The present invention relates to methods for separating cells using immunorosettes. The method involves contacting a sample containing nucleated cells and red blood cells with an antibody composition which allows immunorosettes of the nucleated cells and the red blood cells to form. The antibody composition preferably contains bifunctional antibodies or tetrameric antibody complexes.

In many applications it is desirable to enrich or, alternatively, deplete certain cell populations in a biological sample. The fields of hematology, immunology and oncology rely on samples of peripheral blood and cell suspensions from related tissues such as bone marrow, spleen, thymus and fetal liver. The separation of specific cell types from these heterogeneous samples is key to research in these fields and to the diagnostics and therapy for certain malignancies and immune/hematopoietic disorders.
Purified populations of immune cells such as T cells and antigen presenting cells are necessary for the study of immune function and are used in immunotherapy. Investigation of the cellular, molecular and biochemical processes require analysis of certain cell types in isolation. Numerous techniques have been used to isolate T cell subsets, B cells, basophils, NK cells and dendritic cells.
The isolation of hematopoietic stem cells has also been an area of great interest. Pure populations of stem cells will facilitate studies of hematopoiesis and transplantation of hematopoietic cells from peripheral blood and/or bone marrow is increasingly used in combination with high-dose chemo- and/or radiotherapy for the treatment of a variety of disorders including malignant, nonmalignant and genetic disorders. Very few cells in such transplants are capable of long-term hematopoietic reconstitution, and thus there is a strong stimulus to develop techniques for purification of hematopoietic stem cells. Furthermore, serious complications and indeed the success of a transplant procedure is to a large degree dependent on the effectiveness of the procedures that are used for the removal of cells in the transplant that pose a risk to the transplant recipient. Such cells include T lymphocytes that are responsible for graft versus host disease (GVHD) in allogenic grafts, and tumor cells in autologous transplants that may cause recurrence of the malignant growth. It is also important to debulk the graft by removing unnecessary cells and thus reducing the volume of cyropreservant to be infused.
In certain instances it is desirable to remove or deplete tumor cells from a biological sample, for example in bone marrow transplants. Epithelial cancers of the bronchi, mammary ducts and the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts represent a major type of solid tumors seen today. Micrometastatic tumor cell migration is thought to be an important prognostic factor for patients with epithelial cancer (Braun et al., 2000; Vaughan et al., 1990). The ability to detect such metastatic cells is limited by the effectiveness of tissue or fluid sampling and the sensitivity of tumor detection methods. A technique to enrich circulating epithelial tumor cells in blood samples would increase the ability to detect metastatic disease and facilitate the study of such rare cells and the determination of the biological changes which enable spread of disease.
Hematopoietic cells and immune cells have been separated on the basis of physical characteristics such as density and on the basis of susceptibility to certain pharmacological agents which kill cycling cells. The advent of monoclonal antibodies against cell surface antigens has greatly expanded the potential to distinguish and separate distinct cell types. There are two basic approaches to separating cell populations from blood and related cell suspensions using monoclonal antibodies. They differ in whether it is the desired or undesired cells which are distinguished/labelled with the antibody(s).
In positive selection techniques the desired cells are labelled with antibodies and removed from the remaining unlabelled/unwanted cells. In negative selection, the unwanted cells are labelled and removed. Antibody/complement treatment and the use of immunotoxins are negative selection techniques, but FACS sorting and most batch wise immunoadsorption techniques can be adapted to both positive and negative selection. In immunoadsorption techniques cells are selected with monoclonal antibodies and preferentially bound to a surface which can be removed from the remainder of the cells e.g. column of beads, flasks, magnetic particles. Immunoadsorption techniques have won favour clinically and in research because they maintain the high specificity of targeting cells with monoclonal antibodies, but unlike FACSorting, they can be scaled up to deal directly with the large numbers of cells in a clinical harvest and they avoid the dangers of using cytotoxic reagents such as immunotoxins, and complement. They do however, require the use of a "device" or cell separation surface such as a column of beads, panning flask or magnet.
Current techniques for the isolation of hematopoietic stem cells, immune cells and circulating epithelial tumor cells all involve an initial step to remove red cells then antibody mediated adherence to a device or artificial particle. (Firat et al., 1988; de Wynter et al., 1975; Shpall et al., 1994; Thomas et al., 1994; Miltenyi Biotec Inc., Gladbach, Germany) In the case of positive selection there is yet another step; removal of the cells from the device or particle. All these multiple steps require time and incur cell loss. Slaper-Cortenbach et al. (1990) describes a method for purging bone marrow of common acute leukemic (cALL) cells using immunorosetting. The method requires that the erythrocytes are first removed from the bone marrow sample and are labelled with antibodies that bind to the cALL cells. The labelled erythrocytes are then added back to the sample where the cALL cells are immunorosetted. The depletion method works best when followed by an additional step of complement mediated lysis of the cALL cells.
Time dependent sedimentation has been used to deplete red cells from peripheral blood. Many agents have been used to accelerate the sedimentation of red cells by causing the red cells to aggregate or agglutinate. The orientation of red cells in such aggregates has been termed "rouleaux" (Roboredo et al 2000; Wintrobe ed., Clinical Hematology, 1975, Lea and Febiger)
Density Separations are commonly used to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells from granulocytes and erythrocytes. Ficoll Hypaque (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech AB, Uppsala Sweden) is the most popular density solution used for this application. Ficoll Hypaque consists of an aggregating agent (polysucrose) in a density solution (diatrizoate sodium). In a Ficoll Hypaque density separation whole blood is layered over the Ficoll Hypaque solution, and then centrifuged. The erythrocytes and granulocytes settle to the cell pellet and the mononuclear cells remain at the Ficoll Hypaque plasma interface.
The success of the Ficoll Hypaque density separation technique relies on the difference in density between mononuclear cells and granulocytes. If whole blood is stored for more than 24 hours the granulocytes change density and will not pellet with the red cells. Suspensions of pure mononuclear cells cannot be obtained from stored blood or samples with altered cell density in a single density separation.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need in the art to provide novel methods for separating desired cells or removing unwanted cells from biological samples.

Method for separating cells using immunorosettes


An improved stitchbonded fabric, particularly suited for industrial fabric uses, has high tear strength and is made by multi-needle stitching a fibrous layer with a bulkable non-elastomeric yarn that forms spaced apart, interconnected rows of stitches which amount to 25 to 65% of the total weight of the fabric.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stitchbonded nonwoven fabric having a fibrous layer and spaced apart, interconnected rows of bulkable thread stitches. In particular, the invention concerns such a fabric in which the bulkable threads are non-elastomeric and amount to 25 to 60% of the total weight of the fabric. The fabric has high tear resistance and is especially suited for use in industrial applications, such as tarpaulins, geotextiles, coated fabric, automobile airbags, banners, furniture decking, fabric liners, apparel interliners and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Stitchbonded fabrics are known in the art. Such fabrics are often made by multi-needle stitching of a fibrous layer with one or more stitching thread systems. The stitching forms spaced apart, interconnected rows of stitches, usually at a spacing in the range of 2 to 8 rows per centimeter. In each row, stitch spacing is in the range 2 to 10 stitches per cm. Typically, the stitchbonded fabric is made with a fibrous layer of staple fibers of textile decitex (e.g., 1 to 15 dtex), and ordinary stitching threads (e.g., of nylon, polyester, acrylic or natural fibers). Stitchbonding of fibrous layers of continuous filament webs is also known, as for example from Product Licensing Index, Research Disclosure, page 30, (June 1968).
Use of elastic or bulkable stitching thread for making bulky and/or stretchy stitchbonded fabrics is a more recent development in the art. Such fabrics are disclosed, for example, in my earlier U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,876,128, 4,773,238, 4,737,394 and 4,704,321. Usually, the stitched fabric is allowed to shrink and gather immediately after the multi-needle stitching operation to effect a very large reduction in fabric area. A fibrous layer of polyolefin plexifilaments stitchbonded with a bulkable stitching thread which amounts to a maximum of 40% of the total weight of the fabric is disclosed in the patents, but much lower yarn contents are specifically disclosed in the examples. The bulkable stitching thread usually is an elastic yarn that preferably comprises spandex elastomeric filaments wrapped with nylon yarns and is capable of elongating and retracting in the range of 100 to 250%. Bulkable stitching threads of yarns that are heat shrinkable, textured, or otherwise stretch yarns, made from polyester, nylon, or other polymers, are disclosed to function in a similar manner to spandex yarns but with less elongation and contraction.
Stitchbonded nonwoven fabrics made with bulkable yarns usually have high specific volume (i.e., bulk) and high tensile strength and are suited particularly for use as insulation fabrics, special elastic fabrics, dust wipes, and the like. However, such stitchbonded fabrics, unless of heavy weight, usually lack the high tear resistance desired for industrial fabrics.
It is an object of this invention to provide a stitchbonded nonwoven fabric that has high tear resistance and is suitable for use as an industrial fabric.


