The invention relates to a service device for maintenance of a solar panel arrangement, comprising a service unit for maintenance of at least one surface of the solar panel arrangement, a guiding unit for guiding the service unit with respect to the solar panel arrangement, and a driving unit for moving the service unit with respect to the solar panel arrangement, wherein the service unit comprises a first engagement section and a second engagement section, wherein the guiding unit is attachable to the first engagement section, the guiding unit being configured for direct engagement with an edge of the solar panel arrangement, wherein the driving unit is attachable to the second engagement section, and wherein the second engagement section is displaceable with respect to the first engagement section by the driving unit.

The invention relates to a service device for maintenance of a solar panel arrangement and a method for cleaning an inclined surface of a solar panel arrangement.
In the last years, the use of solar panels for the collection of solar energy and conversion into electrical energy has become a common practice. In solar power plants, large numbers of solar panels are mounted on supporting carriers and disposed in an array-like arrangement, usually forming long rows of solar panels neighbouring each other. In order to maximize the yield of collected solar energy, surfaces of the solar panels are aligned towards the sun and therefore inclined with respect to the horizontal. The angle of inclination may be kept fixed during the day, keeping the solar panels in an overall preferred position, or may be maintained in order to follow the sun. Contamination of the solar panel surfaces with dust, sand, snow, leaves and branches of plants, and other residues due to environmental influences are a known problem, causing reduction of the gained electrical energy. Therefore, periodic cleaning of the panel surfaces is necessary in order to achieve a high level of energy production. Besides this, there is further need for maintenance of solar panels especially in solar power plants, e.g. periodic examination of the panels for mechanical or electrical defects. However, manual maintenance like cleaning or examination of a large number of solar panels is costly in terms of time and labour. Furthermore, manual cleaning of solar panel surfaces is tedious work accompanied by physical exhaustion and inattentiveness of the workforce, eventually leading to fluctuations in terms of cleaning and inspection quality.
WO 2008 058 528 A1 describes a washing apparatus for cleaning of solar collectors and solar panels. The washing apparatus comprises an arc-shaped, stiff housing, inside which washing nozzles and brushes are arranged for cleaning a collecting surface of a solar collector. In use, the washing apparatus is mounted from above onto the collecting surface. The washing apparatus housing embraces the solar collector in its edge regions in such a way, that the washing apparatus is guided in a longitudinally movable manner directly on the solar collector. For that purpose, the housing comprises first rollers engaging with the surface to be cleaned and having a rolling axis parallel to the surface as well as second rollers engaging with the edge of the surface and having a rolling axis being perpendicular to the rolling axis of the first rollers. A disadvantage of the described washing apparatus is that due to embracement of the solar panel edges by the housing, the apparatus may be mounted or dismounted to rows of solar collectors only at free ends of the rows, rendering it impossible to mount or dismount the apparatus at arbitrary positions. A further disadvantage is that large masses of pollutants like snow or leaves cannot be handled by the washing apparatus due to the fact that all cleaning takes place in the confined space inside the housing of the apparatus. A further disadvantage with respect to solar panels is that parts of the housing encompass the edges of the surface to be cleaned and therefore may touch the sensitive backsides of solar panels, leading to serious damage of the solar panels.
EP 2 048 455 A2 describes an automatic cleaning system for solar panels. The system comprises longitudinal guiding rails being fixed to a supporting structure of the solar panels and being disposed on opposite sides of the solar panel arrangement to be cleaned. The system comprises further a cleaning brush being disposed orthogonally with respect to the guiding rails. Driving units are provided at both guiding rails for moving the cleaning brush along the guiding rails, thus cleaning the solar panel surfaces. A disadvantage of the described system is that separate, fixedly mounted guiding rails are necessary and that the cleaning brush is fixedly joined to the guiding rails. Accordingly, in a solar power plant comprising a large number of solar panel arrangements, an accordingly large number of guiding rails, driving units and cleaning brushes are necessary for cleaning of all solar panels, leading to high investment costs. Besides cleaning, no further maintenance is feasible with the described system.
EP 0 538 521 A1 describes a cleaning system for roof glazings. The system is designed for the cleaning of atrium-like glazings comprising triangular and trapezium shaped surfaces and pyramid like structures. The cleaning system comprises a first guiding reel being arranged above the glazing surface to be cleaned and a second guiding reel being arranged below the glazing. An extensible brush for cleaning the glazing is guided between the first guiding reel and the second guiding reel. Driving units for driving a corresponding end of the brush along the guiding reel are assigned to each guiding rail. In order to clean e.g. a trapezium shaped window, the window region to be cleaned may be partitioned into a rectangular section and one or two triangular sections. In order to clean the rectangular section, both ends of the brush are driven along the guiding rails in such a way that the brush is oriented perpendicular with respect to the guiding rails. In order to clean a triangular section, one of the ends of the extensible brush is kept in a fixed position, while the other end is driven along the corresponding guiding rail in order to cover the triangular surface. During this movement, the extensible brush changes its length. A disadvantage of the described system is that it comprises fixedly mounted guiding rails and that the cleaning brush is permanently joined to the guiding rails.
DE 10 2006 053 704 A1 considered to be the closest prior art describes a device for maintenance of a solar panel arrangement, comprising a service unit for maintenance of the solar panel arrangement, the service unit bridging the complete width of the solar panel and covering it with a housing. A guiding unit is provided at opposite ends of the housing, each guiding unit being configured as longitudinal groove of the housing extending along the solar panel arrangement and engaging the edge and a rear side of the solar panel arrangement. The service unit comprises a driving unit for moving the service unit along the solar panel arrangement.

Service device for maintenance of a solar panel arrangement


Various polymeric compositions, including bicomponent networks and multiblock copolymers, containing polyisobutylene are synthesized by linking a plurality of polyisobutylene polymer chains with siloxane compounds having at least two SiH moieties. Specifically, bicomponent networks are synthesized by linking multifunctional polyisobutylenes, preferably tri-telechelic allyl-terminated polyisobutylenes, with multifunctional linear polysiloxanes, such as di-telechelic linear SiH-terminated polydimethylsiloxane, by hydrosilation. Similarly, multiblock copolymers are synthesized by endlinking difunctional allyl-terminated polyisobutylenes with difunctional SiH-terminated linear polysiloxanes, such as polydimethylsiloxanes, by hydrosilation. Still other polymeric networks comprising polyisobutylene are synthesized by linking multifunctional polyisobutylenes, preferably di- or tri-telechelic allyl-terminated polyisobutylenes, with multifuntional SiH-containing compounds, preferably cyclosiloxanes such as hexamethylhexahydrocyclosiloxane, by hydrosilation.

