An improvement in an airbag system for a motor vehicle relating to an adaptive output fluid fueled airbag inflator and method of operation thereof are provided. Such an inflator, in addition to a stored gas chamber, a combustion chamber wherein, upon actuation, a first fluid fuel and an oxidant are burned, and a first initiator device for initiating the combustion of the first fuel and the at least one oxidant, includes a combination of a fluid fuel container, which holds a supply of a second fluid fuel, and a second initiator device for initiating the combustion of the second fuel. Various selected performance levels can be obtained through the proper selection, actuation and sequencing of actuation of the initiator devices and burning of fuels contained within the inflator.

This invention relates generally to an apparatus, commonly referred to as an inflator, for use in inflating an inflatable device such as an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint of a respective inflatable restraint system. More specifically, the invention relates to an inflator device containing a fluid fuel material adapted to be burned to produce gaseous inflation products and which inflator device has an inflation output adaptive to selected operating conditions and parameters.
Various arrangements are known in the art whereby inflatable restraints, e.g., airbags, are used to protect an occupant of an automotive vehicle, in the event of a collision. In addition, various inflatable restraint system arrangements have been proposed wherein the inflation of an airbag is adjusted based on factors such as, for example, the speed of deceleration of the vehicle and seat belt usage by the occupant.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,243 discloses an occupant sensing apparatus for use in an occupant restraint system. The disclosed sensing apparatus preferably monitors the passenger seat in the vehicle to detect the presence, position and weight of an object on the seat. A control algorithm is performed to control inflation of the airbag, responsive to the detected values.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,583 discloses an airbag system for an automobile including a seating condition sensor that detects a seating condition of a passenger with respect to seat position, reclining angle, as well as passenger size and posture. The invention seeks to operate the airbag system in accordance with the seating condition of the passenger such that the inflated bag is brought into optimal contact with the occupant.
In addition, many types of inflator devices have been disclosed in the art for the inflation of an airbag such as used in inflatable restraint systems. One such type of inflator device involves the utilization of a quantity of stored compressed gas which is selectively released to inflate an airbag. To properly inflate a typical airbag at an appropriate rate, this type of inflator device commonly requires the storage of a relatively large volume of gas at a relatively high pressure. As a result of the utilization of high storage pressures, the walls of the gas storage chamber of the inflator are typically relatively thick for increased strength. The combination of large storage volume and thick storage chamber walls results in a relatively heavy and bulky inflator design.
Another type of inflator device derives inflation gas from a combustible gas generating material which, upon ignition, generates a quantity of gas sufficient to inflate the airbag. Gas generating materials effective to produce inflation gas in the rates and quantities required in such applications may, however, produce various undesirable combustion products, including various solid particulate, e.g., residue, materials. The removal of such solid particulate materials, such as by the incorporation of a filtering device within or about the inflator, can undesirably increase the complexity of either or both inflator design and processing and can also increase the costs associated therewith.
In addition, the temperature of the gaseous emission of such inflator devices can typically vary between about 500.degree. F. (260.degree. C.) and 1200.degree. F. (649.degree. C.), dependent upon numerous interrelated factors including the desired level of inflator performance, as well as the type and amount of gas generant used therein, for example. Consequently, airbags used in conjunction with such inflator devices are typically constructed of or coated with a material resistant to such high temperatures. For example, in order for an airbag to resist or avoid suffering having a hole burned through the airbag fabric as a result of exposure to such high temperatures, it is common airbag construction to include a coating of neoprene or one or more neoprene coated patches can be placed at the locations of the airbag on which the hot gas will initially impinge. As will be appreciated, such specially fabricated or prepared airbags are typically more costly to manufacture and produce.
Further, while vehicular inflatable restraint systems are preferably designed to be properly operational over a broad range of conditions, the performance of inflator devices of such design can be particularly sensitive to changes in ambient conditions, especially changes in temperature. For example, operation at very low temperatures, such as temperatures of -40.degree. F. (-40.degree. C.), can affect the performance of various propellants, and thus undesirably lower airbag pressure resulting from an inflator which contains a fixed available amount of propellant.
A third type of inflator device forms airbag inflation gas from a combination of stored compressed gas and the combustion of a solid form of a pyrotechnic gas generating material. This type of inflator device is commonly referred to as a hybrid inflator. Hybrid inflators that have been proposed heretofore often have been subject to certain disadvantages. For example, inflator devices of such a design typically result in a gas having a relatively high particulate content.
Various specific inflator devices and assemblies have been proposed in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,740 discloses an assembly wherein within a single chamber is housed both an inflation gas and a first ignitable material, which is subsequently ignited therein.
The housing of both an inflation gas and an ignitable material within a single chamber can result in production and storage difficulties. For example, concentration gradients of such components, both initially and over time as the device awaits actuation, can increase the potential for the release therefrom of ignitable material into the airbag prior to complete ignition, as well as increasing the relative amount of incomplete products of combustion released into the associated airbag.
A new type an inflator, called a "fluid fueled inflator," has been developed. Such inflators are the subject of commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,104, Smith et al., issued Nov. 28, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,312, Rink, issued Feb. 27, 1996; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,473, Rink et al., issued Jul. 2, 1996, the disclosures of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.
Such an inflator device utilizes a fuel material in the form of a fluid, e.g., in the form of a gas, liquid, finely divided solid, or one or more combinations thereof, in the formation of an inflation gas for an airbag. In one such inflator device, the fluid fuel material is burned to produce gas which contacts a quantity of stored pressurized gas to produce inflation gas for use in inflating a respective inflatable device.
While such inflators avoid or minimize at least some of the above-identified shortcomings of prior inflator devices, there remains a need for an inflator device of simple design and construction, which is effectively operable using a variety of fuels, oxidants, and stored gases, and which, as compared to known inflation devices, can better vary output parameters such as the quantity, supply, and rate of supply of inflation gas, dependent on selected operating conditions such as ambient temperature, occupant presence, seat belt usage and rate of deceleration of the motor vehicle, for example.

