A improved positioning and navigation method and system thereof can substantially solve the problems encountered in global positioning system-only and inertial navigation system-only, such as loss of global positioning satellite signal, sensibility to jamming and spoofing, and inertial solution's drift over time, in which the velocity and acceleration from an inertial navigation processor and an attitude and heading solution from an AHRS processor are used to aid the code and carrier phase tracking of the global positioning system satellite signals, so as to enhance the performance of the global positioning and inertial integration system, even in heavy jamming and high dynamic environments and when the GPS satellite signals are not available.

1. Field of the Present Invention
The present invention relates to a global positioning system (GPS) and inertial measurement unit (IMU) integrated positioning and navigation method, and more particularly to an improved integration method of the global positioning system (GPS) receiver with the inertial measurement unit (IMU) and an attitude and heading system (AHS), which allows the mutual aiding operation of the global positioning system (GPS) receiver and the inertial navigation system (INS) at an advanced level with features of inertial aiding global positioning system satellite signal tracking and rapid global positioning system signal carrier phase integer ambiguity resolution. An AHRS (Attitude and Heading Reference System) processing with magnetometer data and GPS attitude determination allows user to obtain a more stabilized/accurate Attitude and Heading solution.
2. Description of Related Arts
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,167,347, 6,292,750 and 6,697,736 owned by the applicant of the present invention, suggest a positioning method and system for a vehicle or other carrier, which is a GPS/IMU integrated positioning and navigation method and system. Although it allows the mutual aiding operation of the GPS receiver and the inertial navigation system at an advanced level with features of inertial aiding GPS satellite signal tracking and rapid global positioning system signal carrier phase integer ambiguity resolution, it fails to provide a stabilized attitude and heading solution when the GPS signals are not available, such as the vehicle or carrier carrying the system is inside an enclosed structure where the GPS signals are blocked.
It is known that the global positioning system user equipment, which consists of two antennas, a signal processing unit, and associated electronics and displays, receives the signals from the global positioning system satellites to obtain position, velocity, and time solution. The global positioning system principle of operation is based on range triangulation. Because the satellite position is known accurately via ephemeris data, the user can track the satellite's transmitted signal and determine the signal propagation time. Since the signal travels at the speed of light, the user can calculate the geometrical range to the satellite. The actual range measurement (called the pseudorange) contains errors, for example, bias in the user's clock relative to global positioning system reference time. Because atomic clocks are utilized in the satellites, their errors are much smaller in magnitude than the users' clocks. Thus, for three-dimensional position determination, and also to calculate the clock bias, the pure global positioning system needs a minimum of four satellites to obtain a navigation solution.
Global positioning system GPS contains a number of error sources: the signal propagation errors, satellites errors, and the selective availability. The user range error (URE) is the resultant ranging error along the line-of-sight between the user and the global positioning system satellite. Global positioning system errors tend to be relatively constant (on average) over time, thus giving global positioning system long-term error stability. However, the signals of the global positioning system may be intentionally or unintentionally jammed or spoofed, or the global positioning system (GPS) receiver antenna may be obscured during vehicle attitude maneuvering, and the global positioning system signals may be lost when the signal-to-noise ratio is low and the vehicle is undergoing highly dynamic maneuvers.
An inertial navigation system (INS) is made up by an onboard inertial measurement unit, a processor, and embedded navigation software(s). The positioning solution is obtained by numerically solving Newton's equations of motion using measurements of vehicle specific forces and rotation rates obtained from onboard inertial sensors. The onboard inertial sensors, consisting of accelerometers and gyros, together with the associated hardware and electronics comprise the inertial measurement unit, IMU.
The inertial navigation system may be mechanized in either a gimbaled or a strapdown configuration. In a gimbaled inertial navigation system, the accelerometers and gyros are mounted on a gimbaled platform to isolate the sensors from the rotations of the vehicle, and to keep the measurements and navigation calculations in a stabilized navigation coordinated frame. Possible navigation frames include earth centered inertial (ECI), earth-centered-earth-fix (ECEF), locally level with axes in the directions of north, east, down (NED), and locally level with a wander azimuth. In a strapdown inertial navigation system, the inertial sensors are rigidly mounted to the vehicle body frame, and a coordinate frame transformation matrix (analyzing platform) is used to transform the body-expressed acceleration and rotation measurements to a navigation frame to perform the navigation computation in the stabilized navigation frame.
Gimbaled inertial navigation systems can be more accurate and easier to calibrate than strapdown inertial navigation systems. Strapdown inertial navigation systems can be subjected to higher dynamic conditions (such as high turn rate maneuvers) which can stress inertial sensor performance. However, with the availability of newer gyros and accelerometers, strapdown inertial navigation systems become the predominant mechanization due to their low cost and reliability.
Inertial navigation systems, in principle, permit pure autonomous operation and output continuous position, velocity, and attitude data of vehicle after initializing the starting position and initiating an alignment procedure. In addition to autonomous operation, other advantages of inertial navigation system include the full navigation solution and wide bandwidth. However, an inertial navigation system is expensive and subject to drift over an extended period of time. It means that the position error increases with time. This error propagation characteristic is primarily caused by its inertial sensor error sources, such as gyro drift, accelerometer bias, and scale factor errors.
The inherent drawbacks of a stand-alone inertial navigation system (INS) and a stand-alone global positioning system (GPS) show that a stand-alone inertial navigation system or a stand-alone global positioning system can not meet mission requirements under some constraints such as low cost, high accuracy, continuous output, high degree of resistance to jamming and high dynamic.
In the case of integration of global positioning system with inertial navigation system, the short term accuracy of the inertial navigation system and the long term stability and accuracy of global positioning system directly complement each other.
One of the conventional integration approaches of global positioning system and inertial navigation system is to reset directly the inertial navigation system with global positioning system-derived position and velocity. The second approach is the cascaded integration where the global positioning system-derived position and velocity are used as the measurements in an integration Kalman filter. The third approach uses an extended Kalman filter processes the raw pseudorange and delta range measurements of the global positioning system to provide optimal navigation parameter error estimates of the inertial navigation system, inertial sensor errors, and the global positioning system receiver clock offset.
The shortcomings of the above existing integration approaches are:
(1) In the conventional global positioning system and inertial navigation system integration approaches, only position and velocity derived by global positioning system receiver or global positioning system raw pseudorange and delta range measurements are used. In fact, the raw carrier phase measurements of global positioning system have the highest measurement accuracy, but are not employed to contribute to an integration solution.
(2) A significant impediment to the aiding of global positioning system signal tracking loops with inertial navigation system is that the aiding causes the potential instability of the conventional global positioning system and inertial navigation integration system. The reason is that there is a positive feedback signal loop in the combined global positioning and inertial system. The accuracy degradation of the inertial aiding data increases the signal tracking errors. The increased tracking errors fed to the inertial system may cause further degradation of inertial system, because the measurements may severely affect the Kalman filter, which is well tuned for a low accuracy inertial navigation system.
(3) In conventional tightly-coupled global positioning and inertial integration system, low accurate inertial sensor can not provide global positioning system satellite signal carrier phase tracking with velocity aiding, because the aiding of carrier phase tracking loop requires high accuracy of external input velocity.
(4) When the GPS signals are not available, such as the vehicle or the carrier of the positioning system is inside an enclosed structure, e.g. a parking structure, no attitude and heading solution can be obtained.

Positioning and navigation method and system thereof


A holder, for a pulse oximetry probe having an infrared light transmitter and an infra-red light receiver, includes a pair of grippers for attaching the holder to a finger, a surface onto which a pulse oximetry probe may be attached, and a pair of visual apertures for allowing infra-red light from the transmitter of the pulse oximetry probe to travel through the holder to the receiver of the pulse oximetry probe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to finger oximetry probes. More particularly, the present invention relates to a holder for finger oximetry probes.
2. General Background of the Invention
Pulse oximetry probes (pulse oximeters) are used to measure saturated oxygen (SaO2) by transmitting infra-red light through a person's fingertip. Pulse oximeters are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,825,872; 4,825,879; 4,865,038; 4,834,532; 4,883,353; and 4,927,264, all incorporated herein by reference.
Many manufacturers of pulse oximeters make disposable finger probes which are intended to be single-patient-use items. These probes typically cost around $15 each. The probes are made to be taped to one finger of the patient, but sometimes the probe needs to be moved from the first finger to another for improved pulse sensing. This movement from the first finger to another presently requires untaping and retaping the disposable probe, which can cause damage to the probe and its ability to adhere.


