A photosensitive member is disclosed, which comprises a photosensitive layer containing a fluorescent bleaching agent comprising a coumarin compound represented by the formula (I): ##STR1##

This invention relates to a photosensitive member containing a specific fluorescent bleaching agent.
In electrophotography, copied images are formed by various kinds of methods. For example, the surface of a photosensitive member is charged and irradiated to form electrostatic latent images thereon, the electrostatic latent images are developed by a developer to be made visible and then the developed electrostatic latent images are fixed directly onto the photosensitive member (referred to as a direct method). In other method, developed electrostatic latent images on a photosensitive member which are made visible by a developer are transferred to a copying paper and then, the transferred images are fixed on the paper (referred to as a powder transferring method). In another method, electrostatic latent images on a photosensitive member are transferred onto a copying paper, the transferred electrostatic latent images are developed by a developer and then fixed on the copying paper (referred to as an electrostatic latent image transferring method).
Known photosensitive materials for forming such a photosensitive member include inorganic photoconductive materials such as selenium, cadmium sulfide or zinc oxide.
These photosensitive materials have many advantages such as low loss of charges in the dark, an electrical charge which can be rapidly dissipated with irradiation of light and the like. However, they have disadvantages. For example, a photosensitive member based on selenium is difficult to produce, has high production costs and is difficult to handle due to inadequate resistivity to heat or mechanical impact. A photosensitive member based on cadmium sulfide or zinc oxide has defects such as its unstable sensitivity in a highly humid environment and loss of stability with time because of the deterioration of dyestuffs, added as a sensitizer, by corona charge and fading with exposure.
Many kinds of organic photoconductive materials such as polyvinylcarbazole and so on have been proposed. These organic photoconductive materials have superior film forming properties, are light in weight, etc., but inferior in sensitivity, durability and environmental stability compared to the aforementioned inorganic photoconductive materials.
Physical properties or electrophotographic properties of a coating layer as a photosensitive member may be adjusted desirably by using an organic photoconductive material of low molecular weight in the combination with a selected binder resin, a selected composition or the like. However, the high compatibility of an organic photoconductive material with a binder resin is required because the photoconductive material is used together with the binder resin.
A photosensitive member prepared by dispersing an organic photoconductive compound of low molecular weight or high molecular weight in a binder resin has problems such as high residual potential caused by many traps of carriers, low sensitivity and the like. Therefore, a charge transporting material is further incorporated in a photosensitive member in order to overcome the problems as above mentioned, and a function-divided photosensitive member of a laminated or a dispersed type has been also proposed, in which charge generating function and charge transporting function are divided by different layers or different dispersed materials.
Many kinds of organic compounds are used as a charge transporting material, which have, however, many problems. For example, 2,5-bis(p-diethylaminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,189,447 is low in compatibility with a binder and liable to separate out. A diarylalkane derivative disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,989 is good in compatibility with a binder resin, but changes in sensitivity when used repeatedly. A hydrazone compound disclosed in JP Laid-open No. 54-59143 is relatively good in residual potential properties, but being poor in chargeability and repetition properties.
Repetition properties, light-fatigue properties, or durability properties thereof are required as well as sensitivity and chargeability in order to meet utility of a photosensitive member.
However, an organic photosensitive member has, in general, problems such as unstability in initial surface potential or light decaying properties, remarkable light fatigue and poor durability.
There are proposed, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open 60-191264 or 59-123845 to improve photosensitivity and durability of a photosensitive member.
Japanese Patent Laid-open 60-191264 discloses that a hydrazone compound is contained in a photosensitive member to achieve excellent photosensitivity and repetition properties of initial surface potential. It is further disclosed that the addition of an acridine dye, a thiazine dye or an oxazine dye is effective to improve photosensitivity. However, the photosensitive member disclosed therein is also unstable in electrophotographic properties such as surface potential, residual potential and the like when used repeatedly.
Japanese Patent Laid-open 59-123845 discloses a photosensitive member having a charge generating layer and a charge transporting layer in which an electron donating compounds such as phenazine, triazole and the like are incorporated into the charge generating layer to improve the injection effectiveness of charges generated in the charge generating layer into the charge transporting layer for improvement of photosensitivity. The objects of this technique, however, are not to improve repetition properties, durability and the like of a photosensitive member, being different from those of the present invention.
On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-open 62-249167 discloses that a thioxanthone compound is added into a photosensitive layer to stabilize repetition properties. Japanese Patent Laid-open 62-262053 discloses that a thiuram monosulfide compound is added into a photosensitive layer to stabilize repetition properties. Japanese Patent Laid-open 62-30256 discloses that a triphenylmethane pigment is added to stabilize repetition properties. However, further improvements of repetition properties, durability and the like are required in these photosensitive members.

Photosensitive member containing specific coumarin fluorescent bleaching agent


In a complex power distribution network (e.g. CATV), a switching mode power supply at a node, automatically recovers from low input voltage conditions. When the input voltage to a switching power supply decreases to a critical level, the output voltage is no longer regulated and input current increases, and then the network becomes unstable. The network can enter a quasi-stable high current condition in which the output voltage remains unstable. In one specific embodiment, an automatic shut down circuit senses the unstable condition (or a voltage or current indicating the potential for instability) and latches the power supply into a shut down state. After a predetermined pause (that may depend on the input voltage), the power supply automatically restarts. Upon restarting, if the power supply is still unstable or potentially unstable, then the shut down circuit shuts the power supply down again and so forth. In another specific embodiment, the controller regulates the output voltage of the power supply when input voltage is sufficient, but when input voltage decreases then a controller of the power supply operates in an approximately constant current mode so that the distribution network maintains stability.

In modern community antenna television (CATV) distribution networks (also known as broadband networks), there have been recent shifts to multi-redundant centralized powering and to the extension of networks by using fiber optic transmission cables. In order to provide these expanding networks and power hungry equipment with AC power from a single source, the AC voltage in these systems is being increased from the 60 volts to 90 volts. The resulting networks tend to have higher voltage drops along the distribution tree than previous networks, and have been plagued by unstable conditions wherein DC power supplies begin drawing increased current and overloading the AC power delivery capabilities of the network.
In an ideal system consisting of a power source and a load, maximum power transfer occurs when the impedance of the load matches the impedance of the power supply. If the load resistance increases then current through the system will decrease and less power will be transferred. If the load resistance decreases then the voltage across the load will decrease and less power will be transferred.
In a CATV system, long conductor distances have significant series resistance so that remote portions of these systems tend to have voltages far below the voltage at the AC power source. In addition AC voltage in the system may vary dynamically due to momentary power interruptions, sags, system maintenance, adding new users, activation of various equipment in the system, temporary overloads, or "sheath currents" caused by imbalances in the power distribution system.
In CATV, at nodes, signal amplifiers, and customer interface units (CIUs), AC power is converted to DC power by a power supply, and the DC power is used to operate various electronic equipment. Switched-mode power supplies (SMPSs) are used in these applications because they are able to maintain high conversion efficiency over a wide range of input voltage. Unfortunately, this constant power characteristic provokes instability in the AC power distribution network because the input impedance of the DC power supplies is dynamically negative. That is, a decrease in the supply voltage causes an increase in the current demanded by the power supplies which causes increased voltage drop through the distribution system and results in a further decrease in the voltage at the input of the DC power supply.
In modern DC power supplies, as the AC input voltage drops towards a minimum level, the current demanded by the power supply increases, and then the DC output becomes unregulated when the AC input voltage dips below the DC power supply's minimum level. At that time, the current demanded by the DC power supply stops increasing and the network enters a quasi-stable state in the overloaded condition. The increased current further reduces the input voltage throughout the branch of the network. Thus, as a DC power supply in one branch of the power distribution network becomes unregulated, then other DC power supplies in the branch tend to also become unregulated resulting in cascade failures. A large number of CATV cable customers are subjected to service degradation or interruption. In addition, the recovery voltage at which the network regains its stability is significantly higher than the voltage at which it originally became unstable, so that it is difficult to regain stability. Currently, the typical response to instability is to shut down the entire system or at least a portion of the system that can be remotely shut down, and then power distribution is reinitiated in the shut down portion.
Those skilled in the art are directed to the following citations. "Powering Stability in 90 Volt Networks" by Peter Deierlein in 1996 NCTA Technical Papers describes the power distribution system instability problem and suggests that "a latching shutdown function (with delayed restart) is added to the power supplies". European Patent Application 0 582814 A2, to Newton suggests "A regulator circuit that allows recovery in a controlled manner in the shortest possible time from occasional power line disturbances".
Those skilled in the art are referred to U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,722 to Deierlein.
The above citations are hereby incorporated herein in whole by reference.

Latching shutdown and delayed restart of DC power supply in broadband network


The invention relates e.g. to the use of aldehydes and/or ketones for improving the stability of cosmetic formulations containing butylmethoxydibenzoylmethane as organic light protection filters in conjunction with inorganic light protection filters.

