A pressure buffer of an ink-jet recording apparatus is placed in the vicinity of an ink-jet recording head in an ink supply path connecting an ink container to the ink-jet recording head. A body of the pressure buffer has a concave portion at least on one surface, and a flexible film is attached to tightly close the concave portion to form a chamber. The chamber has an ink flow outlet through which ink flows from the chamber to the ink-jet recording head and an ink flow inlet through which ink flows from the ink container to the chamber. The ink flow outlet is always positioned in an uppermost portion in a vertical direction of the chamber, and the ink flow inlet is positioned at an equal level or on a lower side in a vertical direction with respect to the ink flow outlet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pressure buffer for alleviating the fluctuation in pressure of ink supplied to an ink-jet recording head which is applied to a printer, a facsimile machine, and the like, and which performs printing with respect to a recording medium by jetting liquid droplets to the recording medium, and to an ink-jet recording apparatus with the pressure buffer mounted thereon.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ink-jet recording apparatus for recording characters and images on a recording medium by using an ink-jet recording head having a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink has been conventionally known. In such an ink-jet recording apparatus, it is necessary to minimize the fluctuation in pressure of ink supplied to the ink-jet recording head that causes a discharge failure when characters and images are recorded on a recording medium.
FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of an example of an ink-jet recording apparatus 100 provided with a pressure buffer for alleviating the fluctuation in pressure of ink supplied to an ink-jet recording head.
As shown in FIG. 4, in the prior art, the ink-jet recording apparatus 100 includes at least an ink container 101, a force-feed pump 102 for feeding ink from the ink container 101, an ink-jet recording head 103 for receiving the ink fed from the ink container 101 by the force-feed pump 102, and a pressure buffer 105 set on an ink supply path 104 between the force-feed pump 102 and the ink-jet recording head 103.
FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the pressure buffer 105, and FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view taken along a line â–â′ in FIG. 5 of the pressure buffer 105. The pressure buffer 105 includes a substrate 107 having a concave portion 106 and a connection flow path 108 communicated with the concave portion 106 and connected to the ink supply path 104 at both sides of the substrate 107. Furthermore, a flexible film 109 adheres to the substrate 107 so as to tightly close the concave portion 106 to constitute a chamber 118. Herein, a plurality of support pillars 110 projecting in the concave portion 106 do not adhere to the flexible film 109, and are detachable freely. A packing 112 having a through hole 111 opposed to the chamber 118 is provided outside of the flexible film 109 and an elastic member 113 is provided in the through-hole 111. Furthermore, a pressure plate 114 is provided outside of the packing 112, and a through hole 115 for air vent is provided at a position of the pressure plate 114 opposed to the chamber 118.
In order to fill the ink-jet recording head 103 with ink, the force-feed pump 102 is operated, ink is fed under pressure to the ink-jet recording head 103 in a direction represented by an arrow α shown in FIG. 4, and at this time, all the communicated elements from the ink container 101 to the ink-jet recording head 103 in FIG. 4 are filled with ink so that air bubbles do not remain inside the communicated elements. Furthermore, the ink-jet recording head 103 may be filled with ink by aspirating ink through a nozzle string (not shown) of the ink-jet recording head 103 with a negative pressure.
Furthermore, when the ink-jet recording head 103 is filled with ink that is fed under pressure, the pressure plate 114 suppresses the vibration of the flexible film 109. When the ink-jet recording head 103 is filled with ink that is aspirated with a negative pressure, the support pillars 110 also suppress the vibration of the flexible film 109. Furthermore, the elastic member 113 immediately attenuates the vibration of the flexible film 109.
When the pressure buffer 105 is assembled, the through hole 115 is indispensable for venting air remaining at a position of the flexible film 109 opposed to the chamber 118, and also is used as a window for identifying the ink filling situation of the chamber 118 (e.g., see Patent Document 1).
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 2873435 (pages 1–3, FIGS. 1 and 2)
In the pressure buffer of the prior art, there is the following description: when filling of ink under pressure is performed, the concave portion of the substrate provided in the pressure buffer is filled with the ink so that air bubbles do not remain in the chamber tightly closed with the flexible film.
However, when filling of ink under pressure is actually performed, an air layer is formed by remaining air bubbles compressed in the chamber, and when a compression action by pressure is eliminated after the completion of the filling of ink under pressure, the remaining air bubbles expand to push out the ink filling the chamber from the chamber and diffuse to an ink supply path in the vicinity of the pressure buffer.
When the ink-jet recording head is allowed to discharge ink in this state, the air bubbles diffusing to the ink supply path reach the ink-jet recording head, causing a discharge failure such as dropout.
In order to eliminate the above-mentioned cause, in the pressure buffer of the prior art, before filling of ink under pressure, it is necessary to perform filling of ink by aspiration via a nozzle string of the ink-jet recording head, and after remaining air bubbles in the chamber are removed completely, it is necessary to perform the filling of ink under pressure. Consequently, two filling mechanisms are required, which enlarges the ink-jet recording apparatus and increases a cost.
Furthermore, the pressure buffer of the prior art includes a through hole for air vent placed at a position of the flexible film opposed to the chamber, in the pressure plate outside of the pressure buffer. In the case where filling ink is UV-curable ink, there arises a problem in that light enters the chamber from outside of the pressure buffer to cure the UV-curable ink.

Pressure buffer and ink-jet recording apparatus


An improved method for entering text or objects into fields is provided. Instead of a keyboard, a viewfinder provides text segmenting, text selecting and text recognizing (optical character recognition—OCR) functionalities. Text at a marker (e.g., a cursor or crosshairs) associated with the viewfinder is recognized and insertion of the recognized text is performed. The current frame is generally not captured by a user. As the user moves the camera to position a new word at the marker, the view finder is updated to provide results of recognition associated with the new word. A user is able to identify an area of interest, select text or other object of interest, and insert the same into one or more fields. The viewfinder may operate in conjunction with a camera of the electronic device on which the viewfinder is operating. Other mechanisms and variations are described.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method and system for improving and extending available means for entering information into electronic devices in place of actual or virtual keyboards using a digital a camera. The present invention also related to processing text associated with optical character recognition (OCR) and related functions.
2. Related Art
Nowadays there are millions of electronic devices with display screens and applications capable of displaying text, and allowing one to input text through an actual or virtual keyboard. These devices typically have a touch screen, as for example many mobile devices: smartphones, mobile phones, laptops, tablet computers, netbooks, personal digital assistants (PDAs), e-book readers and so on.
Many of the aforesaid devices include advanced displays and associated logic capable of supporting non-keyboard type input methods. For example the devices may support pen-based input and handwriting recognition in addition to touch-based input including use of actual and virtual keyboards and keypads. Many of these electronic devices include a camera component which can be used for optical recognition and insertion of texts captured by the camera.
The aforementioned mobile devices may also include optical character recognition (OCR) software stored in memory.
However, among the significant drawbacks of these devices are their low Optical Character Recognition (OCR) quality due to image blur caused by the movement of the camera and their very slow operation speeds when moving along the text, as they are capable of recognizing only photographed text.
Often, input of information through an actual or virtual keyboard is problematic due to the limit of the size of the characters or keys of the keyboard, limited room on the display for a proper keyboard layout, the limit of time to enter a suitable amount of text and so on. If a user of an electronic device wishes to input any lengthy or substantial sequence of characters, letters, figures, etc., (e.g., a phone number, address of a business for a map application, an SMS text message) a user usually must have access to the traditional virtual or actual keyboard to enter such information. Further, in order to verify correct entry of the information, a user typically must look back and forth between the source of information (e.g., page of a book, lengthy phone number, Web address) or remember the information in strict succession (e.g., phone number, street address). However, in some cases it may be impossible due to environmental conditions, human factors or other unpredictable limitations including those of a software application, a device or an emergent condition or situation of the user. Thus, there is substantial need for improvement of methods of entering text into devices as described more fully herein.

Entering information through an OCR-enabled viewfinder


An apparatus 46 for receiving metalworking fluid from a sump 12 of a machine 10 is disclosed. Various construction details are developed which provide for the collection of fluid and increasing the concentration of tramp oil in the collected fluid. In one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a colllection chamber 48 having an interior 54 which is in flow communication through an opening 58 in a wall 56 of the chamber with the top most layer of the metalworking fluid.