A closure bag having a bag body with internal tack surfaces.

The use of closure fastening devices for the closure of containers, including plastic bag bodies, is generally known. Furthermore, the manufacture of closure fastening devices (commonly referred to as "closures") comprising adhesive closures or interlocking zipper closures formed from plastic materials is generally known to those skilled in the art relating to closure fastening devices as demonstrated by the numerous patents in this area.
Adhesive closures for bags are disclosed in representative U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,519,095, 4,415,087 and 3,990,627.
Zippers of the type used on plastic bags are well known. Patents which disclose "zippers" and zippers on bags include U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,786, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,105, Japanese Patent Application No. 51-27719.
A search of the prior art located the following patents:
U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,160,323 PA0 3,198,392 PA0 3,260,412 PA0 3,353,714 PA0 3,504,067 PA0 4,518,654 PA0 4,842,421 PA0 4,963,388 PA0 5,049,423 PA0 5,147,708
The above prior art relates to containers having internal surfaces with mechanical mating (see: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,198,392, 3,260,412 and 3,160,323) or tube scoring (see: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,353,714 and 3,504,067) and to so called cling stretch wraps (see: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,518,654, 4,963,388, 5,049,423 and 5,147,708). U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,421 relates to a thermoplastic draw tape bag having a tacky surface around the inner periphery of the lip of the open mouth of the bag.
A particularly well-known closure fastening devices is in connection with a flexible container, e.g., bag bodies and are generally referred to as zippers. The closure fastening device and the associated container may be formed from thermoplastic materials, and the closure fastening device and sidewalls of the container can be integrally formed by extrusion as a single piece, or may be formed as separate pieces and then connected by heat sealing or other suitable fastening means.


Systems, methods, and data structures for correcting traffic information data may accumulate traffic information data including, for each link, a link travel time during at least one trip time. The systems, methods, and data structures may convert the link travel time into a vehicle speed and correct the converted vehicle speed if a the vehicle speed or a first speed change amount is equal to or larger than a predetermined value.

1. Related Technical Fields
Related fields include methods of correcting traffic information data, apparatus for correcting traffic information data, and traffic information data structures.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-148067, discloses a navigation method including accumulating received traffic information, date and time, and day of the week, and finding a shortest route or calculating a required period with the aid of the accumulated data.
In the aforementioned navigation method, however, the received traffic information is not always correct. The information may be intermingled with abnormal data such as a link travel times having unexpected values. Furthermore, utilization of such accumulated data, including the abnormal data, causes inconvenience, such as, a decrease in the reliability of route search.


A safety razor having a shaving head which includes dual blades with multiple shaving edges having different lengths and/or shapes to provide a selection of shaving edges for various types of hair encountered on the body of a user. Each blade has straight and convex shaving edges on two sides thereof as well as blade extensions having shorter straight and convex shaving edges on two ends thereof. The razor further includes a handle with a conduit located therein in communication with the shaving head whereby water can travel through the handle, into the shaving head and past the blades to dislodge debris. Further, the safety razor is equipped with a slidable plunger which is slidable in the conduit so that oils, creams or liquids can be applied through the shaving head.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to safety razors and, more specifically, to a safety razor with a detachable and replaceable shaving head having dual blades which project from four sides providing four varied blade types for selectively shaving different body areas and said safety razor having an elongated handle wherein said handle has a channel located down the center of the handle with an opening at the base of said handle and an opening into the blade cavity whereby water will travel from the opening in the end of the handle to the shaving head where it will dislodge shaving debris from around the blades.
Another embodiment provides for a disposable safety razor having a fixed head as the preferred embodiment and having all other characteristics as the preferred embodiment.
An additional embodiment is provided having dual blades with one straight edge shaving surface and an oppositely opposed convex edge shaving surface and having an elongated handle wherein said handle has a channel located down the center of the handle with an opening at the base of said handle and an opening into the blade cavity whereby water will travel from the opening in the end of the handle to the shaving head where it will dislodge shaving debris from around the blades.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other safety razors designed with angular blades with more than one shaving surface. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,110 issued to Glass on Aug. 13, 1985.
Another patent was issued to Mondo et al. on Feb. 22, 1994 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,624. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,622 was issued to Andrews on Sep. 6, 1994 and still yet another was issued on Jul. 23, 1996 to Cacioppo as U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,749.
A triple-edge safety razor in which no portion thereof are disconnected during use. The razor employs a novel blade assembly wherein three individual strip blades are interconnected by a flexible central web affording hinged connection therebetween. A number of methods of manufacture of the blade assembly are described.
An improved disposable safety razor is provided which consists of an elongated handle with a head having a convex top surface and a flat bottom surface attached to an upper end of the elongated handle. A pair of single cutting edge razor blades are clamped parallel within the head with the cutting edges angled outwardly and upwardly in opposite directions from the convex top surface of the head, so as to be useful in shaving in both forward and rearward strokes.
A bi-directional razor device is formed of a narrow, elongated head and a transversely extending, internal hand grip formed of molded plastic material. Two pair of narrow, strip like razor blades are embedded in the head, with one pair extending in one direction and the other pair extending in an opposite direction at an acute angle relative to the first pair. The blades extend along the length of the head. Thus, the user may move the razor head in one direction for contacting one pair of blades against the users skin for cutting hair and then move the handle in the opposite direction while the blades remain engaged upon the skin for cutting hair in both directions.
A razor including a shaving head with at least one blade attached to the shaving head which has an exposed shaving edge extending longitudinally on the having head for use in shaving. A passage is provided in the shaving head which extends from one end of the shaving head to the opposite end. Water for cleaning of the blades can be applied to an inlet under a running water faucet. A first outlet for discharging water from the passage is provided and is located adjacent to the shaving edge of the blade to clear shaving debris from the blade. The passage also includes a second outlet at the opposite end of the shaving head from the inlet. The second outlet has dimensions less than the dimensions of the inlet so that the volume of water passing through the inlet is greater than the volume of water passing through the second outlet. The difference in size between the inlet of the passage and the second outlet causes the fluidic pressure of the rinsing water to increase as the water travels from the inlet towards the second outlet. The increasing pressure of the rinsing water causes the water to flow through the first outlet with greater force, while still allowing a portion of the rinsing water to flow out of the second outlet.
While these safety razors may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described.
The present invention discloses a safety razor having dual blades with multiple shaving surfaces having different blade lengths and/or blade shapes to provide a selection of shaving surfaces for the various types of hair encountered on one""s body. The present invention includes longer blades being both straight and convex. The present invention includes blades on the edges of its head which are both straight and convex and smaller in length for trimming close areas of the body. The handle of the razor has a conduit located therein and traveling throughout the length of the handle connecting to the blade cavity whereby water can travel through the handle to the shaving heads and in and around the shaving heads so that it will dislodge shaving debris from around the blades. Furthermore, the present invention is equipped with a slidable plunger which travels in the handle cavity so that oils, creams or liquids can be applied through the razor by pressing on the plunger as one shaves. Embodiments are disclosed for razors with a removable head, a single piece disposable razor, and a razor with only two straight blades.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a safety razor with dual blades having multiple shaving surfaces.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety razor having different blade lengths and/or blade edges to provide a selection of shaving blades for different types of hair removal.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a safety razor having an elongated handle wherein a channel is located within the center of the handle having an opening at one distal end and another opening leading into the blade cavity whereby water can travel from the opening in the end of the handle to the shaving head where it will dislodge shaving debris from around the blades.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a safety razor having a plunger which can be inserted within the handle cavity whereby a number of oils, creams and liquids can be stored and selectively ejected during shaving.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety razor with a removable disposable and replacable shaving head.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an additional embodiment of the present invention whereby the shaving head is not removable thereby providing a disposable safety razor.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide another additional embodiment of the present invention whereby the shaving head is not removable and the dual blades have two shaving surfaces wherein one edge is a straight edge and the oppositely opposed edge is convex.
Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.
The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a safety razor having dual blades with multiple shaving surfaces having different blade lengths and/or blade edges to provide a selection of shaving blades for varying types of hair removal and an elongated handle having a channel located within the center of the handle with an opening at one distal end and another opening leading into the blade cavity whereby water can travel from the opening in the end of the handle to the shaving head where it will dislodge shaving debris from around the blades and furthermore using a slideable plunger within the handle cavity a number of oils, creams and liquids can be applied while shaving.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.
The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.


Embodiments of the invention include systems and methods for auto-tiering multiple file systems across a common resource pool. Storage resources are allocated as a sub-LUN auto-tiering (SLAT) sub-pool. The sub-pool is managed as a single virtual address space (VAS) with a virtual block address (VBA) for each logical block address of each data block in the sub-pool, and a portion of those VBAs can be allocated to each of a number of file systems. Mappings are maintained between each logical block address in which file system data is physically stored and a VBA in the file system's portion of the virtual address space. As data moves (e.g., is added, auto-tiered, etc.), the mappings can be updated. In this way, multiple SLAT file systems can exploit the full resources of the common SLAT sub-pool and maximize the resource options available to auto-tiering functions.

