A subject information acquiring apparatus of the present invention includes a probe which has a plurality of elements arranged in an array which receive elastic waves propagating within a subject and converts the received elastic waves to a received signals, a first signal processing unit which uses the received signals output by the elements to calculate a first output signal corresponding to the elastic waves from a target position, a second signal processing unit which uses the first output signal for the target position to calculate a second output signal corresponding to elastic waves from the target position, and an image processing unit which uses the second output signal to generate image data for display. In this case, at least one of the first signal processing unit and the second signal processing unit uses adaptive signal processing to calculate the first output signal or the second output signal.

An apparatus has been known which diagnoses a breast cancer by transmitting ultrasound that is elastic waves, receives waves reflected by an internal part of a subject and acquires an ultrasonic echo image. PTL 1 discloses a method which mechanically scanning a probe having elements that exchange ultrasound one-dimensionally and generates three-dimensional image data.
On the other hand, adaptive signal processing has been developed in a radar field, for example. Constrained Minimization of Power (CMP) which is one method of adaptive signal processing which minimizes the signal power when radio waves are received with a plurality of elements by fixing the sensitivity for one direction. According to the adaptive signal processing, the processing parameter is adaptively changed direction by direction. This kind of adaptive signal processing method advantageously may improve the spatial resolution, particularly, the resolution in orientation direction. NPL 1 discloses a method which uses such an adaptive signal processing method to generate ultrasonic echo image data for a higher resolution.
Processing to be performed when adaptive signal processing is applied to an ultrasonic received signal will be described on the basis of CMP, for example. First of all, the processing will be described up to calculation of a correlation matrix from a received signal. Hilbert transform, that is, delay processing circuit according to a target position is first performed on received signals output from a plurality of elements. A complex-represented received signal is thus acquired. When the sth sample of signals acquired by processing a received signal from the kth element is xk[s], the input vector X[s] of the sth sample may be defined as:X[s]=[x1[s],x2[s], . . . ,xM[s]]T  [Math.1]where M is the number of elements.
The input vector X[s] is used to calculate a correlation matrix Rxx.
                                                                        R                xx                            =                                                          E                                                  [                                                            X                                                                    [                        s                        ]                                                                                X                        H                                                                                [                        s                        ]                                                                              ]                                                                                =                                                          [                                                                                E                                                                          [                                                                                x                                1                                                                                [                                s                                ]                                                                                x                                1                                *                                                                                [                                s                                ]                                                                                ]                                                                                E                                                                          [                                                                                x                                1                                                                                [                                s                                ]                                                                                x                                2                                *                                                                                [                                s                                ]                                                                                ]                                                                                …                                                                                E                                                                          [                                                                                x                                1                                                                                [                                s                                ]                                                                                x                                M                                *                                                                                [                                s                                ]                                                                                ]                                                                                E                                                                          [                                                                                x                                2                                                                                [                                s                                ]                                                                                x                                1                                *                                                                                [                                s                                ]                                                                                ]                                                                                E                                                                          [                                                                                x                                2                                                                                [                                s                                ]                                                                                x                                2                                *                                                                                [                                s                                ]                                                                                ]                                                                                …                                                                                E                                                                          [                                                                                x                                2                                                                                [                                s                                ]                                                                                x                                M                                *                                                                                [                                s                                ]                                                                                ]                                                                                ⋮                                                              ⋮                                                              ⋱                                                              ⋮                                                                                E                                                                          [                                                                                x                                M                                                                                [                                s                                ]                                                                                x                                1                                *                                                                                [                                s                                ]                                                                                ]                                                                                E                                                                          [                                                                                x                                M                                                                                [                                s                                ]                                                                                x                                2                                *                                                                                [                                s                                ]                                                                                ]                                                                                …                                                                                E                                                                          [                                                                                x                                M                                                                                [                                s                                ]                                                                                x                                M                                *                                                                                [                                s                                ]                                                                                ]                                                                                ]                                                                        [                  Math                    .2                ]
The "H" at the right shoulder in the expression indicates a complex conjugate transposition, and "*" at the right shoulder indicates a complex conjugate. E[ ] expresses processing of calculating a time average and means that the sample number ("s" here) is changed to calculate the average.
Next, in order to prevent the influence by correlated interference waves that reach from a position excluding a target position to a probe, a space average method is applied to the correlation matrix Rxx to acquire the average correlation matrix R′xx.
                              R          xx          ′                =                              ∑                          n              =              1                                      M              -              K              +              1                                                                                z              n                                                  R              xx              n                                                          [                  Math                    .3                ]
Rnxx indicates a submatrix of the correlation matrix Rxx and moves on a diagonal component of Rxx. Rnxx has a K*K size with the (n,n) component of Rxx as the first diagonal component. Zn is a coefficient for calculating a submatrix and is adjusted such that the total sum of Zn may be equal to 1.
According to CMP, a weight for minimizing the output power under a constrained condition is acquired. The weight is a weight represented by a complex vector. When the sensitivity against an ultrasonic received signal from a target position is constrained to 1, the optimum weight Wopt for minimizing the output power may be acquired in CMP by the following expression.
                                          W            opt                    =                                    γR              xx                              ′                -                1                                                  C                          ,                                                    γ          =                      1                                          C                H                                                          R                xx                                  ′                  -                  1                                                          C                                                          [                  Math                    .4                ]
C is a constrained vector and changes in accordance with the position of an element and a target position. However, when delay processing circuit is performed on received signals, all values of C may be 1 in the size (K in this case) of the average correlation matrix. The power Pmin calculated by using the weight Wopt may be acquired as follows:
                              P          min                =                              1            2                                          1                                          C                H                                                          R                xx                                  ′                  -                  1                                                          C                                                          [                  Math                    .5                ]
In this way, according to CMP, a correlation matrix and even an average correlation matrix are acquired from received signals. The inverse matrix may be used to calculate a weight or the power when a weight is used. The weight or the power when a weight is used is a weight or power when the sensitivity from a target position against an ultrasonic signal is defined to 1 to suppress ultrasonic signals from other positions. In other words, CMP allows selective extraction of an ultrasonic signal from a target position, resulting in a higher spatial resolution. Notably, the power may be calculated by QR decomposition and back substitution processing, instead of direct calculation of the inverse matrix.

Subject information acquiring apparatus and subject information acquiring method


A passive transpiration system for controlling interaction between turbulent boundary layer air and an impinging shock during supersonic airflow by application of a panel including passively activated mesoflaps that direct air circulation through a cavity in response to supersonic airflow. The mesoscopic flaps are preferably arranged in a matrix on one side of a cavity. The flaps deflect to allow air to circulate through the cavity during supersonic airflow, thus controlling the interaction between boundary layer air and air from the impinging shockwave. The flaps open to varying degrees depending on the speed of the airflow. The preferred structure includes channel sidewalls arranged parallel to one another and open on one end, creating multiple cavities. The sidewalls are connected by struts. Rows of flap support beams are connected to the sidewalls. The flaps are connected on one end to the beams, enabling them to deflect over their remainder in response to aerodynamic pressures. This structure enables the flaps to open air pathways into the cavity in response to supersonic airflow and to close the cavity to airflow in response to subsonic conditions without a priori knowledge of the precise spanwise and streamwise location of the shockwave.

