Human myeloperoxidase produced by culturing prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells transformed by a vector for the expression of human myeloperoxidase in said cells.

Resistance to infection by microorganisms makes use of non-specific functions (enzyme action, pH, epithelial wall) and of the adaptive immune responses of B and T lymphocytic cells.
The non-specific functions prevent invasion by the majority of attacking agents. However, when this first line of defense capitulates, the phagocytic system comes into operation, destroys the infectious agents and stimulates the immunity functions conferred by the B and T cells.
Any abnormality, hereditary or acquired, of the phagocytic system has serious consequences, since even microorganisms which are normally of low pathogenicity evade it and trigger recurrent infections.
Moreover, any deficiency in the immune system itself, at T or B cell level, leads to an enhanced susceptibility to intra- or extracellular viral and bacterial infections. These deficiencies may be hereditary or acquired (e.g. AIDS=elective T cell deficiency). Most people suffering from these deficiencies are subject to infection by opportunistic organisms (bacteria, protozoa, and the like).
In all cases of immunosuppression, it is hence desirable that the phagocytic system is as effective as possible, in order to limit the consequences of external attack. Of secondary importance under normal conditions, phagocytosis takes on an essential character when the B and T immune response weakens.
Among cells associated with the immune response, the polymorphonuclear leukocytes are of special interest in the context of combating infections. These cells contain an enzyme, myeloperoxidase, whose microbicidal action is well documented. Polymorphonuclear cells do not display any specificity with respect to an antigen, but play an essential part in the case of acute inflammation, with antibodies and the complement system, in the host's defense against microorganisms. Their main function is phagocytosis. During this process, the microorganisms are included in vacuoles (phagosomes) which fuse with the granules containing myeloperoxidase to form phagolysosomes. During phagocytosis, the enzymatic activity of the myeloperoxidase leads to the formation of HOCl, a potent bactericidal compound (hypochlorous acid); this activity requires H.sub.2 O.sub.2 (hydrogen peroxide), which appears in the polymorphonuclear cell when it is stimulated by various agents, and in particular by the immunological reactions induced by microorganisms. Hypochlorous acid is oxidizing in itself, but produces still more strongly oxidizing derivatives chloramines. Finally, reacting with H.sub.2 O.sub.2, from which it is derived, hypochlorous acid produces an extremely oxidizing form of oxygen, singlet oxygen.
The major problem nevertheless lies at macrophage level. In effect, the macrophage is a very large cell, more robust than the polymorphonuclear cell and capable, like the latter, of phagocytosing microorganisms. It also possesses an H.sub.2 O.sub.2 -generating system but is not, however, capable of producing myeloperoxidase. This deficiency decreases its defensive efficacy. It has been discovered, however, according to the invention, that macrophages can incorporate and utilize myeloperoxidase, which remains active after penetration into the macrophages, an acquisition complementing in an effective manner their cytolytic and bacteriolytic arsenal, especially for the destruction of various infectious agents affecting immunosuppressed patients.
Although myeloperoxidase, once in the plasma, is taken up very quickly by the macrophages, specific administration systems delivering the enzyme in an optimal manner to the macrophages can be used according to the invention, producing myeloperoxidase conjugates by covalent coupling with a transporting agent possessing an affinity for macrophages. In this connection, there may be mentioned transporting agents such as mannosylated human albumin, as well as antibodies or antibody fragments, such as the Fc constant portion, directed towards receptors present on macrophages.
Other systems consist in coupling an antibody or Ab fragment specific for the macrophage to the enzyme human myeloperoxidase by non-covalent complexing or by DNA manipulation, to obtain an "immune complex".
The administration of such conjugates or immune complexes leads to targeting of the human MPO towards the macrophage, to its ingestion by phagocytosis and to release of the enzyme in active form within the macrophage, its preferential site of action, where it participates in combating infections.
In the case of immune complexes prepared by genetic engineering, DNA coding for MPO, the latter being active or in the form of a natural precursor, is coupled to DNA coding for an immunoglobulin fragment specifically recognizing macrophages.

Human myeloperoxidase and its therapeutic application


A method for generating a channel for displaying channel content for a portal by a user, involving accessing a portal server via a network using a client computer, accessing a channel generating link in response to the user interacting with a content link of the portal server, accessing an information inputting interface in response to the user interacting with the channel generating link, inputting information to the portal server using the information inputting interface wherein said information describes the channel, and generating the channel in response to the inputting information to the portal server.

The Internet includes a large network made up of a number of smaller networks located world-wide, which are used in personal, commercial, academic, government, and other endeavors. The World Wide Web, sometimes referred to as "the Web" and well known by its initials in the "www" prefixes of many Web addresses, includes an Internet based facility that links documents across remote and local distances.
A "Web page" includes a World Wide Web (e.g., Web) document, which is a coded text file. An address on the Web (or on another Internet facility) is called a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), and defines the route across the Internet to a particular file, such as a Web page. A Web site includes a server computer (server) containing Web pages and other files and strives to be continuously online to the Internet.
Portals function as Web supersites that provide users with various services. Such services can include email, Web searching, online shopping, news, directories (such as white and yellow pages functionalities), discussion groups, and links to other sites, among others. Portals organize information thereon into channels, sometimes referred to as "portlet windows." The information for a channel is provided by a content provider, which is sometimes referred to as a portlet.
Channels can be devoted to or concentrated towards a particular type of information content and may describe the browser window and the information behind it. For instance, channels exist on major portals for bookmarks, email, news headlines, stock quotes, sports scores, etc. Bookmarks provide functionality wherein the addresses (e.g., URL) of certain Web sites are stored for quick and handy access by a user to a favorite or frequently used (e.g., visited) Web site, which can save the user time and effort.
A portal user has limited options for selecting a channel. Once selected, a user can arrange the channel as desired, within limits. Typically, an entity that administers the portal (e.g., a portal administrator) renders a fixed number of channels available to a user of the portal. However, in existing portals only one or a fixed number of each type of channel are available, for example, a single bookmark channel and a single email channel.
For some users, this may not be ideal, or may not adequately meet the user's needs or desires. For instance, consider the user who desires two separate lists of bookmarks, one in each of two separate channels; effectively a bookmark list for each channel. Conventionally, a user requires the intervention and/or manual assistance of the portal administrator to achieve this.
With conventional portal channels, where a user desires two separate lists of bookmarks in separate channels, such as one for bookmarks associated with a project for work and another associated with personal inspirational reading, a user cannot configure the portal to provide this. Instead typically, a user is limited to a single channel for bookmarks.
Thus, bookmarks for URLs associated with the user's professional and occupational interests are typically mixed with those for the user's personal interests, as well. For a user with a large number of bookmarks in several categories, this can be cumbersome. To find the bookmark needed, the user may have to spend time sifting through unrelated bookmark listings. Therefore, some of the time that bookmarking is meant to save may be lost again.
Some portals allow users a feature of creating user-defined tabs or portal pages so as to provide the convenience of placing channels. However, such features do not allow a user to configure more than a fixed number of administrator-configured channels for a particular type of information. In one portal configuration, rich site summary channels (RSS) files exist, which describe Web sites, which can be uploaded in an EXtensilble Markup Language (XML) format, to appear as a channel on a portal page. However, this capability is not generic, in that only RSS files can be uploaded, and this process is cumbersome.

Method and apparatus for managing user defined portal channels


The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for reducing dark current in a backside illuminated semiconductor device. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate having a frontside surface and a backside surface, and forming a plurality of sensor elements in the substrate, each of the plurality of sensor elements configured to receive light directed towards the backside surface. The method further includes forming a dielectric layer on the backside surface of the substrate, wherein the dielectric layer has a compressive stress to induce a tensile stress in the substrate. A backside illuminated semiconductor device fabricated by such a method is also disclosed.

In semiconductor technologies, backside illuminated (BSI) sensors are used for sensing a volume of exposed light projected towards the backside surface of a substrate or sensor layer. The backside illuminated sensors can be formed in the substrate and light projected towards the backside of the substrate can reach the sensors. However, during BSI sensor processing, stress on the substrate or sensor layer is known to impact leakage current or dark current. In particular, stress on the device substrate or sensor layer may be caused by subsequent color filter processing and/or device packaging after leaving a fabrication facility, which can cause variations in dark current and thus negatively impact device performance or even possibly cause device degradation.
Therefore, while existing methods of fabricating semiconductor devices have been generally adequate for their intended purposes, they have not been entirely satisfactory in every aspect. In particular, improvements in backside illuminated sensor processing and/or the corresponding sensor substrate are desired.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A casing bottom or stub casing for a propelling charge casing whose base plate (1) has an exterior or outer surface which is curved inwardly in an annular region (7) so that the casing bottom is able to sufficiently axially expand under the high gas pressure developing during firing without requiring the use of a high strength material.

