A method for detecting the presence of an object in a zone by means of a wireless detector located proximal to the zone, the wireless detector comprising an orientation sensor for sensing the spatial attitude of the detector, the method comprising: defining a solid angle relative to a first spatial reference plane, the solid angle being defined such that at least part of the zone is within that solid angle when the solid angle is projected from the location of the detector; detecting by means of the detector a wireless signal from the object, and thereby estimating the direction of the object from the detector with reference to a second spatial reference plane fixed relative to the detector; sensing by means of the orientation sensor the spatial attitude of the detector; and comparing the solid angle and the estimated direction in dependence on the sensed spatial attitude so as to determine whether the object is present in the zone.

This invention relates to detecting objects in zones.
Systems are available which track the movement of objects and report the objects' positions to a central server. The server can then take a pre-programmed action in dependence on an object's location.
There are numerous ways to determine an object's location. In one approach the object is provided with a tag which determines its own location, for example by trilateration from beacons in known locations. Those beacons could be in fixed locations or could be movable, as in the case of GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites. The tag can then report its location to the central server. In another approach detector devices can receive signals from objects' tags. Each detector that receives a signal from a tag can estimate the direction and optionally the range of the tag from the detector based on the received signal. That data can then be reported to the control processor, which can estimate the location of the tag by trilateration using known locations of the detectors. The detectors can estimate the direction of the tag by means of an antenna array installed in the detectors. Other methods of location estimation, such as image recognition, avoid the use of tags.
One use for a locationing system is to track tools on a production line. In the past, power tools were normally tethered to a particular workstation by means of a power cable. Nowadays many production line tools are battery powered, and as a result they can be moved easily around the production line. One problem that arises from this is that the tools might be lost. Another problem is that the tools might have specific operational settings, such as torque limits, that are suitable for their intended workstation but unsuitable for another workstation to which they might be moved by mistake. Another problem is that it may be desired to keep an audit of the assembly operations on the production line in order to be able to prove that assembly was performed correctly. That audit can be compiled using data gathered by the power tools. It is expected that specific parts are assembled at specific workstations. If it is uncertain at which workstation the tool was being used when an operation was logged then it may be unclear which part was being worked on in that operation, and as a result the audit information may be unreliable. To address these problems a locationing system can be installed around the production line and the tools can be provided with tags. The assembly audit can be augmented with information from the locationing system about where tools were when they performed certain operations.
FIG. 1 shows a production line 1 in which workpieces 2 move along a path between successive workstations 3. Detectors 4 are used to track tags 5 which are anchored to tools 6. Typically the production line is set up on a flat factory floor, and most of the path is linear. To allow the detectors to have good reception of the tags and good angular resolution the detectors are installed in elevated positions, e.g. on poles 7, angled so as to point down at the production line. The tag directions may be reported as an azimuth and elevation relative to a reference direction of each detector, the reference direction being angled downward.
To allow the system to detect that a tool is at a specific workstation the system must be provided with information that relates the data gathered by the detectors to the boundaries of the workstations. One way to do this is for a user to specify a range of azimuth and elevation angles within which a tag can be considered to be at the workstation. However, it has been found that a system of this type can be very difficult for users to configure. The workstations are typically cuboid in shape, with vertical imaginary sides. But the angular information is typically provided as angular information relative to the detectors, which are angled downwards. For example In this system the sides of the workstations do not correspond to a readily defined range of solid angles with respect to the detectors. The three-dimensional geometry involved in the system is hard for a typical user to visualise and understand, and as a result users can find it extremely difficult to define the workstations with reference to the directional information reported by the detectors.
One solution to this is to implement a configuration procedure which involves moving a reference tag to the corners of the workstation and recording the directions from the surrounding detectors to the tag. The system can then automatically determine the ambit of the workstation. This circumvents the need for a user to define angles manually. However, this method is time-consuming, prone to error and difficult for the user to verify for audit purposes.
Similar problems arise in areas other than production technology, for example locating vehicles on roads or participants in sports events.
There is a need for an improved way of configuring a system such as the one described above.


The present invention relates to a multilayer polyester sheet comprising:. a base layer comprising a thermoplastic polyester resin (A) having a glass transition temperature of not less than 80.degree. C., and PA1 a sealing layer comprising a thermoplastic polyester resin (B) having a glass transition temperature at least 5.degree. C. lower than that of the base layer and laminated on at least one side of the base layer, PA1 said multilayer polyester sheet being a substantially non-stretched transparent sheet.

The present invention relates to a multilayer polyester sheet having many favorable properties such as heat-sealing property, transparency, heat resistance, hot-water resistance, recyclability, gas barrier properties, impact resistance, scent retainability and ultraviolet screening property. More particularly, the present invention relates to the polyester sheet which is especially suited for manufacturing the containers having an excellent transparency and maintaining a high heat-sealing strength even after retort treatment thereof with hot water.
Polyesters represented by polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are widely used for various types of sheets and containers because of their many advantageous properties such as high mechanical strength, chemical stability, recyclability, transparency, gas barrier properties, moldability, etc. Recently, in view of the solution of the problems of waste disposal and environmental protection, there has been seen a remarkable expansion in use of polyesters for packing pouches, draw-formed containers, etc. for which polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polypropylene and the like have been predominantly used in the past. In use of polyesters for packing pouches, generally the produced pouches are cut into a proper size and then, after the stuff to be contained has been packed therein, the pouches are heat sealed. In case of using a polyester for the draw-formed containers, it is first extruded into a sheet by an extruder and then subjected to drawing to form the desired container.
However, the conventional PET sheets or the packing pouches or transparent draw-formed containers using such sheets were not well satisfactory in heat resistance because PET would be used in a non-stretched or lowly stretched state without conducting a treatment for crystallization, and they involved the problem that when the stuff to be contained and/or the ambient atmosphere was high in temperature, there could take place shrinkage or other deformations of the container such as warps or bulges of its flat portion to cause a variation of container capacity.
PET sheets were also unsatisfactory in hot-water resistance and had the problem that when they were applied to uses necessitating long-time contact with hot water such as the retort treatment for sterilization or hot filling or heating of the stuff contained, there would occur whitening or brushing of the sheet due to plasticization mostly resulting from moisture absorption of the sheet.
It has been attempted to subject the PET sheets to a stretching and orienting operation or to a crystallization treatment for improving their heat and hot-water resistance before they were used into packing pouches or transparent draw-formed containers, but in this case there arose the problem that the heat sealing property, transparency and drawing property of the sheets would be deteriorated.
PET copolymerized with cyclohexane dimethanol compound is superior to PET in heat sealing property and impact resistance but is inferior in gas barrier property, thermal stability and solvent resistance. Also, since such a copolymer is substantially equal to PET in heat and hot-water resistance, it is inapplicable, like PET, to uses such a copolymer of the case where retorting or hot filling is performed or the contained stuff is heated.
Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) is superior to PET in heat resistance, hot-water resistance, gas barrier property and ultraviolet-screening performance but is inferior to PET in impact resistance and also bad in moldability because of high melt viscosity. In PEN, therefore, there has the problems that sheet extrudability is bad and that it is susceptible to heat deterioration and tends to form many by-products such as acetaldehyde in practical use. Also, since the glass transition temperature of PEN is high, heat sealing must be conducted at a high temperature, which may lead to a prolonged cycletime for heat sealing and occurrence of crystallization during heat sealing. PEN is also unsatisfactory in heat-sealing strength. Usually PEN copolymerized with terephthalic acid or the like has been used for improving impact resistance and moldability, but even in this copolymer, the heat-sealing strength is not improved.
As a solution to these problems, it has been proposed to alloy or laminate PET or PEN with other resins or different types of polyester. However, the alloying tends to cause phase separation and consequent whitening of the produced sheet, while the lamination may make it unable to recycle the scraps which is produced in the production line. Thus, it has been hardly possible in either way to obtain a transparent sheet at high productivity.
In view of the above, there has been available no transparent sheet comprising polyester, which is excellent in both moist heat resistance and heat-sealing property, and also recyclable in the production line.
As the result of the present inventors' earnest studies for solving above problems, it has been found that a substantially non-stretched transparent sheet produced by laminating two different types of polyethylene naphthalate resin each having its specific property, are excellent in heat resistance, hot-water resistance, heat-sealing characteristics and transparency, and also recyclable in the production line. The present invention has been attained on the basis of this finding.


