A microprocessor is equipped with an address translation mechanism for performing dynamic address translation from a virtual address to a physical address on a page-by-page basis. The microprocessor includes a large-capacity low-associativity address translation buffer, and is capable of avoiding limitations imposed on a TLB entry lock function, while reducing the overhead for address translation. The address translation mechanism comprises an address translation buffer having an entry lock function, and control logic for controlling the operation of the address translation buffer. The address translation buffer includes a lower-level buffer organized as a lower-level hierarchy of the address translation buffer and having no entry lock function, and a higher-level buffer organized as a higher-level hierarchy of the address translation buffer and having an entry lock function, the higher-level buffer having higher associativity than the associativity of the lower-level buffer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microprocessor and an address translation method for the microprocessor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a computer employing a virtual memory system, translation from a virtual address to a physical address must be dynamically performed, on a page-by-page basis, during program execution. The hardware mechanism for implementing this address translation is called the dynamic address translator (DAT). The DAT performs the address translation by referring to a table called the address translation table or page table. The address translation table, which is provided within main memory and is managed by an operating system (OS), is a table that indicates, for example, which virtual page number corresponds to which physical page number.
However, if reference is made to the address translation table each time an address translation is performed, the overhead for address translation will increase; therefore, considering the locality of address reference, it is generally practiced to cache the previously used address translations (mapping between virtual page number and physical page number) in high-speed memory. This memory is called the address translation buffer or translation look-aside buffer (TLB).
Previously, the TLB has been implemented mostly by a small-capacity associative memory. However, since the virtual address space is enlarging (for example, to a 64-bit space) to accommodate increasing program size, it is becoming common for microprocessors to integrate a large capacity TLB with high hit rate in order to. increase performance.
On the other hand, in the case of a large-capacity TLB, if associativity (the number of ways) is increased, not only the physical size of the memory but the access time also increases. Accordingly, associativity has to be kept low, and this limits the number of address translations that can be cached simultaneously for a main memory page having the same index address.
This limitation leads to a limitation on the TLB entry lock function, a performance enhancing technique generally applied to program and data regions having a high frequency of use and, in some cases, having to be resident in main storage for correct operations. That is, the TLB entry function is necessary to ensure that address translations for the code and data regions of an OS will remain cached in the TLB, but in the case of a low associativity TLB, the number of TLB entries capable of holding address translations to be locked is small (limited by the number of ways), and as it turned out, this can lead to the problem that proper system operation cannot be guaranteed.
In previous microprocessors, this problem was solved by increasing the associativity of the TLB, which was possible since the number of TLB entries was relatively small. However, with increasing performance of microprocessors, there has arisen the need to provide a larger number of TLB entries. In view of this, in recent microprocessors, not only to provide a large number of TLB entries but also to solve the above problem, it is beginning to be practiced to provide in addition to a large-capacity TLB a relatively small TLB for entry lock purposes. However, if more than one TLB is provided, when the OS performs replacement of TLB entries, it becomes necessary to select a TLB for entry storage by examining entry lock bits, and this leads to increased overhead.
In cases where hardware automatically performs replacement of TLB entries by searching through the address translation table in the main memory, one possible method is to divide the TLBs between one for holding locked entries and one for holding nonlocked entries, and to have the hardware automatically select the TLB for entry storage, and this in fact serves to reduce the overhead. However, when indexing into the TLBs for address translation, the plurality of TLBs have to be indexed into simultaneously and, when multiple memory accesses are to be performed simultaneously, the large-capacity TLB has to be provided with increased number of ports, resulting in the problem that the size further increases and the access time becomes longer.
The present invention has been devised in view of the above-outlined problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a microprocessor equipped with a large-capacity TLB and capable of avoiding the limitations imposed on the TLB entry lock function while reducing the overhead for address translation, and also to provide an address translation method for the microprocessor.
According to the present invention, there is provided a microprocessor for performing dynamic address translation from a virtual address to a physical.address on a page-by-page basis, the microprocessor comprising: (a) an address translation buffer having an entry lock function and including (1) a 2nd-level buffer organized as a lower hierarchy of the address translation buffer and having no entry lock function, and (2) a 1st-level buffer organized as a higher hierarchy of the address translation buffer and having the entry lock function, the 1st-level buffer having higher associativity than the associativity of the 2nd-level buffer; and (b) control logic for controlling operation of the address translation buffer.
Preferably, the 2nd-level buffer is larger in capacity than the 1st-level buffer.
Preferably, address translation for each page is stored in an address translation table residing in a main memory managed by an operating system, the address translation table has a data structure that contains a specifier indicating whether or not a corresponding address translation is to be locked in the address translation buffer, and the control logic locks an entry in the 1st-level buffer in accordance with the lock specifier contained in the data structure of the address translation table.
Preferably, the control logic selects an entry to be replaced in the address translation buffer in accordance with a prescribed replacement algorithm and notifies the operating system, and the operating system performs the replacement of the entry in the address translation buffer.
Preferably, when an entry replacement by the operating system occurs, if the address translation table a in the main memory shows that the address translation to be newly registered is specified to be locked, then the newly registered address translation is stored in the 1st-level buffer and held locked therein.
Preferably, when an entry replacement by the operating system occurs, if the address translation table in the main memory shows that the address translation to be newly registered is specified to be locked, then the newly registered address translation is stored in the 2nd-level buffer and, at the same time, is stored in the 1st-level buffer and held locked therein.
Preferably, when the control logic has selected in accordance with the replacement algorithm an entry in the 2nd-level buffer as the entry to be replaced, the control logic reports the selection of the entry in the 2nd-level buffer to the operating system, and the operating system accomplishes the replacement by only replacing the entry in the 2nd-level buffer, thereby maintaining intact the address translation locked in the 1st-level buffer.
Preferably, for entries other than the entry specified to be locked, a relationship always holds such that any entry stored in the 1st-level buffer is also stored in the 2nd-level buffer.
Preferably, the control logic selects an entry to be replaced in the address translation buffer in accordance with a prescribed replacement algorithm, retrieves the address translation to be newly registered from the address translation table residing in the main memory, and performs the replacement of the entry in the address translation buffer.
Preferably, when performing the replacement of the entry in the address translation buffer, the control logic refers to the address translation table in the main memory to see whether or not the address translation to be newly registered is specified to be locked and, if so specified, stores the newly registered address translation in the 1st-level buffer and locks the registered address translation therein.
Preferably, when performing the replacement of the entry in the address translation buffer, the control logic refers to the address translation table in the main memory to see whether or not the address translation to be newly registered is specified to be locked and, if so specified, stores the newly registered address translation in the 1st-level buffer and locks the registered address translation therein, while also storing the registered address translation in the 2nd-level buffer.
Preferably, when the control logic has selected, in accordance with the replacement algorithm, an entry in the 2nd-level buffer as the entry to be replaced, the control logic only replaces the entry in the 2nd-level buffer, thereby maintaining intact the address translation locked in the 1st-level buffer.
Preferably, for entries other than the entry specified to be locked, a relationship always holds such that any entry stored in the 1st-level buffer is also stored in the 2nd-level buffer.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a method for implementing dynamic address translation from a virtual address to a physical address, in a microprocessor, comprising the steps of: preparing an address translation buffer consisting of a 2nd-level buffer having no entry lock function and a 1st-level buffer having an entry lock function and having higher associativity than the associativity of the 2nd-level buffer; preparing in a main memory an address translation table for storing address translation for each page, the address translation table having a data structure containing a specifier to indicate whether or not a corresponding address translation is to be locked in the address translation buffer; and locking an entry in the 2nd-level buffer in accordance with the lock specifier contained in the data structure of the address translation table.
Preferably, the method further comprises the step of selecting an entry to be replaced in the address translation buffer in accordance with a prescribed replacement algorithm, and performing the replacement of the entry in the address translation buffer.
Preferably, the method further comprises the step of performing the entry replacement by storing newly registered address translation in the 1st-level buffer and locking the registered address translation therein if the address translation table in the main memory shows that the address translation to be newly registered is specified to be locked.
Preferably, the method further comprises the step of performing the entry replacement by storing newly registered address translation in the 1st-level buffer and locking the registered address translation therein, while also storing the registered address translation in the 2nd-level buffer, if the address translation table in the main memory shows that the address translation to be newly registered is specified to be locked.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a computer incorporating the above-described microprocessor.

