A linear water-soluble quaternary ammonium polymer having a homopolymeric chain of repeating unit of general formula (I):

The present invention relates to a linear water-soluble quaternary ammonium polymer, a process for the preparation of this polymer, the use of this polymer as a displacer in the displacement mode of chromatography and a method for separating biomolecules through the displacement mode chromatography using this polymer.
The majority of the separation or isolation procedures used in the pharmaceutical field, or other related fields such as the biochemical, the biotechnological and the chemical fields, rely on chromatography, i.e. a differential separation between two phases, a stationary one (usually solid) and a mobile one (usually fluid).
Elution mode chromatography is the most commonly used mode of chromatography. In this method, the sample containing different components to be separated is adsorbed on the stationary phase. The mobile phase, called eluent, is chosen such that the components bind reversibly onto the stationary phase. As the eluent is flowing over the stationary phase, the different components migrate along the column at a speed which reflects their relative affinity for the stationary phase.
Biomolecules such as proteins are generally purified by gradient elution mode chromatography using ion-exchange adsorbents as stationary phase. The elution involves changing the pH of the buffer solution passing through the column or, more common, increasing the salt concentration in the buffer solution passing through the column. When the pH of the solution is changed, the electric charges on the proteins or the ion-exchange adsorbent material are changed and the proteins are released. With an increase of the salt concentration, the salts weaken the bonds between the proteins and the ion-exchange adsorbent material to release the proteins. As the salt level is gradually increased, the proteins having the smaller number of charges, respectively the lower charge density (mass to charge ratio) will generally be released and eluted first and those with the larger number of charges, respectively the higher charge density, will be released later.
Displacement chromatography is a special mode of chromatography. The basic principle of chromatography still applies, but in this case the driving force behind the separation is the push of an advancing front of a so-called displacer, rather than the (increasing) elution strength of a mobile phase. Under the influence of an advancing displacer front, the substance mixture is resolved into consecutive zones of the pure substances.
The displacer is a substance with a higher binding affinity to the stationary phase than the components to be separated. As the displacer front advances, the number of stationary sites available to the binding components are continuously decreased, which engenders competition for the binding sites between the displacer and the components and also between the components themselves. Under ideal conditions, the more strongly bond ones displace the more weakly bond ones until all substances are focused into consecutive individual zones of pure substance that leave the column at the speed of the advancing displacer front in the order of the stationary phase affinities.
One of the important distinctions between displacement and elution mode chromatography is that, in displacement mode chromatography, the displacer front always remains behind the consecutive feed zones, while, in elution mode chromatography, the eluent or desorbent moves through the feed zones with the components to be separated.
The displacer is a unique feature of displacement mode chromatography. At the same time, the choice of the displacer has consequences not only for the success, but also for the economic soundness of the final method. Mathematical simulations, which take into account concentrations in the mobile and stationary phases, allow some predictions concerning the necessary displacer characters for a given substance mixture to be separated.
A displacement mode chromatography method for purifying proteins using, as a stationary phase, a cation-exchange resin and, as a displacer, a cationic species is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,924. These cationic species are poly(quaternary ammonium) salts having a dendritic framework formed by reiterative reaction sequences starting from pentaerythritol. Their structure consists, on the one hand, in a hydrophobic interior zone containing ramifications connected to the initial core pentaerythritol and, on the other hand, in a hydrophilic exterior surface region bearing the quaternary ammonium groups.
The first and second generation pentaerythritol-based dendrimers, all terminated with trimethylammonium groups, having respectively a molar mass of about 2,000 g/mol and 6,000 g/mol, are described as being effective for the purification of a two-protein mixture, i.e. xcex1-chymotrypsinogen A and cytochrome C.
However, it is mentioned that, due to the presence of impurities in the first generation dendrimers contributing to the desorption of the proteins and depression of their isotherms, the cytochrome C zone is considerably less concentrated in relation to the xcex1-chymotrypsinogen A zone.
The preparation of these poly(quaternary ammonium) salts is relatively tedious, time and cost consuming, involving low overall yield multi-step synthesis. The level of purity and homogeneity cannot be high, particularly for the high molar mass second generation pentaerythritol-based dendrimers.
It is also reported that the xe2x80x9czeroxe2x80x9d generation pentaerythritol-based dendrimers, terminated with trimethylammonium groups and having for instance a molecular weight of 620 g when X=Cl, are equally effective for the separation of the two proteins.
However, S. D. Gadam and S. M. Cramer have reported, in Chromatographia, 1994, 39, 409-18, that the behaviour of such low molar mass displacers depends to a much higher degree on the chromatographic conditions, for example the salt content of the mobile phase. As a consequence, the switch from displacer to elution promoter is more likely in the case of these substances.
One of the aims of the present invention is to provide a low molar mass polymer capable to be used as a cationic displacer, i.e. having high solubility in an aqueous carrier with a high binding tendency towards a cation-exchange stationary phase. This particular polymer has to be easily available on a large scale with high level of purity and homogeneity.
To this effect, the present invention relates to a linear water-soluble quaternary ammonium polymer having a homopolymeric chain of repeating unit of general formula (I):
where each of R1 and R2 independently represents a member selected from the group consisting of linear or branched alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl groups having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, Xxe2x88x92 represents an anion, n is an integer comprised between 30 and 220. Furthermore, the polymer has a molar mass distribution of less than or equal to 1.5.
The anion represented by Xxe2x88x92 is selected from the group consisting of Fxe2x88x92, Clxe2x88x92, Brxe2x88x92, NO3xe2x88x92, OHxe2x88x92, HSO4xe2x88x92, xc2xd SO42xe2x88x92, CH3COOxe2x88x92.
The preferred linear water-soluble quaternary ammonium polymer has the above general formula (I), where both R1 and R2 represent a methyl group and Xxe2x88x92 represents Clxe2x88x92, n being an integer comprised between 30 and 220. Such a preferred polymer has a number average molar mass comprised between about 4,800 g/mol and about 35,000 g/mol and a molar mass distribution of less than or equal to 1.5.
Since the 1950s, a number of preparations of linear water-soluble quaternary ammonium polymers having a homopolymeric chain of the same above-mentioned repeating unit have been described. They are based on polymerisation reactions employing various initiation methods, including radically, ionically, or X-ray induced polymerisation, and involving an alternating intra-intermolecular chain propagation.
However, most of these syntheses are oriented towards high molar mass polymers having a number average molar mass of up to 200,000 g/mol, or even more, with a conversion rate of more than 95%, which means that almost all the starting monomer is consumed in the course of the reaction. From these syntheses, result generally polymers having molar mass distributions greater than 3.
Such high molar mass polymers are produced, for example, using a technology as it is described in FR 2 448 546 and the classical polymerisation conditions to be applied to obtain such polymers are described for instance in J. Ulbricht, xe2x80x9cGrundlagen der Synthese von Polymerenxe2x80x9d, 2nd edition, Huethig and Wepf, 1992. It is reported in this textbook that to produce low molar masses, one has to increase the free-radical polymerisation initiator concentration and/or the reaction temperature.
In the particular case of the polymerisation of diallyldimethylammonium chloride, H. Dautzenberg et al. report, in xe2x80x9cPolyelectrolytes: Fornation, characterisation and applicationxe2x80x9d, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich, 1994, p. 20, that increasing the initiator concentration and the temperature as proposed above leads to an increase of linear propagation with the consequence of pendent double bounds and in the following chain branching.
To obtain a linear polymer having a narrow molar mass distribution, the radically initiated polymerisation reaction is normally only to low conversion, i.e. less than 10%.
None of the existing preparations offers a method to obtain, without special fractionation, a poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)-type polymer having a low molar mass and a narrow molar mass distribution at conversions more than 40%.
Another of the aims of the present invention is to provide a method for the preparation of the polymer as defined above by the general formula (I) and having a molar mass distribution of less than or equal to 1.5.
To this effect, the present invention relates to a process for the preparation of the above mentioned polymer of general formula (I).
In this process, a quaternary ammonium monomer of general formula (II):
where each of R1 and R2 independently represents a member selected from the group consisting of linear or branched alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl groups having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and Xxe2x88x92 represents an anion;
is brought into contact with a catalytic amount of a free-radical polymerisation initiator in an oxygen-free aqueous reaction medium at a temperature comprised in the range of 30xc2x0 C. and 70xc2x0 C., said monomer being introduced into the reaction medium in such a way that its concentration in said reaction medium in the course of the polymerisation reaction is less than or equal to 3 mol/l.
Preferably, the anion represented by Xxe2x88x92 is selected from the group consisting of Fxe2x88x92, Clxe2x88x92, Brxe2x88x92, NO3xe2x88x92, OHxe2x88x92, HSO4xe2x88x92, xc2xd SO42xe2x88x92, CH3COOxe2x88x92.
Preferably, the monomer is continuously introduced into the reaction medium in such a rate that its concentration in the reaction medium remains above the lower limit of 1 mol/l. More preferably, the monomer is continuously introduced into the reaction medium in order to maintain constant its concentration in the reaction medium.
Preferably, the reaction medium is maintained at a constant temperature.
The free-radical polymerisation initiator used in the process is a water soluble peroxy initiator. Preferably, this initiator is selected from the group consisting of ammonium peroxydisulfate, potassium peroxydisulfate, sodium peroxydisulfate, lithium peroxydisulfate. More preferably, the initiator is ammonium peroxydisulfate.
The free-radical polymerisation initiator is used as such. It does not require the use of any auxiliary agent such as metal sequestering agents.
The concentration of the free-radical polymerisation initiator in the reaction medium is comprised between 1.10xe2x88x923 mol/l and 50.10xe2x88x923 mol/l.
Furthermore, the reaction medium can be filtrated under ultrafiltration conditions in order to separate the obtained polymer from non-reacted monomer and initiator. The use of a membrane allowing a cut-off of 3,000 g/mol is appropriate.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to the use of the above mentioned polymer of general formula (I), as a cation-exchange displacer for a displacement mode chromatography method involving a cation-exchange stationary phase.
In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for separating biomolecules contained in a sample by using the above mentioned polymer of general formula (I). This method comprises:
i) passing said sample containing the biomolecules to be separated through cation-exchange stationary phase so that said biomolecules adsorb on said stationary phase;
ii) passing an aqueous solution of said polymer through said stationary phase so that the biomolecules to be separated are displaced by said polymer by displacement mode chromatography.
This method is appropriate for the separation of molecules bearing a permanent or temporary positive net-charge or positively charged patches, which enable them to interact with the cation-exchange stationary phase.
Such molecules, with the required above-mentioned electrolytic character, can be biomolecules, synthetic or semi-synthetic molecules such as amino-acids, peptides, proteins, nucleosides, nucleotides, polynucleotides, alkaloids, antibiotics, saccharides, polysaccharides, lipids, drugs, drugs candidates and derivatives thereof.
The appropriate stationary phase used in the method can be any type of weak or strong cation-exchange stationary phase. Such stationary phases can be those bearing on their surface carboxymethyl groups, sulphopropyl groups, methyl-sulphonate groups, phospho groups or any carboxylate and sulfo groups anchored by any other spacers, or other groups bearing permanent or pH-dependent negative charges. These stationary phases can also be stationary phases displaying a partial cation exchanger character, such as hydroxy- and fluoroapatite and mixed mode phases.
The aqueous solution of the polymer is prepared before passing through the stationary phase. This solution can eventually contain water-miscible organic solvents.
As the polymer is a quaternary ammonium salt, it can be considered as being not dependent on the pH. Therefore the aqueous solution and the mobile phase can be any buffer usually suitable for cation-exchange chromatography, including volatile buffer systems. Under certain circumstances, buffer usually suitable for anionic ion-exchange chromatography can also be used.
The preferred buffer substances are citric acid, acetic acid, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-1-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES), N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine (BICINE), phosphate, xcex1,xcex1,xcex1-tris(hydroxymethyl)-methylamine (TRIS).

