Methods and systems for generating defect samples are provided. One method includes identifying a set of defects detected on a wafer having the most diversity in values of at least one defect attribute and generating different tiles for different defects in the set. The tiles define a portion of all values for the at least one attribute of all defects detected on the wafer that are closer to the values for the at least one attribute of their corresponding defects than the values for the at least one attribute of other defects. In addition, the method includes separating the defects on the wafer into sample bins corresponding to the different tiles based on their values of the at least one attribute, randomly selecting defect(s) from each of two or more of the sample bins, and creating a defect sample for the wafer that includes the randomly selected defects.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to methods and systems for creating a detect sample for a wafer that is suitable for production monitoring and can be re-normalized to a total defect population detected on the wafer.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following description and examples are not admitted to be prior art by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
Fabricating semiconductor devices such as logic and memory devices typically includes processing a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer using a large number of semiconductor fabrication processes to form various features and multiple levels of the semiconductor devices. For example, lithography is a semiconductor fabrication process that involves transferring a pattern from a reticle to a resist arranged on a semiconductor wafer. Additional examples of semiconductor fabrication processes include, but are not limited to, chemical-mechanical polishing, etch, deposition, and ion implantation. Multiple semiconductor devices may be fabricated in an arrangement on a single semiconductor wafer and then separated into individual semiconductor devices.
Inspection processes are used at various steps during a semiconductor manufacturing process to detect defects on wafers. Inspection processes have always been an important part of fabricating semiconductor devices such as integrated circuits. However, as the dimensions of semiconductor devices decrease, inspection processes become even more important to the successful manufacture of acceptable semiconductor devices. For instance, as the dimensions of semiconductor devices decrease, detection of defects of decreasing size has become necessary since even relatively small defects may cause unwanted aberrations in the semiconductor devices.
During production runs, in order to monitor the defectivity of production wafers, typically a sample of defects is created from a total defect population detected on a wafer. That sample of defects is then manually classified (i.e. classification performed by a human expert) one of several possible techniques such as reviewing the sampled defects on a defect review tool such as a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The classification results can then be extrapolated back to defects that are similar to the sampled defects in some manner.
There are three main approaches to production sampling. The first is random sampling in which defects are randomly selected from the detected population. This sampling is a re-normalizable sampling scheme that is very easy to setup, but it is not very efficient in capturing lower count defect types. In some instances, random sampling may rely on spatial diversification by requiring that dies and dusters are not sampled excessively. This spatial diversification introduces subtle bias into the renormalization process, which results in systematic errors that are different for different wafers and that are difficult to correct.
The second is class code based sampling in which defects are selected randomly from bins. This method requires a defect binner (classifier) to be trained and executed on the inspection results. Compared to random sampling, this method is more stable and efficient for well performing binners. The increased efficiency and stability are achieved through the partial diversification provided by the binners. This sampling is re-normalizable. Just as in the case of random sampling, spatial diversification is also typically enforced.
The third is rule-based sampling in which defects are selected based on a set of rules. This scheme is a hybrid scheme that has very similar characteristics to class code based sampling. This sample is also re-normalizable as long as the defects are sampled randomly from the set of defects that satisfy each rule.
There are two main disadvantages of the existing sampling methods. For example, the resulting samples tend to have significant fluctuations from run-to-run even for relatively stable processes. In addition, the sampling tends to be less effective in selecting relatively low count defect types, thus lacking critical information relatively frequently. The existing sampling methods also have a number of secondary disadvantages. For instance, the existing methods require tuning classifiers for class code based sampling. In addition, the classifiers themselves require periodic performance monitoring.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to develop systems and/or methods for generating a defect sample for a wafer that do not have one or more of the disadvantages described above.

Production sample shaping that preserves re-normalizability


A semiconductor device, including an active region defined in a semiconductor substrate; a first contact plug on the semiconductor substrate, the first contact plug being connected to the active region; a bit line on the semiconductor substrate, the bit line being adjacent to the first contact plug; a first air gap spacer between the first contact plug and the bit line; a landing pad on the first contact plug; a blocking insulating layer on the bit line; and an air gap capping layer on the first air gap spacer, the air gap capping layer vertically overlapping the first air gap spacer, the air gap capping layer being between the blocking insulating layer and the landing pad, an upper surface of the blocking insulating layer being at a height equal to or higher than an upper surface of the landing pad.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
As semiconductor devices have higher capacity and become more highly integrated, design rules may change. A change in design rules may also occur in dynamic random access memories (DRAMs), which are one type of memory semiconductor devices.

Semiconductor device having air gap spacer and method of fabricating the same


A phase equalizer in the receiver portion of a bi-directional communication system is disclosed equalizer for reducing precursor intersymbol interference without any substantial degradation in signal to noise ratio. The phase equalizer is implemented as a switched capacitor filter having a clock (switch) rate at least four times the data baud rate and a z-transfer function T(z) of a form: ##EQU1## wherein G, A, and B are fixed but adjustable coefficients.

This invention relates to a cost effective integrated circuit implementation of a high performance transmitter/receiver (transceiver) for bi-directional data communication utilizing a twisted pair cable (two wire metallic cable), such as a digital subscriber loop (DSL). Exemplary, but not exclusive, is a transceiver in an integrated service digital network (ISDN) providing "basic access" service over a conventional telephone communication line. The American National Standard Institute (ANSI) specification for telecommunications (ANSI T1.601-1988) defines "basic access" as a standardized combination of access channels that constitute the access arrangement for the majority of ISDN users. Specifically it includes any of the following combinations of access channels:
a) one D-Channel
b) one B-Channel
c) two B-Channels & one D-Channel
where a B-channel is a 64 kilobits per second channel that carries customer information, such as voice calls, circuit switch data, or packet switch data; a D-channel is an access channel carrying control or signaling information and optionally packetized information and telemetry. The D-channel has a capacity of 16 kilobits per second. Accordingly, the data rate transfer sum of two B-channels and one D-channel is equal to 144 kilobits per second. Problems arise on these high speed channels since data is transceived over a telephone voice communication channel having a narrow bandwidth and line insertion losses up to 50 dB.
The function of a transmitter in a bi-directional communication system is to put a sequence of pulses representing transmitted data on to the communication channel. In the U-interface of an ISDN, these pulses have four levels, encoded particularly in the so-called 2B1Q code (2 binary, 1 quaternary) recommended by the American National Standards Institute T1D1.3 specification.
The function of a receiver is to detect pulses being sent from the far end of the communication channel. Since the communication channel is only a two wire cable, transmit and receive pulses can be contemporaneous on the channel causing an echoing effect when the two interact. The echoing effect can be removed by an echo canceller using a replication or a portion thereof of the transmitted pulse and subtracting it from the received pulse, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,866, issued Jan. 28, 1992 to Kenneth G. Buttle entitled "TRANSVERSAL FILTER ECHO CANCELLER" and the co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 07/507,595, filed Apr. 10, 1990, to Kenneth G. Buttle et. al., entitled "NON-LINEAR ECHO CANCELLER", both of which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention and both of which are incorporated herein by reference. Subsequent to echo cancellation, the receiver determines at what time to sample incoming pulses in order to ascertain the correct pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) level encoded. Difficulties arise in detecting levels due to line attenuation and distortion which causes pulse energy of a particular data pulse to extend over several baud periods. Alternatively stated, the trailing or leading edge of one pulse symbol invades the time slot of the next symbol, complicating the task of determining the correct amplitude assigned to that baud. Interference of this type which results from symbols received prior to the symbol of interest is generally referred to as intersymbol interference.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,334 to Sayar, issued Jan. 23, 1990, herein incorporated by reference, suggests a method for inducing undershoot in the received symbol and detecting a zero crossing point occurring after the induced undershoot and sampling one baud (sample period) later. The precursor undershoot is necessary, or at least desirable to improve detection of the zero crossing point. When the undershoot is absent, the resulting flat portion impedes the detection of amplitude variations in the vicinity of zero crossing. In order for an accurate detection of zero crossing, the pulses must be significantly free from interference at or near the precursor undershoot. Complicating the detection in the zero crossing area is corruption due to the so called intersymbol interference which causes erroneous levels in the region between the undershoot and the sampling area. Intersymbol interference in the form of extension of the trailing edge of a data symbol into the symbol time of a following symbol is said to be postcursor intersymbol interference and interference in the form of extension of the leading edge of a data symbol into the symbol time of a preceding symbol is said to be precursor intersymbol interference. Postcursor intersymbol interference is usually dealt with by means of a decision feedback equalizer (DFE). Prior solutions in removing precursor intersymbol interference have utilized some form of a transversal filter. Realizing a transversal filter digitally requires digital multipliers and extensive support hardware, while an analog implementation of a transversal filter requires analog delay lines whose accuracy are difficult to maintain.

