A mobile phone and related method for providing hinting capabilities in the mobile telephone is presented which makes a user aware of one or more next possible sub-operational functionalities available for user selection in a selected operational functionality. Control and alphanumeric keys associated with the available functionalities are identified to hint at next possible sub-functionalities available for selection wherein the keys are identified by lighting or shown as icon representations on the display of the mobile phone or tones to suggest to the user that operation of the key is related to the given operational context and sequence progression step in the selected desired operational functionality.

There has been an increasing demand for more and more features in portable electronic devices, particularly mobile telephones such as for example, cellular telephones. Generally, the operation of the features are carried out by operating a combination of one or more keys which may be selection keys or alphanumeric keys such as typically found on and used with cellular telephones. One such prior art cellular telephone is shown in FIG. 1 and generally designated 10. The cellular telephone includes a display 12 for displaying text and/or graphics, selection keys 14, 16 for selecting desired operational functionalities of the cellular phone, keypad means generally designated 18 for inputting alphanumeric characters to the phone, a scrolling means generally designated 20 which may be part of the keypad 18 for navigating sub-operational functionalities within a selected operational functionality, and various control keys 22 and 24, for example, to send a call or end a call. The alphanumeric keys 26, 26 may be part of a physical keypad 18 as illustrated or may be part of a virtual keypad, for example a keypad representation on the display screen of the device (not shown) and operated in a well known manner including pen and touch screen operation.
Many of the features included with the portable electronic device such as the cellular telephone are complex and their operation may be menu driven with multiple selection options available through nested sub-menus as illustrated in cascading menu form in FIG. 2 for example. Often, the menu sub-operation selections are not intuitive and cause the user to guess at which operations or key selections should be made to perform the desired operation selection for a given selected desired function.
Further, other features and functions may not be frequently used to enable the user to memorize the necessary sequence of operation steps to carry out the desired selected function much less to become proficient with the operation of the desired feature. Generally, user manuals accompany the portable electronic device to explain the step-by-step operations necessary to carry out the desired function. Obviously, it is inconvenient to carry and time consuming to refer to the user manual each time the user wants to select and operate a feature, particularly an unfamiliar feature or function. It is difficult, even with the user's manual to know with certainty which menu selection step to take in the sequence of steps to carry out or progress in the desired feature or function. Even with practice it takes some time to learn with confidence the steps and possible operational functions available for selection to carry out the desired feature or function.
It would be desirable to provide portable electronic devices such as mobile telephones and particularly cellular telephones that overcome the limitations and deficiencies of the prior art in learning, selecting, and operating desired features and functions of the device.
It would be further desirable if a user of the device could be made aware without guessing of possible operation functions available for selection in a desired chosen function.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable electronic device such as a mobile telephone and particularly a cellular telephone with hinting capabilities to make a user aware of next possible operation functions available for selection in a desired chosen function.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for use in a portable electronic device such as a mobile telephone and particularly a cellular telephone that serves as a learning tool to assist a user to learn the necessary operation functions in a desired chosen function.

Mobile phone having hinting capabilities for operation function selection


A method of selecting an entity from a list of entities, includes providing a manually applied pressure to a touch-sensitive device and activating a range of entities in response to the manually applied pressure. The range of entities includes first and second lists of entities. Scrolling in a first direction enables selection of an entity from the first list of entities and scrolling in a second direction enables selection of an entity from the second list of entities.

The present invention relates to a method of selecting an entity from a list of entities and an apparatus for allowing a user to make a manual interaction.
Electronic devices incorporating touch screens are becoming increasingly common, in particular in the field of mobile telephony. Conventional mobile telephones, often referred to as smart phones, comprise touch screens in which users can provide inputs by pressing onto the device's touch screen to affect a desired output.
In many cases, activation by application of a pressure requires a user to move their finger or input device (such as a stylus) across different parts of the screen to select different elements. This is particularly true when lists of entities, such as menus having selectable items, are activated by pressing. In order to select one of the entities, a user must move their hand to enable selection. There remains a need to provide an interface in which a user can more intuitively activate entities compared to existing mechanisms.

Scrolling in first and second directions to select first and second menu items from a list


A damping system (10) having a rotation axis (X) and comprising at least: one first flyweight (14) and one second flyweight (14) able to oscillate with respect to a support member (12), and at least one device (20) for guiding the first and second flyweights (14) with respect to the support member (12), having at least one bearing element (22) able to interact with a pair of opposite tracks, respectively a first guidance track (24) and a second guidance track (26) that is carried by the support member (12), wherein the first guidance track (24) is carried by said connecting means (16).

Damping systems of this kind, also called "pendulum oscillator" or "pendulum" devices and installed especially but not exclusively on the transmission of a motor vehicle, are known from the existing art.
In a motor vehicle transmission, at least one torsional damping system is generally combined with a clutch able to selectively connect the engine to the gearbox, such as a friction clutch or a hydrokinetic coupling apparatus having a locking clutch, the purpose being to filter vibrations resulting from engine irregularities.
This is because a combustion engine exhibits irregularities due to the successive combustion events in the engine's cylinders, said irregularities varying in particular depending on the number of cylinders.
The damping means of a torsional damping system consequently have the function of filtering the vibrations caused by the irregularities, and take effect before engine torque is transmitted to the gearbox.
Vibrations entering the gearbox would otherwise cause shocks, noise, or acoustic impacts therein that are particularly undesirable.
This is one of the reasons why one or more damping means, able to filter vibrations at least at one defined frequency, are used.
In the sector of transmissions, the search for increasingly high filtering performance has led to the addition, for certain applications, of a damping system of the pendulum oscillator type to the damping systems or dampers that are conventionally utilized both in friction clutches and in hydrokinetic coupling devices of motor vehicles.
The document US 2010/0122605 represents one such damping system of the pendulum oscillator type.
The damping system has a support member and at least one pair of flyweights, generally several pairs of flyweights, distributed circumferentially over the periphery of the support member.
The pairs of flyweights are arranged around the rotation axis of the engine shaft, and each pair of flyweights is free to oscillate around an imaginary axis substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the engine shaft.
As illustrated in FIG. 4 of this document, the flyweights of one pair are connected to one another by connecting means such as rivets, each connecting means passing through an opening configured for that purpose in the support member, and the ends of the connecting means each being integral with one of the flyweights of the pair, for example fastened to the flyweights by riveting.
Besides the connecting means, the damping means has at least one device for guiding the flyweights with respect to the support member, the guidance device having bearing elements such as cylindrical rollers.
Each bearing element interacts with a pair of opposite tracks, respectively a first track carried by each of the flyweights of the pair and a second track formed by one of the edges of an orifice that encompasses the support member.
In reaction to rotational inconsistencies, said flyweights become displaced in such a way that the center of gravity of each of the flyweights oscillates around an axis substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the engine shaft.
The radial position of the center of gravity of each of the flyweights with respect to the rotation axis of the engine shaft, as well as the distance of said center of gravity with respect to the imaginary oscillation axis, are established so that in response to centrifugal forces, the oscillation frequency of each of the flyweights is proportional to the rotation speed of the engine shaft; said multiple can assume, for example, a value close to the predominant harmonic order of the vibrations responsible for strong rotational inconsistencies at close to idle speed.
As illustrated in FIG. 4 of the document US 2010/0122605, the damping system has three rivets and two bearing elements that are interposed circumferentially between two consecutive rivets.
A damping system of this kind, however, and very particularly the device for guiding the flyweights, is not entirely satisfactory and exhibits a variety of drawbacks.
The support member is weakened by the presence on the one hand of openings to allow passage of the connecting means, and on the other hand of guidance orifices associated with the bearing elements.
In the example of the document US 2010/0122605, for each pair of flyweights there are thus no fewer than five cutouts required, respectively three openings and two orifices, said cutouts affecting the mechanical strength of the support member.
In addition, the presence of cutouts likewise has an effect on the design of the damping system, given that the openings and orifices, arranged circumferentially on the radial periphery of the support member and successively one alongside the others, limit the number of flyweight pairs that can be installed on a support member of a given diameter.
A damping system of this kind, of the two-strand pendulum type, requires very good cutout stamping quality, which is difficult to achieve given the stamping processes used in industrial production.
This is because usual stamping processes result in the presence of scratches or ridges in the axial direction, i.e. along the thickness.
In the case of the support member, for example, such scratches are present on the edge of each orifice forming the second guidance track with which the bearing element interacts, since the two orifices in the support member, and very particularly of each of the second guidance tracks, are generally produced by conventional press-type stamping.
These surface finish problems also occur with the flyweights having the first guidance tracks for the bearing elements, which are produced on a press by stamping out the flyweights, followed by a trimming operation.
The surface finish of the guidance tracks determines the bearing quality, however, especially the smoothness of motion during rolling. In addition, the surface finish of the guidance tracks has an effect on wear on the bearing element, and on the maximum sustainable contact pressure.
Other specific stamping processes could be utilized in order to improve the surface finish of the guidance tracks, but would then have unacceptable consequence in terms of cost.
In addition, the implementation of at least one orifice order to form, in each of the flyweights, the second guidance track associated with said at least one bearing element results in a commensurate reduction in the total mass of each flyweight, and consequently in the operating efficiency of the damping system, which has a lower total mass for a given overall size.
The axial length of the bearing elements, such as the rollers, also implies a risk of skewing of the flyweights with respect to the support member.
Lastly, when the damping system is under centrifugal force, the bearing elements are then operating in flexural mode, inducing large mechanical stresses in the elements as well as wear problems.
The object of the present invention is therefore very particularly to propose a design that allows the aforementioned drawbacks of a damping system of this kind to be overcome and allows its performance to be improved, while in particular retaining a small overall size and optimum functioning.