Quaternary ammonium polymer, its preparation, its use for separating biomolecules

Abstract: where each of R1 and R2 independently represents a member selected from the group consisting of linear or branched alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl groups having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, Xxe2x88x92 represents an anion and n is an integer comprised between 30 and 220 has been prepared. Furthermore, the polymer has a molar mass distribution of less than or equal to 1.5. The polymer is used as a displacer in a displacement mode of chromatography.

Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne


A circuit arrangement includes a power amplifier stage, a feedback path, a re-combining stage, first and second gain control elements and a control circuit. The first gain control element is formed by an adjustable delay element which is preceded by a constant gain amplifier.

This invention relates to a circuit arrangement comprising
a power amplifier stage located on a forward gain path arranged between a signal input and a signal output, PA1 a feedback path, connecting the signal output to the signal input, and comprising an extraction stage for extracting part of a signal from the output of the power amplifier stage to the feedback path, and comprising a feedback function stage, PA1 a re-combining stage for re-combining a feedback signal from the output of the feedback path with an external input signal, an output of the recombining stage being coupled to the signal input of the power amplifier stage, PA1 a first gain control element in the forward gain path, PA1 a second gain control element in the feedback path, and PA1 a control circuit which varies the first and second gain control elements inversely, so that the product of their gain factors remains constant, in essence.
From European Patent Application 0 638 994, to whose overall disclosure content is expressly referred hereby, is known such a circuit arrangement of the type disclosed in the first claim. This circuit arrangement is to achieve a linearization of the transmission characteristic of the power amplifier stage. Since the gain factors of the gain control elements are varied inversely, so that their product remains substantially constant, there is additionally achieved that the feedback loop (formed by forward gain path, feedback path and re-combining stage) formed by the circuit arrangement is also operated with different powers transmitted via the power amplifier stage with constant signal levels on the signal input and is thus capable of operating at a signal level to which it is optimally designed.

Circuit arrangement comprising a power amplifier stage


Disclosed is a method for evaluating cooking quality that includes: in response to receiving evaluation information of a food sent by a terminal, retrieving an assessment result corresponding to the food, the assessment result being an assessment result of the cooking quality of a cooking appliance; and determining an evaluation result of the cooking quality of the cooking appliance based on the assessment result, the evaluation information, and a preset evaluation rule. Also disclosed is a device for evaluating cooking quality. With this disclosure, both the assessment result and the evaluation information are weighted in computing the evaluation result of the cooking quality of the cooking appliance. Such an evaluation result not only reflects users' subjective evaluation of the cooking quality, but it also reflects an objective and tenable evaluation of the cooking quality, making the evaluation of the cooking quality more reasonable.

In purchasing cooking appliances such as rice cookers, consumers would often desire to know whether the cooking quality of various cooking appliances is capable of meeting their needs. But currently the evaluation of the cooking quality, e.g., evaluation on the appearance and taste of a food cooked by a cooking appliance, is generally obtained from the evaluations given by other product users. Such an evaluation method, however, is very subjective that people having different requirements with food taste may draw different evaluations towards the same product. Therefore, the evaluation result obtained with such an evaluation method cannot reflect an objective evaluation of the cooking quality of a cooking appliance.

Method and device for evaluating cooking quality

FOSHAN SHUNDE MIDEA ELECTRICAL HEATING APPLIANCES MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.


The phosphorescent toy gel composition is produced by suspending phosphorescent particles in an aqueous solution, thickened with guar gum and crosslinked by a borate compound. The method for manufacturing the phosphorescent gel composition comprises, in one aspect, the steps of providing a water-based solution with a borate ion-containing compound dissolved in the water, providing guar gum and phosphorescent particles suspended and dispersed in propylene glycol, and mixing the water-based solution and the propylene glycol dispersion in a proportion to provide a phosphorescent gel composition.

Pliable toy compositions for the entertainment of children which consist of bulk blocks or globs of molding material have been available for many years. The consistency of these toys has ranged from modeling clay for making sculptures and models to slimy gels which children may squeeze and stretch.
Modeling clay consists of a very firm, but deformable putty material which will hold its shape while the sculptor forms or carves figures of animals, people, or structures. The attributes of clay putties are derived from the fine particulate clays held in a matrix by various nonaqueous binders. Particulate clay matter comprises a major percentage of the composition of clay putties. While modeling clay is useful in applications requiring a formable substance capable of retaining a shape, modeling clay lacks the degree of elasticity, coherence, and dilatency present in more pliable compositions.
In addition, clay particles block the passage of light through the composition, thereby preventing the attribution of any phosphorescent character which might be desired in the clay.
Pliable toy compositions which are slightly more soft and tractable than clay are often referred to as doughs. Doughs can be extruded through dies into long ropes or rolled into flat cakes which can be cut with "cookie cutters." These products tend to dry out very quickly and like clay putties, do not exhibit the degree of elasticity, coherence and dilatency provided by more pliable compositions.
An even more pliable toy composition is often referred to as a "gel. " Gel compositions are aqueous compositions thickened with gums, starches, resins or fine silica. The rheology of the composition may vary widely depending on the thickening agents used and the additives present.

Phosphorescent toy gel composition and methods of manufacture


An interconnect structure that includes a substrate having an electrical component present therein, and a under-bump metallurgy (UBM) stack that is present in contact with a contact pad to the electrical component that is present in the substrate. The UBM stack includes a metallic adhesion layer that is direct contact with the contact pad to the electrical component, a copper (Cu) seed layer that is in direct contact with the metallic adhesion layer layer, a first nickel (Ni) barrier layer that is present in direct contact with copper (Cu) seed layer, and a layered structure of at least one copper (Cu) conductor layer and at least one second nickel (Ni) barrier layer present on the first nickel (Ni) barrier layer. A solder ball may be present on second nickel (Ni) barrier layer.

The present disclosure generally relates to interconnect structures, and methods of making the same.
The solder bump has a long production history. Solder bump process variations have lowered the manufacturing cost, widened flip chip applicability, and made solder bumped die and wafers available from several suppliers to the commercial market. In some examples, the solder bump flip chip process may be considered as four sequential steps: (1) preparing the wafer for solder bumping, (2) forming or placing the solder bumps, (3) attaching the bumped die to the board, substrate, or carrier, and (4) completing the assembly with an adhesive underfill.

