An apparatus for coating a polyimide layer includes a print table for receiving a substrate thereon, an inkjet head positioned over the print table and having a jetting surface with a plurality of nozzles for jetting polyimide liquid onto the substrate, and a polyimide liquid supply tank for supplying polyimide liquid, and a wiper movable from one side of the jetting surface to an other side of the jetting surface while the wiper contacts the jetting surface of the inkjet head.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to coating, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for coating a polyimide layer.
2. Background of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device is an apparatus for displaying a desired image by adjusting quantity of light reaching a color filter substrate. The adjustment of the quantity of light is accomplished by changing intermolecular orientation of liquid crystal molecules interposed between a transparent insulating substrate serving as the color filter substrate and an array substrate. One type of LCD device is a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT LCD) device, which uses thin film transistors (TFTs) as switching elements.
In general, an LCD device includes an LCD panel for displaying an image and a driver for driving the LCD panel by applying driving signals to the LCD panel. The LCD panel includes a color filter substrate and an array substrate bonded to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween. A layer of liquid crystal molecules is in the gap between the color filter substrate and the array substrate. The color filter substrate and the array substrate of the LCD panel are manufactured through a plurality of masking processes. Polyimide layers are formed on respective substrates after finishing the masking processes and before the substrates are bonded to each other. The polyimide layers are used as alignment films to arrange the liquid crystal molecules in a predetermined direction.
The polyimide layers can be coated on the substrates through a variety of methods, such as a spin-coating method, a spray-coating method, and an inkjet-coating method. Of the coating methods, the inkjet-coating method is the quickest and easiest to apply because of the use of an inkjet coating apparatus. A plurality of inkjet heads is used in an inkjet coating apparatus to jet polyimide liquid onto the substrates.
FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are views illustrating an accumulation problem in an apparatus for coating a polyimide layer according to the related art. More specifically, FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are schematic views illustrating the resultant shapes of the inkjet head 10 before and after jetting polyimide liquid onto the substrates in the inkjet-coating method according to the related art. The inkjet head 10 moves in a predetermined direction above a print table on which a target substrate is placed while jetting polyimide liquid onto the target substrate, thereby coating a polyimide layer onto the substrate. As shown in FIG. 1A, when the jetting surface of the inkjet head 10 is clean and does not have any residue thereon, polyimide liquid can be jetted uniformly so that a polyimide layer having uniform thickness can be formed on the substrate. However, as shown in FIG. 1B, polyimide liquid residue can accumulate on the jetting surface A1 of the inkjet head 10 even after only one inkjet coating process.
The accumulated polyimide liquid residue on the jetting surface of the inkjet head 10 interferes with jetting of the polyimide liquid during a subsequent inkjet coating process. Thus, a non-uniform polyimide layer may be coated on a substrate or, in extreme cases, no polyimide layer is coated on a substrate. The non-uniform polyimide layer can include pinhole faults and/or line blemishes. Even if the jetting surface of the inkjet head is cleaned using a cleaning bar, polyimide residue may still remain on the inkjet head.

Apparatus and method for coating polyimide layer


As measurement accuracy required for the scanning electron microscope (SEM) for measuring a pattern width becomes stringent, a technique of reducing the difference in a measured dimension between the SEM's is desired. However, the conventional technique of evaluating the difference in a measured dimension between the SEM's cannot separate the difference in a measured dimension between the SEM's themselves and a dimensional change resulting from deformation of the pattern itself. Moreover, the technique of reducing the difference in a measured dimension between the SEM's needs an operator for reducing the difference in a measured dimension between the SEM's for each measurement pattern shape. In this invention, a pattern at the same position is measured for a plurality of times with each SEM, and a different between extrapolated values of measured values obtained by the respective SEM's is calculated, whereby separation between the difference in a measured dimension between the SEM's and a dimensional change resulting from deformation of the pattern itself is made possible. Moreover, matching electron beam image profiles between the SEM's using an operator that simulates a difference in beam diameter between the SEM's makes it possible to reduce the difference in a measured dimension between the SEM's, not depending on a dimensional measurement pattern shape.

This invention relates to a scanning electron microscope equipment for measuring dimensions of minute patterns, and specifically to a scanning electron microscope equipped with a function of controlling a difference in a measured dimension between scanning electron microscope equipment (hereinafter also referred to as SEM for short) and a difference caused by aging of the scanning electron microscope, a method for measuring a pattern using the same, and an apparatus for correcting a difference between scanning electron microscopes.
In the semiconductor manufacturing process, with miniaturization of patterns, dimension measurement equipment with higher measurement accuracy is sought for. Requirements for measurement accuracy include not only improvement in measurement accuracy of the measurement equipment, standing alone, but also reduction of the difference in a measured dimension among a plurality of SEM's installed in a production line and reduction of a variation in measured dimension caused by aging of the SEM.
As a dimension measuring tool for measuring the width of a fine pattern in the order of a few tens of nanometers, there has conventionally been used the scanning electron microscope for measuring a dimension that can image these patterns at 100,000-200,000 times enlargement magnification (length measuring SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope)) or a CD (Critical Dimension) SEM).
One example of dimensional measurement processing using such scanning electron microscope equipment (hereinafter referred to SEM for short) will be explained using FIG. 5. First, an image 0501 of a measurement target pattern is acquired with the scanning electron microscope equipment, then within a selection area 0502 in the acquired image, secondary electron signal waveforms 0503 of the measurement target pattern are weight-averaged in a longitudinal direction of the pattern, further the averaged result is smoothed to be an image profile (sectional waveform of the image) 0504, and finally a pattern dimension 0505 is calculated as a length between two dimensional measurement points detected in the image profile.
In such scanning electron microscope equipment, as a technique of reducing the difference in a measured dimension among a plurality of equipment and a variation in dimension caused by aging of the equipment, there is being used a method in which    (1) The difference in a measured dimension between SEM's was obtained in advance by measuring the same position once with each of the plurality of SEM's, and    (2) When a pattern dimension is measured by each SEM, the difference in a measured dimension between the SEM's that was obtained in the STEP (1) is added to a value of that SEM, whereby the measured dimension is matched with a measured dimension of other SEM.
Moreover, in addition to this, as a technique of measuring the difference in a measured dimension between SEM's and a variation in a dimension caused by aging of the SEM, a technique of measuring a pattern at the same position for a plurality of times with each SEM and calculating a difference of extrapolated values of the measured values obtained with respective SEM's is proposed in "Measurement Precision of CD-SEM for 65 nm Technology Node," Hideaki Abe et al., Metrology, Inspection, and Process Control for Microlithography XVIII, Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 5375, pp. 929.[0008]
In the scanning electron microscope equipment that measures a dimension of a pattern, in the conventional technology based method for evaluating the difference in a measured dimension among the plurality of SEM's and the difference in a measured dimension caused by aging, the same position is measured once with each SEM and the difference in a measured dimension is designated as the difference in a measured dimension between SEM's and the difference in a measured dimension caused by aging. However, since the scanning electron microscope has a characteristic that (A) there is a variation in measured dimension when measuring a dimension repeatedly, and that (B) when the same position is imaged for two or more times, each dimensional measurement yields a variation in the target pattern shape and a change in material characteristics, the measurement results when measuring a pattern at the same position once with each SEM includes the difference in a measured dimension resulting from both a measurement error and a dimensional difference caused by deformation of the measurement target pattern itself as well as the difference in a measured dimension resulting from difference of the SEM.
In addition, in the conventional technology, what is used for evaluation of the difference in a measured dimension among the plurality of SEM's and the difference in a measured dimension caused by aging is a pattern measured dimension obtained from the image profile (sectional waveform of an image). On the other hand, in the dimension measurement equipment, such as scanning electron microscope equipment, that acquires an image by irradiating a beam of a finite size on it and measures a dimension using the image, one may point out as one large factor causing a large difference in a measured dimension between SEM's a difference in the shape of an electron beam between SEM's. This case has a characteristic that the difference in a measured dimension differs depending on a measured pattern shape.
FIG. 6A shows three kinds of dimensional measurement target patterns 0601, 0602, and 0603. FIG. 6B shows their image profiles when being measured by a. SEM A. FIG. 6C shows their image profiles when being measured by a SEM B. FIG. 6D schematically shows a relation between CD value and beam diameter. As shown in these figures, the scanning electron microscope equipment has a characteristic that, when the beam diameter of an electron beam is different from SEM to SEM, dimensional differences 0605, 0606, and 0607 differ from one another depending on their shapes of the dimensional measurement target pattern.
For the reasons given above, in the conventional technology, it is necessary to evaluate the difference in a measured dimension, that is, to calculate a parameter necessary for profile matching and perform matching of the difference in a measured dimension using the calculated parameter.

Scanning electron microscope, method for measuring a dimension of a pattern using the same, and apparatus for correcting difference between scanning electron microscopes


The image processing apparatus and method process image data of an original image by compressing a dynamic range of the original image. The apparatus and method process the image data of the original image by continuous filtering with at least two edge preserving smoothing filters having different characteristics to generate blurred image data which represents a blurred image of the original image, and process the image data of the original image by compressing the dynamic range of the original image based on the blurred image data. The apparatus includes a blurred image generating unit for generating the blurred image data and having the at least two edge preserving smoothing filters, and a processing unit for compressing the dynamic range of the original image.

