Mobile IPv6 assigns MN (Mobile Node) with a fixed home address in order to guarantee an arrival to MN 7. A SIP process of HA (Home Agent) 2 is provided with a unit for notifying Binding information of MN to a presence server 1. Alternatively, the presence server 1 is provided with a unit for requesting HA 2 for the Binding information of MN. An information delivery server 3 is provided with a unit for acquiring a Care of Address of MN from the presence server 1 and selecting information corresponding to the Care of Address. Presence service can be provided to MN existing in a network other than a home network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication control method for a communication control equipment connected to a network. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mobil communication control equipment, an information management equipment and a communication service control method. Among others, the present invention relates to a mobile communication control equipment in a mobile communication system adopting a Mobile IP protocol and an information management equipment in a communication system adopting an SIP protocol.
2. Description of the Related Art
Studies on the IP (Internet Protocol) for a mobile communication network are becoming vigorous nowadays. The IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) is trying to standardize the specifications of Mobile IPv6 (e.g., refer to Mobility Support in IPv6<draft-ietf-mobileip-ipv6-24.txt>, Work in Progress §4.1). The constituent elements of a Mobile IPv6 network include a mobile node (MN), a home agent (HA) and a correspondent node (CN). MN is given an unique IP address (home address) which will not change even after movement of MN. A link having the same prefix as that of the home address is called home link. The prefix is a network portion of the IP address. As MN moves to a link other than the home link (a link at the movement destination is called visited link), MN acquires an IP address in the visited link. This address is called Care of Address (hereinafter represented by CoA). Application of MN performs communications by using the home address. The application of MN can perform communications without using CoA.
When MN moves to a visited link, it receives router advertisements periodically transmitted from a router existing in the visited link. MN knows the movement from the home link to the visited link, by detecting the prefix which is different from that of the home address and is contained in the router advertisement. A router advertisement message is defined in Neighbor Discovery for IPv6 (refer to IETF RFC2461, Neighbor Discovery for IP Version 6 (IPv6) §3). This message is used to notify another node in the same link of the presence of the router. When MN knows the movement to the visited link, it registers its location in HA. HA stores, in a Binding Cache, correspondence information (binding information) between a Care of Address and the home address of MN existing in a link other than the home link. In order to capture a packet transmitted from CN to the home address of MN, HA multicasts a Gratuitous Neighbor Advertisement to operate as a proxy of MN.
In the following, description will be made on a process of transmitting a packet from CN to MN.
CN transmits a packet to the home address of MN. HA captures the packet destined to the home address of MN. HA searches data in the Binding Cache to acquire CoA corresponding to the home address of MN. HA adds (encapsulates) an IP header for CoA destination to the received packet and transmits it. A capsulation section between HA-MN is called mobile tunnel. When MN receives the packet destined to CoA, it removes (decapsulates) the previously added IP header to recover the original packet. MN may perform route optimization by notifying CN of the binding information of MN itself.
SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) has been paid attention as a session control protocol for an IP network (refer to IETF RFC3261, SIP: Session Initiation Protocol §4). SIP is the protocol for session control of IP multimedia communications standardized by the IETF. Typical Service utilizing SIP is VoIP (Voice over IP). VoIP pertains to technologies of sending/receiving voice information over an IP network. For VoIP communications by SIP, a virtual communication path (session) is set between communication apparatuses prior to starting communications. IP-packetized voice data is transferred on the set communication path. In VoIP communications, SIP creates, maintains and terminates sessions between communication apparatuses.
The IETF is under studies on the concept "presence" (e.g., refer to IETF RFC2778, A model for Presence and Instant Messaging §2.1). The presence indicates presence information and a state of a terminal. Service of notifying the presence of a communication partner is called presence service. SIP is provided with a function of requesting and notifying an event (hereinafter called event notification function). The IETF is under studies on a transmission/reception method for presence information utilizing the event notification function of SIP (e.g., refer to IETF RFC3625, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-Specific Event Notification §1.1).
In a conventional presence service providing system, a terminal providing presence information supplies a presence server with location information (e.g., an IP address) and the like, and another terminal referring to presence information refers to the presence information stored in the presence server, using the event notification function. The presence server received the event notification function may authenticate the terminal by referring to the presence information. In accordance with the authentication result, the presence server controls open/not-open of the presence information.
In a conventional Mobile IP communication system, application of a mobile terminal uses a home address for communications, and does not use a Care of Address. Therefore, the application of the mobile terminal does not notify a Care of Address to a communication apparatus such as a presence server. A presence service providing method for a Mobile IP compatible mobile terminal is as follows, which is conceivable when a conventional communication control method is used.
First, a mobile terminal registers its Mobile IP location in HA. Next, the mobile terminal notifies a presence server of the presence information of the terminal. Although the presence information contains in some cases an IP address, this notified IP address is the home address. Next, an information delivery server acquires the presence information of the mobile terminal from the presence server. This presence information contains in some cases the home address of the mobile terminal. Therefore, when the information delivery server provides service by using the IP address of the mobile terminal, it is necessary to use the home address as the IP address, posing the problem that service cannot be provided to a Care of Address of the mobile terminal.
The service to a Care of Address may be information delivery service, originating call restriction service, terminating call restriction service in a network visited by a mobile terminal. If Mobile IP route optimization is performed, MN notifies arbitrary communication partners of binding information, posing the problem that security cannot be maintained.

Communication system and communication control equipment


A method for forming a trenched DMOS transistor with deep body regions that occupy minimal area on an epitaxial layer formed on a semiconductor substrate. A first oxide layer is formed over the epitaxial layer and patterned to define deep-body areas beneath which the deep body regions are to be formed. Next, diffusion-inhibiting regions of the first conductivity type are formed in each of the deep-body areas before forming a second oxide layer covering the deep-body areas and the remaining portion of the first oxide layer. Portions of the second oxide layer are then removed to expose the centers of the diffusion inhibiting regions, leaving the first oxide layer and oxide sidewall spacers from the second oxide layer to cover the peripheries of the diffusion-inhibiting regions. A deep-body diffusion of a second conductivity type is then performed, resulting in the formation of deep body regions in the epitaxial layer between the sidewall spacers. The peripheries of the diffusion-inhibiting regions covered by the remaining portions of the first and second oxide layers inhibit lateral diffusion of the deep body diffusions without significantly inhibiting diffusion depth.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to trenched transistors (both FET and bipolar) and more specifically to a trenched DMOS transistor.
2. Description of Related Technology
Double-diffused MOS (DMOS) transistors are a type of MOSFET in which diffusions form the active transistor regions. It is known to form such transistors in a silicon substrate using a trench lined with a thin oxide layer and filled with conductive polysilicon to form the transistor gate structure. These transistors are typically used for power applications, such as high-current switching applications.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional, hexagonally-shaped trench DMOS structure 21. Structure 21 includes an N+ substrate 23, on which is grown a lightly doped epitaxial layer (N) 25 of a predetermined depth d.sub.epi. Within epitaxial layer 25, a body region 27 of opposite conductivity (P, P+) is provided. Except in a certain central region that will be discussed shortly, the P body region 27 is substantially planar and lies a distance d.sub.min below the top surface of epitaxial layer 27. Another covering layer 28 (N+) overlying most of the body region 25 serves as the source of structure 21.
A hexagonally-shaped trench 29 is provided in epitaxial layer 25, opening toward the top and having a predetermined depth d.sub.tr. Trench 29 is lined with an oxide insulating layer 30 and filled with doped polysilicon. The trench 29 associated with a transistor cell defines a cell region 31 that is also hexagonally shaped in horizontal cross-section. Within cell region 31, the body region rises to the top surface of epitaxial layer 25 and forms an exposed pattern 33 in a horizontal cross section at the top surface of the cell region.
The central exposed portion 33 of the body region is more heavily doped (P+) than the substantially planar remainder of the body region. Further, this central portion of the body region (i.e., deep diffusion region 27C) extends below the surface of epitaxial layer 25 to a depth d.sub.max that is greater than the trench depth d.sub.tr. This is very important because any source-to-drain voltage breakdown is forced away from the trench surfaces (e.g., the portions of gate oxide 30 adjacent body region 27) and into the bulk of N+ substrate 23. Thus, deep diffusion region 27C prevents destructive breakdown of the gate oxide dielectric.
As discussed above, the use of deep diffusion region 27C provides a significant advantage in protecting the gate oxide. Unfortunately, the deeper a diffusion, the greater the extent of that diffusion's lateral encroachment of neighboring structures. Deep diffusions consequently require a large amount of die area, leading to inefficient device packing and increased device cost. Hence, there is a need for a structure that provides the advantages of a trenched DMOS transistor with deep diffusion regions while minimizing the area required to provide deep diffusion regions of sufficient depth.

Fabrication of high-density trench DMOS using sidewall spacers


An apparatus and method for ultra wideband (UWB) communication, using a dual band pass filter (BPF) is disclosed. The UWB communication apparatus may include a first BPF performing a first band pass filtering with respect to a UWB signal, a second BPF that has a center frequency differing from a center frequency of the first BPF, and performs a second band pass filtering with respect to the UWB signal, a first envelope detector that detects a size of a first signal filtered in the first BPF, a second envelope detector that detects a size of a second signal filtered in the second BPF, and a demodulator that demodulates a UWB signal, using the size of the first signal and the size of the second signal.