Under ball metallurgy (UBM) for improved electromigration

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention provides an apparatus for adjusting a position of a steering wheel. The invention includes a steering column for supporting the steering wheel. A telescoping mechanism and a tilting mechanism are associated with the steering column to move the steering column. The invention also includes a motor having a rotatable shaft for generating a moving force. A first linkage is selectively engageable with the rotatable shaft to transmit the moving force to the telescoping mechanism. A second linkage is selectively engageable with the rotatable shaft to transmit the moving force to the tilting mechanism.

Steering columns are provided with telescoping mechanisms and tilt mechanisms to adjust a position of a steering wheel. Telescoping steering columns include first and second members telescopically engaged with one another. The telescoping mechanism moves the first and second members relative to one another to extend or retract the steering wheel. Tilting mechanisms move the first and second member about a pivot axis. Alternatively, the steering column can include a third member that is pivotally connected to an end of one of the first and second members. The pivot axis for tilting movement is defined between the third member and the corresponding end of the first or second member.

Apparatus for steering column tilt and telescope function


A process for sterilizing a container holding a fluid diet, the container having a long and slender mouth and being filled with the fluid diet and sealed; the process includes the steps of filling the container with the fluid diet in a heated state, sealing the container at the mouth thereof, and thereafter turning the container with its mouth side down to immerse only the mouth and the vicinity thereof in a hot-water bath for a period of time sufficient to achieve sterilization. An apparatus for carrying out the process includes a bucket conveyor, a feed conveyor, a bucket and a bath. The process and apparatus can well sterilize containers holding a fluid diet and having a long and slender mouth. The process and apparatus can well sterilize containers holding a fluid diet and having a long and slender mouth.

Acidic fluid diet including liquid diets (such as fruit juice) and jelly drinks (herein meant to be jelly diets having gelled softly or partly enough to retain a fluidity) are commonly not required to be retort-sterilized. Accordingly, fluid diet sterilized by heating is put into a container in a heated state, and the container is sealed at its mouth, which is then turned upside down to sterilize the inner wall and mouth of the container by utilizing the heat of the fluid diet. This method is what is called hot packing, employed as a sterilization packing process.
Depending on products, another method is employed in which a container is filled with fluid diet and sealed and thereafter the whole container is immersed in hot water so as to be sterilized. Still another method is also employed in which a container is filled with fluid diet and sealed and thereafter hot water or steam is sprayed to the container so as to be sterilized.
Meanwhile, in recent years, as containers for such fluid diet, it has become popular to use those comprising a bag member formed of a flexible sheet, a straw-shaped mouth inserted to the bag member, and a cap thread-fitted to the tip of the mouth.
FIG. 8 illustrates an example of such containers, a container 11, which comprises a bag member 12 formed of a laminated sheet of plastic film and metal foil, a mouth 13 having the shape of a straw, inserted to one end of the bag member 12 and joined to the bag member 12 by, e.g., heat sealing, and a cap 14 thread-fitted to the projected end of the mouth 13.
This container 11 is so made up that the mouth 13 has an inner diameter of 1.5 cm or less, and usually 1 cm or less and the mouth 13 has a length L of 1 cm or more, and usually 2 cm or more. The mouth 13 and the cap 14 are made of a synthetic resin such as polyester.
In the case of this container 11, the container itself is comprised of the bag member 12, having a flexibility, and hence the mouth 13 can be used as a substitute for a straw to suck the inside fluid diet. Thus, such containers are going to be widely used for jelly drinks.
There is, however, a problem which has been found in the instance where the container 11 having a long and slender mouth 13 as shown in FIG. 8 is filled with the fluid diet by the conventional process, what is called hot packing. In such an instance, after the container is filled with a heated fluid diet, the container is turned upside down in order to sterilize the container up to the mouth 13, where the fluid diet can be flowed into the mouth 13 with difficulty, and, even when flowed into it, the temperature drops before the fluid diet reaches the tip of the mouth 13, so that the inner walls of the mouth 13 and cap 14 can not be well sterilized.
As a method to solve the above problem, one may contemplate filling the container 11 with the heated fluid diet and thereafter immersing the whole container 11 in hot water or the like to again heat it. This, however, results in excessive heating of the fluid diet held in the container to tend to cause deterioration of flavor in the case of fruit juice or the like and cause a decrease in jelly strength in the case of jelly drinks, bringing about the problem of a lowering of product quality.
One may also contemplate filling the container 11 with heated fluid diet and thereafter spraying hot water or hot steam to only the mouth 13 and cap 14 of the container 11. This, however, results in a great consumption of heat energy, and may make working atmosphere bad because of the hot steam hanging over surroundings, which may also adversely affect the surrounding equipment and may make the heating temperature of the mouth 13 and cap 14 non-uniform, bringing about the problem that no stable heat sterilization effect can be obtained.

Process and apparatus for sterilizing container holding fluid diet


A patterned organic monolayer or multiplayer film self-assembled on a solid substrate, the pattern consisting in a site-defined surface chemical modification non-destructively inscribed in the organic monolayer or multilayer by means of an electrically biased conducting scanning probe device, stamping device and/or liquid metal or metal alloy or any other device that can touch the organic monolayer or multilayer surface and inscribe therein a chemical modification pattern upon application of an electrical bias.

The production of nanostructures and of organized organic monolayers and multilayers as well as of semiconductor and metal quantum particles, has resulted in some achievements in recent years. The key issue for practical applications resides in good control of the dimensions, spatial location and stability of the assembled nanostructure. Recently, rather good control of the size of metals and semiconductor quantum particles as well as the number and stacking order of definite monolayers in a synthetic multilayer assembly have been achieved. However, genuine submicrometer architecture based on a planned assembly of nanoelements, can be achieved only by appropriate methods of precise positioning, spatial fixation and lateral interconnection of the desired nanostructures. The direct chemical synthesis of nanostructures on a patterned solid template capable of defining the position and lateral dimensions of growing objects might be the proper approach for nanofabrication, provided suitable versatile templates for growing the desired structures can be conveniently manufactured.
Surface nanopatterning of organic monolayers seems promising for preparing such templates with the desired chemical properties on the surface. Indeed, such patterning using conventional techniques of optical methods and lithographic schemes based on local degradation of the monolayer coating have been employed.
The possibility of achieving non-destructive surface patterning of a vinyl-terminated silane monolayer self-assembled on silicon, by the application of an electrical bias to a conducting atomic force microscope (AFM) tip operated in normal ambient conditions has been recently reported by the present inventors (Maoz et al., 1999). The tip-induced transformation was shown to proceed by local electrochemical oxidation of the top vinyl functions of the monolayer, with full preservation of its overall molecular order and structural integrity. It was further shown that such nanoelectrochemically patterned monolayers may be employed as extremely robust, stable templates for the controlled self-assembly of organic bilayer structures with predefined size, shape and surface location (Maoz et al., 1999).
However, post-patterning by chemical methods is subject to constraints posed by the need of site specificity. Only the tip inscribed sites should be affected, leaving the rest of the surface unmodified. Therefore, the use of base monolayer that are chemically sensitive restricts further chemical post-patterning.


A herpesvirus vaccine comprising a mutated herpesvirus suspended in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The mutated herpesvirus is capable of infecting cells of the mammal to be vaccinated, but incapable of completing a replicative cycle, and it is capable of eliciting a protective immune response in that mammal. The mutated herpesvirus is also capable of treating immunomodulatory or immunoregulatory diseases. The mutation occurs in at least one gene encoding a protein essential for replication of the virus, so that the mutation renders the virus replication defective.

Herpesviruses are enveloped double stranded DNA-containing viruses in an icosahedral nucleocapsid. At least seven herpesviruses are associated with infection in humans, including herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2), varicella zoster virus (VZV), Epstein Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and human herpesvirus-7 (HHV-7).
HSV-1 is one of the most intensively studied herpesviruses. HSV-1 exhibits a pattern of gene expression during productive infection which is stringently regulated (Fields et al. Virology, 1990, Raven Press, NY). The more than 70 genes identified in this virus are classified in part according to the kinetics of their expression. Expression of each class of genes is dependent upon expression of genes from the preceding class. The viral immediate early, or α, genes are expressed first, followed by the viral early, or β, genes which in turn are followed by the late, or γ, genes. The γ genes are further subdivided into γ-1 and γ-2 genes, depending upon the extent to which their expression relies upon viral DNA replication.
Several viral proteins have been shown to regulate expression of HSV-1 genes. The ICP4 protein is essential for β and γ gene expression (DeLuca et al., J. Virol., 56:558 (1985)). The ICP27 protein is required for γ gene expression and for viral DNA replication (McCarthy et al., J. Virol., 63:18 (1989)). The major DNA-binding protein (ICP8), a β gene product, is also required for viral DNA replication and for γ gene expression (Gao et al., J. Virol. 63:5258 (1989); Quinlan et al., Cell, 36:657 (1984)).
Diseases caused by herpesviruses in humans vary from mild to severe, and in some cases, infection with these viruses is life-threatening.
Vaccination is a common approach to prevention of disease. Various vaccines based on isolated immunogens, and on live, attenuated virus have been proposed for herpesviruses (Roizman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,859,587; and Meignier et al., J. Inf. Dis., 3:603-613 (1988) (HSV); Takahasi et al., Biken J., 18:25-33 (1975) (VZV); Elek et al., Lancet, 1:1-5 (1974); and Plotkin et al. Infect. Immun, 12:521-527 (1975) (CMV)).
Further, development of therapeutic immunomodulants for treating immunopathologic diseases, such as herpetic stromal keratitis, would be desirable (Jayaraman et al., J. of Immunology, 151:5777-5789, Nov. 15, 1993).

