A semiconductor device mountable to a substrate is provided. The device includes a semiconductor die and an electrically conductive attachment region having a first attachment surface and a second attachment surface. The first attachment surface is arranged for electrical communication with the semiconductor die. An interlayer material is formed on the second attachment surface of the electrically conductive attachment region. The interlayer material is a thermally conductive, dielectric material. A housing at least in part encloses the semiconductor die and the interlayer material.

Semiconductor devices must be protected against moisture as well as assembly process and other environmental contaminants. This is commonly done by encapsulating the device in a mold compound, such as a thermosetting plastic, applied by a transfer molding process.
In a typical transfer molding machine used in the semiconductors industry, a thin electronic workpiece mounted on a lead frame is clamped between two halves of a split mold. The mold defines a mold cavity around the device with sufficient clearance to allow mold compound to be injected and flow around the device to encapsulate it. During the molding process mold compound is injected into an inlet and air inside the mold escapes from a vent. A plunger drives the liquefied mold compound into the mold cavity. The mold compound is allowed cure and the mold is opened, releasing the encapsulated semiconductor device.
Because smaller semiconductor devices are highly desirable, device manufacturers would like to reduce the thickness of the encapsulating layer of mold compound which encases each device. Thinner encapsulating layers also aid in improving device performance or reliability with regard to heat dissipation, resistance to coating damage under thermal stress and other parameters. However, as the distance between the inner mold surfaces and the electronic workpiece is decreased, it becomes more difficult to obtain a high quality void-free encapsulant around the entire device.
To obtain a void-free seal, the liquefied mold compound must enter the mold inlet and entirely fill the space in the mold cavity before the mold compound flow front arrives at the mold vent. If the mold compound reaches the vent before the mold is completely filled, an air bubble is trapped in the mold, creating a void.
To completely fill the mold cavity, the mold compound must flow between the upper mold surface and the upper surface of the device, between the lower mold surface and the lower surface of the device, and into the space surrounding the outer perimeter of the device. However, as the distance between the upper and lower mold surfaces and the device is reduced, so as to make the encapsulating coating thinner, it becomes more difficult for the mold compound to penetrate these regions.
If this distance is reduced too far, the mold compound will flow around the outer perimeter of the device before the mold compound flow front has displaced the air in the space above and below the device. The result is a void in the encapsulation material as an air bubble is pinched off in the center of the device.
As a result, transfer molding of semiconductor devices with conventional equipment has required that the distance from the inner mold surfaces to the device be at least about 200-250 micrometers. This ensures that there will be laminar flow of the molding compound into the mold and around the device. The exact minimum distance limit is, of course, a function of the specific mold compound used, the fillers it contains and process parameters, such as temperature, but, in general, reducing the distance from the inner mold surfaces to the device to less than some minimum distance results in unacceptable manufacturing losses due to the formation of voids.
FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective and cross-sectional views of a Vishay® Semiconductor brand single phase inline bridge rectifier device 100 having multiple semiconductor dies 106 inside, manufactured by Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. Device 100 is through-hole mountable via leads 112, and includes an exterior epoxy housing 110 that protects the semiconductor dies 106—during operation of device 100, heat generated by the semiconductor dies 106 is transferred through leads 112 and housing 110. The thermal conductivity of epoxy housing 110 often results in device 100 having poor thermal dissipation performance. A major cause of reduced efficiency in semiconductor devices such as rectifiers is inadequate cooling during normal operation. Unfortunately, as discussed above, if the thickness of the housing is reduced to achieve better thermal conduction, molding failures such as IPE or voids 130 (see FIG. 2) tend to increase, leading to problems such as a failure of a high-potential (hipot) test or electric strength test, which is caused by a breakdown in insulation.

Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing a semiconductor device


An information processing device according to the present invention includes: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor performs operations. The operations includes: generating, based on language data, a predicate argument structure including a predicate and an argument being an object of the predicate; generating first data indicating co-occurrence of the predicate and the argument in the predicate argument structure; decomposing the first data into a plurality of pieces of second data including fewer elements than elements included in the first data, and generating, based on the second data, third data including potential co-occurrence of the predicate and the argument; selecting the predicate argument structure by using the first data and the third data, and calculating, by using the third data, a score for a pair of the predicate argument structures including the selected predicate argument structure; and selecting the pair, based on the score.

For processing of understanding a meaning in a predetermined language, or, for processing of achieving inference in a predetermined language, a certain amount of knowledge (prior knowledge) in large quantity and in a predetermined range is necessary in advance. One type of such knowledge is inter-event implication relation knowledge.
The event is an expression in a language that represents some kind of event. In case grammar, which is one of grammar theories for linguistic analysis, the event is represented by using a predicate argument structure that includes a predicate and zero or more arguments.
The predicate is a word that describes a course of an event, and is generally a verb. However, some theories include, in addition to a verb, an adjective, a noun, or the like as a predicate. In an example to be used for description below, a verb will be used as a predicate. However, this does not limit the present invention to a verb.
Further, the argument is an element that is essential for description of an event. Generally, a "case" is used as a classification of an argument. Examples of a case include an agent being a subject of action for a predicate, an object being an object of a predicate, a goal being a goal of a predicate, an instrument being a means relevant to a predicate, and the like.
Further, the implication relation knowledge is knowledge relevant to an implication relation between two events. The implication relation between events is a relation that, when one event (hereinafter, referred to as an "antecedent", since one event is generally expressed prior to a next event) holds, then another event (hereinafter, also referred to as a "consequent") holds inevitably or with high probability. For example, in the case that, when an event P (antecedent) holds, then an event Q (consequent) holds inevitably or with high probability, an event pair composed of the events P and Q is in an implication relation. Note that an implication relation in an event pair as described above is generally represented as "P→Q". The implication relation knowledge is knowledge that includes an event pair in such an implication relation.
A technique of acquiring an implication relation from a set of computer-processable language data or character data (hereinafter, also referred to as "texts") has been studied (for example, see Patent Literatures (PTLs) 1 and 2, and Non-Patent Literature (NPL) 1).
A technique disclosed in PTL 1 (hereinafter, referred to as a "first related art") identifies a combination of predicate argument structures by comparing vectors of predicate argument structures in two texts. Then, the first related art determines an implication relation between texts on the basis of a feature amount of the combination.
A technique disclosed in PTL 2 (hereinafter, referred to as a "second related art") is a technique for improving precision in classifying topics of an image and a medium other than an image in sample data. First, the second related art decomposes a topic co-occurrence probability matrix including feature amount vectors of topics as elements, into a potential topic co-occurrence probability matrix and a potential topic weight matrix. Then, the second related art calculates, from the potential topic co-occurrence probability matrix, a potential topic co-occurrence probability related to each of an image and a medium other than an image.
A technique disclosed in NPL 1 (hereinafter, referred to as a "third related art") extracts implication relation knowledge from a text on the basis of information on an argument (shared argument) shared by a predicate pair.
Specifically, the third related art extracts a predicate argument structure from an input text, and decomposes the extracted predicate argument structure into sets of a predicate and one argument. Then, the third related art counts frequency of appearance of each set (frequency of co-occurrence of a predicate and an argument included in the set), and constructs a frequency-of-co-occurrence database composed of "a predicate, an argument, and frequency of co-occurrence". Next, the third related art selects a "pair of predicate argument structures" sharing an identical argument, on the basis of the frequency-of-co-occurrence database. The pair of predicate argument structures sharing an identical argument is, for example, a pair of predicate argument structures for which "v1≠v2 ∧a1=a2" holds in a predicate argument structure (predicate v1 and argument a1) and a predicate argument structure (predicate v2 and argument a2).
Then, the third related art calculates a score (hereinafter, referred to as "score 1" in description of the third related art) indicating strength of relation as implication relation knowledge in the pair of predicate argument structures. Subsequently, the third related art calculates a score (hereinafter, referred to as "score 2" in description of the third related art) integrating scores 1 of all pairs of predicate argument structures including an identical "pair of predicates". The score 2 is a value that indicates strength of relation as implication relation knowledge in a predicate pair. The third related art selects a pair of predicates having a score 2 satisfying a predetermined condition (for example, the score 2 is greater than a threshold value). Then, the third related art adds the selected pair of predicates to a set of implication relation knowledge.

Information processing device, information processing method, and recording medium


A mosquito control trap taking advantage of the normal stages of development for a mosquito. The trap including stagnant water trapped within a container by a weeping platform floating on top of the water. A series of holes in the weeping platform provide exposure of the water to form brood cups in which female mosquitoes lay eggs. In order to develop through the larva and pupa stage the developing insects must enter the larger reservoir of stagnant water, since there is insufficient room in the brood cups. However, the holes are too small to permit escape of the adult mosquito, thus preventing any of the eggs from developing. This device provides a means for controlling mosquitoes without the use of pesticides and is especially suitable for use in lesser developing countries.