With the discovery of living cationic polymerization, the synthesis of polyisobutylenes (PIBs) with controlled molecular weight and quantitative end functionality was made possible. Today, it is known that allyl-terminated (.about.CH.sub.2 C(CH.sub.3).sub.2 --CH.sub.2 CH.dbd.CH.sub.2) polyisobutylenes can be quantitatively endlinked by hydrosilation with molecules containing an SiH moiety. This reaction results in the formation of a hydrolytically stable Si-C bond. Heretofore, however, research into the usefulness of the quantitative end functionality of polyisobutylene and the ability of allyl-terminated PIBs to be endlinked via hydrosilation with siloxane compounds has centered on the production of star polymers and star block copolymers. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,663,245 teaches the synthesis and characterization of multi-arm star polymers comprising polyisobutylene arms emanating from a well-defined siloxane core. Star block copolymers have been produced using polyisobutylene-b-polystyrene arms emanating from a well-defined siloxane core. There has been little, if any, study into the usefulness of this synthesis reaction in the production of networks such as bicomponent networks or multi-block copolymers.
The polymeric networks of the present invention, and particularly bicomponent networks (BCNs), should be distinguished from more traditional interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs). A BCN is defined as a single elastomeric network comprising two chemically different covalently bonded sequences; whereas, an IPN consists of two or more unlinked independent networks. The distinction to be made is significant in that the polymers in the IPNs are not linked chemically, but rather are two separate networks tangled within one another. Most two-component systems studied to date concern IPNs, with very few studies having been performed using BCNs. The distinction between BCNs and IPNs is more particularly set forth schematically hereinbelow. ##STR1##
It will be appreciated that multiblock copolymers are like BCNs in that they also comprise two chemically different covalently bonded sequences, but are not crosslinked in the manner that BCNs are crosslinked. Rather, multiblock copolymers are linear blocks of at least two polymers, such as, for the present invention, polyisobutylene (-A-) and any of a number of difunctional linear polysiloxanes (-B-), endlinked together to form multiple block copolymers (-A-B-)n. Notably, these block copolymers are synthesized differently from "regular" block copolymers in that the polymers (-A-) and (-B-) are already formed before endlinking takes place. However, they are not "bicomponent networks" either, as defined hereinabove, because they are not crosslinked and, therefore, are not elastomeric in nature and are soluble in various solvents.
BCNs traditionally have required that the two crosslinked components at least contribute theoretically to the physical and chemical characteristics of the polymeric networks. That is, the properties of the bicomponent network will reflect those of the individual components. For example, bicomponent networks containing polyisobutylenes and polysiloxanes may be of great interest to the extent that polyisobutylene is known for low cost, superior mechanical properties, extremely low gas permeability and excellent environmental, hydrolytic and high temperature resistance while, in contrast, siloxanes are relatively expensive, have poor mechanical properties, but excel in regard to high gas permeability, low surface energy and bicompatibility. Thus, it is believed that elastomeric BCNs with varying ratios of polyisobutylene to polysiloxane such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) may be of use to control gas permeability, water repellency, environmental stability and bicompatibility.
It will be appreciated that polymeric networks may also be formed from two components, but the second component may be used in such small and insignificant amounts that the second component would not contribute to the physical and chemical characteristics of the polymeric network. In this instance, the network is not considered a "bicomponent network" as defined hereinabove, inasmuch as the properties of the network are essentially the same as the properties of the primary (first) component.
These polymeric networks, including particularly, BCNs and other networks containing polyisobutylene of known structure, and especially those with desirable or known number average molecular weights between crosslinks (Mc) and easily obtainable crosslinking functionalities, may be very useful for the study of rubber elasticity theories and for the possible extension of these theories to two-component systems, since the polyisobutylene prepolymers and siloxanes are well-defined and can easily be characterized prior to crosslinking.

Multi-component polymeric networks containing polyisobutylene


Highly concentrated, water-based dispersions of certain lipophilic and/or hydrophobic antimicrobially active materials are stabilized to a surprising degree by a surfactant combination including a nonionic acrylic graft copolymer surfactant and a alkoxylated polyarylphenol phosphate ester surfactant. The active materials may be present in dispersion concentrates of the present invention singly or in useful combinations. The active materials are selected from the group of fungicides and bactericides consisting of 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one; 2-octyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one; 5-chloro-2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one; 2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one; pyrithione zinc; 3-iodo-2-propynyl butylcarbamate; 2-methylthio-4-ethylamino-6-tert-butylamino-s-triazine; and 3-(4-isopropylphenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea, and mixtures thereof. The dispersion concentrates may be efficiently shipped and stored, and subsequently diluted with water to produce less concentrated dispersions when desired. Even at relatively high concentrations, the dispersion compositions of the present invention can be stored for months or years without significant loss of stability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to compositions of matter which enhance the stability of solid-in-liquid dispersions. More specifically, the invention relates to surfactant systems for relatively lipophilic and/or hydrophobic materials, such as active antimicrobial materials, dispersed in lipophobic and/or hydrophilic liquids.
2. Description of Related Art
Water-based antimicrobial products are in great demand because, among other reasons, various governmental bodies have begun to restrict the use of solvents which contain volatile organic carbon (VOC). These restrictions are reportedly intended to enhance human health by improving the environment. As a result, many industries are switching from organic solvents to water-based solvents, which are inherently more susceptible to biological attack. More and better antimicrobial products are needed to protect the water-based solvents, and it is widely preferred that the antimicrobial products themselves are now also water-based and free of organic solvents.
To fulfill this need, concentrated products with relatively higher concentrations of antimicrobially active materials (hereinafter referred to "actives") are favored by the antimicrobial product industry because concentrated products are easier to transport and store. However, many desirable actives are lipophilic and/or hydrophobic to the extent they do not easily dissolve in water-based liquids and are better combined in the form of solid-in liquid dispersions or liquid-in-liquid emulsions. Consequently, the physical stability of water-based dispersions containing active (hereinafter referred to as "active dispersions") is important.
Some otherwise desirable active dispersions are impractical because they exhibit phase separation over time. Other active dispersions simply cannot be prepared in the sought-after concentrations using currently available methods. This is frequently the case when a number of actives are combined in an attempt to formulate a single product which consumers may find more efficient and convenient to use, as compared to products having only one active. Concentrated water-based dispersions including a combination of actives are at the cutting edge of antimicrobial formulation development.
In order to meet the demand for concentrated water-based dispersions, some formulators have added pH-adjusting agents. Assuming that these pH-adjusting agents actually promote physical stability, they cannot be considered a final solution, because the change in pH which they bring about can negatively impact the performance of the actives.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,413, issued to Payne, describes a stable aqueous formulation comprising from 5 to 30% by weight microbiologically active agent containing at least 50% BIT, from 1 to 4% dispersant and from 0.1 to 0.5% by weight xanthan gum. The formulation is said to be substantially free from organic solvents. Dispersants of the '413 patent reportedly include condensates of ethylene oxide or propylene oxide (including block co-polymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide), sodium lignin sulphonate, the sodium salt of naphthalene sulphonic acid/formaldehyde condensates and mixtures thereof. However, as demonstrated below, the present inventors have found that the sodium lignin sulphonate-containing formulations of the '413 patent exhibit undesirably high viscosities at relatively higher concentrations.
Japanese unexamined application JP 2-268900, assigned to Kurita Seisakusho K.K. and Kurita Water Industries Ltd., describes a slurry-form deodorizing agent for use in preventing foul smells arising from sludge. The deodorizing agent of the '900 application reportedly comprises 5-70 wt % of a deodorant such as 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one or methylene bis-thiocyanate, 0.1-10 wt % xanthan gum, 0.1-0.5 wt % polyacrylamide which optionally may be partially hydrolyzed, and water. However, as demonstrated below, the polyacrylamide-containing formulations of the '900 patent exhibit undesirably high viscosities at relatively higher concentrations.
World Intellectual Property Organization patent application no. PCT/EP04/10114, assigned to Bayer CropScience LP, describes suspension concentrates comprising a) at least one active compound, solid at room temperature, from the group of the azoles and/or the strobilurins, b) at least one penetration enhancer from the group of the alkanolethoxylates, c) at least one dispersant from the group of the polymers of methyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate and alpha-(2-methyl-1-oxo-2-propenyl)-omega-methoxypoly-(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), the tristyrylphenolethoxylates and/or the propylene oxide/ethylene oxide block copolymers having molecular weights between 8000 and 10 000, d) water and also e) additives, if appropriate. However, the alkanolethoxylates required by the '114 application are organic solvents and, therefore, inappropriate for use in organic solvent free, water-based antimicrobial products.
Previous researchers have devoted much effort to developing better surfactant systems and improved antimicrobial formulations. However, a need still exists for a surfactant system which stabilizes relatively concentrated, water-based dispersions of combined actives over a practical viscosity range and at a pH which is approximately neutral. New dispersions which include the surfactant system should be essentially free of organic solvents, should be effective for a number of proven active antimicrobial materials, and should not discolor other products to which they may be added or applied.

Water-based, antimicrobially active, dispersion concentrates


According to one embodiment, a noise reduction apparatus includes a frame delay module, first and second impulse noise detectors, first and second impulse noise reducers, a motion detector, and a noise reducer. The frame delay module delays a video signal by one frame to obtain a frame delay video signal. The first and second impulse noise detectors detect impulse noise in the video signal and the frame delay video signal. The first impulse noise reducer generates a current frame video signal by reducing the impulse noise in the video signal. The second impulse noise reducer generates a previous frame video signal by reducing the impulse noise in the frame delay video signal. The motion detector detects motion amount from the current and previous frame video signals. The noise reducer reduces noise other than the impulse noise in the current frame video signal based on the motion amount.