Herpesvirus replication defective mutants


A measuring device determines a distance between a processing head for a laser processing system configured to process a workpiece with a laser beam and the workpiece. The measuring device includes an optical coherence tomograph to measure a distance between the processing head and workpiece. In the optical coherence tomograph, measuring light generated by a measuring light source and reflected by the workpiece interferes with measuring light reflected in a reference arm with two or more reference stages. The stages include a first reference stage configured such that the measuring light reflected therein travels a first optical path length, and a second reference stage configured such that the measuring light reflected therein travels a second optical path length different from the first length, wherein the measuring light reflected by the workpiece interferes with reflected measuring light of the first reference stage and reflected measuring light of the second reference stage.

In a device for processing materials by means of a laser, e.g., in a laser processing head for laser welding or laser cutting, the laser beam exiting from a laser light source or an end of a laser fiber is focused or concentrated on the workpiece to be processed by means of beam-guiding and focusing optics. Conventionally, a laser processing head with collimating optics and focusing optics is used, wherein the laser light is supplied via an optical fiber.
In laser material processing, optical coherence tomography (OCT) may be used to measure various process parameters such as the distance to the workpiece during laser cutting, the edge position in advance, and the welding depth during welding, and/or the surface topography in the follow-up. For this purpose, measuring light such as an OCT measuring beam can be directed onto the workpiece. Optionally, the OCT measuring beam may be moved over the workpiece to be machined, for example, by means of reflection at least one movable mirror.
For a precise distance measurement, an exact positioning of the optical measuring beam is required. Known technical solutions for precisely positioning an optical measuring beam during laser welding are based, for example, on camera-based methods for determining the measuring beam position relative to the laser beam. These methods are based on an indirect determination of the optimal position of the measuring beam, which is needed, for example, for the welding depth measurement. However, the optimal position of the measuring beam for a reliable welding depth measurement is dependent on different process parameters such as the feed rate and the welding material and therefore cannot be determined with sufficient precision by means of the indirect methods for determining the position.
Known methods for increasing the measuring range of an OCT measuring system, as described for example in DE 10 2013 008 269 A1, are based on the synchronous adjustment of the optical path length in the reference arm, for example, depending on a change in the current processing range of the laser focus at a scanner processing optics. The adjustment is made by a mechanical change of the optical path length of the reference arm, e.g., by deflecting the OCT measuring beam my means of a scanner mirror or by changing the position of an end mirror or prism on a linear axis. Disadvantages of these methods are a very complex control of the described mechanism, since the mechanism must assume an associated position or angular position for each possible adjustment of the laser focus of the processing optics.

Measuring device for determining a distance between a laser processing head and a workpiece, laser processing system including the same and method for determining a distance between a laser processing head and a workpiece


Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement TDI imaging techniques in conjunction with monolithic CCD image sensors having multiple distinct imaging regions, where TDI imaging techniques can be separately implemented with respect to each distinct imaging region. In many embodiments, the distinct imaging regions are defined by color filters or color filter patterns (e.g. a Bayer filter pattern); and data from the distinct imaging regions can be read out concurrently (or else sequentially and/or nearly concurrently). A camera system can include: a CCD image sensor including a plurality of pixels that define at least two distinct imaging regions, where pixels within each imaging region operate in unison to image a scene differently than at least one other distinct imaging region. In addition, the camera system is operable in a time-delay integration mode whereby time delay-integration imaging techniques are imposed with respect to each distinct imaging region.

A variety of techniques can be utilized to image scenes in ways that capture information within different portions of the visible and/or electromagnetic spectrum. 'Color filters' are often used with a camera system to filter out portions of the electromagnetic spectrum with the exception of a specific band, such that only the particularly exempt spectral band is able to transmit through the filter. Thus, for example, a red color filter typically operates to filter out all portions of the electromagnetic spectrum except for the band corresponding with visible red light. Color filters are often implemented as patterns of filters applied to individual pixels on an image sensor. A common example of a filter pattern is the Bayer filter pattern. A Bayer filter pattern typically includes an array of red, green, and blue color filters intended to be disposed over a grid of photosensors (e.g. pixels or photosites), where each color filter is associated with a single photosensor. In a Bayer filter, there are usually twice as many green color filters as there are red or blue color filters, which is meant to mimic the physiology of the human eye. In a Bayer filter configuration, each respective photosensor is intended to obtain imaging information concerning a particular band of the electromagnetic spectrum. The aggregate of the imaging information can thereafter be 'demosaiced' or interpolated to produce a color image. Note that the term 'color filters' can also be applicable with respect to those portions of the electromagnetic spectrum adjacent to the visible light portion, e.g. the ultraviolet and infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The quality of an image captured by an imaging system is typically dependent upon the number of photons incident on the pixels of an image sensor. A variety of techniques can be utilized to increase the intensity of light incident on an image sensor including increasing the size of the optics to capture more light and/or increasing the integration or exposure time of the pixels. The extent to which exposure time can be increased is often limited based upon relative motion between the imaging system and the scene and/or motion within the scene itself. As exposure time increases, scene motion can introduce motion blur artifacts into the resulting image.
Time delay integration (TDI) is an imaging technique that is typically implemented in conjunction with charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensors for imaging systems that move in a predictable way relative to a scene. CCD image sensors typically operate as follows: (1) a CCD image sensor typically includes a grid of pixels; (2) when an image of a scene is desired, electrical charge is stored in the grid of pixels as a function of the scene's light intensity; (3) the stored electrical charge is shifted—from one row of pixels to the next—until it reaches a serial register, where stored electrical charge corresponding with each pixel then proceeds to be read out and stored as image data. Note that in a conventional CCD imaging technique, each pixel in the grid of pixels stores light intensity information corresponding with a different aspect of the scene.
A TDI mode of operation can be useful when it is known that the scene to be imaged is moving in a known and predictable manner relative to the CCD image sensor. Whereas capturing an image in this scenario using a conventional CCD imaging technique can result in motion blur, capturing an image in this scenario using a TDI mode of operation can increase the exposure time of each resulting image pixel while mitigating the development of motion blur. In a typical TDI mode of operation, a scene being imaged is moving in an "along track" direction—corresponding with a column of pixels. Relatedly, the orthogonal direction is known as the "across track" direction—and it corresponds with a row of pixels. FIG. 1 diagrams this configuration. In effect each row of pixels 'scans' a scene such that light from a point in the scene impinges on each successive pixel of a given corresponding column. As the light impinges on each successive pixel, corresponding electrical charge is stored within the respective pixel, and the stored electrical charge is cumulatively added to each successive pixel, such that the summation is indicative of all the light that impinged on the column. As can be appreciated, because light from a single point within a scene impinges on the image sensor for a greater duration using a TDI mode of operation relative to a conventional CCD imaging technique, a TDI mode of operation can produce an image characterized by a relatively higher signal to noise ratio. In other words, TDI imaging techniques can provide for a longer exposure time since light is being aggregated due to a point in a scene being successively focused onto multiple pixels in a column of pixels due to relative motion of the camera system and the scene, allowing for more photons to be detected, and this can result in a significantly higher signal to noise ratio.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for implementing time delay integration imaging techniques in conjunction with distinct imaging regions on a monolithic charge-coupled device image sensor


The invention discloses a data validation, mirroring and error/erasure correction method for the dispersal and protection of one and two-dimensional data at the micro level for computer, communication and storage systems. Each of 256 possible 8-bit data bytes are mirrored with a unique 8-bit ECC byte. The ECC enables 8-bit burst and 4-bit random error detection plus 2-bit random error correction for each encoded data byte. With the data byte and ECC byte configured into a 4 bit×4 bit codeword array and dispersed in either row, column or both dimensions the method can perform dual 4-bit row and column erasure recovery. It is shown that for each codeword there are 12 possible combinations of row and column elements called couplets capable of mirroring the data byte. These byte level micro-mirrors outperform conventional mirroring in that each byte and its ECC mirror can self-detect and self-correct random errors and can recover all dual erasure combinations over four elements. Encoding at the byte quanta level maximizes application flexibility. Also disclosed are fast encode, decode and reconstruction methods via boolean logic, processor instructions and software table look-up with the intent to run at line and application speeds. The new error control method can augment ARQ algorithms and bring resiliency to system fabrics including routers and links previously limited to the recovery of transient errors. Image storage and storage over arrays of static devices can benefit from the two-dimensional capabilities. Applications with critical data integrity requirements can utilize the method for end-to-end protection and validation. An extra ECC byte per codeword extends both the resiliency and dimensionality.