The present invention relates, inter alia, to the use of aldehydes and/or ketones for improving the stability of cosmetic formulations which comprise, as organic light protection filter, butylmethoxydibenzoyl methane combined with inorganic light protection filters.
As is known, the skin is sensitive to solar rays, which can cause ordinary sunburn or an erythema, and also burns of greater or lesser severity.
However, solar rays also have other adverse effects: they cause the skin to lose its elasticity and form wrinkles and these lead to premature ageing. Dermatoses may also sometimes be observed. In the extreme case, some people develop skin cancer.
It is also desirable to protect hair against photochemical damage in order to prevent changes in shade, bleaching or damage of a mechanical nature.
As is known, the most dangerous solar rays are the ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of less than 400 nm. It is also known that as a result of the presence of the ozone layer in the Earth""s atmosphere, which absorbs some solar radiation, the lower limit of the ultraviolet rays which reach the Earth""s surface is approximately 280 nm.
The sunscreen filters customarily used in cosmetics nowadays are divided into UVA and UVB filters. For both UV ranges, there are many tried and tested substances known from the specialist literature, substances such as Eusolex(copyright) 6300 or Eusolex(copyright) 232, dibenzoylmethanes such as Eusolex(copyright) 9020 (butylmethoxybenzoylmethane as UVA filter) or Eusolex(copyright) 8020, benzophenones and also octyl triazones (Uvinul(copyright) T 150) being listed here merely by way of example.
However, the problem with many sunscreen preparations is that many light protection filters are sensitive substances and have low stability towards ultraviolet rays; they break down at a greater or lesser rate. This results in problems with regard to shelf life and effectiveness of the corresponding cosmetic formulations.
In sunscreen formulations organic light protection filters are also combined with inorganic filters such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or iron oxides. A frequently used organic light protection filter is butylmethoxydibenzoylmethane (BMDM). However, the effectiveness of butylmethoxydibenzoylmethane is significantly reduced in this combination with metal oxides as a result of the ability of the butylmethoxydibenzoylmethane, as diketone, to form complexes with a variety of metal ions. Such reactions are known with ions of titanium, zinc, iron and aluminium. However, the metal ions do not primarily have to be in the form of ions, but can also react in the form of oxides. These reactions are of course undesired in sunscreen formulations.
The object was therefore to find a way of preventing this undesired reaction and thereby achieving an improvement in the stability of cosmetic preparations which comprise butylmethoxydibenzoyl methane together with inorganic light protection filters.
Surprisingly, we have now found that the undesired complex formation can be prevented by active aldehydes and/or ketones present. Here, the aldehyde and/or keto groups bond to the active sites of the metal oxide particle surfaces and thus prevent the possibility of the BMDM contacting with the metal oxides.
The invention thus provides for the use of aldehydes and/or ketones for stabilizing cosmetic formulations which comprise butylmethoxydibenzoyl methane combined with inorganic light protection filters.
The invention also provides a cosmetic preparation comprising inorganic light protection filters and butylmethoxydibenzoylmethane, characterized in that aldehydes and/or ketones are added to improve the stability.
The invention further provides a process for improving the stability of cosmetic preparations comprising butylmethoxydibenzoylmethane combined with inorganic light protection filters, characterized in that aldehydes and/or ketones are added.
Suitable inorganic light protection filters are primarily titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or iron oxides, and also cerium oxide. In addition, it is also possible for these oxides to be aftercoated with other metal oxides, for example with aluminium oxide.
The content of these inorganic particles in the formulations according to the invention is 0.1 to 30% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 10% by weight.
The butylmethoxydibenzoylmethane is represented in the preparation according to the invention with a content of from 0.1 to 10% by weight, preferably from 0.5 to 3% by weight.
The BMDM can be present in the cosmetic formulations according to the invention on its own or else in combination with one or more UV filters from other classes of substance, each of which can be present in an amount of from 0.01 to 40% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 10% by weight.
Suitable aldehydes or ketones are so-called active or activated compounds. Preference is given to using ketols, diketones or ketones or aldehydes which are in conjugation to a double bond, and also formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing substances.
By way of example, the following particularly preferred compounds may be mentioned: formaldehyde (also as formaldehyde-releasing preservative), dihydroxyacetone, vanillin, erythrulose, hydroxy acetone, sugars, such as sorbose, fructose or glucose.
The content of aldehydes and/or ketones is at least 100 ppm and at most 10% by weight.
It is also possible to use combinations of aldehydes and ketones. In this connection, 1:1 combinations are preferably suitable. For example, a combination of formaldehyde and vanillin or of formaldehyde and erythrulose.
A very particularly preferred formulation according to the invention comprises formaldehyde as aldehyde since this can, for the sake of simplicity, be used simultaneously as preservative.
The substance butylmethoxybenzoylmethane (Eusolex(copyright) 9020) is, as already mentioned, known and can be obtained commercially, e.g. from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt.
The aldehydes and ketones (or their precursors) can, on the one hand, be added directly to the cosmetic formulation, and on the other hand it is also possible to admix or to wash the metal oxides with an aldehyde or ketone as early as during their preparation, before they are added to the cosmetic formulation.
For the effect according to the invention, this is of no consequence.
The invention further provides a method of protecting the skin and/or natural or sensitized hair against solar rays, a cosmetic preparation according to the present invention being applied to the skin or the hair.
xe2x80x9cSensitized hairxe2x80x9d means hair which has been subjected to a permanent wave treatment, or to a colouring or bleaching process.
If the cosmetic preparation according to the invention is used to protect the human epidermis from UV rays, it is in a variety of forms customarily used for this purpose. For example, it can, in particular, be in the form of oily, oily-aqueous, aqueous-alcoholic or oily-alcoholic lotions, emulsions, such as a cream or milk (W/O or O/W, where W=water and O=oil), in the form of oily-alcoholic, oily-aqueous or aqueous alcoholic gels or as solid sticks or powders, or can be formulated as a spray or aerosol.
The formulation according to the invention can comprise further cosmetic additives which are customarily used in this type of preparations, such as thickeners, emollients, moisturizers, surfactants, preservatives, antifoams, perfumes, waxes, lanolin, propellants, dyes and/or pigments which colour the composition itself or the skin, and other ingredients ordinarily used in cosmetics.
The solubilizing agent can be an oil, wax or other fatty substance, a lower monoalcohol or a lower polyol or mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred monoalcohols or polyols include ethanol, isopropanol, propylene glycol, glycerol and sorbitol.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is an emulsion which is in the form of a protective cream or milk and which, in addition to BMDM, optionally in combination with other organic light protection agents, the inorganic light protection filters and the amount of aldehydes and/or ketones according to the invention, comprises fatty alcohols, fatty acid esters, in particular triglycerides of fatty acids, fatty acids, lanolin, natural or synthetic oils or waxes and emulsifiers in the presence of water.
Further preferred embodiments are oily lotions based on natural or synthetic oils and waxes, lanolin, fatty acid esters, in particular triglycerides of fatty acids, or oily-alcoholic lotions based on a lower alcohol, such -as ethanol, or a glycol, such as propylene glycol, and/or a polyol, such as glycerol, and oils, waxes and fatty acid esters, such as triglycerides of fatty acids.
The cosmetic preparation according to the invention can also be in the form of an alcoholic gel which comprises one or more lower alcohols or polyols, such as ethanol, propylene glycol or glycerol, and a thickener, such as diatomaceous earth. The oily-alcoholic gels further comprise natural or synthetic oil or wax.
The solid sticks consist of natural or synthetic waxes and oils, fatty alcohols, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, lanolin and other fatty substances.
If a preparation is formulated as an aerosol, use is normally made of the customary propellants, such as alkanes, fluoroalkanes and chlorofluoroalkanes.
If a formulation is formulated as a spray, use is normally made of aqueous-alcoholic solutions.
If the composition according to the invention is intended to protect natural or sensitized hair from UV rays, then it can be in the form of a shampoo, lotion, mousse, gel or emulsion for rinsing out, the respective formulation being applied before or after shampooing, before or after colouring or bleaching, or before or after permanent waving; or the composition is in form of a lotion, mousse or gel, for styling and treating, a lotion, mousse or gel for brushing or setting a water-wave, a hairspray, permanent wave composition, colorant or bleach for the hair. Apart from the compound according to the invention, this composition can comprise a variety of additives used in this type of composition, such as surfactants, thickeners, polymers, emollients, preservatives, foam stabilizers, electrolytes, organic solvents, silicone derivatives, oils, waxes, degreasing agents, dyes and/or pigments which colour the composition itself or the hair, or other ingredients customarily used for hair care.
The cosmetic preparations according to the invention can be prepared using techniques which are well known to the person skilled in the art.
The formulations according to the invention can also be used for the preventative treatment of inflammations and allergies of the skin and for preventing certain types of cancer.
It is assumed that a person skilled in the art is able to utilize the above description in the widest sense without further explanations. The preferred embodiments are therefore merely to be seen as a descriptive disclosure which is by no means limiting.

Stable cosmetic formulation containing butylmethoxydibenzoylmethane


A processing system for processing a substrate with a plasma comprises a processing chamber defining a processing space for containing a substrate to be processed with a plasma formed within the chamber. A dielectric window interfaces with the processing chamber proximate the processing space. A core element formed of a material having a high magnetic permeability is positioned outside of the chamber proximate the dielectric window, and an electrically conductive element surrounds a portion of the core element of high magnetic permeability. The conductive element, when electrical current is conducted thereby, is operable for coupling a magnetic flux into the chamber through the dielectric window for affecting a plasma in the processing space. The core element is configured for directing a portion of the magnetic flux in a direction toward the dielectric window to efficiently couple the channeled flux into the processing chamber through the dielectric window.

