Disclosed herein is a surface acoustic wave device employing diamond, which has an operation frequency in a range of several hundred MHz to several GHz, a high propagation velocity and a large electromechanical coefficient. This surface acoustic wave comprises a substrate, a diamond layer which is formed on the substrate, a ZnO layer which is formed on the diamond layer, and interdigital electrodes which are formed on the ZnO layer, and utilizes a second order mode of a surface acoustic wave which is excited in a structure satisfying (2.pi..H/.lambda.)=0.9 to 2.3 where H represents the thickness of the ZnO layer and .lambda. represents the wavelength of the surface acoustic wave. This surface acoustic wave device can be used in an extremely high frequency range, whereby the same is applicable to a resonator, a delay line, a signal processing device, a convolver, a correlator or the like in addition to a filter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surface acoustic wave device, and more particularly, it relates to a surface acoustic wave device which operates in a high frequency range of a GHz band.
2. Description of the Background Art
A surface acoustic wave device utilizing a surface acoustic wave which is propagated with energy concentrated on a surface of a solid body is applied to an intermediate frequency filter of a television receiver or the like due to its compactness and stability in performance.
Such a surface acoustic wave device is formed by a piezoelectric layer and interdigital electrodes. In general, an alternating electric field is applied to the piezoelectric layer through the interdigital electrodes to excite a surface acoustic wave.
The piezoelectric layer is prepared from a material such as a bulk single crystal of LiNbO.sub.3 or LiTaO.sub.3, or a ZnO thin film which is vapor-deposited on a substrate.
In general, an operation frequency f of such a surface acoustic wave device is determined as f=v/.lambda., where v represents the propagation velocity of the surface acoustic wave and .lambda. represents the wavelength of the surface acoustic wave device. In order to increase the operation frequency f, therefore, the propagation velocity v may be increased or the wavelength .lambda. may be reduced.
The value of the propagation velocity v depends on the materials for the piezoelectric layer and the substrate, as well as the mode of the surface acoustic wave. On the other hand, the wavelength .lambda. is determined by the pitch of the interdigital electrodes.
FIG. 1 is a plane view showing exemplary interdigital electrodes of the most standard structure. Referring to FIG. 1, a pair of interdigital electrodes, each having electrode tips of a width d which are integrally formed with each other at intervals of 3.times.d, are opposed to each other so that the electrode tips of the same polarities are alternately arranged. In the interdigital electrodes of such structure, the wavelength .lambda. is equal to 4.times.d.
FIG. 2 is a plane view showing another exemplary interdigital electrodes. In each of a pair of opposite interdigital electrodes shown in FIG. 2, pairs of electrode tips of a width d, which are spaced apart at an interval of d, are arranged at intervals of 5.times.d. In the interdigital electrodes of such structure, the wavelength .lambda. is equal to 8.times.d, and it is equal to 8.times.d/3 for the third resonance wave.
However, the value of the propagation velocity v is limited by the materials for the piezoelectric layer and the substrate, as hereinabove described. Further, the lower limit of the periodic size of the interdigital electrodes deciding the wavelength .lambda. is restricted by a limit in the technique of fine processing. Thus, the operation frequency of a currently available surface acoustic wave device is limited to 900 MHz.
On the other hand, a surface acoustic wave device which is applicable to a higher frequency range (GHz band) is required with increase in frequency in the field of communication such as satellite communication or mobile communication.
To this end, development is now being made on employment of a film of diamond which has the maximum sound velocity (transversal wave velocity: 13000 m/s; longitudinal wave velocity: 16000 m/s) among substances or diamond-like carbon, to be stacked on a piezoelectric material for forming a surface acoustic wave device.
In order to implement a surface acoustic wave device having a high operation frequency f, it is generally desirable to attain a large electromechanical coefficient K.sup.2 (index of conversion efficiency for converting electric energy to mechanical energy) in addition to the aforementioned high propagation velocity v. This electromechanical coefficient K.sup.2 must be greater than or equal to 0.1%, and is preferably greater than or equal to 0.5%, depending on the application.
When a thin piezoelectric film formed on a substrate is employed, the propagation velocity v and the electromechanical coefficient K.sup.2 remarkably depend not only on the physical properties of the materials for the piezoelectric film and the substrate, but on the thickness of the piezoelectric thin film.
When the substrate is in the form of a film, i.e., when the piezoelectric thin film is formed on a film-type substrate which is formed on a base material, the propagation velocity v and the electromechanical coefficient K.sup.2 also depend on the thickness of the film-type substrate.
In a surface acoustic wave device which is formed by a ZnO layer and a diamond or diamond-like carbon film, however, absolutely no recognition has been made as to the relation between the film thicknesses of the ZnO and diamond films and the propagation velocity and the electromechanical coefficient. Therefore, it has been impossible to properly design a high-efficiency surface acoustic wave device operating in a high frequency range.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 3-198412 (1991), the inventors have implemented surface acoustic wave devices having high surface acoustic wave propagation velocities and large electromechanical coefficients by defining film thickness ranges of ZnO layers in relation to wavelengths while specifying modes of surface acoustic waves as to four types of devices shown in FIGS. 3 to 6.
When a surface acoustic wave device is formed by a piezoelectric thin film which is grown on a substrate having a higher sound velocity than the piezoelectric material, a plurality of surface acoustic waves having different propagation velocities v are generally excited in a zeroth order mode, a first order mode, a second order mode, . . . successively from the smaller velocity side.
The inventors have disclosed surface acoustic wave devices particularly utilizing zeroth, first and third order modes in detail in the aforementioned gazette. However, no sufficient disclosure has been made as to a surface acoustic wave device utilizing a second order mode.


A low-noise high-speed output buffer receives digital control signals for varying the switching delay and di/dt of the buffer. For a plurality of output buffers, one buffer is used to determine the digital control signal values for the rest. The switching delay is controlled by referencing the one output buffer's delay to a clock cycle (e.g., 0.75 T or T, where T equals the clock cycle period). The digital control signal values which define the delay with reference to the clock cycle also determine the di/dt for the output buffers. As process or operating conditions vary, the control signal values change to maintain the delay in the prescribed relation to the clock cycle. Accordingly, the absolute di/dt values change. Thus, the output signal is available by the time needed (e.g., 0.75 T), while the di/dt is varied to an optimum setting based on the absolute delay time. As a result, the variation in di/dt from fastest conditions to slowest conditions is smaller enabling an increased ability to conform to noise margin requirements for increasingly faster systems. Accordingly, a low-noise high-speed output buffer and method of controlling the same is provided.