Microprocessor and address translation method for microprocessor


The invention relates to a substrate having a bondable metal coating comprising, in this order, on an Al or Cu surface: (a) a Ni—P layer, (b) a Pd layer and, optionally, (c) an Au layer, wherein the thickness of the Ni—P layer (a) is 0.2 to 10 m, the thickness of the Pd layer (b) is 0.05 to 1.0 m and the thickness of the optional Au layer (c) is 0.01 to 0.5 m, and wherein the Ni—P layer (a) has a P content of 10.5 to 14 wt.-%. The deposit internal stress of the resulting Ni—P/Pd stack is not higher than 34.48M−Pa (5,000 psi). Further, a process for the preparation of such a substrate is described.

Electroless nickel palladium gold processes for wire bonding and flip chip soldering are known in the prior art and described, for example, in European patent application EP 0 701 281 A2. Similar processes are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,445,069 and European patent application EP 1 126 519 A2. The under bump metallisation (UBM) is driven by technological aspects, such as wafer level miniaturisation, electrical signal integrity and metal stack reliability. Wafers are getting thinner and, thus, any applied metal stack can cause undesired warpage of the wafer.
According to the prior art, a Cu or Al layer is coated first on the wafer surface, followed by the plating of Ni—P and Pd (and optionally Au) on individual compartments of the wafer surface ("pads"). The layers of the prior art stacks have a deposit internal stress that results in a warpage of the wafer.

Stress-reduced Ni-P/Pd stacks for bondable wafer surfaces


A magnetic resonance apparatus of the present embodiment includes: a gantry which includes a static field magnet, a gradient coil and an RF coil to image an object; processing circuitry; a memory that stores processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to detect at least one position of an aortic valve and a pulmonary valve from three-dimensional image data including a heart of the object, as at least one characteristic region inside the heart, specify a position of an imaging cross-section substantially orthogonal to a bloodstream path inside the heart based on the position of the aortic valve or the pulmonary valve, and cause the gantry to image the imaging cross-section of the object at the specified position of the imaging cross-section.

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus is an imaging apparatus which excites nuclear spin of a patient placed in a static magnetic field with an RF (Radio Frequency) pulse having the Larmor frequency and generates a reconstructed image by using the magnetic resonance signals emitted from the patient due to the excitation.
In many cardiac examinations using a magnetic resonance apparatus, first, six reference planes useful for diagnosis are selected, and then imaging of various still images and moving images in accordance with diagnostic purposes is performed at the respective selected reference planes.
Here, the six reference planes means a vertical long axis plane, a horizontal long axis plane, a short axis plane, a two-chamber long axis plane, a three-chamber long axis plane and four-chamber long axis plane.
Conventionally, in order to set the six reference planes, the method of repeating processes of positioning and imaging in the following manner has been used. In this conventional method, the position of the vertical long axis plane is determined from an axial cross-sectional image, then the position of the horizontal long axis plane is determined from the vertical long axis view imaged at the determined position of the vertical long axis plane, then the position of the short axis plane is determined from the horizontal long axis view imaged at the determined position of the horizontal long axis plane, and positioning and imaging are repeated in this manner (this method is sometimes referred to as a chain oblique technique, because it is a method of repeating positioning and imaging of oblique cross-sections).
Conventional technology based on the chain oblique technique requires wide experience and highly advanced skills in order to secure accuracy of setting cross-sectional positions, in addition to its complicated procedure. This is because the positional error of the previously determined cross-section influences the position of the subsequently determined cross-section. In addition, because considerable time is required for setting the six reference planes, it imposes a significant burden on a patient.
Then, technology of detecting anatomical features of the heart and automating setting of the six reference planes has been developed.
However, the conventional technology merely relates to a technology for automatically setting the above six reference planes and does not relate to a technology for setting cross-sections useful for cardiac diagnosis other than the six reference planes. For example, although kinetic observation of valves such as an aortic valve and a pulmonary valve is required in examination of valvular disease, sufficient automation has not been achieved as to setting of cross-sections appropriate for the kinetic observation of these valves. In addition, although dynamic information on blood flow velocity and passage diameters adjacent to valves such as an aortic valve and a pulmonary valve is necessary for understanding cardiac hemodynamics, sufficient automation has not been achieved as to setting of imaging cross-sections appropriate for measuring blood flow velocity and passage diameters.
Then, a magnetic resonance apparatus, that can automatically set cross-sections useful for cardiac diagnosis such as a cross-section appropriate for the kinetic observation of valves and a cross-section appropriate for understanding cardiac hemodynamics other than the six reference planes, has been desired.

Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method


A system and a method for detecting a low-frequency periodic signal (LFPS) include at least one comparator performing a threshold comparison on an analog input signal over a period of time. A sampling circuit generates digital signals by sampling an output of the at least one comparator. A digital detection circuit applies a set of detection rules to the digital signals. The detection rules are configured to detect a presence or an absence of an LFPS based on predefined criteria concerning characteristics of the digital signals.

In electronic communications between a transmitter and a receiver, LFPSs are sometimes used to initiate transactions. For example, in a Universal Serial Bus (USB) link, an LFPS may be a handshake signal between the two ends of the link before initiating high-frequency data transmission. An LFPS can be used to bring back a far-end device from a power-down state. LFPSs may be sent by a high-speed transmitter, e.g., by sending many identical digital bits, although other methods can be used.
Although most of the time the LFPS is sent continuously until detection is achieved, some information may also be exchanged using intermittent LFPSs. For example, LFPS "ping" signals are short LFPS sequences that are used to change test patterns sent by the far-end device in certain testing modes. The low-frequency nature of the LFPS is meant to make it easy to detect, without requiring sophisticated bit recovery. Intersymbol interference (ISI) is minimized by the low frequency of the LFPS.
Conventional LFPS detection circuits, which employ an analog filter, are highly susceptible to detection errors. For example, an analog low-pass filter may include a resistor (R) and a capacitor (C), both of which are subject to manufacturing or temperature induced variations that change the corner frequency (commonly defined as the frequency where the received signal is attenuated by 3 decibels or dB). Increasing the corner frequency leads to an amplitude drop at the filter output, while decreasing the corner frequency increases the amplitude. Thus, the filter may erroneously block LFPSs or erroneously pass high-frequency signals.
Another limitation of analog filters is that they may contribute to false detection of LFPSs by passing intermediate and low-frequency components of a high-frequency signal that varies in instantaneous frequency. Thus, a detector circuit operating on the output of an analog filter might register the envelope of a high-frequency signal as being an LFPS. To prevent such false detection, the R or C components may have to be increased so that the corner frequency is correspondingly decreased. A USB specification or other communication protocol may require a minimum frequency to be detected (e.g., a frequency associated with short ping signals). Therefore, the lowering of the corner frequency is limited by the need to comply with the minimum frequency.
Yet another limitation of the analog approach is that analog filters need to balance detection time and noise tolerance. While waiting for a steady state response, detection errors may occur during a transient phase. For example, a short LFPS pulse may not reach an expected amplitude, so that setting of an appropriate detection threshold may be difficult.


A process for separating lithium from a conjugated diolefin polymer wherein a solution containing said conjugated diolefin polymer and a lithium compound is contacted with magnesium phosphate, magnesium phosphate dibasic, magnesium dihydrogen phosphate or a mixture thereof. Preferably, the magnesium phosphate compound is selected from the group consisting of mono- and dihydrogen phosphates. Most preferably, the magnesium phosphate is magnesium phosphate dibasic. The magnesium phosphate, magnesium phosphate dibasic, magnesium phosphate or mixture thereof may be used in combination with water and/or methanol with relatively good results. The lithium, which is a polymerization catalyst, can be removed immediately after the conjugated diolefin polymer is prepared by contacting the polymer solution with the magnesium phosphate compound.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for separating a polymerization catalyst from a polymer. More particularly, this invention relates to a method for removing certain lithium compounds from a polymer comprising a conjugated diolefin and/or a monoalkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon compound.
2. Prior Art
Heretofore, several methods have been proposed for separating lithium compounds from a polymer, particularly a conjugated diolefin polymer. In general, these methods involve contacting the polymer and lithium containing composition with water and/or an acid. A principal problem associated with these methods is that each introduces an impurity to the polymer which must be removed before the polymer is suitable for at least most end use applications. These methods, then, add a rather complicated separation step to the processes. While the separation processes may be reasonably successful they frequently result in at least a small amount of impurity in the polymer composition. Also, the separation step is a rather complicated step in preparing the polymer composition for its various end use applications. The need, then, for a process which will separate certain lithium compounds from a polymer comprising a conjugated diolefin and/or a monoalkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon compound without introducing impurities thereto and without introducing a complicated "cleanup" or purification step is believed to be readily apparent.

