A plurality of penetrating holes are formed in a substrate, each of the penetrating holes connecting a first opening and a second opening larger than the first opening. An etching resistant film is formed on a first surface of the substrate avoiding areas in which the first openings will be formed, part of the second surface in which the penetrating holes are formed being exposed so as to expose areas each of which includes two or more of the second openings. Small holes are formed in the formation regions for each of the penetrating holes. Etching having crystal orientation dependence is performed from both the first and second surfaces of the substrate.

The present invention relates to a mask and a method of manufacturing the mask, an electroluminescent device and a method of manufacturing the electroluminescent device, and an electronic instrument.
A high precision mask has been demanded. In the manufacturing process of a color organic electroluminescent (hereinafter abbreviated as "EL") device, an organic material of each color is evaporated by using a mask, for example. A pattern of penetrating holes is formed on the mask. If the inner wall surfaces of the penetrating holes are tapered and the material is evaporated in the direction from the side of large openings to the side of small openings, the amount of evaporation particles incident upon the penetrating holes can be increased, whereby a fine pattern corresponding to the small openings can be evaporated. As a method of manufacturing a mask having such tapered penetrating holes, etching a substrate utilizing crystal orientation dependence has been known. In this etching method, if etching is started from the side of small openings, etching stops halfway due to crystal orientation dependence. Therefore, etching is started from the side of large openings, and an etching resistant film is formed on the side of large openings.
However, when it is difficult to form the etching resistant film on the side of large openings, this method cannot be applied in practice. Moreover, it is difficult to precisely determine the position and shape of small openings since etching proceeds from the large openings. Furthermore, since the etching resistant film is formed on the side of large openings, the interval between adjacent openings is increased, making it difficult to improve the mask precision.

Mask and method of manufacturing the same, electroluminescent device and method of manufacturing the same, and electronic instrument


A lens barrel (1) comprises an actuator (430), and an image blurring correction device (500) provided near the actuator (430). The image blurring correction device (500) has a magnetic sensor (524), a magnet (515), and a shield plate (514). The shield plate (514) comprises a main body (514a) that is opposite the magnet (515), and a protrusion (514b) that protrudes from the main body (514a). The main body (514a) is provided at a position through which pass lines of magnetic force generated from a first magnetic pole, out of the lines of magnetic force produced from the actuator (430). The protrusion (514b) is provided at a position through which pass lines of magnetic force generated from a second magnetic pole, out of the lines of magnetic force produced from the actuator (430).

The technology disclosed herein relates to a lens barrel used in an imaging device.
A lens barrel used in an imaging device comprises an image blurring correction device that corrects image blurring, and a shutter device that controls exposure time.
The image blurring correction device and the shutter device each have an actuator. The image blurring correction device has, for example, an actuator that moves a frame supporting a lens. The shutter device has an actuator that controls the opening and closing of a vane (see Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2008-15159), for example).

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


An motorized base apparatus for selectively receiving an appliance. The apparatus comprising: a control interface; an appliance coupling element; an appliance sensor element; an appliance retaining mechanism; and a processor element. The processor element being coupled to the appliance sensor element for receiving data indicative of the selectively received appliance. The processor element being coupled to the control interface for adapting the interface in response to the identified appliance.

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field.
Fruit and vegetable juicers are well known. Blenders are also well known. Both appliances utilise an electric motor to spin a working part. The present invention seeks to integrate the aforesaid appliances by providing a single motorised base that can accept a specially configured juicer head or blender head interchangeable, safely and economically. It will be appreciated that the motorised base and sensor arrangement taught in the present invention may be used to drive kitchen appliances other than a juicer or blender.


The invention relates to a mobile security basic control device (15) of a robot (1), comprising a hand-held housing (16), an emergency stop switching means (17) arranged at the housing (16), a communication device (18) for establishing a link in terms of control between the mobile security basic control device (15) and a robot controller (12) of the robot (1), and further comprising a holder (19) connected to the housing (16), which is designed to mount the mobile security basic control device (15) on a mobile terminal (20). Said mobile terminal has a terminal control system (21) and a multi-touchscreen (22), which is designed to transmit inputs to the terminal control system (21) via the multi-touchscreen (22). The mobile security basic control device (15) comprises a coding device (25) which, in a state where the mobile security basic control device (15) is mounted on the mobile terminal (20) by means of the holder (19), is designed to automatically transmit at least one identification code identifying the mobile security basic control device (15) to the terminal control system (21) via the multi-touchscreen (22).

The invention relates to a mobile safety basic control apparatus of a robot, having a handheld housing, an emergency stop switching means arranged on the housing, a communication apparatus for connecting the mobile safety basic control apparatus to a robot controller of the robot for control purposes, and having a holder, connected to the housing, that is configured for mounting the mobile safety basic control apparatus on a mobile terminal having a terminal controller and a multi-touchscreen configured to transmit inputs via the multi-touchscreen to the terminal controller.
DE 10 2010 025 781 A1 describes a portable safety input device having at least one input means for inputting a safety signal into a robot controller that has an interface for communication with a handheld device, connected, in particular detachably, to the safety input device, for controlling a robot by means of communication with this robot controller.

Mobile security basic control device comprising a coding device for a mobile terminal with multi-touchscreen and method for setting up a uniquely assigned control link


A semiconductor memory device comprises: word lines; global bit lines intersecting therewith; local bit lines partitioned into N sections along the global bit lines and aligned with a same pitch as the global bit lines; N memory cell arrays each of which includes memory cells each having a vertical transistor structure connected to the local bit lines at a lower portion and each being formed at an intersection of the word line and the local bit line, and is arranged corresponding to each section of the local bit lines; local sense amplifiers for amplifying a signal read out from a selected memory cell to the local bit line and for outputting the signal to the global bit line; and global sense amplifiers for coupling the signal transmitted from the local sense amplifier corresponding to the selected memory cell through the global bit line to an external data line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device which rewritably stores data in a plurality of memory cells formed at intersections of a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines, and particularly relates to a semiconductor memory device employing an embedded bit line structure which is located below a vertical type transistor formed in each memory cell.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a memory cell array of a DRAM includes a large number of memory cells formed at intersections of bit lines and word lines. In recent years, attention is paid to a technique using a vertical type transistor as a memory cell structure of the DRAM (e.g., see Patent References 1 and 2). In order to form a fine memory cell with a design rule such as 4F2, it is advantageous for integration and manufacturing to configure the memory cell array using vertical type transistors. On the premise of the structure of the vertical type transistor, it is general that a capacitor of each memory cell is formed over the vertical type transistor and that an embedded bit line structure in which a bit line is arranged below the vertical type transistor is employed.
Patent Reference 1: Laid-open Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-94027
Patent Reference 2: Japanese Patent No 3745392
However, if the embedded bit line structure is employed, it is difficult to form a bit line arranged in a lower layer using metal or silicide having a low resistance. Therefore, the bit line needs to be formed using polysilicon or a diffusion layer, which inevitably causes the resistance thereof to increase, and it arises a problem of a decrease in operation speed of the DRAM. Meanwhile, the above Patent Reference 1 discloses a structure in which a lower source/drain electrode of the vertical type transistor is withdrawn upward via a contact and is connected to a bit line formed using a tungsten film. Thereby, a bit line resistance can be suppressed, but a complex structure is required for withdrawing the bit line upward, and it is undesirable in terms of an increase in the number of manufacturing steps and an increase in cost. Further, the above Patent Reference 2 discloses a structure in which a bit line is formed by doping n+ impurity into a polysilicon layer formed on a silicon oxide film. Thereby, a bit line capacitance can be reduced relative to a case of forming the bit line using an n+ impurity diffusion layer formed in a p type substrate. However, the bit line resistance becomes larger than that in a case of using the metal or silicide, and it is a problem that the operation speed further decreases. In this manner, when the memory cell array is configured by employing the vertical type transistor and the embedded bit line structure, it is difficult to prevent a decrease in the operation speed caused by an increase in the bit line resistance without deterioration of manufacturing and cost.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method for identifying the location of a binding zone between a stuck tubular and a borehole includes the steps of passing a demagnetizing stress sensor through the tubular on a baseline magnetization pass to magnetize the tubular. Next, the demagnetizing stress sensor measures a baseline magnetization of the tubular. Once the baseline magnetization has been established, the method continues by applying a stress to the tubular and passing the demagnetizing stress sensor through the tubular on a scanning pass while the tubular is stressed. The demagnetizing stress sensor then measures a stress-induced magnetization of the tubular. The method concludes by comparing the baseline magnetization of the tubular against the stress-induced magnetization of the tubular. Notably, in preferred embodiments, the method includes the magnetization of the tubular in a substantially radial direction and the stresses are applied in vectors perpendicular to the radial magnetization of the tubular.

