A storage media library device includes a media drive unit which writes and reads information on storage media, a media storage unit which stores the storage media, a robot which transports the storage media between the media drive unit and the media storage unit, a robot control unit which controls the storage media transport operation of the robot, and a vibration detection unit which detects occurrence of vibrations. The robot control unit is controlled by a library control unit, wherein if occurrence of vibrations is detected by the vibration detection unit during the robot transports the storage media, the robot control unit causes the robot to stop the storage media transport operation, and when subsidence of the vibrations is detected within a predefined time period preset in a storage media transport command and monitored by the library control unit, the robot control unit causes the robot to resume.

Conventionally, a storage media library device contains a media drive unit which writes and reads data to and from a plurality of storage media such as magnetic tapes, magneto-optical disks, or the like, and a media storage unit which stores the plurality of storage media in predesignated positions in a media storage rack. The storage media library device also contains in its cabinet a robot which transports the plurality of storage media between the media drive unit and the media storage unit. The robot in the storage media library device is equipped with a detection device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) used to read an identification code, such as a barcode attached to each storage medium, and to measure the relative positions of the robot with respect to the media drive unit and the media storage unit.
Based on the identification code read from each storage medium and the relative positions of the robot measured with respect to the media drive unit and the media storage unit by the detection device such as a CCD, the robot in the storage media library device is operated to take the storage medium from the media loading slot of the media drive unit and transport it for storing in the predesignated position in the media storage rack or to take the storage medium from the predesignated position in the media storage rack and transport it for loading into the media loading slot of the media drive unit (such operation will hereinafter be referred to as the storage media transport operation). The storage media transport operation of the robot is controlled by robot control firmware contained in the cabinet of the device. Various operations of the robot control firmware and storage media read/write operations of the media drive unit are centrally controlled by library control software in the host computer connected to the storage media library device. More specifically, the library control software issues to the robot control firmware a transport command for causing the robot to perform the storage media transport operation. The term "robot control firmware" used here refers to a combination of software and hardware necessary to control the complex mechanical components of the robot.
When a storage medium is being transported by the robot in the conventional storage media library device, if the storage media library device is subjected to vibrations due to the occurrence of an earthquake or the like, an error may occur in the action that the robot is performing to take the storage medium from the media drive unit or the media storage unit or to load or store the storage medium the robot is holding into the media drive unit or the media storage unit. If such an error occurs, the robot control firmware notifies the library control software in the host computer of an error. Upon reception of the error notification, the library control software instructs the robot control firmware to cause the robot to retry the same action (retry action). Then, the robot in the storage media library device tries to recover from the error that occurred during the transport of the storage medium, by performing the retry action a predetermined number of times in accordance with the instruction transferred from the robot control firmware.
When the vibration of the storage media library device caused by an earthquake or the like has subsided in a short time, the error recovery can be accomplished by causing the robot to perform the retry action such as described above. However, when the vibration of the storage media library device has persisted for a long time, if the robot is caused to perform the retry action the predetermined number of times, the storage media transport operation may not be completed normally. As a result, the chance of the storage media library device being caused to go down (i.e., to shut down), and hence the occurrence of a device down error, increases. When such a device down error occurs, a notification is sent to the library control software in the host computer, and the continued use of the storage media library device is rendered impossible under instruction from the library control software.
In this case, the storage media library device cannot be restored unless maintenance personnel (customer engineer (CE)) visits the place where the storage media library device is installed and repairs the storage media library device by replacing the affected unit(s) in the storage media library device and manually performing operations such as measuring the relative positions of the robot with respect to the media drive unit and the media storage unit. The problem is that the storage media library device needs maintenance/repair work carried out by maintenance personnel, which is time and labor consuming.
For reference purposes, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication Nos. 56-93865 and 03-91157 will be presented below as prior art documents concerning prior art storage media library devices.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 56-93865 discloses a cartridge access device for loading/unloading a magnetic tape cartridge and transporting it between a cartridge container and a magnetic recording/reading device by using an access mechanism, wherein the cartridge access device is equipped with a device for stopping the operation of the access mechanism upon detecting vibrations caused by an earthquake or the like. It is described that an accelerometer is provided as the device for stopping the operation of the access mechanism. However, in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 56-93865, no description is given as to the specific shape, mounting position, etc. of the accelerometer. Besides, in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 56-93865, no mention whatsoever is made of how the operation of the access mechanism is resumed by measuring the relative positions of the access mechanism with respect to the cartridge container and the magnetic recording/reading device and correcting any displacements in the relative positions after the vibrations caused by an earthquake or the like have subsided.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 03-91157 discloses a control method for a cartridge library device comprising a recording/reproduction unit which records and reproduces data on a cartridge-type recording medium, an accessor robot which automatically retrieves a selected cartridge from a container means containing a large number of cartridges and stores a selected cartridge in the container means, and a means for detecting seismic levels, wherein when an earthquake occurs, if the seismic level is lower than a specified value, the operation of the accessor robot is temporarily stopped and is resumed after the earthquake has subsided, but if the seismic level is higher than the specified value, a device failure notification is sent to a host system. While it is described in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 03-91157 that a seismic sensor is used as the means for detecting seismic levels, no description is given as to the specific shape, mounting position, etc. of the seismic sensor. Besides, in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 03-91157, no mention whatsoever is made of how the operation of the accessor robot is resumed by measuring the relative positions of the accessor robot with respect to the recording/reproduction unit and the container means and correcting any displacements in the relative positions after the earthquake has subsided.
As a result, neither Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 56-93865 nor No. 03-91157 can address the problems that occur when vibrations due to an earthquake or the like are encountered when a plurality of storage media such as magnetic tapes are being transported by the access mechanism or the accessor robot or the like using the prior art techniques.


A computer system having a CPU, a disk array system accessible by the CPU, and a disk array controller that includes error detection and connection logic. The disk array controller includes a processor and a memory system connected to signal lines carrying data bits, address bits, and check bits. An error detection and correction device is connected to detect and correct N-bit errors in the data bits using the check bits, N being greater than two. An error in the address bits is detected using the same check bits. The data bits are organized as multiple bytes, and the error detection and correction device is connected to detect and correct up to eight-bit errors in each byte and to detect a single-bit error or a two-adjacent-bit error in the address bits.

The invention relates to error detection and correction.
Error correction codes (ECCs) have been developed that both detect and correct certain types of errors. One class of ECC algorithm includes the "Hamming code," which is capable of detecting multibit errors and correcting single-bit errors. Another well known ECC algorithm is the "Reed-Solomon code," which is able to correct two-bit errors per word.
In D.C. Bossen, "B-Adjacent Error Correction," IBM J. Res. Develop., pp. 402-408 (July 1970), Reed-Solomon and Hamming type codes are described which are capable of correcting not only single-bit errors but also single clusters of multiple adjacent-bit errors.
Some disk array controllers made by Compaq Computer Corporation, such as those sold with the SMART2 disk array controllers, use an ECC algorithm (referred to as the SMART2 ECC algorithm) that protects 64 bits of data with 16 check bits. The SMART2 ECC code can detect and correct errors in 8 adjacent data bits within a single byte. The SMART2 ECC code was implemented to protect data written into and read from write cache buffers in the disk array controller.


An electroluminescent display panel includes a plurality of repeating units each including a first conductive layer, a first insulating layer including a first via hole, and an anode including a main body and an auxiliary portion. At least one repeating unit includes a first-color sub-pixel, a second-color sub-pixel, and a third-color sub-pixel; the area of the main body of the third-color sub-pixel is larger than that of the second-color sub-pixel and that of the first-color sub-pixel; and an overlapping area between the main body of the third-color sub-pixel and the first conductive layer is larger than that between the main body of the second-color sub-pixel and the first conductive layer, and the overlapping area between the main body of the third-color sub-pixel and the first conductive layer is larger than that between the main body of the first-color sub-pixel and the first conductive layer.

With continuous development of display technology, organic light emitting diode (OLED) display panels have been increasingly used in various electronic devices due to their advantages of self-luminescence, wide viewing angle, high contrast, low power consumption, high response speed, and the like. As people's requirements on OLED display panels increase, to achieve a high-resolution design in a display panel, an OLED display panel usually adopts an SPR pixel arrangement, that is, pixel borrowing.

Electroluminescent display module and display device with reduced color cast

Chengdu BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.