1. Field
The following description relates to an apparatus and method for ultra wideband (UWB) communication. More particularly, the description relates to an apparatus and method for frequency modulation (FM) demodulating of a UWB signal, using a dual band pass filter (BPF).
2. Description of Related Art
Ultra wideband (UWB) communication technology includes wireless communication technology that uses a high frequency band in a range of 3 gigahertz (GHz) to 10 GHz. The UWB communication technology may use a wide frequency band, and/or transmit data using an ultra high frequency (UHF).
Here, an apparatus for UWB communication, hereinafter referred to as a UWB communication apparatus, may be characterized by low power consumption in transmitting an impulse signal associated with a pulse width that is ultra short, through a frequency bandwidth of 500 megahertz (MHz). Such a UWB communication apparatus may readily be used for implementing a local area communication architecture, such as intelligent home network products, industrial products, military products, hearing aids, and the like, that require wireless communication with the characteristic of low power consumption.
In general, a UWB communication apparatus may demodulate a UWB signal which was previously modulated using an FM modulation scheme.
For example, a UWB communication apparatus may demodulate a UWB signal in a radio frequency (RF) domain, using an analog delay. Here, a delay cell of the RF domain may demodulate the UWB signal using a low power approach, such as by using an all pass filter (APF) that passes all bands. In this instance, the APF may demodulate the UWB signal, using a phase shift occurring when passing all bands.

Apparatus and method for ultra wideband communication using dual band pass filter


A wavelength converter structure according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a ferroelectric substrate, a ridge positioned on the ferroelectric substrate, a plurality of first domains positioned in the ridge and a plurality of second domains interleaved between the first domains in the ridge. The first domains have a first polarization direction and the second domains have a second polarization direction opposite to the first polarization direction. The refraction index of the ferroelectric substrate is different from the refraction index of the ridge. The ridge may include a rectangular portion, a taper portion, or a taper portion and a rectangular portion connected to the taper portion.

(A) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wavelength converter structure and method for preparing the same, and more particularly, to a wavelength converter structure including a ridge waveguide having a periodic poling region and method for preparing the same.
(B) Description of the Related Art
The periodic poling structure, formed on a ferroelectric single crystal such as lithium niobate, may be widely used in the optical fields such as optical storage and optical measurement. There are several methods for preparing the periodic poling structure, such as proton-exchanging, the electron beam-scanning method and the electric voltage applying method.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,515 discloses a method for manufacturing a polarization inversion part on a ferroelectric crystal substrate. The polarization inversion part is prepared by steps of forming a polarization inversion part by applying a voltage in the polarization direction of the ferroelectric crystal substrate, conducting a heat treatment for reducing an internal electric field generated in the substrate by having applied the voltage, and then reinverting polarization in a part of the polarization inversion part by applying a reverse direction voltage against the voltage that was already applied. In other words, the method for preparing a polarization inversion part disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,515 requires performing the application of electric voltage twice.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,353,495 discloses a method for forming an optical waveguide element. The disclosed method forms a convex ridge portion having a concave portion on a ferroelectric single crystalline substrate, and a ferroelectric single crystalline film is then formed in the concave portion. A comb-shaped electrode and a uniform electrode are formed on a main surface of the ferroelectric single crystalline substrate, and electric voltage is applied to these two electrodes to form a ferroelectric domain-inverted structure in the film in the concave portion.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,836,354 discloses a method for producing an optical waveguide by irradiating a laser beam onto an oxide single crystal material. The laser beam is irradiated onto an oxide single crystal to form an optical waveguide portion defined by laser working faces, which are then subjected to a wet etching process using, for example, a strong alkaline solution.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,231 discloses a method for preparing an Optical waveguide element. A ridge-type optical waveguide is joined to a surface of a substrate via a joining layer made of an amorphous material. Two grooves are formed to shape an optical waveguide of a ridge type structure by using a dicing device or a laser working device, and a machining like dicing is preferred.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Wavelength converter structure and method for preparing the same


The present invention is a method that (i) allows for creating micro and/or nanostructures on either planar or non-planar three-dimensional surfaces in a single molding step, and (ii) allows for the molded production of complex high-aspect ratio micro and/or nanostructures including but not limited to cylinders, conical structures, low aspect-ratio channels, bumps, or posts. An example of such a complex structure are high aspect ratio pillars with enlarged “mushroom-shaped” or undercut tips which demonstrate enhanced, repeatable adhesion and shear strength on a variety of substrates when compared with other micro and/or nanostructures and unstructured materials. The mold of such a material requires an “undercut” feature that cannot be produced using typical micro/nano-molding processing techniques.

There is a need in the current technology to incorporate simple or complex micro and/or nanoscale structures on surfaces of many different mass-produced molded parts. One example application of this invention is in the area of mass-production of solar panel clamping brackets with biologically-inspired adhesive microfibers on the glass-contacting surface to simplify the assembly of solar panel racking systems and improve their clamping ability with respect to non micropatterned alternative products. Incorporating biologically-inspired adhesive surfaces on molded parts may have a broader range of applications in the healthcare, defense, apparel, sporting good, and household good industries. For example, highly adhesive surfaces can be incorporated into the skin-contacting interfaces of sleep apnea masks or personal safety masks to improve the seal of the mask to the face and improve customer satisfaction or safety when using the products. Beyond the range of geometries of biologically-inspired fibrillar adhesives, this invention may be used to apply different micro and/or nanoscale structures to products which have applications in optics, fog resistance, pressure sensing, tissue engineering, microfluidics, and other applications known to those familiar in this field which could benefit from micro and/or nanoscale patterning.

Method of molding simple or complex micro and/or nanopatterned features on both planar or non-planar molded objects and surfaces and the molded objects produced using same


The invention provides a method for the improved generation of genetically modified cells in vitro, in order to obtain a population of effector cells with immunotherapeutic activity and methods of using such cells in protocols for adoptive cell therapy. The invention further provides non-viral genetically modified cells, cell populations and cell cultures and the use thereof in the treatment or prevention of diseases and disorders.

