A method for purifying a nitrile which comprises contacting a nitrile containing an aldehyde with a cation exchange resin carrying a polyamine to remove the aldehyde from the nitrile. The ion exchange resin can be regenerated and reused repeatedly.

Nitriles, and particularly aliphatic nitrites, are obtained by the ammoxydation of olefins. Nitriles thus obtained inevitably contain a trace amount of an aldehyde as an impurity, which contaminates the system during the step of recovering the nitrile or in coloring the product nitrile. Furthermore, recent developments in chemical technology require higher purity nitrites. However, the volatility of a nitrile is often close to that of an aldehyde present therein as an impurity. Thus, the separation of these components by distillation is uneconomical, and requires many plates and a considerable amount of energy. Therefore, there is a need in the art to develop an efficient method for removing an aldehyde impurity from a nitrile.
Several proposals have been made to date including, for example, a method of adding sodium hydrogennitrite to methacrylonitrile to remove methacrolein in the form of an addition salt (see JP-A-57-62247, the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application"), a method of adding acetylacetone, etc. to acrylonitrile and removing the reaction product between the acetylacetone and acrolein by distillation or like means (see JP-B-57-26586, the term "JP-B" as used herein means an "examined published Japanese patent application"), and a method of using ozone for removing acrolein from acetonitrile (see DD 217212).
Methods of using an ion exchange resin for removing acrolein from acrylonitrile have also been proposed. For example, the use of a porous anion exchange resin having a primary amino group and/or a secondary amino group as an ion exchange group (see JP-B-58-1108) or an anion exchange resin gel (see JP-A-58-134063) is known. These methods show promise for specifically removing aldehydes without producing other impurities in the system.
However, according to the method of using an anion exchange resin having a primary amino group and/or a secondary amino group as an ion exchange group, the amino group and the aldehyde group undergo an amino-carbonyl reaction to form a covalent bond. Thus, the aldehyde group cannot be released in a usual manner. As a result, the spent ion exchange resin is hardly regenerated and must be discarded, thus adding the cost of disposal to this process.


A microwave element is described with a substantially trough-shaped housing part having a bottom portion and at least one wall portion merging into the circumference of the bottom portion. A lid part, together with the housing part, encloses an inner space in which a number of substantially disc-shaped components are present in a stacked arrangement between the bottom portion and the lid part. The microwave element renders possible an inexpensive manufacture without sacrificing any operational properties. The housing part and the lid part are each formed as an integral part without any cutting operation from a magnetically permeable material. The lid part is directly connected to the housing part by matching and mutually retaining shapes. A magnetically impermeable spacer element is arranged adjacent to the stacked arrangement of the disc-shaped components. The magnetically impermeable spacer element is substantially the full height of the inner space between the bottom portion and the lid part so as to fill up with matching shape any intermediate space between the stacked arrangement of the disc-shaped components and the wall portion along at least part of that dimension of the wall portion which extends in the direction of the circumference of the bottom portion.

The invention relates to a microwave element comprising a substantially trough-shaped housing part with a bottom portion and at least one wall portion merging into the circumference of the bottom portion and comprising a lid part, which housing part and lid part enclose an inner space in which a number of substantially disc-shaped components are arranged in a stack between the bottom portion and the lid part.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,556 discloses a microwave circulator which comprises a housing in which an arrangement of a first ferrite disc, an inner conductor, a second ferrite disc, an outer conductor, and a magnet is present. These components are arranged in a stack between a bottom portion of the housing and a lid, and a compression spring presses this arrangement against the bottom portion of the housing. The compression spring is retained against the upper inner circumference of the housing by means of a snap ring. The housing is manufactured as a cylindrical turned part from nickel-plated steel. The bottom portion here has a circular circumference merging into all wall portions in the form of cylinder shells which are separated from one another by gaps. This arrangement is provided for the inner contour of the housing in all cases, whereas its outer contour may alternatively be rectangular. In any case, a groove for the snap ring is incorporated into the upper inner circumference of the housing formed by the upper edges of the wall portions.
The manufacture of the housing according to this known construction is found to be particularly laborious and expensive since it comprises several manufacturing steps especially on turning and milling machines. These expensive manufacturing steps lead to a substantial price increase of the entire device in particular in the manufacture of large series.


Disclosed is an optical apparatus including an optical fiber having a wavelength of operation, the optical fiber comprising a first length of the optical fiber joined to a second length of the optical fiber with a splice such that the first and second lengths are in optical communication; a photodetector for sensing light leaking from the splice; and wherein the splice has a splice loss of not greater than 0.5 dB at the wavelength of operation. Methods of sensing light are also disclosed.

It is often desirable to be aware of some property (e.g., wavelength, intensity, etc.) of the light associated with an optical apparatus. The term "light " as used herein, means, as understood by one of ordinary skill in the optical arts, the electromagnetic energy associated with the optical apparatus in question, and is not to be limited to, for example, wavelengths visible to the human eye, which is a definition that can be found in certain dictionaries intended for laypersons. For example, an optical fiber amplifier typically includes a section or length of optical fiber that comprises an active material (e.g., a rare earth or Raman active material). The optical amplifier can receive input light having a first wavelength and, responsive to receiving pump electromagnetic energy having a second wavelength that is different than the first wavelength, can amplify the input electromagnetic energy to provide an optical output. It can be desirable to be aware of one or more of the properties of the input electromagnetic energy, pump light or output light to, for example, monitor the performance of the amplifier. Feedback can be provided responsive to one or more properties of the sensed light so as to adjust one or more performance characteristics of the amplifier.
One way to monitor the performance of the amplifier is to interpose a coupling device, such as, for example, an optical fiber fused coupler, between sections of the amplifier. Such a coupler can include an input fiber arm, and output fiber arm, and a coupled fiber arm, where the coupled arm is usually in optical communication with a detector, such as, for example, a photodetector. To sense input light, the input arm can be spliced to a fiber propagating the input light to be amplified and the output arm can be spliced to a rare earth doped fiber that will amplify the input light. Typically the coupler senses a selected portion (e.g., 1%) of the optical power of the input light.
While an arrangement such as the foregoing can be useful, and is often employed, there can be drawbacks. For example, in certain applications, optical fiber couplers can add cost to an optical apparatus, require a skilled technician to install or fabricate, be cumbersome to employ, or add an additional mode of failure, thus reducing reliability. Improved methods and apparatus would be a welcome advance in the art.


The invention relates to a process for determining at least one state variable from a model of an RTP system by means of at least one measurement signal measured on the RTP system—the measurement value—which has a dependency upon the state variable to be determined, and a measurement value forecast by means of the model—the forecast value—, whereby the measurement value and the forecast value respectively comprise components of a constant and a changeable portion, and whereby respectively at least the changeable portion is established, separated by a filter, so as to form a first difference between the changeable portion of the measurement value and the changeable portion of the measurement value forecast by the model, parameter adaptation of at least one model parameter by recirculation of the first difference in the model with the aim of adapting the model behavior to variable system parameters, forming of a second difference from the measurement value and the forecast value or from the measurement value adjusted by the changeable portion and the adjusted forecast value, state correction of a state of the model system by recirculation of the second difference in the model, with the aim of bringing the state of the model system into correspondence with that of the real system, and measurement of the at least one state variable on the model.

