The invention features an apparatus and method for separating an optical beam including multiple wavelength components into targeted subsets of wavelengths by causing different subsets of wavelength components either to undergo a total internal reflection (TIR) at or to transmit through internal surfaces of refractive media.

The present invention relates to optical filters.
Optical filters are commonly used in wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical communication systems. Wavelength division multiplexing increases the transmission capacity of optical communication systems (i.e., bandwidth) by allowing a plurality of optical data signals at different wavelengths to propagate simultaneously over a single optical transmission line. In order to access each of the optical data signals, one or more optical filters separate each data signal by wavelength.
Recently, there has been an explosive growth in consumer demand for bandwidth capacity. The reasons for this growth include the proliferation of Internet access and traffic, and the increasing variety of information that is transmitted over communications links, such as voice, video, e-mail, and multimedia. Because of the acute demand for high-speed, high-volume data transmission, it is desirable to increase the number of optical data signal channels transmitted over a single optical fiber without increasing crosstalk or interference between optical data signals at adjoining wavelengths.
The invention features an apparatus and method for separating an optical beam including multiple wavelength components into targeted subsets of wavelengths by causing different subsets of wavelength components either to undergo a total internal reflection (TIR) at or to transmit through internal surfaces of refractive media.
In general, in one aspect, the invention features an optical filter for spatially separating a selected subset of wavelength components from an input optical beam including multiple wavelength components. The optical filter includes: a dispersing element positioned to receive the optical beam and angularly disperse the multiple wavelength components of the optical beam as a function of wavelength; and a first internal surface positioned to intercept the angularly dispersed wavelength components and cause a first subset of the multiple wavelength components to totally internally reflect from the first internal surface and a second subset of the multiple wavelength components to transmit through the first internal surface.
Embodiments of the optical filter can include any of the following features.
The optical filter can further include a first prism containing the first internal surface.
The first prism can include at least one reflective interface positioned along a path of the angularly dispersed wavelength components between the dispersing element and the first internal surface to reflect the angularly dispersed wavelength components towards the first internal surface.
The optical filter can further include at least one additional optic positioned along a path of the angularly dispersed wavelength components between the dispersing element and the first prism to direct the angularly dispersed wavelength components towards the first internal surface. For example, the at least one additional optic can include a mirror, a lens, a refractive element, or an additional dispersive element.
Alternatively, the dispersive element can be integral with the first prism. For example the dispersive element can be a grating patterned on, or etched into, the first prism.
The dispersive element can be a grating or a chromatic prism.
The dispersive element can be an acouto-optical modulator.
The optical filter can further include a stage supporting the dispersive element and configured to adjust the orientation of the dispersive element with respect to the input optical beam.
The optical filter can further include a stage supporting the first prism and configured to adjust the orientation of the first internal surface with respect to the angularly dispersed wavelength components.
The selected subset of wavelength components can be the second subset of wavelength components (those transmitted through the first internal surface). For example, the first internal surface can be positioned with respect to the angularly dispersed wavelength to cause the selected subset of wavelengths to only include wavelengths below a wavelength upper limit. Alternatively, for example, the first internal surface can be positioned with respect to the angularly dispersed wavelength to cause the selected subset of wavelengths to only include wavelengths above a wavelength lower limit.
The optical filter can further include a second internal surface positioned to intercept one of the first and second subsets and cause a third subset of the multiple wavelength components to totally internally reflect from the second internal surface and a fourth subset of the multiple wavelength components to transmit through the second internal surface.
For example, the second internal surface can be positioned to intercept the second subset (i.e., those wavelength components transmitted through the first internal surface).
The optical filter can include a first prism containing the first internal surface and a second prism containing the second internal surface.
The selected subset of wavelength components can be the fourth subset of wavelength components. For example, the first internal surface can be positioned with respect to the angularly dispersed wavelength to cause the second subset of wavelengths to only include wavelengths below a wavelength upper limit, and the second internal surface can be positioned with respect to the second subset of wavelength components to cause the fourth subset of wavelengths to only include wavelengths above a wavelength lower limit. Alternatively, the first internal surface can be positioned with respect to the angularly dispersed wavelength to cause the second subset of wavelengths to only include wavelengths above a wavelength lower limit, and the second internal surface can be positioned with respect to the second subset of wavelength components to cause the fourth subset of wavelengths to only include wavelengths below a wavelength upper limit.
The first and second prisms can be integrated into an integral device.
Alternatively, the optical filter can further include at least one additional optic positioned along a path of the second subset of wavelength components between the first prism and the second prism to the second subset of wavelength components towards the second internal surface. For example, the at least one additional optic can include a mirror, a lens, a refractive element, or an additional dispersive element.
The second prism can include at least one reflective interface positioned along a path of the second subset of wavelength components angularly between the first internal surface and the second internal surface to reflect the second subset of wavelength components towards the second internal surface.
The optical filter can further include a stage supporting the second prism and configured to adjust the orientation of the second internal surface with respect to the second subset of wavelength components.
The selected subset can be the third subset of wavelength components.
Also, the second internal surface can be positioned to intercept the first subset, and the selected subset can be the third subset of wavelength components. Alternatively, the selected subset can be the fourth subset of wavelength components.
The optical filter can also include a single prism having both of the first and second internal surfaces.
The optical filter can also include an input fiber and a collimating lens for coupling the input optical beam to the dispersive element.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a method for spatially separating a selected subset of wavelength components from an input optical beam including multiple wavelength components. The method includes: angularly dispersing the input optical beam as a function of wavelength to form angularly dispersed wavelength components; and directing the angularly dispersed wavelength components to contact a first internal surface along a first direction that causes a first subset of the multiple wavelength components to totally internally reflect from the first internal surface and a second subset of the multiple wavelengths to transmit through the first internal surface.
Embodiments of this aspect of the invention can include any of the features above relating to the optical filter and any of the following features.
The selected subset of wavelength components can be the second subset.
The method can further include directing one of the first and second subsets to contact a second internal surface along a second direction that causes a third subset of the multiple wavelength components to totally internally reflect from the second internal surface and a fourth subset of the multiple wavelengths to transmit through the second internal surface. For example, the second subset can be directed to the contact the second internal surface and the selected subset of wavelength components can be the fourth subset.
The input optical beam can include wavelength division multiplex (WDM) signals.
Embodiments of the invention may include many advantages.
For example, closely spaced wavelength components of a multi-wavelength optical signal can be separated from one another. This is possible because the dispersive element causes each wavelength component to propagate at different angles from one another, and subsequent internal surfaces intersecting the angular dispersed components precisely distinguish components incident above the critical angle from those incident below the critical angle. As a result, one internal surface can be oriented to precisely define an upper wavelength limit for the filter, and another internal surface can be oriented to precisely define a lower wavelength limit for the filter. Accordingly, the optical filter can be used in WDM communication systems to increase the number of optical data signals and reduce crosstalk by separating narrow bandwidth subsets of wavelength components of a multi-wavelength optical beam.
Moreover, the upper and lower limits of the wavelength filter can be tuned by adjusting the propagation angles of the angularly dispersed wavelength components and/or adjusting the orientation of one or more of the internal surfaces intercepting the components. Such adjustments permit selection of which angular dispersed wavelength components are totally internally reflected.
Other aspects, advantages, and features of the invention follow.

Total internal reflection wavelength filter


The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa seed designated 79-190 RZ or 79-107 RZ, which exhibits resistance to downy mildew (Bremia lactucae Regel.) races B1:1 to B1:28 and currant-lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri), as well as an extraordinary high number of red-colored, elongated leaves of substantially equal size. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa plant produced by growing the 79-190 RZ or 79-107 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 79-190 RZ or 79-107 RZ.

