The invention discloses a technology to safely control speed and brake on in-line skates using a ski-like technique, wherein in-line skate wheels can rotate both vertically and at an angle. When angled (or “canted”) the wheels contact a friction strip within the wheel frame or a friction disk on the axle. The friction caused by the angled wheels contacting friction strips or friction disks is comparable to the canted “edging friction control” action of skis. The novel means that allows both vertical and angular rotation is a cohesive 2-element plastic hub shown in FIG's 1–C & D. The inner element 2a has a convex perimeter and fits inside outer element 2's convex bore, allowing 2a to rotate freely within outer element 2. Within inner element 2a are axle bearings 5 or 9 and axle 8. External elastomer springs 7a or internal elastomer spring 7b keep each wheel in a vertical coasting position. When in the canting (edging) position for control and braking, the self-aligning “springs” (7a or 7b) force the canted wheels back into the vertical coasting (gliding) position. Since the self-aligning elastomer “springs” can be made soft to hard and be interchangeably arranged, the skates can effectively have models that would satisfy a beginner to a pro.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to in-line skates, specifically to improve safety and performance by providing the mechanical means to control speed and to abruptly stop in a form and manner that is comparably used in skiing.
2. Status of Prior Art
The state of the art method of control and braking on in-line skates (since the inception of the sport (about 25 years ago), has been a heel brake pad on the right or left skate. To engage the heel brake pad (as one is moving forward out of control), the skater has to lean back, extend one leg forward and lift the toe of that skate to apply rear pressure to the heel brake pad.
This ungainly, unbalanced, one leg and skate method of control and braking is not only ineffectual, it more often than not causes the skater to fall with injurious results. For that reason, most in-line skaters do not use or attempt to use the heel brake pad. That lack of control has resulted in a high percentage of injuries, casting a noticeable pall over the sport in the last 5 or so years.
The present invention is an improvement to earlier U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,827 B2, the contents of which is hereby incorporated into this application.

Generation of in-line skates and skate-boards with safety “EDGING FRICTION CONTROL™”


A two-reactor catalytic system including a catalytic membrane gasification reactor and a catalytic membrane water gas shift reactor. The catalytic system, for converting biomass to hydrogen gas, features a novel gasification reactor containing both hollow fiber membranes that selectively allow O2 to permeate therethrough and a catalyst that facilitates tar reformation. Also disclosed is a process of converting biomass to H2. The process includes the steps of, among others, introducing air into a hollow fiber membrane; mixing the O2 permeating through the hollow fiber membrane and steam to react with biomass to produce syngas and tar; and reforming the tar in the presence of a catalyst to produce more syngas.

Conversion of biomass to hydrogen has attracted great attention given the potential of using abundant biomass to generate clean power.
The conversion process includes two steps, namely, (i) gasification of biomass to generate syngas, and (ii) water gas shift (WGS), i.e., transformation of steam and syngas to hydrogen.
Conventional biomass gasification requires a large reactor to accommodate a large volume of air as the content of oxygen in the air for the reaction is low. Moreover, tar produced in the gasification step is routinely removed from the reactor instead of being further to processed to generate more syngas. Additionally, before performing the WGS step, some tar impurities remaining in the syngas are typically eliminated at a high temperature, an energy-consuming operation.
There is a need to develop a high-yield method for converting biomass to hydrogen that utilizes compact reactor and minimal energy.

Catalytic membrane system for converting biomass to hydrogen


Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for watermarking neural networks. In some embodiments, there may be provided a method. The method may include determining, for a neural network, an activation layer output by a hidden layer of the neural network. The method may include selecting a watermarking process. The method may include applying the selected watermarking process to the activation layer output to generate a key. The method may include storing, for the neural network to enable detection of copying of the neural network, the selected watermarking process and the key. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.

Machine learning technology, such as neural networks, deep learning neural networks, and/or the like, may learn to perform a task, such as classification, detection, and/or a variety of other tasks. For example, a neural network may learn to detect, from input images, whether a certain image is present in the image. The neural network may learn in a supervised or unsupervised manner to perform a task. Neural networks are being deployed in a variety of settings including cloud servers coupled to the Internet, user equipment such as smartphones, tablets, computers, and/or the like, as well as in a variety of other devices.