Metalworking processes use machines having cutting tools, grinding devices or other tools to remove metal from a workpiece. These tools generate heat by sliding friction at the interface between the tool and the workpiece. Metalworking fluids are sprayed on the interface to wash away chips, improve surface finish, increase tool life, reduce the power required and to cool the tool and the workpiece. These fluids are commonly called coolant because cooling is one of the major functions of the fluids.
There are a wide variety of metalworking fluids including compounded mineral oils, fixed and sulfurized oils, and water and oil emulsions. Emulsions of water and water soluble oil are one class of metalworking fluids widely used for metalworking processes. The emulsion resembles milk in appearance, is not expensive and has low viscosity permitting the emulsion to separate readily from the chips. In addition, the emulsion has good coolant properties for removing heat from the tool and work piece to keep their temperatures within acceptable limits. Unacceptable levels of temperature in the cutting tool or the work piece can result in deterioration of both the work piece and the cutting tool ultimately resulting in failure of the cutting tools or irreparable damage to the work piece.
In one application, an emulsion of 95% water and 5% lubricating oil is sprayed on the tool and on the workpiece. As the metalworking fluid is sprayed on the workpiece and cutting tool, the metalworking fluid performs its functions, such as cooling, and drains to a fluid sump. The sump is disposed beneath the machine and collects the metalworking fluid, along with chips and other debris carried by the fluid. The fluid also carries tramp oil which has leaked from gear boxes and transmissions on the machine, or which has lubricated sliding surfaces on the ways, and which was protecting the workpiece from corrosion prior to a machining operation. The tramp oil floats on the surface of the fluid in the sump.
The metalworking fluid contaminated with tramp oil is creates an ideal breeding place for anaerobic bacteria in the sump. The tramp oil forms a layer on the top of the fluid, sealing the fluid from contact with oxygen in the air. The bacteria breed, consuming the tramp oil for nourishment and ultimately degrading the quality of the fluid to such an extent that it no longer performs it useful function and turns rancid. The fluid is then discarded.
One approach to removing the tramp oil is to dispose a conduit having a floating inlet within the upper layer of fluid in the sump. The floating inlet is in flow communication with a separator for separating tramp oil from the fluid. The separator typically has a tortuous flowpath along which the fluid is flowed. The flow path leaves the tramp oil in a series of pools at the top of the separator, separating the tramp oil from the fluid. The tramp oil is removed and the now, less contaminated fluid returns to the sump. Occasionally, the floating inlet for the separator conduit sinks below the surface of the fluid in the sump and primarily returns pure fluid to the separator leaving the tramp oil on the top layer of the fluid with the unfortunate results described above.
Accordingly, personnel working under the direction of Applicant's assignee have sought to develop a fluid processing system which would separate tramp oil from the fluid and retard the growth of anaerobic bacteria within the fluid.

Apparatus for receiving metalworking fluid


A method and apparatus for eliciting a physiologically significant cough reflex, such as in a quadriplegic patient. The apparatus preferably at least one pair of electrodes which are positioned about or near the abdominal muscles. A pushbutton switch is preferably used to generate an input signal. An oscillator is preferably used to generate a stimulus pulse signal. The input signal and the stimulus pulse signal are computed into an output signal. The output signal is transformed into a pulse electrical voltage which is delivered across each pair of electrodes. Such pulse electrical voltage activates the lower motor neurons and thereby contracts the abdominal muscles to elicit a physiologically significant cough reflex.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for artificially and electrically stimulating cough reflex for improving the life span of individuals with higher level spinal cord injuries, and perhaps other individuals with impaired cough. This invention is a neural prosthetic apparatus and method for artificially restoring the ability to volitionally cough in a higher level spinal cord injured individual.
2. Description of Prior Art
Pulmonary complications presently account for the majority of morbidity and morality of spinal cord injured individuals. Polatty, R. Crystal, M.D. et al., Pulmonary Complications in the Spinal Cord Injury Patient, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vol. 1, No. 3, p. 353-373, August 1987; and Reines, H. David, M.D. et al., Pulmonary Complications of Acute Spinal Cord Injuries, Neurosurgery, Vol. 21, No. 2, p. 193-196, 1987. Two elements contribute to the high incidence of pulmonary morbidity in patients with acute spinal cord injuries. First, there is a restrictive effect of spinal cord injury on pulmonary function, and second, there is morbidity associated with immobilization required in the management of these injuries as well as the diminished active mobility. Retention of secretions, atelectasis, and pneumonia are the most commonly occurring complications and can lead to premature death.
Individuals with cervical spinal cord injuries are frequently impaired in their ability to cough. This deficit has traditionally been approached with the conventional assistive cough that requires physical assistance from a caregiver. Kirby, Nell A., R.N. et al., An Evaluation of Assisted Cough in Quadriparetic Patients, Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Vol. 47, p. 705-710, 1966; and Braun, Sheldon R., M.D. et al., Improving the Cough in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury, American Journal of Physical Medicine, Vol. 63, No. 1, p. 1-10, 1984. It is likely that under these circumstances, the frequency of coughing in these individuals is reduced. Inability to cough is primarily due to paralysis of abdominal muscles.
This invention for cough assist should not be confused with conventional apparatuses or methods for phrenic pacing. Phrenic pacing is intended to cause contraction of the diaphragm, the major muscle of inspiration. The method and apparatus of this invention causes contraction of the major muscles of expiration, such as abdominal muscles. Phrenic pacing requires an invasive procedure, Glenn, William W.L. et al., Twenty Years of Experience in Phrenic Nerve stimulation to Pace the Diaphragm, Pace, Vol. 9, p. 780-784, November-December 1986, Part I, although percutaneous alternatives, Peterson, D.K. et al, Intramuscular Electrical Activation of the Phrenic Nerve, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, vol. BME-33, No. 3, p. 342-351, March 1986, and surface alternatives, Geddes, L.A. et al., Electroventilation, American Journal of Emerg. Med., Vol. 3(4), p. 337-339, July 1985, have been proposed. One preferred embodiment of this invention is based on surface electrodes. Depending upon the success or problems with clinical application, a percutaneous or implant system may also be an effective way of stimulating the abdominal muscles for cough assist. Phrenic pacing and artificially stimulated cough reflex address two distinct problems, ventilation and coughing, respectively.

Method and apparatus of artifically stimulating cough reflex


A latch arrangement for fastening a panel of a door or a window to a frame element is provided. The latch arrangement includes a locking element mounted on the frame element and displaceable between a locked position in which the locking element can be engaged with the panel locking thereby the panel to the frame element, and an unlocked position in which the locking element is disengaged from the panel unlocking thereby the panel from the frame element. An actuating mechanism, optionally including a manually operable handle, is mounted on the panel and configured to selectively engage the locking element and to displace the locking element to the unlocked position. Where a stop latch provides deadlock functionality, the panel-mounted actuating mechanism preferably sequentially releases the stop latch and then displaces the locking element.

A latch arrangement for fastening a panel of a door or a window to a frame element is an arrangement which includes a locking element displaceable with respect to the panel between a locked position in which the locking element is engaged with the frame element and the panel precluding thereby the displacement of the panel away from the frame element. The locking element can be mounted on the frame element and displaceable towards and away from the panel so as to lock the panel to the frame element. Alternatively, the locking element can be mounted on the panel and can be displaceable towards and away from the frame element so as to lock the panel to the frame element.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A control valve (1) of a camshaft adjuster, which has a housing (2) having three pin openings (5a, 5b, 5c), spaced apart axially from each other, wherein two pin openings (5a, 5b) are each connected to the tank connection (T) in two axial positions of the control piston (4) and the third pin opening (5c) is not connected to the tank connection (T) in a third axial position of the control piston (4) in a fluid-conducting manner.