All cultivated forms of lettuce belong to the highly polymorphic species, Lactuca sativa, which is grown for its edible head and leaves. As a crop, lettuces are grown commercially wherever environmental conditions permit the production of an economically viable yield.
Lactuca sativa is in the Cichoreae tribe of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. Lettuce is related to chicory, sunflower, aster, scorzonera, dandelion, artichoke and chrysanthemum. Sativa is one of about 300 species in the genus Lactuca.
Lettuce cultivars are susceptible to a number of pests and diseases such as downy mildew (Bremia lactucae). This disease result in millions of dollars of lost lettuce crop throughout the world every year.
Downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) is highly destructive of lettuce grown at relatively low temperature and high humidity. Downy mildew is caused by a fungus, Bremia lactucae, which can be one of the following strains: NL1, NL2, NL4, NL5, NL6, NL7, NL10, NL12, NL13, NL14, NL15, NL16, B1:17, B1:18, B1:20, B1:21, B1:22, B1:23, B1:24, B1:25, B1:26, B1:27, B1:28 (Van Ettekoven, K. et al., "Identification and denomination of 'new' races of Bremia lactucae," In: Lebeda, A. and Kristkova, E (eds.), Eucarpia Leafy Vegetables, 1999, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic, pp. 171-175; Van der Arend et al. "Identification and denomination of "new" races of Bremia lactucae in Europe by IBEB until 2002." In: Van Hintum, Th et al. (eds.), Eucarpia Leafy Vegetables Conference 2003, Centre for Genetic Resources, Wageningen, The Netherlands, p. 151; IBEB press release May 2010; IBEB press release March 2011), Ca-V, Ca-VI, Ca-VII, Ca-VIII (Michelmore R. & Ochoa. O. "Breeding Crisphead Lettuce." In: California Lettuce Research Board, Annual Report 2005-2006, 2006, Salinas, Calif., pp. 55-68).
Downy mildew causes pale, angular, yellow areas bounded by veins on the upper leaf surfaces. Sporulation occurs on the opposite surface of the leaves. The lesions eventually turn brown, and they may enlarge and coalesce. These symptoms typically occur first on the lower leaves of the lettuce, but under ideal conditions may move into the upper leaves of the head. When the fungus progresses to this degree, the head cannot be harvested. Less severe damage requires the removal of more leaves than usual, especially when the lettuce reaches its final destination.
Of the various species of aphids that feed on lettuce, the currant-lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri) is the most destructive species because it feeds both on the leaves of the lettuce as well as deep in the heart of the lettuce, making it difficult to control with conventional insecticides. The lettuce aphid feeds by sucking sap from the lettuce leaves. Although direct damage to the lettuce may be limited, its infestation has serious consequences because the presence of aphids makes lettuce unacceptable to consumers.
Although several known lettuce cultivars exhibit resistance against disease, irrespective of lettuce type, all the lettuce cultivars affected produce a limited number of leaves that generally are of unequal size and diminished quality with respect to color and shape. This is a distinct disadvantage for processing purposes because leaves either need to be sorted based on size or they need to be cut to a smaller, more uniform size. The first option requires additional labor, with not all sizes usable. The second option has the disadvantage that it creates many cut surfaces, which then are subject to wound-induced browning, resulting in a greatly reduced shelf-life.
Although several known lettuce cultivars produce a large number of small, more uniform leaves (U.S. Pat. No. 6,320,104; US patent publication 20070022496; US patent publication 20100229255 [Emerson]), there is a need for red-colored elongated leaves. Most known cultivars with red-colored elongated leaves lack the multileaf characteristic with its earlier described advantages. The few existing varieties with red-colored, elongated leaves and the multileaf characteristic lack downy mildew B1:1-28 and Ca-V to Ca-VIII-resistance or Nr:0-resistance.
There exists a need, therefore, for a lettuce variety which exhibits a combination of resistance against downy mildew races B1:1-28 and Ca-V to Ca-VIII (Bremia lactucae) and the Nr:0-biotype of Nasonovia ribisnigri and an extraordinary high number of red-coloured, elongated leaves of substantially equal size.
Citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention.


Respective pieces of the porous honeycomb segments (2) are stacked while interposing the adhesive layers between respective adhered surfaces (2a), and are bonded together by performing main pressurization (F1, F2) on the whole through the porous honeycomb segments (2) located on an outermost layer after stacking a predetermined number of pieces. Main pressurization force at this time is simultaneously applied to all the honeycomb segments (2) and does not act as a separating force against any of the honeycomb segments (2).

As shown in FIG. 1, a ceramic honeycomb structure 100 of this type is formed by bundling a plurality of porous honeycomb segments 2 through adhesive layers 3, where the porous honeycomb segments 2 are provided with numerous circulation holes 4 partitioned by partition walls and penetrated in an axial direction.
Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-7455
Specifically, the ceramic honeycomb structure 100 is formed by mutually bonding sixteen pieces of the porous honeycomb segments 2 each in a quadratic prism shape into a four-by-four matrix through the adhesive layers 3.
Bonding at this time is performed by interposing the adhesive layer 3 between adhered surfaces 2a and 2a of the porous honeycomb segments 2 and 2, and then giving vibration to the honeycomb segments 2 and 2 while applying a pressing force thereto.
Specifically, in the bonding process, as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2E, a first porous honeycomb segment 2 in which a foundation layer is formed on an adhered surface 2a is firstly placed on the lowermost portion of a notched portion 51 of a supporting jig 50. Next, a second porous honeycomb segment 2, in which a foundation layer is formed on one adhered surface 2a and an adhesive is further coated on the foundation layer, is disposed closely to the first honeycomb segment 2 so as to allow the adhered surfaces 2a to face each other while interposing the adhesive therebetween (see FIG. 2A) . In this state, end surfaces of the two honeycomb segments 2 and 2 are pressed with a pressing plate (not shown) and are positioned in advance. Further, a pressing jig 52 is allowed to abut on the latter honeycomb segment 2 so as to press the honeycomb segment 2 in a vertical direction, and vibration is given in a direction to mutually shift the adhered surfaces 2a and 2a. In this way, it is possible to bond the first and second honeycomb segments 2 and 2 together.
Next, a third porous honeycomb segment 2, in which a foundation layer is formed on one adhered surface 2a and an adhesive is further coated on the foundation layer, is disposed closely so as to allow the adhered surface 2a thereof and another adhered surface 2a of the first honeycomb segment 2 to face each other while interposing the adhesive therebetween (see FIG. 2B) In this state, it is possible to bond the third honeycomb segment 2 to the first honeycomb segment 2 as similar to the second honeycomb segment 2.
Moreover, a fourth porous honeycomb layer 2, in which a foundation layer is formed on two adhered surfaces 2a and 2a and an adhesive is further coated on the foundation layer, is disposed closely between the second and third honeycomb segments 2 and 2 (see FIG. 2C). In this state, it is possible to bond the fourth honeycomb segment 2 to both the second and third honeycomb segments 2 and 2 as similar to the second and third honeycomb segments 2.
Furthermore, a fifth porous honeycomb layer 2, in which a foundation layer is formed on one adhered surface 2a and an adhesive is further coated on the foundation layer, is disposed closely so as to allow another adhered surface 2a of the second honeycomb segment 2 and the adhered surface 2a thereof to face each other while interposing the adhesive therebetween (see FIG. 2D). In this state, it is possible to bond the fifth honeycomb segment 2 to the second honeycomb segment 2 as similar to the foregoing process.
Subsequently, respective honeycomb segments 2 are sequentially bonded likewise by giving pressure and vibration every time. Lastly, a sixteenth porous honeycomb segment 2, in which a foundation layer is formed on two adhered surfaces 2a and 2a and an adhesive is further coated on the foundation layer, is bonded while giving pressure and vibration, whereby the bonding process for the ceramic honeycomb structure 100 can be completed (see FIG. 2E).
However, the conventional bonding method is configured to bond the respective porous honeycomb segments 2 sequentially while giving pressure and vibration every time. Accordingly, the vibration and the pressure are transmitted to the lower segments in the earlier stacking order (the segments located around the above-described first porous honeycomb segment 2) until completion of bonding of the last honeycomb segment (which is the sixteenth porous honeycomb segment 2 in the above-described example). The transmitted force acts as a separating force against the honeycomb segments 2 and 2 which are bonded to each other. Accordingly, the method has a problem that the adhesive layers 3 for bonding the lower honeycomb segments are separated, thereby causing partial deterioration of adhesive strength.
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a bonding method of a ceramic honeycomb structure, which is capable of maintaining adhesive layers for bonding respective porous honeycomb segments in an original state of stacking irrespective of the order of stacking the respective honeycomb segments, and thereby bonding the whole honeycomb segments uniformly at desired adhesive strength.

Bonding method of ceramic honeycomb structure


A system and method for increasing efficiency and power output of a multi-wavelength beam combining system through providing a common output coupler to reflect feedback that stabilizes or individually seeds each emitter, and wherein the individual feedback is preserved by mitigating cross-coupling, wherein a multi-wavelength beam comprised of radiation having a plurality of wavelengths, high brightness and power.

