An apparatus in one example comprises a first capacitor component, a second capacitor component, and a switch component. The first capacitor component, the second capacitor component, and the switch component cooperate to maintain an input voltage to a target circuit at or above a cut-off voltage of the target circuit until a power circuit is able to maintain the input voltage of the target circuit at or above the cut-off voltage of the target circuit. The switch component serves to control a flow of current from the first capacitor component to the second capacitor component.

To cause a target circuit of an exemplary system to run, a turn-on circuit powers the target circuit for an initial period of time followed by a power circuit that powers the target circuit for a secondary period of time. The turn-on circuit supplies power to the target circuit. Upon receiving sufficient power from the turn-on circuit, the target circuit supplies power to the power circuit that thereby charges an output voltage to a voltage level sufficient to power the target circuit. The turn-on circuit ceases to power the target circuit once the power circuit has charged to the voltage level sufficient to power the target circuit. Should the power circuit charge to a voltage level less than the voltage level sufficient to power the target circuit, the turn-on circuit continues to supply power to the target circuit.
In one example, the target circuit exhibits hysteresis. Hysteresis is the promotion of a delay in a change in the output voltage level of the target circuit upon a change in the input voltage level of the target circuit. The hysteresis exhibited by the target circuit in one example serves to prevent the change of the output voltage level of the target circuit upon the change in the input voltage level of the target circuit. Exemplary changes to the input voltage level of the target circuit result from a presence of a voltage rectifier and filter.
For example, the target circuit exhibiting hysteresis allows the input voltage level of the target circuit to vary between a first voltage level (e.g., 9.2 Volts ("V")) and a second voltage level (e.g., 8.4 Volts) before a consequent change in the output voltage level of the target circuit results. The first voltage level in one example defines an input voltage level the target circuit requires to first begin to operate, for example a power-on voltage. The second voltage level in one example defines a minimum input voltage level the target circuit requires to operate. Where the input voltage of the target circuit varies between 9.2 Volts and 8.4 Volts, the hysteresis exhibited by the target circuit causes the output voltage level of the target circuit to remain consistent and further causes the target circuit to remain operational. By preceding the target circuit with a turn on circuit that switches a voltage higher than 9.2 Volts (e.g. 15 Volts), the range between the first voltage level and the second voltage level is increased.
In another example, the target circuit omitting the hysteresis responds with a change in the output voltage level of the target circuit upon a change in the input voltage level of the target circuit. For example, the target circuit comprises a voltage level (e.g., ten Volts) that defines the input voltage level the target circuit requires to operate. If the input voltage level of the target circuit drops to a voltage level less than ten Volts, the output voltage level of the target circuit changes.
In one example, the turn-on circuit comprises an active start-up circuit. The active start-up circuit provides power to the target circuit until the power circuit charges to a voltage level sufficient to power the target circuit. Where the power circuit charges to the voltage level sufficient to power the target circuit, the active start-up circuit turns off. The active start-up circuit comprises a resistor that is connected in series with a Zener diode, the combination connected in parallel with a gain-stage device.
Where the power circuit fails to charge to a voltage level sufficient to power the target circuit, the gain-stage device of the active start-up circuit draws excessive current. The current drawn by the gain-stage device of the active start-up circuit destroys the gain-stage device, preventing further use of the active start-up circuit. In order to shield the gain-stage device in the event of such a fault condition, extra circuitry is required to sense and detect the fault condition. The extra circuitry required to sense and detect the fault condition serves to provide robustness to the system in the event of such a fault condition. Yet, the addition of the extra circuitry required to provide robustness to the system in the event of such a fault condition is one shortcoming of the system.
Furthermore, where the power circuit fails to charge to a voltage level sufficient to power the target circuit, the active start-up circuit dissipates power through the current drawn through the gain-stage device. The power dissipated by the gain-stage device of the active start-up circuit in such a fault condition is another shortcoming of the system.
In another example, the turn-on circuit comprises a passive start-up circuit. The passive start-up circuit provides power to the target circuit before the power circuit charges to a voltage level sufficient to power the target circuit and after the power circuit charges to a voltage level sufficient to power the target circuit. The passive start-up circuit comprises a resistor that is connected in series with a capacitor.
Where the power circuit charges to a voltage level sufficient to power the target circuit, the passive start-up circuit does not turn off. The current drawn through the resistor in the passive start-up circuit continues to dissipate power even after the power circuit charges to the voltage level sufficient to power the target circuit. The power dissipated by the passive start-up circuit is another shortcoming of the system.
During an exemplary fault condition, the turn-on circuit responds to the fault condition by supplying power to the target circuit omitting hysteresis. The turn-on circuit in one example serves to provide power to the target circuit for a duration of time. After the duration of time in which the turn-on circuit supplies power to the target circuit, the turn-on circuit halts the supply of power to the target circuit for a duration of time. After the duration of time in which the turn-on circuit halts the supply of power to the target circuit, the turn-on circuit again supplies power to the target circuit for the duration of time. The duration of time between the turn-on circuit supplying power to the target circuit and the turn-on circuit halting the supply of power to the target circuit serves to power the target circuit at a frequency that keeps the output voltage level of the power circuit consistent. Where the power circuit remains powered during a fault condition results in power dissipation in the power circuit and over-voltage conditions on the outputs of the power circuit. The power dissipated by the power circuit is another shortcoming of the system.
The over-voltage condition in one example serves to destroy components within the power circuit, for example a rectifier and filter component. In order to shield the components of the power circuit, extra circuitry is required to sense and detect the over-voltage condition. The addition of extra circuitry to isolate components of the power circuit is another shortcoming of the system.
Thus, a need exists for a reduction in the circuitry added to the turn-on circuit to provide robustness under fault conditions. There also exists a need for a reduction in the amount of power dissipated by the turn-on circuit. There also exists a need for a reduction in the amount of power the power circuit dissipates under fault conditions. There exists a further need for a reduction in the circuitry added to the power circuit to provide robustness under fault conditions.

Capacitor and switch components cooperation to maintain input voltage to target circuit at or above cut-off voltage until power circuit is able to maintain the input voltage


A liquid crystal display device comprises: first and second transparent substrates; a liquid crystal that is enclosed between the first and second transparent substrates; a first color filter that is formed on either the first or second transparent substrate; a light reflective layer that has a plurality of openings and that is formed on the second transparent substrate toward the liquid crystal; and a second color filter that is formed on the second transparent substrate on the side opposite to the liquid crystal. The second color filter is fabricated by forming a layer of a color photosensitive material such as a photosensitive emulsion and illuminating and coloring this layer by light transmitting through the first color filter using the reflective layer as an exposure mask. As a result, a second color filter, that has a color dot pattern the same as that of the first color filter, is formed by one exposure and developing process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transflective liquid crystal display device that can be used in both transmissive and reflective modes and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Prior Art
Transflective liquid crystal display devices, which operate in a reflective mode utilizing ambient light in bright places and operate in a transmissive mode utilizing backlight in dark places, are broadly used, in particular, as display devices in portable electronic equipment. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H10-282488 entitled "Liquid crystal display device" proposes a liquid crystal display device in which holes for transmitting light are provided on a reflective layer of a reflective liquid crystal display device and, at the same time, a backlight device is provided behind the reflective layer. When this device is used in the reflective mode, an image is displayed by the ambient light reflected by the reflective layer disposed behind a liquid crystal layer and, when this device is used in the transmissive mode, the image is displayed by guiding the light from the backlight device to the liquid crystal cell through the holes provided on the reflective layer.
However, the device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H10-282488 has a problem in that, in a color display mode, color reproducibility is not optimized in both the reflective mode and the transmissive mode. The reason of this problem is as follows. When the device is used in the reflective mode, the ambient light passes through the liquid crystal layer and a color filter and is reflected by the reflective layer disposed on the backside of the color filter and, then, passes through the color filter and the liquid crystal cell again and, then, exits from the cell and is observed by a user. Therefore, as the incident light passes through the color filter twice before exiting from the cell, the transmittance of the light and, thus, the brightness of the display is reduced by the color filter. As the light passes through the color filter twice, the color saturation of the light is increased. In contrast to this, when the device is used in the transmissive mode, as the light that is originated from the backlight device disposed behind the cell passes through the holes disposed on the reflective layer and, then, passes through the color filter and liquid crystal cell and exits from the cell, the light passes through the color filter only once. Therefore, the brightness of the display is not reduced but the color saturation is reduced. As described above, as the color reproducibility is not optimized in both the transmissive mode and the reflective mode, there is a problem in that, if the optical density of the color filter is optimized for either the transmitting mode or the reflective mode, the display in the other mode is not optimized.
In order to solve the above problem of the liquid crystal display device shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H10-282488, other liquid crystal display devices have been proposed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-298271 entitled "Liquid crystal display element and method for manufacturing the same", Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-33778 entitled "Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same and electronic equipment" and the like. As these liquid display devices are configured so that the thickness of the color filter differs between the region above a reflective layer and the region above openings of the reflective layer, the same color reproducibility can be obtained in both the transmissive and reflective modes. For example, by making the thickness of the color filter above the openings of the reflective layer twice as large as that of the color filter above the reflective layer, the thickness the light passes through in the color filter is same in both the transmissive and reflective modes and, as a result, the same color reproducibility of the display can be obtained in both modes.
However, in the devices described above, in order to provide the color filter with different thickness between the region above the reflective layer and the region above the openings, the reflective layer must be thicker having a two-layer construction comprised of a resin layer and a reflective layer and, further, two layers of the color filter must be formed. In the case of a three-color filter, in order to form the two layers of the color filter, an exposure and developing process must be repeated six times and, therefore, the manufacturing process becomes complicated and the production cost of the liquid crystal display device itself is increased.