A process is disclosed for providing a solvent-spun cellulose fiber with a reduced fibrillation tendency. The fiber is treated with a chemical reagent, preferably substantially colorless, having 2 to 6 functional groups reactive with cellulose, suitably dissolved in an aqueous solution.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is concerned with the treatment of fibres and has particular relevance to the treatment of fibres to reduce their tendency to fibrillation and to the treatment of solvent-spun cellulose fibres.
Proposals have been made to produce cellulose fibres by spinning a solution of cellulose in a suitable solvent. An example of such a process is described in GB-A-2043525, the contents of which are incorporated herein by way of reference. In such a solvent-spinning process, cellulose is dissolved in a solvent for the cellulose such as a tertiary amine N-oxide, for example N-methylmorpholine N-oxide. The resulting solution is then extruded through a suitable die to produce a series of filaments, which are washed in water to remove the solvent and subsequently dried. Such cellulose fibres are referred to herein as "solvent-spun" cellulose fibres and are to be contrasted with fibres produced by chemical regeneration of cellulose compounds, such as viscose fibres, cuprammonium fibres, polynosic fibres and the like.
The present invention is particularly concerned with the treatment of such solvent-spun cellulose fibres so as to reduce the tendency of the fibres to fibrillate. Fibrillation is the breaking up in a longitudinal mode of a fibre to form a hairy structure. A practical process to reduce fibrillation tendency needs not only to inhibit fibrillation but also to have a minimal effect on subsequent processability of the fibre and to have as little as possible effect on tenacity and extensibility of the fibre. Some processes which have been investigated by the applicants and which will reduce the fibrillation tendency have the unwanted side effects either of reducing the tenacity and the extensibility of the fibre or of embrittling the fibre so as to make it unprocessable.
Cellulose fabrics have been treated with resins to give improved crease resistance. This type of treatment is described in an article entitled "Textile Resins" in Encyclopaedia of Polymer Science and Technology, Volume 16 (1989, Wiley-Interscience) at pages 682-710. The resins used are generally polyfunctional materials which react with and crosslink cellulose. Resin treatment may reduce breaking strength and tearing strength as well as abrasion resistance. Fabrics are usually dyed before crosslinking because the dye cannot penetrate the crosslinked fibre.
The literature on the dyeing of fibres, including natural cellulosic fibres such as cotton and artificial cellulosic fibres such as cuprammonium and viscose rayon, is extensive. Representative examples of this literature include: Man-Made Fibres, R. W. Moncrieff, 6th Edition (Newnes-Butterworth, 1975), Chapter 49 (pages 804-951); an article entitled "Dyeing" in Encyclopaedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, Volume 5 (Wiley-Interscience, 1986), pages 214-277; and Textile Dyeing Operations, S. V. Kulkami et al. (Noyes Publications, 1986). Common types of dye for cellulose include direct dyes, azo dyes, fibre-reactive dyes, sulphur dyes and vat dyes. The choice of dye for any particular application is governed by various factors including but not limited to the desired colour, levelness of dyeing, effect on lustre, wash-fastness, light-fastness and cost.
Reactive dyes are described in an article entitled "Dyes, Reactive" in Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopaedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd edition, Volume 8 (1979, Wiley-Interscience) at pages 374-392. These dyes contain a chromophore system attached directly or indirectly to a unit which carries one or more functional groups reactive with the material to be dyed. Reactive dyes for cellulosic materials are particularly described at pages 380-384 of the above-mentioned article. The reactive functional groups tend to hydrolyse in the dye bath, and reactive dyes containing several reactive groups have been used to provide higher fixation efficiency.
2. Description of Related Art
GB-A-878655 describes a process in which a synthetic resin is incorporated in a regenerated cellulose fibre. Never-dried conventional viscose rayon fibre has a water imbibition of 120-150% and is squeezed to reduce the water imbibition to 100%. (Water imbibition is defined as the weight of water retained per unit weight of bone-dry fibre.) The squeezed fibre is then treated with a crosslinking agent, for example a formaldehyde resin precondensate, squeezed again to reduce the water imbibition to 100%, dried, and heated to cure the resin. The cured resin crosslinks the fibre, and the treated fibre has improved processability into yarn and cloth. GB-A-950073 describes a similar process. Such processes do, however, embrittle the fibre and reduce extensibility.
FR-A-2273091 describes a method of manufacturing polynosic viscose rayon fibre with reduced fibrillation tendency. The fibre is treated in the primary gel state characteristic of polynosic viscose rayon manufacture with a crosslinking agent containing at least two acrylamido groups and an alkaline catalyst. This primary polynosic gel is a highly swollen gel having a water imbibition of 190-200%, which is only found in polynosic viscose rayon that has never been dried.
EP-A-118983 describes a method of treating natural textile fibres, for example wool and cotton, and synthetic polyamide fibres to enhance their affinity for disperse or anionic dyestuffs. The fibres are treated with an aqueous solution or dispersion of an arylating agent. The arylating agent contains both a hydrophobic benzene or naphthalene ring and a reactive group such as a halotriazine group.
EP-A-174794 describes a method of treating natural textile fibres, for example wool and cotton, and synthetic polyamide fibres with an arylating agent. This treatment provides cellulose fibres and fabrics with improved dye affinity and crease recovery. The arylating agent preferably contains at least one functional group which is a vinyl sulphone or a precursor thereof.

Process for reducing the fibrillation tendency of solvent-spun cellulose fibre


A composite implant device for use in a medical application, comprising a synthetically-derived mesh that mimics particular critical aspects of a biologically-derived mesh. The composite implant device can be used for the reinforcement and reconstruction of tissues within the body and can be comprised of a majority of synthetic components and minority of naturally-derived components which mimic the structure and function of a naturally-derived mesh.

