A method includes acquiring metrology data associated with a process. Bias information associated with the process is determined. The metrology data is adjusted based on the bias information to generate bias-adjusted metrology data. The bias-adjusted metrology data is filtered to identify and reject outlier data. The process is controlled based on the metrology data remaining after the rejection of the outlier data.

The present invention relates generally to manufacturing and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for compensating metrology data for site bias prior to filtering.
Today's global market forces manufacturers of mass products to offer high quality products at a low price. It is thus important to improve yield and process efficiency to minimize production costs. This is especially true in the field of semiconductor fabrication where it is essential to combine cutting edge technology with mass production techniques. It is, therefore, the goal of semiconductor manufacturers to reduce the consumption of raw materials and consumables while at the same time improve product quality and process tool utilization. The latter aspect is especially important since the equipment used in modern semiconductor facilities is extremely costly and represents a dominant part of the total production costs. For example, in manufacturing modern integrated circuits, 500 or more individual processes may be necessary to complete an integrated circuit, wherein failure in a single process step may result in a loss of the complete integrated circuit. This problem is exacerbated when the size of substrates, on which a plurality of such integrated circuits are processed, steadily increases, so that failure in a single process step may entail the loss of a large number of products.
Therefore, the various manufacturing stages are thoroughly monitored to avoid undue waste of manpower, tool operation time, and raw materials. Ideally, the effect of each individual process step on each substrate would be detected by measurement and the substrate under consideration would be released for further processing only if the required specifications were met. However, such a process control strategy is not practical since measuring the effects of certain processes may require relatively long measurement times, frequently ex situ, or may even necessitate the destruction of the sample. Moreover, immense effort, in terms of time and equipment, would be required on the metrology side to provide the desired measurement results. Additionally, utilization of the process tool would be reduced since the tool would be released only after the provision of the measurement result and its assessment.
The introduction of statistical methods, also referred to as statistical process control (SPC), for adjusting process parameters significantly relaxes the above problem and allows a moderately high utilization of the process tools while attaining a relatively high product yield. Statistical process control is based on the monitoring of the process output to thereby identify an out-of-control situation, wherein a causal relationship is established to an external disturbance. After occurrence of an out-of-control situation, operator interaction is usually required to manipulate a process parameter so as to return to an in-control situation, wherein the causal relationship may be helpful in selecting an appropriate control action. Nevertheless, in total, a large number of dummy substrates or pilot substrates may be necessary to adjust process parameters of respective process tools, wherein parameter drifts during the process have to be taken into consideration when designing a process sequence, since such parameter drifts may remain undetected over a long time period or may not be efficiently compensated for by SPC techniques.
More recently, a process control strategy has been introduced, and is continuously improving, that allows a high degree of process control, desirably on a run-to-run basis, with a moderate amount of measurement data. In this control strategy, so-called advanced process control (APC), a model of a process or of a group of interrelated processes is established and implemented in an appropriately configured process controller. The process controller also receives information which may include pre-process measurement data and/or post-process measurement data, as well as information related, for instance, to the substrate history, such as type of process or processes, the product type, the process tool or process tools in which the products are to be processed or have been processed in previous steps, the process recipe to be used (i.e., a set of required steps for the process or processes under consideration, wherein possibly fixed process parameters and variable process parameters may be contained), and the like. From this information and the process model, the process controller determines a controller state or process state that describes the effect of the process or processes under consideration on the specific product, thereby permitting the establishment of an appropriate parameter setting of the variable parameters of the specified process recipe to be performed with the substrate under consideration, wherein tool-specific internal or "low-rank" control units (substantially) maintain the parameter values, such as flow rates, temperatures, exposure doses and the like, at the targets specified by the APC controller. Thus, the APC controller may have a predictive behavior, whose accuracy may depend on the amount of measurement data and its timeliness with respect to the current process run.
Generally, in process control it is desirable to make process adjustments based on known good data (i.e., data representative of the process). To that end, data is typically filtered prior to processing to identify and, subsequently, ignore outlier data. Various outlier filters, such as box filters, absolute bounds filters, etc., may be used to perform this outlier rejection. For example, a box filter typically rejects data that falls more than a predetermined distance from the mean, such as one standard deviation. An absolute bounds filter rejects data that falls outside an absolute range from a target value, such as +/−3 nm. The filtered metrology data is then supplied to the process controller for determining the process state and/or adjusting the process parameters.
The unfiltered measurement data, however, may stem from different process tools performing equivalent processes, and/or only dedicated wafers or wafer sites that are subjected to measurement. In some cases, a particular tool may process wafers slightly differently than other similar tools, such that the measurements performed on wafers processed with the tool include a consistently higher or lower value than those processed on other tools. This mismatch is commonly referred to as tool bias. Another type of bias, referred to as site bias, may also exist across different sites on a particular wafer. For example, a particular etch or polishing tool may process wafers such that sites near the periphery of a wafer have consistently higher values than those in the center (i.e., referred to as a bowl or dished profile) or consistently lower values than those in the center (i.e., referred to as a domed profile).
In some instances, the wafer or site bias is so significant that the measurement data is routinely rejected by the outlier filter. Although such biased data is outside the bounds of the outlier filter, it does not actually represent the type of outlier data the filter is attempting to reject (e.g., data associated tool or material faults). As the data reflects normal operation it would be useful for controlling the process. Errant outlier rejection reduces the total amount of useful metrology data that may be employed for process control, thereby reducing its efficacy.
This section of this document is intended to introduce various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention described and/or claimed below. This section provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. It should be understood that the statements in this section of this document are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.

Method and apparatus for compensating metrology data for site bias prior to filtering