The recovery of petroleum products from subterranean reservoirs often involves the drilling of deep wells that extend from the surface to producing geologic formations. Modern wells are typically drilled using high-powered drilling rigs that penetrate through rock with rotating drill bits attached to a drill string. Once the drilling rig has completed some or all of its drilling operation, the resulting borehole is often lined with a metal casing. The casing prevents the deterioration of the borehole and controls the passage of fluids in and out of the well. A cementing operation secures the casing within the wellbore.
During the drilling or casing operation, there is a risk that the casing or drill string will become stuck in the well. The drill string or casing may become stuck due to a number of factors, including deviations in the borehole, operator error, partial collapse of the borehole or as a result of differential pressures and friction acting on the borehole and the tubular. The filter cake that forms along the inside of the wellbore may contribute to the stuck tubular.
There are a number of techniques practiced today for freeing a stuck tubular. These techniques include the use of vibration-inducing equipment or through the injection of spotting fluids at the level of the sticking point. If the remedial measures fail, it may become necessary to cut the tubular above the sticking point to maximize the recovery of the tubular from the well. For each of these remedial measures, it is important to accurately determine the location of the sticking point within the wellbore. Prevailing methods for determining where the sticking point is located include the use of complicated and expensive electromechanical instruments. There is, therefore, an ongoing need for an improved device and process for identifying the location of the binding point of a stuck tubular. It is to this and other objects that the presently preferred embodiments are directed.

Enhanced device for determining the location of induced stress in stuck borehole tubulars


A method and a system for a handheld communication device is provided. The method includes: a testing a printed circuit board PCB assembly; identifying an emission point in the PCB; allocating a frequency radio (RF) absorber over or close to the emission point where the emission point is a potential source of electromagnetic interference (EMI) other than electronic components mounted on the PCB. The system includes a PCB assembly; and an RF absorber planar plate secured over or close to the emission point, for reducing the EMI from the emission point. A handheld communication device includes an antenna system and the PCB assembly with the RF absorber for isolating the antenna system from self-interference in the device.

Handheld devices have been developed for a wide variety of applications, which include, for example, cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld computer terminals, scanners, and RFID readers/writers. Such handheld devices generally have a computer circuit on the main logic board (MLB), one or multiple radio systems for sharing data with other computers over the internet, cellular or proprietary networks, and interfaces for communicating with external devices, together with other components having user interfaces (e.g., displays, keyboards).
Since there is a demand to reduce the size of handheld devices, components tend to be placed closely together in the package of the handheld device. This increases the chances of electromagnetic energy emitted from one circuit getting into another and possibly causing performance degradation. This electromagnetic interference (EMI) includes radio frequency interference (RFI). The radio frequency interference that originates from a fast switching digital circuit will typically reach frequencies that are several decades above the lowest clock frequency of the other circuitry in the device. If the device contains a radio, there is a chance that part of the interference spectrum will land in the radio's operating band and will get picked up by its antenna subsystem; effectively desensitizing the radio.
One approach for suppressing self interference on the antenna system of the handheld device is to put a metal shield over all active circuits of the handheld device, the shield providing a physical and electrical barrier to the EMI; however, this can not be applied over the display and keyboard areas. Furthermore, if a circuit board (e.g., main logic board, or MLB) is longer than ¼ wavelength of the lowest radio frequency, the handheld device itself becomes a part of the antenna that may pick up EMI, and thus shielding is not effective unless the entire handheld device is covered by a shield.

Method and system for reducing self-interference in a handheld communication device


A process for allowing two or more receivers to share the same nominal frequency or close nominal frequencies, preferably without these receivers blinding one another or disturbing one another is described. The process preferably includes subjecting a radiator to temporally spaced phases of operation or maximum radiation and temporally segregating the phase sensitivity of the oscillator/detector of the receivers with respect to the phase operation or the radiation of the receiver. The receiver during the phase of sensitivity of its oscillator/detector may not detect the electromagnetic radiation from the radiator.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a process to improve the reception capability of receivers of radio signals, so that reception, analysis or interpretation of the radio signals which they are expecting are improved.
2. Description of the Related Art
The present invention generally relates to a process for operating at least one receiver of radio signals, in particular a superheterodyne receiver or a super-regenerative receiver, able to be arranged in the electromagnetic field of at least one radiating means of a facility or apparatus, in particular an electrical, electronic or electromechanical facility or apparatus which is not destined to transmit.
The said facilities or apparatuses may consist in particular of switches, taken in their general sense, such as microprocessors, transistors, triacs, thyristors, relays or any other facility belonging to an electrical or electronic circuit or an installation, especially when they operate or radiate by periodic pulses.
The said facilities or apparatuses can also consist of super-regenerative receivers, the latter having the particular feature of radiating electromagnetic energy on their nominal frequency via their antenna. It is desirable, in this particular case, to make two or more receivers share the same nominal frequency or close nominal frequencies, without these receivers blinding one another or disturbing one another. It is also desirable that the process may also be used in the case of coupling by conduction or induction between a receiver and a facility generating interference on the nominal frequency of this receiver or on its intermediate frequency.

Process for operating at least one receiver of radio signals, placed in the vicinity of a radiating facility or apparatus


The present invention relates to an integrated electronic device for digital signal processing, which includes a reference clock input for receiving a reference clock, a phase locked loop (PLL), a phase interpolator (PI) coupled to the phase locked loop (PLL) for shifting a phase of an output clock signal of the PLL in a stepwise manner so as to generate a shifted output clock signal (PHI_out), a logic stage for determining the state of the reference clock signal (REF_CLK) multiple times during an edge of the shifted output clock for each phase shift, a storing means for storing information whether or not the determined state of the reference clock signal (REF_CLK) is stable for a phase of the shifted output clock signal (PHI_out), and an interface configured to read out the stored information for determining the jitter of the shifted output clock signal (PHI_OUT).

Semiconductor automated test equipment (ATE) is widely used for testing components of integrated circuits. To measure the jitter of a clock signal using ATE, the ATE has to provide a precision time measurement system or a repeatable signal edge placement. Generally all time measurement units that can measure the time period can also measure PLL jitter. The accuracy depends on the repeatability and precision of the time measurement unit. It is also possible to measure jitter by analyzing edge placement results. In this case, the accuracy depends on the edge placement resolution and on the edge placement repeatability.
However, sometimes the time measurement system in an ATE is not accurate enough to measure jitter in the low ps range, or there is even no time measurement system available on the ATE. If an ATE does have a time measurement system, it is often the case that there is just one time measurement system that has to be shared between sites for multi-site testing, which makes multi-site testing difficult. Furthermore, on some test systems it is not possible to control edge placement timing precisely and often the accuracy of edge placement is not accurate enough for jitter measurement. Systems having an accurate time measurement system or an accurate edge placement are usually very expensive and often the specified load for the device is not the same as the impedance of the measurement system. This can add jitter and influence the measurement results.

Electronic device and method for on chip jitter measurement


Disclosed are thermally curable compositions comprising at least one cyclic ether, an initiator selected from the group consisting of an iodonium salt, a sulfonium salt, an acylium salt, a tropylium salt, an oxonium salt, and combinations thereof, and a catalyst having structure Pd(Q)2, wherein Q is at least one ligand selected from the group consisting of a carboxylate, a halide, a ketoester, an ester, a ketone, an hydroxyl, and combinations thereof. Disclosed also are methods of curing the thermally curable compositions, and articles made therefrom. Curing methods comprise heating the composition to a suitable temperature for a period of time. Articles may comprise coated articles, shaped articles or shaped components. Compositions and methods may also be used for composite repair applications.