Method of removing a polymerization catalyst


Event venues include multiple seats for eventgoers, and each seat may be coupled to a seat beacon. The seat beacon may identify the ticket of an eventgoer sitting in them, either by scanning it, interfacing with a user mobile device, or accepting manual input at an interface provided at the seat. A centralized event venue controller may check the ticket identifier against seat identifiers in a ticket purchase information database. If the eventgoer is in the wrong seat, the seat may identify itself locally by lighting a light or remotely by notifying an administrator device. If the eventgoer is in the correct seat, the seat beacon may be used by the eventgoer to order food, drinks, Wi-Fi access, or seat customizations such as a seat heater or a name tag or a cooling cup holder. Such seat customizations can also be provided at the time of ticket purchase.

Field of Invention
The present invention generally relates to event venue seat interaction. More specifically, the present invention relates to interactions between a computerized event venue seat and a centralized event venue controller allowing customization of the event venue seat, security functions, and ordering of goods and services.
Description of the Related Art
Larger events, such as concerts or sporting events, are typically held in larger event venues, such as stadiums. Typically, event venues include a performance area, such as a sport field, or a sport arena, or a sport court, or a concert stage, or a lecture stage. Sometimes, cameras are set up in the performance area to capture sports play from predetermined angles. Typically, event venues include a eventgoer area, such as stadium seating, bleachers, theater seating, or a standing room eventgoer area. Typically, some parts of the eventgoer area provide better views or better acoustics of parts of events occurring within the performance area than other parts of the eventgoer area.
Typically, all seats in an event venue are more or less the same, with no way for an individual to request customizations to a particular seat or set of seats.
While typical chairs allow for a user to sit, some chairs may also include seat warmers, cup holders, name tags, or other additions.
Eventgoers going to an event held at a large event venue typically may order food, drinks, or other items at concession stands located throughout the event venue. Typically, an eventgoer must get out of his or her seat to order and receive such food and drinks, or wait for a moving concession vendor to walk close to his or her seat.
Traditionally, the field of digital communications includes wired and wireless transfer of information. Digital communications may include direct communications in which information is transmitted from a sender device to a recipient device, and may also include "indirect" communications in which information is transmitted from a sender device, through one or more "intermediary" or "middleman" devices, and eventually to a recipient device.
One example of wired transfer includes data transmitted from a sender device to a recipient device using a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable. Another example of a wired transfer includes data transmitted within a private Local Area Network (LAN) from a sender device to a router through a sender Ethernet cable, and from the router to a recipient device through a recipient Ethernet cable.
One example of wireless transfer includes data transmitted from a sender device to a recipient device using a Bluetooth protocol connection. Another example of a wired transfer includes data transmitted within a private Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) from a sender device to a router through a wireless Wi-Fi connection, and from the router to a recipient device through a wireless Wi-Fi connection. Another example of wireless transfer is Visible Light Communication (VLC).
Traditional wireless communications may be received and read by any recipient device within a range in which information transmitted wirelessly by a sender device can be interpreted. In some cases, information transmitted wirelessly by a sender may be within range of an unintended recipient.
Advertising a brand, a product, or a service is often an effective means for a business to obtain new customers and reinforce loyalty in existing customers. Advertising can be particularly effective if targeted at the correct audience, such as when a sport fan is told that buying a particular product will support his/her favorite team. Often, seating at sport stadiums during sporting events is divided into "sections" devoted to fans of one of the teams playing.
Advertising can be a particularly useful source of revenue during sporting events, such as football games. By using advertising, revenues may be raised, the cost of tickets may be brought down, and more fans may be allowed to go to a particular sports game.
Thus, a means of audiovisual content collection and distribution is needed.

Interactive seat beacon with customization


An apparatus for the catalytic cracking in the fluid state of hydrocarbon feedstocks which comprises a riser-type column (2); at the top of the riser (2) and concentric therewith, a chamber (1) for separation of the hydrocarbon vapors and the coke-laden catalyst particles; directly above the upper opening of the riser (2) and in the interior of said chamber (1), a ballistic separator (3); at least one unit for regeneration of the spent catalyst, fed by stripped particles received from said chamber. The chamber (1) for separation of the coke-laden catalyst particles and the stripping thereof comprises, at a level intermediate between the bed (6) of particles being stripped and the opening of the riser (2), a means (11) adapted to form a baffle for locally reducing the diameter of said chamber (1) and the free passage at the periphery of the riser (2), thereby reducing recirculating streams of hydrocarbon vapors in separation chamber (1) of the FCC unit thus avoiding overcracking.

It is known that the petroleum industry routinely makes use of cracking processes in which hydrocarbon molecules of high molecular weight and with a high boiling point are broken down into smaller molecules boiling at lower temperature ranges appropriate to the desired use.
The process most widely used today for this purpose is the so-called Fluid Catalytic Cracking, or FCC, process. In this type of process, the hydrocarbon feedstock is simultaneously vaporized and contacted at high temperature with a cracking catalyst that is maintained in suspension in the feedstock vapors. After the desired range of molecular weights has been attained by cracking, along with a corresponding lowering of the boiling points, the catalyst is separated from the products obtained.
In processes of this type, the desired lowering of the boiling points results from controlled catalytic and thermal reactions. These reactions occur almost instantaneously when the finely atomized feedstock contacts the catalyst. However, the catalyst is rapidly deactivated during the short time that it is in contact with the feedstock, largely because of the adsorption of hydrocarbons and the deposition of coke on its active sites. It is necessary to separate as rapidly as possible the effluent hydrocarbons from the coke-laden catalyst particles, to strip the latter continuously with steam, for example, in order to recover the adsorbed hydrocarbons, and to reactivate the catalyst particles, also continuously, without altering their characteristics, by proceeding with controlled combustion of the coke in a single- or multistage regeneration section before the catalyst is recycled to the reaction zone.
In practice, the catalyst of the FCC process and the feedstock to be treated are injected under pressure and at elevated temperature at the base of a column known as riser. At the top of the column there is generally a chamber that is concentric with the riser. Disposed in this chamber and above the riser is a ballistic separator which separates the coke-laden catalyst particles from the hydrocarbon vapors. The latter are passed to a fractionator after the catalyst fines have been recovered in a cyclone. The coke-laden catalyst particles fall to the bottom of the separator chamber by gravity. These particles are steam-stripped to recover the hydrocarbons still present in their pores and are then sent to a regenerator in which their catalytic activity is restored by burning off the coke deposited on them during the cracking reaction.
The FCC process is therefore carried out in such a way that the cracking unit is in thermal equilibrium, all necessary heat being supplied by the combustion of the coke deposited on the catalyst particles during the cracking reaction.
The cracking reactions of the feedstock in contact with the catalyst are very rapid and last less than a second, usually about half a second.
It is therefore important carefully to optimize the retention time of the feedstock in the reaction zone during which it is in contact with the catalyst particles. If that time is too long, too much coke, hydrogen and dry gases (ethane and propane) will form, at the expense of gasoline; and if the cracking time is too short, the gasoline yield will be insufficient.
Based on the studies which applicants and/or their assignee have conducted, it has been found that it is desirable to separate the hydrocarbon vapors and the particles of spent catalyst as quickly as possible in the separation chamber in order to prevent the hydrocarbons from being entrained by these particles and from continuing to crack thermally on contact.
Moreover, it is desirable to equalize the retention times of the hydrocarbons in the separation chamber, reducing them to the minimum. The applicants have discovered that in practice these retention times may be as much as double the normal times because of recirculating streams, both above and below the ballistic separator. In fact, hydrocarbon vapor streams form not only above the ballistic separator, between it and the upper part of the separation chamber, but also below the separator, between it and the fluidized bed of coke-laden catalyst particles being stripped. The retention times of the vapors of these diverse streams can differ considerably, and there is the risk of re-entrainment into the fluidized bed of catalyst particles of a portion of the hydrocarbon vapors located below the separator.
These are problems of the prior art which the present invention seeks to solve in a simple manner that is easy to implement.