Despite the expanding sophistication of medical devices, repair and replacement of tissues remains a formidable challenge. In reinforcing applications, implant devices are used for internal support and augmentation of injured and/or diseased tissues. For reconstruction of soft tissue, these implant devices typically comprise a mesh component or mesh-like structures that are able to conform to the native tissue, thereby providing mechanical support, integration into surrounding tissues, and promotion of healing.
Implant meshes are commonly referred to as surgical meshes and include two (2) main classes of material: 1) synthetically-derived meshes made from non-degradable or degradable materials which can provide engineered strength, resorption, and structure, and 2) biologically-derived meshes which are of xenogenic or allogenic origin and have had their cellular content removed providing an extracellular matrix framework. Both of these types of meshes have their benefits and drawbacks which results in a range of usage and choice by the clinician along with a myriad of results as described in the literature.
Synthetically-derived meshes have the advantage of customization that allows for engineering to achieve particular structures and properties as needed for a particular application. This includes engineered strength, engineered porosity, eliminates risks of pathogen transfer, and engineered structure, as well as of the added benefit of being easily molded into different shapes and sizes using various processing techniques. However, certain disadvantages exist for meshes comprised of synthetic materials. These disadvantages, or drawbacks, include a lack of extracellular matrix molecules resulting in a lack of biological activity and minimal ability to elicit beneficial biological responses; the generation of degradation by-products such as lactic and glycolic acid which can have negative effects on the surrounding wound environment and the potential for foreign body reaction that may develop after implantation.
Biologically-derived mesh materials are currently being used to restore tissue defects within the body. The benefits of using biologically-derived mesh materials include their ability to mimic the natural extracellular matrix structure and composition, emulate native stimulatory effects of extracellular matrix on cells, and allow the direct incorporation of growth factors and/or matrix proteins to further enhance cell and tissue function. Drawbacks to using biologically-derived mesh materials include varied degradation kinetics, variability in material consistency based on anatomical location and donor species, and the possible transfer of pathogens.
One mesh in particular that is a leading choice for biologically-derived mesh materials is acellular dermal matrix (ADM) which was first introduced in 1994. ADM is derived specifically from the dermis layer within skin that is located between the epidermis and the subcutaneous tissue. The dermis is approximately 1-4 mm in thickness and divided into two layers, the papillary region and the reticular region. The papillary region is located in the superficial layer that is adjacent to the epidermis, and a deep thicker area known as the reticular region is found deeper within the tissue residing above the hypodermis.
Compositionally, ADM varies zonally which contributes to its function, morphology, and properties. For example, Type IV collagen is restricted to the basal laminae found at the dermal-epidermal junction residing in the papillary region. In regards to composition, Type I and Type III collagens account for the majority of collagens present within the dermis with approximately 80-85% being Type I collagen. In the dermis, Type I collagen appears as large-diameter fibrils that organize into large bundles in the reticular dermis. Type III collagen makes up only 10-15% of the dermal collagen and it forms small-diameter fibrils that are assembled into small-sized fiber bundles. Type I procollagen is found in the upper papillary dermis. Elastic fibers are composed mainly of elastin and are found in the deep reticular dermis.
The papillary dermis consists of two regions: a sub-epidermal band and the papillary dermis proper. The papillary dermis proper contains fine-diameter collagen fibrils that are organized into loosely intermeshed (woven) bundles that are typically smaller than those of the reticular dermis. The fine-diameter fibrils and the small size of the fiber bundles are presumed to be a result of the higher ratio of Type III:I collagen in this region. Compared with the reticular dermis, the papillary dermis has a higher density of cells, a greater proportion of vascular tissue, and compositionally is comprised of different glycosaminoglycans. The sub-epidermal band is a narrow zone of papillary dermis found immediately beneath the basal lamina. This band consists of a diffuse network of fine collagen fibrils that interlace with anchoring fibrils from the basal lamina and elastin fibers. The papillary dermis proper is the structurally stable region of the skin.
The reticular dermis is coarse, densely interwoven bundles of collagen and is characterized by two regions, the uppermost and deep region. The uppermost reticular dermis is comprised of elastin and intermediate sized collagen fibers. The deep reticular dermis contains the largest-diameter fibrils and largest fiber bundles of any dermal region. Within the deep reticular dermis, the composition is mixed between both collagen and elastic fibers.
The papillary and reticular regions have significantly different mechanical properties which may be mostly attributed to the differences in structure at the cellular and molecular levels. For example, the papillary region is tightly connected to the epidermis through a basement membrane and comprised of loosely organized areolar connective tissue below the basement membrane. In contrast, the reticular region forms a thicker composition and is composed of dense and irregular connective tissue and comprised of collagenous, elastic, and reticular fibers that form an intermeshed network. The reticular region of the dermis is responsible for the majority of the strength, extensibility, and elasticity of the tissue while the papillary region forms a membrane-like structure.
As discussed above various structural components form the dermis and include collagen, elastic fibers, and extracellular matrix molecules including anionic polysaccharides such as chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, and hyaluronic acid. Based on the induced negative charge of the polysaccharide component, ADM possesses the ability to undergo hydration and swelling due to the polarity of water.
Current ADM products are derived from allogenic (human) or xenogenic (porcine, bovine, equine, ovine) sources that has been removed of cellular components (DNA and surface antigens) that would normally cause inflammation and rejection upon implantation. The resulting material is a tissue matrix that promotes intrinsic regeneration properties via autologous cell repopulation, angiogenesis, and normal tissue in-growth, promoting better integration with excellent post-operative healing. ADM has been shown to be useful for reconstruction in a multitude of surgical applications, and ADM comes in a variety of sizes, shapes, and thickness ranging from 0.3 mm to upwards of 2 mm. Typical sizes can range from 4 cm×16 cm, and sizing is dependent on the size of the tissue defect. The overall biological mechanism for the benefit of ADM does vary based on brand and surgical techniques employed. However, ADM products generally strive to preserve the complex composition and three-dimensional ultrastructure of the native extracellular matrix. During processing of tissues to create ADM, it is accepted and understood that some degree of disruption will occur to the composition and to a lesser extent the architecture of the native tissue, and therefore variation is expected from piece to piece.
ADM has been implemented for multiple indications including dental surgery, burn reconstruction, eyelid reconstruction, hand surgery, lower extremity coverage, nasal reconstruction, pelvic floor reconstruction, as well as scalp reconstruction. The use of ADM has been highly regarded for abdominal wall reconstruction and breast reconstruction and was first used for these types of procedures in 2001. Since then, the use of ADM has expanded in the reconstruction space; however, there have been a wide range of positive and negative results depending on the type of ADM used, the particular surgical technique, and patient population. In general, ADM products strive to preserve the complex composition and three-dimensional ultrastructure of the native extracellular matrix. During processing of these tissues, it is accepted that some degree of disruption will occur to the composition and to a lesser extent the architecture of the native tissue.
ADM may be provided in dry or hydrated forms, although typical procedures require ADM to be hydrated within a short time frame that can range anywhere from three (3) to thirty (30) minutes prior to placement. Further, the surgical performance of ADM is also dependent on the appropriate determination of ADM surface polarity and the subsequent implantation according to that determination. The two ADM surfaces are very different in structure and topography and can serve different functions, so it is critical to identify the two sides correctly when used in a surgical procedure. The first side of ADM is the recticular region, and this surface is known to readily absorb blood when placed in contact with the wound bed. This is due to its ability to allow for revascularization which is afforded by its large surface area and fibrillar nature. The opposing side of ADM is the papillary region and features a dull, roughened appearance due to the basement membrane. It should also be noted that the inherent tackiness of the ADM surfaces assists with adherence to other biological tissues.
A recent study examined the physical and biochemical properties of two (2) well known products: AlloDerm® and AlioMax™. Evaluation of these two matrices showed Alloderm® contains significantly higher amounts of growth factors bFGF, VEGF, and TGF-β1 which are known to stimulate wound healing and tissue growth. However, in addition to possessing enhanced levels of these growth factors, AlloDerm® contained approximately 1,500 nanograms (ng) of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) per milligram (mg) of dry weight. This is in comparison AlioMax™, which was found to have less than 0.25 ng dsDNA per mg of dry weight. This study showed significant differences in not only the physical features of these two ADM's but also in the amounts of residual biological content (i.e. ng dsDNA/mg dry weight) which could explain the variable results and significant differences in the respective clinical studies for these products.
In addition to the heterogeneity experienced between ADM brands based on biological source and processing technique, another factor that is prohibitive and discourages the use of ADM is its high cost, which can be as high as US$5,000 per piece. Overall, this material seems to display extremely desirable properties from a handling and "surgical feel" perspective based on its handling, wettability, and ability to stretch.
Prior attempts at bioabsorbable barrier composites exist in the prior art. For instance, US 2010/0074941, Shalaby discloses a composite formed of a flexible film and at least one fibrous or microfibrous adjoining component in the form of knitted mesh or electrospun, non-woven fabric. These composites can be tailored/customized to allow their use in neurological and urinogenital surgical procedures and particularly those associated with spine, cranial and urinary bladder prostheses. Due to their flexibility and barrier properties, these composites are suitable for use in the prevention of adhesion formation following several types of surgical procedures. However, the intended purpose and function of the constructs disclosed in the reference are directed to absorbable barrier composites with modulated gas and water permeability. The embodiments disclosed in the reference are not specifically engineered to mimic the structure or properties of ADM in a synthetic format, even though they may be intended for use in a multitude of surgical procedures. Prior attempts do not disclose how to mimic the structure or properties of ADM in a synthetic format. The reference, however, fails to specifically teach or suggest how to fabricate the constructs disclosed herein, and the reference also fails to provide a teaching or motivation for making such constructs.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,584, Totakura discloses a surgical adhesion barrier having at least one layer of a bioabsorbable material comprising copolymers and/or block copolymers derived from trimethylene carbonate. The barrier can be comprised of multilayers which reduce the occurrence of post-surgical adhesions. This barrier is intended to not allow cellular attachment, adhesion, or ingrowth, and moreover not to replicate the natural tissue structure. Totakura does not disclose the barrier as a means to replicate the topography or structure of natural tissue as found in ADM based products, which are designed to support and promote the adhesion and ingrowth of autologous cells and tissues.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,319,264 to Tormala, et al. discloses a degradable, multi-layered mesh implant designed specifically for closing hernia defects. While the reference describes the invention as having at least two functional components or layers, the layers are engineered for very specific purposes that are not consistent with a construct of the current disclosure. In particular, the implant is comprised of a fibrous layer that requires a rapidly degradable layer, a second layer which is more slowly degradable layer, and optionally a third layer in the form of a degradable film. The reference does not disclose, nor does it teach, the importance of certain methods suitable for adjoining the multiple layers together to reduce or prevent delamination. Further, the reference does not teach or suggest the use of elastomeric degradable materials that are critical for making a synthetic construct that mimics certain properties of biologically-derived meshes. Moreover, the present invention and its various embodiments do not require certain degradation rates for specific layers. The degradation rate of the multiple layers of the composite implant device is not necessarily relevant and not limiting. Furthermore Tormala requires the preferential placement of the hernia mesh within the body in order to support the repaired hernia defect during healing and reduce or prevent adhesion complications.
Additionally, US 2015/0151024, Shalaby, discloses fibrous composite constructs that include reinforcement of composite fibrous meshes. These constructs include two groups of bioabsorbable matrices of segmented polyaxial copolyesters reinforced with yarn constructs including a biostable yarn and at least one bioabsorbable yarn. However, the reference does not disclose how to mimic the structure and properties of ADM in a synthetic format nor are the composites fully bioresorbable. Further, it does not include the use of biomolecules as an additive and minor component within the construct, nor does it disclose the creation of a directional or zonally organized hydrating gradient.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention, in light of the disadvantages of current surgical mesh devices, to provide a surgical mesh with the beneficial attributes of ADM along with the benefits of a synthetically-derived surgical mesh. This need includes a mesh material which is biocompatible, resorbable, offers tailored, engineered mechanical properties, afforded by the synthetic mesh, and desirable handling properties, afforded by designing to mimic a biologically-derived mesh.
All of the subject matter discussed in the Background section is not necessarily prior art and should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its discussion in the Background section. Along these lines, any recognition of problems in the prior art discussed in the Background section or associated with such subject matter should not be treated as prior art unless expressly stated to be prior art. Instead, the discussion of any subject matter in the Background section should be treated as part of the inventor's approach to the particular problem, which in and of itself may also be inventive.