The invention is related to thermally curable compositions and methods of curing.
Ring opening polymerization of cyclic ethers may be achieved by the use of several known initiator systems. Typically, cyclic ethers are polymerized using cationic initiators, except for the 3-membered cyclic ethers (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "epoxides"), whose polymerization may be initiated both by cationic as well as anionic initiators. Strong protonic acids, Lewis acids, optionally in the presence of cationogens such as alkyl halide or acyl halide, are known to initiate cationic polymerization of cyclic ethers. The initiators may also be activated by an energy source. The source of energy may be thermal, or electromagnetic, such as light, e-beam, neutron beam, and the like. The initiator, once energized, will dissociate to form excited species, which then proceed to initiate the polymerization of the cyclic ether monomer.
Polymerization of cyclic ether monomers propagates by the formation of an oxonium ion, which then is subjected to a nucleophilic attack on the carbon adjacent to the oxonium ion by an oxygen of another monomer. High molecular weight polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions may be obtained by cationic polymerization of cyclic ethers. However, cyclic ether polymerizations are subject to chain transfer reactions that may limit the molecular weight and/or broaden the molecular weight distribution of the resulting polymer. Also, termination of polymerization may be effected by the addition of specific end capping agents, or it may occur due to any of the agents already present in the reaction mixture, such as the counterion of the initiator.
The thermal initiation of polymerization of cyclic ethers has been reported before. See for example J. V. Crivello, et al. J. Polym. Sci.: Part A: Polym Chem., vol. 27, pp 3951-3968 (1989) and J. V. Crivello, et al., J. Polym. Sci.: Polym. Chem. Ed., vol. 21, pp 97-109 (1983). The initiation however required copper (II) catalysts. The mechanism for the initiation has also been speculated in those publications. Crivello et al. clearly state in the publication that " . . . other metal salts, such as those of Ni(II), Co(II), Fe(II), Ag(I), Mn(III), Cr(III) and Pd(II), have been examined as catalysts for the reduction of diaryliodonium salts, thus far only copper compounds have been found to be effective". Also, thermal curing requires high temperatures and difficult processing conditions. Low temperature cures are also initiated by non thermal methods, such as UV or e-beam radiation. But the other forms of radiations have issues with depth penetration. Thermal, free radical initiators may also be able to activate cationic initiators at low temperatures, but are undesirable due to outgassing of decomposition products that can create voids in cured resin, reduced shelf life at room temperature, and competing reactions that can retard the initiation and curing reactions. Thus, there is a need for compositions that are stable at ambient temperatures, but may be thermally cured at temperatures less than about 100° C., preferably less than about 90° C.

Thermally curable compositions and method


Methods and apparatus to determine vehicle weight are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a vehicle controller configured to control a motor operatively coupled to a suspension system to raise or lower a vehicle. The vehicle controller is to also determine a first parameter of the motor while controlling the motor to raise or lower the vehicle when the vehicle is unloaded. The vehicle controller is to also determine a second parameter of the motor while controlling the motor to raise or lower the vehicle when the vehicle is at least partially loaded. The vehicle controller is to also calculate a weight of the vehicle based on the first and second parameters of the motor.

Some vehicles such as vans, trucks, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), etc. can carry significant weight and are associated with weight limits that should not be exceeded. As such, to ensure proper vehicle handling and/or performance during normal use, a vehicle is loaded such that cargo, freight, etc. carried thereby does not exceed a weight limit of the vehicle. A driver may determine whether a vehicle is properly loaded by visual inspection of the vehicle (e.g., based on a ride height of the vehicle associated with rear wheels of the vehicle). Alternatively, the driver may drive the vehicle to a weigh station to determine a weight of the vehicle.


One piece, in-line, water pressure compensating with self-regulation emitter, consisting of one regulator cylinder permanently embodied inside a water conduit on which conduit holes have been opened, at the point where the emitter is embodied, so that the water drips out onto the soil. The emitter self-regulates to provide a constant emission of water. This self-regulation is accomplished by a flexible part of the emitter body, which deforms in response to pressure variations within the water conduit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an emitter which compensates water pressure for use in drip irrigation pipes. More particularly the invention relates to a one piece water regulating emitter embodied inside an under pressure conduit, which enables the water emission rate to be controlled permanently and independently of the pressure variations applied on the emitter, inside the conduit.
2. Background of the Invention
Drip irrigation is recognized as a superior system of water irrigation for various cultivations. The objective of the system is to irrigate a precise area of soil around a plant in order to:
a) Avoid compacting of soil
b) Minimize weed growth
c) Minimize water consumption
d) Minimize the energy and labor costs of irrigation
For this reason there is a great need for drip irrigation systems that are highly economical in their construction, installation, operation, maintenance and storage.
One of the most important functions of the emitter is the compensation of various water pressures applied on the emitter, so that water is emitted at a constant rate of flow at the emission outlet points of the emitter and reaches the plant in a constant desired volume, as it is actually needed and where it is needed.

Drip irrigation emitter embodied in a water conduit pressure compensating with self-regulation


When stream data is reproduced through an IEEE-1394 high-speed serial bus from a hard-disk apparatus serving as a source, and is transmitted as is to another hard-disk apparatus through the IEEE-1394 bus and recorded thereinto, if the data is transferred with the use of isochronous communication, entry_type is set to an isochronous track and if the data is transferred with the use of isochronous communication, entry_type is set to an asynchronous track. When the stream data is transmitted, a payload size which indicates the size of the steam data is written into a payload information block in order to obtain a bus channel and a bus bandwidth.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to information processing apparatuses and methods, and providing media, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus and method, and a providing medium which allow stream data transmitted through an IEEE-1394 high-speed serial bus to be recorded as is.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, an IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394 high-speed serial bus has attracted attentions. With the use of this IEEE-1394 bus, units can be connected, such as a compact disc player, a Mini Disc unit, a digital video cassette recorder, and a digital VHS (trademark), and information are transferred each other among them in a digital manner.
These units, however, handle data according to the signal formats corresponding to their standards. Therefore, if stream data is used as is, information cannot be transferred through the IEEE-1394 bus.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to allow information to be transferred through a bus by the use of stream data.
The foregoing object is achieved in one aspect of the present invention through the provision of an information processing apparatus including: first identification means for identifying data to be transmitted or received as stream data; second identification means for identifying the size of the data identified by the first identification means; and management means for managing the first identification means and the second identification means.
The foregoing object is achieved in another aspect of the present invention through the provision of an information processing method including: a first identification step of identifying data to be transmitted or received as stream data; a second identification step of identifying the size of the data identified in the first identification step; and a management step of managing identification performed in the first identification step and the second identification step.
The foregoing object is achieved in still another aspect of the present invention through the provision of a providing medium for providing a program which can be read by a computer and which executes processing, the processing including: a first identification step of identifying data to be transmitted or received as stream data; a second identification step of identifying the size of the data identified in said first identification step; and a management step of managing identification performed in said first identification step and said second identification step.
In an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a providing medium according to the present invention, since data to be transmitted or received is identified as stream data and the size of the identified data is further identified, the stream data can be positively transferred through a bus, recorded, and reproduced.

Stream information processing and method and providing medium


A data processing system (10) implements a static and a dynamic masking operation of operand information concurrently. A static mask implements a conditional mask of a predetermined number of bits specified by the user and is determined prior to a comparison operation between the breakpoint address stored in a breakpoint register (24) and a logical address transferred via a logical address bus (11). A dynamic mask value implements a variable mask which allows the data processing system to mask the breakpoint address according to the size of a breakpoint address access. The static mask value and the dynamic mask value are concurrently implemented using a specialized bit cell (60) contained in both the breakpoint register (24) and the CAM array (26). The specialized bit cell (60) is comprised of two transistors (62 and 64) to concurrently mask a respective bit of operand information during a comparison operation.

During development of a software program in a data processing system, numerous techniques are often implemented to analyze the functionality and efficiency of the software program. A commonly used technique inserts a breakpoint in the software program to signal the data processing system to interrupt current execution of the software program at a predetermined address typically referred to as a breakpoint address. The breakpoint address is defined by the user of the data processing system and stored in a breakpoint register. The breakpoint register generally receives an address from an address bus and then compares the address with the contents of the breakpoint register. If the received address and a breakpoint address or a breakpoint address range stored in the breakpoint register match, a signal is sent to a central processing unit in the data processing system and an exception processing routine specified by the user of the data processing system is typically executed. In the exception processing routine, the user may specify that the internal registers of the data processor be displayed every time a breakpoint signal is encountered.
In some cases, the user of the data processing system uses a masking operation to exclude certain bits of the breakpoint address from participating in a comparison operation between an address on an address bus and the contents of the breakpoint register. Generally, a masking operation prevents predetermined bits of an operand from participating in a subsequent data processing function. In a typical data processing system, either a static or a dynamic mask is used during a masking operation. A static mask is typically defined by the user of the data processing system and implemented before the comparison operation between the address and the contents of the breakpoint register occurs. A static mask is generally a conditional mask which prevents predetermined bits of a breakpoint address from participating in the comparison operation.
In comparison, a dynamic mask is defined and implemented at the same point in time that the comparison operation occurs. Typically, the value of a dynamic mask is modified to variably match the size of an access to the breakpoint address. The size of an access may vary from a byte to a quadword.
Data processing systems designs typically implement either static or dynamic masking operations. A static mask function allows the user of a data processing system to conditionally mask certain bits in a breakpoint address. A dynamic mask function, however, allows for greater flexibility and efficiency during a breakpoint operation. Circuit complexities and area limitations are typically associated with any increase in the previously discussed masking functionality. As well, the execution time associated with implementing masking operations may significantly increase system overhead. Therefore, a system designer must typically choose between either a static or dynamic address masking mechanism.

