An apparatus comprising a plurality of fixed logic circuits, wherein each of the fixed logic circuits is configured to receive a plurality of input signals, perform combinational logic operations using the input signals, and produce at least one output signal, and wherein the combinational logic operations are substantially fixed; and a programmable logic core configured to functionally replace a selected subset of the plurality of fixed logic circuits, receive the input signals of the selected subset of the plurality of fixed logic circuits, perform logic operations on the input signals, and produce at least one output signal as the output signal of the selected subset of the plurality of fixed logic circuits, and wherein the logic operations are dynamically changeable.

The growing complexity of integrated circuits or microchips has led to a gap between what can be designed and what can be verified in a reasonable amount of time. As a result, there are frequently chips that are designed, manufactured, and then considered unusable. There may be numerous reasons why a chip is deemed unusable or in need of modification, but the most common design faults are: design errors or bugs, performance issues, inoperability and non-compliance to a standard. Often when a chip is deemed unsuitable for use, the chip need only be partially redesigned to correct its design faults. Furthermore, usually only a few logic elements need to be changed to fix the design faults.
Currently when a chip needs modification to fix design faults, designers often have two options. The first option is referred to as a "re-spin". Typically in a re-spin, the entire layout or blueprint for the chip manufacturing is redone or reassembled. The second option is to use unused logic elements that were placed on the chip, called spare-gates, to fix design faults. Often both options require the chip layout to be rebuilt by the manufacturer, but the use of spare-gates or an Engineering Change Order (ECO) is often a more attractive option in terms of cost as only a few metal masks usually need to be rebuilt as opposed to a change of the entire mask set for a re-spin. This usually saves time and money compared to a full re-spin. However, an ECO can handle only a finite number of changes and so the decision may depend on the amount of logic that needs changing.

Programmable core for implementing logic change


A method for reporting error resolution information according to one embodiment includes identifying an error; tracking information output to a user when attempting to resolve the error; and sending error resolution data to a remote system, the error resolution data comprising at least a representation of the error and at least a representation of some of the information output to the user. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also presented.

The present invention relates to procedure reporting and more particularly, this invention relates to collecting procedural data from multiple remote sites for future reference.
The process of error isolation and resolution can be quite challenging in multiple interconnected systems. Often, a plethora of solutions exist, causing the user attempting to resolve the issue to try many things before finally finding the proper solution.
What is needed is a way to gather relevant error resolution data for a given error, and provide relevant solutions to one attempting to resolve an error.

Systems, methods and computer program products for remote error resolution reporting

International Business Machines Corporation


An image forming apparatus includes a feeding unit configured to feed a sheet, an image forming unit configured to form a measurement image on the sheet fed by the feeding unit, a measuring unit configured to measure the measurement image formed on the sheet by the image forming unit, and an adjustment unit configured to perform an adjustment operation on basis of a measurement result of the measurement image. In this case, the image forming unit forms the measurement image of a first side of the sheet and forms a setting aid image on a second side that is different from the first side, and the setting aid image shows information describing the direction of the sheet for setting in the feeding unit and information for prompting to set the sheet with the second side up in the feeding unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of correcting unevenness of an image in a main scanning direction.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus may provide various image qualities such as graininess, uniformity in a plane, character quality, and reproducibility (including color stability). Such image qualities provided by an electrophotography image forming apparatus may be influenced by uneven electrification caused by degradation of a charger which electrostatically charges a photosensitive drum, uneven exposure of a laser scanner, for example, configured to form an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum, uneven development by a developing device which develops an electrostatic latent image or the like.
These unevennesses may cause uneven density and/or uneven color in a main scanning direction (orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction for forming an image on a sheet), which may disadvantageously deteriorate uniformity in a plane.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-163216 proposes a technology (main-scanning shading correction) of outputting a sheet on which a plurality of test patterns are printed in a main scanning direction and measuring color densities of the test patterns with a handy densitometer, for example, to correct an uneven density in the main scanning direction.
On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-58565 discloses a method of performing such main-scanning shading correction by using a color sensor internally mounted in an image forming apparatus.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-58565 discloses a technology of forming a band-shaped test pattern based on an equal image signal value in a main scanning direction of a sheet. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-58565 further discloses a technology of rotating a sheet having a test pattern 90 degrees, setting it to a feeder, refeeding the sheet, and measuring the test pattern by using a color sensor within an image forming apparatus.
However, a user may be required to determine whether a sheet having a test pattern is to be set with its face up or down and/or by rotating 90 degrees to the right or to the left in accordance with the feeder in which the sheet is to be set.
This may require a user to set a sheet in consideration of the side and right or left direction of the sheet, which lowers user's operability. When such a sheet is set in a wrong direction in a feeder, a correct measurement result may not be acquired from the test pattern. In such a case, the user must set the sheet in the feeder again, which may cause user stress.


In a method of designing a circuit layout of a semiconductor integrated circuit, a logic function of the integrated circuit is first designed. Then, a pattern layout of the integrated circuit is designed. The designed pattern layout includes a logic cell area and an open area. Next, a spare underground cell is inserted into the open area. The spare underground cell includes a functional element. A mask layout of the integrated circuit is then designed. The designed mask layout includes the logic cell and the spare underground cell.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a circuit of a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a method of designing an integrated circuit for a LSI device. The method of designing the integrated circuit is disclosed, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,054,872.
When a part of logic in a circuit design is changed after a semiconductor was manufactured, a conductive layer layout should be re-designed and an old conductive pattern layer layout would be replaced with the re-designed one. Such replacement has a following merits in comparison with all layer replacement.    1. A cost of mask re-manufacturing is low.    2. A time of mask re-manufacturing is short.
However, the above method includes many manual operations. Further, a scale of the logic change is small in the above method.

Method of designing a circuit layout of a semiconductor device


The present invention relates to an improved process of preparing substantially pure alcaftadine comprising reacting substantially pure compound of structural formula VIII with more than 20 moles of oxidizing reagent in an organic solvent to obtain alcaftadine:

Alcaftadine is chemically 6,11-dihydro-11-(1-methyl-4-piperidinylidene)-5H-imidazo [2,1-b][3]benzazepine-3-carboxaldehyde and is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,743 and is represented by a compound of structural formula I:

Alcaftadine is a H1 histamine receptor antagonist sold in USA under the proprietary name of "LASTACAFT" and is indicated for the prevention of itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,743 describes analogous processes of preparing alcaftadine compound of structural formula I as shown below in scheme no. I, scheme no. II and scheme no. III:

The processes of preparing compound of structural formula VIII according to the above mentioned references produce more than 25% of a compound of structural formula XIV:

The compound of structural formula XIV is carry-forwarded into the further steps of reactions of preparing alcaftadine compound of structural formula I and therefore, there is a need in the art to develop an improved process of preparing compound of structural formula VIII, which obviates the prior-art problems.
Further, the prior art processes for preparing alcaftadine compound of structural formula I comprises treating compound of structural formula VIII with less than 20 moles of oxidizing reagent which leads to incomplete reaction and causes low yield of alcaftadine.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art to develop an improved process of preparing alcaftadine compound of structural formula I, which obviates the prior-art problems.
The inventors of the present invention have developed an improved process for the preparation of alcaftadine using substantially pure compound or purified compound of structural formula VIII, resulting in higher yield of alcaftadine. The improved process is cost effective and has fewer steps as compared to the process disclosed in the prior publications.
Further, the inventors have found that treating compound of structural formula VIII with more than 20 moles of oxidizing reagent leads to completion of reaction and results in higher yield of alcaftadine.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A mobile communications radio receiver for multiple radio network operation includes an RF unit configured to generate a first down-converted signal from a radio signal received from a first radio network and a second down-converted signal from a radio signal received from a second radio network. Further, the mobile communications radio receiver includes a paging indicator channel demodulator configured to demodulate during a first period of time a paging indicator channel of the first radio network based on the first down-converted signal and for demodulating during a second period of time a paging indicator channel of the second radio network based on the second down-converted signal.

A new feature for receivers in mobile communications is Dual-SIM-Dual-Standby (DSDS). It means the UE (user equipment) contains (at least) two SIM (subscriber identity module) cards and registers in (at least) two networks. If the UE is in an idle/standby state, it is able to receive pagings, i.e. notifications of incoming calls or messages, from both networks.
A straight-forward approach to avoid missing of a paging is to add a second receive path to the UE. However, this means additional hardware, implying additional chip area and power consumption.
For these and other reasons there is a need for the present invention.

Mobile communications radio receiver for multiple network operation


A method is provided for emulating the imaging of a scanner mask pattern to expose wafers via a mask inspection microscope, in which the mask was corrected by introducing scattering centers. The method includes determining a correlation between the first values of at least one characteristic of aerial images of the mask pattern as produced by a mask inspection microscope and the second values of the at least one characteristic of aerial images of the mask pattern as produced by a scanner, recording a first aerial image of the mask pattern with the mask inspection microscope, determining the first values of the at least one characteristic from the first aerial image, and determining the second values of the at least one characteristic of the first aerial image, using the correlation. A mask inspection microscope is also provided for emulating the imaging of a mask pattern of a scanner to expose wafers, in which the mask was corrected by introducing scattering centers.