The development of immunotherapy protocols based on the adoptive transfer of genetically modified blood cells is currently considered an advanced therapeutic approach for the treatment of severe diseases such as recurrent cancers, viral infections and autoimmune diseases. The main applications exploit methods of genetic modifications through the stable integration into the target cell genome, to replace a compromised functionality or to allow de novo expression of an additional functional protein. Integration of the transgene expression cassettes is recommended in order to stably modify the genome of the target cells and to guarantee its transmission to the progeny. In recent years, several innovative methods have been developed to genetically engineer mononuclear cells (e.g., T cells, PBMCs), antigen presenting cells (APCs) or tumor cells in order to produce cytokines or co-stimulating molecules to potentiate the immune response, leading to a specific and long lasting response. For instance, several clinical trials have demonstrated that allogeneic or autologous irradiated tumor cell vaccines, GM-CSF-modified, were able to stimulate a long lasting immune response for the treatment of solid tumors such as melanoma (1). Specifically, the ectopic expression of proteins with immunotherapeutic activity is used to potentiate effector cells of the immune system with a novel function such as the expression of immunomodulating molecules, cytokines and their receptors (2), engineered receptors that redirect cell recognition specificity towards the target disease, such as artificial T cell receptors (TCRs), tumor-specific chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) (3), and suicide genes that control the activity of genetically modified cells in case of adverse events (4). For example, the modification of CD4+ lymphocytes with IL-10 or FOXP3, has allowed the generation of a stable cell population having phenotype and typical functions of regulatory T cells, T regulatory type 1 cells (Tr1) and FOXP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells (2, 5, 6). In recent years, the modification of T cells with artificial TCRs (T-TCR) and CARs (T-CAR) has found a strong rationale as a therapeutic approach against several tumor types. T cells engineered with artificial TCRs have been used in various clinical trials for the treatment of melanoma and synovial sarcoma, having MART 1 (7) or NY-ESO-1 as target antigens (8). CARs are artificial receptors made by an extracellular antigen-binding domain, derived from variable light and heavy (VL and VH) regions of a monoclonal antibody, linked together to form a single chain Fragment variable (scFv), a transmembrane domain and an intracellular signal transduction domain, made by the γ chain of Fc fragment of immunoglobulins, or by the ζ chain of the TCR/CD3 complex. Therefore, modification of T cells with CARs has allowed the antigenic recognition properties typical of monoclonal antibodies to be combined with the functional characteristics of T cells, such as migration, cytotoxicity, cytokine release, persistence and consequent amplification of immune response. This has produced various advantages over artificial TCRs: non HLA-restricted recognition of target cells; a large variety of tumor antigens that can be recognized as represented not only by peptides, but also by carbohydrates and glycolipids; and, finally, technically less complex production of the CAR, since it does not require the isolation of tumor-specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte (CTL) clones to identify high affinity TCRs. Compared with the use of monoclonal antibodies, genetic manipulation of T cells with TCRs or CARs confers improved biodistribution and immunological memory, thus granting a long lasting response. Moreover, with second and third generation CARs, it is possible to include one or two co-stimulatory molecules in the intracellular domains improving the survival and persistence of the cells in a hostile environment such as the tumor microenvironment. The promising preclinical results obtained with TCR and CAR modified T cells have prompted the development of clinical protocols that have shown to be effective in the control of solid and hematologic tumors. In the context of anti-cancer immunotherapy, the use of TCR and CAR-modified T cells demonstrates the improved efficacy in recent clinical trials for high risk, recurrent leukemias and lymphomas following treatment with chemotherapeutic agents and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (9-12). With the purpose to optimize the safety profile of adoptive cell therapy strategies, suicide genes allow the selective elimination of the modified cells upon prodrug administration, by encoding for enzymes leading to functional active toxic products that favor the activation of apoptosis or inhibit cell proliferation. The herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) has been shown to be effective in patients by rendering T cells susceptible to gancyclovir (13). Currently, several suicide gene systems are available and, in particular, the recently developed inducible Caspase 9 system (iC9), triggering apoptosis processes by conditional dimerization, displays an efficacy similar to the historical suicide system HSV-TK, with the advantage of a faster action and less immunogenicity (14). Currently, the feasibility and efficacy of gene transfer methods, coupled with the required manufacturing under GMP conditions and the safety concerns, represent critical aspects for the successful clinical application of cell-based immunotherapy approaches. Historically, the clinical application of gene transfer exploits the use of clinical-grade retroviral vectors, γ-retro, lenti, foamy and α-retro viruses, characterized by a high efficiency and stable gene transfer in primary cells (15, 16). However, non-viral methods of stable gene transfer have recently been developed, as alternatives to viral vectors, with the purpose to overcome cost, manufacturing and safety issues including insertional genotoxicity, which limit the clinical application of cells transduced with viral vectors to only few specialized centers and to a limited number of patients. The ex vivo use of plasmid DNA vectors associated with stable integration into the human genome, by transposons, Zn-finger nucleases (17) and integrases such as PhiC3 phage integrase (18), offers a valid alternative to viral methods, being easy to purify, less immunogenic and, in some cases, safer in terms of integration patterns (19). The coupled use of nucleic acids and the electroporation technique (20) or nucleofection technique, which facilitates the entry of macromolecules in the cell by means of exposure to an electromagnetic field, has been used to transfer genetic material in mammalian cells with high efficiency. For instance, transfecting cells with the Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon and transposase system is less expensive, being plasmid DNA easier to produce and easier to purify compared to viral vector systems, and the expression cassette is integrated by a non-homologous recombinant mechanism with a safer close-to-random distribution compared to γ-retro viral vectors that display a marked tendency to target gene promoters and an increased probability to deregulate the expression of the targeted genes (21). Other transposon systems have been evaluated as alternatives to SB, such as the PiggyBac (PB) transposon, which has a large cargo capacity and a higher transposition activity (22-24). However, in order to obtain highly efficient electroporation and/or nucleofection, strong magnetic fields are used together with high quantities of DNA. This procedure reduces cell survival and limits the possibility of obtaining sufficient numbers of efficiently modified cells, which represents a main requirement for conducting multicenter clinical trials and the subsequent commercial scale manufacturing of TCR or CAR cells for use in adoptive cell therapy. Significant efforts have been undertaken by various groups to render the SB system useful for the development of TCR and CAR-expressing T cells for clinical use (25-27).
Specifically, for the development of CAR therapies derived from Cytokine Induced Killer (CIK) cell cultures (28-30), the CIK cell cultures comprise heterogeneous populations of effector lymphocytes with acquired NK-like cytotoxicity generated by culturing peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in the presence of IFN-γ, IL-2 and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against CD3 enriched in highly efficient cytotoxic CD3+CD56+ cells, herein CIK cells. However, none of the currently published methods for T cell or NK cell stimulation and expansion following non-viral vector based nucleofection apply to CIK cells, as those methods were not designed to facilitate cell differentiation into the CIK cells (27, 31-33). The administration of irradiated PBMCs to a cell population undergoing cell expansion after nucleofection was previously described (25, 31, 33). The administration of irradiated PBMCs was reported to have taken place at varying time points in the respective studies, after nucleofected cells already had undergone stimulation/activation, substantial differentiation and/or expansion over the course of several days or several weeks. However, the methods of stimulation and expansion of CIK cells/CIK cell populations and T cells/T cell populations upon nucleofection with plasmidic DNA vectors to generate T-TCR, T-CAR, CIK cells modified with TCRs (CIK-TCR) or CIK cells modified with CARs (CIK-CAR) or cell populations modified with TCRs (CIK-TCR cell populations) or CARs (CIK-CAR cell populations), such as CIK cell cultures, reported to date are not optimal for efficient cell stimulation and expansion, sufficient to support large scale utility TCR, CAR therapies in multi-center clinical trials or in the commercial market place.
In particular, the inventors have found that addition of irradiated PBMCs after nucleofection by the Sleeping Beauty system encoding two distinct CD19- and CD123-specific CARs in differentiated CIK cell cultures leads to an average transfection at 24 hours of 16.7% and a mean survival percentage of 15% and 18.8% for CD19.CAR and CD123.CAR, respectively (n=4). The CD3+/CD56+ phenotype of CIK cells was affected, with a percentage at the end of differentiation of only 20.5% and 21.3% for CD19.CAR and CD123.CAR respectively, and the cell expansion was 9.3 and 8.2 respectively, measured as fold increase within 3 weeks. CIK cell cultures expressed the CAR molecules with a frequency of 6.0% and 4.5% for CD19.CAR and CD123.CAR respectively, and the viability of the final cell product was 4.9% and 3.9% respectively (data not published). Although these results provide pre-clinical evidence that transfection and expansion of CIK cells expressing CAR molecules is possible, they also show that transfection and expansion of CIK cells expressing CAR molecules is not sufficient to support large scale, clinically useful platforms for CAR therapy.
Accordingly, there is therefore a strong interest in developing methods of non-viral modification of mononuclear cells coupled with more efficient cell stimulation and expansion platforms for the development of T-TCR, T-CAR, CIK-TCR and CIK-CAR cells and cell populations for immunotherapeutic applications, which would require limited manipulation and/or stimulation and allow for the simple scale-up and automation of related manufacturing processes.
The present invention offers a solution to this problem, making available highly efficient and commercially viable methods to obtain the stable expression of nucleic acids in cells by non-viral gene transfer coupled with the efficient stimulation and expansion of the transfected cells.
All references to patents, patent applications and publications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Method for the generation of genetically modified cells

FONDAZIONE MATILDE TETTAMANTI E MENOTTI DE MARCHI ONLUS


A course evaluation apparatus includes an estimated-course-group generation portion that generates a plurality of estimated course groups for a movable body; and a course evaluation portion that performs a course evaluation on the plurality of estimated course groups with respect to at least two different evaluation criteria.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a course evaluation apparatus and a course evaluation method that perform a course evaluation for a movable body such as a vehicle.
Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-230454 (JP-A-2007-230454) describes an apparatus that evaluates a course for a movable body. The apparatus evaluates a course along which a specific object among a plurality of objects may move. The apparatus generates trajectories indicating time-dependent changes in positions at which the plurality of objects may be located, in a time-space constituted by time and space. Then, the apparatus estimates courses along which the plurality of objects may move, using the trajectories. Then, the apparatus quantitatively calculates the degree of interference between the course along which the specific object may move and the courses along which the other objects may move, using the results of the estimation.
The apparatus evaluates the courses with respect to one evaluation criterion, that is, the degree of interference (possibility of collision). However, the courses may be evaluated with respect to other evaluation criteria such as the efficiency of movement (degree of smoothness of movement), in addition to the degree of interference. For example, a plurality of estimated courses may be generated, the estimated courses may be evaluated with respect to two evaluation criteria, that is, the degree of interference and the efficiency of movement, and the optimum estimated course may be selected.
However, in this case, there is a possibility that one estimated course meets the evaluation criterion of the degree of interference, but does not meet the evaluation criterion of the efficiency of movement, and the other estimated course meets the evaluation criterion of the efficiency of movement, but does not meet the evaluation criterion of the degree of interference. As a result, it may not be possible to find an appropriate estimated course. That is, it may not be possible to select an appropriate course.

Course evaluation apparatus and course evaluation method


This disclosure relates to cyclodextrin-based drug delivery agents that comprise a cyclodextrin moiety covalently linked to a moiety of a gemini surfactant. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the drug delivery agent and a therapeutic agent are also disclosed.

Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide and according to the Canadian Cancer Society, cancer is the leading cause of early death in Canada. One Canadian is diagnosed with cancer every four minutes, while one individual in Canada dies every eight minutes from cancer. Cancer therapy, despite formidable efforts in oncology research, remains largely ineffective. In addition to limited specificity and high overall toxicity of the anticancer agents,1 chemoresistance is a major contributor to this inefficiency.2 One of the cancer types that urgently needs efficient therapy is melanoma.3 Melanoma is a malignant skin disease primarily caused by damaging UV rays from the sunlight on the genetic material in melanocytes. The number of melanoma cases has been increasing worldwide with over 200,000 cases diagnosed every year. The cost of a 5-year treatment of advanced-stage melanoma is $160,000 in the US and it is considered the most expensive neoplastic disorder.4 The total cost for the treatment of melanoma is estimated to be $5 billion in 2010. Melanoma is considered the most dangerous of the skin diseases due to its high propensity for metastasis. Currently, there is a lack of efficient and specific non-invasive treatment for melanoma, especially for the in-transit metastatic melanoma which develops between the primary lesion and the regional lymph nodes. The prognosis for this stage is as poor as for multiple nodal metastases. The possibility of surgical resection is limited and systemic treatment is not beneficial. Isolated limb perfusion or infusion with melphalan, complicated procedures requiring highly qualified personnel and specialized equipment are the only viable therapy.3

Drug delivery agents comprising cyclodextrin covalently linked to a gemini surfactant, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same


Electromyogram, temperature and heart rate measurements, which correlate to the dermatomal level and density of neural blockade, are obtained in a passive manner, i.e., the patient is not stimulated or exposed to any sensor that requires an active conduction in order to make a measurement and no active patient participation or response is required. The measurements obtained provide objective and quantitative indications of, for example, epidural blockade with local anesthetics, thus, allowing objective real-time assessment of density and level of neural blockade.

The invention relates to the monitoring of the effectiveness of anesthetics in humans or animals and, more specifically, provides a method for passively, non-invasively and objectively quantifying the level and density of a neural blockade.
Some qualitative and active response evaluations have been applied to the measurement of neural blockade; however, reliability, repeatability, and inter-patient correlation can be subject to large variation. Confounding difficulties exist when the patient cannot or will not respond to tests such as needle sticks, pinches, or cold stimuli to determine blockade effectiveness. Furthermore, an individual's perception of pain or cold cannot be correlated to a reference standard.
There are limited reports on the effectiveness of using quantitative monitors as a measure of neural blockade while performing comparative studies of anesthetic agents. Studies have recognized the blockade of abdominal muscles using electromyography (EMG) during lumbar epidural analgesia. One such study required active participation from the subject. Others have examined the effect of different local anesthetics on motor blockade and EMG.
Despite the above, it remains the case that there exists no method to quantify, passively and routinely, the anatomic level or density (completeness of block at a particular dermatomal level) of a neural blockade, e.g., local anesthetic epidural blockade, by non-invasive, objective, and automated means.

Passive, non-invasive method to quantify objectively the level and density of a neural blockade


A portable system, method thereof, and a power consumption controller for controlling power consumption in a portable system are described. The portable system may include a storage unit, a module processing data, and a controller regulating power supplied to the module. The controller may regulate the module to perform a backup operation when a power saving mode begins and to interrupt the power after the backup operation is completed.

Portable apparatuses and/or systems are supplied with power using a variety of techniques, for example, using battery packs having predetermined capacities. Accordingly, reducing power consumption may increase the amount of time a portable apparatus and/or system may be used before a battery pack requires replacement and/or recharging. Conventional systems and/or methods of reducing power consumption may be in the form of hardware improvements, for example, power devices, the use and/or development of materials, and software solutions including, but not limited to, adjusting powering conditions of peripheral devices by operating systems and application programs. However, while these conventional methods reduce power consumption by decreasing operational currents, it may be difficult and/or impossible to reduce power consumption due to static current of power supply voltages supplied into operation modules or due to leakage currents in modules using conventional methods and/or systems.

System and apparatus for allowing data of a module in power saving mode to remain accessible


A cooling stand for preconditioning a cooling probe containing a refrigerant that includes a well in which the probe is removably mounted against a heat transfer interface and a heat pump in the stand for removing energy from a thermal storage material to pre-cool the probe prior to use. In one embodiment of the invention, a cold reservoir containing a phase change material is mounted in the stand which acts as a heat sink for the heat pump. The heat pump is reversed when the probe is removed to cool the reservoir.

This invention relates to a cold stand for charging a removable, hand-held, cooling probe or similar portable cooling device in order to precondition it for use at a remote location.
One type of hand-held, cooling probe is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,396 to Faiola. A probe such as this is a simple, hollow wand containing a refrigerant that is placed in thermal contact with a body to be chilled. The refrigerant may be a liquid, a solid or a phase change material that can change from a liquid state to a frozen state. The latent heat of fusion is used in this latter instance to produce rapid chilling of the body being acted upon. Because this probe does not contain components, it is referred to herein as a passive probe.
Another example of a hand-held, cooling probe is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,133,539 to Eidus. In this case, the probe is used for medical purposes to treat skin lesions such as warts and the like. The probe contains a thermoelectric heat pump that employs the Peltier Effect at its proximal end and the hot junction of the heat pump is in contact with a heat sink in the form of a reservoir containing water or other suitable material. A tip is removably mounted in the proximal end of the probe in thermal contact with the cold junction of the heat pump. The tip is thermally conductive so that it will rapidly pull heat from the contacted body through the heat pump to produce rapid freezing. The heat energy is ultimately rejected by the heat pump into the reservoir. This type of probe is referred to herein as an active probe.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,229 to Privas there is described another active, hand-held, medical probe that also contains a thermoelectric heat pump at one end thereof that is capable of attaining relatively low temperatures at its cold junction. The probe also contains a rechargeable battery for driving the heat pump. A probe stand is also provided which electrically connects the probe to an outside source of electrical power. When the probe is in the stand, the battery is recharged and the heat pump is controlled to operate at a desired operating level by the stand control electronics.
Although the probes such as this are predominantly used for chilling below the heat sink temperature, a switching mechanism allows the current to the heat pump to be reversed so that the probe can also be used for heating above the heat sink temperature. When in a chilling mode, heat is rejected by the heat pump into a heat sink and carried away to ambient by a fan.
One problem faced by those using hand-held probes of this nature is that of preconditioning the probe to perform its intended task. Although some stands, such as that disclosed by Privas, are capable of providing electrical power to the probe, none of these stands have the ability to deliver or accept thermal energy to or from the probe.


An image processing apparatus of the invention includes: a plurality of processing units which share image processing; a parameter memory unit which holds a parameter specifying an operation of each of the processing units; and a control unit which controls the plurality of processing units, and the control unit includes: a sequence management unit which activates each of the processing units according to a sequence indicating a sequence of activation of and completion of processing by each of the processing units, and confirms completion of the processing; and a parameter setting unit which, in advance of activation of each of the processing units by the sequence management unit, reads a parameter for each processing unit to be activated, from the parameter memory unit according to a memory map indicating an address of the parameter for the processing unit, and sets the parameter to the processing unit according to the read result.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus used for image filtering processing, an image codec and the like.
(2) Description of the Related Art
With the significant technological progress of digital video equipments in recent years, there are increasing opportunities to perform image processing such as image compression/decompression processing and filtering. In the case of performing such image processing, an image processing apparatus is often used in which processing is divided and the divided processing operations are performed in parallel in a plurality of processing units. However, in the middle of the technological competition, such an image processing apparatus is strictly restricted in terms of processing performance and an amount of memory used, and the image processing is increasing in complexity along with the technological progress.
In the case of parallel operations of the plurality of processing units as described above, conventionally, a CPU controls each of the processing units. The CPU also calculates a parameter necessary for operation of each of the processing units, and set the parameter to each of the processing units. For enhancing the processing performance, interrupt is generated to the CPU upon each processing completion of the processing units, and the CPU subsequently performs parameter setting and making an activation request for a processing unit to be activated next.
The problem here lies in that, since the CPU controls each of the processing units, interrupt is generated to the CPU upon each processing completion of the processing units, which causes deterioration in processing performance in parameter calculation and parameter setting by the CPU. Further, the CPU has a heavy load because of performing processing of parameter calculation, parameter setting, activation order control and synchronous control for each of the processing units, which may slow down the rate of processing performance of the entire system according to that of the CPU.
Further, more parallel operations of the CPU and the processing units are required for improvement in processing performance of the system. However, it is necessary for the CPU and the processing units to operate in synchronization with each other, e.g. the CPU needs to wait for processing completion of the processing unit before performing parameter setting and making an activation request for the processing unit, thereby making it difficult to improve the parallelism.
Further, there are often cases where the processing unit is converted for improving the processing performance of the system or reducing power consumption. In such cases, a CPU program needs to be changed at each change in interface of the processing unit, and hence the compatibility of the CPU program is low. There are also cases where each of the processing units is intended to be operated more parallely for the purpose of improving the processing performance. In such cases, the order of activation of each of the processing units is often intended to be converted based upon a band width of a data transfer bus or performance of each of the processing units. Also in such cases, there is the problem of low compatibility of the CPU program.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-241983, each of the processing units by itself reads a parameter for next activation from a memory at the time of processing completion of the processing unit, and successively operates based upon the parameter, to reduce a load on the CPU processing. In an apparatus according to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2003-241983, parameters are set from a CPU to a memory, and an activation request is made to the processing unit after completion of all the settings. A mechanism for reading a parameter from the memory is present in every processing unit, and the processing unit reads the parameter by itself and successively repeats the processing, Further, the apparatus is provided with a synchronous mechanism where the parameter has a synchronous bit therein and the processing unit is held in a waiting state until processing completion of another processing unit according to the state of the synchronous bit in the parameter.
According to this technique, there is no need for the CPU to perform parameter setting and control on each of the processing units, leading to reduction in load on the CPU.