Adaptive output fluid fueled airbag inflator


An apparatus for manufacturing a sorbent-containing fluid storage and dispensing vessel. A fluidizing vessel is arranged to hold a fluidized bed of solid-phase physical sorbent material, and sorbent material is fed to the fluidizing vessel. The sorbent material is fluidized with sorbable gas, to load the sorbent material with the gas and yield sorbate gas-loaded sorbent material. The sorbate gas-loaded sorbent material is transported from the fluidized bed into a storage and dispensing vessel, for subsequent use of the storage and dispensing vessel to selectively dispense the gas. Heat of adsorption effects are substantially eliminated in the fluidized bed, permitting the storage and dispensing vessel to be loaded at substantially ambient temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to storage and dispensing systems for the selective dispensing of fluids from a vessel in which the fluid component(s) are sorptively retained by a solid sorbent medium, and are desorptively released from the sorbent medium in the dispensing operation. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system for manufacturing storage and dispensing apparatus of such type, in which the sorbent is fully prepared and loaded with sorbate prior to its introduction to the storage and dispensing vessel.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a wide variety of industrial processes and applications, there is a need for a reliable source of process fluid(s) which is compact, portable, and available to supply the fluid(s) on demand. Such processes and applications include semiconductor manufacturing, ion implantation, manufacture of flat panel displays, medical treatment, water treatment, emergency breathing equipment, welding operations, space-based applications involving delivery of liquids and gases, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,221 issued May 17, 1988 to Karl O. Knollmueller discloses a method of storing and subsequently delivering arsine, by contacting arsine at a temperature of from about -30.degree. C. to about +30.degree. C. with a zeolite of pore size in the range of from about 5 to about 15 Angstroms to adsorb arsine on the zeolite, and then dispensing the arsine by heating the zeolite to an elevated temperature of up to about 175.degree. C. for sufficient time to release the arsine from the zeolite material.
The method disclosed in the Knollmueller patent is disadvantageous in that it requires the provision of heating means for the zeolite material, which must be constructed and arranged to heat the zeolite to sufficient temperature to desorb the previously sorbed arsine from the zeolite in the desired quantity.
The use of a heating jacket or other means exterior to the vessel holding the arsine-bearing zeolite is problematic in that the vessel typically has a significant heat capacity, and therefore introduces a significant lag time to the dispensing operation. Further, heating of arsine causes it to decompose, resulting in the formation of hydrogen gas, which introduces an explosive hazard into the process system. Additionally, such thermally-mediated decomposition of arsine effects substantial increase in gas pressure in the process system, which may be extremely disadvantageous from the standpoint of system life and operating efficiency.
The provision of interiorly disposed heating coil or other heating elements in the zeolite bed itself is problematic since it is difficult with such means to uniformly heat the zeolite bed to achieve the desired uniformity of arsine gas release.
The use of heated carrier gas streams passed through the bed of zeolite in its containment vessel may overcome the foregoing deficiencies, but the temperatures necessary to achieve the heated carrier gas desorption of arsine may be undesirably high or otherwise unsuitable for the end use of the arsine gas, so that cooling or other treatment is required to condition the dispensed gas for ultimate use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,528 issued May 21, 1996 in the names of Glenn M. Tom and James V. McManus, describes a gas storage and dispensing system, for the storage and dispensing of gases, e.g., hydride gases, halide gases, organometallic Group V compounds, etc. which overcomes various disadvantages of the gas supply process disclosed in the Knollmueller patent.
The gas storage and dispensing system of the Tom et al. patent comprises an adsorption-desorption apparatus, for storage and dispensing of gases, including a storage and dispensing vessel holding a solid-phase physical sorbent, and arranged for selectively flowing gas into and out of the vessel. A sorbate gas is physically adsorbed on the sorbent. A dispensing assembly is coupled in gas flow communication with the storage and dispensing vessel, and provides, exteriorly of the vessel, a pressure below the vessel's interior pressure, to effect desorption of sorbate from the solid-phase physical sorbent medium, and flow of desorbed gas through the dispensing assembly. Heating means may be employed to augment the desorption process, but as mentioned above, heating entails various disadvantages for the sorption/desorption system, and it therefore is preferred to operate the Tom et al. system with the desorption being carried out at least partially by pressure differential-mediated release of the sorbate gas from the sorbent medium.
The storage and dispensing vessel of the Tom et al. patent embodies a substantial advance in the art, relative to the prior art use of high pressure gas cylinders. Conventional high pressure gas cylinders are susceptible to leakage from damaged or malfunctioning regulator assemblies, as well as to rupture and unwanted bulk release of gas from the cylinder if the internal gas pressure in the cylinder exceeds permissible limits. Such overpressure may for example derive from internal decomposition of the gas leading to rapid increasing interior gas pressure in the cylinder.
The gas storage and dispensing vessel of the Tom et al. patent thus reduces the pressure of stored sorbate gases by reversibly adsorbing them onto a carrier sorbent, e.g., a zeolite or activated carbon material.
In the manufacture of storage and dispensing systems of the foregoing type, the preparation of the vessel involves degassing same, by high temperature bake-out. Correspondingly, the sorbent medium itself is desirably subjected to elevated temperature conditions prior to contacting the sorbent with the sorbable fluid, so that water, atmospheric gases, other previously sorbed gases, etc., are removed from the sorbent pores and surface area, to maximize the subsequent loading of the sorbable fluid on the sorbent medium.
Accordingly, it has been common practice in the art to load the sorbent material in the cylinder or other vessel to be employed in the storage and dispensing system, and to carry out a high temperature bake-out of the vessel, so that both the vessel and the sorbent therein are simultaneously degassed, in preparation for the subsequent introduction of sorbable fluid into the vessel for contacting with and sorption on the sorbent material.
While economical in terms of carrying out both heating steps at once, the heating of the cylinder and the sorbent therein requires significant cool-down time for the system to reach a temperature at which the contacting of the sorbent with the sorbable fluid can take place. This is due to the fact that the equilibrium capacity (loading) of the sorbent for the sorbate is a decreasing function of temperature, so that the higher temperatures of the bake-out step are highly unfavorable to high loading of sorbate on the sorbent.
In this respect, the vessel employed in the storage and dispensing system is typically a metal walled cylinder, and the thermal mass of the cylinder is therefore considerable. Although the cylinder by itself could easily be chilled to ambient at relatively high rates of cooling, the fact that the sorbent bed in the cylinder contains significant interstitial void space between the packed particles of sorbent in the bed means that the heat transfer from the hot sorbent to the ambient surroundings will be slow.
A further difficulty in the manufacture of storage and dispensing systems of the foregoing type is that the loading of the sorbable fluid on the sorbent is exothermic in character, and therefore the bed will increase in temperature. For a sorbable fluid such as arsine, the temperature rise in contacting a bed of sorbent with the gas may be on the order of 100 degrees Centigrade or even more. Under these circumstances, the fill operation for the sorbent exposure to the sorbable fluid must be carried out slowly or in stages, and/or substantial time is required to cool out the sorbent to ambient temperature. The retardation of the sorbate loading process to accommodate such heat of sorption effects, or alternatively the slow cool-down to ambient temperature occurring when the sorbate is loaded all at once, are substantial impediments to the high speed, large volume manufacturing of the storage and dispensing system units.
It would therefore be a significant advance in the art, and accordingly is an object of the invention, to provide a means and method for manufacturing storage and dispensing systems of the foregoing type, which avoids the need for long-term cool-down of the vessel and sorbent subsequent to degassing thereof, and which substantially eliminates the adverse heat of sorption effects which have hindered prior art efforts to achieve high volume manufacturing of the storage and dispensing systems described hereinabove.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully apparent from the ensuing disclosure.

Ex situ degassing and sorbate loading system for manufacture of sorbent-based fluid storage and dispensing apparatus


Methods, systems and computer program products for generating virtual reality (VR)-based interactive audience simulations are provided herein. A computer-implemented method includes determining one or more situational and location characteristics for a given performance by a user, generating a VR-based simulated audience for the given performance based at least in part on the determined situational and location characteristics, presenting the VR-based simulated audience to a user during the given performance utilizing a VR headset, utilizing one or more sensors to measure one or more aspects of the given performance before the VR-based simulated audience, and generating real-time feedback adjusting the VR-based simulated audience presented to the user utilizing the VR headset based at least in part on the measured aspects of the given performance.