Data processor with concurrent static and dynamic masking of operand information and method therefor


The present invention aims to prevent the occurrence of liquid compression at the second rotary compression element before it happens while improving the compression efficiency with an intermediate cooling circuit in a refrigerant cycle apparatus which comprises an internal high-pressure type multi-stage compression compressor, and the invention is summarized in that the apparatus comprises an intermediate cooling circuit which allows refrigerant discharged from the first rotary compression element of a compressor to dissipate heat, where a microcomputer performs control on the number of revolutions of the compressor to maintain the temperature/pressure of refrigerant so that the refrigerant does not condense at the output of the intermediate cooling circuit, where such a control is done in response to outputs from an outside-air temperature sensor, a refrigerant temperature sensor, and a signal from a controlling apparatus of a refrigerating apparatus body.

The present invention relates to a refrigerant cycle apparatus which comprises a compressor, a gas cooler, throttling means, and an evaporator, which are sequentially connected to form a refrigerant circuit.
In a conventional refrigerant cycle apparatuses of this kind, a rotary compressor (compressor), a gas cooler, throttling means (capillary tube, etc.), and an evaporator, etc., are formed into a sequential loop through piping connection to make up a refrigerant cycle (refrigerant circuit). Refrigerant gas is taken into the low pressure chamber side of a cylinder by entering from a suction port of a rotary compression element in a rotary compressor, and it is compressed into high-pressure, high-temperature refrigerant gas through the workings of rollers and vanes, and the compressed gas is discharged from the high pressure chamber side into a gas cooler by going through a discharge port and a discharge silencing chamber. After heat dissipation at the gas cooler, the refrigerant gas is throttled by throttling means to be fed to an evaporator. As the refrigerant evaporates there, it absorbs heat from the surroundings at that time, thereby exerting a cooling effect of the conventional art (e.g., refer to Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-18602 Gazette).
However, in a case where such a refrigerant cycle apparatus adopts a type of a compressor whose pressure inside its sealed vessel tends to become high (internal high pressure), because refrigerant gas having a high temperature and a high pressure is discharged in the sealed vessel, the temperature of the compressor itself goes up, which then raises the temperature of refrigerant to be taken into a compression element of the compressor, causing a conventional problem of an reduced compression efficiency.
To deal with that problem, there has been a conventional contrivance of a refrigerant cycle apparatus which employs a multi-stage compression type compressor to perform an intermediate cooling of refrigerant under compression. That is, in addition to employing a multi-stage compression type compressor having the first and the second compression elements, such an apparatus adopts a configuration having an intermediate cooling circuit, which allows refrigerant compressed in the first compression element (the first tier) to dissipate heat, where, after heat dissipation of the refrigerant compressed in the first compression element at the intermediate cooling circuit, it is taken in the second compression element (the second tier) to be compressed there, and the compression is discharged in the sealed vessel. With such a configuration, it is possible to cool the refrigerant compressed in the first compression element, improving compression efficiency at the second compression element. In addition, the cooling of the refrigerant gas to be taken into the second compression element makes it possible to reduce the temperature rise of the refrigerant gas to be compressed in the second compression element and to be discharged in the sealed vessel, gas cooler, etc, which makes it further possible to enhance the cooling capability at the evaporator.
However, in a case where an intermediate cooling circuit is employed to cool down refrigerant compressed in the first compression element as described above, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a part of the refrigerant may be liquefied due to effects from outside-air temperature or depending on the operating conditions of a compressor, etc. Namely, there has been a conventional problem in that refrigerant may be put into a two-phase mixed state of gas/liquid (state (3) in FIG. 4), and if taken into the second compression element without any countermeasures taken, liquid compression would occur at the second compression element, suffering damage.


A process and system for compressing bioprosthetic tissue for use in medical implants. The process involves placing the tissue between two compressive surfaces and applying a force to reduce any nonuniformity of thickness in the tissue, while at the same time reduce the overall thickness. One particularly useful application is the compression of bioprosthetic sheet during the preparation of heart valve leaflets. Bovine pericardium may be compressed to reduce its thickness by about 50%, and then formed into heart valve leaflets. The thinned leaflets have substantially the same absolute strength as those made from uncompressed tissue, and are particular desirable for use in minimally invasive valves which must be compressed into a small profile. The thin tissue enables a reduction in the overall size of the minimally invasive heart valve for delivery. For instance, rolled MIS valves may be reduced in size to as small as 20 mm in diameter. Desirably, a cross-linking step is combined with the compression step to fix the reduced thickness of the tissue. One apparatus may include porous compression substrates through which a cross-linking solution may diffuse so as to perform the fixation and compression simultaneously.

Prosthetic heart valves are used to replace damaged or diseased heart valves. In vertebrate animals, the heart is a hollow muscular organ having four pumping chambers: the left and right atria and the left and right ventricles, each provided with its own one-way valve. The natural heart valves are identified as the aortic, mitral (or bicuspid), tricuspid and pulmonary valves. Prosthetic heart valves can be used to replace any of these naturally occurring valves, although repair or replacement of the aortic or mitral valves is most common because they reside in the left side of the heart where pressures are the greatest.
Where replacement of a heart valve is indicated, the dysfunctional valve is typically replaced with either a mechanical valve, or a tissue valve. Tissue valves are often preferred over mechanical valves because they typically do not require long-term treatment with anticoagulants. The most common tissue valves are constructed with whole porcine (pig) valves, or with separate leaflets cut from bovine (cow) pericardium. Also, synthetic materials such as molded polymers have been proposed as substitutes for natural tissue. Although so-called stentless valves comprising a section of porcine aorta along with the valve fully intact are available, the most widely used valves include some form of stent or structural support for the leaflets. Natural tissue valves have a proven track record, but the manufacture thereof suffers from reduced yield of the tissue because of flaws discovered during the inspection process. For example, thickness variations in pericardial tissue renders some pieces unfit for leaflet formation.
A conventional heart valve replacement surgery involves accessing the heart in the patient's thoracic cavity through an incision in the chest. For example, a median sternotomy requires cutting through the sternum and forcing the two opposing halves of the rib cage to be spread apart, allowing access to the thoracic cavity and heart within. The patient is then placed on cardiopulmonary bypass which involves stopping the heart to permit access to the internal chambers. Such open heart surgery is particularly invasive and involves a lengthy and difficult recovery period.
Some attempts have been made to enable less traumatic delivery and implantation of prosthetic heart valves. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,056,854 to Boretos discloses a radially collapsible heart valve secured to a circular spring stent that can be compressed for delivery and expanded for securing in a valve position. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,077 to Dobbin describes a disk-shaped heart valve that is connected to a radially collapsible stent for minimally invasive implantation.
Recently, a great amount of research has been done to reduce the trauma and risk associated with conventional open heart valve replacement surgery. In particular, the field of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has exploded since the early to mid-1990s, with devices now being proposed to enable valve replacements without opening the chest cavity. MIS heart valve replacement surgery still typically requires bypass, but the excision of the native valve (in cases where the native valve is removed) and implantation of the prosthetic valve are accomplished via elongated tubes or cannulas. Endoscopes and other such visualization techniques can also be used to assist implantation.
Some examples of more recent MIS heart valves are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,552 to Anderson, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,570 to Simpson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,959 to Robertson, et al., PCT Publication No. 00/047139 to Garrison, et al., and PCT Publication No. WO 99/334142 to Vesely. Although these and other such devices provide various ways for collapsing, delivering, and then expanding a "heart valve" per se, none of them disclose an optimum structure. For instance, the publication to Vesely shows a tissue leaflet structure of the prior art in FIG. 1, and an expandable inner frame of the invention having stent posts in FIGS. 3A–3C. The leaflets are "mounted to the stent posts 22 in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 5." Such general disclosures as in Vesely stop short of explaining how to construct a prosthetic valve in a manner that maximizes long-term efficacy. In particular, the means of attaching the leaflets to the MIS stent is critical to ensure the integrity and durability of the valve once implanted.
Another problem with MIS valves of the prior art is their relatively large radial dimension during implantation. Most of these valves utilize one or more radially-expanding stents coupled to a biological valve, and the assembly must be compressed radially and then passed through the lumen of a large bore catheter. Reducing the radial profile of the constricted valve via radial compression is problematic and conflicts with the need for sufficient diameter of the valve in its expanded state to fit securely within an adult heart valve annulus.
Bioprosthetic tissue heart valves have proved particularly successful and durable, and substantially eliminate the need for long-term treatment with anticoagulants. Unfortunately, the use of bioprosthetic tissue in minimally invasive heart valve presents a number of challenges. First, minimally invasive heart valves are most effective if they are compressible into a small profile for delivery and then expandable at the site of implantation. Attachment of the bioprosthetic tissue to the structural component of the valve therefore must be able to withstand the valve compression and expansion. In addition, the xenograft valve or tissue leaflets are likely to be susceptible to damage by folding and pinching during valve compression. The potential for pinching the bioprosthetic tissue is particularly acute when the valve is compressed into a very small profile.
Despite some advances in heart valve design, and particularly MIS valve design, there remains a need for improved tissue characteristics and for a minimally invasive heart valve that can be compressed and expanded without damage to the flexible tissue leaflets.