Pendulum-oscillator-type damping system comprising an improved guiding device


A bed sore prevention assembly includes a flexible panel that has a first side, a second side, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. A plurality of cushion members is attached to the first side of the panel. A fastening member selectively secures the panel in a loop formation. The fastening member includes a first engaging member that is attached to the first side of the panel and positioned adjacent to the first lateral edge and a second engaging member that is attached to the second side of the panel and positioned adjacent to the second lateral edge of the panel. The first engaging member is adapted for removably coupling with the second engaging member to define a body wrap.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to bed sore treating and preventing devices and more particularly pertains to a new bed sore treating and preventing device that may worn by a bedridden person for aiding in the prevention of bedsores.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of bed sore treating and preventing devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,218 describes a pad having a unique shape for being worn on a heel or elbow of a patient for the prevention of bedsores, or decubitus ulcers, to those areas. U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,330 describes a bandage assembly for the treating of bedsores. A similar device is U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,170 describes a form fitting disposable garment which. Another analogous device is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,789 that describes a hip garment adapted for being worn about the body and which includes padding for the prevention of injury should a patient wearing the garment accidentally fall onto their hip.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that has a structure for preventing the acquisition of bedsores in areas of the body where the bones create distinct pressure points for a person lying in a bed. In particular, a device is need that may be worn as a body wrap for protecting the hipbone and tailbone areas. Such a garment will reduce the chances of bedsores developing in those areas.


One example embodiment includes a pre-cut strip of kinesiology tape. The pre-cut strip of kinesiology tape includes a fabric. The fabric includes a weave of fibers, where the fibers include an elastic fiber covered by a covering material. The fabric also includes a first end and a second end, where the second end is opposite the first end. The fabric further includes one or more rounded corners. The pre-cut strip of kinesiology tape also includes a longitudinal cut in the fabric. The longitudinal cut passes through at least a portion of the fabric and extends from the first end to a pre-determined distance from the second end. The pre-cut strip of kinesiology tape also includes adhesive on a first surface of the fabric, where the adhesive is configured to adhere the fabric to a human body.

Kinesiology tape consists of a fabric that includes elastic and non-elastic fibers, usually covered in cotton, which is placed on human skin. Kinesiology tape is useful in therapy to reduce soreness in overused and injured muscles and in rehabilitation to accelerate recovery. The tape can have a lifting effect on the skin which can reduce swelling and inflammation by improving circulation and reduce pain by taking pressure off pain receptors.
Nevertheless, there are a number of drawbacks in the current art regarding kinesiology tape. In particular, in order to provide proper support to various muscle groups or body parts, body-adhesive tapes must be applied in specific ways, which often requires that multiple strips of specific sizes and shapes be utilized. However, kinesiology tapes are generally available as a roll and the user must remove from the roll of tape the correct amount and, at times, cut the piece further, to allow the tape to properly support joints or muscles.
Body-adhesive kinesiology tapes for athletic use are required to be strong, resiliently elastic, and resistant to tearing in order to provide adequate support to a user. Such tapes cannot be easily torn into smaller pieces, but must be carefully cut into a desired size and shape. This requires that scissors be used to cut the tape into the desired shape and size. However, the scissors must be quite sharp, as the tape does not readily cut. This presents a danger to the user, as they may have to carry these scissors with them to the gym or other place of use.
Further, cutting the kinesiology tape can leave edges on the kinesiology tape with sharp corners. Since kinesiology tape is often used on or near joints, these sharp corners may continually poke or otherwise irritate the user. Moreover, the cut edges of the tape may begin to fray because of the cut. This may cause the kinesiology tape to become loose while the user is participating in some physical activity. Alternatively, the user may be required to reapply the kinesiology tape during some break in the activity to ensure that the tape does not become loose or fall off.
Additionally, different joints and muscle groups may require different applications of kinesiology tape. Indeed, one joint or muscle group may need different configurations of kinesiology tape for different injuries to the joint or muscle group. Therefore, the user may need to be aware of the proper method of application as well as the type and length of kinesiology tape to apply.
Thus, those with access to professional personnel, such as personal trainers or physical therapists are able to utilize the benefits of kinesiology tapes. However, those without access to such personnel, such as a person making a casual trip to the gym, or due to other time, location, or access reasons, are not able to enjoy these benefits.
This can prevent casual users from receiving the support benefits from such tapes. A casual user may lack the means to cut the tape and the knowledge of the different shapes and sizes of the particular strips of tape required to support a particular body area may not be readily apparent.
Accordingly, the design of a body adhesive kinesiology tape that could be applied in multiple useful conformations without the need for custom cutting and fitting would be an improvement in the art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Disclosed are methods, apparatuses, and lithographic systems for calibrating an inspection apparatus. Radiation is projected onto a pattern in a target position of a substrate. By making a plurality of measurements of the pattern and comparing the measured first or higher diffraction orders of radiation reflected from the pattern of different measurements, a residual error indicative of the error in a scatterometer may be calculated. This error is an error in measurements of substrate parameters caused by irregularities of the scatterometer. The residual error may manifest itself as an asymmetry in the diffraction spectra.