Synthetic implant device replicating natural tissue structure and methods of making same


An ion implantation method for achieving angular uniformity throughout a workpiece and application thereof are provided. The ion beam has at least one beamlet striking the workpiece surface with corresponding incident angles. The workpiece is mapped to an imaginary planar coordinate system. The incident angle of a center beamlet of the ion beam has a projection on the coordinate system forming a projection angle with an axis thereof. A workpiece orientation of the workpiece is adjusted based on the projection angle such that the contribution of each beamlet to the overall ion beam intensity upon striking the workpiece surface is rendered substantially the same from respective directions of each of the coordinate axes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ion implantation method, and more particularly, to an ion implantation method for achieving angular uniformity throughout a workpiece being implanted, and application thereof.
2. Background of the Related Art
Ion implantation is a material engineering process by which ions of a material can be implanted into another solid, thereby changing the physical properties of the solid. Ion implantation is used in semiconductor device fabrication. Referring to FIG. 1, which is a schematic illustration of an ion implantation system 100 in accordance with the conventional art. The ion implantation system 100 comprises an ion beam source 110, a workpiece 120 to be implanted, and a workpiece holder (not shown). An ion beam 130 is generated and directed by the ion beam source 110 to the surface of the workpiece 120. The workpiece holder may be designed that during the implantation the workpiece 120 is allowed for both a linear motion and a rotational motion, as indicated by arrows 140 and 150.
Referring to FIG. 2, which is a schematic illustration of ion implantation operation in accordance with the conventional art. An ion beam 210 is directed to strike the surface of a workpiece 220. The ion beam 210 may comprise at least one beamlet 230 (including a center beamlet 231). A beam spot 211 is formed on the workpiece surface 220 by individual beamlets 230 hitting on the workpiece surface 220. Each beamlet 230 may strike the workpiece surface 220 with a corresponding incident angle 240. The incident angle 240 is an angle between the incoming beamlet 230 and the normal (indicated by the dotted line 221) to the workpiece surface 220. It is noted that in this example the center beamlet 231 is in parallel with the normal 221 to the workpiece surface 220, which is not necessary. It is also noted that the beamlet 230 is depicted a straight line merely for convenience of illustration, in reality they are mostly curved lines except for the center beamlet 231.
In ion implantation, it is important to control the beamlet incident angle 240 because the implantation depth is generally a function of the incident angle 240 as a result of the well-known channeling effect. Further, it is sometimes necessary to perform the implantation at certain incident angles 240 in order to conform to the geometry of the device being manufactured.
In semiconductor device fabrication, the wafer dose uniformity and angular uniformity are critical to the electrical characteristics of the products. To achieve the dose uniformity throughout a workpiece being implanted, numerous implantation methods have been proposed, such as the continuous rotation-implantation approach which alternately performs rotation and implantation of the target workpiece such that when the implantation process is complete, a dose uniformity throughout the workpiece is achieved.
While it is possible to design beam transport optics which are nearly aberration-free, the beam characteristics such as angular divergence is nonetheless still determined to a great extent by the emittance properties of the ion source. A divergent beam is oftentimes fetal to the angular uniformity of the implanted workpiece in ion implantation. Therefore, an implantation method capable of achieving the angular uniformity with the limited ability of current system hardware is desired.

Ion implantation method and application thereof


In a circuit arrangement for the supply of an electrical coil (L), particularly the coil of a solenoid valve, with a predetermined operating current from a voltage source with differing operating voltages (Ub) , the coil (L) is arranged in series with a first controllable circuit element (T2) and a current sensor (R), and the measuring signal of the current sensor (R) being compared with a reference value (Uref) through a first comparator (1). A timed switch (2) is triggered by the output signal (A) of the comparator (1) when the measuring signal exceeds said reference value, the first circuit element (T2), activated by an operating signal (M), being disconnected by the output signal of the timed switch (2), until the measuring signal exceeds the reference value again. In order to ensure that the increasing time (t1) of the operating current (I), from switching on the operating current by the operating signal (M) till the reference value is reached, is independent of the selected size of the operating voltage, a second comparator (4) compares the measuring signal of the current sensor (R) with a signal (Uc) that is steadily increasing independently of a change of the operating voltage, said signal also being triggered through the operating signal (M), and the timed switch (2) is triggered by the output signal (B) of the second comparator (4), when the measuring signal exceeds the steadily increasing signal (Uc), before the measuring signal exceeds the reference value (Uref).

The invention concerns a circuit arrangement for the supply of an electrical coil, particularly the coil of a solenoid valve, with a predetermined operating current from a voltage source with differing operating voltages, the coil being arranged in series with a first controllable circuit element and a current sensor, and the measuring signal of the current sensor being compared with a reference value through a first comparator, and a timed switch being triggered by the output signal of the comparator when the measuring signal exceeds said reference value, the first circuit element, activated by an operating signal, being disconnected by the output signal of the timed switch, until the measuring signal exceeds the reference value again.
A commercially available circuit arrangement of this kind has the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. It serves the purpose of enabling the operation of the magnet coil of a solenoid valve with different operating voltages, for example with 12 Volt or 24 Volt, at the same operating current, as it is not always possible to operate the same coil over a large operating voltage range of, for example, 9 to 32 Volt: The output supplied at high operating voltage could be too high (it increases with the square of the voltage). To enable the use of the same coil in a large voltage range, for example from 9 to 32 Volt, thus avoiding the use of different coils for the different operating voltages, the known circuit arrangement keeps the current flowing through the coil L constant, independently of the actual operating voltage Ub. For this purpose, a transistor T2 operated as circuit element and a current sensor in the form of measuring resistor R are arranged in series with the coil L. The current measuring signal in the shape of the voltage drop caused by the current I at the resistor R is compared in a comparator 1 with a reference value Uref being substantially equal to the desired value of the current. The output signal A occurring at the outlet of the comparator 1, when the current measuring signal exceeds the reference value, triggers a timed switch in the shape of a monostable multivibrator 2, whose output signal is linked with an operating signal M through an AND-link 3. The outlet of the AND-link 3 is connected with the control connection of the transistor T2. The operating signal M occurs for as long as the solenoid valve must operate, that is, the current I has to flow. Thus, before begin of operation, the current measuring signal is lower than the reference value Uref, so that a high signal appears at the reversing outlet of the multivibrator 2 and the transistor T2 is ON (connected). As soon as the current I, increasing according to an exponential function, exceeds the reference value, a high signal A appears at the outlet of the comparator 1, which signal triggers the monostable multivibrator 2 and disconnects (blocks) the transistor T2 via the AND-link 3.
The diagrams in FIG. 4 show the mode of operation of the circuit arrangement according to FIG. 3. For the duration of the operating signal M, the current I flows. During the time t1, it increases exponentially until it reaches a peak value Ip, at which the reference value Uref is exceeded. The resulting signal A of the comparator 1 immediately blocks the transistor T2 again. However, the current I in the coil L continues to flow through a freewheeling diode D1 and a transistor T1 connected anti-parallel to the coil L and a Z-diode DZ1, which transistor T1 is ON (connected) for the duration of the high operating signal M. However, in this connection, the current I also drops according to an exponential function during the disconnection duration taus of the transistor T2 immediately after the disappearance of the output signal A. The monostable multivibrator 2, triggered again immediately by the disappearance of the output signal A, connects the transistor T2 again immediately after the disconnection duration taus of the transistor T2 determined by the cycling time of the monostable multivibrator 2. Then, the procedure described repeats itself, until the operating signal M disappears. At the end of the operating signal M, both transistors T1 and T2 are OFF (disconnected), after which the current I flows via the freewheeling diode D1 and the Z-diode DZ1 and quickly disappears.
The actual value of the current I is then only slightly below the peak value Ip=Uref/R and corresponds to the average value of the approximately sawtooth shaped course of the current I in FIG. 4.
The increasing time of the current I, however, depends on the size of the operating voltage Ub. As the increasing time t1 determines the response speed of the solenoid valve, the function of the solenoid valve also depends on the size of the operating voltage.
The invention is therefore based on the task of providing a circuit arrangement as described in the introduction, in which the increasing time of the current flowing through the coil after begin of operation is independent of the operating voltage.
According to the invention, this task is solved in that through a second comparator the measuring signal of the current sensor is compared with a signal that is steadily increasing independently of a change of the operating voltage, said signal also being triggered through the operating signal, and the timed switch is triggered by the output signal of the second comparator, when the measuring signal exceeds the steadily increasing signal, before the measuring signal exceeds the reference value.
With this solution, the increasing time of the coil current, immediately after begin of operation until reaching the reference value, is determined by a constant increasing time of the steadily increasing signal and is therefore constant.
In a simple way, the steadily increasing signal can be the output signal of an integrator with constant input signal.
Thus, the integrator may have a capacitor on the outlet of a constant current generator.
Parallel to the capacitor, a second circuit element may be arranged that can be disconnected on the appearance of an operating signal, and vice versa.
Further, it may be ensured that the outlets of the comparators are connected with the inlet of the timed switch via an OR-link and the output signal of the timed switch is linked with the operating signal through an AND-link, whose outlet is connected with a control connection of the first circuit element.