An ink jet recording apparatus comprises an ink cap for capping an ink discharge port to discharge ink containing coloring material, a processing liquid cap for capping a processing liquid discharge port to discharge processing liquid for processing ink and preventing means for preventing the ink cap from capping the processing liquid discharge port or preventing means for preventing the processing liquid cap from capping the ink discharge port. With the structure thus arranged, it is made possible to avoid any insolubilization of coloring material contained in ink against solvent, thus maintaining the performance of such ink jet recording apparatus in good condition at all times for the excellent formation of images to be recorded.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that records by discharging ink from discharging means to a recording medium.
2. Related Background Art
A recording apparatus having the functions as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile equipment, or the like or a recording apparatus used as an output equipment for a complex electronic equipment or a work station including a computer, a word processor, or the like, is structured to record images (including characters, symbols, and the like) on a recording medium (recording material) such as a paper sheet, a thin plastic plate in accordance with recording information. The recording apparatuses are classified into those of ink jet type, wire dot type, thermal type, and laser beam type, among some others, depending on the recording method adopted by each of them, respectively.
For a recording apparatus of serial type that records while scanning in the direction intersecting the feeding direction (sub-scanning direction) of a recording medium, recording is performed on a recording medium entirely after the recording medium is set at a specific recording position by combining the recording operation by recording means (discharge means) that travels along the recording medium, and the feeding operation that feeds the recording medium in the direction intersecting the traveling direction of the recording means.
On the other hand, a recording apparatus of line type that records only in the sub-scanning direction in which a recording medium is being carried, images are recorded on a recording medium entirely after the recording medium is set at a specific position by feeding it by a given amount (pitch feeding) while the recording is performed continuously for a one-line portion altogether.
Of the recording apparatuses described above, the recording apparatus of ink jet type (ink jet recording apparatus) records by discharging ink from recording means (recording head) to a recording medium, which makes it easier to produce recording means (discharging means) compactly, and to record highly precise images at high speeds on an ordinary paper sheet without any particular treatment given to it. Therefore, this type can-operate at lower running costs. Also, being of a non-impact type, the ink jet recording apparatus has a lesser amount of noises, while making it easier to record color images using ink of multiple colors, among some other advantages. Particularly, the line type apparatus, which uses recording means of the fully multiple type that has many discharge ports arranged in the width direction of a recording sheet, makes it possible to record at higher speeds.
Particularly, the recording means (recording head) of the ink jet type that discharges ink by the utilization of thermal energy can be manufactured easily with the a highly densified arrangement of liquid flow paths (discharge port arrangement) by forming electrothermal converting member, electrodes, liquid path walls, ceiling, and the like filmed on a substrate by means of etching, deposition, sputtering, and other semiconductor manufacturing processes. In this way, its manufacture can be implemented more compactly.
Also, for an ink jet recording method or apparatus that can obtain high quality images on a recording medium, there is adopted the one that discharges an image quality enhancement agent (processing liquid) that insolubilizes or coagulates coloring material in recording ink, in addition to discharging recording ink (ordinary ink). Also, there are many demands on the materials of recording media (recording materials). In recent years, developments have been made to meet these demands so that the recording apparatuses can use cloth, leather, nonwoven textile, or even metallic material as a recording medium, besides paper (including thin paper sheet, processed paper sheet) and thin resin plate (OHP or the like). As specific apparatuses usable therefor, there is the aforesaid printer, copying machine, facsimile equipment, or the like or the recording apparatus used as the output equipment for a complex electronic equipment or work station including computer, word processor, or the like. Also, there may be cited those apparatuses and equipment that can be used for industrial production.
For the ink jet recording apparatuses described above, however, it is impossible to obtain color images having good image fastness and quality when images are formed on the recording medium which is defined as the so-called ordinary paper sheet, because the water-proofing of images thus recorded is insufficient or because it is not compatible to produce images in high density without causing feathering and running between colors when color images should be obtained.
As a method for improving the waterproof capability of images, it has been made practicable to use the ink that contains waterproof coloring material in it in recent years. However, the waterproof capability thus provided is still insufficient. Also, theoretically, this method has a drawback in that such ink is not easily soluble to water once it has been dried, and for that matter, the nozzles of a recording head tend to be clogged, and that the structure of the apparatus tends to be made more complicated in order to avoid the occurrence of such clogging.
Also, conventionally, there have been disclosed many techniques to improve the fastness of recorded images. In the specification of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 53-24486, a technique is disclosed for laking colors for fixation by giving post treatment to the colored object in order to enhance the wet fastness thereof. In the specification of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 54-43733, a recording method is disclosed in which two or more components are used to increase film formation capability when these components are in contact with each other at room temperature or at the time of being heated by use of an ink jet recording method. By the adoption of this method, it becomes possible to obtain prints that form the film that strongly adheres to the recording medium when the components are in contact with each other on it.
Also, in the specification of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 55-150396, there is disclosed a method for providing a waterproof agent for dyes of ink to form lake after images are recorded by an ink jet recording that uses water color ink. In the specification of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 58-128862, an ink jet recording method is disclosed for recording by the application of recording ink and processing ink, which are overlaid after provisionally discriminating positions of images to be recorded. The method is such that images are drawn by use of processing ink prior to the application of recording ink or processing ink is overlaid on recording ink whereby to form images beforehand or recording ink is overlaid on processing ink whereby to have drawn images beforehand, and then, processing ink is again overlaid on them to complete the image formation.
However, there are no disclosures in these documents as to recovery means for maintaining discharge reliability, the structure of recording head, the structure of ink tank, and the recording mode to improve the quality of recorded images, or the like, which is all characteristic of an ink jet recording apparatus.
Here, on the other hand, there are fundamental problems characteristic of the ink jet recording method. In other words, firstly, since recording is made by discharging ink droplets from the recording head to a recording medium such as a paper sheet, an OHP film, fine ink droplets (mist) generated aside from the main ink droplets or ink droplets rebounding from those discharged onto the recording medium are depositied to adhere to the discharge port surface of the recording head. Such adhesion of ink is concentrated around each of discharge ports in a large quantity. Then, paper particles and other foreign substances may adhere to such concentrated ink mist, thus hindering regular discharges. Therefore, ink is discharged in the unexpected directions (twisting), ink discharge is disabled (non-discharge), or some other malfunction may take place.
Secondly, when the recording head is not in recording operation or discharge ports are not allowed to discharge for a long time, to be exact, ink in the corresponding nozzles is evaporated and dried. As a result, ink becomes overly viscous and fixed, and causes nozzles to be clogged, leading to the twisting, non-discharge, and other defective discharges. To eliminate such drawback as this, an ink jet recording method should be provided with recovery means.
As means for solving the first problem, that is, means for cleaning off and removing foreign substances such as unwanted ink, paper particles adhering to the discharge port surface, which are brought about by the ink mist or rebounded ink droplets from the recording medium, a mechanism is generally adopted that clears (wipes) the discharge port surface by use of a blade formed by rubber or some other elastic material.
Also, as means for solving the second problem, it is generally practiced to adopt a mechanism given below. In other words, the discharge port surface of the recording head is covered by a cap when recording is at rest, thus preventing ink in the nozzles from being evaporated and dried so as not to allow ink from becoming overly viscous and fixed. If ink in the nozzles has become overly viscous and fixed to have caused defective discharges or if foreign substances cannot be removed by use of the blade, discharge is recovered to the normal state by exhausting the overly viscous ink in the nozzles using a suction pump connected with the aforesaid cap.
Further, for the recording operation of an on-demand type ink jet recording method, a plurality of discharge ports, which are arranged for one recording head, are not necessarily used entirely at all times. There are nozzles which are not used for a period longer than a certain time (namely, unused discharge ports). Also, for a color recording apparatus that has a plurality of recording heads, there may be some cases where all the discharge ports (nozzles) are not used, such as those provided for a recording head, but no recording data are transferred to them (a head which is not currently engaged in recording).
When the carriage travels or comes to a stop while discharge port surface is not capped, ink tends to be evaporated and dried in the discharge ports or on the surface thereof unless ink discharge is performed within a certain period of time. Then, the capability of ink discharges is lowered or the quality of recorded images is degraded after all. In order to prevent this phenomenon from taking place, it is generally practiced for an ink jet recording apparatus to discharge ink in a specific location periodically irrespective of recording data, thus exhausting ink from the nozzles and refresh ink therein for the maintenance of the normal discharge condition at all the time. Such ink discharge operation as this is called pre-discharge.
The ink discharging by means of such pre-discharge is performed toward a pre-discharged ink receptacle arranged separately in the interior of the cap of the recovery unit so that ink does not fly from the recording head unit and stains a recording medium and interior of the recording apparatus. For the suction recovery process described above, if the suction of the recording ink and processing liquid is performed by a suction pump shared by them for use, the recording ink becomes insolubilized in the suction pump, thus inviting a problem that the suction pump may be damaged.
Also, even if the suction means are separately arranged for use of recording ink and for use of processing liquid as respective systems, the processing liquid is caused to adhere to the discharge port surface of ink discharge means or enter the interior thereof when the ink suction recovery is performed. As a result, coloring material in ink is coagulated eventually with the probability that there occurs non-discharge of ink, deviation of discharging directions, or air leakage at the time of capping occurs. Meanwhile, there are various demands on the materials of recording media (recording material). In recent years, thin paper sheet and processed paper sheet (such as a paper sheet with punched holes for filing use, a scored paper sheet, an arbitrarily configured paper sheet) are in demand for use, besides paper sheet, thin plastic plate (OHP or the like) and other usual recording media.
For the serial type ink jet recording apparatus, a structure is disclosed, in which the capping operation of the recording head (discharge means) is executed by the utilization of the carriage operation in the main scanning direction, in the specifications of U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,638, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 63-4000, and others, for example. Such structure as this makes it possible to cap the recording head without any complicated mechanism to move the cap upward and downward. Also, this structure comprises only two systems arranged for driving the feeding system of recording medium and the carriage, with an advantage, among some others, that the capping operation is easily executable in the midway of recording on one sheet of recording medium.
In other words, if a capping operation should be executed by use of the feeding system of recording medium, the recording medium should be carried by an operation other than the usual stepping feed when the recording head is to be capped in the midway of recording. Therefore, such operation becomes undesirable from the viewpoint of the accuracy to be kept for feeding the recording medium. Also, when a capping operation is required, it may be possible to operate the capping without carrying the recording medium unnecessarily by partly cutting off the power transmission of the driving system for feeding the recording medium. In this case, however, backlash takes place in the essential array of feed driving of the recording medium inevitably. It becomes also undesirable to partly interrupt the system driving from the viewpoint of the accuracy that should be kept for feeding the recording medium.
Meanwhile, if the recording data are such as high resolution color information, it may take a time considerably to transfer such data from the computer to the recording apparatus per scanning operation in the main scanning direction of the carriage having discharge means (recording head) mounted on it.
Therefore, all the recording heads should be protected by capping means even in the midway of recording, because it is necessary to prevent ink from being dried or becoming overly viscous in the vicinity of discharge ports of the ink jet recording head while such data being transferred. Therefore, if only two driving systems are arranged for feeding a recording medium and driving a carriage, it becomes effective to execute the capping operation by the utilization of the carriage operation in the main scanning direction as a method needed for protecting the recording head without producing any adverse effect on the feeding accuracy of the recording medium as described earlier.
Also, it is practiced to maintain the quality of recording images in good condition by connecting a suction recovery pump with capping means in addition to the capping operation that can be executed by means of the carriage operation in the scanning direction as described above so that the ink clogging of the recording is eliminated or the overly viscous ink is removed by operating the suction pump. A suction recovery mechanism of the kind is disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 1-125239 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 6-8460, for example.
However, the structures of the prior art described above present the drawback that it is impossible to selectively recover only a certain head by suction for an ink jet recording apparatus where a plurality of discharge means (recording heads) are arranged for color recording or the like. In other words, the conventional structure, in which the capping operation is executed for the recording heads by means of the carriage operation in the main scanning direction, is arranged to cap a plurality of recording heads altogether at a time. If a suction pump connected with any one of the caps is driven, ink is sucked from all the recording heads including those heads for which no recovery process has been required as yet. There is a disadvantage that ink is consumed wastefully. Here, therefore, various methods have been proposed in order to solve the problems that may lead to such drawback and disadvantage.
Nevertheless, for the conventional ink jet recording apparatus provided with a plurality of discharge ports (recording heads), a plurality of protection caps are used in order to prevent ink from being dried or becoming overly viscous on the circumference of discharge ports of each discharge means (recording heads), as well as to prevent adhesion of dust particles to them. Here, a part of caps dually functions as the suction cap for use of the suction recovery, and if the number of suction means is smaller than the total number of discharge means, there are still some cases where drawback may take place as described below.
In other words, if suction recovery is given to a plurality of discharge means that use ink of different colors, there may be the case where each of the caps abuts upon discharge means to be used for colors different from those used when each of them is capped for protection. As a result, the remaining ink adhering to the cap used for different color is transferred to the discharge port surface of discharge means, and then, the ink of different color on the discharge port surface is pushed into the interior of the discharge port when the wiping (wipe and clean) operation is executed after the suction recovery. To remove such ink of different color, there is a need for performing idle discharges to a certain extent so that ink of mixed colors is exhausted to the outside of the discharge ports accordingly.
In this way, although there is an advantage that the total number of caps can be curtailed by allowing them to function dually as protection caps and suction ones, not only the excessive amount of ink is consumed, but also, a disadvantage is still present that the recovery time becomes longer due to such idle discharges needed for removing ink of mixed colors.


Example intelligent dishwashing systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a system includes an imaging system configured to capture at least one image of an article of dishware. A processing system analyzes the at least one image to determine a presence and a location of a stain on the article of dishware. Responsive to determining the presence of a stain, a cleaning system is configured to clean the location of the stain on the article of dishware.