A plurality of film formation layers where film formation patterns are formed, respectively, interlayer films which are formed between the plurality of film formation layers, respectively, a plurality of sub-interlayer-film wiring patterns, which are formed in film formation layers beneath the planarized interlayer films of the interlayer films, a plurality of contact holes formed in the planarized interlayer films in order to connect the plurality of sub-interlayer-film wiring patterns and the film formation patterns of layers above the planarized interlayer films, and one or more dummy patterns which are formed on a plurality of positions under the plurality of contact holes and which are formed in one or more film formation layers under the plurality of sub-interlayer-film wiring patterns, respectively so as to control the positions of the surfaces of the plurality of sub-interlayer-film wiring patterns.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a substrate of a multilayer structure, especially a TFT substrate, and a substrate having a planarization layer suitable for a liquid crystal device, etc. using the TFT substrate and a manufacturing method thereof, and a substrate for an electro-optical device, and an electro-optical device.
2. Description of Related Art
A liquid crystal device is constructed by filling liquid crystal between two sheets of substrates, such as a glass substrate or quartz substrate. A liquid crystal device can display images by providing active elements, such as a thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as TFT) and pixel electrodes in a matrix shape on one substrate and counter electrodes (transparent electrodes (ITO (indium tin oxide))) on the other substrate, and changing optical properties of the liquid crystal layer filled between both substrates in response to image signals.
An electro-optical device, such as an active matrix addressed liquid crystal device using active elements, is configured by providing pixel electrodes and switching elements on a substrate (an active matrix substrate) to correspond to each intersection of a plurality of scan lines (gate lines) and data lines (source lines) which are arranged in longitudinal and transverse directions, respectively.
A switching element, such as a TFT element, is turned on by an ON signal applied to a gate line and writes an image signal applied through a source line into a pixel electrode (a transparent electrode (ITO)). In this way, voltage based on an image signal is applied to a liquid crystal layer between a pixel electrode and a counter electrode, thereby changing the array of liquid crystal molecules. In this way, a transmittance ratio of a pixel changes, and light passing through a pixel electrode and a liquid crystal layer changes according to the image signal, thereby performing image display.
Meanwhile, in a case where each element constituting an element substrate, such as a TFT substrate, is provided on one plane of a substrate, the occupying area of the element increases and the area of a pixel electrode part decreases, thus reducing the aperture ratio of a pixel. Therefore, in the related art a stacked structure has employed such that each element is divided into a plurality of layers and each film formation layer is electrically isolated by disposing an interlayer insulating film between each layer (film formation layer).
That is, an element substrate is constructed by stacking each film formation layer, such as a semiconductor thin film, an insulating thin film, or a conductive thin film with a predetermined pattern on a glass or quartz substrate. A TFT substrate is formed by repeatedly performing a variety of film formation steps and a photolithography step over every film formation layer. For instance, on a TFT substrate, film formation layers, such as a semiconductor layer, constituting a channel of a TFT element, a wiring layer, such as a data line, and a pixel electrode layer formed of an ITO film are stacked.
However, according to a film formation pattern of each layer, the surface of a stacked structure of film formation layers has irregularities. When such irregularities occur in a layer being in contact with a liquid crystal layer, defects tend to occur in the alignment of liquid crystal. Thus, in a lower layer of a layer adjacent to a liquid crystal layer, an interlayer insulating film may be planarized. For instance, an interlayer insulating film forming a lower layer of a pixel electrode layer is polished and planarized by CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) or the like.
While the variation in thickness of the respective layers falls within approximately 5% when CMP is not performed, the film thickness of the interlayer insulating film changes every portion thereof according to the irregularities of a film formation pattern, when CMP is performed. In this case, the variation in the film thickness reaches even 20-30%. When two film formation patterns on and beneath the interlayer insulating film are connected to each other, a contact hole is formed by making an opening in the interlayer insulating film and, through the contact hole, two film formation patterns on and beneath the interlayer insulating film are electrically connected to each other. Two or more types of film formation patterns may be formed in the same film formation layer, and two or more contact holes may be formed in a single interlayer insulating film.
When an interlayer insulating film is planarized by CMP, a contact hole formed in a relatively thicker portion of the interlayer insulating film is made different in depth from a contact hole formed in a thinner portion thereof. In this case, in etching to make an opening in the interlayer insulating film, only a shorter contact hole is completely opened. A longer contact hole is not completely opened by performing an etching step once. When the longer contact hole is completely opened, grounding wires of a lower layer to be connected through a shorter contact hole may be completely etched to be removed in an over-etching step. Specifically, a problem occurs that a plurality of contact holes formed in an interlayer insulating film are not opened by performing an etching step once when the interlayer insulating film is planarized by CMP.
Further, a situation occurs that when an interlayer insulating film is planarized by CMP, a portion of an interlayer insulating film becomes relatively thicker compared to the case where an interlayer insulating film is not planarized by CMP. When a contact hole is formed in the thick portion of the interlayer insulating film, the ratio of the depth of a contact hole to the length of bottom side of a contact hole, i.e., an aspect ratio, may be made relatively large. In this case, a problem occurs that the adhesion of a metal film in a contact hole becomes poor so that contact characteristics are deteriorated.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Substrate having a planarization layer and method of manufacture therefor, substrate for electro-optical device, electro-optical device, and electronic apparatus


A typing error correction method and a device implementing the same method are provided. A correction method includes the following: every time when a user inputs characters, a correlation between the newly input characters and the character substrings of the already input words having the same length as the newly input characters is calculated; in case the correlation exceeds a predetermined value, such character substring of already input word is registered in a correction candidate list; in case there is only one correction candidate in the list, the candidate substring in the list is replaced by the newly input characters according to correction command; in case there are more than one correction candidates in the list, a user's move command is input for selection, and the selected candidate substring is replaced by the newly input characters.

1. Field
The present invention is directed to a typing error correction method and a device implementing the same method. The method according to embodiments of the present invention can be applied to a keyboard input of personal computers as well as to a touch keypad input of smart phones and keypad input of all mobile devices (including feature phones).
2. Description of the Related Art
Typical typing error (e.g., typographical error) correction method when inputting characters (all types of inputtable characters including English characters, Korean characters, numbers, special characters, etc.) in personal computers or in mobile devices is to delete not only the word including a typing error but also all words between the word including the typing error and the current cursor location using deletion function key like backspace, and to retype the whole deleted words, or to move a cursor to the location where the typing error occurred using a mouse (in case of personal computers) or using a finger touch (in case of mobile devices) to correct the typing error.
When moving a cursor to the location where a typing error occurred by using a mouse or finger touch, a user should pay attention to indicating the exact location of the cursor. In case of mobile devices having a small display, additional features such as a magnifying glass function may be used to help user's cursor location indication. After moving the cursor to the accurate location right after the characters including the typing error, the user deletes the characters including the typing error by inputting (e.g., pressing) a delete function key. After such deletion, the user types correct characters. When changing a whole word to another word, the user should move the cursor to the location right after the word to be revised in the above manner, delete the whole characters in the word, and then type another word.
An auto-correction function was developed in an effort to reduce inconvenience caused by the above conventional typing error correction method. This function has been already commercialized, and works to automatically correct the word "A," which a user actually typed, to another word "B," when the machine decides that the word "A" contains a typing error and should be corrected to the word "B." Thus, it may help to reduce a user's effort to input a deletion function key and to type correct words again. Automatically corrected word "B" exists in a library of the machine, and is not required to be retyped by a user.
However, in the above auto-correction function, it is apparent that the automatically corrected word is not input by a user with the intention of correction, but is what the machine presumes that the user actually intended to input. Thus, problems may arise when the accuracy of presumption is not good enough. The problematic accuracy of presumption is partly because of the limited number of words registered in a library of the machine. Further, it is partly due to an inaccuracy occurring when the machine selects one correction candidate from among a plurality of correction candidates. These days, many users frequently use newly coined words or new abbreviations, which are not covered by the old library, in typing environment of personal computers and mobile devices. Thus, if the library is not frequently updated, the limitation of the library becomes more and more remarkable. For this reason, many users turn the auto-correction function off when they input characters, even though their devices (e.g., personal computers or mobile devices) are provided with the auto-correction function. For inputting non-English languages, users tend to more frequently turn the auto-correction function off. In particular, in case of Korean language, users do not generally care about spacing between words when they type particularly in mobile devices. Under such circumstances where words are not typed to be appropriately spaced from each other, it is very difficult for the machine to recognize actual typing errors and suitable replacement of typing errors. This is the reason why most users turn the auto-correction function off when inputting Korean language characters.

