issues connection confirmation command reception notification 4 (LM_con_conf4) which contains data received from the secondary station and needed to establish a connection. That ends the series of actions (connection sequence) by the IrLMP layer.
To disconnect from the other device, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper layer of the primary station issues a disconnection request command 1 (LM_disc_req1) which contains data needed for a disconnection. Upon receiving the disconnection request command 1, the LSAP of the primary station issues a data transmission request (LAP_Data_req) to transmit the data of the disconnection request command 1. The IrLAP of the primary station, upon receiving the data transmission request, transmits an I frame to the secondary station. The IrLAP of the secondary station receives the I frame and issues a data reception notification (LAP_Data_ind) to the LSAP.
The LSAP of the secondary station identifies the data in the data reception notification as indicating a request for a disconnection. The LSAP then issues a disconnection request 3 (LS_disc_req3) to the station control of the secondary station and issues, to the upper layer, a disconnection command reception notification (LM_disc_ind) containing data which came from the primary station and needed for a disconnection. Meanwhile, the LSAP of the primary station, after issuing a data transmission request, issues a disconnection request command 2 (LS_disc_req2) to the station control of the primary station.
The station control of the primary station receives the disconnection request command 2 and implements a disconnection, and issues a disconnection request command 4 (LAP_disc_req4) to the IrLAP of the primary station. The IrLAP of the primary station receives the disconnection request command 4 and issues a DISC command to the secondary station. The IrLAP of the secondary station receives the DISC command and transmits a UA response to the primary station. That ends the series of actions (disconnection sequence) by the IrLMP layer.    [Non-patent Document 1] Infrared Data Association Link Management Protocol Version 1.1 [Search conducted on Jan. 21, 2005], the Internet <URL: http://irda.affiniscape.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=7>
However, the conventional scheme requires the exchange of 6 packets (namely, the SNRM command, UA response, I frame, Ack, I frame, Ack) between the devices to make a connection and the exchange of 4 packets (I frame, Ack, DISC command, and UA response) to break up the connection.
In infrared communication, it takes at least a fixed period of time after an optical transmission for a transmission/reception module to be able to start reception for the following reasons. In communication between devices, the reception module is in operation even when a transmission is being made. The module thus receives light that is emitted by itself. In far-distance communication, the light emitted by the module is far more intense than the light coming from the other device. Capacitors and passive circuits in the receiving circuit must be discharged and reset to stop emission of light, so that the module can reliably receive light from the other device.
The waiting time for the switching is specified to 1 ms (milliseconds) or longer for data communication at a transfer rate of 4 Mbps. However, actual waiting times of about 10 ms occur. Summing this and a packet transmission time amounts to 100 ms to 200 ms for a LAP layer connection (exchange of an SNRM command and a UA response) and 50 ms to 100 ms for a LMP layer connection (exchange of an I frame and an Ack). Communication overhead, that is, the time between the start of a connection process and the start of a data transmission, gets longer. That causes a problem of low overall communication efficiency.
In addition, the IrDA scheme has another problem. If the initiating station does not receive a response from the responding station in a connection establishing process, the initiating station cannot establish the connection, still less establish a one-way connection or perform a one-way data transfer.

Communication device, communication system, communication method, communication program, and communication circuit