1. Field
One embodiment of the invention relates to a noise reduction apparatus and a noise reduction method for reducing noise components of a video signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Noise reduction apparatuses have been used to reduce noise in a signal. For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication (KOKAI) No. 2001-136416 discloses a noise reduction apparatus (a signal processing apparatus) that reduces noise. Specifically, the conventional noise reduction apparatus performs motion correction on an input video signal to obtain a motion-corrected video signal based on a motion vector detected from the input video signal. The noise reduction apparatus detects the noise level of the input video signal based on the detection result of the motion vector, and obtain a difference signal between the input video signal and the motion-corrected video signal. The noise reduction apparatus performs nonlinear processing on the difference signal with intensity corresponding to the noise level, and combines the input video signal with the difference signal subjected to the nonlinear processing. Thus, the noise reduction apparatus reduces the noise.
With the conventional noise reduction apparatus, to reduce impulse noise having a predetermined amplitude or more, the sensitivity of the motion detection is adjusted such that it becomes more likely that an image is determined to be static. This causes a ghost around a moving object, and thus, image quality degrades.

Noise reduction apparatus and noise reduction method


A touch key control and icon display apparatus includes a first substrate, a light-emitting element, a second substrate, and a body portion. The light-emitting element is disposed adjacent to the first substrate. The second substrate includes a circuit layer configured to sense a touch. The body portion is disposed between the first and second substrates and includes a reflective surface that defines a chamber. The chamber is formed through the body portion and configured to receive the light-emitting element. The circuit layer includes an icon disposed adjacent to an opening of the chamber. A portion of light, from the light-emitting element, incident on the circuit layer can pass through the circuit layer, and another portion of the light can be reflected by the circuit layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a touch system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Touch control technologies allow users to directly touch displayed information to select the information and functions they desire. Touch control technologies simplify the input interfaces of electronic apparatuses and make the input interfaces more convenient for users. Therefore, many electronic apparatuses adopt touch control technologies as their input interfaces.
To date, touch control technologies can be classified into touch screen technologies or touch button technologies. The touch screen technologies are usually used with LCDs (liquid crystal displays) as user interfaces. The touch button technologies usually detect the change of capacitance to accomplish the purpose of input controls.
Touch button devices can be substituted for conventional mechanical switches or push buttons. Since mechanical movements and contact surface abrasions have been eliminated, the touch button device can have a longer operational lifespan. Moreover, due to having a smooth touch surface, the touch button device can be a thin, light, and aesthetically pleasing design.
On either the screen of a touch control system (such as a touch screen device) or a touch button device, information or data is necessarily displayed. The displayed information or data may be numbers, characters, icons or symbols, through which users can obtain desired services. To display the information or data, a touch control system needs a light source that can provide a sufficient amount light required to display the information and data. However, providing uniform light on the screen or the touch buttons is always a challenge for the design of the display portion of a touch control system. The screens of some conventional touch control systems use complex designs and expensive components, such as light-guide plates or light-guided pipes, to provide uniform light. However, the cost of a touch screen is increased when the touch screen has a complex design and is built using expensive components. In addition, icons are additionally needed to be formed on the screens of a portion of conventional touch control systems, and such a design may result in higher costs.

Touch key control and icon display apparatus


The present invention is an amphibious all-terrain vehicle. This amphibious all-terrain vehicle includes a boat-shaped hull and a continuous track system that is configured to provide propulsion at multiple speeds while in water. The amphibious all-terrain vehicle includes a drive train, a suspension system having one or more tracks, an operator's station, and one or more handle bars as a steering system.

It has become a common necessity to have a versatile form of transportation. An all-terrain vehicle which seamlessly and efficiently switches from land to water allows people to extend their range of transportation.
Various prior art off-highway vehicles have been devised as utility vehicles for access to areas having water, rugged, and land terrains. The problem, however, with the conventional off-highway vehicles is that most include the complexities of gear and pulley systems. These are highly prone to failure as a means for translating power from an engine to other respective moving parts, namely the wheels and other propulsion systems.
The present invention is an amphibious off-highway vehicle which provides significant advantages and overcomes the disadvantages over the prior art.


Piezoelectric wafers are affixed to a circuit card to control displacement of the circuit card when vibrated. A trigger wafer located at an anti-node of the dominant mode shape produces a voltage as a function of modal displacement. A control system responsive to the trigger wafer produces voltages that are applied to flex wafers at a different anti-node of the dominant mode shape. The flex wafers expand and contract in a manner that reduces the modal displacement of the circuit card. Multiple flex wafers can exist, affixed to the circuit card substantially opposite each other, or a single flex wafer can exist with a single trigger wafer. The trigger wafer can be located substantially opposite the flex wafer or can be located elsewhere on the circuit card.

The present invention relates generally to printed circuit cards, and more specifically to printed circuit card assemblies having controlled vibrational properties.
Rapid advances in technology and increasing consumer demand are driving manufacturers and suppliers of electronics systems to increase the population density of devices on circuit cards, and to populate the circuit cards with more powerful circuit devices. As both the number and power consumption of the circuit devices on a circuit card increase, more heat is produced in the card. Dissipation of these large amounts of heat require the use of more numerous, larger and more massive heat sinks.
The increased number and large mass of such heat sinks can significantly alter the vibrational characteristics of the circuit card assemblies on which they are mounted, by producing large displacements of the circuit card that can overstress various physical components on the circuit card assembly and lead to early failures. The size and location of these large displacements can be controlled primarily by a single heat sink that is very large, or by a distribution of heat sinks of varying sizes.
Failures due to vibration induced displacements can occur in different applications. Of particular concern are applications that experience a significant amount of vibration, such as those in mobile environments. Circuit card assemblies mounted in mobile environments often endure significant amounts of vibration, causing the circuit card assemblies to produce large displacements.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus to control vibrational properties of circuit card assemblies.

Circuit card assembly having controlled vibrational properties


A pivot assembly is provided including a first pivot boss having an engagement extension and a first race element having a central race socket. A central engagement bushing is rotatably secured within the central race socket and includes an engagement chamber adapted to removably engage the engagement extension. The central engagement bushing allows the first race element to rotate relative to the first pivot boss while remaining longitudinally engaged to the first fixed pivot boss.

Industrial design considerations must consider a wide range of manufacturing and assembly concerns. Not the least of which involves the final assembly of individual components into a final product assembly. Complex designs may, in turn, result in complex assembly procedures. Complex procedures may lead to undesirably high cost increases due to labor costs. Complex assembly procedures may also decrease the precision of part assembly with a resultant decrease in fit-and-finish.
Thus, the nature of industrial design is often that it favors simplicity over complex assemblies. Such is the case in aircraft interiors. Aircraft interiors must withstand considerable use and abuse from consumers throughout the lifespan of the aircraft. Active functioning items must remain functioning in a safe and reliable fashion and must be easily removed and replaced when such functioning is impaired. All this should be accomplished with a requisite minimum of time and effort to fully realize cost savings.
In particular, one region of an aircraft interior known to pose challenges to such desired efficiencies are the overhead storage bins. This bins are heavily used and often abused during flights. Often passengers considerably overload them. This abuse in combination with their position within the aircraft often leads to complex fastener assemblies requiring tools to facilitate installation or removal. An installation assembly with reduced complexity and one that alleviated the need for tooling would simplify assembly, reduce assembly costs, allow for simplified replacement of damaged storage bins, and would reduce assembly timelines.
It would therefore be highly desirable to have a pivot mechanism that allowed for the quick installation of aircraft storage bins. It would also be highly desirable for such a pivot mechanism to allow for simplified bin removal for repair or replacement.