This invention relates to a high-speed low-noise output buffer, and more particularly, to an output buffer apparatus and method for controlling switching delay of the output buffer and change in current with respect to time during a switching operation so as to control the switching speed with maximum efficiency across process, temperature and supply voltage variations.
The most significant requirement of an output buffer is to drive the output voltage to the specified logic threshold by the time the voltage is needed and to maintain that level with adequate noise margins as long as required. As the noise generated during switching of an output buffer may vary according to process speed, temperature and supply voltage, a way of controlling the switching noise substantially independent of such variations is needed.
Conventional output buffers do not control the switching noise so as to be independent of variations in process or operating conditions. Typically, a switching speed is adopted at which the noise margins are maintained even if process or operating conditions vary. Generally, as system speeds increase, the operating speeds of the components also must increase. As a result, the switching time requirement shortens making it more difficult to maintain the noise margins under varying process and operating conditions. For example, process conditions vary from device to device, even though such devices may be rated the same (i.e., a processor rated for 30 MHz may run at 34.5 MHz for a fast chip and 30.0 MHz for a slow chip, while still satisfying 30 MHz rating within acceptable tolerances). A buffer designed to have adequate switching speed within noise margins for a fast case, may have an inadequate switching speed for a slow case.
One source of noise is the current spike caused by the charging or discharging of a load capacitor at the output line of the output buffer during switching. Such load capacitor sinks or sources current when charging or discharging, respectively, resulting in the current spike. Associated with the current spike is a change in current with respect to a change in time (di/dt) which causes a bounce in the power or ground voltage which is equal to L di/dt, where L is the effective inductance of the bond wires and the power or ground pins. This inductive noise lowers the noise margins for the system and is detrimental to the overall system noise immunity. For example, in a package of output buffers which share common power or ground pins, the switching of one or more of the buffers may create a spike at the ground pin which causes another non-switching driver to appear switched during the spike. Thus, the di/dt value needs to be limited to an acceptable level.
Limiting the di/dt of an output buffer, however, also limits the speed at which the output can switch. With an ideal di/dt waveform, as shown at curve A in FIG. 1 (i.e., a square wave), the fastest switching time possible for changing the voltage on the load capacitor, C.sub.L, by a voltage differential dV at a given di/dt is: EQU t=[(4C.sub.L dV)/(di/dt)].sup.1/2
where
t=delay time to charge or discharge C.sub.L PA1 C.sub.L =load capacitance PA1 dV=change in voltage at output
Accordingly, there is a trade-off between speed and di/dt. As described above, the conventional approach for designing output buffers is to design for a particular delay and di/dt at which speed and noise margin requirements both are met. For example, a conventional approach is to attempt to hold the switching delay and di/dt values constant for variations in process or operating conditions. As speed requirements increase and it becomes tougher to meet the noise margin requirements for varying process and operating conditions, designers have looked to the relation between t and di/dt to find alternative approaches for increasing speed while meeting noise margin requirements.
As can be seen from the formula above, approaches for decreasing switching delay time, t, include (1) reducing the load capacitance, C.sub.L, (2) reducing the change in voltage, dV and (3) increasing the di/dt.
With regard to decreasing the load capacitance, the ability to decrease such capacitance is limited by the capacitance of the board signal paths combined with the input capacitance of load devices receiving the output signal from the output buffer.
With regard to decreasing the change in voltage dV, the CMOS rail-to-rail voltage swing may be reduced to the TTL voltage level swing. Such decreasing is accomplished by reducing the voltage swing between the logic "0" state and the logic "1" state to the output, or by precharging the output to an intermediate level, then charging the output to the desired level.
The remaining approach for improving the delay, t, is by increasing the di/dt value. Increasing the di/dt increases speed (decreases delay), but also increases the noise. Accordingly, there is a need for increasing di/dt while assuring that noise margin requirements are met for both fast and slow cases as defined by varying process and operating conditions.
One approach which enables an increased di/dt without significantly increasing the noise is to use a better package in which the inductances of the bond wires and power and ground pins are reduced. Thus, an increase in di/dt can be offset to a certain extent by a decrease in inductance, L, for the noise equation, (noise=L di/dt).
As the output buffers come in packages and the switching of outputs simultaneously causes the resulting noise spike to increase by superposition, the di/dt also can be increased by reducing the number of outputs which switch simultaneously. For example, if ten buffers each having a di/dt of 30 mA/ns normally are switched simultaneously resulting in a di/dt of 300 mA/ns (i.e., 10.times.30 mA/ns), decreasing the number of buffers which switch simultaneously to five allows the di/dt of each buffer to be increased to up to 60 mA/ns to generate the same 300 mA/ns.
As the di/dt waveforms in practice do not achieve the ideal square wave shape, but more closely resemble the sine wave as shown at curve B of FIG. 1, another approach is to improve the di/dt curve so as to more closely resemble the ideal curve. Referring to the di/dt curve B of FIG. 1, which shows the curve as actually achieved, the first half of the sine wave is the lead portion and the last half of the sine wave is the lag portion. Known approaches addressing the di/dt curve shape have improved the shape of the lead portion only, and ignored the shape of the lag portion.
The control over the lead portion of the di/dt curve for an output buffer 10 traditionally has been implemented by limiting the slew rate on the gate input of the output drive transistor 11 using a predriver circuit 13 as shown in FIG. 2. The switching delay versus di/dt trade-off is complicated, however, in that delay variations occur of up to three or four to one for MOS transistors as a result of process, temperature, and power supply variations. For example, process and operating system variations may result in fastest case components having actual speeds of 45 MHz and slowest case speeds of 15 MHz for a specified 25 MHz processor. An output buffer which generates an acceptable amount of L di/dt noise and switches with a reasonable speed in the fastest case may be unacceptably slow in the slowest case.
One approach for adjusting the slew rate under various conditions is to transform the predriver of FIG. 2 from a simple inverter 13 to a current limited pull-up device by inserting an additional transistor controlled by an analog voltage. Referring to FIG. 3, a portion of such an output buffer 10' is shown. The signal to be output is fed into a predriver including NMOS and PMOS transistors 12, 14. The output signal then is pulled up by a PMOS transistor 16 under the control of an analog voltage to limit the slew on the gate input of the drive transistor 18. Accordingly, the di/dt is controlled. However, it is only the lead portion of the di/dt curve which is controlled. The lag portion is dependent on the width of the output transistor, which is held constant according to this approach. Thus, the lag portion is not controlled. Furthermore, such an approach is undesirable because of the need to distribute a sensitive analog voltage in the I/O frame--precisely the location where the maximum amount of noise is being generated.
Accordingly an output buffer in which the di/dt value is controlled over the lead and lag portions of the switching curve is not known. Further an output buffer in which the switching delay and di/dt value are controlled for variations in process and operating conditions is not known.

Low-noise high-speed output buffer and method for controlling same


An image obtaining unit obtains a three-dimensional image, which is formed by a plurality of tomographic images obtained by carrying out tomographic imaging of a subject, and a part information obtaining unit obtains information of a result of part recognition of the subject contained in the three-dimensional image. A menu specifying unit specifies, from a plurality of menus used to display the three-dimensional image, a menu depending on a part based on the information of the result of part recognition, and a display control unit displays the specified menu on a display unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing device and an image processing method for processing a three-dimensional image formed by a plurality of tomographic images, which are obtained by tomographic imaging of a subject, as well as a program for causing a computer to carry out the image processing method.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, in the field of medical images, modalities using various technologies, such as an X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) system, an ultra-sound (US) diagnosis system, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) system, a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) system, and an SPET (Single-Photon Emission Tomography) system are used, besides an X-ray imaging system. Along with improvement of speed and performance, such as to accommodate multislice technology, of such modalities, it has become possible to image two or more parts of a subject in a series of imaging to obtain several hundreds to several thousands of high-resolution tomographic images. However, it takes time to observe these tomographic images one by one. Further, it requires a trained doctor to understand a three-dimensional shape of a structure to be observed (an organ or a tissue, such as body surface, bone, heart, lung field or liver) only from the tomographic images.
To address this problem, various techniques have been proposed to enhance visibility of the entire structure, and further a lesion contained in the structure, by recognizing a structure of interest, and generating, from tomographic images containing the structure of interest, a three-dimensional image of the structure of interest by analyzing the tomographic images with using a method, such as maximum intensity projection (MIP) or minimum intensity projection (MinIP), to achieve MIP display, or to achieve volume rendering (VR) display of the three-dimensional image.
On the other hand, there are a wide variety of analysis applications for performing such an analysis. Further, besides the analysis applications, there are a wide variety of color templates for changing a shading pattern of a VR display of a three-dimensional image, image processing applications and display applications (which will hereinafter be referred to as analysis applications, etc.). Therefore, the number of menus for selecting the analysis applications, etc., during image interpretation is increased, and a burdensome operation is imposed on the user, such as a reading physician or a technologist, for selecting menu items.
A technique which involves: calculating index values which indicate anatomical characteristics from a medical image; determining whether the imaged subject is an adult, infant, young child or child based on the calculated index values; selecting optimal imaging menu items to be selected from imaging menu items depending on the subject; and displaying only the selected imaging menus has been proposed (see Japanese Patent No. 2007-185429, which will hereinafter be referred to as Patent Document 1). According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a medical image is displayed, unnecessary imaging menu items for the imaged subject are not displayed, and thus a burden imposed on the user for selecting the imaging menu items can be reduced.
In the case where tomographic imaging is carried out using the above-described modality, such as a CT system, there are often the cases where two or more body parts are imaged, such as from the chest to the abdomen or from the head to the chest, besides the cases where only a single body part (for example, only the chest or abdomen) is imaged, in a single examination. The above-described analysis applications, etc., are prepared for each body part. Therefore, when two or more body parts are imaged, two or more of the analysis applications, etc., are used for analysis, or the like. Although the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 allows selection of an optimal imaging menu item depending on the subject, the technique is not applicable to the cases where tomographic images containing two or more parts are obtained, as described above.

Image processing device and method, and program


A portable media player has the form of a wearable button and includes a body and a means for detachably attaching the body to an article of clothing, such as a shirt or jacket. The media player also includes electronics disposed with a base. The electronics include a processor including memory that contains at least one audio file and the player further includes controls to permit powering of the player and playing of the audio file stored in memory. The controls are operatively connected to the electronics. A cover of the body includes a first fastening member and the base of the body includes a second fastening member. The cover and base are detachably connected to one another, thereby allowing a user to remove and change the cover of the body so to alter an appearance of the media player.