The invention provides a magnetic recording-reproduction device which comprises a CTL signal recording circuit 5 for recording a control signal, a CTL duty setting circuit 4 for setting a variable duty ratio for the control signal, a CTL signal reproduction circuit 6 for reproducing the control signal, a CTL duty identification circuit 7 for identifying the duty ratio of the reproduced control signal, and a system control circuit 8 for controlling the operation of the device. The system control circuit 8 decodes magnetic tape management information superposed on the control signal based on the result of identifying the duty ratio by the identification circuit 7 when a command is given to record video signals, and controls validation/invalidation of the command according to the result of decoding.

The present invention relates to magnetic recording-reproduction devices, such as VCRs (video cassette recorders), wherein the tape speed and phase can be controlled for the reproduction of video signals by recording a control signal on the control track of the magnetic tape.
The so-called time lapse VCR is already known as a signal recording device for use as connected to a monitoring camera installed in a store or the like for security purposes. It is sometimes compulsory to set a specified preservation period for the magnetic tape having video signals recorded thereon by the time lapse VCR. Due to a careless error in the management of magnetic tapes, however, it is likely that video signals will be recorded anew on the magnetic tape of which the specified preservation period has not elapsed. Accordingly, a magnetic tape management method is known wherein tape management data such as the time and date of recording is recorded as superposed on the video signal during a vertical blanking period of the video signal and read from the tape when video signals are to be recorded.
However, this method requires an integrated circuit specifically for superposing the data on the recorded video signal and reading the data from the reproduced video signal, hence the problem of necessitating an increased circuit board area and an increase in the number of assembling steps.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic recording-reproduction device which is adapted for the management of magnetic tapes without incorporating a specific integrated circuit conventionally needed.
The present invention provides a magnetic recording-reproduction device which comprises a CTL signal recording circuit 5 for recording a control signal on a magnetic tape, a CTL duty setting circuit 4 for setting a variable duty ratio for the control signal, a CTL signal reproduction circuit 6 for reproducing the control signal recorded on the magnetic tape, a CTL duty identification circuit 7 for identifying the duty ratio of the reproduced control signal, and a system control circuit 8 for controlling the operation of the device.
The system control circuit 8 comprises: first control means for decoding magnetic tape management information superposed on the control signal based on the result of identifying the duty ratio by the CTL duty identification circuit 7 when a command is given to record video signals and controlling validation/invalidation of the command according to the result of decoding, and second control means for commanding the CTL duty setting circuit 4 to vary the duty ratio to superpose magnetic tape management information on the control signal when video signals are to be recorded.
When a command is given to record video signals, playback of the control track is started at a specified location on the magnetic tape 1, and the CTL signal reproduction circuit 6 and the CTL duty identification circuit 7 operate to identify the duty ratio of the control signal reproduced from the control track. The magnetic tape management information superposed on the control signal is decoded based on the result of identifying the duty ratio, and the validation/invalidation of the command is controlled according to the result of decoding. Information as to the date when video signals were recorded on the magnetic tape can be included in the tape management information.
The first control means of the system control circuit 8 is accordingly capable of checking whether the decoded date indicates that a specified period has not elapsed, and invalidates the command for recording when the specified period has not elapsed. This obviates the likelihood that video signals will be recorded anew on the magnetic tape of which the specified preservation period has not elapsed.
Information as to the number of times video signals were recorded on the magnetic tape can be included in the magnetic tape management information. This enables the first control means of the system control circuit 8 to check whether the decoded number of times is in excess of a specified number of times. If the specified number of times has been exceeded, the second control means invalidates the command for recording. This eliminates the likelihood that video signals will be recorded anew on an old tape which is in excess of the specified number of times video signals were recorded.
According to a specific embodiment, the second control means of the system control circuit 8 issues a command to give an altered duty ratio to the control signal to be recorded in the vicinity of the starting point of the magnetic tape. If the tape is played back in the vicinity of the starting point in this case, the tape management information can be read from the tape at all time.
Further according to another specific embodiment, the second control means of the system control circuit 8 issues a command to give an altered duty ratio to the control signal to be recorded over the entire length of the control track of the magnetic tape, at a predetermined interval along the control track. The latest tape management information can then be read from a desired location on the magnetic tape even if it is an intermediate portion of the tape.
The CTL duty setting circuit 4, CTL signal recording circuit 5, CTL signal reproduction circuit 6 and CTL duty identification circuit 7 described are incorporated also in conventional VCRs, for example, for locating the start of a recorded sequence, so that the device of the invention can be provided merely by adding the functions (software) of the first control means and the second control means to the conventional system control circuit.
The magnetic recording-reproduction device of the present invention has a simple construction for effecting magnetic tape management without using a specific integrated circuit conventionally needed.


An abdominal exercise apparatus comprising a platform having two upwardly extending sidewalls. Positioned between the sidewalls and over the platform is an adjustable belt including an abdominal pad. The belt is connected to the platform by elastic cords which extend from either side of the belt through the sidewalls and attach underneath the platform on a series of hooks. In use, the belt is tightened across the abdomen of a user so that as the user rotates forward in a "sit-up" or "crunch" type exercise, the abdominal pad and elastic cords provide direct resistance to the abdomen for an isometric and kinetic abdominal exercise.

It is well-known that the abdominal and gluteus muscles are difficult to isolate and strengthen. Many hours and years of exercise are generally necessary to produce a significant effect on the abdominal musculature. An extremely effective prior art device for strengthening of the abdominal musculature without placing unnecessary stress upon the lower back is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,304, issued to the inventor of the present invention. The device described in the '304 patent is known as the "Abflex" and has enjoyed wide spread commercial success. The Abflex provides for an isometric contraction process of the abdominal musculature which necessarily precludes excessive lumbar movement. The subject pulls with both hands on a pair of handles and simultaneously contracts the abdominal musculature, thereby moving the abdomen against a tensioned member.
Although the Abflex is highly effective, there is a need for a kinetic exercise to supplement the isometric exercise provided by the Abflex. Many exercise devices exist which allow a user to exercise his or her abdomen through rotation of the user's upper body, the exercise is known as a "crunch" type exercise. Prior art "crunch" type devices, however, have a number of shortcomings. For example, the user of the device has too much freedom to move and may tend to "cheat" by moving his or her body so as to decrease the torque around the abdomen.
Further, these prior art devices do not exercise the abdomen in an isometric manner and therefore the benefits of the exercise provided by the Abflex are not obtained. Many exercisers wish to achieve a toned abdomen without devoting an undue amount of time to exercise but prior art devices do not allow such exercisers to combine different types of abdominal movements and/or contractions in one exercise, forcing the exercisers to either choose one or another type of exercise or spend more time exercising than is desired. There is therefore a need to provide an exercise device that effectively and simultaneously allows for different types of abdominal movements and/or contractions which provides both an isometric and kinetic exercise.