An interface adapter enables a replacement controller to be mechanically received in a housing configured for an older model controller having a larger volume. Moreover, the interface adapter enables terminals of the replacement controller having a first configuration to be connected to the contacts of a housing connecter having a second configuration configured to couple with contacts of the older model controller. The interface adapter includes a faceplate having a central aperture for receiving the replacement controller and a pair of sideboard printed circuit boards (PCBs) positioned perpendicular to a surface of the faceplate in spaced parallel relation on opposite sides of the central receiving aperture. A main PCB is electrically and mechanically connected between the sideboard PCBs. The main PCB and the sideboard PCBs have contacts adjacent their ends opposite the faceplate. A first connector has a first part affixed to the main PCB and has contacts electrically connected to the contacts of the main PCB and the sideboard PCBs. The first connector has a second part electrically connected to terminals of the replacement controller via flexible conductors. The replacement controller and the interface adapter are assembled by inserting the replacement controller through the central receiving aperture of the faceplate and connecting the first and second parts of the first connector. The assembled interface adapter is inserted into the housing and the contacts of the main PCB and the sideboard PCBs are moved into connecting engagement with the contacts of the housing connector.

1. Field of the Invention
Th is invention relates to an interface adapter which enables terminals of a replacement controller having a first configuration to be connected to connectors of a housing having a second configuration.
2. Background Art
Process controllers are often received in protective housings which protect the controller from the environment and which provide for easy installation and removal of the controller. Such housings typically include an array of terminals positioned on the back of the housing. These terminals are electrically connected to contacts inside the housing. These contacts are received within a housing connector that is attached to the housing or is formed as an integral part of the housing. When the controller is inserted into the housing, terminals or contacts positioned on the controller connect to the contacts of the housing connector. More specifically, the contacts or terminals of the controller and the contacts of the housing connector have the same configuration. Hence, when the controller is inserted in the housing, the contacts of the controller are positioned to connect with the contacts of the housing connector. Examples of such controllers include Barber Colman Company 560/570 Controllers.
Microelectronic miniaturization enables controllers performing the same or more functions to be packaged into a smaller volume than an older model controller. In the event it is necessary to replace an older model controller with a replacement controller having a smaller volume, there arises a need to interface the replacement controller to the contacts of the housing connecter. However, heretofore electrical connection of such a replacement controller to contacts of a housing connector required extensive manual wiring therebetween or complete replacement and upgrading of the housing at additional costs of materials and labor to install.
It is the object of the present invention to avoid the foregoing problems by providing an interface adapter which enables electrical connection between terminals of a replacement controller having a first configuration and contacts of a housing connector having a second configuration.
Still other objects will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description.


Delivery systems and methods are provided for delivering a biologically active protein to a host animal. The systems and methods provided include obtaining an algal cell transformed by an expression vector, the expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for the biologically active protein, operably linked to a promoter. In one illustrated embodiment, the biologically active protein is an antigenic epitope and upon administration to the animal the algal cell induces an immune response in the host animal.

Proteins, dipeptide and polypeptide (hereinafter collectively referred to as proteins) are responsible for most of the activities of a cell, such as catalysis, communication, defense, movement, and transport.
Proteins can be delivered to animals for the purpose of activating or supplementing a biological activity. Examples include antigens that activate an immune response and hormones that regulate growth and development.
The bases of a protein's biological activity is its sequence and/or conformation. Hence, the biologically active portion (such as an epitome) should remain essentially intact until it reaches its target destination. Factors that could limit the biological activity of a protein include chemical and enzymatic denaturation, as well as structural barriers that preclude entry into the animal or access to the target destination.
The patent describes a method for producing, and then delivering biologically active proteins to an animal using transgenic algae. The delivery of an antigen to an animal and activation of an immune response is offered as a specific example.
Infectious Disease in Humans
Infectious disease is an age-old problem. Early in human history, infectious diseases such as smallpox, bubonic plague, influenza, measles and many others caused epidemics and countless deaths. More recently, epidemics of Legionnaires' disease, human immunodeficiency virus, Ebola virus, Lyme disease, and others have been significant threats to human health.
Solutions to Infectious Disease
Early in human history, quarantine of infected individuals and improved sanitation measures were used to decrease the spread of infectious disease. Later, chemotherapeutic agents (drugs) were invented and, early on, included chemicals like sulfur and mercury. Modern chemotherapeutics include antibiotics, antiviral drugs, and antiparasitic drugs. Although essential, there are properties of such drugs that are not ideal. For example, drugs do not prevent disease. Rather, drugs are administered after a disease is diagnosed. Another problem is that infectious agents can develop resistance to the drugs such that the drugs are no longer effective against the infectious agents. Finally, drugs can cause serious side affects in the individual to which they are administered.
An alternative to chemotherapeutic agents is administration of immunogenic agents, wherein the immunogens that comprise a composition originating from the infectious agent whose infection one is trying to prevent. After administration, such immunogenic compositions preferably stimulate the immune system such that subsequent infection by the infectious agent is prevented, or disease symptoms caused by the infectious agent are decreased. Such immunogenic compositions are advantageous in that they are administered before the individual contracts the infectious agent. The stimulation of immunity in the individual caused by administration of the immunogenic composition, therefore, is designed to prevent infection and disease. Such immunogenic compositions normally produce few side effects in the individual to which the composition is administered. Finally, infectious agents do not normally develop resistance to immunity that develops as a result of administration of the antigen composition.
Infectious Disease in Non-Human Animals
Infectious diseases in non-human animals also cause significant morbidity and mortality. Such disease is important, not only because non-human animals can sometimes transmit the infectious agents to humans, but also because non-human animals and the products thereof are important human food sources and their loss is economically burdensome.
Infectious Diseases in Aquaculture
An example of an area where infectious non-human animal diseases continue to affect an important human food source is aquaculture. Aquaculture is the fanning of aquatic organisms, including fish and other seafood, for human consumption. Currently in the U.S., the domestic fishing industry meets only a small part of the total demand for fish. In 1997, for example, the federal trade deficit for imported fish was nearly $9 billion, the third largest component of the U.S. foreign trade deficit.
In an attempt to meet the demand for fish, the aquaculture industry has responded and, in 1997, produced over $55 billion in farmed fish (statistic from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). Furthermore, the aquaculture industry has grown, historically between 10-20% per year for the last ten years. Therefore, it is clear that aquaculture is a rapidly emerging supplement and replacement for the traditional fishing industry and has tremendous growth potential.
One of the major constraints for aquaculture, however, is disease. Under the high density conditions under which fish and other aquatic organisms are farmed, the incidence of infectious disease can be high and, when disease does occur, it can spread rapidly through entire populations with high mortality. On average, 10-30% of farmed fish production, and up to 80% of shrimp production, is lost due to disease (Austin B., et al., 1987 Bacterial Fish Pathogens: Disease in Farmed and Wild Fish, 364 pp Publishers: (Ellis Horwood Ltd., Chichester, UK)).
Solutions to Infectious Diseases in Aquaculture
Again using aquaculture as a specific example, fish diseases with a bacterial etiology can be effectively treated with chemotherapeutic agents from the class called antibiotics. However, as much as 80% of the antibiotic may pass through the fish (Pothuluri, et al.,1998, Res. Dev. Microbiol 2:351-372), and development of bacteria resistant to the antibiotic may also arise. Such antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens can spread, creating entire fish populations harboring pathogenic bacteria that are resistant to the antibiotic. Clearly, it would be advantageous to prevent infection of the fish by the bacteria altogether. Another consideration is that viral and parasitic diseases cannot be treated with antibiotics.
Another strategy for preventing infection and reducing fish losses due to disease is prophylactic administration of an antigen composition, wherein the antigens are derived from an infectious agent, to stimulate the immune system of fish, other aquatic organisms, or other organisms generally (Gudding, et al.,1999, Vet. Immun. Immunopath. 72: 203-212).
Methods of Introducing Antigens into Animals
One problem with antigen compositions, especially in fish, is that many methods for administering them may not be technically or economically practical. For example, direct injection of the antigen composition into fish is labor intensive and is often expensive relative to the future market value of the fish. Furthermore, injection needles can cross-infect fish with contaminating infectious agents, and accidental injection of humans can cause severe infections and anaphylactic reactions. In addition, noninjurious injection of small fish may be difficult.
An alternative route of administration is an oral method wherein the antigen composition is incorporated into the fish food, for example. Another improved method of administering antigens to fish is immersion of the fish for a preset period of time in a suspension of the antigen. However, it can be costly to produce, purify, and package the antigens for such use. Prior art methods of producing antigens have involved the difficulty of growing fish viruses in culture systems to produce enough virus to obtain a sufficient quantity of antigen. In addition, antigen compositions to be administered orally are often encapsulated in expensive polysaccharide-coated beads. Finally, oral administration of antigen compositions have previously shown low and inconsistent levels of stimulation of the fish immune system, thereby minimizing protection against subsequent infection by the infectious agent.