Camshaft adjusters are used in internal combustion engines to vary the control times of the combustion chamber valves in order to be able to variably configure the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft in a defined angle range, between a maximum early and a maximum late position. The adjustment of the control times to the current load and rotational speed reduces fuel consumption and emissions. For this purpose, camshaft adjusters are integrated in a drivetrain via which a torque is transmitted by the crankshaft to the camshaft. This drivetrain can be formed, for example, as a belt, chain or gear drive.
In the case of a hydraulic camshaft adjuster, the drive output element and the drive input element form one or more pairs of pressure chambers which act counter to one another and on which hydraulic medium can act. The drive input element and the drive output element are arranged coaxially. A relative movement between the drive input element and the drive output element is generated by filling and emptying individual pressure chambers. The spring which acts rotationally between the drive input element and the drive output element pushes the drive input element in an advantageous direction with respect to the drive output element. This advantageous direction can be in the same direction or in an opposite direction to the direction of rotation.
One design of the hydraulic camshaft adjuster is the vane-cell adjuster. The vane-cell adjuster has a stator, a rotor and a drive input wheel with an external toothing. The rotor is formed as a drive output element so that it can usually be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the camshaft. The drive input element contains the stator and the drive input wheel. The stator and the drive input wheel are connected to one another in a rotationally conjoint manner or are alternatively formed in one piece with one another. The rotor is arranged coaxially with respect to the stator and within the stator. The rotor and the stator are formed with their radially extending vanes, oppositely acting oil chambers, which can be acted upon by oil pressure and enable a relative rotation between the stator and the rotor. The vanes are formed either in one piece with the rotor or the stator or arranged as a "connected vane" in grooves provided for this purpose of the rotor or the stator. The vane adjusters furthermore have various sealing covers. The stator and the sealing covers are secured to one another by means of several screw connections.
Another design of the hydraulic camshaft adjuster is the axial piston adjuster. In this case, a displacement element is axially displaced by means of oil pressure, which displacement element generates by means of helical gearings a relative rotation between a drive input element and a drive output element.
The control valves of the hydraulic camshaft adjuster control the flow of hydraulic medium between the camshaft adjuster and the oil pump or the oil reservoir (tank).
The control valve has a hollow cylindrical housing and a rotationally symmetrical control piston. The control piston is arranged within the housing of the control valve. The control piston is movable in the axial direction and is guided by the housing. The control piston can thus be positioned in any desired axial position with respect to the housing. The positioning is carried out by an electromagnet which, with its actuating pin, contacts one end of the control piston and can displace the control piston. A spring ensures contact between the control piston and the actuating pin. As a result of the axial positioning of the control piston, the various connections of the control valve are hydraulically connected to one another or separated from one another and can thus communicate with one another or not. Control pistons and housings with openings, e.g. grooves and/or bores, are provided between the connections in order to conduct the hydraulic medium. The control piston has control edges which, together with the edges of the openings of the housing, control the flow rate. The control edges themselves are the edges of the respective opening, e.g. grooves, of the control piston. In order to control the flow rate, the edges of the openings of the housing and the control edges are positioned in relation to one another in such a manner that an opening of the housing is as far as possible opposite an opening of the control piston and forms a flow-through surface for the hydraulic medium which is variable via the capacity to axially position the control piston.
A control valve formed as a central valve is arranged coaxially with respect to the axis of symmetry or rotation of the camshaft adjuster or the camshaft. The central valve is additionally placed within the camshaft adjuster, i.e. the central valve and camshaft adjuster are constructed in a radial direction to one another. The camshaft can optionally be arranged between the camshaft adjuster and the central valve. The housing of the central valve can be formed as a central screw, by which the camshaft adjuster is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the camshaft. The electromagnet is arranged as a central magnet as far as possible flush with the central valve and is normally arranged fixed on the frame, in particular on the cylinder head.
Alternatively, a control valve with an electromagnet arranged fixedly thereon can be arranged at any desired position in the hydraulic medium gallery, outside the camshaft adjuster and the camshaft, and can control the flow of hydraulic medium.
WO 2010/015541 A1 shows a camshaft adjuster with a central valve. The central valve has two intake connections, wherein one is arranged coaxially with respect to the central valve and the other is arranged radially with respect to the central valve. The intake connections are formed as bores. The central bore furthermore possesses two working connections on the outer circumference which are opposite the hydraulic medium channels to the pressure chambers. The tank connection is arranged on the side which faces away from the camshaft in order to supply hydraulic medium to be displaced into the reservoir of the internal combustion engine.
DE 198 17 319 A1 shows a central valve of a camshaft adjuster. The intake connection is arranged on the outer circumference of the central valve. The intake connection is flanked in the axial direction by both working connections. The tank connection is located on that end of the central valve which faces towards the camshaft and opens into a radial bore of the camshaft.


Composite electrodes are constructed with pressure-bonding techniques instead of an adhesive. A current collector is made from aluminum foil roughed on both surfaces. The surfaces of the collector can be treated to enhance adhesion to the surfaces. Layers of film that includes active electrode material, such as activated carbon, are fabricated and pressure-bonded to the current collector using a calender with heated rollers. The resulting composite sheet is then processed to shape electrodes, which can be used in electrical energy storage devices, including double layer capacitors.

Electrodes are widely used in many devices, for example, primary (non-rechargeable) battery cells, secondary battery cells, fuel cells, and capacitors. Electrodes are typically constructed using two or even more constituent materials. These electrodes are known as composite electrode. One application where composite electrodes are often used is construction of double layer capacitors, which are also known as electrochemical capacitors, supercapacitors, and ultracapacitors.
Double layer capacitors employ electrodes immersed in an electrolytic solution as their energy storage element. Typically, a porous separator soaked in the electrolyte ensures that the electrodes do not come in contact with each other. A double layer of charges is formed at the interface between the solid electrodes and the electrolyte. (Double layer capacitors owe their descriptive name to these layers.) When electric potential is applied between a pair of electrodes, ions that exist within the electrolyte are attracted to the surfaces of the electrodes, and migrate towards the electrodes. A layer of oppositely-charged ions is thus created and maintained near each electrode surface. The electrical energy is stored in the charge separation layers between the ionic layers and the charge layers at the corresponding electrode surfaces. The charge separation layers behave essentially as capacitors.
Additional energy can also be stored in the double layer capacitors because of orientation and alignment of molecules of the electrolytic solution under influence of the electric potential.
In comparison to conventional capacitors, double layer capacitors have high capacitance in relation to their volume and weight. There are two main reasons for this volumetric and weight efficiency. First, the width of the charge separation layers is very small, on the order of nanometers. Second, the electrodes can be made from a porous material, having very large area per unit volume. Because capacitance is directly proportional to the electrode area, and inversely proportional to the width of the charge separation layer, the combined effect of the narrow charge separation layer and large surface area results in a capacitance that is very high in comparison to that of conventional capacitors. High capacitance of the double layer capacitors allows the capacitors to receive, store, and release large supplies of electrical energy.
Another important performance parameter of a capacitor is its internal resistance. Frequency response of a capacitor depends on the characteristic time constant of the capacitor, which is essentially a product of the capacitance and the internal resistance, or RC. To put it differently, internal resistance limits both charge and discharge rates of a capacitor, because the resistance limits the current that flows into or out of the capacitor. Maximizing the charge and discharge rates is important in many applications. In automotive applications, for example, a capacitor that is used as the energy storage element that powers a vehicle's engine has to be able to provide high instantaneous power during acceleration, and to receive bursts of power produced by regenerative braking. In internal combustion-powered vehicles, the capacitor periodically powers a vehicle's starter, also requiring high power in relation to the size of the capacitor.
The internal resistance also creates heat during both charge and discharge cycles. Heat causes mechanical stresses and speeds up various chemical reactions, thereby accelerating capacitor aging. It is therefore desirable to reduce internal resistance of capacitors. Moreover, the energy converted into heat is lost, decreasing the efficiency of the capacitor.
Active materials used for electrode construction—activated carbon, for example—usually have rather limited specific conductance. Thus, large contact area may be desired to minimize the contact resistance between the electrode and its terminal. The active material may also be too brittle or otherwise unsuitable for directly connecting to terminals. Additionally, the material may have relatively low tensile strength, needing mechanical support in some applications. For these reasons, electrodes incorporate current collectors.
A current collector is typically a sheet of conductive material on which the active electrode material is deposited, either directly or over one or more intermediate layers. Often, aluminum foil is used as the current collector material of a composite electrode. In one electrode fabrication process, a film that includes activated carbon powder (i.e., the active electrode material) is produced, and then attached to a thin aluminum foil using an adhesive. The use of the adhesive improves bonding of the active electrode material to the current collector. Unfortunately, this process also has a number of disadvantages.
First, the adhesive increases the cost of materials consumed in the process of electrode fabrication; some adhesives are quite expensive.
Second, two steps are added to the fabrication process. The adhesive must be applied onto the current collector foil, or onto the active electrode film. The adhesive must also be allowed to dry and cure. These extra steps increase the cost of the final product.
Third, the adhesive may deteriorate with time, contributing to an increase in the internal resistance of the electrode. In some double layer capacitors, for example, the electrolyte reacts chemically with the adhesive, causing the adhesive to weaken and the bond created by the adhesive to fail.
Fourth, adhesive use reduces the energy storage efficiency of the electrode, because the adhesive penetrates into the pores of the active electrode material, decreasing the total surface active area of the electrode. Therefore, it would be preferable to reduce or eliminate the use of adhesives in compound electrodes.
A need thus exists for methods for fabricating compound electrodes without the use of adhesives at the interface between the active electrode material and the current collector. A further need exists for electrodes fabricated without the use of adhesives at this interface. Still another need exists for energy storage devices with electrodes without adhesive on the interfaces between the active layers and the current collectors.

Composite electrode and method for fabricating same


Parts for a multimedia title may be extended indefinitely relative to time with a user interface tool. A part for a multimedia title is provided with edges having a wrap handle affixed to one edge. By dragging and dropping the wrap handle to a wrap corral, the part will play or be visible indefinitely.