Gas plasmas are widely used in a variety of integrated circuit (IC) fabrication processes, including plasma etching processes, plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) processes, and physical vapor deposition (PVD) processes, such as plasma sputter deposition. Generally, plasmas for integrated circuit fabrication are produced within a processing chamber by introducing a process gas into the chamber at a sub-atmospheric pressure and then generating electrical and magnetic fields within the chamber. The electrical and magnetic fields generate an oscillating electron flow within the chamber. The oscillating electrons collide with and thereby ionize individual gas atoms and molecules by transferring kinetic energy through individual atomic collisions. The ions, radicals, neutrals, and free electrons collectively form what is referred to as a gas plasma or a glow discharge. The plasma may exist at various ionization levels from 10−6 up to fully ionized plasma (based on the fraction of ionized particles with respect to the total number of gas atoms or molecules).
There are various different methodologies for producing a plasma within a process chamber. For example, a pair of opposing charged electrodes might be oriented within the processing chamber to capacitively couple energy to the plasma. Alternatively, a microwave resonant chamber utilizing ultra-high frequency microwave fields might also be utilized. Electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) devices, on the other hand, use controlled magnetic fields in conjunction with microwave energy to induce circular electron flow within a process gas to create and sustain a plasma. Inductive coupling processes are also popular, and are particularly desirable for their capability of producing high-density plasmas within a processing chamber.
Inductively coupled plasmas (ICPs) are generally formed utilizing an electrically conductive element, often referred to as an antenna, which is positioned with respect to the processing chamber to inductively couple energy into the processing chamber and thus create and sustain a plasma therein. In one conventional inductively coupled plasma (ICP) system, an antenna in the shape of a coil is utilized and is biased with an RF power supply. Currents are developed in the coil which induce alternating or oscillating magnetic fields within the processing chamber. The oscillating magnetic fields within the chamber form and sustain the plasma. Various different antenna shapes and antenna orientations with respect to the processing chamber have been utilized for inductively coupled plasma systems. For example, a helical coil might be wound or wrapped around the outside of a cylindrical dielectric wall of the processing chamber to inductively couple energy into the chamber. Still further, a coil might be positioned within the processing chamber for creating and sustaining a plasma.
In one particular inductively coupled plasma (ICP) system, an inductive antenna is positioned proximate the top portion of the chamber to create a plasma within the chamber. More specifically, the antenna is positioned on one side of a dielectric plate or window at the top of the processing chamber, and energy radiated from the antenna is coupled through the dielectric window and into the plasma to form oscillating magnetic fields. Such a design is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,458, for example. A suitable dielectric material for a window or chamber sidewall of an ICP processing system is quartz. Various ICP systems are known and utilized in the art, as evidenced by various issued patents directed to such ICP systems. Such systems are designed for improving plasma processing parameters, such as plasma uniformity, RF matching, and the performance characteristics of the antennas or other inductive elements.
As noted above, in an ICP system, the plasma is excited by exciting electrons in the plasma region of the processing chamber using inductive currents which are derived from oscillating magnetic fields in the chamber. Those oscillating magnetic fields are produced proximate the inside of the dielectric window or chamber sidewall by RF currents within the antenna. The spatial distribution of the plasma-creating magnetic fields is a function of the sum of the individual magnetic fields produced by each portion or segment of the antenna, and those fields are affected, oftentimes adversely, by the other elements of the processing chamber and the geometry of the chamber. While current ICP systems and antenna designs utilized therein have provided sufficient plasma generation, such systems still have certain drawbacks.
For example, within an ICP system, the delivery of the oscillating magnetic fields or magnetic flux to the chamber is difficult to control. As a result, the field lines of the magnetic flux generated by the antenna extend outside of the processing chamber. The magnetic flux interacts with adjacent RF shielding and RF enclosures utilized in such systems to produce an opposed magnetic field that reduces or cancels a portion of the magnetic flux within the chamber. This effect is particularly significant if the RF shielding or enclosure is disposed near to the inductive antenna, such as due to space constraints in the ICP system.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to overcome drawbacks in the prior art and provide a plasma processing system, and particularly an ICP system, in which a dense, uniform plasma is created.
Among the objectives of the present invention is to control the distribution of the magnetic flux to provide for greater coupling efficiency of the magnetic flux from an inductive antenna into the processing chamber, to reduce the RF current and voltage in the inductive antenna for decreasing the incidence of arcing, and to eliminate the interaction of the antenna's magnetic flux with adjacent RF shielding and RF enclosures.
These and other objectives will become more readily apparent from the description of the invention set forth below.

Process apparatus and method for improving plasma production of an inductively coupled plasma


Systems, methods, and apparatus for fault detection and interruption in power lines are provided. Circuitry is implemented via software and hardware that is configured to sense an operational aspect of a power line and apply signal processing to the sensed operational aspect to detect faults including different types of faults such as transient and steady state faults and can also be configured to identify the type of fault. Information on the fault and the identification of the type of fault can be displayed, stored, or some other output operation can be implemented. Circuitry can be implemented to provide digital signal processing and analog signal processing to, for example, independently and in parallel (e.g., redundant operation) detect faults and respond to faults as they occur (i.e., in real time). The types of faults can include transient type faults that can include ground, arc, line-to-line, and imbalance type faults and can also include steady state type faults (e.g., those showing wear in the machinery of a load).

Certain electrical systems suffer from wear and other types of physical deterioration through use or age. In aircrafts, for example, vibration, moisture, temperature extremes, and improper maintenance may contribute to failure of components in electrical systems, including wiring failures. Loose connections, broken, frayed, and/or exposed wires, may cause arcing which may be the source of electrical ignition in aircraft wiring. Circuit breakers have historically been used to protect the wiring because it was recognized that electrical arcing in and around fuel pumps, boost pump motors and fuel quality indicators are dangerous.
Additional faults may occur as a result of carbon tracking or tracing, which can deteriorate wire insulation, so as to expose the conductors and result in intermittent short circuits between individual wires or to the air frame. Short circuits can cause damage to delicate avionic equipment or electrical equipment and cause system malfunctions while the aircraft is in flight.
In general, faults on power signals in power distribution systems pose a significant problem to systems or devices thereby powered. In certain systems electrical faults, such as arcing, can have catastrophic results. For instance, arcing from the electrical circuitry of an airline fuel pump may cause a fuel tank explosion leading to the loss of the aircraft. Similarly, arcing between wires proximate to the cockpit can cause sufficient cockpit smoke to also lead to an airliner crash. In less critical applications, such as commercial and industrial environments, electrical faults lead to significant damage, requiring inconvenient and often costly repairs.
Traditional solutions for electrical faults use circuit breakers, which can only detect ground faults and operate to shut down the electrical circuit after arcing has been occurring for some time. This protection circuitry is based upon current transformers and is large and bulky.
It would be beneficial to provide an interrupter device that functions to detect potentially hazardous faults in power lines prior to the fault being passed downstream by "instantaneously" removing the power from a device when such faults are detected.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for fault-based power signal interruption


The invention therefore relates to compounds of the formula I

Compounds of similar structure, and the use thereof as PAI-1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1), have been described in the prior art WO 01/074793 (PCT/US01/10307).
The invention was based on the object of providing compounds which display a therapeutically utilizable blood glucose-lowering effect. The compounds were intended in particular to be suitable for the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Diphenylamine-substituted salicylthiazole derivatives and related compounds as phosphotyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTB1B) inhibitors for using as blood-sugar decreasing active ingredients for treating diabetes

Abstract: in which the variables are as defined in the specification, to pharmaceutical compositions containing them and to their use for therapeutically lowering blood glucose levels.


A posterior stabilized mobile bearing knee prosthesis includes a femoral component, a tibial tray, and a bearing. The femoral component is configured to be implanted in a surgically prepared femur, with the tibial tray being configured for implantation in a prepared tibia. The bearing is supported on a platform of the tibial tray and rotates relative to the tray.

Movement (e.g., flexion and extension) of the natural human knee involves movements of the femur and the tibia. Specifically, during flexion and extension, the distal end of the femur and the proximal end of the tibia articulate relative to one another through a series of complex movements. Damage (e.g., trauma) or disease can deteriorate the bones, articular cartilage, and ligaments of the knee, which can ultimately affect the ability of the natural knee to function in such a manner. As a result, knee prostheses have been developed and implanted into surgically prepared ends of the femur and tibia.
One type of knee prosthesis is a mobile bearing knee that mimics the condylar and bearing surfaces of the knee to emulate the natural movement of the knee during flexion and extension. The tibial component of a mobile bearing knee prosthesis is configured to allow rotation about the central axis of the tibia. Moreover, certain types of mobile bearing knees, commonly referred to as posterior stabilized mobile bearing knees, include a tibial component having an upwardly projecting (i.e., superiorly projecting subsequent to implantation) spine that is positioned between the condyles of the femoral component. The spine is engaged by cam surfaces at the anterior and posterior ends of the femoral component to limit the relative anterior-posterior movement between the femur and the tibia.