Circuit arrangement for the supply of an electrical coil with a predetermined operating current


An improved door jamb and brickmold assembly is provided wherein an extruded thermoplastic molding and stop member is secured to wooden support members to define the door jambs and mullions of a door and jamb assembly. The co-extruded plastic molding and stop members define both the stops of the assembly and the exposed decorative molding portion and also protect the wooden support members from exposure to the elements.

In constructing a building such as a house, it is common that openings for receiving doors and windows are first roughly framed in with wall studs, which usually are made of wood. Subsequently, the rough framed openings are finished with a wooden door or window jamb assembly, which often is provided with a decorative brickmold that abuts the brick or siding on the outside of the building. In some instances, the brickmold is milled as an integral part of the jamb frame members and in other instances the brickmold is nailed or stapled to the jamb members along their outside edges. In door jamb assemblies in particular, a peripheral lip or stop usually is milled into the wooden support members of the jamb and the stop extends around the inner periphery of the jamb. In use, a closed door mounted to the jamb assembly rests against the stop. In many instances, the stop bears a weather strip that seals against the closed door to prevent drafts.
In sidelight door jamb assemblies, a pair of spaced vertical mullions extend between the sill and the header of the assembly to form a central opening for receiving a hinged door and a pair of narrow side openings on either side of the door for receiving sidelight windows. Such mullions typically are formed of a pair of back-to-back wooden supports that have been milled along their exposed faces to provide stops for abutting a closed door or receiving and securing the sidelight windows. A strip of decorative molding is commonly nailed along the outside edges of the mullion supports to cover their outside edges, to cover the junction between the supports, and to lend a pleasing appearance to the jamb assembly.
A traditional method of fabricating a door jamb assembly is to mill the peripheral support members of the assembly from larger pieces of a high quality clear wood. In this process, a relatively wide thick piece of wood for each leg of the assembly is passed through a milling machine and unwanted portions are cut or milled away and discarded as sawdust. The milling process produces the raised inside peripheral stops and other structural features of the support members. Obviously, this process is wasteful and is becoming more and more expensive in light of the ever-increasing cost of lumber. In some instances, the entire cross-section of each frame member, including the brickmold, is milled as a unitary piece from a wide thick piece of lumber. In other instances, the frame members are milled from two pieces of wood that fit together to define the finished jamb shape. The inner peripheral supports may be milled from relatively thinner pieces of wood to define the frame and door stop and the brickmold may be nailed along the outer edges of the supports to define the finished shape of the jamb. In either case, significant amounts of expensive lumber are required as is time consuming, expensive, and wasteful machining steps. All of this adds to the final cost of traditional door jamb assemblies. Further, and perhaps even more pertinent, is the fact that the exposed wooden brickmold and the molding along the mullions of side light door jamb assemblies requires periodic painting and maintenance in order to prevent rotting as a result of exposure to the weather. Even with the most careful maintenance, these exposed wooden portions of door jamb assemblies can, over time, begin to rot from within whereupon the entire door jamb assembly usually must be replaced.
Door and window jamb assemblies have been developed that are wholly or partially comprised of extruded thermoplastic portions. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,030,830 to Sailor teaches a jamb for mounting a window or door in an opening of an existing structure. The jamb includes an extruded plastic or metal outer frame comprising the stop, a wooden inner frame or jamb for support of the extruded outer frame, fasteners for attaching the outer frame at the window or door opening, and a molded cover that secures the outer frame and conceals the fasteners attaching the frame to the structure. In Sailor, the portion of the plastic outer frame forming the stop and brickmold are hollow and thus may not provide sufficient strength to the frame. The hollow nature of the brickmold makes it unsuitable for receiving standard nails that hold the assembly to the frame. Non-carpentry standard fastening means are thus employed, which is distasteful to many carpenters. In addition, this jamb assembly requires the use of an auxiliary cover to conceal the fasteners attaching the frame to the building structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,323 to Gerritsen teaches a jamb cladding and brickmold assembly that provides a plastic member that either wraps around a wooden jamb with a milled stop or that wraps around a wooden jamb and provides its own plastic stop. An attachable brickmold is also included. This assembly, like that taught by Sailor, has hollow portions unsuitable for holding nails and liable to be punctured or otherwise deformed by heavy use or forcible contact. U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,880 to Berge, Jr., et al., teaches a cladding and brickmold apparatus similar to that taught by Gerritsen in that it wraps around a combination wooden jamb and stop. Thus, this device requires the use of a wooden jamb with stop and requires that the wood be milled to form the stop. The prior art does not teach a unitary stop and brickmold assembly made of substantially solid extruded thermoplastic material.

Doorjamb assembly with extruded unitary molding and stop members


A method for embedding an optical security feature in a digital document with a virtual printer and a security feature service and then sending the digital document to a hardware printer.

The current approach to printed document security relies primarily on a customized application that uses an application programming interface (API) provided by a vendor to embed visible and/or invisible optical security features into an intermediate digital data stream and/or file with print data for a document. The processed data stream and/or file is transmitted to a local or networked printer for printing the document.
Due to the need for integration with proprietary APIs into workflows, a digital document generated by a commercial off-the-shelve (COTS) software application, such as a word processor or spreadsheet, cannot be easily embedded with optical security features prior to printing. In addition, a custom application developed on top of a proprietary optical security feature solution coupled at the design level requires implementation changes in the event of migrating to other forms of printed security features.
A COTS application can be customized to incorporate the proprietary API of a selected technology. However, the feasibility of this approach depends on the design of the application and thus may not be an extensible solution. This approach is especially less feasible and more costly in an enterprise setting where multiple productivity applications are used.
Therefore, there is a need to alleviate the problems with embedding an optical security feature into a document to be printed.

Method of embedding optical security feature using virtual printer and security feature service