Over the years, portable audio or media players have become increasingly more popular and are some of the more commonly owned electronic consumer products. Portable players are used in any number of different settings. For example, many people use portable players while exercising, e.g., outdoors or in the gym, and many use the players while commuting or walking between locations.
Generally, a portable audio player is a personal mobile device that allows the user to listen to recorded audio while mobile. A personal player refers to a portable audio player that is listened to with headphones. Many times, these players also can receive broadcast radio signals, such as AM and FM signals.
One of the first portable players that enjoyed widespread success was a compact cassette player, such as the Sony Walkman introduced in 1979. As technology advanced, different types of portable players became popular and mainstream. For example, compact disc players that played commercial CDs enjoyed success and the later models were able to play recordable CDR and CDRW media. The next breakthrough in technology resulted in digital audio players becoming available. The players were based on flash memory or hard disk storage. Files were usually compressed using lossy compression; this reduces file size at the cost of some loss of quality. The advantage of solid-state digital audio players over hard disks and CDs is resistance to vibration, small size and weight, and low battery usage.
Digital audio players are designed so that a user can download content into the memory of the player. The audio content of the player is therefore dynamic and can be easily changed by the user by simply deleting files that the user is no longer interested in and/or downloading new files. The player typically includes a display screen, such as an LED screen, which displays certain information, such as the track number, the name and/or selection being played, radio station, etc.
These type of players are thus of a type that the consumer has access rights and where the content storage is dynamic and can be changed by the end user. The players can be worn on the body by using a strap, belt or the like.
Nonprogrammable (closed) players can also come in different forms, such as an electronic greeting card. The card will typically play a song, such as Happy Birthday, when the consumer opens the card. The card has a micro speaker, a coil cell and simple leaf switch that opens and closes the circuit based on the opening and closing of the greeting card itself. However, this type of device is not intended to be worn and function as a media player for the listening pleasure of an end user.

Button shaped portable media player with indicia


A method for producing a polymer organic electronic material comprising: synthesizing a polymer organic electronic material by condensing a precursor monomer for the polymer organic electronic material in the presence of a metal catalyst, preparing a polymer organic electronic material solution by dissolving the polymer organic electronic material in an organic solvent, and removing metal ions, which originate from the metal catalyst, from the polymer organic electronic material solution by using an ion exchange resin; a polymer organic electronic material which can be obtained by the method; and an organic electroluminescent device which uses the polymer organic electronic material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing a polymer organic electronic material; a polymer organic electronic material which can be obtained by the method; and an organic electroluminescent device which uses the polymer organic electronic material.
2. Description of the Related Art
Organic electroluminescent devices (hereinafter, referred to as "organic EL devices") are promising for a wide range of applications because they are self-luminescent fully solid-state elements with a high visibility, and are also strong against impact. Currently, although those which use inorganic fluorescent materials are predominant, there are problems in that the production cost is high due to a necessity for alternating voltage of 200 V or more for operation, and the brightness is insufficient.
On the other hand, organic EL device research using organic compounds initially began by using single crystals such as anthracene and the like, although in the case of a single crystal, the film thickness was thick at approximately 1 mm, and a driving voltage of 100 V or more was required. For this reason, thinning of the films by vapor deposition methods is being attempted (refer to, for example, Thin Solid Films, Vol. 94, 171, (1982)).
However, the thin-films obtained by this method still have a high driving voltage of 30 V. Furthermore, since the density of electron and hole carriers within the film is low, and the generation probability of photons from the recombination of carriers is low, adequate brightness could not be obtained.
However, in recent years, function separated-type organic EL devices in which thin-films of a hole transporting organic low molecular weight compound and a fluorescent organic low molecular weight compound that possesses an electron transporting functionality are sequentially laminated by a vacuum deposition method, wherein a high brightness of 1000 cd/m2 or more can be obtained at a low voltage of approximately 10 V, have been reported (refer to, for example, Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 51, 913 (1987)). Since then, research and development of laminated-type organic EL devices have been actively carried out.
However, in this type of organic EL device, since a thin-film of 0.1 μm or less is formed in plural deposition processes, pinholes tend to occur. In order to obtain sufficient performance, it is necessary to control film thickness under strictly managed conditions. Therefore, there are problems in that productivity is low, and area enlargement is difficult. Furthermore, since this organic EL device is operated at a high current density of a few mA/cm2, Joule heat is generated in large quantities. Consequently, films of the hole transporting organic low molecular weight compound, the fluorescent organic low molecular weight compound, and the like, which are produced in an amorphous glass state by deposition, gradually become crystalline and ultimately melt, and phenomena, wherein the brightness decreases and dielectric breakdown occurs, are commonly observed. As a result, there is a problem in that the lifetime of the element is reduced.
For example, in the case of the electron transporting material, although the use of oxadiazole derivatives, including 2-(4-biphenylyl)-5-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBO), as an electron transporting material has been proposed (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 7-109454), the obtained thin-film has a tendency to crystallize, and also from the aspect of charge transport and injection characteristics, it cannot be said that these are sufficient. Moreover, there are very few types of electron transporting materials other than oxadiazole compounds, and further development of superior materials from the aspect of low voltage operation and high efficiency, as well as charge transport and injection characteristics, is desired.
On the other hand, research and development of single layer structured organic EL devices have been carried out with an aim to solve the problems relating to productivity and area enlargement in laminated-type organic EL devices. Moreover, devices using conductive polymers such as poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (refer to, for example, Nature, Vol. 357, 477 (1992)), and devices in which an electron transporting material and a fluorescent pigment blended within hole transporting polyvinyl carbazole (refer to, for example, Proceedings of the 38th Meeting of the Japan Society of Applied Physics and Related Societies 31p-G-12, 1991) have been proposed. However, brightness, light emitting efficiency, and the like, have not yet reached levels of the laminated-type organic EL devices using organic low molecular weight compounds.
The materials used in organic EL devices are required to be high purity materials in order to ensure long-term stability of the electrical characteristics and device lifetime. Accordingly, the materials used in organic EL devices are required to be highly purified by a purification process following synthesis. In particular, in the case of a polymer material, this requirement is attempted to be met by subjecting the polymer obtained following polymerization to solvent washing, or washing processes of various types by acid cleaning, alkaline cleaning, and the like, or by repetition of a reprecipitation process by dissolution in a good solvent followed by dropwise addition into a poor solvent. However, purification of polymer materials is generally difficult compared to low molecular weight compounds, and improvement in the electrical characteristics of organic EL devices following these processes was insufficient. Furthermore, the presence of the smallest amounts of impurities in the charge transporting polymer material used in organic EL devices greatly influenced the device, resulting in deterioration in electrical characteristics and lifetime of the device.
A process wherein dissolution in a good solvent and reprecipitation in a poor solvent is repeated has been disclosed (refer to, for example, Japanese National Publication No. 8-510285), although it was not possible to completely remove the unreacted monomers and the decomposed impurities produced at the time of polymerization, even with a high repetition frequency.
Furthermore, a purification method wherein Soxhlet extraction by methanol is performed has been disclosed (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2002-216965). However, in an extraction where a poor solvent such as methanol is used, due to low solubility, it was not possible to completely remove the unreacted monomers and the decomposed impurities.
A purification method wherein the low molecular weight components are removed by dialysis has been disclosed (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2002-138133), although it is only applicable to water-soluble polymers, and purification effects could not be observed for hydrophobic polymers.
Inventions which produce polymer hole transporting materials or light emitting materials by a filtration method have been disclosed (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2005-41982 and JP-A No. 2005-44615). This filtration method is one in which the hole transporting material or the light emitting material is prepared by passing the solution through a filter. However, the method was unsuitable for processing a large number of samples at once.

Method for producing polymer organic electronic material, polymer organic electronic material, and organic electroluminescent device


A process is described for treating metal surfaces with roughening compositions that use poly(ethyleneamino propionitrile) polymer as an additive in the composition to improve adhesion of polymeric materials to the metal surfaces and to improve peel strength for thermal stability. The polymer of the invention may be added to compositions containing for example, cupric chloride and hydrochloric acid and is also usable in compositions containing an oxidizer/acid/azole mixture. Other additives, such as adiponitrile may also be beneficially added to compositions of the invention.

Printed circuits containing one or more circuitry innerlayers are in prominent use today as demand increases for weight and space conservation in electronic devices.
In the typical fabrication of a multilayer printed circuit, patterned circuitry innerlayers are first prepared by a process in which a copper foil-clad dielectric substrate material is patterned with resist in the positive image of the desired circuitry pattern, followed by etching away of the exposed copper. Upon removal of the resist, the desired copper circuitry pattern remains thereon.
A composite of alternating circuitry inner layers and dielectric substrate materials is formed by interposing one or more partially-cured dielectric substrate material layers (so-called "pre-preg" layers) between the circuitry innerlayers. The composite is then subjected to heat and pressure to cure the partially-cured substrate material and achieve bonding of circuitry innerlayers. The cured composite may then have through-holes drilled therethrough, which are metallized to provide a means for conductively interconnecting all of the circuitry layers. In the course of the through-hole metallizing process, desired circuitry patterns may also be formed on the outer-facing layers of the multilayer composite.
It has long been known that the strength of the adhesive bond formed between the copper metal of the circuitry innerlayers and the cured pre-preg layers, or other non-conductive coatings, in contact therewith leaves something to be desired, with the result that the cured multi-layer composite or the coating is susceptible to delamination in subsequent processing and/or use. In response to this problem, the industry has developed the technique of forming on the copper surfaces of the circuitry innerlayers (before assembling them with pre-preg layers into a multi-layer composite) a layer of copper oxide, such as by chemical oxidation of the copper surfaces. Various approaches have been proposed for minimizing the delamination problems, some of which are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,701 to Ferrier, the subject matter of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
In addition, other efforts for treating metal surfaces have utilized a so-called microetching composition, as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,036 to Maki et al., the subject matter of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. In this instance, the microetching agent comprising a small amount of a polymer compound which contains polyamine chains or a cationic group, or both, to produce a deep irregularly etched surface on the surface of copper or a copper alloy surface.
The present invention proposes a novel polymer formed from a reaction product of polyethylenimine and acrylonitrile and is usable in different compositions to improve the adhesion of polymeric materials to metal surfaces, especially copper and copper alloy surfaces during the manufacture of multi-layer printed circuit boards. Thus, the process of the invention is particularly useful in the production of multi-layer printed circuits. The process proposed herein provides optimum adhesion between the metallic and polymeric surfaces (i.e., the circuitry and the intermediate insulating layer).
The inventors of the present invention have determined that poly(ethyleneamino propionitrile) polymer, which is a reaction product comprised of polyethylenimine and acrylonitrile can beneficially be added to compositions used for roughening metal surfaces and provide improved adhesion of the metal surface to a polymeric substrate as compared with compositions of the prior art.