Embodiments relate generally to data storage environments, and, more particularly, to auto-tiering of file systems in data storage systems within a common resource pool.
Many types of storage devices are available for storing data, each type having an associated cost, access speed, reliability, etc. Multiple storage devices of the same or different types can be provided as a resource pool, which may be managed as a storage system in which logical storage units can be identified by logical unit numbers (LUNs). The LUNs are often used to store file systems, which are typically collections of data relating to an application or group of applications. Notably, different types of file system data, even within a single file system, may be accesses frequently or infrequently, sequentially or non-sequentially, or in other ways. As such, optimizing a storage system (e.g., cost, throughput, etc.) can involve allocating appropriate amounts of appropriate types of LUNs to a file system.
One traditional approach is to choose a single, best type of LUN to use for storing file system data, accounting for trade-offs between various LUN metrics. Different types of storage can only be exploited by swapping out one or more of the original LUNs with a different type of LUN and moving some or all of the file system data. Another traditional approach is to choose two or more types of LUN, categorized into two or more storage classes, and to store different portions of the file system in those different storage classes. This approach allows exploitation of different storage types, but only through manual movement of the data between the storage classes and typically only within fixed LUNs (or partitions of LUNs) allocated to the particular file system.
For example, a data storage system is commonly used to store multiple file systems concurrently, and that each file system is guaranteed a certain capacity. That capacity can be ensured by selecting a subset of available LUNs in the storage system, or by generating fixed partitions within LUNs, to associate with each file system. All file system data is stored only on those LUNs and/or partitions, and those LUNs and/or partitions provide at least the guaranteed capacity. In this type of environment, data can be promoted or demoted between storage classes only through very coarse, manual operations, such as by moving an entire file system to a new LUN or by swapping out an entire LUN.
More recently, auto-tiering approaches became available. As with the preceding approach, a system administrator selects LUNs or partitions within LUNs as a priori resource allocations for file systems. A storage manager is used to monitor usage by the file systems of their respective allocated resources (e.g., data blocks). The storage manager can move file system data to data blocks of different storage classes within the file system's allocated resources. For example, some systems always store new data by default to the most expensive storage class, and the data can be promoted or demoted over time depending on how often and/or in what manner the data is accessed. Other systems initially store data according to an a priori quality of service characterization of the file system or the file system data (e.g., by the system administrator) and move the data, as needed, to optimize performance. While these auto-tiering techniques can appreciably improve performance of many file systems, they are still limited in a number of ways. For example, many such systems can promote or demote data only within the a priori allocations associated with a file system, only at the LUN level, etc.


A device for mixing and dispensing multi-component compositions employs a cap. The cap acts as a closure initially to close the outlet openings of the components and can be moved into the open position by pressure of the components while they are being discharged, so that the components can be mixed by the mixing helix and emerge from the outlet tube. The device also includes a distribution structure that may be a fitted onto or an integral part of the outlet tube.

The invention relates to a device for mixing and dispensing multi-component compositions, in particular for dental purposes, with a cartridge with at least two cylindrical chambers arranged in parallel for receiving the components and in each case a plunger for discharging the components, the chambers having outlet openings which are covered by a cap, which has an outlet tube enclosing a mixing helix, the cap being movable from a position closing the outlet openings into a position releasing them.
A known device of this type, which however is not intended for dental purposes (EP 0319 135 A2), has two cylindrical chambers, in each of which one component is contained. The chambers are provided on their end face with openings which are closed by a cap. The cap has a sleeve-shaped outlet tube, which encloses a mixing helix. The cap initially closes the openings of the chamber. If the two-component composition is to be dispensed, the cap is pulled, so that it moves away a little from the cartridge with the two chambers and releases the outlet openings. With the aid of plungers in the chambers, on which pressure is exerted, the components can then be pressed into the cap and from there into the sleeve-shaped outlet tube. While passing through this outlet tube, the components are mixed by the mixing helix.
Such devices are also very expedient for dental purposes. There is no need to provide a separate closure cap that has to be removed and replaced with a cap which contains the outlet tube and the mixing helix. However, a disadvantage of such devices is that a separate manipulation is required for pulling the cap to bring it into the open position. This is not only laborious; there is also the risk of inadvertently pulling the cap off entirely. Problems also arise in the production of such already known devices. As far as possible, the same model of the cartridges is intended to be supplied with different caps. Depending on the intended application, straight or curved outlet tubes are required. These caps must then also be respectively provided with a mixing helix, making them relatively expensive parts. Furthermore, the fitting of the mixing helix in the cap is not entirely simple.
The object of the invention is to provide a device of the type stated at the beginning which can be operated easily and unproblematically and allows low-cost and practical mass production.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Device for mixing and dispensing multi-component compositions


The birefringence of an object is measured by emitting first and second linearly polarized laser beams having optical frequencies f1 and f2 and transmitted in a same z-axis direction. The directions of polarization of the two laser beams are perpendicular to each other. After passing through the object, the laser beams are separated irrespective of the polarized directions thereof. A first analyzer transmits therethrough one of the laser beams that has been separated and polarized by about 45.degree. with respect to the x-axis. A second analyzer transmits therethrough the other of the laser beams separated and polarized in the x-direction or y-direction. Respective photodetectors are provided for detecting the outputs of the first and second analyzers. The birefringence amount of the object and the direction of a lag-phase axis or of an advanced-phase axis is detected based on the outputs of the photodetectors and a difference in the frequencies f1 and f2 of the first and second laser beams.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring the birefringence amount of a liquid crystal panel for use in a liquid crystal display, an optical component such as a glass plate or a lens having an oriented film attached thereto, or an optical disk, and its direction of a lag-phase axis at a speed as high as 0.002 seconds per point and with an accuracy as high as 0.01 nm. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for observing the distribution of fine molecules oriented by means of rubbing even though an electron microscope is incapable of doing so.
Analyzer-rotating method, phase compensating method, and phase modulating method have been used to measure a birefringence. According to the analyzer-rotating method, an object to be measured is placed behind a polarizer so that the direction of the birefringence forms an angle of about 45.degree. with the polarization direction of the polarizer. An analyzer placed behind the object is rotated. A birefringence amount is calculated based on the maximum and minimum values of the output of a photodetector placed behind the analyzer.
According to the phase compensating method, the polarizer and the analyzer are placed with the axes thereof perpendicular to each other and an object to be measured is placed therebetween with the direction of the birefringence forming about 45.degree.. A Babinet-Soleil compensator is interposed between the object and the analyzer and the Babinet-Soleil compensator is adjusted so that the amount of light which transmits through the object is minimum. The phase compensation amount indicated by the Babinet-Soleil compensator is the birefringence amount to be found.
These conventional methods are incapable of measuring a birefringence amount at a resolution smaller than nm (nanometer). The phase modulating method is capable of carrying out measurements at a higher resolution. According to the phase modulating method, laser beams which have been linearly polarized by about 45.degree. with respect to an x-axis are phase-modulated in the x-axis by a photoelasticity modulator so as to find a birefringence amount based on the phase difference between the beat signal of the beam and the modulated signal thereof which has transmitted through the object.
The details of the phase modulating method is described in optical technology contact Vo. 27, No. 3 (1989) of "Measurement of birefringence by phase modulating method and application thereof" written by Etsuhiro Mochida. This method is capable of measuring a birefringence at a resolution as high as 0.01 nm.
None of the conventional methods are incapable of measuring the direction of the birefringence of the object, namely, the direction of an advance phase axis and that of a lag-phase axis and a birefringence amount. That is, none of the conventional methods are incapable of simultaneously measuring the difference between the phase of transmission light, the electric field of its light wave of which is in the direction of the advance phase axis and the phase of transmission light, the electric field of its light wave of which is in the direction of the lag-phase axis. Therefore, first, the direction of the birefringence is found by measuring the birefringence amount while the object is being rotated about the progress direction of light to be measured and then, the object is placed in the found direction of the birefringence. In this manner, the birefringence amount can be measured. It takes, however, more than a minute to measure the birefringence amount of one point including the period of time required for the rotation of the object.
It is necessary to rotate the object so as to measure the birefringence amount thereof and the direction of the birefringence. Therefore, in order to finely measure the distribution of the birefringence of an entire flat object surface, it is necessary to rotate the object in conformity with the direction of the birefringence at each point to be measured. As a result, the measuring period of time is long. In addition, if a point to be measured is not positioned at the rotational center, the point draws a circle. As a result, measurement errors occur.

Apparatus for measuring birefringence without employing rotating mechanism

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A method for linking compiled pattern data and loading the data into tester hardware includes the steps of generating a composite object that includes a shared resource, determining a local shared resource specific to a test instrument that is associated with the shared resource in the composite object, assigning a local reconciled value or address to the local shared resource, and loading the local shared resource into the test instrument.