An indoor television antenna has a bypassable amplifier circuit, which is user-controllable to switch between an amplification signal path and a unity gain signal path. The amplifier circuit, also referred to herein as a television signal switching circuit, includes a first switching circuit, a second switching circuit, a third switching circuit and a switching control circuit. The first switching circuit is coupled to the second switching circuit by the amplification and unity gain signal paths, which are substantially isolated from each other. An input of the first switching circuit is responsive to an antenna, and an output of the second switching circuit is coupled to a first input of the third switching circuit. A second input of the third switching circuit is coupled to a game port signal, and an output of the third switching circuit is ultimately coupled to a television receiver. The first, second and third switching circuits are responsive to one or more switching control signals from the switching control circuit. The first switching circuit selectively routes the television signal from the antenna through either the amplification signal path or the unity gain signal path in response to one or more switching control signals. Likewise, the second switching circuit selectively routes the television signal from either amplification signal path or the unity gain signal path to the third switching circuit in response to one or more switching control signals. Similarly, the third switching circuit selectively routes the television signal from the output of the second switching circuit or a game port signal from a game port input to the television receiver in response to one or more switching control signals.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to improving the reception of a broadcast, cable or game port television signal, and more particularly relates to isolating alternate paths of the television signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As towns and cities become more populated, the number of obstructions to broadcast signals, such as those used for television and radio, also increases. These obstructions introduce substantial signal reflections, which result in intolerable reductions in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the broadcast signal after it is received. Additional factors that decrease the SNR include the increased use of cellular and mobile communications, broadcast signals that are received over greater distances, and the increased utilization of available bandwidth.
Amplification of the broadcast signal can largely overcome problems associated with reductions in the SNR. However, amplification is neither always necessary nor desirable, such as when a receiver is in close proximity to a transmission station. In this case, providing an alternate path for the broadcast signal, which exhibits essentially unity gain, optimizes reception.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a typical indoor television antenna having a switchable amplifier circuit, more generally referred to as a television signal switching circuit 10. The switching circuit 10 includes an amplification/unity gain signal path 12 and a game port signal path 14. The amplification/unity gain signal path 12 is coupled in series between an antenna 16 and a television receiver 18.
The amplification/unity gain signal path 12 includes the series connection of an amplifier circuit 20, a direct current (DC) blocking capacitor 21, and a diode isolation circuit 23. The antenna 16 is coupled to an input of the amplifier circuit 20, and an output of the amplifier circuit 20 is coupled to a first end of the capacitor 21. A second end of the capacitor 21 is coupled to an input of the diode isolation circuit 23, and the output of the diode isolation circuit 23 is coupled to the television receiver 18. The amplifier circuit 20 is also coupled to an amplification control circuit 22, which can selectively, under the control of a user, supply power to the amplifier circuit 20 and adjust the amount of gain provided by the amplifier circuit 20.
The diode isolation circuit 23 includes two diodes coupled in series. The anode of a first diode is coupled to the input of the diode isolation circuit 23, and selectively coupled to a DC bias. The cathode of the first diode is coupled to the anode of a second diode, and the cathode of the second diode is coupled to the output of the diode isolation circuit 23.
The game port signal path 14 is coupled in series between a game port input 17 and the television receiver 18. The game port signal path 14 includes the series connection of a DC blocking capacitor 25 and a diode isolation circuit 27. The game port input 17 is coupled to a first end of the capacitor 25, and a second end of the capacitor 25 is coupled to an input of the diode isolation circuit 27.
The diode isolation circuit 27 is substantially the same as the diode isolation circuit 23 already described. The output of both diode isolation circuits 23, 27 are coupled to each other, a first end of a direct current (DC) leakage resistor 29, and the television receiver 18. A second end of the resistor 29 is coupled to ground and provides a path for residual charge introduced by the DC bias to escape.
If the DC bias is applied to the diode isolation circuit 27 in the game port signal path 14, the diodes in the isolation circuit 27 become forward biased and a game port signal in the game port signal path 14 is allowed to pass to the television receiver 18. By applying the DC bias to the isolation circuit 27 in the game port signal path 14, the DC bias is not applied to the isolation circuit 23 in the amplification/unity gain signal path 12. This causes the diodes in the path 12 to remain off or in a non-conductive state, which isolates the output of the amplifier circuit 20 from the television receiver 18.
Likewise, if the DC bias is applied to the diode isolation circuit 23 in the amplification/unity gain signal path 12, the diodes in the isolation circuit 23 become forward biased and a television signal in the amplification/unity gain signal path is allowed to pass to the television receiver 18. By applying the DC bias to the isolation circuit 23 in the amplification/unity gain signal path 14, the DC bias is not applied to the isolation circuit 27 in the game port signal path 14. This causes the diodes in the path 14 to remain off or in a non-conductive state, which isolates the game port input 17 from the television receiver 18.
If the user chooses to provide power to the amplifier circuit 20 via the amplification control circuit 22, the television signal seen by the television receiver 18 exhibits that amount of gain chosen by the user. In contrast, if the user chooses not to provide power to the amplifier circuit 20, the amplifier circuit 20 essentially becomes a short circuit and the television receiver 18 sees the television signal with essentially unity gain.
However, one disadvantage with the conventional approach shown in FIG. 1 is that the diode isolation circuits 23, 27 do not completely isolate the amplification/unity gain signal path 12 and game port signal path 14. For instance, portions of the amplification/unity gain signal path 12 remain in the circuit even if the game port signal path 14 is chosen. These portions act as stubs terminated by an impedance that creates reflections, and thus noise, in the television signal. In addition, the diodes in the isolation circuit 23 introduce leakage of either the television signal or the game port signal into the chosen path due to their poor isolation.
Thus, the approach shown in FIG. 1 does not result in two independent and isolated paths. Rather, this approach results in two essentially composite paths, each of which includes signal reflections and leakage introduced by the path not selected.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for improving the reception of a television signal by a television receiver.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for reducing signal reflection, crosstalk, and noise in and between alternate paths of a broadcast, cable or game port television signal having different gains associated therewith.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for amplifying off air broadcast television signals over a broad range of gains, which increases the associated signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) without disrupting cable or game port signals.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for selectively applying unit gain or a variable gain to off air broadcast television signals, which increases the SNR of the television signal without disrupting cable or game port signals.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for maximizing isolation between alternate paths of a broadcast, cable or game port television signal having different gains associated therewith.
In accordance with one form of the present invention, a television signal switching circuit is provided, which includes an amplification signal path and a unity gain signal path. A first switching circuit and a second switching circuit, which preferably include relays, substantially isolate the amplification signal path from the unity gain signal path. One or more antennas receive the television signal and output it to an input of the first switching circuit. The amplification and unity gain signal paths are coupled in parallel between the first and second switching circuits. An output of the second switching circuit is coupled to a third switching circuit which isolates the output of the second switching circuit from a game port input. The third switching circuit selectively routes either the output of the second switching circuit or the game port input to the television receiver.
A switching control circuit outputs a switching control signal, which controls the first, second, and third switching circuits. In response to the switching control circuit, the first and second switching circuits route the received television signal through either the amplification signal path or the unity gain signal path, and the third switching circuit routes either the output of the second switching circuit or the game port input to the television receiver. Thus, since the amplification, unity gain, and game port signal paths are isolated and the television signal does not flow through any portion of the path not selected, signal reflections, noise, and crosstalk between these paths are minimized. The switching control circuit also provides a gain control signal to the amplifier, which can adjust the gain applied to the television signal in the amplification signal path.
In accordance with yet another form of the present invention, the first and second switching circuits are omitted and the antenna is coupled to the third switching circuit via the amplification signal path.
In accordance with still another form of the present invention, an isolation circuit is substituted for the first switching circuit.
In accordance with yet another form of the present invention, a power combiner circuit is substituted for the second switching circuit.
In accordance with still another form of the present invention, a power divider circuit is substituted for the first switching circuit.

Television antenna with bypassable amplifier circuit


In an electrolyte sheet for a solid oxide fuel cell according to the present invention, the number of flaws on at least one of surfaces of the sheet detected by a fluorescent penetrant inspection is 30 points or less in each of sections obtained by dividing the sheet into the sections each measuring 30 mm or less on a side. A unit cell for a solid oxide fuel cell according to the present invention comprises a fuel electrode, an air electrode, and the electrolyte sheet for a solid oxide fuel cell according to the present invention, which is disposed between the fuel electrode and the air electrode. A solid oxide fuel cell of the present invention includes the unit cell for a solid oxide fuel cell according to the present invention.

Solid oxide fuel cells have high power-generating efficiency, being part of the environmental energy technology for achieving a low-carbon global society by improving the carbon dioxide reduction effect. Therefore, solid oxide fuel cells are expected as a clean power source for use in household and business. As electrolyte membranes for solid oxide fuel cell, the demand for zirconia-based electrolyte sheet has been increasing.
When a zirconia-based electrolyte sheet is used as an electrolyte membrane for a solid oxide fuel cell, unit cells in which electrodes are formed on both sides of the zirconia-based electrolyte sheet are used as cell stacks in which a plurality of the cells are stacked, both sides of which are clamped with a separator.
Therefore, during the operation of solid oxide fuel cells, such a sheet will be maintained for prolonged periods in a state wherein a load of at least 10 g/cm2 is applied at a high temperature of about 750° C. to 950° C., and it is repeatedly exposed to room temperature at the time of starting and stopping, etc. of the operation as well as to high temperature. Under such a condition of use, any defects present in the surface of such a sheet may cause formation of cracks that render the sheet easily prone to breaking, and will largely affect the Weibull coefficient which reflects mechanical strength properties and a variation in the strength. In particular, any damage to a unit cell due to cracking of the electrolyte sheet, even cracking of only a single electrolyte sheet, will greatly affect the reliability of the solid oxide fuel cell.
Accordingly, the present inventors have disclosed in WO 99/55639, a zirconia-based electrolyte sheet having a superior Weibull coefficient as well as a low incidence of breaking and cracking in which the number of defective spots such as cracks having an area of 0.1 mm2 or larger, as detected based on an image obtained with a CCD camera, is no more than 5 per section when such a sheet is divided into a plurality of sections such that a length of each side of the section is 30 mm or less; and also a method of manufacturing a zirconia-based electrolyte sheet involving firing a zirconia green sheet sandwiched between spacers comprised mainly of spherical ceramic particles.
However, even if such an electrolyte sheet having surface defects such as cracks or the like detected by the above-mentioned method is excluded, a problem of cell damage may still occur during the stacking process by stacking unit cells and separators or during the start/stop operation of the solid oxide fuel cell. Therefore, as yet, improvement in the reliability of electrolyte sheet has been demanded against surface defects such as cracks.
Meanwhile, as a method of inspecting cracks in the electrolyte sheet for a solid oxide fuel cell, Japanese Patent Application Publication Hei 8-238613 (1996-238613) discloses a technology of using stereo microscope to observe the number of defects of 10 μm or larger among the surface defects (crack formation) of ceramic substrates with a thickness of at least 30 μm or larger for solid electrolyte for use in fuel cells. This is done by visually counting the defect images of the enlarged field of view of a stereo microscope, and the quantity is essentially determined at the macroscopic level. Therefore, errors will easily occur if the number of sheets to be inspected is large, and thus reliability is poor.
Further, the color check method (dye penetration flaw detection test) is usually used as a flaw detection test of ceramic substrates. It is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication Hei 5-254932 (1993-254932) and Japanese Patent Application Publication 2001-205607 that the flaw detection test is conducted even for electrolyte sheets.
However, these tests are used only for evaluation after specific strength tests such as the thermal shock tolerance test involving maintaining a sheet at high temperature followed by putting it in water to determine the existence of cracks, and the load test involving application of predetermined load at room temperature to observe the occurrence of cracks and fissures. Accordingly, they cannot be used as a satisfactory quality check method for electrolyte sheets during mass production.

Electrolyte sheet for solid oxide fuel cell, unit cell for solid oxide fuel cell and solid oxide fuel cell equipped with same, method for testing electrolyte sheet for solid oxide fuel cell, and method for manufacturing electrolyte sheet for solid oxide fuel cell


A prosthesis anchor is adapted to convert a previously untreatable anatomy into a more typical and treatable condition. Preferably, the anchor is adapted to be transported endoluminally to a deployment site in a body lumen. The anchor includes a landing section for securing the anchor at a relatively fixed position in the lumen, and a docking section adapted to receive a mating prosthesis the landing section of the anchor may be permanently affixed to the lumen by a variety of mechanical and/or adhesive fixation means.