A magnetic recording medium comprising a substrate and a magnetic film formed on the substrate, the magnetic film including magnetic crystal grains in a non-magnetic matrix and satisfying the condition given below: EQU d.sup.2 .multidot.t.multidot.Ir/(v.multidot.Isb).gtoreq.0.75. where. t: a thickness of the magnetic film; PA1 Ir: a remanent magnetization moment of the magnetic film; PA1 d: an average particle size of the magnetic crystal grains in an intra-film direction of the magnetic film; and PA1 v.multidot.Isb: an activated magnetization moment of the magnetic film.

The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium and, in particular, a magnetic recording medium for use in a hard disk apparatus and a method for manufacturing the same.
The magnetic disk apparatus, in particular, a hard disk apparatus using a magnetic recording medium with a magnetic film formed on a rigid disk-like substrate, has often been used as an external memory apparatus for a personal computer, large-sized computer and computer apparatus for word processors, etc., in view of the high recording density, high-speed writable feature and low bit cost, etc., and is highly demanded to further improve the magnetic density for obtaining large recording capacity. In order to enhance the magnetic density, there is a demand for the improvement of a line recording resolution by a magnetic film's high coercive force in the magnetic recording medium. In order to prevent the occurrence of any playback error, there is also a demand for reducing noise in a playback output and improving the quality of the played-back signal.
It has been known that the noise in the playback output from the magnetic recording medium has a relation to the structure of the magnetic recording medium's magnetic film and is increased in the case where a strong magnetic interaction acts between magnetic crystal grains in a ferromagnetic substance constituting the magnetic film. In order to reduce the noise and enhance the quality of the played-back signal, various designs have been attempted to reduce the magnetic interaction between the magnetic crystal grains.
The first method is by enhancing the concentration of Cr added to the magnetic film and making the boundary non-magnetized. The second method is by segregating oxygen at a boundary under the film formation conditions of the magnetic film and the third method is by distributing magnetic crystal grains in a non-magnetic matrix and decreasing the magnetic interaction. Further, it has been considered that a static magnetic interaction is also decreased between the magnetic crystal grains due to the addition of Cr reducing a saturated amount of magnetization of the magnetic crystal grains.
The second and third methods can achieve a higher coercive force without lowering the magnetic anisotropy in the crystal and can realize a high recording density.
Further it has also been known that an activated magnetic moment v.multidot.Isb corresponding to the amount of magnetization of magnetically separated magnetic crystal grains has a correlation to the noise amount. As the method for controlling the v.multidot.Isb and lowering the noise amount, attempts have been made to decrease the film thickness of the magnetic film. As a result of studies made by the inventors on the case where an error rate is measured on a medium with a magnetic film of reduced thickness, that is, a medium combined with an associated head, it has been found impossible to obtain an improved error rate. It has been considered that the reduced thickness of the magnetic film leads to a fall in the intensity of a played-back signal and never leads to an improved quality of the played-back signal.
Further, the increase of Cr added to the magnetic film also results in a fall in the activated magnetic moment v.multidot.Isb. In that case, there also occur a fall in the intensity of a played-back signal and in the quality of the error rate.
As set out above, even if it is possible for the conventional technique to lower the noise in the playback output, there occur a fall in the noise and a fall in the intensity of the played-back signal. It is, therefore, not possible to improve the quality of the played-back signal and effectively to improve the error rate.
Further, even in the above-mentioned first and second methods, if the size of the magnetic crystal grain is reduced, the recorded magnetized state changes with time due to the effect of a thermal fluctuation involved and the noise level is increased, thus leading to an increase in the error rate upon playback. And with the non-magnetization of the boundary the magnetized amount of the magnetic film is decreased, so that the playback output is lowered.
In this way, in the conventional method for non-magnetizing the boundary so as to lower the noise in the output played-back by the head from the magnetic recording medium, the size of the magnetic crystal grains is decreased when the S/N ratio is improved as desired, so that a playback error is increased with the lapse of time due to the effect of thermal fluctuation. Further, the playback output level is also lowered with a volume increase in the non-magnetic boundary.
In the magnetic recording medium, it becomes important that, in order to enhance the line recording density, the width of the magnetization inversion be decreased and the noise of the medium be lowered.
In order to decrease the width of the magnetization inversion it is considered effective to increase the coercive force (Hc) of the medium. With the present hard disk apparatus, therefore, use is made of a magnetic thin-film medium whose Hc is of the order 2,000e. Although the Hc of the medium is currently restricted by the recording capability of the magnetic head, it is essential that, with an enhancing recording capability of the magnetic head, there be a growing demand for a high coercive force (Hc) of the medium.
Some prior arts are known which aim at a high Hc and low noise in the magnetic recording medium.
The following are the known techniques regarding the achievement of a higher coercive force Hc, a lower noise level and a higher playback output:
(1) Under the title "Sputtered Multilayer-Films For Digital Magnetic Recording" of IEEE Transactions on Magnetics: Vol. 15. No. 3. P. 1135, issued July 1979, there appears a description to the effect that a cobalt single layer involves a decrease in a coercive force with an increasing film thickness, but that the cobalt/chromium stacked layer involves a substantially constant coercive force with an increase in a total film thickness.
(2) JPN PAT APPLN KOKAI PUBLICATION No. 63-146219 proposes forming a magnetic recording layer of a thin-film medium by a plurality of magnetic layers and inserting a non-magnetic intermediate layer between the adjacent magnetic layers whereby a multilevel magnetic layer type magnetic recording medium is provided with the magnetic coupling between the magnetic layers being lowered and the medium-causing noise being lowered.
(3) JPN PAT APPLN KOKAI PUBLICATION No. 61-34721 proposes a magnetic recording medium with a CoCr layer stacked on a CoPt layer. In the proposed medium, the overlying CoCr layer is formed on the underlying CoPt layer in a better orientation state and, at the same time, an adequate magnetic characteristic is exhibited with the CoPt layer as an intra-plane recording layer, so that, as a whole, a playback output is improved in a long wavelength range while exhibiting an advantage of a vertical recording system in a short wavelength range.
(4) JPN PAT APPLN KOKAI PUBLICATION No. 61-194635 proposes forming an alternate layer structure of a Co thin film and Pt thin film, that is, a layer structure of two or more thin films, and subjecting the layer structure to heat treatment to provide a thin film permanent magnet.
(5) JPN PAT APPLN KOKAI PUBLICATION No. 62-257616 proposes a vertical magnetic recording medium in which a multi-level magnetic thin film structure for vertical magnetic recording includes a non-magnetic nucleus-forming thin film having a substantially hexagonal packed crystal structure and a magnetic thin film formed of an alloy of cobalt and an element selected from the group consisting of platinum, nickel, rhenium and palladium. It was reported there that, with the use of such a structure, it was possible to enhance a coercive force which would otherwise be inadequate for a single thin film and to obtain a practically applicable vertical magnetic recording medium.
(6) JPN PAT APPLN KOKAI PUBLICATION No. 02-210614 proposes a magnetic recording medium provided by forming a mutilevel structure with two or more CoCrPt magnetic thin films and inserting a non-magnetic thin film between the respective magnetic thin films and, by doing so, making a playback output and C/N ratio high.
(7) JPN PAT APPLN KOKAI PUBLICATION No. 02-281414 proposes a stacking layer medium for horizontal recording use which has an alternate structure having a cobalt-based alloy magnetic film including platinum or nickel in the alloy and a non-magnetic spacer film with a recording layer structure comprising more than one recording layer and one spacer film and, by doing so, improving an S/N.
(8) JPN PAT APPLN KOKAI PUBLICATION No. 04-60918 proposes a vertical magnetic recording medium provided by forming a CoCrNi film on a Cr film and a CoCr-based alloy film on the CoCrNi film and, by doing so, making a playback output larger and the medium lower in noise level.
(9) JPN PAT APPLN KOKAI PUBLICATION No. 04-60917 proposes a vertical magnetic recording medium provided by forming a CoCrNi film on a substrate and a CoCr-based alloy film on the CoCrNi film and, by doing so, making a playback output larger.
(10) JPN PAT APPLN KOKAI PUBLICATION No. 04-133306 proposes the method for manufacturing a vertical magnetization film by bombarding, with ions, an artificial lattice film manufactured by alternately arranging a Co layer and Pt and/or Pd layer in a stacked way and, by doing so, satisfying the coercive force and square-loop ratio.
(11) JPN PAT APPLN KOKAI PUBLICATION No. 04-189737 proposes a magnetic recording medium which, in order to make its S/N ratio larger and obtain a better overwriting a characteristic, uses two layers as a magnetic layer structure and utilizes their different magnetization inversion mechanisms.
In the above-mentioned known documents, discussions have been made on the respective magnetic layer layout of the stacked layer structure in terms of the coercive force, output and noise.
The inventors have variously studied the magnetic recording media having those magnetic recording layers of such a multilevel structure, that is, studied such magnetic receding layers on the practical disk apparatuses and found that the data is less likely to be played back after a few years. They have studied the noise in the media probably resulting from one of these reasons and found that steady-state noise is very small immediately after the data has been recorded on the media but that noise increases with the lapse of time and becomes very larger after the passage of a few years. This phenomenon is probably ascribable to the thermal fluctuation in the medium as set out above. Further it has also been found that this phenomenon markedly occurs in particular in those magnetic recording media of a multi-level (multi-layered) structure.
For the above-mentioned magnetic recording media, particularly those having a multi-layered structure for achieving the lowering of the noise, there were the problem that the degeneration of the characteristic arises with the passage of time due to an effect of noise caused by the thermal fluctuation involved.