In lithography for manufacturing semiconductor devices, the patterns (or structures) on a mask (also called a reticle) are projected by wafer exposure equipment onto a wafer that has a photosensitive layer, called the photoresist. When a microscope is used for mask inspection, the mask pattern is projected onto a photosensitive spatially resolved detector, such as, for example, a charged coupled device (CCD) sensor. In doing so, the pattern is enlarged by a factor of, e.g., 150 to 450, in order to more accurately detect any defects present in the patterns. When projecting the pattern onto the wafer, the pattern is imaged and reduced in size. For example, in modern scanners, the pattern is reduced by a factor of four.
Because defects that also occur during wafer exposure are primarily of interest during mask inspection, the aerial images produced in the resist and on the detector should be as identical as possible, except for the different magnification scale. In order to achieve equivalent image production, the wavelength of projection light, illumination settings, and the numerical aperture (NA) used on the object side, i.e., mask-side, are adjusted to be the same as, or as similar as possible to, the scanner used.
Mask inspection microscopes can operate in transmission or reflection. The mask pattern image is created after the projection light is transmitted through the mask (in the case of a transmission mask) or after the projection light is reflected from the mask surface (in the case of a reflective mask).
The projection light is optimized in scanners for wafer exposure in accordance with the patterns of the masks to be imaged in each case. Various lighting settings are used to define the lighting intensity distribution on a pupil plane of the light beam path of the mask inspection microscope. It is common to use various lighting settings having different degrees of coherence, as well as off-axis lighting settings such as annular illumination and dipole or quadrupole illumination. The depth of field or resolution can be increased by lighting settings that produce off-axis oblique lighting.
With microscopes that are used to examine masks, optics having a smaller field of view and a smaller illumination area are used compared to those of wafer exposure equipment.
In a method for optimizing masks, local density variations are introduced into the mask that function as scattering centers. The transmission and reflectivity of the mask are modified by the local density variations. This is used, for example, to optimize the critical dimension (CD) of a mask pattern, as well as the placement error (registration), i.e., the position of the mask patterns. The critical dimension refers to the dimension of a critical feature on the wafer, such as minimum line width of single lines, minimum line width of densely spaced lines, or the minimum size of contact holes. The projected light is attenuated through local density variations, hereinafter also called pixels. The intensity of an aerial image of the mask can be modified locally by the attenuation, e.g., by weakening or reduction of the transmission. This enables optimization of the critical dimension.
In the case of transmissive masks, the scattering centers are introduced into the mask by pulsed femtosecond lasers. This is known, for example, from U.S. published patent application 20070065729. The scattering centers can be introduced into the substrate of the mask with this method.
The introduction of scattering centers into extreme ultra-violet (EUV) masks by using electron beams is known from German patent application DE 10 2011 080 100 A1. In this method, scattering centers are introduced into the reflecting multilayer of the mask in order to reduce reflectivity.

Emulation of reproduction of masks corrected by local density variations


A process and apparatus for recycling dairy wastewater wherein the wastewater is supplied to at least one first evaporation apparatus to produce a water distillate and sludge. The sludge is then supplied to at least one second evaporation apparatus arranged in series with the first evaporation apparatus. The process results in recycled water and a final sludge.

Today, wastewater is disposed of by sewage treatment plants, in which it is mixed with all different kinds of more or less polluted wastewater. The result is that odors are spread and a questionable, and sometimes a hazardous sludge is obtained, which has to be disposed of.
The wastewater from a dairy can amount to 20–30 million liters, which requires large areas for sedimentation basins for settleable solids. Such amounts require the corresponding amounts of raw water. Since water becomes a more and more expensive raw material, its economic effects can not be underestimated. For example, in Saudi Arabia the water costs are SEK 25 per m3. Pure water requires substantial investments.
In modern plants for treating wastewater from dairies gravity thickening is used in order to improve the sedimentation rate, for example by releasing fine air bubbles as in a plant of the type dissolved air flotation (DAF). However, sufficiently pure water can not be obtained with an ordinary plant for wastewater treatment of the DAF type when wastewater from a dairy is treated. Furthermore, this type of water purification does not result in a sufficiently pure water to be reused as a technical water or as a raw water.
With the above-mentioned volumes of wastewater from a dairy an overflow may occur without control and the wastewater may reach small waters which can be very sensitive to this discharge. The average characteristics of the wastewater from a milk processing includes a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of about 1,000 mg/l, a chemical oxygen demand (COD) of about 1,900 mg/l, a total solids content of 1,600 mg/l, and a suspended solids content of 300 mg/l. These figures dramatically exceed those permitted by governments in different countries. In Australia for example, the maximum allowable amount of BOD to be discharged to a recipient, such as a river, is 180 ppm.


A digital video tape recorder for recording and reproducing digital video and digital audio signals in separate portions of at least one common record track is operable in an after-recording mode, for example, to record in different tracks a digital audio signal that is associated with a previously recorded digital video signal. Digital video and audio processors exhibit inherent time delays t.sub.2 and t.sub.21 when processing reproduced digital video and audio signals (t.sub.21 <t.sub.2); and, during a normal reproducing mode the digital audio signal is delayed by an amount substantially equal to t.sub.2 -t.sub.21 so that the reproduced digital video and audio signals are recovered in synchronism. This delay is reduced to a minimal amount when the apparatus operates in its after-recording mode. Conversely, if the digital video signal is recorded in the after-recording mode, the audio signal delay is increased such that the originally recorded digital audio signal and the after-recorded digital video signal are recovered in synchronism.