Compressed tissue for heart valve leaflets


To generate a simulated diffraction signal, one or more values of one or more photoresist parameters, which characterize behavior of photoresist when the photoresist undergoes processing steps in a wafer application, are obtained. One or more values of one or more profile parameters are derived using the one or more values of the one or more photoresist parameters. The one or more profile parameters characterize one or more geometric features of the structure. A simulated diffraction signal is generated using the one or more values of the one or more profile parameters. The simulated diffraction signal characterizes behavior of light diffracted from the structure. The generated simulated diffraction signal is associated with the one or more values of the one or more photoresist parameters. The generated simulated diffraction signal, the one or more values of the one or more photoresist parameters, and the association between the generated simulated diffraction signal and the one or more values of the one or more photoresist parameters are stored.

1. Field
The present application generally relates to optical metrology of a structure formed on a semiconductor wafer, and, more particularly, to determining photoresist parameters using optical metrology.
2. Related Art
In semiconductor manufacturing, periodic gratings are typically used for quality assurance. For example, one typical use of periodic gratings includes fabricating a periodic grating in proximity to the operating structure of a semiconductor chip. The periodic grating is then illuminated with an electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic radiation that deflects off of the periodic grating are collected as a diffraction signal. The diffraction signal is then analyzed to determine whether the periodic grating, and by extension whether the operating structure of the semiconductor chip, has been fabricated according to specifications.
In one conventional system, the diffraction signal collected from illuminating the periodic grating (the measured diffraction signal) is compared to a library of simulated diffraction signals. Each simulated diffraction signal in the library is associated with a hypothetical profile. When a match is made between the measured-diffraction signal and one of the simulated diffraction signals in the library, the hypothetical profile associated with the simulated diffraction signal is presumed to represent the actual profile of the periodic grating.
The library of simulated diffraction signals can be generated using a rigorous method, such as rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA). More particularly, in the diffraction modeling technique, a simulated diffraction signal is calculated based, in part, on solving Maxwell's equations. Calculating the simulated diffraction signal involves performing a large number of complex calculations, which can be time consuming and costly.

Determining photoresist parameters using optical metrology


An induction heating apparatus has a coil or coils which can be opened without using electrical contacts. One continuous electric current passageway is formed by a first coil section, a second coil section, a first connecting conductor and a second connecting conductor. By feeding electric power to this electric current passageway and passing an object through a space at the central portion of the coil sections, the object is induction heated. A gap is provided between the first connecting conductor and the second connecting conductor, or the respective connecting conductors can be opened and closed relative to one another to vary the size of the space therebetween. The object to be heated is carried into the space at the central portion of the coil and is carried out therefrom through the gap or the space between the conductors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an induction heating apparatus, and more particularly, to the structure of an induction heating coil of an induction heating apparatus for continuously heating a conductive object.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One example of a continuous induction heating apparatus for heating a plated steel sheet in the prior art is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. As shown in FIG. 5, a plated steel sheet 1 is continuously carried into an induction heating apparatus 3 as guided by guide members 2. Within the induction heating apparatus 3 is a solenoid type of induction heating coil 4 as shown in FIG. 6. The plated steel sheet 1 is conveyed as surrounded helically by the induction heating coil 4, i.e. passes through a central space of the induction heating coil 4. The induction heating coil 4 has a heat-insulating dielectric material at its outermost layer, and by passing an electric current through the induction heating coil 4, the plated steel sheet can be inductively heated.
The amount of electric power to be fed to the induction heating coil 4 depends upon the extent of a temperature rise and a production rate (a steel sheet conveying speed) required for the plated steel sheet 1.
Since the plated steel sheet 1 is to be heated while passing through the space at central portion of the induction heating coil 4, when a leading end portion of the plated steel sheet 1 is to be introduced into the heating apparatus 3, a leading wire is connected to the leading end of the plated steel sheet, then this leading wire is first fed through the induction heating coil 4, and subsequently the plated steel sheet 1 is led by the wire through the induction heating coil 4.
The heating apparatus 3 in the prior art shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 has the following shortcomings.
(1) Because of the fact that a solenoid type of induction heating coil 4 is employed, the object to be heated must be led into the apparatus by a leading wire. Therefore, labor is necessary for initially leading the plated steel sheet 1 into or from the heating apparatus 3.
(2) Since the induction heating coil 4 has a closed structure (spiral shape), heat-insulating dielectric material on the inner surface of the coil (on the surface facing the plated steel sheet 1) is impossible to maintain and inspect.
An induction heating apparatus obviating the above-mentioned shortcomings (1) and (2) has been developed. One example of such an apparatus will be explained with reference to FIG. 7. In this heating apparatus 10, while a solenoid type of coil 11 is employed, conductors 11a forming a part of the coil 11 are separable from the remainder of the coil. The conductors 11a can be opened and closed by means of a revolving mechanism, and at the time of closure, the opposite ends of the conductors 11a are connected via knife-edge type of contacts 12 to the other portions of the coil 11 to form a loop. When the loop is formed, electrical power is fed from a power supply section 13 to the coil 11, and an object to be heated is passed through a space at the central portion of the coil 11, whereby induction heating can be effected. It is to be noted that the contact 12 is made to have a sufficient connector capacity for allowing passage of a high-frequency current through the coil 11 without any trouble.
In this heating apparatus 10, before an object to be heated is made to pass through the apparatus for the first time, the conductors 11a are opened up to the positions depicted by dotted lines in FIG. 7. Then the heating apparatus 10 is moved while the object to be heated is kept stationary, and the object to be heated is set in the space at the central portion of the coil. In addition, if the conductors 11a are kept opened, the inner surface side of the coil 11 can be easily inspected.
However, the heating apparatus shown in FIG. 7 has the following shortcomings.
(1) Since a high current (1000-2000A) at a high frequency (about 10 KHz) flows through the contacts 12, the contact surfaces when opening and closing the conductors are likely to become rough. In addition, because twice as many contacts 12 as the number of turns of the coil 11 are necessary, a miscentering may occur when a plurality of the contacts 12 open and close. For such reasons, reliability would be lowered if it is used for a long period.
(2) Because contacts 12 and a mechanism for opening and closing the conductors 11a are necessary, the equipment cost is high.

Induction heating apparatus having openable and closable coil


A handle assembly for a medical instrument having at least one member moveable in at least a first direction against a first bias and a second direction against a second bias stronger than the first bias, includes a housing, a trigger operatively associated with the at least one member and pivotably mounted relative to the housing for pivot around a first limited pivot point and a second pivot point, the trigger being pivotable relative to the housing between a rest position and a pivoted position, wherein pivot of the trigger relative to the housing from the rest position toward the pivoted position results in pivot first around the first limited pivot point and movement of the at least one member in the first direction against the first bias, and subsequently in pivot around the second pivot point and movement of the at least one member in the second direction against the second bias.

The invention relates to a handle mechanism and, more particularly, to a handle mechanism for operating a medical instrument to provide sequential movement of different elements, or sequential movement in different directions of the same element.
In the field of medical instruments, it is frequently desirable to provide sequential operations such as, for example, the positioning of a surgical staple or clip from a magazine to an application area of the instrument, followed by operation of the instrument to actually apply the staple or clip. Further, depending upon the device, some elements of the instrument may need to be moved out of the path of movement of other elements to allow completion of a desired operation. In the course of use of a surgical instrument such as those set forth above, it is awkward and undesirable to perform such sequential operations using different control members for each function.
It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide a handle mechanism for a medical instrument which provides for smooth and sequential operation of various elements of a medical instrument using a single control member.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a handle mechanism for a medical instrument wherein sequential operations are carried out using a single control member operable with only the hand.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a handle mechanism for carrying out one-handed sequential operations wherein the handle mechanism is simple in manufacture and operation.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a medical instrument incorporating the handle mechanism of the present invention.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.