A plurality of magnets can be positioned around a container through the use of a plurality of holders that can be releaseably positioned around the container. Each holder has an area compatible in shape to the magnet to hold a magnet. The base of the holder which contracts the container is of a shape compatible to that of the container. There is at least one aperture on at least two sides of the holder. A strap is placed through the apertures and secured at each end. This secures the magnets to the container. The holder can have a flexible base portion or can itself be flexible. The holders can be at an angle of about 150° to about 210° to the axis of the container. The magnets can be positioned in various polar arrays around the container. The container will hold an aqueous liquid either in a static or flow condition. The container can be a bottle, pipe conduit and/or a filter within pipe conduit system.

It is known to treat water and other liquids with magnets to purify the water, reduce hardness, reduce scaling, and improve the taste of water based beverages. Water is a polymer in an (—H—O—H—O—H—O—) of an n-dimensional structure. There is a continuous hydrogen bonding to form this structure. This hydrogen bonding produces a sufficient chain length to create a liquid from this string of hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Since water has a polar structure due to the hydrogen bonding it will be susceptible to be affected by an applied magnetism. The positive/negative structure of the water molecules will be affected by the north/south fields of magnets.
Water is paramagnetic. Paramagnetism occurs primarily in substances in which some or all of the individual atoms, ions, or molecules possess a permanent magnetic dipole moment. The magnetization of such matter depends on the ratio of the magnetic energy of the individual dipoles to the thermal energy. Water has a dipole moment.
Ground water contains thousands of particles and microelements whose impurities give rise to the surrounding electron shells: cations (+), anions (−). "Pure" water is a polar liquid, i.e. part of the water molecule has a positive and part of it has a negative, electrical charge, but overall the net electrical charge is negative. Thus, the water molecule being a small magnet (dipole), one may effect its magnetic (or electric) field by causing the molecule to turn or rotate in one direction or the other, taking on a positive or negative higher potential, depending, whether the S (South, positive) or N (negative) outside magnetic field had been applied.
Water, being dipolar, can be partly aligned by an electric field and this may be easily shown by the movement of a stream of water by an electrostatic source. Even partial alignment of the water molecules with the electric field will cause pre-existing hydrogen bonding to become bent or broken. The balance between hydrogen bonding and van der Waals attractions is thus biased towards van der Waals attractions giving rise to less cyclic hydrogen bonded clustering.
Magnets affect the bonding angle between the hydrogen and the oxygen atom in the water molecule. Magnetized water causes the hydrogen-oxygen bond angle within the water molecule to be reduced from 104 to 103 degrees. This in turn causes the water molecule to cluster together in groups of 6-7 rather than 10-12. The smaller cluster leads to better absorption of water across cell walls.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,113 there is described a device that can be clamped onto a pipe for the treatment of water passing through the pipes. An objective is to reduce the amount of scaling of the pipes by the minerals dissolved in the water. U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,664 disposes magnets in a shower head to treat the shower water. The water can be treated to enhance the cleaning and treatment of the skin. U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,751 involves the treatment of coffee beverage water. The treated water and/or coffee enhances the flavor of the coffee. These are some of the uses of magnetism to enhance the use of water. It makes the water more useful and more palatable. It further makes the water more bio-available in that it can be absorbed faster by body tissue.
The present invention is directed to the treatment of water containers with magnets to enhance the utility of the water. The water will be more bio-available when directly ingested and will enhance the flavor of a beverage when used to produce a beverage. The water will be more effectively used by a person's body. The advantage of the present magnetic units is that they can be fitted to a wide range of container shapes and sizes. In addition the magnets can be arranged in various arrays around a container. In this way there is a maximum of versatility. The treatment of the water can be customized to the shape and size of the container and the needs of an individual. As used herein the term container includes any structure for holding static or flowing water. This can be a tank, jug, bottle, carafe, pitcher, pipe, filter unit and any other structure for containing static or flowing water. Further as used herein the term water includes viscous substances which contain water such as gels, lotions, mixtures, suspensions and other liquid/solid and liquid/liquid combinations.


In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an optical switch includes a photoconductor body including a first edge and an opposite second edge, a first end and an opposite second end. The first edge is configured to receive an electrical input signal and the second edge is configured to deliver an electrical output signal. The photoconductor body is configured to have an electrically ON state that is activated by an optical signal and an electrically OFF state that is activated by an absence of the optical signal. A direction from the first end to the second end defines a longitudinal direction. The direction from the first edge to the second edge defines a first direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. A first dimension between the first edge and the second edge along the first direction decreases from the first end to the second end.

A sample-and-hold circuit is a device that samples an analog signal and that, periodically, holds the value of the analog signal at a constant level for a determined period.
For this purpose, sample-and-hold circuits may for example include a switch controlled by a periodic pulsed signal and coupled to a capacitive element, and are configured to receive, as input, the analog signal to be sampled, and to deliver, as output, the sampled signal.
Conventionally, periodic pulsed signals are generated by electronic clock signal generators.
In this type of signal, it is common to observe a jitter phenomenon, which corresponds to time shifts between the pulses of the generated signal and the theoretical pulses that should be observed considering the theoretical frequency of the clock signal generator. Jitter may in particular be caused by electromagnetic interference and may lead to errors in data transmission.
It is for example possible to observe variations of the order of 50 femtoseconds between certain pulses of a generated signal and a theoretical signal of the same frequency.
One solution to this problem comprises the use of a pulsed optical signal, emitted for example by a laser, transmitted to a photoconductor body, the variation in the resistivity of which is clocked by the optical signal. This may make it possible, depending on the laser used, to decrease the jitter phenomenon by a factor of five.
However, this type of switch exhibits a poor ratio of resistivity of the photoconductor in the off state to resistivity of the photoconductor in the on state, which causes the switch to lose efficiency.


A braking apparatus for a three-phase brushless motor is provided in a motor-driven appliance, and includes a switching circuit having six switching elements and a brake control device. The brake control device executes two-phase short-circuit control in braking control in which a braking force is generated in the motor. In the two-phase short-circuit control, an on/off state of each of the switching elements is set in such a manner that two out of three conduction paths constituting one of a positive electrode side conduction path that connects three terminals of the motor and a positive electrode side of a direct current power source and a negative electrode side conduction path that connects the three terminals and a negative electrode side of the power source are in a conducting state and other of the three conduction paths is in a non-conducting state.

The present invention relates to a braking apparatus for a brushless motor that generates a braking force by causing a short circuit between terminals of the brushless motor, and a motor-driven appliance provided with the braking apparatus.
For example, in electrical equipment disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 3-74194, upon decelerating or stopping rotation of a three-phase brushless motor, a so-called short-circuit brake is used that causes a short circuit between all terminals of the motor so as to generate a braking force.
In the short-circuit brake, for example, three switching elements (so-called low-side switches) provided in a conduction path between each terminal of the motor and a negative electrode of a direct current power source are turned on, and the other three switching elements (so-called high-side switch) provided in a conduction path between each terminal of the motor and a positive electrode of the direct current power supply are turned off, thereby causing the three-phase brushless motor to generate a braking force.
According to the short-circuit brake, it is possible to brake (decelerate or stop) the motor merely by turning on/off the switching elements used in conduction control of the motor.

Braking apparatus for three-phase brushless motor, and motor-driven appliance provided with same


An integrated circuit chip includes a formation of integrated layers configured to define at least one integrated electronic component. The integrated layers further define an integrated electron tunneling device, which includes first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that a given voltage can be provided thereacross. The integrated electron tunneling device further includes an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and serving as a transport of electrons between and to the first and second non-insulating layers. The arrangement includes at least a first layer configured such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of tunneling. The integrated electron tunneling device further includes an antenna structure connected with the first and second non-insulating layers, and the integrated electron tunneling device is electrically connected with the integrated electronic component.