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/399,635 entitled "Data Dispersion and Mirroring Method with Fast Dual Erasure Correction and Multi-Dimensional Capabilities" filed on Jul. 29, 2002 and 60/460,545 entitled "Composite Data Protection Method for Micro Level Data" filed Apr. 4, 2003.
To information theorists the field of Error Control Codes and Coding was developed to utilize redundancy to maximize transmission rates. To the engineer it is useful to use redundancy to improve data resiliency, guarantee data integrity and to construct fail-safe hardware designs. Some codes are useful only for the detection of errors. Error correction codes are designed to recognize when data is in error, then locate the errors and finally remove the errors and if possible leave some degree of assurance that the final result is accurate. A third major category is that of erasure recovery codes. This is the case where segments of data are dispersed with the expectation that not all segments will be retrievable. Error control codes have been developed for all three major categories; error detection, error correction and erasure recovery. Sometimes a code can be used for double or triple duty. A common practice is to not use all of the mathematical robustness for correction but leave some for post correction data integrity verification. In other instances it is necessary to nest two or more different codes in order to accomplish multiple requirements to an acceptable degree.
Different forms of error control coding have been developed to handle the error modes inherent to ever changing communications channels, memory systems, storage networks and devices and system networks. Within hardware systems error modes are caused by transient effects such as alpha particles, others by asperities in storage media, by electrical noise and signal skew, by physical wear or chemical alteration, by inter-symbol interference and many other phenomena. Each may affect data differently and occur at a different rate and distribution pattern. This has spawned a continuous evolution of new codes and decoding techniques.
Specific examples of error detection codes are the Cyclic Redundancy Check codes CRC-16, CRC-320 and CCITT. They are popular codes used to detect errors in relatively short messages. Their capabilities are well understood but limited. A common application of CRC codes is in data communication where data is formatted into small sequential packets with each packet protected by a CRC checkword. As packets are input at the receiving node the CRC is recalculated and compared with the received CRC checkword. A good compare may result in the return of an acknowledge (ACK) signal. A miss compare might result in an Automatic Retry Request (ARQ) negative acknowledge (NACK) signal. After a limited number of retries the algorithm might assume that success is not likely and the transmission is terminated, delayed or rerouted. In specific applications that can tolerate inaccurate data the data can simply be flagged as being in error.
In coding theory the minimum difference in binary bit assignments between any two codewords is referred to as the Hamming distance, d. There is a direct correlation between the minimum Hamming distance of a code and its' ability to distinguish one codeword from another and also a code's potential for detecting and correcting random bits in error.
Consider the CCITT 16-bit polynomial code. The generator polynomial is g(x)=1+x5 +x12+x16. It has a Hamming distance d=4 giving it the following capabilities: 1) It can detect all combinations of 3 random bit errors over its length of 65,536 bits, d=t+1; 2) It can detect all odd bit errors; and 3) It can detect all burst errors of up to 16 bits length.
Single and multiple bit correction over short to medium length messages often use Hamming and BCH codes. This would include applications such as computer memories and other devices that exhibit transient single bit error modes.
Special codes have been developed to correct for single and multiple short burst errors over medium data lengths. Fire codes and the Kasami Computer Generated Cyclic codes are common single burst codes. Reed-Solomon codes are a popular multiple burst error correcting code type. Primary applications for burst error codes are disk read errors due to media asperities or scratches and inter-symbol electronic interference.
In 1967 a code was developed by Nordstrom and Robinson as an existence proof of an n=15, k=8, d=5 code since an n=12, k=5, d=5 code had already been discovered. Here n=total code bits and k=information bits. With a Hamming distance of d=5 it would detect up to 4 single bit errors and correct up to 2 single bit errors. The code length of 15 would be cumbersome in the 8-bit world. It was later determined that the N–R code could be extended to an n=16, k=8 code.
In the book Algebraic Coding Theory, (Elwyn Belekamp 1968) the author published that the polynomial whose roots are the finite field elements of order p is called the cyclotomic polynomial, denoted by Q(P) (x). He noted that the factors of Q(17) (x) are gl(x)=1+x3+x4+x5+x8 and g2(x)=1+x+x2+x4+x6+x7+x8 and that each polynomial could correct two random errors in a block of 17 binary digits.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,868,632 (Hong et al.) discloses that the Q(17) (x) code factors can be further exploited as an erasure code for 9 track tapes called Optimal Rectangular Code. Both tape and tape heads exhibit wear due to contact recording and the aggressive abuse of tape by the handling mechanisms. The most common associated error mode is loss of a media track on tape or the temporary or catastrophic loss of a read/write head. The erasure decoder was designed to recover data on the fly for up to two (typically outside edges) simultaneously failing data streams. The code is actually two different codes working in tandem plus a pointer system to identify which two of nine channels have failed or likely to be in error. Data is formatted in 7-byte groups, each a 56-bit rectangular data array with an 8-bit ECC and 8 bits of side-band parity. A similar dual erasure method has been designed for disk arrays.
The paper, A Case for Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disk (RAID), (Patterson et al., University of California—Berkeley, 1987) describes several methods for achieving disk device resiliency. RAID-1 mirroring is the simple process of generating and maintaining a single duplicate copy of a file, device or file system. RAID-2 has roots with Hamming single error correction/double error detection (SECDED) codes used primarily for computer memory systems. Two forms of erasure recovery that have roots with tape data track erasure recovery are RAID-3 and RAID-5, an extension of RAID-3. Also pertinent to this discussion is RAID-6. RAID-6 is a method that tolerates two device failures (erasures) and also has roots with dual erasure tape systems. There are also RAID-6 examples based on multiple level parity calculations across small data arrays.
The commodity nature of disk storage devices keeps driving the costs lower and lower with a tendency toward producing a single commodity product that supports the smallest to the largest applications. The increasing data capacity of storage products and the business and legal responsibilities now make data resiliency and data integrity requirements more essential than ever before. Business continuity back-up recovery performance requirements often dictate disk drives over tape. This is an opportunity to raise the reliability, integrity and resiliency of those and other applications via the use of new error control coding techniques. RAID-6 dual erasure capability is necessary for data protection while the first failure is being repaired.
Considerable work is in progress in the area of error coding for mobile communications. Convolution codes and many computer generated forward error correcting codes have been developed for serial transmission in the presence of errors. Many different kinds of array codes are being constructed and tested. Some of these rely on a composite of multiple error codes and innovative forms of ARQ retry algorithms for satisfying bandwidth and integrity requirements. In comparison they are exceedingly complex and require complex decoding algorithms such as the Viterbi and turbo methods.
A critical component of contemporary processor and storage architectures is the fabric of switches, routers and links used to scale processors, storage devices and network connectivity. These networks carry different data formats but in general move small to medium size packets of processor cache lines or communication and storage data packets. The requirement for resiliency and data integrity is high. To date cost has limited the error control measures to CRC error detection with ARQ retry methods and rerouting when alternate paths exist. There is inadequate end-to-end data integrity validation and hardware resiliency. Here too it is necessary and possible to raise the integrity, reliability and resiliency of data systems via new error control coding techniques.
The prior art includes some solutions based on the dispersal of data with the recovery via dual erasure control coding. In the context of small disk arrays this is commonly referred to as method RAID level 6. The number of disk drives clustered in these arrays typically varies from as few as four to six to as many as nine or seventeen. Other erasure control applications may be called information dispersal and reconstruction, erasure or loss resilient coding or in specific context forward error correction coding, FEC.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,128,810 (Halford) and 5,283,791 (Halford), in the name of the present inventor, show dual drive error correction method using a data bit dispersal with erasure control technique. This method requires a parity side-band drive and a significant amount of computation due to the dual dependent ECC codes (odd parity and irreducible polynomial). This approach is relatively cumbersome and slow if implemented in software. Also the code data array is rectangular M * (M-1) which limits data size flexibility.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,474 (Rabin), shows a method also significantly computationally intensive that suggests using a vector processor, systolic array or parallel processor for decoding. Therefore the encoding and decoding is both slow or relatively expensive to implement. Original data is not transmitted in clear systematic form. The preferred embodiment works with multiple bytes per codeword which results in file size matching issues, magnifies the size of encode/decode mechanisms and when dealing with application data can be a source of error migration during both the encode and decode processes. It also does not provide simultaneous error detection and correction nor a multi-dimensional data recovery capability.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,012 (Blaum et al.) describes an M*(M−1) data array where M is a prime number. Pairs of simple parity bits are recursively encoded over data in respective and recursive diagonal and row order array directions. The example embodiment shows a 5-drive array with data on 3 drives and parity on 2 drives. Data is encoded in 12-bit quanta and dispersed across the 5 drives in 4-bit quanta.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,475 (Blaum et al.) is a continuation of the 1993 patent with certain specific improvements such as a less recursive parity calculation algorithm. The array size M is again a prime number. While the operations are not mathematically complex the calculations are numerous.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,088,330 (Bruck et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,277(Bruck et al.) describes a data array encoding where the array is N*N square and N preferably a prime number. If data is dispersed via columns, parity is developed in rows causing each dispersal element to contain both data and parity. Two separate independent parity row calculations are made along two slopes within the data array then stacked at the bottom to complete the encoding. The encoding supports specific error correction capabilities along with dual column erasure recovery. The 5×5 array described in the preferred embodiment represents 15 data bits and 10 parity bits. The decoding operations are numerous.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,125 (DeMoss) describes yet another dual-parity method that also requires the formatting of data into arrays with parity diagonals. Here the array is also a square N*N where N+1 is a prime number. Parity positions are the major diagonals and data positions are the remaining non-comer diagonal locations. The computation uses simple logical exclusive-or operations but the algorithm described is relatively extensive, as are all others that format data around diagonal parity vectors.
Many contemporary systems are being built by creating a network of processor/memory nodes utilizing single chip processors designed to meet the basic requirements for systems ranging from workstations to high-end supercomputers. Systems fabrics can be created by the interconnection of routers or switches together with a combination of processor nodes, I/O ports and fabric interconnect ports. An important aspect of some of these systems is for nodes, links and routers to have a specific degree of resiliency. Those with a more automatic resiliency capability are referred to as being fail-safe, self-healing or autonomic. This requirement is also emerging into storage network subsystems.