This invention relates to a process for determining at least one state or condition variable from a model of an RTP system by means of at least one measurement signal measured on the RTP system—the measurement value—which has a dependency upon the state variables to be determined. In particular, this invention relates to a process for determining the temperature of an object, preferably a substrate such as e.g. a semiconductor wafer in a rapid heating unit whereby the object or the substrate is heated by radiation sources.
Rapid heating units for the thermal treatment of substrates such as e.g. semiconductor wafers are widely known in the production of semiconductors. They are used for the thermal treatment of wafers which are preferably made from silicon but, however, can also be made from compound semiconductors such as e.g. II-VI, II-V and IV-IV semiconductors. An important feature with the thermal treatment of semiconductor wafers in a rapid heating unit is accurate control and regulation of the wafer temperature during the thermal treatment. This control and regulation of the wafer temperature requires, once again, accurate determination of the wafer temperature during the thermal treatment in order to control or regulate the rapid heating unit correspondingly. This invention relates especially to the aspect of determining the temperature of a semiconductor wafer during its thermal treatment in a rapid heating unit. In general, the invention relates to determining a state variable from a model of an RTP system which describes the state of the RTP system by means of model parameters.
Different processes for determining the temperature of a semiconductor wafer in a rapid heating unit are known. On the one hand it is known to attach thermal elements to the semiconductor wafers themselves and/or in the direct proximity of the same in order to establish their temperature. The problem arises here, however, that on the one hand, a complex process is required in order to attach the thermal elements to the semiconductor wafers, and on the other hand, they lead to local temperature inhomogeneities because they generally have to remain in thermally conductive contact with the semiconductor wafers, and moreover, effect the radiation field in the fast heating unit, at least near to the thermal element.
Another, contactless process which was made known, for example, in the patent applications and patents DE-A-19852320, U.S. Pat. No. 6,191,392 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,369,363 tracing back to the applicant, uses a contactless temperature measurement. With this contactless temperature measurement a first pyrometer is provided which is directed to one side of the wafer in order to collect radiation coming from the wafer which contains heat radiation from the wafer as well as radiation from the radiation sources reflected on the wafer. Furthermore, a second pyrometer is provided which is directed towards the radiation sources themselves in order to collect radiation coming from the radiation sources which is provided with a modulation. The modulation of the radiation sources is chosen here such that it does not effect the heat radiation of the wafer, but can be measured in the radiation from the radiation sources reflected on the wafer. Using a specific algorithm, it is possible to separate, to a certain extent, the heat radiation of the wafer measured on the first pyrometer from the radiation of the radiation source reflected on the wafer. The temperature of the wafer can then be determined from the heat radiation.
This type of temperature determination requires, however, two pyrometers or detectors, namely a so-called wafer pyrometer (or generally, a detector for measuring the radiation emitted from the wafer and reflected on the wafer or transmitted through the wafer) and a lamp pyrometer (or a second measurement system for collecting the radiation emitted from the lamps or the radiation sources), which are respectively associated with high costs. Furthermore, the lamp pyrometer or the second measuring system not only collects radiation originating from the radiation sources, but also partially radiation originating from the wafer, and this makes it difficult to accurately establish the temperature of the semiconductor wafer and requires additional means for accurately determining the lamp radiation, as described in the patent application DE-A-19852321 tracing back to the applicant. Additional problems arise with a high dynamic of the rapid heating system with regard to the temperature-time behavior of the wafer. If e.g. there are high heating rates of the wafer of over 250° C./sec., the radiation signals of the heat emitters and of the wafer contain frequency portions in the range of the modulation frequency. This results, among other things, in a falsification of the amplitude ratio established in the frequency range from the radiation emitted from the heat emitters and measured by the wafer pyrometer. The transient measurement errors caused by this can have an extremely adverse effect upon the stability and performance of the controlled system with a high dynamic. The contactless temperature determination with the help of modulated radiation sources described above is therefore suitable, preferably for quasi-stationary systems, i.e. for systems or temperature-time processes to which the rapid heating unit wafer system is subjected which are quasi-stationary, i.e. in comparison to the modulation frequency of the radiation sources, they only change slowly with regard to time. A further problem results from the sensor sensitivity and from the requirements with regard to measuring accuracy because the contributions of the modulated radiation are to be very accurately established, because by means of this, an in situ emissivity and/or transmissivity determination of the object (the wafer) takes place.
Starting from the above specified prior art, the task which forms the basis of this invention is to provide a process for determining the temperature of a semiconductor wafer in a rapid heating unit whereby the substrate is heated with a radiation source, which in a simple and cost-effective way makes it possible to reliably determine the temperature of the semiconductor wafer. Furthermore, the task which forms the basis of this invention is to determine a state variable of an RTP system, whereby especially, the state variable can be the temperature of a semiconductor wafer in the rapid heating unit.

Process for determining the temperature of a semiconductor wafer in a rapid heating unit


Aspects of the disclosure provide a system and method used for allowing a path selection or reselection (hereby (re)selection). In some embodiments data packets for a session between a UE and an application system (AS) can utilize a pre-established user plane path between the AS and an access node (AN) which serves the UE. This can allow for faster session set-up times as a new user plane (UP) path need not be established for every new session if existing UP paths can be utilized. Some embodiments allow an application aware (re)selection of the user plane.

Wireless networks can be used for applications which are delay sensitive, and therefore have a tight delay budget. Applications such as smart grid operation and paramedic services are two such examples. For applications with tight delay budgets, the network response time is an important key performance indicator (KPI). One factor which can add to delays is the amount of time it takes for the network to establish user plane paths (also known as data paths) to allow for transmission of data.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method that at least partially addresses one or more limitations of the prior art.
This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

Method and system for user plane path selection


An apparatus and method for interfacing a capillary with a detector is disclosed. In particular, a capillary that is used in a capillary electrophoresis technique is interfaced with an off-column detector that is destructive of the sample or that will otherwise create adverse affects on the operations of the capillary electrophoresis. By way of example only, a nitrogen chemiluminescent detector using pyro-chemiluminescent techniques is discussed. An interface between the separation and detection systems is essential to prevent interference between the two systems. The interface apparatus and method are achieved by creating a closed connection between the two systems within which the pressure and sample flow rate can be controlled. Pressure control is achieved through the introduction and venting of gas into and from the integrated system. Interference between interfaced systems is then prevented by equalizing the pressure in the interface apparatus with the head pressure on the inlet end of the capillary. Also disclosed is a device for controlling the head pressure and sample flow within the capillary thereby enabling operation of an interfaced system at non-atmospheric pressure conditions.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of this invention is instrumental chemistry as it relates to integrated systems for carrying out combined separation and analytical operations. More specifically, this invention relates to an apparatus and method for integrating a capillary electrophoresis apparatus with an off-column detection system, particularly detection systems using pyro-chemiluminescent techniques.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been highly praised for its capacity to separate sample components using only minute volumes of sample and reagents and yet providing highly resolved separations in extremely short analysis times. The limitation of this technique lies in the relatively few means available with which to conduct highly sensitive analyses on those separated sample components. At present, on-line detection techniques employed with CE can be described based on the location of their analysis as on-column, end-column or off-column.
On-column analytical methods are typically conducted across the capillary either through a window or an opening provided in the capillary wall. On-column techniques such as ultraviolet-visible absorption are in common use because they do not interfere with the separatory operation of the CE and require simple instrumentation. However, as is described in Analyst, "Time-resolved Luminescence Detection of Europium(III) Chelates in Capillary Electrophoresis," Latva, M. et al., Vol. 120, 367-372 (February 1995), the detection limits of the absorption methods are poor due to their dependence on optical path length which is very short across the capillary. The inner diameter of the capillary of a CE is typically in the range of 25 to 100 micrometers.
Alternatively, on-column amperometric detection may provide relatively good detection limits. However, periodic cleaning of the working electrode is required to maintain the detector's performance. This cleaning requirement is accompanied by the additional problem of electronically isolating the working electrode from the high potential field that is applied across the CE capillary during its operation. One solution for isolating the working electrode from the applied potential is to convert the on-column amperometric technique to an end column method. As is described in Analytical Chemistry, "End-Column Detection for Capillary Zone Electrophoresis," Huang, X. and Zare, R. N., Vol. 63, 189-192 (1991) the working electrode may be completely removed from the potential field of the CE by locating a microelectrode adjacent the capillary outlet at the end of the column. However, Huang recognizes that although this arrangement resolves the isolation problem, it is accompanied by losses in both sensitivity and resolution.
Fluorescence is another photometric method for conducting on-column analyses. Conventional fluorescent methods are described in Analytical Chemistry, "Fluorescence Detection in Capillary Electrophoresis: Evaluation of Derivatization Reagents and Techniques," Albin, M. et al., Vol. 63, 417-422 (1991). It is well established that although fluorescent methods can be highly sensitive and selective, the techniques require that the sample components be fluorescent or chemically convertible to a fluorescing compound. These tagging and/or derivatization procedures can be particularly difficult when performed at the low analyte concentrations that are characteristic of CE. Further, these processes can be complex and greatly increase the risk of contaminating the sample. It is also noteworthy with respect to laser induced fluorescence, that the number of fluorescing compounds available for derivatization procedures is further limited by the number of excitation wavelengths of available lasers.
The problem that accompanies any attempt to integrate two or more systems is the interfering effect the systems may have on one another. Background on the mechanism by which CE separates samples into individual components is helpful in understanding the problems that accompany the integration of CE with an off-column detection system.
CE separates the components of a sample on the basis of the electrical properties of those components. A capillary, typically of fused silica, is filled with an ionic buffer solution and the ends of the capillary are emersed in reservoirs containing additional buffer solution. Electrodes are provided at the opposite ends of the capillary and a high voltage potential in the range of 20 to 30 kilovolts is applied. The sample components are caused to migrate under the influence of the applied potential in what is commonly referred to as electroosmotic flow. The unique feature of electroosmotic flow is that it produces a flat profile in the migrating sample across the capillary. Conversely, when a sample is driven through a capillary by hydrostatic pressure, the sample front will have a parabolic profile which increases the occurrence of band broadening and diminishes resolution. The flat profile generated by CE provides enhanced resolution in sample separation over and above that obtainable from chromatographic techniques. Naturally, any convection, currents or pressure differentials existing or created within the CE system will adversely affect the flat profile of the sample as it travels through the capillary. In order to avoid these adverse affects most detection systems employed with CE use either an on-column or end-column approach.
Detectors and methods that require the analyte to be transferred from the capillary outlet to a detector for analysis are referred to as off-column systems. Off-column systems are less known in the art because the connections between the capillary outlet and the detection systems have introduced problems that interfere with the separatory operation of the CE. In addition to the problems discussed above, transfer of CE eluent for off-column detection may include the problems of dead volume and band dispersion due to turbulence and/or resistances to mass transfer. Further still, the transfer is complicated by the fact that the volume of CE eluent will typically be only in the nanoliter range.
Instrumentation Science & Technology, "Fabrication And Evaluation Of Post-Capillary Junctions Via Micro-scale Molding For Use As Reactors And Flow Multiplexers In Capillary Electrokinetic Separations," Staller, T. D. and Sepaniak, M. J., 23(4), 235-254 (1995) describes methods for making and using junctions for integrated systems. The junctions are molded from polymers such as polyimides and epoxys. Specifically, the CE in Staller is integrated with a chemiluminescent/fluorescent technique wherein the chemiluminescent reaction occurs within the molded junction and the light generated by the reaction is transferred by optical fiber to a photomultiplier tube for detection. The problems of dead volume and turbulence due to the addition of reagents are addressed in terms of the geometries of the junction's structure. The junction between the CE and the detection apparatus is described as a closed system, and no means are suggested or disclosed for preventing pressure differentials across the junction or between the CE and detector instrumentation.
Earlier efforts directed at coupling CE to a detector for conducting off-column analysis have been with respect to mass spectrometry, or CE-MS systems. These developments are well documented in Analytical Chemistry, "Capillary Electrophoresis/Mass Spectrometry," Smith, R. D. et al., Vol. 65, No. 13 (Jul. 1, 1993). The CE-MS systems developed have largely relied on an electrospray ionization (ESI) method in which the CE eluent is converted to an electrospray that can be drawn into the mass spectrometer by a high vacuum provided at the mass spectrometer inlet. Recent developments have focused on eliminating the sheathing solution that is used to facilitate the conversion of the CE eluent to a spray. However, because the mass spectrometer operates under an extremely high vacuum, these integrated systems are not capable of controlling the pressure within the interfacing apparatus. Further, these systems generally require a gap between the nebulizer and inlet to the mass spectrometer and thus do not provide a closed interface between the two instruments.
Therefore it is a feature of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for interfacing a capillary electrophoresis apparatus with an off-column detection system that will not create convection, currents or pressure differentials that would otherwise adversely affect the electroosmotic flow in the capillary of the CE.
It is another feature of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for interfacing a CE apparatus with an off-column detection system of the type described above in which the pressure within the interfacing apparatus may be adjusted by the introduction and venting of gases of which one may be an inert gas.
It is yet another feature of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for interfacing a CE apparatus with an off-column detection system of the type described above in which an exit housing is attached to the capillary above the capillary outlet wherein a flow of ionic sheathing buffer is used to complete the electrical circuit of the CE apparatus and to carry the CE eluent into the off-column detector apparatus.
It is still yet another feature of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for interfacing a CE apparatus with an off-column detection system of the type described above in which the detector is a chemiluminescent detector utilizing pyro-chemiluminescent technique, the furnace of which introduces pressure variations within the interface apparatus which would otherwise interfere with the operation of the CE.
It is still yet another feature of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for interfacing a capillary electrophoresis apparatus with an off-column detection system of the type described above in which the head pressure at the inlet of the capillary of the CE is equalized with the pressure within the interface apparatus so that a pressure gradient or differential is not created within the CE capillary.
It is still another feature of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for interfacing a capillary electrophoresis apparatus with an off-column detection system of the type described above in which the head pressure at the capillary inlet of the CE apparatus is controlled so that analyses may be performed at other than atmospheric pressure conditions.