System and method for phase equalization


The present application describes an implant system useable for positioning an implant device such as a device useful for restricting passage of ingested food into the stomach. In one embodiment, the disclosed system includes a plurality of anchors that may be coupled to tissue within the stomach, or to a tissue tunnel formed by plicating stomach wall tissue. The anchor includes a loop. During use, the implant device is inserted through the loop and expanded such that it retains its position within the loop until removed. Instruments for implanting and explanting the implant device are also described.

An anatomical view of a human stomach S and associated features is shown in FIG. 1A. The esophagus E delivers food from the mouth to the proximal portion of the stomach S. The z-line or gastro-esophageal junction Z is the irregularly-shaped border between the thin tissue of the esophagus and the thicker tissue of the stomach wall. The gastro-esophageal junction region G is the region encompassing the distal portion of the esophagus E, the z-line, and the proximal portion of the stomach S.
Stomach S includes a fundus F at its proximal end and an antrum A at its distal end. Antrum A feeds into the pylorus P which attaches to the duodenum D, the proximal region of the small intestine. Within the pylorus P is a sphincter that prevents backflow of food from the duodenum D into the stomach. The middle region of the small intestine, positioned distally of the duodenum D, is the jejunum J.
FIG. 1B illustrates the tissue layers forming the stomach wall. The outermost layer is the serosal layer or "serosa" S and the innermost layer, lining the stomach interior, is the mucosal layer or "mucosa" MUC. The submucosa SM and the multi-layer muscularis M lie between the mucosa and the serosa.
Prior art treatments for obesity range from diet and medication to highly invasive surgical procedures. Some of the more successful surgical procedures are the vertical banded gastroplexy or the proximal gastric pouch with a Roux-en-Y anastomosis. However, known complications are present with each of these procedures. More successful and less invasive options are desired.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods related to gastro-esophageal implants


An image sensor semiconductor package (package) includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. A complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor (CIS) die has a first surface with a photosensitive region and a second surface opposite the first surface of the CIS die. The second surface of the CIS die is coupled with the first surface of the PCB. A transparent cover is coupled over the photosensitive region of the CIS die. An image signal processor (ISP) is embedded within the PCB. One or more electrical couplers electrically couple the CIS die with the PCB. A plurality of electrical contacts on the second surface of the PCB are electrically coupled with the CIS die and with the ISP. The ISP is located between the plurality of electrical contacts of the second surface of the PCB and the CIS die.

1. Technical Field
Aspects of this document relate generally to semiconductor packages. More specific implementations involve image sensor semiconductor packages.
2. Background
Image sensors convey information related to an image by communicating signals in response to incident electromagnetic radiation. Image sensors are used in a variety of devices including smart phones, digital cameras, night vision devices, medical imagers, and many others. Conventional semiconductor imagers utilizing charge-coupled device (CCD) and complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) architectures are currently in use.

Image sensor semiconductor packages and related methods

SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC


A packet data transmission system comprises primary stations (PS) having signal transmitting and receiving means and antennas (PA1 to PA4) for propagating downlink signals and receiving uplink signals and a plurality of secondary stations (SS) able to roam within the coverage areas of the primary stations. Each secondary station (SS1) has signal transmitting and receiving means, a predetermined number of antennas (SA1 to SA4), and means for monitoring its radio environment. Information about the radio environment is relayed as an uplink signal to the respective primary station which modifies its mode of transmission of packet data signals. The secondary station in response to the modified mode of transmission of the downlink signals adapts its receiver resources to process the packet data signals and effect cancellation of any interference.

The present invention relates to a packet data transmission system and further relates to primary and secondary stations for use in such a system and to a method of operating such a system. The present invention has particular, but not exclusive, application to UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) otherwise referred to as 3GPP.
For packet radio in UMTS it has been proposed for High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) that MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output antenna systems) be used. One example of a MIMO system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,290 in which the presence of multiple antennas enables spatial multiplexing whereby a data stream for transmission is split into a plurality of sub-streams, each of which is sent via many different paths. Another example, known as the BLAST system, is described in the paper "V-BLAST: an architecture for realising very high data rates over the rich-scattering wireless channel" by P W Wolniansky et al in the published papers of the 1998 URSI International Symposium on Signals, Systems and Electronics, Pisa, Italy, 29 Sep. to 2 Oct. 1998.
The performance gains which may be achieved from a MIMO system may be used to increase the total data rate at a given error rate, or to reduce the error rate for a given data rate, or some combination of the two. A MIMO system can also be controlled to reduce the total transmitted energy or power for a given data rate and error rate.
One area in which MIMO techniques may be applied is a High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) scheme, which is currently being developed for UMTS and which may facilitate transfer of packet data to a secondary station, for example a mobile station, at over 4 Mbps. In one proposed embodiment of HSDPA separate data streams using the same channelisation code are sent from respective antennas at a primary station, for example a base station, and the data streams can in principle be received and decoded by a secondary station having at least as many antennas as there are data streams. An ARQ (Automatic Repeat reQuest) scheme is needed to ensure correct delivery of each data packet, since accurate data transmission is viewed as more important than the reduced system throughput under poor channel conditions (due to multiple re-transmissions).
A problem with the use of a MIMO system for packet data transmission is the impact of differing radio link qualities on the communication system. The scheme can perform well with low interference levels but not with high interference levels such as will occur near a cell border where interference from primary stations in adjacent cells will greatly reduce throughput. It is an object of the present invention to mitigate the effect of such interference in packet data transmission.

Packet data transmission in a MIMO system


A dedicated bus between a central processing unit and a peripheral unit, such as a graphics controller driving a video display, provides enhanced capability in an environment in which signal processing occurs within the central processing unit. The dedicated bus relieves other data buses, such as the PCI bus, of the need to communicate large amounts of data, such as decompressed video data. The resulting system supports high bandwidth transmissions of decompressed video data, enabling high resolution 24 bit full motion video and multiple data stream video.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to processors which include a data bus for communicating large amounts of data, such as video or graphics data, to a device on the bus, such as an external device. In particular, the invention concerns providing a dedicated bus that avoids the need for transmitting such information through other system buses.
2. Related Art
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional system. A central processing unit (CPU) 1 is connected through a data communication bus 3 to an interface 5 and a high level L2 cache memory 7. L2 cache 7 communicates with another cache 8 over link 11. The L2 cache 7 is connected to a memory control unit 9. Bridge 17 links the system to PCI bus 19. The PCI bus 19 has various elements connected thereto. These could include a double or quad speed CD ROM 21, a graphics controller 23 and possibly a digital signal processor (DSP) 25. Graphics controller 23 is also connected to memory 27 and is used to drive display 29.
In a conventional system as shown in FIG. 1, compressed video is supplied from a video source, such as CD ROM 21, under control of CPU 1, onto PCI bus 19. DSP 25, under control of CPU 1, processes the compressed video to create decompressed video for delivery to graphics control unit 23 for display of a corresponding image on display 29.
Recent advances in video processing have improved the conventional system of FIG. 1 to yield a system as shown in FIG. 2. DSP 25 is no longer connected to PCI bus 19, thus reducing the hardware and real estate needed to implement the system. Instead, digital signal processing is accomplished within CPU 1.
The digital signal processing in CPU 1 can take either of two forms. A first form is the incorporation of a conventional DSP, such as DSP 25, onto the microprocessor chip comprising CPU 1. A second form is the use of processing wherein the activities previously accomplished by a DSP are accomplished by the CPU according to software. In either form, the incorporation of the DSP activities, such as the task of decompressing compressed video to produce decompressed video, into CPU 1, can lead to drawbacks. As described below, these drawbacks are addressed by the invention.
For a conventional display 29 containing 1024 by 768 pixels, production of one high color image requiring 2 bytes per pixel requires about 1.6 megabytes of data. At 8 bits per byte such an image requires about 12.5 M bits. To produce a full motion video image, a frame rate of 30 frames per second is required. Thus, production of a full motion 16 bit full color video image on display 29 requires about 48 megabytes of data per second.
In the system of FIG. 2, CPU 1 executes the decompression algorithm, and the decompressed video is routed through bridge 17 to PCI bus 19. PCI bus 19 has a peak bandwidth of 133 megabytes, with about 50 megabytes usable. As noted above, a high color image requires 48 megabytes per second of decompressed video. A PCI bus has a peak capability of about 132 M bytes per second. However, this rate is not sustainable because bus overhead reduces the useable bus bandwidth to about 50 M bytes/sec. Since PCI bus 19 has a usable capability of only about 50 megabytes per second, production of decompressed video routed to graphics controller 23 consumes virtually all of the capability of PCI bus 19, thereby leaving little bandwidth for use by other elements such as CD ROM 21 and DSP 25. New 64 bit, 66 MHz PCI bus configurations are faster, but have other drawbacks. Such drawbacks include electromagnetic interference (EMI), increased cost and limits on the number of available slots per bridge, thereby requiring more bridges and further driving costs up.
In the conventional system of FIG. 1, the close physical proximity of DSP 25 to graphics controller 23 minimized the negative impact of the bus dominance by the decompressed video from DSP 25 to graphics controller 23. However, in systems such as that of FIG. 2, wherein the digital signal processing is occurring in CPU 1, this bus dominance leads to degradation of the video image.
For example, since more than two megabytes of bandwidth are needed for CD ROM 21 to provide the compressed video to CPU 1, the result is that 48 megabytes of bandwidth on the PCI bus are not always available for the delivery of decompressed video to graphics controller 23. When the decompressed video is not available to graphics controller 23, one or more video frames may be dropped. When the frame rate falls below 30 frames per second, the resulting video image may appear degraded. To compensate for this situation, designers have opted to use only a portion of video display 29, such as a window, to show full motion video. By using less (fewer pixels) of the display, a smaller bandwidth is required for the decompressed video, the frame rate can be maintained, and sufficient bus capacity exists to allow other devices to communicate via PCI bus 19. However, the constraint of using only a portion of the available display for full motion video is limiting.