Typing error correction method and device implementing the same method


An image input and output apparatus such as a facsimile machine or multifunction printer recognizes a colored image pattern on an input document and processes the document according to the color of the image pattern. Information that can be encoded by the color of the image pattern includes an electronic mail address, facsimile number, or file server address to which an image of the document is to be sent, a folder in which the image is to be stored, or a number of copies of the image to be printed. The color recognition capability of the apparatus can thereby be used effectively even in the processing of basically black and white documents. Information may also be encoded by the shape of the colored image pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image input and output apparatus such as a facsimile machine or multifunction printer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image input and output apparatus of this type includes a scanner for scanning a document placed on or fed into the apparatus, and image processing and transmission circuitry for encoding the image data output from the scanner and transmitting the encoded data to a distant location as a facsimile image or by electronic mail. When electronic mail is used, the image data are transmitted as an attached image file. When the image input and output apparatus is a multifunction printer, the transmission may be routed through a host computer connected to the printer.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-320542 discloses an image input and output apparatus (an image processor) that can automatically transmit a scanned document to a distant party identified by information placed at, for example, the top of the document. The apparatus has character recognition means for recognizing character information in the scanned document, and a controller. The controller determines, from the content of the recognized character information and its position in the document, whether the information represents a facsimile number or electronic mail address, and initiates the appropriate type of transmission, so that the user does not have to enter the number or address by hand. The controller may also be able to recognize a postal address and use it as a key to retrieve a facsimile number from a database.
A disadvantage of this scheme is the requirement for documents to be formatted with the destination facsimile number or electronic mail address in a predetermined position. The use of optical character recognition, which is expensive and unreliable, is also a disadvantage.
It would be desirable to have a less expensive and more convenient and reliable way to acquire destination information from a document.

Image input and output apparatus selecting processing according to colored pattern


This indicator unit includes a light source portion and a lens member including a first reflecting portion reflecting light received from the light source portion in a prescribed direction, a second reflecting portion reflecting the light reflected by the first reflecting portion and light received from the light source portion in a front direction intersecting with the prescribed direction and a display portion displaying the light reflected by the second reflecting portion in the front direction. The light source portion is so arranged that the anteroposterior position thereof overlaps the second reflecting portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an indicator unit and a television set, and more particularly, it relates to an indicator unit comprising a light source portion and a display portion and a television set comprising a disk unit including this indicator unit.
2. Description of the Background Art
An indicator unit comprising a light source portion and a display portion is known in general, as disclosed in each of Japanese Patent Laying-Open Nos. 2005-4055, 2005-327548 and 9-127886 (1997), for example.
The aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-4055 discloses a light-emitting diode display (indicator unit) comprising a light-emitting diode (light source portion) and a display portion. In this light-emitting diode display, a sacrificial board having a plurality of openings is arranged between the display portion and the light-emitting diode, in order to enlarge a region of the display portion irradiated with light from the light-emitting diode. The light from the light-emitting diode progresses toward the display portion while causing interference when transmitted through the openings, whereby the region of the display portion irradiated with the light can be enlarged.
The aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-327548 discloses an indicator unit comprising a light-emitting diode (light source portion) and an LED lens including a display portion. In this indicator unit, the light-emitting diode is arranged on a position separating from the display portion in both of the depth direction of the indicator unit and a direction orthogonal to the depth direction. A photoreceiving portion so obliquely formed as to extend in the depth direction and the direction orthogonal to the depth direction from a portion around the front side (display direction) of the light-emitting diode toward the display portion is provided between the light-emitting diode and the display portion. This photoreceiving portion includes a fine corrugated shape on the surface closer to the light-emitting diode. Thus, light emitted from the light-emitting diode progresses toward the display portion in a diffusedly reflected state when transmitted through the photoreceiving portion, whereby a region of the display portion irradiated with the light can be enlarged.
The aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 9-127886 discloses an indicator unit comprising an LED (light source portion) and a display window (display portion). In this indicator unit, an LED lens is arranged between the LED and the display window, in order to enlarge a region of the display window irradiated with light from the LED. In this LED lens, a semicylindrical photoreceiving portion convexly bent with respect to the LED is provided on the side closer to the LED, and a light-emitting portion having a serrated surface is provided on the side closer to the display window. According to this structure, the light from the LED progresses toward the display window while diffusedly reflected when transmitted through the LED lens, whereby the region of the display window irradiated with the light can be enlarged.
In the light-emitting diode display described in the aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-4055, however, the sacrificial board including the plurality of openings must be provided between the light-emitting diode and the display portion in order to enlarge the region of the display portion irradiated with the light from the light-emitting diode, while a prescribed depth is required in order to enlarge the region of the display portion irradiated with the light from the light-emitting diode causing interference. Therefore, the depth of the light-emitting diode display must disadvantageously be increased.
In the indicator unit described in the aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-327548, the LED lens including the display portion and the photoreceiving portion is provided in order to enlarge the region of the display portion irradiated with the light from the light-emitting diode (LED), and the LED is arranged on the position separating from this LED lens in the depth direction. Therefore, the indicating unit has a depth corresponding to the sum of the depths of at least the LED lens and the LED, and hence the size of the indicator unit must disadvantageously be increased in the depth direction.
In the indicator unit described in the aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 9-127886, the LED lens including the semicylindrical photoreceiving portion and the light-emitting portion having the serrated surface must be arranged between the LED and the display window in order to enlarge the region of the display window irradiated with the light from the LED, and hence the distance between the LED and the display window is increased. Therefore, the depth of the indicator unit must disadvantageously be increased.


A method for removing elements, including heavy metals, from fly ash and from fly ash resulting from removal of SOx/NOx from flue gas using Na2CO3/NaHCO3/trona, is described. An aqueous suspension of the fly ash and/or a solution of the leachate from the fly ash is treated with dissolved ferrous compounds, such as FeSO4.7H2O and/or FeCl2.4H2O, at a chosen initial acidic pH, and the precipitation of the ferrous ions as the solution basifies sequesters the trace elements.

The production of energy from fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas generates large amounts of gaseous, liquid and solid wastes, including coal fly ash, which typically contains various toxic heavy metals. It is estimated that today more than 600 million tons of coal ash are produced annually, about 500 million tons (75-80%) in the form of airborne fly ash. The industrial utilization of fly ash worldwide today ranges from a minimum of 3% up to a maximum 57%, with an average of 16% of the total fly ash produced. A large amount of coal ash is still disposed of in landfills. Two different techniques are used for ash disposal. In the wet disposal technique, large quantities of fly ash are collected as wet slurry and disposed of in ash ponds. The second technique involves disposing of the ash in dry form as ash mounds.
The disposal of coal ash in ponds and landfills creates environmental problems, including the leaching of heavy and trace elements into ground and surface water. Some of these elements are toxic and cause numerous diseases in plants, animals and humans. Trace and heavy metals from different fly ashes into the environment, including arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, selenium, vanadium and other hazardous materials can leach from fly ash into the environment. Because of its heavy and trace element content, coal fly ash is an industrial byproduct that is recognized as an environmental pollutant.
Another byproduct of coal-fired power plants is SOx/NOx in flue gas, which can have serious negative impact on trees and plants. The abilities of soils in resisting and buffering acidity are determined by the thickness and composition of the soil along with the characteristics of bedrock beneath. Acid rain resulting from flue gas emission damages trees and plants by damaging their leaves, reducing the availability of nutrients, or increasing exposure to harmful substances in the soil. Therefore, the acidic gases in flue gas need to be removed. Conventional SOx/NOx removal methods use lime or limestone; however, the kinetics of the reactions between calcium materials (lime/limestone) and SOx/NOx is slow. Sodium based materials (Na2CO3NaHCO3/trona) can be used to overcome some shortcomings of calcium based SOx/NOx removal agents. The difficulty associated with sodium based SOx/NOx removal materials is that some trace elements or heavy metals, especially Arsenic (As) and Selenium (Se) in fly ashes become more leachable.
A simple, cost-effective approach for the remediation of fly ash associated with conventional lime-based desulfurization has not been available, since not all of the non-biodegradable heavy metals can be simultaneously removed under the same conditions. Increasing numbers of coal-fired power plants are using trona for desulfurization; however, the carbonate and bicarbonate introduced into the process by trona makes the heavy metals more leachable and difficult to remove.
Reducing the amount of fly ash released into the environment by taking advantage of its cementitious or binding characteristics for use as a construction material; the chemical remediation of fly ash; exploiting the high alkalinity of fly ash for use as a soil amendment; and removing leachable trace elements using different sorbents, have been proposed for addressing trona-associated coal fly ashes. Due to its high efficiency, ease of operation and the low cost and wide availability of sorbents, adsorption generally has been considered to be a promising technology; however, conventional adsorption technology does not work well such fly ashes, because of the complexity of its leachates.
The concentrations and types of heavy metals in fly ashes vary from one coal to another, such that methods for removal of heavy metals from fly ash likewise vary. Ion exchange, chemical precipitation, reverse osmosis, and solvent extraction have long been studied by many researchers. Nonetheless, it remains difficult to develop a cost-effective method that can simultaneously remove all toxic elements, particularly selenium, from fly ash associated with the use of trona for desulfurization in coal fired power plants.