This invention relates to digital video recording apparatus, such as a digital video tape recorder and more particularly, to a digital VTR intended for consumer use and operable in an after-recording mode to record a digital audio signal at a later time after a digital video signal has been recorded or alternatively, to record a digital video signal at a later time after the digital audio signal has been recorded.
In digital VTRs developed for consumer use, it is typical to record video and audio signals in digital form in different areas of the same track. For example, when recording sound and movement of a human subject, a video frame interval is recorded in a number of tracks and the sound uttered by the subject (referred to generally as the audio signal that is associated with the video signal) is recorded in those very same tracks, but at different locations. When recording in the NTSC standard, a frame interval of digitized video signals is recorded in ten tracks and the digitized audio signals associated therewith are recorded in the very same tracks. Of course, when the digitized audio signals represent sounds uttered by the subject, the recording of digitized video and audio signals in common tracks results in a video picture having proper lip synchronization, or movement between the subject's lips and the sounds emitted therefrom.
The recording of video and audio signals in separate portions of common tracks facilitates dubbing, voice overlay and other so-called special effect techniques. Hence, digital audio signals may be recorded at a later time, yet be associated with the previously recorded digital video signals. Conversely, video signals may be dubbed by editing digital video information onto a record medium which contains previously recorded audio information. The subsequent recording of digital audio signals that are intended to be associated with previously recorded digital video signals and the subsequent recording of digital video signals that are intended to be associated with previously recorded digital audio signals is referred to as after-recording and is a general description of re-recording audio or video signals after the basic recording of video and audio information is completed.
In a typical after-recording operation, the after-recorded digital audio (or video) signals are recorded in different tracks than the previously recorded digital video (or audio) signals associated therewith. These different tracks typically are located downstream (or delayed) from the originally recorded signals. When these signals are reproduced, a time difference is introduced between the reproduced digital video and audio signals which is manifested as a loss of synchronism therebetween. This is particularly noticeable and undesirable when the after-recorded signals are, for example, dubbed digital audio signals. In that event, when the reproduced digital video and audio signals are displayed as a video picture, there is a loss of synchronism between the movement of the subject's lips and the sound emitted therefrom. Stated otherwise, the operation of a digital VTR in its after-recording mode generally is associated with a loss of "lip sync."
The foregoing can best be appreciated by referring to FIGS. 1A-1C and 2A-2C of the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1A is a schematic representation of record tracks on a digital video tape in which digital video and digital audio signals are recorded. For the purpose of discussion, the basic information unit illustrated in FIG. 1A is a video frame interval; and the digital video signals included in this interval are recorded in ten tracks when using the NTSC format, and in twelve tracks when using the PAL format. The digital video signals are recorded in a major portion of each of these ten tracks; and the digital audio signal associated with that digital video signal, such as the audio signal that may be picked up simultaneously with the imaging of the video signal, also is recorded in these same ten tracks but, as shown in FIG. IA, in a smaller upper portion of each track. Thus, a unit of digital video signals is recorded in a ten-track segment and an associated unit of digital audio signals also is recorded in this ten-track segment.
FIG. 1B illustrates a timed relationship between the encoding, recording, reproducing and decoding of a digital video signal relative to the movement of the tape shown in FIG. 1A. A frame of digital video signals is supplied for recording during a period x.sub.1 and is encoded (for example, it is "shuffled") for recording in the ten-track segment during time interval x.sub.2. The encoding of the digital video signal is effected by digital processing circuitry in a matter known to those of ordinary skill in the art, and this processing circuitry exhibits an inherent time delay t.sub.1. This time delay t.sub.1 is seen to be equivalent the movement of 15 tracks of the video tape. Hence, this time delay t.sub.1 is referred to as a 15 track delay. From FIGS. 1A and 1B, is seen that a given point in a frame interval of a digital video signal is recorded in a track that is delayed by 25 tracks from the time that such point in the video signal is first supplied.
When the digital video signal is reproduced at a later time, it is played back during time interval x.sub.2 and then decoded (or "deshuffled") by digital processing circuitry normally used for this purpose. This decoding operation exhibits an inherent time delay t.sub.2 which, typically, may be approximately equal to the inherent time delay t.sub.1 exhibited by the encoder. Thereafter, the decoded digital video signal is recovered as an output video signal during time interval x.sub.3. It is seen from FIG. 1B that a time delay on the order of 25 tracks is present between the reproduction and the recovery of a given time point of a frame interval.
FIG. 1C illustrates the timing relationship in recording and reproducing an associated digital audio signal. A unit of audio signals (assumed to correspond to a frame interval) is supplied for recording during the interval x.sub.1 ; and this audio signal is encoded, such as for error correction, by digital audio processing circuitry of a type known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such digital audio processing circuitry exhibits an inherent time delay t.sub.11 wherein t.sub.11 <t.sub.1. As a numerical example, this inherent delay t.sub.11 is equal to a one track delay.
So that the digital audio signal may be recorded in the same tracks (but at separate portions) as the digital video signal associated therewith, the encoded audio signal is delayed by an amount t.sub.12 (ideally, t.sub.12 =t.sub.1 -t.sub.11) thereby bringing the digital audio signal into time synchronism with the encoded digital video signal. The digital audio signal then is recorded during time interval x.sub.2 in the same tracks as the digital video signal. Hence, the associated digital and audio signals are supplied to the recording heads in synchronism.
During a playback operation, the unit of digital audio signals is reproduced during the time interval x.sub.2, as shown in FIG. 1C, and then decoded (or error-corrected). This decoding operation exhibits an inherent time delay t.sub.21 (t.sub.21 <t.sub.2); and to assure that the recovered digital audio signals are in synchronism with the associated digital video signals, the decoded audio signals are delayed by a time delay t.sub.22 (ideally, t.sub.22 =t.sub.2 -t.sub.21. Thus, by delaying the reproduced, decoded digital audio signals, a given time point in the unit of recovered audio signals is in proper synchronism with a corresponding time point in the recovered video signals. Consequently, during normal recording and reproduction, the video and audio signals are in proper synchronism and correct "lip sync" is present in the video picture recovered therefrom. That is, there is essentially no time difference between the reproduced digital and audio signals.
FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate how proper synchronism between previously recorded video signals and after-recorded audio signals is lost because of a substantial time difference that is present when the digital video and after-recorded digital audio signals are reproduced. FIG. 2A is a schematic representation of record tracks in which a frame of previously recorded digital video signals is reproduced from a 10-track segment during a playback period x.sub.2. In the after-recording mode, although digital audio signals also may be reproduced from this same 10-track segment, such digital audio signals are ignored and, thus, in the interest of simplification, a unit of digital audio signals is not illustrated as being recorded in this 10-track segment.
As occurred during a normal record/playback operation, the reproduced digital video signals are decoded by the aforementioned digital processing circuitry which, as discussed above, exhibits an inherent time delay t.sub.2. The decoded video signal then is recovered as the output video signal during time interval x.sub.3. The playback operation schematically represented in FIG. 2B is seen to be substantially identical to the playback operation schematically illustrated in FIG. 1B. Thus, a delay of about 25 tracks is present between the reproduction and the recovery (or output) of a given time point of a frame interval of the digital video signal.
Now, in an after-recording operation, a unit of the audio signal that is associated with this reproduced video signal is supplied for recording substantially immediately after the video signal is recovered. This timing relationship is schematically illustrated in FIG. 2C, wherein the audio signal is supplied during the interval x.sub.4 which is delayed by only 10 tracks (i.e. one frame interval) from the beginning of the frame interval of the recovered digital video signal with which this audio signal is associated. As before, this audio signal is encoded by digital audio processing circuitry exhibiting the inherent time delay t.sub.11, for example, a 1-track delay, and the encoded digital audio signal then is delayed by the amount t.sub.12 before it is recorded.
It is seen that, when an audio signal is supplied for recording in the after-recording mode, the inherent delay of the digital audio processing circuitry coupled with the additional delay normally imparted to the digital audio signal during a recording operation results in a time delay on the order of about 60 tracks from the location of a given time point in the digital video signal and the location of a corresponding time point in the after-recorded digital audio signal.
During a subsequent playback operation, the digital video signal is reproduced during time interval x.sub.2 and, 60 tracks later, the associated, after-recorded digital audio signal is reproduced during a time interval x.sub.5. As before, the digital video signal is decoded by digital processing circuity exhibiting the inherent time delay t.sub.2 and then is recovered as an output video signal during the time interval x.sub.3. The reproduced digital audio signal, on the other hand, is decoded by digital audio processing circuitry exhibiting the inherent time delay t.sub.21, and the decoded audio signal then is delayed by the time delay t.sub.22 such that the audio signal is recovered during the time interval x.sub.6. A comparison of FIGS. 2B and 2C indicates that, when the audio signal is recorded in the after-recording mode, the fact that the audio signal is recorded in tracks delayed from those in which the video signal is recorded, coupled with the additional time delay normally added to the reproduced audio signal for the purpose of assuring synchronism between the recovered video and audio signals results in a substantial time difference between the recovered digital video signal and the associated digital audio signal. This time difference is about 60 tracks, or 6 frames, which is approximately 0.2 seconds. Consequently, when a video picture is displayed from after-recorded signals, the video and audio signals are not in proper synchronism and "lip sync" is noticeably lost.

Apparatus for recording and/or reproducing digital video and audio signals operable in an after-recording mode