The present invention relates generally to optoelectronic devices and, more particularly, to interconnection of optoelectronic devices including electron tunneling devices.
Increased amounts and speed of data transfer in communication and computing systems pose a challenge to the current state of device technology. Large quantities of information must be transferred quickly across distances ranging from very short distances, from between chips as well as between boards containing chips, to longer distances between racks of devices, very short reach (VSR)/optical Ethernet and beyond. Even with the development of high-speed communications switches and routers, the data must be taken in and out of such high-speed devices at compatibly high rates in order for the entire system to function efficiently.
Radio frequency (RF) inter-chip and intra-chip connections have been developed as a possible way of transferring data within and between chips. However, RF interconnects use large antennae and/or waveguides on or connected to chips, thus requiring valuable on-chip and device "real estate." Also, RF interconnects are limited in data transfer speed due to the use of radio frequencies.
Other researchers have suggested the use of optical signals as an alternative to electrical signals in providing inter- and intra-chip connections.1 For instance, parallel fiber-optic interconnects which are edge-connected to semiconductor devices have been developed for use within systems with a large number of electronic components (e.g., computers).2 Although optical interconnect technology promises the possibility of higher rate data transfer than electrical interconnects, optical interconnect technology, as heretofore suggested, is still cost prohibitive in comparison. There is potentially a huge market for high speed interconnect arrangements because all desktop computers and local area networks would benefit from the use of high speed interconnects between components on chips, between chips, etc.
As will be seen hereinafter, the present invention provides a significant improvement over the prior art as discussed above by virtue of its ability to provide the increased performance while, at the same time, having significant advantages in its manufacturability. This assertion is true for electromagnetic devices generally, which take advantage of the present invention, as well as data communication and computing devices in particular.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Interconnected high speed electron tunneling devices

The Regents of the University of Colorado, a Body Corporate


A situation awareness display device for providing a graphical display of e relative position of remote units moving along with and in proximity to the local unit utilizing the device. The device is comprised of a tracking means for determining the instantaneous position of the local unit, a communications means for communicating that local position information to cooperating remote units over an external communication link, and receiving the position information of those remote unit over that same external link, a navigation means for deriving course following information, direction and velocity of said display device from said local unit position information, a main processing means for controlling the flow of information within said device and for deriving the relative position of the remote units with respect to the local unit from their respective position information, and a display means for retrieving and graphically displaying said stored relative position information in a uniquely configured display format showing the relative positions of the remote units from the perspective of the local unit.

The present invention relates to the field of communications systems, and more particularly to navigation and tracking systems that provide real-time location and relative position information of all vehicles engaged in a given activity.
Presently, there are few electronic navigation systems that provide such real-time location and position information on a global basis. These systems invariably utilize satellites as signal sources, signal relays and position references. Such satellite systems fall into one of two types; active location systems and passive location systems. An active location system is one in which the equipment aboard the user craft (local user) transmits a signal back to the satellite in response to the interrogation from the satellite to determine its position information. On the other hand, a passive system is one in which the local receiver determines its position from receiving satellite signals alone. There is no need for a receiver in a passive system to send signals back to the satellites. This allows a passive system to simultaneously service a multitude of users without the need for a high transmission capacity. Consequently, the technology has settled on passive systems for general use.
One such passive navigation system is the Global Positioning System (GPS). The GPS plans to position a total of 18-24 satellites in orbit to provide navigation information anywhere on earth. When fully implemented, this system will be a universal positioning and navigation system that can provide three dimensional position accuracies to 10 meters, velocity to an accuracy of 0.03 m/s, and time to an atomic clock accuracy. Even though it is not yet fully deployed, the GPS system is already in wide use.
The basis for the GPS's accuracy in providing position information is having a receiver that can precisely measure the transit time of signals radiated from a plurality of GPS orbiting satellites. Depending on the position information required, a GPS receiver must utilize a certain number of satellites. To determine three-dimensional position information, the receiver must utilize signals from four different satellites. But, only three satellite signals are required to obtain two-dimensional position information (i.e. latitude and longitude).
Presently, GPS receiver units are installed in a variety of devices such as airplanes, ships, ground vehicles, and hand-held portable navigation sets. These receivers calculate the position coordinates of that unit's location and display its position as an alphanumeric digital readout of latitude/longitude or Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates. None of these prior art implementations, however, provide a graphical display of the local unit's position and the relative location of other units in proximity to the local unit from the viewpoint of that local unit.
Consequently, those skilled in the art have recognized the need for a device that can provide a relatively real-time graphical display, from the local unit's viewpoint, of the position of remote units in proximity to that local unit. Such a display is particularly advantageous in that it does not warrant the complexity, size, and cost of color computer displays that require map information to show the position of remote devices with respect to each other from the satellite's viewpoint (as opposed to the local unit's viewpoint).
This technology is valuable for both tactical military and commercial applications such as tracking trucking fleets, police or medical emergency vehicles, airplanes taxiing on runways, or military armored vehicle maneuvering in a battlefield situation (which would help prevent fratricide).

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


A seal has a head and a strap, the head having a chamber with an aperture through which the end of the strap can be fed. An arrangement is provided within the chamber to engage the strap so that it cannot be pulled out in the opposite direction to which is inserted. This arrangement includes resilient clip having arms which can flex and overlapping apertured members at the ends of the arms which are configured to provide a variable gap as the strap is pulled through. This clip is mounted in an insert which in turn is fitted in the chamber of the seal.

The strap of this type of seal generally has serrations or teeth formed along its length so that when it is passed through an aperture in the head part it cannot be pulled out. This seal, often known as a 'pull-up seal', provides a tie which can be put around the neck of a bag, and then pulled tight. Because the seal cannot be removed without cutting the tail or separating the head from the tail, the seal provides a tamper evident closure for bags which may contain valuable or sensitive material. Typically, the head part is printed with a unique number, so that one seal cannot be removed and replaced by a fresh seal without this replacement being evident.
Seals with straps which are not serrated are also known. The strap can thus be smooth and the head includes angled teeth or barbs which engage the strap if it is pulled back out of the aperture in the wrong direction.
Pull-up seals are typically used to seal cash bags, property bags and clinical waste bags, but can also be used to lock items other than bags, for example roll cages or tanker valves, to take just two examples.
In a simple version of this type of seal, the seal is moulded as one integral part, the head part having an aperture of specific dimensions which will allow the serrations on the tail to pass through in one direction, but prevent the tail from being pulled out. The serrations are usually formed with an inclined leading edge, so that they can pass under a catch within the head.
In another version of a pull-up seal, the aperture is formed through a separate metal or acetal resin insert which is moulded into a chamber in the head part during the injection moulding of the strap, in other words the chamber is injection moulded around the insert. This provides a seal with a high degree of security, as the locking part within the chamber is not susceptible to tampering. However, this process for manufacturing seals is relatively expensive and difficult to perform reliably.


A portable, multigolf cleaner is provided having an enclosure which includes several fluid reservoirs for containing separate cleaning fluids for cleaning different types of golf equipment. The enclosure has three openings through which cleaning utensils are inserted into the cleaning fluids. The cleaning utensils have integral threaded caps for sealing respective ones of the three openings. Two of the cleaning utensils have integral cleaning brushes which are immersed in the cleaning fluids stored in respective ones of the reservoirs. The cleaning brushes have cleaning brush bristles of various stiffness and coarseness, for cleaning the different types of golf equipment. A third cleaning utensil is a ball washing fixture which is used for retaining a ball for reciprocation within a third one of the fluid reservoirs. The third fluid reservoir has a plurality of brush bristles mounted interiorly therein, which face radially inward into the reservoir for scrubbing the golf ball as the golf ball and the golf ball washing fixture are reciprocated within the third reservoir. The enclosure further includes a fourth fluid reservoir which contains water for moistening a cleaning towel.

Golf courses and driving ranges almost always have natural turf. This necessitates use of soils and other matter which causes cleanliness problems to arise, especially when moisture is encountered. Golf equipment, such as golf balls, golf clubs and golf shoes are designed to operated properly when surfaces are clean. However, when mud, dirt and other debris attach to golf ball surfaces, golf club faces and golf shoes, the operability of such equipment is adversely affected. For example, golf ball surfaces have dimples across the surface of the ball to improve flight stability and directional control. Club faces are grooved and typically have planar surfaces for impacting the curvilinear surface of golf balls to achieve desired flight results. However, when debris adheres to the surfaces of golf balls and golf club faces, the desired effects on the flight of the ball are adversely affected. Additionally, when excessive mud adheres to golf shoes, the footing of the golfer may be adversely affected such that he may not achieve a proper swing. Golf is also a social event in which appearance and impression are affected by cleanliness, which also may affect the golfer's attitude on the course.
Prior art solutions for cleaning golf equipment on the course have proven unacceptable. For example, golf courses often install ball washer stations at various locations on a golf course. However, the golf balls may become dirty at locations remote from such ball washer stations so that their use is inconvenient. Additionally, these types of ball washer stations have to be re-supplied with fresh water and cleaned to remove debris dislodged from cleaned golf balls.
Golfers often carry towels and a water supply for cleaning golf equipment. A water bottle is often used as a water supply for dampening the towel prior to use. However, the water bottle and towel are typically separately stored, such that each has to be found when a person desires to moisten the towel. Also golf tees are often not readily accessible, and a golfer often has to search through his golf bag to find tees for use.
Prior art cleaning devices have been packaged as portable golf ball cleaners, which include brushes and the like for cleaning golf equipment. However, such devices have not been included in a single convenient unit having a multiplicity of cleaning utensils which, when taken as a unit, could be conveniently used for cleaning golf equipment in most of the various situations which are encountered on a golf course.