A system for mounting a hybrid electronic component to a PC board is disclosed. The system includes a set of brackets for mutually engaging a first surface of the PC board and a cover surface of the hybrid electronic component, wherein the cover surface has an arcuate shape when in a vacuum environment. The brackets are designed with legs having lengths and thicknesses for providing clearance between the cover surface of the hybrid and the first surface of the PC board for use when the hybrid electronic component is in a vacuum environment.

Hybrids are custom electronic components which contain microelectronics and circuitry encased in a hermetically sealed housing. Currently, the packaging of hybrids within an electronic box is done on a case-by-case basis depending upon the constraints of the design. In designing such packaging, mechanical or structural, electrical and thermal and manufacturability are the primary considerations. For certain applications, the hybrid packaging and arrangement must be designed to withstand extremely high vibratory loads. Also, existing structural mounting techniques for hybrids are not satisfactory under high heat dissipation applications. Typically, the existing techniques include sandwiching the PC board between the hybrid and a wall of the electronics box and providing a multitude of plated holes in the PC board beneath the hybrid as the thermal conductive path. However, through this design, the amount of heat dissipation is not adequately addressed. In addition, in these designs the hybrid leads are often subject to structure threatening loads.
There exists a need therefore, for a method and structure for packaging and mounting hybrid components in an electronics box relative to a PC board to account for vibration loads, high heat dissipation, and hybrid lead safety.

Method of mounting a PC board to a hybrid


An artificial flower lamp assembly comprises a main trunk, a plurality of branches connected to the main trunk, a plurality of artificial flower lamps connected to the branches, and a plurality of bulbs disposed in the artificial flower lamps. The main trunk encloses a main wire.

This invention relates to an artificial flower lamp assembly, and more particularly to an artificial flower lamp assembly which contains a plurality of artificial flower lamps.
A conventional lamp assembly for a Christmas tree has a plurality of decoration lamps. However, the decoration lamps are separated from artificial flowers on the Christmas tree. The decoration lamps cannot illuminate the artificial flowers clearly.


A graphic drawing apparatus for drawing a graphic representation in which a plurality of evaluation objects are drawn by lines connecting scores with respect to a plurality of evaluation items executes a drawing-position adjusting to adjust drawing positions for each of the evaluation items where the scores of the evaluation objects are plotted with respect to each of the evaluation items so that the drawing positions do not overlap each other according to the scores of the evaluation objects with respect to an evaluation item.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to graphic drawing programs, methods, and apparatuses. More specifically, the present invention relates to a graphic drawing program, method, and apparatus for displaying a graphic representation in which a plurality of evaluation objects are drawn at coordinates and lines connecting the evaluation objects.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming technique in which each of a plurality of points is set as a forming or non-forming portion of an image on the basis of the coordinates on the image forming plane so that the forming portions and the non-forming portions are not superposed, even if a large number of broken lines plotted overlap, in order to prevent a linear image from being produced by overlapping a large number of broken lines plotted is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 8-30593.
However, in a graphic representation in which a plurality of evaluation objects are drawn by lines connecting scores with respect to a plurality of evaluation items, such as a graph or a chart, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the plurality of evaluation objects may have the same score (or scores that are sufficiently close to be plotted within the line thickness of other evaluation objects in the graphic representation) with respect to a given evaluation item, and may be drawn by overlapping lines. In this case, the evaluation objects other than the evaluation object drawn close to each other may not be easily identified by an observer.

Graphic drawing program, method, and apparatus


Disclosed is a system and method for diverting from a flight plan without adjusting an autopilot by treating a heading change as the new leg of a flight plan. The present invention allows the pilot of an aircraft to enter a heading to follow into a flight management system, which treats the heading as the current leg of a flight plan otherwise being followed by the flight management system. The present invention graphically displays the heading leg as the predicted track so that the pilot is able to see the airplane's expected path. Such a change allows the autopilot to continue following commands from the flight management system rather than being changed to a mode in which the autopilot follows heading commands directly from the pilot.

Some flight management systems (FMS) have legs in a preprogrammed flight plan where an airplane is not being guided to a path, but instead the pilot is changing heading. There are at least four instances where this is possible: 1) approach vectors to final (VTF) leg; 2) flight plan discontinuity (discon); 3) missed approach; and 4) and an en-route radar vectors from air traffic control (ATC). Each instance is slightly different, but the pilot operation is essentially equivalent.
In the current general aviation (GA) aircraft, when changing from flight plan guidance to heading commands, a pilot changes modes on an S-TEC 55X autopilot or equivalent device from roll steering mode to a heading mode. Roll steering mode is the FMS commanding the autopilot to move the airplane to a specific bank and where the autopilot follows courses of the flight plan, whereas the autopilot heading mode is commanding the servos to steer the aircraft in order to follow the pilot commanded heading.

Flight management system vector functions


The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for controlling power consumption of a plug-in card or circuit module. The disclosed method, in particular, controls power to a circuit module and includes implementing a user interface and power manager to automatically control the power state of the circuit module by, among other things, powering the module up or down using a simulated hot unplug of the device. The apparatus further includes use of an I/O interconnect to allow the system BIOS to simulate the hot unplugging of the module.

In computer systems, additional functionalities may be added to such systems through the use of add-on hardware, such as plug-in modules or circuit boards. Such boards include, for example, wireless network cards, graphics processing cards, and television video decoder and tuner cards. Typically, when the computer system is operating, these cards draw power, even when they are not in use. For systems where the source of power is limited, such as laptop computers or mobile computing devices using a battery, power consumption due to idle plug-in hardware wastes valuable, limited energy resources.
In order to economize energy resources, it is known to physically unplug the plug-in cards to save power. Alternatively, it is also known to manually turn off plug-in cards or modules when not in use through a device manager, which is typically software, particularly in devices where such plug-in cards or modules are not easily accessible, such as in a laptop computer or mobile computing device, however, such device managers may not actually effect a total powering down of the card or module, thus still consuming power. Moreover, a manual on/off scheme relies upon a user to control power usage of the external hardware, which does not always provide accurate or current energy management. Additionally, in cases where an application may be requesting a currently powered down circuit module, a user must manually power up the plug-in module in order to enable the application to properly access the plug-in hardware.

Apparatus and methods for power management of a circuit module


An in-line roller skate has a wheel assembly that is easily removable from and re-attachable to a boot. The boot can be attached by simply stepping into wheel assembly and buckling a strap.

Roller skating generally and especially in-line roller skating have been practical and recreational activities for quite some time. Due largely to technological advances which provide ever lighter, stronger, quieter and faster skates, in-line roller skating recently has become an increasingly popular sport.
A modern in-line roller skate typically includes a boot with a wheel assembly permanently affixed to the sole. Wheels are rotatably mounted to the assembly with axles in conventional manner. The skater inserts a foot into the boot and fastens the boot firmly to the foot with a fastening means such as laces or straps.
Permanent attachment of the wheel assembly to the boot presents a major inconvenience to the modern in-line skate user. When the skater arrives at a destination such as inside a building, or encounters an unpaved road surface, the skater may wish to stop skating and begin walking. A skater using a skate with a permanently attached wheel assembly must remove the whole skate from the foot. Furthermore, the skater must carry shoes to the destination to use after removing the skates.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,199 discloses convertible in-line roller skates that include a skate assembly which permits rapidly interchanging and reversing ice blades and in-line rollers. Each skate includes a shoe having a sole plate and toe and heel attachment pads secured to the plate, with a surface blade coupling means provided in a recessed zone of the toe and heel attachment. Among other things, the skate also has a blade support assembly with a frame having rollers or ice blades attached to the bottom thereof. The frame includes toe and heel pad receiving cavities designed to firmly receive and retain the attachment pads in releasable manner. A skater using the disclosed convertible in-line roller skates would not be able to walk around after removing the frame from the skate assembly because the attachment pads protrude downward from the sole plate toward the walking surface. Thus the bottom of the shoe has an uneven surface which makes walking difficult. Furthermore, walking could wear excessively and destroy the attachment pads. Thus the patented roller skates do not solve the problem mentioned above.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,506 of Shadroui describes a roller boot quick release/attach mechanism which allows the wheels to be quickly and easily removed from the boot portion of an in-line skate. The boot contains slide channels built into the boot sole and heel. The wheel frame contains slide rails and a lock/release lever to provide attachment and locking of the wheel frame to the boot. Shadroui's quick release/attach mechanism permits the skater to dismount from wheel portion and to walk in the boot portion of the skate. Nevertheless, it is still desirable to provide an improved in-line roller skate with an easily removable/re-attachable boot for walking and a strong mechanism for connecting the boot and wheel assembly.
A strong connection mechanism is desirable to give the skater superior control in high performance skating maneuvers such as safely negotiating sharp turns at high speed and skating on and over obstacles such as curbs, steps and uneven pavement. Such a new in-line roller skate with quickly detachable wheel assembly is disclosed herein. The boot can be attached by simply stepping into the wheel assembly and buckling a strap. Moreover, when attached the boot and wheel assembly are very firmly connected, thus providing excellent transmission of force between the skater's foot and the wheels.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an in-line roller skate comprising:
(a) a boot having a sole, a toe section and a heel section; the boot being undercut upwards from the sole to define a shoulder along at least the heel section; PA1 (b) a wheel assembly having a head plate with a forward portion, wherein the wheel assembly is releasably attachable to the boot; PA1 (c) an upwardly directed flange attached to the head plate and adapted to engage the shoulder of the boot; PA1 (d) a strap means attached to the wheel assembly for releasably fastening the sole firmly to the head plate; and PA1 (e) gripping means for releasably engaging the toe section to a forward portion of the head plate.