Apparatus for the catalytic cracking in the fluid state of hydrocarbon feedstocks


There is disclosed compounds and pharmaceutical compositions that are a resolved R or S (preferably R) enantiomer of an .omega.-1 alcohol of a straight chain alkyl (C.sub.5-8) substituted at the 1-position of 3,7-disubstituted xanthine. The inventive compounds are effective in modulating cellular response to external or in situ primary stimuli, as well as to specific modes of administration of such compounds in effective amounts.

Pentoxifylline (1-(5-oxohexyl)-3,7-dimethylxanthine), abbreviated PTX, is a xanthine derivative which has seen widespread medical use for the increase of blood flow. PTX is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,422,307 and 3,737,433. Metabolites of PTX were summarized in Davis et at., Applied Environment Microbiol. 48:327, 1984. A metabolite of PTX is 1-(5-hydroxyhexyl)-3,7-dimethylxanthine, designated M1 and as a racemic mixture. M1 (racemic mixture) was also disclosed as increasing cerebral blood flow (as opposed to just increasing blood flow) in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,515,795 and 4,576,947. In addition, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,833,146 and 5,039,666 disclose use of shorter chain tertiary alcohol analogs of xanthine for enhancing cerebral blood flow. In subsequent metabolism studies, PTX was found to be metabolized to the S enantiomer.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,507 describes an ability of PTX and M1 (racemic mixture), to stimulate chemotaxis in polymorphonuclear leukocytes in response to a stimulator of cherootaxis. PTX and related tertiary alcohol substituted xanthines inhibit activity of certain cytokines to affect chemotaxis (U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,271 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,906). Administration of PTX and GM-CSF decrease tumor necrosis factor (TNF) levels in patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplant (Bianco et al., Blood 76: Supplement 1 (522A), 1990). Reduction in assayable levels of TNF was accompanied by reduction in bone marrow transplant-related complications. However, in normal volunteers, TNF levels were higher among PTX recipients. Therefore, elevated levels of TNF are not the primary cause of such complications.
It is common practice to market a drug with a chiral center as a racemate. The M1 metabolite has only been disclosed exclusive of its chirality. In fact, M1 appears to be made (metabolically in humans) only as the S isomer. The approach of manufacturing and dosing drugs as racemic mixtures means that each dose of a drug is contaminated with an equal weight of an isomer, which usually has no therapeutic value and has the potential to cause unsuspected side effects. For example, the sedative thalidomide was marketed as a racemate. The desired sedative activity resided in the R-isomer, but the contaminating S-isomer is a teratogen, causing the birth defects in babies born to mothers using this drug. The R,R-enantiomer of the tuberculostatic ethambutol can cause blindness. The lethal side effects associated with the nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drug benoxaprofen (Oraflex) might have been avoided had the drug been sold as a pure enantiomer.
The issue of enantiomeric purity is not limited to the field of pharmaceuticals. For example, ASANA (.sup.i Pr=isopropyl) is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide which contains two asymetric centers. The potent insecticidal activity resides overwhelmingly in just one of four possible stereoisomers. Moreover, the three non-insecticidal stereoisomers exhibit cytotoxicity toward certain plant species. Therefore, ASANA can only be sold as a single stereoisomer because the mixed stereoisomers would not be suitable.
Therefore, there is a need in the art to discover effective therapeutic compounds that are safe and effective for human or animal administration and that can maintain cellular homeostasis in the face of a variety of inflammatory stimuli, and that are enantiomerically pure to have activity residing in a single isomer. The present invention was made in a process of looking for such compounds.

Treatment of diseases using enantiomerically pure hydroxylated xanthine compounds


An operational amplifier (33) is continuously switched back-and-forth between an auto-zero mode of operation and an accurate amplification mode of operation. During the auto-zero mode of operation, the junction between an offset voltage compensation (e.g., auto-zero) capacitor (35) and the noninverting input of the operational amplifier (33) is referenced to the input signal voltage via a bootstrap amplifier (31), rather than being tied to ground. Further, during the auto-zero mode of operation, the other end of the auto-zero capacitor (35) is referenced to the output of the operational amplifier (33), which is also connected to the inverting input of the operational amplifier. As a result, the auto-zero capacitor (35) is charged to a voltage level equal to the input offset voltage of the operational amplifier, but in polarity opposition thereto. During the accurate amplification mode of operation, the input signal is applied to the noninverting input of the operational amplifier (33) via the auto-zero capacitor (35). As a result, the charge on the auto-zero capacitor cancels the input offset voltage of the amplifier whereby the output of the operational amplifier (33) is accurately related to the voltage of the input signal by the gain of the operational amplifier. Because the auto-zero capacitor (35) is referenced to the input signal voltage during the auto-zero mode of operation, rather than being tied to ground, voltage swings at the output of the operational amplifier (33) and across the various switch elements (37, 39, 41) are kept low. As a result, the auto-zero amplifier circuit is operable over a wide dynamic range.

This invention is directed to electronic amplification circuits and, more particularly, to electronic amplification circuits that include an auto-zero mode of operation.
In many electronic circuits, accuracy of amplifier gain is not as important as the accuracy of the relationship between the shape of the amplified waveform and the waveform of the input signal. Contrariwise, in other circuits, accuracy of amplifier gain is of critical importance. One environment wherein electronic amplifier circuits are required to provide exact gain values is in the measurement of the voltage level of unknown signals. More specifically, for various reasons it is often necessary to amplify or buffer the input signal received by electronic measuring systems prior to measuring the voltage level of the signal. In some instances the voltage level of the input signal is too low for it to be accurately measured. In other instances, the input voltage must be decoupled from its source to prevent source loading. In any event, in order to accurately measure such voltages, the gain of the input amplifier must be accurate and remain accurate regardless of amplifier drift. Further, the amplifier must introduce minimal offset voltage and other errors.
In the past, temperature compensated linear amplifiers and chopper-amplifier circuits have been used in measuring circuits to achieve the required gain accuracy. However, these and other similar, relatively complex, amplifier circuits have the disadvantage that they are expensive to produce and lack reliability due to the number of components included in such circuits.
In an attempt to overcome the disadvantages of relatively complex accurate gain amplifier circuits, electronic measurement systems more recently have included auto-zero amplifier circuits. An auto-zero amplifier circuit is a circuit wherein the input of the amplifier is switched between an auto-zero mode of operation and an amplification mode of operation. During the auto-zero mode of operation, the input signal is referenced to a fixed base line value (usually ground) and a capacitor is charged to a voltage level equal to the input offset voltage of the amplifier. (As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the electronics art, the input offset voltage of the amplifier varies in accordance with drift, i.e., the input offset voltage is sensitive to various parameters, such as temperature, power supply voltage, time, etc.) The capacitor charge is then utilized to counteract the effect of input offset voltage errors during the amplification mode of operation, whereby the input signal is accurately amplified. In other words, auto-zero amplifier circuits do not depend on the accuracy of the amplifier. Rather, such circuits use a relatively inaccurate amplifier, but store a signal related to the inaccuracy of the amplifier. The stored signal is then used to compensate for amplifier inaccuracy during an amplification mode of operation.
While prior art auto-zero amplifier circuits have overcome many of the disadvantages of the expensive, complicated amplifiers utilized in the past, prior art auto-zero amplifier circuits also have disadvantages. Specifically, prior art auto-zero amplifier circuits have had a very limited dynamic range because they have to reference the auto-zero capacitor to ground (or some fixed voltage value) during the auto-zero mode of operation. This arrangement has resulted in the level of the voltages at the input and output terminals of the amplifier continuously swinging between the signal voltage level (during the amplification mode of operation) and ground or a fixed voltage value (during the auto-zero mode of operation). These relatively large voltage swings cause a number of problems. Specifically, large voltage swings create spikes and noise proportional to the magnitude of the common-mode swing, resulting in offset voltage errors, gain errors and noise in the output voltage. In addition, any common mode amplifier errors present in the signal, such as common-mode rejection ratio errors, are not improved because the auto-zero mode of operation is referenced to a fixed level (e.g. ground), which is independent of the input signal level. Further, because a trade-off exists between the large voltage signal swings and fast auto-zero speeds due to the time required for the amplifier to swing between the input signal level and the auto-zero level, and stabilize, limitations are placed on amplifier slew rate and bandwidth. Further, in conventional auto-zero amplifier circuits, switching between the auto-zero mode of operation and the accurate amplification mode of operation is accomplished using junction field effect transistor (JFET) or metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) switches. Since the voltage swings occur across the switching devices, the voltage rating of the switching devices limit acceptable voltage swings and, thus, the dynamic range of prior art auto-zero amplification circuits. In this regard, practical prior art auto-zero amplifier circuits have generally been limited to a dynamic range of +2 volts or less. Obviously, it would be desirable to increase the dynamic range of auto-zero amplifier circuits and overcome the foregoing disadvantages without unduly increasing the complexity or cost of such circuits.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved auto-zero amplifier circuit.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a new and improved auto-zero amplifier circuit having a wide dynamic range.
It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved auto-zero amplifier circuit having very little offset voltage error, low gain error and low noise in its output signal.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a new and improved auto-zero amplifier circuit wherein voltage swings between the auto-zero mode of operation and the accurate amplification mode of operation are relatively small.