Magnetic recording medium and method for manufacturing the same


A communication device includes a level one (L1) processing element configured to measure downlink (DL) reference signals from multiple beams received via a transceiver to generate L1 data describing the multiple beams. The device also includes a level two (L2) processing element configured to consolidate, select, or filter the multiple beams responsive to the L1 data to produce L2 data corresponding to one or more of the multiple beams in a first cell that are consistent with preconfigured parameters. Furthermore, the device includes a level three (L3) processing element coupled to the L1 and L2 processing elements and configured to generate L3 data corresponding to one or more of the multiple beams in each of the first cell and a second cell. The device also includes a report generator coupled to the L1, L2and L3 processing elements and configured to generate a report for a mobility event.

Radio resource management (RRM) and mobility mechanisms are tightly associated with each other. Mobility and RRM are the systems for radio level control and measurement of radio channels and co-channel interference and other radio transmission characteristics in wireless communication systems, for example cellular networks, wireless networks and broadcasting systems. RRM involves strategies and algorithms for measuring and controlling parameters such as transmit power, user resource allocation, beamforming, data rates, handover related criteria, modulation scheme, error coding scheme, etc. The objective is to utilize the limited radio-frequency spectrum resources and radio network infrastructure as efficiently as possible. The radio resource management (RRM) model for long term evolution (LTE) is well established for omnidirectional cellular systems. These systems use network layer messaging, for example, radio resource control (RRC) messaging at Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Layer 3 or L3.
Generally speaking, RRM involves end-to-end operations over the air at both a user equipment (UE) device and/or at a network node (e.g., an evolved Node B or eNB) as well as interactions among UE devices and network nodes operating in a service area. RRM exists at multiple layers, ranging from the Physical layer, also known as Layer 1 or L1; the media access control (MAC) RLC/PDCP layer, also generally known as Layer 2 or L2; and/or the Network layer, also known as the RRC Layer, layer 3 or L3). At different layers, RRM handles radio resources at different time scales and uses different mechanisms.
For example, at L1, the network node implements RRM using the Channel State Indicator (CSI) based on measurements of downlink (DL) reference signals (RSs) (e.g., CRS or CSI-RS in LTE) made by the UE. In response to a CSI request, the UE sends the measurements (e.g. Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) and Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) to the network node using Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) or Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) feedback control. These values may be used for Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) and/or power control.
At L2, CSI-related feedback, such as Buffer Status Report (BSR) and Power Headroom Report (PHR) in LTE systems using MAC Control Element (MAC CE) in the PUSCH in response to a Scheduling Request (SR). L2 RRM may also use PUCCH for UL and DL scheduling, and link adaptation.
At L3, RRM uses event-driven or periodic triggering to obtain L1 filtered RSRQ/RSRQ measurements and then L3 filtered RSRQ/RSRQ measurements as defined by the 3GPP standard TS 36.300. L3 RRM filters DL RSs (e.g., Cell-specific RS or CRS) obtained from the UE for mobility-related channel quality measurement and uses measurement reports obtained through L3 Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling messages from the UE to the network, and the related HO trigger (e.g. A3, A2, A4, A6 events as defined by 3GPP TS36.331/TS36.133, etc.). L3 RRM is normally controlled by the network in RRC_ACTIVE state or by the UE in RRC_IDLE state.

Hybrid mobility and radio resource management mechanisms


This invention relates to a polyester resin comprising (A) from about 5% to about 50% by weight reactive diluent and (B) from about 50% to about 95% by weight of an unsaturated polyester resin prepared from at least one component selected from the group consisting of (i) from about 0.5% up to about 8% by mole of a polyhydric alcohol, having at least three hydroxyl groups, and at least one transesterification catalyst, (ii) from about 2% up to about 12% by mole of a reaction product of a polyol and a fatty carboxylic acid, and (iii) from about 2% up to about 12% by mole of a fatty reactant selected from the group consisting of a fatty primary alcohol, a fatty epoxide, a fatty monocarboxylic acid and mixtures thereof, wherein each member of the group has up to about 100 carbon atoms. In another aspect, the invention relates to mixtures of the above polyester resins with conventional polyester resins. Methods of reducing volatile organic compound emissions are also part of the invention. The present invention provide resins and methods which have low emissions of volatile organic compounds and when used in curable compositions have good gel times and final cured properties.

Unsaturated polyester resins are typically used together with a reactive diluent, usually a volatile unsaturated organic monomer, which is generally referred to as a reactive diluent. The unsaturated organic monomer copolymerizes with the polyester resins to form a gelcoating and may be used in other applications such as pultrusion, resin lamination, sheet molding compounding, bulk molding compounding, etc.
During curing some of the volatile organic monomer is lost to the atmosphere. Due to environmental concerns of such organic compounds, legislation has been passed which requires reduction in the amount of volatile organic compounds which may be released to the atmosphere.
One method of reducing such VOC emission is replacement of the reactive diluent with a less volatile reactive diluent. However, this approach has led to slower curing times and/or incomplete curing at normal ambient temperatures. Another approach is the reduction in the amount of reactive diluent. This approach has led to increases in viscosity beyond useable values. If viscosity increase is compensated by use of a lower molecular weight polyester, then poor final gelcoat properties have resulted. Another approach has been the use of a suppressant which reduces the loss of VOCs. The suppressants are often waxes which lead to a reduction in interlaminar adhesion of the gelcoat. It is desirable to have a gelcoat product which has reduced VOC and also which has acceptable gel time and good final gelcoat properties.

Low VOC unsaturated polyester systems and uses thereof


The epitaxial substrate of a semiconductor chip device has a resurf diffusion in at least one of its isolated wells in the device chip surface. The wells are separated by junction diffusions. The thickness of the epitaxial layer is reduced by placing an increased percentage of its total charge for given a breakdown voltage (punch-through voltage) in the lower portion of the layer.

High voltage semiconductor devices commonly employ a resurf region which is a low concentration region between areas of high potential difference. The resurf region depletes as the voltage difference increases, and is fully depleted before the maximum voltage difference is applied. In the double resurf technique, there are two resurf regions of opposite polarities, both of which deplete as the applied potential difference increases. Such a device and the advantages of using the double resurf technique is detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,495.
In high voltage devices employing the double resurf technique, the resurf region of one polarity is created by implantation and diffusion of appropriate dopants into an epitaxially grown layer of opposite polarity. The epitaxial region pinched by the diffused resurf region serves as the second resurf region. High breakdown voltage is achieved when the charge in the top (diffused) resurf layer is controlled at approximately 1.times.10.sup.12 cm.sup.2 and the charge in the lower (pinched epitaxial) resurf region is controlled at approximately 1.5 to 2.times.10.sup.12 cm.sup.2. One outcome of such a construction is that as the depth of the diffused resurf layer varies slightly, the charge in the pinched epi region varies substantially so that control over breakdown voltage is lost. This effect has to be offset by using a thicker epitaxial layer. The thicker epitaxial layer has several drawbacks:
1. Deeper isolation diffusions are needed to electrically isolate different parts of the circuit on an integrated circuit from each other, requiring longer diffusion times at temperatures at or above 1200.degree. C., resulting in lower throughput.
2. Very long diffusion times at 1200.degree. C. or above, causes more defects resulting in lower yield.
3. The long diffusion times at 1200.degree. C. or above also results in a wider isolation diffusion, due to greater lateral diffusion, thus reducing the amount of useful area on a chip.