A heart valve prosthesis and delivery systems are provided for replacing a cardiac valve. The heart valve prosthesis includes a self-expanding frame includes a portion having a crimp that provides additional flexibility to the self-expanding frame in the collapsed configuration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an artificial heart valve frame. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an artificial valve prosthesis.
2. Background Art
Cardiac valves exhibit two types of pathologies: regurgitation and stenosis. Regurgitation is the more common of the two defects. Either defect can be treated by a surgical repair. Under certain conditions, however, the cardiac valve must be replaced. Standard approaches to valve replacement require cutting open the patient's chest and heart to access the native valve. Such procedures are traumatic to the patient, require a long recovery time, and can result in life threatening complications. Therefore, many patients requiring cardiac valve replacement are deemed to pose too high a risk for open heart surgery due to age, health, or a variety of other factors. These patient risks associated with heart valve replacement are lessened by the emerging techniques for minimally invasive valve repair, but still many of those techniques require arresting the heart and passing the blood through a heart-lung machine.
Efforts have been focused on percutaneous transluminal delivery of replacement cardiac valves to solve the problems presented by traditional open heart surgery and minimally-invasive surgical methods. In such methods, a valve prosthesis is compacted for delivery in a catheter and then advanced, for example, through an opening in the femoral artery and through the descending aorta to the heart, where the prosthesis is then deployed in the aortic valve annulus.
During delivery, the delivery system including the valve prosthesis must be advanced through multiple bends in the patient's vasculature. Some vascular bends will straighten as the relatively stiff delivery system is passed through. However other vascular bends, e.g. the aortic arch, cannot be straightened. Therefore, a typical delivery system bends in a single plane and kinks, or folds onto itself, when advanced through a substantial vascular bend in order to traverse the bend. This bending of the delivery system is presently routine during delivery of the valve prosthesis frame. Bending of the delivery system allows for a longer valve prosthesis frame that can be anchored in the aortic annulus and the ascending aorta.
A typical valve prosthesis frame is made of self-expanding metals, such as Nitinol. The metal structure of the nitinol holds the compressed frame into a tubular structure which resists bending and kinking. Thus, bending, flexing, and/or kinking the valve prosthesis and delivery system during tracking and delivery typically requires a large amount of bending force.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide a valve prosthesis that is capable of conforming to a patient's anatomy while providing a uniform degree of rigidity and protection for critical valve components. Protection for critical valve components is essential to maintain reliability for the valve prosthesis. In addition, it would be desirable to provide a delivery system that facilitates bending of the delivery system around a bend and a valve prosthesis that includes a flexible region that is present when the valve prosthesis is compacted for delivery.


An electrically heatable hollow-body furnace with a secondary surface on which an analyte of a sample can be condensed prior to being atomized. The furnace is constructed in two sections which are capable of being electrically heated independently of one another. The secondary surface is defined by a surface of one of the sections. A process for atomizing an analyte of a sample to be examined, utilizing the device according to the following steps: introducing the sample into a hollow-body furnace having a secondary surface, condensing the analyte on the secondary surface and atomizing the analyte.

Such a device and such a process are known from the publication "Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry by reatomization from a second trapping surface" by P. Hocquellet in Spectrochimica Acta, 47B, pages 719-729, 1992, and also from T. M. Rettberg and J. A. Holcombe, Spectrochimica Acta, 41B, pages 377-389, 1986.
The known atomization means is shown in FIG. 4. It comprises a heatable tubular furnace 1 which consists of graphite and which has provided therein an additional element 60 of graphite having an arched surface 50. An analyte of a sample to be examined can be condensed on this arched surface, the socalled secondary surface. The known furnace is heated by conducting a current in the longitudinal direction through the tubular part of the furnace by means of existing contact members (not shown). When the furnace is being heated, the analyte is atomized and condensed on the secondary surface.
When said secondary surface has reached the temperature of the furnace atmosphere, the analyte is reatomized.
By means of an arrangement and a process of the above-mentioned type, the matrix effects occurring during atomization can be reduced significantly in view of the redistribution of the analyte. Furthermore, due to the condensation of the analyte on the secondary surface, the reatomization of the analyte is essentially based on desorption from said surface. It follows that this atomization is essentially independent of the original composition of the sample.

Electrothermal atomization means for analytical spectrometry


The systems and methods described relate to the concept that smart devices can be used to: sense various types of phenomena like sound, blue light exposure, RF and microwave radiation, and, in real-time, analyze, report and/or control outputs (e.g., displays or speakers). The systems are configurable and use standard computing devices, such as wearable electronics (e.g., smart glasses), tablet computers, and mobile phones to measure various frequency bands across multiple points, allowing a single user to visualize and/or adjust environmental conditions.

Each year sound companies spend billions of dollars on audio technologies and audio research to find new ways to improve audio quality in performance settings. Very often sound systems are designed to be used in a specific environment. For example, in a vehicle or private room setting, audio manipulation and output quality techniques and technologies are either prescriptive or adaptive—neither of which require the need for audio engineering professionals. However, in other situations such as at a concert venue, a wide array of audio professionals must be employed. This can include monitor engineers, system technicians, and front-of-house engineers. These professionals operate mixing consoles and audio control units to produce desirable, high-quality audio output.
Whether prescriptive or adaptive, manned or unmanned, perceived sound quality is a function of complex transducer-based technologies and acoustic treatment that are typically controlled, managed and manipulated by humans, and/or audio software and hardware. As such, both human and physical capital are required to produce first-rate sound quality. However, even when the necessary human and capital has been spent, it can still be very difficult to effectively manage audio outputs in real-time. This is due to improper calibrations of signal propagation and signal degradation, as well as unwanted harmonics and soundwave reflections.
Particularly in an outdoor setting, single-source sound systems typically produce an intermittent mix of unintelligible sounds and echoes due to a given venue's size and openness. A popular solution for addressing the echo issue is to utilize distributed sound systems. Traditional distributed sound systems are less susceptible to sound variance than single source systems. However, even when these distributed systems are used, temperature gradients and wind can still steer sound in undesirable ways.
Another issue related to the size of a performance venue is when audio and video fall out of sync. As live musical performances become more and more elaborate by including digital art and screens on-stage, it is becoming increasingly difficult to reliably sync audio and video in large venues, due to highly reverberant surfaces and long decay times.
Also impacting audio intelligibility during a live performance is crowd noise. At a live event, it is not uncommon for crowds to generate noise approaching 105 dB. When this occurs, audio engineers must manipulate the supporting sound system output so that the performance audio remains 5-8 decibels higher than the noise generated by crowd. This action results in performance sound being broadcast above 110 dB, the range where the volume of sound begins to pose danger to human listeners. Frequently, audio system operators find it difficult to granularly control the loud perception of a given individual listener while managing loudness perception for the remainder of the audience. In a case where an audio quality trade-off decision has to be made, a common industry practice is to execute a remediation plan that favors the majority of listeners while the minority of listeners are forced to suffer through it.
In other instances, when various pieces of audio equipment are slightly, or completely out-of-phase, it can be difficult for audio system operators to correct these out-of-phase issues in a short period of time.
A myriad of audio functions are necessary to provide a dynamic range of audio playback and fidelity. To meet heightened demands and address new challenges, the devices of today will not only have to handle traditional telephony voice communication and low-fidelity voice recording, but also, these devices must be capable of incorporating new hardware and software to create new functions and applications such as sensing infrasonic, ultrasonic, blue light and millimeter wave exposure and reporting, and in some cases, autonomous manipulation of audio outputs. Further, such demands create the need to process signals using 'low-loss' methods by moving much of the processing function away from hardware and into software optimized to do so.
Further, very often, the general public associates hearing loss with loudness or volume but leaves little regard to pitch or frequency. Conductive, sensorineural, and mixed hearing loss (the three basic types of hearing loss) are all extremely complex medical issues, and with each condition, loudness is only one of many contributory factors. For example, high-pitched sounds may damage the auditory nerve and hair cells in the inner ear, which can result in sensorineural hearing loss, a type of hearing loss that cannot be 'corrected' using a hearing aid device. Understanding that there are limited treatment options for many of the issues described (e.g. 'profound' sensorineural hearing loss that has no cure), one function of this invention—and all related patents—is to use smart devices to mimic the way humans experience auditory, optical, and RF events in their respective micro and macro environments (clusters) in order to highlight dangers (when necessary), and provide preventative and customizable solutions.