Apparatus and method for interfacing an open capillary and detector for conducting off-column analyses


A method of identifying errors related to a computing device comprising detecting an input to the computing device, comparing the detected input with a threshold, wherein the threshold corresponds to a level of input indicating frustration by a user, determining whether the input meets or exceeds the threshold, and when the input meets or exceeds the threshold, identifying, by the one or more processors, an error related to the computing device.

Wireless devices, such as wireless headphones, are becoming more popular to avoid the need for wires in wired devices, such as wired headsets, that have a tendency to get tangled and which set a hard limit to the distance the wired headset can travel from a host device, such as a cell phone. As such, wireless devices can provide an improved user experience over wired headphones. However, such wireless devices can become unresponsive to input, leading to instances where a user may be both unable to use the wireless device and unable to determine the reason for the lack of response. For example, a Bluetooth-enabled headset may be outputting audio and then suddenly stop without any input. In such instances, it can be frustrating to the user to try and resolve this issue. Current methods of correcting the headset's unresponsiveness usually involve the user restarting the Bluetooth-enabled headset with no capability of the headset performing a troubleshooting or self-diagnostic process on its own. This issue is compounded in that many current generation commercial Bluetooth-enabled headsets do not have a button located on the headset that is configured to reset the headset. Instead, where a Bluetooth-enabled headset becomes unresponsive, the user would generally have to perform the extra step of placing the headset back in its case to reset the headset and hopefully resolve the issue.


A light guide comprising an entrance window, an output window and a multiplicity of light channels for transmitting light falling onto the entrance window towards the output window by internal reflection, wherein the light channel consists of light guiding core material which is enclosed in a cladding gas having a refractive index that is lower that the refractive index of the core material.