Multimedia is a term used in connection with computer systems to refer to software that processes, i.e., creates, edits, displays, synchronizes, etc., one or more files of time-based data. A multimedia computer system is designed to present various materials in various combinations of text, graphics, video, image, animation, audio, etc. Multimedia systems commonly comprise a combination of hardware and software including a personal computer, a CD-ROM drive, software editors, etc. The data for multimedia presentations are generally stored on hardware memory devices, such as a magnetic disc drive, a ROM compact disk player, video tape device, etc.
Application developers utilizing such a multimedia system may create programs that allow end users to view a multimedia presentation and manipulate various controls.
One of the most difficult problems that face creators/developers of multimedia titles is synchronization of time and events. For example, a developer must be able to synchronize audio with a video presentation and provide images that appear and disappear over time. In many complex real world examples it is desirable for two or more multimedia items to be synchronized based on one or more of the following: an event; a relative time relationship (i.e., A Before B, A After B, A coincident with B); and an absolute time.
One product attempting to deal with time synchronization is Director from Macromedia. Director specifies time on a frame based metaphor. A Score is used in Director to specify when things occur in a movie (or title). The Score is a sequence of frames that hold cells of an animation and the indication to start playing audio or video. Things are specified linearly in Director. Frames are sequenced in order unless software code is written to manually go back to a previous frame. Frames show sequentially one after the other. To create an animation, for example, a developer must manually associate each cell in the animation with a frame in the Score. There is no convenient way to cause things to occur in the relative manner. If two animations are to co-occur, corresponding frames must be manually specified on an individual basis. A Time tool can be used to specify the playing of a video; however, nothing else can be processed (i.e., animation, other videos, etc.) while the video is playing. There is no point and click mechanism for wrap; code must be written to cause a wrap.
Another product, Premier from Adobe, is a video editing product. It has a facility called the Construction Window (CW) where clips (i.e., video, scan images, QuickTime, movies, audio) are manipulated to create movies. The CW has channels, a timeline, and a time unit selector to adjust the scale of the ticks on the timeline. Pieces of video and images are put in channels and manually aligned (e.g. via dragging) with an absolute time and with other pieces of media. There is no notion of relative time or event time and no alignment helper co-tools. The notion of wrap does not exist for the creation of a movie.
Finally, IconAuthor (IA) is a multimedia authoring tool which allows creation of applications that include time-based media, logic, database, etc. IA uses a flowchart metaphor to specify an application. Icons representing the playing of media, database access, comparisons, assignment, etc. are taken from a palette and connected into a flowchart. Processing in the application then follows the hierarchical structure defined in the flowchart. There is no editor to synchronize processing visually. Synchronization is done by checking logic and by corresponding logic that responds to events.
Thus, there is a need for a method that simply and visually provides synchronization of multimedia parts in relation to event time, relative time, and absolute time and uses a wrap corral.

Method and system for a multimedia application development sequence editor using a wrap corral


Disclosed is a method whereby a repetitive nucleic acid sequence, such as a short tandem repeat (STR), may be characterized as to its length. Pyrosequencing is used to sequence an STR repetitive region to measure the length of STRs in a rapid manner. A combinatorial approach is disclosed for the addition of multiple nucleotides (e.g., two mononucleotides) at a time by the polymerase, which reduces the sample analysis time by half. In addition, modified nucleic acids, such as peptide nucleic acids, are used as blocking probe to stop polymerization on the flanking region which makes it possible to use pyrosequencing for DNA length measurement both in the case of homozygous or heterozygous samples for varying repeat patterns of different markers. Further, dideoxynucleotides are added to stop polymerization in the flanking region of the STR.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the fields of genetic analysis, DNA sequencing, and further is generally directed to the detection of short tandem repeat (STR) genetic markers in a genomic system.
2. Related Art
Presented below is background information on certain aspects of the present invention as they may relate to technical features referred to in the detailed description, but not necessarily described in detail. That is, individual parts or methods used in the present invention may be described in greater detail in the materials discussed below, which materials may provide further guidance to those skilled in the art for making or using certain aspects of the present invention as claimed. The discussion below should not be construed as an admission as to the relevance of the information to any claims herein or the prior art effect of the material described.
Measurement of the length of DNA fragments plays a pivotal role in genetic mapping, disease diagnostics, paternity testing and human identification. Traditionally, capillary electrophoresis is used for DNA length measurement and genotyping of short tandem repeats. This requires labeled primers and allelic ladders as standards to avoid typical run-to-run or instrument-to-instrument variations. However, the limiting factor with this sequencing approach in heterozygous sample analysis is unsynchronized polymerization in alleles with different lengths that can lead to imbalanced heterozygote peak height ratios.
DNA sequencing has revolutionized the field of bioscience and its use has been critical for a number of important medical discoveries. Sequencing technologies have evolved over the years. One of the first, the Sanger method, has provided an elegant sequencing method widely used for the last three decades. A more recently developed technology, pyrosequencing, is an alternative method to Sanger's for sequencing of DNA fragments with a number of advantages. Pyrosequencing is based on sequencing by synthesis method that monitors the polymerase activity coupled to 2-enzymes to generate a detectable light response; i) ATP-Sulfurylase converts inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) to ATP generated by polymerase during nucleotide incorporation, and ii) luciferase that uses ATP as a source of energy to generate light.
The present invention is described as using pyrosequencing, but other suitable sequencing-by-synthesis platforms can be used. Commercial sequencing by synthesis platforms are available, such as the Genome Sequencer from Roche/454 Life Sciences, the Genome Analyzer from Illumina/Solexa, the SOLiD system from Applied BioSystems, Pacific Biosystem and the Heliscope system from Helicos Biosciences. In some embodiments, the sequencing platforms used in the methods of the present invention have one or more of the following features: 1) four differently optically labeled nucleotides are utilized (e.g., Genome Analyzer); 2) sequencing-by-ligation is utilized (e.g., SOLiD); 3) pyrosequencing is utilized (e.g., Roche/454); and 4) four identically optically labeled nucleotides are utilized (e.g., Helicos).
Since STRs can comprise in the range of from 2-7 bases repeated 5-30 times, it is preferred to use a sequencing method that has a read length that can extend up to about 150 bases. For analyzing sequences longer than the read length of the sequencing by synthesis method used, computer-aided methods exist for assembling overlapping fragments of sequence; one simply is required to carry deeper sequencing.
Sequencing technologies have become even more important recently with interests of many groups to conduct whole genome sequencing both for comparisons of different species, as well as different humans and has become the foundation of personalized medicine. One of the critical issues in DNA sequencing of whole genomes is the problem of relatively short lengths of DNA reads using most approaches, including Sanger's. Short read lengths complicate the informatics needed to analyze and place those sequences in the context of the whole genome. Currently, DNA length determinations of short tandem repeats (STRs) for forensic DNA analysis and detection of mutated genes for clinical applications are performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fragment size measurements. This approach is based on an electrophoretic technique. It involves use of dye labeled primers, requires very careful data analysis and is limited by the occurrence of technology artifacts.
Pyrosequencing technology has also been used in a broad range of applications such as genotyping of microbes, SNP genotyping, mutation detection and gene identifications. This technique has the potential to provide a robust method for DNA length measurement which is time and cost competitive compared to other approaches. It is automatable and provides easily interpretable results. In pyrosequencing, there is no need for specific dye labeling of PCR products. The technique is also helpful and has been shown to be capable of determining the sequence variants within or near repeat regions in short tandem repeats (STRs) in addition to fragment length differences. This is particularly useful in avoiding confusion during interpretation of results for human identity testing or relationship testing.
STRs are short, tandemly repeated DNA sequences which are interspersed throughout the human genome at up to several hundred thousand loci. They are also found in animals and plants where they are similarly useful as genetic markers. STRs are typically 2-7 base pairs in length repeated 5-30 times. These loci are highly polymorphic with respect to the number of repeat units they contain and may vary in internal structure as well. Variation in the number of STR repeat units at a particular locus causes the length of the DNA at that locus to vary from allele to allele and from individual to individual. Thus, many allelic variants exist within the human population, and STRs provide a rich source of genetic markers.
Characterization of the alleles at specific STR loci for purposes of individual identification usually begins with their PCR amplification from genomic DNA of the individual whose genome contains those loci. Although a particular repeat unit may be common to several different STR loci, identification of a particular STR locus may be effected via PCR amplification by utilizing primer pairs which hybridize to unique DNA sequences which flank the repeat region, i.e., unique sequences located 5′ and 3′ to the repeat units. Use of such unique primers makes it possible to simultaneously amplify many different STR loci in a single DNA sample, a technique referred to as multiplexing. The resulting PCR products (amplicons) from the various loci may then be separated by electrophoresis and identified by determining their lengths in comparison to known DNA standards.
Common repeats used for typing and linkage analysis are "CA" "GATA" or "ACTT" sequences. That is, an STR may contain a given number of repeats of sequences containing CA, ACTT, or the like. Exemplified below are repeats of AGAT found in two human STRs. The analysis of individual humans or other organisms is based on how many repeats they have. They may be homozygous, or heterozygous, i.e., have one number of repeats on one chromosome in a pair and another number on the other chromosome in the pair, as explained further below.
Specifically designed as amplification-based detection methods, STR and microsatellite-based DNA typing offer some practical advantages over typing methods based on larger repeat sequences. For example, PCR amplification using primers targeted to a specific STR sequence typically generates 50-to-500-bp-sized fragments without compromising allelic diversity. This allows for easier sizing of a wider range of alleles on a single electrophoretic separation, as compared with larger tandem repeat sequences that typically produce an order-of-magnitude greater range in fragment size diversity
Specific Patents and Publications
U.S. Pat. No. 6,531,282 to Dau, et al., issued Mar. 11, 2003, entitled "Multiplex amplification and analysis of selected STR loci," discloses means to identify the alleles present in a DNA-containing sample by providing subsets of loci for amplification by multiplex PCR. The loci include the thirteen CODIS short tandem repeat (STR) loci and amelogenin. The loci within each subset are grouped so that, upon PCR amplification, the amplicons produced within a given subset do not overlap.
U.S. 2005/0112569 A1 by Chung et al., entitled "Method of determining blood-relationship by typing STR alleles on the X chromosome and DNA typing kit using the SA," published May 26, 2005, discloses STR alleles including GATA172D05.