Multi-frequency sensing system with improved smart glasses and devices


A photoelectric sensor is adapted for use in specific applications which require the additional attachment of a circular polarizer. A piece of circular polarizer material is general disc-shaped with two planar surfaces and a peripheral circular surface. The outer periphery of the disc-shaped circular polarizer is encapsulated within a generally annular molded rim. The molded rim is provided with a protrusion that is generally circular and extends from one of the generally flat surfaces of the rim material. The protrusion facilitates the attachment of the rim to the operative face of a photoelectric sensor through the process of ultrasonic welding. Advantages achieved by this device include the facilitated attachment of the circular polarizer to a photoelectric sensor, the protection of the outer peripheral edges of the laminations of the circular polarizer and the avoidance of distortions of the circular polarizer during the manufacturing process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to photoelectric sensors and, more particularly, to photoelectric sensors which comprise a housing structure with a circular polarizing device attached thereto.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Linear polarizing filters are well known to those skilled in the art. They possess special properties for selectively absorbing light vibrations in certain predefined planes. Unpolarized light comprise a complex mixture of vibrations lying in all possible directions transverse to a line of travel. When the unpolarized light is passed through a linear polarizer, its vibrations become confined to a single linear plane and the light is then considered to be polarized. This linearly polarized light can be modified to suppress unwanted reflections and to eliminate glare for a variety of applications.
Circular polarizing filters are also known to those skilled in the art. Circular polarizers typically comprise a linear polarizer combined with a quarterwave retarder whose slow and fast axes are disposed at a 45 degree angle to the axis of the linear polarizer. Unpolarized light passing through the linear polarizer becomes polarized at a 45 degree angle to the axis of the retarder. When this polarized light ray passes through the retarder, its vibration direction is made to move in a helical pattern. After the light ray is reflected from a specular surface, the sense of rotation of the vibration reverses. This rotation is stopped in the return path through the retarder. The light ray is now linearly polarized in a plane 90 degrees to its original polarization plane and is absorbed by the linearly polarized component of the circular polarizer. Certain polarizers are also particularly configured to transmit only infrared radiation. They absorb visible radiation and transmit infrared radiation. These types of filters can be used in association with photoelectric sensors which must operate in environments with high levels of visible radiation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,962, which issued to Maurice on Sep. 22, 1992, describes a proximity detector which uses the Faraday effect and bidirectional transmission. The proximity detector uses the Faraday effect to detect position changes of a target. The proximity detector includes a permanent magnet having a magnetic field that changes as the target moves to or from a predetermined position. A self-referencing optical sensor is provided that detects the changed magnetic field. The optical sensor includes a magneto-optic material positioned near a node of the magnet. Means are also provided to transmit polarized interrogation light along an optical path that includes the magneto-optic material. The optical path is bidirectionally addressed and is nonreciprocal. The optical sensor transduces the changed magnetic field into a modulation of the interrogation light's intensity. Means are provided to detect variations in the interrogation light intensity and to determine a ration such as the difference over the sum ratio for two interrogation light samples that travel the optic path in opposite directions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,859,062, which issued to Thurn on Aug. 22, 1989, describes an optoelectrical measuring system and apparatus. The invention relates to measuring the surface roughness of a sample material. A beam of light is directed onto the surface and the scattered light distribution is made using a detector array. Either the average deviation or the second moment of the scattered light distribution is then determined and used as measures of the surface roughness.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,683, which issued to Ichihashi et al on Jun. 13, 1989, discloses an ophthalmic measuring method and apparatus. According to this invention, the method and apparatus are provided for the purpose of measuring the state of microparticles in the aqueous chamber of an eye to be examined which is irradiated with a laser beam to detect the scattering characteristics in the aqueous chamber of the eye. The laser beam with a predetermined wavelength is projected onto the aqueous chamber of the eye. Light scattered from the aqueous chamber is received with or without a linear polarizer and evaluated in terms of the changes between the scattering characteristics with or without the linear polarizer in order to determine the number or concentration of the microparticles present in the aqueous chamber for the purpose of detecting ophthalmic diseases.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,802, which issued to Yoshii on Nov. 22, 1988, discloses an apparatus for measuring photoelasticity. The device permits the control of mechanical stress applied to an elastic body by visualizing phase differences of polarized light transmitted by the elastic body. In such a prior art apparatus, a quarter wavelength plate was used in order to obtain circularly polarized light. However, the precision of the circularly polarized light is worsened when it works in a wide wavelength region. To the contrary, in an apparatus according to this disclosed device, circularly polarized light is obtained by means of Fresnel's rhombic body. As the result of this device, circularly polarized light can be obtained for a wide wavelength region from the visible region to the near infrared region and control of products including thin films and semiconductor substrates can be effected by visualizing mechanical stress therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,129, which issued to Johnson on May 19, 1992, discloses a photoelectric device with a lens formed in its housing. The photoelectric device is provided with a one piece housing having a first end which is light transmissive and liquid impermeable. An opening is provided at the other end of the tubular structure for insertion of photoelectric and electronic components into the cavity of the housing structure. A cover is used to seal an opening at the second end. The cover is ultrasonically welded to the second end of the tubular structure and a cable means is provided to permit electrical current to pass through the cover at the second end of the housing structure. The first end of the tubular structure, which is transmissive to visible, infrared or ultraviolet light can be formed into one or more lens, depending on the application of the photoelectric device. Threads are provided in the outer cylindrical surface of the housing to aid in attaching the photoelectric device to brackets with the use of threaded nuts.
U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 07/842,691 (M10-14748) which was filed on Feb. 27, 1992 by Klima and assigned to the assignee of the present application, discloses a photoelectric sensor with a droplet resistant face. The sensor face is generally flat with a groove formed therein to cause droplets to move away from a central portion of the face where they could otherwise adversely interfere with the operation of the photoelectric sensor. The groove provides a discontinuity in the light transmissive face between the locations of a light source and a light sensitive component.

Photoelectric sensor with a circular polarizing lens attached to its housing


A method is provided that includes receiving a coded largest coding unit in a video decoder, wherein the coded largest coding unit includes a coded coding unit structure and a plurality of coded quantization parameters, and decoding the coded largest coding unit based on the coded coding unit structure and the plurality of coded quantization parameters.

The demand for digital video products continues to increase. Some examples of applications for digital video include video communication, security and surveillance, industrial automation, and entertainment (e.g., DV, HDTV, satellite TV, set-top boxes, Internet video streaming, video gaming devices, digital cameras, cellular telephones, video jukeboxes, high-end displays and personal video recorders). Further, video applications are becoming increasingly mobile as a result of higher computation power in handsets, advances in battery technology, and high-speed wireless connectivity.
Video compression, i.e., video coding, is an essential enabler for digital video products as it enables the storage and transmission of digital video. In general, current video coding standards define video compression techniques that apply prediction, transformation, quantization, and entropy coding to sequential blocks of pixels, i.e., macroblocks, in a video sequence to compress, i.e., encode, the video sequence. A macroblock is defined as a 16×16 rectangular block of pixels in a frame or slice of a video sequence where a frame is defined to be a complete image captured during a known time interval.
A quantization parameter (QP) may be used to modulate the step size of the quantization for each macroblock. For example, in H.264/AVC, quantization of a transform coefficient involves dividing the coefficient by a quantization step size. The quantization step size, which may also be referred to as the quantization scale, is defined by the standard based on the QP value, which may be an integer within some range 0 . . . 51. A step size for a QP value may be determined, for example, using a table lookup and/or by computational derivation.
The quality and bit rate of the compressed bit stream is largely determined by the QP value selected for quantizing each macroblock. That is, the quantization step size (Qs) used to quantize a macroblock regulates how much spatial detail is retained in a compressed macroblock. The smaller the Qs, the more retention of detail and the better the quality but at the cost of a higher bit rate. As the Qs increases, less detail is retained and the bit rate decreases but at the cost of increased distortion and loss of quality.