A method and system for processing a graphics data stream in a computer graphics system having a parallel processing system. The graphics data stream includes a plurality of elements. The method and system of the present invention involve associating tags with elements in a graphics data stream, wherein each tag indicates a display order for the element associated with the tag. The elements are processed within a parallel processing system to produce processed elements, wherein each of the processed elements maintains an association with a tag. The processed elements are rasterized in a selected sequence to determine new pixel data sets, wherein rasterization of each processed element results in a new pixel data set for each of a plurality of pixels. Each new pixel data set includes order data derived from a tag associated with each of the processed elements. For each new pixel data set resulting from the rasterization of the processed elements, a current pixel data set is determined in response to a comparison of order data in the new pixel data set with order data in an existing pixel data set for each of the pixels. The pixels are then displayed within a display device utilizing the current pixel data sets associated with each of the pixels, wherein the plurality of elements is displayed in an order indicated by the associated tags to form a image.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to a method and apparatus for producing a graphical image within a computer graphics system and in particular to a method and apparatus for parallel processing of graphics structure elements within a computer graphics system. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for displaying graphics structure elements processed by a parallel processor system in a computer graphics system in sequential order.
2. Description of the Related Art
Data processing systems such as personal computers and work stations are commonly utilized to run computer-aided design (CAD) applications, computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) applications, and computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools. Engineers, scientists, technicians, and others employ these applications daily. These applications involve complex calculations, such as finite element analysis to model stress in structures. Other applications include chemical or molecular modelling applications. CAD/CAM/CASE applications are normally graphics intensive in terms of the information relayed to the user. Data processing system users may employ other graphics intensive applications such as desk top publishing applications. Generally, users of these applications require and demand that the data processing systems be able to provide extremely fast graphics information.
The processing of a graphics data stream to provide a graphical display on a video display terminal requires an extremely fast graphics system to provide a display with a rapid response. It is desirable to be able to provide the performance required utilizing presently available technology. In order to meet the performance demands of users employing graphics applications, multiple floating point processors have been utilized to provide the computational power needed for higher performance.
Such multiprocessor graphics systems process data streams that include models containing primitives. A "primitive" defines the shape of various components of an object, such as lines, points, polygons in two or three dimensions, text, polyhedra, or free-form surfaces in three dimensions. A primitive also may define attributes, such as line style, color, or surface texture. Also, a primitive may include data defining connectivity relationships and positioning information that describe how the components of an object fit together. "Output primitives" are sent to a geometry engine, which is employed to perform calculations such as transformations, clipping, lighting calculations, perspective projections, color mapping, etc. "Raster primitives" are primitives resulting from the output from geometry engine which are sent to a rasterization engine, which is employed in operations such as the transformation of data into pixels and the evaluation of pixel values.
Often, primitives must be processed in sequential order. Many applications require that the geometry engine, utilized to process primitives and other data for display, maintain the sequential order of the primitives as received. For example, the painter's algorithm, a simplified version of a depth-sort algorithm, is a hidden-line/hidden-surface algorithm that is frequently employed in computer graphics applications to paint or render closer objects over more distant objects in situations not involving intersection of objects. This algorithm produces various primitives that are sent into a frame buffer in the order of farthest from the viewpoint to closest to the viewpoint in the viewing coordinate system in order to arrive at a correct visibility solution.
Normally, primitives are sorted based on Z-axis depth, (hereafter Z-depth), to ensure that the primitives are drawn from farthest to closest. The list of primitives, resulting from such a sorting, becomes the order in which the primitives are displayed. Other methods requiring processing of primitives to be maintained in sequential or temporal order (i.e., the time order in which the primitives are received) include binary spatial partitioning (BSP) algorithms, octree algorithms, and constructive solid geometry (CSG) trees.
With the introduction of multiple instruction multiple data (MIMD) pipelined geometry engines, it is possible, and often desirable, to process primitives in a non sequential order. Normally, each primitive is processed in sequential order and each subdrawing primitive derived from a primitive is given to the raster engine in display list priority. Primitive are rasterized by the raster engine to produce an image for display. "Rasterization" is the process of determining pixel values from primitives. In parallel processing systems, however, it is sometimes desirable to process a graphics data stream in a sequence other than that received to achieve efficient use of processor resources. Maintaining the original sequence of the primitives while maintaining efficient processor utilization is necessary in some cases.
One example where it is advantageous to process primitives in a non-sequential order involves a large nonuniform, rational B-spline (NURBS) surface followed by a large number of small triangle strips. It is often the case that the evaluation of NURBS surfaces requires a significantly longer time as compared to the calculations required for other primitives, such as lines, polygons, or triangle strips. If the processing of the NURBS is sequential, then whenever a NURBS surface is encountered, all other processors will remain idle after filling any available output buffers. Allowing the other processors to work on the lines, polygons, or other data while the NURBS surface is being processed improves the overall throughput by an amount equal to the reduced processor idle time.
One approach to this problem involves utilizing a mechanism to merge or multiplex data from a number of microprocessors and send the data to a rasterizer. Buffers are associated with each of the microprocessors for temporarily storing data not yet sent to the rasterizer. This solution is adequate in some situations. Cases, however, exist in which the limits imposed by this buffering mechanism cause processing at one node to halt until the primitive being processed at another processor or processor node has been completed. An example of one such case is a large primitive followed by one or more smaller primitives.
One method for dispatching work to a series of parallel processors in which the maintaining of a specific sequential order is necessary involves employing a control processor to parse the input data stream. This control processor also dispatches work in the form of primitives to one of a group of parallel processors. The parallel processor chosen for the next primitive is one that has the least amount of work awaiting at the input buffer of the parallel processor. As each primitive is dispatched by the control processor, a sequential tag is associated with each primitive. This tag accompanies the primitive and is utilized to merge the primitives processed by the various parallel processors back into the original sequential order prior to rasterization.
Utilizing this method, if one processor receives a NURBS surface, other processors within the parallel processing system may be forced to remain idle until the NURBS surface is completed by the processor because of the NURBS surface's position in the original display list. Consequently, the degree of parallelism possible is directly linked to the size of each processor's output buffer.
Although this method maintains the display list priority order by employing a tagging mechanism to maintain the order of primitives, situations involving inefficient processors use still exist. Additionally, the raster engine will have to wait for the geometry processing of one primitive to be completed before rasterization of another primitive can begin. Increasing the amount of memory for the processors may be inappropriate since an inordinate amount of storage space may be required to maintain efficient processor utilization for common data streams. Furthermore, increasing the buffer size has the undesirable effect of increasing the latency, that is, the start-up and emptying time associated with the graphics system.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a method and apparatus to improve the efficiency of parallel processing of data streams containing primitives while displaying the processed primitives in sequential order.

Method and apparatus for displaying primitives processed by a parallel processor system in a sequential order

International Business Machines Corporation


Information of light from a subject is converted into information of the electric charges to generate image data for one screen in an image pickup device, the image data is outputted to an image processing LSI, only the image data belonging to a plurality of areas is selected by a processing amount reduction unit, the selected image data is transferred to a RAM in a single chop by a data transfer unit, and the processing of recognizing a white line is executed by a CPU on the basis of the image data stored in the RAM.

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and more particularly to an image processing apparatus which is suitable for executing the arithmetic operation processing for image data stored in a work memory.
The image processing technology for processing image data obtained by an image pickup device has begun to be adapted to the monitoring system for detecting the invasion of a doubtful person or the abnormality and to the onboard system for supporting the safety travelling of a motorcar. In order to adapt the image processing technology to these systems, the small space and the low cost of an image processing apparatus are required. In order to realize the small space and the low cost, there is required the device of executing the image processing at high speed with the limited arithmetic operation ability of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the limited hardware physical superiority. As for the method of miniaturizing the image processing apparatus, for example, there is the method of adopting the single chip. The single chip is such that a CPU for executing the arithmetically operation processing, a ROM (Read Only Memory) for storing therein a program, a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work memory, and the functions required to construct the systems such as a network and a serial port are collectively integrated with each other into a package of one chip. By using this single chip, it becomes possible to realize the system, which is heretofore constructed by employing a plurality of devices, in one chip, which can contribute to the small space and the low cost of the image processing apparatus.
On the other hand, in order to execute the high speed image processing using a single chip, it is necessary to execute the image processing using a suitable memory within the single chip. This reason is that an access from a CPU to the external memory provided outside the single chip is generally slower than that to a local memory (work memory) provided in the inside of the single chip. For this reason, when executing the image processing using the external memory, it becomes difficult to provide the practical throughput. For example, with respect to the white line (traffic line or lane) recognizing function adopted in the on-board system, the recognition at the video rate is required and hence the high speed processing is required. But, in the case where the processing is executed using the external memory, it is difficult to fulfill the required performance. In addition, in the case of an environment resistance type single chip for use in the control or the like of motorcars, since the capacity of a memory in the single chip is small, an amount of data which can be processed at high speed is limited.
Then, as described in JP-A-2001-101396, there is proposed a method wherein image data stored in the external memory is sent to a local memory, which is integrated with a processor into one chip, through the DMA (Direct Memory Access) transfer to process the image data at high speed. In addition, as described in JP-A-6-4651, there is also proposed a method wherein only the data in an area which is used in the processing is transferred in order to execute the image processing at high speed. Each of those prior arts adopts the construction in which the image data is stored in the external memory and the necessary image data, when necessary, is transferred to the local memory in order to be processed.

Image processing apparatus and image pickup device


In a toothbrush (1) comprising a stationary part (10) and a brush holder (24) which is movable with respect to the stationary part (10), and comprising a spring (48) which acts between the stationary part (10) and the brush holder (24), a link-motion device (49) is arranged between the stationary part (10) and the brush holder (24), in addition to the spring (48), in order to obtain a desired force characteristic, which link-motion device (49) is loaded by the spring (48) and comprises a link-motion follower (51) and a link-motion surface (50) having two link-motion surface portions (52, 53), the two link-motion surface portions (52, 53) adjoining one another by an edge-like transition portion (54).