Many medical conditions are treated by the implantation of a prosthesis in a body lumen. Such conditions include vascular stenosis and aneurysms and such prosthesis include stents and stent grafts. Increasingly, such prosthesis are deployed by endoluminal transport from a site remote from the deployment site. Fixation of the prosthesis at the deployment site is necessary to avoid displacement of the prosthesis. Stents are elongated devices, typically of a tubular skeletal metallic structure, with substantial elasticity. Stents may be used to support intraluminal walls and to exert a radial force on a constricted portion of a lumen wall to open a lumen to near normal size.
A stent-graft typically includes tubular graft material affixed to the inside or outside of a stent and is delivered to the damaged site of a blood vessel via a catheter. Endoluminal stent-grafts, i.e. stent grafts delivered endoluminally, are often used to repair blood vessels affected by a variety of lesions such as stenoses or aneurysms. In the case of a stenosis, a stent provides an unobstructed conduit for blood, by-passing a diseased area of the vessel.
Once deployed in a body lumen, such as a blood vessel, stents and stent grafts have a tendency to move. Such movement may be caused by fluid flow at the deployment site and/or by changing body morphology. In the case of a stent graft, this may lead to leakage around the stent graft.
In some situations, such as in the case of abdominal aortic aneurysums (AAA) this problem is acerbated by the presence of diseased tissue at or near the end of the stent graft, near the renal arteries for example. In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to have a more positive way of effectively retaining prostheses, such as stents and stent-grafts, particularly in a region of diseased tissue, and thereby more effectively preventing movement of the prosthesis and leakage around an end thereof.


A suspension is provided for mud flaps to be deployed behind wheels of a vehicle. The suspension allows for resilient translation of the mud flaps, such as should they get pinched against a curb and the wheels. A housing is adapted to be coupled to a bumper or other frame portion of the vehicle. The housing supports a spring therein. Cables are coupled to opposite ends of the spring and also to one of the mud flaps. When downward forces are exerted on one of the mud flaps, the cable associated allows the mud flap to translate downward slightly and cause the spring to be extended. When the loads subside, the spring causes the mud flap to return. In one embodiment a single suspension suspends two mud flaps over separate wheels. In a second embodiment, the suspension supports a single mud flap over a single wheel or wheel set.

Mud flaps or analogous systems are required by certain trucks to minimize the potential for debris to be kicked up by truck wheels, possibly causing damage to other vehicles. Such mud flaps are typically in the form of planar flexible heavy rubber structures suspended in a vertical plane from upper ends thereof coupled to a bumper or other suspension arm behind wheels of the vehicle. Such suspension is typically rigid in form.
For mud flaps to function optimally, they should be as close to the roadway as possible. However, low positioning of the mud flaps can be problematic. For instance, when a truck is backing up, it is often desirable to back up until rear wheels of the vehicle bump against a curb or other obstruction. If the mud flaps are in an optimal low position, lower edges of the mud flaps will be pinched between the wheels of the vehicle and the curb. Even the slightest additional movement of the truck causes very high downward tension loads on the mud flap, often causing the mud flap to tear, or bending of rigid support arms holding the mud flaps. Such downward loads associated with pinching of the mud flaps can be translational only in a downward direction, or can be both downward and rotational, particularly if only one corner of the mud flap becomes trapped. Translational loads and rotational loads have a different affect on the mud flap.
One prior art mud flap suspension system usable primarily only on trucks having a central frame involves a cantilevered housing extending perpendicularly from the central frame directly behind the wheels of the vehicle. This cantilevered support housing is known in at least some systems to be attached through a heavy spring which facilitates a small amount of pivoting of the cantilevered support housing relative to the central frame of the truck. The mud flaps are rigidly mounted to the cantilevered support housing.
Such systems are not entirely desirable in that only a small amount of mud flap downward travel is facilitated, and the pivoting of the cantilevered arm is only optimal in a small number of mud flap pinching scenarios. For instance, mud flaps can be pinched and pulled downward in a translating motion, can be pinched and rotated toward a center of the truck, or pinched and rotated away from a center of the truck. Prior art spring mounted cantilevered housing mud flap suspension systems only best accommodate a pinching and rotating toward a centerline of the truck motion; with the mud flaps returning to their original position when pinching loads subside. Accordingly, a need exists for a resilient mud flap suspension system that can accommodate a large amount of mud flap travel with both translation and/or rotation.


A photocuring printing system. A developing drum is rotatable and is light-transmissive; the developing drum and a carrier are oppositely arranged and movable with respect to each other; the developing drum has a developing surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by the developing engine; a feeder and the developing surface are oppositely arranged; during a rotation of the developing drum, a photocurable material provided by the feeder is selectively attracted by the electrostatic latent image to form a material layer on the developing surface; the material layer is applied, by the developing drum, on a forming surface of the carrier or a cured model on the carrier; and a curing light beam emitted by a curing light source passes through a material-laying side of the developing drum to irradiate the material layer between the developing drum and the carrier to form a cured layer.

The existing UltraVoilet (UV) curing printing methods mainly use the curing light source such as laser, Digital Light Processing (DLP), Light Emitting Diode (LED) or Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) to selectively irradiate the photocurable resin to form a cured layer, and stack layers to form a three-dimensional model, such as stereo lithography apparatus (SLA) or DLP surface projection stereolithography printing method.
For the SLA type, a photocurable material may be the photocurable resin liquid material or the paste mixed with other powder materials, and generally first scraped flat, then irradiates selectively by the curing light beam to form the cured layer, and then repeats the above process to stack the cured layers until the 3D model printing is completed. In this way, it is not easy to print the three-dimensional model of composite materials, and it is not easy to print the color model. Moreover, because the laying and light curing are carried out in different time, the printing speed is affected. The thickness of the laying is easily affected by the gap between the scraper, the moving speed of the scraper, the temperature or vibration of the material carrier (printing platform), the viscosity and surface characteristics of the printing material, or the composition formula of the printing material, thus affecting the accuracy of the layer thickness and the accuracy of the three-dimensional model. For DLP printing mode, although it can improve the printing speed, it is still not easy to achieve composite or color printing, and it is not easy to achieve large model printing.
Electrostatic imaging technology of traditional two-dimensional printing technology is commonly used in 2D printing technology. The selective attraction of printing material is realized by the development drum through the charging process, exposure imaging process and development process. In the transfer process, the printing material is solidified on the paper by heating. Although it is easy to realize color printing, the heating process will affect the printing speed, and it is not suitable for printing of three-dimensional models. It is necessary to develop a fast and more suitable printing method or device for composite materials and color models.


A computer program product, including: a computer readable storage device to store a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program, when executed by a processor within a computer, causes the computer to perform operations for logging. The operations include: receiving a transaction including data and a log record corresponding to the data; writing the data to a data storage device; and writing the log record to a log space on a persistent memory device coupled to the data storage device.

In conventional database management systems (DBMSs) and many other computing environments, transactions to write to a data storage device, such as a hard drive, often write data and log records in memory buffers before moving the data and log records to the storage device. This often includes writing the log records to log files on the storage device before any associated data changes are made to the data files (known as write-ahead logging). When a system failure occurs, such as a hardware failure or system power interruption, a recovery process is started upon system restart to read the log files and apply log records to restore the system to a consistent state.
Writing and flushing log records to log files is generally an important step, but because of input/output barriers and latencies in writing to data storage devices, significant overhead may be incurred. Consequently, writing and flushing log records is frequently the key inhibitor for high performance transaction processing.

International Business Machines Corporation


An image data recorder coding a still image in accordance with a moving image coding system, and recording a still-image-converted moving image acquired by coding onto a recording medium includes: a reading unit reading out an aspect ratio set for the recording medium; a determining unit acquiring an aspect ratio of the still image, and determining whether the acquired aspect ratio is the same as the aspect ratio for the recording medium; a coding unit adding an interpolation area on the top and bottom, or left and right of the still image in accordance with the result of the determination to generate an interpolation-area-added still image whose aspect ratio matches the aspect ratio for the recording medium, and coding the interpolation-area-added still image in accordance with a moving image coding system to generate the still-image-converted moving image; and a recording unit recording the still-image-converted moving image onto the recording medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image data recorders, image data recording methods, and programs, and, more particularly, to an image data recorder, image data recording method, and program capable of recording both a moving image and a still image onto a recording medium, and playing back the still image using a moving image playback apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, there are digital video cameras that use DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs) as recording media. Such digital video cameras can capture not only moving images but also still images, and are configured to record both the captured moving and still images onto DVDs.
In addition, such digital video cameras can generate a moving image that includes one or more still images to be continuously displayed when played back and record the generated moving image (hereinafter referred to as a still-image-converted moving image) onto a DVD so that the still images that have been recorded on the DVD as the moving image can be played back by other DVD players capable of playing back only moving images (see, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-201170).