1. Field of the Invention
The present embodiments relate generally to laser systems and more particularly to wavelength beam combining systems and methods.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Wavelength beam combining (WBC) is a method for scaling the output power and brightness from laser diode bars, stacks of diode bars, as well as other lasers arranged in one or two-dimensional array.
WBC methods have been developed to combine beams along the slow dimension of each emitter as well as the fast dimension of each emitter. See for example, U.S. Pat Nos. 6,192,062, 6,208,679 and 2010/0110556 A1. In prior patents, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,192,062 and 6,208,679, beam combining is performed along the array dimension. As such, the external cavity is more sensitive to imperfections in the laser elements. Furthermore, when broad-area laser elements are used the spectral utilization is poor. In prior art 2010/0110556 A1 beam combining is performed along the stacking dimension. In such implementations the external-cavity is much less sensitive to imperfections in laser elements. Furthermore, since beam combining is performed along the stacking dimension or near diffraction-limited dimension spectral utilization is high. However, the brightness of these systems may not be optimal because of optical cross-coupling between emitters.
The following application seeks to solve the problems stated.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Optical cross-coupling mitigation system for multi-wavelength beam combining systems


A device having a funnel structure (connected to a separating arrangement by a base pipe is disclosed. The base pipe is horizontal and arranged between the funnel structure and the base pipe. The base pipe is also a vertical suction pipe. The device includes a pressure pipe which is parallel to the base pipe. The funnel structure is slightly below the water surface. In operation, water and floating waste pass over the edges of the funnel structure and swirl into the suction pipe. A jet of water may be injected through the pressure pipe to the base pipe. A flow gradient may then be formed in the base pipe and the differently sized waste objects may separate. If the water contains liquid waste, the speed of the water jet may be adjusted in such a way that the liquid waste and water do not form an emulsion.

The present disclosure relates to a device for collecting oil, plastic or similar waste material floating on or near the surface of the sea or a similar large body of water, the device comprising a funnel structure having: a funnel edge; a funnel surface and a bottom; a base pipe and a separating arrangement; and a hole in and/or at the bottom of the funnel, the hole being connected to the base pipe. The base pipe leads to the separating arrangement. The funnel edge is configured to be at least partly under the water surface when the device is in use. The device is further configured to move the water containing the waste material to the separating arrangement.
It is well-known that plastic waste gathers in bodies of water, such as at sea, with many harmful environmental, ecological and economical consequences. Many systems are suggested for removing plastic and other forms of solid waste.
A known system for cleaning and/or clearing away and/or removing from its current location solid waste floating on water includes a boat incorporating a submerged collection basket, the basket configured so that as the boat travels forward through the water, solid waste enters and otherwise becomes picked up within the basket, the basket then lifted onto the boat at certain intervals and subsequently disposed of on land such that the picked up waste finds itself on land where so disposed as oppose to in the water as before. This system features two basic drawbacks: a first being the fact that the emptying of the basket has to be carried out manually which can be labor and resource intensive; and, due to its weight, the removal of the basket and its storage on the boat can be problematic and burdensome, thereby requiring substantial physical effort. On the other hand, the basket in question is equipped with a large orifice through which the solid waste enters the basket, but, likewise, due to the effect of the waves and other such forces, exits the basket before being collected. A second reason for the waste to exit the basket after having being scoped up into it is the collection of the basket out of the water and its subsequent emptying on land which occurs only periodically thereby given the aforementioned forces time to empty the basket of its content, namely, the solid waste.
Similarly, collecting oil or a similar liquid from the surface of water can be problematic. A well-known system for cleaning oil spills at sea is a system comprising oil booms and rotating brushes. The booms guide and funnel the oil floating on the surface and the brushes which are configured to lift the oil onto a collection vessel. However, this system is quite inefficient, can be expensive to operate, and, in a worst case, breaks the oil slicks apart into small droplets (oil-water emulsion) which themselves become problematic to remove.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,156 discloses an oil recovery vessel having a multitude of oil separation tanks and a bow opening having an adjustable height weir for skimming oil, debris and other pollutants from the seawater for discharge into a separation tank. However, this system is quite cumbersome and difficult to adjust. Also, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to scale downwards.
There are a number of mechanical separating arrangements to separate from water and wastes, liquids and/or solids. These arrangements typically comprise tanks and weirs and such structures which collect waste materials. A feature which these structures have common is that the water must flow, and the speed of the water flow depends on what kind of waste the water contains and amount of the waste in the water. However, this flow is quite hard to control.
There is a clear need for a waste-collection device for use in bodies of water, such as at sea, that collect all kinds of waste material floating on or near the surface, which device should be simple, adjustable and easy to use.


A clutch for transmitting rotating motion includes a clutch body, ring flanges positioned an exterior of the clutch body, a belt pulley positioned between the ring flanges and a hydraulic arrangement for producing axial motion and an axial force, causing the belt pulley to be pressed between the ring flanges to transmit rotating motion to the belt pulley. The hydraulic arrangement includes a slight leakage of the hydraulic medium out of the pressurized chamber space to which oil is supplied for engaging clutching, thereby allowing for rapid disengagement of the clutch and circulation of pressurized oil.

Previously known from U.S. Published Patent Application No. B382,290 is a medium actuated clutch where the rotation-transmitting clutch disc and a mobile pressure plate are in a chamber containing the medium. The chamber is divided into many sub-chambers by the disc and the plate and by means of pressure variations, the pressure plate can be put into motion and the disc and plate surfaces in abutment against each other to carry out clutching.
Such a clutch is applicable to cars with automatic transmission with the clutch thereby in the gearbox. In the gearbox there is oil to operate the clutch and possible oil leakage is of no harm if the leaking oil is flowing directly back into the gearbox. However, a clutch of this kind is not very well fitted for general cases, for instance as a common shaft clutch and, of course, not as a dry clutch in vehicles.


A photon detection device includes a photodiode having a planar junction disposed in a first region of semiconductor material. A deep trench isolation (DTI) structure is disposed in the semiconductor material. The DTI structure isolates the first region of the semiconductor material on one side of the DTI structure from a second region of the semiconductor material on an other side of the DTI structure. The DTI structure includes a dielectric layer lining an inside surface of the DTI structure and doped semiconductor material disposed over the dielectric layer inside the DTI structure. The doped semiconductor material disposed inside the DTI structure is coupled to a bias voltage to isolate the photodiode in the first region of the semiconductor material from the second region of the semiconductor material.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present invention is generally related to photodiodes, and more specifically, the present invention is directed to photodiodes utilized in photon sensors.
2. Background
An image capture device includes an image sensor and an imaging lens. The imaging lens focuses light onto the image sensor to form an image, and the image sensor converts the light into electric signals. The electric signals are output from the image capture device to other components of a host electronic system. The electronic system may be, for example, a mobile phone, a computer, a digital camera or a medical device.
There is a continuing demand to reduce the size of image sensors, which results in the smaller pixel cells for an image sensor with the same resolution. One type of photodetector that may be used in an image sensor or in a light detector is a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD). A SPAD normally needs a guard ring or isolation to overcome the problem of premature edge breakdown and interference between adjacent pixels. Known designs to create the guard ring or isolation increase the area of each pixel cell and sacrifices fill factor. Furthermore, as image sensors are miniaturized, the pixel cells contained therein suffer from increased dark current rates.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention.

Enhanced photon detection device with biased deep trench isolation


The present invention provides a controller for regulating current in LEDs in electronic displays. The controller uses temperature sensing diodes to detect changes in the LED ambient temperature. As the LED ambient temperature changes, the forward voltage of the temperature sensing diode decreases. A signal processor adjusts the current passing through the LEDs based on the temperature induced changes in the forward voltage of the temperature sensing diodes. The present invention can reduce costs over the present methods of regulating current in LEDs and may more easily be integrated into a single integrated circuit chip. The temperature sensing may also be implemented outside the integrated circuit chip.

