Stimulation of nervous system components by electrodes can be used in many applications, including in the operation of brain-machine interfaces, bidirectional neural interfaces, and neuroprosthetics. The optimal operation of such systems requires a means of accurately measuring neural responses to such stimulations. However, currently the measurement of neural responses is difficult due to heavy stimulation artifacts arising from stimulatory pulses. The invention encompasses novel methods of estimating stimulation artifacts in measurements attained by recording electrodes and the effective removal of these artifacts. This provides improved neural recording systems and enables the deployment of closed-loop neural stimulation systems.

Electrical stimulation of the nervous system is a powerful tool for addressing basic neuroscience questions, for various neurological therapies, and for the operation of brain-machine interfaces. Stimulation has been used to causally perturb neural circuits, for clinical diagnosis, for the treatment of nervous system disorders, and for restoring motor and sensory functions. Significant efforts are underway to develop bidirectional neural interfaces, the successful implementation of which will enable the development of next-generation neuroprosthetics.
In these systems, one or more stimulatory electrodes are activated, delivering a signal comprising a voltage or current pulse to a neural target, inducing neural responses. An array of recording electrodes may be utilized to capture neural signals generated in response to the stimulus pulse. However, successful measurement of the response signals is hampered by what is known as stimulation artifact, wherein the propagating stimulation signal is captured by electrodes of the recording array. This stimulation artifact can be of sufficient magnitude to obscure neural signals generated by the stimulation pulse. These voltage transients obscure neural activity for tens or even hundreds of milliseconds. The problem is exacerbated in high pulse rate stimulation, employed by many clinical applications, because an increasing fraction of the recording becomes contaminated by stimulation artifact as the pulse rate increases. Accordingly, the contaminating stimulation artifact must be removed if neural response signals are to be effectively measured.
Therefore, there is a great need for methods and technologies that permit neural recordings to be made without interference from simultaneous stimulations. While stimulation artifact amplitude and duration can be reduced through careful engineering of the stimulator, recording system, and delivery protocols, its production is an inevitable consequence of injecting electrical current into a volume of tissue.
Blanking may be used to reduce stimulation artifact. In blanking, recording amplifiers are taken off line during and immediately after delivery of a stimulation pulse. While this removes artifact, it is of limited practical use as it also results in total loss of signals during the blanking interval.
Another approach is to attempt to model stimulation artifact and then remove it post-hoc from measured signals. A common approach to stimulation artifact modeling is template subtraction. In template subtraction methods, a template of the expected stimulation artifact is generated by averaging the response to each stimulation pulse in contaminated recordings and then subsequently subtracting the average value from measured signals. Exemplary template methods are described by Wichmann, "A digital averaging method for removal of stimulus artifacts in neurophysiologic experiments." Journal of Neuroscience Methods, vol. 98, no. 1, pp. 57-62, 2000, and by Hashimoto at al., "A template subtraction method for stimulus artifact removal in high-frequency deep brain stimulation." Journal of Neuroscience Methods, vol. 113, no. 2, pp. 181-186, 2002.
However, template subtraction can be fairly unreliable as it assumes that the stimulation artifact does not vary across pulses. In practice, stimulation artifact will vary considerably across pulses of different intensities, pulse widths, and sites of stimulation. Even with these stimulation parameters held constant, template subtraction is often unable to completely remove the stimulation artifact during the pulsing interval. This makes it unsuitable for many closed-loop applications where stimulation parameters are tuned based on physiological responses. Additionally, template subtraction requires a high degree of temporal synchronization between the stimulator and the subtraction stage (or, equivalently, a high sampling rate for frequency domain subtraction). Finally, template subtraction can be unsuitable for multichannel stimulation paradigms because of complex overlapping stimulation artifacts.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for novel methods of accurately estimating and removing stimulation artifact in neural recordings.

Removal of stimulation artifact in multi-channel neural recordings

The Regents of the University of California


The present invention includes mutant AID, APOBEC, and Tet enzymes with improved functions. In one aspect the invention provides APOBEC fusion proteins comprising hyperactive deamination activity. In another aspect, the invention provides AID mutant proteins comprising hyperactive deamination activity. In yet another aspect, the invention provides mutant Tet proteins capable of stalling oxidation at a 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (hmC).

In mammalian genomes, cytosine modifying enzymes provide an added layer of diversity to the genome. Cytosine can be modified by deamination, oxidation and methylation, with each of these modifications leading to different outcomes. In nature, these transformations are catalyzed by several enzymes, and the reactions play an important role in multiple processes including immunity and epigenetics.
One family of these cytosine modifying enzymes are the AID/APOBEC (apolipoprotein B editing complex) family. These enzymes deaminate cytidine to uridine, leading to nucleotide changes in RNA and DNA that can alter function. In mammals, the larger family of APOBECs include four subfamilies (APOBEC1-4) and the well characterized, activation-induced deaminase, AID. While evolution has tuned the specific functions of the individual AID/APOBECs in cells, as deaminases, they all share key structural features necessary for catalytic function. Within this larger family AID and APOBEC3 enzymes are known to preferentially deaminate cytosine bases in singe stranded DNA (ssDNA) contexts.
AID is a deaminase that is essential for adaptive immunity, and can be found as far back in evolution as jawless vertebrae, suggesting an important and conserved role in immunity. AID acts by introducing targeted uracil lesions within the immunoglobulin genes. Mutations introduced into the regions of antibody genes that recognize antigen drive increased affinity and an improved ability to recognize targets in a process known as somatic hypermutation. AID also acts in the "switch" regions of immunoglobulin genes, where double stranded DNA breaks introduced by the targeted introduction of uracil in neighboring strands leads to class switch recombination and a change from IgG to alternative isotypes IgM, IgA, IgE, which can alter the effector function of antibodies.
The APOBEC3 family has more recently evolved and is best known for its function in specific targeting of retroviral and transposable elements that threaten genomic integrity. As a result of selective pressures, the APOBEC3 (A3) locus in primates has undergone numerous duplication events to give rise to seven genes on chromosome 22 that encode for deaminases. These seven genes are commonly abbreviated A3A-A3H. Most A3s also have been shown to restrict retroviruses and retrotransposons; however, they differ in their tissue and subcellular localization. While the structure and sequences of the catalytic regions of A3s are largely conserved, there are some important structural and sequence differences between members of the A3 subfamily of deaminases. For example, A3A, A3C, and A3H are all single domain deaminase proteins, similar to APBOEC1, APOBEC2, and APOBEC4. On the other hand, A3B, A3DE, and A3G are all double domain deaminases.
A second key class of modifications that can occur to cytosine bases are catalyzed by the Ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzymes. TET enzymes catalyze the oxidation of 5-methylcytosine (mC), the mainstay of the epigenome, into three additional bases: 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (hmC), 5-formylcytosine (fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (caC). Mounting evidence suggests that these oxidized mC (ox-mC) bases stably populate mammalian genomes, are integral intermediates in DNA demethylation, and potentially encode unique epigenetic information. However, the functions of each individual base and the mechanisms governing their formation are currently unknown.
The overall catalytic mechanism of TET enzymes (TET1, TET2, and TET3 in mammals) has been largely inferred from related proteins in the Fe(II)/α-ketoglutarate (α-KG)-dependent family of dioxygenases, such as AlkB. Enzymes in this family couple decarboxylation of α-KG with substrate oxidation via a transient Fe(IV)-oxo intermediate, with succinate and CO2 as byproducts. TET enzymes apply this general mechanism to not one but three stepwise reactions. It is currently unknown whether these enzymes are specialized for one particular step of oxidation or for three-step oxidation as a whole. Moreover, stepwise oxidation obscures the function of individual ox-mCs, creating a need to break the linkage between steps in order to study each base in isolation.
A need exists for novel AID, APOBEC, and TET enzymes with modified and tailored functions. The present invention satisfies this need.

Hyperactive AID/APOBEC and hmC dominant TET enzymes

THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA


A dual power supply assembly for providing power to an electrical device includes a fuel cell and a battery in electrical communication with the fuel cell. The fuel cell and the battery act in tandem to supply power to the electrical device. Either the fuel cell of the battery may be removed from the dual power supply assembly without interrupting the continuous operation of the electrical device.