The present invention relates to a light guide member. More particularly the invention relates to a light guide member for use in a read out apparatus wherein a stimulable phosphor sheet on which a radiation image has been stored is illuminated with stimulating rays which cause the phosphor to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored therein during its exposure to radiation, and wherein light emitted upon stimulation is guided by the light guide member from the phosphor to a light detector.
Light guide members that are suitable for the above application are known in the art.
A first type of such light guide members consists of a sheet of light transmitting material. In a read out apparatus one end of the sheet is placed adjacent to a scan line and the other end is located adjacent to the light receiving face of a photodetector.
The end of the light guiding member which is adjacent to the scan line is shaped into a linear form and the other end which is to be located adjacent to the light receiving face of a photodetector is shaped into an annular form to be adapted to the light receiving face of the photodetector.
A light guide member of the above-named kind has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,302. The described light guide member is made of a material that is transparent to light emitted by the phosphor. It is finished to have a smooth surface so that the light transmitted thereto is effectively subjected to total reflection by the internal surface.
Suitable materials which have adequate properties for light guiding are transparent thermoplastic resins such as acrylic resin, vinyl chloride resin, polycarbonate resin, polyester resin, epoxy resin or glass.
An alternative embodiment of such a light guide has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,903 and has two light input end faces being arranged so as to face the same scanning line. The first light end face is arranged for collecting light emitted from the front face of the stimulable phosphor sheet whereas the second light input face is arranged for collecting light emitted from the back surface of the phosphor sheet.
Portions of the light guide member which are adjacent to the output end faces are cut into a plurality of strips which are bundled, and end faces of the bundled strips are located in close contact with a detector, e.g. a photodetector.
In order to capture as much light as possible and to effectively guide the incoming light from the inlet towards the outlet of the light guide member, it is necessary that the probability of internal reflection is optimised and that loss of light inside the light guide member is reduced to a minimum.
In order to obtain these objectives, the shape of the sheet should be optimised and its surface should be smoothed. Preferably the light guide member should be made of a transparent sheet curled into a shape having a linear or arcuate inlet and an annular outlet.
Furthermore in order to enhance light transmission efficiency, the curvature of the sheet should be made small so as not to interrupt the repeated internal reflections.
Consequentially the length of the sheet should be long enough to allow the small curvature.
Another type of light guide members consists of a number of individual optical fibres that are arranged in a row at the side of the phosphor sheet to be scanned and bundled at the side of the photodetector.
The optical fibers used in this type of light guide are conventional optical fibers that consist of a core material surrounded by a solid cladding material having a lower refractive index than that of the core material.
Light emitted by a phosphor upon stimulation enters the light guide member and is guided inside the fibres by internal reflection towards the output end of the light guide member where the fibers are bundled e.g. to form a circular plane that can be coupled to the entrance window of a detector such as a photomultiplier.
Unfortunately the acceptance angle of these conventional optical fibers is only about 62 degrees equivalent to a numerical aperture equal to about 0.51. Although fibers having a higher numerical aperture exist, they all show higher attenuation in the near ultraviolet region. This is undesirable since storage phosphors screens frequently emit light in this spectral region.
Furthermore, when the light guiding trajectory is curved, the numerical aperture of the optical fibers decreases since even at moderate curvature the optical fibers are no longer able to guide marginal rays of light entering the input window of the light guide towards the output window.
Furthermore, due to inter fiber surface losses and due to losses at the entrance window of the light guide member because of the presence of cladding material, the light guide members consisting of optical fibers may lose about 15 to 20% of their optical efficiency.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a light guide that has a high optical efficiency. It is a further object to provide such a light guide for which the light guiding efficiency remains high even at a strong curvature of the light guide or part thereof.
The above mentioned objects are realised by a light guide having the specific features defined in the claims.
The new concept supports a light acceptance angle of 180 degrees equivalent to a numerical aperture equal to 1.
When compared with the prior art light guide concepts that are based on optical fiber assemblies, the concept of the present invention is thus advantageous in that a much higher numerical aperture can be attained. This higher numerical aperture remains constant over a wider curvature range of the light guiding member.
At a given numerical aperture a much stronger curvature of the light guide is still acceptable so that the apparatus wherein the light guide is placed can be made much more compact, as will be shown furtheron.
Depending on the application, the light-guide assembly can have a single or multiple input and output windows.
The spectrum of the light can cover areas such as:
Ultra-Violet, Visual and Infra-Red thereby supporting efficient transport of photons from narrow and wide band spectrum light-sources.
The transfer of light between input and output is done by a multitude of light-channels.
These channels have a solid structure and can be made out of any type of light-guiding material with a low degree of internal scattering and with a low absorption for the spectrum of the light it has to transport from input to output.
Possible channel materials are optical grade plastics such as polymethylmethacrylate (in the following referred to as PMMA), Poly Carbonate and Poly Styrene or they can be any member of a silica-based variety of optical glass materials.
Unlike optical fibers the light carrier (or light channel) itself does not have a solid cladding material with a lower refractive index surrounding the core material. Instead the light channel according to the present invention entirely consists of xe2x80x9ccorexe2x80x9d material.
These xe2x80x9ccorexe2x80x9d channels are suspended in a gas having a much lower refractive index than the core material. This concept ensures the highest possible numerical aperture even at relatively strong curvatures when compared with conventional fiber technology, as will be proved further on.
Light travels through the channels by means of consecutive total internal reflection at the glossy (microscopically quasi flat surface) and clean interface between the channel-material (the core) and the surrounding gas (the clad).
Ambient air or other gasses can be used as cladding gas.
The light-guide assembly can consist of channels with different cross-sections and cross-section shapes.
Circles, ellipses, squares, rectangles, hexagons or any other type of polygon or free shape can be used as the light-channels cross-section shape.
However, in order to preserve a 180 degrees acceptance angle, the individual light channels preferably have a constant or increasing cross-section along the channel""s three dimensional trajectory from input to output.
In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the individual light-channels are fused at the light input and/or light output sides by heat and by pressure to form core material blocks. These blocks preferably have the shape of the input and/or output windows of the light guide. The fusion-depth of the material block is preferably a few millimeters along the light-trajectory. Within the fused areas the boundaries of the individual channels have completely disappeared.
Since the blocks do not contain gaseous or other enclosures they are totally transparent and have a full 100% fill-factor at the window surfaces. This is especially important for the light-collection efficiency at the input-window.
The 100% hermetically sealed solid window-blocks may be polished for efficient light-coupling.
Since the blocks are hermetically sealed, the penetration of contamination due to capillarity in surface pits or cracks is avoided.
This is an advantage when compared to traditional light-guides using optical fibers. Such optical fiber assemblies may lose 15 to 20% of optical efficiency due to the inter-fiber surface losses and the cladding material surface losses at the input window.
In one embodiment the window blocks are suspended at the input and/or output windows by means of optical window plates. Preferably the same material as the core material is used for the window plates, alternatively they can be glass-based or plastic-based too.
They are preferably fused to the core material blocks.
Alternatively these plates can be glued to the core material blocks. Preferably index-matching optical cement is used for glueing in order to obtain minimal added reflections at the interfaces.
These window plates should preferably be spectrally suited to guide the light travelling through the light-guide.
A surrounding system is provided and arranged to hold the window plates in place.
An alternative but optically slightly less performing way of holding the fused and polished window blocks is to grab them at the sides by means of a tight-fitting frame-work of short reflectors. The reflectors are arranged along the trajectory path""s extremities.
These reflectors should preferably be specular and spectrally suited to reflect the light travelling in the light-guide.
Likewise a surrounding system can be provided to hold the reflectors in place.
The light-guide assembly is suspended in a surrounding gas (the xe2x80x9ccladxe2x80x9d material). It may be protected from contamination and from entrance of external light by means of a light-tight and dust-tight enclosure spanning the input and output windows. This cover is preferably not touching the individual light channels.
At the level of the interface with other system components the light-guide can be equipped with an optional anti-reflection coating or it can be coupled with other system components using optical oil mounts (removable) or optical cement (fixed).
An optional anti-reflex coating, the oil mount or the cement helps to reduce optical reflections at the light-guides boundaries and should preferably be spectrally suited to guide the light.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.


A method and system for annotating an object on the graphical user interface (GUI) (“a GUI object”) during automated testing of an application. In one embodiment, the GUI of an application is tested with a test automation tool. During runtime of the automated test, the test automation tool automatically overlays a visual cue on the GUI. The visual cue points to a GUI object of the application and contains a comment regarding an event relating to the GUI object that is expected to occur in runtime.

A graphical user interface (GUI) of an application, e.g, a Web application, can be complicated to test and debug. A GUI test tool can be used to automate the test of an application's GUI by performing various types of functional, load, or translation testing. For example, a GUI test tool can automatically fill in the address of an email recipient and run the email program to see whether the email can be delivered successfully. Thus, a test engineer can sit back and monitor the test without having to manually perform the test procedures.
A conventional GUI test tool uses various techniques to inform the user of the details of the test. For example, a live playback of an application can be shown on the display in real time while a test tool is driving the application. A test tool can also log its activities in a log file. Further, a test tool can take screenshots and screencasts of a test run, which can be reviewed by a user at a later time to determine the success or failure of the test. Additionally, a test tool can conditionally test the logic contained in the application.
The conventional techniques allow quality assurance engineers to determine the outcome of the tests in a complex and time-consuming manner. A test engineer can spend considerable resources to find out what failed, when the root cause occurred, and how and why the failure occurred. The test engineer conducting a test is generally not the same person who creates the test automation tool, and, therefore, may lack the expertise to successfully debug the applications. Further, in a regression test where a test automation tool is used to test an upgraded version of an application, details of older versions of the application may be forgotten or lost. Therefore, knowledge of the legacy of the application may not have been properly passed down to the persons who work with the upgraded version.
Therefore, there is a need to provide detailed information about an application's GUI in an informative and user-friendly manner, such that debugging efficiency can be improved.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Annotating GUI test automation playback and debugging


A cutting coagulating bipolar electrosurgical forceps having a pair of jaws that can be moved from an opened to a closed disposition on tissue when grasping and coagulating. The jaws include a plurality of notched or opposed side edges thereof which define a plurality of tabs. The tabs on the first jaw member are offset relative to those of the second jaw member so that when the jaws are made to close, the tabs on the first jaw fall into the notches on the second jaw with the free ends of the tabs on corresponding side edges of each jaw member disposed collinearly relative to one another, but without making electrical contact between the pair of jaws.