Shockwaves are encountered when an aircraft reaches supersonic airspeeds. Such shockwaves exert significant forces on the thin layer of air around the aircraft, a component referred to as the boundary layer. These shockwaves interact with the boundary layer and, during strong interactions, can cause the boundary layer to deform. Bubbles and other boundary layer deformations increase drag and may also induce high levels of flow separation. These undesired boundary layer interactions accordingly bring about safety, performance, and longevity concerns, especially when the interactions occur inside of engine inlets.
Previous systems to alleviate such interactions have been developed. These systems bleed or circulate the air near the boundary layer to suppress shockwave induced flow separation. Active systems require some sort of ducting and/or pumping to bleed the air. Passive systems circulate airflow with holes above a cavity and require no automized labor.
Currently, most high-speed (above Mach 2) military aircraft employ active bleed transpiration systems for their engine inlets. Typical active systems include a plenum, covered with a fixed, flat porous or perforated plate. The plate draws the boundary layer air into the plenum and then through ducts. The ducts lead to a chamber which has a door. The door is controlled by a conventional actuator to open in predetermined increments to satisfy the varying bleed requirement for the shock compression. Expense, weight, drag, and complexity are the primary drawbacks to such conventional systems. In addition, much design effort is required to determine the location for the bleed intakes. This involves determining likely locations for shockwaves experienced during supersonic flight. Active bleed systems also lack an important benefit of passive systems that include injection upstream of the shock. The upstream injection allows additional thickening of the boundary layer upstream of shock, producing a system of weaker shocks, which thereby reduce wave drag and the intensity of the shock footprint.
Passive transpiration, which typically combines bleed downstream of the shock with flow injection upstream of the shock, is ideally preferable because it reduces the wave drag and intensity of the shock, and it does not require pumping power or ducting to or from the transpiration cavity. Current passive transpiration systems generally consist of a porous surface and a cavity underneath. The porous surface can be made of holes or slots. During supersonic flight, the changes in pressure will cause air downstream of the shock impingement to flow into the holes, through the cavity and then out through the holes upstream of the impingement. These systems have reduced mechanical complexity and expense compared to the conventional active transpiration systems. However, present models for passive transpiration systems have disadvantages. Transpiration rates are typically insufficient for effective boundary layer control due to the small hole size. Also, in general, the system requires holes or slots that are normal to the transpiration plate, creating a geometry that is significantly less effective than angled holes for bleeding purposes. Further, the holes can yield increased drag at lower Mach speeds or subsonic air flight because of their continuous open state. This potential leads to the same design concerns experienced in needing to determine the location of shock boundary interaction in a particular aircraft so the holes can be limited to that area. Otherwise, drag losses become too significant.
A more recently developed passive transpiration system limits drag by using holes that are micrometric in diameter on a sheet with a thickness on the order of micrometers. Subsonic drag effects are controlled, but other problems potentially arise. The thin nature of the sheet is a structural limitation which limits the porosity and effectiveness of the system. From a manufacturing perspective, difficulties are introduced as a result of the micrometric size of the holes. Because of the small size of the holes, they need to be made utilizing an electron beam technique or other similarly sophisticated micro machining technique, which creates a substantial expense as well as an impediment to mass manufacture.
Thus, there is a need for an improved passive transpiration method and system which addresses drawbacks in conventional systems. More specifically, there is a need for an improved passive transpiration system that effectively controls shock/boundary layer interaction at supersonic airflows and reduces drag at subsonic airflows. There is a further need for an improved system which provides for some flexibility in placement on an aircraft and uses relatively straightforward manufacturing techniques.

Mesoflap passive transpiration system and method for shock/boundary layer interaction control

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois


A method of manufacturing folder sheets with reinforce holes, which comprises unwinding a spindled paper band; printing predetermined graphics on the paper band; causing the paper band to go through corona treatment; applying a reinforcement strip of thermoplastic material to selected areas of the paper band; cutting the printed and partially reinforced paper band in a direction substantially perpendicular to one edge of the paper band in such a fashion as to form a plurality of paper strips each having an elongated reinforced edge area; layering and counting the paper strips until they reach a predetermined number; punching the paper strips in the reinforced edge area in accordance with a predetermined pattern; cutting the punched paper strips in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the first cutting to form a plurality of folder sheets; counting and piling the folder sheets to form a block until they reach a predetermined number; and packaging and boxing the folder sheet blocks.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to stationery articles in general. More particularly, this invention relates to a complete reinforcement device to be incorporated to punched folder sheets for school, student and business uses, a method of making or manufacturing punched folder sheets with such reinforcement device, and an apparatus used to manufacture such folder sheets.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is quite common to see folder or filler sheets of different sizes, with or without lines, of the various qualities of paper on the market place these days, which are commonly used for manual or typed writing or drawing. These sheets can be found at stationery shops, either as loose units, or in packages of different quantities, or even bound so as to be preserved in good condition for use at any time. These sheets may then be used for performing any homework, writing exercises, maps, drawings or paintings made by schoolchildren or students of secondary or tertiary level, and also for office worksheets made by hand or machine. All such work is then saved into folders or covers specially prepared for such use. These folders or covers are equipped with fastening devices such as broken rings with fast opening and closing mechanisms, pass-through screws, metal strips, which pass through circular, oval or square holes that are provided on the sheets, either lengthwise or crosswise, and then bent against a metal channel to be secured by sliding pieces or other similar devices.
It is common to observe a marked deterioration of the punched holes due to careless manipulation, especially by schoolchildren and students of all ages and levels, which usually results in the need to make a second hole close to the previous one. This of course changes the alignment of the sheets. In an effort to solve this problem, a variety of sticky cardboard washers to be applied to the broken or damaged punched holes were proposed and/or marketed. A later improvement was the use of washers made of a cloth-type material.