The present invention relates to a casing bottom for a propelling charge casing. More particularly, the present invention relates to such a casing bottom which has a circular ring-shaped (annular) base plate provided with a centrally arranged primer sleeve for accommodating a primer element and with a cylindrical section at the outer edge of the base plate and formed in one piece with the base plate.
Propelling charge casings are usually provided with a casing bottom that has a planar base plate and, in large-caliber ammunition, for example, for armored weapons, is composed of high strength steel because of the high gas pressures occurring upon firing (approximately 7000 bar for 120 caliber and about 8000 bar for 140 caliber ammunition). The forged casing bottom blank is given a machining pretreatment, is then further tempered by a special heat treatment and finally machined again. Then it is surface treated in order to ensure corrosion protection and finally a rubber sealing lip is vulcanized on. This is a very expensive manufacturing process.

Casing bottom for a propelling charge casing


An apparatus and method are provided for a Class G amplifier that includes an output stage, where an output stage supply voltage is selected based upon an input signal voltage of the output stage. The amplifier may also include an input stage coupled to the output stage, where the input stage generates the input signal voltage for the output stage. The output stage may include first and second MOS devices operating as a Class AB amplifier, and the output stage supply voltage selected based upon gate voltages of the MOS devices. The supply voltages may be generated by a buck converter, and a charge pump that is coupled to the buck converter.

A Class G amplifier is a linear amplifier powered by multiple rail voltages, where load current is drawn through the output stage from the lowest rail that does not clip the output signal. Since this architecture reduces the average voltage drop across the amplifier's output stage, the result is improved efficiency without sacrificing the low-noise/high-linearity performance of a class AB amplifier.
Typically, the selection between supply rails is based on whether an output signal voltage of the amplifier rises above or falls below a threshold reference output voltage (VOREF). In order to maximize efficiency without distorting the output signal, the transition from a lower rail to a higher rail is typically made just before the output begins to clip. However, clipping levels are load dependent. An amplifier with a 1052 load will clip at a lower voltage than the same amplifier loaded with 100Ω.
If VOREF is fixed at a particular value, lightly loaded conditions may result in diminished efficiency due to early tripping. In contrast, heavy loads may pull the clipping voltage below VOREF, with the result that the amplifier never transitions to the higher rail.
In other applications, an input signal voltage of the amplifier may be monitored and the supply rail switched when the input voltage rises above or falls below a threshold input voltage (VIREF). Such applications often require that VIREF be chosen based upon the load impedance and the gain of the amplifier circuit so that VIREF corresponds to an appropriate output signal voltage.

Class G amplifier with improved supply rail transition control


Compositions and methods are provided for the rapid and highly accurate identification of the entire essential genome of any organism under a given selection condition at a resolution of a few base pairs. An engineered transposon bearing an adapter sequence for ultra high throughput adaptor-based sequencing is employed for hyper-saturated transposon mutagenesis. Transposon junctions are subsequently isolated and collectively amplified through a shared parallel PCR strategy such that a second adaptor sequence is further incorporated into template DNA so that the first adaptor sequence and the second adaptor sequence flank the 5′ and 3′ regions of the sample DNA, respectively. Sample DNA is then sequenced in an ultra high-throughput adaptor-based DNA sequencer using adaptor primers. Transposon insertion sites are mapped onto the organism's genome, allowing for the algorithmic identification of essential genetic elements based on genomic transposition frequency.

The identification of the entire set of essential genetic instructions encoded in the bacterial genome is crucial for a complete understanding of the regulatory networks that run and program cells. The essential genome of any organism not only contains protein-coding sequences, but also essential structural elements, non-coding RNAs and regulatory sequences. The essential genome is not necessarily a static measure: it is dynamically associated with the environmental context in which an organism is placed. For instance, the essential genomic regions of an organism may differ depending upon the availability of certain foods or nutrients in the local environment. It may also depend on such factors as temperature or the presence of toxic compounds.
Traditional techniques have relied upon mutagenizing areas of the genome to abrogate the function of the adjacent genomic region, thus permitting the identification of locations that convey lethal phenotypes to an organism of interest. By mapping these lethality-inducing locations, a picture of an organism's essential genome emerges. Systematic techniques to attain such a map have been limited to the creation of in-frame deletion libraries in which each of the open reading frames (ORF) of a genome are shifted such as to render the corresponding translated region null. However, on a genome-wide level, such a method would require the laborious mutation and analysis of thousands of individual genes in a given organism. Moreover, such an approach fails to identify the essential, regulatory sequences, transcription factor binding sites, structural genome maintenance and replication features as well as non-coding regions of a genome.
In this respect, transposon mutagenesis has proven to be a valuable, high throughput tool to create mutagenic libraries. Catalyzed by transposase enzymes, transposable elements may be randomly incorporated into a host genome to create large insertional mutations. Due to their size, transposons functionally interfere with the respective transposed region, allowing for a forward genetic approach of identifying particular genes associated with a given phenotype. For essential genomic regions under a particular selective condition, such transposon insertions renders an organism unviable and are not recovered.
For genomic studies in bacteria, plasmids containing a transposable element and transposase can be individually transformed into bacteria and selectively cultured. Integration locations can then be identified through the amplification and sequencing of transposon junctions using specifically tailored primers and cross-referencing the data with the underlying bacterial genomic sequence. Regions corresponding to low levels of integration tolerance likely serve an essential function within the genome under a particular selective condition. However, this approach has been limited in significant aspects.
In light of the expansiveness of genomes, traditional low-throughput sequencing techniques to map transposon insertion sites present an unwieldy challenge: DNA from individual clones must be independently amplified, purified, and sequenced. Greater levels of resolution in discerning genomic regions of insertional tolerance will necessarily succumb to increasing cost and labor restraints. Moreover, low mapping throughput of existing methods permits only analysis of transposon libraries with low insertion complexity. This directly translates in a poor genomic resolution, which also proves problematic as transposase-mediated insertions demonstrate partial sequence bias, and thus insertion bias will distort the results of any analysis.
Ultra high-throughput sequencing strategies exist to enable a more saturated transposon mutagenesis strategy that could potentially overcome this bias issue. For example, the advent of primed synthesis in flow cells has allowed for massive parallel sequencing of millions of different short DNA templates. For instance, Illumina's sequencing by synthesis (SBS) technology can generate up to 55 gigabases (Gb) of sequencing data in a day. In this technology, adaptors complimentary to oligomers on a planar optically transparent flow cell surface are first ligated to the ends of template DNA. Subsequently, adapted single-stranded DNAs are bound to the flow cell and amplified by a process known as solid-phase "bridge" PCR. Specifically, in each PCR cycle, the loose end of a tethered DNA template arches and hybridizes to a tethered oligomer located in the vicinity on the flow cell surface. As PCR proceeds, DNA polymerase creates a double-stranded bridge between the two attached termini, resulting in two anchored single-stranded templates upon denaturation. Subsequent rounds thus generate clusters of clonally-amplified DNA of up to 1,000 identical copies, allowing for the direct visualization of fluorescently-labeled deoxytrinucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs). Such a technique results in densities on the order of ten million single-molecule clusters per square centimeter. Following cluster generation, four labeled reversible dNTP terminators, along with primers and DNA polymerase, are introduced into the flow cell for the first cycle of sequencing. Incorporated dNTPs, each bearing a different, discernable fluorophore, are then visualized through laser excitation and subsequently enzymatically cleaved and washed away for the next cycle. To this extent, the sequencing cycles are repeated to determine the sequence of bases in a DNA template, one base at a time.
One of the key innovations underlying this system and related ultra high-throughput adaptor-based sequencing strategies involves the use of adaptor sequences, which allows for in-situ template "bridge" amplification for cluster generation. Such clonal clustering, as noted previously, enables direct fluorescent visualization of high densities of DNA samples for sequencing purposes. However, this approach typically calls for the use of conventional DNA isolation, fragmentation, and ligation protocols—a laborious and time-consuming process that is necessary to ensure DNA of a suitably small size bear compatible adaptor ends for bridge amplification.
Moreover, attempts to utilize this ultra high-throughput sequencing strategy to overcome the insertion bias of low-density studies by pooling clones and sequencing transposon flanking regions en masse has ultimately resulted in short genomic reads on the order of approximately 16 bp. Given the repetitious nature of genomes, such small identified genomic sequences would prevent an accurate and robust identification of all transposon insertion sites and thus limit the dissection of the essential genome of an organism.