Addressing an audience is a common task or challenge faced in a wide variety of use case scenarios. Such use case scenarios include but are not limited to pitching ideas to investors, sales pitches, giving technical or other presentations to peers, students, etc. Further use case scenarios involve entertainment scenarios, such as in live music performances, stand-up comedy performances, poetry or other literary performances, etc. As virtual reality (VR) systems become more immersive and capable, both in terms of sensing and providing stimuli, VR is becoming a viable option for serving as a potential medium to assist individuals or entities with preparing for a presentation or other performance.

Virtual-reality based interactive audience simulation

International Business Machines Corporation


An absorbent core for use in an absorbent article for absorbing discharged bodily fluid includes a first absorbent material dispersed throughout the core, and a second absorbent material provided in a discrete strip, and substantially surrounded by the first absorbent material. An apparatus and method for producing such cores includes a mold support advanceable in a predetermined direction and having at least one mold therein, and a tubular conduit for the second material alignably positioned such that a portion of the conduit will pass through at least a portion of the mold as the mold support is advanced. The mold support may include a forming drum or a forming belt. The tubular conduit has a distal end through which the second absorbent material may be expelled. Particles of the first absorbent material are preferably deposited by air-entrainment into the molds, and these particles surround the tubular conduit in order to form a cavity into which the second absorbent material is deposited from the distal end of the conduit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to absorbent articles, as well as to an apparatus and method for producing absorbent articles. More particularly, the present invention provides absorbent cores made from two or more absorbent materials, wherein at least one of these absorbent materials is provided in one or more strips.
2. Description of Related Art
Absorbent articles for the absorption and retention of discharged bodily fluids (urine, blood, vaginal discharge, etc.) are well known in the prior art, and generally include an absorbent core having one or more absorbent materials therein. In the case of diapers, incontinence pads, sanitary napkins, pantiliners and the like, the absorbent core is generally disposed between a topsheet and a backsheet. The topsheet is fluid pervious, and allows discharged fluids to pass therethrough for absorption by the core. The backsheet is generally fluid impervious, and prevents absorbed fluids from escaping the absorbent article.
Various types of absorbent materials may be incorporated into the core of the article, particularly cellulosic fibers such as wood pulp. Recently, superabsorbent polymers also known as absorbent gelling materials (AGM's) have been developed which can be incorporated into absorbent cores for improved performance. AGM's are polymeric materials which are capable of absorbing large quantities of fluids to form hydrogels and which are further capable of retaining the absorbed fluids under moderate pressures. Typically, the AGM is incorporated along with one or more conventional fibrous materials, often in multi-layer configurations. For example, the absorbent core of an absorbent article may comprise one layer consisting solely of cellulosic fibers, and a second layer consisting of a uniform combination of cellulosic fibers and AGM particles.
Manufacturing multi-component absorbent cores can be difficult and expensive, and often requires two or more separate core-making apparatus. While various apparatus for overcoming this problem have been suggested, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,677, it is often difficult to control the amount and location of AGM deposition in such apparatus. Since AGM's are significantly more expensive than more traditional fibrous materials, it is advantageous to insure that the amount and location of AGM is precisely controlled. Such control is difficult, however, with conventional air-laying apparatus.
Precise control of the amount and location of AGM within the core is desirable not only due to costs, but also for improved performance. While AGM's rapidly absorb many times their weight in fluids, they are subject to gel-blocking. Gel-blocking occurs when the surface of an AGM particle, film, or fiber rapidly swells with absorbed fluid and prevents fluid transmission to the interior of the particle, film or fiber. When this occurs, wetting of the interior takes place via a very slow diffusion process, and the absorbent article may fail well before the AGM has reached its fluid capacity.
Thus, there is a need for absorbent articles having a first absorbent material such as cellulosic fibers, and a second absorbent material, such as an AGM, wherein the second material is selectively provided in at least one strip within the first material, as well as an apparatus and method for producing such absorbent articles.

Apparatus for producing absorbent products


An image reading apparatus is composed of an image input unit for obtaining multi-valued image data by reading an image optically; an image processing unit for performing image processing including screen processing on the multi-valued image data obtained by the image input unit; a data converting unit for converting image data obtained by the image processing of the image processing unit into a form that is described in a page description language; and an image output unit for outputting image data obtained by the conversion of the data converting unit to the outside.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus for optically reading an image on an original document.
2. Background Art
With the recent development of the computer technologies, the network technologies, etc., image processing systems are now used widely that are equipped with an image reading apparatus such as a scanner, a host computer (hereinafter referred to simply as "host PC") such as a personal computer, and an image output apparatus such as a printer. Such image processing systems are usually configured in such a manner that when the image reading apparatus has read a color image on an original document as RGB multi-valued data, the RGB multi-valued data are transferred to and stored in the host PC and then the image output apparatus receives the RGB multi-valued data and prints those data by performing color conversion processing into the YMCK color space, screen processing, etc. Among such image processing systems are ones capable of printing RGB multi-valued image data without depending on the kind of image processing function of the image output apparatus because the host PC performs image processing that should inherently be performed by the image output apparatus (e.g., JP-A-11-98353). There also exist image processing systems in which RGB multi-valued image data obtained by the image reading apparatus can be output by the image output apparatus without intervention of the host PC (e.g., JP-A-2002-314736).
Incidentally, in each of the above conventional configurations, the image processing necessary for printing RGB multi-valued image data such as color conversion processing, gradation correction processing, and screen processing depends on the image processing function of the image output apparatus or the image processing function the host PC takes over. Further, RGB multi-valued data that are read by the image reading apparatus are not necessarily intended for printing. Therefore, depending on the kind of image processing function of the image output apparatus (i.e., the type of image output apparatus) or the kind of image processing function the host PC takes over (i.e., the kind of software that runs on the host PC), scanned-in RGB multi-valued image data may be printed without being subjected to proper image processing. This may cause image quality problems; for example, characters are blurred and the background is fogged in the case of a text original document or the like and moiré occurs in the case of a photograph original document consisting of halftone dots or the like. Further, since RGB multi-valued image data are sent to the host PC or the image output apparatus, the transfer load and the image processing load in each apparatus are increased, which results in a problem of reduction in productivity.


A selectively operable vacuum source designed to reduce leakage is disclosed. In one example, the vacuum source is at least partially within an engine air intake system. The approach may reduce a number of sensors required to diagnose whether or not leaks are present within the vacuum source.