Folder sheets with reinforced holes, method and apparatus of making same


A method correlates a timing target for electronic design automation (EDA) design tools by comparing slack distributions. A method of designing an integrated circuit can include designing an integrated circuit by RTL synthesis with embedded timing analysis and optimization and placement of cells with embedded timing analysis and optimization. The method can also include designing an integrated circuit by routing with embedded timing analysis and optimization; performing reference timing analysis; performing reference timing analysis and embedded timing analysis using a parasitic estimation model. The method can also include comparing at least two slack distributions resulting from timing analyses. The method can include calculating and comparing autocorrelation functions of slack distributions. The method can include calculating interrcorrelation functions of slack distributions. An embodiment teaches an integrated circuit designed by the method taught. Another embodiment teaches a computer program product according to the method taught.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a timing model for an integrated circuit. More specifically, the present invention relates to method for developing an integrated circuit design to meet timing specifications.
2. Description of the Related Art
Digital circuits, no matter how complex, are composed of a set of building blocks. These blocks can be basic gates, memory cells or other structures. But the majority of digital circuits are composed of gates or combinations of gates. Gates are combinations of high-speed electronic switches. Memory cells are composed of basic logic gates. A flip-flop, for example, can be considered as a memory cell. A microprocessor is a central processing unit of a computer or other device using thousands (or millions) of gates, flip-flops and other memory cells.
Sub-micron designs of integrated circuit chips require accurate timing analysis to prevent operational errors. These timing errors create operational errors which prevent a design, or a manufactured chip, from accomplishing its intended purpose. It is known to use available software tools to design an integrated circuit and to model the functions and timing of the signals on the circuit.
It is known to manufacture an integrated circuit using conductors separated by a semi-conductor. Circuits are fabricated on a semiconductor by selectively altering the conductivity of the semiconductor material. Various conductivity levels correspond to elements of a transistor. Transistors, diodes, resistors, and small capacitors are formed on small chips of silicon. Individual components are interconnected by aluminum or gold wiring patterns. Integrated circuits are then mounted on etched circuit boards which are used to assemble electronic systems such as personal computers and other data processing equipment.
It is known to use commercially available software to model certain features of integrated circuits. For example Verilog, originally designed by Gateway Design Automation in 1985, is a hardware description language (HDL) most predominantly used in the United States. Verilog was made available to the public in 1990 and has been adopted as a standard by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).
Other electronic design automation (EDA) tools are available to simulate logic of a processor. As electronic design tools became more popular, vendors began to provide enhanced functions. EDA tools are now used to drive synthesis, timing, simulation, test and other tools. Other vendors of EDA tools are: Cadence Corporation, Providence, R.I.; Mentor Graphics, Oreg.; Snyopsys, Calif.; and Snytest Technologies, Inc. California. These products are listed as examples only, other manufactures use proprietary tools for the same purpose. Electronic design automation (EDA) tools were originally designed to simulate logic. As electronic design tools became more popular, vendors began to provide enhanced functions. EDA tools are now used to drive synthesis, timing, simulation, test and other tools. Other vendors of EDA tools are: Cadence Corporation, Providence R.I.; Mentor Graphics, Wilsonville, Oreg.; Snyopsys, Mountainview, Calif.; and Snytest Technologies, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif. These corporations are listed as examples only, other manufactures use proprietary tools for the same purpose. For example the Silicon Ensemble tool provided by Cadence places and routes wires on the integrated circuit driven by timing constraints.
Register transfer level synthesis (sometimes referred to as xe2x80x9cRTL synthesisxe2x80x9d or simply xe2x80x9csynthesisxe2x80x9d), placement and routing are essential steps to transform a formal functional description of a digital circuit into a design which can be manufactured. Currently available software tools can produce a design according to synthesis, placement and routing. Capacitance, resistance and inductance (collectively referred to as electrical parasitics) resident in the blocks and interconnections influence the timing behavior of the integrated circuit being designed. Thus, neither the electrical performance of the circuit nor the timing behavior are specified in the design.
Referring to FIG. 1, the steps shown are directed to design a circuit with the desired electrical performance and within the specified timing parameters (e.g., correct operation at a given clock frequency and manufactured with a specific die size). The design process consists of subsequent design steps A, B, C . . . M. As further discussed below, design step A is exemplified by RTL synthesis. Design step B is exemplified by placement, 120. Design step C is exemplified by routing, 130.
It will be noted that the variable identifier xe2x80x9cMxe2x80x9d is used in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 to more simply designate the final step in a series of steps. (Similarly, variable identifier xe2x80x9cNxe2x80x9d is used in FIGS. 3B and 5 for the same purpose.) The use of such variable identifiers does not require that each series of elements has the same number of elements as another series delimited by the same variable identifier. Rather, in each instance of use, the variable identified by xe2x80x9cMxe2x80x9d may hold the same or a different value than other instances of the same variable identifier. Similarly, in each instance of use, the variable identified by xe2x80x9cNxe2x80x9d may hold the same or a different value than other instances of the same variable identifier.
Design Step A, RTL synthesis 110, transforms an abstract behavior description of an electronic circuit into a functionally equivalent structural description. The behavior description is represented in design database A, 114. The structural description is represented in design database B, 124. The components from which the structural description is built are selected from a library. This library has been characterized to contain information necessary to perform embedded timing analysis for the electronic circuit. Referring briefly to FIG. 2, the library contains a timing model for each arc of the component, timing model for arc 260. A timing arc denotes the abstract specification of a timing measurement. (An example of a timing measurement is a delay from rising edge at pin Y to a falling edge at pin Z.) The library also contains at least one parasitic estimation model, 295 (described in FIG. 2, below). The purpose of embedded timing analysis is to enable optimization within 110 until the electronic circuit meets the desired timing specification. Referring briefly to FIG. 2, the desired timing specification is represented by timing constraints and exceptions from designer, 250. Slack distribution A, 118, provides a representation of the result of embedded timing analysis.
Design step B, placement 120, specifies a physical location for each component of the electronic circuit on a silicon die, printed circuit board, etc., based on the structural electronic circuit information in design database B, 124. The result of design step B is represented in design database C, 134. Placement also contains embedded timing analysis and optimization. The timing model for arc, 260, is similar as for design step A. However, parasitic estimation model, 295, is different. In design step A, parasitic estimation was based on structural circuit description only, whereas in design step B placement information is available for more accurate parasitic estimation. Slack distribution B, 128, again provides a representation of the result of embedded timing analysis.
Design step C, routing, 130, specifies physical interconnect routes between the individual components, based on the structural electronic circuit information and placement information in design database C, 134. The result of design step C is represented in reference design database, 140. Routing also contains embedded timing analysis and optimization. The timing model for arc, 260, is similar as for design step A and B. However, the parasitic estimation model, 295, is different. The estimation model is more accurate than in design step A and B, because specific route information is available. Specific route information was not available in design step A and B. Slack distribution C, 138, again provides a representation of the result of embedded timing analysis. Slack distribution, 138, again provides a representation of the result of embedded timing analysis.