A process of automated dishwashing entails an article of dishware being placed into a dishwashing system, where the article of dishware is typically washed and rinsed with a combination of water and other cleaning agents. In some cases, a single wash cycle may be insufficient to remove all existing soils or stains on the article of dishware. Furthermore, the dishwashing system may not be configured to detect whether the article of dishware is stained or soiled (either pre-wash or post-wash), or whether the article of dishware is damaged or defective. There exists a need, therefore, for an intelligent dishwashing system that is enabled to determine a presence of a stain or soiling on an article of dishware during a pre-wash or post-wash phase, or to detect whether an article of dishware is defective or damaged.

Intelligent dishwashing systems and methods


Methods and apparatus to generate a customized application blueprint are disclosed. An example method includes generating an application definition for an unmanaged application associated with a first computing unit, selecting a first logical template associated with an unmodified version of a service provided by the first computing unit, generating an application blueprint including the first logical template, modifying the first logical template included in the application blueprint based on a first property of the first computing unit, inserting a dependency between a first logical template representative of the first computing unit and a second logical template representative of a second computing unit, and deploying a managed application according to the application blueprint to implement the unmanaged application.

"Infrastructure-as-a-Service" (also commonly referred to as "IaaS") generally describes a suite of technologies provided by a service provider as an integrated solution to allow for elastic creation of a virtualized, networked, and pooled computing platform (sometimes referred to as a "cloud computing platform"). Enterprises may use IaaS as a business-internal organizational cloud computing platform (sometimes referred to as a "private cloud") that gives an application developer access to infrastructure resources, such as virtualized servers, storage, and networking resources. By providing ready access to the hardware resources required to run an application, the cloud computing platform enables developers to build, deploy, and manage the lifecycle of a web application (or any other type of networked application) at a greater scale and at a faster pace than ever before.
However, current deployment tools are often process-driven with heavy reliance on custom scripts and property files. Additionally, these tools often heavily utilize network bandwidth through continuous polling for readiness of execution or rely on a centralized mechanism that causes a central point of resource contention. Traditional deployment tools are also not configured for automation with cloud computing platforms that dynamically provision virtual computing resources.
Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawing(s) and accompanying written description to refer to the same or like parts.


Querying a data set formed from a version of primary data and secondary data is facilitated. First and second versions of primary data are stored in a primary data version store. Secondary data is received. The secondary data is stored in a secondary data store. A query language statement is received. The query language statement is executed by selecting query results from a data set that includes the secondary data and elements of the first version of primary data not inconsistent with the secondary data.

Databases are commonly used in enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications, where organizations collect data related to the enterprise, including information related to supply of materials, product planning, purchasing, manufacturing, shipping, inventory, marketing, and sales. The collected data can be used for a variety of purposes, including determining whether an organization can take certain actions, or how to take actions in an optimized manner.
Planning operations can include performing hypothetical analyses of various scenarios, such as determining whether an order can be fulfilled, how best to fulfill the order, or if the order, for example, will require the purchase of additional materials or increased staffing. The planning operations can depend on many different underlying values. Those values may be subject to frequent updates, which can complicate the planning process. For example, data can change during the planning, which might cause inconsistencies between various calculation steps, if different values are used in different calculations. Similarly, the results from adjustments to the plan can be difficult to compare with prior results, if the underlying values are subject to change.

Query processing using primary data versioning and secondary data


An exhauster for cooking includes a cooking smoke suction port disposed at the rear of a gas range on a cooking table, a vertical downward pipe with one end thereof connected to the suction port, an empty box connected to the other end of the downward pipe, the empty box having a cross-sectional area larger than that of the downward pipe, and a sirocco fan connected to the empty box, the exhaust port of the sirocco fan communicating with the outdoors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exhauster for cooking.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional exhauster for cooking comprises a suction hood provided above a gas range and having a suction port with the same width as that of the gas range, and a duct having a rectangular longitudinal cross-section connected to the suction hood, the duct elongating outside an outdoor wall with a propeller fan provided thereat. Since the suction hood has a pyramid shape extending toward the gas range provided below, the suction force from the suction port above the gas range cannot be sufficient unless the exhaust capacity of a fan is large enough so that an exhaust guiding plate is required above the gas range. Therefore, a problem is involved in that the noise of the fan is large and the structure of the exhauster is complicated.


The present invention generally relates to carriers including polymers and lipids that comprise a CXCR4 inhibiting moiety. More specifically, these carriers are biodegradable and can be bioreducible polymers that comprise a CXCR4 inhibiting moiety. These carriers can be suitable for delivery of nucleic acids to cells. These carriers and pharmaceutical compositions can be used to treat various conditions including cancers and inflammation conditions.

There are numerous types of nucleic acid carriers that can be used to deliver genetic material inside cells. Transfection can be achieved using viral methods (ex: viruses, bacteriophages), physical methods (ex: electroporation, lasers, heat, injected nanoparticles) or through chemical based methods such as combining DNA with nanoparticles, cyclodetrins, liposomes, dendrimers or polymers that are then encapsulated by target cells. Polyelectrolyte complexes of nucleic acids with polycations (polyplexes) can be used for delivery of nucleic acids.
The main benefits of bioreducible polycation polymers (BRP) are reduced toxicity and, compared to hydrolytically degradable polycations, better spatial control of disassembly and release of DNA that is localized predominantly to the cytoplasm and nucleus. Improved spatial control of polyplex disassembly has been shown to enhance transfection of several types of nucleic acids (plasmid DNA, mRNA, siRNA) in a number of cancer cell lines. Bioreducible polycations are degraded selectively in the reducing intracellular space. The CXCR4 receptor is expressed on multiple cell types including lymphocytes, hematopoietic stem cells, endothelial and epithelial cells and cancer cells. CXCR4 is a trans-membrane chemokine receptor protein specific for a ligand known as CXCL12. Therapeutics that can act as antagonists and inhibit or block the CXCR4/CXCL12 pathway are important drug targets. Incorporation of known CXCR4 inhibiting moieties into carriers should allow targeting of cells expressing CXCR4. Cyclam compound derivatives that act as CXCR4 inhibitors have been developed, notably the AIDS drug AMD-3100. In addition cyclam derivatives form highly stable complexes with virtually all transition metal ions, particularly, cyclam (1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) a well-known macrocyclic ligand.
While there are many classes of BRP known, a need still exists for polymers that can act as CXCR4 inhibitors. Bioreducible polymers that are suitable for applications where biodegradability is required (i.e., systemic delivery of nucleic acids) and can simultaneously act as CXCR4 inhibitors present a promising dual function approach.

CXCR4 inhibiting carriers for nucleic acid delivery


An ink jet printer is provided with an ink jet head, a first support device, and a connecting device. The ink jet head is connected with an ink cartridge that stores ink, and the ink jet head discharges the ink supplied from the ink cartridge. The first support device is capable of supporting a plurality of spare ink cartridges that are aligned in a direction in which the ink is discharged. The connecting device disconnects the ink cartridge from the ink jet head, and connects one of the spare ink cartridges to the ink jet head. In the ink jet printer, the first support device is offset from the ink jet head within a plane that is perpendicular to the direction of ink discharge.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink jet printer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ink jet printers are well known. Ink jet printers are provided with an ink jet head connected with an ink cartridge. Ink is supplied to the ink jet head from the ink cartridge. The ink jet head discharges the ink that has been supplied from the ink cartridge towards a print medium. As a result, printing or drawing against the print medium is performed.
Some ink jet printers can store a spare ink cartridge. With this type of printer, when the ink runs out in the ink cartridge connected with the ink jet head, the used ink cartridge is removed from the ink cartridge, and the spare ink cartridge is connected with the ink jet head. Printing or drawing can then be performed using the spare ink cartridge. This type of ink jet printer is taught in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H08-169121.
In the case of the conventional ink jet printer described above, only one spare ink cartridge can be stored. While the spare ink cartridge is being connected with the ink jet head, a user of the printer removes the used ink cartridge, and houses a new spare ink cartridge within the printer. This ink cartridge exchange operation is troublesome. In the conventional ink jet printer, the user must perform the ink cartridge exchange operation frequently. An ink jet printer is desirable in which the user has to perform the ink cartridge exchange operation less frequently.