Image data recorder, image data recording method, and program


The present invention is drawn to passivated pigment suspensions, methods of forming passivated pigment suspensions, and ink sets based thereupon. The coated pigment suspension can comprise a liquid vehicle and a passivated pigment suspended in the liquid vehicle. The coated pigment can include a pigment core, on which is deposited a passivation layer comprising a polymer precursor synthesized while separate from the pigment. A polymer encapsulation layer may be attached to or deposited on the passivation layer.

Computer printer technology has evolved to a point where very high-resolution images can be transferred to various types of media, including paper. Ink-jet printing involves the placement of small drops of a fluid ink onto a media surface in response to a digital signal. Typically, the fluid ink is placed or jetted onto the surface without physical contact between the printing device and the surface. Within this general technique, the specific method that the ink-jet ink is deposited onto the printing surface varies from system to system, and can include continuous ink deposit and drop-on-demand ink deposit. Regarding drop-on-demand printing systems, the ink-jet inks are typically based upon water and solvents such as glycols. Essentially, with these systems, ink droplets are propelled from a nozzle by heat or by a pressure wave such that all of the ink droplets ejected are used to form the printed image.
There are several reasons that ink-jet printing has become a popular way of recording images on various media surfaces, particularly paper. Some of these reasons include low printer noise, capability of high-speed recording, and multi-color recording. Additionally, these advantages can be obtained at a relatively low price to consumers. With respect to ink-jet ink chemistry, the majority of commercial ink-jet inks are water-based. Thus, their constituents are generally water-soluble, as in the case with many dyes, or water dispersible, as in the case with pigments. Furthermore, ink-jet inks have low viscosity to accommodate high frequency jetting and firing chamber refill processes common to ink-jet architecture.
Traditionally, dyes have been used as colorants in thermal ink-jet inks due to their vibrant colors, low cost, and compatibility with thermal ink-jet pens. However, images produced by dye-based inks tend to lack durability, i.e., they exhibit low water fastness, smear fastness, and light fastness. Replacing dyes with pigments as colorants can improve some of these properties, but the presence of pigments can result in images that have a surface that can suffer from lessened smear fastness. Polymers may be used in ink-jet inks to improve image durability. When present as additives, polymers can contribute to increased viscosity due to the increased number of particles suspended in the ink. Conversely, pigments may be encapsulated in polymers, thereby providing the desired durability benefits with fewer particles per unit volume. However, many pigment particles present functional groups that inhibit polymerization, resulting in incomplete encapsulation and the presence of appreciable amounts of residual monomers in the resulting suspension. Therefore, ink-jet applications would benefit from pigment-based ink-jet inks that feature pigments with improved encapsulation.

Compositions and methods for producing urethane coated pigment particles

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An internal combustion engine defining a combustion chamber for the direct injection of fuel through a centrally located fuel injector and having a first inlet passage and port for directing hot exhaust gases of a recirculation medium to a central region of the combustion chamber and a second inlet passage and port for directing air tangentially into the combustion chamber to cause a circular flow about the chamber's periphery and about the exhaust rich central region. The injector sprays fuel through the hot exhaust gas medium in the central region which results in a pre-heating of the fuel which has been found to reduce hydrocarbon emissions prior to ignition by a spark plug located adjacent the periphery of the combustion chamber.

Directing fuel through an injection into a central portion of a combustion chamber in a spark ignited internal combustion engine is known as per example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,635 to Kadoi and 5,529,038 to Tsuchida. Both of these patents inject fuel into a central region of the combustion chamber. Also, the ignition of fuel by a spark plug located radially outward from the central injection is disclosed in the '038 patent. While an engine will operate successfully with such an arrangement, the emissions of hydrocarbons has been greater than allowed under current standards and requirements.
Hydrocarbon emissions can be reduced by preheating the fuel prior to ignition by a spark plug. The present invention provides a separate intake path for hot exhaust gas recirculation products to direct this hot medium to the central region of the combustion chamber. At an appropriate time in the engine cycle, the centrally located direct fuel injector sprays fuel through the hot medium which results in heating and evaporation of the fuel. The preheated fuel moves radially outward in the combustion chamber to mix with air flowing through a second inlet and together the heated mixture is ignited by a radially outwardly located spark plug.
Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, especially when considered with the accompanying drawings and claims.

Combustion chamber for direct injection of fuel into exhaust recirculation rich mixture


The present invention relates to devices, systems, and methods for improving memory and/or cognitive function by brain delivery of compositions of small interfering RNA or vectors containing the DNA encoding for small interfering RNA. Such compositions can be administered using devices, systems and methods for direct delivery of the compositions to the brain, or using devices, systems, methods of delivery, and compositions that deliver small interfering RNA or vectors containing the DNA encoding the small interfering RNA across the blood-brain barrier. The present invention also provides valuable small interfering RNA vectors, and methods for reduction of BACE1 levels in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, or other regions of the brain that have beneficial effects on improving memory and/or cognitive function in a subject.