Reference timing analysis, 142, is performed in order to verify that the electronic circuit meets the desired timing specification, based on reference design database, 140. Timing model for arc, 260, is similar as for design step A, B, and C. However, the parasitic estimation model, 295, is different. Specific route information is available in the reference design database, 140, for all interconnections of the electronic circuit, whereas in design step C, only partial route information was available, as the route were being specified. Therefore, the most accurate parasitic estimation model, also called parasitic extraction model, is chosen for reference timing analysis, 142. Reference slack distribution, 148, again provides a representation of the result of embedded timing analysis.
FIG. 2 shows details on timing analysis. These details are pertinent to embedded timing analysis in design step A, B, C . . . M as well as to reference timing analysis. Design database A, B, C . . . M, 210, contains information about the implementation of the electronic circuit. Depending on the available implementation information, an appropriate parasitic estimation model, 295, is chosen. The parasitic estimation engine, 220, calculates parasitic data, 270, based on design database, 210, and parasitic estimation model, 295. Therefore, the accuracy of the resulting parasitic data, 270, depends on the available implementation information contained in database, 210, and on the inherent accuracy of the parasitic estimation model, 295. The accuracy of the resulting parasitic data, 270, depends also on the calculation capability of the parasitic estimation engine, 220. Delay calculation engine, 280, calculates the delay, i.e., the elapsed time for a signal to travel from the start point to the end point of a timing arc, for each component in the electronic circuit. This calculation is based on design database, 210, parasitic data, 270, and timing model for arc, 260. The accuracy of the resulting timing data for arc, 290, is therefore limited by the accuracy of the parasitic data, 270. Timing analysis engine, 230, combines timing data for arc, 290, along each path as defined by the structure of the electronic circuit given in design database, 210. Timing analysis engine, 230, compares the combination of timing data for arc, 290, against timing constraints and exceptions from designer, 250, in order to check whether the desired timing is met. The result is represented in slack distribution, 240.
Timing closure is the agreement between timing results in design steps X (X=A,B,C . . . M) and the result of reference timing analysis, which is represented by correlation between the slack distributions resulting from embedded timing analyses in design steps X and the slack distribution resulting from reference timing analysis.
The following conditions are necessary, but not sufficient, to achieve timing closure: similarity between the timing models for arc (260 in FIG. 2); similarity between the delay calculation engines (280 in FIG. 2); similarity between the timing analysis engines (230 in FIG. 2), compatibility between timing constraints and exceptions from designer (250 in FIG. 2). These conditions can be satisfied by choosing and qualifying appropriate software tools for design steps X. For example: Design step A can be performed by the Design Compiler tool from Synopsys or by the BuildGates tool from Cadence; and design step B can be performed by the Qplace tool from Cadence; and design step C can be performed by the Wroute tool from Cadence or by the Apollo tool from Avant!. Alternatively, a combination of design step A and design step B can be performed by the Physical Compiler tool from Synopsys, or the PKS tool from Cadence, etc.
However, estimating the parasitics for each wire is only one of the problems which arise during attempts to achieve timing closure in the design of an integrated circuit. In the early design phase each wire has many degrees of freedom. Therefore any circuit can be designed in several alternate paths. Each path has different electrical parasitics. Therefore, only a lumped capacitance is typically estimated for each wire. Using a lumped capacitance allows a designer to attempt to match the total distributed resistances, inductances and capacitances (collectively known as xe2x80x9cRLCsxe2x80x9d) on a wire. But even if the total RLCs match, the timing would not match, since the effect of distribution of the components is neglected. Another problem is the lack of one-to-one correspondence of logical and physical wires. A logical wire may be broken into multiple physical wires by inserting buffers. Also, the logic of specific functions may be restructured and therefore not preserved, during the process.
In addition, it is not possible to utilize the timing models in the same manner during each step of the design process. During early design steps the timing models should be dependent upon a single value (xe2x80x9clumpedxe2x80x9d) capacitance. In later design steps the timing models are dependent on distributed RLCs. Calculations methods (sometimes referred to as xe2x80x9ceffective capacitancexe2x80x9d methods) should depend on distributed RLCs. Thus, capacitance calculation methods attempt to match the model using a lumped capacitance with the timing based on distributed RLCs. However, the lumped capacitance does not equal the actual capacitance and depends on local electrical effects. These local electrical effects are different from wire to wire, e.g. drive strength, signal transition time. In addition, wire-to-wire capacitance (also known as a xe2x80x9ccrosstalk effectxe2x80x9d) and simultaneously switching signals also change the timing in a way that cannot be accurately accounted for using xe2x80x9ceffective capacitance.xe2x80x9d
In theory, different timing engines analyzing a design under equivalent constraints should give matching results. However, for the following reasons the results must be verified for each design. Convergent timing arcs on a path may be handled algorithmically different by different engines. Timing exceptions (i.e. exclusion of non-relevant paths from analysis) may be handled differently by different engines, or the user may have made mistakes in specifying the intentionally equivalent timing exceptions in different tool-specific languages. This problem would be solved by using the same timing engine for each design step, but this is often not possible. A unique timing engine is embedded in each design tool. The unique timing engines cannot be exchanged between design tools. (As an analogy, a motor is an integral part of a car and cannot be arbitrarily replaced by a motor designed for a different car.)
Attempts in the related art to drive the design tools towards a common timing target correlate the different factors of influence (e.g., electrical parasitics, timing characterization models, and timing engines) in isolation. In some instances, even with a large number of iterations, the timing correlation cannot be satisfied. When timing correlation is not achieved timing closure is not achieved. As a consequence, the RTL synthesis tool, the placement tool and the routing tool may anticipate a different timing result than the actually achieved timing result. Under design leads to excessive iterations, increasing the cost and delaying the production of the design. In the case of over design, the lack of timing correlation leads to a circuit which is larger, slower or consumes more power than necessary to accomplish the desired function.
A method correlates a timing target for electronic design automation (EDA) design tools by comparing slack distributions. A method of designing an integrated circuit can include designing an integrated circuit by RTL synthesis with embedded timing analysis and optimization and placement of cells with embedded timing analysis and optimization. The method can also include designing an integrated circuit by routing with embedded timing analysis and optimization; performing reference timing analysis; performing reference timing analysis and embedded timing analysis using a parasitic estimation model. The method can also include comparing at least two slack distributions resulting from timing analyses. The method can include calculating and comparing autocorrelation functions of slack distributions. The method can include calculating interreorrelation functions of slack distributions.
An embodiment of the disclosure teaches an integrated circuit designed by the method taught. Another embodiment of the disclosure teaches a computer program product including computer instructions configured to perform the method taught.
The foregoing is a summary and this contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting.