Multi-dimensional data protection and mirroring method for micro level data


A turbine component, such as a turbine blade 1, 21, has a coolant supply passage 4, 24 and a cooling chamber 3, 23 connected by an injection passage 5, 25. The cooling chamber 3, 23 includes flow guides in the form of vanes 7, 8 or grooves 37 which act to create a coolant flow in a spiral direction. Thus, there is limited coolant flow impingement and greater cooling effect to allow the turbine component to operate at higher temperatures.

Generally, it is necessary to provide internal cooling of turbine components. To achieve high performance it is desirable to utilise high turbine entry temperatures and so greater thermal efficiencies. Unfortunately, such high turbine entry temperatures are limited by inherent characteristics of the materials from which turbine blades and vanes are made. In such circumstances, internal cooling allows components made from available materials to operate at temperatures which exceed natural melting temperatures.
Cooling systems for turbine vanes and blades generally comprise providing a feed of cool air taken such that there is a positive pressure from the compressor system in a jet engine and feeding that cool air to the turbine blades through internal passages and chambers in order to effect cooling by a combination of internal convection and external film cooling. The present invention principally relates to internal convection cooling where a pressurised passage of coolant air as described previously incorporates a number of flow or injection cross passages to cooling chambers in the vane or blade in order to provide cooling. The cool air is forced into the cooling chambers or other passages of the blade or vane due to a pressure differential between the coolant supply passage and those cooling chambers. The cooler air presented within the chambers or other passages picks up heat by convection within the chamber or passage. The warmed air is then either exhausted through an outlet passage to an exhaust passageway or returned to the supply passage or possibly released through holes in the blade surface in order to provide film cooling on external surfaces of that blade or vane.
There is an objective to increase the degree of cooling possible with respect to components such as turbine vanes and blades in order that higher thermal efficiencies through higher input temperatures can be achieved whilst using available materials with a melting point below those input temperatures.


The semiconductor device includes a CAM block including a plurality of vertical strings having a perpendicular configuration with respect to a semiconductor substrate, wherein each of the plurality of vertical strings is electrically coupled to a plurality of word lines and each of the plurality of word lines is electrically coupled to a plurality of CAM cells, a peripheral circuit configured to program CAM cells selected from the plurality of CAM cells, and a control circuit configured to issue at least one command to the peripheral circuit to simultaneously apply a program voltage to an nth word line, an n−1th word line and an n+1th word line to simultaneously program CAM cells electrically coupled to the n−1th word line, the nth word line and the n+1th word line, wherein the n−1th word line and an n+1th word line are adjacent to the nth word line and the selected CAM cells are electrically coupled to the nth word line.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments relate to a semiconductor device and an operating method thereof, and more particularly, to a programming method of a 3-dimensional semiconductor memory device.
2. Related Art
A semiconductor device typically uses a memory cell array to store data. The memory cell array includes a plurality of memory blocks. One or more of the plurality of memory blocks are used as normal memory blocks. Normal data is stored in the normal memory blocks. One or more of the memory blocks are used as content addressable memory (CAM) blocks. Data, such as for example, operation setting values of the semiconductor device are stored in the CAM blocks. Examples of operation setting values include bad block repair information, and bias information.
The operating characteristics of a semiconductor device may vary depending on the conditions associated with the manufacturing process of the semiconductor device. In many cases, the operation setting values stored in the CAM block are derived by performing one or more test operations prior to the packaging the semiconductor device.
The data stored in the CAM block prior to the packaging of the semiconductor device may become corrupted due to relatively high temperatures that may be generated by a number of different manufacturing processes. For example, relatively high temperatures are often applied to the semiconductor device during a wire bonding processing.
A 3-dimensional semiconductor device includes a plurality of vertical strings, where the vertical strings have a generally perpendicular configuration with respect to a semiconductor substrate. The memory cells in the vertical strings do not have the floating structure that is typically used in a 2-dimensional semiconductor device. A 3-dimensional semiconductor devices uses a charge trap structure.

Semiconductor device and operating method thereof


A method and apparatus are disclosed for searching for a radar signal within signals received by a wireless device. The wireless device may receive signals within a first frequency segment and a second frequency segment, which is adjacent to the first frequency segment. The wireless device may determine Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) bins associated with the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment. The wireless device may combine the FFT bins associated with the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment and may search for the radar signal within the combined FFT bins.

Wireless devices may share operating frequencies with radar devices within the 5 GHz frequency band. Portions of the 5 GHz frequency band may be referred to as a Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) frequency band. A wireless device may follow DFS protocols to vacate operations within portions of a shared frequency band when a radar signal, possibly from a radar device, is detected. Detecting radar signals may be difficult when the wireless device uses contiguous, but distinct frequency segments for wireless communications. For example, the wireless device may transmit signals through a communication channel that includes a first frequency segment and a second frequency segment that is adjacent to the first frequency segment. Signals associated with the first frequency segment and signals associated with the second frequency segment may be captured (received) by separate hardware and/or software modules of the wireless device. As a result, a varying frequency (e.g., chirping) radar signal may be difficult to detect by the wireless device, for example, because the radar signal may appear within either or both of the first and second frequency segments. Missed radar signal detections may cause interference with radar devices, while an over-sensitivity to noise within the communication channel may cause a false radar signal detection. Interference with radar signals may cause the wireless device to violate one or more regulations, and false radar signal detections may impede performance of the wireless device by unnecessarily vacating operations within the communication channel.
Thus, there is a need to improve radar signal detection in wireless devices communicating through adjacent frequency bands in a wireless communication channel.

Radar detection for adjacent segments in wireless communications


A multi-channel analog-to-digital converter system includes an array of sub-analog-to-digital converters wherein within the array of sub-analog-to-digital converters, there is at least one designated reference analog-to-digital converter. The analog-to-digital converter system also includes a non-sequential channel select circuit to control a selection of the analog-to-digital converters and the reference analog-to-digital converter to non-sequentially interleave the outputs of said analog-to-digital converters and said reference analog-to-digital converter. Each channel of the plurality of sub-analog-to-digital converters includes a timing skew estimation circuit. Each timing skew estimation circuit receives an output signal from the reference analog-to-digital converter and receives the output signal from the associated analog-to-digital converter. Each timing skew estimation circuit generates a timing signal to be used in shifting or adjusting the actual or apparent sample times for the appropriate analog-to-digital converter.