It is said that in the history of the world; mosquitoes and their diseases have killed more people than all wars.
From the inception, research, and development of this mosquito capturing device; the tropical third world countries was the main priority. This invention is certainly for countries where there is a lack of money and technology. This low-tech, (literally no-tech) apparatus is well suited for these populations. These are the populations who are afflicted by the diseases transmitted by the mosquito. One could postulate that this invention which is good for the third world countries can also be utilized by first and second world countries. This places into the hands of the average person a means of combating this nuisance and vector for the spread of disease—the mosquito. This invention is a simple non-toxic method for controlling the mosquito.
This invention confines the eggs, male and female so the life cycle of the mosquito is broken.
The mosquito is of the family cullicidae, order diptera. The mosquito's are the most adaptable and successful insect on earth. There are approximately 3,000 species world wide. Approximately 167 species of mosquitoes are found in the United States. A real problem is that virtually any natural or man-made collection of water can support mosquito production. Mosquitoes have been found on mountain peaks at 14,000 feet and in mines a mile below the earth's surface. Only a few of these species are important as carriers of disease, but many can be a nuisance.
No matter what the mosquito species, water is essential for breeding. The mosquito larvae prefer still water. All mosquitoes have four stages of development—egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larval and pupal stages are spent in water. This water is often stagnant and close to home. One should reduce the availability of water suitable for larval and pupal growth by always inspecting the following as a water source and eliminating the cause. The best way to keep mosquitoes away from your home is to clean up areas where they like to breed such as, flowerpot saucers, tires and tin cans, kid's toys, roof gutters, ornamental pools (stock with fish), bird baths and fountains. Containers for collecting rain water (should be covered with a screen). Mosquitoes require very small amounts of standing water to their lay eggs.
Mosquitoes have complete metamorphosis. The egg is elongated, about one millimeter long and is laid in batches of 50-300. One female may lay several batches. The female is the only mosquito that bites man or animal. The reason the female bites is for a blood meal, which provides proteins necessary for egg development. Eggs can hatch in one to three days if laid on warm water. Many species lay eggs that remain dormant in the soil for years before hatching, so even in unfavorable weather they can survive. The larva lives in water but breathes air through a siphon. The siphon penetrates the water surface. Mosquito larvae feed on microorganisms and organic particles. The larvae mouth parts are modified into brushes which draw food into the mouth. During the larval stage four separate developmental periods occur called instars. As the mosquito larva grows, it must cast off its exoskeleton and replace it with a larger one. A larva changes into a pupa in about a week.
The pupa stage lasts for one or two days. During this stage the mosquito changes its' life form from a larva that lives in water to a flying adult that lives in a terrestrial environment. The male emerges from the pupa case first and rests near the breeding site. The male mosquito feeds on nectar from flowers. The female mosquito seeks a blood meal necessary for egg development following mating. Without blood, mosquito eggs could not be produced. Mosquitoes select specific hosts from which to blood feed. Some mosquitoes feed on mammals, others only on birds. In some parts of the world, mosquitoes feed only on humans.
One factor common to all mosquito species is that eggs are laid in association with free water or on a moist surface. Eggs are white when first deposited, darkening to a black or dark brown within 12-24 hours. Single eggs are about 1/50 inch (0.5 mm) long, and those of most species appear similar when seen by the naked eye (one exception is the Anopheles spp. whose eggs have floats attached to each side of the egg). Eggs are laid singly by some species, and other species lay eggs together to form rafts. The incubation period (time between when eggs are laid and when they hatch) may vary considerably among species. Eggs of permanent-water mosquitoes where eggs are deposited on the water surface may hatch in 1-3 days depending on temperature. Floodwater species deposit their eggs on moist soil or another wet substrate and have a wide variation in incubation periods. These eggs will not hatch until submerged by rising water caused by rainfall, melting snow in the spring, or other floodwater. Depending on the species and conditions these eggs may hatch the next time they are flooded, as soon as ten days, or may not hatch until they are flooded a year or more later.
The larvae (wigglers or wrigglers) of all mosquitoes live in water and have four developmental periods or instars. These are called 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th instars with each succeeding stage larger than the last. At the end of each instar, the larva sheds its skin by a process called molting. The larva is an active feeding stage. Larvae feed on particulate organic material in the water. The larvae of most species have a breathing tube and must occasionally come to the surface of the water to get oxygen. The total length of time that larvae spend in the larval stage depends on the species and the water temperature. Some can develop in as little as 5 or 6 days. Upon maturity the 4th instar larvae molts into the pupal stage.
Unlike most other insects, the mosquito pupa is very active, and, like the larva, lives in water. It differs greatly from the larva in shape and appearance. The pupa has a comma-shaped body divisible into two distinct regions. The front region consists of the head and thorax (cephalothorax) and is greatly enlarged. It bears a pair of respiratory trumpets on the upper surface. It must periodically come to the surface to get oxygen. The second region is the abdomen which has freely-movable segments with a pair of paddle-like appendages at the tip. Feeding does not take place during the pupal stage. The pupal stage only lasts for a few days and is the stage when all the larval tissues change into the adult tissues. The adult emerges directly from the pupal case on the surface of the water.
The adult mosquito is entirely terrestrial and is capable of flying long distances. Both females and males feed on nectars, which they use for energy. Males and females mate during the first 3 to 5 days after they have emerged. Females mate only once. Males generally live for only a week. Only the females feed on blood, which is what is occurring when they are biting. Females evidently gain little nourishment from blood meals but need them in order to develop eggs. Many mosquitoes feed on any warm-blooded bird or mammal. However, some prefer cold-blooded animals. Some species also prefer birds and seldom feed on mammals, which is the case with Culex spp. mosquitoes which are known to transmit the West Nile virus (WNV). Unfortunately many species feed on a wide range of warm-blooded mammals, and humans are often attacked. Once a female has completely engorged, she flies to a shaded environment until her eggs are completely developed, usually in 3 to 5 days. Once the eggs are developed the female is called a gravid female and she begins to search for a desirable place to lay her eggs. If a female survives her egg laying activities, she will very soon start searching for another blood meal after which she will lay another batch of eggs. She does not need to mate a second time. Generally a female will only live long enough to lay 1 to 3 batches of eggs.
Most mosquito species are actively searching for a blood meal in the evening hours from just before dark until 2 to 3 hours after dark. During the daytime the females normally rest in cooler vegetated areas where the humidity is higher and they are protected from drying out. Females will often bite in the daytime if humans or animals invade the wooded areas where they are resting. However, Aedes albopictus is an aggressive biter, which prefers to feed during the daylight hours and is often a nuisance in urban areas.
Mosquito Control
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) was the first modern pesticide. DDT was developed early in World War II by Paul Hermann Muller. Muller was awarded a Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine in 1948 for his discovery of the highly effective DDT. DDT was used initially with great effect in combating mosquitoes spreading malaria, and typhus.
In 1962 an American activist, Rachel Carson published the book Silent Spring. Her book alleged that DDT caused cancer and also harmed bird reproduction. This book resulted in a public outcry; this eventually led to the pesticide being banned for use in the United States. There is still a great controversy regarding the environmental impact of DDT.
In some parts of the world there are efforts to bring back DDT; especially where the mosquito is the vector for malaria. For these reasons there is a need for a safe non-toxic, effective and simple way of controlling the mosquito population.
Here to fore efforts by individuals to control mosquitoes on their property rarely succeed. Control is a real problem because some mosquito species fly far from breeding sites. This has resulted in community wide efforts to treat breeding sites or apply insecticidal sprays to control the adult mosquito.
Repellants are used for personal protections from mosquitoes. These products contain DEET, in the form of lotions, aerosol spray, or cream, which display warning labels especially for children. Repeated use of these repellents over a short period of time is not recommended. Pregnant women and children should not use DEET containing products too often, if at all. There is also caution for using repellants on areas covered by clothing. One should not apply repellants to the hands of children for they can get the repellants into their eyes or mouth. Most of these products are also combustible.
A nonchemical control measure is the burning of candles containing oil of citronella. Oil of citronella products can help rid an area of mosquitoes, but it will not totally prevent bites and can become ineffective in windy conditions. Citronella plants can help fend off bugs, too, but only in enclosed spaces. Similarly, personal protection such as wristbands with citronella, lemon grass and other natural ingredients do ward off some mosquitoes, but do not completely prevent bites nor deter their life cycle.
One method of mosquito control known not to work is the "bug zappers". A recent study at the University of Delaware concluded that less than ¼ of the 1% of the insects zapped in such devices were actually biting insects. The majority of insects killed in electrocution traps are actually beneficial in some form to the environment.
Outdoor foggers will only keep mosquitoes away for a few hours. When the chemical (dangerous to children and perhaps you) dissipates the mosquitoes return.
Insecticides are available for controlling larvae. The applications of insecticides in large bodies of water or small breeding sites can be expensive and difficult. Again these chemicals are not selective and harm beneficial insects. Most insecticides are toxic not only to mosquitoes but can also be toxic to humans and other forms of life in the environment. It is necessary for all persons responsible for the use of insecticides to recognize this and take precautions to insure that these chemicals not only do not cause illness or death but also do not unnecessarily contaminate the environment.
The use of pesticides must be registered with the EPA and undergo a rigorous pesticide review process before they can be used in the United States. With the use of pesticides safety for humans and the environment are always a consideration. The pesticide should always be used according to label directions and strict precautions. Pesticides are tested for adverse effects on humans, wildlife, fish, and plants. Other adverse effects can be the risk of contaminating surface water or ground water. Another consideration with pesticides is spray drift, there is no pesticide that is 100% safe, and there is always a condition "the weather permitting".
There are mosquito trapping and vacuum systems. These systems use C02, heat, octenol, vacuum, and light. These devices are expensive and, may attract more mosquitoes than one would ordinarily deal with. These devices also eliminate beneficial insects.
One commercially available mosquito halo inhibitor system is described by its manufacturer as a dual system that has an apricot smelling scent and an ultrasonic speaker. This inhibitor claims to reduce mosquito landing count by an average of 50%-75%. This product is relatively inexpensive but it doesn't reduce the mosquito population, it is simply stated that it reduces landing count.
Another control effort is mosquito magnets. The magnet operates by mimicking human breath and emits a warm, moist carbon dioxide plume combined with an attractant. This method is expensive, requires a lot of maintenance and could possibly attract more mosquitoes than one would ordinarily encompass. This method also poses death to our beneficial insects.
There are larvicide's made from extract of the chrysanthemum flower (permethrin). This can be mixed with mineral oil and sprayed but is proven to be a short term deterrent that requires multiple applications.
There is a garlic repellent for spraying on yards, garden, parks and grassy areas and also plant based products such as eucalyptus lotions that portray themselves as repellants. Many of these products contain warning labels and require continuous reapplication. These may perhaps be short term repellants, deterrents but they do not address the reproduction and vicious lifecycle of the mosquito.
All of the above mentioned items can be costly, ineffective and dangerous.