In one approach of using automated test equipment to test an electronic device, such as an integrated circuit, various test instruments transmit data to the electronic device to stimulate the device. In response, the electronic device produces response data, which is monitored by the automated test equipment. The automated test equipment then compares this response data to reference responses to determine whether the electronic device is functioning as intended. Oftentimes, the data transmitted to the electronic device during testing as well as the reference responses are represented by a series of test vectors (where test vectors represent raw data delivered to pins of an electronic device during testing) included in one or more test patterns (the source code versions of these test patterns are referred to herein as "pattern sources"). A test pattern usually exists for testing each mode of operation of each module in the electronic device. Therefore, thousands of test patterns may be used, in different combinations, to test the various aspects of an electronic device.
Before loading a test pattern into the test equipment, the pattern source is compiled into object code, which the test equipment is configured to execute. When compiling a particular pattern source, the compiler assigns specific values or addresses to certain data in the pattern source (referred to herein as "shared resources") that the test equipment is configured to recognize. As persons skilled in the art will understand, if two or more pattern sources are compiled independently of one another, then the compiler may assign the same value or address to two different shared resources that reside in different pattern sources. To avoid this problem, current systems implement one of two approaches when compiling and loading a combination of two or more test patterns used to implement a particular test on an electronic device.
The first approach entails individually compiling each test pattern and then, one test pattern at a time, loading a given compiled test pattern into the test equipment and executing that test pattern on the electronic device. A major drawback of this approach is that it does not allow multiple compiled test patterns to be loaded into the test equipment simultaneously and then executed. This approach is therefore quite time consuming.
The second approach entails creating a group of pattern sources and then compiling the group as a whole. This approach allows the compiler to compile the different pattern sources relative to one another so that the compiler does not assign the same value or address to any two different shared resources in the group of pattern sources. A major drawback of this approach is that the pattern sources need to be recompiled every time a new group of test patterns is created for testing purposes. Similarly, with this approach, every time a change is made to a particular test pattern, every group of pattern sources containing that test pattern must be recompiled. Recompiling groups of pattern sources is very inefficient. Further, the compiled test patterns cannot be stored as read-only files since the object code must be changed every time a new group is created or a change is made to a particular test pattern.

System and method for linking and loading compiled pattern data


Disclosed is a display device including a display unit to display at least 3D object having different depths, a touch sensor unit to sense a touch input on the display unit, a tactile feedback unit to generate a tactile feedback corresponding to the 3D object, and a processor to control these units. The processor enables a tactile feedback function. If the touch input is sensed, the processor determines whether or not a first touch position as a position of the sensed touch input is within a first display area of a first 3D object having a first depth. If the first touch position is within the first display area, the processor regulates the first depth to make a first surface of the 3D object coincide with a surface of the display unit, and generates a first tactile feedback corresponding to the 3D object.

Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a display device, and more particularly to a display device which displays a 3D object and provides a tactile feedback corresponding to the displayed 3D object.
Discussion of the Related Art
Developments of 3-Dimensional (3D) display technology and touch sensitive display technology enable a user to control a 3D object via a touch input to a surface of a display device. The display device may generate a tactile feedback with respect to the 3D object corresponding to the touch input in an area where the touch input is sensed. This may allow the user to perceive the texture of a touch area via tactile sensation.
In the aforementioned display device, however, an area where the 3D object is displayed and an area where the tactile feedback corresponding to the 3D object is generated may not coincide with each other. This may cause the user to unnaturally perceive the tactile feedback.

Display device and control method thereof


An improved illuminatable windshield assembly comprising of an external light source and an optical waveguide, preferably for use on a vehicle such as a golf cart, but adaptable for use on all types of vehicles. The illuminatable windshield assembly includes a windshield comprised of a translucent panel having an outer surface, inner surface and peripheral surface wherein the panel has a channel formed therein defining an edge in the windshield, an optical waveguide seated within the channel and disposed to emit light into the edge for illuminating at least a portion of the windshield, a light source connected to said optical waveguide with the light source being external to, and situated remotely from, the windshield, and a source of electrical power for the light source. Preferably, the source of electrical power is the vehicle's existing electrical system. The windshield may additionally have an ornamental design etched therein.

The present invention relates to windshields, and more particularly to an improved illuminatable windshield assembly, especially adaptable for use on a golf cart and other vehicles such as motorcycles, watercraft, ATVs, and snowmobiles.
Golf cart owners are known for accessorizing and customizing their golf carts. Recent trends in customization include the use of LEDs (or other similar light sources) to visually enhance the appearance of the golf cart. The lighting is used either as accent lighting or can be used to illuminate the vehicle's windshield.
Specifically, with the increasing popularity of using lights to illuminate a vehicle's windshield, there have been a number of inventions whereby light is transmitted directly from a light source to the windshield. However, the existing inventions are limited by high manufacturing costs, difficulty of production, difficulties in weather sealing, overall durability, or inability to meet legal requirements for street-legal use. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,275,845B2 utilizes a complicated arrangement of light-emitting diode arrays inserted directly into the windshield; U.S. Pat. No. 8,840,288B2 utilizes an external light source specially aligned so as to shine into the peripheral edge of a window panel; U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,947A consists of a combination of lights, clips and slots formed in the windshield; and, U.S. Pat. No. 6,453,841B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 9,534,764B2 each contemplate using trim to affix a light source directly to the edge of a windshield.
It is therefore desirable to provide a new and unique component for golf carts which will enable owners to customize their vehicles in a more durable, easy-to-manufacture and cost-effective manner.

Illuminated windshield assembly using an external light source and optical waveguide


The invention relates to a recombinant cell, preferably a yeast cell comprising: a) one or more heterologous genes encoding a glycerol dehydrogenase activity; b) one or more genes encoding a dihydroxyacetone kinase (E.C. 2.7.1.28 and/or E.C. 2.7.1.29); c) one or more heterologous genes encoding a ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase oxygenase (EC 4.1.1.39, RuBisCO); and d) one or more heterologous genes encoding a phosphoribulokinase (EC 2.7.1.19, PRK); and optionally e) one or more heterologous genes encoding for a glycerol transporter. This cell can be used for the production of ethanol and advantageously produces little or no glycerol.

Microbial fermentation processes are applied for industrial production of a broad and rapidly expanding range of chemical compounds from renewable carbohydrate feedstocks. Especially in anaerobic fermentation processes, redox balancing of the cofactor couple NADH/NAD+ can cause important constraints on product yields. This challenge is exemplified by the formation of glycerol as major by-product in the industrial production of—for instance—fuel ethanol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a direct consequence of the need to reoxidize NADH formed in biosynthetic reactions. Ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae is currently, by volume, the single largest fermentation process in industrial biotechnology, but various other compounds, including other alcohols, carboxylic acids, isoprenoids, amino acids etc., are currently produced in industrial biotechnological processes. For conventional fermentative production of fuel ethanol, such as from corn starch and cane sugar, sugars predominantly occur as dimers or polymers of hexose sugars, which upon release in monosaccharides after pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis by different forms of glucohydrolases can be efficiently and rapidly fermented by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Cellulosic or second generation bioethanol is produced from e.g. lignocellulosic fractions of plant biomass that is hydrolyzed intro free monomeric sugars, such as hexoses and pentoses, for fermentation into ethanol. Apart from the sugar release during pretreatment and hydrolysis of the biomass, some toxic by-products are formed depending on several pretreatment parameters, such as temperature, pressure and pre-treatment time. Various approaches have been proposed to improve the fermentative properties of organisms used in industrial biotechnology by genetic modification. A major challenge relating to the stoichiometry of yeast-based production of ethanol, but also of other compounds, is that substantial amounts of NADH-dependent side-products (in particular glycerol) are generally formed as a by-product, especially under anaerobic and oxygen-limited conditions or under conditions where respiration is otherwise constrained or absent. It has been estimated that, in typical industrial ethanol processes, up to about 4 wt % of the sugar feedstock is converted into glycerol (Nissen et al. Yeast 16 (2000) 463-474). Under conditions that are ideal for anaerobic growth, the conversion into glycerol may even be higher, up to about 10%.
Glycerol production under anaerobic conditions is primarily linked to redox metabolism. During anaerobic growth of S. cerevisiae, sugar dissimilation occurs via alcoholic fermentation. In this process, the NADH formed in the glycolytic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase reaction is re-oxidized by converting acetaldehyde, formed by decarboxylation of pyruvate to ethanol via NAD+ dependent alcohol dehydrogenase. The fixed stoichiometry of this redox-neutral dissimilatory pathway causes problems when a net reduction of NAD+ to NADH occurs elsewhere in metabolism (e.g. biomass formation). Under anaerobic conditions, NADH re-oxidation in S. cerevisiae is strictly dependent on reduction of sugar to glycerol. Glycerol formation is initiated by reduction of the glycolytic intermediate dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) to glycerol 3-phosphate (glycerol-3P), a reaction catalyzed by NAD+ dependent glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Subsequently, the glycerol 3-phosphate formed in this reaction is hydrolysed by glycerol-3-phosphatase to yield glycerol and inorganic phosphate. Consequently, glycerol is a major by-product during anaerobic production of ethanol by S. cerevisiae, which is undesired as it reduces overall conversion of sugar to ethanol. Further, the presence of glycerol in effluents of ethanol production plants may impose costs for waste-water treatment.
WO2013/89878 describes a recombinant cell functionally heterologous nucleic acid sequences encoding for ribulose-1,5-phosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (EC 184.108.40.206; herein abbreviated as "RuBisCO"), and optionally molecular chaperones for RuBisCO, and phosphoribulokinase (EC 184.108.40.206; herein abbreviated as "PRK").
WO2015/107496 describes a recombinant cell functionally expressing heterologous nucleic acid sequences encoding for RuBisCO-units RbcL, RbcS and RcbX, molecular chaperones for Rubisco GroEL and GroES. In the examples PRK is expressed with a tetracyclin-inducible promoter TetO7.


