The invention concerns compounds and methods for the recombinant production of a homogeneous population of tissue plasminogen activator molecules and derivatives thereof through the use of heterologous propeptide regions that are uniformly cleaved upon secretion from the host cell.

Tissue plasminogen activator molecules are found in a partially processed form following secretion from a eukaryotic host cell. The partially processed form results from the incomplete removal of the propeptide region from the amino-terminus of the mature t-PA molecule. During incubation and purification, proteolytic cleavage of the remainder of the propeptide region results in the accumulation of the fully processed form. Thus, a mixture of fully and partially processed t-PA molecules are present following purification of the t-PA molecules from the culture medium. According to the present invention, the heterogeneity at the amino-terminus is eliminated by providing a novel propeptide region that is capable of being uniformly cleaved by a cell associated protease. The expression vectors of the present invention provide a convenient means of producing the novel propeptide-containing forms of tissue plasminogen activator in eukaryotic host cells. Following expression, these novel t-PA molecules are uniformly cleaved by a cell associated protease and are secreted into the host cell culture medium in the fully processed form.
Plasminogen activators are a unique class of enzymes that convert plasminogen to its active enzymatic form, plasmin. Plasmin is a serine protease that degrades the fibrin networks of blood clots. Several plasminogen activators are currently being used as in vivo fibrinolytic agents in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. One of these plasminogen activators, tissue plasminogen activator, has a significantly enhanced ability to activate plasminogen in the presence of fibrin. Thus, when used as an in vivo fibrinolytic agent, t-PA is more selective for fibrin clots.
Human t-PA is a multi-domain serine protease with five distinct structural domains that make up the 527 amino acids of the mature t-PA molecule. The molecule is synthesized as a one-chain polypeptide that can be converted to a two-chain form by a plasmin-mediated cleavage at Arginine 275-Isoleucine 276.
The amino-terminal portion of the molecule contains a disulfide-linked loop referred to as the finger domain. This domain is highly homologous to the finger domain of fibronectin which provides that molecule with fibrin-binding properties. The second domain, called the EGF domain, is highly homologous with epidermal growth factor (EGF). Similar growth factor domains occur in serine proteases such as urokinase, protein C and clotting factors IX and X. The third and fourth domains are highly disulfide-linked structures referred to as kringles (K1 and K2). Similar homologous kringle structures are present in plasma proteins such as plasminogen and prothrombin. There is conflicting evidence as to whether both kringle domains or just the second kringle domain are involved in the fibrin-mediated activation of plasminogen. The fifth domain, located at the carboxy-terminus, is the serine protease domain. The serine protease domain is homologous to similar domains in urokinase, plasma serine clotting proteases and trypsin.
The DNA encoding the amino-terminal end of tissue plasminogen activator encodes a precursor region of 35 amino acids (amino acids -1 to -35). The amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:1) of this precursor region is: ##STR1## wherein Arg is Arginine, Asn is Asparagine, Asp is Aspartic acid, Cys is Cysteine, Gln is Glutamine, Glu is Glutamic Acid, Gly is Glycine, His is Histidine, Ile is Isoleucine, LEU is Leucine, Lys is Lysine, Met is Methionine, Phe is Phenylalanine, Pro is Proline, Ser is Serine, Thr is Threonine, Trp is Tryptophan, Tyr is Tyrosine, and Val is Valine. The DNA and amino acid sequence of human tissue plasminogen activator was described by Pennica et al., 1983, Nature 301:214.
Amino acids -13 to -35 are hydrophobic amino acids comprising a signal sequence that directs secretion of the t-PA molecule from the host cell (Vehar et al., 1984, BIO/TECHNOLOGY 2(12):1051). This signal sequence is cleaved from the t-PA molecule during the secretion process, yielding a t-PA molecule with a 12 amino acid propeptide extension at the amino-terminal end. When t-PA is produced by melanoma cells using cell culture techniques the t-PA molecules isolated from the resulting culture medium exist in two forms (Wallen et al., 1983, Eur. J. Biochem. 132:681-686). One form is a t-PA molecule from which 9 of the 12 amino acids of the propeptide region have been cleaved resulting in a t-PA molecule with the tripeptide amino-terminal extension H.sub.2 N-Gly-Ala-Arg. A second form is a fully processed mature t-PA from which the entire propeptide region has been cleaved (Vehar et al., 1984).
Analysis of recombinantly produced t-PA variants from cultures incubated for short periods of time indicate that the t-PA molecules are secreted in the partially processed form (Burck et al., 1990, Journal of Biological Chemistry 265(9):5170). However, analysis of the t-PA molecules after longer periods of incubation or following purification of the molecules from the culture medium indicated that the remaining amino-terminal propeptide extension is cleaved from a portion of the molecules. Thus, the production of t-PA molecules is plagued by the presence of a heterogeneous final product consisting of both partially and fully processed forms.
It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a method for the recombinant production of t-PA or derivatives thereof by use of propeptide regions that are uniformly cleaved upon secretion from the cell. Use of this method provides a homogeneous population of t-PA molecules produced by recombinant DNA methods.
For purposes of the present invention, as disclosed and claimed herein, the following terms are defined below.
ApR--the ampicillin-resistant phenotype or gene conferring same.
Cloning--the process of incorporating a segment of DNA into a recombinant DNA cloning vector.
E1A--an immediate-early gene product of adenovirus which can activate a poly-GT element to express enhancer activity and can also activate the BK virus enhancer.
ep--a DNA segment comprising the SV40 early promoter of the T-antigen gene, the T-antigen binding sites, and the SV40 origin of replication.
Eukaryotic promoter--any DNA sequence that functions as a promoter in eukaryotic cells.
GBMT transcription control unit--a modified transcription control unit which comprises the P2 enhancer element of BK virus spaced closely to the upstream regulatory element of the major late promoter of adenovirus (MLTF), the adenovirus-2 major late promoter and a poly-GT element positioned to stimulate said promoter and a DNA sequence encoding the spliced tripartite leader of adenovirus-2. The GMBT transcription control unit is best exemplified by the approximately 900 base pair HindIII cassette found in plasmid pGTC which is found in E. coli K-12 AG1/pGTC (NRRL B-18593).
GT--enhancer system--any poly-GT element linked to a promoter, such as MLP, in which the poly-GT element does not itself possess enhancer activity but is activated as an enhancer by an immediate-early gene product of a large DNA virus, such as the E1A gene product or by any similarly activating viral gene product.
HmR--the hygromycin-resistant phenotype or gene conferring same.
IVS--DNA encoding an intron, also called an intervening sequence.
Large DNA virus--a virus that infects eukaryotic cells and has a genome greater than .about.10 kb in size, i.e., any of the pox viruses, adenoviruses, and herpes viruses.
MLP--the major late promoter of adenovirus, which is also referred to herein as the adenovirus late promoter, adenovirus-type-2 late promoter, or Ad2 late promoter.
MLTF binding site--the site in adenovirus DNA where the major late transcription factor (MLTF) binds; the MLTF is required for MLP activity.
NeoR--the neomycin resistance-conferring gene, which can also be used to confer G418 resistance in eukaryotic host cells.
ori--a plasmid origin of replication.
pA--a DNA sequence encoding a polyadenylation signal.
Poly-GT element--a DNA sequence of (GT).sub.n --(CA).sub.n, which is illustrated herein by a sequence where n is 21, but which can also refer to sequences of varying lengths where n is greater or less than 21, and may refer to chemically synthesized (GT).sub.n -(CA).sub.n sequences or human genomic DNA fragments containing a (GT).sub.n -(CA).sub.n tract.
Promoter--a DNA sequence that directs transcription of DNA into RNA.
Recombinant DNA Cloning Vector--any autonomously replicating or integrating agent that comprises a DNA molecule to which one or more additional DNA segments can be or have been added.
Recombinant DNA Expression Vector--any recombinant DNA cloning vector comprising a promoter and associated insertion site, into which a DNA sequence that encodes a useful product can be inserted and expressed.
Recombinant DNA Vector--any recombinant DNA cloning or expression vector.
Replicon--any DNA sequence that controls the replication of a recombinant DNA vector.

DNA sequences encoding t-PA derivatives with cleavable sites


A shower with various outlet functions includes a main body part and outlet part, the main body part has an inlet waterway, and at least one first inlet hole and one second inlet hole communicated with the inlet waterway; the outlet part, is connected to the main body part in a moving manner, and is provided with at least one first water division hole group and one second water division hole group, and the first water division group includes at least two first division holes, and the first inlet holes are coupling with the first water division hole, the second water division group includes at least two second division holes, and the second water division holes are coupling with the second inlet hole, and the first and second water division hole communicates with the first and second inlet hole respectively in a switching manner.

The shower at the prior art comprises a main body part and an outlet part, and an inlet waterway communicated with water source and an inlet hole communicated with the inlet waterway are arranged on the main body part; the outlet part is connected to the main body part in a moving manner and is provide with a water division hole group comprising a plurality of water division holes, and the inlet hole is coupling with the water division hole, and the switching communication between the water division hole and the inlet hole is achieved through the relative movement of the outlet part to the main body part. And the shower at the prior art is provided with only one water division hole group to switch with dull outlet function and small functions amount.

XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.