A magnetic brush developing device for developing an electrostatic charge image comprises a hopper for containing toners to be supplemented, a toner supplying roller rotatably mounted in a lower opening of the hopper and provided at its periphery with a longitudinal recess for receiving therein a given amount of toners from the hopper and means for limiting a length of the opening, through which toners are supplemented, along an axis of the roller, so as to make the length of the opening smaller than a maximum width of an electrostatic charge image to be developed by the developing device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic brush developing device for developing an electrostatic charge image and used for an electrophotographic apparatus such as copying machine, printing machine and the like, and more particularly to a toner supplementing device for supplementing toners to a developing agent contained in a housing of a magnetic brush developing device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the magnetic brush developing device, use is generally made of a two component developing agent consisting of carriers made of magnetic material and toners made of thermoplastic resin of low melting point and mixed with dye or pigment such as carbon black. Such a two component developing agent is stirred and mixed in the developing device and the toners are charged due to friction between the toners and carriers to a polarity opposite to that of an electrostatic charge image on a charge retentive member such as a photosensitive drum.
In such a developing device, since the toners are consumed each time the developing operation is effected, the developing device is provided with a hopper for containing toners and a device for supplementing a given amount of toners from the hopper so as to keep always a toner concentration of the developing agent to a desired value.
Various kinds of toner supplementing devices have heretofore been proposed. In one conventional toner supplementing device, provision is made of a hopper containing toners to be supplemented to a housing of a developing device and provided at its lower opening with a toner supplying roller having a longitudinal recess for receiving a given amount of toners from the hopper, the roller rotating intermittently in response to consumption of toners contained in the housing of the developing device so as to drop off the toners in the longitudinal recess into the housing and supplement the toners. However, such conventional device could not supplement toners in a stable state, since toners have not always a good fludity. As a result, the longitudinal recess of the toner supplying roller is stuffed with toner particles or the toner particles tend to bridge the surface of the roller. In order to avoid such defects, in another conventional toner supplementing device, the above mentioned hopper is provided at its lower opening with a resilient plate having one end operative to engage with the toner supplying roller and vibrate in response to the rotation of the roller so as to make toners flow down therethrough. In such a device, toners fall down through a slit-like space formed between side edges of the resilient plate and inner side walls of the housing of the developing device. This results in not uniform distribution of toners along the entire width of an electrostatic charge image to be formed on a charge retentive member and may cause a photographic fog at a peripheral portion of a picture.
In order to eliminate the above mentioned drawbacks of the conventional devices, an improved toner supplementing device which can obtain a picture having a better quality has heretofore been sought for.


An inkjet printhead position detection system includes a light emitting device emitting at least one beam of light having a first edge and a second edge nonparallel to the first edge. An inkjet printhead includes a light detecting device detecting the at least one beam of light as the inkjet printhead scans across the light. A time period between when the light detecting device crosses the first edge of the at least one light beam and when the light detecting device crosses the second edge of the at least one light beam is dependent upon a position of the inkjet printhead.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting the position of a component in an inkjet printer, and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for detecting the position of a printhead in an inkjet printer.
2. Description of the Related Art
The alignment of inkjet printheads in an inkjet printer is usually achieved by controlling the tolerances during the manufacture of the printhead and printer. As printheads increase in size and customer quality expectations increase, aligning inkjet printheads solely by controlling tolerances becomes increasingly expensive.
A normal ink jet printer uses a scanning carriage to move the printhead back and forth across the print medium. After each printing pass, the medium is moved forward and stopped for the next print pass. To achieve full color output, three or four primary color printheads are used, with a full range of color achieved by mixing the primary colors in various proportions. When a single, integrated printhead contains all of the primary colors (such as cyan, magenta and yellow), their relative alignment on the final output is very well controlled, since their relative placement is controlled by existing photolithography processes and numerically controlled laser devices. However, as the need for higher throughput increases, the number of nozzles increases, and the possibility of integrating the various colors in a monolithic device becomes unfeasible. The drops of ink from each primary color are then generated from separate devices, and their relative placement is controlled by automatic placement equipment that has much looser tolerances. Even when the separate devices are placed on a single printhead unit, the achievement of tolerances approaching a pixel between colors is very difficult. If each color is placed on a separate printhead, and they are joined on a carriage assembly, the relative placement accuracy is even worse.
In existing printers, test pages are sometimes generated which can be used to adjust the relative placement of each color. This solution becomes less effective in a business inkjet environment, when less user intervention is desired, and consistent operation is expected when various supplies, such as a printhead, are replaced.
What is needed in the art is a method of automatically detecting the positions of printheads in both a scan direction and a paper feed direction, as well as the skew angle of each printhead relative to the paper feed direction. Printed information can then be automatically corrected for position and skew as shown in related application Ser. No. 09/827,805 filed on Apr. 6, 2001.
The present invention provides a sensor arrangement in an inkjet printer that produces direct feedback to correct for misalignment of printheads.
The invention comprises, in one form thereof, an inkjet printhead position detection system including a light emitting device emitting at least one beam of light having a first edge and a second edge nonparallel to the first edge. An inkjet printhead includes a light detecting device detecting the at least one beam of light as the inkjet printhead scans across the light. A time period between when the light detecting device crosses the first edge of the at least one light beam and when the light detecting device crosses the second edge of the at least one light beam is dependent upon a position of the inkjet printhead.
The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a method of detecting a position of an inkjet printhead, including emitting at least one light beam having a first edge and a second edge, the second edge being nonparallel to the first edge. A light detecting device is provided on the inkjet printhead. The inkjet printhead is scanned across the light. The first edge of the light beam is detected with the light detecting device during the scanning step. The second edge of the light beam is detected with the light detecting device during the scanning step. The position of the inkjet printhead is calculated dependent upon a time period between the detecting steps.
An advantage of the present invention is that the positions of printheads can be sensed in both a scan direction and a paper feed direction.
Another advantage is that the detection of printhead position can be performed automatically, i.e., without the need for human intervention.

Method and apparatus for detecting the position of an inkjet printhead


The present invention is drawn to the treatment of neonatal patients exhibiting convulsion comprising administering a composition comprising a gluconate complex, wherein said gluconate complex lacks a divalent cation such as sodium gluconate.