Power supplies of one sort or another are ubiquitous in our technology-driven world. Perhaps the best known portable power supply are batteries, of which there are many types and kinds. Batteries are very versatile power supplies in that they are typically able to power several times their optimum load for short periods of time. Indeed, the average lifespan of a battery is largely dependent upon the duration of its use, in combination with the size of the load applied thereto.
Rechargeable batteries are also known, and they differ only slightly from conventional non-rechargeable batteries in that they may be periodically re-energized via external sources.
Despite their inherent versatility, batteries (both primary batteries, as well as rechargeable batteries) have a limited lifetime and usefulness, and must be replaced or recharged periodically. Thus, operators of high-load electronic equipment often carry several back-up batteries to address the extended operation of their equipment.
Fuel cells are also known power supplies, and are able to produce electrical power from the interaction of a fuel stream, typically consisting of hydrogen gas or the like, and an oxidant stream that contains oxygen. Other types of fuel cells, utilizing different fuel and oxidant streams, are also known.
Practical applications for fuel cells have largely focused on large-scale uses such as stand-by power systems, and automobiles. This is due to the volumetric inefficiencies of fuel cell power plants, which are typically large in size. Thus, fuel cells are not currently considered as viable power supplies for widescale application for small scale electronic devices and appliances.
Moreover, fuel cells are typically designed within demanding parameters. That is, fuel cells are designed to address specific size, weight and performance criteria. In contrast with batteries, fuel cells are able to provide power only marginally above their nominal level, and then for only short durations. If asked to exceed their nominal power output, fuel cells exhibit the characteristic of constant power supplies in that they will typically reduce their voltage output in accordance with Watt's law, addressing a higher current demand by supplying a corresponding lower voltage until such a time that the voltage is no longer capable of powering the load/electronic device.
For this reason, especially when fuel cells are utilized in automobile applications, batteries are employed as the primary power source for the nominal load and in order to address the transient peak loads that the fuel cell alone would otherwise be unable to handle. Such battery complimented fuel cell systems are often termed 'hybrid' systems.
Other, somewhat smaller, hybrid power systems have been proposed, yet the operation of the batteries in these systems has been limited to merely assisting in the requisite temperature rise necessary to start the chemical reaction within the fuel cell itself. Batteries in hybrid systems have also been employed to provide some capacitance by which to insulate the fuel cell from transient currents, thereby allowing the voltage output from the hybrid system to remain substantially constant.
Still further, the batteries utilized in known hybrid power systems are integral to the fuel cell construction, and have not been designed to handle the nominal load placed on the fuel cell. Thus, known hybrid systems utilize their integral batteries to merely assist the fuel cell, which itself is the main power supply for the electrical device.
Known fuel cell hybrid power systems also suffer from being a 'closed' power system. That is, known hybrid power systems are only designed to address the power demands of a specific type of electric device, and most commonly are designed to address the power demands of a single, individual unit within the specific type of electric device. Thus, known hybrid power systems are not capable of powering even other units within the specific type of electrical device, and are certainly incapable of being mounted to and servicing the power demands of a wide variety of electric devices.
Automotive hybrid power systems are but one example of a closed power system in that they are only designed for a specific type of electric device (an automobile), and are only useable with a single vehicle. The hybrid power system of one vehicle cannot be simply disconnected and mounted to the chassis of another vehicle without extensive labor and expense. Moreover, the hybrid power system of a vehicle certainly cannot be mounted or connected to a different type of an electric host device, such as a video camera or the like.
In spite of the limitations discussed above, there are conceivably a wide range of products that would benefit from the use of fuel cells as a power supply. For example, in those applications where the electrical device is operated for extended periods of time away from a landed AC power source, it is often necessary to carry large amounts, and differing kinds, of batteries and/or associated recharging devices. One benefit of fuel cells, despite their volumetric inefficiency, is that the fuel itself (apart from its converter apparatus) can be carried in relatively smaller and lighter containers versus carrying the equivalent power in batteries.
Batteries, however, remain the power supply of choice in many fields, including, by way of illustration and example, that of professional camera and video operators. In the professional video art, a video camera may be used in different environments, by different operators and for different durations. A selection of battery sizes, chemistries and capabilities will allow the video camera to be used in all of these different situations, wherein the selection of batteries is optimized by the preference of the operator considering the environmental and running time requirements.
As discussed above, the optimization of size, weight and run time is not available to a fuel cell, whose output is largely defined by its size and weight. Moreover, the size and weight of a fuel cell that was designed to handle all operating conditions, would negatively affect the ergonomics of today's camera and video units, which have increasingly become smaller and lighter. Still further, because a fuel cell could be sized to only address a device of certain. characteristics, its flexibility to be used interchangeably in several different devices would be severely limited.
Large scale video operations, such as those employed for news services and the like, could have literally hundreds of cameras. Each camera could range in power requirements from 15-50 watts and have accessories, such as lights, that could add from 25-85 watts per camera. Therefore, the requisite power range in professional video applications such as news gathering (ENG), field productions (EFP), event videography (e.g., weddings) and government or corporate video operations, can range anywhere from 15-150 watts. This 10× power range makes it virtually impossible for a fuel cell of existing technology to universally power this range of device. Moreover, the upper range of the power requirement would necessitate a fuel cell which would be so large and heavy to be ergonomically impractical for the device it would power. Clearly, the application of fuel cells is limited in circumstances where the size and power demands of a wide range of devices, or of a portable device with high current requirements, make the volumetric limitations of fuel cells impractical.
As will be appreciated by a review of the foregoing, neither batteries, nor existing technology fuel cells, can efficiently and fully address the power, space and weight requirements of small-scale electrical appliances and devices on their own. Indeed, even the application of known hybrid designs cannot address these concerns as known hybrid power plant systems approach or exceed the size of small-scale electrical appliances. Moreover, known hybrid systems require the integral coupling between a battery and a fuel cell, thus making replacement of the battery a time consuming and labor intensive act which interrupts the continuous operation of the device. Still further, known fuel cell hybrid power systems are incapable of being selectively applied to a wide variety of electric host devices, instead being limited to use with a very specific type, and most commonly an individual unit, of an electric host device.
With the forgoing problems and concerns in mind, it is the general object of the present invention to provide a dual power supply for portable electronic devices that addresses the shortcomings of both batteries and fuel cells by extending the operating time of the device, while permitting the continuous operation of the device even during times of battery or fuel replacement.

Dual power supply for electronic devices


A stroboscopic flash device for a digital camera having a plurality of stroboscopic flash units mounted on a ring-like holder provided removably attached to a lens barrel of the digital camera comprising a circumferential position adjustment mechanism to adjust a circumferential position of the two stroboscopic flash units along the ring-like holder, an upward and leftward position adjustment mechanism to adjust an upward and downward position of a flash face of the stroboscopic flash units and a rightward and leftward position adjustment mechanism to adjust a rightward and leftward position of the flash face of the stroboscopic flash units, the circumferential position adjustment, the upward and downward position adjustment mechanism and the rightward and leftward position adjustment mechanism being adapted to indicate the optimum stroboscopic flash positions relative to every photographic part of the photographic object by distinguishing them by a pointer corresponding to any of colored indication parts and to detect the optimum stroboscopic flash positions by click stop means.

Lately, a patient's whole body, its upper half of the body, its face and its whole mouth or its part are taken a photograph of by using a digital camera for the purpose of dentistry medical treatment. In this manner, when the photographic object having various sizes over a wide range from a small part of the object to a whole thereof should be taken the photograph of, it is required to uniformly irradiate a light to every part of the photographic object by adjusting the position of the stroboscopic flash units relative to every photographic part of the object.
In order to take a stroboscopic flash photograph of the object for such a purpose, the stroboscopic flash units may be desirably disposed at least on both sides of the lens barrel of the digital camera so as to uniformly irradiate the light to the photographic object.
There has been known by JU 57-182728A a stroboscopic flash device adapted to be able to adjust the position thereof so as to irradiate the light from the stroboscopic flash units from various angles.
This prior stroboscopic flash device comprises a ring-like holder attached to a front end of the lens barrel of the camera and stroboscopic flash holding bases holding the stroboscopic flash units, respectively and slipperily supported on the ring-like holder. When a pair of knobs of the stroboscopic flash unit holding bases are forced so as to be moved in a direction where they approach each other, the bases can be released relative to the ring-like holder whereby the position of the stroboscopic flash units can be adjusted in a circumferential direction.
However, since this prior stroboscopic flash device can adjust only the circumferential position of the stroboscopic flash units, it could not be applied to the photography of the object having varying in the size of the photographic parts such as the patient's whole body or its part of the mouth in the dentistry clinical photography. Especially, the digital camera has a dynamic range (latitude) narrower than a silver salt film camera and therefore the digital camera is required to irradiate the light onto the photographic object at a precise angle and with a stable optical quantity. Thus it will be understood that the conventional stroboscopic flash unit position adjustment used in the stroboscopic flash device for the silver salt film camera could not be used for the digital camera as it is.
Moreover, since the photographer sets the posture of the stroboscopic flash units depending on self experiential intuition, considerable skill was required for obtaining the optimal stroboscopic flash setup position for every photographic part of the object. Furthermore, a delicate position deflection tends to occur in the position setup for every setup even if it is an expert and therefore, a fixed posture was not always able to be imparted to the stroboscopic flash units, some deviation might possibly arise in the picture photography.