The invention relates to a toothbrush comprising at least one stationary part, and a brush holder which is adapted to hold a brush and is movable with respect to the stationary part, and a spring which acts between the stationary part and the brush holder, and in which the brush holder can be held in a normal position by the spring force of the spring and in which the brush holder is movable into a deflection position against the spring force of the spring when a given limit value of the cleaning force exerted on the brush during operation of this brush is exceeded.
Such a toothbrush of the type defined in the opening paragraph is known, for example from the document EP 0 636 349 A1, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,494, issued Nov. 21, 1995. In this known toothbrush the spring arranged between the stationary part and the brush holder is an angled blade spring of which one end portion is straight and fixedly connected to the stationary part and of which the other end portion is bent and cooperates with a stepped pressure surface of the brush holder at the location of the step of this holder. In this known toothbrush the limit value of the cleaning force, above which limit value the brush holder is movable into its deflection position against the spring force of the spring, is mainly determined by a threshold value of the spring force of the angled blade spring and also by the height of the step of the pressure surface and by the frictional conditions between the bent end portion of the blade spring and the pressure surface of the brush holder. However, the threshold value of the spring force depends comparatively strongly on the blade spring tolerances, which basically depend on the thickness of the blade spring, the magnitude of the blade spring angle and the shape of the bent end portion of the blade spring, and the frictional conditions between the bent end portion of the blade spring and the pressure surface of the brush holder are also dependent on tolerances and ageing. Owing to this fact, i.e. the comparatively strong influence of tolerances, the limit value of the cleaning force exerted on the brushes, for which the brush holder moves into its deflection position, exhibits a comparatively wide spread for different samples of the known toothbrush, which is undesirable.

Toothbrush having a brush holder movable against spring force


A magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) in an MRAM array is disclosed with a composite free layer having a FL1/FL2/FL3 configuration where FL1 and FL2 are crystalline magnetic layers and FL3 is an amorphous NiFeX layer for improved bit switching performance. FL1 layer is CoFe which affords a high magnetoresistive (MR) ratio when forming an interface with a MgO tunnel barrier. FL2 is Fe to improve switching performance. NiFeX thickness where X is Hf is preferably between 20 to 40 Angstroms to substantially reduce bit line switching current and number of shorted bits. Annealing at 330° C. to 360° C. provides a high MR ratio of 190%. Furthermore, low Hc and Hk are simultaneously achieved with improved bit switching performance and fewer shorts without compromising other MTJ properties such as MR ratio. As a result of high MR ratio and lower bit-to-bit resistance variation, higher reading margin is realized.

Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM), based on the integration of silicon CMOS with MTJ technology, is a major emerging technology that is highly competitive with existing semiconductor memories such as SRAM, DRAM, Flash, etc. A MRAM device is generally comprised of an array of parallel first conductive lines on a horizontal plane, an array of parallel second conductive lines on a second horizontal plane spaced above and formed in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive lines, and an MTJ element interposed between a first conductive line and a second conductive line at each crossover location. A first conductive line may be a word line while a second conductive line is a bit line or vice versa. Alternatively, a first conductive line may be a bottom electrode that is a sectioned line while a second conductive line is a bit line (or word line). There are typically other devices including transistors and diodes below the array of first conductive lines as well as peripheral circuits used to select certain MRAM cells within the MRAM array for read or write operations. A high speed version of MRAM architecture consists of a cell with an access transistor and a MTJ (1T1MTJ) in the array.
A MTJ element may be based on a tunneling magneto-resistance (TMR) effect wherein a stack of layers has a configuration in which two ferromagnetic layers are separated by a thin non-magnetic dielectric layer. In a MRAM device, the MTJ element is formed between a bottom electrode such as a first conductive line and a top electrode which is a second conductive line. A MTJ stack of layers that is subsequently patterned to form a MTJ element may be formed in a so-called bottom spin valve configuration by sequentially depositing a seed layer, an anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer, a ferromagnetic "pinned" layer, a thin tunnel barrier layer, a ferromagnetic "free" layer, and a capping layer. In a MRAM MTJ, the free layer has traditionally been made of NiFe because of its reproducible and reliable switching characteristics as demonstrated by a low switching field (Hc) and low switching field uniformity (σHc).
The pinned layer has a magnetic moment that is fixed in the "y" direction, for example, by exchange coupling with the adjacent AFM layer that is also magnetized in the "y" direction. The free layer has a magnetic moment that is either parallel or anti-parallel to the magnetic moment in the pinned layer. The tunnel barrier layer is thin enough that a current through it can be established by quantum mechanical tunneling of conduction electrons. The magnetic moment of the free layer may change in response to external magnetic fields and it is the relative orientation of the magnetic moments between the free and pinned layers that determines the tunneling current and therefore the resistance of the tunneling junction. When a sense current is passed from the top electrode to the bottom electrode in a direction perpendicular to the MTJ layers, a lower resistance is detected when the magnetization directions of the free and pinned layers are in a parallel state ("1" memory state) and a higher resistance is noted when they are in an anti-parallel state or "0" memory state.
An alternative MRAM technology has been developed in the past several years and is called spin-transfer MRAM or STT-RAM. The spin-transfer effect arises from the spin dependent electron transport properties of ferromagnetic-spacer-ferromagnetic multilayers. When a spin-polarized current transverses a magnetic multilayer in a current perpendicular to plane (CPP) configuration, the spin angular moment of electrons incident on a ferromagnetic layer interacts with magnetic moments of the ferromagnetic layer near the interface between the ferromagnetic and non-magnetic spacer. Through this interaction, the electrons transfer a portion of their angular momentum to the ferromagnetic layer. As a result, spin-polarized current can switch the magnetization direction of the ferromagnetic (free) layer if the current density is sufficiently high, and if the dimensions of the multilayer are small. The difference between a SU-RAM and a conventional MRAM is only in the write operation mechanism. The read mechanism is the same.
A high performance MRAM MTJ element is characterized by a high tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) ratio also referred to as MR ratio where MR is the resistance change ratio as a result of switching from a low resistance state (Rp) to a high resistance state (Rap) and expressed as (Rap-Rp)/Rp. Other MTJ parameters that are important for MRAM performance are low bit-to-bit resistance variation, low number of shorted bits, and low bit-to-bit switching current (or field) variation. Simultaneous optimization of all the aforementioned parameters is necessary for making high performance MRAM products that should have high reading margin and writing margin and lower error counts. Higher MR ratio and lower bit-to-bit resistance variation are necessary for high reading margin. Writing margin is more complicated and depends on many factors including magnetic free layer (coercivity and anisotropy energy), MTJ shape and size, and distance between the overlying word line/bit line and the free layer in the MTJ.
Numerous MTJ designs have been proposed and fabricated in the prior art but there is still a need for improvement in all of the performance categories mentioned above. Typically, an improvement in one property leads to a degradation in one or more other parameters. For example, NiFe affords excellent switching properties but the TMR ratio with a MTJ having a NiFe free layer is lower than can be achieved with CoFe, CoFeB, or other free layer materials. In addition, recent developments show that a MgO/CoFeB tunnel barrier/free layer configuration exhibits very high MR ratio (>200%) but this structure could not be directly applied in MRAM because a MTJ with a CoFeB free layer shows very poor writing margin (wide bit-to-bit switching current) due to its high anisotropy energy. Moreover, a high switch current is needed because of high coercivity associated with a CoFeB free layer. Even a CoFeB/NiFe composite free layer no longer exhibits a high MR characteristic of MgO/CoFeB configurations because the NiFe layer with fcc (111) crystal structure prevents the adjacent CoFeB layer from crystallizing in the bcc (001) phase necessary for high spin polarization (and thus high MR ratio) at the MgO/CoFeB interface.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,808,027 discloses a composite free layer with a NiFeCo/NiFe/NiFeHf configuration that is designed to provide a MR ratio of about 50%, high read margin, and low magnetostriction (λs).
In U.S. Pat. No. 7,672,093, NiFeMg and NiFeHf layers are employed as capping layers that getter oxygen through an interface with a free layer which is a composite comprising two NiFe layers of opposite λs sign in order to achieve low magnetostriction.
U.S. Patent Application Publication 2010/0261295 teaches a free layer composite represented by Fe/amorphous CoFeB/Fe to achieve a low Gilbert damping constant, low critical current, high MR ratio, and low bit-to-bit resistance variation for a STT-MRAM application.
U.S. Patent Application Publication 2010/0258886 discloses a non-magnetic buffer layer such as Ta formed between two free layers in a MTJ stack. A key feature is the second free layer has a lower coercivity than the first free layer.
In spite of all recent advancements in optimizing a MTJ for MRAM, an improved MTJ is still required that improves bit line shorting and switching properties while maintaining a high TMR ratio and without compromising other important MTJ parameters.