Backlights are used to illuminate liquid crystal displays (LCDs). LCDs with backlights are used in small displays for cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDA), as well as in large displays for computer monitors and televisions. Typically, the light source for the backlight includes one or more cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs). The light source for the backlight can also be an incandescent light bulb, an electroluminescent panel (ELP), or one or more hot cathode fluorescent lamps (HCFLs).
The display industry is enthusiastically pursuing the use of LEDs as the light source in the backlight technology because CCFLs have many shortcomings: they do not easily ignite in cold temperatures, require adequate idle time to ignite, and require delicate handling. LEDs generally have a higher ratio of light generated to power consumed than the other backlight sources. So, displays with LED backlights consume less power than other displays. LED backlighting has traditionally been used in small, inexpensive LCD panels. However, LED backlighting is becoming more common in large displays such as those used for computers and televisions. In large displays, multiple LEDs are required to provide adequate backlight for the LCD display.
The number of LEDs required for a given display, and the cost to manufacture the display, can be reduced by increasing the amount of light produced by each LED. The amount of light produced by an LED, or luminous intensity, is a function of the current in the LED. As shown in FIG. 1, the luminous intensity of an LED increases with increasing current in the LED. However, there is a limit to how high the intensity of an LED can reliably be increased by increasing the current. This limit is shown as IMAX in FIG. 1. IMAX is generally expressed as the mean operating current. The current may be continuous or discrete, in which case IMAX is the average current calculated by the product of the delta (or difference) between maximum and minimum current and the duty cycle. At currents near or above IMAX, there is a high probability that the LED will catastrophically fail. Operating LEDs at such conditions leads to reliability problems in displays and higher repair and warranty costs for display manufacturers. Therefore, display manufacturers generally do not drive LEDs at or above IMAX.
One of the challenges facing display manufactures is that IMAX is not constant. As shown in FIG. 2, IMAX 20 is a function of the temperature of the medium surrounding the LEDs, or LED ambient temperature. FIG. 2 shows that IMAX is nearly constant over an ambient temperature range up to the slope transition temperature, TSLP 21. Once the ambient temperature reaches TSLP, IMAX decreases with increasing ambient temperature until the ambient temperature reaches TMAX. When the ambient temperature reaches TMAX 23, no current can be applied to the LED without a high risk of catastrophic failure. LED manufactures often provide customers with TMAX curves like that in FIG. 2 so that display manufactures can avoid conditions that result in a high probability of LED failure. LED manufactures generally recommend that the LEDs operate in the range below the TMAX curve, the safe operating area.
The LED ambient temperature is largely a function of the environment in which the display is placed. Many display applications, such as in automobiles, are subject to high temperatures and large temperature fluctuations. Therefore, display manufactures are faced with a tradeoff between competing options. Display manufactures may run LEDs at a lower current that is within the safe operating area over a larger temperature range. But this requires more LEDs per display for a given intensity. Or display manufactures can choose to run the LEDs at a higher current but face reliability issues at higher ambient temperatures.
One approach to maintaining LED current below IMAX is to control the LED ambient temperature. If the LED ambient temperature is controlled to less than TSLP, then the LED current can safely be maintained constant at or near the maximum value of IMAX. This approach has the benefits of allowing the LEDs to run at the maximum safe current and not requiring changes to the current in the LEDs based on changes in the ambient temperature. However, regulating temperature generally requires additional devices to be added to the display. The additional temperature-regulating devices are expensive to manufacture, expensive to operate, bulky and noisy. Because of these limitations, temperature-regulating devices are not generally used in displays to control the LED ambient temperature. Even when temperature-regulating devices, such as heat sinks, are used to control the LED ambient temperature, they may not provide sufficient temperature control to allow the LED current to operate at or near IMAX.
Another approach is to maintain the LED current at a value below ISAF 22 at all times, as shown in FIG. 2. At currents below ISAF, LEDs have the largest possible safe ambient temperature range. A benefit of this approach is simplicity. An exemplary circuit for maintaining the LED current below ISAF is shown in FIG. 3. In this circuit, the value of the resistor RSET 31 can be determined from values of the input voltage (VSET 32), the forward voltage (VF) of the LEDs 33, and the maximum allowed current ISAF. A disadvantage of this approach is that the LEDs 33 are not utilized to their maximum potential. At all LED ambient temperatures below TMAX, the current in the LEDs 33 cannot be increased to go outside the safe operating area. Therefore, for a given intensity requirement of a display, more LEDs might be required.
Another approach is to use a negative temperature coefficient resistor and logic to control the current in the LEDs. An example of this approach is shown in FIG. 4. The negative temperature coefficient resistor, RNTC 41, is located so as to be at the same ambient temperature as the LEDs 43. As the LED ambient temperature increases, the resistance of RNTC decreases. HCxThe input voltage, VL 42, is held relatively constant and is independent of the LED ambient temperature. As the resistance of RNTC decreases, the voltage, VN 44, decreases. The logic 40 compares VN to a constant reference set point voltage, VS 45. In one embodiment, the logic 40 is a three-input operational amplifier. When VN is greater than VS, the logic drives the current in the LEDs to VS/RSET. When VN is less than VS, the logic 40 drives the current in the LEDs to VN/RSET. As shown in FIG. 5, the voltages and components of the above circuit are designed so that current in the LEDs is at or near IMAX for all temperatures below TSLP 53. The current curve given by VS/RSET and the current curve given by VN/RSET 52 intersects at or near TSLP 53. A disadvantage of this solution is that it requires the use of an expensive negative temperature coefficient resistor 41. Further, the negative temperature coefficient resistor 41 of the above circuit cannot readily be made part of the same integrated circuit as the logic 40.
The present invention solves these problems and provides an ambient temperature-based current controller for LEDs that is inexpensive and manufacturable as a single integrated circuit or on multiple integrated circuit chips.

Temperature dependant LED current controller


An image sensor integrated circuit may contain image sensor pixels. A channel for receiving a fluid with particles such as fluorescent biological samples may be formed on top of the image sensor. Light-control layers may be interposed between the fluid channel and the top of the image sensor. The light-control layers may include a color filter array, a microlens array over the color filter array, and a plasmonic color filter. The plasmonic color filter may be formed from a patterned metal layer on the color filter array or on the microlens array. The patterned metal layer may include openings that are configured to use plasmonic effects to control the colors of light that pass through the plasmonic color filter. The color filter array and the plasmonic color filter, in combination, may block light from a light source in the system while passing fluorescent light from the sample.

This relates generally to imaging systems and, more particularly, to imaging systems with plasmonic color filters.
Opto-fluidic sensors have been developed that can be used to generate images of samples such as cells and other biological specimens. In conventional systems, the samples are suspended in a fluid. The fluid flows over a set of image sensor pixels each having a photodiode. The image sensor pixels may be associated with an image sensor pixel array. As the fluid flows through the channel, image data from the pixels is acquired and processed to form images of the sample.
A light source is sometimes provided, that illuminates the samples. In some situations the light source is configured to excite fluorescent material in the sample. The image sensor is often used to capture images of the fluorescent light. However, it can be difficult to prevent the excitation light from the light source from contaminating fluorescence image signals without providing thick color filter layers. Color filter layers of this type can increase the distance from the sample to the photodiodes in the sensor, which can undesirably affect the optical performance of the sensor. For example, this type of large distance can allow relatively large pixel-to-pixel cross talk.
It would therefore be desirable to provide imaging systems with improved color filters for microfluidic systems.

Imaging systems with plasmonic color filters

Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC


Described is a technology by which a new volume or partition may be created on a disk, e.g., by running a shrink program and then reclaiming freed space. Shrink occurs online, while the user or system processes may be otherwise using the disk for reads and writes. Further, the technology operates while protecting snapshot versions of the volume. To shrink, upon receiving a request to shrink a volume to within a boundary, new allocations are restricted such that any allocation is to a volume area within the boundary. Data is moved from outside the boundary to within the boundary, and the shrink is committed when no volume data remains outside the boundary. A reduced-size volume or partition that does not include the specified region is committed when the data has been moved out of the specified region. A new volume or partition may be freed that corresponds to the region.

Presently, most personal computers are shipped with a pre-partitioned hard disk drive (disk), with the disk typically having one volume spanning the entire disk. In certain situations, however, another partitioning arrangement is needed. Full-volume encryption is one example of when another partition is needed, namely to provide a recovery partition. Another example is when a user (or administrator) desires to split up a single volume into multiple volumes, such as to cleanly separate certain data.
If another partition is needed, the user needs to back up the volume contents, re-partition the disk as desired and then restore the volume contents. This is a very time-consuming (expensive) and arduous process, and may even risk data loss for users who improperly backup or restore their data.