Memory, or the function of a living organism to store information and retrieve it at a later time in a functional form, comprises multiple processes and requires the function of many different brain areas. Human memory provides declarative recall, i.e., facts and events accessible to conscious recollection, and non-declarative recall, i.e., procedural memory of skills and operations not stored regarding time and place.
The processing of information to be added to memory occurs in several stages. A newly acquired experience initially is susceptible to various forms of disruption. With time, however, the new experience becomes resistant to disruption. This observation has been interpreted to indicate that a labile, working, short-term memory is "consolidated" into a more stable, long term memory. The initial phase of memory consolidation occurs in the first few minutes after we are exposed to a new idea or learning experience. The next phase occurs over a longer period of time, such as during sleep. If a learning experience has on-going meaning to us, the next week or so serves as a further period of memory consolidation. In effect, in this phase, the memory moves from short-term to long-term storage.
Various mechanisms have been proposed for the formation of long-term memory. A wide range of observations suggest an evolutionarily conserved molecular mechanism for the formation of long-term memory. These observations include increase in release of synaptic transmitter and number of synaptic receptors as well as decrease in Km of the receptors, synthesis of new memory factors either in the pre-synaptic or post-synaptic element, new synaptic connections, and increase in the active area in the pre-synaptic membrane. Synaptic plasticity, the change in the strength of neuronal connections in the brain, is thought to underlie long-term memory storage.
On the molecular level, a series of classic studies showed that inhibition of mRNA and protein synthesis during a critical time window could disrupt the formation of long-term memory. Initial learning and recall of previously stored information was not impaired by the transient blockage of protein synthesis. This led to a hypothesis that new gene expression is necessary for the conversion or consolidation of a short-term modification of the brain into a long-term memory.
Memory consolidation, or long-term memory, is also believed to play a crucial role in a variety of neurological and mental disorders, including mental retardation, Alzheimer's disease and depression. Indeed, loss or impairment of long-term memory is a significant feature of such diseases.
For several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3, and dentatorubral pallidoluysian atrophy (DRLPA), proteins involved in the overall pathogenic progression of the disease have been identified. There is currently no cure for these neurodegenerative diseases. These diseases are progressively debilitating and most are ultimately fatal.
Further problematic of these neurodegenerative diseases (especially Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease) is that their prevalence continues to increase, thus creating a serious public health problem. Recent studies have pointed to alpha-synuclein (Parkinson's disease), beta-amyloid-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1 (including variants thereof, e.g. variants A, B, C, and D)) (Alzheimer's disease), huntingtin (Huntington's disease), and ataxin 1 (Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1) as major factors in the pathogenesis of each of these diseases, respectively.
The neurodegenerative process in Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease is characterized by extensive loss of selected neuronal cell populations accompanied by synaptic injury and astrogliosis. Pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease include formation of amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and neuropil thread formation. Although the mechanisms triggering cell dysfunction and death are unclear, the prevailing view is that neurodegeneration results from toxic effects subsequent to the accumulation of specific neuronal cell proteins, such as amyloid precursor protein (APP) (Alzheimer's disease—processed into beta-amyloid by BACE1 (including variants thereof, e.g. variants A, B, C, and D)).
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive degenerative disorder of the brain characterized by mental deterioration, memory loss, confusion, and disorientation. Among the cellular mechanisms contributing to this pathology are two types of fibrillar protein deposits in the brain: intracellular neurofibrillary tangles composed of polymerized tau protein, and abundant extracellular fibrils comprised largely of beta-amyloid. Beta-amyloid, also known as Abeta, arises from the proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) at the beta- and gamma-secretase cleavage sites giving rise to the cellular toxicity and amyloid-forming capacity of the two major forms of Abeta (Abeta40 and Abeta42). Thus, preventing APP processing into plaque-producing forms of amyloid may critically influence the formation and progression of the disease making BACE1 (including variants thereof, e.g. variants A, B, C, and D) a clinical target for inhibiting or arresting this disease. Similar reports suggest presenilins are candidate targets for redirecting aberrant processing.
The design and use of small interfering RNA complementary to mRNA targets that produce particular proteins is a recent tool employed by molecular biologists to prevent translation of specific mRNAs. Various groups have been recently studying the effectiveness of siRNAs as biologically active agents for suppressing the expression of specific proteins involved in neurological disorders. Caplen, et al. (Human Molecular Genetics, 11(2): 175-184 (2002)) assessed a variety of different double stranded RNAs for their ability to inhibit cell expression of mRNA transcripts of the human androgen receptor gene containing different CAG repeats. Their work found gene-specific inhibition occurred with double stranded RNAs containing CAG repeats only when flanking sequences to the CAG repeats were present in the double stranded RNAs. They were also able to show that constructed double stranded RNAs were able to rescue caspase-3 activation induced by expression of a protein with an expanded polyglutamine region. Xia, Mao, et al. (Nature Biotechnology, 20: 1006-1010 (2002)) demonstrated the inhibition of polyglutamine (CAG) expression in engineered neural PC12 clonal cell lines that express a fused polyglutamine-fluorescent protein using constructed recombinant adenovirus expressing siRNAs targeting the mRNA encoding green fluorescent protein.
Other tools used by molecular biologists to interfere with protein expression prior to translation involve cleavage of the mRNA sequences using ribozymes against therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's disease (see WO01/16312A2) and Parkinson's disease (see WO99/50300A1 and WO01/60794A2). However, none of the above aforementioned patents disclose methods for the specifically localized delivery of small interfering RNA vectors to targeted cells of the brain in a manner capable of local treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The above patents do not disclose use of delivery devices or any method of delivery or infusion of small interfering RNA vectors to the brain. For example, the above patents do not disclose or suggest a method of delivery or infusion of small interfering RNA vectors to the brain by an intracranial delivery device.
The delivery of biologically active agents to the brain is an important and challenging aspect of treating a variety of neurological disorders. For treatment of some neurological disorders, it is desirable to deliver a biologically active agent (e.g., a therapeutic agent) to the brain that will cause brain cells to express DNA, for example, a missing gene (i.e., gene therapy), and/or RNA, for example, a small interfering RNA (siRNA).
Some approaches to gene therapy for neurological disorders involve surgical delivery of non-viral or viral vectors directly into the brain tissue, which is generally necessary since non-viral and viral vectors normally do not cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). These approaches are limited by difficulty in achieving sufficient distribution and diffusion of the vector into the targeted areas of the brain, and by the potential for viral vectors to produce an immune reaction in the patient. One approach for achieving enhanced diffusion of vectors into the brain tissue is to use the technique of "convection enhanced delivery," whereby the non-viral or viral vectors are administered at a low flow rate over a long period of time with a pump providing pressure and flow volume to enhance the distribution of the vector into the tissue. While convection enhanced delivery has been shown to yield delivery of molecules and virus particles to substantial three-dimensional regions of rodent and primate brains, scale-up of this delivery approach to the three-dimensional volume of the human brain remains a technical challenge. Effective treatment of certain neurological diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease) using a gene or protein delivery or suppression therapy will most likely require delivery of the biologically active agents to most of the human cerebrum. In other neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease, even though there are circumscribed regions of the brain anatomy that are especially affected by the disease process, for example, the substantia nigra or striatum (caudate and putamen) and result in cardinal symptoms of the diseases (e.g., dyskinesias, rigidity, etc.), patients will likely benefit further from treatment of broader regions of the brain, in which the disease process causes additional symptoms (e.g., depression and cognitive deficits).
An approach of using viral vectors to deliver genes or gene suppressing agents to the brain tissue using stereotactic neurosurgery including, for example, the use of adeno-associated virus (AAV) to deliver gene therapy to the subthalamic nucleus, has shown considerable promise. However, the usefulness of stereotactic neurosurgery to deliver a viral vector carrying a gene or protein suppression therapy can be limited by one or more of the following factors. Stereotactic neurosurgery always involves a low level of surgical risk including, for example, accidental perforation of a blood vessel, which can result in cerebral hemorrhage and death. Dispersion of a viral vector to large regions of brain tissue, even using convection enhanced delivery and optimal vectors, catheter designs, and surgical technique, is likely to be limited relative to what can be attained using the blood stream as the distribution system. Manufacturing of viral particles (e.g., capsid plus DNA payload) in sufficient quantities for therapeutic use, while feasible, is costly relative to production of DNA alone. Viral particles (i.e., the capsid proteins) might be immunogenic, causing adverse reactions in sensitized individuals. While the immune response to some viruses (e.g., AAV) when administered to the brain appears minimal, it remains a potential limitation particularly for repeated therapy administrations.
It would be advantageous to administer a biologically active agent by a route that is no more invasive than a simple intravenous injection. With this approach, a biologically active agent could be delivered through the BBB by targeting the biologically active agent to the brain via endogenous BBB transport systems. Expression of a DNA or RNA in the brain requires that the biologically active agent that is injected into the blood is transported not only across the BBB by, for example, receptor-mediated transcytosis (RMT), but also across the brain cell membrane (BCM) by, for example, receptor-mediated endocytosis (RME) into the target cell in the brain. In addition, using endogenous BBB transport systems to target biologically active agents non-invasively to the brain also requires the development of a suitable formulation of the biologically active agent that is stable in the bloodstream.
An effective method for delivering gene therapy to the entire primate brain using compositions that carry plasmid DNA or antisense RNA across the blood brain barrier and into brain cells was recently disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,250 (Pardridge). The reported ability of this method to deliver plasmid DNA to the entire primate brain constitutes an impressive technical breakthrough. However, therapeutic use of the disclosed method may be limited by one or more of the factors listed herein below. Gene expression from a plasmid or RNA is generally temporary (e.g., limited to a period of days or weeks). Intravenous delivery of the disclosed compositions can result in unintended treatment of all bodily organs, potentially resulting in adverse side-effects. Finally, intravenous delivery can result in a loss of dosing as the dose intended for the brain is delivered to other parts of the body.
Further, the foregoing prior art does not disclose any technique for delivering or infusing into the brain small interfering RNA vectors which are then capable of reducing production of at least one protein involved in the loss of memory.
The prior art describes direct systemic delivery of ribozymes. This approach for treatment of memory loss or neurodegenerative disorders would appear neither possible nor desirable. First, interfering RNAs are distinctly different than ribozymes. Second, small RNA molecules delivered systemically will not persist in vivo long enough to reach the desired target, nor are they likely to cross the blood-brain barrier. Further, the approach taken by the prior art may be impractical because of the large quantity of small interfering RNA that might have to be administered by this method to achieve an effective quantity in the brain. Even when the blood-brain barrier is temporarily opened, the vast majority of oligonucleotide delivered via the bloodstream may be lost to other organ systems in the body, especially the liver.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,735,814 and 6,042,579 disclose the use of drug infusion for the treatment of Huntington's disease, but the drugs specifically identified in these patents pertain to agents capable of altering the level of excitation of neurons, and do not specifically identify agents intended to enter the cell and alter protein production within cells.
Thus, new compositions and methods for delivering to the brain biologically active agents for the treatment of memory loss and cognitive dysfunction are needed.

Devices, systems and methods for improving memory and/or cognitive function through brain delivery of siRNA


An aircraft pressure containment module is adapted to be mounted generally transversely within an aircraft fuselage for providing pressure containment to separate pressurized and non-pressurized sections of an aircraft. A plurality of web segments are joined together to form a web member. A ring member is arranged on a first pressurized side of the web member. A plurality of truss assemblies are also arranged on the first side of the web member. Each truss assembly is comprised of a first truss member adapted to extend outwardly from the ring member to a peripheral edge of the web member. The first truss member is joined to the web member and joins together adjacent web segments. A second truss member extends from the first truss member in a direction generally normal to the first side of the web member. The second truss member is adapted to be joined to an aircraft fuselage in a longitudinal sense or it may comprise a portion of longitudinally extending member of the fuselage such as a stringer. A third truss member is joined to the second truss member and the first truss member to form a truss assembly having at least in part a generally triangular shape. The truss assemblies are adapted to react pressure loading from the web member to the fuselage of an aircraft in a manner similar to a conventional dome type pressure containment module. An aircraft using the module has an elongated fuselage extending in a longitudinal direction and the pressure containment module mounted generally transversely within the fuselage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel structure for pressure containment to separate pressurized and non- pressurized sections of an aircraft.
2. Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,443 discloses fuselage sections. U.S. Pat. No. 3,473,761 discloses a pneumatic tubular construction. U.S. Pat. No. 2,090,038 discloses an aircraft structure. U.S. Pat. No. 2,121,670 discloses a metal frame assemblage and a method of construction including convex metal plates. U.S. Pat. No. 2,006,468 discloses an airplane fuselage. U.S. Pat. No. 2,723,092 discloses a radome panel having structurally reinforcing elements. U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,695 discloses a helicopter fuselage with at least one mainframe member having two generally vertical side beams joined by generally horizontal top and bottom beams. U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,570 discloses a system for supporting interior passenger elements within an aircraft. Other U.S. Patents showing airplane fuselage section structures include U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,387,219, 1,885,406, 1,866,534 and 1,622,242. The aforenoted prior art does not disclose a pressure containment structure corresponding to the present invention.
Present day commercial and military transport category aircraft having pressurized cabins/cargo compartments typically utilize metallic concave dome type structures for pressure containment to separate pressurized and non-pressurized sections of the aircraft. These structures are typically located in the aft section of the fuselage just forward of the aircraft's empennage and are attached peripherally to the inside fuselage surface to form a structural boundary. The continuous reinforced shell like construction of the dome uniformly distributes and reacts pressure loads into the fuselage structure itself. This type of construction requires forming of double curvature segments which are assembled to form a concave reinforced shell. Added radial and circumferential straps are incorporated to enhance damage tolerance. Construction and assembly methods are complex. Design of efficient methods attaching the dome to the fuselage while minimizing radial offsets and longitudinal bending stiffness reduction effects add further complexity. In addition, this type of design does not lend itself to the reaction of planar loading such as that which would occur from a rear fuselage mounted engine attachment.