Pivot mechanism for quick installation of stowage bins or rotating items


A liquid primer is misted, flowed into a deposition chamber and deposited on a substrate. A liquid precursor is then misted, flowed into a deposition chamber and deposited on the substrate. The primer and precursor are dried to form a solid thin film, which is then annealed to form a part of an electronic component in an integrated circuit, such as the dielectric in a memory cell. The primer is a solvent, and the precursor includes a metal carboxylate, a metal alkoxide, or a metal alkoxycarboxylate in a precursor solvent. Preferably, the primer and the precursor solvent are the same solvent, such as 2-methoxyethanol, xylenes, or n-butyl acetate.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to methods for depositing high quality films of complex (compound) materials on substrates, and apparatus for effecting such methods. More particularly, the invention relates to fabrication of integrated circuits by applying a liquid precursor to a wafer, and then drying the applied liquid to form an integrated circuit component.
2. Description of the Related Art
The prior art methods for depositing thin films of complex compounds such as metal oxides for ferroelectric and high dielectric constant applications in integrated circuits include: vacuum evaporation (i.e., E-beam, laser ablation, etc.); vacuum sputtering (i.e., E-beam, D.C., R.F., ion-beam, etc.); powder metallurgy; reactive chemical vapor deposition, including metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD); and liquid application methods using sol-gels (alkoxides) or carboxylates. However, none of these known methods have been able to produce metal oxides with properties good enough for use in integrated circuits. For example, metal oxides produced for ferroelectric applications all fatigued rapidly and metal oxides produced for high dielectric constant applications all had excessive leakage currents. Moreover, none of the prior art processes, except sputtering, could produce films thin enough for integrated circuits and the films produced had significant physical defects, such as cracking, peeling, etc. It was impossible with the prior art processes, particularly sputtering, to reliably and repeatably produce metal oxides with a specific stoichiometry within tolerances required for integrated circuits. Some processes, like CVD, could be dangerous or toxic. All required high temperatures that were destructive to an integrated circuit, and provided poor "step coverage" of a substrate to be covered; i.e., the prior art techniques resulted in a relatively excessive build-up of deposition of the film at the boundary of any discontinuities on the substrate. In prior art liquid deposition processes, it was impossible to control thickness with the degree of accuracy that is required to manufacture integrated circuits. As a result, up to now, metal oxides have not been used in integrated circuits except for one or two specialty, relatively expensive applications, such as the use of sputtered PZT in ferroelectric integrated circuits that were expected to have short life times.
Recently, a misted deposition method of and apparatus for producing thin films for integrated circuit applications has been described by several of us. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,945 issued Oct. 10, 1995. While the method described therein provides great improvement over prior art methods, for thin films of about 1000 Angstroms or less, serious problems in step coverage and the quality of the films occur. Since thinner films permit more compact integrated circuits, it would be highly desirable to have a method and apparatus that produces high quality thin films of complex compounds such as metal oxides, having a thickness less than 1000 angstroms for integrated circuit and other applications.

Methods and apparatus for material deposition using primer


A system for incremental batch-mode editing of digital media objects includes one or more processors and memory coupled to the processors, where the memory stores program instructions executable by the processors to implement a media management tool. The media management tool is configured to receive a batch request indicating a plurality of modification operations to be performed on a plurality of digital media objects, and to perform the modification operations in a particular sequence. After a particular modification operation is performed, the media management tool is configured to provide a representation of one or more digital media objects affected by the modification operation, and receive input or feedback pertaining to the modification operation. The input may, for example, indicate respective versions of one or more digital media objects on which the next modification operation in the particular sequence is to be performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to computer systems. More particularly, it is directed to management of digital media objects using computer systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the advent of cheap processing power, storage devices and networking capabilities has made digital manipulation and transmission of media objects such as photographs, movies, and audio files more and more common. The sales of digital media management devices such as recording and playback devices for audio and video as well as digital cameras have increased at a rapid pace. In addition, more and more users, including media professionals as well as amateurs with varying levels of skill, have begun using software tools to manage their media assets. A number of different software tools and services may be used, for example, to perform tasks related to digital photographs, such as organizing an album, creating slide shows, adding captions, making photographs accessible to friends and family via the Internet, e-mailing photographs, and the like. Other tools may allow a user to purchase audio content over the Internet, categorize a collection of MP3 or other digital audio files into "playlists", exchange songs with friends, and so on.
As the prices for acquiring and storing digital media objects continues to fall, the number of objects that a typical professional or amateur user may have to manage may increase dramatically. For example, a family with one or more digital cameras may acquire thousands of digital photographs relatively quickly. Unfortunately, depending on the source from which the digital media objects are obtained, the quality of the objects' content may vary widely. For example, even experienced users of relatively sophisticated digital cameras may sometimes take photographs that may benefit from editing operations such as cropping, sharpening, changing light levels, removal of "red-eye" (a phenomenon in which photography subjects' eyes appear to be red as a result of a use of a flash), and the like. Manipulating each photograph of a large photograph collection individually to correct its defects may require more time and effort than a typical user may desire.
Some digital media management software, such as certain photography tools, may support batch-mode operations to help users with the management of large numbers of media objects. For example, a sequence of modification or correction operations, such as image sharpening, contrast increase, cropping, auto-orientation correction, and/or red-eye removal may be recorded for one digital photograph, and then applied as a batch operation to a set of photographs. The sequence of modifications may thereby be applied to each photograph of the set, with certain changes limited to a subset of the photographs to which the changes are determined to be applicable by the software tool—e.g., red-eye removal may be applied only to those photographs in which the tool identifies one or more excessively reddened eyes. Despite the increased sophistication of digital media software, however, a batch-mode operation may sometimes fail to provide desired results or improvements to a digital media object; for example, the cumulative effect of the sequence of changes intended to improve a given original photograph of the set may actually result in the photograph appearing worse than the original to the user. Inspecting each digital media object included in a batch operation (especially a batch operation that potentially modifies hundreds or thousands of objects) after the entire sequence of requested modifications has been applied may not be a productive use of the user's time. It may be hard, for example, to determine exactly which of the requested modifications were actually applied to a given object, and which modifications led to the undesired results. It may also be nontrivial to undo some modifications on the given object while still retaining the effects of other modifications of the sequence.

Incremental batch-mode editing of digital media objects


A method and system are provided in which a mobile device may be operable for long term evolution (LTE) communication or some other wireless technology via two or more transmit antennas. The device may comprise a power amplifier for each transmit antenna with substantially similar maximum power being provided by both amplifiers. A power headroom value may be determined in the device based on path loss values between the transmit antennas and a base station and the maximum transmit power for each transmit antenna. Transmission via one of the transmit antennas may occur concurrently with transmission via another of the transmit antennas. The device may generate an indication of the determined power headroom value for communication to the base station. The power headroom value may be reported periodically or in response to a change in the power received at the base station.

New wireless technologies are being developed and/or deployed by operators and service providers. While third generation (3G) technologies provide significant improvements over second generation (2G) technologies, there is an ever-increasing demand for higher throughput and lower latency. A next-generation wireless network technology that provides improvements over 3G technologies is the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) LTE. Accordingly, there is a need to effectively implement the various functions and/or operations associated with LTE networks.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Method and system for power headroom reporting in the presence of multiple transmit antennas


The present invention provides a method for introducing nucleic acids into cells. The method involves exposing the cells to a compound having formula (1), in which w is a nucleic acid, x is a peptide or amino acid, y is a linker having a chain length equivalent to 1 to 20 carbon atoms or is absent, R.sub.4 is H ir CH.sub.2 O--R.sub.3 ; and R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are the same or different and are either hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, hydroxyl or an acyl group derived from a fatty acid having a carbon chain of 3 to 24 carbon atoms saturated or unsaturated, with the proviso that at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is an acyl group derived from a fatty acid, or to a compound having the formula (2): w . . . xyNHCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OR.sub.5, in which w is a nucleic acid, x is a peptide or amino acid, y is a linker having a chain length equivalent to 1 to 20 carbon atoms or absent, R.sub.5 is an acyl group derived from a fatty acid having a carbon chain of 3 to 24 carbon atoms saturated or unsaturated. The invention also relates to these compounds. ##STR1##

The present invention relates to a method of introducing compounds, in particular nucleic acids, into cells. Further, the present invention relates to compositions for use in this method.
There are a number of situations in which it is desirable to deliver specific compounds into cells. One of these applications is the transfection of eucaryotic cells with DNA. This is currently done using various commercial agents such as "Transfectam" (Promega), "DOTAP", (Boehringer Mannheim), "Lipofectin" or "Lipofectamine" (BRL), or by using calcium phosphate mediated transfection.
The ability to deliver nucleic acid based compounds to cells also has application in drug delivery and gene therapy. The delivery of compounds into cells will change in association with a compound of the formula described below. Such changes may be manifested as modifications to their duration of action, ( e.g. slow release or sustained action) the amount of drug required or the mode of delivery. Delivery into cells using compounds variant within the parameters described below may also enable cell or tissue-specific targeting of drugs.
The present inventors have found that association of molecules with compounds modified with fatty acid acyl derivatives, of the general formula below, facilitates delivery of those compounds into cells.