I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to electrosurgical instruments for grasping, coagulating and cutting tissue, and more particularly to an electrode configuration for a bipolar cutting/coagulating forceps that is designed to reduce tissue drag on the electrodes during cutting procedures.
II. Discussion of the Prior Art
A variety of electrosurgical instruments have been devised for carrying out various surgical procedures in which tissue needs to be cut and bleeding stemmed. Such electrosurgical devices typically include at least one conductive electrode. Radio frequency energy is conducted through this electrode to either a remote conductive body-plate (monopolar electrosurgery) or to a second, closely-space conductive electrode (bipolar). Current passing through the gap between the two electrodes will coagulate blood and other body fluids placed between those two electrodes.
Monopolar electrosurgical instruments suffer from the fact that the return path between the active electrode and the large area body-plate can be unpredictable as the electrical current seeks the return electrode through a path of least resistance. With bipolar electrosurgical instruments, however, because the two electrodes are closely spaced to one another, usually at the distal end of an instrument handle, the return path is very short and involves the tissue and fluids in the short path between the two electrodes.
In carrying out a surgical procedure, either open or endoscopic, a need often exists for an instrument that can readily cut through tissue and which can also be used to coagulate cut, bleeding blood vessels to promote hemostasis. It is desirable that these features be incorporated into a single instrument so that frequent instrument exchanges by the surgeon become unnecessary.
The Rydell et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,134 describes a bipolar scissors designed for endoscopic use. This instrument mechanically cuts through tissue but includes bipolar electrodes for effecting coagulation. It includes a pair of blades that must be repeatedly opened and closed relative to one another as tissue is being cut in a scissors like action.
The Rydell U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,546 describes a hand-operable forceps instrument having two interfacing pivotal jaw members, each of which is an electrode. The jaw members can be made to meet to produce a pinching or gripping action on tissue and when the electrodes are energized, current is delivered through the jaws to the tissue to effect cauterization. That device, however, does not effectively cut tissue.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,381 to Tidemand describes an electrosurgical instrument that can be made to function both as a forceps for grasping and as a scissors for cutting. Again, cutting is only affected by manipulating a scissors handle to cause the blades to open and close in scissors-like fashion.
A need exists for a forceps-type instrument that can be used not only to grasp tissue but which embodies a feature whereby cutting can be achieved by drawing an edge of the instrument across tissue in scalpel-like fashion rather than snipping. While a monopolar instrument for cutting and grasping can readily be implemented, a problem arises when attempting to electrosurgically cut through tissue with a scalpel-like action using bipolar electrodes. For example, if the jaws of a forceps like that shown in the Rydell U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,006 were to be used to effect bipolar cutting, the jaws would have to be held slightly opened with respect to one another as the voltage is applied there across. As the slightly opened jaws are drawn across tissue, only one of the two jaws will be an active electrode, with the other serving as the indifferent or return electrode. Those skilled in the art appreciate that cutting only occurs at the active electrode and as the instrument is drawn across tissue to be cut, the inactive or indifferent electrode drags, making a smooth even cut more difficult. The present invention overcomes this problem.

Cutting/coagulating forceps with interleaved electrodes


A junction field effect transistor (JFET) has a gate region, drain region, and a source region. An epitaxial region having a first conductivity type is disposed over the drain region. The first conductivity type is N-type semiconductor material. The gate region is disposed within a trench which is formed in the epitaxial region. A P+ region is disposed within the epitaxial region and under the gate region. The P+ region has a first doping concentration of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. A P− region is disposed under the P+ region. The P− region has a second doping concentration of the second conductivity type which is less than the first doping concentration. The P− region may be disposed adjacent to a first portion of the P+ region while another P− region is disposed adjacent to a second portion of the P+ region. The P+ region may be implanted from the gate region deep into the epitaxial region.

Junction field effect transistors (JFETs) are commonly used in power transistor and switching applications such as power supplies, power converters, energy systems, telecommunications, motor control, automotive, and consumer electronics. Power devices generally refer to transistors and other semiconductor devices that can switch about 1.0 ampere or more of conduction current. Power JFETs are well known as high input impedance, voltage controlled devices, which require only a small charge to initiate turn-on from relatively simple drive circuitry. Ideally, power JFETs should exhibit high drain to source current carrying capacity, low drain to source resistance (RDSon) to reduce conduction losses, high switching rate with low switching losses, and high safe operating range (SOA) which provides the ability to withstand a combination of high voltage and high current.
Most if not all known power JFETs have a relatively thick drift or epitaxial (epi) region for high voltage isolation in the depletion layer, i.e., for a high breakdown voltage. The epi region also has a relatively low doping concentration. The combination of relatively thick epi and low doping concentration tends to increase the RDSon of the JFET. The higher the voltage application, the thicker the epi region needed for isolation. The thicker the epi region, the higher the RDSon. A higher RDSon increases the switching losses and decreases the efficiency of the JFET in high voltage power switching applications. The relationship between thick epi for high voltage isolation and high RDSon may impose practical limitations of about 60 volts for high voltage applications using known JFET devices.
A need exists for JFETs with lower drain-source resistance for use in high voltage applications.

Vertical power JFET with low on-resistance for high voltage applications


The invention relates to a glove compartment (3) for a motor vehicle. In order to provide a glove compartment of such a kind that allows the driver better access, the invention proposes that the glove compartment (3) have a pivotal mounting by means of which the glove compartment (3) can be pivoted towards the driver's side of the motor vehicle.

The present invention relates to a glove compartment for a motor vehicle.
Glove compartments in motor vehicles not only are known but are generally customary. They are usually located on the passenger side of the motor vehicle in or underneath the instrument panel and in front of the passenger seat. Because the glove compartment is located on the passenger side, it is difficult for the driver to access.


The present invention is a blood separation system that is fully mechanized to collect blood from a patient, separate waste portions of the blood, wash the blood, and redirect the usable portions to a device for reinjecting the usable portions into the patient. The present invention prevents accidental activation of an improper operation that could cause harm to a patient or a shut down of the system by requiring confirmation of each step by an operator. The invention provides screen displays with detailed setup instructions, eliminating the need for secondary documentation that might not be allowed in a surgical environment. The invention also instructs the operator at the appropriate times to do certain manual steps such as opening and closing clamps. Since the opening and closing of clamps is a highly critical operation, confirmation of these steps is also required. A method and suitable apparatus is also disclosed for sequestration of platelet rich plasma whereby a blood sample is spun at a high speed sufficient to separate solid cells from the blood sample and spun at a lower speed for a predetermined time to allow platelets to elute from the solid cells.

Surgical operations, including more complex operations where a substantial amount of bleeding may occur, may require transfusions during the course of the surgery to maintain a sufficient blood volume and blood pressure. Since many blood-borne diseases may exist including hepatitis, cancer and HIV, it is desirable to not require transfusion from another person. Also, if blood or blood components from the same person can be used, the necessity to match blood factors can be eliminated.
These disadvantages of receiving transfusions from donors are overcome by self-donation prior to operations. However, operations involving transfusions are not always identified in advance and few patients take the time and effort to go through the procedure. Additionally, a patient may be weakened by removal of blood prior to an operation.
Autotransfusion, whereby blood retrieved from the patient during the operation is separated so that reusable portions can be reinserted into the patient, is an effective method of overcoming the problems with transfusions. Various autotransfusion type systems currently exist but are somewhat complex to operate. For example, some autotransfusion systems require the operator to memorize a series of system steps to insure that the operator performs operations in the proper sequential order. Failure to perform the step or to perform the step in the proper sequence may cause the system to shut down or may cause morbidity in the patient.
Additionally, it is highly useful to have a blood separation system that can efficiently separate platelet and plasma from waste products in the blood. A high degree of efficiency in obtaining platelets has not been previously achieved.
It is therefore desirable to have a blood separation system that is highly efficient in extracting platelets from the blood, extracting waste products from the blood, allowing performance of operations in a simple and easy manner that does not require extensive knowledge of the system and processes, and preventing inadvertent or accidental operation of the blood separation device.

Apparatus and method for blood separation


A method for cell selection and/or cell reselection handling includes: performing, by a user equipment, a cell selection and/or cell reselection procedure wherein both a first radio cell and a second radio cell fulfill a cell selection criterion with the first radio cell being prioritized relative to the second radio cell; attempting, by the user equipment, to connect to a public land mobile network using a random access channel of a first base station entity, and failing to connect to the public land mobile network using the random access channel of the first base station entity; and performing, by the user equipment, a modified cell selection and/or cell reselection procedure, under unchanged radio conditions, whereby the user equipment attempts to connect to the public land mobile network using a random access channel of the second base station entity.

In public land mobile networks, user equipments get initial access to the telecommunications network by means of monitoring a broadcast channel emitted by the base station entity or the concerned radio cell in the vicinity of the current location of the user equipment.
In standardization documents of the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP, www.3gpp.org), it is described in detail which procedure the user equipments or mobile terminals have to follow to get initial access to the public land mobile network realized as a cellular mobile network, like for example GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System), or E-UTRAN (LTE, Long Term Evolution).
One aspect, beside the radio cell selection and/or cell reselection procedure itself, is the method of accessing the random access channel of the target base station entity (of the target radio cell). Detailed requirements for user equipment procedures are defined in 3GPP documents 3GPP TS 36.304 and 3GPP TS 36.331.
In practice, experience within public land mobile networks shows that the procedure of accessing the random access channel (RACH), hereinafter also called RACH procedure, which is typically the first access of a user equipment or terminal towards the base station entity or base station, e.g. in order to place a call—fails from time to time.