A piezoelectric filter is one not changing in the holding position of resonator in spite of impulse, small in the number of parts, easy to assemble from one direction, small, thin, and stable in characteristic. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, on electrode patterns on a package 10 forming wiring electrode patterns 11, holding protrusions 13 for holding resonators, and partition boards 14 for positioning resonators, a rectangular plate type piezoelectric resonators 12 are adhered with conductive adhesive. The rectangular plate type piezoelectric resonators 12 and the package 10 are adhered and reinforced from above with a vibration absorbing member 15, and wiring is formed from above the resonators by a wire bonding 16, thereby wiring resonators in a ladder form. Or, as shown in FIG. 11, after forming electrode patterns 102 on a piezoelectric substrate 101, a rectangular plate resonator 104 is cut out from a piezoelectric substrate 101 by laser in a shape consecutive to the piezoelectric substrate 101 by the node of length expander mode, and the piezoelectric substrate 101 is enclosed by a spacer 106 and a sheet 107 from above and beneath.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a piezoelectric filter, especially intermediate frequency filter or the like, utilizing a piezoelectric resonator, mainly used in radio appliances such as mobile communication appliances, acoustic appliances, and others, and its manufacturing method.
2. Related Art of the Invention
Generally, as intermediate frequency filter used in radio appliances or the like, the piezoelectric filter making use of contour-extensional mode (radial mode) of a disk or square plate piezoelectric resonator is employed in a wide range. That is, these piezoelectric resonators are composed in a ladder structure, the dimension of the series elements and the dimension of parallel elements are adjusted, the resonance frequency of series elements and antiresonance frequency of parallel elements are matched to compose a passing region, and attenuation poles are formed at both sides, so that a steep filter characteristic is realized. At this time, the matching impedance of the filter is the matching impedance at the center frequency of the filter.
To realize a steep filter characteristic, each piezoelectric resonator must be supported at a position of a node of vibration of the vibration mode to be utilized in order to avoid vibration blocking. For this supporting, hitherto, the pressure between a metal leaf spring and case for package was utilized, or instead of the leaf spring, directly, electrode plates for input, for output and for earth were used to make use of the pressure against the case. At this time, the piezoelectric resonators are wired by leaf spring for wiring which is composed by preliminarily integrating the necessary electrode plates to be connected.
Referring now to the drawings, an example of such conventional piezoelectric resonator is described below.
FIG. 46 is a perspective exploded view showing a constitution of a ladder type piezoelectric ceramic filter making use of a square plate contour-extensional mode (radial mode) disclosed, for example, in Japanese Laid-open Utility Model No. 4-114229. FIG. 47 is a circuit diagram showing its equivalent circuit. In FIG. 46, reference numeral 321 is a square plate type piezoelectric resonator for series elements (hereinafter called piezoelectric resonator), and 322 is a square plate type piezoelectric resonator for parallel elements (hereinafter called piezoelectric resonator). These piezoelectric resonators 321, 322 are different in thickness and electrode area for the purpose of adjustment of electric capacity. Reference numeral 323 is an electrode plate for input, 324 is an electrode plate for output, 325 is an electrode plate for earth, and 327 is an electrode plate for wiring. In the electrically connecting portion of these electrode plates 323 to 325, 327 and the piezoelectric resonators 321, 322, an emboss 326 is formed in order to support the piezoelectric resonators 321, 322 securely at the position of a node of vibration. Moreover, reference numeral 328 is a package, and 329 is a leaf spring for applying pressure for support of the piezoelectric resonators 321, 322. Reference numeral 330 is a sealing plate to be adhered to the package after inserting the piezoelectric resonators 321, 322, electrode plates 323 to 325, 327, and leaf spring 329 into the package.
In such conventional constitution, however, since the central portion of the piezoelectric resonators 321, 322 at the node of vibration is supported by press-fitting with the electrodes plates 323 to 325 and 327 by the pressure of the leaf spring 329, assembling is difficult, and the supporting position of the piezoelectric resonators 321, 322 is deviated by external impact, the resonance characteristic of the piezoelectric resonators 321, 322 varies, the filter characteristic fluctuates, and a large change occurs in the time course.
Or, in the case of ladder type wiring by electrode plates, plural types of electrode plates 323, 324, 325, 327 are needed, and therefore the number of parts is many, the assembling process is complicated, and the cost is increased.
Besides, using a square plate type piezoelectric resonator, the shape of the piezoelectric resonator is large, and when the number of stages of the filter is increased, the filter size is extremely increased.
Structurally, furthermore, since assembling from one direction is difficult, and it is hard to automate the assembling, and mass production is difficult.
On the other hand, recently, as the mobile communication field is digitized, not only the attenuation characteristic is important, but also the group delay time characteristic comes to be regarded with special importance. Herein, the group delay time is obtained by differentiating the phase by frequency. Meanwhile, since the digital signal is modulated and demodulated by deviation of phase, accurate modulation or demodulation is not guaranteed unless the phase rotation changes linearly. For accurate modulation and demodulation, accordingly, the group delay time characteristic is utilized as the index for expressing the shift of the phase rotation from linearity by the time difference.
Referring further to the drawings, a conventional method of flattening the group delay characteristic in a required band of a piezoelectric ceramic filter having a basic structure shown in FIG. 46 is described below.
FIG. 48 shows the filter characteristic of a conventional piezoelectric filter, and FIG. 49 is a filter characteristic diagram for explaining a conventional design technique for flattening the group delay characteristic within a specific band. The solid line in FIG. 48 shows the attenuation characteristic, and the broken line denotes the group delay characteristic. In FIG. 48, the attenuation characteristic outside the passing band is extremely moderate, and hence the selective characteristic is insufficient in the portion of large attenuation amount. This is because, in order to flatten the group delay characteristic in the specific bandwidth, the bandwidth is designed broad by employing the vibration mode of large electric-mechanical coupling factor or material of large coupling factor, thereby setting preliminarily large the frequency region in which the group delay characteristic is flat, and the mechanical quality Qm is lowered by the damping resistance or conductive rubber, and the bandwidth is narrowed to the desired bandwidth while keeping large the flat region of group delay characteristic. Accordingly, the insertion loss also increases.
The above design technique is specifically described below by reference to FIG. 49.
In FIG. 49, broken line 1 denotes the attenuation characteristic in an initial design, and broken line 2 indicates the group delay characteristic at this time. Herein, the initial design bandwidth is set larger than the specific bandwidth, and therefore the portion of large group delay time is positioned at both remote ends of outside of the specific bandwidth as seen from the center frequency. In this state, the group delay characteristic in the specific bandwidth is nearly flat. By lowering Qm of the resonator in this state, the attenuation characteristic of solid line 1 is realized, and a desired bandwidth is obtained. At this time, the group delay characteristic is as shown by solid line 2, and the peak value at both sides of the group delay time is small, and the flat portion of the group delay characteristic is not narrowed. Techniques for lowering the Qm of the resonator include a method of inserting a conductive rubber 331 between electrode plate and piezoelectric resonator as shown in FIG. 50 (for example, Japanese Laid-open Utility Model No. 4-114229), a method of connecting a damping resistance R332 to each resonator as shown in FIG. 51 (for example, Japanese Laid-open Utility Model No. 4-121124), and a method of using directly a piezoelectric material with small Qm.
In other design techniques, the value of Qm of each piezoelectric resonator of series and parallel branches of input and output ends for composing the filter is set more than 1.5 times the Qm value of the piezoelectric resonator in each intermediate position (for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent No. 1-314008), the difference Af between resonance frequency and antiresonance frequency of each piezoelectric resonator is varied and the arrangement is changed (for example, Japanese Laid-open Utility Model No. 1-091328), or the capacity ratio of piezoelectric resonators is changed (for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent No. 54-163649), and thus it has been attempted to improve the attenuation characteristic and group delay characteristic by considering the material and manufacturing process.
In such conventional methods of improvement, however, if the group delay characteristic is improved by designing large the filter bandwidth, the design method for assuring the symmetricity of the filter characteristic is not established, and the selective characteristic outside the specific bandwidth is not achieved, and the design technique has its own problems. To obtain a flat group delay characteristic, by using conductive rubber or damping resistance, the number of parts increases and assembling is difficult. Moreover, to vary the Qm of the resonator or frequency difference .DELTA.f of resonance frequency and antiresonance frequency, plural piezoelectric materials are used, or piezoelectric resonators of partial electrodes or unsaturated polarization are needed, and hence the number of parts increases, the process is complicated, and stable piezoelectric characteristic is not obtained. In any case, by the lowered portion of Qm (the portion of adding the resistance), the insertion loss of the filter increases. In the conventional constitution, only the peak value of the group delay ripple deviation is lowered by adding the resistance, and nothing has been discussed about the symmetrical constitution of the group delay characteristic with respect to the center frequency.
On the other hand, a principal problem in digital signal transmission technology is increase of code errors by the inter-code interference the pulse receives, derived from the distortion of the pulse waveform generated when the pulse signal passes through the transmission path.
Usually, the frequency spectrum of square pulse theoretically has an infinite frequency component. Therefore, in order to receive accurately the square pulse waveform transmitted through the transmission path, theoretically, it is required that the transmission path can transmit an infinite frequency component. Accordingly, an extremely wide band is needed in the frequency characteristic for the transmission signal in the transmission path, and it is not desired from the viewpoint of utilization efficiency of the transmission frequency band, and, in addition, an unnecessarily extra noise portion is also received.
When the transmission path band is narrowed to decrease this noise component, the reception pulse waveform is expanded in the time axis direction, and an adverse effect is exerted on the distinguishing point of the front and rear adjacent pulses. Therefore, it is desired to equalize into pulse waveform small in the inter-code interference and small in noises, that is, minimum in the code error rate.
The most basic band limiting is the use of filter having an ideal low frequency filter characteristic. The response when an impulse is applied to this filter is a known response waveform 151 as shown in FIG. 52.
In this response waveform 151, excluding the central peak at t=0, zero point appears in every T.sub.o (=1/2 f.sub.o). In this case, interval T.sub.o until t=0 to T.sub.o is called a Nyquist interval 152, and by transmitting the impulse row at this Nyquist interval 152, inter-code interference can be completely avoided for momentary detection done in the middle of the reception pulse. The pulse row of smaller interval than this Nyquist interval 152 is not transmitted usually because the fundamental wave component is cut off. That is, the bit rate corresponding to the Nyquist interval 152 gives the transmission limit in its band.
It is actually extremely difficult to realize such ideal low frequency filter characteristic. Accordingly, to determine the filter condition in actual transmission path, the first standard of Nyquist is used.
According to the first standard of Nyquist, as shown in FIG. 53a, regarding the cut-off angular frequency .omega..sub.o, a filter characteristic 162 of an odd-symmetric filter having an odd-symmetric property is added to a filter characteristic 161 of an ideal filter to synthesize, and when a filter characteristic 163 as shown in FIG. 53b is formed, the intersecting point on the axis of abscissas (.omega..sub.o t) of an impulse response waveform 165 is not changed as shown in FIG. 53d.
The filter characteristics shown in FIG. 53b and FIG. 53c can be realized, and it is characteristic that there is no inter-code interference to the impulse transmission of repeated frequency 2f.sub.o. There are infinite odd-symmetric frequency characteristics that can be added to the filter characteristic 161 of ideal filter, and hence there are also infinite synthesized filter characteristics made by such adding. Of such synthesized filter characteristics, the filter characteristic generally used widely is the filter characteristic 163 shown in FIG. 53b, which is called roll-off spectrum, and is expressed in formula 1. ##EQU1## where .alpha. is a coefficient expressing the degree of inclination of band limiting, called the roll-off factor, and by varying the value of the roll-off factor .alpha. in a range of 0.ltoreq..alpha..ltoreq.1, as shown in FIG. 53c, the filter characteristic can be changed from the filter characteristic 164a at .alpha.=0 to the filter characteristic 164b at .alpha.=1. Besides,.omega.o is expressed as .omega..sub.o =.pi.T.sub.o by using the Nyquist interval T.sub.o.
Usually, the combination of root roll-off filter characteristics by distributing the characteristic expressed in formula 1 equally into the transmission side and reception side of the transmission system is the optimum transmission system characteristic for minimizing the code error rate.
To visually observe the reception pulse waveform including the inter-code interference and noise, an eye diagram (eye pattern) schematically depicted in FIG. 54 is convenient. The eye diagram is a waveform depicted on an oscilloscope, by demodulating a digital signal row modulated by a random pulse at the reception side, and synchronizing the demodulated waveform by clock pulse.
The opening portion 171 of a waveform pattern looking like an eye near the recognition point of the eye diagram shown in FIG. 54 is called the eye, and the allowance of code discrimination can be determined from this aperture rate. Supposing the aperture rate of the eye has deterioration of .DELTA.V in the amplitude axial direction (vertical direction) and .DELTA.T in the time axial direction (lateral direction), as compared with the ideal eye, the eye aperture rate in the amplitude axial direction is expressed as V.sub.a /V.sub.P, and the aperture rate in the time axial direction is T.sub.a /T.sub.P, and the quality of the transmission system characteristic can be evaluated by these eye aperture rates.
This evaluation by eye aperture rate is convenient as qualitative observation because it intuitively appeals to the human senses, but it lacks quantitative evaluation.
On the other hand, as a quantitative evaluation scale of digital signal transmission system, the vector amplitude error expressing an error from an ideal modulation waveform is known. It is, as shown in FIG. 55, a vector amplitude error 182 expressing a deviation from an ideal signal 181, on the basis of the coordinate R of amplitude/phase of ideal .pi./4 shift QPSK signal, and coordinate S of amplitude/phase of actually measured .pi./4 shift QPSK signal.
Generally, the ratio of (absolute value of vector amplitude error 182)/(absolute value of amplitude of ideal signal 181) is called the modulation precision, and it is used as the evaluation scale in the digital signal transmission system. In the RCR (Research & Development Center of Radio System) standard, the modulation precision of transmission signal is specified to be within 12.5%.
Thus, in the digital transmission system, it is important to realize the transmission path capable of obtaining a response of small code error by eliminating the inter-code interference to the impulse signal, and the roll-off filter is known as a most representative filter capable realizing such impulse response. By using this roll-off filter as the intermediate frequency filter in a communication appliance in digital radio transmission system, the code error rate derived from inter-code interference can be reduced also in the digital radio transmission system.
The roll-off filter suited to digital signal transmission mentioned so far can be, of course, composed easily by using individual parts such as inductors and capacitors, and has been used conventionally. Such LC filter, however, composed by using inductors (L) and capacitors (C) has its limit in downsizing, and cannot satisfy sufficiently the demand of the days of miniaturization of communication appliances, and it is already a past item.
Accordingly, ever since piezoelectric properties are recognized in ceramic elements made of barium titanate (BaTiO.sub.3), piezoelectric ceramic materials becoming capable of selecting freely the dielectric constant, piezoelectric properties, mechanical quality coefficient, temperature characteristic and others as a result of development of composition called three-component PZT come to be used widely as material for resonators owing to many features as compared with other piezoelectric materials, such as large piezoelectric property, large dielectric constant, wide range of characteristic obtained by varying the composition, free forming of shape, high stability, mass producibility, low cost, suitability to downsizing, and many others.
Therefore, this piezoelectric ceramic material can be used as the material for intermediate frequency filter in 450 Hz band used in a digital mobile communication appliance, and hitherto ceramic filters composed by using piezoelectric ceramic materials have been widely used as intermediate frequency filters in digital mobile communication appliances.
The conventional intermediate frequency filter composed of such ceramic filter has been used widely for the purpose of downsizing in the mobile communication appliances in digital radio transmission system, and is presently used as intermediate frequency filter, but in this ceramic filter, assuming the deviation of frequency by temperature characteristic and the like, the 3 dB passing band of .+-.10.5 kHz is designed somewhat wider, and a resistor is externally fitted to the resonator in order to decrease the group delay deviation, and the modulation precision of the required limit is achieved by such means in most cases. When using the filter of such kind in the digital transmission system, at the present, there is almost no information useful and practical for its design and manufacture, and, although the size can be reduced, the design is difficult and manufacture is not easy.
In general radio frequency signal transmission system such as digital signal transmission system using a radio signal frequency signal, such a ceramic filter is generally used only at the reception side as an intermediate frequency filter, and therefore in the digital radio transmission system, owing to the above problems, it was extremely difficult to realize the root roll-off characteristic at the reception side where the intermediate frequency filter composed of such ceramic filter is used.