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation


An electroslag-cold hearth (ESCH) system for refining or producing a desired metal or metal alloy is described. The system includes at least one cold hearth vessel capable of holding a pool of molten liquid metal and an overlying slag layer, and an ingot mold laterally off-set from the cold hearth. A source of raw material, e.g., a feed electrode, is positioned above the cold hearth, and fed into the molten slag in a refining operation. A flow-over dam separates the ingot mold from the cold hearth, preventing the flow of inclusions and other foreign bodies into the ingot mold. In some instances, a non-consumable electrode provides additional thermal energy to the slag. In the production operation, the metal source can be a salt from which the desired metal can be electrochemically extracted. Related methods for refining or producing metals such as titanium alloys are also described.

This invention relates generally to the processing of metals. More specifically, the invention is directed to processes and systems for the production or refining of specialty metals, such as titanium, aluminum, nickel, and their alloys.
Various metals and metal alloys are used to form relatively large structures which are used in demanding industrial applications. As an example, nickel-based superalloys are often used to form large turbine rotors and blades. Titanium alloys are frequently used for components in the cold section of a turbine, e.g., fan disks, fan blades, compressor discs, and compressor blades. They are also used to fabricate other types of high-value products. For example, a medical prosthesis can be cast or forged from a titanium material.
Specialty metals used for larger components are often produced as large bodies, using a sequence of processing techniques, such as vacuum induction melting, electroslag refining, and vacuum arc remelting. As an example, premium titanium alloys for aircraft engine applications are often formed by a process which includes cold-hearth melting of a titanium-based raw material, followed by one or more additional remelting steps, using vacuum arc remelting.
While the metal produced by these techniques is quite valuable, the processing through several steps can be expensive and time-consuming. For example, cold hearth melting systems usually employ a set of plasma torches or electron-beam guns to melt the raw metal feed material, and keep it in a molten state during processing. This type of equipment is very expensive to purchase, and requires a very high energy expenditure.
Considering their cost, the purity and quality of these specialty metals and metal alloys is often critical. Thus, special attention is paid to eliminating various impurities and foreign bodies from the metal product, e.g., an ingot. For example, hard alpha inclusions, which comprise titanium interstitially enriched with one or more of oxygen, nitrogen, or carbon, sometimes appear in titanium ingots. (Similarly, a variety of defects can sometimes appear in ingots formed of superalloys or other types of alloys). These defects, which are often introduced during the primary forming processes, can serve as initiation sites for points of weakness and potential failure of articles formed from the ingot.
The elimination or minimization of such defects remains a significant challenge to manufacturers, processors, and users. For example, nitrogen-rich inclusions generally form during the manufacture of virgin titanium, such as titanium sponge. Once formed, they must be removed or minimized during subsequent processing, sorting, or remelting operations. Fragmenting of the sponge into very small pieces may ameliorate the problem somewhat. The use of melting techniques which increase treatment time in the liquid state are also helpful. Still, efforts to-date have not always eliminated the presence of these defects.
In the case of titanium alloys, nitrogen-rich inclusions melt in a range above the melting range of titanium metal itself. The density of the inclusions is greater than the density of titanium metal and titanium alloys. Thus, removal of the inclusions by melting or floating is not practical. Dissolving of the nitrogen-rich inclusions in liquid titanium is very slow, but is currently the only practical solution. Hearth melt processing must be run very carefully and slowly to allow for density separation of the inclusions into the skull, or for redistribution of the interstitial element concentration by dissolution.
Another major source of defects in titanium-based articles is the presence of inclusions or contaminants of high-density or titanium-insoluble species. These contaminants are often tungsten-containing or other refractory compositions picked up during the recycle, recovery, and processing of titanium and titanium alloy scrap, also referred to herein as "revert." For example, the undesirable materials are sometimes introduced during cutting processes which use torches or other cutting tools, and can be in the form of drill bits, saw blade teeth, cutting torch electrodes, and the like. The problem of removing these types of contaminants is especially difficult. Since they often have melting points well above that of titanium, heat treatments may be ineffective or impractical. Instead, they may have to be removed by other techniques, such as electron beam cold hearth remelting.
When metals like titanium are refined in an electroslag process, the product is very accessible to contaminants like those described above. For example, the inclusions and contaminants can fall off a melting feed-ingot and pass through an underlying layer of slag. They then become readily incorporated into the ingot product being formed in a mold below the slag.
As mentioned above, this invention also relates to the production of specialty metals. Titanium is a good example, since it is often used in alloys intended for critical applications. Commercial methods for obtaining titanium from various ores are well-known. Examples include chlorination of titanium ore to produce titanium tetrachloride, followed by reduction of titanium tetrachloride with sodium (the Hunter process), or with magnesium (the Kroll process).
Metals like titanium can also be produced in an electrolytic process, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,545 (Ginatta). In such a process, a vertically-disposed copper cylinder functions as the crucible, and a liquid metal pool serves as the cathode. The crucible is usually water-cooled, and also includes a base plate which is connected to a power supply. A graphite anode is positioned within the interior of the cylinder. The anode is also connected to the power supply, through a bus bar. The crucible contains molten-salt electrolyte (calcium or calcium compounds), which is analogous to the slag employed in an electroslag refining process. The electrolyte is maintained in a molten state by resistance-heating with electricity, originating at the power supply.
The compounds which contain the metal to be extracted are directed into the electrolyte by a conventional feeding mechanism. The feed compounds may be in either solid, liquid, or gaseous form. (In the case of titanium alloys, examples of the compounds are TiCl4, TiF3, TiBr4, AlCl3, VCl4, VCl3, VCl2, and the like.). As the feed compounds are reduced by electrolysis, gaseous byproducts are removed through a duct inside the anode. The product, e.g., titanium metal, is collected as a molten liquid at the cathode. A pool of the liquid is allowed to cool and solidify as an ingot within the cathode-mold. The ingot can be withdrawn by lowering a retractable base plate.
Electrolytic processes like those described in Ginatta may be very useful for producing titanium and other specialty metals. The Ginatta process, in particular, appears to be potentially capable of directly producing premium-grade titanium directly from raw materials like TiCl4. This technique can be a considerable processing advantage, in that it may allow one to bypass other complex steps related to titanium sponge formation and reconsolidation.
However, such processes still exhibit some of the serious drawbacks described previously. For example, the vertical alignment of Ginatta's melting and recrystallization stations would still permit inclusions and other impurities to pass directly from the anode chamber into the body of liquid metal which cools to become the product. This problem is especially acute when the raw material includes metal revert and other solid materials. Additional, time- and energy-consuming steps like remelting may therefore be required to eliminate inclusions and foreign bodies, as mentioned above.
With these concerns in mind, improvements in the way that titanium and other metals are produced and refined would be welcome in the art. The new techniques should be capable of efficiently reducing or eliminating inclusions and other impurities from the metal being refined or produced. For example, the removal of the foreign bodies should take place without the need for multiple re-melting stations, or other processing steps. Furthermore, the new processes should minimize the need for expensive heating equipment, like plasma torches or electron-beam guns. Moreover, the processes should be amenable to control mechanisms which can monitor and adjust critical parameters like melting temperature and electrical impedance. Finally, the processes should be compatible with other steps typically involved in metal production and refining, e.g., raw material processing or post-production stages like casting and forging.