Time-interleaving has long been recognized as an attractive technique for implementing analog-to-digital converter systems with very high sampling rates. However, to realize low distortion, the sample time skews between the different channels must be well matched. Since the channels' sample times will vary with temperature, supply voltage, and aging, it is desirable to monitor or estimate the timing skews during the normal operation of the system such that timing skew corrections can be made, as needed. While a number of simple timing skew estimation algorithms exist for two-channel time-interleaved analog-to-digital converter systems, the algorithms are not well suited for systems with more than two channels.
In a conventional time-interleaved multi-channel analog-to-digital converter system, a plurality of sub-analog-to-digital converters is operated in parallel, as shown in FIG. 1. As FIG. 1 illustrates, a conventional time-interleaved multi-channel analog-to-digital converter system includes multiple channels, four in this example (A, B, C, and D). Each channel includes a sub-analog-to-digital converter (32, 34, 36, and 38). Each sub-analog-to-digital converter (32, 34, 36, and 38) is connected to a clock and sequential selector circuit 10. The clock and sequential selector circuit 10 provide the clock signal for each sub-analog-to-digital converter (32, 34, 36, and 38) and the selection signal so that the appropriate channel is selected to produce the digital signal 40 for output from the time-interleaved multi-channel analog-to-digital converter system. Moreover, an analog signal, from an analog input 20, is input to each sub-analog-to-digital converter (32, 34, 36, and 38).
The conventional timing for the four channels shown in FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIG. 2. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the samples are assumed to be taken on the rising edge of the system clock and on the falling edge of the channel clocks (Clk-A, Clk-B, Clk-C, and Clk-D).
Based upon the illustrated sequence, if each sub-analog-to-digital converter (32, 34, 36, and 38) has a maximum sample rate of fc, the time-interleaved multi-channel analog-to-digital converter system can achieve a system sample rate of fs=M*fc, wherein M is the number of channels or number of sub-analog-to-digital converters.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the conventional timing sequence utilizes a minimal length sequence for which the repeat rate of the timing pattern is equal to the number of elements in the array. Consequently, when M ADCs are used, the ADCs are used sequentially and the pattern repeats every M samples. When a minimal length sequence is used in a time-interleaved analog-to-digital converter, one may refer to such a system as a sequential time-interleaved analog-to-digital converter. Utilizing a minimal length sequence ensures that each ADC samples the input as soon as possible when the time-interleaved system is clocked at its maximum rate.
In such a time-interleaving system, the analog-to-digital converter system can achieve a very high sampling rate. However, to realize low distortion, the sub-analog-to-digital converters used in a time-interleaved system must be well matched. More specifically, to realize low distortion, it is important that the sample times of the sub-channels be equally spaced as shown in FIG. 2.
Deviations from the ideal spacing, often referred to as timing skews, lead to the generation of spurious tones. Spurious tones limit the spurious free dynamic range of the overall time-interleaved multi-channel analog-to-digital converter system. The frequency of the input signal, fi, and the magnitude of the timing skews, ΔT, limits the spurious free dynamic range. This relationship is governed by: SFDR=−20 log(2π(fi)(ΔT)) wherein SFDR is the spurious free dynamic range.
For example, if a system has a timing skew of one pico-second and an input signal of 250 MHz, the spurious free dynamic range will be limited to 56 dB. It is noted that the sample rate (fs) has no effect on the spurious free dynamic range.
Conventionally, spurious free dynamic range is improved by reducing the timing skews. To effectively reduce the timing skews, first the skews must be determined or estimated. Thereafter, the timing skews are corrected. Although, skews can be determined and corrected before using an analog-to-digital converter, this is undesirable because the timing skews may shift with time and with changes in operating conditions such as supply voltage and temperature.
Consequently, it is desirable to estimate and correct the timing skews while the analog-to-digital converter system is normally operating without the use of special calibration signals. For example, for a two-channel system, timing skews have been conventionally estimated and corrected during normal operations by correlation techniques and multipliers. These techniques are based on the use of two-channel timing skew estimation algorithms or more simply two-channel skew estimators. Although these conventional approaches are well suited for two-channel systems, the conventional approaches do not work well when extended to systems with more than two channels due to Nyquist limitations.
When M=2, the estimation techniques used to detect timing skews rely on mathematical operations on adjacent samples. In a two channel system, any pair of adjacent samples will be composed of one sample from the reference analog-to-digital converter and one sample from the slave analog-to-digital converter. Ideally, these samples are spaced 1/fs apart. One such algorithm estimates the timing skew by taking the difference between a sum of the magnitudes of the sum of the reference channel's sample and the following sample from the slave channel and a sum of the magnitudes of the sum of the slave channel's sample and the following sample from the reference channel. The sign of the estimate indicates the direction of the timing skew and the magnitude of the estimate is related to the magnitude of the timing skew.
When M>2, the spacing between the various channels is no longer 1/fs. For example, when M=4, the spacing between the reference channel and either a first channel or a third channel is 1/fs, and 3/fs, while the spacing between the reference channel and the second channel is 2/fs.
Since the spacing between the reference channel and any other channel is no longer approximately 1/fs, for the M>2 case, the common two channel skew estimators must be modified if they are to be applied to these systems.
There are two direct ways to modify the common two channel skew estimators. The first approach is to band-limit the system's input to only part of the system's full Nyquist zone. Such a solution would be applicable in some applications, but not all. The second approach is to use the components of the estimation to first determine which sub-band of the full Nyquist zone most of the energy lies. Then the appropriate sign of the estimate can be determined.
However, neither approach is well suited to broadband applications in which signal energy is approximately uniformly distributed over the Nyquist band.
An alternate approach to improving the spurious free dynamic range is to use channel randomization. When channel randomization is used, the sequence in which the channels are used is random or pseudo-random. However, channel randomization reduces the spurious tones by converting the spurious tones to noise. This additional noise can have a negative impact upon the output of the multi-channel system. If the mismatches in a system using channel randomization are significant, the resulting degradation in the noise, from the conversion of the spurious tones to noise, may be unacceptable. The solution to the degradation, as noted above, is to estimate and correct the timing skews.
Thus, it is desirable to find an alternate solution to the problem of extending timing skew estimation algorithms for two channel systems to the multi-channel case. This would enable the timing skews to be estimated and corrected during normal operations of a multi-channel system (more than two channels) to ensure acceptable matching and to obtain the desired level of performance.

System and method for using timing skew estimation with a non-sequential time-interleaved analog-to-digital converter


Inductive proximity switch has a first transmitting coil (S1) and a first receiving coil (E1) of a receiving coil arrangement. The transmitting coil (S1) transmits an exciting field inducing eddy currents in a metallic trip (1) brought into the vicinity of the proximity switch. The eddy currents generate a voltage-inducing eddy current field in the first coil (E1) of the receiving coil arrangement. The first coil E1 and a second coil (E2) of the receiving coil arrangement are disposed and connected so that the exciting field generates a differential voltage (3), in the receiving coil arrangement. A pair of compensating coils includes the second coil (E2) of the receiving coil arrangement and a compensating coil (S2) connected in series with the transmitting coil (S1), the pair of compensating coils being isolated from the eddy current field.

The invention relates to an inductive proximity switch.
A proximity switch is already known from DE 19 740 774 A1. Described there is an inductive proximity switch with two transmitting coils and two receiving coils, the transmitting coil and the receiving coils being respectively disposed parallel to one another. The mode of operation of the proximity switch described there is based on the two receiving coils being influenced alternating electromagnetic fields which pass through and are generated by a trip.
A further proximity switch is already known from DE 40 31 252 C1. This document describes a proximity switch in which each transmitting coil is acted upon by an oscillator with an alternating current. Right next to the transmitting coil there are two receiving coils, spaced slightly apart from one another, which are connected in series but wound in opposite directions. The position of the receiving coils is chosen such that, when the trip does not approach, an aggregate current close to zero is induced in the two differential coils.
If a metal trip approaches the transmitting coil, eddy currents are generated in the trip. These eddy currents generate an opposing field with respect to the exciting field. This opposing field has a different intensity in the two receiving coils. It consequently induces voltages of different magnitudes in the two receiving coils. The differential signal of these two voltages deviates from zero and can be amplified to form the output signal.
DE 100 39 610 relates to a proximity switch with an oscillating circuit in which two windings are provided, which by analogy with the proximity switches described above are likewise electromagnetically coupled to one another.
DE 198 50 749 is concerned with an inductive proximity switch operating two detector coils and a transmitting coil, in which the coils are formed as planar coils and likewise lie in the field generated by the induced eddy current field.
DE 100 57 773 discloses a proximity switch in which a multiplicity of coils are associated with a printed circuit board as planar coils lying next to one another.
On the basis of the prior art cited at the beginning, the object of the invention is to take measures which increase the switching distance.

Inductive proximity switch with differential coil arrangement


A method for updating a thin client image includes the steps of writing a service operating system (OS) from a network device to limited capacity memory of a thin client device, writing a large part of a new image from the network to the memory of the thin client in a series of portions, without writing over the service OS, and writing a final small part of the new image over the service OS.

A "thin client" (sometimes also called a lean client) is a computer device that depends primarily on a central server for processing activities, and mainly focuses on conveying input and output between the user and the remote server. This is to be contrasted with a "thick" or "fat" client, which does as much processing as possible on the local device, and passes only data for communications and storage to the server. Many thin client devices run only web browsers or remote desktop software, meaning that all significant processing occurs on the server.
Thin client computers typically have a very small flash storage device that contains the operating system (OS) and all of the software used on that particular computer. The thin client operating system plus all of the added software is called a "flash image" or "operating system image" and can be handled as one large file.
It can be desirable to update a thin client operating system from time to time. For example, a user of a network having multiple thin clients may desire to modify the original flash image or create their own flash image and redeploy this new image to all of the associated thin clients. Some thin client operating system images provide a feature to re-image the thin client with a new version of the flash image. However, thin clients typically do not have enough available memory to allow downloading of the entire flash image in one operation. Consequently, multiple write cycles are used. Unfortunately, if the thin client device loses power or network connectivity during the relatively long write cycles for downloading the new flash image, it is possible to corrupt the image of a thin client so that the device will not boot at all.

System and method for safely updating thin client operating system over a network

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The present invention provides a hose for transporting material from one destination to another and a method of constructing a hose. According to an exemplary embodiment, the hose may be constructed with two helical coils wound in opposing directions and multiple layers. The hose construction may provide a flexible hose with walls that resist kinking and rupture.