Compositions and methods for identifying the essential genome of an organism


A method of reducing the boron-penetrating of effect in a CMOS transistor provides a silicon substrate, which comprises an isolating area, an active area and a gate oxide layer formed on the silicon substrate in the active layer. A polysilicon layer is then deposited on the silicon substrate. Next, boron ions (B+) are doped into the polysilicon layer. Next, a gate photoresist with a predetermined gate pattern is formed on the polysilicon layer. The polysilicon not covered by the gate photoresist is then etched to form a polysilicon gate. The gate photoresist is used as a mask to dope boron difluoride ions (BF2+) into the silicon substrate. Finally, after removing the gate photoresist, a tempering procedure is performed to form a shallow junction area of a source/drain region on the silicon substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating integrated circuit devices, and more particularly, to a method of improving a dual gate of a CMOS transistor to resist the boron-penetrating effect.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the early stages of MOS transistor development, the gate is mainly made of metal, such as aluminum. However, metal cannot withstand high-temperature tempering in subsequent processes. Therefore, polysilicon possessing good interface characteristics on an oxide layer and the ability to withstand high-temperature processes is popularly employed to fabricate the gate. For general complementary MOS (CMOS) transistors, an n+-type polysilicon is used as the gate of an n-type channel MOS transistor and the gate of an p-type channel MOS transistor at the same time, referred to as a single poly scheme. Despite the single poly scheme""s simple processes, the absolute value of the threshold voltage of the p-type MOS transistor is very great ( greater than 1). The bottleneck occurs when processing line widths are smaller than 0.35 xcexcm, and the main problem is the short channel effect in the p-type MOS transistor.
A dual poly scheme is an advanced technique in fabricating the gate, which employs p+-type polysilicon to form the gate of the p-type MOS transistor so as to manufacture surface channel devices, but has more complicated processes. Since the surface channel devices, such as the p-type MOS transistor and the n-type MOS transistor, have better control over the short channel effect, utilizing the dual scheme to manufacture the surface channel devices has become the main technique in 0.25xcx9c0.18 xcexcm line-width processing. With dual polysilicon structure, serious consideration should be made of the boron ions"" penetration of the gate oxide layer of the p-type MOS transistor, and the resulting damage. If the boron ions penetrate through the gate oxide layer to the substrate, they will diminish the absolute value of the threshold voltage of the p-type MOS transistor and even disable the device, causing shutdown so as to break down the circuitry. It will also decrease the property and reliability of the gate oxide layer.
The main reason for the boron-penetrating effect is that the boron ion in the oxide layer has a high diffusion coefficient, thus the boron-penetrating effect frequently occurs in high-temperature processes, especially in deep micrometer processing for manufacturing super-thin gate oxide layers. The existence of the fluoride ions will accelerate the boron-penetrating effect when the BF2+ implantation substitutes the boron implantation in order to effectively form a shallow junction. Methods of restraining the boron-penetrating effect follow.
1. Grow a stacked polysilicon gate. The grain boundaries of the polysilicon layers can be mutually staggered, therefore the average value of the boron-diffusion path can be lengthened to delay the boron-diffusion effect. Nonetheless, the increase in relative steps will raise production costs, and the parasitic resistance of the gate will be enlarged.
2. Grow an amorphous silicon (a-Si) gate. Because the crystallized a-Si whose grain size is larger, the crystallized a-Si can delay the boron-diffusion effect. Also, the grain boundary of the crystallized a-Si can surround the fluoride ions to ease the boron-diffusion effect. Unfortunately, growing a-Si consumes much time, which decreases the boron activation and enlarges the parasitic resistance of the gate.
3. Dope the nitride ions into the polysilicon layer. The resulting B-N bonding delays the boron-diffusion effect. Also, the nitride ions existing on the interface between the polysilicon layer and the oxide layer can delay the boron-diffusion effect. Yet, since the existence of the nitride ions may decrease boron activation, the parasitic resistance of the gate will be increased as the concentration of nitride ions is increased.
4. Grow a very thin nitride-containing polysilicon layer by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on an interface between polysilicon and oxide. The interface between polysilicon and oxide is utilized to obstruct the boron-diffusion effect so as to slow down the boron penetration. However, the nitride ions still increase the parasitic resistance of the gate.
5. The boron ion implantation substitutes the BF2+ implantation to solve the problem caused by the fluoride ions. However, it is not easy to form a shallow junction at the source/drain region by the boron ion implantation.
6. An oxynitride layer substitutes the conventional oxide layer.
In consideration of the deterioration of the thinned gate oxide layer caused by the boron-penetrating effect, the object of the present invention is to provide a method of improving a dual gate of the CMOS transistor to resist the boron-penetrating effect.
There is provided, in the present invention, to dope the boron ions into a polysilicon gate in order to prevent the boron-penetrating effect being accelerated by the fluoride ions. The BF2+ ions are then doped into the polysilicon gate to form an extended source/drain region and complete a shallow junction. A gate photoresist layer that is utilized to define a predetermined gate pattern fully stops the BF2+ ions entering the polysilicon gate so as to achieve self-alignment.
It is an advantage of the present invention that the p-type device is improved to have a better ability to resist the boron-penetrating effect and the super shallow junction is completed by the BF2+ ions. Also, the method of the present invention achieves the self-alignment result and has no need for extra processes and masks. Furthermore, the method is simply and practically applicable to mass production and integrated circuit processing.

Method of improving a dual gate CMOS transistor to resist the boron-penetrating effect


An electronic device comprises a main battery used as a drive power source for driving the electronic device, a secondary battery used as a drive power source instead of the main battery when the main battery cannot be used, a battery detection unit that detects an event of removal of the main battery from the electronic device, and a power control unit that changes the drive power source from the main battery to the secondary battery and controls operation of the electronic device to reduce power consumption by the electronic device when removal of the main battery is detected by the battery detection unit.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an electronic device that is powered by a battery, and relates more particularly to an electronic device that can continue operating on a secondary battery even when the main battery is removed for replacement, for example.
2. Related Art
JP 2003-101624A discloses a portable terminal that has a detector for detecting installation and removal of a battery pack (main battery), and a selector that can switch the power source required for operation of the portable terminal between the battery pack and a backup battery (secondary battery) based on output from the detector. This portable terminal is also configured to monitor the remaining power of the backup battery (the remaining battery capacity), and execute a shutdown process when the remaining power goes to or below a specific threshold.
The portable terminal disclosed in JP-A-2003-101624 enables the user to replace the battery pack while continuing to use the terminal for data input, for example, by means of the backup battery, and prevents loss of data while the battery pack is being replaced because data is saved when the remaining power in the backup battery becomes low.
However, the following problems can occur in this portable terminal while the battery pack is being replaced.
The backup battery is a battery that is provided to supply power for a short time while the battery pack is replaced, and is therefore usually a relatively small, low capacity battery in order to reduce cost, save space, and reduce weight. As a result, the backup battery will be depleted and operation of the portable terminal will be interrupted if replacing the battery pack is not completed within a specific time (such as several minutes) after the backup battery starts supplying power.
As described above, the portable terminal disclosed in JP-A-2003-101624 performs a data backup process when the remaining power of the backup battery becomes low so that data is not lost. While data loss can be prevented by this process that is predicated on the battery running out, interruption of work and use of the portable terminal due to the battery becoming depleted cannot be avoided. In order to comfortably continue using the portable terminal even while replacing the battery, some means of preventing the backup battery from running down is desirable.
If the battery capacity of the backup battery is small, the user must replace the battery pack quickly, and changing the battery pack may be rushed. Depending on the circumstances, such as during a meeting or in a dark environment, quickly replacing the battery pack may be difficult. Conversely, a high capacity backup battery can be used to increase the duration time of the backup battery so that the battery pack can be replaced without haste, but increasing the capacity of the backup battery leads to greater cost and increases the size and weight of the portable terminal.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