Apparatus and method of mosquito control


A communication device (100) includes a card reader (102). The card reader includes a card support (104) for a first sized subscriber card (101). The card reader also accommodates a second size card (108) between the card support and a contact assembly (106).

Communication devices, such as cellular radiotelephones, in some systems, such as the Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), use a subscriber card, such as a subscriber identity module (SIM). A SIM, such as a "smart card," includes an integrated circuit storing a subscriber identification number (subscriber ID). A card reader in the communication device reads the subscriber ID from the integrated circuit and a processor in the communication device uses this subscriber ID to execute a protocol for making or receiving a call. The protocol communicates the subscriber ED to a base station of the system. The system uses the ID for billing the call to the subscriber's account.
By providing the subscriber ID on the subscriber card instead of in the communication device, the communication device is not restricted to a single billing account. Any subscriber can use the communication device by inserting their card into the card reader. Calls made while the card is loaded are billed to the account associated with the card.
Cards such as SIMs are available in different sizes. Chip cards are not much larger than the integrated circuit, and thus measure approximately 25 mm by 15 mm, and are approximately 0.75 mm thick. Large cards, such as credit card size SIMs, are approximately 85.5 mm long by 54 mm wide and approximately 0.75 mm thick. Communication devices typically accommodate either a chip size SIM or a large size SIM, but not both. However, because communication devices only accommodate a single size card, only those users having a card sized for a communication device's card reader can use the communication device.
Accordingly it is desirable to provide a communication device with a card reader that accommodates multiple sized cards.

Communication device for different sized cards


Provided herein are controlled release oral dosage forms of poorly soluble drugs, methods of making the dosage forms, and methods of their use for the treatment of various diseases and/or disorders.

One goal in developing a drug is to provide dosage forms which make it possible to maintain a certain amount or concentration of drug in a subject's body that will remain constant for several hours. Often this may not be achieved by traditional rapidly disintegrating tablets, as these tablets release the active ingredient contained therein all at once. For this reason, dosage forms have been developed which are capable of continuously releasing the drug contained therein in a controlled manner and over a prolonged period of time. Oral controlled drug delivery is typically by solid dosage forms including tablets, capsules, microspheres, granules and suspensions.
Gastroretentive systems, drug delivery systems having a prolonged retention time in the stomach, represent a promising approach to controlled release oral delivery of drugs. Many such systems have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,635,280 and 6,723,340 describe compositions for gastric retentive tablets which, upon oral administration, swell to a size such that the tablet cannot move out of the stomach easily. The drug is incorporated into a polymer matrix as the tablet swells and is released from the matrix into the gastric fluid by solution diffusion. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,635,280. Thus, the tablet acts as a controlled released gastroretentive system. Other similar gastroretentive systems are described in the art. See, e.g., European Patent No. EP 941071 B1.
A variety of polymeric excipients designed to expand or swell in the stomach have been used for the preparation of gastroretentive systems. See e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,210,710; 6,217,903; 5,945,125; 5,451,409; 4,915,952; U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2003/0104053; 2003/0104062; and 2010/0129445. Such systems have been employed for the controlled release of poorly soluble drugs in particular. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,635,280 and International Publication No. WO 97/22335. However, there exists a need for alternative controlled release dosage forms for drugs having poor aqueous solubility. Provided herein are controlled release dosage forms addressing this need.

Controlled release oral dosage forms of poorly soluble drugs and uses thereof


Apparatus and method for delivering solid carbon dioxide flakes to a substrate in which a housing is provided with at least one passageway having operatively connected thereto a solid carbon dioxide generator. The tubes are heated to an extent sufficient to substantially prevent the solid carbon dioxide flakes from adhering to the walls of the tubes so as to maintain continuous operation and to provide a uniform flow of solid carbon dioxide flakes to the substrate.

Solid carbon dioxide in the form of solid flakes or "snow" is formed by passing liquid carbon dioxide through a narrow orifice under a significant pressure drop resulting a sudden, drastic reduction in temperature and in the formation of solid carbon dioxide flakes or snow.
Solid carbon dioxide snow is a desirable substance for the chilling and/or freezing of foodstuffs. Solid carbon dioxide flakes exist at a temperature of approximately -109 F. and therefore can provide rapid cooling and/or freezing of seafood, fish, poultry, meats, vegetables and the like. In addition, the solid carbon dioxide flakes vaporize when heated thereby leaving no residue on the foodstuffs. For these reasons, as well as its relatively low cost, solid carbon dioxide is an effective heat exchange medium for use in commercial freezers requiring a high throughput. In addition, solid carbon dioxide flakes prevent pieces of foodstuffs from sticking to each other. The flakes sublime on the surfaces of foodstuffs while freezing the moisture on the surfaces thus preventing the pieces of foodstuffs from freezing together. Similarly, the flakes prevent foodstuffs from adhering to the conveyor belt as it moves through the refrigeration process.
Solid carbon dioxide flakes are typically produced by taking liquid carbon dioxide which exists at high pressures (e.g. 300 psi) and passing the same through a restricted orifice or nozzle. The temperature of the liquid carbon dioxide under such pressures is typically about 0 F. However, the passing of the liquid carbon dioxide through a restricted orifice results in a rapid and significant pressure drop and a corresponding rapid and sudden decrease in temperature to about -109 F.
The solid carbon dioxide is typically applied to foodstuffs in commercial refrigeration systems either directly from the nozzle or from a nozzle which has attached thereto a tube for directing the flow of the solid carbon dioxide flakes to a substrate such as foodstuffs on a moving conveyer belt.
Each of these systems for directing solid carbon dioxide flakes to a moving conveyor belt often does not provide a uniform coating across the width of the conveyor belt of the solid carbon dioxide flakes over the foodstuffs. With regard to the employment of a nozzle assembly alone, the sudden reduction in pressure and the concurrent formation of solid carbon dioxide flakes results in a forceful and non-uniform spray of the flakes over a wide area. The nozzle assembly which is typically comprised of a single nozzle directs the flakes at an angle to the moving conveyor or belt such that a portion of the flakes miss the surface of the belt and/or are concentrated in one region of the belt. In particular, the resulting coating profile typically provides greater deposition of solid carbon dioxide flakes in the center of the spray region as opposed to the outer fringes of the spray region.
This problem can, to some extent, be corrected by the use of a tube surrounding the nozzle head and extending to the proximity of the substrate. The tube prevents the solid carbon dioxide flakes from traveling over a wide region and therefore can provide a more uniform coating profile than the nozzle alone. However, the walls of the tube become cooled by the solid carbon dioxide flakes to such an extent that the solid carbon dioxide flakes begin to adhere to the walls of the tube. This occurs especially when there is no significant difference in temperature between the tube walls and the surrounding environment such as when the tubes are within the refrigeration system. This causes the formation of agglomerates or lumps of solid carbon dioxide flakes which restricts the flow thereof and can in some circumstances actually cut off the flow of the solid carbon dioxide flakes to the substrate. When this happens, it is necessary to shut down the solid carbon dioxide flake generator and clean the tubes which results in lost production time and higher cost of cooling/freezing.
It would therefore be a significant advance in the art of employing solid carbon dioxide flakes for cooling and/or freezing of foodstuffs to be able to apply the same in a uniform manner. It would be a further advance in the art to be able to apply the solid carbon dioxide flakes in a uniform manner in a system which can run continuously without frequent shut downs to remove agglomerations of the solid carbon dioxide flakes.