This invention relates to a image processing apparatus and an image processing method by which images taken with a digital still camera (which are hereinafter referred to as DSC images) or images recorded on a film or other images can be processed into appropriate finished photographic prints and the like. The invention particularly relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method that can yield finished photographic prints by compressing the dynamic range of the input image to produce a desired output image without causing halo or any other artifacts.
A variety of image processing techniques have conventionally been applied so that DSC images taken with a digital still camera (hereinafter abbreviated as DSC) or film images are processed to have an appropriate finish.
For example, when printing is done from a medium such as a film that has a wide dynamic range of shooting brightness to paper (photographic paper) that has a limited range of reproducible densities, a variety of image processing techniques are employed to ensure that the images recorded on the film are processed to produce appropriate finished photographic prints (refer to JP 3568279 B).
An image processing technique called "hyper tone processing" is also practiced to process DSC images or film images into appropriate finished photographic prints.
In hyper tone processing, input image data is separated into a lower-frequency component and a higher-frequency component and the lower-frequency component is subjected to gradation expansion, with further input image data being added to the gradation-expanded image data so as to produce an output image that remains as well-modulated as the input image and which yet has an expanded gradation. Hyper tone processing has the advantage that when printing is done from a medium such as a film that has a wide dynamic range of shooting brightness to paper (photographic paper) that has a limited range of reproducible densities, the loss of highlights and shadows can be reduced.
FIG. 6A is a block diagram showing a conventional image processing apparatus that performs hyper tone processing and FIG. 6B is a graph showing a conversion table in a lookup table (LUT) used in the conventional image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 6A.
As shown in FIG. 6A, the conventional image processing apparatus 110 that performs hyper tone processing has a light/dark signal generating unit 112, a blurred image generating unit 114, a lookup table (hereinafter abbreviated to LUT) 116, an image analyzing unit 117, and an adder 118. The input image data has been obtained with a scanner that reads the film having an image of the subject recorded thereon, and the prescanned data has been obtained by reading at a lower resolution than for the input image data.
The light/dark signal generating unit 112 generates binary light/dark image data (Y) from the image data for each of the colors R, G and B in the input image data (SR, SG, SB). The light/dark image data (Y) may be generated by calculating a third of the average taken from the input image data (SR, SG, SB) for the three colors R, G and B. In other words, the light/dark image data is generated as Y=(SR+SG+SB)/3.
The blurred image generating unit 114 elicits the lower-frequency component (Y_b) of the light/dark image data generated by the light/dark signal generating unit 112 (said component is hereinafter referred to as blurred image data (Y_b)) and this may be done by using a smoothing filter.
In the LUT 116, the blurred image data (Y_b) generated by the blurred image generating unit 114 is subjected to image processing so as to generate compression processing image data that is to be used in compressing the dynamic range of the input image data. A conversion table is set in the LUT 116 and as FIG. 6B shows, it is represented by a straight line 120 having a constant slope. By means of the LUT 116, the densities of the light areas of an image are added whereas those of the dark areas are subtracted. The central density of the image of the principal subject or the like remains constant.
The image analyzing unit 117 performs image analysis on the prescanned data and it changes the settings of the conversion table in the LUT 116 according to a particular scene.
The adder 118 adds up the input image data (SR, SG, SB) and the blurred image data (Y_b) obtained by processing in the light/dark signal generating unit 112, the blurred image generating unit 114, and the LUT 116. This generates output image data (OR, OG, OB) having a dynamic range compressed in comparison with the principal image data.
The output image data (OR, OG, OB) and the input image data (SR, SG, SB) can be correlated by the following mathematical expressions (1)-(3), in which LUT(Y_b) represents the entry of the blurred image data into the conversion table.OR=SR+LUT(Y—b)  (1)OG=SG+LUT(Y—b)  (2)OB=SB+LUT(Y—b)  (3)
In the conventional procedure of hyper tone processing, the input image data and the blurred image data obtained by processing that input image data in the light/dark signal generating unit 112, the blurred image generating unit 114 and the LUT 116 are added together, whereupon the dynamic range of the input image data is compressed nonlinearly to yield the result shown in FIG. 7, where input image data 130a that has a medium to higher frequency component 132a on the high density side and medium to higher frequency components 134a on the low density side has been converted to output image data 130b in which a medium to higher frequency component 132b on the high density side and medium to higher frequency components 134b on the low density side are maintained to lie within the print reproduction region. The output image data 130b thus obtained is appropriate not only in the dynamic range but also in the gradations and densities of the light and dark areas. As a result, photographic prints are produced that reproduce images of high quality.
An image processing apparatus that employs the above-described procedure of hyper tone processing has been proposed (refer to JP 3568279 B).
JP 3568279 B discloses an image reproducing method by which a digital image signal (digital image data) that represents a color image is reproduced as a visible image. In this image reproducing method in JP 3568279 B, the digital image signal is converted to a light/dark signal (light/dark image data) and on the basis of that light/dark signal, a blurred image signal (blurred image data) that represents a blurred image in the color image is generated. Then, subtraction is effected between the digital image signal and a signal for the pixel that corresponds to the blurred image signal, thereby generating a difference signal. A specified image processing procedure is performed on that difference signal to generate a processed image signal. Using this processed image signal, one can prepare photographic prints in which the image has a rather weakened overall contrast whereas the local contrast represented by the higher-frequency component is the same as in the original color image.
In JP 3568279 B, the blurred image signal which represents a blurred image in the color image is generated using a low-pass filter (LPF), so in edge portions that involve significant changes in density, the density changes are not as abrupt as in the original image but are small enough to cause so-called "dull" edge portions. If such a blurred image signal is used to generate the processed image signal, either an undershoot or an overshoot occurs in the edge portions. As a result, the finished prints that are finally obtained might have halo or other artifacts in the edge portions.
Under these circumstances, various methods have so far been proposed with a view to suppressing halo and other artifacts (refer to JP 2001-298619 A, JP 9-214766 A, and JP 2003-8898 A).
JP 2001-298619 A discloses an image processing apparatus having a plurality of low-pass filters and a LUT computing unit that generates a composite blurred image signal.
In the image processing apparatus of JP 2001-298619 A, an image signal for the original images is processed by the plurality of low-pass filters to generate a plurality of blurred image signals that represent a blurred image in the original image, and the generated blurred image signals are assembled in the LUT computing unit to generate a single composite blurred image signal. On the basis of this composite blurred image signal, the image signal for the original image is processed to compress the dynamic range of the latter. As a result, even if the original image is one of high contrast or wide dynamic range that has been taken against light or with the aid of an electronic flash, or even if it contains a relatively flat region such as a low-contrast area, it not only remains sufficiently well-modulated but what is more, one can reduce a pseudo-contour that will occur when the step of compressing the dynamic range is intensely applied. The image processing apparatus of JP 2001-298619 A is so adapted that in an image region that contains edge portions, the composite blurred image signal is adjusted to have a value close enough to a blurred image signal for a small degree of blur.
The apparatus of JP 2001-298619 A may be adapted to have the design shown in FIG. 8, where a blurred image generating unit 114 comprises a first IIR (infinite impulse response) filter 140, a second IIR filter 142, and a blurred image assembling unit 144.
The first IIR filter 140 and the second IIR filter 142 are each a kind of low-pass filter that is adapted to generate a blurred image signal. Suppose here that the first IIR filter 140 produces a blurred image signal for a large degree of blur whereas the second IIR filter 142 produces a blurred image signal for a small degree of blur. The blurred image assembling unit 144 is adapted to generate a composite blurred image signal.
Thus, in the image processing apparatus of JP 2001-298619 A, the two IIR filters 140 and 142 cooperate to generate a single composite blurred image signal.
JP 9-214766 A discloses an image processing apparatus that uses a median filter assembly, or a kind of edge preserving smoothing filter, as means of generating a blurred image signal.
In JP 9-214766 A, the median filter assembly comprises a plurality of median filters of different sizes, and the level of intermediate values is selected in accordance with the distribution of digital signals that generate the blurred image signal. In JP 9-214766 A, by using the median filter assembly, one can suppress the occurrence of overshoot in large edge portions.
JP 2003-8898 A discloses an image processing apparatus for converting an input image to an image having a relatively smaller dynamic range. This apparatus comprises smoothing means by which split segments of the input image are respectively smoothed to generate a plurality of smoothed images having different degrees of smoothness, edge intensity calculating means for calculating the edge intensity on the basis of the plurality of smoothed images, assembling means for assembling the plurality of smoothed images on the basis of the calculated edge intensity, coefficient calculating means by which the coefficients for converting the individual pixel values of the input image are calculated on the basis of the composite smoothed image generated by assembling the plurality of smoothed images, and pixel value converting means for converting the individual pixel values of the input image by the calculated coefficients.
In JP 2003-8898 A, filtering and downsampling of the input image are each performed more than once to generate a plurality of smoothed images, which are then assembled together; in this way, the input image is processed by an equivalently large scale of filtering (smoothing) and, as a result, the amounts of computing that are required by the individual steps of filtering and downsampling are sufficiently reduced that less computing needs to be performed for smoothing than when a single large filter is employed. In addition, the edge intensity is calculated on the basis of the plurality of smoothed images and on the basis of this edge intensity, the plurality of smoothed images are assembled together; hence, the downsampling operation causes no adverse effect on the accuracy of edge detection. This offers the advantage that even if illumination is effected under different conditions, their boundaries can be appropriately extracted while requiring smaller amounts of computing and this contributes to realizing a subjectively preferred compression of the dynamic range.
A plurality of epsilon filters are used as the smoothing means in JP 2003-8898 A. They are also a kind of edge preserving smoothing filters.
As described above, if the density range of certain input image data is broader than what can be reproduced on a particular medium such as photographic paper, it has been possible in the conventional technique to compress the selectively extracted lower-frequency component of the input image data, thereby ensuring that the original image is reproduced with the overall image data being compressed while maintaining the medium to higher frequency component.