Transgenic algae for delivering antigens to an animal


The invention relates to a cylinder head arrangement for a piston compressor, particularly for a hermetically enclosed refrigerant compressor, with a valve plate, a suction gas channel, a discharge chamber and a retainer element for a discharge valve. It is endeavoured to improve the efficiency of the piston compressor. For this purpose, it is ensured that the suction gas channel and the discharge chamber are arranged on different sides of the retainer element.

In such a piston compressor, gas, for example the gas of a refrigerant, is sucked into a compression chamber of the compressor via the suction gas channel. When the volume of the compression chamber is reduced, the gas is compressed, and discharged via the discharge gas channel, when reaching a predetermined pressure. A discharge valve controls this discharge. The retainer element is provided to ensure a limitation of the opening of the discharge valve.
The compression of the gas in the compression chamber causes an increase of the gas temperature. On the other hand, the temperature of the suction gas should of course be as low as possible, in order that the compression chamber can be filled with the largest possible gas amount. The higher the temperature of the suction gas, the poorer the efficiency of the compressor.
In a motor compressor known from DE 32 42 858 A1, the suction gas and the discharge gas are led in parallel for a certain distance. This gives relatively large contact areas, in which the channels or chambers, which carry the suction gas or the discharge gas, respectively, are adjacent to each other. Thus, a relatively large amount of heat from the hot discharge gas can be transferred to the suction gas.
The invention is based on the task of improving the efficiency of a piston compressor.

Cylinder head arrangement for a piston compressor


A fluid container and method for inhibiting the growth of microbes in liquid nutrient in a container, the container having an interior surface having a metal-ion sequestering agent for removing a designated metal ion from the liquid nutrient for inhibiting growth of microbes in the liquid nutrient.

It has been recognized that small concentrations of metal ions play an important role in biological processes. For example, Mn, Fe, Ca, Zn, Cu and Al are essential bio-metals, and are required for most, if not all, living systems. Metal ions play a crucial role in oxygen transport in living systems, and regulate the function of genes and replication in many cellular systems. Calcium is an important structural element in the life of bacteria regulating enzyme activity. Mn, Cu and Fe are involved in metabolism and enzymatic processes. At high concentrations, metals may become toxic to living systems and the organism may experience disease or illness if the level cannot be controlled. As a result, the availability, and concentrations, of metal ions in biological environments is a major factor in determining the abundance, growth-rate and health of plant, animal and micro-organism populations.
It has also been recognized that iron is an essential biological element, and that all living organisms require iron for survival and replication. Although, the occurrence and concentration of iron is relatively high on the earth's surface, the availability of "free" iron is severely limited by the extreme insolubility of iron in aqueous environments. As a result, many organisms have developed complex methods of procuring "free" iron for survival and replication.
Articles, such as food and beverage containers are needed that are able to improve food quality, to increase shelf-life, to protect from microbial contamination, and to do so in a manner that is safe for the user of such items and that is environmentally clean while providing for the general safety and health of the public. Materials and methods are needed to prepare articles having antimicrobial properties that are less, or not, susceptible to microbial resistance. Methods are needed that are able to target and remove specific, biologically important, metal ions while leaving intact the concentrations of beneficial metal ions.
During the process of filling containers with certain beverages and foods air borne pathogens enter the containers after the flash pasteurization or pasteurization part of the process. These pathogens such as yeast, spores, bacteria, etc. will grow in the nutrient rich beverage or food ruining the taste or even causing hazardous microbiological contamination. While some beverages are packaged by aseptic means or by utilizing preservatives, many other beverages, for example fruit juices, teas and isotonic drinks are "hot-filled". "Hot-filling" involves the filling of a container with a liquid beverage having some elevated temperature (typically, at about 180-200° F.). The container is capped and allowed to cool, producing a partial vacuum therein. The process of hot filling of beverages and foods is used to kill the pathogens, which enter the container during the filling of the beverage or food containers. Hot filling requires containers be made of certain materials or constructed in a certain fashion such as thicker walls to withstand the hot filling process. The energy required for hot filling adds to the cost of the filling process. Temperatures required for hot filling have a detrimental effect on the flavor of the beverage. Other methods of filling such as aseptic filling require large capital expenditures and maintaining class 5 clean room conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,854,303 discloses a polymeric material incorporating a polyvalent cation chelating agent in an amount effective to inhibit the growth of a protozoan on the surface of contact lenses and in other eye care products.

Container for inhibiting microbial growth in liquid nutrients


Disclosed herein are a composite conductive sheet that has rigid conductors movable in a thickness-wise direction of an insulating sheet without falling off from the insulating sheet and is easy to handle by itself, a production process thereof, and an anisotropically conductive connector, an adaptor device and an electrical inspection apparatus for circuit devices, which are each equipped with this composite conductive sheet.

With respect to a circuit board for making up or mounting electronic parts, such as packaged LSIs such as BGA and CSP, MCM, and other integrated circuit devices, it is generally necessary to inspect the electrical properties of the circuit board before the electronic parts are assembled or mounted for the purpose of confirming that a wiring pattern of the circuit board has the expected performance.
As a method for performing electrical inspection of a circuit board, there has heretofore been known a method making combined use of an inspection electrode device, in which a plurality of inspection electrodes are arranged according to positions of lattice points located vertically and laterally, and an adaptor for electrically connecting the inspection electrodes of this inspection electrode device to electrodes to be inspected of a circuit board that is an object of inspection, or the like. The adaptor used in this method is composed of a printed wiring board called a pitch-changing board.
As this adaptor, are known that having, on one surface thereof, a plurality of connecting electrodes arranged in accordance with a pattern corresponding to electrodes to be inspected of a circuit board, which is an object of inspection, and, on the other surface, a plurality of terminal electrodes arranged at positions of lattice points of the same pitch as inspection electrodes of an inspection electrode device, that having, on one surface thereof, plural pairs of connecting electrodes each composed of a connecting electrode for current supply and a connecting electrode for voltage measurement and arranged in accordance with a pattern corresponding to electrodes to be inspected of a circuit board, which is an object of inspection, and, on the other surface, a plurality of terminal electrodes arranged at positions of lattice points of the same pitch as inspection electrodes of an inspection electrode device, and the like. The former adaptor is used in, for example, an open short-circuit test of each circuit in a circuit board, and the latter adaptor is used in an electric resistance-measuring test of each circuit in a circuit board.
In order to achieve stable electrical connection of the circuit board, which is the object of inspection, to the adaptor in the electrical inspection of the circuit board, it is generally conducted to cause an anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet to intervene between the circuit board, which is the object of inspection, and the adaptor.
This anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet is a sheet exhibiting conductivity only in its thickness-wise direction or having a great number of pressure-sensitive conductive conductor parts exhibiting conductivity only in the thickness-wise direction when they are pressurized.
Those of various structures have heretofore been known as such anisotropically conductive elastomer sheets. For example, Patent Art. 1 discloses an anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet (hereinafter also referred to as "dispersion type anisotropically conductive sheet") with conductive particles exhibiting magnetism contained in a state that the conductive particles have been oriented in an elastic polymeric substance so as to align in a thickness-wise direction of the sheet to form chains, and in a state that the chains formed of the conductive particles have been dispersed in a plane direction of the sheet, Patent Art. 2 discloses an anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet (hereinafter also referred to as "uneven distribution type anisotropically conductive sheet") obtained by unevenly distributing conductive particles exhibiting magnetism in an elastomer, thereby forming a great number of conductive path-forming parts each extending in a thickness-wise direction of the sheet and an insulating part mutually insulating them, and Patent Art. 3 discloses an uneven distribution type anisotropically conductive sheet with a difference in level defined between the surface of each conductive path-forming part and an insulating part.
These anisotropically conductive elastomer sheets are obtained by, for example, subjecting a molding material layer with conductive particles exhibiting magnetism contained in a liquid polymeric substance-forming material, which will become an elastic polymeric substance by being cured, to a curing treatment while or after a magnetic field is applied to the molding material layer in a thickness-wise direction thereof. In such an anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet, the conductive particles are contained in the base material composed of the elastic polymeric substance in a state oriented so as to align in the thickness-wise direction to form chains, and a conductive path by a chain formed of the conductive particles is formed by pressurizing the sheet in the thickness-wise direction.
When the dispersion type anisotropically conductive sheet is compared with the uneven distribution type anisotropically conductive sheet, the dispersion type anisotropically conductive sheet has the advantage compared with the uneven distribution type anisotropically conductive sheet in that the dispersion type anisotropically conductive sheet can be produced at low cost without using a special and expensive mold and can be used irrespective of the pattern of electrodes to be connected and thus has general-purpose property.
On the other hand, in the uneven distribution type anisotropically conductive sheet, the insulating part mutually insulating adjacent conductive path-forming parts is formed between the adjacent conductive path-forming parts, so that the uneven distribution type anisotropically conductive sheet has the advantage of having performance that electrical connection to respective electrodes can be achieved in a state that necessary insulating property has been secured between adjacent electrodes even about an object of connection, in which a clearance between adjacent electrodes is small, i.e., having high resolving power compared with the dispersion type anisotropically conductive sheet.
In order to improve resolving power in the dispersion type anisotropically conductive sheet, it is essential to make the thickness of the dispersion type anisotropically conductive sheet small.
However, an anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet having a small thickness involves a problem that performance that variations of height in respective electrodes to be connected can be absorbed to achieve electrical connection to the electrodes, i.e., irregularity-absorbing ability is low. More specifically, the irregularity-absorbing ability of an anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet is about 20% of the thickness of the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet. For example, in an anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet having a thickness of 100 μm, stable electrical connection can be achieved even to an object of connection, in which variations of height in electrodes are about 20 μm. In an anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet having a thickness of 50 μm, it is however difficult to achieve stable electrical connection to an object of connection, in which variations of height in electrodes exceed 10 μm.
In order to solve such a problem, there has been proposed an anisotropically conductive connector composed of a composite conductive sheet including an insulating sheet and tapered movable conductors fitted to tapered through-holes formed in the insulating sheet and provided in the through-holes movably in a thickness-wise direction of the insulating sheet, and two anisotropically conductive elastomer sheets respectively arranged on both surfaces of the composite conductive sheet. (see, for example, Patent Art. 4).
According to the anisotropically conductive connector having such a composite conductive sheet, the movable electrodes in the composite conductive sheet are provided movably in the thickness-wise direction of the sheet, so that the two anisotropically conductive elastomer sheets arranged respectively on one surface and the other surface of the composite conductive sheet are compressed and deformed interlockingly with each other when pressurized in the thickness-wise direction, and so the total of the irregularity-absorbing abilities possessed by both elastomer sheets is developed as the irregularity-absorbing ability of the anisotropically conductive connector. Accordingly, high irregularity-absorbing ability can be achieved.
It is only necessary to secure the thickness required to achieve necessary irregularity-absorbing ability by the total thickness of the two anisotropically conductive elastomer sheets, so that anisotropically conductive elastomer sheets having a small thickness may be used as the respective anisotropically conductive elastomer sheets, and so high resolving power can be achieved.
However, the above-described anisotropically conductive connector actually involves the following problems.
In the anisotropically conductive connector as above, the movable conductors in the composite conductive sheet are supported by both insulating sheet and anisotropically conductive elastomer sheets, and the movable conductors may possibly fall off from the insulating sheet when the composite conductive sheet is separated from the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheets, so that it is actually extremely difficult to handle the composite conductive sheet by itself. Accordingly, when trouble occurs on one of the composite conductive sheet and the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheets in the anisotropically conductive connector, only the composite conductive sheet or anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet cannot be replaced by new one, and the whole anisotropically conductive connector must be replaced by new one.
The movable conductors of the composite conductive sheet are obtained by depositing a metal in each of the tapered through-holes formed in the insulating sheet by a plating treatment to form a metal body and mechanically pressing this metal body, thereby separating the metal body adhered to the inner surface of the through-hole. However, when an anisotropically conductive connector having a great number of movable conductors is produced, it is difficult to surely separate all metal bodies formed in the insulating sheet from the respective inner surfaces of the insulating sheet, so that inconvenience is caused to the function of a part of the movable conductors.    Patent Art. 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 93393/1976;    Patent Art. 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 147772/1978;    Patent Art. 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 250906/1986;    Patent Art. 4: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-351702.