An image forming apparatus that is capable of using a residual sheet effectively even in a double-sided printing mode. A control unit controls to perform a double-sided image formation process to recording sheets. A detection unit detects a jam of the recording sheet. A determination unit determines whether residual sheets, which are recording sheets on the conveyance path other than a jamming sheet that generates a jam, are available in the image forming process resumed after the jam is removed based on the number of copies of sheets on which the same image is formed, the recording sheets on which images have been formed on one sides, and the latest recording sheet that was normally ejected. The control unit stops the process and ejects the residual sheets that are determined unavailable from the conveyance path when a jam is detected during the process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that has a function for forming images on both sides of a sheet, a control method therefor, and a storage medium storing control program therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus is controlled so that an image forming operation and a sheet conveying operation are stopped when a paper jam (referred to as "a jam", hereafter) occurs during conveyance of a recording sheet, and so that a subsequent operation does not start until a recording sheet on a conveyance path will be removed.
A plurality of recording sheets may stay on the conveyance path in the apparatus besides the recording sheet (jamming sheet) that is determined as a cause of jam at a jam occurrence point. The conveying operation and the image forming operation may be continued for a recording sheet that is nearer to an ejection port on the conveyance path (i.e., a downstream sheet) than the jamming sheet, and the downstream sheet can be ejected as-is.
However, conveyance of a recording sheet located in the upstream direction on the conveyance path from the jamming sheet stops like the jamming sheet.
A recording sheet (a residual sheet) that is remained on the conveyance path and is not a jamming sheet is likely not to be damaged unlike a jamming sheet. Accordingly, it is preferable to leave the residual sheet inside the apparatus and to re-convey the sheet after removing the jamming sheet to use without removing or discarding the residual sheet by a user.
Since such a use of a residual sheet saves user's time and trouble, and eliminates the need for discarding a recording sheet, it becomes a user's merit.
For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H11-249506 (JP H11-249506) discloses an apparatus that does not remove a recording sheet located in the upper stream than a registration roller and that tries to use the recording sheet after a jam removal operation is finished.
However, since the conventional technique is premised on the case where an image is formed on one side of a recording sheet, it may not restart the image forming operation using a residual sheet when a jam occurs during an operation in a double-side mode that forms images on both sides of a recording sheet.
This is because an output product does not necessarily achieve a correct page order of recording sheets including a residual sheet when a recording sheet on which an image has been formed on a first side remains on a double-sided path as the residual sheet.
Timing of jam occurrence determines whether the residual sheet can be used or not. That is, there are two cases when the apparatus stops due to a jam and a residual sheet on which an image is formed on one side (front face) remains in a double-sided path. In one case, the residual sheet is able to be used after the jam is removed. In the other case, the residual sheet is not able to be used even after the jam is removed. This is a problem.

Image forming apparatus that is capable of double-sided printing, control method therefor, and storage medium storing control program therefor


A gas composition sensor for detecting oxygen, and hydrocarbon group fuel or combustible composition produced after combustion having a zirconia solid electrolyte body, a concentration cell composed of a platinoid metal catalytic detecting electrode and a reference electrode opposite to each other and a sensing element composed of a gas diffusion limiting member coating the detecting electrode, which further comprises a pair of the sensing elements and heaters for setting both of the sensing elements to operating temperatures different from each other, whereby a specified gas component is selectively detected by operating both of the sensing elements so as to have sensitivity coefficients to the specified gas component different from each other.

The present invention relates to a gas component sensor for detecting oxygen, hydrocarbon fuel, combustible composition after combustion of the fuel and so on, and a diagnosis system and a control system using the gas composition sensor, and a diagnosis method and a control method using the gas composition sensor, and more particularly to a gas composition sensor used for diagnosing exhaust gas purifying performance of a catalytic converter for a vehicle engine, for detecting an air-to-fuel ratio of a general combustion machine and for detecting or alarming fuel gas leakage of municipal gas.
In general, in the field of air-to-fuel ratio control for an engine, there are a system in which an air-to-fuel ratio is controlled to be stabilized to a stoichiometric air-to-fuel ratio by combining a three way catalyst and an oxygen sensor, and a system in which an air-to-fuel ratio is controlled so that lean-burn is effected within a zone between the stoichiometric air-to-fuel ratio and a lean limit boundary using an air-to-fuel sensor. Further, it will become compulsory to install a hydrocarbon sensor on an engine mounted on a vehicle in order to diagnosing the catalyst by the on-board sensor, and it will become indispensable in connection with an exhaust gas regulation to develop a technology of controlling an air-to-fuel ratio in an air intake system of an engine by detecting an exhaust-gas-recirculation gas or a purged fuel vapor in the air intake system.
In the past, diagnosis systems of exhaust gas purifying catalyst for an engine were disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-34860, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-293544, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-109021, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-101455, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-17141, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-74540, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-207159, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-33408 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-30915. In the diagnosis systems, oxygen sensors or air-to-fuel ratio sensors are arranged in both upstream and downstream sides of a catalyst converter provided in an exhaust pipe, and purifying performance for combustibles and so on of the catalyst converter is derived from an inter-correlation of transient wave-forms or a concentration ratio of the detected signals in regard to oxygen or combustibles detected by the sensors.
Instead of the oxygen sensor or the combustible gas sensor described above, it is also proposed to employ a sensor for a specified detecting object such as NO.sub.x, HC, CO or the like. However, the proposal does not propose any practical structure nor any practical material for the sensors, but discloses only a proposal in regard to algorithm for diagnosing a catalyst converter. Even the sensor for a specified detecting object needs to be further improved in its performance and in its durability for practical use.
Other than the sensors described above, there are few kinds of proven gas composition sensors which can accurately measure an amount of combustible composition, remaining oxygen and the like in the combustion gas of an engine under a highly corrosive, soiled and high temperature environment. However, one of the few proven gas composition sensors capable of being used under such an environment is a so-called air-to-fuel ratio sensor which is a gas composition sensor formed by combining a zirconia concentration cell and a member limiting gas diffusion.
Mechanism of gas detecting of the air-to-fuel ratio sensor is that amounts of oxygen and combustibles such as HC, CO, H.sub.2 are linearly measured as oxygen ion currents in positive and negative directions respectively by means of oxidizing reaction and gas ion exchange reaction of catalytic function of platinoid metal electrodes. In order to maintain a required measuring accuracy of the air-to-fuel ratio sensor for a long time period, it is necessary to suppress degradation of the catalytic function due to soiling and corrosion of the electrodes, to maintain temperature of the pair of cells stable and to calibrate the output characteristic using a gas having a known concentration such as atmospheric air.
According to a recent research result on diagnosis of degradation of a catalytic converter for an engine mounted on a vehicle, in the conventional diagnosing method in which oxygen sensors are arranged in the upstream side and the downstream side of the catalytic converter and signal waveforms from the oxygen sensors are compared, an amount of all the combustibles such as CO, HC and the like are measured together and a degradation level of the catalytic converter is diagnosed by the purifying function for the total amount of the combustibles. As a result, the degradation level of the catalytic converter is estimated only by the purifying function of CO which is a dominant component of the combustible gas composition. Therefore, it is revealed and becomes a trouble that there are many cases where the catalytic converter is diagnosed as degraded even though the purifying function for HC of main object to be diagnosed is not degraded so low that the catalyst should be exchanged. The conventional HC sensor and the conventional CO sensor cannot cope with the above problem since they are not proven in exhaust gas measurement at the present state.
On the other hand, although it is a proven technology to measure the total amount of oxygen and the combustible gas composition together using the oxygen sensor and the air-to-fuel ratio sensor, it has not proposed to separately measure each amount of components, HC or CO, for the purpose of diagnosing a catalytic converter. Therefore, there is a problem in diagnosis of purifying performance for HC or CO.
Further, similarly to the case of diagnosis of catalytic converter, neither the HC sensor nor the CO sensor can cope with exhaust gas measurement in the present state since it has not been practically used. Although the oxygen sensor and the air-to-fuel ratio sensor have been practically used in measuring a total amount of oxygen and combustibles in a exhaust gas, it has not been disclosed to separately measure a concentration of HC or CO having different molecular weight.
Furthermore, when vapor fuel from a fuel tank is purged in an intake system of a gasoline engine, an amount of fuel injected from an injection nozzle is controlled so as to be corrected by measuring an amount of the vapor fuel. In a diesel engine, in order to optimize trade-off relationship between NO.sub.x and PM (particulate matter), it is required to measure an amount of exhaust gas recirculated to intake air, that is, an exhaust gas recirculation ratio to perform critical control of the exhaust gas recirculation ratio. In order to cope with the control, it is required to measure the concentration of the vapor fuel in the intake air and the amount of the combustible composition in the exhaust gas separately. However, there is not proposed any sensor capable of sufficiently coping with such measurement.
On the other hand, as for hydrocarbon group gas such as municipal gas used as a fuel for a common combustion apparatus other than the engine, an SnO.sub.2 sensor or the like is practically used as a detecting device for detecting leakage of the gas. However, the sensor is not sufficient in selectiveness for application to the specified gas and in stability of sensing sensitivity which should be improved.
It is required for the alarming device of fuel gas leakage that various kinds of combustible compositions of hydrocarbons having comparatively small molecular weights in the fuel gas can be detected at a high sensitivity by separating from mono-oxide carbon by the sensor, the other hydrocarbons of non-fuel group having comparatively large molecular weights can be automatically discriminated, and the leakage can be judged to be continuous but not transient. These characteristics are also problems in the conventional sensor to be improved. Further, it is required for the device for alarming incomplete combustion in the gas combustion apparatus that noxious CO component in the gas combustion apparatus can be detected at a high sensitivity to alarm, and safety measures such as air ventilation can be performed if necessary. Thereby, it is required to develop a highly sensitive detecting sensor.