Posterior stabilized mobile bearing knee


There are provided a color image forming method with liquids, capable of ensuring sharpness and high density in basically all the color images, and a recording apparatus therefor. This invention employs a black ink of relatively superior diffusibility and color inks of relatively superior penetrability, different in color from the black ink, and is characterized by forming the boundary area of a black image area with the color inks instead of the black ink.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a color image forming method capable of recording a sharp color image with a high density and an apparatus therefor, or a color ink jet recording method, and more particularly to a color ink jet recording method utilizing color inks for example of yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C) or green (G), red (R) and blue (B) and black (Bk) ink.
The present invention is applicable to any equipment utilizing a recording medium such as paper, fabric, non-woven cloth or a overhead projector sheet, and the examples of such equipment include office equipment such as a printer, a copying machine or a facsimile apparatus, and industrial equipment utilized for mass production.
2. Related Background Art
The ink jet recording has been utilized in printers, copying machines, facsimile apparatus etc. because of the advantages of low noise, low running cost, ease of compactization and ease of color image formation.
In general, the ink jet recording achieves formation of a color image by the use of three color inks of cyan, magenta and yellow, or of four color inks additionally including black ink.
More specifically, in the conventional color ink jet recording apparatus, there are known a method which does not utilize black ink but forms black color by mixing yellow, magenta and cyan color inks or green, red and blue color inks in an area to be recorded black, and a method which applies black ink, prepared in advance, to the black recording area.
These conventional color recording methods are merely compared as to the preferability of the black color obtained by three color inks and that obtained by black ink, but the black ink and the three color inks are assumed to be of comparable properties.
For obtaining a color image of high development without ink blotting, the conventional ink jet recording methods have required an exclusive sheet provided with an ink absorbing layer. Recent improvements in ink have realized printing on so-called "plain paper" which is commonly utilized in the printers and copying machines. However, the print quality (or dignity) on such plain paper is still in an insufficient level. A major factor for such insufficiency lies in the balance between the mutual blotting of color inks and the black recording quality (particularly black character recording quality).
In forming a color image on plain paper by ink jet recording, there are generally employed rapid-drying inks having a high penetration speed into the plain paper. There is thus obtained a high-quality image without mutual blotting among the color inks, but such image is generally deficient in the overall density, and, around the recorded image area of each color, there is often observed so-called feathering phenomenon, or slight ink blotting along the paper fibers.
Such feathering is relatively non-apparent in the color image area, but becomes conspicuous in the black image area, leading to deterioration of the recording quality. Particularly when the black image is a black character, the character appears unsharp and unclear, regarded as of a poor quality.
Therefore, for obtaining a black recording of high quality with reduced feathering, there has to be used black ink with a relatively low penetration speed in the plain paper. In such case, however, at the boundary between a black recorded area and a recorded area of another color, there is generated blotting of the ink of said another color, thereby significantly deteriorating the print quality.
Also the conventional ink jet recording methods have been associated with the following drawback.
The ink employed in the conventional ink jet recording is principally composed of water, to which is added a water-soluble high-boiling solvent such as glycol, for the purposes of prevention of ink drying and of nozzle blocking. Recording on plain paper with such ink may give rise to an insufficient image density, due to the penetration of ink into the interior of the recording paper, or an uneven image density presumably due to an uneven distribution of the filler or the sizing material on the paper surface. Particularly in case of forming a color image, since plural color inks are superposed in succession prior to the image fixation, there are observed color blotting and uneven color mixing (hereinafter called bleeding) at the boundary of image areas of different colors, so that a satisfactory image cannot be obtained.
For resolving such drawbacks, the Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 55-65269 discloses the use of ink containing a compound enhancing the penetrating ability of the ink, such as a surfactant, and the Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 55-66976 discloses the use of ink principally composed of volatile solvent. However, although the former method can suppress the bleeding to a certain extent, the increased penetrating property of ink into the recording sheet causes the ink to penetrate with the colorant into the deep interior of the recording paper, thus resulting in a lowered image density or a deteriorated image sharpness. Also the enhanced wetting property to the paper surface ink spreading, thus leading to a lowered resolution or ink blotting, and the loss of print quality is undesirable particularly in the case of forming a black character. Also the latter method is associated, in addition to the above-mentioned drawbacks, with the nozzle blocking due to the solvent evaporation at the nozzles of the recording head.
As explained in the foregoing, the prevention of bleeding of the inks of black and other colors and the establishment of black print quality, or the prevention of blotting of the inks of black and other colors and the reduction of feathering particularly in the black ink are mutually incompatible requirements in improving the color recording quality. For meeting these requirements, there have been proposed following recording methods.
The Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 3-146355 proposes a method of not recording an area along the boundary between a black image area and a color image area. This method, however, is associated with a drawback that the data to be recorded are subjected to a variation.
Also the Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 4-158049 proposes a method of utilizing recording heads of plural colors for color recording and a recording head for character recording, which are switched according to the image to be recorded. This method, however, requiring the character recording head in addition to the conventional plural heads for color recording, is inevitably associated with an increase in the cost and in the dimension of the apparatus.
Also the Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 4-147866 proposes a recording method in which the fixing time for color inks is made shorter than that for black ink and shorter than a predetermined time. In this method, however, unfixed black ink flows into the area of a previously fixed color ink, thereby making worse the bleeding between the black color and other colors, so that a satisfactory image cannot be obtained.

Ink-jet recording method employing inks of different characteristics and apparatus therefor


Inventions related to the intra-vision means, designed for production of visually sensed images of the internal structure of an object, in particular, of a biological object, are aimed at higher accuracy of determining the relative density indices of the object's substance in the obtained image together with avoiding complex and expensive engineering; when used for diagnostic purposes in medicine, the dosage of tissues surrounding those that are examined is decreased. X-rays from source 1 is concentrated (for example, using X-ray lens 2) in the zone that includes the current point 4, to which the measurement results are attributed and which is located within the target area 7 of the object 5. Excited in this zone secondary scattered radiation (Compton, fluorescent) is transported (for example, using X-ray lens 3) to one or more detectors 6. By moving the said zone, the target area 7 of object 5 is scanned, and based upon population of the intensity values of the secondary radiation, which are obtained with the help of one or more detectors 6 and which are determined concurrently with coordinates of the current point 6, judgment on the density of the object's substance in this point is made. Density values together with respective coordinate values obtained using sensors 11 are used in the means 12 for data processing and imaging to build up a picture of substance density distribution in the target area of the object.

1. Field of the Invention
The suggested inventions relate to the intra-vision means and are designed for producing visually sensed images of the internal structure of an object, in particular, of a biological object, with X-rays. The preferential applications include defectoscopy and medical diagnostics.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various methods and devices of the said intended use are known, where traditional principles of projection roentgenoscopy are embodied. In such methods and devices, the visible image of the object's internal structure, for example, tissues of a biological object, is obtained as a shadow projection. Density of the acquired image in each of its points is determined by the total attenuation of X-rays that passed through the object on their way from the source to the detection means. The latter is either a fluorescent screen or an X-ray film, which should be chemically treated to get the image visualized (see Polytechnical Dictionary. Moscow, "Soviet Encyclopedia", 1976 [1], p. 425; Physics of image visualization in medicine. Edited by S. Webb. Moscow, "Mir", 1991 [2], p. 40–41).
In the above mentioned known methods and devices, the image of a real three-dimensional structure is acquired as the said two-dimensional shadow projection, which interpretation requires from the specialist who carries out object analysis, in particular, technical or medical diagnostics, respective experience and qualification and, in a number of cases, is problematic. The reasons for this are low contrast, poor signal to noise ratio, inevitable overlapping of the images of structural elements, impossibility of quantitative comparison between individual local fragments by density. Sharpness and contrast of the acquired image also decrease under the influence of quanta of the secondary Compton scattered radiation, hitting the detection means.
X-ray computer tomography methods and devices permitting to acquire a two-dimensional image of a thin layer of a three-dimensional object are known (V. V. Piklov, N. G. Preobrazhenskiy. Computational tomography and physical experiment. The progress of physical sciences, v. 141, 3rd ed., November 1983, p. 469–498 [3]; see also [2], p. 138–146). Such methods are using multiple irradiation of the object under study from different positions and registration of the radiation that passed through this object by a line of detectors. The obtained tissue density distribution of the object in the cross-section under study (target cross-section) is discrete and achieved through computer-assisted solution of combined equations, the order of which as well as the number of resolution elements correspond to the product of the number of positions, from which irradiation is done, by the number of detectors. Doing irradiation in different cross-sections, one can obtain a three-dimensional image of the object based on a set of two-dimensional by-layer images. Computer tomography means permit in principle to obtain an image of sufficiently high quality, and this image presents the picture of tissues density distribution (in contrast to a picture specific to integral absorption of a substance (for example, biological tissues), located in the path of radiation from the source to this or that element of the observed projection.) But this is achieved through a greater number of positions, from which irradiation is done. In this case, the dose of radiation absorbed by the substance is higher, which is undesirable (and in medical applications, is most frequently inadmissible). Presence of Compton scattered radiation is a nuisance factor in this group of known methods and devices too. Both groups of methods and devices used for medical applications are also characterized by the fact, that tissues and organs, which present no interest in the study but are located in the radiation path (both in front and behind the target area), also suffer from intensive radiation (to a lesser degree in the second group of methods and devices than in the first group of methods and devices because when different positions are selected, different tissues and organs surrounding those that are under study are irradiated).
Higher resolving power in the second group of means, requiring a greater number of irradiations from different positions, is limited, first of all, due to inadmissible growth of the dosage. Technical means for acquiring primary data and further image reconstruction is quite complex due to necessity of using fast computers with special software and high-precision requirements to the mechanical structural elements, which must guarantee correct localization of one and the same resolution elements in the target area during their irradiation from different positions. The latter is caused by the fact that the image reconstruction calculations must use the actual data obtained from different irradiation cycles but referring to one and the same resolution elements.
The second above mentioned group of methods and devices, where discrete data on the density of each of the resolution elements is obtained, is the closest one to what is suggested.