Auto-zero amplifier circuit with wide dynamic range


An adjustable arrow rest includes an elongated mounting plate provided with a plurality of apertures to facilitate securement of the mounting plate to a bow. The arrow rest also includes a slide block having vertical and horizontal leg portions provided with independently adjustable lead screw mechanisms which allow the precision adjustment of arrow rest launcher arms in vertical and horizontal directions. A substantially vertically extending guide rib disposed adjacent one end of the mounting plate engages a complementary guide channel on the vertical leg portions of the slide block, mounting the slide block for selective reciprocal linear adjustment in a substantially vertical direction relative to the mounting plate. A housing block portion of the arrow rest includes a guide rib disposed in engagement with a complementary guide channel formed on the horizontal leg portion of the slide block, mounting the housing block for selective linear reciprocal movement in a substantially horizontal direction relative to be slide block. A pair of bushings mount a rotary sleeve within a transverse central bore extending through the housing block. A torsional coil spring surrounds the rotary sleeve and provides a restorative spring force. An adjustment dial secured to one end of the torsional coil spring allows selective adjustment of the restorative spring force. A pair of arrow rest launcher arms are secured adjacent one end of a cylindrical shaft secured for rotation within the rotary sleeve by a pair of said screws. The spring adjustment dial includes an outer face provided with a scale that cooperates with an indicator member to provide a visual indication to an archer of the amount of deflection of the arrow rest launcher arms after each shot. The visual indication of deflection allows an archer to make appropriate adjustments to his or her equipment and/or technique.

The present invention relates to adjustable arrow rests, and more particularly pertains to an improved adjustable arrow rest which provides a visual indication of amount of deflection of arrow rest launcher support arms after each shot. The present invention relates to an adjustable arrow rest of the same general type as the adjustable arrow rest disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,803 which issued to Steven C. Johnson on Jun. 2, 1992, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Adjustable arrow rest with deflection indicator


The protractor has a body which has three reference surfaces, two being parallel and one being at right angles to them. A web between the surfaces carries a protractor dial which is rotatable on the protractor body. The dial carries a reference surface and can be set in position by means of a visual indicia, by sine measurement, or by memory links. Great accuracy can be achieved by use of the sine measurement.

The protractor is a device which can accurately establish an angle or can accurately determine the size of an existing angle. It is particularly applicable to setting or reading the angles on tools, machinery and parts.
In many professions and crafts, it is necessary to establish accurate angular measurements. In setting up machinery to make a proper cut, it is often necessary to precisely set the angle of a cutting tool with respect to a table.
One piece of conventional angle measuring equipment is the well-known protractor. A reference line on the protractor is set parallel to the reference base. The angularity to be measured is read against a protractor dial. The accuracy of such a protractor is limited by the size of the protractor arc. The larger the protractor arc, the more accurately the angle can be read.
If more accurate angular readings are required, it is necessary to go to trigonometric relationships. A triangle is established with the angle in question at the apex. Either the adjacent side or the hypotenuse are known, and the opposite side is calculated from the tangent or sine tables. With the use of gage blocks and known lengths, accurate angular setups can be achieved. However, such setups are complicated and time-consuming.
In order to aid in the understanding of this invention, it can be stated in essentially summary form that it is directed to a protractor which has a body having at least one reference edge. A dial having a dial reference surface is pivoted on the body. When the body reference surface and dial reference surface are at a known angle, this angle is indicated by indicia therebetween. In addition, there is a measuring surface on the body and a measuring surface on the dial. These measuring surfaces are at a known position with respect to each other when the body and dial reference surfaces are at a known angle with respect to each other. Adjusting the dial on the body to a known distance between measuring surfaces establishes a known angle between the reference surfaces.
It is, thus, a purpose and advantage of this invention to create a two-piece protractor, each having a reference surface so that the relative angle therebetween may be read when the reference surfaces are at a particular angular relationship.
It is another purpose and advantage of this invention to provide a protractor which has measuring surfaces on both the body and dial so that the relative position of those surfaces is related to the angularity between the reference surfaces on the body and on the dial.
It is another purpose and advantage of this invention to produce a protractor which can establish angles in the analog mode by direct reference to an angular scale and a digital mode by measuring the distance between measuring surfaces and applying trigonometric relationships.
It is another purpose and advantage of this invention to provide a protractor which has a body and a dial pivoted thereon with settable stops so that the dial can be returned to a previously determined position with respect to the body.
It is a further purpose and advantage to provide a protractor which has six faces or reference surfaces. Two faces (front and back) being parallel and four sides perpendicular to those faces and also parallel or perpendicular to each other.
It is a further purpose and advantage to provide two reference surfaces which are parallel, together with a pivoted dial on the body so that the angular relationship of the dial with respect to any one of the four reference surfaces is known.
It is a further purpose and advantage to provide a protractor with a fixed index hole in the dial and a movable link with an index hole attached to the body. These holes when aligned with a pin and locked allow preselected angle retrieval.
Other purposes and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following portions of the specification, the claims and the attached drawings.


A turbine assembly includes a rotor assembly including a shaft coupled to a plurality of rotor stages including a plurality of turbine blades. The shaft and the plurality of turbine blades define a wheelspace therein. The turbine assembly further includes a plurality of seals in series, at least one seal of the plurality of seals is coupled between a static support member and a respective rotor stage such that a plurality of turbine cavities in series are defined within the wheelspace. Each turbine cavity of the plurality of turbine cavities defined by the plurality of seals receives a pressurized fluid flow that applies an axially aft force to the respective rotor stage of the plurality of rotor stages that at least partially reduces net rotor thrust generated by the rotor assembly during operation, the pressurized fluid flow further provides turbine purge within the wheel space.