Vacuum is a medium for providing actuating force in some vehicles. For example, vacuum may be used to assist a driver to apply vehicle brakes. Vacuum may be sourced to actuators via an engine intake manifold, vacuum pump, or an ejector. Engine intake manifold vacuum may be a suitable vacuum source for naturally aspirated engines; however, there may be insufficient engine intake manifold vacuum for operating vacuum actuators when the engine is turbocharged. Therefore, vacuum may be provided for turbocharged engines via an ejector or a vacuum pump.
An ejector provides vacuum by way of providing a low pressure region in a flow path of a motive fluid. In some examples, the motive fluid may contain fuel vapors, untreated engine emissions, and/or engine crankcase vapors. If the ejector develops a leak, it may be possible for gases to enter the atmosphere. For example, an ejector leak may be manifested in a converging section, a diverging section, or a vacuum or suction section. Since pressure within the converging, diverging, and suction sections may vary significantly, it may require three or more sensors (e.g., a sensor in each section) to determine which, if any, ejector section is leaking. Consequently, it may be expensive and challenging to determine whether or not an ejector is leaking so that the engine control system can detect degradation and alert the driver and potentially take mitigating action. Further, it may be expensive or difficult to meet requirements of regulating agencies for determining if tubes that connect to an ejector have been disconnected.
The inventors herein have recognized the above-mentioned disadvantages and have developed a system for providing vacuum for a vehicle, comprising: an engine including an air intake passage; and a vacuum generating device including a motive fluid inlet section, a diverging discharge section positioned within the air intake passage, and a suction inlet.
By placing a diverging section of an ejector or a venturi within an engine air intake passage, it may be possible to avoid making measurements of the ejector diverging section to detect leaks in the diverging section since any leaks in the diverging section will be released into the closed boundary of the engine. Consequently, hydrocarbons or untreated exhaust gases entrained in the motive fluid, which provides vacuum via the ejector, are directed to engine cylinders where they may be combusted and then treated in the engine exhaust system. Additionally, a particular benefit of arranging an ejector within an engine air intake is that a disconnect or leak in the diverging section outlet may be unnecessary to detect because it is within the engine air intake. A connection at the diverging section is expensive to detect due to a requirement of additional pressure sensors within the diverging section.
The present description may provide several advantages. Specifically, the approach may reduce the need to monitor all sections of an ejector to diagnose the ejector for leaks. Further, the approach may reduce a number of sensors required to monitor an ejector for leaks. Further still, ejector leaks may be determined without adding any additional sensors to the vehicle system.
The above advantages and other advantages, and features of the present description will be readily apparent from the following Detailed Description when taken alone or in connection with the accompanying drawings.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.


A radio communication device performs baseband processing by subjecting a received signal to an AD conversion at a predetermined sampling frequency and converting a digital signal resulting from the AD conversion into a baseband signal by frequency conversion. The device includes a frequency converting unit configured to convert the resulting digital signal into a complex baseband signal. The device further includes a waveform shaping unit configured to subject the baseband signal to waveform shaping, and a down-sampling unit configured to subject the baseband signal to sample discrete reduction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radio communication device that down-converts a received signal into a baseband signal, and particularly to a radio communication device that down-converts a digital signal resulting from AD conversion at a predetermined sampling frequency into a baseband signal.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a radio communication device in which the circuit configuration of a frequency converter is simplified by utilizing a fact that a frequency ratio between a sampling frequency at which an analog signal in an IF band is subjected to AD conversion and a frequency when frequency conversion of the IF signal into a baseband signal is performed has a specific relation, and particularly to a radio communication device in which the circuit configuration of a frequency converter is simplified and an amount of operation in a stage succeeding the frequency converter is reduced.
2. Description of the Related Art
Radio communications play a wide variety of roles ranging from high-capacity basic trunk lines of terrestrial broadcasting, terrestrial microwave communications, satellite communications, satellite broadcasting and the like to access lines of mobile communications and the like. Digital radio communications that communicate digital data by radio, such as digital broadcasting, wireless LANs (Local Area Networks) and the like, have recently been a trend of the times.
In a digital radio communication, the encoding of an information source and a communication channel and the digital modulation of a transmission signal are performed on a sender side, and as opposed to the sender side, digital demodulation and the decoding of the information source and the communication channel are performed on a receiver side. The communication technology of a digital system can increase communication speed and capacity, and enhance resistances to noise, interference, and distortion, so that high quality can be achieved.
FIG. 6 shows an example of configuration of a receiver for digital radio communication. First, an RF signal received by an antenna is amplified by an LNA (Low Noise Amplifier), and once down-converted from an RF band to a predetermined IF (Intermediate Frequency) band. Next, the IF signal is amplified by a VGA (Variable Gain Amplifier). The variable gain of the VGA is specified by a baseband circuit in a subsequent stage, and input to the VGA after being subjected to analog conversion by a DA converter (DAC). Next, an AD converter (ADC) converts the IF signal into a digital signal by an AD conversion at a predetermined sampling frequency. Further, the digital signal is down-converted into complex baseband signals by digital down-converters, subjected to waveform shaping by LPFs (Low Pass Filters), and down-sampled by down-sampling circuits. Thereafter the baseband circuit formed by a digital circuit performs baseband processing.
It is known in the art that the configuration of a frequency converter can be simplified when a relation such that a ratio of the sampling frequency at the time of the AD conversion to the frequency for subjecting the digital signal after the AD conversion to the frequency conversion is 4 to 1 or 4 to 3 holds (see for example, Coauthored by Jan-Erik Eklund and Ragnar Arvidsson "A Multiple Sampling, Single A/D Conversion Technique for I/Q Demodulation in CMOS" (IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 31, No. 12, December 1996)).
In the receiver shown in FIG. 6, a digital signal obtained by performing frequency conversion of an RF signal into an IF band in a first frequency converter (frequency f1) and thereafter sampling the IF signal by AD conversion at a sampling frequency Fs is subjected to frequency conversion in a second frequency converter (frequency f2) to be converted into complex baseband signals. The complex baseband signals are then subjected to waveform shaping in the LPFs.
The second frequency conversion is as shown in the following Equations (1) and (2). In this case, time is treated as discrete times Δt×n (n=0, 1, 2, . . . , ∞), Δt=1/Fs, and f2/Fs=¼. Cosine and sine operations in this case are performed in units of 90 degrees. Results of the cosine and sine operations therefore assume three values 0, 1, and −1. That is, multiplication of cosine and sine waveforms is not necessary, and cosines and sines can be treated as frequency conversion coefficients as shown in FIG. 7. Thus, zero and a sign inversion are used for the multiplication of the received signal r(t) after the AD conversion by a cosine and a sine, so that an amount of operation is greatly reduced (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-76975, paragraphs 0015 and 0016, for example).
                              I                                (            t            )                          =                                            r                                            (                t                )                                      ·                          cos                                            (                                                      2                    ·                    π                    ·                    f                                                                                2                    ·                    Δ                                                                                t                    ·                    n                                                  )                                              =                                    r                                            (                t                )                                      ·                          cos                                            (                                  2                  ·                  π                  ·                                      n                    4                                                  )                                                                        (        1        )                                          Q                                (            t            )                          =                                            -                              r                                                  (                  t                  )                                                      ·                          sin                                            (                                                      2                    ·                    π                    ·                    f                                                                                2                    ·                    Δ                                                                                t                    ·                    n                                                  )                                              =                                    -                              r                                                  (                  t                  )                                                      ·                          sin                                            (                                  2                  ·                  π                  ·                                      n                    4                                                  )                                                                        (        2        )
FIG. 8 shows a configuration of a receiver whose circuit configuration is simplified by representing the multiplication of the received signal r(t) resulting from the AD conversion by the cosine and the sine by zero and a sign inversion. The receiver is the same as in FIG. 6 in that an RF signal received by an antenna is amplified by an LNA and then converted into an IF band by a frequency conversion by a first frequency converter (frequency f1), and next the IF signal is amplified by a VGA and converted into a digital signal by an AD conversion at a sampling frequency F, by an AD converter. In a second frequency converter, the multiplication of the received signal r(t) after the AD conversion by the cosine and the sine with the frequency f2 is replaced with the multiplication of the received signal r(t) after the AD conversion by the frequency conversion coefficients shown in FIG. 7.
FIGS. 9A to 9D show states of signals at respective points in the receiver shown in FIG. 8.
r(t) denotes a received signal resulting from AD conversion at the sampling frequency Fs. I0(t) and Q0(t) denote signals down-converted at the frequency f2 by the frequency conversion coefficients shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 9B shows that the signals I0(t) and Q0(t) include zero in every other sample. This is due to zero alternately included in the frequency conversion coefficients.
I1(t) and Q1(t) denote signals obtained by performing LPF processing on the frequency-converted signals I0(t) and Q0(t). FIG. 10 shows an example of configuration of a digital LPF.
I2(t) and Q2(t) denote results obtained by performing discrete reduction processing on the signals I1(t) and Q1(t) after the LPF processing by down-sampling circuits. In the example shown in FIG. 9D, discrete reduction is performed in every other sample, and thereby a rate is halved.