Stroboscopic flash device for a digital camera


A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a semiconductor substrate, a chip region and a scribe region, includes a step of forming a first hole in an insulating film on the chip region by using a step-and-repeat lithography system using a half-tone phase shift mask, and forming a conductive film on an entire surface of the semiconductor substrate. The conductive film is patterned such that the conductive film remains at least at a second hole and its peripheral portion, the second hole resulting in being formed at a four-fold exposure portion which is a portion where a plurality of shots have overlapped at the scribe region during the step of forming the first hole. Since the conductive film remains at the second hole and its peripheral portion, it is possible to prevent the formation of residue of the conductive film at sidewalls of the second hole when the conductive film is etched away from the scribe region.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a method of fabricating a semiconductor device using a half-tone phase shift mask.
(2) Description of the Related Art
With advancement in semiconductor fabrication techniques, semiconductor elements are being more highly integrated and miniaturized. In recent years, a half-tone phase shift method developed for the expansion of process margins is becoming a leading technique in the related field. The half-tone phase shift method is a lithography method using mask patterns that are formed by a semitransparent film having a light transmittivity of 1-16% and an optical phase difference of within 180.+-.10.degree. with respect to an optically transmitting portion. With this method, a sharp image intensity (shifter edge effect) is produced at an edge portion due to an optical phase inversion effect that develops at the mask pattern edge portion, thus enabling to enhance the resolution. However, when the half-tone phase shift method is used, since the semitransparent film having a light transmittivity of 1-16% is used as a mask, there has been a problem that film thinning occurs in the resist film of the patterns. According to a method proposed in Japanese Patent Application Kokai Publication No. Hei 5-197160, it is attempted to overcome the above problem by hardening the surface of the photoresist film.
When a mask pattern is transferred onto a photoresist film on a wafer using a step-and-repeat lithographic system, a region irradiated by one exposure (shot) is set so as to cover at least one chip region, and a repeat margin of a predetermined dimension is provided therein so that there occurs no gap between shots caused by misalignment between individual steps. As shown in FIG. 1, for example, the edge of a shot A comes on a scribe region which defines chip regions on the wafer, but this edge extends outwardly by the extent of the repeat margin 102 (for example, 2 .mu.m) from the center lines 101-1, 101-2 of the scribe region.
Thus, when the exposure of the entire wafer surface has been completed, there are overlapped portions of a plurality of shots (hereinafter referred to as overlap exposure portions). In relation to the overlap exposure portions, there are problems in the case of a half-tone phase shift method, which are explained below.
The half-tone phase shift mask is often used in the formation of a contact hole. As shown in FIG. 2A, for providing a contact hole to an insulating film 2 on a silicon substrate 1, a photoresist film 3 is formed, and a hole 4 for the formation of the contact hole is provided in a chip region I by a step exposure and development using the half-tone phase shift mask. The numeral III represents the center line position of the scribe region. In this case, a hole 5 is often unavoidably formed also at a four-fold exposure portion (103 in FIG. 1). This is because the exposure is made four times by the light transmitted through the semitransparent film of the half-tone phase shift mask. Using current techniques, it is not possible to sufficiently avoid the formation of such a hole in the photoresist film at the four-fold exposure portion. Next, by etching the insulating film 2 using the photoresist film 3 as a mask, the contact hole 6 as shown in FIG. 2B is formed. At that time, a hole 7 results in being formed at the four-fold exposure portion. Thereafter, a conductive film, such as an Al-Si-Cu alloy film 8, is formed and also a photoresist film 9 for the formation of interconnect layers is formed. The photoresist film 9 is not formed on the scribe region II, and this is for avoiding the scattering of conductive matter when the divisions are made by the scribing. Next, by using the photoresist film 9 as a mask, the Al-Si-Cu alloy film 8 is patterned and the interconnect layer 8a is formed. At that time, the residue 10 of Al-Si-Cu tends to be present at sidewalls of the hole 7.
The problems in the prior art, therefore, are that, as explained above, when the contact hole is formed in the insulating film on a wafer by the step exposure using the half-tone phase shift mask, there is also unavoidably formed a hole at the overlap exposure portion of the scribe region, and this results in a state wherein, during the subsequent interconnect layer formation, the residue of conductive matter is present at the sidewalls of the hole. During the cleaning step, the residue peels off and becomes a cause of producing dust or contaminants which lead to the lowering of the yield and the reliability.

Method of fabricating semiconductor device using half-tone phase shift mask


An active noise control system and associated auto-selection method for modeling a secondary path for the active noise control system are provided. The method includes the steps of: receiving a reference signal; filtering the reference signal with a secondary-path estimation filter to obtain a filtered reference signal, wherein the secondary path estimation filter is determined from a plurality of candidate secondary-path estimation filters; filtering the reference signal with an adaptive filter to provide a compensation signal; sensing a residual noise signal at a listening position of the active noise control system; and adapting filter coefficients of the adaptive filter according to the residual noise signal and the filtered reference signal.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to active noise control, and, in particular, to an auto-selection method and associated active noise control system for modeling secondary-path estimation filters capable of performing auto-selection of secondary-path estimation filters to compensate noise.
Description of the Related Art
The purpose of active noise control is to generate an anti-noise signal from a speaker to minimize or cancel the noise level of the original signal. Conventional noise control techniques use passive treatments to minimize the noise level. For example, the automobile industry minimizes the noise level in the car cabin by using mufflers to absorb the engine noise. These conventional noise control techniques can minimize noise that has a medium or high frequencies. However, these techniques cannot minimize noise that has a low frequency. With active noise control, an anti-noise signal with the same low frequency as the low-frequency noise signal can be produced. The phases of the anti-noise signal are opposite to those of the low-frequency noise signal. When the two signals reach the same point, they satisfy the superposition principle and negate each other.
The filtered-x least mean square (FxLMS) algorithm is the most popular adaptive algorithm for active noise control (ANC) systems, due mainly to its simplicity and robust performance. However, the convergence speed of the FxLMS algorithm is slow. Furthermore, its performance is degraded when there is a large measurement noise in the reference and error signals.
Accordingly, there is demand for an active noise control system and associated method to solve the aforementioned issue.

Auto-selection method for modeling secondary-path estimation filter for active noise control system


This invention relates to cleaning compositions comprising unsaturated fluorinated hydrocarbons. The invention further relates to use of said cleaning compositions in methods to clean, degrease, deflux, dewater, and deposit fluorolubricant. The invention further relates to novel unsaturated fluorinated hydrocarbons and their use as cleaning compositions and in the methods listed above.

Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) compounds have been used extensively in the area of semiconductor manufacture to clean surfaces such as magnetic disk media. However, chlorine-containing compounds such as CFC compounds are considered to be detrimental to the Earth's ozone layer. In addition, many of the hydrofluorocarbons used to replace CFC compounds have been found to contribute to global warming. Therefore, there is a need to identify new environmentally safe solvents for cleaning applications, such as removing residual flux, lubricant or oil contaminants, and particles. There is also a need for identification of new solvents for deposition of fluorolubricants and for drying or dewatering of substrates that have been processed in aqueous solutions.
The present invention provides new compositions comprising unsaturated fluorinated hydrocarbons. These compositions have utility in many of the applications formerly served by CFC compounds. The compositions of the present invention possess some or all of the desired properties of little or no environmental impact, ability to dissolve oils, greases or lubricants (in particular fluorine-containing lubricants), non-flammability, and ability to dissolve surfactant compounds used in methods for drying or dewatering.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Solvent compositions comprising unsaturated fluorinated hydrocarbons


There is provided a detergent composition comprising: a) from 1% to 95% by weight of a surfactant system comprising an anionic surfactant and a cationic ester surfactant, other than N,N-di(2-stearoyloxyethyl)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-methyl ammonium chloride, present in a weight ratio of said anionic surfactant to said cationic ester surfactant of 2.5:1 to 25:1; and b) from 0.0001% to 5% by weight of a proteolytic enzyme, wherein the % weight of proteolytic enzyme in the formulation is based on an enzyme activity of 4 Knpu/g of the enzyme particle, and wherein the weight ratio of said anionic surfactant to said proteolytic enzyme is at least 1.5:1.