DNA template tailoring using PNA and modified nucleotides

The Regents of the University of California


A magnetic random access memory (MRAM) device may include a magnetic tunnel junction structure between first and second electrodes. Methods of operating such as MRAM device may include providing a write current through the first electrode, through the magnetic tunnel junction structure, and through the second electrode. An auxiliary switching magnetic field may be generated by the write current through the first electrode, and a portion of the auxiliary switching magnetic field may pass through the magnetic tunnel junction structure in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the write current through the magnetic tunnel junction structure. Moreover, a magnitude of the write current and/or the auxiliary switching magnetic field may be sufficient to change a program state of the magnetic tunnel junction structure. Related devices and structures are also discussed.

Magnetic random access memory (MRAM) devices have been widely used as non-volatile memory devices that may be operated at relatively low voltages and high speeds. In a unit cell of a MRAM device, data may be stored in a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structure of a magnetic resistor. An MTJ structure may include first and second ferromagnetic layers, and a tunneling insulating layer between the first and second ferromagnetic layers. A magnetic polarization of the first ferromagnetic layer (also referred to as a free layer) may be changed using an external magnetic field applied to the MTJ structure. The external magnetic field may be induced by a current flowing adjacent the MTJ structure, and the magnetic polarization of the free layer may be parallel or antiparallel with respect to a fixed magnetic polarization in the second ferromagnetic layer (also referred to as a pinned layer). The current used to generate the external magnetic field may flow through a conductive layer such as a digit line and/or a bit line disposed adjacent the MTJ structure.
According to spintronics based on quantum mechanics, when magnetic spins in the free layer and the pinned layer are arranged parallel with respect to each other, a tunneling current flowing through the MTJ structure may have a relatively high value. When the magnetic spins in the free layer and the pinned layer are arranged antiparallel with respect to each other, a tunneling current flowing through the MTJ structure may have a relatively low value. Therefore, data stored in a MRAM cell may be determined based on a direction of magnetic spins in the free layer.
When viewed from a plan view, MTJ structures may have a rectangular or elliptical shape because the magnetic spins in the free layer may be in a relatively stable state when they are parallel to a longitudinal direction of the free layer.
An integrated circuit MRAM device may include a plurality of MTJ structures. The plurality of MTJ structures may have non-uniform switching characteristics depending on a fabrication process used. In this case, external magnetic fields used to write desired data in the MTJ structures may be different from one memory cell to another. Therefore, a greater non-uniformity of MTJ structure switching characteristics may result in a lower write margin for a MRAM device. In particular, when an MTJ structure is reduced in size to increase integration density, write margins may be significantly reduced. In other words, during a write operation to selectively store desired data in one of the MTJ structures, undesired data may be written to a non-selected MTJ structure(s) that shares a bit line and/or a digit line electrically associated with the selected MTJ structure. That is, according to conventional writing methods, a write disturbance may occur so that undesired data is stored in the non-selected MTJ structure(s) during an operation used to store data in the selected MTJ structure.
In addition, MRAM devices have been proposed which use a spin injection mechanism to reduce write disturbance and to increase integration density. MRAM devices which use a spin injection mechanism are disclosed for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,130,814 entitled "Current-Induced Magnetic Switching Device And Memory Including The Same" by Sun. Additional MRAM devices which use a spin injection mechanism are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,603,677 B2 entitled "Three-Layered Stacked Magnetic Spin Polarization Device With Memory" by Redon et al. The disclosures of U.S. Pat. No. 6,130,814 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,603,677 are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
To switch an MRAM cell using the spin injection mechanism, however, high write current density may be required. In this case, an access transistor such as a MOS transistor should provide a current drive capable of generating high writing currents. That is, when the MRAM cell is programmed using a spin injection mechanism, smaller access transistors may be difficult to provide while maintaining a desired current drive.

Methods of operating a magnetic random access memory device and related devices and structures


A wafer support platen heating system for low pressure chemical vapor deposition of apparatus includes multiple resistance heaters for individual heating of multiple portions of the platen to provide a predetermined uniform or non-uniform temperature gradient/profile across the platen. The multiple graphite resistance heaters of the preferred embodiment include a spiral shaped main resistance heater and two single turn edge loss graphite resistance heaters located within the inner diameter and along the periphery of the outer diameter respectively of the main spiral shaped resistance heater.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus and methods for chemical vapor deposition of thin films on silicon wafers. More particularly, this invention relates to apparatus and methods for heating semiconductor wafers by creating a predetermined temperature profile across a support platen by means of multiple heaters.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In chemical vapor deposition systems, it is important to have complete control of heating the semiconductor wafer substrate. Sometimes it is necessary to heat the substrate uniformly. Non-uniform heating at these times can result in non-uniform deposition. At other times it is desirable to create a non-uniform temperature profile across the wafer in one direction while maintaining a uniform temperature profile in another direction. Chemical vapor deposition heating systems of the prior art, such as heat lamp or induction systems, have difficulty maintaining a desired heat profile across the wafers. These systems heat the wafer satisfactorily, but the difficulty occurs from their lack of control.
Since the chamber in which low pressure chemical vapor deposition occurs is evacuated during the operation, it is important that the voltage applied to the heater be kept low so as to prevent arcing across the terminals. There is a trade off of sufficient voltage to provide enough power to heat the wafer but not so much voltage as to initiate arcing across the heater terminals.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a platen heater for a chemical vapor deposition system that is capable of providing a desired temperature profile or gradient across a support platen. Furthermore it would be desirable to have a platen heater for a chemical vapor deposition system that has low cost and high efficiency. Furthermore, it would be desirable to have this platen heater operate at sufficiently low voltage as to inhibit arcing at the terminals or elsewhere (enhances personnel safety also). These benefits and others will become apparent as the platen heater system is described according to the teachings of the invention.

CVD platen heater system utilizing concentric electric heating elements


Improved anisotropic fluid separation membranes are prepared from blends of polymers with surface energy differences. The membranes are formulated by processes wherein low surface energy polymer with desirable fluid separation and permeation characteristics is preferentially concentrated in the surface discriminating layer of the membrane.

Processes for making synthetic polymeric membranes, including hollow fiber gas separation membranes, are well documented in the art. Separation/permeation characteristics of membranes are optimized with respect to intended end use. Consequently, consideration must be given to materials and manufacturing methods to be employed in membrane manufacturing.
A superior membrane must have a good balance of chemical, mechanical, and separation characteristics in order to function properly. It is often not possible, however, to obtain high performance in all aspects of membrane properties from a single material. Thus, a method to decouple the membrane separation/permeation characteristics from the bulk mechanical properties is frequently needed.
One method extensively employed in the art to decouple mechanical properties from membrane separation characteristics is via the composite membrane approach, wherein a thin separation layer is deposited by a solution coating method on a preformed substrate. Preparation of such membranes is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,243,701; 4,826,599 and 4,840,819.
Another method that accomplishes this goal is coextrusion. Two distinctly different polymer solutions are coextruded simultaneously to form a bilayer hollow fiber. The technique permits the active sheath layer to be formed from a polymer with superior separation/permeation characteristics while the core layer that makes up the majority of membrane mass is formed from a common polymer with good mechanical and thermal characteristics. Examples of this method are taught by Ekiner et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,676 and by Kusuki et al. in Japanese Patent Application No. Sho 62-253785.
Yet another method used to optimize membrane properties employs casting solutions containing blends of two or more polymers. There are numerous examples in the art of fluid separation membranes advantageously prepared from blends of polymers. Kraus et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,935 teach the use of polyethersulfone/phenoxy resin blends to make porous isotropic membranes. Nunes et al. describe preparation of asymmetric membranes useful for ultrafiltration from blends of polyvinylidene fluoride and poly(methyl methacrylate) in the Journal of Membrane Science, 73(1992), 25-35. The practice of blending polymers also has been used effectively in the preparation of gas separation membranes. Yamada et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,713 disclose fabrication of gas separation membranes from blends of polyetherimide mixed with materials such as polycarbonates or polysulfones. Kohn et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,116 utilize miscible blends of polyimides of specific chemical compositions to prepare gas separation membranes. Burgoyne, Jr. et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,298 also describe preparation of membranes from specific polyimide blends.
Each of the aforementioned methods of membrane preparation, however, has some limitations. Coextrusion is a relatively complicated process because of the need for costly, specialized hardware such as dual-annulus spinnerettes and the need to formulate two spinning dopes in order to prepare a hollow fiber membrane. Preparation of composite membranes by solution coating methods is a two-step process wherein selection of the coating separation material is frequently limited by the solvent resistance characteristics of the substrate. Polymer blending techniques have been optimized around polymers with specific chemical structures. Polymers frequently have to be thermodynamically compatible, i.e. miscible, in order to form superior membranes. Thus there still exists a need for a simple, efficient method of manufacturing membranes with improved combination of mechanical and separation properties.