Graded concentration epitaxial substrate for semiconductor device having resurf diffusion


Architecture that utilizes characteristics of high spatial redundancy and few colors in few-colored images to compress the image data in a hierarchical manner, and store block level information. The entire image is decomposed into fixed-size blocks, and the block color information (single-colored or multi-colored) is stored. All multi-colored blocks are further divided into smaller blocks (sub-blocks) in a lower level, and the sub-block information is stored as well. The process is performed recursively until there are no more multi-colored blocks, or until the block size reaches a minimum size (e.g., a 1×1 block or one pixel). The information is then entropy coded.

Lossless image compression techniques are preferred in image pre-processing/editing, for archiving in original high quality, in medical imaging, cartoon images, area maps, etc. Existing lossless image compression techniques are not optimized for compressing few-colored images (e.g., 1024 or less colors). For example, the GIF (graphics interchange format) file format is limited to two-hundred and fifty-six colors, but the compression achieved is not optimal. Whereas, the PNG (portable network graphics) file format compresses few-colored images better than GIF, PNG works on principles best-suited for compressing images with thousands or millions of colors. Thus, existing lossless image compression techniques are not optimized for compressing few-colored images.

Lossless image compression for few-colored images


Methods, devices and systems for determining whether an object is detected by a scanner are disclosed. Fast-Fourier-Transforms (“FFT”) are determined, modified and evaluated. Each FFT may be determined with regard to a subset of gain-compensated pixel-values corresponding to pixel-values of an acquired image.

When using a scanning system, such as an ultrasonic scanner, it may be beneficial to determine quickly whether an object has been scanned by a scanning operation. If an object was not present during the scanning operation, then the information produced by the scanning operation should be discarded and/or ignored without further processing so as to preserve processor availability and conserve energy. However, if an object was present during the scanning operation, then information about that object obtained during the scanning operation may be processed, for example as part of an effort to authenticate an individual that presented the object. If authentication is made, then the individual may be permitted to engage in certain activities. Such activities may include, for example, the use of a smart phone or access to a restricted area within a building.
Methodologies for determining whether an object was present during a scanning operation have centered on determining a standard deviation for pixel information obtained from a scanning operation. Such methodologies have proved to be inaccurate, particularly when the scanner capability has degraded, which often occurs over time. Such inaccuracies may arise from the fact that a degraded sensor often produces complex patterns or noisy images, either of which can be mistaken for an object, when in fact no object has been presented for scanning.

Determining whether a target object was present during a scanning operation


A notebook computer unit formed by a base housing and a hinged cover panel has a conventional keyboard mounted on the base housing, a flat panel display device mounted on the cover panel, and a transparent membrane switch array overlayed on the display. The unit includes a separable and reversible hinge mechanism and a separable and reversible electrical connector assembly which allow the cover panel to be detached, reversed, and re-attached to place the unit in one of two configurations. In one configuration, the display and tactile membrane switch array face outwardly with the cover panel overlying the base for operation of the unit by viewing the display and touching the membrane switch array to enter data and select options displayed. Alternatively, the cover panel may be oriented with the display generally facing the standard keyboard for use of the unit as a conventional notebook type computer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a notebook or laptop type computers and, more particularly, to such a computer having a membrane switch array overlayed on a flat panel display which may be positioned on an external surface of the computer for convenient access of the membrane switch array to operate the computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Record keeping is essential to the operation of any business, and a significant percentage of a business's time and space overhead must usually be dedicated to the recording and continual updating of information related to the various aspects of the operation. Such record keeping is necessary not only for the business entity as a whole, but also for individual components of the company, such as divisions and departments, and also for some individual workers. Where a worker must deal directly with a large number of clients, customers, suppliers, or the like, it is often desirable to maintain a file of the names of contacts, addresses, phone numbers, appointment schedules, records of contacts, expense account details, personal interests and idiosyncrasies of the contacts, and the like.
The business supplies industries have provided a number of products for facilitating such client record keeping activities. Such records documentation products include index card files, appointment books, address books, special calendars, and the like. Some such products also include combinations of the functions of these products. One particularly useful product is the Rolodex file (Rolodex Corporation) in which cards containing names, addresses, telephone numbers, and miscellaneous notes are connected to a rotary spindle, usually in alphabetical order according to a company's or individual's name. While such a device is very convenient for quickly finding information such as names, addresses, and telephone numbers, it is not well suited for scheduling appointments, tracking contacts, and other time and date functions without time consuming manipulation of the individual file cards. Additionally, such a rotary file is not well suited for portability whereby a salesman in the field, for example, could quickly consult his appointment schedule or set up appointments on-the-spot.
There have been some efforts to improve upon these conventional paper based card file type tools by the use of computer technology. Such products are embodied as handheld calculator like devices, laptop type computers, and devices occupying a middle ground therebetween. The calculator type devices generally include very limited display capabilities, ranging between a few tens of characters to a few hundred characters, and very limited memory capacities. The calculator type devices, while convenient in size, are usually limited in capabilities and are probably best suited to specific applications such as telephone directories.
The laptop type computers are miniaturized general purpose personal computers. They usually have most of the capabilities of conventional desktop personal computers, including relatively large memory capacities, mass storage devices including small floppy disk drives and often hard disk drives, full capability display screens which are usually liquid crystal displays (LCD's), full capability keyboards, and input/output ports for connection to printers, modems and the like. Some include video ports for connection to cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors. One problem with laptops is size and weight, as a result of their complement of capabilities. This makes them cumbersome to carry in the field to occasionally recall a phone number, address, or note. Another problem is complexity of use. While so-called computer literacy is increasing rapidly, there are still considerable numbers of workers who are not acclimated to using computers and are reluctant to attempt to learn to use computers and software therefor.
There are midsized electronic card file devices which are larger than the pocket calculator type, but smaller than laptop computers. In general, the midsized devices have larger screens, usually LCD's, and full "qwerty" (typewriter type) keyboards. Generally, they do not have removable mass storage devices, such as floppy disk drives, or I/O ports, and memory capacities are much less than that of laptops. Many such midsized devices have proprietary operating systems and use proprietary software, rather than the generic equivalents usable on laptops.
Personal information management (PIM) software has been developed to increase work productivity by allowing information regarding clients, customers, and the like to be entered and quickly recalled. Most such PIM software has general application and allows the user to define the types of information to be entered, such as by the user defining data fields to be entered for each record. Some PIM software provides formats with preset data fields. One problem with existing PIM programs is that their flexibility and power increases their complexity and the time and effort required to learn to set them up and use them. Many such programs do not provide for manipulation of data in a manner which comes naturally, particularly to a nonexperienced computer user. Finally, most conventional PIM software is adapted for use on desktop, portable, and laptop personal computers and is, thus, not highly portable in the field.
The size and weight of laptop type computers have been decreasing as further developments have occurred in circuit integration and in increased density and reduced sized mass storage devices. However, the principal data entry and manipulation interface between the user and such computers is a conventional keyboard. Those who cannot type proficiently often find difficulty in deriving meaningful benefits of the capabilities of such computers. Even if the manipulation of data on such a computer is facilitated by software and a transparent membrane switch array overlayed on an LCD screen, such as is disclosed in the aforementioned application, Ser. No. 07/420,047, conventional notebook computers are not structured and balanced for convenient use of such improvements. Specifically, conventional "clamshell" type notebook computers, wherein the LCD screen is positioned on the inside surface of a cover panel of the unit, are not well suited to using a membrane switch array over the LCD screen because of the need to hold the cover member with one hand to avoid pivoting the display backward or tipping the unit as a whole backward when making tactile selections on the screen.

Notebook computer with reversible cover for external use of membrane switch screen


A computer-implemented method for re-notifying a user about a previous notification is disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes determining a baseline notification rate of the user. The computer-implemented method further includes determining whether the user's current notification rate exceeds a predetermined threshold with respect to the baseline notification rate. The computer-implemented method further includes determining, in response to the user's current notification rate exceeding the predetermined threshold, whether renotification of a notification is required. The computer-implemented method further includes re-notifying, in response to determining that renotification of the notification is required, the user about the notification.