Ladder type intermediate frequency filter

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A heat-exchanger tube block is disclosed having at least two header tubes (6, 7), which are C-shaped in cross section and each of which has a continuous longitudinal slot (10, 11). Flat tubes (2a, 2b) are inserted into the header-tube longitudinal slots. A cover-plate element (12) is provided which has a plurality of C-shaped openings and is fitted over one end of the at least two header tubes, so that the header tubes respectively fit into one of the openings and are secured in a fluid-tight manner. The tube-block can be used, for example, in an evaporator of CO2 air-conditioning installations for a motor vehicle.

The right of priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119(a) is claimed based on German Patent Application No. 101 05 202.2, filed Jan. 31, 2001, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to a heat-exchanger tube block comprising at least two header tubes, each having a C-shaped cross section and having a continuous longitudinal slot, and flat tubes inserted into the header-tube longitudinal slots. Tube blocks of this type are employed, for example, in heat exchangers for motor vehicle air-conditioning installations.
DE 198 462 67 A1 describes such a heat-exchanger tube block, which includes a stack of straight flat tubes whose ends are inserted into one longitudinal slot on each of two header tubes. The header tubes are arranged in parallel along two mutually opposite block sides. The header tubes can be manufactured from respective tube blanks, in which the continuous longitudinal slot is inserted by milling or the like or is manufactured by bending a respective sheet-metal strip around into the desired C cross-sectional shape. A cup-shaped sleeve is fitted over the appropriate end of the header tube, as an end cover. On the one hand, the bottom of this cup-shaped sleeve axially covers the header tube and on the other hand, by means of a corresponding side wall region, it radially covers a part of the longitudinal slot which is possibly still free and is not completely filled by the inserted flat-tube ends.
In certain applications, a plurality of header tubes are arranged close to one another. As an example, DE 197 29 497 A1 discloses an evaporator tube block having serpentine-shaped flat tubes whose ends are fitted into a common connecting tube. The connecting tube includes two parallel, abutting header tubes as integrated constituent parts. In the usual manner, one of these header tubes functions as the actual collector-tube (outlet) duct and the other as the distributor-tube (inlet) duct.
One principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel heat-exchanger tube block that can be manufactured with relatively little expense and/or complexity and yet possesses the necessary fluid-tightness and pressure resistance, so that it can be used, e.g., in a CO2-based automotive air-conditioning system.
A further object of the invention is to provide an automotive air-conditioning system embodying the improved heat exchanger tube block according to the invention.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there has been provided a heat-exchanger tube block, comprising: at least two header tubes, each of which has a C-shaped cross section defining an inner flow cross-section and a continuous longitudinal slot therein; at least two flat tubes inserted into the header-tube longitudinal slots; and a first cover-plate element having a plurality of C-shaped openings therein, the first cover-plate element being applied to a first end of the at least two header tubes, such that each header tube respectively fits into one of the openings and is secured therein in a fluid-tight manner.
In a preferred embodiment, the tube block further comprises a second cover-plate element applied to a second end of the at least two header tubes. The second cover-plate element has a plurality of openings for fitting over each respective header tube, such that the openings leave the inner header-tube flow cross section at least partially open.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there has been provided an automotive air-conditioning system comprising a heat exchanger having a tube block, wherein the tube block comprises the improved tube block described above.
Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of preferred embodiments that follows, when considered together with the accompanying figures of drawing.