Cell selection/reselection by a user equipment trying to camp on a radio cell of a public land mobile network


An integrated circuit having a substrate (10), a power rail (18, 20), a sea of gates (12), and a latchup control isolation network electrically coupled to substrate (10). The latchup control isolation network electrically isolates sea of gates (12) from power rail (18, 20). In another embodiment, an active clamp network may be utilized to electrically isolate sea of gates (12) from power rail (18, 20). Substrate (10) includes a voltage potential. When the voltage potential is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value or the voltage potential is equal to or less than a second predetermined value, either the latchup control isolation network turns off or the active clamp network turns on thereby isolating sea of gates (12) from power rail (18, 20).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to latchup suppression integrated circuits, and more particularly to providing latchup suppression in a gate-array ASIC environment.
2. Background of the Invention
As the internal structures in integrated circuits are getting smaller, it is getting more difficult to control the phenomenon known as "latchup." Latchup occurs when a pnpn structure transitions from a low current high voltage state to a high current low voltage state through a negative resistance region (i.e., forming an S-Type I-V (current/voltage) characteristic). Latchup is an unwanted phenomenon in that it either completely destroys or severely impairs electronic components within an integrated circuit.
Latchup is typically understood as occurring within a pnpn structure, or silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) structure. Interestingly, pnpn structures may be both intentionally designed and unintentionally formed between structures. Hence, latchup conditions may occur within peripheral circuits or internal circuits, within one circuit (intra-circuit), or between multiple circuits (inter-circuit).
Latchup is typically initiated by an equivalent circuit of a cross-coupled pnp and npn transistor. With the base and collector regions being cross-coupled, current flows from one device leading to the initiation of the second device ("regenerative feedback"). These pnp and npn elements may be any diffusions or implanted regions of other circuit elements (e.g., p-channel MOSFETs, n-channel MOSFETs, resistors, etc.) or actual pnp and npn bipolar transistors. In CMOS, the pnpn structure may be formed with a p-diffusion in a n-well, and a n-diffusion in a p-substrate ("parasitic pnpn"). In this case, the well and substrate regions are inherently involved in the latchup current exchange between regions.
The condition for triggering a latchup is a function of the current gain of the pnp and npn transistors, and the resistance between the emitter and the base regions. This inherently involves the well and substrate regions. The likelihood or sensitivity of a particular pnpn structure to latchup is a function of spacings (e.g., base width of the npn and base width of the pnp), current gain of the transistors, substrate resistance and spacings, the well resistance and spacings, and isolation regions.
Latchup is a concern in both internal circuits and peripheral circuitry. Latchup may also occur as the result of interaction of the ESD device, the I/O off-chip driver, and adjacent circuitry initiated in the substrate from overshoot and undershoot phenomenon. These may be generated by CMOS off-chip driver circuitry, receiver networks, and electrostatic discharge (ESD) devices. In CMOS I/O circuitry, undershoot and overshoot may lead to injection in the substrate. Hence, both a p-channel MOSFET and an n-channel MOSFET may lead to substrate injection. Simultaneous switching of circuitry, where overshoot or undershoot injection occurs, leads to injection into the substrate which leads to both noise injection and latchup conditions. Supporting elements in these circuits, such as pass transistors, resistor elements, test functions, over voltage dielectric limiting circuitry, bleed resistors, keeper networks, and other elements may be present leading to injection into the substrate. ESD elements connected to the input pad may also lead to latchup. ESD elements that may lead to noise injection and latchup include MOSFETs, pnpn SCR ESD structures, p+/n-well diodes, n-well-to-substrate diodes, n+ diffusion diodes, and other ESD circuits. ESD circuits may contribute to noise injection into the substrate and latchup.
An additional process may occur by the interaction of "activated" and "unactivated" elements in a gate-array environment. In an ASIC environment, a "sea of gates" philosophy allows customization and personalization of circuit elements at a metalization level where the silicon regions are predefined. Unused n-diffusion regions are grounded, and unused p-diffusion regions are connected to VDD. Unfortunately, this implementation may lead to latchup. As the substrate voltage potential rises relative to the n-diffusion, all the elements of the gate arrays tend to forward bias. As the substrate voltage potential lowers, the unused p-diffusion elements, the n-well and the substrate may activate the vertical pnp. This may occur as a result of minority carrier injection in wells and substrate regions.
In an ASIC gate array environment, it has been observed that as a negative pulse is injected into an input pad, ESD current discharge to the substrate may flow outside of the I/O cell region, leading to "turn-on" of the adjacent gate array regions connected to the VSS and VDD rails. This often results in increasing the likelihood of latchup and leading to failure of the latchup specification.
An additional problem in latchup is the propagation of the latchup process once latchup is initiated in an array environment. As an initial source injects electrons into the substrate, a first circuit element may latchup. The latchup of a first circuit leads to the turn-on of a pnp parasitic element leading to more injection into the substrate. As a result, the injection into the substrate of the primary initial perturbation is additive by linearity to the secondary injection initiated by the circuit undergoing latchup. This leads to an adjacent circuit to also latchup as the total current of the initial primary injection current (which decreases with distance from initial injection point) is additive to the secondary. This leads to a propagation run-away effect leading to additional latchup propagation. Hence, the solution of detachment of the rails is a structure to "truncate the latchup propagation" through the semiconductor chip and array region.
Latchup may be initiated by negative transient on the VDD which may lead to a forward biasing of all the n-diffusions and n-well structures and electron injection throughout the semiconductor chip substrate. This produces a "sea of electrons" injected in the chip substrate. Equivalently, a positive transient on the VSS may lead to hole injection and forward biasing of the substrate-well junction providing a "sea of holes" event. In this event, it is possible the metric of how far the detachment is placed may be dependent on other physical parameters, such as the latchup sensitivity of the gate array element, circuit type (e.g., SRAM cell, logic gate, gate array MOSFET) based on the parasitic current gains, substrate, and well resistances.
Latchup may occur from voltage or current pulses that occur on the power supply lines, such as VDD and VSS. Transient pulses on power rails (e.g., substrate or wells) may trigger latchup processes. The propagation of the impulse on the power grids may also be quantified and appropriate latchup control networks may be placed. Latchup may also occur from a stimulus to the well or substrate external to the region of the thyristor structure from minority carriers.
Latchup may be initiated from internal or external stimulus. Latchup is known to occur from single event upsets (SEU). Single event upsets may include terrestial emissions from nuclear processes, cosmic ray events, as well as events in space environments. Cosmic ray particles may include proton, and neutron, gamma events, as well as a number of particles that enter the earth atmosphere. Terrestial emissions from radioactive events, such as alpha particles, and other radioactive decay emissions, may also lead to latchup in semiconductors. In this case, it is possible that the methodology is applied to sensitive gate array circuits, as well as other circuits, such as pass transistors and SRAM cells. As applied to the gate array circuits, the SRAM power rails and ground rails may be decoupled to avoid latchup or SEU events. In this case, the methodology may be addressed by certain functional blocks instead of spatial dependence. Hence the methodology of detachment and connection to the latchup control networks may be according to the circuit type as well as physical localness (placement) to the injection source.

Method, apparatus and circuit for latchup suppression in a gate-array ASIC environment