A lithographic apparatus is a machine that applies a desired pattern onto a substrate, usually onto a target portion of the substrate. A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In that instance, a patterning device, which is alternatively referred to as a "mask" or a "reticle," may be used to generate a circuit pattern to be formed on an individual layer of the IC. This pattern can be transferred onto a target portion (e.g., comprising part of, one, or several dies) on a substrate (e.g., a silicon wafer). Transfer of the pattern is typically via imaging onto a layer of radiation-sensitive material (i.e., resist) provided on the substrate. In general, a single substrate will contain a network of adjacent target portions that are successively patterned. Known lithographic apparatus include so-called steppers, in which each target portion is irradiated by exposing an entire pattern onto the target portion at one time, and so-called "scanners," in which each target portion is irradiated by scanning the pattern through a radiation beam in a given direction (e.g., the "scanning"-direction) while synchronously scanning the substrate parallel or anti-parallel to this direction. It is also possible to transfer the pattern from the patterning device to the substrate by imprinting the pattern onto the substrate.
In order to monitor the lithographic process, it is necessary to measure parameters of the patterned substrate such as, for example, the structure of the pattern. Knowledge of the structure of the pattern (and its accuracy) gives rise to information regarding the accuracy of the patterning system (specifically, the illumination or exposure system) that creates the pattern. The accurate formation of the pattern needs to be monitored to, for example, ensure that successive layers formed in or on the substrate are aligned to eliminate noise or cross-talk between portions of the pattern close to one another.
There are various techniques for making measurements of the microscopic structures formed in lithographic processes, including the use of scanning electron microscopes and various specialized tools. One form of specialized inspection tool is a scatterometer in which a beam of radiation is directed onto a patterned target on the surface of the substrate and the scattered or reflected beam is detected and the properties of the scattered or reflected beam are measured. By comparing the properties of the beam before and after it has been reflected or scattered by the pattern on the substrate, the properties of the pattern on the substrate can be determined. This can be done, for example, by comparing the reflected beam with data stored in a library of known measurements associated with known pattern properties.
Two main types of scatterometer are known. Spectroscopic scatterometers direct a broadband radiation beam onto the substrate and measure the spectrum (e.g., intensity as a function of wavelength) of the radiation scattered into a particular narrow angular range. Angularly-resolved scatterometers use a monochromatic radiation beam and measure the intensity of the scattered radiation as a function of angle. An extension of the use of scatterometers is the use of ellipsometers, which are systems that not only measure the intensity of the reflected light, but also measure the phase difference between different polarized states of the illuminating radiation beam that is reflected from the pattern on the surface of the substrate. Different structures (e.g., structures within the pattern) on the substrate will cause different polarized radiation to reflect (e.g., scatter/diffract) differently and properties of the structures can be determined by measuring this reflected radiation.
The scatterometer may be viewed simplistically as a system to carry out the illumination of a target and the collection of data from the reflected radiation. Such a scatterometer is often used to determine properties of the substrate or, more specifically, properties of the pattern on the substrate surface that cause the scattering/diffraction of the radiation. The properties may provide information as to the alignment of the substrate with the lithographic exposure apparatus around it. Alternatively, the properties may give information regarding the internal alignment of the substrate (namely, the alignment of its consecutively exposed layers). The properties of the pattern on the substrate may include the size, shape, and alignment of printed structures on the substrate surface or within its layers. Alignment may include overlay error (between subsequent layers). Structure parameters may include line thickness, critical dimension (CD), etc.
Sensor calibration is an essential element of known scatterometry. Sensor calibration for some known angular-resolved scatterometry systems is based upon a simplified sensor model. The simplified sensor model may be referred to as a calibration model. Imperfections in an illuminator (which provides the radiation beam for reflection and subsequent detection) and in various parts of the system that transmit signals detected by the sensor (e.g., detection of the reflected beam) are not necessarily accommodated in the model. These imperfections that are not accounted for in known sensor calibrations may be determined to be an overall calibration "residual." As sensor models generally work using the zeroth-order reflection (i.e., diffraction), the calibration residual is a residual for zeroth-order reflection. In known systems, an approximate correction has been implemented based on this zeroth-order residual. Generally, calibration models may be created based on the assumption that the illuminator and the sensor have rotational symmetry.
In order for radiation that impinges onto the substrate to diffract (in order to be measured), a pattern with a specific shape is printed on the substrate and is often known as a scatterometry target, mark, or marker. The pattern of the scatterometry target will be referred to herein as the "pattern" or the "patterned target" (e.g., when referring to the area on the substrate surface that is being measured). The pattern may include a diffraction grating and the like, which may be an array of bars or other periodic structures. The cross-section of the pattern printed on the substrate is known as the "profile" of the pattern. The profile is typically a repeating pattern such as, for example, an array of resist lines. The individual profile of each repeated portion of pattern is the individual profile of a "unit cell" of the pattern. For metrology purposes, an average is taken of a plurality of these unit cells (i.e., an average of a repeating pattern is taken) and the average of all of the individual profiles will be referred to herein as the "profile." What is commonly known as the profile of the pattern is hence a concatenation of a number of unit cells, which may contain local variations.
The profile is generally measured from the surface of the substrate and may include various product layers. Ideally, the pattern that is printed onto the substrate would have a predetermined shape and would be printed substantially identical each time it was printed on each layer (e.g., both in terms of the shape of the pattern and its relative position to the substrate). In practice, however, the shape, position and size of the pattern may deviate from the ideal shape on consecutive product layers because of the difficulty in creating accurate shapes at the small sizes of the patterns involved.
As mentioned above, it is possible to determine the actual shape of a pattern using cross-section scanning electron microscopes and the like. However, this involves a large amount of time, effort, and specialized apparatus and is less suited for measurements in a production environment because a separate specialized apparatus is required in line with normal apparatus in, for example, a lithographic cell.
Another way to determine the profile of a scatterometry pattern is to diffract a beam of radiation from the pattern and compare the diffraction pattern with model diffraction patterns that are stored in a library of diffraction patterns alongside the model profiles that create these model patterns.
U.S. Pub. Pat. Appl. No. 2003/0028358 to Niu et al. (hereinafter "Niu"), which is incorporate herein by reference in its entirety, describes a system in which an actual signal from a pattern is compared with a library of stored signals and the system finds a closest match of signals. The stored signals are each linked to a set of pattern profile parameters. A pattern profile parameter may, for instance, be the critical dimension (CD) or width of the pattern (which may vary with height), the height of the pattern or the angle of a side surface (or "sidewall") of the pattern. This sidewall angle may be measured either from the surface of the substrate or from a normal to the substrate surface. Niu also describes a method to find a closest match between the measured signal and a calculated signal of a model of the scatterometry pattern, where the shape of the model depends on the values of the profile parameters in the model. In other words, various possible sets of parameter values are tested to find a set that gives rise to a signal that is as close to the actual signal that has come from the scatterometry pattern as possible. This gives a series of iterations of a "model signal." This method is repeated iteratively until the model signal is as close as possible to the actual signal and then the model signal is stored alongside the parameters used.
In another document, U.S. Pub. Pat. Appl. No. 2004/0210402 to Opsal et al. (hereinafter "Opsal"), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, defines a system that aims to reduce the number of parameters required to build up the profile of a pattern from the scatterometry signals. In doing so, the system provides "control points" around the outside of the profile shape from which the profile shape may be built up. For example, a square-profiled pattern has a single control point to show its height from the substrate surface and two points to show a width. The points are then joined up in a "dot-to-dot" fashion to give a line profile.
The systems described above only find a single profile. Further, calculations provided by the systems are required to find a "profile space" (i.e., a combination of a generic profile description with a number of profile parameters) and the possible ranges of those parameters. This combination builds up a specific profile space as required. For example, a user may choose to describe a profile by a trapezoid with parameters of width, height, and sidewall angle. The user then defines ranges for these three parameters. More complex profiles are built in a similar fashion, for example, with more complex shapes or a series of trapezoids amalgamated together.
The system described above uses a library of model profiles in order to find the best match. Other systems either do not use libraries or are used in combination with libraries. An alternative system (also described above) is an iterative method, where the parameters are given a starting value and the diffraction pattern of these starting values is calculated and compared with the measured diffraction pattern. The values of the parameters are then iteratively changed to improve the match between the iteratively modeled and the measured diffraction pattern. This iterative method may be combined with the library method.
The methods and systems described above, however, cannot be used to its full potential if there are errors in the scatterometer (particularly, if the errors in the scatterometer vary from measurement to measurement). An error may occur in the scatterometer that is used to measure the profile of the pattern. An error may also occur at any time during the scatterometry process. An error may occur during the printing of the pattern on the substrate such that there is an error in the pattern. Alternatively (or additionally), the illumination system may contain an error such that radiation that is transmitted to the patterned area of the substrate may be incorrectly aligned or have a slight error in wavelength, intensity, etc. Yet alternatively, an error may occur in the sensing of the reflected radiation, either in the optical apparatus that directs reflected radiation to the sensor, or in the sensor itself. With respect to the sensor, an anomaly may occur with the sensor itself. Dust or scratches will affect the intensity of the illumination that is detected. The impact of these anomalies may vary as a function of the angle and/or wavelength of the radiated or the reflected beam.
A scatterometer that "uses" diffraction as its metrology tool will transmit a radiation beam onto the patterned target and measure, using a sensor, the beam that is diffracted. Changing the angle and/or wavelength at which the radiation beam impinges on the pattern will cause a change in the resultant diffraction pattern. The magnitude of the change in the diffraction pattern is dependent on the properties of the pattern on the substrate. One component of the variation in the diffraction pattern is known as an "asymmetry" because there can be a difference (in intensity) between the "+1" and the "−1" diffraction orders even though both orders are a result of diffraction of the same radiation beam from the same portion of the pattern. The same can be true for higher diffraction orders. The variation arises when there is an error somewhere in the scatterometry system. The type of asymmetry detected can give clues as to where in the scatterometry system an error exists.
A scatterometer must be able to take these sorts of inconsistencies into account if it is to measure correctly the profile of a pattern.
Currently, an inspection apparatus such as an angular-resolved scatterometer is calibrated using a simplified sensor model that does not take into account all of the causes of the error. The sensor model may be calibrated using measurements on known unpatterned targets (e.g., based on zeroth-order diffraction).
In critical dimension (CD) scatterometry, one of the important performance parameters is a tool-induced error. Tool-induced error factors include rotational asymmetries in the illumination system and in sensor information transmission. The zeroth-order residual correction does not work correctly, for example, in a case of a diffraction grating as a pattern on the substrate that has a higher diffraction order.

Calibration method, inspection method and apparatus, lithographic apparatus, and lithographic processing cell


A dispersive device has a beam expanding optical system which includes first and second prisms each having a pair of faces inclined relative to each other, and expands light containing a plurality of wavelength components by passing the light through each of the faces of the first and second prisms; and a dispersive element which emits the light expanded by the beam expanding optical system, at different diffraction angles by the respective wavelength components. A direction of variation of an output angle of the light emitted from the beam expanding optical system due to temperature change is configured to be a direction to suppress variation of the diffraction angles of the respective wavelength components emitted from the dispersive element due to the temperature change.

1. Field of the Invention
One aspect of the present invention relates to a dispersive device and a wavelength selective switch.
2. Related Background Art
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-163780 discloses a multi-wavelength dispersive device applied to a wavelength selective switch. This device has two diffraction gratings. The first diffraction grating has an identical diffraction efficiency for p-polarized light and s-polarized light on the short wavelength side of an operating wavelength range and the second diffraction grating has an identical diffraction efficiency for p-polarized light and s-polarized light on the long wavelength side of the operating wavelength range. This configuration is intended to increase the angular dispersion and cancel out the wavelength dependence of diffraction efficiency, thereby reducing the wavelength dependence of diffraction efficiency.
U.S. Pat. Published Application No. 2009/0154876 describes a wavelength dispersive device having temperature compensation means. This wavelength dispersive device further has a prism for temperature compensation, in addition to an ordinary dispersive optical system. The prism for temperature compensation is disposed on optical paths of respective wavelength components dispersed by a diffraction grating.