The present invention relates generally to the field of reminding a user of previous notifications, and more particularly to reminding a user of previous opened notifications that require further action.
Different messaging platforms make it easy for users to communicate instantly. Many users have and use multiple different devices throughout the day or at once. Typically, users have user accounts on multiple different platforms or applications. Sometimes, users even have separate accounts on the same platform or application for personal and work obligations. Notifications on different platforms and devices can vary and the same notification may even be sent to multiple devices or platforms for the same user. Depending on the user, the number of notification and the rate at which notification are received can greatly vary.

International Business Machines Corporation


It is an object to provide a driving apparatus, which can be easily mounted to vehicles of different models. A circuit unit for controlling an operation of an electric motor is fixed to an axial end of a motor casing. A connector holding unit, which is integrally formed with a heat sink of the circuit unit, is composed of a first and a second arm portions and a connecting portion to form a connector accommodating space in such a radial outside position of the motor casing. The connector accommodating space extends in an axial direction of the motor casing. An inside connector unit is inserted into the connector accommodating space. The inside connector unit has a connector-insert hole into which an outside connector (a vehicle-side connector) is inserted for electrical connection.

A driving apparatus for an electric power steering system (hereinafter EPS) is known in the art, according to which a steering operation of a vehicle driver is assisted by a driving force of an electric motor. Such a driving apparatus for the EPS is known in the art, according to which a mechanical unit (an electric motor) and an electrical unit (a control unit for controlling an operation of the electric motor) are integrally formed as one assembly unit.
According to a conventional driving apparatus, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2011-37324 (A), a connector-insert hole of an inside connector unit is formed in a control unit at an axial end thereof, wherein the connector-insert hole is opened in an axial direction of an electric motor. When the driving apparatus is mounted in a vehicle, a corresponding connector(s) of a vehicle side is attached to (connected to) the inside connector unit of the control unit. Electric power from a battery mounted in the vehicle is supplied to an electronic circuit of the control unit via a power-supply wire provided in the vehicle, the vehicle-side connector and the inside connector unit (connected to the vehicle-side connector).
However, a position of the vehicle-side connector differs from a vehicle to a vehicle, in which the driving apparatus is mounted. According to the driving apparatus of the above patent publication, in a case that the vehicle-side connector is provided at a side of the control unit opposite to the connector-insert holes of the inside connector unit, it is necessary to pull the vehicle wire to a position of the connector-insert holes of the inside connector unit of the control unit. Therefore, a number of assembling steps for mounting the driving apparatus to the vehicle is increased.
In addition, according to the control unit of the driving apparatus of the above patent publication, the electronic circuit is formed on a circuit board at a side thereof opposite to the connector-insert holes of the inside connector unit. In a case that the connector-insert holes of the inside connector unit will be formed in the control unit at another axial end in the motor axial direction, in order to correspond to the position of the vehicle-side connector, a layout of an entire control unit must be changed depending on a re-design of the connector-insert holes of the inside connector unit. When multiple kinds of the control units, the layouts of which are different from one another depending on vehicle models, are prepared, manufacturing cost for the driving apparatus will be inevitably increased.


A plate- or shell-like plastic trim panel is provided with a convex structure configured such that, in the event of a horizontal compressive load running essentially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the trim panel undergoes a controlled elastic and/or plastic deformation in the direction of the adjoining free space. This arrangement avoids risking injury to legs of a vehicle occupant resulting from uncontrolled bending or breaking of flat trim panels without such convex structure.

The invention relates to an interior trim panel made of plastic for a motor vehicle, which has a flat, plate- or shell-like shape and, in the installed state, is aligned at least essentially horizontally in the vehicle interior, a free space permitting the trim panel to move adjoining the trim panel on one side.
This application claims the priority of German patent application number 196 07 428.2-21, filed on Feb. 28, 1996 the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Interior trim panels made of plastic, in particular in the form of driver-side and passenger-side foot-well covers on a cockpit underside, are known. These plastic trim panels are aligned and fastened approximately horizontally to the underside of the cockpit and under severe impact loads on the motor vehicle are subject to load peaks which may lead to the trim panel breaking or tearing, as a result of which significant risks of injury to the legs or knees of a passenger may arise.
An object of the invention is to provide an interior trim panel of the type mentioned above which does not give rise to any risk of injury for vehicle occupants during impact loads on the motor vehicle.
This object is achieved according to preferred embodiments of the invention in that the plate- or shell-like shape of the trim panel is provided with a convex structure configured such that, in the event of a horizontal compressive load running essentially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the trim panel undergoes a controlled elastic and/or plastic deformation in the direction of the adjoining free space. By means of the solution according to the invention, load peaks are avoided since a controlled deviation of the trim panel is permitted by the convex structure at an early stage when an impact load occurs. The invention thus proceeds from the recognition that the breakage or tearing of the known trim panels can actually be attributed to such load peaks. With the solution according to the invention, load peaks are avoided primarily in the event of impact loads which occur in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, i.e. in the event of a frontal impact.
In a refinement of the invention, the convex structure is configured such that the trim panel also undergoes a controlled deformation in the direction of the free space in the event of horizontal compressive loads arising transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. As a result, the convex structure is also suitable for absorbing side-impact loads without the trim panel tearing or breaking. When the trim panel is used as a foot-well cover, the free space is advantageously the foot-well itself.
In a further refinement of the invention, the trim panel is designed at least in part as a lattice matrix. The trim panel is injection-molded in the form of a plastic grid or lattice, the lattice matrix being configured in accordance with the plate- or shell-like form.
In a further refinement of the invention, a plastic having an impact strength which remains constant over a wide temperature range, in particular a motor-vehicle bumper material, is provided. This plastic is particularly suitable for the configuration of the trim panel as a foot-well cover.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A system for providing feedback regarding the division of automated and operator tasks is provided. The system includes a display device and a processor. The processor is configured to at least selectively supply image rendering display commands to the display device that cause the display device to simultaneously render an operator pane, an automation pane, and a shared pane. The operator pane displays one or more tasks that have been allocated for execution by a human operator, the automation pane displays one or more tasks that have been allocated for execution by automation, and the shared pane displays one or more tasks that have been allocated for execution by both automation and a human operator.

Operators of complex systems, such as aircraft, are often faced with a challenging work environment where their task load varies between a very low level, during which they can become inattentive and drowsy, and a very high level, during which they can become overloaded and prone to poor performance. Vacillating between under-load and overload conditions can increase stress in operators, which can have potentially adverse consequences. Further, operators in these environments are often faced with frequent distractions.
The design goals for next generation air traffic management (ATM) include increasing system capacity by allowing pilots and airlines more responsibility to manage routes, aircraft separation, and to generally have more authority to make changes to the flight profile. However, pilots and airlines may also be responsible for flying more precise routes, planning further ahead, and coordinating with other aircraft to resolve potential conflicts. These changes may result in the need for more adaptive automation of the flight-deck to handle the increased complexity, precision, and flight crew responsibilities.
One of the challenges associated with adaptive automation systems is not only how real-time tasks should be divided between human operators and automation agents, but how operators may be informed of such task divisions. Currently configured display devices typically do not provide such feedback, and do not support shared task execution in a manner that explicitly displays the progress and automation contribution to an operator.
Hence, there is a need for a user interface device that provides explicit, dedicated feedback regarding the division of automated and operator tasks and/or supports shared task execution and/or displays the progress of operator, automatic, and shared tasks. The present invention addresses at least these needs.

User interface device for adaptive systems


Arrangements, braces, and methods for supporting an arm of an ornamental fixture, for example, chandeliers, are provided. The arrangements and braces include elongated elements having first ends adapted to be mounted to a support, a second free end, and a platform located between the first end and the second end for supporting the arm of the fixture. Aspects of the invention may be used to support fragile arms of chandeliers, for example, glass arms. Aspects of the invention allow for the use of longer arms, for example, for use in chandeliers over 10 feet in diameter, or for arms having higher loadings, for example, having heavier or more numerous ornaments and light fixtures.