Composite free layer within magnetic tunnel junction for MRAM applications


The present invention discloses a method for manufacturing thin film transistor liquid crystal display including the following steps so as to form simultaneously a via hole for contacting a drain electrode and a pixel electrode mutually and the channel of thin film transistor:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to method for manufacturing liquid crystal display, and particularly to liquid crystal display using thin film transistor as switching element.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, thin film transistor liquid crystal display has a plurality of unit pixels and thin film transistors corresponding to each of the unit pixels, and thus the high quality, scale-up, and color display of screen and high-speed response can be achieved. Therefore, it is generally used for portable TV, Personal Computer, and navigation appliance of car, and so on.
Thin film transistor is arranged at an intersection region and used as a switching element for selectively controlling on/off operation of pixel electrode.
The conventional method for manufacturing thin film transistor liquid crystal display will be described referring to FIG. 1a through FIG. 1e.
Firstly, as shown in FIG. 1a, metal layer for gate electrode of prescribed thickness is evaporated on a back substrate 1. And, gate electrode 2a and storage capacitor electrode 2b are formed by patterning the metal layer for gate electrode through a first photolithograph process.
Then, as shown in FIG. 1b, gate insulation layer 3, amorphous silicon layer for channel 4, and doped semiconductor layer for ohmic contact 5 are formed sequentially on the back substrate 1 where the gate electrode 2a and the storage capacitor electrode 2b have been formed. And, the doped semiconductor layer for ohmic contact 5 and amorphous silicon layer for channel 4 are so patterned through a second photolithograph process that a thin film transistor area is defined.
Then, as shown in FIG. 1c, metal layer for source/drain electrode is formed on the back substrate 1 where the thin film transistor area has been defined. And, metal layer for source/drain electrode is so patterned through a third photolithograph process that source electrode 6a and drain electrode 6b are formed on both sides of amorphous silicon layer for channel 4. When the metal layer for source/drain electrode is patterned, the doped semiconductor layer for ohmic contact 5 is so patterned that as the same pattern as source electrode 6a and drain electrode 6b are formed.
Then, as shown in FIG. 1d, a passivation layer 7 of SiNx layer on the back substrate 1 where the source electrode 6a and the drain electrode 6b have been formed. And, the passivation layer 7 is so patterned through a fourth photolithograph process that a prescribed part of drain electrode 6b through is exposed. As a result, via hole h is formed at the exposed portion of drain electrode 6b.
And then, as shown in FIG. 1e, so as to contact with drain electrode 6b through via hole h, Indium Tin Oxide(ITO) layer is evaporated over the passivation layer 7. And, the ITO layer is so patterned through a fifth photolithograph process that pixel electrode 8 is formed.
However, each photolithograph process includes lots of detailed steps including register coating step, exposure step, development step, etching step, and register removal step and a different photo mask is required at every photolithograph process. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the number of photolithograph process in order to decrease manufacturing cost and in order to increase yield.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing thin film transistor liquid crystal display which can achieve a reduction in a number of photolithograph process.
1. In order to achieve the above described object, the present method for manufacturing thin film transistor liquid crystal display which have a pixel electrode and a counter electrode which are so formed on a back substrate that a driving electric field is generated in a liquid crystal cell, thin film transistor which has gate electrode, source electrode, and drain electrode and which apply prescribed picture signal between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode, and a storage capacitor electrode connected to the counter electrode, includes the following steps. Firstly, forms a metal layer for gate electrode on the back substrate. Thereafter, patterns the metal layer for gate electrode through a first photolithograph process so that the gate electrode and the storage capacitor electrode may be formed. Thereafter, forms sequentially gate insulation layer, amorphous silicon layer for channel and doped semiconductor layer for ohmic contact, and metal layer for source/drain electrode on the back substrate where the gate electrode and the storage capacitor electrode have been formed. Thereafter, patterns the metal layer for source/drain electrode and the doped semiconductor layer for ohmic contact through a second photolithograph process so that the source electrode, the drain electrode, and the ohmic contacts thereof may be formed. Thereafter, forms a passivation layer on the back substrate where the source electrode and the drain electrode have been formed. Thereafter, patterns the passivation layer, the amorphous silicon layer for channel, and the gate insulation layer through a third photolithograph process so that a part of the drain electrode and the back substrate portion between the storage capacitor electrode and the thin film transistor may be exposed. Thereafter, forms a transparent conductive layer for pixel electrode so as to contact with the exposed portions of the drain electrode and the back substrate. Thereafter, patterns the transparent conductive layer for pixel electrode through a fourth photolithograph process so that a pixel electrode may be formed to contact with the exposed portion of drain electrode.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.

Method for manufacturing thin film transistor liquid crystal display

Abstract: forming sequentially gate insulation layer, amorphous silicon layer for channel and doped semiconductor layer for ohmic contact, and metal layer for source/drain electrode on the back substrate where the gate electrode and the storage capacitor electrode have been formed; patterning the metal layer for source/drain electrode and the doped semiconductor layer for ohmic contact through a second photolithograph process so that the source electrode, the drain electrode, and the ohmic contacts thereof may be formed; forming a passivation layer on the back substrate where the source electrode and the drain electrode have been formed; patterning the passivation layer, the amorphous silicon layer for channel, and the gate insulation layer through a third photolithograph process so that a part of the drain electrode and the back substrate portion between the storage capacitor electrode and the thin film transistor may be exposed.


Some variations provide a composition for additive manufacturing (3D printing) of metals, comprising: from 10 vol % to 70 vol % of a photocurable liquid resin; from 10 vol % to 70 vol % of metal or metal alloy particles, optionally configured with a photoreflective surface; and from 0.01 vol % to 10 vol % of a photoinitiator. Other variations provide a composition for additive manufacturing of metals, comprising: from 1 vol % to 70 vol % of a photocurable liquid resin; from 0.1 vol % to 98 vol % of an organometallic compound containing a first metal; from 1 vol % to 70 vol % of metal or metal alloy particles containing a second metal (which may be the same as or different than the first metal); and from 0.01 vol % to 10 vol % of a photoinitiator. Many examples of metals, photocurable resins, organometallic compounds, photoinitiators, and optional additives are disclosed, and methods of making and using the composition are described.

Metallic materials offer combined properties, such as strength, toughness, temperature capability, chemical resistance, and durability that cannot be achieved by a polymer or ceramic.
Metal-based additive manufacturing, or three-dimensional (3D) printing, has applications in many industries, including the aerospace and automotive industries. Building up metal components layer by layer increases design freedom and manufacturing flexibility, thereby enabling complex geometries while eliminating traditional economy-of-scale constraints.
A stereolithography technique provides a method to build a 3D polymer microstructure in a layer-by-layer process. This process usually involves a platform (e.g., substrate) that is lowered into a photomonomer bath in discrete steps. At each layer, a laser is used to scan over the area of the photomonomer that is to be cured (i.e., polymerized) for that particular layer. Once the layer is cured, the platform is lowered by a specific amount, determined by the processing parameters and desired feature/surface resolution, and the process is repeated until the complete 3D structure is created. One example of such a stereolithography technique is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,330 issued Mar. 11, 1986 to Hull et al. Modifications to the stereolithography technique have been developed to improve the polymer resolution by using laser optics and special resin formulations. Also, modifications have been made to decrease the fabrication time of the 3D polymer structure by using a dynamic pattern generator to cure an entire layer at once. One example of such modification is disclosed in Bertsch et al., "Microstereolithography: A Review," Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, Vol. 758, 2003. Another advancement to the standard stereolithography technique includes a two-photon polymerization process, as disclosed in Sun et al., "Two-Photon Polymerization And 3D Lithographic Microfabrication," Advances in Polymer Science, Vol. 170, 169-273, 2004.
It would be desirable to perform additive manufacturing of metal parts by stereolithography (SLA), digital light projection (DLP), and other UV-based approaches that generally offer low cost, high resolution, and high speed. For example, a standard 3D printer for selective laser melting (SLM) of metal parts costs about $700,000. Desktop stereolithography printers, on the other hand, are available for about $5,000. It takes about 100 seconds to print a 40-micron thin layer by SLM, whereas a similar layer can be printed in 10 seconds by DLP. Furthermore, the minimum feature size possible by SLM is on the order of 100 microns, whereas with micro-SLA, feature sizes of less than 10 microns can be easily realized. Previously, only polymer parts could be printed with SLA and DLP approaches (as explained above) and, only recently, ceramic parts. Metallic parts so far have not been demonstrated with these preferred approaches.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,612 issued Sep. 12, 2000 to Halloran et al. for "Stereolithography resin for rapid prototyping of ceramics and metals," resins are filled with ceramic particles only and printed molds are used for casting of metals. In JP2008050671 by Fuwa for "Metal powder for metal stereo lithography," metal particles are used as powder and are not suspended in a resin. In Bartolo and Gaspar, "Metal filled resin for stereolithography metal part" CIRP Annals Volume 57, Issue 1, 2008, Pages 235-238, the authors described adding cobalt and tungsten carbide to an organic acrylate resin. However, no reduction to practice was realized. In Czerniawski and Wojtczak, "Polymerizations of cobalt and nickel acrylate in dimethylformamide" Acta Polymerica, Volume 40, Issue 7, Pages 442-444, 1989, the authors demonstrated polymerization but not 3D printing. In Vyatskikh et al., "Additive manufacturing of 3D nano-architected metals" NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2018) 9:593, the authors demonstrated two-photon lithography of a UV-curable resin containing nickel acrylate, but with no metal particles in the resin.
Direct, free-form 3D printing of metal-containing resins, which can be converted to metallic components, is sought. The metal-containing resins (monomers and polymers) preferably maintain chemical and physical properties such that they can be printed using stereolithography and other UV-based approaches into complex 3D shapes, which then may be thermally treated to remove organic material, thereby fabricating 3D-printed metallic components using low-cost processes and equipment.