International Business Machines Corporation


Provided are a method and an apparatus of transceiving a signal using a link adaptation in a communication system, particularly, a method of dividing a resource region into a plurality of resource regions, and applying different line adaptations to the resource regions. A method of controlling a link of a terminal in a mobile communication system receives at least two downlink channel signals to estimate states of received channels, generates a channel discrepancy report when states of channels exceed a preset threshold, and reports the channel discrepancy report to a base station through a preset uplink channel. A method of controlling a link of a base station receives a channel discrepancy report through an uplink channel, and determines MCS and transmission power of downlink channels based on the received channel discrepancy report and transmits the determined MCS and transmission power to the terminal through a downlink channel.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus of transceiving a signal using a link adaptation in a communication system.
Description of the Related Art
A next generation communication system has been developed to the form of a mobile communication system for providing services capable of transceiving high speed large capacity data to a mobile station (hereinafter referred to as 'MS').
The most basic problem of the next generation communication system is how efficiently and reliably data can be transmitted through a channel. Accordingly, it is essential to increase efficiency of a system using transmission power suitable in a system channel environment or a Modulation and Coding Scheme (hereinafter referred to as 'MCS'). An efficient communication link may be collectively operated without consuming a system resource by suitably controlling transmission power of a transmission channel.
To apply such a link adaptation, a base station (BS) must estimate link quality of a data transmission channel. In this case, the BS includes various types such as Femto cell, Pico cell, Relay node as well as a general base station. Accordingly, in a case of downlink, the MS measures link quality of a signal received from the BS, and reports the measured link quality of the received signal to the BS.
Meanwhile, a wireless resource for transmitting data is divided into a plurality of regions, and a method of transmitting data of different applications or the same application but different types is applied to each region. In this case, when transmitting data to each region, each region may apply different transmission power or MCS levels. An LTE downlink is described as one embodiment. One subframe is divided into a PDCCH transmission region for transmitting scheduling relation information and other control information and a PDSCH region for transmitting general data. The BS may change transmission power and an MCS used for transmitting PDCCH data and PDSCH data. Control information transmitted to the MS is transmitted to the PDCCH region, and user data are transmitted to the PDSCH region.
An MS in a current communication system reports a Channel quality indicator (CQI) representing link quality with respect to entire or specific resource regions to the BS. The BS determines transmission power of each resource region and an MCS based on this. Data to be transmitted to each region or robust or loose transmission power according to a transmission scheme are applied to the MCS.
However, link quality of respective regions may be different from each other. This may occur due to very many reasons, and a representative reason is as follows. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating interference (PDCCH vs PDSCH) by regions in a communication system according to the related art.
First, a case where interference amounts are different for each region is described. For example, it is assumed that transmission timing of BSs is synchronous, and the transmission resource is a system obtained by time-multiplexing a resource for transmitting control information in one subframe and a resource for transmitting data information. In this case, when an MIMO mode transmitted to each region is different, statistics of interference received by each region are different from each other, so link quality is changed. Second, a case where loading is different for each regions will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, when a frequency use loading of a PDSCH region is different from a frequency use loading of a PDCCH, interference statistics are different for each region. Third, there is a case where different transmit powers are applied for each region. Fourth, there is a case where different fadings occur for each region.
Accordingly, an exact link adaptation cannot be applied by only link quality CQI information with respect to total or specific resource regions in the same as in a current communication scheme. Due to this, data reception of each region is not easily achieved or transmission power or resource is inefficiently operated. In particular, when transmission power of control information or an MCS associated with scheduling is wrongly selected, because resource allocation information for transceiving data cannot be received, transmission efficiency is significantly deteriorated and an abnormal operation is induced so that communication become impossible.
An LTE system according to the related art is designed on the assumption that a channel state of a control information region (PDCCH region) is the same as a channel state of a data channel region (PDSCH region) (signal-to noise ratio received when transmitting the same power). Accordingly, regardless of a performance of each region, a channel state in one subframe is measured and the measured channel state is transmitted to a base station with CQI. Accordingly, a CQI in the LTE system according to the related art indicates an average channel state without discriminating the region. In this case, a channel transmitting the CQI uses the PUCCH. Such CQI report is periodically transmitted in a preset time.
A base station (BS) having received the information determines an amount, an MCS, and transmission power of a data channel (PDSCH) to be transmitted to a downlink based on the CQI. The BS is used to determine the MCS and transmission power of data to be transmitted to the PDCCH being control information. However, as described above, if a channel state of the data transmission region is different from a channel state of the control information transmission region, there may be a problem that MCS levels and transmission power of two channels must be determined by one measured value.

Method and device for applying adaptive link in communication system


Transceiver for controlling an application device by means of an external control device. The transceiver has a control unit, a memory unit coupled to the control unit, a control interface coupled to the control unit, a communication interface coupled to the control unit, wherein the application device is controllable using the external control device via the control interface and via the communication interface using the control unit, and an application control program stored in the memory unit, wherein the application control program is communicated to the external control device via the communication interface.

The number of apparatuses of all kinds, for example domestic appliances, with an integrated microprocessor is rising rapidly and far exceeds the number of workstations, personal computers and high-performance computers.
Therefore, it is desirable for every day apparatuses such as sensors (for example the water level sensor of hydroponics), control electronics (for example for a heating system), domestic appliances (for example washing machines) or automotive electronics (for example for controlling electric window winding mechanisms) to be coupled in a wirefree manner to an external control device such as a laptop or a mobile radio telephone in order to enable a central control. For this purpose, two types of devices are often interlinked with one another. One type of device is the external control device, that is to say a computer system with sufficiently high computing power and sufficiently large memory space in order to be able to control other devices (such an external control device may be for example a personal computer, a laptop, a personal digital assistant or a sufficiently powerful mobile radio telephone). Devices of this type may also be referred to as "mobile terminal". The other type of device is a transceiver ("smart transceiver") with limited computing power and memory space, which can be integrated in a terminal (for example in a temperature sensor, a washing machine or an automobile).
Very different requirements made of transmission speed, security and driving have to be fulfilled depending on the respective application to be controlled. In other words, in accordance with the prior art, it is necessary to specifically coordinate the control device and the transceiver with one another, in particular to install an application control software on the control device and to ensure the capability for communication between control device and transceiver. In this respect, a problem that frequently occurs consists in the compatibility between the external control device, on the one hand, and the transceiver, on the other hand.
For the physical layer, in accordance with a communication layer model in accordance with which the wirefree communication between the external control device and the transceiver is effected, standards have been defined and are in use, such as, for example, Bluetooth, IEEE802.11x, RKE, etc.
At the level of an application to be controlled, i.e. in accordance with the application layer, it is generally presupposed that both apparatuses, that is to say the external control device and the transceiver, are provided with a specific communication and control software—coordinated with one another—for the respective partner. This presupposes that the external control device, on the one hand, and the transceiver, on the other hand, are coordinated with one another in detail prior to start-up. This requires a high outlay and results in a low flexibility. In order to be able to control an application associated with the transceiver using the external control device, it is often necessary in accordance with the prior art, prior to the first start-up, to store the associated application control program in a memory device of the external control device in order, in the case where the application is executed as required, to be able to process the application control program within the external control device and to be able to communicate corresponding control signals to the transceiver unit for controlling the application. Therefore, a high memory requirement is needed by the external control device, and, in the case where a multiplicity of different applications are controlled as required, the external control device may encounter its capacity limits.
Furthermore, prior to the first instance of controlling an application associated with a transceiver, the transceiver and the external control device have to be coordinated with one another in order to create the preconditions for a later control of an application. This is complex and difficult and often has to be carried out by a person skilled in the art.
DE 100 42 753 A1 describes a PC-based vacuum cleaner robot that receives control instructions via a radio link from a PC program stored in a PC.
DE 695 20 661 T2 describes a television receiver and also a remote control device by means of which the television receiver is remotely controlled. The remote control device transmits to the television receiver an identity code assigned to the remote control device and keys or algorithms for use as security codes in subsequent procedures.

Control system and method for operating a transceiver


A shift register includes a plurality of shift register stages having inputs and outputs coupled to form a chain. Each stage includes enable and disable control inputs, with an output of a selected one of the stages coupled to the enable input of a stage a selected number of stages ahead in the chain and to the disable input of a stage a selected number of stages behind in the chain.

The present invention relates in general to high speed analog and digital circuits and in particular to high speed, low-power shift registers and circuits and methods using the same.
One particular technique for performing analog to digital (A/D) conversion is through successive approximation. The basic successive approximation A/D converter (ADC) includes an analog comparator and a clocked feedback loop having a successive approximation register (SAR) and a digital to analog converter (DAC).
Generally, the analog input signal voltage is sampled onto an array of weighted capacitors, during the sampling phase, the top plates of which are coupled to one comparator input. The other comparator input is coupled to a comparison voltage, which could be a fixed reference voltage in a single-ended system or the voltage at the top plates of second capacitor array in a differential system.
During the first clock cycle of the subsequent conversion phase, the bottom plate of the capacitor representing the digital most significant bit (MSB) is coupled to a reference voltage while the bottom plates of the remaining capacitors in the array are coupled to ground or a second reference voltage (ground will be assumed here). The new top plate voltage appears at the input of the comparator and is compared against the comparison voltage. The new top plate voltage is a scaled version of       [                  Voef        2            -      ain        ]    ·  k
where k is the ratio of capacitors. The sign of this quantity is the factor of interest. If the new top plate voltage is below the comparison voltage, then the MSB is xe2x80x9ckeptxe2x80x9d by the SAR in the feedback loop by maintaining its bottom plate coupled to the reference voltage. On the other hand, if the top plate voltage is above the comparison voltage, the SAR couples and the bottom plate of the MSB capacitor to ground. The state of the MSB capacitor represents the MSB of the digital output word as a Logic 1. The bottom plate of the second MSB is then coupled to the reference voltage and the same test is performed to determine the state of the next digital code bit. The successive approximation algorithm continues by repeating this procedure for the remaining capacitors in the array such that the voltage difference at the inputs to the comparator converge to zero. At the end of this bit cycling process, the configuration of the switches coupling the bottom plates either to Vref or Gnd represents the input sample in digital form.
Successive approximation A/D converters are useful a wide range of applications, including data acquisition, test equipment, instrumentation, cellular communications, among others. Notwithstanding, in order to improve and broaden the utility of this type of A/D converter, significant challenges remain to be addressed. These challenges include improving the device speed given a set of process constraints, reducing the coding error rate, handling metastable states and calibration of the DAC.
According to the principles of the present invention, high performance shift registers suitable for use in applications such as high speed charge-redistribution analog to digital converters are disclosed. According to one such embodiment, a shift register is taught which includes a plurality of shift register stages having inputs and outputs coupled to form a chain. Each stage includes enable and disable control inputs, with an output of a selected one of the stages coupled to the enable input of a stage a selected number of stages ahead in the chain and to the disable input of a stage a selected number of stages behind in the chain.
Shift registers according to the principles of the inventive concepts as well as systems and methods using the same have substantial advantages over the prior art. Among other things, such shift registers can be run at high clock rates since a decoder at the output of the shift register stages is not required. Moreover, since only a limited number of stages in the shift register are clocked at a given time, a substantial reduction in power consumption is achieved, especially at high clock rates.