The field of the disclosure relates generally to gas turbine engines and, more particularly, to domestic bleed circuit seals within a low pressure turbine.
Gas turbine engines include a rotor assembly which is rotatable relative to stationary engine structures, including a rotor mounting structure. The rotor assembly includes a number of rotatable components, such as a central shaft, shaft cones, compressor rotor blades, turbine rotor blades, and dynamic air seals. Each component is reacted upon by static and/or dynamic axial pressure forces. The vector sum of these forces is a net axial force or thrust in either the forward or aft direction. The net thrust places axial loads on the stationary mounting structure, and typically a thrust bearing is employed to absorb the load. At least some known gas turbine engines generate such a large amount of thrust that a thrust balance system is used to balance the net axial load on the thrust bearing.
Furthermore, gas turbine engines typically extract a portion of compressed air from a compressor as bleed air into a domestic bleed circuit that facilitates, among other functions, component cooling, heating, sealing, purging, and thrust control. A portion of bleed air is channeled into turbine cavities for purge. The bleed air is used for preventing combustion gases from being ingested into the cavity and for cooling the turbine rotors. A portion of bleed air is also channeled into the thrust balance system for balancing the net axial load on the thrust bearing. Generally, compressor efficiency is reduced when compressed air is bled from the compressor. When compressor efficiency is reduced, output power of the gas turbine engine is reduced and/or engine fuel consumption is increased, with decreasing overall engine efficiency.

System and method for domestic bleed circuit seals within a turbine


A protective tube covering an insertion portion of an endoscope is shorter than an inner structure of the insertion portion, and a protective tube covering a bending portion is longer than an inner structure of the bending portion. The front end of the protective tube of the insertion portion, as well as the rear end of the protective tube of the bending portion, is disposed a predetermined distance rearwardly from a portion of connection between the inner structure of the insertion portion and the inner structure of the bending portion. The protective tube of the bending portion covers not only the inner structure of the bending portion but also the above connection portion and the front end portion of the inner structure of the insertion portion. Since the protective tube of the bending portion is softer than the protective tube of the insertion portion, the front end portion of the insertion portion covered by the former protective tube is more flexible and bendable than the other portion of the insertion portion, and serves as an insertion guide portion. In order to restrain a slack of the protective tube of the bending portion, a portion of this protective tube intermediate the opposite ends thereof is fixed to the outer periphery of at least one of the inner structure of the insertion portion, the inner structure of the bending portion and the connection portion.

This invention relates to an endoscope.
An endoscope comprises a body, an insertion portion extending from the body, a bending portion extending from a front end of the insertion portion, and a rigid tip member mounted on a front end of the bending portion. The bending portion is remotely operated or bent by manipulating a manipulation member mounted on the body.
Generally, the insertion portion comprises a spiral member, a first braid mounted around the spiral member, and a first protective tube mounted around the first braid. Generally, the bending portion comprises a row of ring-shaped segments pivotally connected to one another, a second braid mounted around the row of ring-shaped segments, and a second protective tube mounted around the second braid. The foremost one of the row of segments is fixedly secured to the tip member, and the rearmost segment is connected to the spiral member of the insertion portion via a connecting ring.
The insertion portion, though flexible or soft, needs to have a certain degree of rigidity. If the insertion portion is too soft, it is contracted upon receipt of an axial compression force, so that the insertion portion fails to advance along a body cavity. On the other hand, the bending portion need to be more flexible than the insertion portion, because the bending portion is required to be bent into a large angle with a relatively small manipulating force from the manipulation member. For this reason, the second braid is softer than the first braid, and the second protective tube is softer than the first protective tube.
Generally, the front end of the first protective tube and the rear end of the second protective tube are held in contact with each other at the outer peripheral surface of the above-mentioned connecting ring. Each of these protective tubes is fixedly secured to the connecting ring by a yarn wound on the end of the protective tube.
In the endoscope of an above general construction, the relatively rigid insertion portion and the relatively soft bending portion are directly connected together, so that a point of abrupt change in rigidity exists in this connection portion. Therefore, when the portion of connection between the bending portion and the insertion portion is abutted against a curved portion of a body cavity of a patient during the insertion of the endoscope into the body cavity, the front end portion of the insertion portion close to the connection portion can not be bent smoothly, thus giving a pain to the patient.
In an endoscope disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Application No. 55-112505, an insertion portion and a bending portion have a common protective tube. This protective tube comprises two layers made respectively of soft resins. The resin of the inner layer is softer than the resin of the outer layer. The outer layer is thickest at its proximal end adjacent to a body, and is decreasing in thickness progressively toward its distal end. On the other hand, the inner layer is thinnest at its proximal end, and is increasing in thickness progressively toward its distal end. The sum of the thicknesses of the two layers is uniform over the entire length of the protective tube. With the use of this protective tube, the rigidity over the area from the insertion portion to the bending portion continuously varies, and therefore it is thought that the insertion of the endoscope into a body cavity can be carried out smoothly, thus giving less pain to the patient. However, the use of such a protective tube increases the cost of a endoscope. Further, a relatively long portion of the protective tube close to the distal end is soft, and therefore the slack of this relatively long portion is increased by the repeated wiping and rinsing of the protective tube after the diagnosis and by the repeated bending of the bending portion by the manipulation member. This slack gives a pain to the patient when the bending portion and the insertion portion are to be inserted into the body cavity.
Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Application No. 63-77003 discloses an endoscope related to the present invention. In this endoscope, a second protective tube of a bending portion covers the entire outer periphery of a connecting ring connecting a spiral member of an insertion portion to a rear segment of the bending portion, and the rear end portion of this second protective tube extends slightly rearwardly from the connecting ring. At a position rearwardly of and adjacent to the connecting ring, the rear end portion of the second protective tube of the bending portion, as well as a front end portion of a first protective tube of the insertion portion, is fixedly secured to the outer periphery of a first braid of the insertion portion. This fixing is effected by winding a yarn on the outer peripheries of the end portions of the first and second protective tubes. In this endoscope, since the rear end portion of the second protective tube is fixed at a position adjacent to the connecting ring, the front end portion of the insertion portion (which is disposed rearwardly of the connection portion) is not softer than the other portion of the insertion portion. Therefore, this endoscope does not have the advantages of the present invention.


The present invention provides an imprint apparatus which forms a pattern of an imprint material on a substrate using a mold, comprising a supply unit including a plurality of orifices and configured to supply the imprint material on the substrate by discharging the imprint material from each orifice, and a control unit configured to control the discharge of the imprint material from each orifice in accordance with arrangement information showing an arrangement of the imprint material on the substrate, wherein the control unit updates the arrangement information to bring a product of an ideal volume of the imprint material discharged from each orifice in one-time discharge and the number of discharges of the imprint material supplied on the substrate from the supply unit closer to a total amount of the imprint material actually supplied on the substrate in accordance with the arrangement information.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imprint apparatus, an imprint method, and a method of manufacturing an article.
Description of the Related Art
An imprint apparatus which forms an imprint material on a substrate using a mold has received attention as one of lithography apparatuses for mass-producing semiconductor devices or the like. The imprint apparatus includes a plurality of nozzles which discharge droplets of the imprint material toward the substrate. The imprint apparatus supplies the imprint material on the substrate by controlling discharge of the droplet from each nozzle in accordance with a map showing the arrangement on the substrate of the droplet which should be supplied on the substrate.
In the imprint apparatus, the volume of each droplet actually discharged from each nozzle may be different from an ideal volume (target volume) owing to a manufacturing variation in the nozzle or the like. In this case, the thickness of the imprint material after being formed using the mold may fall outside an allowable range. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2013-65624 proposes an imprint apparatus capable of individually adjusting the discharge amount of an imprint material discharged as a droplet from each nozzle.
The imprint apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2013-65624 controls the driving voltage of each nozzle individually so that the volume of each droplet discharged from each nozzle becomes an ideal volume. However, this may complicate a circuit arrangement for controlling each nozzle and control of each nozzle when supplying the imprint material on a substrate.

Imprint apparatus, imprint method, and method of manufacturing article


Methods are provided for facilitating fabricating a semiconductor device by selectively etching a gate structure sidewall(s) to facilitate subsequent sidewall spacer isolation. The method includes, for instance: providing a gate structure with a protective layer(s) over the gate structure, the gate structure including one or more sidewalls; selectively removing a portion of the gate structure along at least one sidewall to partially undercut the protective layer(s); and forming a sidewall spacer(s) over the sidewall(s) of the gate structure, with a portion of the sidewall spacer at least partially filling the partial undercut of the protective layer(s), and residing below the protective layer(s). In certain embodiments, the selectively removing includes implanting the sidewall(s) with a dopant to produce a doped region(s) of the gate structure, and subsequently, at least partially removing the doped region(s) of the gate structure selective to an undoped region of the gate structure.