An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member configured to form an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof, and a separating mechanism configured to separate an irregular charge toner from a residual toner remaining on the surface of the image bearing member after a completion of an image forming process, to provide an extra travel passage to give a time delay to the irregular charge toner, and to return the irregular charge toner with the time delay to the surface of the image bearing member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for image forming, a process cartridge included in the apparatus and toner used for the image forming, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for image forming capable of efficiently collecting toner remaining on image forming components without using a cleaning device for preventing a reproduction of a defective reproduction having a background contamination and dust.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printing machine, and so forth using an electrostatic transfer method generates a transfer electric field between an image bearing member and an intermediate transfer member that travels in contact with the image bearing member. A toner image formed on a surface of the image bearing member is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member. In some other image forming apparatuses, a transfer electric field is generated between the image bearing member and a recording medium that also travels in contact with the image bearing member. The toner image formed on the surface of the image bearing member is also transferred onto the recording medium. With the electrostatic transfer method, residual toner remains on the surface of the image bearing member after the transferring operation of an image forming process. In a next image forming process, when a laser beam irradiates the image bearing member having the residual toner on the surface thereof, electric charges applied on the areas covered by the residual toner cannot be grounded, resulting in producing a defective image having a white spot, for example.
To prevent such a defective image, a cleaning device for removing residual toner from the image bearing member is disposed at a position opposite to the image bearing member between a transferring area and a charging area so that the residual toner can be removed. However, this requires additional space in the image forming apparatus since the cleaning device includes a toner collecting tank for collecting the residual toner removed from the image bearing member and a recycled toner conveying path for conveying the recycled residual toner for reusing in the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the background image forming apparatus becomes large in size and brings about an increase in costs due to an increase of the number of parts.
According to a strong demand in the market requiring a high speed performance in operations of color image forming, a tandem color image forming apparatus has been introduced, which is provided with a plurality of image bearing members for respective colors. In such a tandem color image forming apparatus, a plurality of cleaning devices are provided corresponding to the respective image bearing members. However, the tandem color image forming apparatus may be larger in size and more expensive in part cost.
Recently, a charging device employing a charging method using a charging roller has been proposed. In the above-described charging device, the charging roller is held in contact with the image bearing member. In some other charging device, the charging roller is disposed in a vicinity of the image bearing member. There is another charging method also commonly known such as a corotron or scrotron method using corona, for example, which is referred to as a corona discharge method. The corona discharge method causes a corona discharge to charge the surface of the image bearing member. However, the corona discharge method needs a large amount of corona discharge so that the surface of the image bearing member is charged to a desired potential. The corona discharge produces hazardous products such as ozone and NOx that adhere to the surface of the image bearing member, causing an image defect such as image deletion. On the contrary, the charging roller produces a lesser amount of hazardous products.
To reduce the size, the image forming apparatus may apply a cleaner-less system. For example, a technique has been proposed such that an image forming apparatus uses a developing device provided therein for collecting residual toner remaining on a surface of an image bearing member. This technique is referred to as a developing and cleaning method. The developing and cleaning method utilizes the developing device, which functions as a developing device at the same time as a cleaning device. With the developing and cleaning method, the image forming apparatus does not need to include an additional cleaning device. Therefore, the developing and cleaning method can contribute to reduction in size and cost of the image forming apparatus.
However, the image forming apparatus employing the developing and cleaning method and the charging roller method may allow the residual toner to contact a charging member when the residual toner remaining on the image bearing member is conveyed to the developing area. When the residual toner contacts the charging member, it adheres on a surface of the charging member to disturb a charging onto the image bearing member, so that the charging cannot provide a surface of the image bearing member with a desired potential or may cause a charging failure such as a charging nonuniformity. Consequently, an image defect including deterioration of image density and a background contamination may occur in producing an image.
Several attempts have been made to use a developing bias for the purpose of collecting residual toner. The developing bias is applied in a non-image forming operation as well as in an image forming operation, to collect residual toner remaining on a surface of an image bearing member. During the non-image forming operation, a paper jam is recovered, for example.
The above-described attempts, however, may fail to sufficiently collect the residual toner and, at the same time, may cause a charging failure such as a charging nonuniformity, which leads to a defective image having deterioration of the image density and a background contamination.

Method and apparatus for image forming capable of removing residual toner without using a toner cleaning system, process cartridge for use in the apparatus and toner used for the image forming


Disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions that comprise gallium complexes of 3-hydroxy-4-pyrones. These compositions provide enhanced gallium bioavailability particularly when orally administered as compared to the gallium bioavailability achieved by use of pharmaceutical compositions containing gallium salts. Compositions included in this invention are useful in providing gallium to humans and other mammals for a wide variety of medical and veterinary applications, including the treatment, prevention, or diagnosis of hypercalcemia, certain cancers, certain disorders of calcium homeostasis, and certain bone diseases including osteoporosis, osteopenia, and Paget's disease.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to pharmaceutical gallium compositions, particularly those having enhanced oral bioavailability relative to simple gallium salts and methods for their use. Gallium has demonstrated pharmaceutical value for the treatment of many human and animal disorders, including hypercalcemia, cancer, and especially certain widespread degenerative or metabolic bone diseases such as osteoporosis and Paget's disease.

Gallium complexes of 3-hydroxy-4-pyrones to treat or prevent calcium homeostasis disorders


A method and system are displayed in a computer network for providing a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional graphic representation to be displayed in association with the three-dimensional graphic representation. The computer network includes a client connectable to a server. Initially, a remote application is transferred from the server to a client. Next, the remote application is displayed within a graphic interface of the client system. Thereafter, the remote application is automatically searched for three-dimensional data representative of a three-dimensional graphic representation. If the remote application includes three-dimensional data, then the three-dimensional data is automatically converted to a two-dimensional representation. Thereafter, the two-dimensional representation is displayed within the graphic interface of the client system in association with the remote application.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to improved information-retrieval methods and systems. In particular, the present invention relates to graphical network navigation aids.
2. Description of the Related Art
The development of computerized information resources, such as remote networks, allow users of data-processing systems to link with other servers and networks, and thus retrieve vast amounts of electronic information heretofore unavailable in an electronic medium. Such electronic information is increasingly displacing more conventional means of information transmission, such as newspapers, magazines, and even television.
In communications, a set of computer networks which are possibly dissimilar from one another are joined together by "gateways" that handle data transfer and the conversion of messages from the sending network to the protocols used by the receiving network, with packets if necessary. A gateway is a device used to connect dissimilar networks (i.e., networks utilizing different communication protocols) so that electronic information can be passed from one network to the other. Gateways transfer electronic information, converting such information to a form compatible with the protocols used by the second network for transport and delivery.
One type of remote network commonly utilized in recent years is the Internet. The term "Internet" is an abbreviation for "Internetwork," and refers commonly to the collection of networks and gateways that utilize the TCP/IP suite of protocols, which are well-known in the art of computer networking. TCP/IP is an acronym for "Transport Control Protocol/Interface Program," a software protocol developed by the Department of Defense for communication between computers. The Internet can be described as a system of geographically distributed remote computer networks interconnected by computers executing networking protocols that allows users to interact and share information over the networks. Because of such wide-spread information sharing, remote networks such as the Internet have thus far generally evolved into an "open" system for which developers can design software applications for performing specialized operations or services, essentially without restriction.
Electronic information transferred between data-processing networks is usually presented in hypertext, a metaphor for presenting information in a manner in which text, images, sounds, and actions become linked together in a complex non-sequential web of associations that permit the user to "browse" or "navigate" through related topics, regardless of the presented order of the topics. These links are often established by both the author of a hypertext document and by the user, depending on the intent of the hypertext document. For example, traveling among links to the word "iron" in an article displayed within a graphical user interface in a data-processing system might lead the user to the periodic table of the chemical elements (i.e., linked by the word "iron"), or to a reference to the use of iron in weapons in Europe in the Dark Ages. The term "hypertext" was coined in the 1960s to describe documents, as presented by a computer, that express the nonlinear structure of ideas, as opposed to the linear format of books, film, and speech.
The term "hypermedia," on the other hand, more recently introduced, is nearly synonymous with "hypertext" but focuses on the nontextual components of hypertext, such as animation, recorded sound, and video. Hypermedia is the integration of graphics, sound, video, or any combination thereof into a primarily associative system of information storage and retrieval. Hypermedia, as well as hypertext, especially in an interactive format where choices are controlled by the user, is structured around the idea of offering a working and learning environment that parallels human thinking--that is, an environment that allows the user to make associations between topics rather than move sequentially from one to the next, as in an alphabetic list. Hypermedia, as well as hypertext topics, are thus linked in a manner that allows the user to jump from one subject to other related subjects during a search for information. Hyper-linked information is contained within hypermedia and hypertext documents, allowing a user to move back to "original" or referring network sites by the mere "click" (i.e., with a mouse or other pointing device) of the hyper-linked topic.
A typical networked system that utilizes hypertext and hypermedia conventions follows a client/server architecture. The "client" is a member of a class or group that uses the services of another class or group to which it is not related. Thus, in computing, a client is a process (i.e., roughly a program or task) that requests a service provided by another program. The client process utilizes the requested service without having to "know" any working details about the other program or the service itself. In a client/server architecture, particularly a networked system, a client is usually a computer that accesses shared network resources provided by another computer (i.e., a server).
A request by a user for news can be sent by a client application program to a server. A server is typically a remote computer system accessible over a remote network such as the Internet. The server scans and searches for raw (e.g., unprocessed) information sources (e.g., newswire feeds or newsgroups). Based upon such requests by the user, the server presents filtered electronic information as server responses to the client process. The client process may be active in a first computer system, and the server process may be active in a second computer system, communicating with one another over a communications medium, thus providing distributed functionality and allowing multiple clients to take advantage of the information-gathering capabilities of the server.
Client and server communicate with one another utilizing the functionality provided by Hypertext-Transfer Protocol (HTTP). The World Wide Web (WWW) or, simply, the "Web," includes those servers adhering to this standard (i.e., HTTP) which are accessible to clients via a computer or data-processing system network address such as a Universal Resource Locator (URL). The network address can be referred to as a Universal Resource Locator address. For example, communication can be provided over a communications medium. In particular, the client and server may be coupled to one another via Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) or TCP/IP connections for high-capacity communication. Active within the client is a first process, known as a "browser," which establishes the connection with the server and presents information to the user. The server itself executes corresponding server software which presents information to the client in the form of HTTP responses. The HTTP responses correspond to "Web pages" constructed from a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), or other server-generated data. Each Web page also can be referred to simply as a "page."
The client and server typically display browsers and other remote network data for a user via a graphical user interface. A graphical user interface is a type of display format that enables a user to choose commands, start programs, and see lists of files and other options by pointing to pictorial representations (icons) and lists of menu items on the screen. Choices can be activated generally either with a keyboard or a mouse. Internet services are typically accessed by specifying a unique network address (i.e., Universal Resource Locator). The Universal Resource Locator address has two basic components, the protocol to be used and the object pathname. For example, the Universal Resource Locator address, "http://www.uspto.gov" (i.e., home page for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office), specifies a hypertext-transfer protocol ("http") and a pathname of the server ("www.uspto.gov"). The server name is associated with a unique numeric value (TCP/IP address).
The evolution of personal computers over the last decade has accelerated the Web and Internet toward useful everyday applications. Nearly every computer sold over the last several years has or will, at some point, become "on-line" to an Internet service provider. Somewhere between 20 and 30 million people around the globe use some form of Internet service on a regular basis. The graphical portion of the World Wide Web itself is usually stocked with more than twenty-two million "pages" of content, with over one million new pages added every month.
Free or relatively inexpensive computer software applications such as Internet "search engines" make it simple to track down sites where an individual can obtain information on a topic of interest. A person may type in a subject or key word and generate a list of network sites (i.e., Web sites). Thus, with "home pages"published by thousands of companies, universities, government agencies, museums, and municipalities, the Internet can be an invaluable resource. With a little practice, even new users can skim millions of Web pages or thousands of newsgroups, not only for topics of general interest, but also to access precise bits of data. The market for Internet access and related applications is explosive and is growing faster than expected, doubling in size approximately every three months.
The explosive growth of the Internet has included an ever increasing number of Web sites that present information to users in a three-dimensional graphical environment. As computer processor speeds also increase, the display of three-dimensional graphical "worlds" or environments via Web pages, is becoming readily available to users via the Internet. As a result, the information presented on Web pages are becoming graphically three-dimensional in nature. However, such graphical three-dimensional Web sites are complex in nature, and first-time and even experienced users can have trouble navigating through such Web sites. For example, a typical three-dimensional Web site might include a series of graphical representations of hallways, buildings, and windows. Utilizing a pointing device such as a mouse allows a user to access information via such hallways, buildings, and windows. A user might, for example, "click" a graphical representation of a doorway and trigger loading of a graphical representation of another hallway through which additional information can be obtained, but only by navigating through a newly presented series of hallways or paths. In addition, a user might be forced to interact with other users in order to access specific types of information.
It can be appreciated from the foregoing that a need exists to provide users with some sort of graphical three-dimensional navigation aid. The solution lies in the creation of two-dimensional maps that can be displayed along with each encountered graphical three-dimensional Web site. Such maps would allow users the ability to have a better view of the graphical three-dimensional environment and make better choices in navigating through such graphical three-dimensional environments in order to find desired information.