Handle mechanism with two distinct pivot points


An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing and conveying an electrostatic image; a first developer carrying member for carrying and conveying a developer toward a first developing position; and a second developer carrying member for carrying and conveying the developer toward a second developing position, wherein when a time period required for a movement of the developer carried and conveyed by the first developer carrying member and the second developer carrying member from the first developing position through the developer delivering portion to the second developing position is assigned TA, and a time period required for a movement of the developer on the image bearing member from the first developing position to the second developing position is assigned TB, and wherein respective driving speeds of the image bearing member, the first developer carrying member, and the second developer carrying member are controlled so that TA and TB are different values.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a recorded image displaying device, or a facsimile for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member to form a visualized image using an electrophotographic system, an electroststatic recording system, or the like.
2. Related Background Art
Heretofore, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine using an electrophotographic system or an electroststatic recording system is provided with a developing apparatus for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member such as a photosensitive drum by sticking developer to the electrostatic latent image, thereby forming a developer image (toner image). Developing systems for the developing operation carried out by the developing apparatus are roughly classified into a one-component developing system and a two-component developing system. In this case, a description will hereinafter be given with respect to a conventional example adopting the two-component developing system using a two-component developer containing toner and a carrier.
The basic construction of the developing apparatus includes a developer container for containing therein a developer, and an opening portion which is provided in a portion of the developer container opposed to an image bearing member. Also, a rotatable developer carrying member having irrotational magnetic field generating means built therein, e.g., a developing sleeve or a developing roller is installed in the opening portion with its peripheral surface being exposed. The developer carrying member bails out the developer contained in the developer container through a function of the internal magnetic field generating means, and feeds the developer up to a surface of an image bearing member through its rotational operation while the developer carrying member bears the developer. The developer is moved onto the surface of the image bearing member by applying a developing bias voltage to the image bearing member. In such a manner, a developing operation is carried out.
In a case of a conventional developing apparatus which is adapted to contain the two-component developer and which adopts such a basic construction, firstly, as a first example, a developing apparatus 102 is adopted in many cases, which has a construction as shown in FIG. 8 in which a first conveying screw 5 and a second conveying screw 6 as circulation means for conveying the two-component developer contained in a developer container 2 while agitating the two-component developer to cause the two-component developer to circulate within the developer container 2 are horizontally disposed.
In the developing apparatus 102, an opening portion is provided in a portion of the developer container 2 for containing therein a developer opposed to an image bearing member (not shown), and a developing sleeve 8 as a rotary member is provided in the opening portion. Then, a magnet roller 8a as magnetic field generating means is built in the developing sleeve 8 so as to be fixed against the rotation of the developing sleeve 8. Then, the first conveying screw 5 located nearer an image bearing member (not shown) of the two circulation means 5 and 6 provided as developer agitating members (conveying members) inside the developer container 2 is used to supply the developer to the developing sleeve 8 and to collect the developer which has passed through a developing portion as an opposing portion through which the developing sleeve 8 and the image bearing member are opposed to each other. In addition, the second conveying screw 6 is used to mix and agitate the developer collected from the developing sleeve 8 and a newly supplied developer with each other.
On the other hand, in recent years, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer using the electrophotographic system, in order to attain the space saving, a requirement for miniaturization of the apparatus main body has increased. In particular, in an image forming apparatus using a full-color system, a demand for miniaturization has been strong since a plurality of developing apparatuses are used.
In order to solve this problem, as a second construction obtained by improving the first construction shown in FIG. 8, a developing apparatus 103 having a construction shown in FIG. 9 as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H05-333691 is designed. A feature of the developing apparatus 103 shown in FIG. 9 is such that in addition to the basic construction including the above developing sleeve 8, two conveying screws 5 and 6 as circulation means for a developer are vertically disposed on upper and lower sides, respectively.
More specifically, the developing apparatus 103 includes a developer container 2 which contains therein a developer, and a developing sleeve 8 as a developer carrying member which is provided in an opening portion of the developer container 2 opposed to a photosensitive drum 10. Then, a developing chamber 3 and an agitating chamber 4 which are separated through a partition wall 7 are vertically formed on a side opposite to that of the opening portion within the developer container 2. First and second conveying screws 5 and 6 as circulation means for agitating and conveying the developer to cause the developer to circulate within the developer container 2 are installed in the developing chamber 3 and the agitating chamber 4, respectively. The first conveying screw 5 feeds the developer contained in the developing chamber 3, and the second conveying screw 6 feeds toner which is supplied from a toner supply port (not shown) to an upstream side of the second conveying screw, and the developer which is already contained in the agitating chamber 4 while it agitates the toner and the developer within the agitating chamber 4, thereby unifying the toner density in the developer.
As described above, the vertical agitation type developing apparatus 103 shown in FIG. 9 has an advantage in that since the developing chamber 3 and the agitating chamber 4 are vertically disposed on the upper and lower sides, a horizontal occupancy space may be small. Thus, for example, even a color image forming apparatus using a tandem system or the like in which a plurality of developing apparatuses are horizontally installed in parallel with each other can be miniaturized. In addition, the supply of the developer to the developing sleeve 8 is carried out in the developing chamber 3 provided on the downstream side in a rotation direction of the developing sleeve 8, and the collection of the developer is carried out in the agitating chamber 4 provided on the upstream side. In such a manner, since the supply and collection of the developer to and from the developing sleeve 8 are carried out in the separate containing portions. As a result, the new developer is supplied in a state of being uniformly mixed with the collected developer to the developing sleeve 8. This can contribute to the high image quality promotion.
The miniaturization of the developing apparatus 103 has been realized by adopting the vertical agitation type. However, in recent years, the development for further promoting the high image quality and the long life has been advanced in addition to the miniaturization for the developing apparatus using the two-component developing system. In particular, first of all, in order to attain the long living of the developing apparatus using the two-component developing system, it is necessary to adopt a construction adapted to prevent the developer from being compressed and to prevent the toner degradation and the carrier degradation (carrier spent)
Referring now to FIG. 9 for example, a place where the developer is compressed within the developer container 2 is a portion in which a layer thickness of the developer attracted onto the developing sleeve 8 is regulated, i.e., a layer thickness regulating portion as a portion opposed to a blade-like regulating blade 9 for example which is provided in the opening portion of the developer container 2. Normally, with such a construction of the developing apparatus, a developer layer thickness regulating magnetic pole of a magnetic roller 8a for bearing the developer regulated by the regulating blade 9 on the developing sleeve 8 is located on an upstream side in the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 8 with respect to the regulating blade 9 in the vicinity of the regulating blade 9. Thus, the developer attracted onto the developing sleeve 8 by the developer layer thickness regulating magnetic pole is compressed between the developing sleeve 8 and the regulating blade 9 on the inner side of the developer container 2.
Then, in order to weaken the compression of the developer between the developing sleeve 8 and the regulating blade 9 on the inner side of the developer container 2, it is effective to weaken a force by which the developer thickness regulating magnetic pole in the magnetic roller 8a attracts the developer onto the developing sleeve 8, i.e., a force Fr vertically acting on the developing sleeve 8. In order to attain this, it is necessary to construct a magnetic pattern in which the magnetization of the carrier in the developer is reduced, i.e., a force for rubbing a toner image obtained on an image bearing member 10 in the developing portion through the development is weakened to realize the high image quality promotion, whereby the lines of magnetic force from the developer layer thickness regulating magnetic pole are hard to come into the adjacent poles and they come out in a radial direction of the developing sleeve 8 as much as possible.
As one method of reducing the magnetization of the carrier in the developer, while adopted as a third construction in the developing apparatus 103 as well shown in FIG. 9, a developing method is proposed in which a repulsive magnetic field is formed by repulsive magnetic poles of the magnet roller 8a within the developing sleeve 8 provided inside the developer container 2, and one of the repulsive magnetic poles is used as the developer layer thickness regulating magnetic pole (refer to Japanese Patent Application No. H09-316478).
When the magnetic poles having the same polarity are located side by side to form the repulsive magnetic field in accordance with this method, the lines of magnetic force from the respective magnetic poles come out vertically to the surface of the developing sleeve 8. In this case, a rate of change in magnetic flux density vertical to the surface of the developing sleeve 8 is small. As a result, the force for attracting the developer onto the developing sleeve 8 is reduced, and the degree of compression of the developer is reduced accordingly.
However, when the construction of the conventional developing apparatus using the two-component developing system, i.e., the construction is adopted in which one magnetic pole of the repulsive magnetic poles is used as the developer layer thickness regulating magnetic pole, there is a possibility that screw pitch-like density unevenness is generated in a trailing end portion of a recording material in which a solid image, especially, a black solid image is formed in a conveying direction.
A mixture ratio between the developer which has the reduced density of the toner (having the image history) and which is moved to the developer layer thickness regulating magnetic pole after being peeled off by the repulsive magnetic field and the developer supplied to the developer layer thickness regulating magnetic pole portion of the developing sleeve after being agitated and conveyed by the conveying screw changes with a rotation period of the conveying screw in a longitudinal direction of an image area, thereby generating that phenomenon.
In addition, that phenomenon is apt to generate when an agent surface of the developer in the vicinity of the developing sleeve is relatively low and the conveying screw is disposed in the vicinity of the developer layer thickness regulating magnetic poles. Moreover, the above phenomenon is also apt to generate when the magnitude of the magnetization of the magnetic carrier is reduced. This reason is that when the magnetization of the carrier is small, the developer becomes magnetically insensitive to the magnetic field and the developer after completion of the development is readily moved to the developer layer thickness regulating magnetic pole without being peeled off by the peeling-off magnetic poles.
Then, in addition to the basic construction, the vertical agitation type construction as the second construction, and the construction as the third construction in which the repulsive magnetic poles including the layer thickness regulating magnetic pole are provided in the magnetic field generating means built in the developer carrying member in the developer container, a developing apparatus having a plurality of developer carrying members disposed therein was designated as a developing apparatus having a fourth construction. In a developing apparatus 101 shown as an example thereof in FIG. 10, there are disposed two developing sleeves, i.e., a developing sleeve 8 opposed to a photosensitive drum 10 on an upstream side in the rotation direction of the drum and a developing sleeve 11 opposed to the photosensitive drum 10 on a downstream side in the rotation direction of the drum. The developing sleeves 8 and 11 constitute a first developing portion X1 and a second developing portion X2 in the portions opposed to the photosensitive drum 10, respectively. In the developing apparatus 101, the screw pitch-like density unevenness can also be made inconspicuous. This effect is offered based on a function in which even when the screw pitch-like density unevenness is generated in the developing sleeve 8 on the upstream side, the screw pitch-like density unevenness is reduced through the development by the developing sleeve 11 disposed on the downstream side.
However, even when the developing apparatus has a plurality of developing sleeves, the screw pitch-like density unevenness cannot be perfectly erased.
Under the circumstances in which in recent years, there has been required the performance capable of coping with graphic images, such as a presentation document having high image duty, other than characters and graphs, there is a demand of preventing the screw pitch-like density unevenness from being generated.