Apparatus for the production or refining of metals, and related processes


An ionic substance removing material for use in a super-clean room and a method of manufacturing the material are disclosed. The material includes an ion exchanger capable of an ion exchange reaction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to ionic substance removing material for use in a clean room such as a superclean room. The invention relates, more particularly, to a covering material or member for covering a concrete wall of the clean room or a garment to be used in such super-clean room. The invention relates also to a method of manufacturing the material.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the concrete wall covering material or member for covering a concrete wall constituting e.g. an interior wall of a construction work, there have long been known such interior materials or members as a panel, board, sheet, paper material and so on. Also known is a concrete wall covering member with improved anti-dust generating property for use in particular in covering a concrete wall of a clean room.
In recent years, there has been demand from the semiconductor industries for higher integration of print wiring for example. It has been found out, however, that with prevention of dust generation in a clean room, improvement achievable in the degree of integration falls short of the industries' demand. For this reason, the industries have been considering the possibility of meeting the demand for higher integration by removing not only solid particles through prevention of dust generation inside the room, but also volatile, organic and inorganic chemical contaminants. Specifically, it has been proposed to remove the chemical contaminants by incorporating a chemical filter within a ventilation system of the clean room.
However, with the conventional method of removing chemical contaminants which relies solely on the incorporation of a chemical filter within the ventilation system of the clean room, ionic gases present in the clean room cannot be eliminated satisfactorily. Hence, the conventional method has been unable to achieve complete freedom from bacteria, dust and chemical contaminants.
Then, the present inventors have conducted extensive analysis on the above-described situation. The analysis has led the inventors to the following realization. Namely, a concrete wall used for constructing a clean room discharges therefrom various kinds of inorganic ionic substances into the clean room and these ionic substances cannot be removed by the chemical filter. Then, if the source of the ion gas generation is completely shielded, it will become possible to achieve improvement toward complete freedom from bacteria, dust and chemical contaminants. However, in the case of the conventional concrete wall covering material, attention has been paid solely on its dust generation preventing performance. For this reason, it has been impossible to remove the ionic gases present in the clean room.
In views of the above-described state of the art, a primary object of the present invention is to provide, in e.g. a clean room, greater freedom from bacteria, dust and chemical contaminants by preventing volatilizing discharge of ionic gases from the concrete wall surface.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method capable of easily and reliably removing volatilized or floating ionic substances within a working atmosphere.

Ionic substance removing material for use in super-clean room and method of manufacturing the material


An energy saving lamp, containing an isolated bulb set and assembling base, wherein the bulb set is comprised of a main body, a bulb and a lid, and the assembling base is comprised of a main seat, a circular wall, a ballast and a bottom lid. A conductive and assembling structure are provided between said bulb set and the assembling base such that the bulb set and the assembling base can be disassembled and re-assembled freely, thus making it feasible to replace the malfunctioned parts of the lamp, achieving in the purpose of lower cost and reparability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an energy saving lamp. More particularly, the present invention relates to a lamp that has an isolated bulb and base structure.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional energy saving lamp is shown in FIG. 11, which includes a bulb 31 and a base 31, wherein the base 31 has an electrical ballast 310 (not shown) installed inside, and the bulb 31 is integrated with the base 31 through the use of a glue. However, the aforesaid energy saving lamp contains some improvable defects, such as:
1. High cost: When the lamp malfunctions even partially, it is not possible to replace the bulb 31 or ballast 310 alone. Rather, the lamp must be replaced in its entirety, resulting in a high replacement cost.
2. Not repairable: When the lamp malfunctions partially, it is not possible to repair or replace the bulb 31 or ballast 310 alone. Rather, the lamp must be replaced in its entirety, and thus the lamp is not repairable.
The present invention is intended to improve upon the above drawbacks.

Energy saving lamp having isolated bulb and base structure


There is provided a pulse wave data analyzing method for extracting vital information out of pulse wave data concerning a living body. The method comprises a noise removal step of: detecting bottom values and peak values along a time axis in a time-series manner out of pulse wave data obtained by sequentially measuring a pulse wave of a subject for a predetermined period; making pairs with respect to the bottom values and the peak values adjacent to each other on the time axis to obtain bottom-to-peak amplitude values along the time axis, the bottom-to-peak amplitude value being a difference between the bottom value and the peak value in each of the pairs; and comparing each set of the two bottom-to-peak amplitude values adjacent to each other along the time axis to remove the bottom value and the peak value relating to the smaller bottom-to-peak amplitude value in the each set as a noise, if a ratio of the one of the two bottom-to-peak amplitude values to the other one of the two bottom-to-peak amplitude values is larger than a predetermined value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pulse wave data analyzing method, a system, and a program product for extracting information corresponding to electrocardiogram RR intervals out of pulse wave data concerning a living body.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is widely used, as an arrhythmia diagnostic method, a method of measuring an electrocardiogram of a subject, and using RR intervals in the electrocardiogram. The RR interval is a peak-to-peak interval of two consecutive R waves, which are the most frequently observed waves among P waves, Q waves, R waves, S waves, and T waves in one cycle of heartbeat in an electrocardiogram, as shown in FIG. 20. Expressing the RR intervals in a time-series manner enables to find out a heartbeat fluctuation. The heartbeat fluctuation is widely and clinically used as an index for assessing a biological control function of an autonomic nervous system involved in an organic activity of a living body.
The electrocardiogram measurement is generally performed, using a holter monitor equipped with electrodes for detecting cardiac activity potentials of a subject, or a like device. In use of the holter monitor, data measurement is conducted under a condition that after five or so electrodes are attached to the chest of the subject, and a data receiver is mounted on the waist of the subject in a medical institute, the subject performs a daily activity for one day or so. After the measurement is completed, the data stored in the receiver is outputted to a predetermined analyzer for an electrocardiographic waveform analysis to obtain the RR-intervals. The electrocardiogram measurement using the holter monitor requires the subject to perform a daily activity, with the electrodes being constantly attached to the body, which is stressful to the subject.
In view of the above, there is proposed a method of extracting information (hereinafter, called as "pulse wave RR intervals") corresponding to the RR intervals, out of pulse wave data, without relying on an electrocardiogram. The term "pulse wave" in the specification and claims of the application means a change in volume of an arterial vessel resulting from blood inflow, which is observed as a waveform through a body surface, and is a vasomotor response. The pulse wave is associated with cardiac movements. Measuring peripheral vascular movements of a living body enables to indirectly obtain information substantially equivalent to RR intervals obtained based on an electrocardiogram.
Concerning the pulse wave RR interval detection, a first conventional art discloses a pulse wave RR interval measuring device for calculating pulse wave RR intervals by detecting a pulse wave of a subject along a time axis by a pulse wave sensor, and by analyzing pulse wave data obtained by a calculator to obtain peak values and peak points of time. A second conventional art discloses an arrhythmia detector for detecting an accurate pulse wave component by frequency-analyzing a pulse waveform detected by a pulse waveform detector and by removing a body motion component, and for detecting an arrhythmia, using the obtained frequency analysis result. Furthermore, a third conventional art discloses a pulse wave analyzing method of detecting pulse wave RR intervals by calculating a speed pulse waveform based on first derivation of a pulse waveform detected by a pulse wave sensor, and by detecting peaks of the speed pulse waveform.
The peaks of the pulse wave data, however, are not sharp peaks generally observed in R waves of an electrocardiogram. Also, the pulse wave data includes notches, reflected wave components, or the like, which correspond to sites of a pulse waveform where relatively small peak portions and bottom portions appear. The notches, the reflected wave components, or the like become noises in peak detection. Hereinafter, the notches, the reflected wave components, or the like are simply called as "notches" to simplify the description. It is not easy to automatically detect peaks corresponding to the R waves based on raw pulse wave data according to the conventional art. The first and the second conventional art do not particularly mention an approach of accurately extracting peaks out of pulse wave data. The pulse wave analyzing method disclosed in the third conventional art is capable of removing the notches to some extent. However, since the third conventional art adopts a method of removing the notches, using a threshold value obtained based on a mean value of peak-to-peak intervals, the method may misjudge an actual peak as a noise in the case where appearance of a peak is unpredictable as in the case of an arrhythmia.

Pulse wave data analyzing method, system, and program product


A fault-tolerant computer system employs a pseudo-filesystem to dynamically manage the hardware components. A directory which appears as a standard, hierarchical directory in this filesystem contains a file for each component; each file maps to either a hardware component or a software module. The pseudo-filesystem hierarchy is determined during system initialization and is automatically updated whenever the software or hardware configuration changes. The pseudo-filesystem, called /config filesystem herein, is implemented as a Unix filesystem in the Unix filesystem switch. This pseudo-filesystem method may be implemented in a fault-tolerant, redundant computer system configuration having multiple identical CPUs executing the same instruction stream, with multiple, identical memory modules in the address space of the CPUs storing duplicates of the same data. The system detects faults in the CPUs and memory modules, and places a faulty unit offline while continuing to operate using the good units. The multiple CPUs are loosely synchronized, as by detecting events such as memory references and stalling any CPU ahead of others until all execute the function simultaneously; interrupts can be synchronized by ensuring that all CPUs implement the interrupt at the same point in their instruction stream. Memory references are voted at the three separate ports of each of the memory modules.