The design of ornamental fixtures, such as chandeliers, is typically hampered by the disadvantages of using glass as the material of construction. In contrast to other materials of construction, glass is typically more brittle and more prone to fracture due to its lower tensile strength. Typically, in the conventional art, the lower strength of glass limits the size of glass components and the loading of chandeliers, for example, limits the size and number of ornaments that can be attached to glass components of chandeliers.
This is particularly the case in the design of glass arm chandeliers. Glass arm chandeliers typically have one or more solid glass or glass tubing arms upon which chandelier components, such as crystal ornaments or light fixtures, are mounted. The fragility of such glass arms typically limits the size, for example, the length, and the carrying capacity of such arms. Also, typically, the size and number of ornaments that can be hung from such glass arms are limited. As a result, the limitations of the carrying capacity of glass arms limits or compromises the freedom designers have in designing glass arm chandeliers.
The limitations of conventional glass arm chandelier design are particularly acute as the size of the chandelier increases. Ever increasing customer demands for larger and more elaborate chandeliers further underscore the limitations of conventional glass arm design. For example, the capability of present arm designs to withstand the loading of fixtures and ornaments is typically exceeded as the size of a chandelier exceeds 10 feet in diameter. Such large diameter chandeliers, and the ever-increasing size and number of ornaments mounted on such chandeliers, taxes the capacity of conventional glass arm design by providing ever-larger loads on the glass arms.
The present invention overcomes these and other limitations of prior art ornamental fixture design, for example, the limitations of large chandelier design.


A system and method of covertly monitoring a communications device, the method that includes using a separate monitoring device to monitor a monitored communications device, without any indication of the monitoring being received by the monitored communications device.

Modem communication systems and modern work methods often involve communications between corporate employees and corporate customers by various means, including e-mail, voice calls, picture messaging, SMS messaging, and like electronic communications. Further, there is a tendency for communications devices to increasingly become more personal and mobile, with the result that a corporation may have several communications devices operating on multiple different technologies such as GSM, WAP, G3 mobile, e-mail, internet, public service telephone network (PSTN) and other technologies. In general, employees have greater freedom to communicate digitally, and are less constrained than previously by the physical limitations of communications apparatus such as land line telephone handsets and computer terminals which can only be accessed at fixed physical points.
At the same time, increased legislation concerning fraud, employment, and professional conduct place a heavy burden on corporations in ensuring that their employees conduct business ethically, legally, and in compliance with their own internal management policies.
There is a problem that corporations are exposed to communication systems which reduce the amount of control which managers of those corporations have in managing their organization, whilst at the same time being exposed to increasing levels of regulation, legislation, and compliance requirements. There is a problem in that managers of organizations cannot monitor communications in and out of their organizations efficiently, and yet are exposed to any liability resulting from inept, illegal or incompetent activities being carried out via those incoming and outgoing communications.
A conventional known voice telecommunications system, using a local switch at an enterprise such as a corporation, office, hospital or the like provides telephone handsets having call conferencing facilities. In order to initiate a conference call, typically the user of a telephone handset needs to deliberately input a set of keypad instructions, e.g. dialing a particular number or sequence of numbers on a keypad, in order to set up and initiate a conference facility.
In other known prior art systems, for example using land line telephones over the public service telephone network (PSTN), conference calls, such as international conference calls, can be booked in advance for a particular time through various network operators. Each party to the conference call is given a separate telephone number to dial, at a pre-determined time, in order to join a multi-party conference call. Again, this requires the person wishing to join the conference call or to initiate the conference call typing a specific keypad sequence of numbers or digits in order to set up or join a conference call.
In each of the above cases, the persons who are party to the conference call, and who are initiating' a communications call are in control of the conferencing facility, that is, it set up, duration and termination, and are fully aware that they are party to a conference call. Parties to the conference call can terminate or edit the conference call as they see fit. Such features are common place in prior art telecommunications systems.
It is known in prior art mobile wireless networks having a plurality of base stations and a plurality of mobile telephone handsets, for the network operator to be able to disable a particular mobile handset remotely. This might occur where the user reports that mobile handset as having been stolen, and therefore wishes to prevent the new (illegal) user of the mobile handset accruing call charges to the true user's account. Disabling of the mobile phone is effected by disabling the SIM card in the phone remotely from a network management console. This is known as "zapping" the phone or SIM card. However, this feature is a relatively crude on/off enablement and disablement facility. The new, illegal user of the phone and/or SIM card are immediately aware when the phone has been interfered with by the network operator, since it becomes disabled and will not operate. Typically, once "zapped", by being disabled, the phone and SIM card will be thrown away, since the illegal user is aware that the phone can now no longer be used.
It is known in the United Kingdom, that during times of national emergency, civil unrest, or terrorist alert, there are national broadcast systems in place for disseminating warnings and alert messages to the general public, and to key military and/or civilian individuals. Included in such systems are provisions to deliver mobile local or national alerts from radio stations to mobile wireless devices from radio and television stations in the event of national emergency or other national or regional alert, on behalf of national or regional government or local councils. Such systems are derived from the emergency broadcasting system (EBS), initially developed following the Second World War, in the US and subsequently revised and termed the emergency alert system (EAS) in or around 1997.

Call management in a telecommunications system


The present invention includes a position detection unit; a regenerating-condition detection unit; a train-line information holding unit that holds therein information on a section in which a train is more likely to use a brake; an air-conditioning set-value holding unit that holds therein a temperature set value of an air conditioner; and a target-temperature control unit that decides a target temperature. In a regeneration-preparation condition in which a train is running through a position at which the distance between the position and a section in which a train is more likely to use a brake is equal to or less than a given value and in which the train does not use a regenerative brake, the target-temperature control unit decides a value, generated by adding a predetermined value to the temperature set value, as the target temperature.

A train-information management device collects and manages data regarding the conditions of various devices provided on each vehicle of a train, and it can control the individual devices on the basis of the collected condition data. Control target devices are power converters that convert electric power supplied from an overhead wire and then supply the converted power to the main electric motors and to auxiliary devices, and devices such as air conditioners, lighting equipment, and braking devices.
In recent years, trains have generally included a regenerative brake that brakes by using a main electric motor and then returns the electric power generated during the braking back to the overhead wire so as to be used by other trains. The regenerative brake has a problem in that when there are no other trains or the like that consume electric power in the vicinity of the braking train, the electric power cannot be returned to the overhead wire, which causes regeneration reduction or regeneration loss, and thus electric power generated by the regenerative brake cannot be effectively used. In order to solve the problem as described above, in the invention described in Patent Literature 1 listed below, when effective regenerative braking is lost, the pressure in a main air reservoir of an air brake is checked and if the pressure is lower than an appropriate value, an electrical brake (a regenerative brake) is operated in order to use electric power generated by the electrical brake to operate a compressor, thereby achieving effective utilization of the regenerated power.

Train-information management device and device control method


Nucleases and methods of using these nucleases for alteration of a CFTR gene and generation of cells and animal models.