Ink jet printer having spare ink cartridges


A dual word enable method for memory data access includes the steps of: (i) providing a plurality of address data signals for addressing data stored in an array; (ii) issuing a first row access strobe (RAS) signal to decode the addressing data; and (iii) issuing a second row access strobe (RE2) signal for driving the address data into the memory array after determining that data is present in the memory array.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a cache memory system and, more particularly, to a dynamic random access memory used as a cache memory in a cache memory system and having an improved cache data access time.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Historically, stand-alone dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips begin an array access by the activation of a Row Address Strobe (RAS) signal. With reference now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a standard stand-alone DRAM chip 10 is shown. DRAM chip 10 includes address buffers 12 for receiving address inputs 14 (A.sub.0 -A.sub.n), a row pre-decoder 16, row drivers 18, a row redundancy decoder 20, redundant row drivers 22, a memory array or bank 24, and a sense amplifier and bit decoder 26. Sense amplifier and bit decoder circuit 26 is coupled to data I/O buffers 28. Data input/output (I/O) buffers 28 receive data on I/O lines 30 to be written into memory array 24. Data I/O buffers 28 further output data read from the memory array 24 on I/O lines 30. A read/write signal input (not shown) determines whether a read operation or a write operation is carried out.
Referring still to FIG. 1, DRAM chip 10 also includes a RAS input 32, buffer 34, Column Access Strobe (CAS) input 36, and buffer 38. Basic control signals for the standard stand-alone DRAM 10 include the RAS input 32, the CAS input 36, and address inputs 14. A RAS signal 32 is presented to the DRAM chip 10 once an appropriate memory control logic (not shown) has decided to access the array 24 of DRAM chip 10 in accordance with the row address and column address presented to the chip via address inputs 14. In the typical DRAM chip 10, an entire row access proceeds from the RAS signal 32. If an activation of a memory array access by the memory control logic circuit (not shown) was speculative and subsequently canceled, then an entire chip cycle time must pass before the chip 10 (i.e., array 24) can be accessed again.
In continuation of the above discussion, two things actually have to happen before accessing data in a DRAM array, i.e., to actually activate a wordline. First, the address is decoded down to a wordline or a group of wordlines. Then, an appropriate wordline driver or group of wordline drivers must be enabled. With typical DRAMs, the memory array is so dense, and there are so many rows and columns which make up so many total number of cells, that the likelihood of having a defective cell is high. Thus, a typical DRAM will have a small number of redundant rows and redundant columns. Most of the time, there are only a few defective rows in an array. In any case, accessing data in the DRAM array also includes looking at redundant decoder outputs. An additional function must be performed before activating a row driver after giving the row address. The input address must be checked to determine that it is not one of a defective row. In the event that the row address is one of a defective row, the redundant row decoder would need to recognize the address as a defective row. Basically, the redundant row decoder of the DRAM is programmed with the defective addresses when the DRAM part is manufactured. If the redundant row decoder detects a match with an incoming address, the redundant row decoder outputs a positive match signal and inhibits driving the wordline associated with the incoming address because it is known to be defective. The redundancy row decoder substitutes instead a redundant wordline. The redundant row driver receives the decoded redundant address and goes to a special section of the DRAM array that has just redundant rows.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,559, Parks et al., assigned to DELL USA, of Austin, Tex., a method and apparatus for refreshing a selected portion of a dynamic random access memory of a computer is disclosed. The '559 DRAM subsystem includes a memory controller having a RAM device for storing a plurality of region descriptors used to inhibit the refresh of address ranges of the DRAM that do not contain valid data. Logic circuitry is connected between a refresh period timer and the RAM device for inhibiting receipt by a RAS generator of a refresh pulse when a generated refresh address falls within the refresh address range defined by the region descriptor. A refresh address output by a refresh address counter is compared to the region descriptors in the RAM device, and if the region descriptors indicate that the row addressed by the refresh address does not contain valid data, the RAS generator is inhibited from producing a RAS pulse. Logic instructions are inserted into memory allocation and memory deallocation subroutines of the computer's operating system for writing the region descriptors to the RAM device. Note that while the '559 discloses inhibiting a receipt of a refresh pulse by an RAS generator, the '559 patent does not provide an ability to terminate a DRAM access without suffering a full DRAM cycle time. The '559 patent is thus concerned with a way of gating the RAS signal (under certain circumstances) to the DRAM and controlling a timing of when a refresh operation is carried out. The '559 patent does not deal with accessing of information in the DRAM faster, that is, not related to DRAM performance.
A current direction in the industry is to merge DRAM with logic. For example, ways are being sought to use DRAM instead of SRAM, since DRAM is denser and less expensive to manufacture. One problem, however, is that the DRAM must be fast enough to enable SRAM to be replaced by DRAM.
DRAM array circuits considered for use in merged DRAM/logic applications can require a very high performance, especially when considered for use in place of a fast static random access memory (SRAM). In such an instance, when a conventional DRAM architecture is used in a DRAM/logic application, two problems arise. First, an abort of a DRAM access requires a full cycle before the DRAM can be accessed again. Second, performance is limited by requiring all row operations for access be performed in sequence based on the strobe signal RAS. In addition, the problem of allowing RAS to trigger a DRAM access cycle prematurely has always existed. A controller must either decide to speculatively access the memory and risk throwing away a full DRAM cycle (if the accessed address holds other data) or wait to begin an access until after the data is known to be present in the DRAM array.
With respect to the use and operation of a typical DRAM chip, according to known DRAM specifications, an address can be presented to the DRAM chip with respect to the RAS input for use in selecting a wordline or a group of wordlines of the DRAM chip's memory array. Typically, the address input is allowed to be presented to the DRAM chip as late as the receipt of the RAS strobe signal. The DRAM chip thus has a zero set up time once the RAS strobe is received. The address input can change up until the receipt of the RAS strobe. At receipt of the RAS strobe, the address input becomes valid and an array access occurs. Because valid address input information cannot be relied upon earlier than the occurrence of the RAS strobe, no operation can be performed by the conventional DRAM concerning the address input until receipt of the RAS strobe. The RAS strobe is the only indication to the conventional DRAM that the address input is valid. Any time before the occurrence of the RAS strobe, the address input is not guaranteed to be valid.
Furthermore, in a conventional memory system, a DRAM memory is not accessed until the memory controller has searched the DRAM tag array to determine if the desired data resides within the DRAM memory. Therefore, even though the address of the desired memory may be available, an access is not begun. If a memory controller searches the DRAM tag array and speculatively accesses the DRAM memory at the same time (i.e., issues the RAS strobe signal), then time to access data from DRAM memory is improved but at the cost of much worse DRAM memory availability. When a DRAM is accessed unsuccessfully because the DRAM tag array determines that the desired data is not in the DRAM memory, it costs many processor cycles before the DRAM memory array is next available to process another access request. As a result, in a hierarchical memory system where the cache has a ninety percent (90%) hit rate, unsuccessful accesses to the DRAM memory approach 90%, thus greatly diminishing DRAM memory availability and also wasting power.
A high speed cache application can be carried out using a memory hierarchy 50 including a processor 51 having a CPU 52 and a level 1 (L1) SRAM 54. Memory hierarchy 50 further includes a level 2 (L2) SRAM 56 and a level 3 (L3) DRAM 58, wherein the L3 DRAM is a conventional DRAM. See, for example, the memory hierarchy of FIG. 2. With the memory hierarchy of FIG. 2, when there is a request for data, the memory controller 60 will check to see if the requested data is in the SRAM 56 or DRAM 58 using appropriate tag arrays or region descriptors. If the requested data is in the L2 SRAM 56, then it is necessary to inhibit, interrupt, or prevent the access to the DRAM 58 to achieve a performance benefit as discussed herein. If the access to the DRAM 58 is not inhibited, then a wait of one complete DRAM access cycle is required before the respective prior art DRAM 58 is ready or available to be accessed again (i.e., for a next occurring access). Thus, at a minimum, a wait of one complete DRAM access cycle (i.e., on the order of 80-100 ns) or a wait of many processor cycles (i.e., on the order of many times 5 ns) may be required. As a result, the prior art DRAM 58 cannot allow the high speed cache application to operate the memory hierarchy system 50 at a highest optimal frequency.
Referring still to FIG. 2, when a cache memory controller 60 is given a request for data from a processor 51, the memory controller 60 first determines where the data resides. The cache memory controller 60 must check the region descriptors for the L2 cache 56 (i.e., SRAM) and the L3 cached DRAM 58. Often times, the memory controller 60 will check both places simultaneously. With respect to the SRAM 56, it takes less time to check to see if the requested data is in SRAM since the SRAM represents a much smaller address space, thus taking much less time to search. In other words, the region descriptors for data in SRAM are fewer than that of DRAM, thus searching happens more quickly with respect to the SRAM. In parallel, searching occurs with the region descriptors of DRAM 58. Because the memory controller 60 gets an answer as to whether the data is in SRAM 56 cache sooner, the memory controller 60 can then abort a speculative access to the DRAM 58. It is a disadvantage if such an abort occurs after an access to the DRAM memory has started because a full DRAM cycle must now be completed before a new memory access to the DRAM can begin.
In further discussion of the above, as mentioned, the memory controller 60 can determine if the requested data is in SRAM 56 while searching the descriptors of the DRAM 58. If it turns out that the SRAM 56 is a miss (i.e., not in the L2 cache) and the requested data address is in the region descriptor for the DRAM 58, then the memory controller 60 knows to go ahead and access the DRAM 58. Still further, if it turns out that the address ends up missing in the L2 cache 56 and it is also not in the region descriptor for the DRAM 58, the memory controller 60 will determine not to issue an access to the DRAM 58, since the requested data is not there. Instead, the controller 60 goes to a more complicated task of issuing a request for the data from some other location such as tape, hard drive or wherever it might be, but further up in the memory structure hierarchy.
Thus it is desirable to provide a DRAM for use in a high speed cache DRAM/logic application having an improved DRAM data access time, as well as enable the high speed cache application to operate at a highest optimal frequency.