Gas composition sensor and method for separately detecting components of exhaust gas to diagnose catalytic converter performance


A discharge bulb ballast has a control circuit (11) that includes a turning point detecting unit (101) for detecting a turning point at which a bulb voltage starts rising after switching on a discharge bulb (7). Immediately after switching on the discharge bulb (7), a power control unit (102) carries out control in such a manner that the discharge bulb (7) is supplied with first power. When the turning point detecting unit (101) detects that the voltage of the discharge bulb (7) exceeds the turning point, the power control unit (102) supplies the discharge bulb (7) with second power less than the first power.

Generally, discharge bulbs, particularly high-intensity discharge bulbs (HID bulbs) such as metal halide bulbs, high-pressure sodium bulbs and mercury bulbs have advantages of large luminous flux, high lamp efficiency and long life. Accordingly, they have been used as illumination lamps of indoor and outdoor facilities, warehouses and factories, and as streetlights. In particular, they are now employed as headlights of vehicles such as automobiles.
An ordinary HID bulb utilizes gases such as xenon, metal halides and mercury in the bulb to stabilize its interelectrode voltage (bulb voltage) at a specified voltage during discharging and lighting, thereby stabilizing its luminous quantity. For example, a mercury-in-bulb, onboard 35 W HID bulb (the so-called D1 and D2 types are typical) can stabilize the bulb voltage at 85 V during stable lighting. Because of these advantages, most of the HID bulbs utilize mercury in general under the present circumstances.
However, since the mercury, which is sealed into the bulb to stabilize the bulb voltage, increases the environmental load, HID bulbs without using mercury have been studied, as disclosed in Japanese patent application laid-open No. 11-86795/1999, No. 2002-110099, No. 2002-93368 and so on. Likewise, as for the onboard HID bulbs, HID bulbs without using mercury (the so-called D3 and D4 types are typical) have been proposed.
The onboard HID bulbs without using mercury (D3 and D4 types) utilize zinc or indium instead of adding mercury. The zinc or indium, however, requires more amount of heat for evaporation than mercury.
In addition, as for 35 W HID bulbs with the same rating as the conventional HID bulbs (D1 and D2 types), although the D1 and D2 type HID bulbs have the bulb voltage of 85 V during the stable lighting, the D3 and D4 type HIDs have the bulb voltage of 42 V during the stable lighting.
Furthermore, the behavior immediately after switching on the light is different. For example, the voltage immediately after turning on the HID bulb is determined by the components and pressure of the gases in the HID bulbs. As for the conventional HID bulb using the mercury, the mercury, which quickly becomes gaseous, brings about a voltage drop. Thus, the HID bulb increases the voltage rapidly, and the gaseous mercury emits light by itself, thereby increasing the luminous quantity quickly. In addition, regulating the output power to be supplied to the HID bulb in accordance with the HID bulb voltage or lighting elapsed time makes is possible to produce a constant luminous quantity.
However, as for the HID bulb without using the mercury, since it does not include mercury for bringing about the voltage drop, only a xenon gas is present in the HID bulb until the metal halides vaporize immediately after switching on the light. Therefore the HID bulb without using the mercury has a nearly constant, low voltage immediately after switching on the light because of the voltage drop due to only the xenon gas. In addition, since the quantity of light is limited to that emitted by the xenon gas, the luminous quantity is comparatively low for the power at turn-on.
Consequently, when the HID bulb such as the HID bulb without using the mercury (D3 and D4), which requires a large amount of heat until the metals in the HID bulb vaporize, is turned on by a discharge bulb ballast for the conventional HID bulb containing the mercury, the output power can attenuate before the metal halides evaporate, that is, before the metal halides start to emit light. As a result, the HID bulb cannot be supplied with appropriate power, and takes a considerable time until it produces a sufficient luminous quantity. In particular, since the onboard headlights require sharp start-up of the luminous quantity, it is difficult for this purpose to use the conventional discharge bulb ballast. In addition, when fillers vaporize, the luminous quantity increases sharply, which presents a problem in that the luminous quantity at the lighting up of the discharge bulb is unstable.


There is provided a cylindrical valve 20 for placement in the flow path of a singlet-delta oxygen generator 12 that feeds O.sub.2.sup.* to a chemical laser gain medium 14. The feed path 22 includes a sharp 90.degree. bend 24 that causes fluid velocity variations in O.sub.2.sup.* entering the gain medium 14. Integral with the valve 20 is a tubular structure 12 having a partial circumferential radially extending surface 44 fitted with "O" ring for sealing and opening the feed path between the "O.sub.2.sup.* " generator 12 and gain generator 14. A series of vanes 32, 34, 36 disposed in velocity control zones 50, 52, 54 and 56 are integral with the valve 20 for leveling out the velocity variations and controlling the wake formation 58, 59 and 60 in the O.sub.2.sup.* entering the gain generator 14.

Chemical laser systems are known to have the capability of generating high energy laser beams. One such system is the chemical oxygen iodine laser known as "COIL" which is particularly suitable for weapons systems because of its range and the ability to control the high intensity beam to a target responsive to mobile target surveillance techniques.
The operation of the COIL involves a basic hydrogen peroxide ("BHP") dispersed into a reactor as highly dispersed liquid droplets. Chlorine gas is then mixed with an inert carrier gas and reacted with the BHP to generate and the singlet-delta oxygen. The reaction product flows out of the singlet oxygen generator ("SOG") and passed into the laser gain generator. Singlet-delta oxygen is denoted by symbol O.sub.2.sup.*. In the gain generator the O.sub.2.sup.* reacts with iodine. The energy is extracted as coherent laser radiation in an optical cavity transverse to the flow of the reactants in the cavity. The chemistry of the COIL system is described in co-pending application Ser. No. 08/762,180, pending, filed in the name of Charles Clendenning, et al. and is assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. The architecture of a suitable apparatus to implement the chemical process for generating the high energy beam requires several different modular systems such as the SOG, thermal management system of the basic hydrogen peroxide solution, a fluid supply system, a pressure recovery system, and the gain generator system. The general architecture is described in the co-pending patent application filed of even date herewith under Ser. No. 08/762,180, pending, and is assigned to the same assignee as this application.
The invention in this application is directed to the control of fluid namely the O.sub.2.sup.* from the SOG to the laser gain generator in a non-rectilinear path which, unless modified, introduces variations in uniformity of the flow rate as the O.sub.2.sup.* courses over sharp bends in the feed line. Considering the size and complexity of the apparatus once the various modules are assembled together it becomes necessary to fold the system in order to install it in a suitable mobile carrier such as an airplane or large truck. In order to avoid stretching out the apparatus in a straight line (to avoid disturbances in the fluid flow) the SOG and the gain generator system arranged in a parallel juxtaposition to one another so that the out feed of the O.sub.2.sup.* and the in feed reside in different nonaligned planes that necessitate a sharp turn in order to feed the O.sub.2.sup.* from the SOG to the gain generator module.
A 90.degree. turn in the feed line results in varying the rate of flow of the reactive O.sub.2.sup.* across the cross-sectional area of the feed line. At the turn the O.sub.2.sup.* experiences an increase in pressure at the large radius turn portion of the feed line and a decrease at the small radius turn. This also results in flow separation along the wall. The thermodynamic reaction energy with the iodine is such that as the active iodine encounters different flow rates of oxygen at the center of the feed line compared to the inside boundaries of the feed line walls it results in density fluctuations in the reaction chamber. This can adversely affect the quality of the laser beam by diffusing or spreading the beam pattern.
Another problem that is encountered in the architecture of these systems is the valve control for opening the feed line to supply the O.sub.2.sup.* to the gain generator and to effectively shut down the system. The use of conventional valves such a gate valve, results in incrementally opening the cross section of the feed line that could also affect the quality of the beam in that the O.sub.2.sup.* is fed in at different rates during the time it takes to completely open the feed line.
Previously known architectures for generating high energy chemical laser beams usable to engage incoming hostile missiles have presented problems in terms of requiring serially stringing out the processing modules which hampers the transportability of the system for the reason that they require unusually large vehicles, either airborne or land based.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome one or more of the problems.