Method of preparing membranes from blends of polymers


A process is provided for ultrasonic testing the internal soundness of cathode sputtering targets including an active part made of very pure aluminum or of very pure aluminum alloy. In particular, this process, after the choice of an ultrasound sensor functioning at an operating frequency greater than 5 MHZ, and preferably between 10 and 50 MHZ, and adjustment of the appropriate measurement sequence, using a target immersed in a liquid and having certain artificial defects simulating the decohesions in the target, consists of taking a count in terms of size and number of the internal decohesions per unit volume and of selecting the targets with a decohesion density of .ltoreq.0.1 decohesion larger than 0.1 mm per cm.sup.3 of active metal of the targets, and preferably less than 0.1 decohesion larger than 0.04 mm per cm.sup.3 of active metal. The process also pertains to selecting precursors of the cathode sputtering targets, containing less than 0.1 internal decohesion larger than 0.04 mm per cm.sup.3.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention pertains to targets or cathodes based on aluminum with a very high degree of purity, which are intended for cathode sputtering on a substrate for manufacturing integrated circuits in particular, as well as to the precursors of these targets or cathodes. In the following, the word "target" also designates the cathodes.
The invention more particularly pertains to processes for the inspection, particularly by ultrasound, of the internal soundness of the targets and of the target precursors, as well as to the selected targets and precursors coming from these processes.

Cathode sputtering targets with a low level of particle emission, precursors of these targets, and processes for obtaining them


In one embodiment, a method for DMR includes generating first tracking reports of first data units received at one or more receptors from one or more remote units, generating second tracking reports of first data units received at one of one or more centrals, and generating delivery reports of second data units extracted at the central from the first data units received at the central. The method includes, using the delivery reports, identifying missing second data units that should have been received at the central, but were not. The method includes, using one or more of the tracking reports, mapping the missing second data units to one or more first data units and determining a best source for retransmission of the first data units mapped to the missing second data units. The method includes generating a retransmit request for the first data units mapped to the missing second data units and communicating the retransmit request to the best source.

In a typical system for data communication according to one or more Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) protocols, data is received from one or more data sources (such as one or more spacecraft) and processed at a single facility (and possibly a backup facility). The data is then communicated to one or more end users, where it can be processed further, according to particular needs. The system provides only limited access to the data sources, and data latency in the system is often a problem. To facilitate greater reliability and data availability in the system, expensive manual efforts are usually required. In addition, if data is not stored at multiple points along the data path through the system, recovery of lost or corrupted data may not always be possible. Even if data is stored at multiple points along the data path through the system, expensive manual efforts are usually required to identify and recover missing data.


A solid iodine concentrate composition comprising an iodine complex, and a solidifier wherein said iodine complex comprises a complexing agent and an iodine source present in a ratio of at least 1.5:1.

Iodine compositions have long been known to impart desirable antimicrobial characteristics. For example, Sutton et al, U.S. Pat. No. 2,759,869, Winicov et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,029,183, Cantor et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,650,965 as well as Schmidt et al, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,525,696 and 3,150,096 all disclose aqueous liquid or said iodine use dilution compositions for various uses.
Iodine compositions have been found preferable for any number of uses due to the high antimicrobial efficacy and nonstaining character of complexed iodine compositions. Iodine compositions are known to be useful as sanitizers for elements ranging from contact surfaces and glassware to plant formulation facilities. An especially important application for iodine compositions is in clean-in-place (CIP) systems. CIP systems are generally found in industries which produce fluidized ingestible products for humans or animals such as the dairy industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and the food industry. Clean-in-place systems are generally regarded as large production plant systems having reservoirs, pipes, pumps and mixing vessels which cannot be broken down to be cleaned. Additionally, clean-in-place preparation systems often require high sanitization when used in the production of ingestible substances.
Previously iodine compositions were either formulated as liquids or as free flowing powders. In either case these compositions require stabilizing systems which are most often present at a concentration many times that of the iodine in the system. Moreover, these iodine compositions do not economize on volume or weight in that they obtain stabilization of iodine generally only at use-dilution concentrations
Such a high concentration of stabilizer can result in excess foaming which may cause inactivation of pump systems, foaming on application surfaces, and prevent rapid draining in warewashing operations. Thus, the high concentration of stabilizer may prevent the effective cleaning of pumps and pipelines. Also, stabilizer systems are often costly, and, as a result, may raise the expense of the clean-in-place composition to a premium which often cannot be justified for a composition which will be used once and then discarded.
Accordingly, there is a need for a solid iodine composition which contains a concentrated volume of iodine in proportion to the concentration of stabilizing agent thereby providing a system with reduced foaming and potentially increased sanitizing efficacy.


A multizone, multipass photorefractive keratectomy (MP-PRK) technique to treat 315 eyes with the 193-nm VISX 20/20 excimer laser. The procedure includes making multipass ablations that increase in ablative depth to create as step-wise ablation of the corneal to the predetermined dioptric correction. It also includes making multizone ablations that create of variable widths that result in a predetermined ablative depth with smooth transition edges. A combination of multizone, multipass ablations are used to treat astigmatism. New algorithms effectively treat the full range of myopia, including low myopic eyes (-1 to -6 D), moderately myopic eyes (-6 to -10 D); and highly myopic eyes (-10 to -27 D).

This invention relates generally to the use of new excimer laser procedure designed to correct low to high myopia and, in particular, a method of using algorithm-driven lasers to correct vision by performing multipass ablations, multizone ablations or a combination thereof.
Previous studies performed in different centers suggest that standard PRK for low myopia predictable with few complications. Contrastingly, results in myopia higher than -6 D are more unpredictable due to regression of effect often accompanied by scar formation. Because the quality of the ablation is an important factor in the final visual outcome, one of the first attempts to improve post-operative visual acuity was to limit ablation depth by using multizone techniques. However, there is no change in the degree of haze or in regression when using the technique.
To circumvent the amount of correction allowed by some laser software programs. PRK was performed in a series of steps. For example, a two-step procedure or a multi-step PRK was tried with little haze formation. A different approach involves a second ablation, created outside of the initial, standard PRK ablation, produced a transition zone. This procedure resulted in less regression, but the healing process took longer.
Although regression was lessened, results in eyes above -10 D were so discouraging that intrastromal PRK or laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) have been suggested instead of superficial PRK in these patients.