Surgical kit inspection systems and methods are provided for inspecting surgical kits having parts of different types. The surgical kit inspection system comprises a vision unit including a first camera unit and a second camera unit to capture images of parts of a first type and a second type in each kit and to capture images of loose parts from each kit that are placed on a light surface. A robot supports the vision unit to move the first and second camera units relative to the parts in each surgical kit. One or more controllers obtain unique inspection instructions for each of the surgical kits to control inspection of each of the surgical kits and control movement of the robot and the vision unit accordingly to provide output indicating inspection results for each of the surgical kits.

Surgical kits include parts of different types that assist in performing surgical procedures. The parts may include implants, reusable parts (e.g., surgical instruments), and disposable parts. Usually, some parts (e.g., some of the implants and disposable parts) are consumed during the surgical procedure. The reusable parts may be damaged or worn or may have been inadvertently discarded or misplaced. For these reasons, after the surgical procedure has been performed, any surgical kits used in performing the surgical procedure need to be inspected to determine which parts are missing, damaged, or worn.
Once the used surgical kit is received at an inspection location, the inspection procedure involves discarding disposable parts (if any), comparing the parts in the used surgical kit against a list of parts that makeup a complete surgical kit, and inspecting each part of the used surgical kit for damage or wear, and to ensure proper placement of the part within the surgical kit. Once the inspection procedure is complete, missing, damaged, and/or worn parts are replaced, and the surgical kit is processed (e.g., sterilized) to be ready for the next surgical procedure.
Some inspection procedures are still, in large part, performed manually by an operator. The process may begin, for example, by the operator printing off the list of parts that makeup a complete surgical kit. The operator then manually inspects every part in the used surgical kit and compares the parts to the list. The operator marks the used surgical kit as "complete" when no items are missing or "as is" when there are missing parts. The operator may also visually inspect the parts for damage or wear. The operator creates a list of missing, damaged, and/or worn parts through an inventory system and parts may subsequently be replaced. Manual inspection by the operator of every part is time consuming and prone to operator error.

Surgical kit inspection systems and methods for inspecting surgical kits having parts of different types


A method of producing analgesia in a mammal is provided by rotational (alternating) intrathecal administration to the mammal of a pharmaceutically effective dose of at least one opioid receptor agonist, such as a μ-, δ-, or κ-opioid receptor agonist for a first period of time, followed by intrathecal administration to the mammal of a pharmaceutically effective dose of at least one opioid receptor-like receptor 1 (ORL-1) agonist for a second period of time. The intrathecal drug administration of the first and second periods of time may be repeated a plurality of times without attaining tolerance in the mammal to either drug. Implantable apparatus for rotational administration of the active agents is also disclosed.