This invention relates to monoclonal antibodies that recognize an antigen specific to melanocytic lesions. These antibodies are useful in methods of isolating melanoma cells and diagnosing melanocytic lesions. These antibodies are also useful for immunotherapy against melanoma.

Human malignant melanoma usually starts as harmless moles that undergo radial to invasive growth and end in the destructive stage of metastatic melanoma. Melanoma usually resists chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Surgery is the most effective treatment. Early diagnosis is required for surgery to be effective, which is unfortunately hampered by the lack of markers that are sensitive and specific for melanoma.
The commonly used antibodies for immuno-histochemical diagnosis of melanoma are HMB-45, anti-S-100 and NKI/C3 (for a review, please see Smoller B R, "Immunohistochemistry in the Diagnosis of Melanocytic Neoplasms", in PATHOLOGY: State of the Art Reviews, 2:371–383, 1994).
HMB-45 has been shown to react with the melanoma-associated antigen gp-100. Adema G J, de-Boer A J, Vogel A M, Loenen W A, Figdor C G: Molecular characterization of the melanocyte lineage-specific antigen gp 100. J. Biol. Chem. 1994; 269:20126–20133. HMB-45 reacts with melanoma, junctional nevi, dysplastic nevi, spindle cell and epitheloid cell nevi, congenital nevi and blue nevi. Gown A M, Vogel A M, Hoak D, Gough F, McNutt M A: Monoclonal antibodies specific for melanocytic tumors distinguish subpopulations of melanocytes. Am. J. Pathol. 1986; 123:195–203; Esclamado R M, Gown A M, Vogel A M. Unique proteins defined by monoclonal antibodies specific for human melanoma. Some potential clinical applications. Am. J. Surg. 1986; 152:376–385; Palazzo J, Duray P H: Typical, dysplastic, congenital, and Spitz nevi: a comparative immuno-histochemical study. Hum Pathol 1989; 20:341–346; Smoller B R, McNutt N S, Hsu A: HMB-45 recognizes stimulated melanocytes. J. Cutan. Pathol. 1989; 16:49–53; Smoller B R, McNutt N S, Hsu A: HMB-45 staining of dysplastic nevi. Support for a spectrum of progression toward melanoma. Am J Surg Pathol 1989; 13:680–684; Sun J, Morton T H Jr., Gown A M: Antibody HMB-45 identifies the cells of blue nevi. An immuno-histochemical study on paraffin sections. Am J Surg Pathol 1990; 14:748–751. HMB-45 is routinely used as a marker to differentiate melanoma from nonmelanocytic cancer cells. Herrera G A, Hancock C. Specificity of antibody HMB-45. Arch. Pathol. La. Med. 1992; 116:900–901. However, diagnosis with HMB-45 leaves a sizable numbers of melanomas undetected because the sensitivity of HMB-45 is between 67% and 93%. Wick M R, Swanson P E, Rocamora A. Recognition of malignant melanoma by monoclonal antibody HMB-45. An immuno-histochemical study of 200 paraffin-embedded cutaneous tumors. J Cutan Pathol 1988; 15:201–207; Ordonez N G, Ji X L, Hickey R C: Comparison of HMB-45 monoclonal antibody and S100 protein in the immuno-histochemical diagnosis of melanoma. Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 1988; 90:385–390.
Antibodies to S-100 protein have higher sensitivity than HMB-45 with malignant melanoma varieties. Nakajima T, Watanabe S, Sato Y, Kameya T, Shimosato Y, Ishihara K: Immuno-histochemical demonstration of S100 protein in malignant melanoma and pigmented nevus and its diagnostic application. Cancer 1982; 50:912–918; Kindblom L G, Lodding P, Rosengren L, Baudier J, Haglid K: S100 protein in melanocytic tumors. An immuno-histochemical investigation of benign and malignant melanocytic tumors and metastases of malignant melanoma and a characterization of the antigen in comparison to human brain. Acta. Pathol. Microbiol Immunol. Scand. 1984; 92:219–230; Springall D R, Gu J, Cocchia D, Michetti F, Levene A, Levene M M et al: The value of S100 immunostaining as a diagnostic tool in human malignant melanomas. A comparative study using S100 and neuron-specific enolase antibodies. Virchows Arch. Pathol. Anat. Histopathol. 1983; 400:331–343; Cochran A J, Wen D R, Herschman H R, Gaynor R B: Detection of S100 protein as an aid to the identification of melanocytic tumors. Int. J. Cancer 1982; 30:295–297; Gatter K C, Ralfkiaer E, Skinner J, Brown D, Heryet A, Pulford K A et al: An immunocytochemical study of malignant melanoma and its differential diagnosis from other malignant tumors. J Clin Pathol 1985; 38:1353–1357; Hachisuka H, Sakamoto F, Nomura H, Mori O, Sasai Y: Immuno-histochemical study of S100 protein and neuron specific enolase (NSE) in melanocytes and the related tumors. Acta Histochem. 1986; 80:215–223; Argenyi Z B, Cain C, Bromley C, Nguyen A V, Abraham A A, Kerschmann R et al: S100 protein-negative malignant melanoma: fact or fiction? A light-microscopic and immuno-histochemical study. Am. J. Dermatopathol. 1994; 16:233–240 (11–17). However, anti-S100 antibodies are notoriously unspecific. Anti-S100 antibodies have been shown to stain benign cells such as salivary and sweat glands, skeletal and cardiac muscle, histiocytes, Schwann cells, lipocytes, chondrocytes, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes (Kindblom L G, Lodding P, Rosengren L, Baudier J, Haglid K: S100 protein in melanocytic tumors. An immuno-histochemical investigation of benign and malignant melanocytic tumors and metastases of malignant melanoma and a characterization of the antigen in comparison to human brain. Acta. Pathol. Microbiol Immunol. Scand. 1984; 92:219–230; Stefansson K, Wollmann R L, Moore B W, Arnason B G. S100 protein in human chondrocytes. Nature 1982; 295:63–64; Stefansson K, Wollmann R L, Moore B W: Distribution of S100 protein outside the central nervous system. Brain Res. 1982; 234:309–317) and tumors arising from these cells (Tabuchi K, Moriya Y, Furuta T, Ohnishi R, Nishimoto: A S100 protein in human glial tumors. Qualitative and quantitative studies. Acta Neurochir Wien 1982; 65:239–251; Vanstapel M J, Gatter K C, de Wolf Peeters C, Mason D Y, Desmet V D. New sites of human S100 immunoreactivity detected with monoclonal antibodies. Am J Clin Pathol 1986; 85:160–168). Anti-S100 antibodies have also been shown to stain many non-melanoma malignant tumor tissues. Drier J K, Swanson P E, Cherwitz D L, Wick M R: S100 protein immunoreactivity in poorly differentiated carcinomas. Immuno-histochemical comparison with malignant melanoma. Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 1987; 111:447–452.
NKI/C3 antibody also reacts with a broad range of benign and malignant neoplasms. Mackie R M, Campbell I, Turbitt M L. Use of NK1 C3 monoclonal antibody in the assessment of benign and malignant melanocytic lesions. J Clin Pathol 1984; 37:367–372; Vennegoor C, Calafat J, Hageman P, van Buitenen F, Janssen H, Kolk A et al. Biochemical characterization and cellular localization of a formalin-resistant melanoma-associated antigen reacting with monoclonal antibody NKI/C-3. Int. J. Cancer 1985; 35:287–295. These unspecific activities limit the usefulness of NKI/C3 antibody in the diagnosis of melanocytic lesions.
KBA.62 antibody is comparable to HMB-45 in its sensitivity to melanoma, but is less specific than HMB-45 in that KBA.62 stains squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinomas. Cohen Knafo E, al Saati T, Aziza J, Ralfkiaer E, Selves J, Gorguet B et al: Production and characterisation of an antimelanoma monoclonal antibody KBA.62 using a new melanoma cell line reactive on paraffin wax embedded sections. J Clin Pathol 1995; 48:826–831.

Method and composition for diagnosis of melanocytic lesions

Shanghai CP GuoJian Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.


In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, a method may include generating a tempo scale set based on a received query, where the query includes a plurality of query values defining a tempo of music to be searched. A tempo word set may be constructed based on the generated tempo scale set. The tempo word set may include one or more tempo words, where each tempo word includes at least one tempo scale in the tempo scale set. The music may be identified using the constructed tempo word set.