Multizone, multipass photorefractive keratectomy


In the test of semiconductor non-volatile memories having floating gates, a plurality of memory cells that are connected to an identical word line are programmed simultaneously. A voltage to complete programming these memory cells is the final voltage. After erasing all of the memory cells, a disturbance stress pulse train having voltages changing in increments are applied up to or before the final voltage. Almost simultaneously, the semiconductor non-volatile memory is tested by measuring the lowest threshold voltage among the memory cells on each word line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a test method of measuring a disturbance value and a disturbance margin that are caused when a program disturbance stress is applied to a semiconductor non-volatile memory comprising a plurality of memory cells each having a gate, a floating gate, a drain, and a source.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A flash memory is one of such semiconductor non-volatile memories having a floating gate. A structural example of a semiconductor non-volatile memory is shown in FIG. 15. FIG. 15 shows a simplified cross-sectional view of the semiconductor non-volatile memory. This memory cell has a gate 1 having a control terminal 11, a floating gate 2, a drain 3 having a drain terminal 13, and a source 4 having a source terminal 14. A tunnel oxide layer 6 is formed between a substrate 5 and the floating gate 2.
A memory cell 21 shown in FIG. 15 takes either of two statuses, a programmed status (xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d) or an erased status (xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d) depending on an amount of charge stored in the floating gate 2. For example, when a channel formed between the drain 3 and the source 4 becomes non-conductive, the status of the memory cell is defined as xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d, and as xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d when the channel becomes conductive. In this way, the memory cell can hold and provide two-level data depending on the amount of charge stored in the floating gate 2.
By applying, for example, a positive voltage to the control terminal 11, and a negative voltage to the substrate 5, the drain terminal 13, and the source terminal 14, electrons are injected from the channel formed between the drain 3 and the source 4 into the floating gate 2 by a phenomenon called Fowler-Nordheim tunnel effect (hereinafter referred to as FN tunnel effect). Thus, the data of the memory cell is set to xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d. Under this condition, the negative charge stored in the floating gate 2 behaves like a barrier and prevents a current from flowing between the drain 3 and the source 4 even if a positive voltage is applied to the control terminal 11.
On the other hand, by applying, for example, a negative voltage to the control terminal 11 and a ground level to the substrate 5, and also by applying a positive voltage to the drain terminal 13, the negative charge that has been stored in the floating gate 2 is pulled out to the drain. Thus, the data of the memory cell is set to xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d. Under this condition, applying a positive voltage to the control terminal 11 allows a current to flow between the drain 3 and the source 4.
A memory cell array is composed of a plurality of such memory cells as described before. FIG. 16 shows an example of memory cell array circuit. A memory cell array 31 has six memory cells, 21a to 21f (hereinafter, these memory cells in FIG. 16 are collectively referred to as memory cell 21). The control terminal 11 of each memory cell is connected to a word line 32. Furthermore, the drain terminal 13 of one particular memory cell and the source terminal 14 of an adjacent memory cell are connected to a bit line 33. The memory cell array 31 is provided with seven bit lines, 33a to 33g (hereinafter, these bit lines in FIG. 16 are collectively referred to as bit line 33).
Before writing data to the memory cell array 31, memory cells should be erased by an injection of an excessive amount of negative charge into the floating gate 2 thereof. Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 16, a negative voltage xe2x88x92Vg is applied to the word line 32 to which each control terminal 11 of the memory cell 21 is connected. For example, if data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d is written to the memory cell 21d, the bit line 33e connected to a drain terminal 13f thereof should be left floating (F), (hereinafter, all the drain terminals that are left floating are referred to as 13f). When, for example, writing data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d to the memory cell 21b, the positive voltage +Vd is applied to the bit line 33c to which the drain terminal 13 thereof is connected.
When writing data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d, the negative charge does not move from a floating gate 2f (hereinafter, the floating gate storing the negative charge is referred to as 2f) to the drain because the drain terminal 13f is left floating, and therefore a sufficiently high electric field to initiate the FN tunnel effect will not be generated in the tunnel oxide layer 6. On the other hand, when writing data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d, the negative charge moves from the floating gate 2 to the drain because the positive voltage +Vd is applied to the drain terminal 13 generating a sufficiently high electric field to initiate the FN tunnel effect in the tunnel oxide layer 6. In this way, data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d is written to the memory cell.
Individual memory cells that altogether constitute a memory cell array are not uniform in properties because of manufacturing variations or the like. When writing to memory cells (programming), as described before, the negative voltage xe2x88x92Vg is applied as a stress voltage through a word line to the control terminal of the memory cell that is supposed to be written to xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d. Considering these factors, if a plurality of memory cells sharing an identical word line have a fairly large amount of variations in properties, some memory cells may switch from xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d to xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d when the negative charge stored in the floating gate thereof moves to the drain initiated by the FN tunnel effect despite that the bit line thereof is left floating. In this way, the stress voltage may cause a threshold voltage to decline.
It is, therefore, extremely important to measure the amount of disturbance received by each memory cell that altogether constitutes a memory cell array. In constructing a test program algorithm, it is also important to measure a disturbance margin which is an indication of margin between the algorithm of the test program and the actual memory cells to be tested. These values can be also utilized as criteria during an outgoing inspection of products.
Measuring the program disturbance value and the disturbance margin that indicate an amount of disturbance when the memory cells are programmed, is an intrinsically necessary test regardless of types of flash memories. Specifically, if the polarity of writing voltage or the like is optimally adjusted, this test method can be employed for testing such flash memories as NOR, NAND, DINOR, virtual-ground NOR types, and the like regardless of types. Mentioned hereunder are examples of the conventional test methods for evaluating the amount of program disturbance on memory cells.
An extremely common evaluation method includes steps to apply to erased memory cells, a program disturbance stress that is equivalent to the one prescribed by specifications, then to read each memory cell, and to evaluate the result to see if the memory cells still maintain the erased status.
Another program disturbance stress test includes steps to apply to the erased memory cells, a program disturbance stress that is equivalent to the one prescribed by specifications or the like, then to evaluate whether or not the resultant threshold levels have exceeded the specified level or the like.
In order to conduct a more accurate test for the program disturbance margin, another test includes a first procedure to measure the time or the number of program pulse steps required for completing programming all the memory cells that undergo the programming operation simultaneously. In a second procedure, among identical memory cells, the time or the number of pulse steps required for the first memory cell to shift from the erased level to the programmed level after being stressed under the program disturbance will be measured. The results in terms of the time or the number of steps obtained through the above two procedures will be compared for evaluation.
However, the above-mentioned test methods have the following shortcomings. a Test method 1 is only effective for judging if some memory cells have caused a disturbance fault (a memory cell switching from the erased level to the programmed level unnecessarily under the stress) under the program disturbance stress. The shortcoming of this method, however, is that no information on the program disturbance margin can be obtained.
Test method 2 is effective in knowing whether or not the memory cells have the program disturbance margin that is prescribed by specifications or the like. The shortcoming of this method, however, is that the amount of margin itself can not be obtained.
Test method 3 is effective for making a quantitative evaluation on the program disturbance margin that has been prescribed by specifications or the like. However, it generally takes much longer time to cause a disturbance fault than to complete programming memory cells. As a result, the shortcoming of this test method is that it takes very long time to complete the test because the program disturbance stress should be kept applying until the actual disturbance fault is caused.
The Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H9-91980 discloses methods for programming semiconductor non-volatile memories in two- or multiple-level by employing a linier curve relation between the voltage applied to the control terminal and the threshold value thereof. This document, however, does not disclose a test method for semiconductor non-volatile memories. Particularly, a test method for evaluating whether non-volatile memories are good or defective when the disturbance stress is applied to control terminals thereof is not disclosed.
An object of the present invention is to provide test methods for semiconductor non-volatile memories, thereby enabling disturbance values and disturbance margins to be tested and evaluated accurately in a shorter period of time.
To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a method of testing a semiconductor non-volatile memory comprising a plurality of memory cells each of which has a gate, a floating gate, a drain, and a source, includes:
a first step of applying, after erasing the memory cells, a program disturbance stress pulse train whose voltage changes in increments, to a word line to which the memory cells are connected, up to the voltage reaches a final voltage required to complete programming all the memory cells that share an identical word line and are subjected to an identical program disturbance stress simultaneously;
a second step of repeating the first step by changing word lines until a final word completed; and
a third step of measuring a lowest threshold value among the memory cells sharing an identical word line by changing word lines until the final word line is completed.
In the case of a semiconductor non-volatile memory, a disturbance value and a disturbance margin on each word line can be measured and evaluated simply by obtaining the lowest threshold voltage on each word line because the most disturbed memory cell among the memory cells sharing an identical word line has the lowest threshold value.
According to another aspect of the present invention, said program disturbance stress pulse train has incremental pulses wherein a ratio of a voltage increase to a pulse width is always constant.
Therefore, a difference between the lowest threshold value to maintain the erased level and the lowest threshold value obtained on each word line from the memory cells sharing the identical word line can translate directly into the program disturbance margin for the voltage applied to each word line. It also becomes possible to calculate the number of necessary test steps.
According to another aspect of the present invention, said semiconductor nonvolatile volatile memory has reference memory cells. When applying said program disturbance pulse train, a program pulse train is also applied to a drain terminal of the reference memory cell, wherein the program disturbance stress train is kept being applied up to the step in which the reference memory cell has been programmed or up to a specified step beyond the step in which the reference memory cell has been programmed.
By employing the reference memory cell, it becomes possible to conduct a concurrent test including the program test and the program disturbance test covering each word line voltage by which the reference memory cell completes programming.
In this case, a dedicated reference memory cell region may be provided outside the region in which all of the memory cells receive an identical program disturbance stress simultaneously. It is also possible to provide any given memory cell out of memory cells that receive an identical program disturbance stress simultaneously, as a reference memory cell. In this case, it becomes possible to conduct tests for the program disturbance value and the program disturbance margin without increasing a memory chip size.
According to another aspect of the present invention, said final voltage mentioned in the first aspect of the present invention, may be any given voltage within a step required to complete programming a plurality of memory cells that are connected to an identical word line and receive an identical program disturbance stress simultaneously.
It is, therefore, possible to shorten the time required for completing the test because the number of steps for applying the disturbance stress pulse is reduced for each word line than otherwise necessary.