In mammals, the receptors that respond selectively to noxious stimuli are known as nociceptors. Two distinct sets of peripheral sensory neurons are primarily responsible for the sensation of pain. The first, Aδ-nociceptive neurons, contain myelinated axons and are aroused primarily by noxious heat and mechanical stimuli. The second set of nociceptive neurons, which possess unmyelinated axons and are known as C fibers, are activated by high intensity, mechanical, chemical and thermal stimulation. Each of these sets of neurons has their cell bodies in the dorsal root ganglia. Their processes are pseudounipolar, with one axon that terminates in the periphery and one that terminates on neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.
Analgesia is the loss of sensitivity to pain without loss of consciousness. In recent years, the convergence of various lines of research demonstrates that analgesia can be produced by exogenous opioids, such as morphine, or endogenous opioids. This research has resulted in a model that explains the mechanism whereby pain is inhibited. See, for example, Kelly, D., "Central Representations Of Pain and Analgesia", Principals of Neural Science, Kandel and Schwartz, Eds. (1985).
The first means known to man for inducing analgesia was through the use of plant-derived opioid narcotics such as morphine. Postsynaptic opioid receptors have been characterized and include the following three basic subtypes: mu (μ), delta (δ) and kappa (κ). Endogenous opioids that bind these opioid receptors and thereby produce analgesia include the met- and leu-enkephalins, as well as β-endorphin. Most of the clinically used opiates, such as morphine, activate the μ-opioid receptor subtype.
Stimulation of C-fiber primary afferent neurons associated with pain results in the release of the potent neuropeptides substance P, calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) and somatostatin, as well as the "fast" neurotransmitter glutamate. The activated enkephalinergic inhibitory neurons in turn exert presynaptic inhibitory control over the release of these neurotransmitters, thus blocking the sensation of pain.
Opioid compounds (opiates) such as morphine, while effective in producing analgesia for many types of pain, are not always effective since the development of tolerance occurs in most patients. The development of tolerance to the effects of opioids is one of the major problems in chronic pain management today. Regardless of the route of opioid delivery, patients complain of decreasing pain relief with time. Although recent studies suggest that constant delivery of opioids (e.g., infusion or transdermal patch) produces less tolerance than intermittent dosing (e.g., short-acting opioids, such as Vicodin) (Jhamandas, K H et al., "Spinal amino acid release and precipitated withdrawal in rats chronically infused with spinal morphine," J Neurosci 16:2758-2766 (1996); Ibuki T et al., "Effect of transient naloxone antagonism on tolerance development in rats receiving continuous spinal morphine infusion," Pain 70:125-132 (1997)), tolerance is still a significant issue. Recent studies with patients receiving chronic intrathecal opioids demonstrate that in some patients an increase in dose of up to 2-3 fold over a period of months is necessary to maintain adequate analgesic levels (Winkelmuller M et al., "Long-term effects of continuous intrathecal opioid treatment in chronic pain of nonmalignant etiology," J Neurosurg 85:458-467 (1996); Paice J A et al., "Clinical realities and economic considerations: efficacy of intrathecal pain therapy," J Pain Symp Manage 14:S14-26 (1997); Sallerin-Caute B et al., "Does intrathecal morphine in the treatment of cancer pain induce the development of tolerance?," Neurosurgery 42:44-49 (1998)). A recent study of the intra-operative use of remifentanil indicates that rapid (within hours) tolerance to this μ-opioid agonist can occur (Guignard B. et al., "Acute opioid tolerance: intraoperative remifentanil increases postoperative pain and morphine requirement," Anesthesiology 93:409-417 (2000)). Basic research on human cell lines indicates that a 30% reduction in, μ-opioid receptor molecular signaling pathways occurs as early as 24 hours in culture with a μ-opioid agonist (Elliot J. et al., "Tolerance to 1μ-opioid agonists in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells as determined by changes in guanosine-5′-0-(3-[35S]-thio) triphosphate binding," Br. J. Pharmacol. 121:1422-1428 (1997)). However, most researchers would agree that tolerance develops more rapidly in rats than in humans. For example, many patients have been successfully treated with stable-dose morphine for more than six days (which is the time-course for the development of morphine tolerance in rats) without becoming completely tolerant to the analgesic effects of morphine.
While escalating opioid use is not only a medicolegal issue for many physicians, escalating intrathecal opioids can result in side effects, such as myoclonus (Glavina M J et al., "Myoclonic spasms following intrathecal morphine," Anaesthesia 43:389-390 (1988); De Conno F et al., "Hyperalgesia and myoclonus with intrathecal infusion of high-dose morphine," Pain 47:337-339 (1991)). This side effect does not usually occur if the dose of intrathecal opioids is limited to a morphine equivalent of 60-70 mg/day. Although most patients start at intrathecal doses of less than 5 mg/day, even a 2-fold increase per year results in toxic doses within four years. At high doses, these compounds additionally produce side effects, such as respiratory depression, which can be life-threatening. Opioid drugs also frequently produce physical dependence in patients. Dependence appears to be related to the dose of opioid taken and the period of time over which the subject takes it. For this reason, alternate therapies for the management of chronic pain are widely sought. In addition, compounds which serve as either a replacement for, or as an adjunct to, opioid treatment in order to decrease the dosage of analgesic compound required, have utility in the treatment of pain, particularly pain of the chronic, intractable type.
Non-opioid drugs, such as the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) provide an alternative therapy for the treatment of pain. The mode of action of NSAIDs is believed to be through inhibition of cyclooxygenase, the enzyme responsible for biosynthesis of the prostaglandins. As analgesics, the NSAIDs lack many of the side effects on the CNS that are associated with the opioids and they do not result in the development of dependence. They are only effective, however, on low to moderate intensity pain, and are not generally useful for intense pain. In addition, they have undesirable side effects, including the propensity to induce gastric or intestinal ulceration as well as disturbances of platelet function.
Despite the wide range of analgesic substances available, still lacking are drugs and drug administration regimes that are effective in reducing severe pain without requiring dose escalation due to the development of tolerance.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A handheld gamma camera or PET system with a disposable detector head is provided. This system includes a configuration of a gamma camera or PET scanner in which optical fibers or bundles of optical fibers are coupled to a scintillator or array of scintillators and the other end of the optical fibers or bundles of optical fibers are coupled to a light-sensitive camera, such as a photomultiplier. The system may further include a mechanism to rapidly couple and/or decouple the optical fiber or fibers from the light sensitive camera or from the scintillator or array of scintillators so that the detector can be disposed of or sterilized without damaging the light-sensitive camera. A method for image reconstruction and image simulation is also provided. The method includes an application of deterministic sampling using Gaussian quadrature parameters to construct a transition matrix for purposes of image reconstruction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for detecting and delineating cancerous lesions, and more particularly an apparatus and a method for effective and affordable early detection of cancerous lesions using gamma rays or other radiation to obtain image data.
2. Description of the Related Art
As medical therapies become more biochemically specific, medical researchers and practitioners have turned to molecular imaging to develop new therapies and guide treatment with these therapies. Positron emission tomography ("PET") is the archetypal molecular imaging device, due to its high sensitivity to extremely small amounts of biochemically-relevant molecular probes. With such small amounts (e.g., tracer quantities), it is possible to monitor biochemical processes without substantially altering enzymatic kinetic rates.
The detection of early primary cancers with whole-body PET has been less successful than the detection of metastatic activity. This performance difference has been ascribed to instrumental limitations, as well as biological differences between primary cancers as compared to metastases. In general, it is preferable to detect primary cancers when they are small, since the chances of cure and control are substantially increased. The small size of early cancer reduces lesion detectability because of the finite resolution of the PET device, which effectively reduces lesion-to-background contrast. In the PET field, reduced lesion-to-background contrast can be quantitatively measured with the recovery coefficient. This effect has been extensively explored in phantom and clinical trials by Dr. Lee Adler. For example, see "Simultaneous Recovery of Size and Radioactivity Concentration of Small Spheroids with PET Data", C. Chen, L. Adler et al., J. Nucl. Med. 40(1), 1999, pp. 118–130; and "A Non-Linear Spatially Variant Object-Dependent System Model for Prediction and Correction of Partial Volume Effect in PET", C. Chen, L. Adler et al., IEEE Trans. Med. Imag. 17:214–227, 1998.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/737,119, Publication No. 20010040219, Cherry et al. disclose a detector for use in a dedicated PET scanner for cancer applications, particularly breast cancer applications, using at least two detector plates containing arrays of LSO or light-equivalent scintillating crystals and a fiber-optic bundle serving as a light-guide between the scintillator arrays and photomultiplier tubes. However, in the Cherry system, a fiber-optic bundle must be placed in at least two detector plates. In addition, in the Cherry system, the fiber-optic light guides are attached to the scintillator arrays and to the photomultipliers permanently, and these attachments are fixed and not removable. Such a fixed and non-removable arrangement may lead to practical difficulties when, for example, a medical intervention using data provided by the system requires physical access that may be obstructed by the fibers, or when the scintillator arrays and/or fiber optics are contaminated by body fluids so as to require disposal or sterilization. Thus, there is a need for a more flexible PET scanner system that allows the optical fibers to be removable from a photomultiplier or scintillator.

Mission-specific positron emission tomography


Games and systems for playing those games are described that are non-consequential, intuitively educational, reflective, and physically-interactive. The games can be played by players at a variety of skill levels and ages, using a set of unique cards and signs that direct the players to interact with one another and the game in ways that promote mental and physical development.

Physical sports such as soccer, hockey, tennis, lacrosse, or croquet are popular among children and can be useful to develop teamwork skills, coordination, and promote physical fitness. These and other benefits of physical education can, however, come with drawbacks. For example, in certain team sports or games children are in competition with one another. In those sports or games, smaller, less athletic, or disabled children can feel inferior due to being picked last or not feeling like he or she has a chance of winning.
Furthermore, young children may not fully comprehend the rules or instructions of a game that was developed for older players. For example, in the game of soccer a player is typically not permitted to pick up a ball. Younger children who do not understand this rule may not be able, without some further training, to benefit from all of the skills that soccer can impart (such as hand-eye coordination) because they are not following that rule.

Educational training systems, games, and methods


The present invention is directed to a system and method for monitoring the performance of a heat exchanger. In accordance with the system and method, baseline values of a performance factor (E) for baseline sets of heat exchanger operating values are calculated and stored. A current value of E is calculated for a current set of the operating values and is compared to a retrieved baseline value of E for a baseline set of the operating values that at least substantially matches the current set of the operating values. E provides a measure of the performance of the heat exchanger and is calculated using differential temperatures across the heat exchanger and without using any information concerning the physical construction of the heat exchanger.