The disclosed technology relates to audio processing and, more particularly, to a tempo-based music search technology.
With the development of entertainment information technology, consumers tend to require high-quality and high-speed information access. In the field of music searching, due to limitations of traditional text-based search manners, a plurality of melody-based music search engines have been developed in recent years, such as Shazam from Apple Inc., SoundHound from Google Inc. and Midomi from Melodis Inc.
In melody-based music search engines, a user may search musical information that most fits the melody by humming a musical segment in an audio input device. During the searching, a user may find a matched song in a database by only humming a song rather than inputting any textual information related to the song, such as a composer, a singer, or a song's name. Compared to traditional text-based search manners, melody-based music search technology provides a better user experience. For example, if you hear a song but do not know its name, it is possible to identify the song by means of the melody-based music search technology so long as the melody is memorized.

Method and apparatus for music searching

International Business Machines Corporation


A system and method for providing chirped light for an optical network. The system includes a light source configured to provide a light. The system additionally includes a driving signal source configured to provide a first driving signal. The system also includes an amplifier configured to receive the first driving signal, amplify the first driving signal, and provide a second driving signal at a predetermined amplification level, the second driving signal being the amplified first signal. Additionally, the system includes a splitter configured to receive the second driving signal and split the second driving signal into a third driving signal and a fourth driving signal. The system also includes a first attenuator configured to receive the third driving signal, attenuate the third driving signal at a first attenuation level, and provide a fifth driving signal, the fifth driving signal being the third driving signal attenuated by the first attenuator.

The present invention relates in general to telecommunication techniques. More particularly, the invention provides a method and system for chirped light source. Merely by way of example, the invention is described as it applies to optical networks, but it should be recognized that the invention has a broader range of applicability.
In optical transmission networks, signals are generally driven by light sources. Often signals in an optical transmission network travel over hundreds or even thousands of miles. An important characteristics of optical fiber transmission is fiber nonlinearity that can cause, among other things, dispersion penalty and thus limit the transmission distance. For example, nonlinearity may create self-phase modulation (SPM) effect. To improve the tolerance for nonlinear impairment of light sources, a system for transmitting signals with spectrally enriched optical pulses may be used. For example, a Directly Modulated Lasers (DML) source may be used to produce spectrally enriched optical pulses with simultaneous amplitude and frequency modulation. Spectrally enriched optical pulses are usually more tolerant to fiber nonlinearity. For example, a DML can, among other things, generate a positive chirp to counter-balance the (SPM) effect and thus the positively chirped pulse is more tolerant to fiber nonlinearity.
FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram of a conventional system for producing spectrally enriched optical pulses. Spectrally enriched optical pulses may be in form of chirped light. For example, chirped light is frequency-modulated light. As another example, chirped light has a frequency that varies with time, the variation of frequency staying within a range. The system 100 includes a DML 110, a driving signal source 120, an RF amplifier 130, and a voltage source 140. The system 100 produces chirped light output 150. The driving signal source 120 provides driving signals to the RF amplifier 130. Driving signals produced by the driving signal source 120 may be an NRZ binary signal associated with a predetermined minimum pulse duration. Alternatively, driving signals may be alternating current (AC) or clock signals. After the RF amplifier 130 receives driving signals from the driving signal source 120, the RF amplifier 130 amplifies the driving signals with a predetermined amplification factor. After amplification, the RF amplifier 130 transmits the driving signals to the DML 110. The DML 110 first couples the amplified driving signals with a bias voltage supplied by the voltage source 140. As an example, a bias voltage is a direct current (DC) voltage. Then the amplified driving signals modulate the DML 110. As an example, the DML output 150 is an optical signal that has been modulated in amplitude. Sometimes, the optical signal is also frequency-modulated.
Generally, the wavelength of DML sources may be tuned. One of the methods for tuning is varying the device temperature. However the spectral tuning range is often limited to about 3 nm, which covers at most 3 optical channels in case of 100 GHz dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) channel spacing. A modern DWDM optical transport system often needs to use several tens of channels. The narrow spectral tuning range of conventional DML sources could mean that more than 10 DMLs are needed to cover typical operating spectral range of greater than 30 nm in a DWDM optical system. Utilizing multiple, often in an order of tens, of DMLs leads to high inventory cost and limits the flexibility in applications where dynamical wavelength provisioning is required.
Hence it is highly desirable to improve techniques for generating chirped light source that offers both wide spectral tunable range in wavelength and substantially the same chirp characteristics of the conventional DMLs.

System and method for chirped light source


A method for obtaining media at a first communications device (e.g., that of a parent) from a wireless communications device (e.g., one being used by a child), includes steps of receiving a message from the first device at the wireless communications device, the message causing the wireless communications device to display a prompt for the user to capture media (e.g., photo, voice sample, or biometrical sample) with the device, obtaining current location information for the wireless communications device; and automatically transmitting the media from the second device to the first device along with the current location information.

A. Field
This invention relates generally to the field of applications for wireless communications devices (e.g., cell phones, personal digital assistants, and the like). More particularly, it relates to methods by which one communications device, which may also comprise a wireless communications device or a personal computer, may obtain media captured by a second wireless communications device along with information as to the location of the second wireless communications device. The methods are particularly useful in the context of parental monitoring of a minor child where the child has a cell phone having either camera or biometric media capture functionality.
B. Related Art
It is generally known today for wireless communication devices, such as cell phones and wirelessly equipped computing devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and laptop computers to be able to engage in wireless packet-data communications and to thereby wirelessly send and receive messages and other content from land-based network entities and other wireless communications devices.
Wireless communications devices such as cell phones often have a camera built into the housing which can be used to captures digital images. Such images can be transmitted across a wireless network, e.g., as an attachment to an email message. See e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,823,198 and 6,785,935.
It is also known in the art that the location of a wireless communications device can be ascertained using a variety of different techniques. In one technique, the device includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite receiver and obtains latitude and longitude coordinates from orbiting GPS satellites. In other techniques, the position of a wireless communications device can be determined by means of triangulation algorithms and/or signal delay measurements, making use of Radio Frequency (RF) communications between the wireless device and base station antennae in a radio access network. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,990,345; 6,972,717; 6,952,574 and 6,944,466.
The present invention takes advantage of the location determination capability of wireless communications devices and the ability of such devices to capture media (e.g., photographs) in new and unexpected ways to enable a wireless communications device such as a cell phone to be a useful tool to assist parents in monitoring their children.

Parental monitoring via cell phones with media capture and location reporting


The invention concerns a steering arrangement (1) with a steering handwheel (2), which is unrotatably connected with a steering sensor, and with a wheel (3) steered by a steering drive (4) without a mechanically active connection between steering handwheel (2) and steered wheel (3). In this steering arrangement a simple way of realizing a counter action of the steered wheel on the steering handwheel (2) is wanted. For this purpose the steering sensor is made as an electrical machine (6), which works as a generator, for the production of a steering signal and is connected with a switching device (9), whose load behavior is variable.