A finished gate structure (such as a finished gate or transistor gate) is the transistor terminal that modulates channel conductivity. Two principle approaches for forming semiconductor device gate structures are the gate-first and gate-last process approaches.
During fabrication of gate structures for, for instance, complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology, gate-first fabrication has traditionally been employed. In a gate-first fabrication approach, a conductor is provided over a gate dielectric, and then patterned (i.e., etched) to form one or more gate structures. After forming the gate structures, source and drain features of the semiconductor devices are provided.
More recently, the gate-last approach (or replacement metal gate (RMG) approach), has been employed. In the gate-last approach, a sacrificial (or dummy) gate material is provided and patterned (i.e., etched) to define one or more sacrificial gates. The one or more sacrificial gates are subsequently replaced with, for instance, a metal gate, after source and drain features of the devices have been formed. The sacrificial gate material holds the position for the subsequent metal gate to be formed. For instance, an amorphous silicon (a-Si) or polysilicon sacrificial gate may be patterned and used during initial processing until high-temperature annealing to activate the source and drain features has been completed. Subsequently, the a-Si or polysilicon may be removed and replaced with the final metal gate.
Although beneficial in certain aspects, conventional gate-last processing may be susceptible to silicon nodule defect formation on the sacrificial gate(s) during a subsequent epitaxial growth, for instance, on the fins to facilitate stressing the respective gate channels of the semiconductor structures being formed, referred to in the art as "FINFETs". The FINFET takes its name from the multiple fins that form the respective gate channels of the field-effect transistors (FETs). This silicon nodule defect formation may be problematic, particularly as critical dimensions become smaller.

Selective removal of gate structure sidewall(s) to facilitate sidewall spacer protection


The present invention relates to a method for the synthesis of a halo olefin of formula (I)

Terminal halo olefins are not only useful synthetic intermediates in organic chemistry, but also valuable target compounds themselves: There is a long-standing history of their use as monomers in polymer science (Marvel et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1939, 61, 3241-3244), but more recently they have also attracted interest in the life sciences (e.g. Kolb et al., J. Med. Chem. 1987, 30, 267-272; Nunnery et al., J. Org. Chem. 2012, 77, 4198-4208; Akiyama et al., Tetrahedron 2013, 69, 6560-6564). In medicinal chemistry, for instance, terminal haloallylamine compounds have been reported to act as inhibitors of amine oxidases (WO 2005/082343, WO 2006/094201, WO 2007/120528, WO 2013/163675).
Terminal halo olefins are synthetically accessible by a limited number of approaches (van Steenis et al., J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 2002, 2117-2133; Landelle et al., Chem. Soc. Rev. 2011, 40, 2867-2908; Koh et al., Nature 2016, 531, 459-465, Nguyen et al., Science 2016, 352, 569), e.g. by elimination, addition, electrophilic or nucleophilic halogenation, olefination (e.g. Wittig-type) reactions or cross-metathesis. However, the preparation of terminal halo olefins in high stereoselectivities is often one of the major challenges.
The recent approaches for the terminal halo olefin formation within the context of amine oxidase inhibitor synthesis comprise a Wittig reaction, starting from ketones, followed by separation of the E/Z isomers via chromatographic techniques or recrystallization (WO 2005/082343, WO 2007/120528, WO 2013/163675). In addition, a halogenation-dehydrohalogenation of olefins as well as the base-induced decarboxylative halogen elimination of halomethyl-substituted malonester derivatives have been disclosed (McDonald et al., J. Med. Chem. 1985, 28, 186-193; McDonald et al., Tetrahedron Letters 1985, 26, 3807-3810; WO 2005/082343, WO 2006/094201).
One further approach for the formation of terminal halo olefins is the protodecarboxylation of α-halo-acrylic acid derivatives, which are accessible, e.g. by the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction starting from carbonyl species. However, the scope of this protodecarboxylation used to be limited to particular substrates, such as perfluorated acrylic acids or acrylic acids with unsaturated β-substituents: Sodium(I), silver(I) and copper(II) salts of perfluorated acrylic acid derivatives were reported to undergo protodecarboxylation upon substantial heating (Cherstkov et al., Izvestiya Akademii nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya 1986, 1, 119-122; Cherstkov et al., Izvestiya Akademii nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya 1989, 6, 1336-1340). Likewise, protodecarboxylation of mucohalic acids ((Z)-2-3-dihalo-4-oxo-2-butenoic acids, i.e. bearing a carbonyl substituent in β-position) to afford (Z)-α,β-dihaloacrolein can be effected by excessive heating (Duczek et al., Synthesis 1992, 10, 935-936). Acrylic acid derivatives with β-pyrimidinyl-substituents may be subject to protodecarboxylation by acidification at elevated temperatures (DD 259803). Acrylic acids with β-phenyl-substituents (i.e. cinnamic acid derivatives) can be decarboxylated by employment of copper(0)/copper(II)/quinoline and heating to above 200° C. (Elkik, Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr. 1967, 5, 1569-71), by using excessive copper(II) in the presence of molecular sieve in DMAC/DMSO at 140° C. (Rousée et al., Chem. Eur. J. 2014, 20, 15000-15004) or by cofactor catalysis (Payne et al., Nature 2015, 522, 497-501).
In contrast, no single application of a protodecarboxylation step of acrylic acid derivatives with two vicinal saturated carbon substituents has been reported. In addition to the limited substrate scope, the use of stoichiometric amounts of metals and the heating to high temperatures constitute further drawbacks of the conversions reported to date, which have prevented a more widespread application of this reaction.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Transition metal-catalyzed protodecarboxylation of alpha-halo-acrylic acid derivatives

Abstract: wherein Ha1, R1, R2, R3, R4, X and Y are as defined herein, or a salt thereof.


A drive circuit of a radio-frequency (RF) transmitting coil and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device are provided. According to an example, the drive circuit includes a controller, a digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) coupled with the controller, a RF amplifier coupled with the DAC, a power divider coupled with the RF amplifier, and a plurality of phase shifters respectively coupled with at least three output ports of the power divider.

A RF transmitting coil is one of important parts of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, and the MRI system may perform MRI scanning by exciting hydrogen protons in a human body with the RF transmitting coil. The RF transmitting coil may be used to transmit a RF pulse. Moreover, how to generate a uniform RF field, such as, a B1 field, is important in a process of the MRI scanning.
NEUSOFT MEDICAL SYSTEMS CO., LTD. (NMS), founded in 1998 with its world headquarters in China, is a leading supplier of medical equipment, medical IT solutions, and healthcare services. NMS supplies medical equipment with a wide portfolio, including CT, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), digital X-ray machine, ultrasound, Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Linear Accelerator (LINAC), and biochemistry analyser. Currently, NMS' products are exported to over 60 countries and regions around the globe, serving more than 5,000 renowned customers. NMS's latest successful developments, such as 128 Multi-Slice CT Scanner System, Superconducting MRI, LINAC, and PET products, have led China to become a global high-end medical equipment producer. As an integrated supplier with extensive experience in large medical equipment, NMS has been committed to the study of avoiding secondary potential harm caused by excessive X-ray irradiation to the subject during the CT scanning process.

Drive circuit of radio-frequency transmitting coil and magnetic resonance imaging device

Shanghai Neusoft Medical Technology Co., Ltd.


The present invention is directed to the determination of a relative position between moving platforms, using satellite-based navigation techniques and equipment installed on said platforms. It combines the concepts of observation-space and navigation-space differential systems, and operates a DGNSS base station in a time-varying mode, in order to rely on the built-in differential positioning and navigation capabilities of particular GNSS receivers while minimizing datalink loading and computational load in auxiliary processors. The invention achieves accurate relative positioning and navigation with respect to a moving base station, using DGNSS equipment that assumes it is stationary when operated in a reference station mode.