The present invention is directed toward the monitoring of plant assets and, more particularly, toward a system and method for monitoring the performance of a heat exchanger using a heat exchanger model.
Heat exchangers are widely used in a variety of industrial processes to transfer heat between a process fluid and a thermal transfer fluid. This transfer of heat may be performed to heat or cool the process fluid or to change the state of the process fluid. There are three main types of heat exchanger, namely recuperative, regenerative and evaporative. Of these three types, the recuperative type is the most common. In a recuperative heat exchanger, the process fluid and the thermal transfer fluid are separated by structures, such as tubes or plates, through which heat is transferred from one fluid to the other fluid. The transfer of heat between the two fluids occurs through conduction and convection. The most common types of construction for recuperative heat exchangers are shell and tube, plate and spiral. Operatively, recuperative heat exchangers can be single phase or two-phase and can be parallel flow, counter flow, or cross flow.
Regardless of their particular construction or operation, all recuperative heat exchangers are subject to fouling, which is the formation of deposits on the surfaces of the heat transfer structures. Fouling can occur through crystallization, sedimentation, chemical reaction/polymerization, coking, corrosion and/or biological/organic material growth. Fouling reduces the efficiency of a heat exchanger by constricting fluid flow and reducing the heat transfer coefficients of the heat transfer structures. Accordingly, heat exchangers are periodically cleaned to remove fouling. Typically, the cleaning of a heat exchanger is performed according to a predetermined maintenance schedule. Between such scheduled cleanings, however, the efficiency of the heat exchanger may deteriorate significantly. As a result, the heat exchanger may operate inefficiently for a significant period of time before the heat exchanger is cleaned, thereby resulting in a waste of energy and an increase in operating cost. Accordingly, it is desirable to monitor the efficiency of the heat exchanger during its operation.
Conventional systems and methods for monitoring the efficiency of heat exchangers require special fouling sensors and/or specific information about the construction of the heat exchangers. Examples of such conventional heat exchanger monitoring systems and methods are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,505 to Moon, U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,733 to Yang and U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,553 to Kaya et al. In all of these patents, the efficiency of a heat exchanger is determined from a ratio between the heat transfer coefficient at a baseline time period and the heat transfer coefficient at a measured time period, wherein the heat transfer coefficients are calculated using, inter alia, the area and thickness of the heat transfer surface(s). The Moon patent further requires a special fouling sensor having a metal wire wound in a spiral around a body having heating wires extending therethrough. Thus, conventional heat exchanger monitoring systems and methods must be specially customized for the heat exchangers to which they are applied and often require special equipment, such as fouling sensors, to be mounted on or near the heat exchanger.
Based on the foregoing, there exists a need in the art for a system and method for monitoring the performance of a heat exchanger, wherein the system and method do not require specific information about the heat exchanger and do not require special fouling sensors to be mounted on or adjacent to the heat exchanger. The present invention is directed to such a system and method.

System and method for monitoring the performance of a heat exchanger


The present invention relates to a three-dimensional security feature using a hologram which can not be counterfeited with color copying machines or diffraction grating image forming devices. The three-dimensional security feature comprises a hologram which is recorded in such a manner that it can be reconstructed to comprise at least two three-dimensional linear patterns when locally viewed, at least one of these two three-dimensional linear patterns having at least one portion which crosses the other linear pattern at the inner side and at least one portion which crosses the other linear pattern at the outer side.

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional security feature (holographic fine-line pattern), and in particular, a three-dimensional security feature with enhanced counterfeit deterrent effect using hologram.
Conventionally, security features (fine-line patterns) created by printing have been used in the cash vouchers such as securities and banknotes for counterfeit deterrence. The conventional security features comprise geometric patterns with complicated combination of fine lines such as wave lines. However, due to the improvement of color copying machines in resolution and color reproducibility, counterfeit of these cash vouchers are increasing.
In addition, security features using diffraction gratings have also been practically used for imparting enhanced counterfeit deterrent effect. A security feature using the diffraction grating is often utilized as high level counterfeit deterrence measures as it can express the movement of light, and it can express fine patterns in high resolution, although in two-dimensional images. However, these security feature patterns using the diffraction grating which have been regarded as high level counterfeit deterrence technique are nowadays increasingly counterfeited, because the patterns recorded in it have come to be detected by microscopic observation and observation of the light movement, and because of the spread of the diffraction grating image forming devices using laser two-beam interference.
On the other hand, computer generated holograms (CGHs) have been known. There are generally two processes in the CGH producing technique, of which one is a process in which the object surface is replaced with a set of point light sources, known in the non-patent reference 1, 2, and others. The other is the use of the holographic stereogram, known in the patent reference 1 and the non-patent reference 3, and others.
The former process of the two, namely replacing the object surface with a set of point light sources, will be described here as a representative process.
As an example of CGHs, a binary hologram obtained by recording the intensity distribution of interference fringe, of which reconstructed image has parallax only in horizontal direction, and which is to be observed with white light from above, will be described in outline. Referring to FIG. 3, the shape of the object to be imaged in CGH is defined at step ST1. Then at step ST2, the space arrangements of the object, CGH plane, and reference light are defined. Then at step ST3, the object is divided in the vertical direction with horizontal slices, followed by replacement of the sliced surface with a set of point light sources. Then at step ST4, on the basis of these space arrangements, the intensities of the interference fringe between the light arriving from the point light sources constituting the object and the reference light are calculated for each sample point defined on the CGH plane, thereby obtaining the interference fringe data. Then at step ST5, the obtained interference fringe data are quantized. After that, at step ST6, the data are converted into a rectangular data for EB imaging, which are recorded at step ST7 on a medium by means of an EB imaging device, thus finally producing CGH.
In this calculation of the interference fringe, the hidden surface removal process is performed. The hidden surface removal process is a process of making a part, which is hidden by other object in front of it, invisible when an object is observed from a certain viewpoint, whereby the information of overlapping of objects is added to retina image, thus exhibiting a three dimensional effect. In the CGH recording, the hidden surface removal process is performed according to the following procedure.
As shown in FIG. 4, for each point light source constituting the object 1, the region in which the point light source is hidden by objects 1, 2 (the hatched area in FIG. 4) is obtained. In the case of CGH which is produced according to the procedure shown in FIG. 3, since the objects 1, 2 are sliced by horizontal surfaces and have parallax only in the horizontal direction, the region in which the point light sources on object 1 are hidden by objects 1, 2 is obtained from the positional relations between points and lines on each slice surface. The hidden surface removal process is a process in which, when a sample point of the interference fringe distributing on CGH plane is included in the region in which the point light sources are hidden obtained in the above (solid point in FIG. 4), that point light source at that sample point is eliminated from the calculation of the intensities of the interference fringe. From the image of object 1 reconstructed from CGH processed as above, the reconstruction light is not diffracted to the hatched area in FIG. 4, and the region of the object 1 corresponding to those point light sources becomes invisible because the region becomes behind the image of object 2 when an observer drops his viewpoint on that region.
In addition, it is also proposed in the patent reference 2 that color can be expressed with a CGH, produced by the process in which object surface is replaced by a set of point light sources, by reproducing the CGH with white light.
On the other hand, the inventor has proposed, in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-365628, a CGH which is recorded in such a manner that a micro-object providing verifying information is arranged behind a covering object having a size easily recognizable by naked eyes, and the verifying information is hidden by the covering object and is not observable from a predetermined direction, but is observable from the other direction which is different from the predetermined direction. A representative example will be described with reference to FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, verifying information which is a micro-object 11 such as a letter or a figure having such a size as not easily to be recognized by naked eyes, specifically having the largest size not greater than 300 μm, is arranged behind a covering object 12 having a size larger than micro-object 11 and easily recognizable with naked eyes arranged in front of the micro-object (nearer to the observer relative to the micro-object), at a position where micro-object 11 is covered by the covering object when viewed from the front, so that a viewer E can not observe the verifying information from the front (normal observing direction), and this arrangement is recorded in a CGH 10. For this end, the hidden surface removal process described above is performed on the set of point light sources expressing the micro-object 11, and the recording is performed in such a manner that the reconstruction light from the micro-object 11 does not diffract to a region at least between the line 21L and the line 21R in FIG. 5. The line 21L is a line passing the left end of the micro-object 11 and the left end of the covering object 12, and the line 21R is a line passing the right end of the micro-object 11 and the right end of the covering object 12, the front direction being included between the line 21L and the line 21R. In addition, the line 22L is a line drawn from the left end of the micro-object 11 toward upper left indicating a boundary of a region to which the reconstruction light from the left end of the micro-object 11 does not diffract, and the line 22R is a line drawn from the right end of the micro-object 11 toward upper right indicating a boundary of a region to which the reconstruction light from the right end of the micro-object 11 does not diffract.
In relation to the above, the right side emission angle γ2 of the object light of micro-object 11 is set larger than the angle β2 which is an angle between the line 21R connecting the right end of the micro-object 11 and the right end of the covering object 12 and the front direction, and the left side emission angle γ3 of the object light of micro-object 11 is set larger than the angle β3 which is an angle between the line 21L connecting the left end of the micro-object 11 and the left end of the covering object 12 and the front direction. Accordingly, as seen from FIG. 5, the angle range in which all or a part of the micro-object 11 is visible is γ2−β2+γ3−β3, while the angle range in which the micro-object is covered is β2+β3.
In this type of CGH, the presence of verifying information (micro-object 11) is difficult to be noticed because the recorded verifying information is too small to be recognized with naked eyes even under appropriate illumination. In addition, the presence of the verifying information is difficult to be noticed from the front direction which is the normal observation direction, even with the use of magnifying glass or other enlargement device, thus further enhancing the secrecy of verifying information and decreasing the danger of counterfeit.
In this type of CGH, the verification is performed by irradiating the hologram with appropriate illumination and observing it from a predetermined direction other than the front direction using magnifying glass or other enlargement device to reveal the verifying information (micro-object 11) The verifying information 11 can be confirmed as it disappears because it becomes behind the covering object 12 when the observation position is moved to the front where the observer's direction is the normal observation direction.
[Patent Reference 1]
Japanese patent No. 3,155,263
[Patent Reference 2]
Japanese unexamined patent publication 2000-214751
[Non-Patent Reference 1]
"Image Labo" April 1997 (Vol. 8, No. 4) p. 34-37
[Non-Patent Reference 2]
3D-Image Conference '99 Proceedings CD-ROM (Jun. 30-Jul. 1, 1999 at Kogakuin University Shinjuku Campus) "Image Type Binary CGH by EB Imaging (3)—The Enhancement of Three-Dimensional Effect by Hidden Surface removal/Shadowing"
[Non-Patent Reference 3]
Research Society of Holographic Display (Optical Society of Japan, Japan Society of Applied Physics), The Third Hodic Conference Proceedings (Nov. 15, 1995, at Nihon University Surugadai Campus, Building No. 1, Meeting Room No. 2) "The Speed Up of Two-Dimensional Image Sequence Generation for Holographic Stereogram"