Method and system for providing network navigation aids

International Business Machines Corporation


A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a ceramic main body including an inner layer portion including third ceramic layers and a plurality of inner electrodes arranged at interfaces between the third ceramic layers, and first and second outer layer portions respectively including first and second ceramic layers, the first and second ceramic layers being arranged vertically so as to sandwich the inner layer portion. The third ceramic layers and the first and second outer layer portions contain a perovskite-type compound represented by ABO3 where A contains one or more of Ba, Sr, and Ca, B contains one or more of Ti, Zr, and Hf, and O represents oxygen) as a main component. Where a rare-earth element concentration (CR) in the third ceramic layers is compared to a rare-earth element concentration (Cr) in outermost layer portions including at least outermost surfaces of the first and second outer layer portions, CR>Cr (inclusive of Cr=0).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multilayer ceramic capacitor containing a dielectric ceramic material.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, multilayer ceramic capacitors each include a ceramic main body and outer electrodes, as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-081351. The ceramic main body includes two main surfaces opposite to each other, two side surfaces opposite to each other, and two end surfaces opposite to each other. The outer electrodes are provided on the two respective end surfaces of the ceramic main body.
The ceramic main body is a multilayer body that includes an inner layer portion and outer layer portions. The inner layer portion includes a plurality of ceramic layers for inner layers and a plurality of inner electrodes arranged at the interfaces between the plurality of ceramic layers for the inner layers. The outer layer portions include a plurality of ceramic layers for outer layers, the plurality of ceramic layers for the outer layers being arranged vertically so as to sandwich the inner layer portion. The inner electrodes are electrically connected to the outer electrodes.
With respect to multilayer ceramic capacitors, as trends toward a reduction in the thickness of individual ceramic layers and an increase in the number of ceramic layers progress, rare-earth elements are often added in order to stabilize the temperature characteristics of capacitance and to ensure the high-temperature load life over the long term in terms of insulation resistance.
Rare-earth elements, however, tend to concentrate at ceramic boundaries or segregated phases. Rare-earth elements are easily eluted in a water-soluble flux. Thus, resistance to elution in the water-soluble flux is disadvantageously reduced.
For this reason, in the case where such a multilayer ceramic capacitor is mounted, a ceramic component can be eluted in an organic acid contained in a water-soluble flux used for soldering. A ceramic main body includes inner electrodes (metal) and a ceramic material having a different linear thermal expansion coefficient from that of the inner electrodes, thus resulting in residual stress. The inner electrodes are two-dimensionally supported by outer layer portions. Thus, the outer layer portions receive relatively high residual stress, compared to portions of the ceramic main body at which the inner electrodes are not located, the portions of the ceramic main body being adjacent to both side surfaces of the ceramic main body on each of the ceramic layers for the inner layers. Accordingly, in the case where a component in the outer layer portions is eluted in the water-soluble flux to embrittle the outer layer portions, changes that occur over time after solder mounting disadvantageously cause a structural defect.


A device for measuring a physical value, such as a vibratory gyroscope, is provided. The device comprises a vibrator; a driving means for exciting a driving vibration in the vibrator; a detecting means for obtaining an output signal based on a detection vibration excited in the vibrator in response with the physical value; and a detection circuit for processing the output signal to provide a detection signal corresponding with the physical value. The vibrator has at least one bending vibration arms 1A and 1B vibrating in bending mode along a specified plane (X-Y plane). The bending vibration arm comprises at least a pair of base parts 2A, 2B and a connecting part 3 connecting the base parts 2A, 2B. The connecting and base parts define a pair of recesses 8A, 8B.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for measuring a physical value and a vibrator.
2. Related Art Statement
A piezoelectric vibratory gyroscope utilizes a Coriolis force, which is generated when an angular movement is applied to a vibrating object in a direction perpendicular to the vibratory direction. Its mechanism is understood by using a dynamic model (For example, see "Handbook of Elastic Wave Device Technologies" (Danseiha-Sosi Gijutsu Handbook) published by Ohm, Inc., pp. 491 to 497).
The assignee has studied various applications of a vibratory gyroscope and has studied to use a vibratory gyroscope as a turning angular rate sensor employed in a vehicle control system of an automobile body based on a vehicle turning rate feedback system. Such a system detects the direction of a steering wheel using a turning angle of the steering wheel. Simultaneously, the turning rate of the car vehicle is detected by the vibratory gyroscope. The system finds a difference by comparing the direction of the steering wheel with the actual body turning velocity, and attains a stable vehicle control by correcting wheel torque and steering angle on the basis of this difference.
It is indispensable to detect the turning angular rate at a high precision in such control system. When the detection of turning angular rate at a high precision is tried, however, unnecessary dislocation, or movement, may be easily induced in the bending vibration arm of a vibrator. The unnecessary dislocation may directly contribute to an error in a detection signal from the arm. That is, in a vibratory gyroscope, driving vibration is excited in the driving vibration arm of a vibrator. When the vibrator is then turned, a detection electrode provided on a detection vibration arm detects a detection vibration induced in the vibrator. The thus obtained alternating current output signal is supplied into a detection circuit, and subjected to a process for reducing the effects of the driving vibration as much as possible to finally obtain an output signal corresponding to a turning angular rate. The output signal is normally output as a value of direct current. The unnecessary vibration and dislocation directly affect the measured value of turning angular rate to result in a noise, which is difficult to precisely remove.
The assignee has disclosed the idea of forming an elongate hole in a driving vibration or detection vibration arm of a vibrator, as described in Japanese patent publication 11-125528A. The applicant has tried to provide a through hole in a longitudinal direction of an elongate arm so as to lower the resonant frequency of the arm. It has further tried to provide driving and detection vibration electrodes on the inner wall surfaces facing the through holes to reduce the above described unnecessary dislocation and vibration.
However, the assignee has further studied and found that the magnitude of noise may be increased when a through hole is formed in the driving or detection vibration arm. For example, when a vibratory gyroscope is mounted in an automobile for controlling the direction of a car body of the automobile, the vibratory gyroscope is contained in a housing. The housing needs to be fixed onto the chassis of the car body of the automobile. In this case, an outer vibration (a linear acceleration) is transmitted to the vibrator from the chassis of the car body of the automobile. Such irregular linear acceleration or outer disturbance applied onto the vibratory gyroscope may result in an increase of noise level.