Method and apparatus for producing an image of the internal structure of an object


A method and system for clock synchronization of semiconductor devices. The method uses a master-slave configuration to designate a semiconductor device with the lowest rate clock source as a master device and zero all clock sources inside the semiconductor device in order to output the zeroing lowest rate clock source to slave devices for clock synchronization of all clock sources respectively in the slave devices, and further implements a phase checker in each semiconductor device to ensure clock synchronization inside and between the semiconductor devices, so required clock signals are precisely provided to next internal circuits of the semiconductor devices.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a clock synchronization mechanism, more particularly to a method and system for clock synchronization of semiconductor devices, which uses a master-slave configuration in conjunction with a phase checker, such that semiconductor devices synchronize the clocks and thus precisely output clock demands to ensure reliability during operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
At present, for clock synchronization, most designs focus on a single chip, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,999,025 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,304,582. The former (U.S. Pat. No. 5,999,025) essentially describes a synchronization of an external clock and an on-chip voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) clock. The latter (U.S. Pat. No. 6,304,582) essentially describes a synchronization of an oscillator clock and clocks in a chip. As cited, these clock synchronization means for multiple chips lack effectiveness with semiconductor devices in which delay locked loop (DLL) or digital clock manager (DCM) is used as a clock source.

Method and system for synchronizing all clock sources of semiconductor devices


Physically/mechanically improved insulating shaped articles such as panels or plates, adapted to withstand very elevated temperatures, comprise an inorganic fiber matrix, e.g., a matrix of ceramic fibers, such inorganic fiber matrix containing at least one inorganic filler material, e.g., a mineral wool and/or kaolin, and a consolidating of a binder therefor which comprises admixture of a xanthan gum and a cationic starch.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to insulating shaped articles based on inorganic fibers, especially plates, panels or molded articles, and to a process for the production of such shaped articles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Shaped articles based on mineral or inorganic fibers are useful insulating materials which can withstand very high temperatures, for example as fireprotection panels, and as refractory insulating plates in thermal furnaces and combustion chambers.
The insulating shaped articles based on ceramic fibers or mineral wools are known products. In general, their preparation requires the use of an organic binder such as starch, polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinyl acetate. The binder content varies depending on the nature of the inorganic material, but generally ranges from 7% to 15% relative to the total amount of solids. Such amount of organic material presents several disadvantages, not only from an economic point of view but also from a technical standpoint. Indeed, when such insulating articles are subsequently subjected to high temperatures, they release large amounts of fumes resulting from the calcination of the organic materials. The destruction of the organic species during calcination causes a deterioration in the mechanical properties of the material. This is the more pronounced, the higher the content of the organic species.
Furthermore, such insulating shaped articles are generally prepared from an aqueous slurry from which the water is removed, for example by draining. With the organic binders heretofore employed in this art, the water removed still contains high concentrations of organic materials, thus reducing the content of the latter in the finished article. Furthermore, if this water is recycled, it is then necessary to readjust the binder content for subsequent manufacturing steps, while if the water is discharged into streams it creates pollution problems.

Insulating shaped articles comprising inorganic fibrous matrices and xanthan gum/cationic starch binders


In an exposure apparatus, in which exposure data necessary for direct exposure is sequentially supplied to an exposure engine having a plurality of exposure devices and, based on the supplied exposure data, the exposure engine forms an exposure pattern on an exposure target substrate which moves relative to the exposure engine, lights respectively produced from the exposure device groups based on the identical exposure data supplied to each of the plurality of exposure device groups, are projected via optics so as to be superimposed one on top of another on the same area on the exposure target substrate.