The incidence of epilepsy is highest in the first year of life with a reported incidence around 1.8-3.5/1,000 live births in the United States. Silverstein et al., "Neonatal seizures" Annals Of Neurology 62:112-120 (2007); and Jensen F., "Neonatal seizures: An update on mechanisms and management" Clinics In Perinatology 36:881-900 (2009). Although many antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have been developed over the past several decades, neonatal seizures are often refractory to current AEDs, which are more effective in older children or adults. Painter et al., "Phenobarbital compared with phenytoin for the treatment of neonatal seizures" The New England Journal Of Medicine 341:485-489 (1999); van Rooij et al., "Treatment of neonatal seizures" Seminars In Fetal & Neonatal Medicine 18:209-215 (2013); and Dzhala et al., "NKCC1 transporter facilitates seizures in the developing brain" Nature Medicine 11:1205-1213 (2005).
In some cases, even after AED application, electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings show ongoing cortical epileptic activity in neonates, which may impair cognitive development and later result in epilepsy. Connell et al., "Clinical and EEG response to anticonvulsants in neonatal seizures" Archives Of Disease In Childhood 64:459-464 (1989); Glykys et al., "Differences in cortical versus subcortical GABAergic signaling: a candidate mechanism of electroclinical uncoupling of neonatal seizures" Neuron 63:657-672 (2009); and Puskarjov et al., "Pharmacotherapeutic targeting of cation-chloride cotransporters in neonatal seizures" Epilepsia 55:806-818 (2014).
Epileptic seizures are often caused by overexcitation of the brain circuits, which can be inhibited by boosting GABAA receptors (GABAA-Rs), the major inhibitory receptors in the adult brain. Accordingly, AEDs are often developed to increase GABAA-R function, such as benzodiazepine and barbiturate drugs. Bialer, M. & White, H. S. Key factors in the discovery and development of new antiepileptic drugs. Nature reviews. Drug discovery 9, 68-82 (2010). However, while GABAA-Rs are mostly inhibitory in the adult brain, they are excitatory in the developing brain. Chen, G., Trombley, P. Q. & van den Pol, A. N. Excitatory actions of GABA in developing rat hypothalamic neurones. The Journal of physiology 494 (Pt 2), 451-464 (1996); and Ben-Ari, Y. Excitatory actions of gaba during development: the nature of the nurture. Nature reviews. Neuroscience 3, 728-739 (2002).
The excitatory GABAergic transmission in the developing brain also explains why GABA agonists are often ineffective in controlling neonatal seizures, and sometimes can even exacerbate neonatal seizure activity. Farwell, J. R., et al. Phenobarbital for febrile seizures—effects on intelligence and on seizure recurrence. The New England journal of medicine 322, 364-369 (1990).
Classically, GABA excitatory versus inhibitory function has been attributed to the regulation by Cl− co-transporters NKCC1 and KCC2. 10. Kaila, K., Price, T. J., Payne, J. A., Puskarjov, M. & Voipio, J. Cation-chloride cotransporters in neuronal development, plasticity and disease. Nature reviews. Neuroscience 15, 637-654 (2014). Blaesse, P., Airaksinen, M. S., Rivera, C. & Kaila, K. Cation-chloride cotransporters and neuronal function. Neuron 61, 820-838 (2009). Previous study found that NKCC1 might facilitate neonatal seizures in rodent animals12, but recent clinical trial in infant babies found severe side effect of NKCC1 blocker bumetanide and very limited effect in treating neonatal seizure13. Dzhala, V. I., et al. NKCC1 transporter facilitates seizures in the developing brain. Nature medicine 11, 1205-1213 (2005); and Pressler, R. M., et al. Bumetanide for the treatment of seizures in newborn babies with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (NEMO): an open-label, dose finding, and feasibility phase ½ trial. Lancet Neurol 14, 469-477 (2015).
Unfortunately, to date there have been no effective drugs that can treat neonatal seizures successfully, prompting an urgent search of new drugs for neonatal epilepsy. What is needed in the art is a simple, effective and safe anti-epileptic drug to treat the unique characteristics of neonatal seizure.

Gluconate-based compositions as a neonate anticonvulsant


There is provided drug delivery devices including a drug container assembly with a needle and automatic needle insertion and drug delivery mechanisms. Aspects of the devices described include a noise-generation mechanism to indicate the completion of drug delivery, a mechanism for triggering drug delivery following needle insertion, front-end activation of the device and a safety mechanism for covering the needle after use and methods of assembly of the devices.

An autoinjector is a drug delivery device that contains a medical, therapeutic, diagnostic, pharmaceutical or cosmetic compound (drug) before it is administered, and which is used to administer the compound through the skin of the patient via a hollow needle. Autoinjectors may be used by the patient themselves or by a different user, and may be used to administer drugs to animals.
Autoinjectors are typically used because they reduce the amount of training and effort needed by a user compared with that needed for a syringe, by automating either or both processes of inserting the needle into the patient and expelling the drug through the needle. They can also reduce the fear of injection by hiding the needle from the patient and protect the patient from needle stick injuries.
Autoinjectors typically include a housing containing a drug and a plunger that is driven by an automatic mechanism to move the plunger within the housing to eject the drug. The automatic mechanism may also move the needle relative to the housing to insert the needle into a subject. Motive power for the mechanisms may come from one or more springs or other power sources such as compressed gas.
Autoinjectors are used to deliver so-called crisis drugs such as epinephrine, where a patient may need to self-inject the drug while under the severe stress of anaphylactic shock. They are also used to deliver drugs for long-term conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, where the patient may have limited dexterity.
In both cases it is beneficial for the autoinjector to have a simple and easy user interface in order to maximise the likelihood that the patient is able to operate the autoinjector correctly and receive the drug. It would also be desirable to provide an audible indication to the patient that drug delivery has been successfully completed.
It is also desirable for the autoinjector to be small, reliable and robust, simple to manufacture, secure during transport and before intended use, and suitable for drugs having high viscosity.


A system for security intelligence automation using flows is disclosed. In various embodiments, a system includes a communications interface configured to receive events. The system includes a processor configured to select event data associated with the events, where the event data is associated with a computer network environment. The processor may be further configured to segment the event data along a plurality of dimensions, score the event data along the plurality of dimensions, and generate a ranking of each of the events based at least in part on the scoring of the event data.

Information security methodologies protect IT infrastructure by preventing unauthorized access and misuse of data. As cybercriminals become increasingly sophisticated, and vary their strategies of attack, information security processes need to evolve to accurately detect threats and prevent attacks. In addition, as computing systems become more complex and susceptible to attacks, it is more challenging to protect these systems from threats. Conventional monitoring techniques typically do not efficiently and accurately detect potential threats.

Security intelligence automation platform using flows


A vane device is adapted for use in a turbine apparatus, and includes a rotary shaft and a plurality of angularly spaced-apart vane units. The rotary shaft is rotatable in a rotational direction. The vane units are connected to the rotary shaft. Each of the vane units includes a grid frame and a plurality of spaced-apart cup members. The grid frame is connected to the rotary shaft. The cup members are arranged in an array and are connected to the grid frame. Each of the cup members has an inner surface that defines a receiving space, and an outer surface that is opposite to the inner surface and that faces toward the rotational direction.

Wind energy is one of the available forms of natural energy that can be converted into electrical energy, and is more environmentally friendly compared with generating electrical energy from fossil-fuel such as petroleum or coal. The shape, outline and number of vanes of a wind turbine machine may affect the effectiveness of conversion from wind energy to electrical energy.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional anemometer is shown and includes an upright prop 91, three connection rods 92 rotatably mounted on a top of the upright prop 91, and three cup members 93 respectively connected to the connection rods 92. Each of the cup members 93 has a concave inner surface 931 and a convex outer surface 932 that is opposite to the inner surface 931. When wind flows toward the inner surface 931 of one of the cup members 93, since air flowing over the outer surface 932 has a longer path than that of air flowing over the inner surface 931, difference in wind pressure would result therebetween. The difference in wind pressure propels the cup members 93 to rotate.
However, to convert wind power or water power into sufficient electrical power by adopting the structure of the conventional anemometer as an actuator for a power generator, each of the cup members 93 has to be increased in size. Based on Bernoulli's principle, the wind that passes over the enlarged outer surface 931 must have a relatively high speed for successfully propelling the cup members 93. As a result, use of the structure of the conventional anemometer is limited to locations having strong wind flow or water flow.


A lever member (1) is pivotally supported on a shaft for a roller (2) which is in rolling contact with a guide plate (3). One end of the lever member (1) is connected to a force point regulator (4), and the other end of the lever member is connected to an action point regulator (6).

Lever apparatuses have been generally used in a mechanical field such as machine tools and industrial machines and widely used as force transmitting parts of movable mechanisms in various other structures. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, in such a lever apparatus, a force point c is provided at one end of a lever member a axially supported by a fulcrum b fixed on the ground G. The lever member a is pivoted by means of a crank arm g connected to a driving wheel f, so that a work force is generated at an action point d.
In the conventional lever apparatus, since the lever member a is axially supported on the fixed fulcrum b, the loci of both the force point c and the action point d draw arcs upon pivotal movement of the lever member a. Even if a vertical force acts on the force point c, as shown in FIG. 1A, this force cannot be applied along a single straight line. This problem is also posed at the action point d. For this reason, in the conventional lever apparatus, in order to convert linear motion of the force point c into pivotal motion of the lever member a or convert pivotal motion of the lever member a into linear motion at the action point d, a force point regulator as a combination of an elongated hole Lc and a roller Rc and an action point regulator as a combination of an elongated hole Ld and a roller Rd, as shown in FIG. 1A, are used at portions of the force point c and the action point d, respectively. Ranges W of motion to be converted are determined by the lengths of the elongated holes Lc and Ld, respectively, and the ranges W cannot be increased due to limitations of mechanical strength. As far as the force transmission magnitudes are concerned, distances A1 and B1 from the fulcrum b to the force and action points c and d are changed upon pivotal movement of the lever member a, and a transmission force is undesirably changed.
A torsion stress is produced at the action point d upon pivotal movement of the lever member a by a pivot angle .alpha. in a direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1B. Therefore, a force cannot be effectively transmitted.
In an example shown in FIG. 2, when a force is to act at a point c to shift an action point d downward, an upper portion of an action point link member g is distorted in a direction to be bent as indicated by a dotted line. As a result, a left portion of an upper end and a right portion of a lower end of a guide hole of a support guide member i are worn out.