Devices for measuring physical values and vibrators


A method of mounting elements in a wind turbine tower, whereby the elements are partly or completely attached to the wind turbine tower by means of magnetic attraction forces. Wind turbine suspension units may be attached to the wind turbine tower, preferably completely or partly to the inner wall by means of magnetic attraction forces, which present structure-weakening attachments to the tower or part of the tower.

Typically, wind turbine towers carry the nacelle and the rotor of a wind turbine in order to allow for the desired rotation of the rotor and to raise the rotor into a position as far as possible from the ground as wind speeds typically increase with the distance to the ground.
A wind turbine tower may be constructed according to several different principles, e.g., as tubular steel towers, lattice towers, or even concrete towers.
Most large wind turbines are delivered with tubular steel towers manufactured in sections of 20-30 meters with flanges at both ends, and bolted together on the site. The towers are typically conical in order to increase strength and save materials at the same time.
The steel towers typically comprise an interior with platforms, ladders, illumination means, power cables, lifts, etc. The components are welded to the inner surface of the steel tower section, or directly attached to the fittings, which have been welded and/or bolted to the tower.
One of several problems associated with the above-described wind turbine towers is that the welding or bolting of especially the interior tower components such as ladders, cables, etc., weaken the tower structure.
In some cases, it is possible to compensate for this problem by taking relatively costly precautions, which may, in turn, infer significant structural limitations for which no compensation is made.


An on-board computer system for machines has comprising a computer unit, a plurality of operation units for the machines such that the machines are adjustable, controllable and regulatable through the computer unit by adjusting values stored or inputted in the computer unit, inputting means for completing and changing data stored in said computer unit, an exchangeable operator plate having indicating and inputting means, and a mobile case accommodating the computer unit and formed so that the mobile sleeve is releasably connectable with the working machine and mountable on different working machines.

The present invention relates to an mobile on-board computer system with operation units for machines.
More particularly, it relates to such a on-board computer, through which the machine can be adjusted, controlled and/or regulated by adjustment values which are stored and/or inputted in the on-board computer system, and the data stored in the on-board computer system are completable or changeable by input devices, as well as provided with an exchangeable operation plate, the indicating devices and the inputting devices.
On-board computer system of this type is disclosed for example in the German patent document DE 40 16 603. Such an on-board computer system provides an improved regulation and control of the machine equipped with it. It has however the advantage that it is relatively expensive. Since in addition a plurality of machines can be available, for example in the agriculture, it is necessary to provide for control and regulation of machine components at least partially similarly built hardware and software. Therefore, in a mass production when it is necessary to equip the machines with the on-board computer systems the situation occurs that the machine user is forced to purchase for each individual machine new corresponding hardware and software with the machine. Under certain conditions however, it does not use all machines and thereby invests in capacities which it does not need under the circumstances. The German document DE 36 12 767 it is proposed to provide an operation surface for an on-board computer system with a quickly releasable connection to the neighboring components. However, only one exchangeable operation surface can not lead to a substantial cost reduction of the machine user, since many machine-specific hardware and software components remain on a machine.

Mobile on-board computer system with operation units for machines


An unleaded gasoline composition comprises, based on the total volume of the unleaded gasoline composition, 50 to 96 vol. % of an unleaded gasoline; 2 to 20 vol. % of a mixed butanol; and 2 to 30 vol. % of a distillate oil fraction comprising a paraffin, an olefin, a naphthene, and an aromatic at an initial boiling point cut of 180° C., wherein the unleaded gasoline, the mixed butanol, and the distillate oil fraction are selected to provide the unleaded gasoline composition with a Research Octane Number of 90 to 101, determined in accordance with ASTM D 2699; and a Motor Octane Number of 81.4 to 90, determined in accordance with ASTM D 2700.

This application relates to lead free gasoline compositions comprising octane-boosting additives and methods of making the gasoline compositions.
Commercial gasoline, which is fuel for internal combustion engines, is a refined petroleum product that is typically a mixture of hydrocarbons (base gasoline), additives, and blending agents. Additives and blending agents, for example octane boosters, are added to the base gasoline to enhance the performance and the stability of gasoline.
When used in high compression internal combustion engines, gasoline has the tendency to "knock." Knocking occurs when combustion of the air/fuel mixture in the cylinder does not start off correctly in response to ignition because one or more pockets of air/fuel mixture pre-ignite outside the envelope of the normal combustion front. Anti-knocking agents, also known as octane boosters, reduce the engine knocking phenomenon, and increase the octane rating of the gasoline. Prior octane boosters such as tetraethyl lead and methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl ("MMT") have been or are being phased out for environmental, health, or other reasons.
Preferred compounds in present use for formulating octane boosters include C4 oxygenate compounds such as methyl tert-butyl ether ("MTBE"), ethyl tert-butyl ether ("ETBE"), and n-butanol and its isomers. However, the production and storage of the large quantities of these materials at oil refineries can be costly. In addition, limitations on the use of high concentrations of additives by regulatory mandate increase the difficulty and expense of refining operations that produce high-octane fuels. There is a need for a fuel additive or fuel that has an octane rating that is comparable to gasoline and that has increased combustion efficiency.
In view of the foregoing, there remains a need to provide cost-effective gasoline compositions including octane-enhancing compositions.


An apparatus for sensing the position of an object includes an irradiation portion for irradiating the object with continuous electromagnetic radiation, a detection portion for detecting electromagnetic radiation reflected by the object, and an output portion for supplying a change in an amplitude intensity or a phase of the electromagnetic radiation based on information obtained by the detection portion. The position of the object is detected based on information supplied from the output portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for sensing the position of an object by propagating electromagnetic radiation in a space, and particularly to an apparatus and method for sensing the position of an object by propagating terahertz (THz) electromagnetic radiation in a space.
2. Description of the Related Background Art
In this specification, the terminology "the terahertz (THz) electromagnetic radiation" or "terahertz (THz) radiation" or "terahertz (THz)" is used for radiation in a frequency range between about 30 GHz and about 30 THz. Conventionally, terahertz (THz) radiation pulses are used for position sensing using terahertz (THz) radiation, as disclosed in "Time domain terahertz impulse ranging studies (Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 67, p. 1960, 1995)". A femtosecond laser used for generation of the terahertz (THz) radiation pulses is, however, typically expensive and large in size.
Accordingly, a relatively low-cost position sensing apparatus is strongly desired.

Position sensing apparatus, and position sensing method


A combustor includes an inner liner; an outer liner circumscribing the inner liner and forming a combustion chamber with the inner liner; a combustor dome coupled to the inner and outer liners; and a plurality of heat shields coupled to combustor dome. Each of the heat shields includes a heat shield plate defined by a first edge facing the inner liner and a second edge facing the outer liner; and a plurality of baffles extending from the heat shield plate. Each of the plurality of baffles includes two ribs and a connection portion connecting the two ribs to form a closed portion and an opposite open portion. The open portion of each of the plurality of baffles faces the first edge or the second edge.

Combustor heat shields have been used in the combustors of gas turbine engines. These heat shields are positioned between the combustor dome and the combustion chamber and are used to shield the combustor dome from the heat generated by ignited gases within the combustion chamber. Impingement openings in the combustor dome allow air to pass through the dome. The air then contacts the upstream surface of the heat shield to cool the heat shield by impingement and convection heat transfer. However, the air may not adequately cool the heat shield.
An increase in the effectiveness of cooling results in increased durability for the heat shields, and thus, reduces replacement frequency. One mechanism for increasing the effectiveness of heat shield cooling includes increasing the volume of air that passes through the impingement openings of the combustor dome. The increased air volume may increase heat shield cooling, but the quantity of cooling air available to the heat shield is generally restricted by the demand to cool other areas of the combustor and turbine engine.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide heat shields for use in combustors that provide more effective cooling. In addition, it is desirable to provide combustors that exhibit increased cooling effectiveness. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.


A dispenser for a cleaning and dental-care formulation which is present in solid form as a sheet (1) and is provided in conjunction with a toothbrush (10) for oral and dental hygiene is characterized in that the dispenser and the toothbrush (10) together are designed as a functional unit (20).