Image processing apparatus and image processing method


A method of making an additively manufactured ejector pump includes creating a computer file defining the ejector pump in layers. The ejector pump includes a duct extending along a centerline from an upstream end to a downstream end, a nozzle extending inward from the duct including a flowpath, an annulus connected to the duct including a cavity. The method also includes building the ejector pump using an additive manufacturing process that builds the ejector on a layer-by-layer basis from the upstream end to the downstream end.

The present invention relates generally to ejector pumps, and more particularly to an ejector made by additive manufacturing.
Ejector pumps use the pressure energy from a high pressure source to increase the pressure and flow of a low pressure source. The high pressure source is directed through an ejector having nozzles which convert pressure energy to kinetic energy, and this high velocity flow entrains fluid from the low pressure source. The two streams experience pressure equalization and mixing downstream of the ejector leading to pressure recovery. Ejector pumps are beneficial because they have no moving parts and are relatively inexpensive and reliable, especially when a high pressure source is readily available. Conventional ejector pumps are fabricated either by machining and welding or by casting. Conventional manufacturing methods can be expensive, and it can be time consuming to change the tooling if a change is implemented to the design of the ejector pump.


A synchronous rectifier, to which the primary-side input voltage of the transformer and a control voltage with the same frequency as the input voltage is applied, is connected to the primary side of the transformer. The phase of the control voltage can be switched between 0.degree. and 90.degree., so that the output voltage of the synchronous rectifier corresponds exclusively to the voltage drop component at the ohmic input resistance of the transformer at 0.degree., and exclusively to the voltage drop component at the inductive input resistance of the transformer at 90.degree.. Since both the ohmic and the inductive input resistances are dependent on the resistance of the load connected to the secondary side (e.g., the squib of an air bag), both voltage components can be used to obtain reliable information on the status of the load resistance.

A conventional arrangement is described in German Patent Application No. 38 12 633. In this conventional arrangement, a rotary transformer is used, for example, for signal transmission between a controller and an air bag built into the steering wheel of a motor vehicle. The operability of an air bag must be constantly monitored, so that it is ready to be used immediately in an emergency situation. For this purpose, the resistance of the squib, which should be typically between 1.8 ohm to 2.5 ohm, must be periodically measured. Signal transmission between the inductively coupled windings of the rotary transformer depends on the spacing between the two windings, i.e., the size of the air gap between the pot-type cores of the windings. Installation and manufacturing tolerances of the steering wheel, on which the secondary pot-type core of the rotary transformer is installed, can result in distortions in the measured resistance value of the squib, as can the operating temperature. In order to avoid such distortions, the above-described conventional arrangement provides an oscillator circuit on the secondary side of the rotary transformer, which is excited by a control signal from the primary side. After the control signal is switched off, the decay of the response signal of the oscillator circuit is transmitted back to the primary side and the secondary-side resistance is determined from the time constant of the decaying response signal.
The object of the present invention is to provide a device allowing reliable information to be derived from the primary-side input voltage of the transformer concerning the status (resistance) of the load connected to the secondary side.

Arrangement for controlling a load connected to the secondary side of a transformer


Compositions comprising an immunogenic amount of an antigen encapsulated in a stabilized hydrogel microbead are disclosed. The compositions provide a delivery system for antigens such as vaccines. Also provided are methods of stimulating an immune response comprising administration of the inventive compositions.

Most vaccines licensed for use in humans are administered parenterally, which is an effective route for generating a systemic immune response. However, parenteral immunization produces predominantly IgM and IgG on mucosal surfaces, where most pathogenic or opportunistic organisms initiate infection, and is not very effective in protecting individuals from air borne or mucosal-related infectious diseases (Formal et al., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 125:347, 1967; Mestecky, J. J. Clin. Immunol. 7:265, 1987). Protective, antigen specific secretory IgA (sIgA) antibodies are only efficiently induced when antigen is administered to the mucosal sites (McGhee, J. R. and Mestecky, J. Infec. Dis. Clin. North. Amer. 4:315, 1990).
Several studies in the area of mucosal immunization have utilized live, attenuated viruses or bacteria as the immunogen (Treanor et al., Ann. Intern. Med. 117:625, 1992; Clements et al., Vaccine 6:269, 1988). In these studies, administration of the attenuated microbes resulted in effective protection and induced both local and systemic immunity. Intranasal administration of particulate antigens has also been described (Peter et al. Infec. and Immun. 40:1092, 1983). However, administration of soluble antigens to mucosal surfaces has been hampered by the lack of appropriate delivery vehicles or soluble adjuvants that stimulate mucosal IgA secretion.
New delivery methods, including synthetic or naturally occurring polymers, and liposome preparations, have been investigated as means for the controlled and/or targeted delivery of soluble immunogens. Abraham (Vaccine 10:461, 1992) reported that the intranasal administration of liposome-contained antigen reduced the dose of antigen required to elicit a mucosal immune response. Almeida and co-workers (J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 45:198, 1993) reported similar findings using poly (L-lactic acid) microspheres. Several other types of microspheres have also been investigated for use as vaccine antigen carriers. In one study, uptake by gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), a necessary first step in generating a protective immune response, was dependent upon the type and diameter of the microparticle (Eldridge et al., J. Controlled Release 11:205, 1990). Other hydrogels have also been used for oral vaccination of animals (Bowerstock et al., Pro. Intern. Symp. Control. Rel. Bioact. Mater. 21:79. 1994).
Alginate is a pH-sensitive, biodegradable material that forms a gel matrix in the presence of divalent cations, and has been used in microencapsulation technology for entrapment of antibodies, subcellular organelles, cells, bacteria, nucleic acids and proteins (Tai et al., FASEB. 7:1061, 1993; Smidsrod, O. and Skjak-Braek, G. TIBTECH 8:71, 1990; Smith, T. J., BioPharm. 7:54, 1994; Duff, R. G., TIBTECH 3:167, 1985; Downs, et al., J. Cell Physiol., 152:422, 1992; Puolakkainen et al., Gastroenterology 107:1319, 1994; Soon-Shiong et al., Lancet 343:950, 1994), and for other pharmaceutical agents (Stockwell, et al., J. Controlled Release, 3:167, 1986; Segi, et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull., 37:3092, 1989; Bahkoo, et al., Pro. Int. Symp. Controlled Release Bio. Mater. 18:441, 1991).
Recent efforts in vaccine design have focused on improved vaccine delivery systems (Langer, R. Science, 249: 1527, 1990). A vaccine delivery system that can provide both priming and boosting administrations in a single dose would be very beneficial. Additionally, a system that could protect proteins and other agents from hostile environments, i.e., the low pH and battery of proteolytic or digestive enzymes present in the stomach, would facilitate development of effective vaccines. There is also a need in the art for vaccine delivery systems that utilize only small amounts of antigen, to allow simultaneous administration of more than one immunogen. Such a delivery system for soluble vaccine antigens would also allow self-administration, and would enhance the ability of health professionals to control or eliminate infectious diseases.


A receiver with baseline wander correction for correcting a received input signal. The receiver includes first and second biasing resistor networks configured to receive first and a second signal of the received input signal, and to produce a first correction signal and a second correction signal. A comparator is employed to compare the first and the second correction signals in order to produce a control signal. The receiver also has comparison logic and compensation control circuitry. The comparison logic generates a logic signal according to the first and the second correction signals. Finally, the compensation control circuitry produces a compensation signal and provides it to respective output terminals of the first and the second biasing resistor networks so as to correct respective DC values of the first and the second correction signals.

In 100 Megabit per second (Mbps) Fast Ethernet applications, a 100 Mbps transmitter transmits a multi-level transmission-3 (MLT-3) signal through a coupling transformer to a transmission medium, and then a 100 Mbps receiver receives the MLT-3 signal over the transmission medium. The transformer is equivalent to a high-pass filter which blocks a DC component of the MLT-3 signal. Unlike the Manchester data encoding scheme used in 10 Mbps Ethernet systems, the MLT-3 signal is not DC balanced and its DC component varies with the signal pattern. When the DC component is filtered, it cannot be compensated sufficiently by simply adding a common mode voltage with a fixed DC level in the receiver end. Thus, an undesirable phenomenon known as baseline wander occurs. If baseline wander is not cancelled out or compensated for, the phenomenon can cause signal distortion in the front end of the receiver. In the worst case, baseline wander can cause the back end of the receiver to produce incorrect results.
FIG. 1 shows a data transmitter baseline wander correction circuit according to the prior art. It uses a feedback circuit taking a feedback signal Efeedback from one of the windings of a coupling transformer to generate an estimated DC value. Then, the estimated DC value is added to a digital signal to be transmitted. Thereby, the baseline wander problem in the output transmit signal is corrected. However, a drawback of the data transmitter of FIG. 1 is that it is possible for the feedback network to become unstable. Moreover, if the coupling transformer is not matched well, the output transmit signal and the feedback signal will not be the same. Even though there is no baseline wander in the output transmit signal, it cannot ensure that the receive transformer coupled to the transmission medium does not introduce the undesirable phenomenon at receiver end.
Another technique for correcting baseline wander is illustrated in FIG. 2. By utilizing a peak detector to detect possible directions of baseline wander, the DC value of the received signal is thus adjusted to compensate for baseline wander. A disadvantage of the technique of FIG. 2 is that the output of the peak detector can be affected by data patterns. This may cause ripples in the detected output so that the system of FIG.2 cannot achieve perfect baseline wander correction. Also, the received signal passes through an equalizer prior to correcting baseline wander. Hence, the linearity required for input terminals of the equalizer should be very strict.
Accordingly, what is needed is a novel technique for correcting baseline wander that utilizes characteristics of baseline wander to compensate for the undesirable phenomenon of a received signal before the signal passes through an equalizer. It would be highly preferable for such a technique to be immune to the effects of the received signal peaks. Further, it would be desirable to have a receiver with baseline wander correction that decreases its production costs.