Dual word enable method and apparatus for memory arrays


Computing an output image of a dynamic scene. A value of E is selected which is a parameter describing desired dynamic content of the scene in the output image. Using selected intrinsic camera parameters and a selected viewpoint, for individual pixels of the output image to be generated, the method computes a ray that goes from a virtual camera through the pixel into the dynamic scene. For individual ones of the rays, sample at least one point along the ray. For individual ones of the sampled points, a viewing direction being a direction of the corresponding ray, and E, query a machine learning model to produce colour and opacity values at the sampled point with the dynamic content of the scene as specified by E. For individual ones of the rays, apply a volume rendering method to the colour and opacity values computed along that ray, to produce a pixel value of the output image.

A dynamic scene is an environment in which one or more objects are moving; in contrast to a static scene where all objects are stationary. An example of a dynamic scene is a person's face which moves as the person talks. Another example of a dynamic scene is a motor vehicle driving along a road past trees. Another example of a dynamic scene is a standing person with moving arms.
In traditional computer graphics, computing synthetic images of dynamic scenes is a complex task since a rigged three dimensional (3D) model of the scene is needed. Obtaining such a rigged 3D model is complex and time consuming and involves manual work.
Synthetic images of dynamic scenes are used for a variety of purposes such as computer games, films, video communications and more.
The embodiments described below are not limited to implementations which solve any or all of the disadvantages of known apparatus for computing synthetic images of dynamic scenes.


In a communication system a procedure is initiated to establish a communication connection for a user equipment. A data bearer may be established via one or more nodes of the communication system for the user equipment before the communication connection procedure is completed. An instruction is signalled to at least one of the nodes associated with the data bearer to prevent transportation of data to or from the user equipment using the data bearer. Based on the instruction, transportation of data to or from the user equipment is prevented until the communication connection establishment procedure has been completed. According to a further aspect, an indication is signalled to at least one of the nodes that the communication connection establishment procedure is completed. Charging record unit associated with charging of data transportation prior said completion are closed in response to the signal.

Different communication networks are known. Communication networks typically operate in accordance with a given standard or specification which sets out what the various elements of the network are permitted to do and how that should be achieved. For example, the standard or specification may define whether the user, or more precisely, user equipment or terminal is provided with circuit switched or packet switched service. The standard or specification may also define the communication protocols and/or parameters which shall be used for the connection. In other words, the standards and/or specifications define the "rules" on which the communication within a communication system can be based on. Examples of the different standards and/or specifications include, without limiting to these, specifications such as GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) or various GSM based systems (such as GPRS: General Packet Radio Service), AMPS (American Mobile Phone System), DAMPS (Digital AMPS), WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) or 3rd generation UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), IMT 2000 (International Mobile Telecommunications 2000) and so on.
In a cellular communication system a base station serves mobile stations or other user equipment (UE) via a wireless interface. Each of the cells of the cellular system can be served by an appropriate transceiver apparatus. The wireless communication may be controlled by an appropriate radio access network controller. The access network controller may be connected to and controlled by another controller facility that is typically in the core network side of the communication system. An example of the core network controller is a serving GPRS support node (SGSN). The controller may be interconnected and there may be one or more gateway nodes for connecting the cellular network to other communication networks. For example, the SGSN may be connected to a Gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) for connecting the mobile network to the Internet and/or other packet switched networks.
In addition to transmitting data, the third generation telecommunication systems such as the UMTS enable also voice transmission over the packet data connection, for example Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls. So called PDP contexts can be used for the Internet Protocol (IP) based telephony. The term 'PDP context' typically refers to the part of the data connection or data bearer that goes through the packet switched network (e.g. the GPRS/UMTS network). The PDP context can be seen as a logical connection or "pipe" from the wireless station to the access point of a gateway node, such as the GGSN, the access point being the connection point between the packet switched network (e.g. GPRS/UMTS mobile network) and an external data network. The PDP context may also be referred to, instead of the term logical connection, as a logical association between the access point and the user equipment (UE).
For example, in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) call set-up in the 3rd generation UMTS networks, a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context will have to be established before the actual call is established (i.e. before the phone starts alerting the user thereof) to ensure that necessary resources for the connection are available. However, the inventor has found that the reserved data bearer resources may enable transmission of data on the PDP context while the phone is still alerting the user thereof. This may occur e.g. since a PDP context can be set up without restricting the use thereof in any way. Thus the user may be able to have a full voice call or other data transmission already during the alerting time. This may be disadvantageous, at least from the operators pint of view, as the alerting or ringing time is usually not charged from the caller or receiver of a call. Therefore it could be advantageous to have a possibility to either prevent the user from sending data before the call is established or at least to be able to detect and gather information regarding data transmission during the call set-up proceedings so that it is possible later on to determine whether any charges have incurred during the call establishment proceedings.
Instead of enabling this, the current call establishment procedures are adapted to optimise usage of resources. A possibility could be to proceed the call set-up procedure such that no radio bearer is established before the call set-up is completed. Another possibility could be that although the resources on the radio bearer may be pre-reserved, the resources cannot be used for data transmission until the connection set-up is completed.
However, these possibilities may have some drawbacks. One of the possible drawbacks is long post-pickup delay. The radio bearer has to be either modified or established after the incoming call is answered e.g. by picking the phone up. Furthermore, it may be that ring-back tone cannot be played by the network. If no radio bearer is established on the side of the calling party while the phone alerts, then it may not be possible for the network to play the ring-back tone (as is currently the case e.g. in a GSM system). This means that the ring-back tone would have to be generated by the phone itself. This may prevent the network from using any network-specific ring-back tones. In addition, announcements cannot typically be played without prior establishment of the radio bearer. If an announcement has to be played by the network, it is typically necessary to establish/modify the radio bearer first. The simplest and most usual case where this applies is the busy signal, but there are many other announcements which may be sent between the phone and the network.
Not all wireless data communication system enable "pre-reservation" of resources on the radio bearer. If the radio resources are not reserved or at least "pre-reserved" before the call is established, then it is possible that the user attempts to answer the call e.g. by picking up the phone, and then, if the attempt to establish the radio bearer fails, the call is dropped. This is a situation that should be avoided.

Connection set-up in a communication system


A data-processing system includes a data device for selectively storing data and an engine having access to the memory device, the engine supporting a plurality of machine executable programs. A controller is utilized which selectively outputs one of a plurality of instructions to the engine for driving the execution of the programs enabled by the engine, while a clock device is utilized for outputting a synchronizing clock signal comprised of a predetermined number of clock cycles per second. The clock device outputs the synchronizing clock signal to the data device, the engine and the controller. The controller outputs one of the instructions to the engine for execution of one of the programs, while also executing an operation within itself, all within a single clock cycle.

Controllers are utilized in many, if not all, complex computerized systems. Typically, these controllers take the form of known processors, or the like, for controlling the sequential operation of those components or devices which are in communication with the controller.
In such systems, it is oftentimes necessary for large amounts of data to be processed, searched or otherwise manipulated in short timeframes. Typically, the speed at which these operations are executed can be increased by configuring the overall system such that the controlled components each operate in parallel with one another. That is, instructions from the controller in such systems are carried out by the various components of the system in parallel every cycle, thus saving time and increasing the efficiency of the system.
There exists, however, certain inherent inefficiencies in the operation of known processor-controlled systems. Perhaps most significantly, known processor-controlled systems exhibit significant 'down-time' when required to not only issue instructions to those components connected in parallel, but also to execute basic routines within the controller itself. That is, known processor-controlled systems are incapable of executing operations within themselves while also seeing to the parallel execution of instructions in their integrated components, all within a common time-frame.
With the forgoing problems and concerns in mind, the present invention therefore seeks to utilize a data processing system having a new type of controller termed a Cartesian Controller (CC) which is capable of issuing instructions for the parallel execution of these instructions in controlled devices, as well as performing operations within itself, all within a single clock cycle.