Composite conductive sheet, method for producing the same, anisotropic conductive connector, adapter, and circuit device electric inspection device

Abstract: The composite conductive sheet of the invention has an insulating sheet, in which a plurality of through-holes each extending in a thickness-wise direction of the sheet are formed, and rigid conductors arranged respectively in the through-holes in the insulating sheet so as to protrude from both surfaces of the insulating sheet, wherein each of the rigid conductors has terminal portions formed on both ends of a body portion inserted into the through-hole in the insulating sheet and each having a diameter greater than a diameter of the through-hole in the insulating sheet, and is movable in the thickness-wise direction of the insulating sheet.


Secure image bidding system process for financial transactions, including structured investment products, escrows and interest rate swaps. Some embodiments provide a secure image bidding system and process for image-based bid transmissions where each of a plurality of bids received by the system is encrypted and held in a digital “Vault” until the specified end of the bid period, at which time a package containing the encrypted bids, a log of server activity, and a digital checksum of the original bid file is sent via electronic mail to the bid broker and other participants. A second electronic mail message is sent to the bid broker and other participants containing the decryption key. During the bid process, no party has access to the bid information and there is no human interaction in the receipt, conversion to image, encryption, storage or conveyance of compiled information.

Under present Federal tax law, the reinvestment of bond proceeds generated through the sale of municipal bonds by the bond issuer (typically a governmental entity such as a state, city, county or school district) is subject to significant restriction. With some exceptions, an issuer's investment earnings on idle bond proceeds are limited to the arbitrage yield on the bonds (as defined by the Internal Revenue Code). Additional interest earned above the arbitrage yield generally must be rebated to the U.S. Government. By law the placement of investments of bond proceeds must be done in a competitive fashion, ensuring the highest yield possible given the bidding restrictions. Generally, at least three bona fide bids must be offered before one may be accepted under Internal Revenue Service "safe harbor" guidelines.
The typical current practice is for a third-party bid broker to develop and distribute bid specifications and a bid form to potential bidders. At or before an appointed time, bidders may submit bids to the broker by voice, facsimile, or electronic mail. During the bidding process, the broker is aware of the values of the bids submitted.
The practice of brokering these types of investments is not at present regulated. As a result, in recent times the IRS has found or has alleged that participants in the bidding process—both brokers and the bidders (providers of the investment products, typically investment banks and insurance companies)—have rigged and colluded on bids, resulting in lower investment earnings on the investments and, as a result, lower rebate payments to the U.S. Government. The IRS estimates the costs of this bid-rigging and collusion to exceed $100 million to date.
Generally, this illicit rigging and collusion involves brokers and/or providers agreeing to: (1) provide non-competitive bids in order to meet the three-bid minimum; (2) make or participate in side payments of fees or other considerations in order to ensure a particular bid is the winner; (3) provide a "last-look" to a bidder, giving one participant information on the results of the bidding process and leading to an unfair advantage.
Most of these non-competitive processes result from the broker's ability to influence the outcome of the bidding process during the bid itself. By creating a secure process for the receipt of bids, restricting the broker's knowledge of specific bid information during the bid process, creating an electronic log of all bidding activity, and providing all bids received simultaneously and transparently to transaction participants (broker, issuer, bond counsel, tax counsel) at the expiration of the bid process, the broker's ability to influence the outcome is nearly eliminated. A level playing field is created for all bidders and the highest possible investment yield is assured to the benefit of the issuer and the U.S. Government.
This process uses the same technologies currently employed by the bidders—specifically, facsimile, and to some extent, electronic mail—in the existing process, so it does not create an additional burden to bidder participation.


New bias conditions for flash memory cells and X-decoder circuits for providing the bias conditions. In an erasing operation, a positive high voltage is provided to the bulk and a negative high voltage is provided to the control gate for establishing a sufficient electric field to induce electron tunneling effect. In an operation for repairing a cell's threshold voltage, the biased voltages are reversed. A first X-decoder circuit structure is presented for supplying positive and negative high voltages to the memory cells for block erasing or repairing. The first X-decoder circuit structure has a plurality of X-decoder blocks each being constructed in a separated X-decoder well, and the memory cells are fabricated in a separate common array well. A second X-decoder circuit structure is presented to provide an appropriate bias condition for erasing or repairing a small sector of word lines. For the second X-decoder circuit structure, each memory block is fabricated in a separated array well. Separated X-decoder wells are constructed to provide voltages to the word lines of memory blocks. Every word line in a memory block has an X-decoder driver so that the word line can be erased or repaired individually. A new layout is also presented for the construction of the X-decoder circuits.