Heat-exchanger tube block with a plurality of slotted header tubes


A method for treating zeolite particles to remove organic templating agent therefrom is accomplished by calcining the zeolite particles in a fluidized-bed at a temperature of no more than about 600° C. for a period of time sufficient to remove at least about 50% of the organic templating agent.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a method of treating zeolite, and particularly to a method of calcining a zeolite to remove organic templating agent therefrom.
2. Background of the Art
Zeolites and molecular sieves are generally used in a wide variety of catalytic procedures. In general, zeolites and molecular sieves may be prepared by a procedure which involves forming the structure from a reaction mixture that includes silica and alumina, and often with an organic structure directing agent (often referred to as a "template" or "templating agent") such as, but not limiting to linear amines, linear diamines, and quaternary ammonium salts. As an example, such quaternary ammonium salt may be tetraethylammonium hydroxide. The organic structure directing agent can be removed from the resultant zeolite by a heat treatment process, often referred to as "calcination", at an elevated temperature. The acid form of the formed zeolite structure or molecular sieve is then produced by ion exchange, such as, but not limited to, ammonium exchange, followed by further calcination. In some processes, the ammonium exchange step occurs before the calcination, thereby simplifying the sequence of steps. In many cases, the (additional) heat treatment, also referred to as calcination, is executed subsequent to a forming step. In this forming or shaping step, the zeolite or molecular sieve is produced into a shape to allow use in for example fixed bed catalytic operation.
In prior methods of calcining the zeolite is heated in tray calciners or in rotary calciners to remove the templating agent. However, the known methods suffer from drawbacks. In particular, it is possible to develop hot spots of uneven temperature. These hot spots result in a non-uniform organic decomposition and low activity product. Moreover, decomposition or combustion of the organic template can produce water vapor, which results in steaming in certain regions. Steaming can result in localized dealumination of the catalyst, with a change in acid sites and catalyst activity. Such irregularities can adversely affect catalyst performance in certain conversion processes.
In the current art, it has been recognized that the state or characteristics of the zeolite or molecular sieve may be effected by the final heat treatment step. However, it has not been recognized that, in the heat treatment to remove the organic structure directing agent, the performance of the zeolite or molecular sieve is affected significantly by changing the state or characteristics of the zeolite or molecular sieve materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,570 teaches that the catalytic activity of zeolite beta can be improved by activating the formed zeolite by heating at elevated temperatures of from about 600° C. to 675° C. in order to reduce so-called "strong" acid sites. In accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,570, zeolite beta produced by conventional procedures is specifically treated to reduce acid sites to thereby increase catalyst activity.
Contrary to what is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,570, it has surprisingly been found that controlled heat treatment or calcination to remove the organic structure directing agent and exposure of the zeolite or molecular sieve during this treatment to average temperatures preferably below 600° C. is desired to create acid sites of a specific nature and strength. These created acid sites, as can be measured by the temperature controlled desorption of ammonia, are surprisingly found to significantly enhance catalytic performance in reactions, such as, but not limited to, hydrocarbon conversion technologies, and environmental abatement technologies.
What is needed is a method of catalyst preparation which avoids the drawbacks of prior calcining methods in order to achieve better catalyst performance.


A projection objective for a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus. The projection objective can project an image of a mask that can be set in position in an object plane onto a light-sensitive coating layer that can be set in position in an image plane. The projection objective can be designed to operate in an immersion mode, and it can produce at least one intermediate image. The projection objective can include an optical subsystem on the image-plane side which projects the intermediate image into the image plane with an image-plane-side projection ratio having an absolute value of at least 0.3.

Microlithography is used for the manufacture of micro-structured components such as for example integrated circuits or liquid crystal displays (LCDs). The microlithography process is performed in a so-called projection exposure apparatus which includes an illumination system and a projection objective. The image of a mask (also called a reticle) which is illuminated via the illumination system is projected via the projection objective onto a substrate (for example a silicon wafer) which is coated with a light-sensitive coating (for example a photoresist) and set up in the image plane of the projection objective, whereby the mask structure is transferred to the light-sensitive coating of the substrate.
In current types of microlithography objectives, in particular immersion objectives with a numerical aperture value (NA) not exceeding 1.0, there is more and more a desire to use materials of a high refractive index, in particular for the last optical element on the image side. In this context, a refractive index is referred to as being high if it exceeds the value for quartz at the given wavelength, i.e., approximately 1.56 at a wavelength of 193 nm. A number of materials are known whose refractive indices at DUV (deep ultraviolet) and VUV (vacuum ultraviolet) wavelengths (<250 nm) are larger than 1.6, for example magnesium spinel (MgAl2O4), which has a refractive index of approximately 1.87 at 193 nm, or lutetium aluminum garnet (Lu3Al5O12), which has a refractive index of about 2.14 at 193 nm.
An issue encountered in using these materials as lens materials is that due to their cubic crystallographic structure they exhibit intrinsic birefringence of increasing magnitude the shorter the wavelength. For example in magnesium spinel, measurements have shown a retardation of 52 nm/cm due to intrinsic birefringence, and for lutetium aluminum garnet a retardation of 30.1 nm/cm. The term "retardation" in this context means the difference between the respective optical path lengths for two orthogonal (i.e., mutually perpendicular) states of polarization.

Projection objective of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus


A programmable aerosol generator forms a volatilized liquid by supplying a material in liquid form to a flow passage and heating the flow passage, such that the material volatilizes and expands out of an outlet of the channel. The volatilized material, if desired, mixes with ambient air such that volatilized material condenses to form the aerosol. An apparatus and method for generating such a volatilized liquid, as well as the control and methods of heating, are disclosed as an analytical tool useful for experimental use, a tool useful for production of commercial products or an inhaler device.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a flexible platform that generates aerosols and vapors through the volatilization of a liquid for laboratory testing and development of applications for volatilized liquids.
2. Description of Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,251, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses an aerosol generator that includes a tube having a first open end. The aerosol generator further includes a heater for heating the tube to a temperature sufficient to volatilize material in a liquid form in the tube such that the volatilized material expands out of the open end of the tube and mixes with ambient air to form an aerosol.
An aerosol generator 21 according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,251 is schematically shown with reference to FIG. 1. The aerosol generator 21 includes a tube 23 having an open end 25. A heater 27 is positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the tube 23, but preferably in a way that provides a heated zone around the tube that maximizes heat transfer evenly throughout the heated zone. The heater 27 is connected to a power supply 29, preferably a DC power supply, such as a battery.
In operation, a material (not shown) in liquid form is introduced to the tube 23. The heater 27 heats the portion of the tube 23 to a sufficient temperature to volatilize the liquid material. In the case of an organic liquid material, the heater preferably heats the liquid material just to the boiling point of the liquid material, and preferably maintains the surface temperature of the tube 23 below 400° C., as most organic materials are not stable when they are exposed to temperatures above that temperature for periods of time. The volatilized material expands out of the open end 25 of the tube 23. The volatilized material mixes with ambient air outside of the tube and condenses to form particles, thereby forming an aerosol.
The tube 23 is a capillary tube or a portion thereof having an inside diameter of between 0.05 and 0.53 millimeter and the inside diameter of the tube can be approximately 0.1 millimeter. The tube 23 can be a portion of a fused silica capillary column, an aluminum silicate ceramic tube, or other substantially non-reactive materials capable of withstanding repeated heating cycles and generated pressures and having suitable heat conduction properties. If desired or necessary, an inside wall of the tube 23 may be provided with a coating for reducing the tendency of material to stick to the wall of the tube, which may result in clogging.
The tube 23 may be closed at a second end 31 and material in liquid form may be introduced into the tube 23 through the open end 25 when it is desired to form an aerosol. Thus, when the liquid material is heated by the heater 27, the volatilized material is only able to expand by exiting the tube 23 through the open end 25. However, the second end 31 of the tube is connected to a source 33 (shown by dotted lines in FIG. 1) of liquid material. The liquid material in the portion of the tube 23 volatilized by the heater 27 is prevented from expanding in the direction of the second end 31 of the tube, and is forced out of the open end 25 of the tube, as a result of back pressure of liquid from the source 33 of liquid material. The back pressure of the liquid is between about 20 to 30 psi.
It is contemplated that a variety of uses can be developed for the aerosol generator described above. In order to investigate such uses, it would be desirable to have an instrument capable of generating vapors and aerosols to be evaluated.

Method and apparatus for generating a volatilized liquid


A prostaglandin analog with selectivity to EP receptors and demonstrating EP agonist activity that may be used to expand hematopoietic stem cell populations or to treat or prevent influenza, bone fracture, bone disease, glaucoma, ocular hypertension, dysmenorrhoea, pre-term labor, immune disorders, osteoporosis, asthma, allergy, male sexual dysfunction, female sexual dysfunction, periodontal disease, gastric ulcer, renal disease, or other EP receptor-mediated conditions.

Prostanoids are ubiquitous lipid mediator biomolecules involved in numerous physiological processes, such as the contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle, vasodilation, vasoconstriction, pain, regulation of blood pressure, and modulation of inflammation. Prostanoids are a family of eicosanoids that comprise prostaglandins (PGs), prostacyclins (PGIs), and thromboxanes (Txs). Their receptors belong to the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily of receptors and may be grouped into five classes, namely, prostaglandin D (DP), prostaglandin E (EP), prostaglandin F (FP), prostaglandin I (IP), and Thromboxane A (TP) based on their sensitivity to five naturally occurring prostanoids, PGD2, PGE2, PGF2α, PGI2, and TxA2, respectively (Coleman, R. A., Prostanoid Receptors. IUPHAR Compendium of Receptor Characterization and Classification, 2nd Edition, 338-353, 2000). EP receptors have been characterized into four subtypes EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4. Each subtype has been cloned and is distinct at both a molecular and pharmacological level.
Prostanoids are synthesized from essential fatty acids comprising twenty carbon atoms, such as arachidonic acid and 8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid. Prostanoids are synthesized in response to both extracellular and intracellular stimuli and are then rapidly released from the cells. In general, the short half-lives of most prostanoids ensure they act near the sites of their biosynthesis.
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a potent endogenous EP receptor agonist derived from arachidonic acid and possesses two carbon-carbon double bonds, one in each the α-chain and ω-chain, and is thus called a "Series 2" prostaglandin.
Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) is derived from 8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid and possesses only one carbon-carbon double bond, located in the co-chain, and is thus called a "Series 1" prostaglandin.
Both prostanoid and non-prostanoid EP receptor agonists are known. EP receptor agonists may have a number of utilities. These include, but are not limited to treatment of influenza (WO 2008/058766), bone fracture healing (Li, M., et al., J. Bone Miner. Res., 18(11), 2003, 2033-2042; Paralkar, V. M., PNAS, 100(11), 2003, 6736-6740; WO 2002/24647; WO 1998/27976), bone disease (WO 2002/24647), glaucoma (WO 2008/015517; WO 2007/027468; WO 2003/040126), ocular hypertension (WO 2003/040126), dysmenorrhoea (WO 2003/037433), pre-term labor (GB 2 293 101), immune disorders (WO 2003/037433), osteoporosis (WO 1998/27976; WO 2001/46140), asthma (WO 2003/037433), allergy (WO 2003/037433), fertility (Breyer, R. M., et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 905, 2000, 221-231), male sexual dysfunction (WO 2000/40248), female sexual dysfunction (U.S. Pat. No. 6,562,868), periodontal disease (WO 2000/31084), gastric ulcer (U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,347), and renal disease (WO 1998/34916). EP receptor agonists may also be useful for expansion of hematopoietic stem cell populations (WO 2008/073748; North, T. E., et al., Nature, 447, 2007, 1007-1011).