This invention relates to computer systems, and more particularly to a file system used for configuring for a fault-tolerant multiprocessor system.
Highly reliable digital processing is achieved in various computer architectures employing redundancy. For example, TMR (triple modular redundancy) systems may employ three CPUs executing the same instruction stream, along with three separate main memory units and separate I/O devices which duplicate functions, so if one of each type of element fails, the system continues to operate. Another fault-tolerant type of system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,228,496, issued to Katzman et al, for "Multiprocessor System", assigned to Tandem Computers Incorporated. Various methods have been used for synchronizing the units in redundant systems; for example, in said prior application Ser. No. 118,503, filed Nov. 9, 1987, by R. W. Horst, for "Method and Apparatus for Synchronizing a Plurality of Processors", also assigned to Tandem Computers Incorporated, a method of "loose" synchronizing is disclosed, in contrast to other systems which have employed a lock-step synchronization using a single clock, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,215 for "Central Processing Apparatus for Fault-Tolerant Computing", assigned to Stratus Computer, Inc. A technique called "synchronization voting" is disclosed by Davies & Wakerly in "Synchronization and Matching in Redundant Systems", IEEE Transactions on Computers June 1978, pp. 531-539. A method for interrupt synchronization in redundant fault-tolerant systems is disclosed by Yondea et al in Proceeding of 15th Annual Symposium on Fault-Tolerant Computing, June 1985, pp. 246-251, "Implementation of Interrupt Handler for Loosely Synchronized TMR Systems". U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,498 for "Fault-Tolerant Real Time Clock" discloses a triple modular redundant clock configuration for use in a TMR computer system. U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,353 for "Frame Synchronization of Multiply Redundant Computers" discloses a synchronization method using separately-clocked CPUs which are periodically synchronized by executing a synch frame.
The fault-tolerant computer systems of the type shown in these prior patents and publications have used custom-designed operating systems and applications software written especially for each system, rather than using more generalized operating systems so that widely available applications software could be employed. Thus, the variety of applications software has been limited, and that available has been expensive. For this reason, a system as illustrated herein is intended to make use of a standard operating system, Unix.TM..
In a fault-tolerant computer system having redundant modules, the system can continue to operate in a wide variety of configurations. CPU modules, memory modules or I/O modules may be removed from the system while the remaining component parts continue to operate. At any given time, however, the operating system must have an accurate record of what the system configuration is, i.e., what modules are present and operating in full capacity. Examining the configuration of a Unix.TM. system presents difficulties, however. Usually a /dev entry is employed for this purpose, but /dev entries tell what could be installed, not what is installed. Unix system traditionally access hardware components and software modules through a series of special files (the /dev entries). These files must be created by a system administrator and must be explicitly modified whenever the system configuration changes.
It is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved method of operating a high-reliability computer system, particularly of the fault-tolerant type. Another object is to provide improved operation of a redundant, fault-tolerant type of computing system in situations where faulty hardware components may be removed from the system and replaced while the system continues to operate, and one in which reliability, high performance and reduced cost are possible. A further object is to provide a high-reliability computer system in which the performance, measured in reliability as well as speed and software compatibility, is improved but yet at a cost comparable to other alternatives of lower performance. An additional object is to provide a high-reliability computer system which is capable of executing an operating system which uses virtual memory management with demand paging, and having protected (supervisory or "kernel ") mode (e.g., a standard Unix operating system), particularly an operating system also permitting execution of multiple processes; all at a high level of performance but yet in a reliable manner.

Fault-tolerant computer system with /CONFIG filesystem


An electronic device running a first application has one or more processors and memory. The memory stores one or more programs configured for execution by the one or more processors. The device downloads, from a server system, a visual analytics intent library, which is configured to execute across a plurality of applications, including the first application. The device configures the library to execute on the device based on the device running the first application. After the configuring, the device receives a request directed to a data source. The request includes one or more intent types and one or more predefined attributes associated with the one or more intent types. In accordance with the request, for each of the intent types, the device formulates a respective intent specification according to the library. It also determines one or more respective properties of the respective intent specification according to the respective predefined attributes.

Visual analytics tools enable a user to understand a data set visually and make informed decisions. Increasingly, visual analytics tools are incorporating features such as natural language interactions and machine learning-based analyses and recommendations, which provide more sophisticated and expressive analytical tasks beyond the simple selection of data attributes and values to generate a visualization. However, it remains a challenge to interpret a user's analytical intent because the intent needs to be translated into lower-level system actions that generate appropriate responses. This process typically involves complex implementations that are hard-coded for each application and difficult to fine-tune.
Accordingly, there is a need for systems and methods that can capture user intent during analytical workflows. Such systems and methods should also be able to infer underspecified or ambiguous intents and suggest effective output.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Implementing a visual analytics intent language across multiple devices


A device for delivering a biocompatible material to a surgical site includes a cannula having proximal and distal portions and at least a first interior lumen disposed therebetween through which the biocompatible material is delivered. The device further includes an initiation member for initiating cross-linking of the biocompatible material while the biocompatible material is within the cannula. The cannula may include a heating element to thermally initiate cross-linking. Alternately, the cannula may include a second lumen for transmitting light from a light source. A movable blocking element controls the amount of light that passes into the first lumen. A method of delivering a curable biocompatible material to a surgical site includes positioning a distal portion of a cannula adjacent the surgical site and introducing the biocompatible material through a first lumen of the cannula. Cross-linking of the biocompatible material is then initiated while the biocompatible material is within the cannula.

The musculoskeletal system is subject to injury caused by traumatic events as well as by a number of diseases. Repair of connective tissue of the musculoskeletal system is commonly performed. By way of example, articular cartilage is a type of hyaline cartilage that lines the surfaces of the opposing bones in a diarthrodial joint (e.g., knee, hip, shoulder, etc.). Its primary function is to permit smooth, near frictionless movement during articulation between bones of the joint by providing a low-friction interface between the contacting cartilage surfaces of the joint. Articular cartilage is also load bearing, and serves to transmit and distribute compressive joint loads to the underlying subchondral bone.
Articular cartilage is typically damaged in one of two ways, acute trauma suffered through physical activity (such as twisting motion of the leg, sharp lateral motion of the knee, or repetitive impact), or degenerative conditions (such as arthritis or systemic conditions). In addition, as a person ages, articular cartilage loses mechanical strength, rendering the cartilage even more susceptible to trauma. Because articular cartilage tissue is aneural, i.e., having few or no nerves, and avascular, i.e., having few or no blood vessels, the healing of damaged cartilage is limited.
Consequently, various surgical methods are available for the treatment of damaged tissue, such as cartilage. In one treatment approach, the damaged tissue is removed and replaced with natural or synthetic materials that are physiologically acceptable to the human body and which perform the function formerly performed by the material removed. Recently, various orthopedic surgical procedures have replaced native tissue, such as cartilage, with a curable biocompatible material. Such surgical procedures have been performed using minimally invasive techniques, such as arthroscopic and endoscopic techniques, that allow as much of the healthy tissue as possible to remain. One type of biocompatible material that has shown promise for effecting soft tissue repair is hydrogels. Hydrogels are particularly suitable for minimally invasive procedures because they provide controllable phase change, such that the hydrogel may be injected through the minimally invasive device while in a liquid state and then cured in-situ to form a solid or a gel.
While the use of hydrogels has generally been successful to effect joint repair, their use does have some drawbacks. One such drawback is that while the hydrogel is in a liquid form, such as when delivering the hydrogel to a surgical site through the minimally invasive device, it has a relatively low viscosity. Consequently, the hydrogel flows easily and is therefore difficult to contain at the treatment site. Moreover, leakage of the hydrogel into or onto the tissue surrounding the surgical site may not be desirable in some surgical procedures. As a result, the use of hydrogels to effect joint repair has been heretofore limited.
Therefore, there is a need for improvements in a method and apparatus for delivering a biocompatible material to a surgical site.