Resin formulations for additive manufacturing of metals, and methods of making and using the same


There are disclosed a new L-type zeolite and a catalyst comprising said zeolite, having a high and persistent catalytic activity for a long-term production of aromatic hydrocarbon and a process for efficiently producing aromatic hydrocarbons from nonaromatic hydrocarbon by the use of the catalyst. The L-type zeolite with both platinum components and halogen components supported thereon, has a peak intensity of 0.4 or less as determined by XANES and a small amount of dealuminization.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a L-type zeolite, a catalyst for the production of aromatic hydrocarbons and a process for producing aromatic hydrocarbons by the use thereof and more particularly, to a L-type zeolite with a platinum component and a halogen component supported thereon, a catalyst comprising the L-type zeolite suitable for the aromatization reaction and a process for efficiently producing aromatic hydrocarbons from non-aromatic hydrocarbon such as paraffin series hydrocarbon by using said catalyst.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally platinum.alumina series catalysts have been put to use as the catalyst for producing aromatic hydrocarbons by aromatizing non-aromatic hydrocarbon such as aliphatic hydrocarbon and in recent years there have been proposed the methods of using catalysts which contain L-type zeolite and platinum supported thereon, having an improved conversion efficiency (Japanese patent publication No. 57408/1983 and Japanese patent application LAID-OPEN Nos. 223614/1983 and 80333/1984).
However, all of platinum-supporting L-type zeolite catalysts used in these methods have not been found satisfactory because they have a low selectivity of aromatic hydrocarbons and a short catalyst lifetime. Meanwhile, a platinum-supporting L-type zeolite catalyst to which an alkaline earth metal (Ba, Sr, Ca) is introduced has been proposed as the improvement of said defects (Japanese patent application LAID-OPEN No. 133835/1983), but the follow-up study of the present inventors has resulted in a finding that this catalyst also is of no practical use as its selectivity of aromatic hydrocarbons and a catalyst lifetime are not sufficiently improved, along with a low catalysis stability.
There have been further proposed (1) a catalyst improved in catalytic activity and a catalyst lifetime by subjecting L-type zeolite with a metal or metals of Group VIII of the Periodic Table supported thereon to the oxychlorination treatment (Japanese patent application LAID-OPEN No. 168539/1985), (2) a catalyst whereon platinum is uniformly dispersed and supported, treated with a solution consisting of platinum solution and non-platinum metal salt (Japanese patent application LAID-OPEN No. 138539/1986), (3) a catalyst wherein platinum is supported on L-type zeolite treated with a halogen-containing compound (Japanese patent application LAID-OPEN No. 57653/1987), (4) a catalyst containing L-type zeolite with platinum supported thereon which is treated with a halogen-containing compound (Japanese patent application LAID-OPEN No. 91334/1988) and the like.
However, the catalysts mentioned in (1) are extremely poor in economical efficiency because of expensive equipment required for their production processes to carry out the oxychlorination treatment at high temperatures, while the catalysts of (2) do not show sufficient catalytic activity. Relative to catalyst of (3) and (4), though their catalytic activity is improved, they are still short of a sufficiently long term of a catalyst lifetime and require equipment of special type to deal with halogen components. Furthermore, it is desirable not to use these catalysts in points of the environmental protection as the halogen-containing compound to be used in their production processes is Flon gases (fluoroalkanes, chlorofluoroalkanes) which are controversial for their adverse influences on environment.
As mentioned above, the problems of the conventional catalysts lie in their production processes, catalytic activity, catalyst lifetime and the like, but a satisfactorily useful catalyst has not as yet been proposed.
Thus the present inventors have made intensive studies with a view to improving the defects of the conventional catalysts and developing a catalyst for the production of aromatic hydrocarbon which can be obtained by simple production processes without the need of special equipment, exhibiting an improved activity and having a longer term of catalyst lifetime. As the result, it has been found that above-mentioned object can be achieved by a catalyst comprising L-type zeolite and both a platinum component and a halogen component supported thereon. The present invention has been accomplished on the basis of this finding.

L-type zeolite and catalyst for the production of aromatic hydrocarbons


A specialized hand-portable device for use by a medical-technician in measuring the amount of head fore/aft-deviation from a "standardized norm" reference-point (manubrium of sternum). Configured in the form of an inverted T-shape, the vertical body portion of which serves as a common stanchion, including a horizontal lower scale-beam member having a sternal-probe. The vertical stanchion is adjustable fore/aft relative to the chest sternum; the probe's tip entity being shaped to lay naturally against one's sternal-notch. The upper portion of the stanchion includes a vertically adjustable second horizontal-probe member, the tip-rest thereof being formed to lightly impinge upon the zygomatic-arch region of one's face. The instrument is intitially set to "zero" on the sternal/reference-scale, which precalibration adheres to an "ideal norm" of reference, while leveling to a visual sight-bubble. Hence, consistent measurement deviation (to the millimeter) from this pre-established norm, reveals the patient's precise cranial-deviation relative to the fixed manubrium point. Armed with this data, a suitable correctional program may be prescribed and/or monitored to measure progression toward intended satisfactory results.

This invention relates to hand-portable measuring instruments, particularly those calibrated as to facilitate measurement of the human physique, especially as it relates to anatomical or postural stance of an individual, relative to a so called "optimal"(ideal) standard.
Heretofore, human-engineering scientists and physical-therapy technicians have devised various sorts of specialized measuring devices. These have been designed for extrapulating some form of reference-data useful in compiling statistics, either for pure anthropomorphic-studies, or for aiding the rehabilitation of a patient. However, as yet, no hand-portable orthopedic-instrument has been available to conveniently and accurately determine the fore/aft-posture condition of any human specimen.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,955,285(filed--September 1974) sets forth a floor-stand having a fixed vertical stanchion-staff which may be readily adjusted vertically at three separate stations; so as to determine hip, shoulder, and head region reference points. This inventor employed a heel/striker-curb for the patient to backup against, thereby establishing a reliably practical common point of physical-reference. However, their was nothing built-in to the 71/2-foot high apparatus which enabled the technician to determine actual presence of Fore/aft "stoop" of a given patient.
Interestingly, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,437,753(filed--March 1981) for a personal camera steadying device, the inventor provides a bipod-legged arrangement which attaches to a popular 35 mm-camera; wherein one of the legs braces against one's shoulder, while the other braces upon one's chest-sternum. However, while the camera eyepiece itself is placed proximal to the zygoma-bone of one's eye bone surround, there is no provision here for attaining any manner of anatomical measurment as shall be subsequently explained. Another camera-stabilizer device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,434,406(filed--January 1966), which features a single supporting-leg that extends aft and down against one's chest-sternum in order to better steady the camera being otherwise held in the operator's hands.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,713 (filed--August 1982) for a postureometer, the inventor provides a base-plate having locative foot-impressions, serving to position the patient at a predetermined location relative to a vertical stanchion. Similar to the first patent mentioned above, the stanchion includes hip, shoulder and head measurement probes; plus, this stanchion also features a series of horizontal-probes readily adjustable from the stanchion, so as to plot the curve of one's spine. However, the apparatus is not hand-portable, and no provision is anticipated for detecting fore-aft head stoop.
Another U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,349 (filed--March 1987) shows a simple hand-portable measuring caliper, capable of reading the between bone parts in a knee-joint, but is relevant only as to the centimeter-calibrated scale and rotary-index adjustment.
A back-incline indicator is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,145 (filed--May 1989), which employs a mercury-switch and beeper, thereby enabling a patient to know if they have exceeded a predetermined degree of back-incline (such as may be determined by an Orthopedist). However, there is no provision for determining actual forward stoop of a person, which is different than back-incline, which is induced in the spine rather than from one's bending forward at the hips.
The disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,489 (filed--June 1990) shows an inexpensive posture measuring instrument, which is hand-held by the operator while viewing through the paddle-like formation of clear-plastic. Included is a likewise transparent gravity-weighted indicator which pivots freely on an axis central to the paddle face. The arrangement enables the operator to align the inscribed reference-lines on the gravity-weighted pointer with the bridge of the subject's nose for example, while aligning the reference-line inscribed on the hand-held portion with the top of the ear for example; whereupon the paddle is turned so as to obtain a similar reading at the top of the opposite ear. Results of the two readings are compared, and the difference indicates the apparent lateral deviation from the vertical. However, the device serves no purpose when used in side-view or profile of the patient, as does that of the instant invention hereof.

Cranio-cervical sagittal-alignment caliper and universal measurement system


A method for controlling connections from an IP entity to a server. Initially, a limit count, representing a number of concurrently allowable connections between the IP entity and the server, is determined. When an incoming IP packet is received, the packet is processed to determine the source and destination IP addresses for the packet. An entry is then created in a limit table for the IP entity, if no entry for that IP entity exists in the table. A determination is made as to whether a pending connection should be allowed for the packet, by referring to the limit count and the entry in the limit table. The connection is allowed, and the limit count for the entry is incremented, if the attempted connection would not exceed the limit count for the IP entity; otherwise, the packet is blocked if the attempted connection would exceed the limit count for the IP entity.