Dispersive device having beam expanding optical system and dispersive element and wavelength selective switch having dispersive device


A voice signal clipping circuit comprising, an amplifier which amplifies an input voice signal to a permissible level and a clipper which clips an amplitude component in excess of the permissible level from an output signal from the amplifier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a voice signal clipping circuit that clips excessive amplitude of an input voice signal, and a telephone set having the voice signal clipping circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, telephone exchanges such as a private branch exchange (PBX) and a key telephone system are used in many cases in office buildings and business offices. These kinds of telephone exchanges include telephone sets as extension terminals for example, and perform exchanges between the extension terminals and external communication networks like public networks and between the extension terminals to establish communications.
Some telephone sets have volume adjusting circuits to obtain proper reception volume. However, when the volume is increased, a noise component mixed in the voice signal is also amplified, which may make it difficult to catch voice.
To overcome this difficulty, a unit that clips excessive amplitude of the voice signal amplified by the volume adjusting circuit and reduces the amplitude set in the volume adjusting circuit in response to the clipping operation is proposed (refer to Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 5-183622).
Some telephone exchanges are connected with analog telephone sets, digital telephone sets, and IP telephone sets that are not provided with the volume adjusting circuit, in addition to the telephone sets having the volume adjusting circuit. When voice signals of a level larger than a rated input is input to large-scale integrated circuits (LSI) of these telephone sets that process the voice signal, the other communication parties receive a distorted voice. Therefore, it is strongly desired to take measures to prevent the distortion of a voice in the telephone set that do not have the volume adjusting circuit even if a voice signal larger than the rated input is input to the LSI.

Voice signal clipping circuit and telephone set therewith


An ink jet printer has an intermediate transfer drum that rotates past a print head and a downstream transfixing station. The surface of the drum is coated with a release agent. The print head ejects ink droplets onto the coated drum surface to form images thereon. The images are identified for either simplex prints or duplex prints. The transfixing station has separate simplex and duplex operating modes. A movable transfixing roll at the transfixing station is moved into and out of contact with the drum to form a periodic transfixing nip. The nip is formed with separate timing relationships with the approach of the leading and trailing edge of a transported recording medium and the approach of the image on the drum surface, depending upon whether a simplex or duplex print is to be transfixed by the nip.

An exemplary embodiment of this application relates to an ink jet printer having a transfixing station with multiple transfixing operating modes to enable printing of both simplex and duplex prints with increased overall printing speed. More particularly, the exemplary embodiment relates to an ink jet printer having a print head that ejects ink droplets onto a moving intermediate surface coated with a release agent to produce an ink image thereon and a transfixing station where the printed ink images are transferred onto a recording medium. The transfixing station includes a movable transfixing roll that is moved into and out of contact with the intermediate surface to form a transfixing nip using different timing modes for simplex and duplex prints.
Droplet-on-demand ink jet printing systems eject ink droplets from print head nozzles in response to pressure pulses generated within the print head by either piezoelectric devices or thermal transducers, such as resistors. The ejected ink droplets are propelled to specific locations on a recording medium, commonly referred to as pixels, where each ink droplet forms a spot on the recording medium. The print heads have droplet ejecting nozzles and a plurality of ink containing channels, usually one channel for each nozzle, which interconnect an ink reservoir in the print head with the nozzles.
In a typical piezoelectric ink jet printing system, the pressure pulses that eject liquid ink droplets are produced by applying an electric pulse to the piezoelectric devices, one of which is typically located within each one of the ink channels. Each piezoelectric device is individually addressable to cause it to bend or deform and pressurize the volume of liquid ink in contact therewith. As a voltage pulse is applied to a selected piezoelectric device, a quantity of ink is displaced from the ink channel and a droplet of ink is mechanically ejected from the nozzle associated with each piezoelectric device. Just as in thermal ink jet printing, the ejected droplets are propelled to pixel targets on a recording medium to form image information thereon. The respective channels from which the ink droplets were ejected are refilled by capillary action from an ink supply. For an example of a piezoelectric ink jet printer, refer to U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,398.
The problem of ink drying time and paper cockling are widely recognized issues when printing high coverage areas with aqueous based inks, particularly when printing color images. The problem of drying time and paper cockling is substantially reduced when solid ink printers are used and their print heads eject droplets of melted ink onto the recording medium, where the melted ink droplets solidify immediately. Further improvement in the drying time and cockling problem is obtained when the print head ejects droplets of melted ink onto an intermediate surface, such as, for example, a drum, that has a release agent coating thereon. Once the image is formed on the intermediate surface, the image is then transferred to a recording medium, such as paper. The transfer is generally conducted in a nip formed by the rotating intermediate transfer drum surface and a rotatable pressure roll. The pressure roll may be heated or the recording medium may be pre-heated prior to entry in the transfixing nip. As a sheet of paper is transported through the nip, the fully formed image is transferred from the intermediate transfer drum surface to the sheet of paper and concurrently fixed thereon. This transfer technique of using the combination of heat and pressure at a nip to transfer and fix the image to a recording medium passing through the nip is usually referred to as "transfixing," a well known technology.
Ink jet printers are capable of producing either simplex or duplex prints. By simplex prints, it is meant that the image is on only one side of the recording medium. By contrast, duplex prints have an image on both sides of the recording medium; i.e., the front side and back side of the recording medium. A problem arises, if excessive release oil is present on the transfixing roll, when duplex prints are to be produced. When the first side of a recording medium has an image transfixed to it by the transfixing roll from the intermediate transfer drum, the second or back side of the recording medium may have some oil transferred to it. To complete the duplex print, it is inverted and returned through the transfixing nip to transfix the second image on the back side of the recording medium. Release oil on the side of the recording medium that is to have an image transferred to it would cause reduced transfer efficiency. Therefore, it is one aim of this application to prevent or reduce the application of release oil onto the second side of duplex prints by the transfixing roll at the transfixing station.
Some release agent, such as, for example, silicon oil, is applied to the transfixing pressure roll, as well as the surface of the intermediate transfer drum, because zero oil on the transfixing pressure roll also causes problems. However, only a small amount of release oil is applied to the pressure roll to make sure that a very small oil level is present. Permitting some excess release oil on the transfixing pressure roll to be transferred onto the backside of a simplex print is not a problem, but to do so for a duplex print would cause a duplex transfer latitude problem.
Some conventional solid ink jet printers utilize a process timing that does not allow the transfixing roll to become excessively oiled, but such process timing limits printing speed and thus impacts printer productivity. In one known solid ink jet printer, the transfixing roll is spaced from the intermediate transfer drum and is moved to produce a nip with the intermediate transfer drum only after the intermediate transfer drum is stopped with the top of the image thereon registered at the nip location. Before the nip is formed, the leading edge of a recording medium is transported into the transfixing nip region. Therefore, the transfixing roll engages the leading edge of the recording medium and sandwiches it between the transfixing roll and the intermediate transfer drum, so that the transfixing roll does not engage or contact the oil coated intermediate transfer drum surface when a transfixing nip is formed. Once the nip is formed, the transfixing roll and intermediate transfer drum are rotated to transport the recording medium through the transfixing nip and concomitantly transfixing the image to it. Conversely, the transfixing roll is disengaged from the trailing edge of the recording medium before the recording medium leaves the transfixing nip. Because of this process timing, the transfixing roll never contacts the release oil coated intermediate transfer drum surface, and hence is kept sufficiently dry of oil. Such a timing process sequence is sometimes referred to as a 'stop edge' process. Clearly, stop edge timing for the transfixing roll impacts printer productivity.
To increase the printing speed of the ink jet printer and therefore the printer's productivity, there is a need for faster transfixing of simplex prints, while concurrently preventing excessive release oil from getting on the transfixing roll from the intermediate transfer drum during the transfixing of duplex prints. The prior art has not done this in a cost effective manner. Examples of ink jet printers having an intermediate transfer drum from which printed images are transferred to a recording medium at a transfixing station are disclosed below.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,256 discloses a thermal ink jet printer having a translatable multicolor print head and a rotatable intermediate transfer drum with a film forming silicone polymer layer on the outer surface thereof. The drum surface is heated to dehydrate the aqueous based ink droplets deposited thereon from the print head at a first location. The drum is rotated and the dehydrated droplets are transferred from the drum to a recording medium at a transfer station positioned adjacent the drum at a second location.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/040,040, filed Jan. 21, 2005, discloses an ink jet printer having a print head that moves in a two dimensional direction across the surface of a moving intermediate transfer drum or belt. During the printing process, the print head is concurrently moved in a first direction at a velocity equal to the velocity and direction of the intermediate surface and in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. This two dimensional movement of the print head causes the ink droplets to print swaths of information across the intermediate surface that are perpendicular to the first direction. Downstream from the print head, the printed information is transferred and fixed to a recording medium as it is transported through the transfixing nip at the transfixing station.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/974,768, filed Oct. 28, 2004, discloses an ink jet printer having a print head, intermediate transfer drum, and transfixing station. Test images are formed on the interdocument space or blank portions of the intermediate transfer drum by those nozzles of the print head that are most likely to be defective. Thus, the time and ink required to form the test images with nozzles unlikely to be defective is not wasted. The test images printed by the potentially defective nozzles are tested using an image sensor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,958 discloses a method and apparatus for transferring an ink image from an intermediate surface to a final receiving substrate. A layer of sacrificial liquid is applied to the intermediate surface and a phase change ink is deposited on the liquid layer. The ink image is then contact transferred to a final receiving substrate.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,675 discloses an apparatus and method for image fusing in an ink jet printing system. The ink image is transferred to a final receiving substrate by passing the substrate through a transfer nip. The substrate and ink image are then passed through a fusing nip that fuses the ink image into the final receiving substrate. Utilizing separate image transfer and image fusing operations allows improved image fusing and faster print speeds.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,570 discloses a method for transfer and fusing in an ink jet printer. In the method, an ink image is formed on an intermediate transfer surface, a final receiving substrate is passed through a first nip, a first pressure is exerted on the final receiving substrate in the first nip to transfer the ink image from the intermediate transfer surface to the final receiving substrate, the final receiving substrate is then passed through a second nip where a second pressure and temperature is exerted on the final receiving substrate to fuse the ink image into the final receiving substrate.