Integrated valve and flow control apparatus and method for chemical laser system


A connector for a PCB (60) has two fixing members (40). Each fixing member (40) has a main plate (41) configured for mounting to a connector housing (12) and a mounting plate (42) bent from the main plate (41). Each mounting plate (42) has solder entering holes (47) and slits (50) between the solder entering holes (47) at a projecting edge of the mounting plate (42). A force that acts to turn the mounting plates (42) from one end is divided at each slit (50), thereby preventing the mounting plates (42) and the housing (12) from being detached from the PCB (60).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a connector to be mounted to an electric or electronic device, such as a printed circuit board.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H06-203896 discloses a circuit board connector with a housing. Board fixing portions are formed integrally with the housing and bulge out sideways from the bottom ends of the opposite side surfaces of the housing. The board fixing portions are formed with screw holes. Screws can be inserted from the underside of a circuit board and fastened to the screw holes for fixing the housing to the circuit board. The connector, however, requires a large arrangement space on the circuit board because the board fixing portions bulge out sideways.
A miniature circuit board connector has been proposed with fixing members on side surfaces of a housing. The fixing members are secured to a circuit board by soldering. However, this construction is inferior to the screw fastening construction in strength against the peeling-off from the circuit board. Thus, a countermeasure has been of urgent necessity.
The present invention was developed in view of the above problem and an object is to allow the reliable mounting of a connector to an electric/electronic device such as a printed circuit board.


A steam line plug support tool for maintaining steam line plugs in steam line nozzles during the local leak rate test of boiling water reactors which includes an elongated beam with a support piece attached at a location to coincide with the steam line plug. The steam line plug support tool may optionally have a steam line plug attached to the support plate so that the support tool may be used for both installation and support.

Steam line plugs are installed in the steam line nozzles of boiling water reactors for inspection and maintenance of the steam line system of the reactor. Generally, the plugs are of two types. One type of plug is only used to prevent the steam line from being filled with water. A positive head of water on the reactor side of the plug keeps the plug inserted in the steam line nozzle while the line is drained. The plug may contain a vent valve operated remotely to allow the steam lines to refill after maintenance. This type of plug, however, cannot withstand the back pressure which results from the local leak rate testing of the main steam valve closest to the plug. A force of approximately 50 psi will force the plug from the steam line nozzle.
Another type of plug has been developed to withstand the back pressure from the local leak rate testing of the main steam valve closest to the plug. In order to absorb the load resulting from the back pressure and remain in place in the steam line, however, this plug must incorporate an elaborate expansion device. The expansion device may include hydraulically expanded rings to lock the steam line plug against back pressure. It is, thus, a problem in the prior art to provide a steam line plug which is of simple design and does not require elaborate expansion devices, and yet is able to withstand the local leak rate test pressure and remain in place in the steam line.


A semiconductor memory device includes circuitry coupled to a plurality of memory cells with transistors. The circuitry is configured to change a potential of a body of the transistor to a degree depending on a charging state of the body. A gate electrode of the transistor is maintained in a non-addressed state.

Memory devices of a dynamic random access (DRAM) memory comprise a plurality of memory cells. Typically, the memory cells comprise a storage element, for example, a storage capacitor, as well as an access transistor. The access transistor is connected with a storage element so as to control writing or reading data into or from the storage element, respectively. For example, in a typical DRAM memory cell, the storage element is implemented as a storage capacitor and the data is represented by an electrical charge stored in the capacitor. In the commonly known DRAM cells, charges leak from the storage capacitor. As a result, the data stored in the specific memory cell gets lost. In this respect, the retention time refers to the time during which data may be recognizably stored in a memory cell. In order to store data for a time which is longer than the retention time, it is necessary to perform a refresh operation.
In commonly known memory devices, data may be refreshed by reading the stored data and by re-writing the data into the memory cell.
Among the various attempts to improve DRAM devices, efforts are made in order to improve the retention time characteristics of memory cells. Moreover alternative methods of refreshing the data stored in the memory cell are searched. In particular, it is attempted to reduce the power consumption required for a refreshing operation is reduced.

Semiconductor device, an electronic device and a method for operating the same


In an embodiment, a method includes receiving a request from a controlling user to publish particular content. The method also includes determining at least one topic of the particular content. The method further includes allowing the controlling user to select need-to-know criteria, the need-to-know criteria comprising one or more thresholds relating to a prevalence of the at least one topic in logged conversations of a requesting user. In addition, the method includes allowing a controlling user to select a trust threshold, wherein the trust threshold relates, at least in part, to a quantitative analysis of logged behavior of a requesting user on the communications platform. Further, the method includes generating based, at least in part, on the need-to-know criteria and the trust threshold, a self-service access policy for the particular content. Also, the method includes activating the self-service access policy as to the particular content.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to data security and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to systems and methods of secure self-service access to content.
History of Related Art
For corporate information systems, access management is usually a very rigid process. Typically, an employee must email or call an information technology support center to obtain access to a desired resource.
Moreover, as the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.

Systems and methods of secure self-service access to content


A switch includes a switch main body having a movable section displaceable downward by pressure to bring a movable contact into contact with a fixed contact, the movable section being displaced upward to open each contact by a release of pressure; a button section that presses the movable section in response to a downward pressing operation; and a support arm having one end portion supporting the button section. An end of the support arm not coupled to the button section is turnable and held at a location in a support surface arranged vertically. The button section bottom surface is inclined and separated from the movable section when the button section is not pressed. When the button section is pressed and is lowered to a position at which the fixed contact and the movable contact are closed, the bottom surface is in an approximately horizontal state and presses the movable section.

There is a general push button switch including a movable section in which a movable contact is provided in a lower end portion and a button section that presses the movable section. The movable section is disposed on a fixed contact provided on a circuit board while opposed to the fixed contact, and the button section is exposed from a surface of a casing. When a user presses the button section downward with a finger, both the button section and the movable section are disposed downward, and the movable contact and the fixed contact come into contact with each other. When the user separates the finger from the button section, the button section and the movable section return to original positions to release a contact state of each contact (see Patent Document 1).
Recently, the push button switches suitable to various compact electronic apparatuses are developed, and sometimes the plurality of push button switches are disposed in a top portion of the narrow casing (see Patent Document 2). Sometimes the push button switch having a configuration in FIG. 8 is used, because a control board is accommodated in the electronic apparatus while standing up.
In the example in FIG. 8, a push button switch SW0 includes a switch main body 1 including a movable section 10 that is vertically movable, a button section 2 pressing the movable section 10 in response to a downward pressing operation, and a support arm 3 integral with the button section 2. A rear surface of the switch main body 1 is fixed to one (background portion in FIG. 8) of surfaces of a board that is disposed in the standing state, and a leading end of the support arm 3 is also attached to the identical surface of the board such that the support arm 3 is turnable.
As illustrated in FIG. 8(1), when the downward pressing operation is not performed, the button section 2 is supported so as to be slightly separated from the movable section 10. As illustrated in FIG. 8(2), when the button section 2 is subjected to a pressure of the downward pressing operation, the support arm 3 and the button section 2 rotate about the leading end of the support arm 3, the leading end being attached to the board, and the button section 2 presses the movable section 10 while obliquely inclined.