A baseball glove, mitt, or the like having a lace attached web-frame. The web-frame encloses a readily replaceable anti-glare shield insert. Preferably, the web-frame is cruciform, so that the insert is reinforced and protected, there still being four windows provided for viewing an airborne ball. The shield filters intense visual light to allow increased visual perception, through the web, of a high fly ball against a sunny background or against a stadium's artificial lighting.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to baseball gloves, and in particular to a baseball glove with a replaceable glare reducing transparent shield.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Unique to baseball is the situation of having to field a ball that is batted or thrown to an altitude at which there is difficulty in perceiving the ball's in-flight location because the ball gets lost in a bright background such as against the sun or against a stadium's high intensity field-illumination lights during night play.
The present invention concerns allowing the baseball glove wearer to sight an overhead ball, specifically through the web, to initiate ball-to-glove capture. In regard to this, U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,272, issued to Ichio Miyake et al. on Jun. 12, 1984, shows a thick semi-bendable anti-glare shield of which is made of an anti-glare material. This anti-glare shield is laced to the baseball glove and forms a permanent part of the baseball glove.
Other baseball glove web constructions have been made to improve a baseball glove's characteristics in retaining a ball. Examples of such web construction are shown in U.S Pat. Nos. 3,623,163, issued to Roland N. Latina on Nov. 30, 1971, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,880, issued to Robert L. Clevenhagen on Mar. 20, 1990. These patents show an improvement to the ball-retention capability of a baseball glove, and an improved means of absorbing a greater amount of ball-to-glove impact energy, respectively. In both cases, the respective web constructions have openings that allow a limited amount of sight perception.
None of the above U.S. inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

Baseball glove with web-frame and anti-glare shield


In a method for evaluating data of a magnetic resonance signal, a baseline is modeled and at least one metabolite signal is modeled. The modeling of the baseline ensues based on magnetic resonance data in the time domain, and using only data that begins with the magnetic resonance signal and having a length that is shorter than the duration of the overall magnetic resonance signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a method to evaluate magnetic resonance spectroscopy data with a determination of the baseline superimposed on the resonance signals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been used for more than four decades in physical, chemical and biochemical basic research, for example as an analysis technique or for structural clarification of complex molecules. Like magnetic resonance tomography, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MR spectroscopy) is based on the principle of nuclear magnetic resonance. Imaging is not the goal of MR spectroscopy, but rather the generation of magnetic resonance spectra (MR spectra) for analysis of substances such as for a structure clarification. The resonant frequencies of isotopes that possess a magnetic moment (such as, for example, 1H, 13C, 19F or 31P) are dependent on the chemical environment of these isotopes. Thus the chemical structures in which the molecules are bound are mirrored in the respective resonant frequencies of the aforementioned isotopes. A determination of the resonant frequencies therefore enables differentiation between different materials. The signal intensity at the various resonant frequencies gives information about the concentration of the corresponding molecules.
If a molecule is brought into a basic magnetic field of a magnetic resonance apparatus, as occurs in spectroscopy, electrons of the molecule shield the nucleus of the molecule from the basic magnetic field. Due to this effect, the local magnetic field at the location of the nucleus changes by a few millionths of the external basic magnetic field. The associated change of the resonant frequency of this nucleus is called a chemical shift. Molecules thus can be identified using their chemical shift. The representation of MR signals in the frequency domain typically ensues as a curve of the signal intensity versus the chemical shift, wherein the chemical shift is given as a value relative to a reference signal and normalized to a reference signal. A dimensionless quantity thus is obtained, with smaller values designated in ppm (parts per million).
A resonance line of a nucleus may be split into a number of lines when further nuclei with a magnetic moment are located in the environment of the considered nucleus. The cause lies in what is know as the spin-spin coupling between the nuclei. The magnetic flux density of the basic magnetic field that a nucleus experiences thus depends not only on the electron shells around this nucleus but also on the orientation of the magnetic fields of the neighboring atoms.
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy using clinical magnetic resonance apparatuses is termed clinical magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In addition to MR imaging, MR spectroscopy provides information about the metabolic consistency of the examined tissue and also enables the in vivo examination of metabolic processes in people. In MR spectroscopy, many different metabolites are detectable, the existence and concentration of which can give information about neuronal functioning, metabolic changes and pathological changes in the brain, muscle tissue and other organs.
The techniques of localized magnetic resonance spectroscopy substantially differ from that of magnetic resonance imaging because, in addition to tomographic spatial resolution, the chemical shift also is resolved in spectroscopy. At the moment, two localization methods for magnetic resonance spectroscopy dominate in clinical application. One such method encompasses individual volume techniques based on echo methods, in which a spectrum of a previously selected target volume is registered. The other basic method encompasses spectroscopic imaging techniques, known as CSI methods (Chemical Shift Imaging) that simultaneously enable the recording of spectra of a number of spatially connected target volumes.
Spectroscopic examination methods are used both in clinical phosphor and proton spectroscopy. A three-dimensional CSI method includes, for example, the following steps: after a non-slice-selective 90° RF pulse, a combination of magnetic phase coding gradients of the three spatial directions is activated for a specific time, and after this the magnetic resonance signal in the presence of each gradient is read out. As mentioned, different combinations of phase coding gradients often are repeated until the desired spatial resolution is achieved. A four-dimensional Fourier transformation of the magnetic resonance signals provides the desired spatial distribution of the resonance lines. A two-dimensional CSI method results from the above-described three-dimensional CSI method, if the aforementioned, non-slice-selective RF pulse is replaced by a slice-selective excitation formed by a slice-selective RF pulse and a corresponding magnetic gradient, and a gradient in the phase coding direction is omitted.
The typically employed individual volume techniques are based on a detection of a stimulated echo or on a secondary spin echo. In both cases, a spatial resolution ensues by successive, selective excitations of three orthogonal slices. A target volume is defined by a slice volume of the aforementioned three slices. Only the magnetization of the target volume experiences all three selective RF pulses and thus contributes to the stimulated echo, or to the secondary spin echo. The spectrum of the target volume is obtained by one-dimensional Fourier transformation of a time signal corresponding to the stimulated echo or, respectively, the secondary spin echo.
The intensive water signals frequently are suppressed in clinical proton spectroscopy. This is known as water suppression and a method for water suppression is, for example, the CHESS technique, in which the nuclear spins of the water molecules are first selectively excited by narrow-band 90° RF pulses and their transverse magnetization is subsequently dephased by switched magnetic field gradients. Thus—in the ideal case—a detectable magnetization of the water molecules is no longer present in a directly subsequent spectroscopy method.
For the volume to be examined, a magnetic resonance signal is generated (for example with one of the described methods) that is acquired in the time domain and that is transformed by a Fourier transformation into an associated spectrum, with, for example, a real part absolute value of the spectrum being represented. The spectrum is characterized by resonance lines that are designated as peaks. These resonance lines or peaks appear mostly in the form of sharp, bell-shaped curves. Each of the resonance lines or peaks can thereby be associated with a maximum amplitude value that in turn determines an associated frequency value, and thus a chemical shift, of the resonance line that, for example, is characteristic for the resonance line and thus for a very specific substance located in the volume and emitting a magnetic resonance signal. Furthermore, an integral value for one of the resonance lines or peaks in an absorption spectrum gives information about the concentration of the associated substance in the examined volume.
It is ultimately the goal of the evaluation of a spectrum to identify, using the resonance lines, the substances in the examined volume, and to determine their concentration within the volume. This information should be optimally acquired in a fully automatic evaluation method and be presented for further interpretation to a viewer of the spectrum, for example a diagnosing physician.
This evaluation, particularly of clinical in-vivo magnetic resonance spectra, is aimed first at freeing the spectrum or its time signal from diverse artifacts such as frequency shifts, phase shifts and baseline distortions. Subsequently, an adaptation (fitting) of theoretical curves to the spectrum or its associated time signal is implemented to identify and quantify the substances, in particular the metabolites, in the examined volume. Each contribution of each of the metabolites must be described by a model function used to produce the theoretical curve, the specification of this function often ensuing in the time domain. The adaptation of the theoretical curves can, however, be implemented both in the time domain and in the frequency domain, but working in the time domain (particularly with regard to handling missing or erroneous measurement (data) points) has the advantages of a simpler model parameterization and higher speed, since the calculation burden for Fourier transformations back and forth, between time domain and the frequency domain is not present. In particular, in vivo spectra, which are acquired with short echo time, have (in addition to the typical metabolite signals) background signals arising from portions of remaining water, macromolecules and lipids. The sum of the background signals (to which, in addition to the water residue, lipid contaminations and macromolecules, overlapping resonances of metabolites with very low concentration contribute) is generally summarized under the term baseline. The contributions to the baseline are to a strong degree dependent on the type of the examined tissue and the acquisition technique used. The baseline therefore must be considered in the modeling of the metabolite signals.
The specification of the baseline ensues with a baseline model, also called a baseline model function. It can ensue in the frequency domain (frequency space) or in the time domain. In the frequency domain, smooth, slowly changing functions such as polynomials or splines, as well as wavelet representations, are conventionally used to specify or parameterize the baseline. Currently, Voigt lines or experimentally determined model spectra are used in the time domain. The parameterization by Voigt lines and model spectra is hereby limited to special applications, since each requires foreknowledge about the examined tissue. Full particulars for model formation or modeling of the baseline by means of wavelet representations and splines is described, for example, in the article by B. J. Soher et al. "Representation of Strong Baseline Contributions in 1H MR Spectra", Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 45, 2001, pages 966 through 972.
Evaluation of an MR spectrum also can ensue on the basis of the data of the MR signal in the time domain without modeling the baseline. For this the first points of the magnetic resonance signal, which form the main portions of the baseline are not incorporated into the modeling of the metabolite signals. This method, however, leads to a worsening of the signal-to-noise ratio, meaning the signal-to-noise ratio of the modeled magnetic resonance signal portion drops and the adapted parameters exhibit a greater uncertainty. In the case of narrowly adjacent or strongly overlapping metabolite signals, this method actually breaks down entirely when an insufficient number points are omitted, since contributions of adjacent metabolites can mix, and the individual metabolite signals are overshadowed.