Timing optimization and timing closure for integrated circuit models


This invention relates to a fume extractor (10) for extracting fumes from a bore (12) of a barrel (14) of a gun and comprising an annular main reservoir (16); an annular inlet reservoir (18); and an annular auxiliary reservoir (20), all concentrically surrounding the barrel (14) and being in communication with each other and the bore (12). The inlet reservoir (18) is sandwiched between the main reservoir (16) and the barrel (14). The auxiliary reservoir (20) is sandwiched between the main reservoir (16) and the barrel (14) and is located adjacent the inlet reservoir (18) on a muzzle brake end thereof. The arrangement is such that the main reservoir (16) is pressurized when the gun is fired and such that the fumes in the bore (12) are extracted by the release of pressure in the main and auxiliary reservoirs (16) and (20), after the projectile has left the barrel (14). The communication between the inlet reservoir (18) and main reservoir (16) consists of plurality of ports (24) distributed circumferentially each port being provided with a check valve (30).

This invention relates to a fume extractor for a barrel of a gun, and to a barrel and a gun provided with such a fume extractor.
A known fume extractor (such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,789) for extracting fumes from the bore of a barrel of a gun, after a shot has been fired, comprises a main reservoir and an auxiliary reservoir, both surrounding the barrel, with the auxiliary reservoir located between said main reservoir and the breech end of the tube. A first set of ports, which are slanted towards the muzzle end of the bore, provides communication between the main reservoir and the bore while a second set of ports, which are perpendicular to the bore, provides communication between the bore and the auxiliary reservoir. A set of check valves provides communication between the auxiliary reservoir and the main reservoir, when the pressure in the main reservoir is less than that of the auxiliary reservoir.
In use, when a shot is fired, owing to the pressure difference between the bore and the reservoir, the main and auxiliary reservoirs are charged or pressurised by fumes passing through the two sets of ports from the bore into the main and auxiliary reservoirs. The main reservoir is thus pressurised via the said first set of ports, as well as from the auxiliary reservoir via the set of check valves.
When the projectile leaves the barrel, there is a pressure drop in the bore, so the set of check valves closes and the pressure in the main reservoir is released by blowing the fumes back into the bore via the first set of ports in the direction of the muzzle brake, thus to extract the fumes from the bore.
A first disadvantage is that, owing to the fact that the known fume extractor has only two reservoirs; the resultant extraction is a rapid discharge rather than an extended discharge. In the case of a rapid discharge, the fumes are insufficiently extracted, leading to fumes entering the turret of the gun to the detriment of the operators thereof.
Another disadvantage of the known fume extractor is that it is of insufficient capacity to sufficiently cool down the fumes before reaching the check valves when the reservoirs are charged. The result is that the check valves are damaged by the high temperature and the acceleration or deceleration of the fumes. The check valves therefore eventually disintegrate and deform.
Yet another disadvantage of the known fume extractors is that the attachment thereof to the barrel, makes it very difficult to remove the fume extractor from the barrel for maintenance purposes, for example when the check valves have to be replaced.


Isolated cells of a mixed character, possessing a mesenchymal stem cell phenotype and a muscle cell phenotype, as well as extracellular vesicles secreted from same, pharmaceutical compositions comprising same, and methods of treatment comprising administering same, are provided. Further, methods of increasing engraftment of foreign cells by co-administering same are provided.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a heterogeneous population of mesoderm-derived stromal cells that can be obtained from autologous bone marrow, dental pulp, or adipose tissues or from allogeneic amniotic fluid, placenta and umbilical cord. As MSCs from these last three sources are non-immunogenic, they can be used as off-the-shelf cells. Recent reports have demonstrated that in addition to their natural ability to differentiate to cartilage, bone and fat cells, these cells have also the potential to be trans-differentiated into other cell types, including hepatocytes, muscle, endothelial, neuronal, and insulin-producing cells.
MSCs have been shown to exert therapeutic effects in a variety of diseases and dysfunctions in experimental animal models and more recently in pilot clinical trials (Gao et al., 2015, International Journal of Cardiology, 168: 3191-3199; Zhang et al., 2013, Journal of neuroinflammation, 10:106). These cells have the capacity to migrate to and engraft in sites of inflammation and injury and to exert local effects in the resident tissues. It has been reported that the adult MSCs are non-immunogenic, which indicates that no immunosuppression is required for their transplantation into an allogeneic host.
Studies have shown that MSCs have immunosuppressive and immunoregulatory properties. The beneficial effects of MSCs have been mainly attributed to this immunomodulatory activity and the secretion of trophic factors. Indeed, MSCs secrete a large variety of bioactive molecules, such as growth factors, cytokines and chemokines and can provide trophic support to multiple tissues. In addition, recent studies demonstrated that MSCs secrete extracellular vesicles that deliver RNA and DNA molecules in addition to various proteins as a part of intercellular communication.
Recent studies demonstrated that MSCs can also differentiate to muscle cells and that the myogenic differentiation of these cells increase their therapeutic effects in both canine and mouse Deschene's Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) animal models (Liu et al., 2007, Stem Cells and Development, 16(5):695-706; Goudenege et al., 2009, Molecular Therapy, 17(6):1064-72). Therefore, the use of MSC-derived satellite cells (SC), the main cells involved in muscle regeneration, or muscle cells themselves, has a great potential as an easily accessible source of autologous or allogeneic cells for cell replacement therapy in various muscle degenerative disorders including DMD, muscle injury, cachexia and aging in addition to motor and peripheral neuron disease.
Further, treatment with myoblasts, can be also employed for the treatment of ischemic limb injury and in diseases of motor neurons injury and degeneration. Motor neurons diseases (MNDs) are a group of progressive neurological disorders in which a degeneration and death of motor neurons occur. Like muscle diseases, these diseases are characterized by gradual muscle weakening and wasting, uncontrolled twitching and eventually loss of control of voluntary movement. Motor neurons are dependent for their survival on target-derived factors that are secreted by the innervated skeletal muscle. Therefore, administration of myoblasts provides a physiological approach to support the survival of damaged, injured or degenerated motor neurons.
Muscular dystrophies, and muscle and motor neuron disorders in general, are very difficult to treat, as genetic disorders affect all muscles/motor neurons in the body. Additionally, skeletal muscle is composed of large multinucleated fibers with post mitotic nuclei, thus any treatment would require the targeting of millions of cells. However, previous studies as well as our current technologies demonstrate that MSCs can decrease inflammatory responses, increase angiogenesis and abrogate fibrosis, can enhance the proliferation of SCs and can be induced to differentiate into myoblasts and SCs. In this way MSC treatments can theoretically target various disorders and condition associated with degenerative inflammatory disorders, injuries, chachexia and aging in a complementary way that affects both the tissues via paracrine effects and by replacement therapy using differentiated cells.

Mesenchymal stem cell and use thereof for treatment of muscle injury and muscle-associated diseases