The satisfactory removal of soils/stains is a particular challenge to the formulator of a detergent composition for use in laundry and dishwashing machines.
Traditionally, the removal of soils/stains has been facilitated by the use of surfactants. Of these, anionic surfactants have been found to give the most effective cleaning performance, especially at high levels.
Additional cleaning benefits may also be seen with the use of enzymes, for example, in the removal of proteinaceous stains/soils such as blood, egg, chocolate, gravy and the like.
A problem encountered with the use of enzymes as components of detergents is that enzyme activity in the wash may be reduced by the presence of other detergent components in the wash solution such as high levels of anionic surfactants.
One solution to this problem would be to reduce the level of anionic surfactant present in the detergent composition. However, whilst this would ameliorate the problem, this is accompanied by a marked negative effect on the overall stain/soil removal performance. To overcome this problem, combinations of surfactants, such as anionic, nonionic and cationic surfactants have been used.
GB-1,375,450 discloses a detergent composition which is asserted to provide effective cleaning and soil removal performance. The composition comprises an anionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant together with a proteolytic enzyme, wherein said cationic surfactant comprises two hydrophobic long chains. Specifically disclosed as suitable cationic surfactants are alkyl quaternary ammonium species as well as the ester compound formed from two moles of stearic acid and one mole of triethanol-methyl-ammonium chloride, e.g. N,N-di(2-stearoyloxyethyl)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-methyl ammonium chloride. However, a problem encountered with such cationic surfactants is their relative insolubility in the wash which diminishes their value in detergent compositions.
EP-B-8142 discloses liquid detergent compositions comprising a ternary surfactant system containing anionic, nonionic and cationic surfactants. More particularly disclosed is a liquid composition comprising 24% of an anionic surfactant (LAS), 18.5% of a nonionic surfactant (C.sub.45 E7) and 3.5% of Coconut (C.sub.12 -C.sub.14) dihydroxyethylmethyl ammonium chloride together with 0.4% of a Maxatase proteolylic enzyme, and wherein said composition is asserted to provide good soil removal performance.
EP-B-51986 discloses a granular laundry detergent composition which is asserted to provide good grease and oil removal performance together with clay soil detergency. The composition comprises, as a surfactant system a specified mixture of anionic, nonionic and water-soluble C.sub.10 -C.sub.14 alkyl trimethyl quaternary ammonium cationic surfactant, wherein said cationic surfactant is in amount from 0.2% to 2% by weight. The composition may additionally comprise a proteolytic enzyme.
Another potential solution to these problems would be to use detergent particles with different solubility rates. However, this would greatly increase the cost of the manufacturing process. An exemplary disclosure is given in EP-A-0,342,043 where the anionic surfactant and the enzyme are in two different particulate multi ingredient components. The particulate containing the enzyme has a solubility rate superior to the surfactant particulate and this superior solubility rate may be provided by a cationic surfactant.
Notwithstanding the advances in the art represented by the above disclosures, there is still a need for detergent compositions which provide effective soil/stain removal performance, which avoid degradation of the detergent components and which are not detrimental to the environment.
The Applicant has now surprisingly found that the provision of a cationic ester surfactant ameliorates these problems. Not to be bound by theory, it is believed that such component reduces the critical micelle concentration of any anionic surfactant present in the composition. Hence, reducing the concentration of anionic surfactant monomers in the wash improves the enzyme performance. Further enhanced soil removal benefits are observed where the cationic ester surfactant contains one hydrophobic chain.
The Applicant has also found that where a detergent composition contains a surfactant system comprising an anionic surfactant and a cationic ester surfactant, in combination with a proteolytic enzyme enhanced stain/soil removal is obtained, especially on proteinaceous stains.
The Applicant has found that the further addition of an amylolytic enzyme to the composition of the present invention enhances the overall soil/stain removal performance.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide compositions suitable for use in laundry and machine dishwashing methods producing enhanced stain removal.

Detergent composition comprising cationic ester surfactant and protease enzyme


A method for manufacturing a DRAM device on a silicon substrate includes: forming cell transistors in a memory cell area and other transistors in a peripheral circuit area; forming polysilicon plugs connected to diffused regions of the cell transistors and metallic plugs connected to diffused regions of the other transistors; heat treating at a temperature of 980 to 1,020 degrees C.; heat treating at a temperature of 700 to 850 degrees C.; implanting fluorine or boron fluoride into the diffused regions of the other transistors; and heat treating at a temperature of 500 to 850 degrees C.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having polysilicon plugs and, more particularly, to a heat treatment technique after forming polysilicon plugs in a semiconductor device.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A DRAM (dynamic random access memory) device includes therein a memory cell area for storing data and a peripheral circuit area for controlling write/read of data into/from the memory cell area. Each DRAM memory cell in the memory cell area includes a capacitor for storing therein electric charge and a cell transistor acting as a switch for supplying the electric charge to the capacitor. A cell transistor may include a polysilicon electrode, or polysilicon plug, in contact with a diffused region of the cell transistor.
FIGS. 2A to 2F consecutively show a conventional fabrication process for manufacturing a DRAM device. First, as shown in FIG. 2A, an isolation region 12, known as a shallow isolation trench, is formed on a surface region of a silicon substrate 11 by using a known technique, for isolating a memory cell area 10A from a peripheral circuit area 10B.
Subsequently, an ion-implantation step is conducted for forming an n-type shield layer 13 in a deep region of the silicon substrate 11. Then, a p-type well layer (p-well) 14 is formed on the n-type shield layer 13 in the memory-cell transistor area 10A, whereas an n-type well layer (n-well) 15 is formed on the n-type shield layer 13 in the peripheral circuit area 10B. Thereafter, a p-type channel layer and an n-type channel layer are formed on the p-well 14 and n-well 15, respectively, although these channel layers are not specifically shown in FIG. 2A.
Subsequently, a gate oxide film 16 is formed on the entire area of the silicon substrate 11 by using a thermal oxidation technique, followed by depositing a gate electrode layer on the gate oxide film 16 by sputtering. A patterned insulation film 18 is then used for patterning the deposited gate electrode layer to thereby form gate electrodes 17, to obtain the structure shown in FIG. 2A.
Thereafter, phosphorous is implanted into the memory cell area 10A by ion-implantation using the patterned insulation film 18 as a mask to form lightly-doped diffused regions 19, whereas boron is implanted into the peripheral circuit area 10B by ion-implantation using the patterned insulation film 18 as a mask to form lightly-doped diffused regions 20. A heat treatment is then performed to activate the implanted phosphorous in the n-type lightly-doped diffused regions 19 and the implanted boron in the p-type lightly-doped diffused regions 20, to thereby obtain the structure shown in FIG. 2B.
Subsequently, side spacers 21 are formed on the side walls of the gate electrodes 17 and the overlying patterned insulation film 18 by using a known technique. Boron is again implanted into the peripheral circuit area 10B by using the patterned insulation film 18 and the side spacers 21 as a mask, followed by a heat treatment to activate the implanted boron to form p-type heavily-doped diffused regions 22 in the peripheral circuit area 10B, as shown in FIG. 2C.
Thereafter, a first interlevel dielectric film 23 is deposited on the entire surface, followed by forming through-holes 26 in the first interlevel dielectric film 23 within the memory cell area 10A to reach the n-type diffused regions 19. Phosphorous is then implanted into the regions underlying the n-type diffused regions 19 by using the first interlevel dielectric film 23 and the side spacers 21 as a mask in the memory cell area 10A. This phosphorous implantation is performed to form electric-field alleviation regions underlying the n-type diffused regions 19. Polysilicon contact plugs 24 are then formed to fill the through-holes 26, as shown in FIG. 2D.
A second interlevel dielectric film 25 is then deposited on the entire area, as shown in FIG. 2E, followed by a high-temperature heat treatment in a N2 environment at a temperature of 1,000 degrees C. for 10 seconds. This high-temperature heat treatment reduces the resistances of the polysilicon plugs 24 as well as the contact resistances between the contact plugs 24 and the n-type diffused regions 19.
Through-holes 27 are then formed in the second interlevel dielectric film 25 within the memory cell area 10A to reach the polysilicon plugs 24. Through-holes 28 are then formed in the first and second interlevel dielectric films 23 and 25 within the peripheral circuit area 10B to reach the p-type heavily-doped diffused regions 22. Thereafter, thin titanium film, thin titanium nitride film and tungsten film are consecutively deposited to obtain a layered metallic film. A heat treatment is then conducted at a temperature of about 700 degrees C. for around 10 minutes to react the titanium in the titanium film with the silicon substrate 11 to form titanium silicide film, which achieves an excellent contact resistance between the layered metallic film and the p-type diffused region 22.
Thereafter, the layered metallic film is subjected to patterning to form metallic plugs 29 in contact with the polysilicon plugs 24 within the memory cell area 10A and metallic plugs 30 in contact with the p-type heavily-doped diffused regions 22 within the peripheral circuit area 10B. Thereafter, a variety of known steps are performed such as forming capacitors connected to polysilicon plugs 24 within the memory cell area 10A, thereby completing a DRAM device 10.
In the conventional DRAM device as described above, the structure wherein the metallic plugs in contact with the diffused regions are used in the peripheral-circuit-area 10B is employed because metallic silicide achieving an excellent lower resistance is formed between the metallic plugs and the diffused regions by using the heat treatment. This structure is not used in the memory cell area 10A however, because there is a possibility that junction leakage current is increased because the metallic atoms such as titanium and cobalt are diffused within the silicon substrate to form recombination centers. That is, polysilicon plugs in contact with the diffused regions are used in the memory cell area 10A to suppress occurrence of the junction leakage current and thereby achieve a longer data retention time in the memory cell. The method for manufacturing a DRAM device wherein polysilicon plugs and metallic plugs are in contact with diffused regions is described in Patent Publication JP-A-2003-31684.
In order to improve the characteristics of the DRAM device, it is essential to suppress the junction leakage current of the cell transistor as well as to reduce the contact resistances between the contact plugs and the diffused regions. However, conventional methods for manufacturing a DRAM device have respective drawbacks and cannot achieve both a reduced junction leakage current and a lower contact resistance in the memory cell.

Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having polysilicon plugs


An engine system is disclosed. The engine system may have an engine block at least partially defining a cylinder bore, and a cylinder liner disposed within the cylinder bore. The engine system may also include a fuel injector configured to pass radially through the cylinder bore and threadingly engage the cylinder liner.

Gaseous fuel-powered engines are common in locomotive applications. For example, the engine of a locomotive can be powered by natural gas (or another gaseous fuel) alone or by a mixture of natural gas and diesel fuel. Natural gas may be more abundant and, therefore, less expensive than diesel fuel. In addition, natural gas may burn cleaner in some applications.
Natural gas has traditionally been introduced radially into an engine's cylinders, to mix with air therein as an associated piston moves toward a top-dead-center (TDC) position. In some applications, a natural gas nozzle is situated to inject gaseous fuel through an existing air inlet port located within an annular surface of the engine's cylinder liner. Although somewhat effective, injecting gaseous fuel at this location can also be inefficient. In particular, some of the injected gaseous fuel may pass back out through the same air inlet port (or back out through another air inlet port) into an associated air box. In addition, injecting at this location results in advanced injection timing that can allow some of the injected fuel to exit the cylinder via still open exhaust valves. In either situation, some of the gaseous fuel is being wasted.
An exemplary dual-fuel natural gas/diesel engine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,206 of Welch et al. that issued on Jul. 30, 1991 ("the '206 patent"). The engine includes a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, and inlet ports around the cylinder that are uncovered by downward movement of the piston. A blower forces air through the inlet ports, and an injector is provided for injecting natural gas into the cylinder once during each cycle. The injector has a delivery conduit that opens into the cylinder at a location above the air inlet ports. When the piston is descending, the piston completely uncovers the delivery conduit before beginning to uncover the air inlet ports. In this configuration, the natural gas is timed for injection as late as possible, preferably after the piston reaches bottom-dead-center (BDC), and continues until after air entry has been stopped by upward movement of the piston. This provision ensures that a large portion of air will have filled the cylinder before the entry of natural gas, so as to minimize the escape and loss of natural gas.
Although the engine of the '206 patent may help to reduce the loss of natural gas, it may only be applicable to air-cooled engines and/or newly manufactured engines. In particular, the delivery conduit of the '206 patent may not be compatible with a liquid-cooled engine having a water jacket formed around the cylinder. Further, the '206 patent provides no way to retrofit an existing engine with the delivery conduit. In addition, injecting gaseous fuel during air introduction may still lead to reverse flow of the gaseous fuel out of the inlet ports.
The engine system of the present disclosure solves one or more of the problems set forth above and/or other problems in the art.

Engine system having radial fuel injection


According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a structure, an insulating film, a control electrode, first and second electrodes. The structure has a first surface, and includes a first, a second, and a third semiconductor region. The structure has a portion including the first, second, and third semiconductor regions arranged in a first direction along the first surface. The insulating film is provided on the first surface. The control electrode is provided on the insulating film. The first electrode is electrically connected to the third semiconductor region. The second electrode is electrically connected to the first semiconductor region. The insulating film includes a charge trap region. A bias voltage is applied to the first and second electrodes, and includes a shift voltage. The shift voltage shifts a reference potential of a voltage applied to the first and second electrodes by a certain voltage.

As a low-loss and high-temperature-operable semiconductor device, a device using silicon carbide (SiC) attracts attention, for example. The silicon carbide (SiC) has excellent physical properties than silicon (Si) in that bandgap is three times, breakdown field strength is approximately ten times, and thermal conductivity is approximately three times.
In a MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) using SiC or the like, a threshold value may vary by a temperature. Especially, in a MOSFET using SIC, a threshold value is easily lowered along with a temperature increase. In a semiconductor device, it is important to obtain a stable threshold value.


Disclosed is a highly transparent fiber-reinforced composite material including an assembly of cellulose fibers of 4 to 200 nm average fiber diameter impregnated with a matrix material so as to not only remedy the moisture absorbency attributed to cellulose fibers but also further improve transparency. There is provided a fiber-reinforced composite material including an assembly of cellulose fibers impregnated with a matrix material. In the fiber-reinforced composite material, hydroxyl groups of cellulose fibers are chemically modified through a reaction with one or more chemical modifiers selected from the group consisting of an acid, an alcohol, a halogenating reagent, an acid anhydride, and an isocyanate so that the ratio of a functional group introduced by the chemical modification is 5 to 40 percent by mole based on the hydroxyl groups of cellulose fibers before the chemical modification. The chemical modification of hydroxyl groups of cellulose fibers can reduce the hydrophilicity of cellulose fibers to thereby reduce the moisture absorbency of fiber-reinforced composite material. Further, the affinity between cellulose fibers and matrix material can be enhanced to thereby further improve transparency.

As fiber-reinforced composite materials, a glass fiber-reinforced resin has been known which is composed of a resin and glass fibers impregnated therewith. This glass fiber-reinforced resin is generally opaque. A method for obtaining a transparent glass fiber-reinforced resin has been disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 mentioned below, in which the refractive index of glass fibers is allowed to coincide with the refractive index of a matrix resin.
The presence of some bacteria that produce cellulose fibers has been known. In Patent Documents 3 and 4, there have been disclosed molded materials having various shapes, such as a sheet, a yarn, and a three-dimensional body, which are formed from cellulose fibers produced by bacteria (hereinafter referred to as "bacterial cellulose").
The known glass fiber-reinforced resins disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 may become opaque under some working conditions. Since the refractive index of a material has a temperature dependence, even when being transparent under certain temperature conditions, the glass fiber-reinforced resins disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are changed to translucent or opaque under conditions different from the above temperature conditions. The refractive index of each material has its own wavelength dependence; hence, even when the refractive index of fibers and that of a matrix resin are allowed to coincide with each other at a specific visible light wavelength, a region in which the refractive index is shifted may probably exist in the entire visible light region, and as a result, the transparency cannot be obtained in the region described above.
Bacterial cellulose disclosed in Patent Documents 3 and 4 is composed of monofilaments having a fiber diameter of 4 nm, and this fiber diameter is considerably smaller than a visible light wavelength, so that refraction of visible light is unlikely to occur. However, when being used to form a composite together with a resin, the bacterial cellulose is disaggregated for the use in Patent Documents 3 and 4. When a product produced by bacteria is disaggregated by applying a mechanical shearing force typically with a grinder, bacterial cellulose fibers are closely attached to each other during a disaggregation process to form bundles having a large fiber diameter which may cause refraction and scattering of visible light, resulting in degradation in transparency of a composite material formed using the disaggregated cellulose as described above.
As described above, there has not yet been provided a fiber-reinforced composite material that always maintains superior transparency regardless of temperature conditions and wavelength bands.                Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-207234        Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 7-156279        Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 62-36467        Patent Document 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 8-49188

Fiber-reinforced composite material and process for producing the same

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation


An optical module includes a first plate-shaped member having a light transmissive optical component which is formed by applying etching to a silicon region, and a second plate-shaped member having light reflective optical components (mirrors) for reflecting light transmitting through the light transmissive optical component. The first and second plate-shaped members are bonded to one another, and an optical path for light transmitting through the light transmissive optical component is along a component forming surface of the first plate-shaped member and a principal surface of the second plate-shaped member. Thereby, realizing an optical module in which it is possible to dispose the light reflective optical component and the light transmissive optical component close to one another, and a manufacturing method for the optical module.

In Patent Documents 1 and 2, there is disclosed an optical module in which an interference optical system is configured on an SOI (Silicon On Insulator) substrate by use of a MEMS technology. These interference optical systems include a beam splitter, a movable mirror attached to an electrostatic actuator, and a fixed mirror, and these are formed by applying etching to a silicon layer and an insulating layer of an SOI substrate into arbitrary shapes.

Optical module and production method for same


An assembly and method for tapping into a pressurized tubular that is adapted for use in a subsea environment via a diver or remotely operated vehicle. The assembly includes a tapping tool connectable to the tubular via a saddle connection.