Receiver with baseline wander correction and correction method thereof


The presently claimed invention contemplates a weight rack system comprising a weight rack having a flexible, resilient weight platform configured to receive a weight, a first side wall configured to elevate the weight platform above a surface, a second side wall configured to elevate the weight platform above a surface. The weight platform includes a bump that helps guide a weight being placed onto the platform.

The background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
Free-weight training is a popular approach to strength and muscle development. Some of the most effective exercises using barbells involve a user lying on a bench or inclined bench. These exercises tend to be more effective than using a bench machine because they require a user to exert physical effort as well as control from the moment the weights are picked up until the rep is over and the weights are placed down.
Gyms often devote entire sections to these types of weights. However, existing benches do not provide an adequate place for placement of dumbbells in between sets. Most benches do not have any place to put dumbbells in between sets, which requires a user to place these weights on the floor. This increases the risk of injury because it requires a fatigued user to extend beyond the normal range of the exercise and flexibility to safely lower the weights. It also increases the chances a weight will be dropped by a fatigued user to avoid injuries.
Other racking solutions are large, heavy, cumbersome and do not offer versatility in arrangement and movement.
Thus, there is a need for a versatile free weight racking solution that assists a user in safely and easily securing free weights in between exercise sets.
These and all other extrinsic materials discussed herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.


A crushing device in a crusher includes a bucket-shaped body frame; plural ring members provided in the body frame in such a manner as to form steps at predetermined spaced intervals while diminishing their sizes gradually from the upper position toward the lower position, thereby to form a sieve with gaps as a whole; a teeth plate provided at the bottom portion of the sieve and having recessed teeth and protrusive teeth alternately formed on the inner surface thereof; a crushing shaft provided at a central portion of the body frame; and an inclined screw belt member mounted on the crushing shaft, for crushing pieces of concrete on the teeth plate in combination with the teeth plate.

The present invention relates to a chunks-of-concrete crushing device which also serves as a scooping device such as a bucket, a shovel or the like mounted on the distal end of a rotatable arm of an earthmover. Particularly, the present invention relates to a crushing device capable of crushing chunks of concrete into very fine pieces.
According to conventional crushing devices of this kind, chunks of concrete are crushed into equalized pieces in size, and thus, the efficiency of scattering pieces of crushed concrete is limited low. That means that in the conventional crushing devices, there are many cases where pieces of crushed concrete can not be scattered over to distant points as desired, and it is not possible to obtain pieces of various sizes.
It is an object of the present invention to improve the efficiency of scattering pieces of crushed concrete, and to enable obtaining easily as much fine pieces of crushed concrete as desired under particular operative circumstances.
The crushing device according to the present invention comprises: a bucket-shaped body frame; plural ring members provided in said body frame in such a manner as to form steps at predetermined spaced intervals while diminishing their sizes gradually from the upper position toward the lower position, thereby to form a sieve with gaps as a whole; a teeth plate provided at the bottom portion of said sieve and having recessed teeth and protrusive teeth alternately formed on the inner surface thereof; a crushing shaft provided at a central portion of said body frame; and an inclined screw belt member mounted on said crushing shaft, for crushing pieces of objects on said teeth plate in combination with said teeth plate.

Crushing device in a crusher of an earthmover for crushing chunks of concrete into fine pieces


A holding mechanism for holding an optical element includes a rear side block that includes a rear side holding engagement part that is engageable with a rear side engagement part provided on a rear side of an optical element, a front side block that is coupled with the rear side block and includes a front side holding engagement part that is engageable with a front engagement part provided on a front side of the optical element or the holding member, wherein one of the rear side engagement part and the rear side holding engagement part has a groove and the other has a spherical part that has an at least partially spherical shape engageable with the groove, and wherein one of the front side engagement part and the front side holding engagement part has another groove, and the other has another spherical part that has an at least partially spherical shape engageable with the other groove.

The present invention relates to a holding mechanism of an optical element, an optical apparatus, such as an exposure apparatus, which uses the holding mechanism, and a device manufacturing method. The present invention is suitable, for example, for a holding mechanism that holds the optical element, such as a lens and a mirror, used for a semiconductor exposure apparatus.
The semiconductor exposure apparatus is an apparatus that transfers an original (such as a reticle), which has a circuit pattern, onto a substrate (such as a silicon wafer). A projection lens is used to transfer or image the reticle pattern onto the wafer, and should have a high resolving power so as to manufacture highly integrated circuits. Thus, a lens in the semiconductor exposure apparatus needs to have reduced aberration, uniformities of various characteristics relating to the glass material and film, and working and assembly precisions of the glass surface shape.
A barrel that holds the lens and/or mirror is generally made of metal or another material different from glass. FIG. 9 is a partially sectional and perspective view of a barrel structure for an optical system in a conventional semiconductor exposure apparatus. In FIG. 9, plural lenses 101 and 102 are fixed onto and supported by metal frames 103 and 104. These metal frames 103 and 104 are stacked in a cylindrical holding member 105 through air gap adjusting spacers 106, and pressed and fixed from the top by pressure screw rings 107 and 108. Japanese Utility Model Application, Publication No. 3-96609, for example, discloses a method for fixing an optical element without adhesive. Japanese Patent Application, Publication No. 2002-48962, for example, discloses a lens structure that has a circumferential notch and attempts to remove a distortion of the lens effective diameter.
Some optical apparatuses, such as a projection optical system in a semiconductor exposure apparatus, need a high optical characteristic. In order to minimize a deformation of an optical element and the deterioration of its optical characteristic due to the external force, each optical element, such as a lens, in the optical system, is usually fixed by adhesive that has little shrinkage on curing, onto a metal frame without applying the external force to the optical element. Nevertheless, exposure that uses a laser with a short wavelength might cause gas emissions from the adhesive, contaminating the optical element surface, and deteriorating the transmittance and the optical characteristics. In exchanging each optical element during manufacturing/maintenance of the exposure apparatus, steps of peeling off adhesive and reapplying the adhesive deteriorate the yield.
Japanese Utility Model Application, Publication No. 3-96609, discloses a method of fixing an optical element without adhesive. However, the groove formed in the glass and a spherical member that contacts the groove cannot fix the lens in the optical-axis direction and may shift the lens due to the acceleration perpendicular to the optical axis. One solution for this problem is to apply a large power to the top surface of the lens, but this power would consequently deform the lens and generate greater birefringence in the lens.

Holding mechanism, optical apparatus and device manufacturing method


In medical MRI apparatus it is often desirable to maintain a connection with the patient 58 to be examined, for example in order to observe the patient by means of a television camera 62 or to monitor physical functions like the heart rate or blood pressure. It is often necessary to use electrically powered connection equipment 62, 64 which is located in or very close to the imaging area 29, the supply lines 66, 68 also being located in the imaging area so that the (precisely defined) fields required for imaging would be disturbed thereby. According to the invention the supply lines are subdivided into segments 72-i, each of which has a length shorter than xc2xc of the wavelength of the RF field; these segments are separated from one another by inductances 74-i. Consequently, the supply line does not present itself as an energy absorbing conductor to the RF field, so that the RF field is not disturbed thereby. Distortion of the uniform B field is avoided by twisting the conductors 78, 80 of the line and by winding the inductances in a bifilarr winding mode.