Aircraft pressure containment assembly module


An inner shroud assembly of a variable vane actuation system for a gas turbine engine includes a shroud assembly comprising a multiple of forward shroud segments and a respective multiple of aft shroud segments. A multiple of variable vanes are rotationally retained at an inboard trunion between the forward and aft shroud segments of the shroud assembly. A retainer assembly includes a multiple of retainer ring segments that retain the forward and aft shroud segments together. The inner shroud assembly is assembled into an engine case with an inboard extending feature that engages with an outer diameter feature of each of the multiple of retainer ring segments.

The present disclosure relates to a gas turbine engine and, more particularly, to an inner shroud assembly therefor.
Gas turbine engines, such as those that power modern commercial and military aircraft, generally include a compressor section to pressurize an airflow, a combustor section to burn a hydrocarbon fuel in the presence of the pressurized air, and a turbine section to extract energy from the resultant combustion gases.
Some gas turbine engines include variable vane systems with vanes that can be rotated about their individual axes to change an operational performance characteristic. The variable vanes are robustly designed to handle the forces required to change the position of the vanes. A mechanical linkage is typically utilized to rotate the variable vanes. Although operationally effective, variable vane systems are relatively complicated to assemble and include numerous components and fasteners that must accommodate relatively significant forces.

Inner shroud assembly for gas turbine engine variable vane system


A recording medium comprises a recording layer, a birefringent layer, and a reflecting layer. The recording layer is formed of a material whose optical rotatory power is alterable such that in one state no optical rotatory power is present and, in a second state, optical rotatory power is present. Information is recorded in the recording layer by selectively altering the state of the recording layer. The birefringent layer is formed of a material having constant birefringence without regard to the state of the recording layer. The reflecting layer reflects a light beam transmitted through the recording layer and the birefringent layer to reintroduce the beam into the birefringent layer and the recording layer. A method of reproducing information from this recording medium applies a polarized light beam to the recording medium and detects change of the polarized state of the polarized light beam reflected from the recording medium, thereby reading the information recorded in the recording layer. According to the inventive recording medium and reproducing method, the information is reproduced by detecting the presence of optical rotatory power of the recording layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording medium which enables high-density recording and a method of reproducing information recorded therein and more particularly, to a recording medium having a constant birefringent property and an alterable photochromic property.
2. Background of the Invention
In recent years, an organic photochromic material of a photon mode has been studied as a material for use as a recording layer. When the photochromic material is exposed to light of a prescribed first wavelength, a photochemical reaction changes the molecular structure of the material. The changed molecular structure returns to its original structure when the material is exposed to light of a second wavelength. In response to such change in the molecular structure, absorptiveness of the material is also greatly changed with respect to light beams of prescribed wavelengths.
A photochromic material having such a property can be used as a recording layer in a recording medium in order to record information using a light beam having the aforementioned first wavelength. Further, the information can be reproduced through a light beam having the aforementioned second wavelength.
When such a reproducing method is employed, however, a previously recorded portion of the recording layer absorbs the reproducing beam, and hence the molecular structure of the previously recorded portion is unfortunately changed to that of an unrecorded state.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open Gazette 63-259850 discloses a reproducing method that utilizes the optical rotatory power of the photochromic material to record information. The term "optical rotatory power" indicates such a phenomenon wherein a prescribed material rotates the plane of polarization of a linearly polarized light beam which is introduced into and transmitted through the material. In the aforementioned photochromic material, presence/absence of such optical rotatory power determines the recorded/unrecorded state. Thus, it is possible to read information by a reader which is provided with means for detecting such rotation of the polarization azimuth angle of a linearly polarized light beam. According to this method, further, it is possible to select a wavelength for the reproducing beam which is not absorbed by the recording layer. Such a selection is possible because optical rotatory power is also present in a region out of the band of absorbed wavelengths. Thus, it is possible to prevent the aforementioned erasing of information caused by the reproducing beam.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a conventional recording medium which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open Gazette No. 63-259850. Referring to FIG. 10, a recording layer 102 is formed on a transparent substrate 101, and a reflecting layer 103 is formed on the recording layer 102. This conventional recording medium records information by exposing a portion of the recording layer 102 to a light beam having a specific wavelength and changing the molecular structure of the exposed portion.
In such a reflection type recording medium, however, it is impossible, in principle, to reproduce information that has previously been recorded using changes in the optical rotatory power of the medium. The reason for this is as follows:
FIGS. 11A to 11D illustrate states of rotation of the azimuth angle of the polarization of a linearly polarized light beam which is introduced into the conventional recording medium shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 11A shows the plane of polarization of the beam which is incident upon the recording layer. FIG. 11B shows the plane of polarization of the beam, transmitted through the recording layer, which is on the point of being reflected by the reflecting layer. As shown in FIG. 11B, the plane of polarization of the beam is rotated clockwise by an angle .delta. as viewed from the substrate. FIG. 11C shows the plane of polarization of the beam just reflected by the reflecting layer. As shown in FIG. 11C, the plane of polarization of the beam is reflected in the state rotated by the angle .delta.. FIG. 11D shows the plane of polarization of the beam retransmitted through the recording layer. When the beam is thus retransmitted through the recording layer, its plane of polarization is rotated counterclockwise by the angle .delta. as viewed from the substrate, since the reflected beam advances in a direction opposite to that of incidence. Consequently, the plane of polarization of the reproducing beam reflected from the recording medium returns to the state the beam had upon incidence, as shown in FIG. 11D. In the conventional reflection type recording medium, therefore, it has been impossible, in principle, to reproduce information that has previously been recorded by altering the optical rotatory power of the medium.
Also when a circularly or elliptically polarized light beam is employed, no change is caused in the polarized state of the reflected beam in response to the state of the recording layer. Hence it is impossible to reproduce information that has been recorded by changing the optical rotatory power of the recording layer. In the recording medium of the conventional structure as shown in FIG. 10, therefore, no change is caused in the polarized state of the beam reflected from the recording medium, even if the recording layer has optical rotatory power. Thus, it has been impossible to read information that has been recorded by changing the optical rotatory power of a material.

Optical recording medium having a constant birefringent property and an alterable photochromic property


A disposable elongate protective sheath for covering the tip of a dental cure light to prevent cross contamination between dental patients.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a protective and disposable cover for use with a dental cure light.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Cross contamination or exchange of biologic materials between dental patients has become an important issue in the practice of dentistry. During the course of dental procedures both the dentist and the patient come into contact with many objects capable of transporting bioburden. Many of these objects are either disposable or readily sterilized. The dental cure light does not fit into either of these categories. The typical dental cure light has complex and expensive interchangeable tips which are used inside the patients mouth and come into contact with saliva and other biologic materials.
Some commonly used dental products harden when exposed to light. It is common to apply these materials to teeth and to "expose" them with a hand held cure light. In use, the cure light tip is placed into the patient's mouth, while the handle of the cure light is held by the dentist. Most cure light units are equipped a removable cure light probe which may be removed from the light curing unit for cleaning.
Usually the dentist will be required to remove and carefully clean the tip between uses to prevent cross contamination between patients. The disposable cure light cover taught herein also prevents cross contamination between patients, without the requirement of cure light probe cleaning between patients.
The use of protective coverings for medical apparatus is well known. It is now common to provide protective sheaths for certain devices. See, for example:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,776 to Poncy which discloses a disposable sheath package for use with a thermometer. In use, this sheath is placed over the thermometer to prepare the thermometer for use.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,580 to Anapliotis which discloses a protective covering for use with an endoscope. This apparatus may be used for covering an illumination source and it includes an acrylic glass window.


A method for producing isopropyl alcohol is provided in which propylene is hydrated directly with water to produce isopropyl alcohol, the method including: a distillation step in which crude isopropyl alcohol is distilled; and a filtration step in which the isopropyl alcohol obtained in the distillation step is filtered through a filter having an ion-exchange group.