Lung diseases, including inherited disorders such as Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and Surfactant Protein B (SP-B) Deficiency remain an issue in pediatric populations. SP-B deficiency is a rare lung disease where protein and fat molecules accumulate in the distant parts of the lungs and affect breathing. The disease is caused by a deficiency of the lung surfactant protein B, primarily due to a defect in the SFTPB gene which encodes the pulmonary-associated surfactant B protein (SPB), an amphipathic surfactant protein essential for lung function and homeostasis after birth. The most common mutation in SP-B deficiency is a mutation designated "121ins2" which results in the nucleotide "C" at position 131 being converted into "GAA."
CF is an autosomal recessive disorder affecting 1 in 1500 to 4000 live births, and is one of the most common inherited pediatric disorders. The primary defect in CF is in the regulation of epithelial chloride transport by a chloride channel protein encoded by the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. See, e.g., Kerem et al. (1989) Science 245:1073-1080; Kreda et al. (2005) Mol Biol Cell 16:2154-2167. About 70% of mutations observed in CF patients result from deletion of three base pairs in CFTR's nucleotide sequence, resulting in the loss of the amino acid phenylalanine located at position 508 in the protein (a mutation referred to as ΔF508). In a wild type genome, amino acid 507 is an isoleucine, and is encoded by the codon TAG where the G is nucleotide 1652 in the gene. Amino acid 508 is a phenylalanine, encoded by AAA. In the Δ508 mutation, the G from the 507 codon is deleted along with the first two As of the 508 codon, such that the mutation has the sequence TAA at the deleted 507-508 encoding position. TAA also encodes an isoleucine, but the phenylalanine at wild type position 508 is lost. For the ΔI507 deletion, either the isoleucine at position 506 or 507 is deleted. For this mutation, the nucleotides at 1648-1650 or 1651-1653 are lost, or some combination thereof to result in only one isoleucine in the resultant protein. Compound (heterozygous) mutations (ΔF508 and ΔI507) have also been documented. See, e.g., Orozco et al. (1994) Am J Med Genet. 51(2):137-9. CF patients, either compound heterozygous ΔI507/ΔF508 or homozygous ΔF508/ΔF508, fail to express the fully glycosylated CFTR protein and the partially glycosylated protein is not expressed on the cell surface (see, e.g., Kreda et al. (2005) Mol Biol Cell 16:2154-2167; Cheng et al. (1990) Cell 63:827-834) as is required for CFTR function. Individuals bearing either the ΔI507 or ΔF508 CFTR mutations at only one allele (i.e. wt/ΔI507 or wt/ΔF508) are CF carriers and exhibit no defects in lung cell function. See, e.g., Kerem et al. (1990) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 87:8447-8451.
Although several organ systems are affected by mutations in the CFTR gene, recurrent pulmonary infections are responsible for 80 to 90% of the deaths in CF patients. There is some controversy as to which human lung cell types express CFTR, although recent data indicate that CFTR expression is greatest in the proximal lung, and is predominantly expressed by ciliated cells present in surface airway epithelium. Kreda et al. (2005) Mol Biol Cell 16:2154-2167; Engelhardt et al. (1992) Nat Genet 2:240-248; Engelhardt et al. (1994) J Clin Invest 93:737-749.
Attempts to treat CF via in vivo gene therapy have been hindered by the immunogenic recognition and clearance of the viral vector used to deliver the CFTR transgene, failure to detect long-term expression of CFTR, and likely an inability to achieve stable transduction of relevant stem/progenitor cell populations in the lung Mueller & Flotte (2008) Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 35:164-178; Anson et al. (2006) Curr Gene Ther 6:161-179. Recently there have been reports of the isolation of human lung stem cells (see Kajstura et al., (2011) New England Journal of Medicine 364(19):1795). The authors report that these cells could be isolated, maintained in culture and re-introduced into damaged mouse lungs in vivo, where they were able to structurally integrate into the tissue and reform bronchioles, alveoli and pulmonary vessels.
Thus, there remains a need for the development of novel anti-CF strategies, including treatments and model systems (in vitro such as cell lines and in vivo animal systems) to model and treat CF based on investigation of CFTR mutations and develop stem cells for transplantation and treatment of pulmonary diseases.

Methods and compositions for alteration of a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene


A paper tool includes a base having a front end and a rear end and a drive arm pivotally coupled to the base about a first pivot axis. The drive arm includes a front portion proximate the front end of the base and a rear portion proximate the rear end of the base. The stapler also includes a handle pivotally coupled to the base and a drive member supported by the handle rearwardly of the first pivot axis such that, when the handle pivots relative to the base, the drive member engages the rear portion of the drive arm to pivot the drive arm about the first pivot axis.

The present invention relates to paper tools and, more particularly, to constructions of paper tools for reduced force input requirements.
Staplers are commonly used to impart a staple through one or more sheets to bind the sheets together. Typically, a stapler includes a base, a magazine pivotally mounted to the base, and a drive arm including a driver that can force a staple from the magazine through the sheets. The drive arm is pivotally mounted to either the magazine or the base and is usually directly engaged by a user to drive the staple. Other paper tools, such as punches and trimmers/cutters, can include similar components constructed in a similar manner to staplers.


A current amplifier driver capable of driving both 10 Base-T signalling and 100 Base signalling in a Local Area Network (LAN) includes one constant current source. A voltage controlled switch is contained in each of four vertical segment of an H-bridge circuit. Two voltage signals are applied to the switches to control the direction of current from a constant current source across a load. When one of the voltage signals is high, the other is low and two switches of the four switches turn on. The current amplifier driver sinks the constant current in a first direction, such that a voltage drop across the output nodes is positive. When the other voltage signal is high the switches that were on turn off, and the other two switches turn on to sink the constant current across the load in the opposite direction, such that a voltage drop across the output nodes is negative. When both voltage signals are low, all four switches turn off, and the output voltage is zero. In this manner, a differential signal is generated across a resistive load.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of current amplifiers and in particular, to fully switched current amplifier drivers.
2. Related Art
A local-area network ("LAN") is a communication system that enables personal computers, work stations, file servers, repeaters, data terminal equipment ("DTE"), and other such information processing equipment located within a limited geographical area such as an office, a building, or a cluster of buildings to electronically transfer information among one another. Each piece of information processing equipment in the LAN communicates with other information processing equipment in the LAN by following a fixed protocol (or standard) which defines the network operation. Information processing equipment made by different suppliers can thus be readily incorporated into the LAN.
The ISO Open Systems Interconnection Basic Reference Model defines a seven-layer model for data communication in a LAN. The lowest layer in the model is the physical layer which consists of modules that specify (a) the physical media which interconnects the network, nodes and over which data is to be electronically transmitted, (b) the manner in which the network nodes interface to the physical transmission media, (c) the process for transferring data over the physical media, and (d) the protocol of the data stream.
IEEE Standard 802.3, Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) Access Method and Physical Layer Specifications, is one of the most widely used standards for the physical layer. Commonly referred to as Ethernet, IEEE Standard 802.3 deals with transferring data over twisted-pair cables or coaxial cables. The 10 Base-T protocol of IEEE Standard 802.3 prescribes a rate of 10 megabits/second ("Mbps") for transferring data over twisted-pair cables.
The constant need to transfer more information faster, accompanied by increases in data processing capability, necessitated an expansion to data transfer rates considerably higher than the 10-Mbps rate prescribed by the 10 Base-T protocol. As a consequence, a protocol referred to as 100 Base-T was developed for extending IEEE Standard 802.3 to accommodate data moving at an effective transfer rate of 100 Mbps through twisted-pair cables. Under the 100 Base-T protocol, certain control bits are incorporated into the data before it is placed on a twisted-pair cable. The result is that the data and control signals actually move through a twisted-pair cable at 125 Mbps.
FIG. 1 illustrates the data transmit path 100 of communication in the LAN. During data transmission, a communication unit operating on the LAN, such as a computer 117, generates a data signal T1 which is converted into differential form for transmission on the twisted pair cable 103. For 10 Base-T transmission, this data signal T1 is Manchester coded 101 to reduce electromagnetic interference and to produce square wave pulses. These pulses are then filtered 101 such that the square wave pulses are basically sinusoidal waves. These waves then go through a waveshaping filter to generate filtered differential data signals T1+/-. For 100 Base-T transmission, the data signal T1 is scrambled 119, converted to differential format 119, and MLT-3 coded 105 to generate trinary differential signals T2+/-. A 10 Base-T amplifier signal driver 107 and a 100 Base-T amplifier signal driver 109 take these differential signals T1+/- and T2+/-, respectively, and generate current-sourced differential signals T10+/- and T20+/-, respectively, to drive a primary load 105 and to transmit them on the twisted pair cable 103.
Transformer 111 isolates the twisted-pair cable 103 from the circuitry producing the transmit signals. The transformer has a primary winding 111A and a secondary winding 111B. The primary winding 111A terminates at a primary load 105 and the secondary winding terminates at a secondary load 113. The secondary load couples to a connecting unit 115, which couples to the twisted-pair cable 103. The primary winding 111A couples to a resistive load 105. It is across this resistive load 105 that either sine wave 10 Base-T signalling or MLT-3 100 Base-T signalling must be created.
Presently, amplifiers driven in a differential fashion are used to drive either the 10 Base-T signalling or the 100 Base-T signalling. An example of such a conventional amplifier circuit 200 is shown in FIG. 2. This current amplifier circuit 200 includes a resistive load 207, which is typically 100 ohms, and two terminating resistors 209, 211, each of which are typically 50 ohms. As a result, the current amplifier circuit 200 must drive not only the resistive load 207, but the termination resistors 209, 211 as well. This requires the current amplifier circuit 200 to source a significant amount of current, which requires a significant amount of power.
The current amplifier circuit 200 also includes a current source 201, typically a current mirror current source, and two voltage controlled PMOS transistors 203 and 205. The PMOS transistors 203, 205 operate in the saturation region and switch on and off when driven by signals having voltage levels between V1 and V2, which are output from voltage sources (not shown). When the voltage levels V1, V2 are applied to the gates of transistors 203 and 205 they direct current through the load resistor 207 as indicated by arrows 209 and 211. For example, to direct current through the load resistor 207 in the direction indicated by arrow 209, a voltage signal is applied to PMOS transistor 203 to turn it on, and a voltage signal is applied to PMOS transistor 205 to turn it off.
The voltage levels of both voltage signals V1 and V2 must be accurately controlled to generate the proper current. Additionally, these voltage levels must be maintained constant on both sides of the current amplifier circuit 200, and the transistors 203 and 205 must be matched. As a result, the same voltage levels are attained at both nodes OUT+and OUT-, which levels are generated across the load resistor 207.
In addition to the large power requirement, another disadvantage of this amplifier circuit 200 is that all the transistors must be matched rather closely for the best performance to occur. At least two transistors are needed for the current source 201. These transistors (not shown), is well as the PMOS transistors 203 and 205 all must match. This is very difficult to do.
A second conventional current amplifier driver circuit is shown in FIG. 3. This amplifier driver circuit 300 uses two current sources 301, 303 to generate a voltage across a 100 ohm load resistor 305. The current sources 301, 303 are typically current mirror circuits. Similar to the amplifier driver circuit 200, the current sources 301, 303 of the amplifier driver 300 must drive the resistive load 305 as well as two 50 ohm terminating resistors 307, 309.
Typically, signal generators (not shown) provide input signals I.sub.IN+/- to current sources 301 and 303, respectively. The input signals I.sub.IN+/- are half-wave rectified, and 180 degrees out of phase from one another, i.e., I.sub.IN+ is 180 degrees out of phase from I.sub.IN-. As a result, when either of the current sources 301, 303 receive a signal, that particular current source becomes active. When that current source does not receive a signal, that current source is off. The effect of this arrangement is for current sources 301 and 303 to alternate between "active" and "inactive" states, such that only one current source is active at a given time.
When current source 301 is active, the external resistors 307, 309, which are tied high, pull current through the amplifier driver circuit 300 and the resistive load 305. This operation provides a voltage drop, proportional to the current flow, across the load resistor in the direction indicated by arrow 311. For the other half of the signal cycle, current source 303 is active and current source 301 is inactive. When current source 303 is active, current is pulled through external resistors 307 and 309 and the load 305. This operation provides a voltage drop across the load resistor 305 in the direction indicated by arrow 313. The result is a composite output waveform across the load resistor 305.
There are several disadvantages to this conventional circuit 300. First, the circuit must drive current through not only the load resistor but the terminating resistors 307 and 309 as well. This current requirement commands a significant amount of power.
Second, there are problems associated with switching sources 301 and 303 on and off. It is very difficult to match the current sources 301 and 303. To match the gain of the two current sources 301, 303 exactly, not only do the transistors (not shown) used for the current source 301 have to match, but those transistors have to match the transistors (not shown) used for current source 303 as well. Therefore, at least four transistors must be matched and this is quite difficult. When the current sources 301, 303 are mismatched different voltage levels are generated across the resistive load.
Furthermore, it is difficult to attain the same voltage levels needed to switch the transistors between voltage levels V1 and V2. This too causes different voltage levels to be generated across the resistive load.
Thus, a need exists for a circuit to drive both 10 Base-T analog signals and 100 Base-T digital signals which overcomes these power consumption, matching and switching problems and which has a high switching speed (e.g., 3-5 nanoseconds or less).