High speed, low-power shift register and circuits and methods using the same


A manufacturing method based on a plastic working technique which can eliminate cutting and welding as much as possible in manufacturing an adjustable blade incorporated in a VGS turbocharger. In the method a blank is punched out from a metal material having a substantially constant thickness to be a shaped material (W) as a starting form for an adjustable blade (1); thereafter, the shaped material (W) is compressed between a pair of opposed dies to form a blade portion (11), a shaft portion (12) and the like having desired shapes; thereafter a non-product portion protruding from a product portion is trimmed; then the shaft portion (12) is rolled by pressing the shaft portion (12) of the shaped material (W) against a pair of dies to have a desired diametrical thickness and a near net shape having a shape and dimensions thereof made close to the aimed at adjustable blade. In a finishing operation the shaped material (W), having the near net shape, is pressed by a pair of opposed dies, so that a desired accuracy of a vane height in a completed state can be achieved.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a VGS turbocharger used in an engine for a motor vehicle or the like, and more particularly to a novel manufacturing method which can eliminate a cutting operation and a welding operation as much as possible, at the time of manufacturing an adjustable blade to be incorporated in the turbocharger.
2. Description of Related Art
A turbocharger is known as a supercharger used as means for improving the power output and the performance of an automobile engine. The turbocharger is an apparatus in which a turbine is driven by the exhaust energy of the engine to rotate a compressor with the power of the turbine, whereby the engine is supercharged to have more air fed into it than fed into it by natural suction. In the case of an engine capable of running at up to a high rotational speed region, when the engine is running at low rotational speeds, the exhaust turbine of the turbocharger hardly functions due to the reduced flow rate of the exhaust gas, so that the engine can not avoid giving a slow-moving feeling until the exhaust turbine runs efficiently, and necessitating a subsequent time or a so-called turbo-lag before the turbine rapidly reaches the full-running state. Furthermore, in the case of a diesel engine which runs inherently at low rotational speeds, there is a disadvantage in that it is difficult to produce an effect of the turbocharger.
Therefore, a VGS turbocharger that works efficiently even when the engine is running at low rotational speeds has been developed. The turbocharger of this type is adapted to obtain a high power output when the engine is running at low rotational speeds by throttling flow of exhaust gas at a low flow rate with a plurality of adjustable blades (vanes) disposed on an outer periphery of the exhaust turbine to increase the velocity of the exhaust gas and increase work of an exhaust turbine. For this reason, in the VGS turbocharger, an adjusting mechanism for the adjustable blades is required additionally, and it is required that the associated constituting parts be formed to have a complicated shape or the like in comparison with those of the conventional one.
It has been common that, when an adjustable blade for such a VGS turbocharger is manufactured, a metal material (or a shaped material having a starting form for the adjustable blade) including a blade portion and a shaft portion that are integrally formed is first formed, for example, in accordance with a precision casting method represented by a lost wax casting method, a metal injection molding method or the like, and the shaped material is then suitably subjected to cutting or the like, to thereby finish the blade portion and the shaft portion to have desired shapes and dimensions.
However, in the technique using cutting operations applied to the shaped material, the following problems arise. Since this kind of turbo apparatus is constructed so as to introduce exhaust gas and utilize energy of the exhaust gas, a surface member thereof is naturally exposed to a high-temperature atmosphere of the exhaust gas. Since the exhaust gas contains constituents that can corrode the metal material, a heat resisting stainless steel such as SUS310S having excellent heat, oxidation resistance and the like is also used for the adjustable blade. However, since such a material is generally difficult to cut and therefore requires a lot of time to cut it, there is a problem that a lot of trouble is taken for processing it. In addition, since about ten to fifteen adjustable blades are required in one turbocharger, it is necessary to manufacture 300,000 to 450,000 adjustable blades a month in the case that about 30,000 motor vehicles are actually mass-produced monthly, so that the cutting operation is incapable of coping with this (production of about 500 adjustable blades is a limit in the cutting operation).
In view of the foregoing, there has been developed a method of manufacturing an adjustable blade from which the cutting operation is excluded, and the method is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-145470 "Adjustable vane applied to adjustable vane type turbocharger and manufacturing method of the same". In this Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-145470, there is disclosed a method of manufacturing an adjustable blade, in which a blade portion and a shaft portion are separately formed, followed by welding them. A reasonable evaluation is obtained by this method in view of the fact that no cutting operation is required, however, there leaves room for further development.
In other words, in the method of manufacturing the adjustable blade by welding the previously separately formed blade portion and shaft portion, it is extremely difficult to weld the blade portion and the shaft portion while keeping a fixed angle and to accurately achieve a height of the vane corresponding to a width of the blade in a stable state, and thus variations are generated. Further, the shapes of the blade portion and the shaft portion in the respective single part states can be achieved accurately, however, the desired dimensional accuracy can not be obtained in the final product due to an adverse effect applied by a welding heat and a welding trail (a welding bead). Accordingly, there has not been achieved a stage that the adjustable blade can be mass produced at a stable and high quality level. Originally, as the adjustable blade is constructed such as to rotate around the shaft portion so as to throttle the exhaust gas by the blade portion, the height of the blade, the mounting angle of the blade portion and the shaft portion and the like are important dimensional values greatly relating to the performance of the turbocharger itself, and a high degree of accuracy is strongly required.
Additionally, recent years have seen tighter regulation of exhaust gas emission into the atmosphere particularly from diesel vehicles from a viewpoint of environmental protection and the like. For a diesel engine which inherently runs at low rotational speeds, mass production of a VGS turbocharger capable of improving the engine efficiency from a low rotational speed region has been strongly desired in order to reduce NOx, particulate matter (PM) and the like.

Variable blade manufacturing method and variable blade in VGS type turbo charger


A scaffolding assembly having at least one pair of substantially parallel spaced-apart scaffolding components, each of which extends between a pair of substantially vertical spaced-apart uprights and supports a respective end of a deck plate extending therebetween. Each scaffolding component is adapted to receive a respective end of said deck plate and prevent accidental disengagement of said deck plate due to wind or accidental contact. Each end of the scaffolding component is provided with oppositely directed tongues extending laterally therefrom, said tongues being adapted to engage securing means mounted on each of said uprights.

The present invention relates to a scaffolding system and, more particularly, to a scaffolding assembly including horizontal scaffolding components or ledgers and transoms which extend between a pair of substantially vertical scaffolding uprights or standards and to support one end of a scaffolding platform or deck plate.
Once a scaffolding structure has been assembled, it is necessary to provide a platform of some description upon which workmen may stand and walk. Typically, removable scaffolding deck plates are used for this purpose and are supported at either end by a horizontal scaffolding component or transom forming part of the scaffolding structure.
It has been proposed previously, to provide such scaffolding deck plates with downwardly depending hooks at either end thereof, the hooks being adapted to engage an upper edge of a U-shaped channel section of a respective cross-member. Whilst this system is clearly more secure than simply laying wooden planks or deck plates on top of cross-members, in that it prevents the planks or deck plates sliding off the cross-members, significant problems have been experienced regarding vertical movement of the deck plates and hence disengagement of the hooks thereof with the U-sectioned cross-members. For instance, when a scaffolding system is used in an exposed area, wind speed can be significant and hence substantial vertical forces may be applied to the deck plates tending to lift them and disengage their hooks with the cross-members. This is a particular problem when scaffolding is used against the walls of buildings in areas where high wind speeds occur, since substantial wind deflection occurs resulting in strong eddies and vertical wind components.
It will thus be appreciated that it is advantageous to provide a scaffolding assembly in which some form of locking arrangement is provided to prevent the ends of deck plates becoming disengaged with their supporting cross-members.
Prior proposed methods of securing the ends of deck plates have involved complicated mechanisms which prevent quick and easy assembly or disassembly of a scaffolding system. Other prior proposed arrangements involve the use of a separate cross-member element disposed substantially vertically above the U-sectioned cross-member and adapted to prevent vertically upward movement of the ends of said deck plate. However, it has been found disadvantageous to require the use of two horizontal cross-members in such scaffolding assemblies as it makes their assembly and disassembly more complicated and hence labor intensive. It is advantageous to provide scaffolding cross-members which may be simply and easily installed and secured to a scaffolding assembly.