The Navstar/Global Positioning System ("GPS") comprises a constellation of satellites, control stations, and user stations (receivers) intended to support user navigation and time distribution on a world-wide basis. Each individual satellite transmits precisely-timed ranging signals as well as its ephemeris data that describes its own trajectory through space as a function of time. A user station can determine its own position and clock offset, relative to GPS system time, by tracking the signals from multiple satellites, determining so-called "pseudoranges" to these satellites, demodulating the data transmitted by these satellites, and solving for its own position and clock offset given the pseudoranges and satellite ephemeris data. The clock offset relative to Universal Coordinated Time can be determined by applying an additional offset parameter which is transmitted by the satellites. User station velocity can be determined by differentiating position estimates over time, or by direct calculation from Doppler measurements on the satellite downlink signals. The Doppler measurements may be based on ranging codes transmitted as a pseudo-random sequence transmitted on a carrier signal. The GPS is maintained and operated by the United States of America. The GLONASS system, maintained and operated by the Russian Federation, is similar in many respects to GPS.
The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is a loosely-defined super-set of systems, including GPS, GLONASS, and other existing and planned systems, intended to support navigation and time distribution.
The GPS, GLONASS, and GNSS systems are typically subject to a combination of impairments which limit the accuracy of user navigation. These include slowly-varying impairments such as reporting errors in the satellite ephemeris, satellite clock drift, and atmospheric propagation factors, and rapidly-varying impairments such as receiver measurement noise. The slowly-varying impairments tend to be common to a group of stations operating in a local area (10 s or 100 s of miles in extent). These slowly-varying impairments can be estimated by a "base station" at a surveyed location and transmitted to user stations at non-surveyed locations (or in motion), allowing the associated errors experienced by the user stations to be reduced. Such cooperative systems are typically called "differential systems," and can be referred by various names such as DGPS and DGNSS. There are a wide variety of differential systems incorporating a variety of techniques.
In one type of differential system, the base station calculates an expected range to each satellite (at an instant of time) based on its surveyed location and the ephemeris data for each satellite. The base station compares this expected range to a measured range (based on the ranging codes sent by a satellite) at the same instant of time. The difference contains the slowly-varying impairments as well as the rapidly-varying impairments. The difference is reported to the user station(s) over a datalink (possibly along with other information). The difference is then applied at the user station to correct its own pseudorange observations of the satellites prior to calculating its position and clock offset. This type of differential system is sometimes called a "corrected-differential," "range-domain," or "observation-domain" system since it transfers corrections associated with the range or pseudorange observations made at the various stations. The required data rate of the datalink is typically dictated, in large measure, by the need to transfer a separate observation or set of observations for each of several satellites at a specified rate or set of rates. The number of satellites typically varies from 4 to 12 (although more satellites could be reported in the future as additional satellite constellations are deployed and integrated into the GNSS). The observations might typically include, as an example, the arrival time differences (i.e., observed minus expected arrival times), or the equivalent in range offset, for each of the ranging codes transmitted by the satellites in view of the base station. In addition, the observations can include the integrated carrier phases of the carrier signals upon which the ranging codes are modulated, or other information relating to carrier phase measurements and observations. A DGNSS system that transmits and uses information based on carrier phase measurements, in order to improve user station positioning and navigation performance in real time, is typically referred as a real-time kinematic (RTK) system. RTK systems offer substantially better navigation performance (lower navigation and position errors) than non-RTK systems because of a higher frequency, but as a result of the higher frequency typically involve substantially higher data rates, longer initialization times, greater computational burdens on the part of the user station (either within the GNSS receiver or an external processor), and a smaller maximum achievable separation distance between a base station and rover.
Several internationally-recognized standards exist for various types of differential systems (e.g., RTCM SC-104, RTCA DO-217, RTCA DO-229). These standards describe, among other things, the datalink message formats used to transfer information. Several manufacturers of GNSS equipment have developed their own proprietary standards for implementing differential GNSS systems. These standards typically employ observation-domain techniques.
In another type of differential system, the base station determines its position based on the observations it can make (and the ephemeris data) and compares this position to its surveyed position. The difference between the computed and surveyed positions is reported to the user station(s) over a datalink (possibly along with other information intended to add features to the differential system). A user station calculates its own position based on the observations it can make (and the ephemeris data) and corrects this position with the difference reported by the base station. This type of differential system is sometimes called a "differenced-differential," "position-domain," "navigation-domain," or "solution-domain" system since it transfers corrections associated with the 3D navigation solution generated by a typical GNSS receiver. The required data rate of the datalink is typically dictated, in large measure, by the need to transfer a 3D position of the base station (the reference station) at a specified rate. Since there are only three values transferred at high rate (e.g., the computed offset of the base station from its surveyed location in an Earth-centered, Earth-fixed coordinate frame), this type of differential system typically requires a lower data rate than an "observation-domain" system. However, good performance is typically obtained only if the base station and user station rely on the same set of satellites to compute their respective locations. When different sets of satellites are relied-upon, then the difference calculated by the base station may reflect a significant contribution by a satellite not relied upon by the user station or may fail to reflect a significant contribution by a satellite only relied-upon by the user station. Thus, the difference calculated by the base station may not accurately reflect the actual difference of the user station. A well-designed navigation-domain differential system can achieve roughly the same level of performance as a non-RTK observation-domain system. There is, however, no equivalent of RTK performance in navigation-domain differential systems (although the individual stations can smooth-out their navigation solutions using carrier phase tracking techniques). It is also possible for two user stations in an RTK differential system to exchange information regarding their navigation-domain positions or trajectories, in order to develop an accurate relative baseline between them. However, this is not a navigation-domain differential system; it is merely an exchange of positioning data.
Many commercially-available GNSS receivers have the ability to either generate differential correction data and observations (under certain operational constraints and given certain data, such as a surveyed location), or apply differential correction data in order to determine a relative position or a differentially-corrected absolute position, or both. However, many commercially-available GNSS receivers, able to generate or apply differential correction data and observations, have distinct and disjoint modes of operation: In one mode that assumes a fixed or non-moving dynamic at a specified location (e.g., a "reference station" mode), they can generate differential correction data and observations. In another mode (e.g., a "rover mode" that allows movement), they can apply differential corrections and observation data to generate a relative baseline and/or a differentially-corrected absolute position.
Most DGNSS systems rely on a fixed base station. Some commercially-available GNSS receivers can be operated as a component of a differential base station while they are in motion, without declaring a surveyed location. However, many commercially-available GNSS receivers, when configured to operate as a component of a differential base station, assume that the receiver is at a fixed position relative to the Earth. Such a receiver may require that a survey position be specified before it will act as a base station, and may then report zero velocity (relative to the Earth) even if it is moving. Such a receiver may also fail to operate correctly if it is moving, generating integrity alarms or false data (which may introduce errors at the user stations) if the position offset from its surveyed location, or its velocity, exceed certain limits.
In some cases it is necessary to determine the relative position of two stations that are in motion (or could be in motion), or for which no surveyed location is available for either station. The relative position of two stations is sometimes referred as the "baseline" between them. In such cases, the observations made at the two stations (or the positions calculated from such observations) can be compared to determine a relative position or baseline. This data can be extracted from typical GNSS receivers operated in a "rover mode," regardless of the receivers' operational role in a larger system. The distinction between a base station and a rover station is less clear in such cases, although it may be possible to differentiate based on operational considerations.
In some cases, it is desired to determine a relative position (a baseline) between two platforms that could be moving with respect to the Earth, using GNSS receivers mounted on the platforms, where the GNSS receivers employed cannot effectively operate in a base station mode (e.g., as a "reference station") if they are moving. This can be achieved by operating both GNSS receivers as rovers, collecting observation data and other data such as ephemeris data from the two receivers, bringing the observation data and other data to a common location (for example, one of the platforms supporting one of the two receivers), and calculating the relative position or baseline in a separate computer. However, this requires the development of appropriate datalink protocols and algorithms and the availability of a separate computer with sufficient computational ability to perform the necessary calculations in the required timeframe.
It would be desirable to determine a relative baseline between two platforms that are moving with respect to the Earth, using GNSS equipment that assumes it is stationary when operated in a reference station mode, and while minimizing the computational burden of associated computer resources.
It would further be desirable to minimize datalink loading for a given level of performance (navigation or position error) associated with the computed relative position or baseline, by combining the concepts of "observation-domain" and "navigation-domain" differential systems.

Method and apparatus for satellite-based relative positioning of moving platforms