Ink jet printer having multiple transfixing modes


A data signal line drive circuit supplying a video signal to a pixel array performs pseudo tone gradation processing with respect to the video signal that is sent to an n number of data signal lines SL by m (<n) stages of a pseudo tone gradation processing section, and outputs the video signal processed by the pseudo tone gradation processing section identical to the data signal lines SL per m lines when sends the video signals subjected to the pseudo tone gradation processing to the data signal lines SL. By doing this, the drive circuit using the pseudo tone gradation processing is given a simple circuit structure, thereby providing an image display apparatus of a driving circuit integrated type in which the pixel array and the drive circuit are formed on a substrate.

As a conventional image display apparatus, a liquid crystal display apparatus of an active matrix driving method is known. This liquid crystal display apparatus is, as shown in FIG. 23, provided with a pixel array (ARY) 101, a scanning signal line drive circuit (GD) 102, a data signal line drive circuit (SD) 103, a timing signal generating circuit (CTL) 104, and a video signal processing circuit (SIG) 105.
The pixel array 101 is provided with a large number of scanning signal lines GL and a large number of data signal lines SL that are crossed with each other, and each intersection of each scanning signal line GL and each data signal line SL is accordingly provided for a pixel (PIX) 106. Namely, each area surrounded with the adjacent two scanning signal lines GL and the adjacent two data signal lines SL is provided with each pixel 106, and the pixels 106 that are arranged in a matrix manner compose a display screen.
The scanning signal line drive circuit 102, synchronizing to a timing signal such as a clock signal GCK inputted from the timing signal generating circuit 104, sequentially selects the scanning signal lines GL and controls opening and closing of a switching element in the pixels 106. By doing this, the scanning signal line drive circuit 102 writes into each pixel 106, video signals (data) that are written into each data signal line SL, and keeps the data that are written into each pixel 106.
The data signal line drive circuit 103, synchronizing to a timing signal such as a clock signal SCK inputted from the timing signal generating circuit 104, samples a video signal DAT inputted from the video signal processing circuit 105, and amplifies the video signal DAT, if necessary, and writes the video signal DAT into each data signal line SL.
As shown in FIG. 24, each pixel 106 in FIG. 23 is composed of a field-effect transistor SW, which is a switching element, and a pixel capacitor (which includes a liquid crystal capacitor CL, and a supplemental capacitor CST, that is added if necessary). In FIG. 24, one electrode of the pixel capacitor is connected to the data signal line SL via a drain and a source of the transistor SW. A gate of the transistor SW is connected to the scanning signal line GL. The other electrode of the pixel capacitor is connected to a common electrode line that is common to all pixels. Then voltage that is applied to each liquid crystal capacitor CL modulates transmittance or reflectance of the liquid crystal, and display is performed by using the modulated transmittance or reflectance.
In addition, a technology has been recently developed to integrate the pixel array 101 and the drive circuits 102 and 103 on the same substrate, for achieving a liquid crystal display apparatus of a smaller size and higher resolution and a lower mounting cost.
In the liquid crystal display apparatus of the drive circuit integrated type like this, when realizing a liquid crystal display apparatus of a transparent type, which is now widely used, its substrate needs to be a quartz substrate or a glass substrate, which is a transparent substrate. Further, in case the circuit is formed on the quartz substrate or the glass substrate, a polycrystalline silicone thin film transistor, which can be manufactured at a manufacturing temperature of no more than 600° C., is used as an active element, in view of heat resistance of the substrate.
FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of the liquid crystal display apparatus of the drive circuit integrated type. In the liquid crystal display apparatus, the pixel array 101, the scanning signal line drive circuit 102, and the data signal line drive circuit 103 are formed on a substrate (SUB) 107. In addition, provided on the substrate 107 is a precharge circuit (PC) 108, which is provided if the data signal line drive circuit 103, which is composed of the polycrystalline silicone thin film transistor, has low driving ability and its writing of data into the data signal lines SL thus needs assistance.
Next, driving methods of the data signal lines are explained. Analog driving methods include an analog point-by-point driving method and an analog line-by-line driving method, whereas digital driving methods include a selector type driving method, an R-DAC type driving method, and a C-DAC type driving method.
Among these driving methods, the analog line-by-line driving method, the selector type driving method, the R-DAC type driving method, and the C-DAC type driving method have following difficulties, when applied to the liquid crystal display apparatus of the drive circuit integrated type; it is difficult to locate on the substrate due to their strict design rules, it is difficult to respond to multiple tone gradation display, or they cause degradation of their display qualities.
In other words, in the liquid crystal display apparatus of the drive circuit integrated type, the polycrystalline silicone thin film is used for a semiconductor layer in the circuit as described above, but occupies a larger location area on the substrate in comparison to a mono-crystalline silicone.
Furthermore, more specifically, in the analog line-by-line driving method, an amplifier of high precision is required for amplifying the inputted video signals, but it is difficult to form the amplifier of high precision in a small area by using a polycrystalline silicone as a material of the semiconductor.
Besides, in the R-DAC type driving method and the C-DAC type driving method, reference voltage for displaying multiple tone gradations is generated by voltage dividing by dividing resistance or capacity. However, when an element of the resistance or the capacity, which is used as these voltage dividing means, is made of the polycrystalline silicone thin film, it is difficult to form the element in a small area. In addition, since the resistance or the capacity made of the polycrystalline silicone thin film has large property unevenness, it is impossible to achieve voltage dividing ratio as designed, thus degrading the display quality. Note that, when the elements using the polycrystalline silicone as the material of the semiconductor compose the drive circuit, the drive circuit needs to be composed of only logic elements, to prevent degradation of the display quality due to the property unevenness among the elements.
Moreover, in the selector type driving method, the reference voltage inputted from outside is supplied to the data signal lines SL via a selector circuit, corresponding to the video signals, and its circuit includes only a logic circuit and a transfer switch. Therefore, the selector type driving method has the simplest circuit structure among the digital driving methods. On the other hand, since a reference voltage source is required outside to supply an enough reference voltage to respond to the display tone gradations, it is only possible in practical use to obtain eight through sixteen tone gradations. This becomes a significant disadvantage in case a large number of tone gradations are displayed.
Because of the above reasons, for performing display having a further more number of tone gradations, on the liquid crystal display apparatus of the drive circuit integrated type, the analog line-by-line driving method, the selector type driving method, the R-DAC type driving method, or the C-DAC type driving method are not employed, but the analog point-by-point driving method is most generally used.
Here, the data signal line drive circuit in the analog point-by-point driving method is explained. In the data signal line drive circuit of the analog point-by-point driving method, as shown in FIG. 26, the inputted video signals DAT are written into the data signal lines SL, by opening and closing sampling circuits AS synchronously to an output pulse of each stage of flipflops (FFs) that constitutes a shift register.
More specifically, because the data signal line drive circuit of the analog point-by-point driving method only carries out transfer of the video signal DAT inputted from the outside to the data signal lines, its circuit structure is very simple so that the data signal line drive circuit of this kind can be used in the liquid crystal display apparatus of the drive circuit integrated type, while displaying multiple tone gradations without degrading the display quality.
In the data signal line drive circuit of the analog point-by-point driving method, however, an analog video signal output circuit with high driving ability is externally, thereby causing problems of increasing its electric power consumption as a system and significantly increasing its cost.
Furthermore, the drive circuit of the above described analog point-by-point driving method is provided with no digital interface. For this reason, even the liquid crystal display apparatus driven with an input of a digital signal requires a D/A (digital/analog) converting circuit externally to a display panel, in which the pixel array and the drive circuit are formed on the same substrate, thus further increasing the cost.
Here, as a driving method that includes the digital interface with low electric power consumption and an ability of displaying the multiple tone gradations in high display quality even when the polycrystalline silicone is used as the material of the semiconductor, there is a driving method using pseudo tone gradation processing.
Here an example of an arrangement of the conventional drive circuit using the pseudo tone gradation processing is illustrated in FIG. 27. In the data signal line drive circuit using the pseudo tone gradation processing, as shown in FIG. 27, the inputted digital video signals DAT are latched into a latch LAT, synchronizing to the output pulse of each stage of flipflops (FFs) that constitutes a shift register. The latched video signals are decoded by a decoder circuit DEC and the decoded video signals are subjected to the pseudo tone gradation processing in a line-by-line manner.
Here, the pseudo tone gradation processing in the arrangement of FIG. 27 is briefly explained as follows. The present pseudo tone gradation processing, by rounding off a less significant bit after a fixed noise pattern is superimposed on an image data, enables a low-bit drive circuit to display an image having more bits in a pseudo manner. The present pseudo tone gradation processing is one of the simplest arrangement among the pseudo tone gradation processing. In an image display apparatus of high definition, since the method to increase a number of tone gradations in the pseudo manner does not significantly degrade the image quality, its effect causes no problem in many cases.
In the arrangement of FIG. 27, the inputted video signals DAT and the fixed noise pattern memorized in a memory ROM are added together by an ADDER for each video signal to be respectively outputted to each data signal line, then subjected to an exception processing in case such as an overflow by an exception processing circuit OFP, and its less significant bit is rounded off by a quantization circuit QNT. According to the video signals subjected to the pseudo tone gradation processing like this, one of the reference voltages VREF corresponding to the video signals is selectively supplied to the data signal line SL by a selector circuit SEL.
As described above, the drive circuit using the pseudo tone gradation processing is provided with the digital interface, and can display multiple tone gradations in high display quality even when the polycrystalline silicone is used as the material of the semiconductor, and consumes a relatively small amount of electric power.
Nonetheless, since arrangements relating to the pseudo tone gradation processing, which are the adder ADDER, the exception processing circuit OFP, and the quantization circuit QNT, are provided to each data signal line. Therefore, the display apparatus of the drive circuit integrated type in which the pixel array and the drive circuit are formed on the same substrate should have a drive circuit having a very complicated arrangement. For this reason, when the drive circuit is composed of the element using the polycrystalline silicone as the material of the semiconductor, the drive circuit becomes too large, which causes problems such that manufacture of the drive circuit is practically difficult.