Push button switch and electronic apparatus using same


A method for processing floating-point numbers, each floating-point number having at least sign portion, an exponent portion and a mantissa portion, comprising the steps of converting a floating-point number memory register representation to a floating-point register representation; rounding the converted floating-point number; performing an arithmetic computation upon said rounded number resulting in a new floating-point value; and converting the resulting new floating-point register value to a floating-point memory register representation. An apparatus for processing floating-point numbers comprising means for converting a floating-point value from a random access memory register to a floating-point unit register; means for selecting the type of accuracy required of the converted value; means for selecting the type of rounding required of the converted floating-point value; means for performing an arithmetic operation upon at least one converted floating-point value based upon said selected accuracy and rounding; means for chopping the result of the arithmetic operation to fit a mantissa portion of a floating-point value; and means for converting the resulting floating-point value from the floating-point register representation to the random access memory representation.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to a method for processing floating-point numbers. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, it is directed to a technique for representing floating-point numbers in a memory register format and floating-point register format in a manner that allows the handling of overflow and underflow floating-point numbers, thereby eliminating denormalization in memory and exponent modification from rounding.
2. Related Art
In an effort to unify methods employed in computer systems for performing binary floating-point arithmetic, the IEEE in the early 1980's standardized computer floating-point numbers. Such binary floating-point numbers make possible the manipulation of large as well as small numbers with great precision, and thus are often used in scientific calculations. They typically comprise either single precision format or double precision format, with single precision operating on 32-bit operands and double precision operating on 64-bit operands. Both single and double precision numbers constitute a bit-string characterized by three fields: a single sign bit, several exponent bits, and several fraction or mantissa bits, with the sign bit being the most significant bit, the exponent bits being the next most significant, and the mantissa bits being the least significant.
A normalized nonzero number X in the single format has the form EQU X=(-1).sup.S *2.sup.E-127 *(1.F)where
S=sign bit PA1 E=8-bit exponent biased by 127 PA1 F=X's 23-bit fraction which, together with an implicit leading 1, yields the significant digit field "1. - - - " PA1 S=sign bit PA1 L=Leading bit, or (0) PA1 F =Fraction, or nonzero PA1 1. A method and apparatus for handling underflow in floating-point numbers that is straightforward and efficient to implement in hardware. PA1 2. A method and apparatus for handling underflow in floating-point numbers that is more efficient than IEEE standards. PA1 3. A method and apparatus for simplifying rounding of floating-point numbers that does not generate a denormalized or infinite number. PA1 4. A method and apparatus for simplifying rounding of floating-point numbers that eliminates carry propagation and exponent adjustment in rounding. PA1 5. A method and apparatus for handling underflow in floating-point numbers that simplifies real-time software design and validation. PA1 6. A method and apparatus for representing overflow that provides a symmetrical situation regarding the exponent range. PA1 7. A method and apparatus for handling floating-point numbers that gives the ability to provide accuracy indication.
In the conventional floating-point representation, the boundary between the exponent and mantissa parts is fixed, resulting in a constant number of bits representing the exponent. As such, the range of values that can be represented is limited. Even if there are unused exponential or mantissa bits, such free bits cannot be used for other purposes. Therefore, conventional floating-point number representation is not flexible enough to utilize the unused space of the exponent part thereby improving the precision of the mantissa, or to utilize any unused space of the mantissa part thereby improving the precision of the exponent.
In other floating-point representations, the size of the exponent or mantissa is a variable length. This variable length allows for underflow representation of numbers very close to zero, and for overflow representation of very large numbers which would normally produce an infinite number. IEEE floating-point standards have a feature called gradual underflow which handles numbers close to zero. The format employed is termed denormalized numbers and is difficult to implement in hardware. In some cases, such as in rounding, the adjustment of the exponent to handle underflow and overflow numbers creates a denormalized floating-point number. Denormalized numbers require additional processing which conflicts with the efficient processing of the vast remaining majority of floating-point numbers.
According to IEEE Standard 754, a denormalized number is a nonzero floating-point number whose exponent has a reserved value, usually the format's minimum, and whose explicit or implicit leading significant bit is zero. As such, its represented number is EQU X=(-1).sup.S *2.sup.-126 *(L.F) where
Two correlated events contribute to underflow. One is the creation of a tiny nonzero result between .+-.2.sup.Min E which, because it is so tiny, may later cause some other exception such as overflow upon division. The other event is the extraordinary loss of accuracy during the approximation of such tiny numbers by denormalized numbers. Loss of accuracy may be detected as either a denormalization loss--when the delivered result differs from what would have been computed were exponent range unbounded--or, an inexact result--when the delivered result differs from what would have been computed were both exponent range and precision unbounded. The IEEE Standard 754 does not track accuracy other than to require single and double precision.
For digital computer processors, the complexities of the IEEE Standard 754 increase the design and manufacturing cost of the processor. Additional hardware and processing time is required to handle denormalized numbers in order to maintain the integrity of the data. For some computer applications such as real-time signal processing, it is desirable to have a fixed time duration for computations. The additional requirement and cost of seldom used circuitry to handle underflow and overflow numbers generates variations in compute time which, in turn, create difficulty in design and validation of the computer system. At the microprocessor level, it is desirable that operations take fixed-time durations and that seldom used circuitry be avoided.
In the current era of RISC microprocessors with pipelined floating-point data, there are specific floating-point registers and a dedicated floating-point unit. Data movement, both to and from memory, is handled by floating-point load and store instructions. This presents the opportunity for the memory floating-point format to be optimized separately from the register floating-point format. Memory format optimization involves information density, i.e., providing the greatest accuracy in a specific memory element. Register format optimization involves supporting the most efficient floating-point arithmetic unit.
The present invention has been designed to provide a method to efficiently handle such overflow and underflow numbers. The present invention provides a means whereby rounding of the result does not adjust the exponent value. It also supplies a means wherein memory data has precision encoded with a loss of one bit of mantissa. In addition, the present invention provides a means whereby both floating-point memory and register data are always normalized, such normalization accomplished using minimal hardware in the load/store paths. The present invention also allows conditional actions to be performed in hardware in parallel thereby minimizing processing duration and avoiding the need for seldom used circuitry. In reshaping the IEEE format, the present invention retains most of its benefits while offering the microprocessor designer and the real-time programmer a much cleaner and more efficient implementation.

Method and apparatus for handling overflow and underflow in processing floating-point numbers


Continuously monitoring heart rhythm can include grouping, using computer hardware, a plurality of inter-beat intervals (IBI) data for a user into a plurality of epochs, wherein each epoch includes a subset of the IBI data corresponding to a predetermined time span. For each epoch, a selected feature set selected from a plurality of feature sets is extracted based on a determination of temporal consistency of the epoch. A plurality of epoch classifications may be generated for the epochs using a selected feature processor, wherein each epoch classification indicates whether arrhythmia is detected for the epoch from which the epoch classification is generated. The selected feature processor is selected from a plurality of different feature processors on a per-epoch basis based on the selected feature set extracted from the epoch. An indication of arrhythmia may be output, via an output device of the computer hardware, based on the epoch classifications.

Heart arrhythmia refers to a condition in which the heart beats too slowly, too fast, or in an irregular manner. Atrial Fibrillation (AFib), being a type of heart arrhythmia, is a condition in which the upper chambers of the heart, referred to as the Atria, beat irregularly. The irregular beating of the Atria results in poor blood flow to the lower chambers of the heart referred to as the ventricles. In AFib, the atria and the ventricles beat in an uncoordinated manner and the chaotic depolarization (activation of the atria) causes the heart to beat irregularly. Sometimes AFib is also accompanied by beating too slow (bradycardia) or too fast (AFib with rapid ventricular response).
Detection of AFib can be difficult as may persons suffering from the condition are asymptomatic. Further complicating detection, AFib may occur intermittently. Detection of AFib, however, is a significant issue as AFib has been associated with higher incidence of stroke and heart failure and higher risk of mortality. The Center for Disease Control has estimated that between 2.7 and 6.1 million people in the United States suffer from AFib. This number is expected to grow as the population continues to age.
Keeping a patient in a clinical setting to detect what may be an intermittent condition is also not a practical solution. Unfortunately, monitoring heart rhythm in an accurate manner outside of a clinical setting poses numerous technological challenges. As such, AFib may go undiagnosed until the condition causes a life-threatening condition. Since AFib is progressive in nature, early detection is an important aspect of managing the condition.