Data processing system having a Cartesian Controller


A composite membrane is disclosed fabricated by depositing an inorganic ion-conducting thin film on a cation-selective organic polymer membrane substrate using Pulse Laser Deposition (PLD) or reactive magnetron sputtering. The fabricated membrane combines the advantages of the polymeric membrane including flexibility and low electrical resistance, with the advantages of the inorganic membrane film including resistance to fouling, high selectivity for alkali metal ions over hydrogen ions and resistance to oxidizing chemicals; electromembrane systems and processes for example alkali metal sensing electrodes and other membrane-based electrochemical detectors, electrolytic and electrodialytic systems incorporate such membranes thus improving their performance in terms of current efficiency, salt to acid conversion ratio, reliable operation and membrane life.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a composite membrane which is fabricated by depositing an inorganic ion-conducting thin film on a cation-selective organic polymer membrane substrate using Pulse Laser Deposition (PLD) or reactive magnetron sputtering. Furthermore, the present invention relates to various electromembrane systems incorporating such membranes to improve their performance. In particular, these membranes are useful in electrolysis and bipolar membrane electrodialysis systems for the production of sodium hydroxide and acid from solutions of alkali metal salts.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Cation-selective organic polymer membranes are used in a variety of applications in the biological, medical, chemical, food, pulp and paper and other industries. In particular, such membranes are used in electrolytic systems (e.g. chloralkali cells for the production of chlorine and sodium hydroxide from sodium chloride), electrodialysis systems (e.g. desalination of brackish and sea water), bipolar membrane electrodialysis systems (e.g. splitting of the salts of organic acids into sodium hydroxide and organic acid) and fuel cells. Examples of such membranes are: Nafion (a trademark of E.I DuPont de Nemours, Wilmington, Del., USA), Tokuyama Soda Neosepta (trade-mark) CMX, CM-1 and CM-2, Asahi Glass Selemion (trade-mark) CMV and CSV and Raipore R-4010 and R-1010 (trade-marks of RAI Research Corporation, Hauppauge, N.Y., USA). New applications involving organic polymeric cation-selective membranes are constantly being developed (Paleologou, M. and Berry, R. M., Electrodialytic Water-Splitting Process for the Treatment of Aqueous Electrolytes, U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,211, Apr. 9, 1991; Paleologou, M., Wong, P-Y., Berry, R. M., A Solution to Caustic/Chlorine Imbalance: Bipolar Membrane Electrodialysis, J. Pulp Paper Sci., 18, J138 (1992).
A typical unit electrolysis cell employs two electrodes, an anode and a cathode, with a cation-selective membrane between them. In a particular application, sodium sulphate is fed into the anode compartment and water (or a dilute sodium hydroxide solution) is fed into the cathode compartment. When a voltage is applied between the two electrodes, the sodium ions migrate through the membrane towards the negative electrode where they combine with hydroxide ions, generated from the reduction of water at the cathode, to produce sodium hydroxide. The migrating sodium ions in the anode compartment, are replaced by hydrogen ions, generated by the oxidation of water at the anode, to produce sulphuric acid. Thus, the product from the anode compartment is acidified sodium sulphate, and the product from the cathode compartment is sodium hydroxide. To reduce capital and operating costs, bipolar membranes can be incorporated into such a system in an alternate arrangement with cation-selective membranes, in which case, it is referred to as a bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BME) system (Paleologou, M., Wong, P-Y., Berry, R. M., A Solution to Caustic/Chlorine Imbalance: Bipolar Membrane Electrodialysis, J. Pulp Paper Sci., 18, J138 (1992). The generation of new products (acid and base) distinguishes BME from conventional electrodialysis (ED), which simply employs alternate cation- and anion-selective membranes in between two electrodes for the concentration and/or dilution of salt solutions. The low capital and operating costs associated with BME and ED, as compared to electrolysis, are due to the stacking of numerous unit cells in between two electrodes of small area.
At present, a variety of inorganic ion-selective membranes made of solid state ionic conductors are known (The Principles of Ion Selective Electrodes and of Membrane Transport, W. E. Morf, Ed., Chapter 10, Elsevier Pub., Co., Amsterdam, 1988; Ion-Selective Electrode Methodology, A. K. Covington, Ed., Chapter 9, CRS Press, Boca Raton, 1979). Such materials include metal super ion conducting materials (MESICON) suitable for the fabrication of ceramic ion-conducting membranes with high ion conductivity at low temperature, high selectivity for alkali metal ions and comparative stability in water and corrosive media (Balagopal, S. H., Gordon, J. H., Virkar, A. V., Joshi, A. V. Selective Metal Cation-conducting Ceramics, U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,430, Dec. 3, 1996). Among them, the three-dimensional framework fast ion conductors of the family NASICON (Hong, H. Y-P., Crystal Structures and Crystal Chemistry in the System Na.sub.1+4 Zr.sub.2 Si.sub.x P.sub.3-x O.sub.12, Mat. Res. Bull., 11, 173, 1976) have been studied extensively and found to be appropriate for the fabrication of ion-selective membranes (Fabry, P., Huang, Y. L., Caneiro, A., Patrat, G., Dip-coating Process for Preparation of Ion-sensitive NASICON thin films, Sensors and Actuators, B6, 299, 1992; Damasceno, O., Siebert, E., Khireddine, H., Fabry, P., Ionic Exchange and Selectivity of NASICON Sensitive Membranes, Sensors and Actuators, B8, 245, 1992). The polymer membranes have the advantage of being more flexible than the inorganic membranes and, therefore, easier to use in electromembrane cells. However, they exhibit lower ion conductivity and selectivity, and they can be fouled by multivalent metal ions.
An electrolytic approach for the production of sodium hydroxide using a thick ceramic membrane of Nasicon coated by a polymer film of Nafion was previously demonstrated (Joshi, A., Liu, M., Bjorseth, A. and Renberg, L., NaOH Production from Ceramic Electrolytic Cell, U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,405, Mar. 1, 1994). The main disadvantage of this ceramic/polymer membrane is that the ceramic is the substrate, with a thickness of 1.5 mm, on top of which the polymer film is deposited. Such structures are expected to lead to several operational problems in electromembrane systems: (i) the thick ceramic substrate is not very flexible leading to leaking from electromembrane cells, and (ii) the ion fluxes through the membrane are reduced due to the thickness of the ceramic membrane, and (iii) the voltage drop across such membranes is rather high leading to increased energy costs. The operation of electromembrane systems usually involves current densities in the range of 0.1 to 1 A cm.sup.-2. To maintain current densities from 0.1 to 1 A cm.sup.-2, a 1-mm thick inorganic and, in particular, ceramic membrane must have a conductivity of the order of 0.1 Scm.sup.-1 at room temperature. There is no ion conducting ceramic of 1-mm thickness which is able to provide such high conductivity at room temperature. Nasicon (Na.sub.1+x Zr.sub.2 Si.sub.x P.sub.3-x O.sub.12, where 0<x<3) is one of the best fast ionic conductors. At 300.degree. C. this material, for x=2, exhibits a conductivity of 0.35 Scm.sup.-1 and, at room temperature, the conductivity decreases to 10.sup.-3 Scm.sup.-1. At room temperature, an ion current density of the order of 0.1 to 1 Acm.sup.-2 can pass through a Nasicon membrane if the thickness of the membrane is less than 1 .mu.m (1000 .ANG.).
Mesicon and Nasicon materials have generally been produced as bulk materials. Thin films can be produced by various physical vapor deposition methods such as evaporation. However, in the case of Mesicon and, in particular, Nasicon materials, these techniques lead to a loss of the film stoichiometry. In order to produce thin films with good stoichiometry new methods have had to be developed. In recent years, PLD has emerged as one of the most suitable techniques for the deposition of inorganic and, in particular, ceramic materials with complex stoichiometry such as high T.sub.c superconductors (Chrisey, D. B. and Inam, A., MRS Bulletin, XVII, No. 2, 37, 1992). Another promising technique for the deposition of ceramic thin films on various substrates is reactive magnetron sputtering (Handbook of Sputter Deposition Technology, K. Wasa and S. Hayakawa, Noyers Publications, New Jersey, 1992, pp. 81-123). Since solid ionic conductors such as Nasicon are suitable ceramic materials, these techniques were used to deposit thin films of Nasicon on polymeric materials.

Composite inorganic-polymer thin film cation-selective membrane, method of fabricating same and applications

Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada


A system is disclosed for mulching material including a floor stand configured to secure a hand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching device in a position to receive material to be mulched, and a hopper having an end for receiving material to be mulched and an opposite end configured to be connected to an intake of the mulching device. A floor stand is disclosed which is operable to secure a hand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching device in an upright position. A floor stand may include a securing device pivotably engaged thereto, wherein the securing device is operable to removably engage and permit pivotable selective positioning of a hand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching device.

Hand-manipulated electric blowers with vacuum/mulching features and attachments are convenient for most homeowners. The debris in flower beds and in other areas can be sucked up, mulched and distributed in soil and beds as desired, quickly and conveniently. However, some gardeners are reluctant to use such low cost, hand-manipulated electric blowers with vacuum/mulching features, because in vacuuming/mulching mode, such devices suck up beneficial organisms and creatures which dwell in the soil. Such an outcome is undesirable for these individuals. Moreover, vibrations from hand-manipulated blowers and vacuums can cause hand numbness. In addition, a user is required to carry the mulch bag around with them. One solution is for gardeners to use a stand-alone mulching device. Typical stand-alone mulching machines employ a top-loading hopper so that mulchable debris can be carefully loaded into the device. However, these devices tend to be large and expensive, and inconvenient to move around, compared to the aforementioned hand-manipulated blowers with vacuum/mulching capability, which typically include accessories such as vacuum ducts and collection bags, and are generally available for about $70.