Under pressure drilling or hot tapping is the process of drilling into a pressured pipe or vessel using special equipment and procedures to ensure that the pressure and fluids are safely contained when access is made. The most common example of a hot tap is into a pressured pipeline. A typical hot tap assembly consists of a saddle assembly with a doughnut-type elastomer pack off, two outboard full-bore flanged valves, a tee assembly and the hot tapping device. A conventional hot tap device has a polished rod and pack-off assembly which allows movement in the longitudinal direction, as well as rotation while maintaining a seal. A drill bit is installed on the end of the polished rod to drill into the vessel. The means to turn the polished rod may be manual, or by air or hydraulic-generated torque. A threaded sleeve feeds the polish rod assembly and provides the force to resist the pressure area effect that would tend to blow out the polished rod.
Typical hot tap units are built for surface and onshore work. Subsea conditions present different and additional challenges. Most current hot tap units can not be operated by remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and require full manual operation by the diver. This requires considerable physical exertion and time by the diver. The current units also require personnel to be at or close to the pressure containing body, exposing them to potentially dangerous conditions. Current designs also require divers to possess a more technical background and more training than their surface or onshore counterparts in order to address possible contingencies. Moreover, conventional multiple piece component saddle clamps that are attached with multiple bolts or fixtures, common to conventional hot tap units, are cumbersome and difficult to attach to a piece of tubular during subsea operations.


Method and system for partitioning and delivery data using a delegation object is disclosed. The delegation object is a first-class object, and includes a master data set definition, a data dimension-to-user mapping and a target organization definition. The target organization definition defines relationships between the master data set definition and the data dimension-to-user mapping. The delegation object is used to create a specific data set from a master data set.

In the design of computer software systems, it is considered advantageous to associate each data item with a data type, and to present a relatively uniform interface to objects of each data type to all elements of the system. This technique allows elements of the system to rely on the characteristics of the data type, of the uniform interface to that data type. and of the relationships between that data type and other data types.
In addition to so-called "built in" data types, such as integers and floating point numbers, it is also considered advantageous to extend this technique to more complex data types, called "classes," including classes defined by the user of a system. A class represents a category of objects. For example, there might be a class called "shape" that contains objects that are circles, rectangles, and triangles. A class defines all the common properties of the different objects that belong to it. For example, a user might define a class called "telephone number", thereby allowing elements. of the system to store, manipulate, and retrieve telephone numbers as if they were fundamental pieces of information. Techniques for defining classes of data objects and restricting access to those objects are now commonplace.
The technique of defining classes of data objects and manipulating those objects has been useful in database applications as well. In object-oriented database (OODB) applications, a user defines classes of objects, properties of those classes, and relationships between those classes, and populates a database with data items that are instances of those objects. Object-oriented database management techniques now provide the advantages of rapid application and database development, as well as relative software reliability.
Today, organizations now regularly employ so-called business Intelligence (BI) tools, such as decision support systems (DSS) that leverage object-oriented data management techniques to enhance their managers' ability to make timely and accurate decisions by presenting data gathered for them from a wide range of sources. With the decisions being made by senior management often based on information passed to them by subordinates, and subordinates typically receiving only that information relevant to their area of responsibility, the result has been that the dissemination of data often falls along areas of responsibility, and therefore mimics the hierarchal structure of a business.
The problem is that today's information systems, particularly in the area of planning, have typically had to rely on manual techniques or scripts to extract data for individual users. These techniques require a high level of maintenance and are limited in their ability to track changes to delivered data sets.
What is needed is a way to provide a formal, single point of reference for defining how a data set is to be populated or "burst" across the organizational structure of a business to provide a single central location for maintenance, as well as to effectively track changes to those generated data sets, all in accordance with the superior performance of object-oriented data management techniques.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an improved method and system for modeling the partitioning and delivery of data within an object-oriented organizational model.

Delegation object as a first-class business modeling object

International Business Machines Corporation


A transit computing (TC) system for determining travel options is provided. The TC system includes at least one TC device including at least one processor communicatively coupled to a database configured to receive a request including trip data including a start location and an end location. The at least one processor is also configured to determine at least one travel option, wherein each travel option is associated with a mode of travel, and determine, for each travel option, at least one projected environmental trip detail, including a respective projected emissions output for each travel option. The at least one processor is further configured to receive user selection of a selected travel option and process, based on the user selection, at least one transaction associated with the selected travel option, wherein the at least one transaction includes a payment and confirmation, sent to the user computing device, of the payment.

The field of the invention relates generally to a transit computing system and, more specifically, to systems and methods for computing travel options based at least in part on a projected environmental impact of each travel option.
Some service providers offer systems and methods for guiding a user in their transportation needs by, for example, recommending to the user a route that covers the shortest distance between two locations or that takes the least amount of travel time. Further, some known systems and methods provide estimated carbon emissions data based on a user's path of travel and/or travel method. However, these systems and methods do not provide an all-in-one service wherein a user trip is planned, environmental impact data is provided, and associated user transactions associated with a selected travel plan are processed via the same system.
Today, as concerns heighten about the environment and people's impact on the environment, many consumers want to understand what impact their actions may have on the environment. Many people are becoming more environmentally aware and are looking for ways to lessen their potentially negative impact on the environment. Thus, systems and methods for computing travel options with a projected environmental impact of each travel option are desired.

Systems and methods for computing travel options


An optical crossbar switch comprises a plurality of input devices (1A to 1C), a plurality of output devices (2A to 2C), an optical transpose system (3) positioned between the input devices and the output devices, and control means for controlling the interconnections between the input devices and the output devices.

A crossbar switch is a switch which can be used to interconnect any one of a plurality of inputs to any one of a plurality of outputs. Crossbar switches can be electromechanical, electrical or optical. In principle, optical interconnect technologies offer several advantages over electromechanical and electrical systems. Thus, connections can be made at higher speeds with less crosstalk and less power consumption than electrical channels. Moreover, the power required is almost independent of the length of the connection, at least over the length of connections involved within a parallel configuration.
FIG. 1 shows a simple crossbar switch having three inputs I1, I2 and I3, three outputs 01, 02 and 03, and nine switches located at the cross points of the inputs and outputs. Clearly, by suitably controlling the switches, any input can be connected to any output.
The simple crossbar switch shown in FIG. 1 is topologically equivalent to each of the optical crossbar switches illustrated schematically in FIGS. 2 to 4. Thus, each of FIGS. 2 to 4 shows an optical crossbar switch having a localised fan-out of each input I1, I2 and I3, followed by an optical transposition, followed by a localised fan-in into each output 01, 02 and 03. In FIG. 2, the cross points (switches) are located at the inputs downstream of the fan-out. In FIG. 3, the cross points are located at the outputs upstream of the fan-in; and, in FIG. 4, the cross points are positioned in the paths of the optical transpose.
An optical crossbar switch may be a broadcast-and-select switch, that is say a switch in which signals are sent down all paths from the inputs, and selection is made at the outputs by switching devices, or a route-and-select switch, in which initial path selection is made at the inputs, and selection is made at the outputs to deflect signals to the appropriate light receptor, a respective light receptor being associated with each of the outputs.
The specification of our International Patent Application number PCT/GB01/03643 describes an optical transpose system, that is to say an apparatus for the optical transpose (or optical rearrangement) of signals. That optical transpose system has three stages, the first of which consists of an array of mesolenses that image the light from an array of light sources in an input plane, and the third of which consists of an array of mesolenses that image light onto an array of receiving devices in an output plane. The second optical stage is a macrolens placed between the two arrays of mesolenses, so as to re-arrange the beams input thereto from the first optical stage for direction to the third optical stage. The system is such that each light source is connected to a respective receiving device and vice versa, and the interconnection pattern corresponds to a transposition.


Techniques for detecting and demodulating a signal/transmission are described. Signal detection is performed in multiple stages using different types of signal processing, e.g., using time-domain correlation for a first stage, frequency-domain processing for a second stage, and time-domain processing for a third stage. For the first stage, products of symbols are generated for at least two different delays, correlation between the products for each delay and known values is performed, and correlation results for all delays are combined and used to declare the presence of a signal. For demodulation, the timing of input samples is adjusted to obtain timing-adjusted samples. A frequency offset is estimated and removed from the timing-adjusted samples to obtain frequency-corrected samples, which are processed with a channel estimate to obtain detected symbols. The phases of the detected symbols are corrected to obtain phase corrected symbols, which are demodulated, deinterleaved, and decoded.

I. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to communication, and more specifically to a receiver for wireless communication.
II. Background
Wireless communication networks are widely deployed to provide various communication services such as data, voice, video, and so on. These networks include wireless wide area networks (WWANs) that provide communication coverage for large geographic areas (e.g., cities), wireless local area networks (WLANs) that provide communication coverage for medium-size geographic areas (e.g., buildings and campuses), and wireless personal area networks (WPANs) that provide communication coverage for small geographic areas (e.g., homes). A wireless network typically includes one or more access points (or base stations) that support communication for one or more user terminals (or wireless devices).
IEEE 802.11 is a family of standards developed by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for WLANs. These standards specify an over-the-air interface between an access point and a user terminal or between two user terminals. IEEE Std 802.11, 1999 Edition (or simply, "802.11"), which is entitled "Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications," supports data rates of 1 and 2 mega bits/second (Mbps) in the 2.4 giga Hertz (GHz) frequency band using either frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) or direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS). IEEE Std 802.11a-1999 (or simply, "802.11a") is a supplement to 802.11, uses orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) instead of FHSS or DSSS, and supports data rates of up to 54 Mbps in the 5 GHz frequency band. IEEE Std 802.11b-1999 (or simply, "802.11b") is another supplement to 802.11 and uses DSSS to support data rates of up to 11 Mbps. IEEE Std 802.11g-2003 (or simply, "802.11g") is yet another supplement to 802.11, uses DSSS and OFDM, and supports data rates of up to 54 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band. These various standards are well known in the art and publicly available.
The lowest data rate supported by 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g is 1 Mbps. For 802.11b and 802.11g (or simply, "802.11b/g"), a specific DSSS scheme and a specific modulation scheme are used to send a transmission at the lowest data rate of 1 Mbps. The DSSS and modulation schemes for 1 Mbps require a certain minimum signal-to-noise-and-interference ratio (SNR) for reliable reception of the transmission. The range of the transmission is then determined by the geographic area within which a receiving station can achieve the required SNR or better. In certain instances, it is desirable to send a transmission with a range that is greater than the range for the lowest data rate supported by 802.11b/g.
There is therefore a need in the art for a wireless communication network and a station capable of operating with an extended coverage range.