The invention concerns a steering arrangement with a steering handwheel, which is unrotatably connected with a steering sensor, and with a wheel steered by a steering drive without a mechanically active connection between steering handwheel and steered wheel.
An arrangement of this kind is known from DE 42 07 719 A1. The steering angle, which is transmitted from the steering handwheel via a steering shaft to the steering sensor, is used to control the opening of a hydraulic valve so that a hydraulic motor can steer wheels in one direction or the other. To give the operator a sense of the steering behavior, a counter-action motor is provided, which also acts upon the steering shaft.
The steering arrangement of the present invention is primarily used with driven machines, like, for example, fork lift trucks or forestry machines. In the course of one working day such machines perform many similar movements, for example, when a fork lift truck collects and piles up palettes. In order to optimize the movement processes for the operator ergonomically, so-called mini steering wheels have been introduced. Such a mini steering wheel is known from the Swedish patent SE 466 099. Also in connection with these mini steering wheels a counter-action is desired. However, the advantage of a compact design offered by the mini steering wheel should be maintained, even with the counter-action measures.
The task of the invention is to provide a simple method of managing a counter-action.
In a steering arrangement of the kind mentioned in the introduction, this task is solved in that the steering sensor is made as an electrical machine, working as a generator, for the production of a steering signal and is connected with a switching device, whose load behavior is variable.
This measure provides a relatively simple way of obtaining both the steering signal, that is the desired value specified by the steering handwheel, which must be followed by the steered wheel(s), and a counter-action with which the user xe2x80x9cfeelsxe2x80x9d the resistance to be overcome by the steered wheel. The steering signal is simply produced by an electrical machine working as a generator. By means of the voltage produced by the electrical machine working as a generator and the time it takes to produce the voltage both the steering speed and the steering angle can be calculated. However, the driving of a generator requires a torque, which again depends on the electric load, which must be served by the generator. An illustrative example of such a load is an ohmic resistor, which is connected with the output terminals of the generator. The smaller this resistor is, the larger is the torque required to drive the generator. A change of the electrical resistance thus enables a change of the torque to be produced by the user or operator. Of course there is a number of other opportunities of influencing the xe2x80x9cload behaviorxe2x80x9d. Instead of an ohmic resistor, commonly known electronic or electrical switching elements can be used, which change the current flow between the generator terminals. For example, a keyed switch can be used, whose keying interval can be adjusted. It is also possible to produce a counter-voltage and then feed it to the generator terminals. If, for example, the counter-voltage is larger than the generator output voltage, the user must work against a motor to turn the steering handwheel. This enables a feedback to the driver or user. With this embodiment one single mechanical element is sufficient, namely the electrical machine. An electrical machine of this kind is relatively compact, so that the advantage of a good space utilization is maintained. The combination of signal production with the opportunity of a counter-action gives a very narrow coupling between the two measures, so that major errors caused by different operational behaviors in connection with the production of steering signals and the counter action can be avoided. of course, the size and the performance of the steering handwheel and the electrical machine must be adapted to each other. A small steering handwheel only requires a small machine. The counter-torque or braking-torque can be changed in dependence of various parameters, for example, vehicle speed, vehicle load or time of day.
Preferably, a transmission is arranged between the steering handwheel and the steering sensor. This transmission causes that the electrical machine turns substantially faster than the steering handwheel. For example, a transmission ratio of 5:1 can be assumed. In this case two advantages are obtained. Firstly, a stronger steering signal is achieved, as with a higher speed the generator supplies a stronger voltage signal. Secondly, the counter-action torque of the electrical machine on the steering handwheel is accordingly amplified.
Advantageously, the steering handwheel is made as a mini steering wheel, and the transmission is integrated in the mini steering wheel. With a mini steering wheel no large torques have to be transmitted. The only requirement is that the driver must get a feeling for the steering behavior. In this case it is also sufficient to have an accordingly small or weakly dimensioned gear, which can be incorporated in the mini steering wheel. This means that only very little additional space is required for the gear.
In an alternative embodiment the transmission can be fitted on the outside of the electrical machine. As mentioned above, the transmission is a relatively small component, and the additional space required is hardly mentionable.
Advantageously, the steering handwheel is supported in a housing, in which the electrical machine and at least one part of the switching device influencing the torque are arranged, the switching device having a BUS connection. The BUS connection can, for example, be configured for a CANBUS. Exactly within the vehicle sector the CAN-BUS is very much used as BUS. By means of this CAN-BUS the required information can be transmitted from the steering handwheel to the steering drive and vice versa. It is also relatively simple to introduce additional signals, whose production devices will be described below.
Advantageously, the electrical machine can be driven as a motor. In many cases, electrical machines can be driven both as generators and as motors. When, in the present case, the electrical machine can be driven as a motor, additional opportunities occur, for example, the torque felt by the user can be increased. The motor function can also be used for other purposes.
Preferably, a torque sensor connected with the switching device is arranged on the steered wheel, and the switching device adjusts its load behavior in dependence of the output signal of the torque sensor. Thus, the forces influenced by the steered wheel can be simulated. Particularly, forces can be passed on to the steering handwheel, which act upon the steered wheel from the outside. The operator or driver then gets an even better feeling of the steering behavior of his vehicle. For example, he learns via the steering handwheel, when the steered wheel meets a resistance. By means of the torque sensor it can also be detected when the steered wheel reaches its end stop. This keeps the wear at a minimum or prevents damages.
In an advantageous embodiment the steered wheel has an end-stop sensing device connected with the switching device, and the switching device produces an irregular torque at the electrical machine, when the steered wheel reaches a movement limit. Then the operator will be informed that the steered wheel has reached its end stop, for example in that position the steering wheel vibrates or is exposed to a pulsating torque. Thus, an oversteering of the steering arrangement is prevented. The torque can be produced by a motor or be a varying resistance torque.
Preferably, the steered wheel is provided with a position sensor connected with the switching device, the. switching device returning the steered wheel to a neutral position. This may, for example, happen, when the steering handwheel does not move for a predetermined period. This gives an automatic return of the vehicle to the straight-forward position, whenever required.
In this connection it is advantageous if the switching device triggers the electrical machine synchronously with the steered wheel. Then the user simultaneously gets the information that the steered wheel is moved back to the neutral position. This enables him to interrupt this movement by an operation of the steering handwheel, for example by holding it. If he does not, the steering handwheel will also be in the neutral position at the end of the returning process. If desired, this procedure can be limited to standstill periods of the vehicle.
In a preferred embodiment it is provided that the switching device compares the steering handwheel position with the steered wheel position and adjusts the torque on the steering handwheel in dependence of the difference. Thus, for example, the steering handwheel acceleration can be influenced so that the steering handwheel cannot be turned faster than for the steered wheel to follow. When there is a large deviation between the two positions, for example, the steering handwheel is far ahead of the steered wheel. When then the torque is increased, which the operator must overcome, the steered wheel has the opportunity of catching up again.
Advantageously, the steering handwheel has a marking, and an additional stationary marking is provided in the steering handwheel surroundings, the switching device trigging the electrical machine to work as a motor, in a way that the relative position of the two markings corresponds to the angle position of the steered wheel. For example, when the steering system is used in a fork lift truck, it is important to know in which position the steered wheel is, particularly when the operator comes back and starts the vehicle again after having been away. For this purpose it is known to provide some sort of graphic representation of the wheel positions. However, advantageously, this position statement can also be realized via the steering handwheel, particularly when the steering handwheel is made as a mini steering wheel. As it is possible to act upon and adjust the angle position of the steering handwheel by means of the electrical machine working as a motor, it can be imagined that the position of the steering handwheel is adapted to the position of the steered wheel, each time the vehicle stands still and the steering handwheel is not operated for a predetermined time. For this purpose, the angle position of the steering handwheel needs not be particularly accurate, as the crucial thing is to give the operator a feeling of the position of the steered wheel.


A protective system for underwater installation on the propeller of a boat inhibits marine growth from fouling the propeller. The system includes a flexible material sized and shaped so as to be capable of enclosing the propeller. A member such as a clamp or clip maintains the flexible material in a state enclosing the propeller. The system further includes a link (such as a piece of line) having one end attached to the member and/or the flexible material and a free second end. The link is of sufficient length such that when the flexible material is installed about the propeller the free end of the link extends to a location proximate to the boat at or above the waterline of the boat (such as to the transom or deck of the boat, or to a dock against which the boat is tied) wherein the link can be retrieved by a user of the boat. A tug on the link by the user releases the flexible material from the propeller permitting the retrieval of the link, the member and the flexible material as a unit from the propeller without the aid of a diver.

A. Field
This invention relates generally to marine equipment protective devices, and more particularly to a protective cover for propellers, transducers and other underwater components to protect against marine growth.
B. Description of Related Art
Underwater components, particularly propellers and connected propeller shafts, transducers and the like, are susceptible to the development of marine growth when submerged in sea water. Such growth can include barnacles, sea grass, slime, etc. (collectively referred to has "marine growth"). Marine growth that attaches to propellers remains attached even when the propeller turns to propel the boat at typical cruising speeds. Marine growth can significantly reduce the efficiency of the boat's propulsion system. Accordingly, countermeasures to ameliorate marine growth attaching to propellers have been proposed.
These countermeasures can take a variety of forms. One is to hire a diver to scrub and clean the propeller at regular intervals, or in advance of a voyage. Another is to apply an antifouling paint to the propeller. The art has further developed a variety of protective devices that are designed to cover or protect marine propulsion apparatus while in the water. Such protective devices are described in the patent literature, and include Sloan, U.S. Pat. No. 3,220,374; Pearce, U.S. Pat. No. 3,587,508; Crepeau, U.S. Pat. No. 6,916,217; Morton, U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,064; and Borrelli, U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,220. Other patents of interest include Ojeda, U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,399; Newman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,461; Doelcher, U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,193 and Lobrovich, U.S. Pat. No. 7,244,154.
The present protective system of this disclosure is considered an improvement over the devices shown in these patents in that it is particularly suitable for propellers, transducers and other underwater components that are submerged substantially below the waterline (e.g., as in most medium and larger sailboats and power boats due the installation of inboard diesel or gas engines) yet can be readily released by the user/boat owner from above the water before their trip, without requiring a diver to release the protective system. The solutions proposed for example by the Sloan and Crepeau patents, cited above, are applicable to outdrives of inboard/outboard motors or outboards where the propeller itself is either able to be raised out of the water or otherwise is readily accessible. However, they are not suitable for propellers for inboard engines in which the propeller is typically several feet (or more) below the surface of the water. These designs, if adapted for such a propeller, would require a diver to disengage the cover from the propeller. None of the designs of the prior art address the problems of fouling of propellers of larger vessels in which the propeller is submerged substantially below the waterline, or provide an effective protective system for such a vessel which can be readily released by the user from a position on deck, without requiring the services of a diver.

Underwater protective system to inhibit marine growth