A computer network firewall is a programmed processor, or a subsystem thereof, connected to a gateway or other network server, that monitors messages destined for a recipient within an internal network. A firewall blocks those messages that meet predetermined criteria, which may include specific packet source addresses or message content. In typical firewalls, connections between a sending client and a network recipient are accepted or rejected by comparing parameters of incoming TCP/IP packets to rules that determine whether a given transmission should be allowed or blocked. To determine if a specific message is a legitimate message or unwanted 'spam', including advertising, malicious bulk transmissions, and/or other unsolicited email, the network traffic must be analyzed and specific clients identified who are sending the unwanted messages.
Although presently existing firewall systems provide the basic capability of screening incoming messages, the systems' rules must be set up or programmed to detect specific clients whose messages are to be blocked or rejected. System administrators frequently spend a great deal of time not only analyzing logged information to discover which clients have been trying to overwhelm their system with incoming connection requests, but also configuring specific rules to limit the access of particular 'spammers' to their internal network.
Many existing firewalls are content-based, that is, they read or scan the actual messages themselves. Content-based message screening is costly from a computer resource standpoint, and also presents potential privacy problems. It is known that content-based firewalls often reject some legitimate messages. Although it is important that a firewall be able to detect as many unwanted messages as possible, it is equally, if not more important, that the firewall not block or reject legitimate email or other transmissions.
Furthermore, to administer a system which controls incoming TCP/IP connections, it is desirable to generate accurate reports describing incoming traffic from system clients and the number of connection attempts that are in excess of a predetermined connection limit. Previously known activity logging methods are inefficient. These methods include (1) keeping in-kernel memory tables, which are difficult to maintain because it if difficult to know when logging information about a specific incoming system is not necessary, and (2) logging each over-limit TCP/IP SYN (connection) packet, which generates an extremely large number of log messages.

System for controlling client-server connection requests

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An ethylene polymer composition having a density of at least 950 kg/m3, a fluidity index MI5 of 0.05 to 2 g/10 min and a content of alpha-olefin containing from 4 to 10 carbon atoms of from 0.15 to 1 mole %, containing from 53 to 63% by weight based on the total weight of the composition of an ethylene polymer fraction (A) having a fluidity index MI2 of at least 100 g/10 min a density of at least 969 kg/m3 and a molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn greater than 4, and from 37 to 47% by weight based on the total weight of the composition of a copolymer fraction (B) of ethylene and from 0.32 to 2.7 mole % of at least one alpha-olefin containing from 4 to 10 carbon atoms, a fluidity index MI5 to 0.001 to 0.5 g/10 min, a density of no more than 930 kg/m3 and a molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn greater than 4, wherein the ratio of the MI2 of fraction (A) to the MI5 of fraction (B) is greater than 20,000.

The present invention concerns a composition comprising an ethylene polymer and an ethylene copolymer, and its use for the manufacture of pipes. It also concerns a process of manufacture of that composition.
Patent application EP-A-0 603 935 describes a composition which comprises an ethylene polymer with high fluidity index (MI2 from 5 to 1000 g/10 min) and an ethylene polymer with low fluidity index (MI5 from 0.01 to 2 g/10 min) and is prepared in at least two reactors in series, the ratio by weight of these polymers being (30 to 70):(70 to 30). That patent application discloses more specifically a composition comprising an ethylene homopolymer having an MI2 of 168 g/10 min and an ethylene and butene copolymer having an MI5 of 0.21 g/10 min.
Patent application EP-A-0 897 934 describes a composition comprising an ethylene polymer with high fluidity index (MI2 from 5 to 1000 g/10 min) and an ethylene and hexene polymer with low fluidity index (MI5 from 0.01 to 2 g/10 min), the ratio by weight of these polymers being (30 to 70):(70 to 30) and the ratio of the MI2 of the ethylene polymer to the MI5 of the ethylene/hexene copolymer being less than 20000.
The compositions described in those patent applications present in general utilisation properties and mechanical properties which render them appropriate to be used for the manufacture of various formed objects, in particular for the manufacture of pipes for the conveying of fluids under pressure. The compositions explicitly described in those patent applications present mechanical properties, and more specifically a creep resistance, which make it possible to attribute to them a classification of MRS 8 or 10 according to standards ISO 9080 and ISO 12162. When these compositions are used for the manufacture of pipes with suitable dimensions, these pipes withstand certain pressures and certain temperatures such that extrapolation shows that the pipes have at 20° C. a resistance to circumferential stresses respectively of at least 8 and 10 MPa for at least 50 years. There is always a demand for compositions having a better creep resistance so as to be able to manufacture pipes withstanding a still greater circumferential stress while maintaining or improving the other mechanical and utilisation properties, in particular resistance to slow propagation of cracks (ESCR) and resistance to rapid propagation of cracks (RCP).
The object of the present invention is to provide ethylene polymer compositions having a better compromise between processing properties and mechanical properties than compositions obtained by known processes of the state of the art.


A vehicle front structure reinforces a portion around a bumper to prevent local stress concentration. The vehicle front structure includes a first reinforcement (4) attached to the central part in the vehicle width direction of a bumper member (2), and includes second reinforcements (11) attached to the vehicle inside parts of corner parts (10) each defined by a side member (3) and the bumper member (2). The first reinforcement (4) is arranged so as to cover an upper part (2b) and a lower part (2c) of the bumper member (2). A side end part (4b) in the vehicle width direction of the first reinforcement (4), which is arranged in the upper part (2b) and the lower part (2c), is formed so as to extend to the outside in the vehicle width direction toward the rear of the vehicle. The second reinforcement (11) is formed into a triangular shape corresponding to the corner part (10), and has a side part (11a) tilting to the outside in the vehicle width direction toward the rear of vehicle so as to connect the side member (3) and the bumper member (2) with each other. The side end part (4d) of the first reinforcement (4) and the side part (11a) of the second reinforcement (11) are arranged on the same straight line.

A bumper provided in the front part of a vehicle is attached to a bumper member provided on a vehicle body, and this bumper member is attached to side members provided at both sides in the vehicle width direction of an engine compartment.
When the vehicle receives a load such as an impact at the vehicle front, this load is mainly received by the bumper in the front part of the vehicle. At this time, a large stress is concentrated in the central part in the vehicle width direction of the bumper, and in an attachment part between the side member and the bumper member.
Even if the impact applied to the bumper is small, the stress is concentrated especially in the central part in the vehicle width direction of the bumper member, and in an attachment part between the side member and the bumper member. At this time, at a location at which the stress is concentrated, "bending deformation" which is deformation that makes a local bend, sometimes occurs. The occurrence of "bending deformation" may cause a problem in that the strength of the vehicle front part is decreased.
To overcome this problem, various measures for reinforcing the vehicle front part have been taken. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-252134 discloses a structure in which a reinforcing member is attached to the central part in the vehicle width direction of the bumper member. Furthermore, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-234409 discloses a structure in which a bumper stay for reinforcement is attached to the attachment part between the side member and the bumper member.


In a method for quantitating an analyte by measuring time resolved transfer of fluorescence energy to or from a label quantitatively associated with the analyte, the present invention provides an improvement comprising measuring the energy transferred from donor compounds having the ability to absorb light energy and then transfer this energy to cross-linked allophycocyanin in a time-resolved manner, where the cross-linked allophycocyanin used according to this invention has not been exposed to strongly chaotropic agents after cross-linking.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cross-linked allophycocyanin, its production and its use in fluorescent assays of various formats.
2. Related Art
Allophycocyanin (APC) is a fluorescent light harvesting protein unique to cyanobacteria and red algae and a member of the phycobiliprotein family of direct fluorescent dyes. APC is excited in the low 600 nm's (650 nm maximum) and emits with a maximum intensity at 660 nm. APC has become more common as a fluorescent label in flow cytometry because of the emergence of multi-laser instrumentation for multi-color detection (e.g., with Helium/Neon laser excitation) and production of tandem dyes for multiplexed assays (Roederer, et al., (1996), Cytometry 24, 191–197). In addition, APC is used as an acceptor from lanthanide dyes for high throughput time resolved fluorescent assays being increasingly used for drug discovery (Park, et al. (1999), Analytical Biochemistry 269, 94–104; Moore, et al. (1999), J Biomol Screening 4, 205–2143; Morris, et al. (1998), British Journal of Haematology 101, 88).
Unfortunately, native APC dissociates into monomers under most assay conditions (e.g., low protein and buffer concentrations). Native APC (herein referred to as "APC") consists of six phycobiliprotein subunits, made up of three dimers which each contain an alpha and a beta subunit. APC dissociation results in a shift in fluorescence emission from 660 nm and a drop in fluorescence intensity. Dissociation occurs at low concentrations, such as concentrations under 10 μg/mL of APC. Dissociation makes the native APC incompatible for assay conditions commonly used for flow cytometry, microplate assays and high throughput screening (HTS) applications.
Cross-linked and stabilized allophycocyanin preparations (herein referred to as XL-APC) were developed by Glazer and Ong to make this dye more suitable for use in immunoassay (Ong L J & Glazer A N (1985) Physiol Vég 23(1), 777–787). Those authors took a standard preparation of APC and treated it with a chemical cross-linking agent, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDAC), such that an average of one alpha subunit was linked to one beta subunit in a covalent manner in each APC trimer (which contains three of each subunit type). The product was then denatured under 8 M urea to dissociate it into its component parts: alpha and beta monomeric subunits and covalently linked alpha-beta dimeric subunits. The covalently-linked dimers were separated from the monomers using denaturing gel filtration, and then the dimers were placed in an environment that allowed them to reassociate into an (αβ)3 complex that displayed unusually high stability compared to native APC. The resultant material is referred to herein as XL-APC. This material has increased stability in the presence of chaotropic salts (such as sodium perchlorate) or at low concentrations of buffer compared to native APC. When run on a denaturing gel, most of the material runs as a single band that is the covalently linked αβ dimer. In the current art, the higher the percentage of cross-linked αβ dimeric subunits, the better the utility of the XL-APC. A number of XL-APC preparations are commercially available that have various percentages of covalently stabilized αβ dimer in the final product, all greater than 50%.
As seen in FIGS. 1A & 1C, XL-APC has a reduced ration of fluorescence at 650/620 nm versus the native APC. This also is reflected in a reduced ratio of the 650 nm absorbance of APC to the 280 nm absorbance peak reflecting total protein, an indication that the absorbance per molecule has been decreased. One commercially available preparation of XL-APC is called XL665™ (CIS Bio), and this material demonstrates the same decreased ratios of 650/620 fluorescence and 650/280 absorbance observed in the other XL-APC preparations now commercially available.