Image display panel, image display apparatus and image display method


2-Thiazolyl tetrazolium salt compounds characterized by a reflectance spectrum exhibiting an extended plateau above about 600-650 nm. Such compounds are useful as chromogenic indicators for reducing substances such as NADH. The reflectance plateau confers improved accuracy to analytical assays, particularly for the determination of analytes of medical diagnostic significance, in which a colorimetric response on a reagent carrier matrix is measured by reflectance.

The present invention relates to chromogenic tetrazolium salt indicator compounds useful in the determination of reducing substances, particularly nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH).
Tetrazolium salts are well known as chromogenic indicators responsive to reducing substances. Upon reduction, tetrazolium salts are converted into formazan dye products. These indicators have found use in a wide variety of fields, particularly the medical diagnostic field where they have been applied to, among others, cell staining and the determination of analytes in body fluids such as urine, milk, serum, and plasma. Commonly, the determination of body fluid analytes involves an AND-dependent enzymatic reaction in which NADH is formed as a function of the amount of analyte present in the sample tested. The amount of NADH generated can then be determined by the reductive conversion of an appropriate tetrazolium salt indicator to its formazan dye product.
Within the field of medical diagnostic tests, tetrazolium salt indicators are useful in a variety of different product types. One particular type is the reagent strip. This product is a solid state device comprising a paper or other porous carrier matrix which is impregnated or otherwise incorporated with chemical reagents responsive to a particular analyte, for example, glucose or cholesterol. The incorporated reagent system includes a chromogenic indicator which develops color, or changes color, as a function of the amount of analyte in a sample applied to the matrix. The resulting colorimetric response can be observed visually to give qualitative or semi-quantitative readings. Quantitative results can be obtained by reading the reflectance of the matrix surface at one or more defined wavelengths with an appropriate instrument (reflectance meter).
There is a recognized need to develop tetrazolium indicators having strong absorbance at wavelengths longer than the absorbances of major interferants that can be present in the test sample. For instance, interference from hemoglobin coloration is a particular concern where the sample is whole blood. Indicators having significant absorption above about 640 nm are required in order to substantially overcome hemoglobin interference. The commonly used tetrazolium salt indicators are 2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyltetrazolium chloride (INT), 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium chloride (MTT), and 2,2',5,5'-tetraphenyl-3,3'-(3,3'-dimethoxy-4,4-diphenylene) ditetrazolium chloride (NBT). These compounds show maximum absorption (UVmax) in the range of 465-605 nm.
Another shortcoming of the conventionally used prior art tetrazolium salt indicators relates to the evolution of the instrumentation used to measure their colorimetric response. Rapid advancements are being made in developing smaller, less expensive reflectance meters. One of the more costly components of such meters is the optical system which comprises a light source, a filter or other spectral element for selecting or limiting the wavelength of incident or reflect light, and a sensor. Significant cost savings could be realized by eliminating or combining functions of the optical system elements or by using less expensive components, e.g., LEDs as illuminating light sources. However, commercially available LEDs emit light having a center wavelength that can vary significantly due to manufacturing variances and temperature dependence. The conventionally used tetrazolium salt indicators INT, MTT, and NBT have reflectance spectra which are strongly sloped in the region above their UVmax. Accordingly, without individually calibrating both each instrument, to account for manufacturing variability in the LED, and each test run, to account for variance due to temperature, large errors can be introduced to the assay result.
The following are representative of the prior art teachings concerning the use of various tetrazolium salts in colorimetric analysis. Tanaka et al, Japanese Kokai Tokkyo Koho JP 61000084 (Chem. Abst. 104:203469y) describes the detection of glucose using a formazan chelate obtained by the reduction of 2-(2-benzothiazolyl)-3-(carboxy-phenyl)-5-phenyl-2H-tetrazolium halide in the presence of nickel (II). Limbach et al, German DE 3,247,894 (Chem. Abst. 101:125929v) relates to the use of INT in glucose assays. Rittersdorf et al, German DE 2,147,466 describes the use of seven 2-(2-benzothiazolyl)-3-phenyl-5-(4-[trimethylammonio]phenyl) tetrazolium salts in the determination of reducing substances such as reducing sugars, ascorbic acid, and ketosteroids.
The variety of 2-thiazolyl tetrazolium salts and/or their corresponding formazans known in the literature are represented by the following. Serebryakova et al, Khim. Geterotsikl. Soedin. 10:1403-1405 (1970) describe the synthesis and chromatic properties of benzothiazolyl-3-phenyl (methyl)-5-p-nitro(dimethylamino)phenylformazans. The authors state that both an electron-withdrawing nitro group at the para-position of the 5-phenyl and a benzothiazolyl group at the 1-position provides a bathochromic shift. Lipunova et al, Khim. Geterotsikl. Soedin. (1971) 831-835 compare the bathochromic effect of an 5-naphthyl or o-tolyl group on the visible spectrum of N-1-benzothiazolyl formazans. Johne et al, Pharmazie 34:790-794 (1979) describe the compounds 1-(4-methyl-5-carb-ethoxythiazol-2-yl-3-(3-pyridyl)-5-(2-carboxyphenylform azan and 1-(4-methyl-5-carbethoxythiazol-2-yl-3-(2-pyridyl)-5-(2-carboxyphenyl) formazan.