According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a stacked body which is provided on a substrate and in which an insulating film and an electrode film are alternately stacked. The semiconductor memory device also includes an insulating member which penetrates the stacked body in a stacking direction of the insulating film and the electrode film to thereby separate the stacked body. The semiconductor memory device also includes a semiconductor pillar which penetrates the stacked body in the stacking direction. A maximum portion of the insulating member where a first distance from a side surface of the insulating member to a central plane of the insulating member becomes maximum and a maximum portion of the semiconductor pillar where a second distance from a side surface of the semiconductor pillar to a center line of the semiconductor pillar becomes maximum being provided in different positions in the stacking direction.

Although conventionally, high integration of a semiconductor memory device is being promoted, a method for increasing the degree of integration by the enhancement of lithography and etching technologies is getting closer to its limit, and a stacked-type semiconductor memory device is proposed. In this stacked-type semiconductor memory device, a stacked body in which word lines and interlayer insulating films are alternately stacked and a silicon pillar penetrating the stacked body are provided. A slit for separating the word line is formed in the stacked body.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Stacked type semiconductor memory device


Substrate transport systems, apparatus, and methods are described. In one aspect, the systems are disclosed having vertically stacked transfer chamber bodies. In one embodiment, a common robot apparatus services process chambers or load lock chambers coupled to upper and lower transfer chamber bodies. In another embodiment, separate robot apparatus service the process chambers and/or load lock chambers coupled to upper and lower transfer chamber bodies, and an elevator apparatus transfers the substrates between the various elevations. Degassing apparatus are described, as are numerous other aspects.

Conventional electronic device manufacturing systems may include multiple process chambers and load lock chambers. Each of the chambers and load lock chambers are aligned within one plane. Such chambers may be included in cluster tools where a plurality of process chambers may be disbursed about a transfer chamber, for example. These systems and tools may employ transfer robots that may be housed within the transfer chamber to transport substrates between the various process chambers and load lock chambers. For example, the transfer robot may transport a substrate from process chamber to process chamber, from load lock chamber to process chamber, and/or from process chamber to load lock chamber within a tool. Efficient and precise transport of substrates between the various system chambers may improve system throughput, thereby lowering overall operating costs. Furthermore, reduced system size is sought after because distances that the substrates may need to move are reduced. However, if additional process steps are to be added, such additional processing may be accomplished by adding additional process chambers, sometimes as a retrofit. One known way to add on process chambers is to add an additional transfer chamber and transfer robot by using a pass-through chamber. However, the addition of an extra conventional transfer chamber may require additional floor space that may not be readily available.
Accordingly, improved systems, apparatus, and methods for efficient and precise movement of substrates and which allow the addition of more process chambers are desired.

Degassing apparatus adapted to process substrates in multiple tiers with second actuator


A signal processing method, receiver and equalizing method are provided. The receiver comprises an estimator estimating a channel coefficient matrix from a received signal, a first calculation unit determining a channel correlation matrix based on the channel coefficient matrix a converter converting the channel correlation matrix into a circulant matrix. A second calculation unit determines equalization filter coefficients by applying a first transform to the real parts of a first subset of the terms in the first column of the circulant matrix and by applying a second transform to the imaginary parts of a second subset of the terms in the first column of the circulant matrix. An equalizer equalizes the received signal by using the determined equalization filter coefficients.

In a typical cellular radio environment the signals between a base station and subscriber terminal equipment propagate on several routes between a transmitter and a receiver. This multi-path propagation is mainly caused by signal reflections from surrounding surfaces. Signals traveling on different routes arrive at the receiver at different times because of a different propagation delay. This holds true for both directions of transmission.
In the receiver the multipath propagated signal may be equalized, i.e. the received signal is processed in such a manner that the effect of multipath propagation can be reduced.
In modern communication systems the processing of a received signal is a challenging task due to high data rates and complex modulation methods used in the transmission. For example, equalization in systems employing High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) requires processing and calculating of large matrices. Inversion of a large matrix in particular is a complex task.
In many systems where matrix inversions are calculated in connection with equalization, Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) is applied. The calculation of a complex DFT algorithm requires a large amount of processing. This requires large computational power from receivers. The computational needs grow larger as the need for faster data rates and larger bandwidths increase in the future evolutions of present telecommunication systems.

Signal processing method, receiver and equalizing method in receiver


A method is provided for locating non-aqueous phase liquid in an aquifer. An aqueous solution having the capacity to solubilize the contaminating liquid to concentrations greater than the solubility of the contaminant in water is injected and produced through a well. Chemical concentrations in produced fluid samples are interpreted to locate the contaminating liquid. Produced fluid samples are chemically analyzed to determine composition of the contaminant.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the removal of contaminating materials from the earth. More particularly, the invention relates to locating and determining the composition of non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) which may contaminate groundwater. The information gained from this invention is used in planning and executing remediation processes.
2. Description of Related Art
Contamination of groundwater has been found to be widespread and often very expensive to remedy. Health-threatening organic chemicals detected in groundwater have caused the greatest difficulties in remediation of contamination. Since the passage of environmental legislation in the United States in the 1980's, the expenditure of more than a billion dollars for site investigations and cleanup activities has advanced considerably the knowledge of the nature of organic contamination of groundwater (D. M. McKay and J. A. Cherry, Environ. Sci. Technol., Vol. 23, No. 6, 1989). Hundreds of plumes of organic contaminants have been delineated in the U.S. by networks of monitoring wells which are used to sample groundwater surrounding the wells for dissolved contaminants.
Because of the complexity of geologic formations and the fact that groundwater normally is not stationary but moves through soil or rock layers, it has been extremely difficult to determine the location of the free liquid contaminants which supply the dissolved materials contaminating groundwater. The dissolved organic contaminants in groundwater may have their origin in a spill or leak of organic liquid which occurred miles from the location of the contaminated water.
If organic liquids are lighter than water, they move downward through the vadose or partially air-saturated zone near the surface of the earth and accumulate on top of the water table. Such light non-aqueous phase liquids are referred to as "LNAPLs."The most commonly occurring contaminating LNAPL is motor fuel, such as gasoline. Motor fuels may contain small amounts of toxic chemicals such as benzene.
Some organic liquids lost near the surface of the earth have a higher density than water and continue to settle vertically through the water-saturated zone below the water table. Such liquids are called DNAPLs (dense non-aqueous phase liquids). Examples of DNAPLs are chlorinated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene and polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. DNAPLs are particularly difficult to locate in the earth because they can continue to settle through the saturated zone until a low-permeability layer of soil or rock is reached, at which point they accumulate on top of the layer. If the low-permeability layer is of limited extent, the DNAPL may spill over from a higher to a lower low-permeability elevation. Thus, because of complex geology the route of DNAPLs moving downward through the earth is often not vertical. Also, there may be very limited information concerning the source of the contaminant.
The common method of remediation of groundwater contamination is simply to pump the contaminated water from the earth, to strip the contaminating chemicals from the water and to reinject or otherwise dispose of the water. Experience has taught that an initial decrease in contaminant concentrations in the water is followed by a leveling of concentration of contaminants. It is believed that the leveling of concentration of contaminants occurs because the water is continuing to be contaminated by dissolving free liquids present somewhere in the aquifer. Not knowing the size and location of NAPL pools and zones of residual NAPL makes it impossible to predict how long a pump-and-treat program must operate in order to clean the aquifer (McKay and Cherry, supra, 1989).
The solubility in water of some NAPLs which commonly occur in groundwater is as follows:
______________________________________ Benzene: 1780 mg/L Carbon tetrachloride: 785 Trichloroethylene 1100 ______________________________________
It is known that the solubility of organic materials in an aqueous solution can be increased far above these values by adding certain surfactants to water. Above a certain surfactant concentration, called the "critical micelle concentration," the surfactant solution contains micelles of surfactant molecules, which are aggregates of the surfactant molecules. The interior of the micelles, being hydrocarbon-like, can dissolve organic material or NAPLs to a much higher concentration than that due to the solubility of the NAPL in water. Increased solubility in solutions that are completely miscible with water can also be achieved by addition of cosolvents such as alcohols or ketones to water. Such solvent effects can also be used to increase the solubility of NAPLs to a concentration above the solubility in groundwater.
The extraction of organic pollutants using surfactant solutions has been tested (J. C. Fountain and D. S. Hodge, "Extraction of Organic Pollutants Using Enhanced Surfactant Flushing--Initial Field Test (Part 1)," New York State Center for Hazardous Waste Management, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1992). In the test, a surfactant solution was injected in some wells and produced from other wells. The concentration of a chlorinated hydrocarbon in the effluent surfactant solution was increased to more than 20 times its aqueous solubility. A 50-fold increase was observed in point samples taken during the test. Even higher increases could be achieved at higher surfactant concentrations. Other surfactants may solubilize certain NAPLs more effectively.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,313 discloses a method for use of an aqueous surfactant solution to remove organic contaminants from subsurface soil layers. The process is carried out continuously with the application of the surfactant solution to the surface of the earth and the removal of the solution containing the contaminant from a recovery well within the treatment area.
Although solubilizing solutions can be used to assist in removing contaminating NAPLs from soil or rock layers where the NAPLs may continue to dissolve in and contaminate large amounts of groundwater, there remains the problem of locating the undissolved NAPLs in the earth. It is known to drill wells into an aquifer and remove samples of the solids and liquids contained in the pores of the solids and analyze the liquids to determine the amount and composition of NAPLs. It is also known to produce fluids from the wells and to analyze the fluids for contaminating NAPLs, but if the NAPL is not present at high enough saturations in the pore space immediately around the well, only dissolved NAPL can be produced and the presence of liquid or undissolved NAPL will not be detected around the well. The NAPL can be present where the liquid fills only a fraction of the pore spaces of a geologic formation, up to about 20-35 per cent, depending on the size and structure of pores, and it will not flow through the formation because it is trapped in the pores by capillary forces. Ganglia of NAPL then are surrounded by water. But, at these saturations in the pore spaces there is sufficient NAPL to dissolve in and contaminate very large volumes of groundwater flowing through the formation. At liquid saturations above about 20-35 percent of the pore space, the NAPL will flow through the pore spaces and can be produced into a well to prove the presence of liquid around the well.
Many wells drilled in the search for free liquid NAPLs in the earth show no indication of free liquid--only dissolved NAPL. There is a long-felt need for a method of sampling a much larger volume of formation around these wells not having free liquid present at the well, to determine if free liquid is present in the vicinity of the well. Not only is there a need to determine if a NAPL is nearby a well, but there is a need to determine the likely composition of that liquid if it is present. Should the NAPL be composed of more than one component, knowledge of the identity and approximate mass fraction of each component is needed, so the environmental remediation engineer can design an effective treatment system. The location of NAPL and information on its composition can make practical the remediation of groundwater contamination which would otherwise exist as a long-term threat to health and a clean environment.