Test methods for semiconductor non-volatile memories


The disclosed computer-implemented method for securing wireless networks may include (1) receiving, at a physical access point, a request to improve the security of a wireless network that includes a client device and is serviced by an active virtual access point of the physical access point, (2) configuring a substitute virtual access point to service the wireless network by (a) configuring the substitute virtual access point to identify the wireless network using a substitute SSID and/or (b) secure the wireless network using a substitute passcode, (3) transmitting a notification that includes the substitute SSID and/or the substitute passcode to the client device that instructs the client device to connect to the wireless network via the substitute virtual access point, (4) connecting the client device to the substitute virtual access point, and (5) disabling the active virtual access point. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Today, wireless networks are becoming a preferred way to connect devices to one another and the Internet. Wireless access points may provide the necessary services that form the infrastructure of a wireless network. In a typical configuration, a wireless access point may use a Service Set Identifier (SSID) to (1) identify a wireless network and (2) enable client devices to identify and connect to the wireless network. In addition, a typical wireless access point may use a passcode (e.g., a pre-shared key like a password) to secure access to the wireless network.
In many situations (e.g., many home-based scenarios), a wireless access point may be configured to service a wireless network using a SSID and passcode that is used for the life of the wireless network and never or seldom changed. Unfortunately, when SSIDs and passcodes are not changed regularly, the security of the wireless network may be reduced or compromised. However, typical techniques for changing SSIDs and passcodes used by conventional wireless access points may be tedious and error-prone. Moreover, many typical techniques for changing SSIDs and passcodes used by conventional wireless access points may cause the wireless networks of the wireless access points to become temporarily unavailable. The instant disclosure, therefore, identifies and addresses a need for improved systems and methods for securing wireless networks.

Systems and methods for securing wireless networks


An airless dispenser pump assembly includes a pump mechanism with an inlet valve that is configured to efficiently pump viscous fluids and that is able to be pre-primed when the pump mechanism is attached to a container. In one form, the inlet valve includes a seal member that seals an inlet port of the pump and an outer support member that secures the inlet valve to the rest of the pump mechanism. Two or more legs generally extend in a circumferential direction between the support member and the seal member in order to create a large flow opening for fluid flow through the inlet valve when opened and to rapidly close the inlet valve. The pump mechanism further includes an outlet valve that is configured to draw fluid back from a nozzle of the pump after dispensing in order to minimize build up around the nozzle.

The present invention generally relates to airless dispensing pumps, and more specifically, but not exclusively, concerns an airless dispensing pump with tamper evidence features.
Airless type pumps have been developed for a wide range applications including dispensing personal care products, such as skin creams, skin lotions, toothpaste and hair gels, as well as food sauces, and the like. Many such products deteriorate rapidly when placed in contact with air and so it is important to prevent air from entering the package when dispensing the product. In typical dispensing pump applications, air is allowed to enter the container via a venting path in order to equalize the pressure inside the pack as product is dispensed. Were this not the case, the container would progressively collapse or, in the case of rigid containers, the increasing vacuum in the container would exceed the ability of the dispensing pump to draw product out of the container.
With conventional dispensing pumps having a suction pipe or tube, the ability to evacuate the entire contents of the container is relatively poor for viscous products. Usually, the viscous product, such as a cream, is drawn up the suction pipe, which initially works well, but the viscous product does not self-level. As a result, a cavity or hole is formed in the surface of the product to a point where the dispensing pump dispenses only air because it is unable to dispense the product that remains adhered to the sidewalls of the container. As a result, it is common for only about 50% to 60% of the total pack contents of the viscous product to be dispensed with conventional dispensing pumps.
In airless type dispensing systems, there are two common ways to overcome the above-mentioned problems, either by using a collapsible bag type design or by using a follower piston type design. With the collapsible type design, a collapsing bag is attached to the dispensing pump, which progressively collapses as the contents are removed. In the follower piston type design, a rigid container, usually cylindrical or oval in form, has a follower piston that progressively reduces the container volume as product is drawn out by the dispensing pump.
In either type of airless dispensing system, initial priming of the pump mechanism can be somewhat difficult due to the viscous nature of the contents. Even when properly primed, the pump mechanism may not dispense a sufficient amount of fluid due to constrictions within the pumping mechanism, especially the valves. With viscous products, the valves within the pump mechanism need to provide relatively large flow openings, but at the same time, close rapidly to ensure that the product is efficiently pumped. Due to differences in viscosities of various products, it is difficult to easily and inexpensively reconfigure the pumping mechanism to accommodate products with different properties. It is also desirable for a number of products, such as pharmaceuticals, to not come in contact with metal, which can tend to contaminate the pharmaceutical product, and therefore, there is a need to minimize or even eliminate metallic component contact within the pumping mechanism. In typical airless pump designs, after dispensing, product may remain at the outlet of the dispensing head where the product may dry or harden due to contact with air. The dried product usually creates an unsightly appearance, and sometimes can lead to clogging of the outlet. During shipment, container leakage is always a concern. With pharmaceuticals, food products, personal hygiene products as well as other products where product safety is a concern, a clearly identifiable tamper evidence feature for the container and pump mechanism is needed.
Thus, there is a need for improvement in this field.

Airless dispensing pump with tamper evidence features


A data sorter includes a storage sorter that sorts a data set according to a defined criteria; and a query mechanism that receives intermediate sorted data values from the storage sorter and compares the intermediate sorted data values to a key value. The storage sorter includes a priority queue for sorting the data set. The priority queue has M processing elements. The query mechanism receives the intermediate sorted data values from the M processing elements. The query mechanism includes a plurality of comparison circuits, each of which is capable of detecting whether one of the intermediate sorted data values is equal to the key value or, if no match exists, extracting a minimal value greater than (or less than according to a defined criteria) the key value.

The speed, power, and complexity of integrated circuits, such as microprocessor chips, random access memory (RAM) chips, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chips, and the like, have increased dramatically in the last twenty years. More recently, these increases have led to development of so-called system-on-a-chip (SoC) devices. A SoC device allows nearly all of the components of a complex system, such as a cell phone or a television receiver, to be integrated onto a single piece of silicon. This level of integration greatly reduces the size and power consumption of the system, while generally also reducing manufacturing costs.
A recent trend in SoC devices and other large-scale integrated circuits is towards the adoption of reconfigurable processing devices. A reconfigurable processor is typically implemented as a fixed data path coupled to a dynamically reconfigurable unit (RU). There is not yet, however, a widely adopted reference architecture for reconfigurable devices because of their relative novelty. Research in the field is quite active. Among the academic projects, a few notable architectures worthy of mention are GARP at Berkeley, Chimaera at Northwestern University, and Piperench at Carnegie Mellon. CARP is a coprocessor attached to a host processor to speed up loop implementations, extracted and mapped automatically from C code by its compiler. Chimaera is a tightly coupled reconfigurable functional unit in a conventional processor data path that implements custom instructions of up to nine (9) input operands. Piperench is an attached processor that implements entire stream-based media applications, implementing the concept of a virtual pipeline. Each of these proposals has a different organization, programming model and interface to the processor.
An important performance parameter of any reconfigurable processing device is the management of hardware resources of the processor. The management of a limited set of hardware resources involves the allocation of such resources to a set of requested configurations (requesters). A resource manager is usually added as a part of a data processing system to act as the interface between the resources and the requesters. The basic tasks performed by a resource manager are:
1) searching for the best fitting (or optimal) available set of resources to fulfill the request. This involves data structures (probably sorted) that must be maintained and that contain updated information about the status of the resources at every instant;
2) modifying such data structures to reflect changes in terms of new request allocations and terminations; and
3) executing actions that effectively allocate and setup the resources to the requester.
These operations often represent an overhead in the data processing system, because the managed resources are not available to perform useful work until the resource manager has completed the allocation tasks. Therefore, the time spent performing these steps should be minimized to provide the highest throughput and utilization of the system resources.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for improved reconfigurable processing devices. In particular, there is a need for an improved resource manager for use in a reconfigurable processing device.

Data sorting apparatus with querying mechanism and method of operation


A refrigerator/freezer having a sliding unit in its interior refrigeration portion in the form of several shelves in superimposed relationship with one another mounted to the common frame. A track assembly is included for slidably mounting the slidable interior unit in the refrigerator in lieu of the stationary shelves which are normally mounted in the body of a refrigerator. The sliding out interior unit additionally includes a pair of "crisper"-type bins slidably mounted on tracks on the bottom of the interior unit. The entire interior unit is normally slid fully into the refrigerator to support items within the closed refrigerator.

In a household or commercial refrigerator, it is desirable to provide easy access to the interior shelves in both the refrigeration and freezing compartments. The ability of refrigerator shelves to slide horizontally into and out of the interior of the refrigerator enables the consumer to more conveniently reach items at the back at the shelf as well as to prevent any breakage or spillage of items on the shelves. Easier access saves time and effort in reaching the various items stored in the refrigerator and also saves energy because of the shorter time needed to keep the refrigerator open to retrieve various items. In addition, the ability for shelves to slide out of the refrigerator allows for easy cleaning of the refrigerator and the shelves.
An example of an attempt to facilitate access to items stored in a refrigerator can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,163 to Boorman, Jr., et al. The Boorman patent discloses a shelf assembly having a cantilever support frame and a sliding shelf which may be removed from the frame. The frame includes a pair of shelf guides or tracks.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,613 to Tromble et al. discloses a household refrigerator pan assembly for supporting a pair of "crisper"-type drawers for sliding movement. These patents do not however provide for easy access to the shelves of the refrigerator by allowing the shelves and crisper bins to slide out from the interior of the refrigerator.

Refrigerator with sliding interior frame