In one aspect, there is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that comprises placing a blocking layer, a CMP stop layer and a bulk oxide layer over an oxide cap layer that is located over gate structures and source/drains located adjacent thereto. The bulk oxide layer and the CMP stop layer are removed with a CMP process to expose the top of gate electrodes and are removed from over the source/drain areas with a wet etch. The CMP stop layer has a CMP removal rate that is less than a CMP removal rate of the bulk oxide layer and has a wet etch removal rate that is greater than a wet etch removal rate of the blocking layer.

Metal gate electrodes are currently being investigated to replace polysilicon gate electrodes in today's ever shrinking and changing transistor devices. One of the principal reasons the industry is investigating replacing the polysilicon gate electrodes with metal gate electrodes is to solve problems of poly-depletion effects and boron penetration for future CMOS devices. Traditionally, a polysilicon gate electrode with an overlying silicide was used for the gate electrodes in CMOS devices. However, as device feature sizes continue to shrink, poly depletion and gate sheet resistance become serious issues when using polysilicon gate electrodes.
Accordingly, metal gates have been proposed. However, in order to optimize the threshold voltage (Vt) in high-performance devices, the metal gates need tunable work functions. For instance, the metal gates need tunable work functions for NMOS and PMOS devices similar to present polysilicon gate technology, requiring the work functions of metal gates to range from 4.1˜4.4 eV for NMOS and 4.8˜5.1 eV for PMOS.
Recently, silicided metal gates have been investigated based on the extension of existing self-aligned silicide (salicide) technology. In this approach, polysilicon is deposited over the gate dielectric. A metal is deposited over the polysilicon and reacted to completely consume the polysilicon, resulting in a fully silicided metal gate, rather than a deposited metal gate. The silicided metal gate provides a metal gate with the least perturbation to the conventional process and avoids contamination issues. Furthermore, poly doping has been shown to affect the work function of the silicided metal gates.

Semiconductor device manufactured using a gate silicidation involving a disposable chemical/mechanical polishing stop layer


A butanol production system and method of producing refined mixed butanols from water and mixed butenes. The system includes an internal baffle single pass reactor, a separation system and an exterior motion driver. The reactor has baffled cells. The separations system is operable to separately selectively separate water and mixed butenes from the crude product such that a refined mixed butanols is produced. The exterior motion driver is operable to induce unsteadiness in the fluid flow of the process fluid through the reactor. A method for producing refined mixed butanols includes introducing mixed butenes, water and a butene hydration catalyst into the reactor, operating the butanol production system such that the external motion driver induces unsteadiness in the process fluid flow and the reaction of mixed butenes and water occurs in the presence of the butene hydration catalyst such that mixed butanols form.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to the production of butanol. More specifically, the field relates to the production of butanol via butene hydration.
2. Description of the Related Art
Butanol is an effective alternative to traditional oxygenates and fuel-stock expanders, which includes methyl tert-butyl ether and ethanol. Butanol not only contributes octane-rating enhancement but also supplies incorporated oxygen into the fuel mix. Mixed or blended butanols are also relatively inexpensive.
The primary means for producing butanol, especially mixed butanols, is through a butene hydration process. Known butene hydration processes include liquid-liquid biphasic systems. Butenes and water are immiscible in one another at low relative concentrations (both butene-in-water and water-in-butene) systems. Elevated operating conditions do not alleviate the immiscibility. The immiscibility of the reactants is one reason for the known low single-pass conversion rate.
In addition, the immiscibility also affects the distribution of the hydration catalyst. Typical hydration catalysts prefer either the aqueous phase or the hydrocarbon phase—usually not both. This poor distribution of hydration catalyst does not foster catalytic reactions throughout the biphasic system but rather predominantly in only one phase.
A need therefore exists to improve the single-pass conversion yield of butene into butanol in butene hydration systems and processes.

Olefin hydration process using oscillatory baffled reactor