Determining location and composition of liquid contaminants in geologic formations


A method to prepare new or unexpected polymorphs of materials which have not been observed, or to obtain a known polymorph under different conditions than those in which it is usually made, by using a laser to cause nucleation and crystal growth to occur in a supersaturated solution in such a way as to obtain a crystal structure which would not normally appear without the use of the laser.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to the field of inducing the nucleation of selected crystal polymorphs from supersaturated solutions and specifically to a process of inducing the nucleation of selected crystal polymorphs from supersaturated solutions by using laser light to induce nucleation.
2. Prior Art
The crystal structure of a material determined by x-ray diffraction gives a complete picture of the arrangement of the atoms (or molecules) of the chemical species in the crystalline state. It is possible, however, for a given chemical species to have the ability to crystallize into more than one internally distinct structure. This ability is called polymorphism (or allotropism if the species is an element). Different polymorphs of the same material can display significant changes in their properties as well as in their structure.
The term "polymorphism" is contrasted with "morphology." Crystals are solids with the atoms, molecules, or ions in a regular repeating structure. The overall external form is referred to as crystal morphology. The term morphology refers to the external shape of the crystal and the planes present, without reference to the internal structure. Crystals obtained experimentally can display different morphology based on different conditions, such as, for example, growth rate, stirring, and the presence of impurities. In contrast, as stated above, polymorphism refers to the internal alignment and orientation of the molecules. A substance can have several distinct polymorphs and only one morphology, or several distinct morphologies for only one polymorph. Just because the morphology changes does not mean there is a new polymorph, and vice versa. Unlike with different morphologies, one cannot tell by visual observation whether one has a different polymorph.
The prior art produces a substance with a known morphology and crystal structure. It does not produce a substance of unknown crystal structure (a new polymorph) or of unexpected structure (a known polymorph that would not normally occur under these conditions). As discussed above, there is an important distinction between morphology and polymorphism. Morphology is the external appearance of the crystal. In contrast, polymorphism refers to the internal structure of the crystal. It is important to note that crystals of a given substance with different morphologies have the same physical properties (such as melting point, solubility, electrical conductivity, etc) while different polymorphs of the same substance have different properties (e.g., diamond and graphite, which are different polymorphs of carbon).
Polymorphism is quite common in the elements and in inorganic and organic compounds and results in property changes. A dramatic example is carbon, which can crystallize as graphite or as diamond. Diamond is a cubic crystal, whereas graphite is hexagonal. In addition, properties such as hardness, density, shape, vapor pressure, dissolution rate, and electrical conductivity are all quite different for these two solids. These major differences in the properties of two polymorphs are not unique to carbon and can occur in all materials that display polymorphism. Many of the early identifications of polymorphs were minerals, such as calcium carbonate, which has three polymorphs (calcite, aragonite, and vaterite) and zinc sulfide, which has three polymorphs (wurtzite, sphalerite, and matraite). Some well known species have large numbers of polymorphs, for example water, which has eight different solid forms of ice. Organic molecular crystals often have multiple polymorphs that can be of great significance in the pharmaceutical, dye and explosives industries.
Under a given set of conditions, one polymorph is the thermodynamically stable form. This does not mean, however, that other polymorphs cannot exist or form at these conditions, only that one polymorph is stable and other polymorphs present can transform to the stable form. An example of this can be seen in heating (or cooling) a crystalline material with multiple polymorphs. As the temperature changes, the material will eventually enter a region where another polymorph is the stable form. The transformation of one polymorph to another, however, will occur at some rate that may be rapid or very slow. The transformation rate varies because the rate of transition of polymorphs depends on the type of structural changes that are involved.
Transformations can be categorized by the types of structural changes involved, which can roughly be related to the rate of transformation. For example, a transformation in which the lattice network is bent but not broken can be rapid. This type of transformation is known as displacive transformation of secondary coordination. Another type of rapid transformation can involve the breakage of weaker bonds in the crystal structure with the stronger bonds remaining in place. This is then followed by the rotation of parts of the molecule about the structure and the formation of new bonds. This type of transformation is a rotational disorder transformation. Slow transformations usually involve the breakage of the lattice network and major changes in the structure or type of bonding.
Polymorphic transformations can also be classified as first- or second-order transitions. In a first-order transition, the free energies of the two forms become equal at a definite transition temperature, and the physical properties of the crystal undergo significant changes upon transition. In a second-order transition, there is a relatively small change in the crystal lattice, and the two polymorphic forms will be similar. There is no abrupt transition point in a second order transition, although the heat capacity rises to a maximum at a second order transition point.
When a material is crystallized from solution, the transition between polymorphs can occur at a much higher rate because the transition is mediated by the solution phase. Polymorphs of a given material will have different solubilities at a given temperature, with the more stable material having a lower solubility (and a higher melting point) than the less stable polymorph. If two polymorphs are in a saturated solution, the less stable polymorph will dissolve and the more stable polymorph will grow until the transition is complete. The rate of the transition is a function of the difference in the solubility of the two forms and the overall degree of solubility of the compounds in solution. This transition requires that some amount of the stable polymorph be present, meaning that the stable polymorph must nucleate at least one crystal for the transition to begin. If a slurry of solution and crystals of a polymorph stable at a high temperature is cooled to a lower temperature, where another polymorph is the stable phase, the transition of the crystals already present will depend on the presence of nuclei of the new stable phase. The more of these nuclei present, the faster the transition will occur.
It is often possible to crystallize a metastable polymorph by applying a large supersaturation (for example rapid cooling) so that crystals of the metastable form appear before crystals of the stable form. When this occurs, if the solid is removed from the solution rapidly and dried, it is possible to obtain samples of a metastable polymorph that will not easily transform to the stable phase unless heated. If the crystals of the metastable polymorph are left in solution for any length of time, they will likely transform to the stable form by going through the solution phase. If seeds of the stable polymorph are added to the solution, the transition will occur more rapidly. At first-order phase-transition temperatures, the solubility of the two forms will be equal and both can exist.
When a material that displays polymorphism is crystallized, a metastable phase often appears first and then transforms into a stable form. This observation is summarized by Ostwald's step rule, which is also known as the Law of Successive Reactions. This law states that, in any process, the state that is initially obtained is not the most stable state but the least stable state that is closest, in terms of free-energy change, to the original state. In a crystallization process, therefore, it is possible to envision the phase transformation first occurring into the least stable polymorph (or even an amorphous phase), which transforms through a series of stages to successively more stable forms until the equilibrium form is obtained. While Ostwald's law has been observed in a wide variety of systems, it is most likely to be seen in organic molecular crystals.
Another interesting feature of organic molecular crystals is that the molecular conformation of a species can be different in two polymorphs of the same material. By molecular conformation, we are referring to the shape of the molecule. The same molecule can display different shapes (conformations by rotations about single bonds for example. Conformational polymorphism is the existence of polymorphs of the same substance in which the molecules present are in different conformations.
It is known that by subjecting some supersaturated solutions to laser light, the onset of nucleation occurs. Prior to nucleation, the supersaturated solution contains "clusters" of molecules that are not arranged in the lattice structure of a crystal. The laser light helps to align or organize the molecules in the clusters into a lattice arrangement resulting in the formation of nuclei and, after time, crystals. For a urea solution, it was shown that the laser could induce nucleation and the one and only known and expected polymorph for urea was obtained. Garetz, B. A. et al., Nonphotochemical, Polarization-Dependent, Laser-Induced Nucleation in Supersaturated Aqueous Urea Solutions, Physical Review Letters, Vol. 77, No. 16, pp. 3475-6 (1996).
The Garetz article does not disclose the creation of different, unexpected polymorphs or that different, unexpected polymorphs could be created using laser induced nucleation, as disclosed and claimed in the present patent application. More specifically, the Garetz adicle discloses the effect laser-induced nucleation has on the orientation of the molecules. Specifically, the Garetz article discloses that the polarization dependence of the crystallite orientation is consistent with a mechanism in which the electric field of the light plays a major role and that urea molecules are being aligned by the applied optical field, just as they are in the optical Kerr effect, also known as light-induced birefringence. The Garetz article further discloses that only urea's anisotropic polarizability is responsible for electrio-field-induced alignment at optical frequencies, thus, according to the Garetz mechanism, urea molecules in a cluster will tend to align with their C2 axes parallel to an applied electric field, E, growing into a crystallite with the needle axis parallel to E.
The discovery published in the Garetz article is a photophysical phenomenon in which the laser induced crystallization of urea causes the alignment of the urea molecules by the applied optical field. The crystals that result from the experimentation disclosed in the Garetz article were known and expected crystals. The novelty of the Garetz article is that the laser light causes the urea molecules to align, facilitating the nucleation into the known crystals. This is substantially different from the invention disclosed and claimed in the present patent application, which is the creation of different polymorphs not normally obtained using current art nucleation methods.
An application of the Garetz et al principles is in U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,325 to Blanks that discloses a method for producing a substance with a known morphology and crystal structure in aluminate solution. Blanks '325 discloses a self-seeding processes to obtain the most stable crystal structure of sodium aluminate from a supersaturated aluminate solution (i.e. Bayer Process solution) and does not implicate the polymorphism of the substance. More distinctively, the process in Blanks '325 is primarily for destroying impurities in the solution, and the light used is absorbed by the materials. Blanks '325 discloses a process for forming a precipitated alumina hydrate, comprising the steps of providing a sodium aluminate solution; and illuminating said sodium aluminate solution with light wave energy produced by the near infrared wavelength, linearly polarized output of a laser to form a precipitated alumina hydrate where no external seed is added. Much like the Garetz article, Blanks '325 discloses a method for obtaining a known crystal in a process for forming a precipitated alumina hydrate such as aluminum trihydroxide by providing a supersaturated sodium aluminate solution and treating the solution by illumination with pulsed near infrared light wave energy, spatially and temporally overlapped inside the solution, so as to produce a photo-induced nucleation of purified gibbsite crystals, without the need for external seed.
More specifically, Blanks '325 discloses a laser induced precipitation process for forming known alumina hydrate products. It does not disclose or claim, or even discuss, the formation of different polymorphs. It merely discloses a method for obtaining a known alumina hydrate for use in a conventional alumina purification process. As discussed above, a polymorph generally is defined as any of the crystalline forms of a substance capable of having different crystalline structures. Blanks '325 does not disclose whether a specific polymorph of alumina hydrate is desired and, more importantly, whether a different polymorph of alumina hydrate that is not typically created for use in the purification process (or an unknown polymorph of alumina hydrate) is created.
Blanks '325 merely discloses precipitating alumina hydrate for purification employing a laser treatment process properly to introduce infrared light into green Bayer liquor, e.g., such as by way of example from the first source facility, to provide enhancements in alumina yield of as much as 50 grams/liter without the addition of seed. While gibbsite may be the preferred form of alumina hydrate (whether for purification or for economic reasons) mentioned in Blanks '325, this apparently is a preferred form throughout the industry. Gibbsite Al(OH)3 is a valuable and desirable mineral found in bauxite. This, coupled with the lack of disclosure on how to prepare different polymorphs, and polymorphs that normally would not result under the same conditions without the use of the selected light, indicates that Blanks '325 does not contemplate the present invention.
The mechanism by which the Blanks '325 method works also is different than that of the present patent application. Blanks '325 discloses that the laser removes undesirable organic compounds that are generally considered as inhibitors to alumina hydrate precipitation. In other words, the laser works by photochemically destroying organic impurities, thus permanently changing the conditions (i.e., with inhibitors removed) under which the nucleation proceeds. The method therefore requires that the laser light be absorbed by organic impurities in the solution, so that in Blanks '325 the wavelength of the laser needs to be tuned to match the absorption bands of the organic impurities in their samples. One feature of Blanks '325 is that by absorbing near infrared light, they are able to induce the photochemistry needed to destroy their organic impurities. In contrast, the present invention preferably involves no light absorption by the sample.
The Blanks '325 preferred embodiment employs any laser, which may be mode-locked so to emit sub-nanosecond pulses of near infrared light at an energy level of about 500-700 milliwatts. Typical cw mode-locked lasers have repetition rates of about 100 MHz (100 million pulses/second). For the Blanks '325 preferred laser, this corresponds to an energy/pulse of about 5-7 nanojoules. This is a very different type of laser than a Q-switched laser with nanosecond pulses with energy/pulse of about 0.1 Joules. The Blanks '325 pulses have an energy per pulse about ten million times weaker than the Q-switched laser used in the example of the present invention, and the electric fields associated with Blanks '325 laser pulses several orders of magnitude weaker than the electric fields associated with the lasers used in the present invention. Using a laser like the one disclosed in Blanks '325 would not induce nucleation in the glycine of the present invention.