Receiver for wireless communication network with extended range


A current detecting device includes an exciting coil (3) wound around a magnetic core (2) enclosing a conductor through which flows a measurement current, and an oscillator circuit (4) that generates a square wave voltage which is supplied to the exciting coil (3). Furthermore, the current detecting device includes a duty detector circuit (5) that detects the measurement current based on variation in the duty ratio of the square wave voltage output from the oscillator circuit (4), a frequency detector circuit (7) that detects an overcurrent of the measurement current based on the frequency of the square wave voltage output from the oscillator circuit (4), and an oscillation amplitude detector circuit (6) that detects an overcurrent of the measurement current based on the magnitude of the square wave voltage output from the oscillator circuit (4).

Although current detecting devices having various configurations have been proposed and put into use as current detecting devices, a fluxgate type of current sensor is known as a structurally simple current detecting device that can detect a slight current (for example, refer to PTL 1, which is identified below).
A current sensor of a heretofore known example described in PTL 1 has the structure shown in FIG. 10(a). That is, the current sensor includes circular cores 101 and 102 made of a soft magnetic body, configured to be of the same form and size, an exciting coil 103 wound the same number of times around each of the cores 101 and 102, and a detector coil 104 wound as one so as to encompass each of the cores 101 and 102.
An unshown alternating current power supply is connected to the exciting coil 103, and an unshown detector circuit is connected to the detector coil 104. Further, a measurement target conductor 105, which forms a target for measuring current, is inserted through the centers of the two cores 101 and 102.
The exciting coil 103 is wound around the cores 101 and 102 so that magnetic fields generated in the two cores 101 and 102 are of opposite phases, and cancel each other out when the exciting coil 103 is energized.
Further, temporal variation of a magnetic flux density B generated in each of the cores 101 and 102 when the exciting coil 103 is energized with an exciting current iex is as shown in FIG. 10(b). When a magnetic field size H is within a predetermined range, the magnetic characteristics of the cores 101 and 102 made of a soft magnetic body are such that the magnetic field size H and magnetic flux density B have a linear relationship. However, when the magnetic field size H exceeds a predetermined value, the relationship is such that there is a state of magnetic saturation wherein the magnetic flux density B does not vary, because of which, when the exciting coil 103 is energized with the exciting current iex, the magnetic flux density B generated in each of the cores 101 and 102 changes to a trapezoidal wave form with vertical symmetry, as shown by solid lines in the drawing, and moreover, the phases are in a state displaced 180° from each other.
Herein, assuming that the measurement target conductor 105 is energized by a direct current value I from above, as shown by an arrow, the magnetic flux densities, which correspond to the size of the direct current, overlap, as a result of which the magnetic flux density B is in a state wherein the width of the upper trapezoidal wave of the trapezoidal waves is expanded, while the width of the lower trapezoidal wave is contracted, as shown by broken lines in FIG. 10(b).
Herein, when expressing variation in the magnetic flux density B generated in the two cores 101 and 102 as sinusoidal waves (corresponding to electromotive force), they are as shown in FIG. 10(c). In FIG. 10(c), sinusoidal waves (electromotive force) of a frequency f whose phases are displaced 180° appear, as shown by solid lines in the drawing, corresponding to the trapezoidal waves shown by solid lines in the previously described FIG. 10(b), but as they are displaced by 180°, they cancel each other out. Meanwhile, second harmonics of a double frequency 2f, of the kind shown by broken lines in FIG. 10(c), appear corresponding to the trapezoidal waves shown by broken lines in FIG. 10(b). The phases of the second harmonics are displaced 180°, because of which, when the second harmonics overlap each other, they become a sinusoidal wave signal of the kind shown on the lowest level of FIG. 10(c), and the sinusoidal wave signal is detected by the detector coil 104.
The detection signal picked up by the detector coil 104 corresponds to the current value I of the direct current flowing through the measurement target conductor 105, and it is possible to detect the current value I by processing the detection signal.
Also, a current sensor including one or more first detection transformers that include a primary coil through which a current to be detected is caused to flow and a secondary coil, electrically insulated from the primary coil, magnetically coupled to the primary coil by a magnetic core, and a detection means that includes a means for alternately supplying magnetizing currents of opposite directions to the secondary coil in order to cyclically drive the magnetic core, which includes a means for detecting saturation and causing the direction of a magnetizing current to be inverted accordingly, to a saturated state, and a processing means for outputting an output signal substantially proportional to a detected current, has been proposed as another heretofore known example (for example, refer to PTL 2).
The current sensor further includes a second detection transformer having a low-pass filter, connected to the secondary coil of the first detection transformer, that divides a low frequency or direct current component of a magnetizing current generated in the secondary coil in accordance with a detected current, a primary coil through which a detected current passes, and a secondary coil, wherein the input side of the secondary coil is coupled to an output portion of the low-pass filter, and the output side of the secondary coil is grounded by a resistor in which is generated an output signal of the current sensor.

FUJI ELECTRIC FA COMPONENTS & SYSTEMS CO., LTD.


A section of chain for conveying product along a material handling system includes a pin connecting a center link between two side links. The pin may be dialable or selectably positioned at the side links to control and adjust the wear surface of the pin relative to the chain links. The pin may have a rotationally non-symmetrical shaft portion to provide different wear surfaces that engage a center link of the section of chain. The different wear surfaces may be sized and shaped to accommodate wear at the wear surface of the center link. The shaft portion may include a rotationally non-symmetrical ball member or portion on the shaft portion to enhance flexibility of the section of chain. The pin may be dialed to the next position or wear surface in response to an output of a wear measurement device or system.

Chains for power transmission or for material handling and processing systems, such as, for example, chains which function to move a plurality of trolleys or the like along a path in a processing plant, warehouse or the like, flex as the chain travels along the desired path. As the chain is routed along the desired path, the chain may flex to make lateral turns and/or upward or downward curves along the path. As the chain flexes, the links of the chain may move relative to the pins or bolts which define the joints of the chain. The relative movement of the links and the pins or bolts leads to wear on the components and may eventually lead to a failure of the links and/or the pins or bolts. The wear may increase if the friction between the pin and the links increases, such as due to a roughened surface (such as by machining grooves, scratches or the like) of one or more of the components and/or a lack of lubrication on the components.
In certain situations, the chains may have to negotiate an incline from horizontal which is approximately 45-60 degrees above or below horizontal. Such sharp inclines may result in binding of the chain links as they flex or bend along the curve. It is known to provide an I-pin chain with a ball formed on the forged I-pin between the side links and the center link of the chain. The I-pin may be forged with a ball or spherical shape at a center portion of the pin, such that the center link may be pivotable about the ball between the side links. The I-pin is fixed relative to the side link and center link of the chain, which is commonly known as "rivetless chain." The ball may provide for additional flexibility in the chain, but still wears against the center chain links as the chain links move relative to the pins.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved chain that overcomes the short comings of the prior art.


A built-in type compressor/condenser unit for an air conditioner is provided which prevents re-suction of discharged air. The built-in type compressor/condenser unit includes a louver frame which is installed on an inner portion of an outer wall of a building, and which divided into a suction area and a discharge area each having a plurality of louver blades. A compressor/condenser casing is installed in contact with the louver frame, having its surface facing the suction area and the discharge area of the louver frame opened and the other surfaces closed. The compressor/condenser unit is divided into a suction unit and a discharge unit corresponding to the suction area and the discharge area of the louver frame. The louver frame includes an isolating means for isolating air between the suction area and the discharge area so as to prevent air discharged from the discharge unit thought the discharge area from being re-ingested into the suction unit through the suction area of the louver frame.