Lever apparatus having a freely movable fulcrum and mechanical apparatus using the same


An electronic device and method of wireless power transfer therefor are provided. The electronic device may include a frequency change circuit to produce a first signal of a frequency corresponding to at least one wireless power transfer scheme, a duty cycle change circuit to produce a second signal of a duty cycle corresponding to the at least one wireless power transfer scheme, and a control unit to control at least one of the frequency change circuit and the duty cycle change circuit according to the at least one wireless power transfer scheme. Various other embodiments are also possible.

Advances in wireless power transfer technologies have enabled popularization of electronic devices using wireless charging. In line with this trend, international standards for wireless power transfer have been developed by industry organizations, such as wireless power consortium (WPC), power matters alliance (PMA), and alliance for wireless power (A4WP).
Meanwhile, the WPC, PMA and A4WP standards for wireless power transfer may require different frequencies or duty cycles for wireless charging. In particular, unlike the WPC or PMA standard allowing the frequency and duty cycle to vary, the A4WP standard based on high-frequency resonance may require fixed-frequency output using a solid crystal structure owing to the narrow tolerance. This may make it difficult to achieve compatibility between standards for wireless charging devices.
In addition, as wireless power transfer techniques may be vulnerable to electromagnetic interference (EMI), it is necessary for an electronic device to use a scheme that is least vulnerable to EMI for stable wireless charging.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

Electronic device and method of wireless power transfer therefor


The invention relates to a method for detecting selection of a pump assembly (25, 32), for instance a fuel pump assembly, in which at least two pump assemblies are provided. By means of a control unit (12), the lambda signal is scanned continuously by means of lambda probes (21). As a function of the lambda signal ascertained, the maximum fuel injection quantity is limited to the supply quantity of a fuel pump assembly (25, 32), and simultaneously a limitation of the air quantity to the air quantity corresponding to the maximum fuel injection quantity is effected. The limitation of the maximum fuel injection quantity and of the associated air quantity is effected via a throttle valve element (13.1), which is triggered by the control unit (12).

The present invention relates to a method for detecting failure of a pump assembly, such as a fuel pump assembly in a fuel pump module, which includes a plurality of fuel pump assemblies.
In fuel pump modules, as a rule a fuel pump assembly, for instance an electric fuel pump, is used, which supplies the internal combustion engine with fuel. In modern applications, the supply quantity of a single fuel pump assembly can be sufficient to meet the fuel demand of an engine with normal engine consumption. In vehicles with very high-powered engines and very high engine consumption, two or more fuel pump assemblies, such as electric fuel pumps, can be provided in the fuel pump module in order to meet the greater engine consumption quantity in the full-load situation, for instance.
In fuel pump modules equipped in this way, the failure of one fuel pump assembly can mean that because of inadequate fuel supply in the full-load situation, the impermissibly leaned-down engine will overheat and can lead to a catalytic converter fire, since unconsumed fuel passes through the outlet valves directly into the catalytic converter, which is very hot. This occurs especially at lambda values of 1.2 to 1.5, and in the worst case it can lead to the complete destruction of the engine.
The method according to the invention makes it possible to utilize the continuously detected lambda signal in the exhaust system to ascertain the failure of one of a plurality of fuel pump assemblies, and it protects the engine to be supplied with fuel against overheating and more extensive damage, as well as protecting the catalytic converter, included in the exhaust system, against catalytic converter fire from ignition of uncombusted fuel. Since the requisite sensors for ascertaining the lambda signal, the load state, the rpm, and other engine-specific parameters, such as engine temperature, tendency to knocking, and air temperature, are already present, implementing the invention in an engine requires merely modifying the control program for the control unit.
Along with the selection detection, which in this way is simple to implementxe2x80x94while dispensing with additional structural componentsxe2x80x94for a fuel pump assembly, the safety shutoff of engine-specific different types and model series of internal combustion engines can be implemented and employed.
In an advantageous feature of the method of the invention, the lambda signal is ascertained continuously upstream of the catalytic converter disposed in the exhaust system and is reported back to the control unit by means of the engine management system. The limitation of both the maximum fuel injection quantity and the associated air quantity can be effected in the full-load situation for instance at maximum rpm, where the engine fuel demand is maximal, and leaning of the fuel-air mixture dictated by the failure of a pump assembly would necessarily cause overheating and more extensive engine damage within the briefest possible time.
The limit values for the lambda signal can be ascertained engine-specifically depending on how the engine management system is used. By means of simple software changes, the lambda limit value can be adapted to various requirements in the most various model series of current engines.
In a preferred variant of the method of the invention, the tripping of the limitation of the maximum fuel injection quantity and of the associated air quantity can already be effected whenever the rpm amounts to 80% of the maximum rpm or the throttle valve is opened at least 80% or more, which is always the case in the full-load situation in an internal combustion engine. A further peripheral condition for tripping the limitation of the maximum fuel injection quantity and the associated air quantity can be specified by providing that the throttle valve remains in a constant throttle valve position for a preselectable period of time xcex94t; the full-load conditions are thus not interrupted by any overrunning shutoff, and thus the full-load conditions prevail for a constant period of time. In that case, failure detection for one of the fuel pump modules is absolutely compulsory, because overheating can occur fastest at full load.
Along with the indicated limitation of the maximum fuel injection quantity and the associated air quantity, morexe2x80x94extensive engine damage under conditions of permissible mixture leaning can also be prevented by providing that via the control unit, all the fuel pumping by the fuel pump module is shut off, so that the engine necessarily comes to a stop.
Within the engine management system of the invention, the throttle valve is controlled by the control unit via the throttle valve transducer, as a function of the lambda signal ascertained by the lambda probes, so that at superstoichiometric lambda values, either a limitation of the maximum fuel injection quantity and associated air quantity, or a shutoff of all the fuel pumping, takes place.

Method for detecting failure of a pump assembly in a pump module


A new cultivar of Thuja occidentalis named ‘Thusidl’ characterized by its semi-dwarf, narrow columnar habit, fine-textured, dark green foliage and contrasting new growth that is bright yellow in color.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Thuja occidentalis and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, 'Thusid 1'. 'Thusid 1' represents a new western red cedar, an evergreen tree grown for landscape use.
The inventor discovered this new Thuja (un-patented) as a naturally-occurring branch mutation of Thuja occidentalis 'Smargd' (not patented) in Spring of 2006 in a block of 5 containers in one of the production sites in Mission, B.C., Canada.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stem cuttings in Mission, B.C., Canada in winter of 2006 by the inventor. Further generations of cuttings were taken in following years and trials have determined that the characteristics of this cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A method and system for providing high availability services to SCTP applications is disclosed. In one embodiment, a high availability (HA) server system includes an active server and a standby server with a primary redundancy module and a secondary redundancy module, respectively, which are operable for performing a method including forming a control channel between the active server and the standby server, forwarding IP addresses of the active server and the standby server to a client device when an association between the client device and the active server is established, synchronously mirroring a state of a SCTP stack and a state of an application of the active server to the standby server using the control channel, and servicing the client device using the standby server based on the state of the SCTP stack and the state of the application if a failure of the active server is detected.

High availability (HA) is a system design protocol and associated implementation that ensures a certain degree of operational continuity during a given time period. For example, a HA system may comprises an active server which services a client device and a standby server which is designed to take over the active server in case of a failure. Such a HA system may be based on stream control transmission protocol (SCTP) which provides a level of redundancy, like multi-homing such that the IP addresses of both the active and standby servers may be associated with the client device as multiple IP addresses of the active server. Consequently, SCTP provides redundancy when there is a link or a network failure. That is, the client device may be serviced using the standby server if the active server is no longer available due to the failure of the active server.
Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.

Method and system for providing high availability SCTP applications

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A device for ascending along a rope comprises a pair of ascenders and a leg loop in the form of a pedal cooperating with a cord passing over two pulleys to form a tackle device authorizing a gearing down effect of the effort exerted on the leg loop. The effort required for an ascending step corresponds to two thirds of the weight of the climber, whereas the leg travel when moving from the standing position to the sitting position is about one and a half times the distance of an ascending step.