Method for producing crystal polymorphs and crystal polymorphs produced thereby


Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for evaluating the quality of text within online advertisements using output from a language model are provided. The output from the language model may be used by a machine-learning algorithm to generate a quality score for an individual advertisement. The quality score may be used to filter out advertisements with poor text quality or to tax or penalize an advertisement within an online auction. The ad quality scores may also be used to rank or score advertisers that submit the ads. In one embodiment, the advertiser's quality score is combined with an individual ad's quality score to create a final score, which is used to evaluate the advertisement. The advertiser rank/score and ad quality score may be communicated to an advertiser as advertiser feedback.

Online advertising exchanges let advertisers purchase online advertising space from publishers. Publishers (content and property owners) may auction the advertising space off on a cost-per-click or other basis where the price the publishers get for displaying the advertisement is dependent on a viewer's positive response to the advertisement. Some advertisements may contain grammatically incorrect text or other text errors that discourage viewers from clicking the advertisement.


A speed governor for fuel injection pumps of internal combustion engines in which part of an oscillation damper member, in the form of a capsule, is disposed between a drive shaft and a flyweight adjuster; two claws of a support that receives the flyweights of the centrifugal adjuster and two claws of a coupling element connected to the drive shaft. The two claws are connected to one another by way of a segmented type buffer element, all of which protrude into the capsule. The claws of the coupling element protrude into the open part of the capsule, while the claws of the support protrude into the capsule through openings in the capsule bottom. For the sake of greater strength of the capsule, the openings are embodied in closed form according to the invention.

The invention is based on a speed governor for fuel injection pumps of internal combustion engines as defined hereinafter. A speed governor of this type, known from Diesel-Einspritzausrustung, Drehzahlregler fur Reiheneinspritzpumpen [Diesel-fuel Injection Equipment, Speed Governor For In-line Fuel Injection Pumps], Bosch Technical Instruction 1 987 722 013, KH/VDT - 09.75-De, page 25, has a centrifugal adjuster, which is connected to the camshaft of the fuel injection pump and is driven in rotation by it, and which, via a lever mechanism by way of the outward motion of its flyweights, adjusts a governor lever that is connected to the governor rod of the fuel injection pump, and thus controls the required fuel injection quantity as a function of the rpm. To that end, the camshaft of the fuel injection pump is coupled to a flyweight-carrying support. To prevent further transmission of the camshaft oscillation and vibrations of the centrifugal adjuster and thus to prevent related control imprecision, an oscillation damper member is disposed in the coupling between the support and the camshaft in the known speed governor. This damper member has a cup-shaped capsule, into whose interior two diametrically opposed claws of the support and two diametrically opposed claws of a coupling element, which is securely connected to the camshaft, protrude, and one buffer element, preferably made of rubber for the sake of damping, is disposed between the claws, which are offset from each other by 90 degrees. While the claws of the coupling element protrude into the open part of the cup-shaped capsule, the claws of the support resting on the other side of the capsule have recesses in the shape of grooves, in the bottom of the capsule, which are open to the inner bore of the capsule leading to the coupling element. The transmission of the rotary motion is thus effected from the claws of the coupling element, via the buffers, to the claws of the support. The vibration and oscillation of the pump camshaft and the relative rotation of the claws with respect to each other thus produce pulsating compressive stresses on the buffer element, which are transmitted to the damper capsule. The pulsating motion of the elastic buffer elements is therefore borne by the damper capsule, and as a result, because of the notch effect through the radii in the groove base, causes permanent breaks on the capsule wall.

Speed governor for fuel injection pumps of internal combustion engines


A gas monitoring system on an agricultural implement such as a tractor or cultivator includes a nutrient applicator to inject chemicals or compounds into the soil. Although the soil generally covers over the chemicals or compounds, there still may be gases released into the atmosphere. The system includes a sensor that detects the gas phase of the chemicals or compounds. The system is also set up to generate an indication when a concentration of the gas passes a threshold. If the concentration of the gas in the atmosphere is too high, an alarm may sound or flash, or the release of the chemicals or compounds is reduced or ceased.