Apparatus and method for improving the detection of signals obscured by noise using stochastic resonance noise. The method determines the stochastic resonance noise probability density function in non-linear processing applications that is added to the observed data for optimal detection with no increase in probability of false alarm. The present invention has radar, sonar, signal processing (audio, image and video), communications, geophysical, environmental, and biomedical applications.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to signal detection and, more particularly, to a method of detecting signals and processing images using stochastic resonance.
2. Description of the Related Art
Stochastic resonance (SR) is a nonlinear physical phenomenon in which the output signals of some nonlinear systems can be enhanced by adding suitable noise under certain conditions. The classic SR signature is the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gain of certain nonlinear systems, i.e., the output SNR is higher than the input SNR when an appropriate amount of noise is added.
Although SNR is a very important measure of system performance, SNR gain-based SR approaches have several limitations. First, the definition of SNR is not uniform and it varies from one application to another. Second, to optimize the performance, the complete a priori knowledge of the signal is required. Finally, for detection problems where the noise is non-Gaussian, SNR is not always directly related to detection performance; i.e., optimizing output SNR does not guarantee optimizing probability of detection.
In signal detection theory, SR also plays a very important role in improving the signal detectability. For example, improvement of detection performance of a weak sinusoid signal has been reported. To detect a DC signal in a Gaussian mixture noise background, performance of the sign detector can be enhanced by adding some white Gaussian noise under certain circumstances. For the suboptimal detector known as the locally optimal detector (LOD), detection performance is optimum when the noise parameters and detector parameters are matched. The stochastic resonance phenomenon in quantizers results in a better detection performance can be achieved by a proper choice of the quantizer thresholds. Detection performance can be further improved by using an optimal detector on the output signal. Despite the progress achieved by the above approaches, the use the SR effect in signal detection systems is rather limited and does not fully consider the underlying theory of SR.
Simple and robust suboptimal detectors are used in numerous applications. To improve a suboptimal detector detection performance, two approaches are widely used. In the first approach, the detector parameters are varied. Alternatively, when the detector itself cannot be altered or the optimum parameter values are difficult to obtain, adjusting the observed data becomes a viable approach. Adding a dependent noise is not always possible because pertinent prior information is usually not available.
For some suboptimal detectors, detection performance can be improved by adding an independent noise to the data under certain conditions. For a given type of SR noise, the optimal amount of noise can be determined that maximizes the detection performance for a given suboptimal detector. However, despite the progress made, the underlying mechanism of the SR phenomenon as it relates to detection problems has not fully been explored. For example, until now the "best" noise to be added in order to achieve the best achievable detection performance for the suboptimal detector was not known. Additionally, the optimal level of noise that should be used for enhanced performance was also unknown.

Optimized stochastic resonance method for signal detection and image processing


Disclosed is a method for controlling a backlight of an electronic device, such as a portable terminal, which includes the steps of storing preset backlight brightness values so as to correspond to the backlight brightness values to backlight steps, detecting a backlight brightness value stored so as to correspond to the backlight step required by a user in backlight regulation mode, and regulating the backlight brightness according to the detected backlight brightness value. Further, since the present invention can regulate the backlight brightness at night, the illumination intensity of which is low, the consumption of the battery can be reduced.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable terminal. More particularly, the present invention relates to a portable terminal capable of controlling a backlight and a method for controlling a backlight thereof.
Description of the Related Art
A conventional portable terminal having a backlight function turns on and off the backlight at a predetermined level of brightness for a period of time which is set by a user. Therefore, a user can operate the portable terminal containing the backlight function at night while using a lower illumination intensity.
The portable terminal can be programmed to set the on time of the backlight. Namely, in the case in which a user sets the on time of the backlight to thirty seconds, the portable terminal turns the backlight on for thirty seconds when the power is turned on or there are key input data, and the backlight is turned off after thirty seconds.
The backlight is generally turned on at a candela value of a predetermined brightness that is determined during the manufacturing process of the portable terminal. If a backlight of a predetermined brightness is turned on at night, however, the battery is unnecessarily consumed. Due to the low exterior illumination intensity at night, a user can see the display screen even with a backlight of a low brightness.
On the other hand, a user having a weak visual acuity may feel that the brightness of the fixed or predetermined backlight is too dark when the user uses the portable terminal at night with a low illumination intensity. In this case, if the brightness of the backlight can be made brighter, the user can operate the portable terminal more conveniently.
A need therefore exists for an improved portable terminal wherein the backlight can be controlled to reduce battery consumption or to better suit the needs of users requiring more backlight brightness than is provided by the initial manufacturers setting.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Portable terminal capable of controlling display brightness and method for controlling display brightness thereof


A disc reproducing device for detecting the position of a reproducing head along the radius of a disc for transferring the head to a targeted radial position on a disc. Since the radial position on the disc in which the optical pickup is positioned can be known prior to actuation of a variety of spindle servo functions, there is no necessity of reading out an address. As compared to a conventional device in which an optical pickup is transferred based on the address reproduced from the disc, access control can be realized more speedily. There is also no necessity of providing a imit switch for detecting the inner peripheral position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a disc reproducing device for detecting the position of a playback head along the radius of a disc for transferring the head to a targeted radial position on the disc.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are a variety of disc-shaped recording mediums. Of these, a replay-only optical disc such as a so-called compact disc, and a recordable optical disc capable of not only reproducing information signals but also recording and erasing the information signals, are known extensively.
With a replay-only optical disc, patterns of crests and recesses, that is phase pits, are formed in a spirally extending track or in concentric tracks on one surface of the disc.
The recordable optical discs may be exemplified by an optical disc formed of a phase transition type optical recording material and a magneto-optical disc formed of a perpendicular magnetic recording material.
The magneto-optical disc is made up of a disc substrate of a synthetic resin material, such as light-transmitting polycarbonate or PMMA, having a guide groove formed on its surface for guiding the light beam, a recording layer of the perpendicular magnetic recording material, such as Te, Fe or Co, formed for covering the guide groove, and a protective layer formed for covering the recording layer.
For reproducing the replay-only optical disc, as illustrative of the above-mentioned optical discs, a light beam from a laser light source, converged by an objective lens, is illuminated from the disc substrate side. The information signals recorded on the replay-only optical disc can be obtained by exploiting diffraction of the light beam reflected by the reflective film of the optical disc by the phase pits.
With the latter recordable optical disc, in particular the magneto-optical disc, a light beam from a laser light source, converged by an objective lens, is illuminated from the disc substrate side, as in the case of the above-described replay-only optical disc, and the Kerr rotation angle of the light beam reflected by the recording layer of the optical disc is detected for producing the playback signals in the information signals recorded on the disc.
Meanwhile, the disc management information, such as the so-called table-of-contents (TOC) information, is recorded in a pre-set position, for example the radially innermost area, of the optical disc, such that, directly after loading the disc, this disc management information usually needs to be read.
The following two methods are known as method for reading out the disc management information.
The first method resides in moving the playback head, such as an optical plate, towards the radially inner area of the disc, detecting the head position in the radially innermost area by a limit switch provided in such radially innermost area, feeding the head to a disc management information recording area (TOC area) with the detected position as a reference and adjusting the focusing for reading out the disc management information.
The second method resides in extracting from the playback signal a pre-recorded address (absolute address) along the disc radius of the position assumed by the optical pickup on starting the reproduction and calculating the amount of head movement based on the difference of the extracted address and the address of the TOC area.
The above-mentioned first method is in need of a limit switch and an increased number of components and assembling operations. In addition, the switch mounting accuracy is required, while the switch mounting space is increased.
With the second method, the following sequence of operations need to be carried out before reading out the playback signal from the disc.
First, on starting the reproduction, focusing servo is applied at an area where the optical pickup is located, at the same time that a kick voltage is applied across a spindle motor for rotating the disc.
With the focusing servo thus applied, a tracking-on state is achieved, after which the disc is accelerated or decelerated by speed control for realizing a higher probability of occurrence of the synchronization signal (11T) extracted from the playback signal reproduced from the disc.
In the speed control, the period of the synchronization signal extracted from the playback signal from the disc is compared to the length (11T) of the reference synchronization signal for performing acceleration/deceleration control so that the probability of coincidence of the two will be higher.
The state of the acceleration/deceleration control only is termed a rough servo state.
By carrying out the rough servo, it becomes possible to approach to the rotational speed corresponding to the optical pickup position on starting the reproduction.
By executing both the speed control and the phase control in this state, it becomes possible to capture the desired rotational speed. Under this condition, the phase-locked loop (PLL) is locked. The above-mentioned address can first be read in this locked state of the PLL. In particular, if the optical pickup is positioned in the vicinity of the outer rim of the disc at the time of starting the reproduction, such that the TOC area on the inner rim side of the disc is accessed after reading out the address, the time of at least 3 to 4 seconds elapses.