The invention relates to a method for ascending along a main rope, making use of a dynamic sit-stand system comprising a first ascender fixed to the roping harness of the climber with passage of the rope, and a second ascender joined by a link cord to a leg loop, said second ascender being engaged on the main rope above the first ascender, and the ascending movement being performed in a succession of elementary steps, each of which is generated in the course of:
a first stage involving a push on the leg loop causing jamming of the second ascender at a predetermined point of the rope, and a sliding movement of the first ascender along the rope in the direction of the second ascender, releasing the push on the leg loop in the standing position of the climber then resulting in automatic jamming of the first ascender due to the action of the climber's weight, PA1 and a second stage involving lifting of the second ascender by the climber's hand pulling the leg loop upwards to a sitting position. PA1 a first stage involving pulling on the arms and simultaneous pushing on the leg loop 16, in the course of which a vertical force F1, directed in the downwards direction D, causes jamming of the second ascender 14 by the reaction of the cord 22. The second ascender 14 remains immobilized at the point A of the main rope 10, and the first ascender 12 is urged slidingly in the upwards direction M, until the distance d is taken up by coming into abutment against the fixed second ascender 14. The leg is then stretched, and the climber is in the standing position in which, after the push on the leg loop 16 has been released, the first ascender 12 is automatically jammed by the weight P of the climber 20. PA1 and a second stage involving lifting of the second ascender 14 by the hand 24 of the climber 20 which causes the leg loop 16 to be pulled up to a sitting position, in which the leg or legs of the climber 20 are bent. PA1 a first ascender fixed to the roping harness of the climber, PA1 a second ascender engaged on the main rope above the first ascender, and able to be moved in the ascending direction by the hand of the climber, PA1 and a leg loop in the form of a pedal, cooperating with a cord one end of which is attached to the first ascender after passing over a first pulley secured to the second ascender.
There are several methods of ascending along a rope, used in caving for ascending shafts of different heights. Two of these prior art methods are described to serve as examples.
In FIGS. 1 and 2, the FROG or DED process for ascending along a fixed rope 10 makes use of a dynamic sit-stand system operating with a pair of ascenders 12,14 and a leg loop 16 in the form of a pedal. The first ascender 12 is fixed to the roping harness 18 of the climber 20, and cooperates in the ventral zone with the rope 10 to freely authorize an ascending movement of the climber 20 according to the arrow M, and to oppose any opposing descending movement D by a self-jamming action on the rope 10.
The second ascender 14 has a similar operation to the first, and is joined to the leg loop 16 by a link cord 22 having a diameter generally smaller than that of the main rope 10. The second ascender 14 is engaged on the rope 10 above the first ascender 12, and can be moved in the upwards direction M by a lifting action by means of the hand 24 of the climber 20.
The leg loop 16 is designed for placing the foot of the right or left leg or both feet in the same loop, but it is also possible to provide a pair of separate pedals for engagement of both feet of the climber 20.
The ascending movement along the rope 10 is performed in a succession of elementary steps, each of which comprises:
He then merely has to push on his legs again to come back to the standing position, and so on.
In the FROG ascending process, to ascend a step d requires a vertical movement of the same length of the second ascender 14, and of the leg loop 16. In the course of this movement, the thrusting force F1 on the leg loop 16 is appreciably equal to the weight P of the climber 20, ignoring the traction forces of the hand 24.
The FROG ascension consisting in standing (legs stretched), then sitting (legs bent), requires forces proportional to the weight P of the climber 20.
To gear down the thrusting force on the leg loop 16, the "Italian" method, represented in FIGS. 3 and 4, consists in attaching the cord 22 to the first ascender 12, with an intermediate passage over a first pulley 26 secured to the second ascender 14. The link cord 22 forms a half-turn mounted on the pulley 26, and connected respectively by its opposite ends to the first ascender 12 and to the leg loop 16.
The gearing down effect generated by the presence of the pulley 26 enables the effort exerted on the leg loop 16 to be divided by two in comparison with the FROG process. The force modulus F2 (FIG. 4) corresponds appreciably to half of the weight P of the climber 20, naturally ignoring the traction forces of the hand 24. But the shortcoming of this "Italian" method lies in the greater movement of the leg loop 16.
For the climber 20 to ascend one step along the rope 10, the vertical movement of the leg corresponds appreciably to a doubling of the distance of the step. This results in a certain slowness of movement, and this method is not suitable for ascending shafts of large heights, for example more than 15 meters, because of the breathlessness it causes.
A first object of the invention consists in finding an efficient method for ascending along a rope, whereby the problems of gearing down efforts can be conciliated with the movement travel.

Method and device for ascending along a rope


A heating circuit, in particular for electric blankets or pads, comprises a first, heating conductor and a second conductor separated by a material which has an impedance that falls with increasing temperature and/or which will melt in the event of overheating to allow contact between the two conductors. A half-wave rectifier and a thermally-operative circuit interruption means are connected in series with the heating conductor across an AC supply. A resistor is electrically connected to the second conductor such that the resistance and the impedance of said material are connected in series across the supply. The resistor is thermally coupled to the circuit interruption means whereby, in the event of overheating of said material, the drop in the impedance of the material to a reduced or zero value will cause the current through the resistor to increase to heat the resistor, which causes the circuit interruption means to disconnect the circuit from the supply.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to heating circuits, particularly (but not exclusively) for electric blankets or pads.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to incorporate in an electric blanket a cable comprising a heating conductor, a sensor conductor and separating means that separates the two conductors and which has an impedance that falls with increasing temperature and/or which will melt in the event of overheating to allow contact between the two conductors. (See U.S. Pat. No. 2,831,099 to Crowley and UK Pat. No. 1,155,118 issued to the assignees hereof.) An AC power supply is connected across the heating conductor to heat it. Means is provided responsive to the impedance of the separating means dropping to a value indicating overheating of the cable (which value will be zero in the event of melting resulting in contact of the conductors) to prevent current flowing through the heating conductor. A disadvantage of such an arrangement is that the reliable detection of overheating becomes difficult due to the voltage gradient occurring along the heating conductor due to the fact that the supply voltage is applied across its ends. While this does not create a problem if the overheating is general, i.e., if it is present along the whole length of the cable, a difficulty arises if the overheating is localised at a position along the length of the cable, because the voltage at the position where the two conductors are connected by the reduced or zero impedance will be anywhere between the full supply voltage and zero, depending on the location of the position.
Known attempts to overcome this disadvantage--see the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 2,831,099 and also UK Pat. No. 793,783--have involved the use of complex and thus unreliable circuit arrangements.
A primary object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantage of the prior art.
Another object of the invention is to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantage of the prior art by enabling the reliable detection of both localised and general overheating in a simple manner, without the need for complex circuit arrangements and/or an additional sensor conductor.
A further object of the invention is to reliably detect overheating resulting in short-circuiting between a cable incorporating the two conductors in a manner which will avoid disintegration of the cable at the location of the short circuit.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a heating circuit which reliably detects overheating, both localised and general, which is of simple construction, and which provides a selective multiheat output, preferably with two heating conductors only.


Compounds useful in the treatment of inflammatory disorders, central nervous system disorders and other disorders of the formula I ##STR1## and the pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof, wherein Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 are each independently aryl or substituted aryl; R.sup.1 is alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms;. R.sup.2 is hydrogen or alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms;. and either X and Y are taken separately and they are each, independently, hydrogen, dialkylphosphoryl having 2 to carbon atoms, alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkenyl having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms or alkynyl having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms; or X and Y are taken together and they represent a hydrocarbon chain having 3, 4, or 5 carbon atoms, optionally containing up to 2 double bonds and optionally having 1 or 2 substituents selected from oxo, hydroxy and alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; or Y is methoxy when X is ethyl; provided that when X and Y are taken together they are attached to adjacent carbon atoms; and provided that if either X or Y is hydrogen, then the other one must be alkenyl or alkynyl; and provided that when Y is methoxy and X is ethyl, then Y is at the 4-position and X is at the 5-position, Ar.sup.1 or Ar.sup.2 must each be phenyl, R.sup.1 is methyl and R.sup.2 is hydrogen.

E. J. Warawa in U.S. Pat. No. 3560510 discloses certain 3-amino-2-benzhydrylquinuclidines as being useful as diuretic agents, with the corresponding unsubstituted 3-benzylamino compounds acting as intermediates for same. Additionally, E. J. Warawa et al. in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Vol.18, p.587 (1975) extends this work to other members of the series wherein the 3-amino moiety is either ethylamino, .beta.-phenylethylamino, .beta.-isopropylamino, or 2-furfurylamino, but in no instance is there any substitution on the phenyl group itself.
Furthermore, neither of the aforementioned documents teaches or suggests any of these compounds to be useful as substance P antagonists.
Substance P is a naturally occurring undecapeptide belonging to the tachykinin family of peptides, the latter being so-named because of their prompt stimulatory action on smooth muscle tissue. More specifically, substance P is a pharmaceutically active neuropeptide that is produced in mammals (having originally been isolated from gut) and possesses a characteristic amino acid sequence that is illustrated by D. F. Veber et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,680,283. The wide involvement of substance P and other tachykinins in the pathophysiology of numerous diseases has been amply demonstrated in the art. For instance, substance P has recently been shown to be involved in the transmission of pain or migraine (see B. E. B. Sandberg et al., Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Vol. 25, p.1009 (1982)), as well as in central nervous system disorders such as anxiety and schizophrenia, in respiratory and inflammatory diseases such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, respectively, and in gastrointestinal disorders and diseases of GI tract, like ulcerative colitis and Crohn's diseases, etc (see D. Regoli in "Trends in Cluster Headache" edited by F. Sicuteri et al., Elsevier Scientific Publishers, Amsterdam, 1987, PP. 85-95).
In the recent past, some attempts have been made to provide peptide-like substances that are antagonists for substance P and other tachykinin peptides in order to more effectively treat the various disorders and diseases listed above. The peptide-like nature of such substances makes them too labile from a metabolic point of view to serve as practical therapeutic agents in the treatment of disease. The non-peptidic antagonists of the present invention, on the other hand, do not possess this drawback, being far more stable from a metabolic point of view than the previously-discussed prior art agents.
Compounds of similar structure and similar pharmacological activity to the object compounds of the present invention, are described in WO 90/50729 and WO 92/20676.
Particularly, WO 90/05729 discloses a series of cis-3-[(cyclic)methylamino]-2-[(.alpha.-substituted)arylmethyl] quinuclidines including 2-benzhydryl derivatives, 2-substituted benzhydryl derivatives (wherein the substituents were alkyl, alkoxy, halogen and the like), 2-(bis-(2-thienyl)methyl) derivatives and the like. Furthermore, it shows that compounds disclosed in WO 90/05729 have activity as substance P antagonists, antiinflammatory activity and anti-psychotic activity.
Under the circumstances, the present inventors have worked to prepare compounds useful as substance P antagonist, and after extensive research, have succeeded in synthesizing a series of compounds as will be disclosed in detail herein.