A method for placement of a object such as a substrate or a mask on a table, said method including:                a first placement step in which the object is placed on a first position on the table;        a measuring step in which a displacement between the first position of the object and the required position of the object is determined;        a removing step in which the object is released and removed from the table;        a moving step in which the object and the table are moved relatively to each other by substantially the said displacement, in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the table; and        a second placement step in which the object is placed at the required position on the table.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a positioning method and a device, in particularly for a lithographic projection apparatus. More particular, the invention relates to a method of positioning an object such as a mask or a substrate to a required position on an object table in a lithographic projection apparatus comprising:                a radiation system for supplying a projection beam of radiation;        a first object table for holding patterning means capable of patterning the projection beam according to a desired pattern;        a second object table for holding a substrate; and        a projection system for projecting the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate.
2. Background of the Related Art
The term "patterning means" or "mask" should be broadly interpreted as referring to means that can be used to endow an incoming radiation beam with a patterned cross-section, corresponding to a pattern that is to be created in a target portion of the substrate; the term "light valve" has also been used in this context. Generally, the said pattern will correspond to a particular functional layer in a device being created in the target portion, such as an integrated circuit or other device (see below). Examples of such patterning means include:    A mask held by said first object table. The concept of a mask is well known in lithography, and its includes mask types such as binary, alternating phase-shift, and attenuated phase-shift, as well as various hybrid mask types. Placement of such a mask in the projection beam causes selective transmission (in the case of a transmissive mask) or reflection (in the case of a reflective mask) of the radiation impinging on the mask, according to a pattern on the mask. The first object table ensures that the mask can be held at a desired position in the incoming projection beam, and that it can be moved relative to the beam if so desired.    A programmable mirror array held by a structure, which is referred to as first object table. An example of such a device is a matrix-addressable surface having a viscoelastic control layer and a reflective surface. The basic principle behind such an apparatus is that (for example) addressed areas of the reflective surface reflect incident light as diffracted light, whereas unaddressed areas reflect incident light as undiffracted light. Using an appropriate filter, the said undiffracted light can be filtered out of the reflected beam, leaving only the diffracted light behind; in this manner, the beam becomes patterned according to the addressing pattern of the matrix-addressable surface. The required matrix addressing can be performed using suitable electronic means. More information on such mirror arrays can be gleaned, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,296,891 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,523,193, which are incorporated herein by reference.    A programmable LCD array held by a structure, which is referred to as first object table. An example of such a construction is given in U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,872, which is incorporated herein by reference.For purposes of simplicity, the rest of this text may, at certain locations, specifically direct itself to examples involving a mask; however, the general principles discussed in such instances should be seen in the broader context of the patterning means as hereabove set forth.
Lithographic projection apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In such a case, the patterning means may generate a circuit pattern corresponding to an individual layer of the IC, and this pattern can be imaged onto a target portion (comprising one or more dies) on a substrate (silicon wafer) that has been coated with a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist). In general, a single wafer will contain a whole network of adjacent target portions that are successively irradiated via the projection system, one at a time. In current apparatus, employing patterning by a mask on a mask table, a distinction can be made between two different types of machine. In one type of lithographic projection apparatus, each target portion is irradiated by exposing the entire mask pattern onto the target portion at once, such an apparatus is commonly referred to as a wafer stepper. In an alternative apparatus—commonly referred to as a step-and-scan apparatus—each target portion is irradiated by progressively scanning the mask pattern under the projection beam in a given reference direction (the "scanning" direction) while synchronously scanning the substrate table parallel or anti-parallel to this direction; since, in general, the projection system will have a magnification factor M (generally <1), the speed V at which the substrate table is scanned will be a factor M times that at which the mask table is scanned. More information with regard to lithographic devices as here described can be gleaned, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,792, incorporated herein by reference.
In a manufacturing process using a lithographic projection apparatus according to the invention, a pattern in a mask is imaged onto a substrate which is at least partially covered by a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist). Prior to this imaging step, the substrate may undergo various procedures, such as priming, resist coating and a soft bake. After exposure, the substrate may be subjected to other procedures, such as a post-exposure bake (PEB), development, a hard bake and measurement/inspection of the imaged features. This array of procedures is used as a basis to pattern an individual layer of a device, e.g. an IC. Such a patterned layer may then undergo various processes such as etching, ion-implantation (doping), metallization, oxidation, chemo-mechanical polishing, etc., all intended to finish off an individual layer. If several layers are required, then the whole procedure, or a variant thereof, will have to be repeated for each new layer. Eventually, an array of devices will be present on the substrate (wafer). These devices are then separated from one another by a technique such as dicing or sawing, whence the individual devices can be mounted on a carrier, connected to pins, etc. Further information regarding such processes can be obtained, for example, from the book "Microchip Fabrication: A Practical Guide to Semiconductor Processing", Third Edition, by Peter van Zant, McGraw Hill Publishing Co., 1997, ISBN 0-07-067250-4.
The projection system encompassing various types of projection system, including refractive optics, and/or reflective optics may hereinafter be referred to as the "lens"; however, this term should be broadly interpreted as, and including catadioptric systems, for example. The radiation system may also include elements operating according to any of these principles for directing, shaping or controlling the projection beam, and such elements may also be referred to below, collectively or singularly, as a "lens". In addition, the first and second object tables may be referred to as the "mask table" and the "substrate table", respectively.
In general, apparatus of this type contained a single first object (mask) table and a single second object (substrate) table. However, machines are becoming available in which there are at least two independently movable substrate tables; see, for example, the multi-stage apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,441 and WO 98/40791, incorporated herein by reference. The basic operating principle behind such a multi-stage apparatus is that, while a first substrate table is underneath the projection system so as to allow exposure of a first substrate located on that table, a second substrate table can run to a loading position, discharge an exposed substrate, pick up a new substrate, perform some initial metrology steps on the new substrate, and then stand by to transfer this new substrate to an exposure position underneath the projection system as soon as exposure of the first substrate is completed, whence the cycle repeats itself; in this manner, it is possible to achieve a substantially increased machine throughout, which in turn improves the cost of ownership of the machine.
In a manufacturing process using a lithographic projection apparatus, a pattern in a mask is imaged onto a substrate which is at least partially covered by a layer of radiation sensitive material (resist). For this process it is necessary to position the substrate and the mask on respective object tables with a high accuracy, both with regard to each other and with regard to the tables.
If an object, such as a substrate 1 (see FIG. 2) is not positioned in a correct rotational position on an object table, such as a substrate table, 5 a position measurement error can occur during subsequent alignment of the substrate 1 to the mask. During alignment the substrate 1 is brought into the same rotational orientation as the mask, to which end it can be necessary to rotate the substrate table 5. An interferometer 9 used in a sensor system 7 can be sensitive to this rotation and give an error in the distance which is measured by using a laser beam 11 laterally directed to a side mirror on the table 5. Said error is a so-called beam-point error, which generally increases with increasing rotation of the table 5. The measurement error thus caused can give an error in the super-positioning of two concurrent images exposed on successive layers on the substrate 1. This error in the super-positioning of two concurrent images is generally called an overlay error.
Beam-point errors are caused by inconsistency in the orthogonality of mirror surfaces to interferometer beams. FIG. 3a shows an interferometer I that measures a distance L between the interferometer I and a mirror T, using a light beam pointed at the mirror T. As here depicted, the mirror T is rotated with dS with respect to the nominal incident beam, so that the angle between the beam of incidence and the beam of reflection is 2 dS. The total length of the interferometer beam is then B=L+L/(cos 2 dS). The distance L can accordingly be calculated from the total length B measured by the interferometer I and from the known rotation dS. Optimally, the interferometer beam is directed so as to be parallel to the X-direction in a given reference co-ordinate system. However, factors such as thermal instability and mechanical play can cause a transient deviation from this parallelism, which is referred to as the beam-point error. FIG. 3b shows a beam-point error dE at a rotation dS=0. The total length of the beam is B=L/(cos dE)+L/(cos dE). This formula shows that for small beam point errors dE the influence on the total beam lengths is small, however, if the mirror T is rotated with dS the influence of the beam-point error increases. FIG. 3c combines the error dE of FIG. 3b and the rotation dS of FIG. 3a. The total length of the beam is B=L/(cos dE)+L/cos (dE+2 dS). Differentiating this function and applying a small-angle approximation for dE and dS (dE typically being of the order of about 5 to 100 μrad), one obtains the expression dB/dE≈L*dS*dE. From this it is evident that, for relatively high values of dS, the sensitivity of B to beam-point errors dE increases.
The problem is further deteriorated in that an error in the rotational position of the mirror T (e.g. when mounted on the side of the substrate table 5 in FIG. 2) also has an influence on the measured distance. The influence of this error is twice as big as the beampoint error because, as shown in FIG. 3a, a mirror rotation has a double influence on the direction of the reflected beam. An error dEm in the mirror rotation has an influence on the measured total length B of the beam according to the expression dB/dEm≈2*L*dS*dEm. It is evident that, for relatively high values of dS, the sensitivity to errors dEm in the rotational position of the mirror T increases.
Both errors are shown as one-dimensional errors; however in reality these errors are two-dimensional, such that the error can be in the plane of FIG. 3a to 3c (as shown) and also in a direction perpendicular to said plane. Similar considerations apply to the case whereby the object 1 in FIG. 2 is a mask, and the object table 5 is a mask table.
Apart from the exposure problems caused by beam-point errors, further problems can arise if the object is wrongly positioned upon the respective object table. FIG. 4a shows a substrate 1 that is correctly positioned upon a vacuum generating surface 13. The substrate 1 covers the vacuum generating surface 13 in total, with only a small overlap between the border 15 of the vacuum generating surface 13 and the edge 2 of the substrate 1. Vacuum from the vacuum source 17 is applied to the vacuum generating surface 13 via the vacuum distribution means 19 and the vacuum chamber 21 to generate a vacuum force F on the substrate 1.
FIG. 4b shows a substrate 1 which is incorrectly placed upon a vacuum generating surface 13. The substrate 1 covers the vacuum generating surface 13 in total, but on one side too much overlap occurs between the edge 2 of the substrate 1 and the border 15 of the vacuum generating surface 13. On said one side, less vacuum force F can be applied to the edge 2; consequently, the substrate 1 can deform especially at the edge 2. The exposures on the substrate can fail because of image deformation on the non-planar edge.
FIG. 4c also shows a substrate 1 that is also incorrectly placed upon the vacuum-generating surface 13. The substrate 1 does not cover the vacuum generating surface 13 in total so that air A will enter the vacuum chamber 21 and the vacuum force F will be less than optimal. During exposure, the badly adhered substrate 1 can move over the vacuum generating surface 13, causing bad exposures to occur. If the substrate 1 gets totally loose, the substrate 1 can fall off the vacuum generating surface 13 and damage the surrounding apparatus. Same considerations apply to the case where the substrate 1 is held upon the object table 5 with electrostatic force. The latter may necessary when the invention is applied to an apparatus that is employed in vacuum.