A method and apparatus comprising an imaging system (10) with safety control for imaging target objects having a scanning arrangement (14) including a sensor assembly (22) for capturing an image from a target object. The sensor assembly (22) has a field-of-view focused by an optical arrangement (24) onto a sensor array (28). The imaging system further comprises an illumination assembly (18) having a housing (30), illumination source (38), light pipe (42), and projection lens (36). The illumination assembly (18) provides light energy toward the sensor assembly field-of-view for illuminating the target object to be imaged on the sensor array (28). The light pipe (42) comprises a multi-walled tapered body (52) having an input face (40). The walls of the body (52) create mirrored images of the illumination source (38), together with the projection lens redistribute the amount of light energy directed at the eyes of a human.

Various electro-optical systems have been developed for reading optical indicia, such as barcodes. A barcode is a coded pattern of graphical indicia comprised of a series of bars and spaces of varying widths, the bars and spaces having differing light reflecting characteristics. The pattern of the bars and spaces encode information. Barcodes may be one dimensional (e.g., UPC barcode) or two dimensional (e.g., DataMatrix barcode). Systems that read, that is, image and decode barcodes employing imaging camera systems are typically referred to as imaging-based readers or scanners.
Imaging-based readers may be portable or stationary. A portable reader is one that is adapted to be held in a user's hand and moved with respect to target indicia, such as a target barcode to be read, that is, imaged and decoded. Stationary readers are mounted in a fixed position, for example, relative to a point-of-sales counter. Target objects, e.g., a product package that includes a target barcode are presented or swiped past one or more transparent windows and thereby pass within a field-of-view of the stationary readers.
The imaging based readers typically comprise a sensor or photodetector that collects light reflected from the target indicia located on an article or target object. The sensor or photodetector typically comprise charge coupled device (CCD) arrays, complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) arrays, or other imaging pixel arrays having a plurality of photosensitive elements or pixels.
A corresponding analog signal is generated by the sensors that are decoded into a digital signal representative of the target indicia being read. In general, the photosensors discussed above in areas of inadequate ambient lighting require a source of illumination that is scattered across the target indicia within or over the photosensor's field-of-view in order to produce the analog signal. A typical illumination system comprises light emitting diodes (LEDs), cold cathode florescent lamps (CCFLs), and the like that act as an illumination source for the imaging reader.

Imaging reader system with safety control


A multiple player game has objects corresponding to projects to which resources are allocated by the players of the game. The players include a plurality of groups. A resource bank mechanism determines a bank of resources to be made available to each group of players for allocation to the projects controlled by the players the group. A first game mechanism allows each player to make independent resource allocations to a project controlled by that player. A second game mechanism requires each group of players to make joint resource allocation decisions. A third game mechanism requires a plurality of the groups to make team level decisions affecting resource allocations to projects controlled by the groups of players. A scoring mechanism assigns a respective project score to each project of each group, a group score to each group of projects, and a team score to the plurality of projects.

Many types of educational games, including computer games and computer assisted games are, of course, well known. Most educational games are designed to either teach school age children basic or advanced skills associated with elementary and secondary school subjects (e.g., math, reading, and/or writing skills), or to teach users (children or adult) how to play chess, golf, or some other game. Most educational games are designed to be used by only one person at a time.
There are also many "drill and test" computer programs, which are not games, which cover educational material and then test the user's recollection of the facts presented, or test skills associated therewith (e.g., drawing inferences and deductions from presented fact patterns). Drill and test programs are rarely if ever considered to be fun, and are generally designed to be used by only one individual at a time.
There are any number of books and educational courses that teach, or attempt to teach, negotiation techniques between two parties. Some of these books and courses include "exercises" for practicing negotiation techniques, and those exercises may be considered to be two person games or interactions. A goal of the negotiations in such exercises may be to achieve an outcome that improves the joint welfare of both parties.
Another context in which cooperation among competitors, in order to achieve a "greater common good", arises is "game theory." As is well known, however, game theory has virtually nothing to do with games, and everything to do with studying and predicting the interactions between people who are trying to outsmart or outdo each other.

Computer assisted game for teaching cooperative resource allocation and multi-party negotiation skills


The present invention relates a process for simultaneously preventing formation of slime stabilized foam and decreasing reagent consumption in a phosphate beneficiation flowsheet comprising adding an effective amount of a polymer to a rougher feed slurry and/or a cationic feed slurry wherein the polymer flocculates slime, adding an effective amount of a collector and removing the flocculated slime by flotation.

Phosphate rock is a major phosphate source for agricultural fertilizers. Before chemical processing to produce fertilizers, the phosphate ore is mined and beneficiated to upgrade phosphate content. Phosphate content is generally measured in terms of P.sub.2 O.sub.5. During beneficiation the phosphate content is upgraded from about 4 to 10 percent P.sub.2 O.sub.5 to about 31 to 33 percent P.sub.2 O.sub.5. Clays and silica are the major impurities found in Florida phosphate ore. In general, Florida phosphate ore deposits, i.e., matrix, contain about a third recoverable phosphate, a third silica, i.e., sand, and a third clay, i.e., -150 mesh size (Tyler) fraction materials.
In a typical Florida phosphate mining operation, the matrix is excavated by a dragline, slurried, and pumped to the beneficiation plant for processing. A typical beneficiation plant contains three major processes, sizing, desliming, and flotation. Products in the beneficiation plant are classified according to the size fractions measured in terms of mesh size (Tyler).
As the matrix is delivered to the beneficiation plant, the sizing process produces a product called pebble. Pebble is the first final product of the beneficiation process and contains phosphate particles greater than 14 mesh size. Materials containing particles smaller than 14 mesh size are reported to a desliming process for clay separation. Clay is a waste by-product of the beneficiation process and contains particles smaller than 150 mesh size. During the desliming process, most of the clay is removed from the matrix and pumped to storage areas called clay settling ponds. As the clay is settled in the clay settling ponds, process water is reclaimed and routed for reuse in the mining and beneficiation processes.
The majority of clay is rejected as the phosphate pebble is sized. The materials remaining after sizing, called feed, contain particles ranging from -14 mesh to +150 mesh sizes. This feed contains phosphate particles (4 to 10 percent of P.sub.2 O.sub.5), 70 to 80 percent silica, and a small residue of clay. In order to remove the silica from the phosphate particles, the feed is fed to a flotation process which normally contains two flotation circuits. The first flotation circuit is called a rougher flotation circuit. The second flotation circuit is called a cationic or cleaner flotation circuit.
In the rougher flotation circuit, the silica content is reduced from 70-80 percent to 20-30 percent. The feed slurry is preconditioned with a fatty acid soap. The fatty acid soap is preferentially adsorbed by the phosphate particles, causing the phosphate particles to become hydrophobic. When the hydrophobic phosphate particles are introduced into the flotation device the phosphate particles attach to the air bubbles and float. Most of the silica particles remain in the water and sink. The floated phosphate ore, i.e., rougher concentrate, is then de-oiled by scrubbing with dilute sulfuric acid (H.sub.2 SO.sub.4) at a pH of 2.5-4.0, followed by rinsing with water.
The rougher concentrate slurry is subsequently fed into the cationic or cleaner flotation circuit for a second froth flotation process, in which the silica is reduced further to 3-10 percent. In the cationic or cleaner flotation circuit the rougher concentrate is treated with reagents which act as silica collectors. Oftentimes these cationic collectors are long-chain amines, in which case the cationic or cleaner flotation circuit is referred to as an amine flotation circuit. Accordingly, all flotation circuits using amines as collectors are referred to as amine flotation circuits. As such, the feed which reports to an amine flotation circuit is called an amine feed. In the cationic or cleaner flotation circuit, the collector is preferentially adsorbed by the silica causing the surface of the silica particles to become hydrophobic. The hydrophobic silica particles attach to the air bubbles and float. As the silica is removed, the remaining materials in the cationic or cleaner circuit are called concentrate. This concentrate is the second final product of the beneficiation plant.
In some beneficiation plants, materials containing size fractions smaller than 14 mesh and greater than 28 mesh are mechanically separated (i.e., screen or hydro-separation) from the feed. These materials are called an intermediate product. For some uses, the intermediate product is the final product of a beneficiation plant and does not require any flotation. Following this separation, the remainder of the feed (-28 mesh to +150 mesh) reports to the flotation process. Flotation feed size fractions generally vary from plant to plant depending on the overall plant flowsheet.
In beneficiation processes, large amounts of process water are used and subsequently recycled for reuse in all phases of processing such as sizing, desliming, washing, rinsing, and flotation. Fresh water from aquifers is pumped through deep wells and used in conjunction with the recycled process water. This recycled water contains both clay and phosphate slimes, with the majority of the slime being clay slime.
Recently, the conservation of fresh water in aquifers has been one of the most challenging issues facing the Florida phosphate industry. As part of the fresh water conservation effort, the deep well water which was previously used in beneficiation processes has been replaced by recycled process water. In order to hasten the settling process of clay slime and to facilitate water reclamation, a great deal of research has been done on the use of polymers to flocculate clay slime in settling ponds, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,020,231 to Colwell et al., EP 0 455 077 A2 to von Bonin et al., JP 3-8498 (1991) to Nippon Shokubai Kagaku, U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,770 to Thomas, U.S. Pat. No. 4,241,363 to Chamberlain et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,551 to Davis et al. Settling pond clay slime flocculation methods have also used polymers in combination with other materials, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,498,993 and 4,478,736 to Raba, Jr. et al., JP 53-99656 (1978) to Agency of Ind. Sci. Tech., JP 3-161099 to Kyoritsu Yuki Kogyo and U.S. Pat. No. 3,932,275 to Mewes et al. However, because of the economics, flocculants are rarely used in the field.
Therefore, the recycled process water from these reclamation and settling processes can still contain significant amounts of (-150 mesh) slime particles. The increasing use of slime contaminated process water in beneficiation processes imposes significant processing problems, particularly in flotation processes.
Two major problems are commonly observed. One of the problems is a marked increase in reagent, also known as collectors, consumption. Collectors useful in phosphate beneficiation include anionic collectors and cationic or amine collectors. The presence of slime causes the depletion of the collectors for the phosphate and silica flotation because the collectors are preferentially adsorbed by the fine slime particles. In order to float the phosphate or silica properly, collector dosages have to be markedly increased, especially the amine/cationic collectors. If the necessary increase in anionic collectors, for example, fatty acid/fatty acid soap and fuel oil is not provided, phosphate recovery in the rougher flotation circuit is low. If the necessary increase in cationic collectors, for example, amine is not provided, the final concentrate grade of the cationic or cleaner flotation circuit is poor. The second problem encountered, when slime is present during the beneficiation process, is the formation of a stable foam. This stable foam overflows the flotation cells and launders creating operational problems.
In view of the prior art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how these problems could be overcome.