The invention relates to an MRI apparatus for forming an image of an object to be examined in a measuring volume of the apparatus, which apparatus includes
a field magnet for generating a uniform field in the measuring volume of the apparatus,
an RF transmission aerial for transmitting RF radiation of a given wavelength to the object to be examined, and
electrical connection equipment for maintaining a connection with the object to be examined, said connection equipment being coupled to a region outside the measuring volume by means of a conductor provided with frequency-dependent elements.
An apparatus of this kind is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,478. As is customary for MRI equipment, the object to be examined according to the cited patent is formed by a patient; a part of the body of such a patient is to be imaged. As is generally known, the generation of the electromagnetic fields causes an unpleasant noise in MRI equipment. In order to suppress such noise, the known MRI apparatus is provided with electrical connection equipment for maintaining a connection with the patient, the connection equipment in said known apparatus being formed by a headset whereby anti-noise is produced. The headset is coupled to a signal generator which is situated in the region outside the measuring volume. Said coupling is realized via an electrical conductor which consists of two cores and a conductive envelope. In order to prevent undesirable influencing of the imaging by means of the MRI apparatus, the conductor is provided with frequency-dependent elements in the form of a filter circuit which includes a number of filters tuned to a number of frequencies of the RF radiation. Each of these filters is formed as a series connection of an inductance and a capacitor and is arranged between a ground point and a point of the associated conductor which is situated at such a distance from the headset that this distance corresponds to xc2xc wavelength of the RF radiation whereto the relevant filter is tuned. This means that the interference-suppressing effect of said filters is effective for a few, predetermined frequencies only.
The headset used in the known apparatus is a passive element, i.e. the headset does not receive electrical power from outside the measuring volume. However, there is an increasing need for electrical connection equipment for maintaining a connection with the patient to be examined which is capable of receiving electrical power supply energy, such as sensors for monitoring the physical condition of the patient or a TV camera for observing the patient, and the associated lighting.
It is an object of the invention to provide an MRI apparatus of the kind set forth wherein electrical connection equipment with active elements can be used without causing a disturbance of the image for a wide range of radio frequencies used in the apparatus. To this end, the MRI apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the conductor which couples the connection equipment to the region outside the measuring volume is constructed as a low-frequency conductor for the supply signals of low frequency, relative to the frequency of the RF radiation, to and from the connection equipment,
said low-frequency conductor including segments (72-i) which are separated from one another and each of which is shorter than xc2xc of the wavelength of said RF radiation,
the separation between the segments being realized by frequency-dependent separating elements which constitute a conductor for said low frequencies and an isolator for RF alternating current.
Taking these steps allows for the use of active connection equipment which is fed via a conductive connection, no disturbing effect being exerted by the low-frequency conductors for as long as the segments are significantly shorter than the wavelength of the RF radiation used in the MRI apparatus.
Each of the separated segments in an advantageous embodiment of the invention is shorter than {fraction (1/20)} of the wavelength of said RF radiation. It has been found in practice that such a choice of the length of the segments results in an effect on the MR image which is negligibly small for all practical purposes.
The separating elements in a further embodiment of the invention are formed by inductances which do not contain a ferromagnetic material.
As a result of this step, field concentration in the inductance elements cannot exert an adverse effect on the homogeneity and/or the strength of the homogeneous field generated by the MRI apparatus.
The inductances in another embodiment of the invention are formed in that the input core and the output core in the low-frequency conductor are wound so as to form bifilar wound coils.
As a result of this step, the input core and the output core in the low-frequency conductor will not generate a field outside the inductance elements which could have an adverse effect on the homogeneity and/or the strength of the homogeneous field generated by the MRI apparatus.
The segments in another embodiment of the invention are formed by mutually twisted cores.
As a result of this step, the input and output cores in the low-frequency conductor again will not generate a field which would have an adverse effect on the homogeneity and/or the strength of the homogeneous field generated by the MRI apparatus.

MRI apparatus provided with anti-interference supply conductors for electrical connection equipment


A laser welding process of the present invention comprises the steps of allowing a laser beam outputted from a laser beam generator to enter into an optical fiber through a light-introducing optical unit, and applying the laser beam exiting from the optical fiber to a weld zone through a light-delivering optical unit. The laser welding process is characterized in that the optical fiber has a core diameter set to be within 100 μm, a numeral aperture value for entrance of light into the optical fiber is set to be equal to or smaller than 0.05, a numeral aperture value for exiting of light from the optical fiber is set to be equal to or smaller than 0.1, and an energy of a one-pulse laser beam applied from the light-delivering optical unit is set at a value equal to or smaller than 1 joule.

In general, the laser welding has been employed in many cases for bonding of electronic parts and the like, because the thermal influence to peripheral portions of the part can be alleviated.
The present applicant has provided a solid laser device by which the processing of a work can be carried out under optimal processing conditions by conducting the waveform control higher in accuracy and rich in variety by realizing the fine or rapid pulse control, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, i.e., Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 8-321651.
Works to be welded by a laser welding process are beginning to be extended to micro parts with the development of the reduction in size of instruments and the micrometric reduction in size of parts, as represented by recent clocks, mobile phones, medical instruments and the like.
In many conventional pulse laser welding system, an output energy was set in a range of 5 to 100 joule (J)/pulse, and a laser pulse width was set in a range of 0.5 to 20 ms. If a stainless work is subjected to a fine laser spot welding by such a conventional laser welding system, the following disadvantage is encountered: a minimal welding nugget diameter is on the order of 100 μm (400 to 800 μm), and a maximal penetration depth is restricted to the order of 100 μm.
On the other hand, a welding quality desired with the reduction in size of current parts is such that a welding nugget diameter is equal to or smaller than 100 μm, and a penetration depth is at least equal to or larger than 200 μm, i.e., the same degree as that in the prior art from the relationship to a plate thickness and a welding strength.

Laser welding method and laser welding device


The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device capable of further decreasing reflectivity, a method of manufacturing the same, and an electronic device. The solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate on which a photoelectric converting unit is formed for each of a plurality of pixels, and an antireflection structure provided on a light incident surface side from which light is incident on the semiconductor substrate in which a plurality of types of projections of different heights is formed. The antireflection structure is formed by performing processing of digging a light incident surface of the semiconductor substrate in a plurality of stages with different processing conditions. The antireflection structure is the structure in which a second projection lower than a first projection is formed between the first projections of predetermined height. The present technology may be applied to a CMOS image sensor, for example.

Conventionally, a solid-state image sensor such as a charge coupled device (CCD)/complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor is used, for example, in an electronic device having an imaging function such as a digital still camera and a digital video camera.
For example, incident light incident on the CMOS image sensor is subjected to photoelectric conversion by a photodiode (PD) being a photoelectric converting unit included in a pixel. Then, an electric charge generated by the PD is transferred to floating diffusion (FD) through a transfer transistor and an amplification transistor outputs a pixel signal of a level according to the electric charge accumulated in the FD.
In a conventional solid-state image sensor, there is a case in which the light incident on the solid-state image sensor is reflected therein and flare and ghost occur by the reflected light imaged in an image. For example, the light reflected by an on-chip lens and a silicon surface of the pixel of each color is reflected by a seal glass surface and an infrared radiation cutoff filter surface to be incident again on the photoelectric converting unit and the flare occurs. Also, for example, red light reflected by the silicon surface of the red pixel and the on-chip lens surface is reflected by a multicoated surface of the infrared radiation cutoff filter to be incident again on the photoelectric converting unit and the ghost which looks like a red ball occurs.
In order to prevent such reflection of the light on the silicon surface to decrease the occurrence of the flare and ghost, a structure in which a fine uneven structure is periodically arranged, a so-called moth-eye structure is known. In the moth-eye structure, a refractive index gradually changes, so that reflectivity may be decreased.
For example, Patent Document 1 suggests the so-called moth-eye structure in which the fine uneven structure is formed on an interface on a side of a light receiving surface of a silicon layer in which the photodiode is formed as the structure of preventing the reflection of the incident light.

Solid-state imaging device, method of manufacturing the same, and electronic device

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation


PEG-IFN-β conjugates, where a PEG moiety is covalently bound to Cys17 of human IFN-β, are produced by a process of site specific PEGylation with a thiol reactive PEGylating agent. A pharmaceutical composition and a method for treating infections, tumors and autoimmune and inflammatory diseases are also provided. The invention further relates to a method for the stepwise attachment of PEG moieties in series to a polypeptide, and more particularly to IFN-β.