Substituted 2-thiazolyl tetrazolium salt indicators


A physical layer module includes a mapping module and a plurality of gain modules. The mapping module maps a plurality of coded data streams to a plurality of transmit antennas, in which each transmit antenna is associated with a respective radio frequency channel of a plurality of radio frequency channels. Each gain module is associated with a respective radio frequency channel of the plurality of radio frequency channels, and is configured to apply a complex gain to the coded data stream mapped to the respective radio frequency channel associated with the gain module. The complex gain applied by the gain module differs relative to that applied by other gain modules, and corresponds to the transmit antenna associated with the respective radio frequency channel.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a wireless communication system 10 is shown. The system 10 includes a source module 12 that provides digital data to an interface 14. The digital data can represent assorted types of information, such as audio, video, computer data and/or programs. The interface 14 buffers and/or streams the digital data to a media access controller (MAC) 16. The MAC 16 formats the digital data into a data stream. In some embodiments, the MAC 16 can also be configured to encode the data stream with a forward error correcting (FEC) code. The MAC 16 communicates the coded data stream to a physical layer (PHY) 18. The PHY 18 includes a plurality of transmit antennas 20-1, 20-2, . . . , 20-T, referred to collectively as transmit antennas 20. The PHY 18 modulates the coded data stream onto a plurality of OFDM subchannels that are transmitted by the transmit antennas 20.
The transmitted OFDM subchannels propagate through a communication channel 22. The communication channel provides a plurality of paths, which are represented by arrows, between the transmit antennas 20 and receive antennas 24-1, 24-2, . . . , 24-R, referred to collectively as receive antennas 24. A signal propagation of each path can vary from the others in regard to attenuation, noise, multi-path fading, and other factors. These factors adversely affect a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the subchannels as they are received at the receive antennas 24. The FEC facilitates decoding the received signal in the event that one or more paths reduce the SNR of one or more subchannels to the extent that they can no longer be successfully demodulated.
The receive antennas 24 communicate the received subchannels to a receive PHY 26. The receive PHY 26 demodulates the received subchannels into receive coded data stream and communicates it to a receive MAC 28. The receive MAC 28 extracts the digital data from the coded data stream and communicates it to a receive interface 30. The receive interface 30 buffers and streams the digital data to a destination module 32.
In some embodiments, the receive PHY 26 can use the spatial and/or SNR diversity of the receive antennas 24 and the communication paths, respectively, to compensate for, and/or minimize the effects of, the adverse factors in the communication channel 22. The PHY 18 can mitigate the adverse effect of multi-path fading by prepending a cyclic prefix to the data packet portion in each subchannel. The PHY 18 can also introduce diversity to the transmitted signals by adding a unique and constant cyclic delay to each subchannel.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a transmit PHY 50 is shown that uses such cyclic delay diversity (CDD). The PHY 50 receives a plurality of coded data streams 52-1, 52-2, . . . , 52-NS, referred to collectively as coded data streams 52.
Each of the coded data streams 52 is communicated to an input of a corresponding serial-to-parallel converter (S2P) module 54-1, 54-2, . . . , 54-NS, referred to collectively as S2P modules 54. Outputs of each S2P module 54 communicate with corresponding inputs of a mapping module 56. The mapping module 56 has a plurality of mapping module outputs 58-1, 58-2, . . . , 58-NT, referred to collectively as mapping module outputs 58. Each mapping module output 58 communicates with an input of a corresponding RF channel 60-1, 60-2, . . . , 60-NT, referred to collectively as RF channels 60.
The mapping module 56 maps the coded data streams to the mapping module outputs 58 according to a mapping matrix W[k], such as a Walsh or Fourier matrix. The variable k represents a subcarrier index of one RF channel 60 and k=0, 1, . . . , N−1, where N represents a total number of OFDM subcarriers. The mapping matrix W[k] can be chosen as
      W              [      k      ]        =                    1                              N            T                                            [                  11                                                              …                                                              1                ]              T  when only one coded data stream 52 is being used. When a plurality of coded data streams 52 are being used, i.e., NS≧2 where NS represents the number of coded data streams 52, the mapping matrix W[k] can be chosen as the first NS columns of a unitary matrix of dimension NT×NT, such as a Hardamard matrix or a Fourier matrix, where NT represents the number of RF channels 60 being used.
Each mapping module output 58 communicates with an input of a corresponding inverse fast-fourier transform (IFFT) module 62-1, 62-1, . . . , 62-NT, referred to collectively as IFFT modules 62. The IFFT modules 62 transform the coded data streams from the frequency domain to the time domain. Each IFFT module 62 communicates its coded data stream to an input of a corresponding parallel-to-serial (P2S) converter 64-1, 64-1, . . . , 64-NT, referred to collectively as P2S converters 64. With the exception of the first RF channel 60-1, outputs of the P2S converters 64 communicate the coded data streams to the inputs of corresponding cyclic delay modules 66-2, . . . , 66-NT. Each cyclic delay module 66 adds the respective unique and constant cyclic delay to the corresponding coded data stream. The cyclic delays simulate spatial diversity between the transmit antennas by staggering modulation of the transformed data streams. The first RF channel 60-1 does not include a cyclic delay module 66 and effectively has a cyclic delay equal to zero.
Each of the cyclic delay modules 66-2, . . . , 66-NT communicates the corresponding coded data stream to a corresponding input of a cyclic prefix module 68-2, . . . , 68-NT. In the case of RF channel 60-1, the output of P2S converter 64-1 communicates the coded data stream to an input of a cyclic prefix module 68-1. The cyclic prefix modules 68-1, 68-2, . . . , 68-NT are referred to collectively as cyclic prefix modules 68. The cyclic prefix modules 68 prepend a cyclic prefix, which includes the last samples of the output of the corresponding IFFT module 62, to each corresponding coded data stream. A duration of the cyclic prefix is preferably greater than a predetermined difference in multi-path propagation arrival times at the receiver.
An output 70-1, 70-2, . . . , 70-NT of each of the cyclic prefix modules 68 communicates its coded data stream to respective D2A modules. An RF transmitter portion (not shown) of the PHY 50 then wirelessly transmits the coded data streams to the receiver. The transmit signals at the outputs 70 are respectively identified by the algebraic symbols x1, x2, . . . , xNt.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram of a transmit PHY 100 is shown. The PHY 100 uses a permuted space-frequency coding (PSFC) technique to achieve transmit diversity. The PHY 100 is similar to the PHY 50 with the exception of the mapping matrix W[k] and omission of the cyclic delay modules 66. With the cyclic delay modules 66 omitted, the outputs of the P2S converters 64 communicate directly with the inputs of corresponding cyclic prefix modules 68.
The PSFC technique chooses the mapping W[k] matrix as follows. Let Im be an identity matrix of dimension m×m and Im(k) be a matrix that is formed by circularly rotating the columns of Im to the left by k mod m. By way of non-limiting example, for m=3,
            I      3              (        0        )              =          [                                    1                                0                                0                                                0                                1                                0                                                0                                0                                1                              ]        ,            I      3              (        1        )              =          [                                    0                                0                                1                                                1                                0                                0                                                0                                1                                0                              ]        ,            I      3              (        2        )              =          [                                    0                                1                                0                                                0                                0                                1                                                1                                0                                0                              ]        ,            I      3              (        3        )              =          [                                    1                                0                                0                                                0                                1                                0                                                0                                0                                1                              ]        ,      etc    .  such thatI3(0)=I3(3)=I3(6)= . . . andI3(1)=I3(4)=I3(7)= . . . andI3(2)=I3(5)=I3(8)= . . . .
The mapping matrix W[k] is formed by taking the first NS columns of
            1                        N          S                                I              N        T                    (                  ⌊                      k            B                    ⌋                )              ,where B is a predetermined parameter selected to control the frequency selectivity of the corresponding RF channel 60.
It remains desirable in the art to provide alternative methods for providing transmit diversity such that OFDM receivers can minimize the effects the adverse factors have in the SNR of the received signals.

Transmit diversity technique based on channel randomization for OFDM systems


A class of glycyl urea derivatives is described having use in treatment of CNS dysfunctions such as epilepsy and convulsive disorders. Compounds of interest are those of the formula ##STR1## wherein each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is a group independently selected from hydrido, alkyl, aralkyl, aryloxyalkyl and arylthioalkyl, any one of which groups having a substitutable position may be substituted with one or more radicals selected from halo, alkyl of one to about ten carbon atoms, alkenyl of two to about ten carbon atoms, alkynyl of two to about ten carbon atoms, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, alkylsulfinyl and alkylsulfonyl; or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof; with the proviso that when each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is ethyl, then R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 cannot be hydrido simultaneously.