A conventional EPROM-type flash memory features a byte-programming and a block-erasing capability with each block containing a number of bytes. Because the data within a memory block can not be selected for erasure individually, a flash memory array has to erase the data of a whole block of memory cells, i.e., an erased block, and then program the new data byte by byte. The block erasing scheme, however, not only is inflexible but also has an undesirable problem called over-erasure that results from simultaneously erasing memory cells requiring different erasing time.
As is well known, it is very important for a flash memory device to provide efficient erasing and repairing operations without shortening the life of the device. Towards achieving this goal, different bias conditions to the cells in the memory array as well as improved decoder circuits for selecting word lines and providing appropriate bias conditions to the cells during erasing and repairing operations have been researched and pursued.
As shown in FIG. 1(a), a widely used erasing technique generally referred to as channel erasing applies a positive high voltage to the bulk (substrate) 101 of a memory cell and grounds its control gate 102. This bias condition builds a high vertical electrical field to induce electron tunneling effect that causes the injection of electrons toward the bulk from the floating gate 103 of the device and reduces its threshold voltage.
The bias condition is reversed in a repairing operation. As shown in FIG. 1(b), a positive high voltage is applied to the control gate 102 and the bulk 101 is grounded to inject electrons back to the floating gate 103. The channel erasing or repairing technique requires a relatively high voltage to be applied to the bulk 101 or the control gate 102 of the device in order to achieve a fast erasing or repairing speed.
The decoder circuitry of a memory array can be divided as an X-decoder circuit and a Y-decoder circuit. In a conventional flash memory, the X-decoder circuit usually provides the required high voltage to the word lines (connected to control gates) of the selected cells. The relatively high bias voltage requires that the X-decoder driver have high device breakdown voltage. This high breakdown voltage not only reduces the speed of reading the cells but also makes the x-decoder circuit difficult to shrink.
The conventional X-decoder puts all its PMOS devices in an N-well and NMOS devices in the same P-substrate of the memory array. When the X-decoder has to provide a positive high voltage, the high voltage is provided from the PMOS and the N-well is applied with a higher or equal voltage to maintain a reverse-biased diode condition of the PMOS device in order to prevent a forward current. The structure, however, is not efficient if a bias condition requires that both positive and negative high voltages be supplied to the word lines of the memory cells in the array.
Another technology called triple-well technology has also been used for the circuit structure of an X-decoder. In a triple-well circuit, the NMOS devices are formed in a P-well, the P-well is embedded in a deep N-well and the deep N-well is formed in a P-substrate. This technology makes it easier to apply a negative high voltage to selected word lines. When providing a negative high voltage, the NMOS devices as well as the embedded P-well are applied with negative high voltage and the deep N-well is grounded or connected to a power supply voltage VDD to maintain a reverse-biased diode condition.
The triple-well technology is not an efficient approach for providing both positive and negative high voltages at the same time either because of the strong constraint in the device breakdown voltage. When both positive and negative high voltages are required, the PMOS and N-well have to be connected to a positive high voltage and the NMOS and P-well have to be connected to a negative high voltage simultaneously. As a result, the absolute difference between the positive and negative high voltages can not exceed the device breakdown voltage to avoid damaging the device.

Bias condition and X-decoder circuit of flash memory array


A graphics subsystem includes hardware and/or software for permitting mip-maps to be dynamically switched based upon depth (Z) values. In addition, the system generates a SHIFT signal to permit automatic adjustment of texture parameters to facilitate retrieval of texture maps. The system includes a mip-map select logic or routine that compares the depth value of a pixel to be rendered with predetermined depth values. The depth values may be stored in a plurality of depth registers, and compared with the depth value of a pixel in a plurality of associated comparators. A mip-map is selected based upon the comparisons, and the SHIFT signal is generated to indicate the order of change with respect to a base reference mip-map. A texture engine receives the SHIFT signal and uses the associated base address of the selected mip-map and shifted texture parameters to define an address for the texture map.

Before the availability of the personal computer (PC), computer graphics packages were expensive tools primarily reserved for industrial applications. Early microcomputers were only capable of rendering simple line drawings with a low screen resolution (256.times.256, for example). As microcomputers evolved, higher resolution color displays became available, and software applications routinely provided data output in a graphical manner. The graphics techniques used were unstructured, with objects defined in terms of absolute coordinates using straight lines. Subsequently, graphics "primitives" were used, enabling circles, ellipses, rectangles and polygons to be drawn with a single instruction. The use of primitives that can be rendered with a single instruction set of parameters has increased the speed at which the images can be rendered.
The availability of computer graphics has generated a demand for higher resolutions and three dimensional (3-D) rendering capabilities. Computer animation and games, in particular, have spawned a revolution in computer graphics capabilities. A 3-D image can be represented in a computer system as a collection of graphical objects, such as polygons, lines, and points. A set of vertex points defines a polygon. Associated with each point are certain pixel values, such as shading, texturing, color, and the like. Identification of other points within the polygon typically is done through the use of linear interpolation. Once interpolated, the polygon can be rendered on a computer monitor by successive scanning of orthogonal rows of the polygon.
Performing the linear interpolation calculations for each point (or pixel) of the polygon is very processor intensive. To minimize computations, polygon rendering typically is performed using a forward (or main) slope technique. Referring to the example of FIG. 6, a polygon 40 is divided into two adjacent triangles 47 and 49. The main slope technique requires the calculation of a main slope value (.DELTA. main) which defines the slope of the side 45 that extends the entire vertical length of the triangle 40. Two opposite slopes are determined which represent the slopes of the other two sides 51, 53 of the triangle. A width slope value (.DELTA. width) is calculated to define the incremental change in width for each successive orthogonal scan line (or row) of the polygon. An initial width value is provided for each triangle 47, 49 to represent the width of the first orthogonal scan for that triangle. Polygon 40 may also include depth values (or z values). An initial x and y value (x.sub.1, y.sub.1) defines the location of the initial vertex for the polygon, while the z value (z.sub.1) defines the depth. The z value is used to determine whether the image being rendered is in front of or behind other images, and thus determines whether the image will appear on the display, or whether it will be "hidden" behind another object. Other initial and slope values also may be generated to render the polygon, such as initial values for red, blue and green initial, and main and ortho slope values defining incremental variations in each color in both the x and y directions. Each of the triangles 47, 49 also has an associated count value to represent the number of scan lines required to render each triangle. In the preferred embodiment, the count value is determined by the y coordinate values of the vertex points. Thus, the upper count (COUNT 0) is found by subtracting y.sub.2 from y.sub.1. Similarly, the lower count value is determined by subtracting y.sub.3 from Y.sub.2.
Each of the various initial and slope values typically are defined by a software graphics application driver, running on the host processor. Thus, the software driver, through the vehicle of the host processor, generates a "display list" of parameters that are written to the graphics controller or processor. These parameters include, for example, the initial and slope values identified above. The graphics controller then uses the display list values in generating the graphics to be displayed.
In addition to the basic position and color parameters, graphics controllers are available which permit the texture of the polygon to be represented as part of the display. A texture may be defined as an image of a pattern generated by the software driver. Graphics controllers perform texture mapping by taking the pattern, which represents a flat image, and mapping the pattern in a curved or contoured manner. Thus, for example, the graphics application may require a particular pattern mapped to a teapot, or some other three dimensional object. In that case, the flat pattern image would be mapped to the teapot to represent the curved surface of the teapot, thus giving the illusion that the teapot is a three dimensional object.
When rendering in a three dimensional (3D) graphics application, such as a 3D animation application, a difficulty arises because the object moves. If the animation depicts relative movement of the object with respect to the viewer, (i.e. a person walking past a statue in a courtyard), then the distance between the object (the statue) and the viewer changes. To represent this change in distance, the object is rendered larger or smaller to reflect the viewer moving closer or further from it. To accomplish this type of rendering in 3D animation, different size versions of the object are generated, and a particular size version of the object is selected based upon the distance between the viewer and the object. The various size versions of the object are generated by the software driver by either compressing or expanding the image. Because resolution is lost when converting from a smaller to a larger image, the graphics application typically uses the largest possible image as the base image, so that smaller versions may be made by compressing the base image. Compression of the texture map is done through the use of filtering and averaging algorithms to compress the image. Thus, if the initial image was 512 bytes by 512 bytes (512.times.512), the map could be compressed to 256.times.256, 128.times.128, 64.times.64, or 32.times.32 or 16.times.16, for example, giving six different size images for the same object. Compression of each image is performed by taking a grouping of four pixels and averaging the pixel values to obtain a single pixel value. Each of the different size versions of the image are referred to as "Mip-maps."
In certain instances, several Mip-maps may be used to generate a polygon to provide a desired spatial relationship. Thus, for example, if the polygon being rendered is a brick wall that extends into the distance, it may be desirable to use different Mip-maps for different sections of the wall to make the bricks appear smaller for each section extending in the distance. Thus, initially, a first Mip-map of 256.times.256 may be used to render the first section of the wall. The section of the wall that is further away may then be rendered using a second Mip-map of 128.times.128. Proceeding further down the wall, it may be desirable to use a third Mip-map of 64.times.64. Thus, for objects that extend into the distance, it may be desirable to use different Mip-maps for patterns to add a sense of realism to the graphics display.
For most implementations of Mip-maps, the image is partitioned based upon the mip-maps and each mip-map partitions independently drawn. In addition, a separate set of interpolators and comparators are provided that track the location of the pixel being generated, and switch between Mip-maps based upon pixel location. The use of interpolators and comparators increases the number of gates required to implement the hardware and/or increases the number of clock cycles required to execute the software application. Thus, the interpolators required to switch between Mip-maps add to the overhead involved in generating the graphics display. It would be advantageous if mip-maps could be switched without the necessity of an inordinate number of additional gates.
In addition, it would be advantageous if the polygon could be rendered without breaking it into smaller polygons corresponding to the different Mip-maps. Partitioning the polygon into multiple sections and rendering these sections individually greatly increases the amount of time required to render the object. Instead, it would be advantageous if the object could be rendered with a single instruction by dynamically switching from one Mip-map to another without dissecting the object.

Dynamic switching of texture mip-maps based on pixel depth value