The process provided herein is concerned with disposal of oxidized sulfur compounds formed by oxidative desulfurization. The process uses solid base catalyst in the presence of a caustic solution or solid base catalyst pretreated with a base and eliminates the need to separate the sulfones from the hydrocarbon streams and recover the hydrocarbons.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to reducing the sulfur content from a mixture of hydrocarbons and oxidized sulfur compounds formed by oxidative desulfurization.
Description of Related Art
The discharge into the atmosphere of sulfur compounds during processing and end-use of the petroleum products derived from sulfur-containing sour crude oil poses health and environmental problems. Stringent reduced-sulfur specifications applicable to transportation and other fuel products have impacted the refining industry, and it is necessary for refiners to make capital investments to greatly reduce the sulfur content in gas oils to 10 parts per million by weight (ppmw) or less. In the industrialized nations such as the United States, Japan and the countries of the European Union, refineries have already been required to produce environmentally clean transportation fuels. For instance, in 2007 the United States Environmental Protection Agency required the sulfur content of highway diesel fuel to be reduced by 97%, from 500 ppmw (low sulfur diesel) to 15 ppmw (ultra-low sulfur diesel). The European Union has enacted even more stringent standards, requiring diesel and gasoline fuels sold in 2009 to contain less than 10 ppmw of sulfur. Other countries are following in the footsteps of the United States and the European Union and are moving forward with regulations that will require refineries to produce transportation fuels with ultra-low sulfur levels.
To keep pace with recent trends toward production of ultra-low sulfur fuels, refiners must choose among the processes or crude oils that provide flexibility that ensures future specifications are met with minimum additional capital investment, in many instances by utilizing existing equipment. Conventional technologies such as hydrocracking and two-stage hydrotreating offer solutions to refiners for the production of clean transportation fuels. These technologies are available and can be applied as new grassroots production facilities are constructed. However, many existing hydroprocessing facilities, such as those using relatively low pressure hydrotreaters, represent a substantial prior investment and were constructed before these more stringent sulfur reduction requirements were enacted. It is very difficult to upgrade existing hydrotreating reactors in these facilities because of the comparatively more severe operational requirements (i.e., higher temperature and pressure) to obtain clean fuel production. Available retrofitting options for refiners include elevation of the hydrogen partial pressure by increasing the recycle gas quality, utilization of more active catalyst compositions, installation of improved reactor components to enhance liquid-solid contact, the increase of reactor volume, and the increase of the feedstock quality.
There are many hydrotreating units installed worldwide producing transportation fuels containing 500-3000 ppmw sulfur. These units were designed for, and are being operated at, relatively mild conditions (i.e., low hydrogen partial pressures of 30 kilograms per square centimeter for straight run gas oils boiling in the range of 180° C. to 370° C.).
With the increasing prevalence of more stringent environmental sulfur specifications in transportation fuels mentioned above, the maximum allowable sulfur levels are being reduced to no greater than 15 ppmw, and in some cases no greater than 10 ppmw. This ultra-low level of sulfur in the end product typically requires either construction of new high pressure hydrotreating units, or a substantial retrofitting of existing facilities, e.g., by incorporating gas purification systems, reengineering the internal configuration and components of reactors, and/or deployment of more active catalyst compositions.
Sulfur compounds can be classified into four groups according to their hydrodesulfurization reactivity described by the pseudo-first-order rate constants. See, e.g., X. Ma et al., Ind. Eng. Chem., 1994, 33, 218; X. Ma et al., Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 1995, 34, 748. These groups are:
The first group is predominantly alkyl benzothiophenes (BTs); the second, dibenzothiophenes (DBTs) and alkyl DBTs without alkyl substituents at the 4- and 6-positions; the third group, alkyl DBTs with only one alkyl substituent at either the 4- or 6-position; the fourth group, alkyl DBTs with alkyl substituents at the 4- and 6-positions. The sulfur content in the four groups is 39, 20, 26 and 15 wt. %, respectively. The relative hydrodesulfurization rate constant for each of the four groups is 36, 8, 3, and 1, respectively.
When the total sulfur content is reduced to 500 ppmw, the main sulfur compounds remaining in the hydrotreated effluent are the third and fourth groups. When the total sulfur content is reduced to 30 ppmw, the sulfur compounds remaining are only the fourth group sulfur compounds, indicating that the lower sulfur content organosulfur compounds have lower hydrodesulfurization reactivity. See D. D. Whitehurst et al., Catalysis Today, 1998, 45, 299.
Consequently, these species from the third and fourth groups are referred to as refractory sulfur compounds. Both steric hindrance and electronic density factors contribute to the low reactivity levels of 4- and 6-substituted DBTs in hydrodesulfurization process. See X. Ma et al. (1995); M. Daage et al., J. Catal., 1994, 194, 414.
The economical removal of refractory sulfur-containing compounds is therefore exceedingly difficult to achieve, and accordingly removal of sulfur-containing compounds in hydrocarbon fuels to an ultra-low sulfur level is very costly by current techniques. When previous regulations permitted sulfur levels up to 500 ppmw, there was little need or incentive to desulfurize beyond the capabilities of conventional hydrodesulfurization, and hence the refractory sulfur-containing compounds were not targeted. However, in order to meet the more stringent sulfur specifications, these refractory sulfur-containing compounds must be substantially removed from hydrocarbon fuels streams.
Compared with conventional catalytic hydrodesulfurization, oxidative desulfurization (ODS) can be performed under mild conditions, i.e., relatively low temperature and under atmospheric pressure conditions. ODS typically uses an oxidizing agent, such as hydrogen peroxide, organic peroxide, peracid and ozone, in addition to an oxidation catalyst. In the oxidation process, the divalent sulfur atom of refractory sulfur compounds (condensed thiophene) is oxidized by the electrophilic addition reaction of oxygen atoms to form the hexavalent sulfur of sulfones. The chemical and physical properties of sulfones are significantly different from those of the hydrocarbons in fuel oil. Therefore, sulfones can be removed by conventional separation methods such as filtration, solvent extraction and adsorption. An effective ODS process which has been shown to decrease sulfur in transportation fuel from 1100 ppm to 40 ppmw, is described in Al-Shahrani et al. WO/2007/103440 and in Al-Shahrani et al. Applied Catalysis B, V. 73, No. 3-4, p. 311 (2007). ODS is considered a promising substitute or supplement to hydrodesulfurization for deep desulfurization of transportation fuels.
The compositions of common sulfides in fuel oil and their respective sulfones are tabulated in Table 1:
TABLE 14,6-DimethylDBT4-Methyl4-Methyl DBT4,6-DimethylDBT SulfoneSulfoneDBTSulfoneDBT(4,6-DBT(DBTO2)(4-MDBT)(4-MDBTO2)(4,6-DMDBT)DMDBTO2)CH %82.5870.3683.8172.1684.8873.76S %17.4214.8416.1913.9415.1213.14O %014.80013.90013.10
Sulfones formed by ODS of diesel fuels are complex mixtures that vary based on the crude source and other factors, including DBT sulfone along with several alkyl substituted DBT sulfones, such as 4-MDBT sulfone, 4,6-DMDBT sulfone, 1,4-DMDBT sulfone, 1,3-DMDBT sulfone, TriMDBT sulfone, TriEDBT sulfone, and C3DBT sulfone. The structures of certain sulfones found in ODS treated sulfones are given below.

Unlike hydrodesulfurization, in which desulfurized products remain with fuel oil and organic sulfur is converted into gaseous H2S that leave the product, i.e., fuel oil mixture, sulfones formed by ODS must be separated from the product. Various attempts have been made to dispose oxidized sulfur compounds formed by oxidative desulfurization. These techniques include conventional extraction, distillation and adsorption.
Kocal et al U.S. Patent Publication 2009/0065399 discloses an oxidative desulfurization process in which a thiophene-rich diesel stream is combined with an oxidant to oxidize the thiophenes to sulfones. The resulting stream is separated into sulfone oil and first low-sulfur diesel stream. The sulfone oil is then combined with a caustic stream (e.g., sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, etc.) to produce a second low-sulfur diesel stream and sodium sulfide organic compounds. However, sulfone oil must be extracted first to reduce the volume that needs to be treated with caustic stream. The solvent extraction processes can result in an undesirable loss of hydrocarbon product yield. The mixing of sulfone oil with caustic stream generates a liquid-liquid multiphase system from which the aqueous sulfite solution settles.
With the steady increase in demand for hydrocarbon fuels having an ultra-low sulfur level, a need exists for an efficient and effective process and apparatus for desulfurization while maximizing product yield.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to effectively reducing the concentration of oxidized sulfur compounds from a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons and the oxidized sulfur compounds.

Process for oxidative desulfurization with integrated sulfone decomposition


The base of the present invention includes a fiber base layer containing fibers, and has a basis weight of 300 to 1,500 g/m2, a thickness of 1 to 10 mm, and a transmittance of 35% to 75%. A content of fibers is in a range from 20% to 70% by mass based on 100% by mass of the fiber base layer. The illumination apparatus of the present invention includes the base and a light source.