Coding unit quantization parameters in video coding


An MOS device is formed including a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, and source and drain regions of a second conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer proximate an upper surface of the semiconductor layer. The source and drain regions are spaced apart relative to one another. A drift region of the second conductivity type is formed in the semiconductor layer proximate the upper surface of the semiconductor layer and at least partially between the source and drain regions, the drift region having an impurity doping concentration greater than about 2.0e12 atoms/cm2. An insulating layer is formed on at least a portion of the upper surface of the semiconductor layer. The device further includes a gate formed on the insulating layer at least partially between the source and drain regions, and a buried layer of the first conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer in close relative proximity to and beneath at least a portion of the drift region. A substantially vertical distance between the buried layer and the drift region, and/or one or more physical dimensions of the buried layer are configured so as to optimize a power density of the device relative to at least one of an on-resistance and a maximum drain current of the device.

Power semiconductor devices, including lateral diffused metal-oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) devices, are employed in a wide variety of applications, such as, for example, power amplification and switching. Although these power devices can achieve high efficiency, linearity and power gain with sufficient reliability when biased at relatively high drain bias voltages (e.g., up to about 30 volts), it is desirable to increase a power density (PDEN) in theses devices. Increased power density generally results in smaller device areas, which translates into lower cost per watt. Furthermore, increasing the power density without also increasing parasitic capacitances and inductances per unit device width typically results in lower overall parasitics for the same output power, which is critical for matching, power gain and efficiency. LDMOS devices, when employed as high-speed, high-voltage switches, for example, generally require a substantially low on-resistance (e.g., less than a few ohms). Power density and on-resistance (Ron) are related in that both characteristics require a device having a drain structure that can support a high current density (e.g., about several milliamperes (mA)).
There exists a trade-off in conventional power semiconductor devices between on-resistance and breakdown voltage (VBD), as discussed, for example, in a paper by M. Amato, entitled "Comparison of Lateral and Vertical DMOS Specific On-resistance," Proceedings of IEEE IEDM, pp. 736-739 (1985), the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. The relationship between the breakdown voltage of a given device and the on-resistance multiplied by the area of the device (Ron×A) is typically used as an efficiency metric for gauging the electrical performance characteristics of power transistors.
Many high performance power devices employ a reduced surface field (RESURF) principle to some extent in order to improve a tradeoff between increased HCI degradation and decreased breakdown voltage (see, e.g., A. Ludikhuize, "A Review of RESURF Technology," Proceedings of IEEE ISPSD, pp. 11-18, May 2000, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein). RESURF is a well-known technique employed in the design of high voltage, low on-resistance devices. In lateral power devices in which drain current (ID) flows predominantly along a silicon surface of the device, a lateral field is created in a drift region of the device which acts in the direction of the drain current. HCI degradation, which can significantly limit the performance of a device, particularly when operating the device with a high drain bias voltage, is generally strongly related to a magnitude of this lateral drift region field. Basically, the RESURF effect distributes electric field potential lines in the device at least in part by introducing a vertical field component into the drift region which helps to balance the drift region charge so as to reduce a curvature of the potential in the drift region field. This results in a more uniform distribution of the electric field at breakdown, compared to a device which does not utilize RESURF, thereby increasing a breakdown voltage of the device.
While it is known to optimize a device for breakdown voltage, an undesirable amount of HCI degradation in the device often results. Likewise, conventional methodologies for reducing HCI degradation in the device often undesirably decrease the breakdown voltage of the device. HCI degradation can significantly limit the performance and/or reliability of the device, particularly when operating the device at high drain bias voltages. As is well known, the HCI phenomenon generally results from heating and subsequent injection of charge carriers into a gate oxide and/or an oxide layer above a drift region of an LDMOS device. This injection of charge carriers often results in a localized and nonuniform buildup of interface states and oxide charges near and underneath a gate and/or in the drift region of the device. It has been shown that, over time, several electrical characteristics of the LDMOS device degrade as a direct result of HCI (see, e.g., S. Manzini et al., "Hot-Electron-Induced Degradation in High-Voltage Submicron DMOS Transistors," Proc. IEEE ISPSD, pp. 65-68, 1996, which is incorporated by reference herein). For example, HCI can produce variations in certain characteristics of the LDMOS device, including saturation current, threshold voltage, transconductance, on-resistance, etc., thus undesirably affecting the performance and/or reliability of the device.
There exists a need, therefore, for a metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) device having improved power density, particularly when biased at a high drain voltage, that does not suffer from one or more of the problems exhibited by conventional MOS devices. Moreover, it would be desirable if the improved MOS device was compatible with existing integrated circuit (IC) fabrication process technologies.

Semiconductor device having improved power density


A pill plunger includes a hollow tube having a forward end and a rearward end. A rod or plunger has a forward end having a dished out portion for receiving medication and a rearward end having a button. The plunger occupies the tube with the dished out portion at the forward end of the tube and the button extending from the rearward end of the tube. Medication is placed in the dished out portion, which is then retracted into the tube. After insertion of the tube into a patient's mouth, the button is depressed to extend the plunger and dispense the medication. A spring can be used to retract the plunger upon release of the button. The dished out portion can be sealed to carry a fluid or powder. A dual dished out portion can be provided in the rod, and a window can be formed in the hollow tube.

Medication administering devices, which allow medical or veterinary personnel to administer medications to uncooperative patients, are known. In the prior art devices, the medication is commonly held within a tubular applicator having an opening either restricted in size or containing a resilient member for holding the solid medication within the tube. Medication, normally in the form of a solid pill, is then ejected from the tube by a plunger activated in the manner of a syringe. These prior art devices do not provide the capability to apply either powdered or liquid medications, and are very specific in the size and/or shape of solid pill that they can accommodate.
It would be advantageous to provide a device for administering medication that can accommodate a wide range of pill sizes in addition to powder or liquid medications.


Disclosed is a process to construct multi-component biomolecule or cellular arrays suitable for use in SPR imaging studies of large molecule, cellular/molecular, and cell/cell interactions. The success of the procedure hinges on the use of a reversible protecting group to modify reversibly xcfx89-functionalized alkanethiols self-assembled on metal substrates.