Hoses are conduits that allow the transport of material from one location to another. The material may be in liquid or gas form. The material may also be solid particles that are mixed with a gas or liquid. For example, solid particles may be mixed with a liquid to produce a slurry that can be pumped through the hose. In another example, the solid particles are mixed with air. The mixture can be blown through the hose. The material, liquid, gas, or mixture enters the hose at one end, flows through the hose, and exits the hose at the material's final destination. The hose may also be used to transport energy. For example, a hydraulic braking system in a car may be used to transport brake fluid from the pump to the brake discs, thereby allowing the pump to transport energy to the brake pads.
The hose may need to be designed to prevent rupture or collapse. If a pump is located on the entrance end of the hose, the material is pushed into the hose and a positive pressure is produced on the walls of the hose as the pump pushes the material through the hose. If the pressure exerted on the wall of the hose by the material exceeds the strength of the walls, the hose will rupture and release the flow of material. If the pump is located on the exit end of the hose, the material is pulled through the hose and a negative pressure or vacuum is produced within the hose. The vacuum exerts an inward pressure on the walls of the hose. If the inward pressure exceeds the strength of the wall, the hose walls may collapse and prevent the flow of material.
To strengthen the walls of a hose, structural elements may be used in the walls of the hose. A helical coil may be used within the wall of the hose. An inner lay of material may be used on the inside of the hose to prevent contact between the coil and material transported within the hose. An outer layer may be used around the coil to protect the coil from the environment. The inner layer and outer layer may be fixed to the coil to increase the strength of the hose. The coil allows the hose to be flexible while increasing the strength of the walls of the hose.
However, many applications may still exceed the strengths of the walls of the hose. Based on the foregoing, it is apparent that there is a need for a hose and method to construct a hose that provide a flexible hose that can withstand higher positive and negative pressures.
It is important to note that the present invention is not intended to be limited to a system or method which must satisfy one or more of any stated objects or features of the invention. It is also important to note that the present invention is not limited to the preferred, exemplary, or primary embodiment(s) described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the following claims.


According to one embodiment, a hybrid electric locomotive includes electric motors, a first engine and a second engine mounted in a vehicle main body for driving generators, a third engine mounted in the vehicle main body, having a smaller capacity than those of the first engine and the second engine, for driving a generator, at least one electric device mounted in the vehicle main body, and a storage battery which is connected to the first engine, the second engine, the third engine, and the electric device.

As a railway vehicle that travels on a rail, an electric locomotive that drives wheels by an electric motor to travel is generally used. In recent years, there has been suggested a hybrid electric locomotive or an electric diesel locomotive that has an engine and a generator mounted therein, drives the generator using an output from the engine to generate electric power, and supplies the electric power to a main electric motor.
As the hybrid electric locomotive, there is known an electric locomotive having one large engine mounted therein or an electric locomotive having a plural engines and generators mounted therein.
In the hybrid electric locomotive having one large engine, assuming that generated electric power is stored in a storage battery and used, since a vehicle travels by discharging the storage battery, the storage battery must be charged while the vehicle stops or travels until discharge can be performed again. When a high output is required for high-traction or high-speed traveling, the only one mounted engine is fully operated constantly to generate enough traveling power, so the storage battery cannot be sufficiently charged. The storage battery that remains still uncharged and unavailable is equivalent to a so-called dead load that just increases a weight of the vehicle, and it is a factor to deteriorate the powering performance that fundamentally locomotive has.
In the hybrid electric locomotive having medium engines, when the medium engines are operated in accordance with a charged state of the storage battery, the engines must continue operate in a state that is not necessarily optimum for the engines in terms of fuel consumption, an exhaust gas, and others. One engine may be used for power generation and charging. The other engine may be used for traveling of a vehicle.
In this case, if charging is required, one medium engine of the two medium mounted engines is used for charging only. Hence the vehicle cannot get performance that can be obtained from an output from the mounted engines. Conversely, when the two medium engines are used for traveling to assure traveling performance, the storage battery cannot be charged on a permanent basis.
Further, although individually operating the engines in optimum states is desirable, to charge the storage battery by any engine, a large engine must be rotated at a high speed to assure a fixed charging voltage, and noise is produced or fuel consumption deteriorates.


A gate is formed by depositing a gate conductive layer over a substrate layer, depositing an organic spin-on bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) over the gate conductive layer, and forming a resist mask on the BARC. Next, the resist mask is controllably etched to further reduce the critical dimensions of gate pattern formed therein, and then the gate is formed by etching the gate conductive layer using the reduced size resist mask.

A continuing trend in semiconductor technology is to build integrated circuits with more and/or faster semiconductor devices. The drive toward this ultra large scale integration has resulted in continued shrinking of device and circuit dimensions and features. In integrated circuits having field-effect transistors, for example, one very important process step is the formation of the gate for each of the transistors, and in particular the dimensions of the gate. In many applications, the performance characteristics (e.g., switching speed) and size of the transistor are functions of the size (e.g., width) of the transistor's gate. Thus, for example, a narrower gate tends to produce a higher performance transistor (e.g., faster) that is inherently smaller in size (e.g., narrower width).
As is often the case, however, there are limitations to existing techniques that reduce their effectiveness or even exclude their use in fabricating the next generation of integrated circuit devices. For example, the limitations of conventional lithographic techniques and tools, which are used to pattern the gates during fabrication, are quickly being realized. Accordingly, there is a continuing need for more efficient and effective fabrication processes for forming transistor gates that are smaller and/or exhibit higher performance.

Controlled linewidth reduction during gate pattern formation using a spin-on barc


Disclosed is a homogenizer comprising: a crushing part having a blender for crushing a tissue sample in a container; a rotation driver configured to rotate the blender in contact with the tissue sample; and an absorbing part for absorbing a pressure applied to the tissue sample, which is caused when the blender comes into contact with the tissue sample.

In recent years, genetic tests have rapidly prevailed in the field of clinical diagnoses. A genetic test is a test that examines, for clinical purposes, whether there is a mutation or karyotype that is relevant to a genetic disease by analyzing nucleic acids or chromosomes. Examples of a genetic test include a test that determines whether there is a nucleic acid derived from cancer cells in a tissue sample resected from an organism. The test process includes three major process steps of preprocessing, nucleic acid amplification, and detection.
In the preprocessing, a crushing process to crush (homogenize) a tissue sample is performed. As one method of this crushing process, there is widely used a crushing method in which a crushing tool called a blender is brought, while being rotated, into contact with a tissue sample. U.S. Pat. No. 8,216,528 discloses a sample processing device which crushes a tissue sample by the above crushing method. The sample processing device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,216,528 includes a crushing tool composed of an inner crushing member and an outer side crushing member which is a tubular body capable of housing the inner crushing member therein. The sample processing device is configured such that a tissue sample (lymph node) is crushed to a predetermined size, by the inner crushing member of the crushing tool being repeatedly moved upward and downward while being rotated by a motor.
In the sample processing device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,216,528, when the crushing tool is moved downward, the tip of the crushing tool is pressed against a tissue sample, and in this state, the inner crushing member of the crushing tool is rotated, whereby the tissue sample is crushed. Here, it is known that a cancerous lymph node is harder than a non-cancerous lymph node. When crushing a hard lymph node, if the inner crushing member of the crushing tool is pressed with an excessive force, there may be a case where the inner crushing member bites into the lymph node to get stuck therein and becomes unable to rotate. This may result in a crushing failure of the tissue sample of the lymph node.


The present invention discloses a sphygmomanometer having 3D positioning function, which comprises a microprocessor chip which is coupled individually to a microprocessor chip which is coupled individually to a pressure sensor, an alarm unit, a storing unit, a 3D acceleration sensor chip, a display device, a driving device, and an air valve, so that when a person's blood pressure is measured, the 3D acceleration sensor chip detects the spatial position of the measuring cuff of the sphygmomanometer and sends the parameters related to the detected spatial position to the microprocessor chip. In the meantime, the microprocessor chip will retrieve a predetermined range of the parameters related to the spatial position from the storing unit, and compare such range with the value of the detected parameters. If the values of the detected parameters fall beyond the predetermined range of parameters, the microprocessor chip will issue an alarm through the alarm unit until the spatial position is correct. Thus the person who takes blood pressure measurement can always get the most accurate measurement.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sphygmomanometer with a three-dimensional (3D) positioning function, more particularly to a sphygmomanometer which uses a 3D acceleration sensor chip to detect the spatial position of a measuring cuff of the sphygmomanometer and send the parameters of the detected spatial position to the chip processor, such that after the comparison of the parameters, the tester can move the measuring cuff of the sphygmomanometer or the posture of a related part of the tester body to the correct spatial position.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, sphygmomanometers are divided into a traditional mercury type and an electronic type; wherein the mercury type is not only time-consuming, but it also requires professionally trained and experienced people to correctly measure a blood pressure. On the other hand, electronic sphygmomanometers are further divided into a desktop type, a wrist type, a tunnel type and a finger type, etc. Since it is not necessary to calibrate the electronic sphygmomanometer beforehand, and the result of the measurement is displayed on a display device, its use is simple and convenient to users. Although electronic sphygmomanometers have the foregoing convenience, yet as we all know that the result of blood pressure measurement not only depends on the time of performing the measurement, but also depends on the spatial position of the measuring wrist or the related part of the tester's body. For example, the blood pressure in the morning is generally lower than the blood pressure in the afternoon, and the correct position for putting the measuring cuff of a wrist sphygmomanometer for measuring blood pressure should be level with the heart. Generally, people cannot determine whether or not the measuring cuff of the wrist sphygmomanometer has been lifted to the correct spatial position, and the present wrist sphygmomanometer does not provide the three-dimensional positioning function, but only bases on one's experience to move the sphygmomanometer in different directions such as up and down or left and right. Such doing often causes inaccurate measurement of the blood pressure.

Sphygmomanometer with three-dimensional positioning function