A technique for laser sculpting a predetermined shape on an exposed corneal surface by ablating a sequence of consistently curved craters with individual pulses of a laser beam. An initial laser beam energy pattern is shaped by a laser beam shaping element to make a consistently curved laser beam energy pattern. The consistently curved laser beam ablates a consistently curved crater in the surface with a single pulse of the laser beam. A computer controls the position of the laser beam and scans the laser beam over the surface to sculpt the predetermined shape in an ablation zone on the exposed surface. A sequence of partially overlapping craters is distributed over the ablation zone. In some embodiments diffractive optics are used as a beam shaping element. In additional embodiments, the consistently curved crater is a uniformly curved spherical crater.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to medical systems and methods. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of laser delivery systems for generating successive patterns of light energy for ablating corneal tissue.
Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) employ optical beam delivery systems for directing laser energy to a patient""s eye. The laser selectively ablate corneal tissue to reform the shape of the cornea and improve vision. Existing commercial systems employ pulsed lasers to ablate tissue from the eye. With these laser systems, each laser beam pulse ablates a crater in the tissue of the eye, and subsequent laser beam pulses ablate additional craters. A desired predetermined shape is sculpted in the corneal tissue by adjusting at least one of the position, size and shape of the craters made by the individual pulses.
The cornea includes an outer epithelial layer, a Bowman""s layer beneath the epithelial layer and a stromal layer beneath Bowman""s layer. At least a portion of the ablated predetermined shape is ablated in a layer beneath the epithelial layer. In order to achieve ablation of a layer beneath the epithelium, a layer of tissue is removed and a surface of the underlying tissue is exposed. This exposed surface of the cornea is ablated with the laser beam to sculpt a predetermined shape in the exposed surface. After the photorefractive keratectomy procedure, the epithelium rapidly regrows over the shaped area, producing a new anterior surface of the cornea. Alternatively, the epithelium is not removed but is partially severed and moved to the side for surgery and returned to its original position after the PRK.
The output beam from the lasers used in laser eye surgery systems is typically irregular and often requires treatment with special optics to create a more desirable beam. For example, the beams from the lasers are often spatially and temporally integrated in order to form a beam having uniform characteristics. In particular, the beams are integrated in order to display a flat or uniform intensity profile over a circular target region, often referred to as a xe2x80x9ctop hatxe2x80x9d profile. Alternatively, the laser beam may be cropped to select a portion of the beam having uniform characteristics, or the beam may be focused onto the eye to form a Gaussian energy profile distribution.
Once a desired beam shape is achieved, a laser beam may be used in different ways in order to effect corneal ablation. In a first type of system, the beam has a variable cross-sectional size. The maximum size generally corresponds to the total treatment area on the cornea. The beam size is manipulated using an iris or other exposure control mechanism, and the desired corneal reshaping can be achieved by properly controlling the exposure. Unfortunately, employing a laser beam having a size equal to the treatment area (typically on the order of 5.0 mm to 10.0 mm) requires the use of large, high pulse energy excimer lasers. Not only are such large lasers expensive, they also occupy a relatively large area, requiring significant space to house them. Another disadvantage of laser systems employing large uniform beams is that the shape ablated with a uniform beam is not necessarily uniform. For large diameter beams, work in connection with the present invention has suggested that the ablated shape may depend upon a variety of factors, including the hydration of the cornea. Unfortunately, hydration may vary across the surface of the cornea, and can be difficult to measure.
As an alternative to large variable size laser beam systems, laser scanning systems are also employed for corneal ablation. Scanning systems often employ a much smaller beam, minimizing energy required from the laser. The smaller lasers are also more economic and require less space. The use of a small beam width, however, complicates certain aspects of the treatment protocols. In particular, the laser pulses will partially overlap as the beam is scanned over the exposed surface of the cornea. This partial overlap of the beams causes the ablated craters to partially overlap and the ablated surface to become rough. Roughening of the ablated surface is undesirable because it can cause a cornea to scar and delay the recovery of visual acuity. Another disadvantage of this scanning approach has been the relatively small amount of tissue removed with each pulse of the laser beam. Because of the small amount of tissue removed, the laser must be used at very high pulse rates to keep the total treatment time within acceptable limits. These high pulse rates can cause tissue heating, resulting in scarring and loss of visual acuity.
Another approach has been to scan a variable size laser beam. This approach moves the laser beam over the treatment area while changing the size of the beam, and has been shown to be both effective and highly flexible. Unfortunately, this approach often involves fairly complex and expensive mechanical mechanisms and electrical circuitry. Additionally, overlap of the pulses often occurs during scanning, and this overlap causes the ablation to become rougher.
A disadvantage of the above scanning approaches is that a crater ablated by an individual pulse of the laser beam does not have a consistent curvature. This lack of consistent curvature in the ablated crater causes the exposed surface to become rougher as the tissue is sculpted to a desired shape. For example, scanning laser systems that have a laser beam energy profile with a uniform energy distribution will typically ablate individual craters having a steep wall and a flat central region. The peripheral region of the crater that includes the steep side wall has a very different curvature than the flat central region. Scanning laser systems with Gaussian or pseudo-gaussian laser beam energy profiles ablate craters having a cone-shaped edge with a rounded central region. The peripheral region of the crater (including the cone-shaped edge) again has a different curvature than the central region (including the rounded portion of the crater). The inconsistent curvature of a cornea ablated by these known scanning systems may limit the accuracy and benefit of resculpting procedures.
The use of large laser beams with a tailored energy density has also been suggested. First, it may be difficult to ablate complex shapes with this approach. Also, this approach requires the use of expensive lasers to produce large beams. As mentioned earlier, with large diameter ablations the ablated shape will depend upon the hydration of the cornea, and tissue hydration is difficult to measure. Consequently, this technique will produce variability in the ablated shape including central underablation that undesirably degrades visual acuity.
For the above reasons, it would be desirable to provide improved methods and systems for ablating corneal tissue. It would further be desirable to provide improved techniques for the scanning of light beams over corneal tissue in order to selectively ablate the tissue to treat vision disorders. In particular, it would be desirable to utilize small beam geometries with low pulse energy requirements while achieving a smooth ablation. Also, it would be desirable to more accurately ablate the surface to a desired shape with less dependence upon tissue hydration. Moreover, it would be desirable to simplify the control schemes and systems for scanning light beams for corneal treatment. At least some of these objectives will be met by the invention described hereinafter.
2. Description of the Background Art
Large beam variable width systems for performing photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and phototherapeutic keratectomy are described in a number of patents including U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,973,330, 5,163,934, 4,732,148 and 4,729,372. A temporal and spatial beam integrator for a PRK/PTK laser system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,646,791.
Scanning systems for performing photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) are described in a number of patents, including U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,418 and 4,665,913. A laser surgical system employing a diffractive optical element adapted to an individual patient is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,107.
Scanning variable width laser beam systems are described in issued U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,379 and a co-pending patent application entitled xe2x80x9cMethod and System for Laser Treatment of Refractive Errors Using Offset Imaging,xe2x80x9d U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/058,599, filed on May 7, 1993, the full disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.
Laser ablation techniques using large width laser beams with a graded energy density are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,219,343, 5,312,320, 5,207,668, 5,188,631 and 4,838,266, the full disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.
Use of a diffractive optical element is described in a co-pending applications entitled xe2x80x9cLaser Delivery System and Method with Diffractive Optic Beam Integration,xe2x80x9d U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/015,841, filed on Jan. 29, 1998; xe2x80x9cMethod and System for Scanning Non-Overlapping Patterns of Laser Energy with Diffractive Optics,xe2x80x9d U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/116,648, filed on Jul. 16, 1998, the full disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.
The full disclosures of each of the above-cited U.S. patents and applications are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention provides improved methods, systems, and other apparatus for performing laser ablation. The present invention significantly improves the uniformity of treatment by scanning beams having energy distribution profile shapes that ablate craters with a consistent curvature. Preferably, the beams are scanned so as to cover the entire ablation zone with partially overlapping craters that have consistent curvature. The present invention provides a number of specific improvements over prior corneal ablation methods and systems. The technique provides for sculpting a surface with partially overlapping consistently curved craters. In some embodiments, the technique provides for sculpting a surface with partially overlapping uniformly curved craters. Typically, a laser sculpting to achieve a desired optical result will ablate the surface with a uniform or gradually varying change in curvature. For example, spherical corrections of near sightedness produce a uniform concave change in curvature, and the correction of hyperopia produces a uniform convex change in curvature. Advantageously, laser sculpting to correct an astigmatic curvature of the eye can exhibit a gradual change in curvature over the ablated surface. Similarly, other refractive errors and aberrations (such as mixed astigmatism, presbyopia and wavefront aberrations) may be treated with the technique without having to resort to incremental, stepped approximations of the desired smooth curvature.
In a first aspect, the invention provides methods for sculpting a region on a surface. The methods generally include directing pulsed beams toward the region and ablating craters with the beam pulses. The craters will often have a consistent curvature, the craters optionally being rounded and axissymmetric in shape. The beam is scanned over the region to effect a predetermined change in shape by partially overlapping the craters.
A dimension across the ablation craters is often about 5 to 80% of the dimension across the treatment region. In some embodiments, the curvature of the craters is substantially uniform and spherical, and the craters are of a substantially uniform size. The pulsed energy beam is preferably a laser beam. In some embodiments, the technique includes shaping the laser beam with a beam shaping element. In other embodiments, the technique includes diffracting the laser beam with a laser beam diffracting element.
In another aspect, the invention provides a laser system for sculpting an ablated region on a surface of a tissue to a predetermined shape. The laser system includes a pulsed laser for making a pulsed beam of an ablative laser energy, and a beam energy shaping element for changing a laser beam energy pattern of the pulsed beam to a shaped beam. The shaped beam includes a consistently curved laser beam energy pattern with a region of the consistently curved pattern above the threshold of ablation of the tissue. The system also includes a scanning element for moving the shaped beam over the region to sculpt the region with a plurality of partially overlapping pulses of the ablative energy.
The shaped beam may include a boundary enclosing the curved pattern and an intensity of the beam around the boundary may be a proportion of the threshold of ablation, the proportion being in a range of 100 to 150%. In some embodiments, the consistently curved laser beam pattern is a substantially spherical laser beam energy pattern.

Method and system for ablating surfaces with partially overlapping craters having consistent curvature


A head for use in an information storage device includes a novel ABS, and a transducer with a heating element. The ABS includes a transducer pad that includes a surface in a first plane. The ABS also includes a pressure-relief trough that is recessed from the first plane by at least 0.1 microns and has an upstream breadth of no more than one fourth of the total length of the slider. The pressure-relief trough is disposed immediately upstream of the transducer pad and continuously spans the total width of the transducer pad. The ABS also includes a flow-diversion dam that has a dam surface that lies in the first plane. The dam surface continuously spans the total width of the transducer pad. The dam surface is disposed immediately upstream of the pressure-relief trough and generally downstream of a sub-ambient pressure cavity.