Disc reproducing apparatus and head position calculating method


In a method for describing, evaluating and improving optical polarization properties of a projection objective of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus, the Jones or Stokes vectors are firstly determined at one or more points in the exit pupil of the projection objective. These are then described at least approximately as a linear superposition of predetermined vector modes with scalar superposition coefficients. The optical polarization properties can subsequently be evaluated on the basis of the superposition coefficients.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to microlithographic projection exposure apparatus, such as those used for the production of large-scale integrated electrical circuits and other microstructured components. The invention relates in particular to a method by which the optical polarization properties of such apparatus can be evaluated and improved.
2. Description of Related Art
Integrated electrical circuits and other microstructured components are conventionally produced by applying a plurality of structured layers to a suitable substrate which, for example, may be a silicon wafer. In order to structure the layers, they are first covered with a photoresist which is sensitive to light of a particular wavelength range, for example light in the deep ultraviolet (DUV) spectral range. The wafer coated in this way is subsequently exposed in a projection exposure apparatus. A pattern of diffracting structures, which is arranged on a reticle, is then imaged onto the photoresist with the aid of a projection objective. Since the imaging scale is generally less than one, such projection objectives are also often referred to as reduction objectives.
After the photoresist has been developed, the wafer is subjected to an etching process so that the layer becomes structured according to the pattern on the reticle. The remaining photoresist is then removed from the remaining parts of the layer. This process is repeated until all the layers have been applied to the wafer.
One of the essential aims in the development of microlithographic projection exposure apparatus is to be able to generate structures with smaller and smaller dimensions on the wafer, so as to thereby increase the integration density of the components to be produced. By using a wide variety of measures, it is now possible to generate structures on the wafer whose dimensions are less than the wavelength of the projection light being used.
Particular importance is in this case attached to the polarization state of the projection light arriving on the photoresist. This is because the polarization state has a direct effect on the contrast which can be achieved, and therefore the minimum size of the structures to be generated. This is related to the fact that the reticle diffracts the transmitted projection light into different diffraction orders, which interfere in the image plane and thereby produce the image of the reticle. The interference phenomena between different diffraction orders are commensurately more pronounced as the polarization states of the interfering diffraction orders are similar. Full constructive or destructive interference between two diffraction orders is possibly only if they are polarized in the same way.
The polarization dependency of the contrast becomes particularly noticeable in projection objectives with high numerical apertures, such as those which are possible in immersion objectives. In the case of projection light which is polarized perpendicularly to the incidence plane (s-polarization), the interference phenomena of two plane waves which lie in the same incidence plane are independent of the angle at which the different diffraction orders arrive on the photoresist.
In the case of projection light polarized parallel to the incidence plane (p-polarization), however, different diffraction orders can no longer interfere fully since the diffraction orders have different polarization directions. The interference phenomena are then commensurately weaker as the angles with respect to the optical axis, at which the diffraction orders arrive on the photoresist, are large. If the propagation directions of the interfering diffraction orders in the resist form a right angle, then the polarization vectors are mutually perpendicular and interference no longer takes place at all. If the included angle is more than 90° then although the contrast increases again, the regions of constructive and destructive interference which correspond to regions of maximum and minimum intensity nevertheless become interchanged relative to the case with an included angle of less than 90°. The differences in the interference behavior between s-polarized and p-polarized projection light are therefore particularly important in projection objectives with a high numerical aperture.
For this reason, attempts are made to configure the optical subsystems of the projection exposure apparatus, i.e. the illumination system and the projection objective, so that the projection light in the image plane is optimally polarized. A homogeneous s-polarization is often sought for the aforementioned reasons; under certain circumstances, for example in the case of projection objectives with a small numerical aperture, it may be more expedient to have other polarization states such as circularly polarized or completely unpolarized projection light.
The polarization distribution which is set up in the image plane depends on a multiplicity of factors. The polarization state of the projection light, with which the illumination system of the projection exposure apparatus illuminates the reticle, naturally has a very significant effect. Besides this, every optical interface alters to a greater or lesser extent the polarization state of light which does not arrive perpendicularly on the interface. Many of the optical materials used in projection objectives are furthermore intrinsically birefringent or have induced birefringence, and therefore also modify the polarization state of the projection light. Filters and other manipulators, by which the polarization state can be deliberately affected and corrected, are furthermore known.
Optimum configuration and correction of the projection exposure apparatus in terms of optical polarization requires that the effects and imaging errors associated with the polarization state can be described and evaluated in a way which is straightforward, physically as informative as possible but nevertheless precise.

Method for describing, evaluating and improving optical polarization properties of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus


A method of making an electronic label, such as an RFID label, includes attaching a circuit, such as an antenna, to a substrate material, applying an adhesive layer to the substrate material over the circuit, adding a release layer over the adhesive layer, forming at least one opening in the release layer to expose at least one portion of the circuit, and connecting a microchip to the at least one portion of the circuit through the at least one opening. The electronic label includes a substrate having on one surface a circuit including at least one microchip, a layer of adhesive covering the circuit and the one surface of the substrate, and a release layer covering the adhesive layer. The circuit can be an RFID inlay, including an antenna and a microchip, and can be formed of a conductive ink. A portion of the release layer at the at least one microchip has an opening to expose the at least one microchip so that the at least one microchip is free from coverage by the release layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a label incorporating an electronic component. In one of its aspects, the invention relates to a label incorporating an electronic component. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a method of making a label with electronic components. In yet another of its aspects, the invention relates to a label that incorporates an RFID circuit. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a method of making a label having an RFID circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of a radio frequency identification (RFID) to identify one of a plurality of items is well known. Typical radio frequency identification (RFID) tags or integrated circuits comprise a microprocessor, also known as a microchip, electrically connected to an antenna. Alternatively, the microchip is first attached to a pad having electrical leads that provides a larger attachment or "landing" area. This is typically referred to as a "strap" or "interposer." The strap is then attached to the antenna.
The microprocessor stores data, which can include identifying data unique to a specific item, which is transmitted to an external receiver for reading by an operator and processing of the item. RFID tags can be attached to items for inventory control, shipment control, and the like. RFID tags are particularly useful in identifying, tracking, and controlling items such as packages, pallets, and other product containers. The location of each item can be tracked, and information identifying the owner of the item or specific handling requirements, can be encoded into the RFID and later read by a scanning device capable of decoding and displaying the information.
RFID tags have been incorporated into a pressure sensitive adhesive-backed label for items contained in temporary packaging, such as cardboard cartons, or containers which are to undergo a number of reuses, such as pallets, waste containers, shipment containers, and the like. These labels are conventionally fabricated by attaching an antenna made of metal foil, conductive ink, or other suitable material, to a substrate material such as paper, film, and the like, also referred to as an "inlay substrate." A microprocessor or strap is attached to the substrate in cooperative disposition with the antenna to form what is typically referred to as an "inlay." An adhesive is then applied to the surface of the inlay substrate over the antenna and microprocessor, and the inlay substrate is attached to a label substrate, on which text and graphics can be imprinted, so that the adhesive, antenna, and microprocessor are sandwiched between the inlay substrate and the label substrate. A layer of adhesive is then applied to the surface of the label substrate over the inlay, followed by the addition of a release layer over the adhesive. The laminate can then be die cut to the finished label size. Printing of a bar code or other information, text, and graphics onto the finished label, and coding of the microprocessor, can take place before or after the die cutting step. The labels are then wound tightly onto a spool, or processed into a fan-fold configuration, for shipment to a customer or return to the electronic manufacturer or marketer. The application of the inlay to the paper is usually carried out by an electronic manufacturer and the remaining steps are typically carried out by a label manufacturer.
The handling of the inlay during this label-making process imposes stresses on the inlay which can result in damage to the microprocessor. In addition, the inlay can be subject to electrical fields or discharges during the manufacturing process that damage the microchip. Thus, a fairly high level of scrap has been generated by the current label-making process. Since the microprocessor is typically the most costly component, minimizing the incidence of damaged microprocessors is highly desirable to reducing the scrap rate.

Label with electronic components and method of making same


The present invention is a universal wet/dry transfer pump having an intake hose and a t-joint. The intake hose is fluidly connected to the t-joint. A first check valve is positioned within the intake hose. A bellowed pump handle is fluidly connected to the t-joint. A separator hose is provided and fluidly connected to the t-joint. A second check valve is positioned within the t-joint. A terminal catchment vessel is fluidly connected to the separator hose. Upon pulling of the pump handle in a generally upward direction, intake pumping action is initiated drawing water and solid materials into the intake hose, opening the first check valve and closing the second check valve. Upon pushing of the pump handle in a generally downward direction, discharge pumping action is initiated, closing the first check valve and opening the second check valve transferring any water and chambered solids into the catchment vessel.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a universal wet/dry transfer pump and, more particularly, the invention relates to a universal wet/dry transfer pump which is a manually operated, portable suction device for many applications including, but not limited to, small-scale dredging and sampling operations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Thousands of people enjoy prospecting for gold and millions of people own recreational boats. At first, these groups might appear to have little in common; but one thing they do share is the need for a portable, effective dredging device. The prospector wants to suction sand, gold-bearing gravels, and water from stream and river bars and channels, and separate the heavier gold and gravels from the liquid; and the boater may wish to perform either regular bilge maintenance pumping or small-scale dredging of his boat-slip or docking area. In larger and commercial aquarium operations such a separating dredge can be used in cleaning tanks and gravels.