Phosphate beneficiation process using polymers as slime flocculants


The main object of the present invention is to provide a substrate for a monochrome liquid crystal display apparatus having the excellent evenness of the gap between the substrate for a monochrome liquid crystal display apparatus and the counter substrate, capable of displaying with a preferable image quality without the brightness irregularity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a substrate for a monochrome liquid crystal display apparatus used for a monochrome liquid crystal display apparatus. More specifically, it relates to a substrate for a monochrome liquid crystal display apparatus capable of preventing deterioration of the display characteristics, and a production method therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a liquid crystal display apparatus has been used as the information displaying means in many fields, regardless of the monochrome type and the color type.
For example, the monochrome liquid crystal display apparatus has a structure comprising at least a substrate for a monochrome liquid crystal display apparatus having a substrate, a black matrix formed in a pattern on the substrate, and a protection layer provided for protecting the black matrix and ensuring the flatness of the substrate surface, a counter substrate facing the substrate for a monochrome liquid crystal display apparatus, and a liquid crystal layer clamped between the substrate for a monochrome liquid crystal display apparatus and the counter substrate.
Recently, as the gapping material (spacer) for constantly maintaining the gap between the substrate for a liquid crystal display apparatus and the counter substrate, a columnar spacer is used instead of the plastic beads, which have been used conventionally. That is, in order to solve the problems of the contrast deterioration derived from the light leakage in the vicinity of the plastic beads and the display irregularity derived from the distribution irregularity, a columnar spacer is formed on the side of either substrate, and the gap between the two substrates is maintained constantly by the spacer.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid Open (JP-A) No. 11-109366 discloses a technique using a columnar spacer comprising a large diameter spacer comprising one layer and a small diameter spacer comprising two or more layers for preventing generation of the irregularity in terms of the height of the columnar spacer itself in the liquid crystal display apparatus display area and the outside of the display area. Furthermore, JP-A No. 2002-148426 discloses a technique for constantly maintaining the shape of the columnar spacer according to the two layer structure of a columnar spacer comprising a low deformation part with a small deformation amount in the high temperature and high pressure, and a high elasticity part capable of following the contraction of the liquid crystal at a low temperature for preventing the change of the columnar spacer by the influence of the high temperature and high pressure at the time of assembling the liquid crystal display apparatus. Moreover, JP-A No. 11-2717 discloses a technique for constantly maintaining the gap between the two substrates by projecting a columnar spacer from a predetermined position in a range of 1 to 4 μm.
According to an example of the conventional substrate for a monochrome liquid crystal display using the columnar spacer, as shown in FIG. 3, a black matrix 2 is formed in a pattern across the pixels on the substrate 1 for a monochrome liquid crystal display apparatus. The black matrix 2 is formed with the width narrower in a part corresponding to the pixel parts A as the display area in order not to lower the aperture ratio of the display area. In contrast, the black matrix 2 formed in the outer peripheral part B outside the display area is formed with the width wider in order to effectively block the light from the light source such as a back light.
Furthermore, a protection layer 3 is formed for covering the surface of the black matrix 2 for protecting the members such as the black matrix 2, and for providing the flatness to the surface of the substrate 1 for a monochrome liquid crystal display apparatus. According to the protection layer 3, the film thickness difference is generated between the pixel part A and the outer peripheral part B. This is because the protection layer 3 can hardly be laminated on the upper surface of the black matrix 2 disposed on the pixel part A with the width formed narrower so that the film thickness of the laminated protection layer 3 tends to be thinner. In contrast, since the black matrix 2 provided in the outer peripheral part B is formed with a sufficient width, the film thickness of the protection layer 3 is made thicker than that of the pixel part A. In the case the columnar spacer 4 is formed on the protection layer 3, due to the above-mentioned film thickness difference of the protection layer 3 itself, as to the height from the surface of the substrate 1 for a monochrome liquid crystal display apparatus to the upper surface of the columnar spacer 4, it is higher in the outer peripheral part B than in the pixel part A.
The height difference appears as the gap difference between the substrates so that the difference in the gap area significantly influences the display characteristics particularly in the IPS type monochrome liquid crystal display apparatus. Moreover, in the case the counter substrate 5 is disposed on the substrate for a monochrome liquid crystal display layer via the columnar spacer 4, distortion is generated in the counter substrate 5. The distortion generates the trouble of the light leakage from the counter substrate 5 peripheral part so that the problem of the brightness in the periphery of the screen is generated.
In order to solve the problems in the conventional substrate for a monochrome liquid crystal display apparatus, although a method of forming columnar spacers individually on the pixel part and on the outer peripheral part at the time of forming the columnar spacers is considered, it has been difficult to precisely adjusting the height due to the influence at the time of forming the columnar spacers in some cases.

Monochrome liquid crystal display having higher spaces in pixel area than in peripheral area and production method therefor

Abstract: In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a substrate for a monochrome liquid crystal display apparatus comprising a substrate, a black matrix formed in a pattern on the substrate, a protection layer formed on the substrate so as to cover the black matrix, and a columnar spacer formed in the area with the black matrix formed of the protection layer, for adjusting the gap between the substrate and the counter substrate, wherein the height from the surface of the substrate to the upper surface of the columnar spacer provided in the pixel part of the substrate is higher than the height from the substrate surface to the upper surface of the columnar spacer provided in the outer peripheral part as the pixel part peripheral area of the substrate by in a range of 0 μm to 0.8 μm.