Information storage devices are used to retrieve and/or store data in computers and other consumer electronics devices. A magnetic hard disk drive is an example of an information storage device that includes one or more heads that can both read and write, but other information storage devices also include heads—sometimes including heads that cannot write.
The typical hard disk drive includes a head disk assembly (HDA) and a printed circuit board (PCB) attached to a disk drive base of the HDA. Referring now to FIG. 1, the head disk assembly 100 includes at least one disk 102 (such as a magnetic disk, magneto-optical disk, or optical disk), a spindle motor 104 for rotating the disk, a ramp 116, and a head stack assembly (HSA) 106. The spindle motor typically includes a rotating hub on which disks mounted and clamped, a magnet attached to the hub, and a stator. Various coils of the stator are selectively energized to form an electromagnetic field that pulls/pushes on the magnet, thereby rotating the hub. Rotation of the spindle motor hub results in rotation of the mounted disks. The printed circuit board assembly includes electronics and firmware for controlling the rotation of the spindle motor and for controlling the position of the HSA, and for providing a data transfer channel between the disk drive and its host. The head stack assembly 106 typically includes an actuator, at least one head gimbal assembly (HGA) 108 that includes a head, and a flex cable assembly 110.
During operation of the disk drive, the actuator must rotate to position the heads adjacent desired information tracks on the disk. The actuator includes a pivot bearing cartridge 112 to facilitate such rotational positioning. One or more actuator arms extend from the actuator body. An actuator coil 114 is supported by the actuator body opposite the actuator arms. The actuator coil is configured to interact with one or more fixed magnets in the HDA, typically a pair, to form a voice coil motor. The printed circuit board assembly provides and controls an electrical current that passes through the actuator coil and results in a torque being applied to the actuator. A crash stop is typically provided to limit rotation of the actuator in a given direction, and a latch is typically provided to prevent rotation of the actuator when the disk dive is not in use.
In a magnetic hard disk drive, the head typically comprises a body called a "slider" that carries a magnetic transducer on its trailing end. The magnetic transducer typically comprises a writer and a read element. The magnetic transducer's writer may be of a longitudinal or perpendicular design, and the read element of the magnetic transducer may be inductive or magnetoresistive. In a magnetic hard disk drive, the transducer is typically supported in very close proximity to the magnetic disk by a hydrodynamic air bearing. As the motor rotates the magnetic disk, the hydrodynamic air bearing is formed between an air bearing surface of the slider of the head, and a surface of the magnetic disk. The thickness of the air bearing at the location of the transducer is commonly referred to as "flying height."
Magnetic hard disk drives are not the only type of information storage devices that have utilized air bearing sliders. For example, air bearing sliders have also been used in optical information storage devices to position a mirror and an objective lens for focusing laser light on the surface of disk media that is not necessarily magnetic.
The flying height is a key parameter that affects the performance of an information storage device. Accordingly, the nominal flying height is typically chosen as a careful compromise between each extreme in a classic engineering "trade-off." If the flying height is too high, the ability of the transducer to write and/or read information to/from the disk surface is degraded. Therefore, reductions in flying height can facilitate desirable increases in the areal density of data stored on a disk surface. However, the air bearing between the slider and the disk surface can not be eliminated entirely because the air bearing serves to reduce friction and wear (between the slider and the disk surface) to an acceptable level. Excessive reduction in the nominal flying height degrades the tribological performance of the disk drive to the point where the disk drive's lifetime and reliability become unacceptable.
One way that a disk drive designer can improve the prospects of reaching an acceptable compromise in the "trade-off" described above, is to increase the complexity of the disk drive so as to dynamically control flying height. That is, additional head components and/or disk drive components, such as a transducer heater, are included and actively controlled so that the flying height can be temporarily reduced only while the head is reading or writing. When the head is not reading or writing, it can "fly" at a slightly-higher nominal flying height to improve tribological performance. Such active control of flying height is sometimes referred to as "dynamic flying height" control (a.k.a. "DFH").
If a transducer heater is used to accomplish DFH control via thermal expansion of the head near the transducer, such thermal expansion can also temporarily and locally change the air bearing design. However, the flying height, and therefore the spacing between the transducer or objective lens and the disk surface, depends strongly on the design of the air bearing surface. Temporary and local changes in the air bearing surface design can hinder DFH control by opposing the effect of the transducer heater.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is an air bearing design that is less sensitive to the thermal expansion associated with the use of a transducer heater to accomplish DFH control.

Head having a transducer heater and an air bearing surface with a flow-diversion dam and pressure-relief trough disposed upstream of the transducer


An object of the present invention is to offer a communication network system in which it is possible to connect a logical channel for performing information exchange or information communication between terminals connected to the communication network without inputting an address of a terminal to communicate with. In the communication network according to the present invention in which a logical channel is connected between desired terminals connected to the communication network to perform information exchange or information communication between the desired terminals, a connection controller for a network and communication is provided which specifies a terminal which can be used by a person to communicate with through the communication network by inputting information excluding the address of the terminal to which a connection request is issued to connect the logical channel to the specified terminal.

The present invention relates to a communication network system for making the connection of a logical channel for information exchange or information communication of characters, voices, images or file data between a plurality of terminals connected to the communication network.
Generally, in order to perform information exchange or information communication of characters, voices, images or file data between terminals connected to the communication network, it has been necessary to designate the name or address of a terminal which is able to specify the terminal being desired to be connected. There is a description of a method in which the other terminals are informed of an input terminal address in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 2-116955.
In general, the name or address of a terminal which is usually used is known but in many case that of a terminal which is rarely used or used for the first time is not known. A user who does not use a terminal often may not know the name or address of a terminal which he uses. In the above-mentioned related art, a terminal which wants to transmit a connection request cannot be connected to another terminal which can be used or in use through the communication network unless the former knows the name or address of the latter.

Communication network system in which an unregistered terminal being used by a party can be located for starting a session


A current is supplied to a driving relay that drives a bypass relay when restarting an engine after idle reduction, and the current supply to the driving relay is interrupted when the engine is started for the first time based on operation of a driver.

The idle reduction vehicle has a possibility of power shutdown of electronic parts due to a voltage drop of a battery, when restarting an engine after idle reduction. The power shutdown of the electronic parts while an ignition switch is on gives uncomfortable feeling to a driver.
In response to the above, Patent document 1 discloses a technique of suppressing the voltage drop of the battery at the time of starting the engine by interposing a rush current suppression circuit, in which a resistor and a bypass relay are connected in parallel, between a battery and a starter motor, and by closing a normally open contact of the bypass relay after a lapse of a predetermined period of time after starting the engine.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Engine starting device of idle reduction vehicle


A spectrophotometric instrument for conducting in vivo patient examinations has a sensor which is applied to the patient target area, e.g. the forehead, which includes a source for emitting electromagnetic energy e.g. selected wavelengths in the near infrared range, such that the energy passes through the underlying tissue and is emitted at other locations spaced from the point of entry. The sensor also includes detectors for receiving the resulting light energy at two or more such other locations and sending corresponding signals to a processor for analysis, by which characteristics of the tissue transmissed by the examination wavelengths may be determined. Processing of such signals includes the contrasting of detected intensity levels corresponding to a reference wavelength received at one detection location with intensity signals representative of an investigative wavelength also received at such location to determine a first resultant signal, repeating the process for the same wavelengths at another detection location, to thus determine another resultant signal, and the contrasting of such two resultant signals. In a particular application, the instrument is used to determine regional cerebral blood oxygenation by processing the detection signals to obtain a first resultant having a value proportional to the ratio of deoxygenated hemoglobin with respect to oxygenated hemoglobin and then using the value of such resultant to compute a further resultant having a value proportional to the ratio of oxygenated hemoglobin with respect to the sum of oxygenated hemoglobin and deoxygenated hemoglobin.

Spectrophotometry has, of course, long been used as a valuable investigative tool in various scientific fields, particularly biological and medical research, and various applications of the underlying principles utilizing selected wavelengths of light in the near infrared range (often referred to as N.I.R. spectrophotometry) have for quite some time been utilized for certain in vivo procedures and/or investigation on human beings. For example, a frequently-encountered such device is the pulse oximeter conventionally used in hospitals and other medical facilities to provide a direct indication of arterial oxygen saturation by means of a clip or the like which fastens to an appendage such as the ear or finger of the patient. As has been noted by a small but growing field of investigators, the potentially useful applications of N.I.R. in vivo spectrophotometry are considerably broader and more diverse than this, however, due to the interesting and useful characteristic of N.I.R. wavelengths in being able to pass through ("transmiss") biological substance such as human skin, bone, and tissue for at least a length of several centimeters, and a useful brief description and commentary as to this is set forth in the above-referenced prior applications and/or patents attributable in at least part to the present inventor (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,638), as well as in the various references of record therein. In the latter regard, particular reference is made to the patents issued to Jobsis et al, e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,281,645, 4,223,680 and 4,321,930.
While previous developments in the general field of N.I.R. in vivo spectrophotometry, as noted above, have no doubt provided interesting and at least potentially useful insights and information heretofore, many important further developments and applications no doubt remain to be made, and certain of these are likely to be of considerable importance to medical practitioners. For example, accurate, meaningful, non-intrusive monitoring of brain status and viability is a most important need which prior technology has not sufficiently satisfied. As is well known and widely appreciated, the brain is a delicate and easily-damaged portion of human anatomy, while at the same time being the epicenter of neurological and physiological function. Brain damage through injury or cerebral vascular disease is responsible for numerous deaths and serious illnesses each year, involving on the order of at least 100,000 surgical procedures annually in recent years. Brain vitality is primarily a function of oxidative metabolism, and the predominant cause of neurological dysfunction and malfunction relates to the lack of sufficient brain oxidation, typically as a result of obstruction or otherwise insufficient arterial blood flow to the brain. Of course, this can occur even during surgery, and it has been estimated that at least 2,000 patients die each year in the United States alone due to anesthetic accidents, while numerous other such incidents result in brain damage of some degree; at the same time, certain major and complex surgical procedures, particularly of a neurological, cardiac or vascular nature, may require induced low blood flow or pressure conditions, which inevitably involves the potential of insufficient oxygen delivery to the brain. At the same time, the brain is the human organ which is most intolerant of oxygen deprivation, and brain cells will die within a few minutes if not sufficiently oxygenated. Moreover, such cells are not replaced, and thus involve irreversible brain damage which may potentially result in paralysis, disability, or even death.
Accordingly, the availability of immediate and accurate information concerning the state of brain oxygen saturation is of critical importance to anesthesiologists and surgeons, as well as other involved medical practitioners, particularly since the patients involved are typically in an unconscious state and thus unable to provide information by ordinary physical response. Up until the present time, however, the instrumentalities available for use, including such things as electroencephalograph ("EEG"), arterial pulse oximeter and blood pressure monitors, etc., and even invasive catheter monitoring of blood oxygen content, acidity, etc. by penetration of the jugular bulb (jugular vein) do not provide accurate, ongoing, timely (instantaneous) information as to cerebral (brain) blood oxygenation state, particularly since the brain blood supply is extensive, diffuse, pervasive, and largely venous in nature rather then arterial. Of course, it is also thus devoid of conventional pulsative characteristics essential to the operation of conventional oximeters.
Accordingly, such devices are not appropriate for cerebral usage, and of course they are typically made to be applied only to peripheral tissue or appendages in any event, i.e., a finger or an ear lobe, and are not utilized in conjunction with venous blood. Of course, jugular bulb catheters are highly invasive and relatively traumatic; at the same time, they merely provide blood samples which are removed and analyzed in another location, at a subsequent point in time, and thus only address the state of venous blood after it has left the brain.