As a green light emitting phosphor capable of emission upon excitation with light having a wavelength of 350 to 500 nm, characterized in containing Tb3+ ions as emission ions in high concentrations without causing concentration quenching, the present invention provides a green light emitting phosphor capable of emission upon excitation with light having a wavelength of 350 to 500 nm, characterized by having a composition represented by the compositional formula (1):ATbxLn(1-x)M2O8  (1)wherein A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, and Ag,                Ln is at least one element selected from rare earth elements including Y and excluding Tb,        M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mo and W, and        x is a positive number satisfying 0.4≦x≦1, and a light emitting device incorporated with the green light emitting phosphor.

The present invention relates to a green light emitting phosphor that emits green light upon excitation with long-wave ultraviolet (UV) radiation or visible light of 350 to 500 nm. The present invention also relates to a light emitting device using the phosphor.
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are semiconductor light emitters adapted to produce light by converting electrical energy into ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared light or the like. For example, those emitters utilizing visible light are semiconductor light emitters formed from light emitting materials such as GaP, GaAsP and GaAlAs, and LED lamps having such emitters encapsulated with transparent resins are widely used. Also LED lamps of the display type are often used in which light emitting materials are secured to an upper surface of a printed circuit board or metal leads and encased in a transparent resin casing on which numerical figures or characters are configured.
LEDs have a long lifetime and high reliability because of semiconductor devices, and facilitate replacement operation when used as light sources. LEDs are thus widely used as components in portable communications equipment, personal computer peripheral equipment, business machines, household electric appliances, audio equipment, switches, back light sources, and display device such as bulletin boards. Moreover, LED lamps are attracting attention for use as the backlight illuminants of on-vehicle displays for such as meters, heater control panels and audio displays. There has been an increasing demand for LED lamps that intensely emit light, particularly in the white light or blue-green wave region light.
The color of light emitted by the LED lamps can be altered by introducing various powder phosphors into transparent resins with which semiconductor light emitters are encapsulated. Depending on the intended application, any color in a wide spectrum in the visible region from blue to red is available. However, conventional green light phosphors used for fluorescent lamps sash as three-band fluorescent lamps are satisfactory in emission of short wave UV radiation but unsatisfactory in emission of long wave UV radiation or visible light of 350 to 500 nm for high luminance LED lamps. These conventional green light phosphors emit light due to transition from 5D4 to 7F5 of Tb3+ ions typified by LaPO4:Ce3+, Tb3+ and CeMgAl11O19:Tb3+.
Recent users increasingly impose a more stringent demand on the color of such various display devices, requiring display devices to have an ability to precisely reproduce a subtle color tone. It is strongly required that a single LED lamp emits white or any desired intermediate color light. Attempts were then made to display white or any desired intermediate color with a single LED lamp by applying various red, green and blue phosphors to the surface of the semiconductor light emitter in the LED lamp, or incorporating such various phosphors in the encapsulant or coating material of the LED lamp.
The conventional green light emitting phosphor, however, does not produce high luminance white light when it is excited with long wave UV radiation or visible light of 350 to 500 nm, due to deviation in luninous efficiency of the resulting the green light.
As these phosphors which emit light upon excitation with long wave UV radiation or visible light, there have been developed various emitting phosphors, which are excited with long wave UV radiation or short wave visible light (350 to 420 nm). Examples of the green light emitting phosphors are BaMg2Al16O27:Eu,Mn and Zn2GeO4:Mn. Examples of the blue light emitting phosphors are BaMg2Al16O27:Eu and (Sr,Ca,Ba)5(PO4)3Cl:Eu. Examples of the red light emitting phosphors are Y2O2S:Eu, La2O2S:Eu, and 3.5 MgO.0.5 MgF2.GeO2:Mn. The combined use of these phosphors produces light over a broad range of color. However, for development of practical LED lamps capable of emitting high luminance white light, it is necessary to develop new phosphors for higher luminance and better luninous efficiency. Incidentally, these green light emitting phosphors does not achieve high luminance because the green light emitted from the green light emitting phosphors considerably deviates from 555 nm that gives a good luninous efficiency.
On the other hand, it would be possible to obtain a white light emitting LED lamp by combination of an LED that emits blue to bluish green visible light (430 to 500 nm) and a phosphor (such as YAG:Ce3+) that emits yellow light upon excitation with the light. Unfortunately, this idea has not yet been realized because there are no phosphors available which emit green light upon excitation in the region of wavelengths mentioned above.

Green light emitting phosphor and light emitting device


The transponder unit provided in a DME ground apparatus detects the transmission rate at which to transmit the pulse-pairs constituting a response signal. The threshold of the reception level of the pulse detection unit provided in the transponder unit is raised as the transmission rate increases.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to distance measuring equipment (DME) that measures the distance between an aircraft and a ground apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to a DME ground apparatus that is provided on the ground.
2. Description of the Related Art
The distance measuring equipment (herein after referred to as DME apparatus) is a secondary radar system composed of an airborne apparatus and a ground apparatus. The airborne apparatus is mounted in an aircraft. The ground apparatus is provided on the ground and communicates with the airborne apparatus.
The airborne apparatus (also known as DME airborne apparatus) has an interrogator. The ground apparatus (also known as DME ground apparatus) has a transmitting-receiving device called a transponder.
The interrogator incorporated in the airborne apparatus transmits interrogation pulses of UHF band (pair pulses) toward the transponder provided in the ground apparatus. (The interrogator and the transponder keep communicating, with a frequency difference of 63 MHz between them. This is because the frequency allocated to the interrogator is 1,025 to 1,150 MHz and the frequency allocated to the transponder is 962 to 1,213 MHz.) The distance between the aircraft and the ground apparatus is measured from the time that elapses until the interrogator receives response pulses (pair pulses) from the transponder after it has transmitted the interrogation pulses. (See, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2,629,612.)
The ground apparatus keeps transmitting random pulse signals at the rate of about 1,000 pps (Pulse pairs Per Second) even while no interrogation pulses are coming from the airborne apparatus. Only when the ground apparatus receives interrogation pulse signals from the airborne apparatus, it transmits response pulse signals in place of the random pulse signals. Therefore, pulse signals, including the random pulse signals and response pulse signals, are always transmitted from the ground apparatus at the rate of 1,000 to 2,700 pps, as long as the distance measuring equipment operates in normal state.
That is, the airborne apparatus sequentially transmits interrogation pulses to the ground apparatus, at random intervals (though the number of pulses per second is fixed, e.g., 30 pulses per second). The ground apparatus receives the interrogation pulse signal of a prescribed frequency from the airborne apparatus. The ground apparatus demodulates and decodes the interrogation pulse signal, and imparts a preset system delay time (e.g., 50 μs) to the interrogation pulse signal thus decoded. The ground apparatus then encodes the interrogation pulse signal, generating a response pulse signal. The response pulse signal is transmitted to the aircraft via a specific transmitting system.
In the aircraft, the airborne apparatus receives the response pulse signal and decodes the same. The airborne apparatus then measures the time that has elapsed from the transmission of the interrogation pulse signal to the reception of the response pulse signal. Since the speed with which the electric wave travels is fixed, the airborne apparatus calculates the distance between it and the ground apparatus from the time measured, using a prescribed calculation formula.
The ground apparatus can respond to the interrogations made in a plurality of airborne apparatuses (more precisely, the interrogators provided in the airborne apparatuses). The ground apparatus can therefore give about 100 aircrafts the data from which to calculate distances. Nonetheless, the ground apparatus neglects weak electric waves coming from far-off aircrafts if about 100 or more aircrafts make an access to it. Thus, the ground apparatus would not be over-loaded.
That is, in the ground apparatus, if the number of pulses transmitted increases too much, the amount of data the ground apparatus needs to stably receive the pulses increases. Consequently, in some cases, the ground apparatus may fail to respond, at a sufficiently high reliability, to any aircraft that is located near the ground apparatus and therefore needs to have distance data. To prevent this, an upper limit is set to the pulse transmission rate.
If the number of aircrafts using the ground apparatus increases, and the number of interrogation pulses from the airborne apparatus of the aircraft increases, the pulse transmission rate for the ground apparatus to respond to the interrogation pulse increases accordingly.
As the number of interrogation pulses increases, the pulse transmission rate may exceed the upper limit at the ground apparatus. In this case, the receiving sensitivity of the ground apparatus is lowered by using the automatic gain-control (AGC) function of the analog receiving system so as to reduce the number of interrogation pulses. The ground apparatus is thereby disabled from receiving the weak signals coming from the aircrafts located relatively far from the ground apparatus. The number of pulses received, which should be processed, is thereby reduced to achieve a control.
If a pulse receiving device incorporated in the ground apparatus is gain-controlled and therefore abruptly receives a high-level signal, an output circuit, detector and other circuits of the pulse receiving device may fail to preserve sufficient linearity. Even in this case, the blocking phenomenon is fast eliminated and the stable gain control can be achieved, as is reported in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2,629,612. (Blocking phenomenon takes place when the pulse receiving device abruptly receives a high-level signal. Once it occurs, the gain control system cannot control the gain of the signal-amplifying system, saturating the waveform of the output signal of the receiving device, and the encoded pulses cannot be detected.)
As described above, the amount of data the DME ground apparatus needs to stably receive the pulses increases if the number of pulses transmitted from it increases. Consequently, the ground apparatus may fail to respond, at a sufficiently high reliability, to any aircraft that is located near the ground apparatus and therefore needs to have distance data. This is why an upper limit is set to the pulse transmission rate. As the number of interrogation pulses coming from the airborne apparatuses increases, the pulse transmission rate may exceed the upper limit at the ground apparatus. In this case, the receiving sensitivity of the ground apparatus is lowered to reduce the number of interrogation pulses by using the automatic gain-control (AGC) function of the analog receiving system. The ground apparatus is thereby disabled to receive the weak signals coming from the aircrafts flying relatively far from the ground apparatus. The number of pulses to process is thereby reduced, controlling the response reliability.
In the conventional DME ground apparatus, an analog circuit performs the process of reducing the number of pulses. Inevitably, it takes much time to finish this process, and the ground apparatus cannot be reduced in terms of circuit scale.
Japanese Patent No. 2,629,612 indeed describes the automatic gain control performed in a DME ground apparatus, but is silent about any process that should be performed if the number of pulses to transmit increases.
In view of the foregoing, the present invention has been made to provide a DME ground apparatus that can be well adjusted to work even if the number of pulses to transmit increases and that can be miniaturized.