1. Filed of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exposure apparatus and an exposure method for directly exposing an exposure target substrate, and more particularly to an exposure apparatus and an exposure method in which exposure data necessary for direct exposure is sequentially supplied to an exposure engine having a plurality of exposure devices and, based on the thus supplied exposure data, the exposure engine forms an exposure pattern on an exposure target object, for example, an exposure target substrate moving relative to the exposure engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a wiring pattern on a wiring substrate is formed by applying a photoresist over the substrate, exposing the photoresist based on wiring pattern design data, and developing and printing the desired pattern on the substrate, followed by etching. In the exposure process, a photomask is usually used.
On the other hand, a patterning method based on direct exposure that does not use any photomasks has been proposed in recent years. According to this method, since corrections for the expansion, shrinkage, distortion, displacement, etc. of the substrate can be made to the exposure pattern in real time or in advance at the exposure data generation stage, remarkable improvements can be achieved in such points as the improvement of the manufacturing accuracy, the improvement of the manufacturing yield, the reduction of the delivery time, and the reduction of the manufacturing cost.
Examples of the patterning method based on direct exposure include a method that forms an exposure pattern by direct exposure by using, for example, a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD), an electron beam exposure machine, or the like. In one prior art example of the patterning method based on direct exposure that uses the DMD, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-112579 discloses a technique in which, when exposing the photoresist formed on an exposure target substrate, pattern data corresponding to the pattern to be exposed is generated and this pattern data is input to the Digital Micromirror Device (DMD), causing each of the micromirrors arranged thereon to tilt according to the pattern data; by thus changing the direction of the light reflected by each micromirror on the DMD as needed, the light is projected onto the resist on the exposure target substrate to form an exposure pattern that matches the pattern data.
FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing a conventional direct exposure system. It is to be understood that, throughout the drawings given hereinafter, component elements designated by the same reference numerals are component elements having the same functions.
The direct exposure system 100 comprises an exposure apparatus 101 and a computer 102 connected to the exposure apparatus 101. The computer 102 supplies exposure data to the exposure apparatus 101 and controls the exposure apparatus 101. The exposure apparatus 101 comprises a stage 110 on which an exposure target substrate 151 is mounted, and an exposing means 111 which moves in relative fashion over the surface of the exposure target substrate 151 in a direction indicated by an arrow in the figure. The exposing means 111 is equipped with one or more exposure engines (not shown) which are each assigned an area to be exposed on the surface of the exposure target substrate 151 and perform exposure operations in parallel. In each exposure engine, a plurality of exposure devices (not shown) for modulating light sources are arranged in a two-dimensional array. For example, when the direct exposure system 100 is of the type that uses the DMD, the micromirrors of the DMD correspond to the exposure devices.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the operating principle of the conventional exposure apparatus.
The exposing means 111, which moves in a relative fashion over the surface of the exposure target substrate 151, is equipped with a plurality of exposure engines #1 to #N (reference numeral 30) (N is a natural number) arranged in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the relative movement of the exposure target substrate 151. While the exposure target substrate 151 is moving relative to the exposure engines #1 to #N (reference numeral 30) at speed Vex, a stage controller 29 generates a signal synchronized to the relative movement (hereinafter called the "synchronizing signal") and supplies it to each of the exposure engines #1 to #N (reference numeral 30).
The exposure target substrate 151 is divided in a virtual manner into N areas called the "strips #1 to #N" (reference numeral 32). The exposure engines #1 to #N (reference numeral 30), while moving relative to the exposure target substrate 151 at speed Vex, perform exposure on their respectively corresponding strips #1 to #N (reference numeral 32). Here, the length of the exposure target substrate 151 in the direction of the relative movement (hereinafter referred to as the "length of the exposure target substrate), that is, the length of each of the strips #1 to #N (reference numeral 32), is denoted by LY (hereinafter referred to as the "strip length"). Likewise, the length of the exposure target substrate 151 in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the relative movement (hereinafter referred to as the "width of the exposure target substrate) is denoted by LX.
The area that each of the exposure engines #1 to #N (reference numeral 30) can expose at a time is limited. The width of the area on the exposure target substrate 151 that each exposure engine can expose in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the relative movement is not larger than the width ΔX of each of the strips #1 to #N (reference numeral 32) (hereinafter referred to as the "strip width"). Here, the relation LX=N×ΔX holds.
On the other hand, the length of the area on the exposure target substrate 151 that each exposure engine can expose in the direction of the relative movement is shorter than the strip length LY. Accordingly, each of the strips #1 to #N (reference numeral 32) is subdivided in a virtual manner into M "exposure blocks (i, j) (here, M is a natural number, while 1≦i≦N and 1≦i≦M)" (reference numeral 33), and the exposure engine exposes these exposure blocks (i, j) in sequence. When the length of each exposure block (i, j) in the direction of the relative movement is denoted by ΔY, the relation LY=M×ΔY holds between the strip length LY and the length ΔY of each exposure block (i, j) in the direction of the relative movement.
The exposure data is typically data based on bitmap data. Since bitmap data contains a huge data amount, generating and storing the bitmap data prior to exposure would not be preferable as it would consume large memory resources. Therefore, to conserve the memory resources, for each of the exposure engines #1 to #N (reference numeral 30) the exposure data in bitmap form is generated based on design data in real time during the exposure process by dividing the data in a virtual manner for each of the exposure engines #1 to #N (reference numeral 30), that is, for each of the strips #1 to #N (reference numeral 32), and for each exposure block (i, j) in each of the strips #1 to #N (reference numeral 32); the thus generated data is first temporarily stored in memory, and then sequentially supplied to each corresponding one of the exposure engines #1 to #N (reference numeral 30). Accordingly, each of the exposure engines #1 to #N (reference numeral 30) performs the direct exposure based on the exposure data of bitmap form supplied for each exposure block (i, j). The series of these operations is performed based on the synchronizing signal that the stage controller 29 supplies as the reference signal to each of the exposure engines #1 to #N (reference numeral 30).
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the data processing flow in the conventional direct exposure apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 13, first the design data 51 is converted into intermediate data 52 in a first data conversion process S101. As the size of the intermediate data 52 is small compared to the size of the bitmap data, and as the first data conversion step S101 need not be performed in real time during the exposure process, the intermediate data 52 may be generated in advance and stored in memory.
In step S102, the intermediate data for one exposure block is read. Next, an alignment/correction step S103 is performed on the intermediate data thus read for one exposure block, and bitmap data 53 is generated in step S104 and temporarily stored in memory. In step S105, the generated bitmap data 53 is supplied to the corresponding exposure engine in synchronism with the synchronizing signal. Here, the realtime process performed in the above steps S102 to S105 is collectively referred to as the "second data conversion process." Using the bitmap data 53 supplied for each exposure block through the second data conversion process, the exposure engine performs the direct exposure in step S106. When the exposure on the one exposure block by the exposure engine is completed, the process returns to step S102, where the second data conversion process is performed to obtain the bitmap data 53 for the next exposure block. To describe the above series of processing in another way, in step S106 the exposure engine is "consuming", at a constant speed, the bitmap data 53 "produced" through the second data conversion process in synchronism with the synchronizing signal generated by the stage controller 29.
FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating the concept of the exposure data of bitmap form used in the direct exposure process by the conventional direct exposure apparatus.
The exposure data is data based on bitmap data composed of pixels arranged in a matrix of n rows and m columns (n and m are integers) as shown schematically in FIG. 14. The coordinates of each pixel in the bitmap data are represented by g(r, c). Here, r indicates the row number in the bitmap data (0≦r≦n−1, where r is an integer), and c indicates the column number in the bitmap data (0≦c≦m−1, where c is an integer). The resolution, i.e., pixel spacing (hereinafter called the "unit pixel spacing"), of the bitmap data is denoted by b. It can be said that the schematic diagram of the bitmap data illustrated in FIG. 14 directly represents the exposure pattern formed (or to be formed) on the surface of the exposure target substrate mounted on the stage (not shown).
FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating the arrangement of light sources in one exposure engine that performs the direct exposure using the exposure data shown in FIG. 14. Open circles in the figure indicate the light sources.
The exposure engine that uses bitmap data such as shown in FIG. 14 usually has light sources arranged in a two-dimensional array as shown in FIG. 15. The light sources are arranged in a corresponding relationship to the bitmap data of FIG. 14; that is, m light sources per row are arranged in the column direction, and the spacing of the light sources is equal to b which is the same as the resolution (i.e., the unit pixel spacing) of the bitmap data. The column number c of the bitmap data directly corresponds to the column number c of the light source in the exposure head.
As for the light source arrangement in the row direction, the exposure head is designed so that the spacing D between the rows is equal to p times (p is an integer) the unit pixel spacing b in the bitmap data, that is, D=pb. Here, k light sources per column are arranged in the row direction, and the row number is represented by R (0≦R≦k−1, where R is an integer).
The light sources can be switched on and off independently of each other a predetermined maximum number of times per unit time (called the "frame"). This switching speed is called the frame rate f. For example, when the exposure apparatus is of the type that uses the DMD, the angular switching rate of each micromirror (i.e., the modulation rate of the DMD) corresponds to the frame rate f, and the angle of each micromirror is controlled for each frame.
The exposure target substrate mounted on the stage (not shown) moves relative to the exposure engine (i.e., the light sources) at a constant speed in a prescribed direction. That is, the bitmap data shown in FIG. 14 also moves in a virtual manner relative to the exposure engine (i.e., the light sources) shown in FIG. 15. This virtual relative movement of the bitmap data is accomplished by sequentially supplying the necessary bitmap data to the exposure engine in synchronism with the synchronizing signal that the stage controller supplies as the reference signal.
FIGS. 16A, 16B, 17A, and 17B are schematic diagrams for explaining the relationship between the bitmap data shown in FIG. 14 and the light source arrangement in the exposure engine shown in FIG. 15. As stated previously, the bitmap data schematically shown in the figure corresponds to the exposure pattern formed (or to be formed) on the surface of the exposure target substrate mounted on the stage (not shown). Here, the case where the exposure target substrate moves at speed Vex relative to the light sources R in a virtual manner in a direction indicated by an arrow in the figure, is considered. In the figure, to simplify the illustration, only some of the light sources in the third column are shown, and the other light sources are not shown.
First, as the initial condition, consider the case where the light source R=0 is aligned with the pixel g(0, 3) in the bitmap data, as shown in FIG. 16A. In this condition, the synchronizing signal is sent to the exposure engine, causing the light source R=0 to emit light and thus exposing the pixel g(0, 3).
When, from the initial condition, the exposure target substrate mounted on the stage moves relative to the light source by a distance corresponding to the resolution (i.e., the unit pixel spacing) b of the bitmap data (FIG. 16B), the synchronizing signal is again sent to the exposure engine. At this time, the pixel g(1, 3) comes into alignment with the light source R=0, and the pixel can thus be exposed. As the light source spacing D (=pb, where p is an integer) is sufficiently larger than the resolution b of the bitmap, the pixel g(0, 3) in FIG. 16B is not aligned with any light source, and is therefore not exposed.
When the exposure target substrate mounted on the stage further moves relative to the light source by the distance b (FIG. 17A), the synchronizing signal is again sent to the exposure engine. At this time, the pixel g(2, 3) comes into alignment with the light source R=0, and the pixel can thus be exposed. On the other hand, at this time, the pixels g(0, 3) and g(1, 3) are not aligned with any light source, and are therefore not exposed.
When the exposure target substrate mounted on the stage further moves relative to the light source by the distance b (FIG. 17B), the synchronizing signal is again sent to the exposure engine. At this time, the pixel g(3, 3) comes into alignment with the light source R=0, while the pixel g(0, 3) comes into alignment with the light source R=1; as a result, these pixels can be exposed. On the other hand, at this time, the pixels g(1, 3) and g(2, 3) are not aligned with any light source, and are therefore not exposed.
Thereafter, each time the exposure target substrate mounted on the stage moves relative to the light source by the distance b, the synchronizing signal is sent to the exposure engine, and any pixel that comes into alignment with the light source can be exposed. For example, in the case of the pixel g(0, 3), when the exposure target substrate mounted on the stage moves in a relative fashion by the distance pb from the initial condition, the pixel comes into alignment with the light source R=1, and the pixel can thus be exposed a second time. In the case of the pixel g(1, 3), for example, when the exposure target substrate mounted on the stage moves in relative fashion by the distance (p+1)b from the initial condition, the pixel comes into alignment with the light source R=1, and the pixel can thus be exposed a second time.
In this way, as the exposure target substrate moves in relative fashion below the exposure engine having k light sources in each column, each spot on the exposure target substrate which corresponds to each pixel in the bitmap data can be exposed to light a total of k times. In the direct exposure apparatus, whether the intended exposure process is completed or not is determined by whether the light energy accumulated through k exposures exceeds the threshold for exposing the photoresist applied on the exposure target substrate. Accordingly, if the number, k, of light sources is sufficiently large, then even if some of the k light sources fail to emit light properly due to the failure of micromirrors in the DMD or of driving transistors in the LCD, the possibility that such failure will have a serious effect on the final exposure result is small. Stated another way, such redundancy in the number of light sources constitutes the basis of the reliability of the direct exposure apparatus.
As described above, since the amount of the exposure data is very large, the exposure data is generated based on design data in real time for each exposure block during the exposure process in order to conserve memory resources, and the generated exposure data is supplied to the corresponding exposure engine. That is, the exposure data "produced" for each exposure block in real time in the second data conversion process in FIG. 13 is sequentially "consumed" for each exposure block at a constant speed by the corresponding exposure engine.
The amount of the bitmap data composed of pixels arranged in n rows and m columns (n and m are integers) that the exposure engine of frame rate f "consumes" per unit time is proportional to "m×n×f", i.e., the product of m, n, and f. The product "m×n×f" is generally known as the "bandwidth", which is expressed in "bits/sec". The bandwidth is a measure of the capacity of data transmission between the exposure engine and the memory device in which the bitmap data is stored, and usually there is an upper limit value dependent on system configuration, etc.
It will be easily understood that the width ΔX of the strip on the exposure target substrate 151 that each exposure engine can expose is proportional to the number, m, of columns in the bitmap data when one considers that the bitmap data of n rows and m columns is supplied to the exposure engine. Accordingly, for an exposure target substrate having a certain width LX (=N×ΔX), the larger the number, m, of columns in the bitmap data, the smaller the number of exposure engines required to cover the width LX of the exposure target substrate, and thus the cost of the exposure engines can be reduced correspondingly. That is, by using exposure devices having a larger number of pixels for the exposure engines, the number, m, of columns in the bitmap data can be increased. For example, when the direct exposure system is of the type that uses the DMD, the number of pixels increases in the order of SVGA, XGA, and SXGA.
At this time, when there is an upper limit to the bandwidth, that is, when the bandwidth imposes a constraint on the system configuration, if the number, m, of columns in the bitmap data is increased, the value of the product "m×n×f" naturally increases and, as a result, the frame rate f has to be reduced. Reducing the frame rate f means reducing the exposure speed of the direct exposure system, that is, reducing the throughput of the direct exposure process, which is not desirable. To address this, a method for increasing the exposure process performance of the direct exposure system without reducing the frame rate f is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication NO. 2004-1244; according to the technique described therein, of the exposure devices arranged in a two-dimensional array in the exposure engine, a smaller number of exposure devices than the total number are used for direct exposure.
Here, if there is no upper limit value on the bandwidth, as the amount of data proportional to the product "m×n×f" has to be processed, there can occur cases where the processing performance of CPU or FPGA that performs the data processing becomes a bottleneck.
As described above, the larger the number, m, of columns in the bitmap data, the smaller the number of exposure engines required to cover the width LX of the exposure target substrate, and thus the cost of the exposure engines can be reduced correspondingly; further, the higher the frame rate f, the faster the exposure speed of the direct exposure system can be made, which therefore can be said to be desirable. In reality, however, an upper limit value dependent on system configuration exists on the bandwidth that defines the capacity of data transmission between the exposure engine and the memory device in which the bitmap data is stored. With the technique disclosed in the above-cited Japanese Patent Publication NO. 2004-1244, as, of the exposure devices arranged in a two-dimensional array in the exposure engine, a smaller number of exposure devices than the total number are used for direct exposure by reducing the number, n, of rows in the bitmap data, a certain degree of effect can be achieved even when there is an upper limit to the bandwidth. However, not all the exposure devices, but selected ones of the exposure devices in the exposure engine, are actually used for direct exposure, and the remaining exposure devices are not used. That is, as all the exposure devices in the exposure engine are not used effectively, the efficiency is low.
In view of the above problem, it is an object of the present invention is to provide an exposure apparatus and an exposure method that can perform high-speed and efficient direct exposure based on exposure data sequentially supplied to each exposure engine having a plurality of exposure devices.