A toy food processor and oven includes a generally rectangular housing supporting a slidable tray above an internal simulated baking chamber. The housing includes a frontal opening which receives the tray in a sliding insertion. A food grinder including a pair of parallel rollers and handle crank mechanism is supported by a generally cylindrical housing above the food tray. The food grinder receives a brittle food material such as crackers or the like which is converted or crushed to a particulate material as the rollers are rotated and the food article is inserted between the rollers. The crushed particulate food material is accumulated upon the tray. The tray and food grinder are separated and the particulate food material is formed into a plurality of shaped food articles or patties upon the tray surface. The tray is then inserted into the baking chamber through the frontal opening. A sprinkler assembly is supported within the baking chamber and receives a darkened powdered or finely ground food material such as cinnamon, cocoa or ground chocolate powder which is sprinkled upon the shaped food patties. The accumulated powdered material upon the food patties imparts the appearance of oven browning to the food articles which are then withdrawn from the simulated baking chamber.

Toy food products and toy food preparation products have become extremely popular with younger children due to children's inherent enjoyment of mimicking adult activities which surround them. Children seem to enjoy preparing various types of simple foods and find particular enjoyment in those foods which are cooked or baked. A substantial number of safety concerns arise in connection with children's use of devices which heat or cook food and food products. The most obvious of which is the concern that children are able to utilize such products in a manner in which the risk of burn injury to the child user is created.
Faced with the continuing popularity of food preparation-type toys, practitioners in the art have endeavored to provide a variety of such toy products such as toy ovens or the like.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,243 issued to Zeiss sets forth a CHILDREN'S TOY OVEN WITH ACCESS TOY SAFETY LATCH in which a child's toy oven comprises a housing having a baking chamber defined therein. An access opening is provided in the wall of the housing for communicating with the baking chamber. A slidable access door provides opening and closing of the access opening. A multiply articulated latch system is operative to preclude the insertion of unwanted foreign objects into the baking chamber.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,808,730 issued to Cooper, et al. sets forth a TOY OVEN having an oven housing and a telescopic food mold supported therein. A compressible food product is received within the oven and is reconfigured by the telescopic mold during a simulated baking process to impart a baked outer appearance to the food product during a simulation of baking.
U.S. Pat. No. 282,942 issued to Hartelius sets forth a TOY OVEN having a generally rectangular housing defining an upper cook top surface and an interior cavity. An elongated rectangular slot is formed in the oven housing and a front knob is operative upon the oven door.
U.S. Pat. No. 260,274 issued to Appel, et al. sets forth a TOY OVEN having a generally rectangular housing defining a horizontal cook top having simulated burners supported thereon. The cook top further includes a vertical rear portion having a window aperture defined therein within which a rotatable drum is located. The toy oven further defines a rectangular housing within which an interior cavity simulating an oven is defined.
U.S. Pat. No. 255,412 issued to Bereza sets forth a PIE CRUST MAKER OR SIMILAR ARTICLE having a horizontal base supporting an upwardly extending frustro-conical mold member. A vertically extending support member is positioned on either side of the base and supports a vertically movable frustro-conical mold member corresponding to the base supported member. A multiple linkage arrangement couples a pivotal arm to the movable mold member to provide compression therebetween and form a frustro-conical pie crust shell between the mold members.
U.S. Pat. No. 226,960 issued to Pasquale sets forth a FOOD MOLD having a pressing member formed of a cylindrical handle having a circular press die at one end thereof and a rectangular press die at the opposite end thereof. A pair of thin walled mold members compatible with the circular and square die members are used in combination therewith.
U.S. Pat. No. 268,318 issued to Lutzker sets forth a CANAPE MAKER OR THE LIKE in which an elongated hollow housing supports a movable plunger therein and defines an exterior shape corresponding to a to-be-formed canape type food item.
While the foregoing described prior art devices have enjoyed some measure of success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for evermore improved interesting and safe toy ovens and toy food processing products.


The present invention relates generally to barrier layers in transistor gate stacks in integrated circuits, and to processes for forming such gate stacks.

The gate electrode is one of the most important functional components of MOSFET devices. Polysilicon is now typically used as the gate electrode material in the transistor gate stack. Today's transistors have poly-Si gates so highly doped as to be almost as conductive as metal. However, the solubility of dopants in poly-Si is limited to around 5×1020 atoms/cm3. The dopant solubility restricts the number of charge carriers in poly-Si. As a result, a depletion layer is formed at the polysilicon dielectric interface when the gate is biased. The depletion region increases the equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) of the gate stack at least 4–5 Å, regardless of the level to which the poly-Si is doped. As a result, it is desirable to replace poly-Si with a metallic material. In practice, metallic materials have an infinite amount of carriers (5×1022 atoms/cm3) and therefore the thickness of the depletion region is virtually zero. In other words, the EOT can be decreased 4–5 Å just by replacing the poly-Si gate with a metal gate.
One of the most important properties of the metal gate is its work function. The work function, together with the doping level of substrate, determines the threshold voltage of the MOS-transistor. The work function of a metal electrode material should be about 4.0 to 4.2 eV in NMOS field effect transistors and about 5.0–5.2 eV in PMOS field effect transistors.
Most of the research regarding metal gates/electrodes has been done in relation to the use of physical vapor deposition (PVD). PVD allows the use of a wide range of different materials. However, because of the sputter damage to the gate dielectric layer and the non-uniformity of films deposited on the substrate, it is unlikely that PVD will be used in future production of MOSFETs. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods also have a number of significant drawbacks. CVD methods demand high deposition temperatures in order to achieve low impurity levels. As a result, these methods will degrade the gate dielectric layers. At lower deposition temperatures, CVD methods leave too high a concentration of impurities in the film, also degrading the gate dielectric layer.
In dual metal CMOS processing, where two different metal electrode materials are needed for the PMOS and NMOS transistors, the gate dielectric layer is exposed to etch processes after growing/depositing the first p-type gate electrode over the PMOS in order to make deposition of n-type electrode possible over the NMOS, or vice versa if the n-type gate electrode is deposited first. If the upper region of the gate dielectric layer is exposed to the etch processes used for metal gate stack patterning, the electrical properties of the MOS transistor are likely to be degraded. Thus, it would be useful to have a way to do the CMOS processing without exposing the gate dielectric layer to the etch processes.

Method to fabricate dual metal CMOS devices


There is provided a memory card reader device including: a memory card reader unit reading data stored on a memory card; a broadcast signal receiving unit receiving a television broadcast signal under control; a main control unit controlling operations of the memory card reader unit and the broadcast signal receiving unit and converting data from the memory card reader unit or a signal from the broadcast signal receiving unit into a signal suitable for a predetermined interface; and a wired connection unit transferring the signal from the main control unit to an external connection device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory card reader device, such as a secure digital (SD) memory card reader device, capable of receiving a television broadcast signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, as integrated circuits (ICs) become highly functional and slimmer, digital portable electronic devices have rapidly become prevalent. Examples of portable electronic devices include personal digital assistants (PDA), mobile phones, digital cameras and notebook computers.
Such PDAs, mobile phones, and digital cameras have limited internal memory capacity, and often employ a SD memory card, a type of external memory card. In order to transfer data from a SD memory card to another device, a reader device is necessary.
Existing SD memory card reader devices only read SD memory cards but do not have the function of receiving television broadcast signals.
Patent Document 1 below discloses a secure digital card having the function of receiving television broadcast signals. However, the document does not teach incorporating the function of receiving television broadcast signals into a memory card reader device.

Memory card reader device having television broadcast signal reception function