Non-invasive continuous heart rhythm monitoring based on wearable sensors

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA


The present invention provides a method for selectively separating live cells which have expressed a specific mRNA comprising: a first step of introducing a marker which label mRNA into cells in a live cell group containing live cells which have expressed a specific mRNA; a second step of labeling said mRNA with said marker to obtain a live cell group containing live cells having the labeled mRNA; and a third step of detecting said labeled mRNA to identify the live cells having the labeled mRNA and separating the identified live cells selectively from said live cell group obtained in said second step.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for selectively separating live cells which have expressed a specific gene.
2. Related Background Art
In the case that the translation products of a gene are cell surface molecules, a method for selectively separating cells which have expressed the specific gene, while being viable, is to make fluorescence labeled antibodies bind to the surface molecules for labeling the cells fluorescently, to identify fluorescing cells by flow cytometry, and to separate the identified cells with a cell sorter (Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter, FACS). In addition, the panning method is also known wherein only the objective cells are absorbed on the bottom surface of a dish over which is covered with antibodies specifically binding to the cell surface molecules.
In the case that the translation products of a gene are not cell surface molecules but localize in the cells (in the cytoplasm or in organella), the method described above cannot be adopted. In this case, it is theoretically possible to fluorescently label the gene-expressing cells by introduction of fluorescence-labeled antibodies that are specific to the molecules localized in the cells into the cells, through microinjection and to separate the objective gene-expressing cells with the cell sorter described above based on the difference in fluorescence intensity of the cells with irradiation of laser beam or the like.
However, for the cell labeling method by microinjection described above, the method can not label many cells at once. The number of the cells to which the labeled antibodies can be introduced for one experiment is at most ten or less. In addition, it is not easy to introduce the solution of a polymer with the molecular weight greater than 120,000 like an antibody with high concentration into the cell because of its high viscosity. Therefore, microinjection is impractical to label the sufficient number of objective cells efficiently.
In the case that the translation products of the gene are not cell surface molecules, but molecules that are liberated into the extracellular fluid and that do not remain in the cell or near the cell membrane, it is very difficult to selectively trap the molecules to separate the cells expressing the specific gene, from other molecules with the approaches described above. This is because, during the process where polypeptide chains generated based on the genetic information are folded and secreted, their structure changes gradually and from time to time to prevent any known antibodies from binding to the polypeptide chains within or on the surfaces of live cells efficiently. Also, even in the case that the translation products are present on the surfaces of cells, it is difficult to selectively separate the cells unless the molecules are specifically present on the surfaces of particular cells.
A typical example, where the situation described above exists and when it is difficult to separate the objective live cells selectively, includes the case where cells secreting a specific cytokine are selectively separated using the cytokine as a selection marker.
When an antigen invades an organism, helper T cells (CD4+ T cells) that recognize the antigen as a foreign matter are activated, and then they will be differentiated into TH1 and TH2, which have different immune functions from each other: TH1 (T Helper 1) which is responsible for cellular immune functions, e.g., activation of macrophages to remove foreign matters by phagocytosis; and TH2 (T Helper 2) which has humoral immune functions, e.g., activation of B cells to produce antibody molecules to neutralize foreign matters and (See FIG. 94). TH1 and TH2 produce cytokines, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-4 (IL-4), respectively. In the healthy state, TH1 and TH2 control each other's functions and keep a balance. However, once this relationship is disrupted, it causes various infections or autoimmune disorders.
If TH1 or TH2 can be selectively separated and obtained, it will be medically important, because their application can be contemplated in supplementing immune functions or the like. Thus, a variety of attempts have been made to find molecules that are present on the surface of TH1 or TH2, that can be used for their separation and obtaining.
For example, it has been reported that the tissue infiltration which is dependent on adhesive molecules, P- and E-selectin, is observed specifically with human TH1 (Austrup, F. et al. Nature, 385, 81–83, 1997). This suggests that ligands adhering specifically to the selectins are present on TH1 cell surfaces. However, when reactivity for P- and E-selectin is examined by flow cytometry, the results are TH1:TH2=131:52 for P-selectin, and TH1:TH2=668:88 for E-selectin; therefore, the specificity is not complete. These results can be interpreted as reflecting the fact that particularly notable P- and E-selectin ligand expression is induced in TH1 under physiological conditions unique to inflamed tissues (such as skin and joints).
Receptors for CC-chemokine (CCR3), eotaxin, have also been reported to be present with approximate specificity on human TH2 cell surfaces (Sallusto, F. et al. Science, 277, 1997). However, since CCR3-negative T cell groups also include IL-4 producing TH2 cells in a proportion of 1.9%, the specificity is not complete. Furthermore, the presence of many more of the same receptors on eosinophil and basophil cell surfaces than on TH2 raises the risk of possible contamination by cells other than TH2 if CCR3+ cells are simply separated from T lymphocytes that have been crudely purified from blood.
The receptor CCR5 for other CC-chemokines such as MIP-1β and IP10 and the receptor CXCR3 for the CXC-chemokine SDF-1 have been reported to be present with approximate specificity on human TH1 cell surfaces (Loestscher, P. et al., Nature, 391, 344, 1998). However, since one of the nine TH2 clones obtained here was CCR5+, the specificity is not complete. Furthermore, while TH1 shows higher CXCR3 gene expression and CXC-chemokine dependent migration than TH2, CXCR3 gene expression was also confirmed in all of the TH2 clones examined, and therefore, the specificity is not complete. Moreover, CCR5 and CXCR3 are also present on neutrophil cell surfaces, and therefore the risk exists of possible contamination by neutrophils in CCR5+ or CXCR3+ cells separated from T lymphocytes that have been crudely purified from blood.
In addition, IL-12 (interleukin-12) receptor (IL-12R) has been reported to be present with approximate specificity on human TH1 cell surfaces (Rogge, L. et al., J. Exp. Med., 185, 825, 1997). However, while TH1 cell surfaces bear high affinity receptors (Kd value=27 pM) and low affinity receptors (Kd value=5 nM) for IL-12 at 140 molecules and 450 molecules per cell surface, respectively, similar low affinity receptors (Kd value=2 nM) are also present on TH2 cells at 200 molecules per cell surface. This means that IL-12R cannot be used as a definitive TH1 cell surface marker. Moreover, since IL-12R is also present on the cell surfaces of NK cells, the risk exists of possible contamination by NK cells in IL-12R positive cells separated from T lymphocytes that have been crudely purified from blood.
IL-18 (interleukin-18) receptor (IL-18R) is another receptor reported to be present specifically on the cell surface of a TH1 clone established from transgenic mice with T cell receptors for ovalbumin (Xu, D. et al., J. Exp. Med., 188, 1485, 1998). However, like IL-18R, the ST2L molecule belonging to the interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) family is also known to be present on TH2 cell surfaces. Because gene homology within the IL-1R family is particularly high in humans, IL-18R cannot be considered a definitive cell surface marker in humans and no reports have yet been published on their presence specifically on TH1 cell surfaces. Also, since IL-18R is much more abundantly present on monocyte, neutrophil and NK cell surfaces than on TH1, the risk exists of possible contamination by cells other than TH1 in IL-18R positive cells separated from T lymphocytes that have been crudely purified from blood.
The reports cited above suggested that receptors for cytokines, chemokines and the like present on TH1 or TH2 cell surfaces vary considerably in terms of amount (number of per cell surface) and quality (affinity of the receptors for their ligands or intracellular transduction of stimuli upon binding to ligands), and that the distribution of such receptors therefore highly favors either TH1 or TH2. The reason for the favorableness of cell surface molecules toward either TH1 or TH2 is believed to arise from the biological environment (physiological conditions) surrounding the helper T cells.
For example IL-12, which is one of the ligands for these cytokine receptors, is a cytokine secreted by macrophages, etc. upon initial infection (Walker, W. et al., J. Immunol., 162, 5894, 1999), and IL-18 is also known to be produced by activated macrophages and Kupffer cells (Yoshimoto, T. et al., J. Immunol., 161, 3400, 1998). Naturally, both of these cytokines have more connections with TH1 than with TH2, in light of the cellular immunity function of the former, and they are considered to be factors that perform transduction of physiological information from macrophages to TH1 (i.e., that activate TH1 in the body).
This suggests a connection between activation of macrophages by TH1 and reception of stimuli (IL-12 and IL-18) returned from macrophages, whereby macrophages activated by TH1 eliminate foreign matters in the body while also activating TH1. As this interdependent relationship is established at sites of inflammation in the body, it is fully expected for the number of receptors for IL-12 and IL-18 and the activity of the receptor molecules to increase significantly on TH1 cell surfaces. Further, since TH2 cells are not exposed to the same conditions in the body as TH1, it is surmised that they have no need to receive IL-12 or IL-18. However, as long as IL-12 or IL-18 receptors are detected even slightly on TH2 cell surfaces, it cannot be denied that TH2 also has the potential to respond to IL-12 or IL-18.
It is therefore inconceivable that these cytokine receptors are definitive markers that can distinguish TH1 from among TH1 and TH2. In addition, since these chemokine and cytokine receptors that are predominantly distributed on TH1 and TH2 cells are also found distributed among other cell types such as NK cells, they are considered impractical as markers for distinguishing TH1 or TH2 from each other in blood samples. For example, cell specimens containing CD4+ cells (helper T cells) that are separated and purified by common methods from blood samples taken from humans usually include contamination by monocytes and granulocytes, and these false positive cells may be expected to be mistaken for TH1 or TH2.
As stated above, it is, therefore, very difficult to selectively separate TH1 and TH2 cells based on surface molecules. Moreover, since the cytokines (IL-2 and IL-4) produced by TH1 and TH2 do not remain in the cell or near the cell membrane but are liberated into the extracellular fluid, it is difficult to selectively separate TH1 and TH2 using these cytokines.

Method for selectively separating live cells expressing a specific gene