The invention is directed to the fabrication of biomolecular or cellular arrays on metal surfaces for use in the study of interactions between large molecules, between cells and large molecules, and between cells, such as nucleic acid-protein interactions or cellular interactions with antigens.
The binding of proteins to DNA plays a pivotal role in the regulation and control of gene expression, replication and recombination. In addition, enzymes that recognize and modify specific oligonucleotide sequences are critical components of biological nucleic acid manipulation and repair systems. An enhanced understanding of how these proteins recognize certain oligonucleotide sequences would aid in the design of biomedical systems which could, for example, be used to regulate the expression of therapeutic proteins. For this reason, the study of protein-nucleic acid interactions (i.e., protein-DNA and protein-RNA interactions) is a rapidly growing area of molecular biology, aided in part by recent advances in NMR and X-ray structural determination methods. At the same time, the explosive increase in the amount of available genomic and extra-genomic (i.e., ribosomal) sequence information obtained from large-scale nucleic acid sequencing efforts creates a need to survey this vast amount of new sequence data for protein binding sites. The present invention addresses this need by using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging techniques as a rapid and efficient method for screening the sequence or structure-specific binding of proteins to large arrays of nucleic acid molecules immobilized at chemically-modified metal surfaces.
Arrays of DNA molecules attached to planar surfaces are currently employed in hybridization adsorption experiments to sequence DNA, Pease et al. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acd. Sci. USA 91:5022-5026; to screen for genetic-mutations, Winzeler et al. (1998) Science 281:1194-1197: and in DNA computing applications, Frutos et al. (1997) Nucleic Acids Res. 25:4748-4757; and Frutos et al (1998) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 120:10277-10282. These arrays are exposed to solutions containing fluorescently labeled complementary DNA sequences, rinsed, and then xe2x80x9cread-outxe2x80x9d using fluorescence imaging methods.
The technique of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is a surface-sensitive, optical detection method well suited to the monitoring of reversible, protein-nucleic acid interactions. The commercially successful xe2x80x9cBIAcorexe2x80x9d SPR instrument (Biacore AB, Uppsala, Sweden) has been used previously, for example, to study the interaction of DNA molecules with various enzymes. Although powerful, the xe2x80x9cBIAcorexe2x80x9d instrument has no imaging capabilities. This severely limits the number of DNA sequences that can be screened in a single experiment.
Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is a surface optical technique which is sensitive to the thickness and index of refraction of material at the interface between a free electron metal (e.g. gold, silver, copper, cadmium, aluminum) and a bulk medium, such as air or water. Surface plasmon resonance may be achieved by using the evanescent wave which is generated when a laser beam linearly polarized parallel to the plane of incidence impinges onto a prism coated with a thin metal film. The metal may also be coated onto a thin transparent substrate such as glass, and this glass brought into optical contact with the prism. SPR is most easily observed as a reduction of the total internally reflected light just past the critical angle of the prism. This angle of minimum reflectivity (denoted as the SPR angle) shifts to higher angles as material is adsorbed onto the metal layer. The shift in the angle can be converted to a measure of the thickness of the adsorbed or added material by using complex Fresnel calculations and can be used to detect the presence or absence of materials on top of the metal layer.
In using SPR to test for biological, biochemical, or chemical substances, a beam of light from a laser source is directed through a prism onto a biosensor consisting of a transparent substrate, usually glass, which has one external surface covered with a thin film of a noble metal, which in turn is covered with an organic film that interacts strongly with an analyte, such as a biological, biochemical, or chemical substance. The organic film can contain substances, such as antibodies or antigens, which can bind with an analyte in a sample to cause an increased thickness which will shift the SPR angle. By monitoring either the position of the SPR angle or the reflectivity at a fixed angle near the SPR angle, the presence or absence of an analyte in the sample can be detected.
Various types of equipment for using SPR with a biosensor for biological or biochemical or chemical substances are described by the Liedberg et al. article found in xe2x80x9cSensors and Actuators,xe2x80x9d Vol. 4, 1983, page 299. See also European Patent Application 0 305 108 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,563.
The use of conventional SPR as a testing tool offers several advantages and disadvantages. For example, it is relatively fast, it requires no labeling, and it can be performed on site. However, as noted above, commercially-available devices, such as the xe2x80x9cBIAcorexe2x80x9d instrument, offer no imaging capabilities. Additionally, to achieve the high through-put demanded by large-scale users, there is a need for a simple, practical biosensor which can be readily modified or adapted to test a wide variety of compounds simultaneously.
In SPR imaging, a light source (typically a HeNe laser) is used to illuminate a prism/thin gold film sample assembly at an incident angle that is near the SPR angle, and the reflected light is detected at a fixed angle with a CCD camera to produce an SPR image. The SPR image arises from variations in the reflected light intensity from different parts of the sample; these variations are created by any changes in organic film thickness or index of refraction that occur upon adsorption onto the modified gold surface. Since SPR imaging is sensitive only to molecules in close proximity to the surface (within xcx9c200 nm), unbound molecules remaining in solution do not interfere with in situ measurements.
The formation of robust, reproducible arrays of oligonucleotides tethered to metal-coated surfaces (most often gold) is an essential requirement for SPR imaging of protein-nucleic acid binding interactions. To use SPR imaging techniques, it is essential that the nucleic acid array be constructed on a noble metal surface, and for this reason DNA arrays on glass supports from commercially available sources such as Affymetrix (Santa Clara, Calif.) are not a viable option. Using self-assembled monolayers of substituted alkanethiols as a starting point, others have previously developed schemes to attach single-stranded DNA molecules to chemically modified gold surfaces. See, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,629,213). In the subject invention, however, UV photopatterning and microcontact printing techniques are brought to bear to allow alkanethiols to be assembled in a site-directed manner on the metal surface, thereby enabling the creation of multi-component arrays. A combination of these processing techniques along with novel surface chemical reactions enables the manufacture of nucleic acid arrays as described herein.
Disclosed is a multi-step chemical modification procedure to create biomolecule and/or cellular arrays on metal substrates, the arrays being specifically tailored for the study of biomolecular and cellular interactions using surface plasmon resonance imaging. Arrays fabricated by this procedure meet three specific requirements, namely (i) the biomolecules are covalently attached to the surface and remain active and accessible to hybridization and protein binding; (ii) the array background is, at first, sufficiently hydrophobic so as to allow for the xe2x80x9cpinningxe2x80x9d of aqueous solutions of biomolecules or cells at specific array locations; and (iii) the final array background acts to inhibit the non-specific binding of protein molecules to the surface. The key components of this fabrication scheme are the utilization of a reversible hydrophobic protecting group, preferably Fmoc, to control the surface hydrophobicity of a tethered xcfx89-modified alkanethiol monolayer and the attachment of a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) group to render the surface protein resistant. Polarization-modulation Fourier Transform infrared (PM-FTIR) spectroscopy, contact angle, and SPR measurements are used to characterize each step in the surface modification procedure and confirm that the array background inhibits the non-specific binding of proteins. As a final test, an SPR imaging experiment which measures the adsorption of single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB) to a dual component, oligonucleotide array demonstrates the utility of these surfaces for the monitoring of protein-nucleic acid interactions.
The multi-step procedure disclosed herein is used to create an array of spots that are surrounded first by a hydrophobic background which allows for the pinning of aqueous biomolecule or cell solutions onto individual array elements and then to replace the hydrophobic background with one that resists the non-specific adsorption of proteins during in situ SPR imaging measurements, thereby yielding an array of biomolecule or cell xe2x80x9cislandsxe2x80x9d in a xe2x80x9cseaxe2x80x9d which resists non-specific adsorption of proteins.
In the preferred embodiment, amine-terminated alkanethiol monolayers are employed as the base layer, and Fmoc and PEG modifiers are used to create the sequentially hydrophobic and protein adsorption-resistant surfaces, respectively. In the preferred embodiment, the chemical modification steps are: (i) the adsorption and self-assembly of an 11-mercaptoundecylamine (MUAM) monolayer on an evaporated gold thin film; (ii) the reaction of the MUAM monolayer with an Fmoc protecting group to create a hydrophobic surface; (iii) the photopatterned removal of the alkanethiol followed by (iv) the re-adsorption of MUAM to create an array of MUAM squares (approximately 750 xcexcmxc3x97750 xcexcm, although smaller or larger squares are attainable) surrounded by a hydrophobic MUAM-Fmoc background that can pin drops of aqueous solution; (v) the attachment of oligonucleotide sequences onto the MUAM squares by the reaction of the amine-terminated surface with the heterobifunctional cross-linker (preferably SSMCC), followed by a coupling reaction to a small volume (0.1 xcexcL) of thiol-modified DNA; (vi) the removal of the Fmoc protecting group followed by (vii) a pegylation reaction of the MUAM with PEG-NHS to create a protein adsorption-resistant background.
A combination of polarization-modulation FTIR spectroscopy, contact angle and scanning angle SPR measurements are used to characterize the surface modification procedure. An SPR imaging measurement of the adsorption of single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB) onto an oligonucleotide array created by this procedure is used to demonstrate the utility of these surfaces to probe nucleic acid interactions with protein and other analytes.
A primary advantage of the subject invention is that it allows an array of immobilized biomolecules or cells to be constructed in which each xe2x80x9cislandxe2x80x9d of bound molecules or cells may differ from the other islands in the array. This allows for massive and simultaneous analysis of a tremendous number of different molecules or cells for their individual affinities and/or binding characteristics to a selected analyte. The fabrication method described herein is well-suited to automation and SPR experiments can be analyzed using standard-format microtiter plates and lab automation equipment (i.e., 96-well, 384-well, and larger formats).
The arrays described herein are useful for any number of analyses wherein a biomolecule or cell interacts with a protein, antigen, or some other molecule, such as in determining binding affinities, epitope mapping, restriction site mapping, measuring the binding effects of short-range secondary structure in nucleic acids, etc. For example, by building an array wherein islands of nucleic acids differ systematically, as by length or primary sequence, the interactions of any given nucleic acid sequence for any given analyte can be quickly and exhaustively investigated. Likewise, the effects of short-range secondary structure in nucleic acids can be investigated by building an array wherein the islands of nucleic acids differ in sequence such that the islands contain nucleic acid sequences which progressively contain more stable secondary structures and then scanning the array after exposure to a given analyte.

Biomolecule and/or cellular arrays on metal surfaces and product produced thereby