A flexible conditioning apparatus and method for uniformly conditioning a polishing surface of a pad used to remove undesirable irregularities from a silicon wafer and to achieve a planar condition of the polishing pad. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a roughening member comprising a plurality of point contacts, such as diamond particles, is adapted for movement into and out of engagement with the surface of the pad. A flexible member supporting the roughening member allows the roughening member to conform to the surface of the pad to achieve uniform polishing of the pad.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of semiconductor manufacturing and more specifically to the field of chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) and to an apparatus for conditioning a polishing pad used in semiconductor manufacturing to polish or planarize a silicon wafer or similar work piece.
2. Description of Prior Art
CMP is used primarily for polishing or "planarizing" the front face of a semiconductor wafer. A silicon wafer typically is fabricated as a disk, and the wafer thereafter is subjected to a masking process in preparation for using it, for example, in a production of integrated circuits.
The masking process causes numerous undesired irregularities on a device surface of the wafer. To remove rough spots and irregularities from the wafer and to produce a planar surface of substantially uniform thickness on the wafer, a CMP process may be used.
FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a typical orbital CMP polisher. During CMP with an orbital polisher 1, a semiconductor wafer ("wafer") 10 is placed onto a polishing pad 12 that has been coated with an abrasive and chemically reactive solution, slurry, which typically is comprised of a colloidal silica. Wafer 10 is held in place and made to bear against a polishing pad surface by a carrier 14. Carrier 14 may be a rigid table or a flexible table comprised of a pliable material. Polishing pad is attached to the top of a flexible or rigid table or platen 16.
Polishing pad 12 typically is constructed in two layers overlying a platen with the less resilient layer on the outer layer of the polishing pad. The hardness and density of the polishing pad 12 depends on the type of material that is to be polished. The parameters of polishing, such as the pressure on the wafer, the rotational speed of the carrier, the speed of the polishing pad, the flow rate of the slurry, and the pH of the slurry are carefully controlled to provide a uniform removal rate, a uniform polish across the surface of the wafer, and consistency from wafer to wafer.
Polishing pad 12 typically is larger than the diameter of the wafer 10 being polished, and wafer 10 generally is kept off-center of the polishing pad to prevent grinding of a non-planar surface into the wafer. Wafer 10 and polishing pad 12 may both axially rotate, or polishing pad 12 may be rotated about a vertical axis while wafer 10 is placed in a confined position. Under either system, slurry may be distributed to the wafer/polishing pad interface through a plurality of holes 18 formed throughout the polishing pad 12. The rotation of polishing pad 12 about the surface of wafer 10 causes the polishing pad to rub against the device surface thereby bringing about abrasive wear of the surface in engagement with the polishing surface.
As a wafer is polished, the slurry and abraded materials tend to glaze the surface of the polishing pad, making the polishing pad slick and reducing the polishing rate and efficiency. Polishing can produce stray particles from the polishing pad material, the wafer itself, or elsewhere. It is important that the polishing pad surface be maintained in planar condition and substantially free of surface irregularities.
One method of countering the glazing or smoothing of the polishing pad surface and achieving and maintaining high and stable polishing rates is to "condition" the polishing pad by removing old slurry particles and abraded particles which develops on the surface. Scraping the polishing pad with a sharp object or roughening the polishing pad with an abrasive material restores the polishing pad's surface, thus increasing the ability of the polishing pad to absorb slurry and increasing the polishing rate and efficiency of the polishing system. During or after conditioning, the polishing pad may be rinsed with water to remove the particles and irregularities loosened during the conditioning process.
Most known polishing pad conditioning systems use an abrasive disk to increase the roughness of the polishing pad and counter the glazing process. In one known conditioning method, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,843 (Breivogel et al.) and as shown in FIG. 2, a multitude of fine microgrooves 20 are formed in the surface of a polishing pad 12 by pivoting a diamond pointed conditioning block 22 back and forth across an annular area 26 of the polishing pad 12 which contacts the wafer 10. This technique tends to produce nonuniform conditioning, and the effectiveness of the conditioning is limited.
Moreover, because the conditioning block 22 is rigidly connected to conditioning arm 24, operating efficiency is dependant upon the relative motion of the polishing pad 12 and the conditioning block 22, and effective conditioning cannot be achieved without decreasing the polishing rate, and thereby decreasing wafer throughput and increasing fabrication costs. The rigid conditioning assembly cannot achieve maximum uniform conditioning because the conditioning assembly is unable to fully conform to irregularities and unevenness generally present on the surface of the polishing pad at the time of conditioning.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,417 (Breivogel et al.) describes a "ball and socket" joint to attempt to achieve uniform contact with polishing pad 18 when irregularities are present on the polishing pad 18. However, this "ball and socket" joint device still provides for a rigid conditioning block with mobility only in the vertical plane. It does not allow for a compliancy in the conditioning block 22 to achieve maximum uniform conformity and contact between the conditioning block 22 and the polishing pad 18 and does not allow the conditioning assembly to conform to minor irregularities in the polishing pad.
Another known method for conditioning a polishing pad uses a large diameter diamond particle covered disk, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,627 (Jackson et al.). In this method, the large disk is pressed against the polishing pad and axially rotated while the polishing pad rotates. This conditioning technique requires a large diameter disk and has been found less than optimal due to a combination of insufficient surface flatness and inability to track surface variations across the polishing track left in the polishing pad. Moreover, this conditioning device tends to gouge portions of the polishing pad while insufficiently conditioning other portions. The rigidity of the structure of this conditioning device does not allow for uniform conditioning because the disk does not have the flexibility to remain in uniform contact with the polishing pad when irregularities and unevenness are present in the polishing pad.

Apparatus for conditioning polishing pads


The invention relates to an articulated robot arm (1) which comprises a plurality of trapezoidal truncated cylinders (2) disposed in succession around an internal holding member (4), each trapezoidal truncated cylinder (2) being configured to pivot about the internal holding member (4), the internal holding member (4) having angular control means for controlling the rotation of each trapezoidal truncated cylinder (2).

The industrial robots are used to quickly and accurately perform a very wide range of industrial tasks.
Traditionally, the articulations of the industrial robot arms have several segments pivoting relative to each other.
Each pivot link has an independent motorization. Most often, the motors of the pivots of the robot arms are powered by electrical or pneumatic connections positioned outside the robot arm. These connections hinder the rotations of the robot arm and increase the bulk and the collision risks with the external environment.


The present invention is an imaging element including a support having a front side and a back side, at least one backing layer on the back side of the support, at least one silver halide emulsion layer superposed on the front side of the support, an interlayer superposed on the silver halide emulsion layer having a thickness of between 0.2 .mu.m and 1.2 .mu.m and a stiffness ratio of the interlayer to the silver halide emulsion layer of from 2 to 15; and a protective overcoat layer superposed on the interlayer having a thickness of from 0.3 to 2 .mu.m. The ratio of the thickness of the interlayer to the protective overcoat layer is less than or equal to 1.

During manufacturing, transport, storage, and use of a multilayer photographic film in a roll form, the front (i.e., the imaging side) of the photographic film comes into contact with the film backing. Depending on the severity of this contact, it can lead to ferrotyping, sticking and materials transfer. Ferrotyping refers to the imprinting of a glossy surface onto the front side of a photographic film following intimate contact with the backing. Depending on the composition of the backing, materials transfer that occurs during this intimate contact may have deleterious effects on the sensitometric behavior of the photographic film. To help prevent intimate contact between the front and back sides of a multilayer photographic film, the protective overcoat layer that overlies the imaging layer typically employs matte beads as spacers. These matte beads are hard, inorganic or organic particles such as silica particles or high Tg polymeric beads.
Front-to-back contact may still occur for a multilayer photographic product that contains matte beads in its outermost protective layer, especially for gelatin-based photographic layers exposed to high humidity. We have found that this failure of the matte beads to prevent front-to-back contact arises as a result of penetration of the matte beads into the photographic layers under pressure, for example, when the film is tightly wound into a roll. Although photographic layers may be harder than a matte bead, these photographic layer become softer with time due to their viscoelastic nature. The softening process is further accelerated at higher humidities by the plasticizing effects of moisture. Because of this matte bead penetration, the surface roughness of the photographic product is reduced resulting in the appearance of ferrotyping. Matte penetration can further lead to the dislocation of the silver grains for silver halide-containing photographic layers by contact stresses. The dislocation of the silver grains causes a pressure marking of the photographic product.
Up to now, the mechanisms that cause and the problems associated with matte bead penetration into imaging layers as a result of front-to-back contact have not been fully understood. In addition, the prior art does not discuss methods to prevent such matte bead penetration into photographic layers. To avoid pressure sensitization, the prior art describes adding a soft cushion layer as a stress absorbing intermediate layer between the protective overcoat and photographic layers as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,066,572, 5,300,417, and 5,310,639. However, these soft cushion layers can not reduce matte bead penetration. In fact, such soft layers actually promote matte bead penetration.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,179 discloses using a two-layer protective overcoat for a photographic layer in an attempt to reduce pressure marking. The two-layer protective overcoat comprises an outer layer and an inner layer, wherein the ratio of the thickness of the inner layer to the outer layer is at least 1.5. The outer layer contains oil particles in the form of finely dispersed, water-insoluble droplets. The inner layer contains fine particles of an inorganic oxide or polymeric material, and optionally, oil particles analogous to those contained in the outer layer. Such a thick, inner protective layer containing hydrophobic fillers is undesirable since it may retard the image development process and may reduce image sharpness. In addition, since the inner protective layer may contain both oil droplets and fine particles of organic or inorganic material, such a layer may be quite soft due to the presence of the oil droplets and therefore be undesirable as a method to prevent matte bead penetration during front-to-back contact.
The prior art also describes in U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,727 the use of one or more overcoat layers containing polymer latexes having a Tg above 20.degree. C. and polymer latexes having a Tg below 20.degree. C. Such overcoat layers reportedly have reduced brittleness and reticulation while improving sticking resistance. However, by incorporating both the soft and hard latexes in the overcoat layers, the stiffness of these layers may be too low to prevent matte bead penetration during front-to-back contact.
The aforementioned prior art references relate to some aspects of the present invention, but, do not fully consider the problem of matte bead penetration into imaging layers during front-to-back contact, nor do they disclose or suggest an adequate solution to this problem. Therefore, there is a need for an imaging element having an improved interlayer that prevents matte bead penetration and the associated problems of pressure sensitization, ferrotyping, sticking, and materials transfer without compromising image development and image quality.