Metallic impurities included in various semiconductor processing liquids used in manufacturing processes for semiconductors are thought to cause, for example, a reduction in a semiconductor yield. Therefore, in order to enhance the yield, the metallic impurities included in the semiconductor processing liquids have been reduced by various methods. Recently, the metallic impurities are required to be further reduced due to the miniaturization of semiconductor design rules and an amount of the metallic impurities are required to be controlled to the order of ppt, especially for semiconductor design rules of a line width of 20 nm or less.
The metallic impurities included in the semiconductor processing liquids are divided broadly into two categories: metallic impurities mixed in a step of producing the semiconductor processing liquids and metallic impurities mixed in a storage, filling, or transportation step after production. Therefore, it is needed to not only reduce the metallic impurities mixed in a step of producing the semiconductor processing liquids but also the metallic impurities subsequently mixed in a storage, filling, or transportation step.
For example, Patent Document 1 describes a purification device including a filtration means with a filter having a particle removal diameter of 20 nm or less and a metal ion-adsorption means, as a method for reducing a metallic impurity in an organic solvent.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2016-073922


A slot antenna device includes a first electrical conductor including first and second electrically conductive surfaces, a second electrical conductor including a third electrically conductive surface that opposes the second electrically conductive surface, a waveguide body on the second electrically conductive surface, and an artificial magnetic conductor extending on both sides of the waveguide body. The first electrical conductor includes a slot. The waveguide body includes a waveguide surface that opposes the third electrically conductive surface. The third electrically conductive surface, the waveguide surface, and the artificial magnetic conductor define a waveguide. The waveguide body includes a first ridge and a second ridge. As viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the waveguide surface, the slot is located between the one end of the first ridge and the one end of the second ridge.

An antenna device in which one or more radiating elements (which may hereinafter be also referred to as "antenna elements") are arrayed on a line or a plane finds its use in various applications, e.g., radar and communication systems. In order to radiate electromagnetic waves from an antenna device, it is necessary to supply electromagnetic waves (e.g., radio-frequency signal waves) to each antenna element, from a circuit which generates electromagnetic waves ("feed"). Such feeding of electromagnetic waves is performed via a waveguide. A waveguide is also used to send electromagnetic waves that are received at the antenna elements to a reception circuit.
Conventionally, feed to an array antenna has often been achieved by using a microstrip line(s). However, in the case where the frequency of an electromagnetic wave to be transmitted or received by an array antenna is a high frequency above 30 gigahertz (GHz), as in the millimeter band, a microstrip line will incur a large dielectric loss, thus detracting from the efficiency of the antenna. Therefore, in such a radio frequency region, an alternative waveguide to replace a microstrip line is needed.
As alternative waveguide structures to the microstrip line, the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 8,779,995, the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 8,803,638, the specification of European Patent Application Publication No. 1331688 and Kirino et al., "A 76 GHz Multi-Layered Phased Array Antenna Using a Non-Metal Contact Metamaterial Waveguide", IEEE Transaction on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 60, No. 2, February 2012, pp 840-853 and Kildal et al., "Local Metamaterial-Based Waveguides in Gaps Between Parallel Metal Plates", IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 8, 2009, pp 84-87, disclose structures which guide electromagnetic waves by utilizing an artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) extending on both sides of a ridge-type waveguide. the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 8,779,995 and Kirino et al., "A 76 GHz Multi-Layered Phased Array Antenna Using a Non-Metal Contact Metamaterial Waveguide", IEEE Transaction on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 60, No. 2, February 2012, pp 840-853 disclose slot array antennas utilizing such a waveguide structure.


Systems and methods for cooling bleed air from an aircraft engine are described. An example system includes a housing to bifurcate airflow exiting a fan of an engine fan system, a pre-cooler assembly disposed within the housing to remove heat from the bleed air, and an inlet duct within the housing to direct the airflow to the pre-cooler assembly. The example system also includes at least one diverter duct within the housing and coupled to the inlet duct to divert the airflow around the pre-cooler assembly. The at least one diverter duct includes an exit directing the airflow into a fan duct of the engine fan system. The example system also includes at least one valve to control an amount of airflow through the inlet duct and an amount of airflow through the at least one diverter duct.

In an aircraft engine, air is drawn into a main inlet of the engine by a fan. The fan pressurizes the flow of air and the air flows from the fan in two portions. A first portion of the air flows through the core of the engine and a second portion of the air flows through a fan duct that surrounds the core of the engine.
In certain situations, air may be directed or bled from the core of the engine to supply an environmental control system (ECS), an anti-icing system, some other type of system of the aircraft, or a combination thereof. This air that is bled from the core of the engine is commonly referred to as "bleed air." The ECS may supply air to various areas and systems within the aircraft such as, for instance, the cabin of an aircraft. In some cases, the bleed air may be too hot for use in the cabin, in other lower temperature areas of the aircraft, or in other types of areas. Consequently, the bleed air is typically cooled before being sent to the ECS through the wing of an aircraft. A pre-cooler is typically used to cool the bleed air. A pre-cooler (also referred to herein as a pre-cooler assembly) is a device or system that includes, for example, a heat exchanger to cool the bleed air prior to the bleed air being sent to the ECS.
Currently available pre-coolers typically use air flowing through the fan duct around the core of the engine to cool the bleed air. For example, a pre-cooler inlet located inside the nacelle of the engine may be used to direct a portion of the air flowing from the fan of the engine to the pre-cooler. A duct connects the pre-cooler inlet to the pre-cooler. Air that enters the pre-cooler inlet is slowed down, or diffused, through the duct prior to being fed into the pre-cooler. A heat exchanger in the pre-cooler then uses the diffused air to cool the bleed air.
The conventional approaches for cooling bleed air from an aircraft engine, however, have drawbacks. For instance, during certain flight conditions, some or all of the bleed air may not need to be cooled, and thus flow to the pre-cooler may be blocked or reduced. However, when the flow to the pre-cooler is blocked or reduced, backpressure tends to build between a pre-cooler inlet valve and the engine fan system. Further, this backpressure may cause static pressure distortion (i.e., variation in static pressure circumferentially around the engine). This backpressure and static pressure distortion can significantly impact performance of the engine fan system. In particular, the backpressure and static pressure distortion may degrade performance and efficiency of the engine fan system, thereby resulting in reduced exhaust pressure.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for improved systems and methods for cooling bleed air from an aircraft engine. Particularly, there is a need for systems and methods for cooling bleed air from an aircraft engine that reduce or eliminate backpressure between the pre-cooler inlet valve and the engine fan system. Further, there is a need for systems and methods for cooling bleed air from an aircraft engine that reduce or eliminate static pressure distortion.


An image processing system and method which may be used for standalone deconvolution or, alternatively, may be employed as a staring point for very rapid convergence with subsequent use of prior art deconvolution methods. Processing speed is improved because the sequential requirement of the CLEAN method is relaxed. Fractional removal of noise is accomplished for multiple features within the image during the processing of a single subtractive iteration. Thus the number of iterations can be significantly reduced allowing dramatic reduction of the subtractive stage and a resulting increase in overall processing speed.