Human fibroblast interferon (IFN-β) has antiviral activity and can also stimulate natural killer cells against neoplastic cells. It is a polypeptide of about 20,000 Da induced by viruses and double-stranded PNAs. From the nucleotide sequence of the gene for fibroblast interferon, cloned by recombinant DNA technology, Derynk et al. (Nature, 285:542-547, 1980) deduced the complete amino acid sequence of the protein. It is 166 amino acid long.
Shepard et al. (Nature, 294:563-565, 1981) described a mutation at base 842 (Cys-Tyr at position 141) that abolished its anti-viral activity, and a variant clone with a deletion of nucleotides 1119-1121.
Mark et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 81(18):5662-5666, 1984) inserted an artificial mutation by replacing base 469 (T) with (A) causing an amino acid switch from Cys-Ser at position 17. The resulting IFN-β was reported to be as active as the 'native' IFN-β and stable during long-term storage (−70° C.)
Covalent attachment of the hydrophilic polymer polyethylene glycol, (PEG), also known as polyethylene oxide, (PEO), to molecules has important applications in biotechnology and medicine. In its most common form, PEG is a linear polymer having hydroxyl groups at each terminus:HO—CH2—CH2O(CH2CH2O)nCH2CH2—OH
This formula can be represented in brief as HO-PEG-OH, where it is meant that -PEG- represents the polymer backbone without the terminal groups:"-PEG-" means "—CH2CH2O(CH2CH2O)nCH2CH2—
PEG is commonly used as methoxy-PEG-OH, (m-PEG), in which one terminus is the relatively inert methoxy group, while the other terminus is a hydroxyl group that is subject to chemical modification.CH3O—(CH2CH2O)n—CH2CH2—OH
Branched PEGs are also in common use. The branched PEGs can be represented as R(-PEG-OH)m in which R represents a central core moiety such as pentaerythritol or glycerol, and m represents the number of branching arms. The number of branching arms (m) can range from three to a hundred or more. The hydroxyl groups are subject to chemical modification.
Another branched form, such as that described in PCT patent application WO 96/21466, has a single terminus that is subject to chemical modification. This type of PEG can be represented as (CH3O-PEG-)pR—X, whereby p equals 2 or 3, R represents a central core such as lysine or glycerol, and X represents a functional group such as carboxyl that is subject to chemical activation. Yet another branched form, the "pendant PEG", has reactive groups, such as carboxyl, along the PEG backbone rather than at the end of PEG chains.
In addition to these forms of PEG, the polymer can also be prepared with weak or degradable linkages in the backbone. For example, Harris has shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 06/026,716 that PEG can be prepared with ester linkages in the polymer backbone that are subject to hydrolysis. This hydrolysis results in cleavage of the polymer into fragments of lower molecular weight, according to the reaction scheme:-PEG-CO2-PEG-+H2O−-PEG-CO2H+HO-PEG-
According to the present invention, the term polyethylene glycol or PEG is meant to comprise all the above described derivatives.
The copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide are closely related to PEG in their chemistry, and they can be used instead of PEG in many of its applications. They have the following general formula:HO—CH2CHRO(CH2CHRO)nCH2CHR—OHwherein R is H or CH3.
PEG is a useful polymer having the property of high water solubility as well as high solubility in many organic solvents. PEG is also non-toxic and non-immunocgenic. When PEG is chemically attached (PEGylation) to a water insoluble compound, the resulting conjugate generally is water soluble, as well as soluble in many organic solvents.
PEG-protein conjugates are currently being used in protein replacement therapies and for other therapeutic uses. For example, PEGylated adenosine deaminase (ADAGEN®) is being used to treat severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCIDS), PEGvlated L-asparaginase (ONCAPSPAR®) is being used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and PEGylated interferon-α (INTRON(R) A) is in Phase III trials for treating hepatitis C.
For a general review of PEG-protein conjugates with clinical efficacy see N. L. Burnhamr Am. J. Hosp. Pharm., 15:210-218, 1994.
A variety of methods have been developed to PEGylate proteins. Attaching PEG to reactive groups zound on the protein is typically done utilizing electrophilically activated PEG derivatives. Attaching PEG to the α- and ε-amino groups found on lysine residues and the N-terminus results in a conjugate consisting of a mixture of products.
Generally, such conjugates consist of a population of the several PEG molecules attached per protein molecule ("PEGmers") ranging from zero to the number of amino groups in the protein. For a protein molecule that has been singly modified, the PEG unit may be attached at a number of different amine sites.
This type of non-specific PEGylation has resulted in a number of conjugates that become almost inactive. Reduction of activity is typically caused by shielding the protein's active binding domain as is the case with many cytokines and antibodies. For example, Katre et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,106 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,888 describe the PEGylation of IFN-β and IL-2 with a large excess of methoxy-polyethylene glycolyl N-succinimidyl glutarate and methoxy-polyethylene glycolyl N-succinimidyl succinate. Both proteins were produced in microbial host cells, which allowed the site-specific mutation of the free cysteine to a serine. The mutation was necessary in microbial expression of IFN-β to facilitate protein folding. In particular, the IFN-β used in these experiments is the commercial product Betaseron®, in which Cys17 residue is replaced with a serine. Additionally, the absence of glycosylation reduced its solubility in aqueous solution. Non-specific PEGylation resulted in increased solubility, but a major problem was the reduced level of activity and yield.
European Patent Application EP 593 868, entitled PEG-Interferon Conjugates, describes the preparation of PEG-IFN-α conjugates. However, the PEGylation reaction is not site-specific, and therefore a mixture of positional isomers of PEG-IFN-α conjugates are obtained (see also Monkar-sh et al., ACS Svmp. Ser., 680:207-216, 1997.
Kinstler el al. in Eurooeap Patent App-lication EP 675 201 demonstrated the selective modification of the N-terminal residue of megakaryocyte growth and development factor (MGDF) with mPEG-propionaldehyde. This allowed for reproducible PEGylation and pharmacokinetics from lot to lot. Gilbert et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,944 demonstrated that PEGylation of IFN-α with an optimal level of activity could be produced. In this instance a laborious purification step was needed to obtain the optimal conjugate.
The majority of cytokines, as well as other proteins, do not possess a specific PEG attachment site and, apart from the examples mentioned above, it is very likely that some of the isomers produced through the PEGylation reaction be partially or totally inactive, thus causing a loss of activity of the final mixture.
Site-specific mono-PEGylation is thus a desirable goal in the preparation of such protein conjugates.
Woghiren et al. in Bioconjugate Chem., 4(5):314-318, 993, synthesized a thiol-selective PEG derivative for such a site-specific PEGylation. A stable thiol-protected PEG derivative in the form of an parapyridyl disulfide reactive group was shown to specifically conjugate to the free cysteine in the protein, papain. The newly formed disulfide bond between papain and PEG could be cleaved under mild reducing conditions to regenerate the native protein.
Citation of any document herein is not intended as an admission that such document is pertinent prior art, or considered material to the patentability of any claim of the present application. Any statement as to content or a date of any document is based on the information available to applicants at the time of filing and does not constitute an admission as to the correctness of such a statement.

Method for producing polyol-IFN-β conjugate


A method of coating seeds is provided using observations of coating and coated seeds to modify the coating of yet-to-be coated seeds.

During farming, seeds are planted and germinate into plants. The plants produce seeds and/or other plant materials that are later harvested for food, raw material, etc. Some seeds are harvested to be replanted to grow additional plants. These seeds may be coated with materials to protect the seeds from pests, such as fungus and/or insects. Seeds may also be coated to control when the seeds germinate, provide a color to the seed for identification, and for other reasons.


A wood preservative that contains a copper salt complex and a precipitation inhibitor is provided. The wood preservative may contain copper carbonate, an alkanolamine such as monoethanolamine and precipitation inhibitor such as a phosphonate or ethylene diamine compound. Also provided is a method of using the wood preservative.

Wood contacting the ground or above ground wood that often gets wet, will typically be attacked by decay fungi and insects. With the exception of naturally durable species, such as cedar or redwood, wood in such applications is treated with a wood preservative, thereby increasing the longevity. The primary preserved wood product has historically been southern pine lumber treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA). Most of this treated lumber was used for decks, fencing, and landscape timbers. There has recently been raised concerns about the safety and health effects of CCA as a wood preservative, primarily relating to the arsenic content but also to the chromium content. In 2003/2004, due in part to regulatory guidelines and to concerns about safety, there has been a substantial cessation of use of CCA-treated products. As a result, new wood preservatives have been developed. The new generation of copper containing wood preservatives uses a form of copper that is soluble. Known preservatives include copper alkanolamine complexes, copper polyaspartic acid complex, alkaline copper quaternary, copper azole, copper boron azole, ammoniacal copper citrate, copper bis(dimethyldithiocarbamate), copper citrate, and the copper ethanolamine carbonate. While the name might not suggest it, all have a nitrogen base that complexes the copper, e.g., ammoniacal copper, monoethanolamine copper, diethyleneamine copper, and so forth, and most formulations have carbonate ions to stabilize the complexes. When these formulations contact water having alkaline earth ions, e.g., calcium and magnesium, scale will form.
The problem of precipitate formation (scaling) is not unique to wood preservatives. Manufacturing processes utilizing water, water treatment facilities, households, among others have also been faced with the problem of scale formation. A typical solution to scale formation has been to employ a chemical agent and an absorbent material or surfactant to prevent or remedy scale deposits. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,645,384 to Richardson et al. discloses the use of 2 phosphonobutane 1,2,4 tricarboxylic acid and a quad polymer having a polyacrylate/methacrylate base and 6 wt % sulfonated monomers (allyloxybenzenesulfonic acid and methallyl sulfonic acid) to prevent accumulation of mineral scale and corrosion. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,740 to Cornelius et al. discloses use of algins, polysaccharides isolated from algae, to remove scale deposits. Yet another example is U.S. Pat. No. 3,518,204 to Hansen et al. which discloses a method to control the rate of scale formation with compounds such as triglycollamic acid and polyacrylamide. Another approach has been to introduce a scale formation inhibitor, such as monofluorophosphate salts, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,028 to Boffardi et al. While these approaches are optimal in their respective fields of use, they do not allow for sufficient precipitate inhibition in the field of wood preservatives.
Wood preservatives commonly comprise a second biocide that is efficacious against the copper tolerant organisms and other particularly troublesome species. The second biocide is often composed of a triazole group or a quaternary amine group or a nitroso-amine group. In practice the principal criteria for commercial acceptance, assuming treatment efficacy, is cost. Of the many compositions listed above, only a few soluble copper containing wood preservatives have found commercial acceptance, and each comprises either a copper monoethanolamine carbonate complex or an ammoniacal copper carbonate complex.
Typically, the wood preservatives are shipped and stored in concentrated form. The concentrate is therefore diluted with available water before use. The diluent water is usually ordinary municipal water or even stream water, both of which may contain calcium and/or magnesium. If the diluted wood preservatives contain calcium and magnesium above the solubility level of their respective carbonates, precipitates will form. Such precipitates are known as scales. In general scale formation occurs when solubility of a particular salt is exceeded.
Such precipitates (scales) are considered objectionable and problematic, as they can cause a stain on the wood (which would often be colored by the copper) and/or cause plugging of the wood during a pressure injection treatment. To prevent plugging and staining, scales and other presipitates are usually filtered out of the copper containing solution, a step that may add significant cost to the wood treatment process. Another problem with scale that can not be addressed by filtering is that scale can act like a sponge to strip an inordinate amount of copper and more particularly of the inorganic biocides from the wood preservation composition.
A method of preventing scale formation is needed.