Convulsive disturbances are typically observed in humans as rapidly alternating contractions and relaxations of muscles which are manifested by irregular movements of the limbs or body and typically accompanied by unconsciousness. The most common cause of convulsions in human adults is epilepsy. Convulsive seizures occur in children from a variety of causes. Convulsions in children may be due to brain damage from birth injuries, or due to dietary deficiencies such as a lack of vitamin D, or due to metabolic disorders such as hypoglycemia or hypokalemia, or due to a sudden body temperature elevation caused by infections such as pneumonia. Convulsions may also be initiated by brain diseases such as meningitis, encephalitis or tumors, and also by conditions brought on by asphyxia or skull fracture.
Certain 1,4-disubstituted piperazines, namely, arylpiperazine-1-oxo-ethylurea have been evaluated for anti-convulsant activity against pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsions, one such compound being 1-[2-(4-phenylpiperazino)-1-oxoethyl]urea [M. Verderame, J. Med. Chem., 9(1), 153-154 (1966)] and another such compound being 1-{2-[4-(p-chlorophenyl)piperazino]-1-oxoethyl}urea [M. Verderame, J. Med. Chem., 11(5), 1090 (1968)]. Other types of substituted carbamides, namely, 1-substituted acetyl-3-aryl carbamides have been evaluated for anti-convulsant activity against pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures, including such compounds as 1-(N-acetylpyrrolidino)-3-aryl carbamides, 1-(N-acetylpiperidino)-3-aryl carbamides and 1-(N-acetylmorpholino)-3-aryl carbamides [S. S. Parmar et al, J. Pharm. Sci., 61(9), 1366-1369 (1972)]. Certain 1-(substituted 2-aminoacetyl benzothiazolyl)-3-arylurea compounds have been evaluated for anticonvulsant properties and for effects of the compounds on pentobarbitone-induced hypnosis in mice, an example of one such compound being 1-(2-aminoacetyl benzothiazolyl)-3-(3-methylphenyl)urea [S. Nagar et al., Indian J. Pharm., 34(2), 45- 47 (1972)]. Other arylpiperazine-1-oxo-ethylurea compounds have been shown both to depress and to stimulate central nervous system activity [V. K. Agarwal et al., J. Prakt. Chem., 312(5), 964-966 (1970)]. Certain 1-indanylurea and 2-indanylurea derivatives have been evaluated for analgesic activity, examples of such compounds being 1-(1-indanyl)-3-(2-dimethylamino-1-oxoethyl)urea [T. Takahashi et al., Japanese Appl. No. 4583 of 29 Oct. 62] and 1-(2-indanyl)-3-(2-dimethylamino-1-oxoethyl)urea [T. Takahashi et al., Yakugaku Zasshi, 86(10), 958-960 (1966)].
Acetamide derivatives have been investigated for various CNS uses. For example, Belgian Patent No. 706,262 describes a class of tricyclic compounds, namely, diphenylenemethane amine and amide derivatives, mentioned for use as anti-convulsants, as well as for anti-depressive, anti-inflammatory and analgesic uses. U.S. Pat. No. 3,821,249 describes another series of tricyclic-type dibenzothiazepin derivatives asserted to possess psychostimulant, anti-depressive, analgesic, anti-tussive, anti-histaminic and gastric anti-secretory properties. U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,468 describes a class of 2-amino-acetamide derivatives, having use in treatment of epilepsy, dyskinesia such as Parkinsonism, memory troubles and psychic disorders such as depression, with mention in particular of the compound diphenylpropylacetamide.
Various urea or acetamide derivative compounds have been investigated for other pharmaceutical uses. Certain glycylurea derivatives, namely, 1-alkyl-3-dialkylglycyl urea compounds, have been evaluated for antibacterial, anti-inflammatory diuretic shistosomiasis and trichomonicidal properties [P. Truitt et al., J. Med. Chem., 13(3), 574 (1970)]. For example, U.K. Patent No. 1,181,673 describes a series of tricyclic xanthen and thiaxanthen urea derivatives having utility in treatment of peptic ulceration. Carcinogenicity studies have been carried out involving a family of N-(9-acridinyl)glycylglycylglycine compounds [R. M. Peck et al, J. Med. Chem., 19 (12), 1422-1423 (1976)]. A family of acridinylglycine derivatives has been reported to have tumor-inhibiting properties [B. Wysocka-Skrzela, Pol. J. Chem., 56 (10-12), 1573-1576 (1982)]. Belgian Patent No. 636,245 describes a family of 2-(.omega.-alkoxycarbonylalkylideneamino)acetamides having pharmaceutical properties.
Diphenylmethylaminoacetic acid derivatives have been described as intermediates or end products of various laboratory-scale synthetic methods, without mention of pharmaceutical utility: For example, a series of N-benzhydrylaminoacetic acid compounds have been synthesized as intermediates for preparation of N-benzhydrylaminoacetic acid esters or derivatives, two such intermediates being 2-(diphenylmethylamino)acetamide and 2-[di-(para-methoxyphenyl)methylamino]acetamide [A. G. de Vazquez et al, Anales Asoc. Quim. Argentina, 60, 501-507 (1972)]. The compound .alpha.-diphenylmethylaminoacetamide was incidentally sythesized as a by-product in a multi-step preparation of a series of 3-oxo-1,2-diazetidinium ylides [E. C. Taylor et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 103, 7743-7752 (1981)].
Other types of urea and acetamide derivatives, such as glycinamide compounds, have been described for various purposes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,203,506 describes certain ureidoalkylpyridinium and pyridinium acetyl urea compounds for use as textile treatment materials and shows, in particular, the compound diethylaminoacetyl urea as an intermediate in preparation of these pyridinium compounds. German Patent No. 2,511,311 describes a family of glycinamides for use as fungicides.

Glycyl urea derivatives as anti-convulsants


For use in a data storage system, a method of dynamically controlling accesses to and from the storage device array. The method includes monitoring the type and frequency of IO requests to the devices to determine the duty cycle and monitoring at least one parameter related to power usage, receiving or having at least one IO request pending when the data storage system completes the IO and returns to the Idle state, determining when the power usage by the array is greater than the first predetermined level, returning to the idle state when the power usage of the array is greater than the first predetermined level, determining when the duty cycle or the power usage by the array is greater than the second predetermined level when the power usage by the array is equal to or less than the first predetermined level, presenting and alert signal, setting a delay factor when the delay is not set, and determining whether an inter-IO delay has expired when the duty cycle or power usage by the array is greater than the second predetermined level, returning to the idle state when the inter-IO delay has not expired, and performing a respective IO operation in response to the Io request and returning to the idle state when the inter-IO delay has expired, and when the duty cycle or the power usage by the array is equal to or less than the second predetermined level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and a method for dynamically controlling storage device access duty cycle.
2. Background Art
Data storage devices (e.g., disk drives, tape drives, and the like) have advertised reliability numbers (e.g., mean time between failures, MTBF) that are based on several external factors. MTBF for a storage device is generally calculated at a given duty cycle, i.e., the percentage of time the storage device is performing an access (e.g., reading, writing, verifying data, etc.).
Reliability is an important factor in customer satisfaction with data storage devices. One of the major factors in the determination of storage device reliability is the duty cycle of the storage device. The duty cycle can be a particularly important factor in the MTBF of inexpensive storage devices such as Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) disk drives. The reliability MTBF projections are substantially reduced when duty cycles are above the levels that are specified by the storage device manufacturer. MTBF can vary non-linearly with increased duty cycle. In many data storage subsystem implementations, the subsystem has minimal control at best over input/output (IO) patterns that are received from host devices. Thus, actual MTBFs for conventional storage device approaches can be substantially less than manufacturer reliability projections (i.e., the storage devices can be less reliable than projected) and customer satisfaction can be negatively affected.
Further, in redundant powered data storage systems (systems that generally are implemented with two separate power supplies, so-called 2N supply systems), each power supply is generally configured having capacity sufficient to support the entire data storage system load. For example, when one of the power supplies breaks down or is taken off line for upgrades, repair and the like, the remaining power supply is sized such that the data storage system can remain substantially fully functional.
In a typical data storage system, each power supply is generally configured to support maximum electrical current loads at a number of substantially constant voltage levels (e.g., 5 V and 12 V). However, some data storage system components (e.g., drives) in a multiple data storage device system have a high current load at a first voltage level (e.g., a 5 V level), and other data storage system components have a high current load at another voltage level (e.g., a 12 V level). As such, each power supply is configured to support the maximum electrical current load at all of the voltage levels. Because data storage systems are not typically implemented with data storage devices that all present all of the maximum current loads, the conventional system are implemented with excess current and power capacity and the related cost, weight and size deficiencies.
Yet further, the data storage system power supply is to be specified to ensure adequate power to meet customer power demands (i.e., loads). Using conventional approaches, the sum of the worst case power consumption for all of the system components is used to ensure that each power supply can support the worst case load. The worst case load includes worst case activity on the storage device drives, whether the worst cast is 100% sequential read operations, 100% random read/write operations, or any other worst case operation including a worst case per power supply output.
Under typical operating conditions, the worst case load is rarely encountered. Storage system drive operation is typically more idle than active. Conventional approaches to storage systems generally yield over-rated power supplies and corresponding increased cost, size and weight. In one circumstance, a power supply system that is rated for worst case operation is justified, that is, when the data storage system is known to encounter all worst case power draws and worst case drive activity. However, for many other data storage systems, conventional approaches yield over-rated power supplies.
Thus there exists an opportunity and need for an improved system and method for a storage device that provides dynamic control of the duty cycle of accesses to and from the storage device.

System and method of dynamically controlling storage device access duty cycle