Apparatus and method for delivering a biocompatible material to a surgical site


Described is a dual mode sample manager for a liquid chromatography system. The dual mode sample manager includes a sample needle, a sample loop, a metering pump, a needle seat and first and second valves. Each valve is configurable in two valve states to enable two modes of operation. In one mode, sample acquired and stored in the sample needle is injected into a chromatography system flow and, in the other mode, sample acquired through the sample needle and stored in the sample loop is injected into the chromatography system flow. The automated switching of the sample manager between the two modes of operation avoids the need for maintaining two separate liquid chromatography systems or manual reconfiguration of a chromatography system for users desiring the capability of both modes of operation.

Liquid chromatography systems commonly use a sample manager to acquire a sample and inject the sample into the system flow (i.e., mobile phase) of the chromatography system. Some sample managers use a sample loop to store and inject a fixed volume of sample. Alternatively, other sample managers use a flow through needle to acquire and store the sample prior to injection.
Each type of sample manager has its own advantages. Depending on the types of analyses to be performed, an operator will select a chromatography system equipped with one type of sample manger. For example, dispersion, injection delay volume, gradient delay volume, the sample volume to be injection and sample waste are all factors that can influence the selection of the type of sample manager. To perform a wider range of analyses, it may be desirable to have two chromatography systems available; however, costs and equipment space may present challenges.


The invention relates to an apparatus comprising a pipelined converter, such as a pipelined ADC. The pipelined converter has a first set of stages and a second set of stages. A clocking circuit is configured to generate a plurality of clocking signals for the pipelined converter. The plurality of clocking signals comprise a first clocking signal at a first voltage level that is provided to the first set of stages and a second clocking signal at a second voltage level that is provided to the second set of stages.

This application is generally related to pipelined converters such as are used in pipelined analog to digital converters (ADCs).
Analog-to-digital converters are employed in a variety of electronic systems including computer modems, wireless telephones, satellite receivers, process control systems, etc. For such systems, it is desirable to employ cost-effective ADCs that efficiently convert an analog input signal to a digital output signal, over a wide range of frequencies and signal magnitudes, with minimal noise and distortion.
An ADC typically converts an analog signal to a digital signal by sampling the analog signal at pre-determined sampling intervals and generating a sequence of binary numbers via a quantizer. A resultant sequence of binary numbers is a digital representation of the sampled analog signal. Some commonly used types of ADCs include integrating ADCs, Flash ADCs, pipelined ADCs, successive approximation register ADCs, Delta-Sigma ADCs, two-step ADCs, etc. Pipelined ADCs and Delta-Sigma ADCs are currently popular in applications requiring higher resolutions.
A pipelined ADC circuit samples an analog input signal using a sample-and-hold circuit to hold the input signal steady and a first stage ADC to quantize the input signal. The first stage ADC then feeds the quantized signal to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The pipelined ADC circuit subtracts the output of the DAC from the analog input signal to produce a residue signal of the first stage. The residue signal is passed as the input to the next stage. A similar set of operations is performed in the subsequent stages of the ADC.

Toshiba America Electronics Components, Inc.


Method and apparatus for converting an analog input voltage signal (preferably in the form of a low-frequency rectangular voltage) to a digital output signal proportional to the input voltage. The input voltage is integrated to the integrator voltage over a certain integration time. After the expiration of the integration time, the integrator voltage is de-integrated to zero over a de-integration time by a reference voltage and the input voltage is found from the ratio of de-integration time to integration time, multiplied by the reference voltage. During the integration time, modulation pulses, preferably derived from the reference voltage, are superimposed on the input voltage and thus the integrator voltage is influenced, so that a given integrator voltage is obtained regardless of the input voltage.

Many methods of converting an analog signal to a digital signal are known, in particular the parallel method, the weighing method and the counting method.
In the parallel method, the input voltage is compared simultaneously with n reference voltages, and it is determined which of the two reference voltages the input voltage falls between. This gives a digital output signal proportional to the input voltage, and thus to a certain number, in one step. But this method is very expensive, since a comparator is needed for every possible number. A measuring range of 0 to 100 in steps of one thus requires n=100 comparators.
In the weighing method, the whole result is not achieved in one step. Rather, only one digit of the number is found (as a binary number). Thus, one starts with the highest digit and finds out whether the input voltage is greater or less than the reference voltage for the highest digit. If it is greater, the highest digit is set at one, and the reference voltage is subtracted. The remainder is then compared with the next-lower digit, and so on. This method thus takes as many steps as the number has digits, and just as many reference voltages.
The simplest method is the counting method. This method counts how many times the reference voltage with the lowest digit must be added to obtain the input voltage. The number of steps is the answer.
The method of converting an analog signal to a digital signal described at the beginning is a special type of counting method, namely the so-called dual slope method, which has the advantage that a very large solution can be obtained at a relatively small expense.
A known circuit arrangement for carrying out the dual slope counting method is shown in FIG. 1. That circuit includes a functionally necessary integrator 1 and a comparator 2. There is also a summation amplifier 3 with a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 4, whose input derives from a microprocessor (not shown) and whose output constitutes a reference voltage U.sub.ref. There is also a 10:1 divider 5, whose switches can be closed selectively, to increase the dynamic range and a .+-.amplifier 6, so that the comparator 2 is always driven unilaterally, and so the influence of offset and reaction times as an additive portion can be kept as constant as possible.
In the resting state of the FIG. 1 circuit, switch S.sub.1 is open and switch S.sub.3 is closed, and the D/A converter 4 is not driven and the integrator voltage U.sub.int at the output of integrator 1 is zero. When measurement starts, a counter (not shown) on the output side, which can be part of microprocessor, is reset, switch S.sub.3 is open, and switch S.sub.1 is closed. In this way, the input voltage U.sub.e is integrated to a certain integrator voltage U.sub.int over a given integration time t.sub.auf as measured with the counter (not shown). At the end of the integration time t.sub.auf, the integrator voltage U.sub.int equals: ##EQU1##
After completing the integration to the integrator voltage U.sub.int in the known time interval t.sub.auf, there follows an integration down to zero voltage. For this, the integrator voltage is decremented by an integration of the reference voltage U.sub.ref provided by the D/A converter 4. The time required to decrement the integrator voltage U.sub.int down to zero volts is t.sub.ab. This time is determined by the comparator 2 and the counter (not shown). Using comparator 2 and the counter (not shown), the decrement time t.sub.ab is determined as follows: ##EQU2##
From Equation 2, the input voltage U.sub.e is found as follows: ##EQU3##
FIG. 2 shows an input voltage Ue to be converted to a digital output signal by the FIG. 1 circuit and FIG. 3 shows integrator voltages U.sub.int occurring in that circuit. Note that in FIG. 3, the integrator voltage becomes negative if the time during which that voltage is decremented by U.sub.ref is greater than t.sub.ab.
The advantage of the dual slope method is that neither the elementary or clock frequency, which must in any case be stable, nor the integration time-constant enter into the result. Incidentally, the momentary value of the input voltage does not enter into the result either, only its average over the integration time. Thus, the higher the frequency, the more the alternating currents are attenuated. Alternating currents whose frequencies are equal to a whole number multiple of the reciprocal value of the integration time are completely suppressed. Thus, the influence of the ripple voltage of the line frequency is eliminated by appropriate selection of the integration time.
The following disadvantages are inherent in the known dual slope counting method described thus far:
a) different input voltages lead to different modulations of the integrator (see waveforms 1 and 2 in FIG. 3);
b) a small modulation of the integrator means the saturation strength of the integrator is low;
c) small modulations of the integrator lead automatically to the problem of compensating for the direct current, so that the integrator is always driven around zero;
d) the D/A converter 4 produces different reference voltages so that linear deviations in the D/A converter enter directly into the results. Accordingly, a D/A converter with high resolution and good linearity must be used;
e) a high-precision 10:1 divider 5 is necessary to expand the dynamic range; and
f) the .+-. amplifier 6 is necessary so that the comparator can always be driven unilaterally so that the influence of offset and reaction times can be kept as constant as possible as an additive portion.
Accordingly, it is among the objects of the invention to design and develop a method and means of converting an analog signal to a digital signal using the dual slope type of counting method, so that the method can be practiced with a simpler circuit arrangement and achieve better results.

Method and means for converting an analog signal into a digital signal