Inhibition of calcium and magnesium precipitation from wood preservatives


A surface mount quartz crystal oscillator includes: a quartz crystal unit having a plurality of first connection terminals on its bottom surface, and a mounting substrate formed with a depression, which accommodates an IC chip inside the depression. The side of the mounting substrate having the opening of the depression bonds with the bottom surface of the crystal unit. The IC chip integrates an oscillation circuit that employs the crystal unit and a temperature compensation circuit. Second connection terminals corresponding to the first connection terminals are provided on the upper surface of the frame wall that encloses the depression in the mounting substrate. A notched portion is formed in the frame wall, and resin is injected from this notched portion into the depression to fill at least the region between the first connection terminals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surface mount quartz crystal oscillator in which a quartz crystal unit and an oscillation circuit using the crystal unit are arranged as a single unit to constitute the surface mount crystal oscillator, and more particularly to a surface mount crystal oscillator that prevents changes in oscillation frequency after mounting on a wiring board.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to their small size and light weight, surface mount crystal oscillators are widely employed as reference sources for frequency and time in portable electronic apparatuses. In a typical surface mount crystal oscillator, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-87056 (JP, P2003-87056A), an IC (integrated circuit) chip that constitutes an oscillation circuit is accommodated on a mounting substrate having a depression, and this mounting substrate is then bonded to the bottom surface of the crystal unit.
FIG. 1A is a partial cutaway front view of a surface mount crystal oscillator of the prior art, and FIG. 1B is a plan view showing mounting substrate 2 used in this crystal oscillator. In FIG. 1A, the mounting substrate is shown as a sectional view taken along the A—A line in FIG. 1B.
A surface mount crystal oscillator is generally composed of crystal unit 1 and mounting substrate 2.
Crystal unit 1 is a construction in which a quartz crystal blank (not shown) is accommodated in a receptacle, which is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped of low height, the crystal blank being hermetically sealed by capping with metal cover 3. Connection terminals used for connecting crystal unit 1 with mounting substrate 2 are provided at the four corners of the bottom surface of the crystal unit. The connection terminals are composed of, for example, a pair of crystal terminals for connecting electrically to the crystal blank which are arranged at both ends of one diagonal line on the bottom surface of crystal unit 1 and a pair of ground terminals for connecting electrically to cover 3 which are arranged at both ends of the other diagonal line.
Mounting substrate 2 is composed of laminated ceramics in which the depression is formed by stacking a bottom wall and a frame wall, IC chip 4 being accommodated in this depression. IC chip 4 integrates an oscillation circuit that uses crystal unit 1 and a temperature compensation circuit for implementing temperature compensation of the oscillation frequency. Connection terminals 5 for connecting with the connection terminals on the crystal unit side are formed at the four corners of the upper surface of the frame wall that surrounds the opening of the depression of mounting substrate 2. Mounting terminals 11 that are used when mounting this surface mount crystal oscillator on a wiring board are provided at the four corners of the closed face, that is, the bottom surface, of mounting substrate 2. Mounting terminals 11 include power supply terminals, output terminals, ground terminals and the like. Write terminals 12 are provided on the side surface of mounting substrate 2, these write terminals 12 being used for writing temperature compensation data to the temperature compensation circuit in IC chip 4 or for the adjustment of the oscillation frequency. All of these connection terminals 5, mounting terminals 11, and write terminals 12 are electrically connected to IC chip 4 by conductive paths (not shown) provided on mounting substrate 2.
IC chip 4 is secured by means of ultrasonic thermal compression using bumps 6 to the inside bottom surface of the depression of mounting substrate 2. Here, the surface of IC chip 4 on which circuit elements are formed confronts the inside bottom surface of the depression. Resin is then injected as what is referred to as "underfill" 7 between the inside bottom surface of the depression and the surface of IC chip 4 on which circuit elements are formed for the purpose of protecting the circuit elements formed on IC chip 4, and the resin is then cured.
The side of mounting substrate 2 having the opening in which IC chip 4 has been mounted and underfill 7 has been injected is next bonded by solder 8 to the bottom surface of crystal unit 1 such that the connection terminals on the crystal unit side and connection terminals 5 on the mounting substrate side are connected together, following which this crystal oscillator is completed by writing temperature compensation data from write terminals 12 to IC chip 4 and then adjusting the oscillation frequency, or more specifically, the nominal oscillation frequency. After completion, the surface mount crystal oscillator is mounted on a wiring board of the apparatus which is to use this surface mount crystal oscillator.
However, various apparatuses which are provided with surface mount crystal oscillators are also provided with electronic devices and electronic components in addition to the surface mount crystal oscillator, and these electronic devices and electronic components are also mounted on the wiring board. Among these electronic devices are included, for example, chip scale package (CSP) ICs. When CSP ICs are mounted on a wiring board, a protective resin for covering and protecting the CSP ICs is later applied to the wiring board. In such cases, when a surface mount crystal oscillator is adjacent to a CSP IC on the wiring board, the protective resin will also be applied to the surface mount crystal oscillator. In the above-described surface mount crystal oscillator, a gap d measuring approximately 0.05 mm exists between crystal unit 1 and mounting substrate 2, this gap corresponding to the thickness of the layer of, for example, solder 8 that was used for bonding crystal unit 1 and mounting substrate 2, and the protective resin will penetrate this gap between crystal unit 1 and mounting substrate 2. This intrusion of protective resin produces a stray capacitance between connection terminals which are provided on the bottom surface of crystal unit 1 and between these terminals and the ground potential, and this stray capacitance is added to the load capacitance from the perspective of the crystal unit, with the resulting problem of a drop in the oscillation frequency of the crystal oscillator.
Even when no CSP ICs are present on the wiring board, surface mount crystal oscillators are sometimes intentionally covered with adhesive after mounting on the wiring board for the purpose of increasing the bonding strength between the surface mount crystal oscillator and the wiring board, and in such cases, the same problem occurs in which the oscillation frequency similarly drops.


An image-forming apparatus is of upright construction and includes a medium-feeding section, an image-forming section, and stacker. The medium-feeding section accommodates a stack of print medium in an upright origatation. The image-forming section is disposed in vertical alignment with the medium-feeding section, and prints information on a page of the print medium fed from the medium-feeding section. The stacker is disposed in vertical alignment with the image forming section, and receives the printed page of the print medium and accommodates the page of the print medium in an upright orientation. The image-forming section is above the medium feeding section and the stacker is above the image-forming section. The stacker may have a sensor that generates a detection signal of the print medium when the print medium is received therein. The detection signal is used to provide a visible indication, i.e., an alarm that informs the user of the presence and absence of the print medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to art image-forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related art
An image-forming apparatus for personal use, including a copying machine and a printer, is usually of small size and is placed on a desk. Such an apparatus incorporates a sheet feeder that holds a stack of print medium such as paper in an inclined position. The paper is fed from the sheet feeder and then information is printed on the paper. The paper is then discharged to a paper stack at either the front end or the rear end of the image-forming apparatus.
An image-forming apparatus for office use is of large size and incorporates a paper-feeding section having paper cassettes that hold a stack of print medium lying horizontal, or has paper cassettes that hold a stack of print medium therein and obliquely project outwardly from the main body of the apparatus. Such paper cassettes usually take up as large an area as one complete desk or a half of it.
An apparatus for personal use occupies a considerable area on the desk, leaving only a limited space where the user can do deskwork. This makes the clerical work inefficient. A large-size apparatus occupies a relatively large area at a corner in the office, making the remaining office space small.
The present invention was made in view of the aforementioned drawbacks of the conventional apparatus. An image-forming apparatus is of upright construction. A medium-feeding section accommodates a stack of print medium. An image-forming section is disposed in vertical alignment with the medium-feeding section, the image-forming section printing information on a page of the print medium fed from the medium-feeding section. A stacker is disposed in vertical alignment with the image-forming section. The stacker receives the page of the print medium that has been printed and accommodates the page of the print medium in an upright orientation.
The image-forming section is above the medium-feeding section and the stacker is above the image-forming section.
The stacker may have a visible indicator by which a user can detect the presence and absence of the print medium.
The stacker may have a sensor that generates a detection signal when the print medium is received therein. The visible indication is an alarm that informs the user of the presence and absence of the print medium in the stacker according to the detection signal.
The stacker may have a transparent portion that serves as the visible indicator.
The medium-feeding section accommodates the stack of print medium that is at least partly curved.
The image-forming section is a tandem type electrophotographic apparatus with a plurality of image drum cartridges that are disposed in vertical alignment with one another.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Image-forming apparatus having upright construction