High fluorescent intensity cross-linked allophycocyanin


Compositions and methods for detecting PRRG4- and PRRG2 associated molecules are provided as are methods of use thereof for the detection and treatment of cancer.

Several publications and patent documents are cited throughout the specification in order to describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. Each of these citations is incorporated by reference herein as though set forth in full.
Second only to heart disease, cancer is the leading cause of death in the United States, striking one in two men and one in three women (Landis, 1998). Normal tissue homeostasis is a highly regulated process of cell proliferation and cell death. Cancer development is the culmination of complex, multistep biological processes, occurring through the accumulation of genetic alterations resulting in an imbalance in the genes controlling either cell proliferation or cell death. Many if not all of these alterations involve specific cellular growth controlling genes that are mutated. These genes typically are classified as proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Any event that leads to alterations of either class of genes leads to abnormal cell growth and can result in cancer.
Proto-oncogenes, upon dysregulation, induce uncontrolled cellular proliferation. Cellular levels of proto-oncogenes are an excellent diagnostic tool to assess the onset of cancer. Moreover, a detailed understanding of proto-oncogenes at a cellular level enables development of strategies for early detection and control of neoplastic tendencies. Upon detection, the dysregulated proto-oncogene can be corrected by various therapies (gene transfer, antibodies, small molecules or others) designed to block the function of the protein.
In vertebrates, proteins modified by gamma-glutamyl carboxylation fall into three major categories: vitamin-K dependent coagulation factors, coregulators of blood coagulation, and osteocalcin and matrix Gla proteins. PRRG4 is a single pass, type I transmembrane protein with a vitamin-K dependent γγ-carboxy-glutamic acid-rich domain (Kulman et al PNAS, 2001). Proline-rich gamma-carboxyglutamic acid protein 2, a paralog of PRRG4 is also widely expressed in many tissues. The function of these proteins is not known, nor are there any reports that suggest a relation to tumor formation.

PRRG4-associated compositions and methods of use thereof in methods of tumor diagnosis


A process for operating a fuel cell system (2), which is arranged in a vehicle (1) having a tachograph (6) and an internal combustion engine (3), and used for power supply of at least one electrical component (10) of the vehicle (1) with the internal combustion engine (3) switched off. With the fuel cell system (2) switched off, the control device (4) receives from the tachograph (6) a foreseeable break start time of an operating break following a drive mode, which is legally prescribed and/or planned by the driver of the vehicle (1), at which the internal combustion engine (3) is switched off. The control device (4) determines a start time such that a start procedure of the fuel cell system (2) ends at the break start time and the fuel cell system (2) is ready for operation, when the fuel cell system (2) is started at the start time.

A fuel cell system can be used as an auxiliary power supply, i.e., as a so-called "APU," where APU stands for "Auxiliary Power Unit" in a motor vehicle which is equipped with an internal combustion engine. During a normal drive mode of the vehicle, i.e., with internal combustion engine switched on, the internal combustion engine usually drives a generator, a so-called "electric generator," via which all electrical components of the vehicle are supplied with power. During operating breaks, i.e., with the vehicle being stationary, it may be necessary to additionally supply certain electrical components of the vehicle with power. This can only be guaranteed to a limited extent by means of a battery of the vehicle. However, as soon as larger power consumers, e.g., an air conditioning unit, shall also remain switched on in such an operating break, a vehicle battery is not sufficient. Hence, it is further prevalent that during such an operating break, the internal combustion engine continues to remain switched on and, e.g., is operated in an idle operating state. In this idle operating state, the internal combustion engine continues to work, however, outside its optimal efficiency, such that this power production is comparatively expensive.
To be able to save fuel during such operating breaks, fuel cell systems such as APUs are used. Such a fuel cell system usually comprises at least one fuel cell in which an electrolyte separates a cathode side from an anode side. Usually, here, a plurality of single fuel cell elements are stacked one on top of another to form a fuel cell stack. A hydrogen-containing anode gas is fed to the anode side, while an oxygen-containing cathode gas is fed to the cathode side. The cathode gas is usually air. The anode gas can be generated by means of a reformer, in particular by means of catalytic conversion, from a hydrogen-containing fuel, and the product of the reformer is usually designated as reformate gas. The reformer advantageously uses the same fuel as the internal combustion engine. A fuel cell, which can process hot reformate gas, which is produced by a reformer, is usually a solid fuel cell or high-temperature fuel cell, which is, as a rule, also designated as "SOFC," where SOFC stands for "Solid Oxide Fluid Cell." Such a fuel cell system, especially in the form of an SOFC is, as a rule, optimized for at least one predetermined nominal operating state, in which each of the individual components of the fuel cell system has a predetermined operating temperature. In order to protect the individual components against an excessive thermal and mechanical stress when starting such a fuel cell system, and to keep the energy consumption as low as possible when starting the fuel cell system, it is necessary to carry out a predetermined start procedure or a predetermined start routine, which takes up comparatively much time. The starting of the APU at the beginning of an operating break is therefore accompanied by a certain loss of comfort.
A process for operating a fuel cell system, in which a control device of the fuel cell system is coupled with a navigation device of the vehicle, in such a way that the control device recognizes a foreseeable arrival time from the navigation device, is known from DE 10 2008 063 088 A1. The prior-art operating process assumes that the fuel cell system is switched on during the drive mode of the vehicle and should be switched off when reaching the travel goal. In the prior-art process, the control device calculates a time for activating a switch-off procedure or switch-off routine for the fuel cell system to be able to switch this off as gently as possible for the individual components.
Such a switch-off procedure also requires comparatively much time. The control device can now select the time for activating the switch-off procedure in a specific manner, such that the switch-off procedure is essentially completely finished at the travel end time determined by the navigation device, such that the end of the switch-off procedure essentially coincides with the travel end.

Operating process for a fuel cell system

Eberspächer Climate Control Systems GmbH & Co. KG


A motor has a plurality of excitation coils, a commutator having a plurality of segments, a plurality of supply brushes and a short-circuit line. Each coil is connected to corresponding ones of the segments. The supply brushes include a plurality of supply brushes each having one of an anode and a cathode. At least one supply brush has the other one of an anode and a cathode. The supply brushes each simultaneously contact different one of the segments. The short-circuit line short-circuits segments that simultaneously contact the supply brushes of the same pole. The supply brushes of the same pole separate from the short-circuited segments at different times.

The present invention relates to a motor having supply brushes.
A number of technologies have been proposed to reduce abrasion of supply brushes used in direct-current motors, thereby extending the life of the brushes and the motors.
For example, high-resistance supply brushes reduce sparks generated at the supply brushes. Therefore, abrasion due to sparks is suppressed. This extends the life of the supply brushes.
However, high-resistance supply brushes create a great electrical power loss, which lowers the power of the motor.
To eliminate the drawback, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-119031 discloses a motor with a brush that has high-resistance portions and a low-resistance portion. The high-resistance portions are provided at a part of the supply brush that first contacts a commutator segment and a part that lastly separates from the segment. The remainder of the supply brush is the low-resistance portion.
Since the high-resistance portions of the supply brush suppress the generation of sparks, the life of the supply brush is scarcely reduced by abrasion. Further, the low resistance portion of the supply brush lowers the electrical resistance and suppresses electrical loss. This prevents the motor power from being lowered.
However, since the structure of the above described supply brush is complicated, the manufacture of the motor is burdensome and costly.
Particularly, when applying the technology of the publication to a motor having more than one set of two or more supply brushes, two or more brushes (for example, three or more brushes) in each set are anodes or cathodes, the cost will be undesirably increased.