Many scientific and engineering applications presently involve some sort of digital image processing. The digital images which are studied cover an incredibly broad range of applications including, by way of example, early fetus development using sonograms, astronomical images created through a myriad of light detecting instruments and medical applications such as MRI, PET and NMR devices. In addition, devices as simplistic and pervasive as facsimile machines involve digital images to which the teachings of this invention apply. The processing of these images requires the conversion of a continuous set of analog data into a corresponding digital form. Two-dimensional images are commonly rasterized by scanning images spots contained in the analog data set. Each pixel resulting from the scan is sampled so as to quantize the particular intensity associated with the pixel. These intensity values are combined with the physical coordinates of the pixels to create a representation of the overall image.
Unfortunately, there exist many sources of noise and distortion which degrade the image prior to the time that it is stored. Quantization errors, non-uniform illumination of the image, thermal noise and impulse noise all contribute to inaccuracies which are introduced into the representational image as blurred representations. In order to eliminate these distortions, techniques, falling under the broad category of "deconvolution" methods, have been developed. One such method for deconvolution method well known in the art is the CLEAN technique.
CLEAN was first described by Hogbom in "Aperture Synthesis with a Non-regular Distribution of Interferometer Baselines", Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series, Vol 15, pp. 417-426 (1974). It remains among the most utilized of deconvolution methods in the field of astronomy. The utility of this method has been proven as a result of its ease of programming, accuracy and general applicability to a variety of applications. CLEAN is a nonlinear, arithmetic, sequentially iterative process for achieving deconvolution.
The CLEAN method is further beneficial because it is robust, affords superresolution and does not require precise knowledge of the point spread function (PSF) to achieve acceptable deconvolution. Furthermore, its simple arithmetic approach in the data domain obviates the need for processing involving the inverse domain. As a result, CLEAN has heretofore met the general requirements of most standard deconvolution applications. Additionally, there are a variety of cases in which nonlinear methods, such as CLEAN, present a distinct advantage over linear methods. If the PSF is sparsely sampled, if it drops to zero more than once (such as with a sinc-like function), or if it is asymmetric (as is the case when motion blur is present), linear methods will fail and CLEAN and/or other nonlinear methods may be the only alternative.
One compelling impediment against the use of CLEAN is its computational speed. Like all nonlinear deconvolution schemes, CLEAN is slower (often by an order of magnitude or more) than linear deconvolution. CLEAN has been reported, however, to be faster than many other nonlinear deconvolution methods. See "Comparative Study of Real-Time Deconvolution Methods in Medical Imaging", by N. Cohen and G. Sandri, Biomedical Image Processing and 3-D Microscopy: Proc. SPIE 1660, R. Achyra, C. Cogswell, and D. Goldgof, eds., SPIE, Beliingham, Wash., 1992, pp. 88-94.
Nevertheless, numerous attempts have been made to increase the speed of the CLEAN method. The first known attempt was by Chen and Frater in 1984. See "A High-Speed Hardware `CLEAN` Processor and its use in an Interactive Process", Indirect Imaging, J. Roberts editor, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, Mass., 1984, pp. 425-430. The speed of CLEAN was significantly improved through the use of a limited instruction set array processor running a radically modified version of CLEAN. The most notable modification in the design of Chen and Frater was the truncation of the PSF ("dirty beam") into a main lobe and sidelobes thereafter partitioning the image. The process was reported to work well, increasing the processing speeds to fractions of a second. Unfortunately, this method, because of such a partitioning scheme precluded applications when the PSF is not sinc-like.
Cohen, in 1992, reported the first real-time CLEAN processor. See "Practical Real-Time Deconvolution and Image Enhancement of Medical Ultrasound", Biomedical Image Processing and 3-D Microscopy: Proc. SPIE 1660, R. Achyra, C. Cogswell, and D. Goldgof, eds., SPIE, Beliingham, Wash., 1992, pp. 72-82. At a 15 Hz rate, 400.times.300 pixel ultrasonic images were deconvolved successfully. Despite these efforts, it has not heretofore been demonstrated that CLEAN or any other deconvolution method, has a general application for more modest computational platforms wherein rapid or real time processing requirements are imposed.
CLEAN is an arithmetic, sequentially iterative process in which each iteration involves the fractional subtraction of the PSF (via loop gain .gamma.) from the data domain at the position of the peak feature within the image or dataset. Each iteration generates as an outcome a component representing the delta function between the PSF and the data domain resulting in an array of CLEAN components. The residual data domain then comprises the data set for the next iteration. When the intensity of the residual data domain falls below a threshold level (T), the subtractive phase terminates. At this point, the above-described array of CLEAN components is available for the next phase of the CLEAN method, the reconstructive phase.
In the reconstructive phase, the array of CLEAN components is multiplied by a second PSF (the "CLEAN beam") to recover the deblurred image. As will be described in detail below, the CLEAN beam is constructed based upon the particular characteristics of the imaging apparatus. Threshold residuals may further be added to the reconstructed image if desired. This would allow random noise to be introduced in the event precision measurements are desired.
One of the drawbacks of the CLEAN method is that during the subtractive stage, considerable time is spent during a large number of iterations searching for data peaks. Thus, CLEAN's search time is large with respect to the time for arithmetic operations, especially for large n-dimensional arrays. The subtractive stage of CLEAN dominates the processing time for deconvolution of the image.
The sequential nature of CLEAN has been believed to be responsible for it success to date. Many investigators of skill in the art have thus believed that any modifications to the CLEAN method which undermine its sequential nature risk degradation of image accuracy.

Apparatus and method for rapidly convergent parallel processed deconvolution


A computer system is so configured as to be divided into a control system which should have high reliability and high responsiveness and an information system which does not access the control system. They are connected via a transmission path (transmission path of control system and transmission path of information system). Centralized management of development and maintenance is performed from a software maintenance system. In development and maintenance of software, management according to the feature of each software such as processing contents of each software, demanded reliability, and version up frequency is performed from a maintenance system for exclusive use by using a transmission path of information system. Thereby, development and maintenance having high reliability and expandability is realized.

The present invention relates to a network system and its software management method.
As computer application expands, the range affected by faulty operation of computer becomes wider and wider. Therefore, system and software production with high reliability is intensely demanded as a very important subject. For example, in computer systems for control, controlled systems are typically machines and facilities and a slight delay or a slight control mistake might cause a great deal of damage. In some cases, accidents may result in injury or death. High reliability and high responsiveness are thus demanded. Therefore, highly reliable software production (software development and maintenance) is intensely demanded.
On the other hand, highly reliable software production (software development and maintenance) needs sufficient check and time, efficiency improvement in development and maintenance being hindered. As a result of pursuit of high reliability excessively, software development and maintenance often lack expandability and flexibility. As a result, highly reliable software increases the system cost. At the time of system enlargement or reconstruction, a further enormous investment is needed for software development and maintenance, resulting in problems of insufficient efficiency improvement, expandability, and flexibility.
In this regard, JP-B-2-23887 discloses a technique whereby system stop caused by software maintenance is avoided in one computer by making possible maintenance of program in operation.
However, application to the entire network system is not considered.
In the above described prior art, application to the entire network system is not considered. For the purpose of pursuit of higher reliability, therefore, nonstop replacement is applied to the entire network system uniformly, resulting in an increased operational cost and increased replacement program storage areas. Further, since application to the entire network system is not considered, the program maintenance method of the entire network system is indefinite. This results in problems such as occurrence of program loading mistakes with a computer taken as the unit. The cost of production of a highly reliable network system in development and maintenance is increased as higher reliability is pursued and as the scale of the network system is expanded. Further, the network system lacks flexibility and expandability in some cases.

System for software update in manner based on processing properties of devices via maintenance network while allowing data transmission between devices on another network


A method for manufacturing an electrically conductive material includes steps of: (a) providing a carbon fiber; (b) providing a plastic fiber that differs from the carbon fiber; (c) producing a mixture in the form of a two-dimensional mat from the carbon fiber and the plastic fiber; (d) drying the mixture, optionally; (e) consolidating the mixture; (f) cutting the mixture to size, optionally; (g) carbonizing the mixture, wherein the carbonized plastic fibers form a carbon-based matrix possessing electrical conductivity that at least partially surrounds the carbon fibers. Electrically conductive materials obtained by the method have an increased electrical resistance. An emitter is specified that contains a transparent or translucent housing and an electrically conductive material as above. These now allow emitters of virtually any length to be operated at customary line voltages.

The invention relates to a method for producing an electrically conductive material, an electrically conductive material, and an emitter containing an electrically conductive material.
The electrically conductive materials at issue are conceivable for use as electrically heatable elements for use in incandescent lamps or infrared emitters. Accordingly, the electrically conductive materials are suitable, in particular, for the targeted emission of beams in the visible, and in particular in the non-visible, range of wavelengths.
Electrically conductive materials of this type are often based on carbon or consist mainly of carbon. However, electrically conductive materials of the type at issue, used as a starting material, can comprise various materials alternative to or in addition to carbon that provide an electrical conductivity.
In ready-to-use, pre-assembled form, the electrically conductive materials at issue can also be referred to as incandescent filament, glow wire, glow coil, heating rod, and, in particular, as filament. Insofar as reference is made to filaments hereinafter, this shall always also comprise the electrically conductive material from which the filament is made.
The manufacture of electrically conductive materials, in particular of carbon-based materials, for use as an electrically heated element for use in incandescent lamps or infrared emitters has been known for a long time. The electrically conductive materials undergo a large number of manufacturing steps aimed at preparing the materials for long-lasting use at temperatures above 800° C.
In this context, it is generally difficult to manufacture all materials and/or filaments of a production lot to be within a defined tolerance range in terms of the electrical and mechanical properties on account of variations in the properties of the starting material, and to thus ensure that the radiation source has constant, consistent properties. In this context, the electrical properties generally are to be adjusted appropriately, such that the desired power (in the case of infrared radiation) or color temperature (in the case of incandescent lamps) at a given nominal voltage and given radiation source dimensions is attained. Moreover, the electrically conductive material should comprise sufficient mechanical strength and dimensional stability. Lastly, the effort and costs involved in the manufacture of the electrically conductive material should be at a reasonable level.
Depending on the desired purpose of application of the electrically conductive materials at issue herein, the requirements mentioned above generally will vary, and various technical solutions will be selected by a person skilled in the art in order to meet the requirements. An overview of the manufacture of electrically conductive materials is provided in John W. Howell, Henry Schroeder: History of the Incandescent Lamp, The Maqua Company, Schenectady, N.Y. (1927).
The electrically conductive materials can be manufactured, for example, by enveloping fibers, which are electrically conductive, with an appropriate enveloping material. The enveloping material can then provide a suitable matrix for the electrically conductive fibers, in particular after a heat treatment is carried out.

Methods for producing an electrically conductive material, electrically conductive material and emitter containing electrically conductive material