Prostaglandin E1 and E2 analogs for the treatment of various medical conditions


Foreign substances adhered to a focal plane shutter are shaken off by vibrationally driving the shutter a plurality of times in succession while the focal plane shutter, which controls the incidence of light on a photoelectric transducer converting an optical image of a photographic object into an electrical signal, shields the photoelectric transducer from light incident thereon. In other words, implementing vibrational removal of adhered foreign substances by means of overloading the focal plane shutter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology for removing dust and other foreign substances adhered to a focal plane shutter in an optical device such as a digital camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, the presence of dust in the vicinity of the focal plane of a shooting lens used in a lens-exchangeable type of digital single-lens reflex camera created a problem because the dust projected its shadow onto a solid-state image sensing device. Such dust is believed to find its way from the outside when lenses are exchanged, or to be produced as fine abrasive dust consisting of resin and other structural member materials as a result of movement of the shutter and mirrors in the camera. If such dust entered the space between the cover glass used for the protection of the solid-state image sensing device and the optical filters, such as an infrared cutoff filter or a low-pass optical filter, etc., which were arranged in front of the cover glass, the camera had to be taken apart in order to remove the dust. Accordingly, methods used to address the problem consisted in creating a sealed structure adapted to prevent dust from entering the space between the optical filters and the cover glass of the solid-state image sensing device.
However, the problem was that the dust adhered to the surface of the side of the optical filter opposite the solid-state image sensing device and, when it was in the vicinity of the focal plane, the dust created a shadow that still ended up being projected onto the solid-state image sensing device. The mechanism, whereby dust adheres to the surface of the side (lens unit side) of the optical filter opposite the solid-state image sensing device is believed to be as follows.
A focal plane shutter is usually arranged in extended condition (in which the shutter is closed) in front of the optical filter. Therefore, a structure is created, in which dust generated for the above-described reasons does not directly adhere to the optical filter. Namely, it is believed that, after adhering to the extended shutter blades, the dust generated for the above-mentioned reasons is scattered by the opening/closing operation of the shutter and adheres to the optical filter by passing through the shutter when it is opened.
In view of this problem, a double light-shielding system shutter, which is constructed with a view to impede the adhesion of dust to the optical filter, was proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 08-211445. It has shutter blades reduced in weight in order to raise the travel speed of the shutter blades and is adapted to increase shielding with the help of two groups of blades maintained in extended condition while in the shooting-ready state in order to avoid shielding-related problems caused by the thinning of the shutter blades. In accordance with this construction, even if the dust is scattered as a result of a shutter release operation first actuating the shutter blade group that has dust adhered thereto, another shutter blade group on the optical filter side is in an extended condition. Therefore, even if the scattered dust moves towards the optical filter, the latter is shielded by the shutter blade group maintained in the extended condition and the dust cannot reach the optical filter, which prevents the dust from adhering to the optical filter. Moreover, since the shutter blade group on the optical filter side, which had little dust adhesion, is actuated after actuating the first shutter blade group, the construction makes it possible to greatly reduce the amount of dust adhered to the optical filter in comparison with the focal plane shutter of the above-mentioned conventional construction.
In addition, Japanese Patent No. 3576703 disclosed shutter overloading as an operation performed in an optical device in order to increase shutter speed.
In the double light-shielding system shutter described in Japanese Patent Application No. 08-211445, dust adhesion to the optical filter cannot be completely prevented if the operation of the other shutter blade group starts before dust scattered by the initially actuated shutter blade group completely settles. Moreover, the need for special operations to ensure that the two groups of blades are in extended condition for the purpose of shielding in the shooting-ready state has led to problems due to the increased time lag between pressing the release button and the start of shooting.

Optical device and method for removing foreign substances from the optical device


A computer system includes a processor, a memory, first and second graphical processors that have different operating characteristics, a switching mechanism coupled to the graphical processors, and a display coupled to the switching mechanism. The switching mechanism is configured to couple a given graphical processor to the display, and is initially configured to couple the first graphical processor to the display. Furthermore, a program module, which is stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the processor, is configured to change a configuration of the switching mechanism thereby decoupling the first graphical processor from the display and coupling the second graphical processor to the display. Note that the changing of the configuration and switching module operations are configured to occur while an operating system is running and are based on the operating condition of the computer system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to power management techniques for computer systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to electronic circuits, processes, and software that facilitate switching between graphics processing units for power management purposes.
2. Related Art
Power management is already critically important for many electronic devices. For example, portable devices such as laptop computers (notebook PCs), cellular telephones, and personal digital assistants need to conserve power in order to operate for any length of time on battery power. Power management is also important for computer systems that directly or indirectly operate on A/C power to meet strict power-usage requirements for ENERGY STAR qualification.
At the same time, many of these electronic devices are beginning to incorporate high-resolution, high-power graphics technology. Rapid developments in this area have led to significant advances in 2D and 3D graphics technology that provides users with increasingly sophisticated visual experiences in everything from graphical user interfaces to realistic gaming environments. Underlying many of these improvements is the development of dedicated graphics-rendering devices, which are also referred to as "graphics processing units" (GPUs). A typical GPU has a highly parallel structure that efficiently manipulates graphical objects by rapidly performing a series of primitive operations and displaying the resulting images on graphical displays.
Unfortunately, there are costs associated with these increased graphics capabilities. In particular, these capabilities can significantly increase power consumption. As a consequence, many computer systems and portable devices devote a significant amount of their power to support these GPUs, which decreases battery life and causes heat dissipation problems.
Furthermore, existing approaches to managing such power consumption issues are often inadequate. For example, many devices are configured to save power by entering a power saving mode of operation (which is also known as "sleep mode" or "stand-by mode") when they are not being used. During sleep mode, unnecessary components (such as the display and disk drive) are powered down to a low-power state. When a power-up or wake-up command is received, the device returns to its former operating status. Unfortunately, many existing GPUs are not configured to conserve power by transitioning to such a low-power mode of operation during "idle" periods. And even when configured to their lowest power state, other GPUs continue to consume significant amounts of power. As a consequence, even when a user is reading a static document on the display the active GPU may be maintained in a high-power state.
To address this problem, one existing laptop computer allows a user to statically configure the computer (by flipping a switch) to select a given GPU prior to booting the device. While this approach allows the user to choose a low-power, low-performance GPU or a high-performance GPU, the user must be able to predict graphical processing needs in advance. Furthermore, in order to change the configuration, the user must reboot the computer. Hence, this technique is unable to accommodate rapid changes in graphical processing needs or power consumption requirements that can occur during system operation.
Hence, what is needed is a GPU power management technique that overcomes the problems listed above.

Multiplexed graphics architecture for graphics power management


A tank cleaning apparatus is steered by an operator for cleaning the inside of a tank includes a connector operable with a vacuum removal system. The apparatus includes a cutter head that is rotationally driven to cut into settled solid material and to move the solid material to an area where suction from the vacuum system removes the material from the tank.