As Earth's population is now over seven billion people and increasing rapidly, more food and natural resources are needed. Use of fertilizer and manure (or pesticides) would help increase crop yield and thus the amount of food. Fertilizer consumption depends on factors such as the choice of crops or forest plants, varieties and qualities of seeds, geography, rainfall, irrigation patterns, soil quality, farming methods, and sprayer and tillage technology and information. Although this disclosure is not limited to nutrients or even nitrogenous fertilizers, solutions or gases such as ammonia are familiar to most people with its pungent odor when the concentration of ammonia is high enough (over 50 ppm in air). Ammonia can be used in a reaction with carbon dioxide to produce urea. Ammonia nitrate can be produced through the combination of ammonia and nitric acid. Other fertilizer types produced on the base of ammonia include calcium ammonium nitrate (ammonium nitrate mixed with ground dolomite) and NP/NPK compound fertilizers.
In an agricultural setting, the liquid or semi-liquid (gas) state of these fertilizers or nutrients may be sprayed close to the soil or applied directly into the soil by an applicator mechanism. A sharp ground-engaging tool such as a shank or disk first cuts through the ground and creates a furrow into which the compounds are subsequently deposited. Compounds like liquid anhydrous ammonia (NH3) with a low boiling temperature point evaporate quickly and their fumes may linger in the air. There may also be tank leakages of ammonia compounds. Beginning at levels between 25-50 ppm, the fumes may cause some irritation. An end-user may not know when the gas in the atmosphere becomes a problem. Farmers also operate in a noisy environment that includes much vibrational motion (e.g. the tractor moving across uneven soil) where the compounds may be spread somewhat unevenly or in unpredicted parts of the soil.

System and method to monitor gaseous concentrations


A method of driving a solid-state imaging device having photoelectric converting elements arranged in rows and columns, charge-transferring stages associated with the photoelectric converting elements and arranged in rows and columns, and horizontal transfer registers. During the period of each even-numbered field, these components of the device are driven, such that the pixel charges are transferred from the photoelectric converting elements to the associated charge-transferring stages, and then to the horizontal transfer registers. During the period of each odd-numbered field, the components of the device are driven, such that the pixel charges accumulated in any odd-numbered row of the stages are transferred to the charge-transferring stages of the preceding odd-numbered row, thus jumping over those pixel charges in the elements of the preceding even-numbered row, and are then transferred to the horizontal transfer registers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid-state imaging device of single-chip type, for use in a color video camera or the like, and more particularly to a method of driving the solid-state imaging device.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is known in the art, a solid-state imaging device of single-chip type is used in great numbers, in which imaging elements are driven by so-called "field integration method." In the field integration method, adding two signals representing two adjacent pixels of the same column, in one way during the period of every odd-numbered field, and in another way during the period of every even-numbered field. In other words, the "field integration method" performs interlacing. With color filter array shown in FIG. 1, so-called "line sequencial color difference signal method", during each field period, a line signal consisting of color pixel signals G+C and M+Y alternately recurring, and a line signal consisting of color pixel signals M+C and G+Y alternately recurring are alternately output by the solid-state imaging device. The four signals G+C, M+Y, M+C, and G+Y are defined as follows: EQU G+C=2G+B EQU M+Y=2R+G+B EQU M+C=R+G+2B EQU G+Y+R+2G
where G is green, C is cyan, B is blue, M is magenta, Y is yellow, and R is red. A signal-processing circuit (not shown) combines these color signals, thereby generating signals representing three primary colors, i.e., red, green, and blue.
The line sequential color difference signal mehod is advantageous in that data of all pixels is read out within one-field period, enhancing the time-domain resolution without reducing the sensitivity of the imaging device. The method is disadvantageous in the following respect, however. Two signals representing two adjacent pixels of a column are added, generating a signal for one row. Further, two adjacent signals representing two other adjacent pixels of the same column are added, thus generating a signal for the next row. Next, the correlation between the two adjacent rows of pixels is determined, thereby generating a color signal. After all, to obtain one color signal, four signals representing four adjacent pixels of the same column must be processed. Consequently, the solid-state imaging device can generate signals, but those representing an image having an insufficient vertical resolution.
A solid-state imaging device has been developed, which can generate signals representing images having sufficient resolution, without impairing the above-mentioned advantage inherent in the line sequential color difference signal method. This device, generally known as "two-line reading device," has the structure shown in FIG. 2A. More specifically, the device comprises photoelectric converting elements 11 charge-transferring stages 12, two horizontal charge transfer elements 13 and 14, two detectors 15 and 16, and two output terminals 17 and 18.
The photoelectric converting elements 11 are arranged in rows and columns. They are provided in numbers large enough to detect a full frame of an image. The charge-transferring stages 12 are provided in the same numbers as the photoelectric converting elements 11, associated with the photoelectric converting elements 11, respectively, and are arranged, forming columns which extend along the columns of elements 11, respectively. Each of the stages 12 transfers the electric charge of the associated photoelectric converting element 11 to the next stages 12 of the same column. Hence, each column of stages 12 transfers the charges accumulated in the elements 11 in the vertical direction.
The horizontal charge transfer registers 13 and 14 extend in the horizontal direction. The register 13 has a row of charge-transferring stages provided in the same number as the charge-transferring stages 12 of one row and associated with the columns of charge-transferring stages 12 of the respective columns. Each charge-transferring stage of the stage 13 receives an electric charge from the last stage 12 of the associated column. The register 14 has a row of charge-transferring stage provided in the same number as those of the charge transfer regtister 13 and associated with therewith, respectively. Each charge-transferring stage of the register 14 receives an electric charge from the charge-transferring stage of the register 13. Either charge transfer stage transfers the electric charges defining one line of an image frame in the horizontal direction.
The detector 15 detects the charges defining one line of the image frame, horizontally transferred in the transfer register 13 and successively output there from, and converts these charges into voltage signals. Similarly, the detector 16 detects the charges defining the preceding line of the image frame, horizontally transferred in the transfer register 14 and successively output therefrom, and converts the charges into voltage signals.
The output terminal 17 supplies the voltage signals output by the detector 15, to a signal-processing circuit (not shown). The output terminal 18 supplies the voltage signals output by the detector 16, to the signal-processing circuit.
During the period of each even-numbered field of a frame, the solid-state imaging device operates in the following way. First, as is shown in FIG. 2A, the photoelectric converting elements 11 accumulate the electric charges 1 to 7 defining the frame. As is evident from in FIG. 2B, these charges are simultaneously transferred from the elements 11 to the charge-transferring stages 12. Then, as is shown in FIG. 2C, the charges are transferred in the columns of the stages 12, in the vertical direction, whereby the charges defining one line of the frame are supplied to the horizontal transfer register 13. Next, as is shown in FIG. 2D, the charges are further transferred in the columns of the stages 12, in the vertical direction, whereby the charges defining the line of the frame are supplied to the horizontal transfer register 14, while the charges defining the next line of the frame are supplied to the horizontal transfer register 13. Then, the detector 16 converts the charges defining the second line of the frame into voltage signals. At the same time, the detector 15 detects converts charges defining the second line of the frame into voltage signals. Finally, the output terminals 17 and 18 supply the signals output by the detector 15 and those output by the detector 16 to the signal-processing circuit (not shown).
During the period of each odd-numbered field of a frame, the solid-state imaging device operates in the following way. First, as is shown in FIG. 3A, the photoelectric converting elements 11 accumulate the electric charges 1 to 7 defining the frame. As is evident from in FIG. 3B, these charges ar simultaneously transferred from the elements 11 to the charge-transferring stages 12, and are transferred in the columns of the stages 12, in the vertical direction, whereby the charges defining one line of the frame are supplied to the horizontal transfer register 13. Next, as is shown in FIG. 3C, the charges are further transferred in the columns of the stages 12, in the vertical direction, whereby the charges defining the line of the frame are supplied to the horizontal transfer register 14, while the charges defining the next line of the frame are supplied to the horizontal transfer register 13. Further, as is shown in FIG. 3D, the charges are further transferred in the columns of the stages 12, in the vertical direction, such that the charges defining the second line of the frame are supplied to the horizontal transfer register 14, while the charges defining the third line of the frame are supplied to the horizontal transfer register 13. Then, the detector 16 converts the charges defining the third line of the frame into voltage signals. At the same time, the detector 15 detects converts charges defining the second line of the frame into voltage signals. Finally, the output terminals 17 and 18 supply the signals output by the detector 15 and those output by the detector 16 to the signal-processing circuit (not shown).
The two-line reading device shown in FIG. 2A has a color-filter array of the type shown in FIG. 4, wherein each column consists of two types of color filters, arranged alternately. This type of a color filter array will be referred to hereinafter, as "two-pixel periodic color filter array." As can be understood from FIG. 4, the two combinations of colors, i.e., two outputs 1 and 2 the terminals 17 and 18 generated during each even-numbered field period, are reversed during each odd-numbered field period. To prevent this reversion, it is therefore necessary to supply, as is shown in FIG. 5, the two outputs 1 and 2 of the solid-state imaging device 19 to the signal-processing circuit 22 through switches 20 and 21 which are controlled at the start of every field period. Since the detectors 15 and 16 most likely have different gains in most cases, an attenuator 23 is connected between the output 2 of the device 19 and the switch 21, thereby balancing the outputs 1 and 2 of the device 19.

Method for driving solid-state imaging device having a two-pixel periodic color filter array


Techniques are described for identifying potentially interesting portions of a content item to be provided as a preview of the content item for prospective purchasers, based on previously collected data associated with the content item. Portions of a content item may be identified as potentially interesting based on a number of annotations (e.g., highlights, bookmarks, notes, and shares) previously made by viewers of a digital version of the content item. Potentially interesting portions may also include portions which prior viewers spent more time viewing, portions related to identified interests of the potential buyer, portions that are identified as separable for particular categories of content, and/or portions that have been previously identified as associated with elements of the content such as character, plot, and/or keywords.