An air conditioner implying a cooler, a heater or both of them is classified into a window type and a split type. In the case of the cooler, a split type air conditioner includes an indoor unit installed indoors for cooling a room, and an outdoor unit connected to the indoor unit through refrigerant pipe lines and installed outdoors to contact air, for performing condensation heat exchange on a refrigerant gas in a condenser by using external air as a cooling medium, and supplying the condensed refrigerants to an evaporator of the indoor unit through the refrigerant pipe lines. The indoor unit is composed of the evaporator for performing cooling heat exchange for evaporating the refrigerants and absorbing evaporation heat from internal air, and a ventilating fan for circulating internal air, and the outdoor unit is composed of a compressor for compressing the refrigerant gas and supplying the compressed gas to the condenser, the air-cooled condenser for condensing the refrigerant gas from the compressor, and a cooling fan for forcibly ventilating external air to the air-cooled condenser to cool and condense the refrigerant gas. The compressor, the air-cooled condenser and the cooling fan of the outdoor unit are installed in an outdoor unit casing composing the outer appearance. The conventional hexahedral outdoor unit casing has an air suction unit for sucking air to the air-cooled condenser at its three sides, and an air discharge unit for externally discharging air absorbing condensation heat from the refrigerant gas by the heat exchange in the air-cooled condenser on its top surface.
However, the conventional outdoor unit for the air conditioner is restricted in installation spaces due to high density and strict environment regulations of cities, and increases civil applications due to noise and heat. Especially, a common residential area such as large-scaled apartment buildings regulates the outdoor units to be installed in indoor verandas to improve the appearance and prevent noise.
In order to solve the foregoing problems, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-101873 suggests an air conditioner mounted building where an indoor unit of an air conditioner is installed indoors or adjacent to a room intended to be air-conditioned, and an outdoor unit of the air conditioner is installed outdoors, wherein an opening is formed on the outer wall or roof, a louver is installed in the opening, the outdoor unit of the air conditioner is positioned in the louver, and suction/discharge of the indoor unit is performed through a gap between the louver plates.
In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 3-213928 discloses a wall built-in type outdoor unit for an air conditioner including an outdoor unit main body for the air conditioner which is built in the wall and which includes a frame having the same size and thickness as the wall, a suction hole for heat exchange air installed on the same surface as the outdoor unit main body, and a discharge hole for heat exchanged air.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional louver unit. Referring to FIG. 1, the louver unit 1 is divided into a suction area 7a and a discharge area 7b on a rectangular space inner wall formed on an outer wall 2 of a residential and/or commercial building, and a plurality of louver blades 8 which are externally protruded with the same length are installed in each area.
The suction area 7a of the louver unit 1 contacts a suction unit 11a of the outdoor unit, and the discharge area 7b of the louver unit 1 contacts a discharge unit 11b of the outdoor unit. That is, air is sucked through gaps between the louver blades 8 of the suction area 7a, supplied to the suction unit 11a of the outdoor unit, heat exchanged therein, discharged from the discharge unit 11b of the outdoor unit, and discharged through gaps between the louver blades 8 of the discharge area 7b of the louver unit 1.
Here, air heated due to the heat exchange operation and discharged through the louver blades 8 at the lower end of the discharge area 7b of the louver unit 1 is re-sucked through the louver blades 8 at the upper end of the suction area 7a of the louver unit 1. The re-sucked air may decrease efficiency during the heat exchange operation of the suction unit 11a of the outdoor unit.
In addition, the conventional arts relate merely to technologies for inserting the outdoor unit into a space formed on the outer wall of the building. That is, it is impossible to install the outdoor unit increased in volume and weight due to high air conditioning capacity in a built-in type.
Furthermore, one casing of the outdoor unit is designed to perform suction and discharge. It is thus difficult to transport and install the outdoor unit having a large weight and volume. In order to receive services for exchanging and repairing components of the outdoor unit, the whole casing must be disassembled.

Built-in type outdoor unit for air conditioner


A high performance microprocessor has associated therewith, protocol monitoring apparatus for monitoring all of the commands issued by the microprocessor and detecting when the protocol was not completed properly or completed within certain preestablished periods of time. When the monitor/timing circuits detect a protocol error, the monitoring apparatus operates to generate an output control signal which unwedges the microprocessor enabling it to continue further processing. Additionally, the monitoring apparatus includes a register for storing the address and command that the microprocessor was executing at the time of the protocol error. The same register is also used to capture address and command information for any other type of error.

1. Field of Use
The present invention relates to data processing systems and, more particularly, to fault tolerant processors.
2. Prior Art
As data processors become entrusted with performing increasingly more critical tasks requiring high dependability, this increases the need for such processors to be fault tolerant. The goal of a fault tolerant design has been stated as one to improve dependability by enabling a system to perform its intended function in the presence of a given number of faults.
Fault tolerance in data processing systems has been achieved through redundancies in hardware, software, information and/or computations. A fault tolerance strategy is considered to include one or more of the following elements. It includes masking (dynamic correction of generated errors); containment (prevention of error propagation across defined boundaries); detection of errors (symptoms of faults); diagnosis (identification of the faulty module responsible for a detected error); repair/reconfiguration (elimination or replacement of a faulty component or a mechanism for bypassing it); and system recovery (correction of the system to a state acceptable for continued operation.
One prior art pipelined central processing system includes in each circuit board of the system, one or more unusual event (UEV) detector circuits designed to detect when the pipeline stage associated therewith is exhibiting abnormal behavior. The phrase "abnormal behavior" refers to the performance of operations by a stage which do not make sense in terms of the functions normally performed by such stage. Such detector circuits are capable of detecting abnormal behavior conditions such as an assumption of an unusual machine state which does not make sense in terms of the input signals being applied, the sending or receiving of an improper sequence of commands in which there is an attempt to perform an operation which is inconsistent with a previously performed operation or an attempt to access a firmware control store location which is inconsistent with normal operation.
The interface board of the processor includes special register circuits for storing the system bus address information pertaining to the last physical address presented to the system bus as well as the address pertaining to a last lock memory operation. If a failure occurs in the pipeline stages for any reason, the address contents of the physical address register indicate to the software, the last physical address or I/O channel number that was being used by the processor in connection with accessing the system bus. For further information regarding the above, reference may be made to the copending patent application of George A. Barlow, et al. entitled, "Recovery Method and Apparatus for a Pipelined Processing Unit of a Multiprocessor System" issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,181, on Mar. 9, 1993.
While the above processor provided for the detection of such unusual events, it provided it at the system bus interface level and as such did not permit immediate processor action. That is, normally, the UEV indications were stored in an area of memory for carrying out later diagnostic analysis to determine the faulty element. Also, at the system level, the detection apparatus was not required at high speed. More importantly, the apparatus only had the capability to detect incorrect sequences of commands being issued by the processor to the system bus.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide apparatus for monitoring the protocol of a high performance microprocessor.

Microprocessor bus interface protocol analyzer


According to one embodiment, a holding apparatus includes an arcuated arm, a first roller, and a second roller. The arcuated arm is provided with a guide groove along the outer surface, has a hollow portion inside, and holds the X-ray generator and X-ray detector while making them squarely face each other. The first roller runs in the hollow portion in contact with the inner wall of the hollow portion on the outer surface side. The second roller runs in the guide groove while being fitted in the guide groove, and holds the arm together with the first roller so as to allow the arm to slide along the arcuated direction.

An X-ray diagnostic apparatus is an apparatus which irradiates an object with X-rays from an X-ray source, captures via an X-ray detector the X-rays transmitted through the object, and generates an X-ray transmission image which is a shadowgram proportional to the transit dose. The X-ray source and X-ray detector described above are held by a holding apparatus having an arm such as a C-arm or Ω-arm so as to squarely face each other. This arrangement allows to capture X-ray images of an object from various angles.
Conventionally, there are separately provided an operating room and a catheter room in which intervention (intravascular treatment) is performed using an X-ray diagnostic apparatus. If, therefore, it is necessary to perform surgery during the execution of intervention, the patient needs to be moved from the catheter room to the operating room.
Recently, providing, for example, an operating room with an X-ray diagnostic apparatus including the above holding apparatus which runs on the ceiling implements an environment which allows a vascular surgeon and a circulatory physician to cooperatively treat a circulatory disease. This eliminates the necessity to move the patient between the operating room and the catheter room, and allows to perform a speedy treatment. Such a system is called Hybrid OR System.
A room for Hybrid OR System differs in layout from a catheter room specified for intervention, and is provided with various types of apparatuses and tools, which limit the available space. It is therefore necessary for an X-ray diagnostic apparatus installed in this room, especially the above holding apparatus which is often located near a patient or an operator, to have a shape that does not interfere with the operator. In addition, the room for Hybrid OR System is sometimes used for surgery, and hence needs to be kept clean. However, a contrast medium and blood adhere to the above holding apparatus for the X-ray diagnostic apparatus during surgeries. In this regard, therefore, it is difficult to keep the above holding apparatus clean.
Under such a situation, it is necessary to downsize the above holding apparatus or the X-ray diagnostic apparatus and improve the cleanliness of the apparatuses.

Holding apparatus and X-ray diagnostic apparatus