Vacuum trucks have come into common usage in the field of industrial cleaning. This field includes, for illustrative purposes, tank cleaning, cleaning of processing machinery, pits, open-areas, and, in some cases, spillage. Examples of vacuum truck systems that are designed for various end uses can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,112,439; 5,195,852; and 4,200,950.
Many advances have been made in vacuum truck systems to improve their effectiveness and versatility in cleaning projects. The vacuum units themselves have seen improvements in suctioning power and the like.
In addition to general technological advances related to the actual vacuum system, accessories have been developed to increase the usefulness of the vacuum truck system, such as special sewer-service hoses and cleaning nozzles, containment boxes to receive vacuumed product, and receiving tanks for vacuum trucks which are capable of elevating and dumping material.
Notwithstanding that vacuum trucks are known to be suitable for use in tank cleaning, and notwithstanding the rather substantial investment required to acquire a vacuum truck system and one or more of the noted accessories, there has been essentially no effort to provide means disposed in the tank itself for more efficiently using a vacuum truck in tank cleaning operations. The "in tank" equipment commonly employed includes a traditional vacuum hose with a stick taped to it with masking tape, so that the stick can be moved through settled solid or semi-solid material to break up the material, which is then vacuumed away by the hose. In addition, picks, shovels, and rakes have been brought into the tank being cleaned to handle and move material to be vacuumed through the hose.
A principal advantage in using a vacuum truck system for cleaning is that the system rapidly moves material when it is introduced into the vacuum hose. Heretofore, in tank cleaning operations, the full effectiveness of a vacuum truck system has not been attained. The manual process of breaking up and moving the material to the vacuum hose with sticks, picks, shovels or rakes is slow, and the vacuum truck system is capable of handling and removing much more material than is manually prepared for removal by the vacuum system.
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an apparatus to be used inside a tank in a tank cleaning operation which utilizes a greater amount of the capacity of a vacuum removal system.
It is a further important object of the present invention to provide a tank cleaning apparatus that replaces most manual efforts in preparing material in the tank for removal by a vacuum removal system.


A power consumption calculating apparatus includes a receiving unit, a specifying unit, a determining unit, an average calculating unit, an estimating unit, and a power consumption calculating unit. The receiving unit receives data of a target circuit. The specifying unit specifies a sequential circuit in the circuit. The determining unit, by developing a sequential circuit to a combinational circuit, determines a clock cycle to be input into the combinational circuit. The average calculating unit calculates the average number of transition after the number of transition of 2N-clock cycle is calculated. The estimating unit estimates the estimated number of transition. And the power consumption calculating unit calculates the maximum power consumption.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology for calculating power consumption of a circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, semiconductor integrated circuits (IC) are becoming to have high-density, large-scale, and high processing speed. Along with such progress, power consumption of the semiconductor IC has increased. To decrease the power consumption, it is necessary to precisely calculate power consumption of a semiconductor IC to design the semiconductor IC.
A method of calculating power consumption of a semiconductor IC has been proposed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2001-265847. According to the method, a power consumption calculating apparatus, by simulating a semiconductor IC, searches a node and an output terminal in the semiconductor IC of which logic values are unknown. The apparatus uniquely defines a signal level for the node and the output terminal based on the real semiconductor IC. Thus, the apparatus estimates power consumption of the semiconductor IC. However, with a conventional power consumption calculating technique, it is difficult to precisely calculate the power consumption at the designing stage. For example, power consumption of a semiconductor IC depends on data input into the semiconductor IC. The conventional apparatus calculates the power consumption while the semiconductor IC performs various operations, and therefore, the calculated power consumption is overestimated. Therefore, burden on a designer and a design period increase.
According to the power consumption calculating apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2001-265847, the apparatus can not precisely calculate power consumption because the apparatus uniquely defines a signal level for the node and the output terminal having unknown logic value. Therefore, burden on a designer and a design period increase.

Method and apparatus for calculating power consumption, and computer product


A device for facilitating the performance of a medical procedure in a cavity bounded by a tissue. The device has a body with a first opening therethrough to define a first passageway for a medical instrument to be directed from externally of the cavity through an opening in the tissue to the cavity, and an exposed surface that can be placed against the tissue around the opening therethrough with the device in an operative state relative to the tissue. A second opening through the body defines a second passageway through which a tying instrument can be directed from externally of the tissue through the body and into the cavity bounded by the tissue. A first repositionable element is movable between first and second positions relative to the body. In the first position, the first repositionable element allows a suturing thread to be placed into and removed from a holding position. In the second position, the first repositionable element captively maintains a suturing thread in the holding position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to medical instruments and procedures and, more particularly, to a medical device that can be used to assist the performance of an internal medical procedure and/or the closing of a tissue opening and a method of using this device.
2. Background Art
Many of the procedures performed by open laparotomy are currently performed by operative laparoscopy. With increased applications of advanced operative laparoscopy, surgeons are experiencing an increased incidence of herniations through laparoscopy sleeved cannula sites. To prevent this complication there is a developing consensus to close the surgical defect associated with the insertion of laparoscopy cannulas 10 mm or greater in outside diameter. Although rare, sliding hernias have been reported with 5 mm laparoscopy cannulas.
Numerous needles and other devices have been developed to accomplish full thickness closure of the abdominal wall at the operative site of cannula insertion. However, the use of such devices has been associated with a certain degree of difficulty. If the device is used while the cannula is still in place, it is cumbersome to introduce the device between the cannula and the skin, because the cannula is tightly apposed to the skin margins of the incision. This is done to penetrate the abdominal wall excluding the skin. Furthermore, obtaining a suitable tissue purchase i.e. further away from the edge of the fascial defect, is technically difficult. On the other hand, if the cannula is tilted within the incision to improve access to the deeper layers of the abdominal wall, the pneumoperitoneum gas escapes rapidly through the less than tight application. Loss of the pneumoperitoneum gas makes the process of penetrating the abdominal wall with a sharp object extremely dangerous; because the bowel becomes quickly situated immediately under the abdominal wall. Therefore, this process has to be accomplished very quickly, without regard to accurate device placement within the abdominal wall.
If the closing device is applied after the laparoscopy cannula has been removed, the pneumoperitoneum gas escapes very rapidly through the open incision precluding any chance of a full thickness closure. Therefore, a device with a plug must be used to seal the incision and maintain the pneumoperitoneum while placing the full-thickness closing sutures.

Device for closing an opening in tissue and method of closing a tissue opening using the device


A remote control system is disclosed for use with vehicles having radios. A irst vehicle has a controller attached to the radio for use in sending signals to a second vehicle. The second, remotely controlled, vehicle has a receiver connected to the vehicle radio which receives commands from the first radio to effect the desired motion and action of the second vehicle. The receiver and controller have circuitry which allows them to be reprogrammed to function on various military vehicles and also be attached to the different radio systes in use by the U.S. Military.

1. Field of the Invention
In one aspect this invention relates to the remote control of vehicles. In a further aspect this invention relates to the control of military vehicles.
2. Prior Art
As the lethality of the modern battlefield increases it has become more and more desirable to send remotely controlled vehicles in place of men. As an example, when it is desired to clear a mine field or other battle ground containing unexploded ordnance, a tank or other heavy military vehicle equipped with a mine plow or similar ordnance detonating device could be moved over the dangerous ground clearing a path for humans without exposing people to the ordnance danger.
The remote control of a moveable item is not new, remote control airplanes being one example. However, such devices are limited in scope in that they require specific controls which must be installed in the item during manufacture and which are dedicated to a particular function. Further the sending controller devices are dedicated and can only provide signals to one type of reception control device. Such devices are not readily reprogrammable to fit a variety of vehicles having varying controls and operating modes. For example the military uses both tracked and wheeled vehicles in its day to day operations with existing radios which should be used if an existing vehicle is to be modified quickly and cheaply to either a slave or command vehicle. The problem is compounded by the fact the military uses both analog and digital radio systems. While the vehicles of a given military unit will all use the same radio, a desirable device should be transferable between units with different type radios.
A further problem is the operating characteristics and controls are markedly different between the various military vehicles and a controller which was dedicated to one type of vehicle would not provide the proper control for the other types of vehicles. It is desirable to have a controller which can be reprogrammed to control the desired vehicle and which will have a corresponding receiver modifiable to control the wide variety of vehicles in the military inventory.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


A stair climbing vehicle that is able to stably climb stairs is provided. In order to keep the balance of the stair climbing vehicle at the time of climbing the stairs, the ratio between a gravity center moving control gain for the stair climbing vehicle and a turning control gain for first wheels and second wheels is changed by controlling the rotation of a first motor of each first turning actuator. Thus, it is possible to slightly turn the first wheels and the second wheels based on the posture of an occupant seated on the stair climbing vehicle when the occupant climbs the stairs with the stair climbing vehicle, thereby preventing the posture of the occupant from being unstable. Thus, the stair climbing vehicle is able to stably climb the stairs.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a stair climbing vehicle that is able to climb stairs while carrying a load such as a person or an object.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, Japanese Patent No. 4734038 describes a stair climbing vehicle including supporting portions by which four wheels are rotatably supported, a main body portion by which the supporting portions are turnably supported, and sliding mechanisms that move the supporting portions and the main body portion relative to each other in the front-rear direction. When the stair climbing vehicle climbs up stairs with a load placed on an upper face of the main body portion, the main body portion is moved while the supporting portions are turned.
Japanese Patent No. 4574016 describes a stair climbing vehicle including supporting portions by which four wheels are rotatably supported, a main body portion by which the supporting portions are turnably supported, and a load-carrying portion that is fixed to upper portions of the supporting portions and on which a person is able to be seated. When the stair climbing vehicle climbs up stairs with a person seated on the load-carrying portion, the supporting portions and the main body portion are turned relative to each other.
When each of the stair climbing vehicles described in Japanese Patent No. 4734038 and Japanese Patent No. 4574016 climbs up stairs, the main body portion oscillates back and forth about the supporting portions. Thus, the position of a load placed on the upper face of the main body portion or the position of a person seated on the load-carrying portion may be unstable.