A secondary battery including a cap assembly with a structure improved for tight sealing and a plug therefor are provided. The secondary battery includes a battery unit formed by rolling a stack of a negative plate, a separator, and a positive plate, a cap assembly, and an electrode tab drawn out from one of the negative plate and the positive plate and electrically connected to an electrode port from the cap assembly. The cap assembly includes: a cap plate having a port aperture and an electrolyte injection hole; the electrode port connected via the port aperture to the electrode tab; a gasket installed to surround the electrode port so as to insulate the electrode port from the cap plate; and a plug which is plugged into the electrolyte injection hole by pressing and whose upper rim matches an upper edge of the electrolyte injection hole. The plug has a fixed position with respect to the electrolyte injection hole, so that the battery may be more hermetically sealed, without causing failure in welding, and becomes more reliable.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a secondary battery, and more particularly, to a secondary battery including a cap assembly having an improved structure for plugging up an electrolyte injection hole, and a plug for the electrolyte injection hole.
2. Description of the Related Art
Secondary batteries, which are distinguished from primary batteries due to their ability to be repeatedly charged and discharged, have been widely used in cellular phones, notebook computers, camcoders, and other portable electronic devices. Lithium secondary batteries having an operating voltage of 3.6 V or greater, which is three times higher than nickel-cadmium (Ni—Cd) batteries, popularized as a power source for various kinds of electronic equipment and nickel-hydrogen batteries, are frequently used because of their high energy density per unit of weight.
Such lithium secondary batteries generally use lithium oxide as a negative active material and a carbonaceous material as a positive active material. Lithium secondary batteries may be classified into liquid electrolyte batteries, also known as lithium ion batteries, and polymer electrolyte batteries, also known as lithium polymer batteries, according to the type of electrolyte used. Lithium secondary batteries are manufactured in various shapes, typically, in cylindrical, rectangular, or pouch forms.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional rectangular secondary battery. Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional secondary battery 10 includes a can 11, a battery unit 12 accommodated in the can 11, and a cap assembly 20 coupled to the can 11.
The battery unit 12 includes a negative plate 13, a separator 14, and a positive plate 15, which are sequentially stacked upon one another and rolled to be cylindrical. A negative tab 16 and a positive tab 17 connected with the respective negative plate 13 and the positive plate 15 are drawn out from the battery unit 12.
The cap assembly 20 includes a cap plate 21, which covers the top of the can 11, a positive port 23 insulated from the cap plate 21 via a gasket 22, an insulating plate 24 disposed underneath the cap plate 21, and a port plate 25 disposed underneath the insulating plate 24 and electrically connected to the positive port 23.
The negative tab 16 is electrically connected to the cap plate 21, and the positive tab 17 is electrically connected to the positive port 23 via the port plate 25.
The cap plate 21 includes an electrolyte injection hole 26 through which an electrolyte is injected into the can 11 and which is plugged up with a plug 27.
FIG. 2A illustrates a state before the electrolyte injection hole 26 of FIG. 1 is plugged up, and FIG. 2A illustrates a state after the electrolyte injection hole 26 is plugged up.
Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the electrolyte injection hole 26 with a rounded upper edge 28 is formed in the cap plate 21. After an electrolyte is injected into the can 11 of FIG. 1, the plug 27, such as a ball, is placed on the rounded upper edge 28 of the electrolyte injection hole 26.
The ball 27 is compressed downward into the electrolyte injection hole 26 by a compression unit, such as a press 1, and laser welding is performed on the boundary of the compressed ball 27, thus forming a welded portion 29 and sealing the electrolyte injection hole 26.
However, such a structure of sealing the electrolyte injection hole 26 in the conventional secondary battery has the following problems. When the ball 17 that is seated on the rounded upper edge 28 of the electrolyte injection hole 26 formed in the cap plate 21 is pressed downward, it is highly unlikely that it takes on the shape of a truly circular flat head with a consistent flange along the rim of the electrolyte injection hole 16.
As a result, the electrolyte injected into the battery 10 externally leaks through a gap near the rim of the electrolyte injection hole 26, as indicated by arrows in FIG. 2B. The leaked electrolyte causes a serious spark during a welding process. Such poor sealing of the electrolyte injection hole 26 degrades the reliability of the battery 10.
A secondary battery to solve these problems is disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 2002-1205 filed on Jan. 9, 2002. This secondary battery includes a multi-stepped electrolyte injection hole in a cap plate. A pin which fits the multi-stepped wall of the electrolyte injection hole is tightly fitted into the electrolyte injection hole by pressing, and then is subjected to welding.
However, the electrolyte may stay in the multi-stepped portion of the hole and leak externally when the pin is fitted into the electrolyte injection hole. The leaked electrolyte causes failure in welding, so that the electrolyte injection hole cannot be hermetically sealed.

Secondary battery including improved cap assembly and plug for the secondary battery


A heads-up display (50) for an aircraft includes a digital image generator (52), a cathode ray tube (CRT) (54) and an optical system (56) which projects an image (58) formed on the CRT screen (54a) indicating the status of the aircraft operation onto a holographic mirror combiner (60) at a slant angle. The combiner (60) is transparent to the pilot's direct view through the aircraft windshield, but produces a reflected image of the CRT screen (54a) which is superimposed on the direct view. Pincushion distortion in the CRT (54) and geometric distortion caused by the slant projection angle are corrected by a digital look-up table memory (82, 84) which alters the initially orthogonal CRT horizontal and vertical deflection signals (Vh,Vv) in a manner which is the inverse of the distortion such that the image (58) on the combiner (60) as viewed by the pilot appears undistorted. The size of the look-up table memory (82,84) is greatly reduced by making approximations based on analysis of the mathematical functions which define the distortion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the art of cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, and more specifically to a heads-up display (HUD) f or an aircraft including a CRT image generator and a digital look-up table memory which corrects for image distortion in the display.
2. Description of the Related Art
HUDs provide a pilot with information relating to the f light status of his or her aircraft superimposed on a direct visual view through the windshield. The pilot is freed from having to constantly shift sight from the windshield to dials in the cockpit in the conventional manner. This capability can provide a crucial advantage during high speed flight maneuvers, and during take-offs and landings in which conditions can deteriorate rapidly.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a typical HUD 10 includes a holographic mirror combiner 12 which is built into a pilot's helmet, mounted between a pilot's head 14 and an aircraft front windshield 16 as shown or incorporated directly into a windshield. The flight information image is generated by a system electronic unit 18 to form an image on a screen of a CRT 20 which is projected by an optical system 22 onto the combiner 12 at a slant angle.
The combiner 12 is transparent to the pilot's view through the windshield 16 as indicated by arrows 24, but reflects the image from the screen of the CRT 20 such that it is visible by the pilot superimposed on the direct view. The CRT image can be a radar display generated in a raster pattern, or an information display which may be generated in a raster pattern but is more preferably generated in a stroke pattern.
An exemplary HUD information image 26 is illustrated in FIG. 2, and includes symbols designating roll angle 28, cross track 30, aircraft waterline 32, pitch limits 34, horizon 36, course 38, heading 40, glide slope 42, runway outline 44, altitude 46 and airspeed 48.
CRTs for use in HuDs, as well as other avionic displays, must have flat screens. The image for the HUD display 26 is generated by the electronic unit 18 in an orthogonal raster or stroke pattern to form a visual image on the screen of the CRT 20. However, if no corrective means are provided, the image as projected from the CRT 20 onto the combiner 12 and viewed by the pilot will be distorted. This is unacceptable in applications in which the CRT image must be superimposed accurately onto the direct view.
The distortion inherent in the HUD 10 is caused by several different sources. Due to non-linearity in the magnetic or electrostatic deflection of the electron beam in the CRT 20, an image consisting of orthogonal lines as illustrated in FIG. 3 will be subjected to "pincushion" distortion in which the lines curve toward the center as illustrated in FIG. 4.
Another source of distortion is caused by the slant angle at which the CRT image is projected by the optical system 22 onto the combiner 12, as well as aberrations in the optical system 22 itself. This is known as "geometric" distortion. Assuming that the image is projected onto the combiner 12 from above, the image will appear as curved upwardly and increasing in size in the downward direction as illustrated in FIG. 5.
Certain types of distortion in CRT based displays can be corrected as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,422,306, entitled "DISTORTION CORRECTION CIRCUITRY", issued Jan. 14, 1969 to S. Gray. Uncorrected analog deflection signals are predistorted in an inverse zaanner to the distortion caused by the CRT to produce corrected analog deflection signals which, when applied to the deflection amplifiers of the CRT, cause the CRT image to be free of pincushion and non-linearity distortion.
The circuitry for predistorting the deflection signals includes a complicated arrangement of analog multipliers, squarers, operational amplifiers and discrete components. Analog systems of this type have inherent accuracy and thermal drift problems, and are expensive and difficult to manufacture. The systems are calibrated and adjusted using analog potentiometers, requiring constant skilled maintenance. In addition, it is extremely difficult to provide a built-in test (BIT) capability in an analog system of this type.

Heads-up display (HUD) incorporating cathode-ray tube image generator with digital look-up table for distortion correction


A light emitting device includes: a light source; an optical component including a light incident surface, the light incident surface facing the light source; and a wavelength conversion member provided between the light source and the light incident surface, the wavelength conversion member crossing a first region and extending to a second region outside the first region, the first region being surrounded by the light incident surface and light paths of light that is emitted from the light source and enters edges of the light incident surface.

The present disclosure relates to a light emitting device favorable for a surface light source, and to a display unit and an illumination unit that each include the light emitting device.
A surface-emitting device that uses a blue light emitting diode (LED) is employed, for example, in a backlight of a liquid crystal display unit or in an illumination unit. For example, Japanese Patent No. 3116727 discloses to obtain white light by providing a film to which a fluorescent material is applied to a light emission observation surface of a light guide plate and converting, by the fluorescent material, a wavelength of the light entering the light guide plate from a blue LED. Moreover, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3114805 discloses to provide a wavelength converter, in which a fluorescent material is mixed with an elastic body, between a blue LED and an end face of a light guide plate.

Light emitting device, display unit, and illumination unit