Customers browsing in brick-and-mortar bookstores have traditionally enjoyed thumbing through a print book, reading its back cover, looking at illustrations, and so forth before deciding whether to purchase the book. As more and more book sales are happening via the Internet, online booksellers have sought to simulate this traditional browsing activity in a digital format. In particular, online booksellers often provide one or more pages of a book as a free preview to enable customers to browse through a book before deciding to purchase it. However, current previews may fail to provide a useful sampling of the book to a potential buyer.

Previewing content based on detected customer activities


A bend-aligned liquid crystal cell is manufactured by irradiating first and second alignment layers with first and second polarized ultraviolet lights to impart first and second pretilt angles in the first and second alignment layers, and injecting molecules of liquid crystal material between the first and second alignment layers. The alignment layers include polysiloxane based materials or polyvinylfluorocinnamate in which the pretilt angle of the alignment layer is changeable according to the ultraviolet absorption energy.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing liquid crystal cell, and more particularly to a method for manufacturing bend-aligned liquid crystal cell using light, which is easier to manufacture than a conventional method using rubbing, and to a method for manufacturing bend-aligned liquid crystal cell with improved viewing angle.
A conventional liquid crystal display is mainly a twisted nematic liquid crystal display(referred as TNLCD) which has a character of changing a transmittance at each gray level according to the viewing angle. FIG. 1a is a graph showing a relationship between the transmittance and a voltage applied to said twisted nematic liquid crystal cell, FIG. 1b is a graph showing a relationship between the transmittance and a viewing angle at horizontal direction, and FIG. 1c is a graph showing a relationship between the transmittance and a viewing angle at vertical direction. Referring to FIG. 1a to 1c, while the transmittance is symmetrically distributed in the horizontal direction, the transmittance in the vertical direction is asymmetrically distributed. Therefore, because an image inversion occurs in the vertical direction, the viewing angle gets narrower.
To solve the problem, the multi-do-main twisted nematic liquid crystals are generally proposed. FIG. 2 is a view showing a structure of two-domain twisted nematic (TDTN) liquid crystal. In FIG. 2, each pixel has two direction configuration domains, where the two pretilted directions are in opposite directions. Applying a gray level voltage to this cell, the liquid crystal directors in two domain are tilted in opposite directions.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a structure of a domain-divided twisted nematic (DDTN) liquid crystal cell. In FIG. 3, the alignment layers 3,4 include two materials having different pretilt angles. The first alignment layer 3 is comprising an organic material, but the second alignment layer 4 is comprising an inorganic material so that direction of an average alignment angle on each alignment layer is in the opposite direction.
The two-domain TN LCD or domain-divided TN-LCD is manufactured by the following steps: rubbing the substrate coated on the alignment layer, inter alia, polyimide; masking some area with a photoresist; rubbing in the opposite direction reversely other area than said masking area; removing the photoresist. Because the process is too complicated as like above, cost is increased.
Generally, the cause of the narrow viewing angle is that the liquid crystal is caused by own character of liquid crystal as being an anisotropic material. Accordingly, a bend-aligned liquid crystal cell has been recently introduced. FIG. 4 is a view showing a structure of a bend-aligned liquid crystal cell, in which a bend-aligned liquid crystal cell 5 and an uniaxial film 6 with optical compensation by eliminating birefringence effect of said liquid crystal cell 5 are placed between two crossed(parallel) polarizer 7. A molecular of the bend-aligned liquid crystal cell 5, as shown in FIG. 4, maintains an acute angle at the surface alignment layer, but the angle becomes larger up to 90 degree at the midlayer between the alignment layers and, it becomes symmetrical structure near the substrate surface so that the viewing angle is improved. The bend-aligned of liquid crystal, having an angle of 90 degree between the molecules of liquid crystal and the alignment layer is formed by rubbing of alignment layer and by injecting liquid crystal maintaining previously decided pretilt angle. Further, if the electric field is applied to said bend-aligned liquid crystal cell, the transmittance is changed owing to the change of an effective refractive index caused by the change of the direction of liquid crystal by applying an electri field.
FIG. 5(a) is a view showing the relationship between the voltage of liquid crystal cell 5 and the transmittance, To is the point where the transmittance is 0, T.sub.50 is representing the point where the transmittance is 50, and T.sub.100 is representing the point where the transmittance is 100. FIG. 5(b) is a view showing the relationship between the transmittance and the viewing angle of the horizontal direction. The transmittance being originally 0, 50, and 100 respectively, is more symmetric than that of TNLCD in FIG. 1(b) depending upon the viewing angle. In addition, the transmittance of the vertical direction in FIG. 5(c) is always symmetric at T0, T50, and T100, while the image of the twisted nematic liquid crystal cell is inverted at the horizontal viewing angle of T50. Therefore, the viewing angle of a liquid crystal display using a bend-aligned liquid crystal cell 5 is highly improved in both the horizontal and the vertical direction than the twisted nematic liquid crystal cell.
However, there is still a problem of a particle and an electrostatic discharge on the alignment layer caused by rubbing process because the alignment layer in the bend-aligned liquid crystal cell 5 must be also rubbed before the injection of liquid crystal in order to form pretilt direction in the alignment layer. Particularly, the electrostatic discharge is the most serious problem in terms of the damage on the liquid crystal cell.

Method for manufacturing bend-aligned liquid crystal cell using light


A folding machine is adapted to receive customized printed sheets and envelopes from a printer and to fold the sheets preparatory to the sheets being inserted into an envelope, but to feed the envelopes through the folding machine directly to an envelope inserting machine without the envelopes being folded. The folding machine has a main path of travel extending therethrough, and a bypass gate mounted in the main path of travel to divert sheets from the main path of travel and directs them into a folding mechanism. The bypass gate is movable from a diverting position to a non-diverting position in response to a sensing device that distinguishes between an envelope and a sheet, so that the bypass gate moves from the diverting position to a non-diverting position to permit the envelope to bypass the folding mechanism and travel directly to the inserting machine.

The present invention relates generally to the field of sheet folding machines, and more particularly to a sheet folding machine in which envelopes can be fed into the folding machine along the same feed path as that for sheets, but will be diverted away from the buckle chutes and fed directly to an inserting machine.
Sheet folding machines have long been well known and have enjoyed great commercial success in a variety of document processing applications, particularly those associated with the preparation of mail in which one or a plurality of sheets are folded in a variety of configurations before being inserted into envelopes in an envelope inserting machine. Briefly, folding machines of this character comprise one or a pair of buckle chutes and a plurality of sets of feeding and folding rollers. In a typical arrangement, sheets are fed into the folding mechanism and directed into a first buckle chute by a first pair of feeding rollers until the lead edge of the sheet strikes a stop, after which the portion of the sheet adjacent to the entrance of the buckle chute buckles to form a new lead edge, which then passes through the next pair of feeding rollers which creases the new lead edge, thereby forming a first fold in the sheet. The new lead edge is then directed into a second buckle chute until it strikes a stop, which causes the portion of the sheet adjacent to the entrance of the second buckle chute to buckle and form still another new lead edge, and this new lead edge then passes through still another pair of feeding rollers which again creases the lead edge, thereby forming a second fold in the sheet. The tri-folded sheet is then fed through a discharge path from the folding machine.
Significant developments in recent years in high speed, automated document processing technology have resulted in various types of document processing systems and apparatus which utilize the above described functions of folding machines in combination with printing machines and envelope inserting machines for the purpose of simplifying the process of printing documents and envelopes at the same time, folding the documents and inserting designated documents into designated envelopes. For example, in one system developed by the assignee of this application, a form letter is to be sent to a large number of addressees, but each form letter is personalized by being addressed to an individual whose name and address is in a computer data base. A computer printer, preferably a laser printer in order to obtain optimum print quality, prints a letter with a name and address on a letter head, a large quantity of which is stored in a suitable feeder for the computer printer. Depending on the configuration of the document processing apparatus, either the same or another printer prints the same name and address on an envelope, a large quantity of which is stored in another suitable feeder for whichever printer prints on the envelopes. Both the letters and the envelopes are fed toward the folding machine, the letter being fed along one path which passes through the folding machine, the envelope being fed along another path which bypasses the folding machine and leads directly to the inserting machine. After folding, the letter is fed into the inserting machine and is inserted into the envelope, either by itself or with other insert material, depending on the configuration of the entire document processing apparatus.
Despite the fact that commercially available document processing apparatus for performing a process as just described has been well received, there are a number of problems inherent in the operation of the available apparatus which contribute to high purchase cost, mechanical complexity and limited operating speed, all of which impede the further commercial success of such apparatus. One of these problems is that if one printer is used for both letters and envelopes, the envelopes must be fed through the printer short edge first because most currently available laser printers are either incapable of printing along a wide enough range to print a letter on a letter head and also a return address on an envelope, the latter being well outside of the left margin of the letter being printed by the computer printer. On the other hand, if a wide enough printer is used for both printing tasks, it is very costly and therefor undesirable from a commercial standpoint. In the first situation, since the envelope must be fed into the inserting mechanism long edge first in order for the letter to be inserted, some type of envelope turning mechanism must be provided to turn the envelope through a 90.degree. angle before the envelope can be fed into the inserting mechanism. And in both situations, it is necessary to have separate feed mechanisms and feed paths for the letter and the envelope since the letter must go through the folding machine, but the envelope must bypass the folding machine and proceed directly to the inserting machine. It should be apparent that both the turning mechanism and the separate feeding mechanisms add cost, complexity and limited speed of operation to the processing apparatus.
Alternatively, if two printers are used, one for the letter and another for the envelopes, and if they are both laser printers, a very substantially cost factor is added to the cost of the processing apparatus due to the relatively high cost of good quality, high speed laser printers. And the envelope turning device may still be required.
In a still further alternative, an ink jet printer is substituted for the second laser printer that prints the address and return address on the envelopes, thereby substantially reducing the cost of the second printer, since ink jet printers by and large are considerably less costly than laser printers, and the same quality of print as that desired for the letters is not necessary for the envelopes. Also, the necessity for a turning device is eliminated because the ink jet printer is printing only on the envelope, and it can be configured to print with the envelope traveling with the long edge first However, this introduces still another problem, which is that ink jet printers produce a wet document, thereby preventing the document from being handled in the area of the image until the ink is thoroughly dry in order to prevent the image from being smeared. In order to overcome this problem, it is necessary to provide some type of mechanism that will provide a drying station for the envelopes, typically in the form of a feeding and storage mechanism mounted adjacent the output end of the ink jet printer which will move a plurality of printed envelopes slowly through the drying station and then into the inserting mechanism. This technique, however, introduces two problems, one being the necessity of providing an additional mechanical mechanism, the cost of which offsets, to some extent, the savings realized from changing the second printer from laser to ink jet and eliminating the turning mechanism. The other is that the software control for printing the letters and the envelopes becomes more complicated because instead of simply printing the letters and envelopes in synchronism and feeding both to the inserting mechanism in succession, either a plurality of letters corresponding to the number of envelopes printed and stored in the drying mechanism must be printed and accumulated until the envelope for a designated letter reaches the inserting mechanism, or the letters must be printed out of synchronism with the envelopes, so that, for example, the letter for the first envelope is not printed until all of the envelopes normally stored in the drying mechanism have been printed and the first envelope printed reaches the inserting location.
Thus, it is seen that virtually regardless of the configuration of the document processing apparatus for the particular application under consideration, whether it involves a single printer, for which inexpensive technology is not readily available, or two printers using readily available technology, there are significant problems of one nature or another that prevent a document processing apparatus from being designed and marketed that would effectively take advantage of commercially available document processing components. There is, therefore, a need for a document processing apparatus in which a single laser printer can be utilized for printing both a letter and an envelope in synchronism, printing on the envelope with the long edge leading, feeding both the letter and the envelope, with the long edge leading, along the same feed path by the same feeding mechanism directly from the printer to the folding machine, and causing the envelope to bypass the folding mechanism of the folding machine and move directly therethrough to the inserting machine