A device for spraying or dispensing a fluid, the device comprising: a single-acting pump having a capacity of less than 500 .mu.l and provided with piston means actuated by a hollow push rod allowing fluid to flow therealong, said piston means sliding in a pump chamber that normally contains fluid to be sprayed or dispensed, to enable said fluid to be expelled; a pusher mounted on said push rod of the pump and communicating with said push rod to enable the fluid to escape; and rapid repetition actuator means having a moving portion for actuating the push rod repetitively; wherein the pusher is connected to said moving portion of the actuator means by a connection that does not leave play in the axial direction of the push rod.

Until the fairly recent past it was common practice to use devices known as "aerosol cans" containing a propellant gas of the freon type (chlorofluorocarbon). The use of that propellant is objectionable to ecologists and attempts are being made to do without it. The only replacement propellant gases that have appropriate characteristics are hydrocarbons and these turn out to be dangerous for users.
Proposals have been made in European patent application EP 0 401 060 to use systems that do not include any propellant gas, and that make use of a single-acting pump with a return spring that is generally of the hand operated type and that is actuated rapidly and repeatedly by mechanical means, e.g. 50 or more times a second, thereby obtaining a spray that is projected in a manner that gives the appearance of being the same as when a propellant gas is used. The pump chamber is filled by suction during the return stroke under the action of the return spring. An example of a suitable pump is described in French patents Nos. FR 2 305 241 and FR 2 314 772, and also in U.S. Pat. No. 4,025,046. Another example of a suitable pump is described in European patent application EP 0 330 530 and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,492. Those pumps have the advantage of being very cheap since they are generally made of molded plastic and they are mass-produced in the packaging industry for perfumes, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
The pumps used in those applications have pump chambers with a capacity that usually lies in the range of 40 microliters (.mu.l) to 300 .mu.l, and more generally in the range 10 .mu.l to 500 .mu.. Such a pump is mounted by screwing, crimping, or the like onto the neck of a receptacle such as a flask, and it is actuated by a tubular rod that projects vertically and axially from the center thereof. A pusher is mounted on the rod and may include an appropriate spray nozzle depending on the application, with the pusher including an internal channel putting the actuator rod into communication with the nozzle. The pusher serves both to enable thrust to be applied to the pump for emptying its chamber, and to allow the fluid to escape. In addition, if it includes a nozzle, the pusher must hold the nozzle in a manner suitable for spraying. In devices of the kind concerned by the present invention, where the pump and thus the pusher needs to be actuated in rapid repetition, the nozzle or outlet in the pusher is not generally situated on the axis of the pump since it is necessary to apply considerable thrust frequently on the pusher by mechanical or electromechanical means and it is preferable for that to be done on the axis of the pump actuator rod. In general, the pusher is perpendicular to the axis of the pump. The pusher actuator means may advantageously be an electromagnetic device including a fixed winding such as a solenoid and a moving core or plunger which bears against the pusher to actuate the pump when the solenoid is excited. Reciprocating motion can be imparted to the core by rotary means fitted with a crank, a cam, an eccentric, or equivalent means, with or without the use of a return spring. During the downwards motion when the piston compresses the fluid in the chamber in order to expel it, the core moved with the pusher by exerting a driving force thereon against the return spring, after which the core returns under the effect of its own return means while the pusher rises independently under the effect of the return spring of the pump.
The inventor has observed that devices of the kind described above are noisy, subject to vibration, and subject to unwanted variations in the flow rate of the sprayed fluid. These drawbacks are a severe handicap for devices intended for the consumer market, particularly since such devices are in competition with devices that make use of a propellant gas and that are free from such drawbacks.
An object of the present invention is therefore to resolve this technical problem.
The inventor has observed that the problem is related to a lack of synchronization between the pusher and the core due to the possibility of them having different return speeds. Because of this lack of synchronization, the core strikes the pusher while it is still rising, thus giving rise to a more violent shock that generates noise and vibration, and also causing an incomplete quantity of fluid to be expelled since the piston of the pump has not had the time to rise all the way to its rest position for sucking a full dose of fluid into the chamber. In addition, because of the violence of the shock between the core and the pusher, the core may bounce off the pusher, thereby accentuating problems of noise and vibration and also accentuating the phenomenon of loss of synchronization.

Device for spraying a fluid by means of a pump that is actuated repeatedly by a solenoid


A system for cross turbocharging an engine is disclosed. The system includes a left bank turbine located in close proximity to a left bank of cylinders. The left bank turbine receives exhaust gas from the exhaust ports of each left bank cylinder. This exhaust gas is used to drive the left bank turbine which powers a right bank compressor. The right bank compressor is located in close proximity to a right bank of cylinders and introduces compressed air into the intake ports of each right bank cylinder to turbocharge the right bank of cylinders. In this configuration, the turbine and compressor are separated from each other with the turbine driving the compressor via a connecting shaft that passes across the engine. An analogous configuration involving a right bank turbine and left bank compressor is used to turbocharge the left bank of cylinders. An electric motor can be placed between each turbine and its associated compressor to provide an initial source of supercharging when the engine is first started.

It is well known to provide an internal combustion engine with a turbocharger to enhance engine performance. The basic components of a turbocharger are a gas turbine driven by engine exhaust and a compressor powered by the turbine for compressing and directing atmospheric air under pressure to engine air intake. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,780,053, 3,498,053, and 3,734,074 teach various turbochargers. Prior art also discloses the use of a cross turbocharger, i.e. a system in which a left turbocharger connected to a left bank of cylinders charges a right bank of cylinders and a right turbocharger connected to a right bank of cylinders charges a left bank of cylinders. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,027,706 teaches a cross-over system.
In any turbocharger, crossed or not, the piping used to connect the various parts of the turbocharger and to connect the turbocharger with the rest of the engine is complex. This complex design causes adverse consequences such as increased engine size, more severe and frequent maintenance problems, and decreased efficiency. The decreased efficiency results from phenomena such as gas friction.
Because the turbocharger relies on the engine exhaust to power the turbine, the turbocharger provides little or no charge when the engine is first started. In fact, the stopped compressor impedes intake of air and actually makes starting more difficult. Start-up difficulties with turbochargers are particularly a problem with diesel engines.
As this discussion illustrates, there is a need for an improved system for cross turbocharging.


A method of performing spatial binning of particles is described which can be performed on a graphics processing unit. A stencil buffer is primed with a pattern which controls the writing of data to a framebuffer. A first shader is used to calculate the co-ordinates of the bin in which a particle is located and a second shader is used to write the particle's ID to a location representative of that bin in the framebuffer. The pattern in the stencil buffer ensures that particle data within a bin is not overwritten and the stencil buffer also maintains a record of the number of entries within each bin.