Substituted benzylaminoquinuclidines as substance P antagonists


A method and apparatus for retaining closure of shells of raw molluscan shellfish prior to high pressure processing involves positioning of heat-shrinkable band around each individual shellfish. The shellfish is then exposed to heated air of about 300-400 degrees Fahrenheit to 2-3 seconds, a time sufficient to cause shrinking of the band and secure adherence of the band to the shells. To prevent denaturing of raw shellfish the banded shellfish is then immediately exposed to a stream of cold air, about 30 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 second. Cooling of the banded shellfish arrests the heating process and helps retain sensory qualities of the product.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for retaining closure of shells of bi-valve mollusks in preparation for high pressure processing. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of preventing escape of natural juices from the shells of molluskan shellfish, such as oysters, clams and the like.
It has been discovered that application of high pressure and heat to raw molluscan shellfish, more specifically to bi-valve mollusks, tends to release adductor muscle of the mollusks and allow easy opening of the shells for extracting the mollusk from the shell. This phenomenon is described in more detail in my co-pending applications relating to shucking of molluskan shellfish with the use of high pressure processing.
Opening of the shell during high-pressure processing may be desirable under certain circumstances. However, in some cases it is also important to prevent escape of natural juices from the shell during high-pressure processing. For instance, many restaurants arid oyster bars that serve raw shellfish on a half-shell prefer that the oysters arrive in their natural state, with the juices intact within their shell. Retention of juices, additionally, allows preserving the natural state of the shellfish and retaining sensory qualities of the product. It was discovered that banding of shelled shellfish prior to high pressure processing helps retain the shell halves closed and retain natural juices inside the shells.
One of the known shellfish banding processes is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,064 issued on Jun. 30, 1998 to Tesvich, et al. entitled xe2x80x9cHeat Treatment of Raw Moleskin Shellfish Including a Banding Process.xe2x80x9d In that patent, a band is secured about the two halves of a molluskan shell, such as oyster. The band may be elastic, plastic, metal, heat-shrinkable material and is said to be applied about the mollusk by a conventional banding machine. The preferred band of the ""064 patent is an elastic or rubber band. After banding, the mollusk is exposed to heat treatment in a fluid bath at a temperature of about 110 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Another example of shellfish banding is disclosed in Japanese application No. 60049770A, published on Mar. 19, 1985. In the Japanese reference, it is suggested to bind a heat-resistant band about an unshelled shellfish and then seal the shellfish in a heat resistant plastic packaging.
While these patent documents suggest banding of shellfish, they do not disclose in any particular detail the method of applying the band or any apparatus for achieving this goal. The present invention contemplates provision of a method of retaining closure of shellfish during high pressure processing and an apparatus therefor.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a method of retaining closure of shelled bivalve molluscan shellfish in preparation for high pressure processing.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for use with the method of retaining closure of shelled bivalve mollusks in preparation to high-pressure treatment.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for use with the method of retaining closure of bi-valve mollusks by banding.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved through a provision of a method and apparatus of banding raw shelled molluscan shellfish in preparation to high-pressure processing. Shelled product is placed on a conveyor belt that is divided into a plurality of compartments. Heat-shrink bands are wrapped around each shell. As the conveyor moves, the product is exposed to elevated temperature of about 300-400 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-3 seconds. Heat causes the band to shrink and tightly adhere around each shell.
To prevent denaturing of the product, moving the product on conveyor belt to the next station, which is a cool-down station, then immediately arrests heating process. The product is exposed to a stream of cold air of about 30 degrees Fahrenheit for about 1 second. Then, the conveyor moves the product downstream, where the product is deposited by gravity into a receiving container, which is placed below the end of the conveyor.
The conveyor belt is made of flexible, resilient slightly stretchable material. The conveyor is divided into a plurality of compartments by outwardly extending flexible separating members. When the belt moves around feed rollers, the outer surface of the conveyor belt stretches, and the shellfish is placed into the compartments. As the belt moves, it returns to its non-stretched condition, which causes the separating members, or fins to come closer together and secure the shelled product in the compartments.
As the conveyor belt moves around the downstream feed roller, the belt stretches again and the shells fall out of the compartments into the receiving container.
The method and apparatus of the present invention allow significantly expediting the banding process and reducing the labor costs. Additionally, uniform application of heat and cool air reduces the human-error factor, thereby preventing waste of the product.

Method of retaining closure of shelled Bi-valve mollusks and an apparatus therefor


A miniature thin film microwave frequency acoustic filter device comprising acoustic resonators formed on the same dielectric membrane so that their frequency responses are identical. Because the filters are miniature, they can be manifolded without manifolding circuitry that normally causes significant filter losses.

The present invention relates to a filter device structure, and more particularly, to a thin film microwave frequency acoustic filter device structure.
Filter banks are used to perform real time spectrum analysis of broad band signals. Typically, filter banks comprise individual filters that are large, expensive and are extremely difficult to manifold, especially at high frequencies. The complicated manifolding circuitry causes significant filter losses. Also, the bandwidth available with current microwave filters is too limited for effective use in filter banks. For example, the bandwidth of 2 GHz microstrip filters cannot be made less than about 8% (160 MHz) without accessive insertion losses (5 DB). Bandwidths of approximately 20 MHz can be achieved with coax filters. But, coax filters are large, cannot be manifolded easily and each pole of a coax filter requires individual adjustment.

Thin film, microwave frequency manifolded filter bank


A layout adjustment method for determining a layout of a page to be formed on a printing medium includes a generation step which generates a template including a plurality of partial areas, to which data are inserted, a setting step to set a link between two partial areas of the plurality of partial areas to connect the two partial areas, a first adjustment step to generate first layout indicating positions and sizes of the two partial areas, and a printing conditions setting step to set a binding margin for printing a document including the template. In addition, a correction step corrects the template on the basis of the binding margin set in the print conditions setting step, and a second adjustment step generates a second layout indicating the positions and the sizes of the two partial areas adjusted on the basis of the sizes of data to be inserted in the two partial areas and the template corrected in the correction step. In the correction step, the template is corrected such that a length in a horizontal direction of a specified partial area of the second layout is shorter than a length in the horizontal direction of a corresponding partial area of the first layout corresponding to the specified partial area of the second layout, as well as a length in a vertical direction of the specified partial area of the second layout is longer than a length in the vertical direction of the corresponding partial area of the first layout.