Exposure apparatus and exposure method for performing high-speed and efficient direct exposure


A wireless data communication system simultaneously transmits data signals from more than one antenna with a deterministic, time-dependent phase difference between the signals. In one example, more than one antenna transmits the same data signal with a phase difference between the transmitted signals. In another example multiple users' data signals are simultaneously transmitted using a corresponding plurality of beams that each use at least two transmitting antennas. Transmissions to multiple users on a shared packet data channel can be scheduled at the same time. In one example, the phase difference is periodic and the beams are orthogonal to maximize system throughput even when one or more users is stationary or slowly moving.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to wireless communication systems and more particularly to wireless systems for transmitting data to mobile receivers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Communication systems such as wireless systems are designed to meet various demands of subscribers. Service providers continuously seek ways to improve the overall performance of the communication system. As wireless communications become more and more popular for subscribers to obtain data (i.e., email or information from the internet), communication systems must be capable of a higher throughput.
Proposed arrangements include scheduling the subscribers or users of the system according to the user's channel conditions. For example, a user is scheduled optimally when the user's channel is at a peak. When there are multiple data users within a cell, the transmission to a particular user may be delayed until the corresponding channel conditions improve. By switching between the various users depending upon their respective channel conditions, it becomes possible to schedule multiple users to receive information at different times. The nature of packet data transmission and reception allows for longer delays between transmissions compared to voice users.
One difficulty is presented when one or more subscribers in an area are stationary or moving relatively slowly. In this case their channel conditions may be adverse for extended periods of time. Even if these users are scheduled for transmission during those times, they will not be receiving data at the optimum rate, thereby diminishing the over-all system throughput.
This invention increases the throughput of a wireless data communication system especially when there are subscribers within an area that are stationary or moving slowly.

Multiple antenna transmissions with deterministic phase differences


While an output tray is housed in the printer body, a tray support supports the output tray in such a manner that has the output tray lifted off a surface on which the printer is placed. In the process of pulling out the output tray from the printer body, the tray support supports the output tray in such a manner that the rear end portion of the output tray gradually comes near to the surface on which the printer is placed, and guides the output tray so that a rib, which is formed on the front end portion of the output tray, and the rear end portion of the output tray are in contact with the surface on which the printer is placed when the output tray has been completely pulled out. The output tray is supported on the two portions, i.e., on the rib and rear end portion thereof, when it has been completely pulled out. Accordingly, it can be protected from bending due to the weight of paper sheets stacked thereon so as to prevent spillage of the paper sheets from the output tray even when the stacked paper sheets are large in quantity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printer having an output tray.
2. Description of the Related Art
Printers having an output tray that can be pulled out from the printer body are known in the art (see e.g. Japanese laid-open patent publication Nos. 2004-181853 and 2004-35248). As shown in FIG. 7A, such a printer 101 comprises an output tray 102 for holding ejected sheets of paper P thereon and a tray support 103 provided at the printer body for supporting the output tray 102 in such a manner that the output tray 102 can be pulled out from the lower part of the printer body along the direction a of ejection of the paper sheets P. Typically, this kind of output tray 102 is used with its front end positioned higher than the rear end so as to have the front end portion of the tray lifted off a surface F on which the printer is placed.
However, the conventional printer 101 has the following problem. When in use, the output tray 102 is supported so that the front end portion thereof is lifted off the surface F on which the printer is placed, as described above. This may cause the output tray 102 to be bent due to the weight of the paper sheets P stacked thereon, which may result in spillage of the paper sheets P from the output tray 102 as shown in FIG 7B.