Various types of interior illumination apparatus have been known as an interior illumination apparatus used for vehicles and the like. For example, JP-A 2012-86842 discloses an interior illumination apparatus in which a base, and a skin layer that is formed by staking a fabric on the base are provided, and a light source is disposed in a recess or the like that is formed in the base on the side of the skin layer.
An illumination apparatus that improves effects of light during nighttime has also been known. For example, JP-A 2009-101840 discloses a vehicular illumination apparatus in which a translucent core material, a translucent skin material, a film that has a design pattern and is disposed between the core material and the skin material, and an illumination unit that is disposed on the side of the core material, and the vehicular illumination apparatus is configured so that the design pattern of the film appears on the skin material utilizing light that has been emitted from the illumination unit and has passed through the core material.

Base, illumination apparatus using the same, and interior material


A front end circuit includes a switch including a common terminal and a plurality of individual terminals, in which at least two kinds of reception signals of different frequency bands are input to the common terminal, and in which one of the at least two kinds of reception signals is output to an individual terminal selected from the plurality of individual terminals, and in which a non-selected terminal is grounded, and a balun including a first terminal and a second terminal defining unbalanced ports as well as a third terminal and a fourth terminal defining balanced ports. The first individual terminal of the switch is indirectly connected to the first terminal of the balun and the second individual terminal of the switch is indirectly connected to the second terminal of the balun. The at least two kinds of reception signals are output in a balanced mode from the third terminal and the fourth terminal of the balun.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a front end circuit that is provided in a multiband communication device that communicates while handling a plurality of frequency bands, and is located between a communication circuit and an antenna therein.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a front end circuit handling transmission/reception signals of a plurality frequency bands, such a circuit converts a reception signal to a balanced signal and outputs the obtained balanced signal to a reception circuit, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-237978, for example.
FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a multiband communication device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-237978. This example includes two antennas ANT1 and ANT2, a DPDT switch, a reception side circuit, and a transmission side circuit. The reception side circuit includes a reception side duplexer and two baluns 12 and 2.
By converting a reception signal to a balanced signal and outputting the obtained balanced signal to a low noise amplifier (LNA), a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), or the like in the manner described above, noise immunity of the reception signal is improved.
In the multiband communication device as shown in FIG. 4, reception signals of different frequency bands, after having passed a reception side duplexer, experience balance-conversion performed by different baluns. In this manner, conventional multiband communication devices generally include baluns corresponding to the frequency bands. Accordingly, as the frequency bands increase in number, the number of baluns increases, which arrests miniaturization of the overall circuit.


In order to be able to adjust the tension and position of a material web, for example, a paper web, that should be printed by a printer, an electrostatically-acting braking device is described that provides a charger, for example, a corotron, and a braking plate, between which the material web runs. The charger charges the material web, which is thereby drawn to the braking plate, lies on the braking plate, and is braked via friction. It is advantageous that the charge voltage of the charger and be controlled via sensors for the web tension and web position and can very quickly react to the signals of the sensors.

The adjustment of the tension of a material web is always of importance when the material web must be processed exactly. A typical example is an electrographic printing device in which a recording medium is printed as a material web in a printing group. Such electrographic print devices are presumed in the following discussion.
In such an electrographic print device, a clean/faultless print image is only created when the material web (e.g., a paper web) is supplied to the printing group of the print device in a taut, pre-stressed state. For this, it is known from German Patent Document No. DE 197 49 603 C2 to provide a loop-puller device via which the material web is guided. The loop-puller device comprises a loop-puller roller, under spring tension and movable in a predetermined region, via which the material web is stressed.
In normal operation, the deflection of the loop-puller roller is sufficient to keep the material web stressed. However, there are situations in which additional measures are necessary in order to keep the material web in a stressed state. For these cases, the position of the loop puller roller is scanned and, dependent on its position, a control signal is generated with which a braking device is triggered that brakes the material web such that the tension of the material web is maintained. As a braking device, a negative pressure brake is used that pulls on the material web dependent on the control signal and thus brakes it. This is described in German Patent Document No. DE 197 49 603 C2.
In operation, the transport of the material web should be designed such that, for example, the material web optimally, rapidly reaches its desired position upon starting. The braking device should be designed such that various widths of the material web, material webs with marginal perforations, etc. can be used. However, there are problems with the use of a negative pressure brake as a braking device when, for example, the material web is corrugated or comprises holes (material webs with marginal perforations). However, a braking device should function with material webs of various widths, material webs with marginal perforations and such with cut-outs. The braking force should thereby be able to be adjusted quickly.
For this, in addition to the web tension, the position of the material web must also be maintained. This is necessary in order to achieve consistent processing results. Due to inhomogeneities of the material web or non-continuous interferences via the processing process, a regulation of the web tension and the web position is mostly necessary. What is particularly problematic is mutual influencing of the parameters, i.e., upon change of the web position, a change of the web tension or the web tension distribution over the width of the material web results.
To adjust the web position, a rotating frame can be used with which the material web can be deviated multiple times. The material web can thereby be displaced depending on the relative position of the deflections. A device to deflect a material web is, for example, known from German Patent Document No. DE 198 27 254 A1.

Apparatus to adjust the tension of a material web that is moved through a processing station processing the material web