Envelope bypass device for folding machine


A cutter blade driving and positioning control structure formed of a rotary drive, a transmission unit, a sliding unit, a linear motor and a cutter unit and used in a plastic pelletizing machine for making plastic pellets is disclosed. The rotary drive provides a rotary driving force for driving the transmission unit to rotate the cutter unit. The linear motor is adapted to reciprocate the transmission unit, moving the cutter unit back and forth rapidly with minimized energy consumption.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to plastic pelletizing technology, and more particularly to a cutter blade driving and positioning control structure used in a plastic pelletizing machine for making plastic pellets, which moves and rotates the cutter unit of the plastic pelletizing machine rapidly and accurately, saving much energy consumption and prevents perforated plate damage due to an overpressure.
2. Description of the Related Art
A plastic pelletizing machine for making plastic pellets is known using a motor to rotate a cutter over the surface of a perforated plate, thereby cutting off the extruded plastic material into plastic pellets. However, because the plastic pelletizing machine must be wholly shifted to move the cutter into contact with the surface of the perforated plate before operation, the shifting apparatus adapted to shift the plastic pelletizing machine is heavy and has a large size. Further, the shifting apparatus consumes much power during operation and cannot move the plastic pelletizing machine back and forth rapidly.

Cutter blade driving and positioning control structure for plastic pelletizing machine


A semiconductor memory device in which only global I/O buses, which receive one or more data groups that must be output first among a N number of data groups that are prefetched in a N-bit prefetch type, from an array of memory cells are precharged with a ½ power supply voltage, thereby making the output speed of the data groups that must be output first thing faster than that of the remaining data groups. The semiconductor memory device includes a data bus controller for precharging predetermined data buses that receive one or more data group that must be output to the outside first among a N number of data groups that are prefetched in a N-bit prefetch type from an array of memory cells, using information to decide an I/O sequence of the N number of the data groups.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and method of transferring data thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and method of transferring data thereof, wherein at least one data group, which have to be output first thing, among a N number of data groups that are prefetched from a memory cells array in a N-bit prefetch type, are transferred to the outside faster than the remaining groups.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Generally, a data I/O operation of a synchronous semiconductor memory device is executed in synchronism with an internal clock signal that is generated based on an external clock signal. This type of synchronous semiconductor memory device may include SDR (Single Data Rate) SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory), DDR (Double Data Rate) SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM and DDR3 SDRAM, and the like. In the SDR SDRAM, 1-bit data are prefetched from memory cells, and then output to a DQ (input/output) pad every clock cycle. In the DDR SDRAM, 2-bit data are prefetched from memory cells, and then output to a DQ pad on a clock cycle basis. In the DDR2 SDRAM, 4-bit data are prefetched from memory cells, and then output to a DQ pad on a clock cycle basis. In the DDR3 SDRAM, 8-bit data are prefetched from memory cells, and then output to a DQ pad on a clock cycle basis. Therefore, data processing speed of the DDR2 SDRAM device is faster than that of the DDR SDRAM device, and the data processing speed of DDR3 SDRAM device is faster than that of the DDR2 SDRAM device.
Of them, the DDR2 SDRAM generally uses a 4-bit prefetch scheme. In the 4-bit prefetch scheme, four data groups are prefetched from memory cells in a parallel way based on one read command, and the prefetched four data groups are output through the same DQ pad during 2 clock cycles. In this above example, the number of the data groups is determined according to a data width. For example, if the data width is ×16 and the SDRAM has a 4-bit prefetch scheme, four data groups Q0, Q1, Q2 and Q3 each consisting of sixteen data bits are output from the memory cells to the outside through the DQ pad, as shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 is a timing diagram showing that data read from memory cells in a read operation of a semiconductor memory device are output to the DQ pad through data amplifiers, global I/O buses GIO_Q0<0:15>, GIO_Q1<0:15>, GIO_Q2<0:15> and GIO_Q3<0:15>, and read latch circuits, read multiplexers, and read drivers. At this time, the aforementioned data amplifiers, the read latch circuits, the read multiplexers, and the read drivers are used for a data output path, and are generally well known to those skilled in the art. Thus, detailed description thereof will be omitted for simplicity.
In addition, FIG. 1 shows that the data width of the global I/O bus disposed between the data amplifiers and the read latch circuits is ×16, and the mode is the 4-bit prefetch type. Accordingly, four data groups Q0, Q1, Q2 and Q3 each consisting of sixteen data bits are loaded onto the global I/O buses GIO_Q0<0:15>, GIO_Q1<0:15>, GIO_Q2<0:15> and GIO_Q3<0:15> in which the data width is a total of 16×4=64 bits, respectively.
Furthermore, although not shown in FIG. 1, the read multiplexers output the four data groups Q0, Q1, Q2 and Q3 to the DQ pad in a serial way using lower 2-bit column addresses CA<0:1> in order of the output in accordance with specification defined in JEDEC.
That is, if the column addresses CA<0> and CA<1> are 00, the data groups are output in order of Q0, Q1, Q2 and Q3. If the column addresses CA<0> and CA<1> are 01, the data groups are output in order of Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q0. If the column addresses CA<0> and CA<1> are 10, the data groups are output in order of Q2, Q3, Q0 and Q1. If the column addresses CA<0> and CA<1> are 11, the data groups are output in order of Q3, Q0, Q1 and Q2.
As described above, when a read command RD is input, the output sequence of four data groups that are prefetched in the 4-bit prefetch type is previously determined according to the column addresses CA<0:1>. Technology for improving the output speed of data groups, however, has not yet been developed.

Semiconductor memory device having N-bit prefetch type and method of transferring data thereof


The present invention provides a filter circuit that can achieve both sharp bandpass characteristics and high power handling capability. The filter circuit includes: an input terminal that has a signal input; a four-port device that divides input signals; a band stop filter that has the center frequency of the input signals within the stopband, and causes the out-of-stopband signals among the input signals to pass; two bandstop resonators circuits that cause the signals passing through the band stop filters to pass, and reflect the signals; open ends that are connected in parallel to the two bandstop resonators circuits; and an output terminal that outputs the signals reflected by the band stop filters and the bandstop resonators circuits and combined at the four-port device.