A battery is provided with an associated method for transporting metal-ions in the battery using a low temperature molten salt (LTMS). The battery comprises an anode, a cathode formed from a LTMS having a liquid phase at a temperature of less than 150° C., a current collector submerged in the LTMS, and a metal-ion permeable separator interposed between the LTMS and the anode. The method transports metal-ions from the separator to the current collector in response to the LTMS acting simultaneously as a cathode and an electrolyte. More explicitly, metal-ions are transported from the separator to the current collector by creating a liquid flow of LTMS interacting with the current collector and separator.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to electrochemical cells and, more particularly, to a battery that uses a low temperature molten salt (LTMS) as part of the cathode.
2. Description of the Related Art
A battery is an electrochemical device in which ions and electrons commute between an anode and a cathode to realize electrochemical reactions. The voltage and capacity of the battery are determined by its respective electrode materials. In general, metals anode materials promote a high voltage in the battery, while their low molecular weights provide a large capacity. For example, lithium has the most negative potential of −3.04 V vs. H2/H+ and the highest capacity of 3860 mAh/g. High voltage and large capacity lead to an overall high energy for the battery. In addition, sodium, potassium, magnesium, nickel, zinc, calcium, aluminum, etc. are good candidates as anode materials in metal-ion batteries.
The state-of-the-art cathode materials focus on the metal-ion host compounds. Metal-ions can be extracted from the interstitial spaces of the electrode materials in the charge process, and inserted into the materials during the discharge process. However, it is worth noting that the charge/discharge process severely distorts the lattice of the materials, which essentially destroys their structures following several cycles. Moreover, these cathode materials can only provide less than one tenth the capacity of the metal anode materials. Therefore, new cathode materials need to be developed in order to both match the higher capacities of the anode materials and enable longer cycle lives for the metal-ion batteries.
In 1996, Abraham and Jiang reported a polymer electrolyte-based rechargeable lithium/oxygen battery in which oxygen was used as the cathode material [K. M. Abraham, Z. Jiang, A polymer electrolyte-based rechargeable lithium/oxygen battery, Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 143 (1996) 1-5]. Oxygen (in air) continuously flows into the battery and provides a very high specific energy of 5200 Wh/kg. Nevertheless, the oxygen cathode has several disadvantages. Firstly, electro-catalysts were used in the batteries to reduce the kinetic barrier for the oxygen reactions. Secondly, the sluggish electrochemical reactions of oxygen produce a large overpotential in the lithium/air battery. Thirdly, the cathode of the lithium/air battery has to remain open to allow air access. Similarly, an oxygen cathode has also used in zinc-air batteries [Philip N. Ross, Jr., Zinc electrode and rechargeable zinc-air battery, U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,963].
In 2011, Lu and Goodenough revealed an aqueous cathode for a lithium-ion battery [Yuhao Lu, John B. Goodenough, Youngsik Kim, "Aqueous cathode for next-generation alkali-ion batteries", Journal of the American Chemical Society, 133 (2011) 5756-5759]. They used aqueous solutions of water-soluble redox couples (for example, Fe(CN)63−/Fe(CN)64−) as the cathode. The lithium/aqueous cathode battery operated at ca. 3.4 volts in an ambient environment. The battery demonstrated a small overpotential, a high coulombic efficiency, and a long cycle life. However, water is an inert material in the electrochemical system, which reduces the specific capacity of the cathode. Although the design of a lithium/flow-through cathode battery can increase the capacity and energy, its volume must necessarily be large.
During the same period, Carter and Chiang disclosed a patent that described the use of a flowable semi-solid composition (slurry) as the electrode materials in batteries [William C. Carter, Yet-Ming Chiang, High energy density redox flow device, US 2011/0189520]. The electrode included at 5% vol % of the total volume, active materials to store energy. The inventors demonstrated an example where the cathode slurry of 25 vol % lithium cobalt oxide, 0.8 vol % carbon black, 73.2 vol % electrolyte was tested in a lithium/slurry cathode battery. The composition of slurry produced a suitable viscosity for the device design. Only 0.36 Li-ion can reversibly insert/deinsert into/from a LiCoO2 molecule between 2 V and 4.5 V because there is a small contact area between the solid particles and the current collector. Moreover, it's inevitable that the solid particles have to suffer considerable strain when the ions insert into their lattice, which restricts the cycle life of the electrode material. According to the data, it can be determined that the concentration of the active material is 7.2 M while the specific capacity of the slurry is 69.22 Ah/L. With respect to the molten salt of Fe(NO3)3.9H2O, for example, its capacity is 98.4 Ah/L (90% of the theoretical capacity) which is larger than that of the slurry electrode materials. In addition, the slurry electrode has a high viscosity that causes a significant loss of parasitic energy. Therefore, the slurry battery exhibits a low energy efficiency.
Although the appearance of molten sodium batteries does not adequately address the issues and challenges associated with cathode materials for metal-ion batteries, they are mentioned in order to adequately distinguish molten sodium batteries from the low-temperature molten salt cathode described in detail below. The rechargeable molten sodium batteries are mainly either sodium-sulfur batteries or sodium-nickel chloride (ZEBRA) batteries. A sodium-sulfur battery consists of molten sodium at the anode and molten sulfur at the cathode. In the discharge process, sodium ions transport from the anode to cathode and form Na2S4. The voltage of the battery is ca. 2 volts. Similar to the Na—S battery, a ZEBRA battery uses the molten sodium as anode, but the molten NiCl2 acts as the cathode. The electrochemical reaction in the battery is 2NaCl+Ni⇄NiCl2+2Na. Its operating voltage is around 2.4 volts. One significant problem is that the molten salt batteries of Na—S and Na—NiCl2 have to operate at a high temperature (270° C.) in order to maintain the salts in the melt state.
It would be advantageous if a battery could be fabricated with a cathode that included a salt that remains molten at low temperatures.

Battery with low temperature molten salt (LTMS) cathode


An orthopedic pillow for supporting a user is disclosed. The user has a head and a torso. The pillow comprises a head rest for supporting the head of the user and a wedge-shaped portion having a tapered surface. The wedge-shaped portion is attached to and extends away from the head rest. The tapered surface of the wedge-shaped portion supports portions of the torso of the user. The wedge-shaped portion has a shoulder recess depressed from the tapered surface to receive a shoulder of the user.

During orthopedic surgery, the use of an axillary roll under patients who are in a lateral decubitus position is well known. Generally, the axillary roll is used to support the chest wall and relieve pressure and weight from the downward-facing shoulder. The benefits of such axillary rolls are well known in the art.


A content reproducing apparatus includes a display unit configured to display a play list and candidate contents able to be added to the play list, a selection unit configured to select, from the candidate contents, an undesired content which a user does not want to add to the play list, a calculation unit configured to calculate a first retrieval statistical quantity based on first characteristic quantity of the undesired content or a second retrieval statistical quantity based on second characteristic quantity of a desired content which the user wants to add to the play list, and a retrieve unit configured to retrieve the candidate contents to prepare the play list, in accordance with similarity which has been calculated by using the first or second retrieval statistical quantity and which shows to which a given content having third characteristic quantity is similar, the desired content or the undesired content.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a content-reproducing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
The simplest method of preparing a list (called play list) of a plurality of contents that the user wants to play back, selected from many multimedia contents such as sound, music, still pictures, moving pictures and texts is to use tag information representing the genres, the names of the artists and the dates. With this method, however, it is difficult to prepare a play list in consideration of, for example, a difference in melody that can hardly be represented by tag information.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-132085 discloses a method in which a musical work may be retrieved by using a keyword pertaining to sensitivity, such as "cheerful tune," thereby to prepare a play list. To use this method, it is necessary to learn in order to fill the gap between the classification criteria the words of sensitivity have and the impression the user has about the words of sensitivity. As described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-132085, this learning is performed by generating fit information if the user plays back a tune to the end and unfit information if the user skips the tune during the playback. These information items are used to make the prepared sensitivity-word table more similar to the user's impression.
However, the impression of any word of sensitivity differs from one user to another. Hence, no sensitivity-word table that agrees with the user's sensitivity can be prepared unless the parameters that control the speed with which the learning progresses have values optimal to each user. Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-132085 does not disclose such a method as would set the parameters to optimal values.


The light fixture includes a frame with a bottom assembly and a top assembly coupled to the bottom assembly. The bottom assembly and the top assembly cooperate to form a plurality of channels within the frame. A substantially flat light emitting diode (LED) panel is disposed within the frame. Power circuitry is disposed within at least one of the plurality of channels within the frame. The power circuitry is configured to electrically couple the substantially flat light emitting diode (LED) panel to an external AC power supply. A wire compartment is disposed within at least one of the plurality of channels within the frame. The wire compartment is configured to house wiring electrically coupled to the external AC power supply.

Lighting systems incorporating ceiling-mounted lighting fixtures or luminaires are routinely used to illuminate commercial floor space and objects residing on the floor space within the illuminated area. Luminaires generally consist of an assembly of components, such as lamps, ballasts, and reflectors, which cooperate to produce and direct light. Luminaires that incorporate fluorescent lamps are the most commonly used commercial light sources due to their relatively high efficiency, diffuse light distribution characteristics, and long operating life.
Fluorescent lamps are long tubes that contain mercury and argon gas. Electrodes sealed into each end of a tube allow the lamp to conduct an electric current, thereby emitting ultra-violet radiation. The tube of a fluorescent lamp is a glass envelope. The inside surface of the tube is coated with a phosphor that provides visible illumination when excited by ultra-violet radiation. The phosphor, or fluorescent coating, may be harmful to a person's eyes. The glass envelope is infamous for its ability to shatter and blanket an area with sharp glass. The neurological toxicities associated with mercury exposure are well documented. Additionally, only a portion of the radiation produced by a fluorescent lamp is ever converted into visible light. As with incandescent light bulbs, the excess radiation produces heat. Collectively, the heat generated by these lamps places a tremendous burden on the air conditioning system of a building, especially during the summer months in warmer climates.
Many conventional fluorescent lighting fixtures are adapted for recessed mounting in a suspended ceiling, in which the lighting fixtures have bulky box enclosures or troffers supported by adjacent pairs of T-bars comprising the support structure of the ceiling. In addition to housing and supporting the other components of the lighting fixture, the troffer provides a fire protection enclosure.
Over the lifetime of a commercial lighting system, the expenditures associated with operating and maintaining that system are significant. As lighting fixtures age and deteriorate, the light-emitting ability degrades and the light output per unit of consumed electrical energy is significantly reduced. Modern ballasts, lamps and reflectors are available that would significantly enhance the light-emitting ability of the lighting system and also significantly enhance the energy efficiency by reducing the power consumption. As a result, the light output could be increased while simultaneously reducing the associated energy costs. Thus, it is desirable to replace obsolete lighting fixtures with lighting fixtures that incorporate modern ballasts, lamps and lamp sockets to hold the lamps, and reflectors. Existing lighting fixtures of commercial light systems cannot be easily upgraded to replace obsolete lighting fixtures with lighting fixtures that incorporate modern components, or refurbished with modern components to reverse the effects of deterioration. Conventional fluorescent lighting fixtures and available retrofitting kits are unsatisfactory for upgrading existing lighting systems because, among other things, the existing lighting fixtures must first be removed or, at the least, significantly modified by removing certain components from the existing lighting fixtures before the upgrade can be performed. Retrofitting with conventional fluorescent luminaires or available retrofitting kits is a labor-intensive and lengthy process that significantly disrupts commercial operations during the retrofit process. Furthermore, the removed lighting fixtures or components generate a waste stream for disposal or recycling. Disposal poses significant environmental concerns from hazardous or toxic substances in the removed components, such as mercury in the fluorescent lamps and chemicals including polychlorinated biphenyls (commonly referred to as PCB's) in the ballasts.