As various types of products are developed for an item, life cycles of products are getting shorter. As the Internet is prevailed, customers become preferred to receive customized service. Due to these factors, CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and One-to-One marketing is getting required. These techniques are very effective in improving customer satisfaction and in cultivating the market and enclosing the customers.
The one-to-one marketing is a kind of database marketing. It makes a database of personal attribute information including customer's age, sex, interest, preference, and purchase history; analyses the contents of the database; and proposes a service or goods to the customers according to what the customers need. A typical example of the specific techniques is a variable print. As DTP (desk top publishing) technique has advanced and digital printing devices have prevailed, a variable print system for outputting a document customized for each customer has been developed. For such a variable print system, it is required to create a customized document with appropriately laying out the contents varying for each customer.
Generally, in the variable print system, a container is laid out on a document to create such a customized document. A container is a partial area for drawing contents (drawn contents) and often called a field area. That is to say, a customized document (document) is created through operations of laying out such a container on a document and associating the layout with database (associating each of the contents in database with each container). Such a document will be called a variable data document (sometimes simply called template) hereinafter.
In the variable print system, each laid out container is able to receive contents varying for each customer. The size of data to be inserted in the container is variable. When the container size is fixed, problems below will occur. For example, when text data with a size larger than that of the container is inserted, all of the text cannot be displayed in the container. Or, when image data with a size larger than that of the container is inserted, a part of the image is lost. This kind of problem is called overflow.
For example, when the contents are image data, the image can be scaled-down to be drawn in the container, with a probability of extremely little image being displayed. Or, when text data, too large for the fixed sized container, is tried inserted in the container, the font size of the text can be reduced to allow for the entire text to be displayed in the container. When the font size is adjusted, however, a problem occurs in that the font size becomes too little that the entire document becomes imbalanced or unreadable.
On the other hand, an automatic layout system is developed for solving the abovementioned problems by setting the container size for a text or an image flexible. In the automatic layout system, the container size for a text or an image can be set flexible. The automatic layout system can be adapted to make the container size flexible so that the container size can be scaled up according to the amount of data to be inserted. Another technique is also developed for displaying the entire text in the container by reducing the font size of the text, when the text data larger than the fixed sized container is inserted.
A problem occurs in that a container of a flexible size overlaps another container on the same document, when the container of a flexible size is scaled up. Another problem occurs in that the font size become too little, when the font size is adjusted for the entire text to be displayed in a container and the amount of the text to be displayed is large.
As an automatic layout technique for solving the problems, a technique is known that relates to a layout design device for scaling down the size of a container adjacent to another container to keep the distance between the containers, when the size of the second container is scaled up (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-129658 (0049, FIG. 8)).
Another technique is known that relates to a layout control device for controlling a layout when it outputs an image through a printing device, though the layout control device does not dynamically layout each object (container) again for the purpose (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-15215).
On the other hand, as the type of data varies among for example a character, a spreadsheet and an image, a structure for defining data or an editing operation for the data also varies. Generally, various application programs are provided for each type of data. A User chooses an application program to use for each type of data. For example, a user chooses an application program to use for each type of data, such as using a character processing program for editing characters, a spreadsheet program for editing a spreadsheet, or an image editing program for editing an image.
As a document created by a user, a document including multiple types of data, such as characters and spreadsheets or characters and images, is more general than a document including a single type of data, such as characters only, spreadsheets only or images only. A user who is to create an intended document including multiple types of data needs to print data for each application by using a printing function provided for each application and combine the printed matter in a desired order.
In contrast, as a program for forming a single integrated application with various types of applications so-called office suite, a program is known for providing a function of combining data generated by each of the applications and making up a document. A user who uses this integrated application can combine data created by each of the applications into a single intended document by a specific application included in the integrated application.
As the intended document created by the integrated application, however, is a single document file, the file is managed for editing and outputting or the like by file and a problem occurs in that too many restrictions resulting from functions of the application prevents a format for a part of the document file from being set. For example, for that purpose, the operations of changing format setting for each part where the format of the document file changes and reprinting the document are required. Thus, the user himself needs to provide an interface between the applications. This requires the user too much labor, degrading productivity. Due to so many manual operations, this technique is subjected to high occurrence of many errors in processing.
In order to solve the problem, another document processing system is known for improving productivity by converting a data file created by a general application into an electronic manuscript file with an electric manuscript writer. In such a system, format data such as an N page printing, a double-sided printing or stapling can be stored with an electronic manuscript file and the document can be printed in the previously stored format without requiring the user to set the format again.
There is a case, however, where a layout file, which is a single document file generated by an integrated application, is taken in the abovementioned document processing system and operated in conjunction with the system. As a person who designs a layout (for example, a template designer) typically does not consider the setting made on a document processing system (for example, binding margin setting) in the abovementioned case, the document file laid out without consideration of the setting made on the document processing system is not necessarily printed out in an appropriate state. For example, when biding margin is set on the document processing system, a problem occurs in that the entire of the document file that must has been appropriately laid out on an integrated application moves so that a part of the document or the like displayed in a container is lost when the document is printed out or the page is scaled down to match the printing area.

Layout adjustment method, apparatus and program for the same


A CMOS buffer includes an input inverter, and a pull-up circuit coupled to the input inverter. The pull-up circuit provides an additional, temporary, signal pull-up on the output terminal of the input inverter during a high to low signal transition on its input terminal. The pull-up circuit includes a means for creating a signal delay. In one embodiment, the means for creating a signal delay includes a second and third inverter in series, the second inverter receiving an output signal from the input inverter. The pull-up circuit further includes two transistors for transferring a high signal to an output line of the input inverter. One transistor is controlled by a signal transferred by the means for creating a delay. The other transistor is controlled by an input signal to the input inverter. This pull-up circuit configuration ensures that the signal transition from low to high is substantially equal to the signal transition from high to low on the output line of the input inverter. The input inverter is then coupled to a driving circuit inverter to provide a CMOS buffer configuration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an input buffer, and in particular to an input buffer providing substantially the same signal transition time from high to low as from low to high.
2. Description of the Related Art
Transistor-transistor-logic (TTL) operating characteristics are well known in the art. For example, a TTL low signal is typically any voltage under 0.8 volts, whereas a TTL high signal is typically any voltage over 2.0 volts, and the threshold voltage is about 1.5 volts. In many digital signal applications, CMOS devices require TTL compatible input buffers.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional TTL/CMOS input buffer 100 which includes two inverters 105A and 105B. Inverter 105A includes a p-type transistor 103 and an n-type transistor 104. If a low signal is provided at input terminal 101, this low signal turns on transistor 103, and turns off transistor 104. Because transistor 103 is on, a high signal, provided by voltage source Vcc, is transferred to node A. In contrast, if a high signal is provided at input terminal 101, this high signal turns on transistor 104, and turns off transistor 103. Because transistor 104 is on, this transistor pulls down the voltage on node A to ground. Inverter 105B has a similar configuration to inverter 105A and therefore is not described in detail. Thus, a high signal on input terminal 101 results in a high signal on output terminal 102.
To ensure buffer 100 exhibits a TTL 1.5 V threshold voltage, n-type transistor 104 is sized larger than p-type transistor 103. In fact, transistor 104 typically has a width (Wn) approximately four or five times greater than the width (Wp) of transistor 103 (assuming transistors 104 and 103 have the same channel length). For example, in one embodiment of buffer 100, transistor 104 has a width of 150 microns while transistor 103 has a width of 30 microns. However, this large width differential creates an imbalanced switching delay from input terminal 101 of inverter 105A to node A. Specifically, the high to low signal transition of inverter 105A (as measured at node A) is much faster than the signal transition from low to high. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the switching delay beginning when a signal at input terminal 101 switches from high to low and ending when the signal at node A switches from low to high is about 1.05 nanoseconds. In contrast, the switching delay beginning when a signal at input terminal 101 switches from low to high and ending when the signal at node A switches from high to low is about 440 picoseconds. Thus, a device time delay specification which includes input buffer 100 varies depending on signal transition. This variation in device time delay is highly undesirable because end users require a consistent time delay specification for application use.
To solve this problem, buffer 100 uses inverter 105B which is cascaded with inverter 105A to balance out the skew created by inverter 105A. Inverter 105B includes a p-type transistor 106 having a width of 30 microns and an n-type transistor 107 having a width of 45 microns. Because transistor 107 is slightly wider than transistor 106, transistor 107 is slightly stronger than transistor 106. Therefore, in a low to high signal transition at node A, transistor 107 accelerates pulling down the voltage provided at output terminal 102, thereby substantially compensating for the slower pull-up provided by transistor 103.
However, this solution generates an overall switching delay from input terminal 101 to output terminal 102 which is highly undesirable for many CMOS applications. Therefore, a need arises for a buffer which equalizes switching delays while at the same time minimizing the time delay between the input terminal and the output terminal.

Input buffer having an accelerated signal transition


A reaction method using a microreactor, comprises: forming, in a microchannel, an at least two-layered laminar flow in n kinds (n is an integer of 3 or more) of a fluid 1, a fluid 2, . . . , and a fluid n at least two kinds of which are mutually incompatible; and pulsating at least one kind of the fluids.

(i) Technical Field
The present invention relates to a reaction method using a microreactor, and a microreactor.
(ii) Background Art
Recently, the development of a new manufacturing process using a micro vessel called a micromixer or a microreactor has been underway in the chemical industry and the pharmaceutical industry relating to the manufacture of medicines, reagents, etc. A microchannel connecting to a plurality of microchannels (fluid inlet channels) is provided in the micromixer or the microreactor. As a plurality of fluids (e.g., solutions in which reaction materials are dissolved) are converged into the microchannel, the plurality of fluids are mixed in the microchannel, or a chemical reaction is caused in conjunction with mixing. Micromixers and microreactors are common in terms of their basic structures. In some particular cases, however, those in which a plurality of fluids are mixed with each other are referred to as "micromixers," while those in which the mixing of a plurality of solutions is accompanied by a chemical reaction are referred to as microreactors.
In the microreactor, devices and reaction mechanisms are miniaturized as compared with conventional systems. Therefore, to subject a plurality of fluids to chemical reaction efficiently in a microchannel, development and research are conducted to increase the reaction surface area per unit volume of a specimen. By increasing the reaction surface area per unit volume of the specimen, it is possible to substantially reduce the reaction time and the amounts of specimens and reagents required for reaction and analysis.

Reaction method using a microreactor, and a microreactor