Communication devices that perform wired or wireless information communications are formed with various high-frequency components such as amplifiers, mixers, and filters. Among those devices, bandpass filters (BPF) each have resonators arranged in a line, and allow only the signals of a particular frequency band to pass through the filters. To effectively use frequencies in today's communication systems, the filter characteristics should preferably be sharp shutoff characteristics, so that the available bandwidth can be used to a maximum extent. Further, in response to the demands for smaller communication devices, those filters should preferably be small in size.
To achieve desired filter characteristics, it is necessary to connect resonators to one another in an electromagnetic field. The circuit constant of the filter is formed with the resonant frequency fi of each resonator, the coupling coefficient Mij, and the external quality factor Qe with the outside circuit.
FIG. 14 is an equivalent circuit of a conventional bandpass filter circuit. In FIG. 14, reference numeral 901 indicates input terminals, reference numeral 902 indicates output terminals, reference numerals 903(1) through 903(n) indicate resonators, and reference numerals 904(1) through 904(n−1) indicate coupling circuits. This filter circuit is formed with the resonators 903(1) through 903(n) cascade-connected as shown in FIG. 14. The equivalent circuit of each of the resonators shown in FIG. 14 is formed with an inductor L and a capacitor C, and a resistor is added to the equivalent circuit if a loss effect is taken into account. The resonant frequency of a resonator without a resistor is expressed by the following equation:f0=1/sqrt(L*C)where L and C represent the inductance and capacitance of the resonator.
In the filter circuit of FIG. 14, the resonators are cascade-connected, and the frequency pass range and the stopband attenuation of the filter circuit can be determined by appropriately deciding the coupling coefficient Mij (m12, m23, . . . , mn−1, n in FIG. 14) expressing the coupling amount of each of the resonators, and the value of the external quality factor (Qe in FIG. 14) expressing the coupling amount between the resonators and the input or output circuits.
Since a current flows to the respective resonators in a filter having the resonators connected in a cascaded circuit, all frequency components in the current flow into the resonators. Therefore, in the case of the resonators are made of a material having a current capacity, such as a superconductor, a power handling capability of each resonator is an important parameter for allowing large power to pass through the filter circuit. Studies are being made to develop a technique for improving the power handling capability by taking measures to prevent concentration of current flow on the resonator by application of circular disk-like resonators or wide transmission lines.
In a superconductive resonator made of a superconductor, however, the un-loaded Q value is extremely high, and therefore, the current concentration in the resonators becomes larger. As is apparent from this fact, high power capability is difficult to realize by changing the shapes of the resonators.
FIG. 15 is a equivalent circuit of another conventional filter circuit. As shown in FIG. 15, the resonators are connected to parallel circuit, which the input power is dispersed each resonator in the filter circuit, the resonators 913(1) through 913(n) are connected in parallel so as to form the filter circuit (as disclosed for example in JP-A-2001-345601 (KOKAI) and JP-A-2004-96399 (KOKAI)). By such a parallel circuit, inputted power is divided to each of resonator 913(1) to 913(n) so as to increase the power handling capacity as a whole.
To connect the resonators in parallel, the respective resonators are designed to have different resonant frequencies from one another (f1, f2, . . . , fn in FIG. 15), and combining the resonators such that the resonators with adjacent resonant frequencies have mutually reversed-phase, to realize the filter characteristics. In FIG. 15, the symbol "-" of "-m2" indicates reversed-phase coupling. The structures of filter combining a superconductive filter and a normal conductive filter were disclosed for example in JP-3380165, JP-A-H11-186812 (KOKAI).
Although a superconductive filter and a normal conductive filter are connected in parallel in JP-3380165, the high power is inputted in both filters. When high power is supplied to the input, the power is divided and inputted into the filters, the divided power is separated only into power to be reflected in and power pass through each of filters, and with this shape, the superconductive filter also requires a high power handling capability. Furthermore, as a superconductive filter and a normal conductive filter are combined, the combined loss is increased, and it is impossible to take full advantage of the low loss effect of the superconductive component.

Filter circuit and radio communication device


There is disclosed herein an electrical junction block particularly for use with a fetal electrode and electronic monitor. The junction block comprises a housing having a cavity therein, and a substantially U-shaped spring disposed in the cavity. The spring has legs which are biased outwardly by a suitable coil spring. The housing contain electrical contacts and wires connected thereto, and the U-shaped spring can be depressed to provide openings for receiving electrode wires. A mounting pad can be disposed on the housing for facilitating mounting of the assembly on a person during use.

Monitoring fetal heartbeat by means of an electrode attached to the fetus during labor has proved to be of substantial importance in connection with childbirth. Examples of electrodes are of the type shown in Neward U.S. Pat. No. 3,910,271, Neward U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,764, and pending application Ser. No. 654,268 filed Feb. 11, 1991.
In use, the fetal electrode is attached to the head of the fetus, and electrical conductors extending from the electrode are connected to an electronic fetal heart monitor. The presently used connection is through a junction block which typically includes a pair of screw connectors. Each of the several electrode wires (two or three) is individually pushed into a connector, and a screw or threaded member is rotated to secure, both mechanically and electrically, the wire to the junction block. The junction block then typically is fastened by a suitable strap (e.g., a Velcro strap) to the leg of the woman in labor. Completing the connections is a rather cumbersome process and requires-both hands. The presently used junction block typically is cleaned and disinfected so that it can be reused, but this is difficult to accomplish because of the numerous parts, threaded connectors, and the like. It would be desirable to have a simpler to use and disposable form of connector, but none has been provided even though such fetal monitoring electrodes have been in use for well over fifteen years.


A Stirling engine feedback controller is provided that includes a Stirling engine having at least one piston, where the Stirling engine includes an Alpha-Stirling engine, and a Gamma-Stirling engine. The feedback controller includes a power sensor, a computer, and an electronic feedback loop. Here, the power sensor is configured to sense the power of the Stirling engine then output a power signal. In one aspect, the computer can be a central processing unit (CPU), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), where the computer operates a control algorithm. Further, the electronic feedback loop receives the output power signal and an output signal from the computer, where an output signal from the electronic feedback loop is configured to a control a position of the piston(s).

As centralized power plants fail to meet the growing energy needs worldwide due to outdated grid infrastructure, emissions restrictions, nuclear waste disposal restrictions, and limited availability of traditional coal supplies, the cost and availability of electricity become an issue during peak loads.
Conventional residential and commercial power systems, such as internal combustion, free-piston Stirling, microturbine, fuel cells, and the like, are typically unreliable, require maintenance, or produce noise and pollution when operated. Moreover, it is difficult to move these devices into a house or office because they are large and heavy.
Stirling cycle heat engines have been built and tested since the 1800s, though no major successful product has yet been realized using this core technology. Within the past several decades, the work of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Nirvana Energy Systems (NES) have advanced this technology through an offshoot called Thermoacoustics. These engines operate utilizing the Stirling cycle to convert heat energy into mechanical energy through means of external combustion or energy harvesting, but are able to operate with fewer moving parts. These devices have promised advancement to the now traditional free-piston Stirling device by reducing complexity and cost. However, typical toroidal thermoacoustic engines have lower efficiency and difficult geometry for high volume manufacturing. These setbacks have been overcome through the work of PARC, NASA, and NES by way of current state of the art technology; electronic feedback thermoacoustic engines. Called "Thermo-Electric-Acoustic Engine" by PARC, "Alpha-STREAM" by NASA, and "Thermo Acoustic Power Stick" (TAPS™) by NES, these devices have all used a phase delayed power feedback from an electric-acoustic receiver to drive an electric-acoustic driver. U.S. Pat. No. 8,205,459, 8,227,928, and patent applications 20110265505, 20110265493, 20130219879 and PCT/US13/24749 describe thermoacoustic devices.
The prior state of the art utilized a capacitor or inductor to phase shift voltage and current as power was collected from the electrical generation end of the device and delivered to the electrical to mechanical side of the device. This phase delay technique is susceptible to the shifting resistive component of the load, as well as additional capacitive or inductive loads that would be added as the device's power was utilized. The control methodology previously utilized, was forced to compensate for alternating current (AC) connections to the grid and other loads in real time in order to maintain stable engine operation.
As centralized power plants fail to meet the growing energy needs worldwide due to outdated grid infrastructure, emissions restrictions, nuclear waste disposal restrictions, and limited availability of traditional coal supplies; the cost and availability of electricity become an issue during peak loads. The energy conscious consumer, seeking ways to maximize energy security, minimize heating and electricity costs, and reduce overall fuel consumption, is interested in a micro-combined heat and power (μCHP) solution. This approach enables the local production of electricity while utilizing the waste heat productively. Additionally, the thermo acoustic power system developed by Nirvana Energy Systems, Inc. seamlessly integrates renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and batteries directly into the power generating system without the need for additional control and conversion electronics thereby increasing system reliability, and reducing cost.
Conventional residential power systems, such as internal combustion, free-piston Stirling, microturbine, fuel cells, and the like, are typically unreliable, require maintenance, or produce noise and pollution when operated. Moreover, it is difficult to move these devices into a house or office because they are large and heavy. Efficiency and size of these power systems is limited by operating temperatures and speeds and frequency in the case of oscillatory systems. Oscillatory systems incorporating linear actuators require that the moving piston does not create asymmetric pressure buildup, as it may decenter the piston thereby reducing the effective stroke of the actuator for a fixed maximum stroke. The present invention addresses the unwanted piston offset in a novel manner. Although piston offset is well known in the art, incorporating a small vent hole in both the piston and the sleeve at the neutral piston position commonly mitigates the issue. However, this approach also causes unwanted pressure losses.

Secure control system for multistage thermo acoustic micro-CHP generator