Photographic element containing improved interlayer


A system and method can determine one or more CT scanner calibration parameters from a plurality of calibration object projections in a plurality of radiographs.

A computed tomography scan ("CT scan") typically involves placing a physical object on a rotating platform inside a Computed Tomography scanner (CT scanner) between an x-ray source and x-ray detector and rotating the object around an axis of rotation to generate radiographs from the x-rays detected by the detector. Conventionally, the CT scanner can tomographically reconstruct the radiographs into a 3D representation of the object scanned ("CT reconstruction"). One example of CT reconstruction can be found in, for example, in the publication Principles of Computerized Tomographic Imaging (A. C. Kak and Malcolm Slaney, Principles of Computerized Tomographic Imaging, IEEE Press, 1988), the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. Other types of CT reconstruction can also be performed.
CT scanners are typically configured with calibration parameters which are provided to reconstruction algorithms to generate the reconstructed image. However, over time, CT scanners can be subject to factors that can alter physical component alignment and relationships between them. These factors can render the initial parameters ineffective to reconstruct an accurate or clear image. Accordingly, CT scanners can need calibration. Although attempts at determining calibration parameters have been made, they can be imprecise and inaccurate and inflexible in terms of placement of calibration artifacts.

James R. Glidewell Dental Ceramics, Inc.


The present invention relates to a method of analyzing accuracy of linear sensor output based on a theoretical prediction of the output model. The method comprises steps of: analyzing a statistically significant number of linear sensors to obtain operating profiles at two or more operating conditions; individually testing a linear sensor to obtain at least four data points; developing a theoretical prediction of the output model for each operating condition from the four data points; and comparing accuracy of the relationship between the theoretical prediction of the output model to sensor output in the operating profile corresponding to a given input for the same operating condition. Also disclosed are calibration algorithms associated therewith, as well as mechatronic units and further assemblies therefrom.

The present invention relates to linear sensors, as well as calibration and use of such sensors. The invention is applicable to systems comprising one or more linear sensors.
Sensors are employed in a multitude of applications throughout a variety of industries. Sensors can be used to detect many different properties. For example, it is well known to use sensors for detecting pressure, strain, temperature, torque, and many other properties. In most industrial applications, sensors are also referred to as transducers.
Whether a sensor is linear depends on how its output (e.g., electrical signal such as voltage) correlates with the measured input (e.g., pressure, strain, temperature, torque, et cetera). If the relationship between input and output is essentially linear when operating the sensor at constant temperature, the sensor is then understood to be linear. If not linear, the sensor is characterized according to what other type of relationship (e.g., exponential) exists between the sensor's input and output.
In some applications, one or more sensors can be integrated within a larger unit.
For example, mechatronic units provide mechanical and electronic (e.g., microprocessor and/or memory) components within one integral unit. Mechatronic units can be rather small, encompassing no more than a sensor and an electronic component which can, for example, store a calibration algorithm for the individual sensor. Mechatronic units in industrial applications, however, often include a multitude of components operating together to perform a discrete function.
One class of mechatronic unit widely used in industry is electrohydraulic in nature, integrating hydraulic and electronic components within one integral unit. Many electrohydraulic units are known to include one or more sensors to facilitate desired and reliable operation of the unit. For example, solenoid operated pressure control valves are electrohydraulic units in which sensors are commonly utilized. In applications of this type, sensors can be utilized, for example, to determine and relay to an electronic component (such as a pressure controller) pressure output from and/or input to such a valve. Relaying pressure readings in this manner can, for instance, assist an electronic pressure controller in adjusting the hydraulic components of the valve during operation in order to obtain a desired pressure output.
Units comprising solenoid operated pressure control valves have found applicability in, for example, applications for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid in automatic transmissions for motor vehicles. In automatic transmissions of this type, shifting of transmission speed ratios is controlled by an electronic controller that provides an electrical signal to the solenoid operated valve, which in turn provides a fluid pressure signal to a pressure responsive actuator for effecting a desired transmission speed ratio change.
Accuracy and reliability of mechatronic units (whether they be relatively small or larger, such as automatic transmission systems employing solenoid operated pressure control valves), however, are often predicated on calibration of sensors and other components within the system. Known mechatronic units comprising a sensor calibration algorithm in the electronic component typically rely upon sensor calibration that is determined on a sensor-by-sensor basis prior to the assembly of the sensors into a complete mechatronic unit.
Yet, the calibration of sensors in assembled mechatronic units (e.g., solenoid operated pressure control valve systems) and maintenance of sensor calibration during operation has proven challenging. As is known by those skilled in the sensor art, the output of sensors at pre-assembly often varies from the sensor output obtained after assembly into a mechatronic unit. The pre-assembly sensor output also may vary from sensor output under varying operating conditions.
For example, environmental variations such as temperature changes and exposure to fluid contaminants, as well as viscosity fluctuations, can impact sensor output. FIG. 1 illustrates variation in individual sensor output based on temperature variations during operation. FIG. 1 shows the relationship between sensor output and input at three different temperatures (i.e., Temp. A, Temp. B, and Temp. C). Such variations observed in sensor output at varying temperatures can detrimentally impact continued accuracy of systems relying on precise output of sensors during operation. Conventional sensor calibration algorithms, if used, often do not factor in these environmental variations.
Still other post-assembly variations, such as those caused by sensor packaging and attachment can also influence sensor output measurements. For example, the methods for packaging and attachment of a sensor to a substrate can influence sensor outputs. In addition, the materials used for sensor packaging and attachment (e.g., type of the substrate material, such as ceramic or "FR4") can also influence sensor outputs after its assembly into a final product.
Furthermore, when more than one sensor is employed within a mechatronic unit or combination of units, sensor variance between parts imparted during normal manufacturing processes can further complicate accurate calibration of the mechatronic units during operation. For example, FIG. 2 illustrates variations in sensor output based on part-to-part variations created during sensor manufacture. Illustrated therein is the relationship between sensor output of three similar sensors obtained from different manufacturing lots (i.e., Part A, Part B, and Part C) and sensor input. The data represented in FIG. 2 is obtained while operating the three different sensors under the same operating conditions (e.g., at the same temperature). Conventional calibration algorithms typically are not universally applicable to various types of sensors. Further, conventional calibration algorithms do not account for individual variances (e.g., those imparted during normal manufacturing processes) within each class of sensor.
Factoring in environmental and part-to-part variations, desired sensor output can vary by up to approximately 50% from actual sensor output in assembled mechatronic units. Not surprisingly, such large deviations in accuracy are often problematic. Thus, there is a need for improvement in techniques used to calibrate units employing linear sensors and to maintain accurate calibration thereof during operation.
While certain attempts have been made to minimize deviations in the accuracies of sensor output, those attempts are not without their drawbacks. Notably, many of these techniques require additional hardware and/or burdensome individual testing of each sensor.
For example, one conventional technique for minimizing deviations in the accuracy of sensor output involves individually calibrating each sensor after packaging. This individual calibration step is followed by separate signal conditioning and amplification of the sensor in order to facilitate obtainment of linear output under all operating conditions. Yet, such a technique requires manual setup by an end user using a paper "calibration sheet." As anticipated, that manual process can be very inefficient, particularly when utilizing a combination of multiple sensors within a larger mechatronic unit.
Alternatively, instead of requiring a paper calibration sheet, an individual sensor can be coupled to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) having an individual sensor calibration algorithm encoded within. Requiring the use of an ASIC in this manner, however, is very costly and adds often undesired physical bulk to each individual sensor and hence the unit within which it is placed for operation.
Another technique for minimizing deviations in the accuracy of sensor output involves physical "trimming" of packaged sensors such that each individual sensor provides the same output at all operating conditions. Again, this technique has its drawbacks, one of which is the decrease in process efficiency associated with the trimming process. Another drawback is that signal conditioning is often required with this technique, which has the effect of decreasing overall process efficiency.
Further techniques for minimizing deviations in sensor accuracy after assembly and during operation are desirable. In particular, improved calibration methods are needed, especially those that promote overall process efficiency.

Mathematical model useful for determining and calibrating output of a linear sensor