Such a cleaning and dental-care formulation in solid form is also known as a "cleaning wafer".
Toothbrushes are generally known means for cleaning teeth manually. For the cleaning procedure, an amount of toothpaste is usually applied, from a dispenser tube, directly to the brush and cleaning is carried out therewith. Cleaning means in the form of powders or in granular form are also known, these cleaning means sticking to the ends of the bristles, once the previously moistened toothbrush has been dipped therein, and being applied to the teeth by the toothbrush in this way.
Recently, sheet-like teeth-cleaning formulations in solid form, known as "dental-care wafers", which are intended to replace the function of toothpaste have been developed. Such wafers may be stored either as pre-cut individual formulations or as a sheet, preferably in the form of a roll. In any case, a satisfactory technical solution for the usage of these novel sheets or sheet sections, that is to say for the application thereof to the head of the toothbrush, have still not been found or made commercially available. This is because the person using these sheets or sheet sections has to avoid using his or her fingers for applying them to the toothbrush, because it is generally assumed that teeth cleaning is part of a daily body-care routine, in which case one's fingers, if not exactly wet, are at least moist, as a result of which the wafers partly dissolve and either stick to the fingers or disintegrate. There is thus an urgent need to develop a dispenser which is intended for the convenient and ergonomically favourable application of dental-care wafers and takes account of the practical requirements of simple and straightforward storage as well as the application of sheet-like dental-care formulations.

Dispenser for a sheet-like cleaning and dental-care formulation


Disclosed is a low profile catheter shaft configuration for incorporation into any of a variety of catheters. The shaft comprises an inner collapsible tube coaxially disposed within an outer tube. The outer tube may be collapsible or relatively noncollapsible. The effect of the structure is to provide first and second side-by-side lumens with a movable wall extending axially therebetween. The first lumen may occupy more than half of the inside diameter of the shaft such as during advancement along a guidewire, and the second lumen may occupy more than half of the inside diameter such as following withdrawal of the guidewire and during inflation of a balloon. Methods are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to catheters for percutaneous transluminal use. More particularly, the present invention relates to low profile catheter shaft designs for use with catheters intended for accessing remote or tortuous vascular locations.
A wide variety of interventional procedures have been developed which require access to remote parts of the vascular system. One increasingly utilized coronary revascularization procedure, for example, is percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). In a typical PTCA procedure, a guiding catheter having a prebent distal tip is percutaneously introduced at a remote location such as the femoral artery using a conventional Seldinger technique. The guide catheter is advanced retrograde until it reaches the ascending aorta with the distal tip seated in the ostium of a desired coronary artery. Steering is accomplished during transluminal advancement by torquing the proximal end of the guide catheter as needed until the distal tip is positioned in the ostium.
An elongate, flexible guidewire is then advanced through and out the distal end of the guide catheter, and negotiated through the tortuous vasculature of the coronary arteries until it crosses a lesion to be dilated. A dilatation catheter is thereafter advanced along the guidewire until the dilatation balloon is positioned within the lesion.
Once properly positioned, the balloon is inflated one or more times to an inflation pressure on the order of six to twelve atmospheres or higher to dilate the lesion. Balloon catheters sized for the coronary arteries may inflate to a diameter in the range of from about two to about four cm. Following dilatation, the balloon is deflated and the catheter is proximally withdrawn from the patient.
Considerable effort has been devoted to reducing the profile and improving the trackability (flexibility) of PTCA and other interventional catheters. Improvements of this nature can enable the catheter to reach more remote and smaller treatment sites. These capabilities can permit treatment of both more remote coronary arteries as well as other narrow and tortuous vessels such as within the intracranial vasculature.
A further requirement of a successful dilatation or other therapeutic or diagnostic catheter is that the catheter shaft exhibit sufficient pushability. Pushability relates to the longitudinal transmission of force along the axial length of the catheter from the proximal end to the distal end. This characteristic is necessary to enable the physician to advance the catheter against resistive forces such as due to the tortuous path and small diameter of the vessel and target stenosis.
Notwithstanding the significant research effort in this technology, there remains a need for a catheter shaft design which minimizes the crossing profile and yet retains sufficient columns strength and torquability for the intended clinical objective. Preferably, the catheter shaft design can be adapted for any of a variety of functional applications, such as balloon dilatation and or drug or stint delivery catheters, either in an over the wire or a rapid exchange configuration.


A system and method are provided for attracting a magnetically responsive substance inserted in a subject's body towards a target area within the body to treat the area. The system generally comprises a medical device having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one magnetic element disposed at the distal end of the medical device for orienting the distal end in a desired direction to place an aperture against the opposite wall of the vessel. The system further includes a voltage that may be applied to a coil that is disposed on the side of the medical device and proximally spaced from the magnetic element. A voltage is applied to the coil to attract the magnetically responsive substances inserted into the body around the coil. A high frequency alternating current voltage is applied to an adjacent transducer to ultrasonically disperse the collected magnetically responsive substances into the surrounding target tissue.

Interventional medicine is the collection of medical procedures in which access to the site of treatment is made through one of the patient's blood vessels, body lumens or cavities. For example, treatment of vascular defects may be performed using a catheter which enters the patient's arterial system through a puncture of an artery, and is referred to as a Percutaneous (through the skin), Transluminal (through the blood vessel) procedure. The heretofore major impediment to particle drug delivery through the vasculature has been an inability to retain a significant fraction of the particles at the site where needed, because of the dominant viscous forces acting to rapidly drag the particles downstream in vessels with blood flowing rapidly. Even with the highest magnetic gradients available and the largest practical magnetic particles the effective delivery at the point of interest has been fractions of a percent for velocities found in all vasculatures of the body butt the capillaries. Moreover, delivery of various medical substances through the tenuous vascular wall can be difficult.
Interventional medicine is the collection of medical procedures in which access to the site of treatment is made through one of the patient's blood vessels, body cavities or lumens. For example, treatment of vascular defects may be performed using a catheter which enters the patient's arterial system through a puncture of an artery, and is referred to as a Percutaneous (through the skin), Transluminal (through the blood vessel) procedure. The heretofore major impediment to particle drug delivery through the vasculature has been an inability to retain a significant fraction of the particles at the site where needed, because of the dominant viscous forces acting to rapidly drag the particles downstream in vessels with blood flowing rapidly. Even with the highest magnetic gradients available and the largest practical magnetic particles the effective delivery at the point of interest has been fractions of a percent for velocities found in all vasculatures except the capillaries of the body. Moreover, delivery of various medical substances through the tenuous vascular wall can be difficult.

Ultrasonic disbursement of magnetically delivered substances


A method and system for reducing power consumption of a non-blocking cache memory within a data processing system is disclosed. In accordance with a method and system of the present disclosure, a detection unit, having several index-matching bits, is associated with the cache memory within the data processing system. A determination is made as to whether or not there is a match in the cache memory, in response to an occurrence of a cache request while the cache memory is performing a linefill operation. In response to a determination that there is not a match for the cache request in the cache memory, another determination is made as to whether or not there is a match for the cache request with a block of information within the ongoing linefill operation. In response to a determination that there is a match for the cache request with a block of information within the ongoing linefill operation, one of the index-matching bits is set and clocks to the cache memory are turned off temporarily in order to reduce power consumption by the cache memory.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a method and system for energy conservation in general and, in particular, to a method and system for reducing power consumption within a data processing system. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and system for reducing power consumption of a non-blocking cache within a data processing system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lightweight notebook computers have become increasingly popular in recent years as many people are buying a notebook computer instead of a desktop computer as their primary computer. One of the many advantages a notebook computer offers is portability, and frequently, this portability is enhanced by its ability to operate under battery power. Needless to say, it is preferable to have a battery-powered notebook computer operate under battery power for an extended period of time before the battery needs recharging or replacing. Accordingly, from a design standpoint, it is important to reduce the power consumption of a notebook computer in order to extend the time during which the computer operates before any recharging or replacing of battery is required.
A microprocessor within a notebook computer typically accounts for up to one-third of the notebook computer's total power budget, which is around 15 W. Hence, a microprocessor originally designed for high-end desktop computers, which requires a 5V power supply and dissipates up to 16 W, is probably not a suitable candidate for notebook computer applications. For a microprocessor specifically designed to be utilized in notebook computer applications, at least three criteria must be met. First, there must be low power dissipation during the normal operation of the microprocessor. Second, there must be features for power management within the microprocessor, such as dynamic power management, and third, the most important of all from a user standpoint, the processing power of the microprocessor must be comparable to its desktop counterparts.
One of such low-power microprocessor design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,808, entitled "Circuitry and Method for Reducing Power Consumption within an Electronic Circuit," and that patent is incorporated herein by reference thereto. The disclosed method under the above-referenced patent allows the microprocessor to consume less excess power without drastically sacrificing overall performance. In addition, the disclosed method is completely transparent to a user.
In light of U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,808, the present disclosure reveals a method for reducing power consumption of a non-blocking cache within a data processing system. The power consumption reduction method under the present disclosure may be implemented in any data processing system either independently or in conjunction with the method under U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,808. By implementing the method under the present disclosure in conjunction with the method under U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,808, an even lower power consumption level can certainly be achieved than utilizing the method under U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,808 alone.

Method and system for reducing power consumption of a non-blocking cache within a data processing system