Ion accelerator characterized in that it is able to use not only a negative ion beam, but also a positive ion beam and a neutral beam, increases the efficiency of the use of the beam, and increases beam current, by using a positive ion source and a charge exchange cell, producing a negative ion beam, and providing, in a tandem type accelerator which uses this, a pre-analyzing magnet having changeable polarity and a pre-focusing lens, a beam neutralizer, and an accelerator terminal, shorting rod.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to ion accelerators (making use of principles of tandem acceleration methods) to be use in manufacturing semiconductors.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Accompanying the high accumulation of semiconductors in recent years, increasing importance is given to high energy implant process which can freely control impurity profile in the interior of silicon substrates. Thus, present tandem acceleration principles are used most widely as a method of accelerating ions to high energy and implanting them in silicon substrates. Tandem acceleration principles are well known and are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,353,107 and elsewhere. In this tandem acceleration principle, a negative ion beam is produced by combining a positive ion source and a charge exchange cell, or by using a sputter type negative ion source. This negative ion beam is directed into an accelerator terminal which is maintained at high positive voltage, injection-accelerated, and accelerated to the terminal voltage. Then, electrons are stripped from this accelerated negative ion beam in the accelerator terminal by causing it to pass through a gas or thin foil, and the beam is converted to a positive ion beam. This positive ion beam is accelerated again to ground potential from the accelerator terminal maintained at high positive potential and acquires its final energy.
At this time the final energy E.sub.tot (eV) of the ions may be shown as EQU E.sub.tot (eV)=E.sub.inj .times.Q X (N+1)V.sub.ter
where E.sub.inj (eV) is the injection energy into the accelerator, V.sub.ter (Volt) is the terminal potential, N is the charge number of the positive ions and Q (Coulomb) is the magnitude of the electronic charge, and one can use the impressed terminal voltage efficiently in accelerating the particles.
As an example of an actual apparatus which uses this tandem principle, the construction of a Genus Inc. model G1500 high energy ion implanting apparatus, modified by omitting a pre-acceleration tube now used on the model G1500, is shown in FIG. 1. For an understanding of such prior art devices reference is also made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,556.
In this apparatus positive ions are produced by a hot-cathode PIG ion source 1. These positive ions are extracted as a beam by impressing a high positive voltage on the ion source. The extracted positive ion beam collides with magnesium vapor when passing through a charge exchange cell 2 which is set up immediately after the extraction electrode system, and some of the positive ions in the positive ion beam pick up two electrons from the magnesium and are converted to a negative ion beam.
After passing through the charge exchange cell 2, this beam is analyzed according to the charge state and the mass of the ions therein by means of a 90-degree analyzing magnet 3, and only the desired negative ions are injected into the tandem accelerator 5.
This mass-analyzed negative ion beam, by means of the pre-Q lens 4 which is furnished at the entrance aperture part of the low-energy acceleration tube 6 of the tandem accelerator 5, receives a focusing action such as to create a beam waist at the center of the stripper canal 7 which is provided in the tandem accelerator terminal part. At this time, the negative ion beam is simultaneously accelerated towards the tandem accelerator terminal part which is maintained at a high positive potential.
When this accelerated negative ion beam passes through the stripper canal 7, it loses orbital electrons by colliding with nitrogen gas which is introduced into the stripper canal 7, and is converted again into a positive ion beam. At this time, the distribution of charge states is determined by the energy of the collisions, and more multi-charged ions are produced at the higher collision energy. An example of this charge state distribution is shown in FIG. 2 for the case of boron.
The positive ion beam which is thus obtained is directed towards ground potential from the tandem accelerator terminal, and is again accelerated in passing through the high-energy acceleration tube 8.
The beam which thus has its final energy receives a further focusing action by means of the post-Q-lens 9, the desired charge state is selected by means of the post-analyzing magnet 10, and is introduced into a process chamber which is provided with a target.
However, in this tandem accelerating method the useful beam current which reaches the target is regulated by the charge state distribution which arises in the accelerator terminal, and therefore, as shown in FIG. 3 for the case of boron as an example, for final energy in the range of 500 keV and below the defect occurs that beam current is drastically reduced. Moreover, the negative ion yield is generally lower by 5-15%, and therefore the defect occurs that efficiency of use of the beam is reduced. It is the object of this invention to solve these defects.


A cryogenic air separation apparatus comprises: a heat exchanger, a first rectification column, a first condenser, a second rectification column, a third rectification column, a second condenser, a high-purity oxygen rectification column, a third condenser, a nitrogen compressor, and a compressed recycled gas line L52 for introducing product nitrogen gas compressed by the first nitrogen compressor into a warm end (heat source) of an ultra-high-purity oxygen vaporizer as a compressed recycled gas.

There is a demand in the semiconductor industry, etc. for high-purity oxygen that does not contain high-boiling-point components such as hydrocarbons. In order to produce this high-purity oxygen, Patent Document 1 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,173), for example, describes a cryogenic air separation apparatus including three rectification columns, namely an intermediate-pressure column, a low-pressure column and a crude argon column, for producing nitrogen, oxygen and argon. Patent Document 1 describes a method in which an oxygen-rich liquid which is obtained from an intermediate portion of the crude-argon column and has had the high-boiling-point components removed therefrom is concentrated using intermediate-pressure nitrogen gas as a reboiling source. In addition to using intermediate-pressure nitrogen gas as a reboiling source, a method for obtaining high-purity oxygen using feed air or an oxygen-rich liquid obtained from a bottom portion of an intermediate-pressure column is also described, as disclosed in Patent Document 2 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,104), for example.

L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Geordes Claude


An operation target object in a virtual game space as seen from a virtual camera is displayed on a display device. A moving direction of the operation target object in a virtual space in accordance with a direction represented by direction data based on a direction input by the user is determined based on an exactly upward vector representing a direction of a virtual gravity acting on the position of the operation target object in the virtual space and a direction of the normal in the virtual field at the position. The operation target object is moved in the determined moving direction.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a storage medium having an image processing program stored thereon and an image processing apparatus, and more specifically to a storage medium having stored thereon an image processing program for moving an object displayed on a display device based on an input direction, and an image processing apparatus usable for such an image processing program.
Description of the Background Art
Conventionally, games (image processing) in which an object displayed on a display device is moved forward, rearward, leftward and rightward in a virtual world in accordance with an input by a user to a cross switch, a stick or the like are commonly played. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-263359 (hereinafter, referred to as "patent document 1") discloses a video game apparatus for moving an object in response to an operation in an "upward", "downward", "leftward" or "rightward" direction made on an analog joystick or a cross switch. The video game apparatus disclosed in patent document 1 is operated as follows. When a non-player object of interest is locked, a player object is moved in a "direction of moving toward the non-player object of interest", a "direction of moving away from the non-player object of interest", a "leftward direction while keeping the distance from the non-player object of interest", or a "rightward direction while keeping the distance from the non-player object of interest" in accordance with the operation in the "upward", "downward", "leftward" or "rightward" direction, respectively. When a non-player object of interest is not locked, player object is moved "forward", "rearward", "leftward" or "rightward" in accordance with the operation in the "upward", "downward", "leftward" or "rightward" direction, respectively.
According to the conventional art, it is common that an object is moved in the forward-rearward direction in the virtual world when the operation is made in the upward-downward direction as described above. The reason is that the object is assumed to be moved on a plane which is set in the virtual world and that in an image represented in a display screen, the direction corresponding to the upward-downward direction intuitively perceivable by the player basically matches the forward-rearward direction in the virtual world. Therefore, it is not considered to move the object on a terrain with many unexpectable elements such that the standing direction of the object is changed in accordance with the position of the object (for example, the normal direction with respect to the direction of gravity or topography which is set in the virtual world is changed). In addition, when the topography of the position where the object is moving is significantly changed or when the direction of the virtual camera is rapidly changed, it is expected that the player loses the sense of the relationship between the moving direction of the object and the operation direction. As a result, it is expected that after the topography or the direction of the virtual camera is changed, the operation direction cannot be controlled to keep the moving direction continuous from before the change, and thus the operation becomes unstable.

Storage medium having image processing program stored thereon and image processing apparatus


Discloses embodiments relate to a container assembly for storing herbal products and accessories. The assembly includes a housing, including a grinder compartment that includes a perforated base with frame walls surrounding the perforated base, a first side opening beneath the perforated base, and a second side opening. The assembly further includes a slidable tray configured to slide into and out of the first side opening, a perforated grinder bottom configured to fit within the frame walls of the grinder compartment, a grinder top configured to fit within the frame walls of the grinder compartment and including a plurality of grinding teeth protruding from a first surface and a receptacle structure on a second surface opposite the first surface, and a leverage device configured to slide into and out of the second side opening and including an engaging structure configured to fit into the receptacle structure of the grinder top.

Herbal consumption by inhalation is becoming more prevalent as various jurisdictions approve the use of medicinal and recreational herbs, such as marijuana. To prepare such herbs for consumption, an individual must take a number of steps including grinding, sifting, packing, etc., that can best be accomplished with the aid of a variety of tools. Such tools may not be readily available to an individual who is away from home or otherwise traveling.