In order to make computer generated graphics look more realistic, advanced particle simulation may be used to model the behavior of particles, for example using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) to model the flow of liquids. In order to solve SPH, and many other simulations, it is necessary to iterate over all particles in the simulation and for each particle, to find all other particles within a specified distance (the support radius, h) of that particle. This process is known as a 'nearest neighbor search'. Solution of SPH then involves iterating over all the nearest neighbors of each particle and summing density and interaction forces between them as an approximation to a set of integrals.
The simulation may involve tens of thousands of particles (e.g. 20,000 particles) and therefore the nearest neighbor search is computationally intensive. Where the graphics are being generated for use in a film or television program, these calculations do not need to be carried out in real time or close to real time. However, for computer games it is necessary to perform these calculations in a short time interval to provide substantially real time updates (typically 30 simulations a second or faster).
In order to simplify the nearest neighbor search, the search may be performed in two passes. First a broad phase allocates particles 101 to bins 102, as shown in a simple 2D example in FIG. 1. If the length of each side of a bin is h (the support radius), then when performing a nearest neighbor search, only those particles in the same bin and neighboring bins (e.g. 9 bins in total for a 2D example, 27 bins for a 3D example) need to be considered. As two particles in neighboring bins may be further apart than the support radius (e.g. particles 103 and 104), a second phase, known as the narrow phase, calculates the distance between the particle being considered and particles in the neighboring bins and discards those where their separation is greater than the support radius.
The hardware on which such calculations must be performed (i.e. PCs and games consoles) often comprise both a central processing unit (CPU) and a graphics processing unit (GPU). Whilst the CPU is designed to have general processing capability, the GPU has a highly parallel structure and is designed specifically to perform graphics operations, including rendering polygons and texture mapping. Recent GPUs include programmable stages known as shaders: a vertex shader and a pixel shader. The vertex shader is used to modify the vertices of a polygon, e.g. moving a vertex to change the shape of an object. The pixel (or fragment) shader is used to change the appearance of a pixel (i.e. its color) based on parameters such as lighting, shading etc. By performing the graphics operations in dedicated hardware (i.e. the GPU) rather than in the CPU, the operations can be performed much more quickly. However, as the GPU is not designed for general use, it is not flexible like the CPU and has a number of limitations, including that it has little or no ability to perform scattered write operations (i.e. writing of data to random or scattered memory locations). A severe limitation of the GPU is that data written by the GPU is not generally immediately available to be read back due to a separation between input and output structures.
In order to speed up the nearest neighbor search, techniques have been proposed to enable some of the operations to be performed on the GPU to leverage its parallel processing capability. In an example, the CPU may be used to sort the data whilst the GPU uses the results to perform the simulation itself. However, the passing of data between the CPU and the GPU is prone to latency issues, with the GPU being left idle whilst the CPU completes the sort and also bottlenecks may arise as data is transferred between the CPU and GPU.


A hollow core fiber having polarization dependent loss is provided. The hollow core fiber embedded in a cellular cladding having a plurality of cells arranged in a nominally regular cellular lattice. A pre-determined number of cells at pre-determined locations within a cellular cladding are substituted by leakage cells that differ in at least one property including a physical or a chemical property, or both. The leakage cells collectively provide a leakage path that may preferably be made polarization sensitive, such that a core mode with a particular polarization state is selectively coupled to the cladding, thereby inducing polarization dependent loss. The leakage cells may be dispersed along a symmetry axis in a radial distance longer than one or more lattice spacing away from the core. The polarization dependent loss may be controlled further by asymmetric core shapes and/or by introducing additional surface features along the core-cladding interface.

1. Field of the Invention
This application is related to the field of optical fiber and in particular, to Hollow Core Fiber (HCF) exhibiting selective polarization dependent properties for supporting a selected polarization state of a signal transmitted in the hollow core of the fiber.
2. Description of the Related Arts
Hollow-core fibers have unique advantages in several applications. For example, they can provide ultra-low nonlinearity since most of the signal power can be guided in air or vacuum. This is useful in an optical sensor application for example, an optical gyro, where fiber nonlinearities contribute significantly to noise and hence compromise performance. Guidance in a hollow core also mitigates other impairments related to interaction of the signal with the substrate, for example, thermal drift of propagation parameters. However, two polarization components of the signal typically present in a guided mode can obscure measurements in a sensor, and generally introduce uncertainty and interference into a system causing additional impairments.
A hollow-core fiber having a predominantly single polarization state is desirable for applications such as optical communication where polarization dependent loss may add to loss caused by other impairments for example, chromatic dispersion. One way to achieve a single polarization state is to selectively suppress one of the two polarization states. In prior art fibers, a variety of features have been proposed to control birefringence. These include modification of surface modes, selective coupling between the core and one or more modes of additional waveguide structures, for example.
In an earlier U.S. Pat. No. 7,865,051 issued on Jan. 4, 2011, to Fini, an additional waveguide in the cladding layer is placed in the vicinity of the hollow core. The additional waveguide is designed to support modes which have propagation constants similar to certain modes of the hollow core. More specifically, the additional waveguide dimension and geometry is carefully selected such that the core modes having polarization along one axis are selectively coupled to the modes of the additional waveguide. In the U.S. Pat. No. 7,551,819 issued to Dangui et al. on Jun. 23, 2009, selective suppression of polarization along one axis is utilized in constructing polarization couplers/splitters using hollow core fiber.
In yet another approach described in the co-owned and co-pending PCT application No. PCT/US/1332652, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, a plurality of defect cells that are different from the matrix cells of the cladding region of a hollow core fiber are positioned at the hollow core-cladding boundary. The defect cells having at least one property different from the matrix cells are arranged in a pattern that defines two orthogonal axes of reflection symmetry so as to produce birefringence in the light propagating in the hollow core of the fiber. It is particularly noted that the birefringence may be controlled more effectively when the defect cells are positioned proximal to the hollow core-cladding boundary.
In the prior art fibers designed for controlling polarization states, a common understanding has been that any additional feature included in the cladding should be proximal to the core to couple unwanted core modes to these additional features. The conventional understanding is that features more than a few lattice periods away from the core exert little influence or control on mode properties, aside from a tendency of an irregular lattice to cause excess signal loss. Thus prior art suggests that the outer portion of the cladding should contain no useful features, and in fact should be made as periodic as possible.
While many hollow core fibers support polarization suppression to some extent, what is required for best system performance is often a combination of properties difficult to achieve simultaneously namely, low loss in a desired polarization state, high loss in the unwanted polarization state, large resistance to polarization coupling, operation covering a desired band of wavelengths, robustness to variations in fabrication, just to name a few. In prior art fiber designs all these properties could not be achieved simultaneously.

Hollow core fiber with polarization dependent loss


A piezoelectric body formed onto one surface of an insulation sheet of an aperture electrode, the piezoelectric body being in direct confrontation with a toner-bearing roller. The piezoelectric body is formed of a mixture of a binder and piezoelectric material particles provided by pulverizing a piezoelectric material mass. A plurality of apertures are formed through the insulation sheet and the piezoelectric body, and control electrodes are provided around each aperture. The piezoelectric body is deformable upon generation of an electrical field. In a first deformation of the piezoelectric body, the thickness of the piezoelectric body is increased to provide a dam at a downstream portion of the aperture, which facilitate the toner orientation toward the aperture.

The present invention relates to a piezoelectric element and an image forming device using the piezoelectric element.
In a conventional image forming device such as a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile, etc., there are provided an electrode aperture plate, a toner bearing roller and a back electrode. The electrode aperture plate is disposed between the toner bearing roller and the back electrode.
The toner-bearing roller is rotatably disposed separated from the electrode aperture plate by a gap through which an image forming medium is transported. The aperture electrode plate includes an insulation base, through which are formed a plurality of linearly aligned apertures, and control electrodes formed around the apertures to the surface of the insulation base. The back electrode roller is rotatably disposed adjacent to the aperture electrode plate and is for supplying toner particles to the aperture electrode plate. The image forming device also includes a control circuit for controlling application of voltage to the control electrodes based on image formation data.
Electric fields are selectively generated by applying a voltage to the control electrodes formed around apertures in the electric aperture plate. Charged toner supplied on the toner-bearing roller is drawn into apertures of energized control electrodes and then further attracted by the back electrode so as to impinge the toners onto a recording sheet passing between the aperture electrode plate and the back electrode.

Piezoelectric electrode aperture plate for an image forming device