Object positioning method for a lithographic projection apparatus


The present invention relates to a procedure for measuring a patient's impedance. Based on the impedance, it is possible to monitor the patient's respiration and/or blood circulation. In the procedure, a plurality of electrodes (1a, 1b; 1d, 2; 2a) are connected to be patient and the changes in the impedance relationships between the electrodes (1a, 1b, 2) are measured. The invention makes it possible to use the same measuring conductors and measuring electrodes for impedance measurement as are used in ECG measurement.

The present invention relates to a procedure for the measurement of the impedance of a patient.
An impedance method is used to measure a patient's respiration and blood circulation, such as cardiac stroke volume, cardiac output, cardiac contractility indices, thoracic fluid content, deep vein thrombosis, peripheral blood flow, and arterial occlusive disease.
Impedance respiration measurement, i.e. respiration measurement by the aid of a variable impedance, is based on the measurement of changes in electric conductivity in the chest. Electric conductivity decreases during inhalation as air flows into the lungs, air having a low electric conductivity, and increases during exhalation as air is discharged from the lungs.
The measurement is generally performed using a highfrequency, constant nominal value current as measuring current, so that the impedance of the chest can be calculated from the voltage set up across it. In this case, the chest impedance is mainly resistive, with a reactive component of only about 15%. Measured with a 100 kHz signal, the resistance of the chest generally has a magnitude of about 20-60 ohms. Respiration only causes a change of approximately 0.1-1 ohm in the resistance, because most the measuring current does not flow through the highly resistive lung tissue but through the muscles and the back.
In addition, the measurement is disturbed by the stray capacitances of the cables and amplifier, although these only have a minor significance because the voltage generated across them is in a different phase relative to the voltage generated by the resistive component of the impedance of the chest.
A high-frequency measuring current is used because the impedance of the electrodes decreases with increasing frequency. The skin-electrode impedance decreases to one hundredth when the measurement signal is increased from a low frequency to 100 kHz. In practice, the upper limit for the measuring signal frequency is about 100 kHz, because at higher signal frequencies too much of the measuring current begins to flow through stray capacitances. The measuring frequencies used are generally in the range of 10-100 kHz.
In impedance measurements previously known, two or more electrodes are used. When the measurement is performed using two electrodes, the measuring current has to be supplied via the same electrodes as are used for the measurement itself. This results in a measurement error, because the current density is larger in the vicinity of the current supply electrodes, and the impedance changes occurring in the tissue near the current supply electrodes appear larger in relation to those occurring in the rest of the tissue. Moreover, the non-linearity of the current density in the tissue causes error in the measurement result.
In practical monitoring, however, the biggest drawback with two-electrode measurement is that the impedances of the electrodes and measuring cables are summed with the chest impedance, with the result that the small change in chest impedance caused by respiration easily gets lost in the total impedance.
To correct the measurement errors referred to above, measuring procedures involving four or more electrodes have been developed. In a four-electrode procedure, the current is supplied to two outer electrodes and the measurement is performed with two inner electrodes. When the measuring amplifier has a high input impedance, the current flowing through the measuring electrodes, which causes the measurement error, is small. Besides, the impedances of the current supply cables and electrodes are not summed with the impedance to be measured. In addition, the measurement area can be located at a larger distance from the current supply electrodes, in which case the magnitude of the current density in the tissue in the area between the measuring electrodes is roughly constant. Moreover, the impedance changes in the area between the measuring electrodes appear larger in relation to the changes in other areas, making it possible to define the measurement area more precisely. In addition, the measurement area extends deeper into the tissue.
By using guard electrodes in addition, the error caused by the non-linearity of the current density can be reduced. By further increasing the number of electrodes used, the measurement area can be focused better and it is even possible to compute an impedance tomogram by means of a computer.
Since impedance respiration measurement in patient monitoring is generally performed simultaneously with ECG measurement using the ECG cable as the measuring cable, two-point measurement is generally used, because the monitors usually have three-wire ECG cables. This means that the above-described problems associated with two-point measurement cause disturbances in the measurement.

Procedure for measuring a patient's impedance


The present invention generally relates to a gloss coated paper having specific properties for enhanced toner adhesion. The critical specific properties of the paper include the combination of a thermal diffusivity of less than approximately 8.5 mm2/s, a polar liquid contact angle slope of less than approximately −12.0 and a non-polar liquid contact angle slope of less than approximately −5.5. A method of printing gloss coated paper in an electrophotographic apparatus includes forming an image with an electrophotographic toner in the electrophotographic apparatus and transferring the image to the gloss coated paper.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an optimum gloss coated paper for improving toner adhesion and a method for forming an image on the optimized gloss coated paper. The gloss coated paper may be ideally used in apparatuses utilizing an electrophotographic process such as a copying machine, printer, facsimile and the like, especially in a color copying machine.
2. Description of Related Art
In an electrophotographic process, a fixed image is formed through a plurality of processes in which a latent image is electrically formed by various means on a photosensitive material utilizing a photoconductive substance. This latent image is developed using a toner and the toner latent image on the photosensitive material is transferred onto a transfer material, such as paper, to manifest a toner image. Then, this transferred image is fixed onto the paper. Recently, owing to the development of apparatuses and the spread of communication networks, electrophotographic processes are used not only in copying machines but also in printers.
For best results in forming an image, gloss coated paper is utilized in the printing process. Gloss coated paper is used most often when printing colors. Different types of gloss coated papers having different characteristics may be used to optimize the final print or copy, depending upon the type of imager being used. For example, caliper (thickness), stiffness, brightness, whiteness, and gloss are some properties that vary with different types of paper. The various combination of these and other properties, as well as other features including, for example, drying time, are considered when choosing an optimum paper for a specific imaging device such as a printer or copier.
More specifically, gloss coated printing papers are characterized by numerous physical and optical attributes. Some of the more critical properties of gloss coated printing papers include area density (grammage), thickness (caliper), surface topography (roughness), gloss, brightness, and ink absorption. To specify a paper having properties that meets all the requirements of a particular printing process as suitable, that is, having a suitable grade of paper, paper properties which contribute to performance and print quality must first be identified. (A grade of paper is a way of ranking paper by certain compositions and characteristics.) Furthermore, a desirable range of values for each of the paper properties must be specified for each selected property.
Determining a desirable range of values for each of the paper properties is typically performed by a trial and error process, sometimes taking over decades to develop. These papers have been developed in this manner for each successive development of printing technology. Examples include specific papers engineered for sheet-fed offset, web offset, gravure, flexo, ink jet, thermal transfer and xerographic printing processes. This successive trial and error process has resulted in each gloss coated paper having their own unique properties resulting in a range of image qualities. However, none of the paper properties of commercially available gloss coated papers have been identified and then optimized for increasing toner adhesion to improve image permanence.
A recent development in printing technology is Digital Color Production Printing (DCPP) using xerography. This refers to 4 or more color xerographic printing at process speeds exceeding 60 pages/minute. DCPP printers are used for commercial print applications, where they typically replace short to medium run offset presses.
The principal substrate used for DCPP, as in general for commercial printing, is coated paper. While there is a clear understanding of coated paper specifications for sheet and web offset printing, there has not been a specification developed for coated papers for xerographic DCPP.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Gloss coated papers having optimized properties for improving image permanence and a method of printing the gloss coated papers in an electrophotographic apparatus