Method for evaluating magnetic resonance spectroscopy data using a baseline model


A tape dispenser including a cutting mechanism is disclosed that allows for improved access to the mandrel during reloading. The tape dispenser comprises a base, a cover, and a mandrel disposed within the base and cover. The cover is capable of securely engaging with the base. The base, the cover, and the mandrel are connected along a pivot point. The cover actuates the mandrel to an open, loading position.

Tape dispensers can be provided to a user in a disposable form or a reusable form. In the disposable form, typically the user does not have access to the mandrel to replace the used roll of tape with a new roll of tape. Therefore, when the tape is completely used, the entire tape dispenser is discarded.
In a reusable form of a tape dispenser, the user is able to replace the used roll of tape with a new roll of tape. The user is able to remove what is remaining of the used roll and only discard that portion, which usually is just the support core for the tape film. Then, the user will replace only the roll of tape, which typically includes a new support core for the tape film, onto the mandrel of the tape dispenser.
Often replacing the tape roll can be a complicated and difficult task, particularly in mailing and packaging tape dispensers. The user must access the spindle on the mandrel that supports the tape roll, insert a new roll, and feed the tape film through the dispenser to have the end of the tape ready for use at the discharge end of the dispenser. If the dispenser is relatively small, it may be difficult to accomplish each of these tasks in the relatively small area of the tape dispenser. Increasing the size of the dispenser will typically make reloading easier because a larger area allows easier access to the larger tape dispenser. However, a larger tape dispenser will typically be heavier and will take up more storage space.


The present invention is a stowable vest that is secured at one end within a compartment or enclosure disposed on the exterior of a garment, such as a jacket. The vest can be withdrawn from the enclosure and positioned around the garment to provide a highly visual display on the exterior of the garment. Further, the vest is easily disengagable from the exterior of the garment and reinsertable within the enclosure in order to enable the garment to function in a manner which enables an individual, such as a hunter, to selectively display the vest only when desired.

In certain situations such as when hunting, it is necessary for an individual to enable others to easily identify the individual as a human being and not as an animal to be hunted. To do so, a variety of garments have been designed with various attachments and other features which provide the function of identifying that of an individual wearing the garment as a human being.
Certain garments of this type are formed entirely of an easily identifiable color, i.e., blaze orange, which clearly identifies an individual as a human being when the individual is wearing the garment. However, because the color is easily identifiable and is clearly visible from a significant distance, the animals being hunted in additional to other individuals, can easily spot the garments of this color, which often times prevents an individual wearing the garment of this color from approaching the animal to be hunted undetected.
To be able to prevent detection by an animal from occurring, individuals can also wear garments formed with the easily detectable color that can be worn over an existing garment. Thus, the individual can selectively put on and take off the garment when desirous. However, because it is often necessary to quickly put on or take off the easily visible garment, with entirely separate garments of this type, it is difficult to do so. The separate garments are usually stored in a location separate from the individual, such that it requires a significant amount of time to remove the garment from this location and put it on, or to remove the garment and replace it within the storage location. Also, for those individuals choosing to wear the separate garment formed of this color over an existing, and preferably camouflaged garment, the additional garment layer can often restrict the movement of the individual making the task of hunting an animal more difficult for the individual wearing the numerous articles or layers of clothing.
In an attempt to remedy this shortcoming, certain garments have been developed which provide the ability of an individual wearing the garment to selectively display a panel or panels which have the easily-identifiable color thereon. One example of a garment of this type is disclosed in Moyer, U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,718, which illustrates a safety hunter's garment. In this garment, a number of releasable panels are secured in various points on the garment. Each of the releasable panels has a camouflage colored exterior or viewable surface and covers or obscures a safety panel having an easily identifiable colored surface that, when the releasable panel is moved from a closed position to a display position, is easily seen and identified on the exterior of the garment.
However, the releasable panels disclosed on the safety hunter's garment of the Moyer '718 patent are all located on the exterior of the garment, in locations where the panels can easily become hung up or snagged upon trees or underbrush through which the individual is walking while hunting. Furthermore, the placement and size of the safety panels on the individual are such that while the individual is walking through or sitting or standing in grass, trees and/or underbrush while hunting, the panels are small enough when they can be easily obscured by the brush, trees or grass through which the individual is walking, effectively rejecting the safety features provided by the safety panels.
As a result, it is desirable to develop a garment which is capable of being used by an individual while hunting that provides the visibility associated with a separate garment formed entirely of the easily identifiable color, but without the resulting limitations regarding the slowness in displaying and storing the garment and/or restriction of movement, while also allowing for the selective display of the garment similar to the panels disclosed in the Moyer '718 patent without the possibility of inadvertently exposing the panels on a tree or brush that the individual is moving past.