Fully switched, class-B, high speed current amplifier driver


An apparatus having a supporting surface (3) for containers (4) and a device for loading and unloading the containers (4) onto the supporting surface (3). The device has a component (11) for unloading the containers from the supporting surface and a drive unit (12) for facilitating movement of the component (11) relative to a supporting surface (3).

An example for an apparatus of the kind in question here is a freeze-drying apparatus as described in EP-B1-391 208 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,162). A plurality of containers containing a product that is to be freeze-dried must be loaded onto supporting surfaces of the freeze-drying apparatus. Unloading is required after performing a freeze-drying process. Due to the extremely large number of containers that are loaded and unloaded during a batch, these processes are no longer performed manually. Typically, the containers are transported to and from the freeze-drying apparatus on conveyer belts. The containers are transferred from the conveyor belt to the supporting surfaces located in the chamber and back therefrom, after performing the freeze-drying process, by means of a sliding element.
The loading of the supporting surfaces of freeze-drying chambers or similar equipment must take place under extremely clean conditions since the containers or bottles containing the product to be freeze-dried are initially opened. Usually, a plug having a recess for the removal of the water vapor, lies on the opening of each of the containers. After performing the freeze-drying process, the containers are closed in the freeze-drying chamber by moving the supporting surfaces together and forcing the plug into the container. Even though the containers have already been closed, the unloading of the containers from the supporting surfaces, and the transfer of the containers to a capping device, occurs under clean room conditions. In this respect, freeze-drying facilities are equipped with insulators—if they are not located in clean rooms. An insulator, that is preferably formed by transparent wall sections, encloses those areas of the freeze-drying apparatus in which clean room conditions are supposed to be maintained. This also includes the container feed and removal means. Compared to the typical clean rooms, an insulator has the advantage that the required clean room volume is significantly smaller.
In freeze-drying apparatuses and installations of similar type, the drive systems for the moving parts are a problem. A spindle drive is used in the aforementioned freeze-drying apparatus. The use of toothed racks is also known. Drives of this type require a lot of space. Moreover, such structures include relatively narrow indentations or recesses, that require long sterilization periods. Since lubricants can also lead to contamination, drives of this type must be operated "dry". The consequence is increased abrasion, which likewise causes contamination.

Apparatus for loading and unloading freeze-drying chambers


An apparatus and program product for transferring entitlement to standby resources between respective computers. Standby resources are made available at a destination computer by rendering unavailable corresponding resources at a source computer. As such, the aggregate number of available standby resources may remain unchanged, but the distribution of the availability may be reapportioned according to operational requirements. Where desired, this transfer of entitlement may be accomplished automatically, dynamically and/or in a secure manner.

Computer resource requirements for commercial and government applications often increase or otherwise fluctuate over time. For instance, a business may experience periods of peak activity that exceed comparable processing or memory requirements of other periods. In another scenario, sales or employee growth may similarly burden existing computing resources with increased requirements. When faced with these increased resource demands, a user would conventionally have to purchase new hardware resources capable of accommodating the elevated computing needs. Such purchase requirements can represent a major, if not preclusive, expenditure for a user, who may have insufficient capital or time to react to rapid growth requirements.
To this end, computing architectures such as the "capacity on demand" design, developed by International Business Machines Corporation, allow customers to effectively "rent" resources such as processors on an as-needed basis. More particularly, a customer may temporarily enable standby processors that are initially dormant within their machine. Where desired, the standby processors are not included in the up front, baseline cost of the machine. As such, for a relatively smaller initial capital investment, a customer may activate and deactivate standby processors as needed for a fee.
Such selective utilization of standby processors provides customers with another layer of customized processor access and optimized usage. Conversely, capacity on demand systems supply system providers with a creative way to satisfy customer performance and cost requirements, while additionally providing an increased revenue source.
Despite the flexibility provided by the capacity on demand applications, the economies associated with standby resources generally remain confined to their host computer. That is, the standby resources are typically constructed integrally with their respective computer. Thus, it is often unfeasible to physically remove and reapportion standby processors as between different computers. As a consequence, a scenario can develop where a user having two computers with standby resources must activate additional standby resources on a first computer to handle an increased workload. At the same time, active standby resources of the second computer may remain underutilized. Such a situation may occur where computers are geographically dispersed and/or are subjected to peak work loads at different times. For instance, a company's computers may operate in different time zones. As such, while the user may theoretically have enough active standby resources between both computers to handle the workload of the computers, the standby resources cannot be practically physically distributed amongst the computers in proportion to their respective workloads to address the work requirement discrepancy.
In such a circumstance, having to activate additional standby resources on the first computer negatively affects production quotas and can be viewed by the customer as frustrating and wasteful. To mitigate expenses, users meticulously plan work allocations as between computers, where possible. However, it is typically very difficult to predict work requirements in most applications. Another effort to limit the activation of additional standby processors includes load balancing. Load balancing involves the transfer of work between computers. Ideally, the workload of an overburdened computer can be redistributed to a computer having underutilized standby resources. However, even where feasible, the electronic transfer of data is time consuming, inconvenient and inefficient. As a consequence, the user is often relegated to activating additional standby resources at the computer experiencing elevated workloads, despite having available active resources at another computer. Consequently, improved mechanisms are needed for addressing varying workloads within capacity on demand systems.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System for transferring standby resource entitlement


A method of forming an integrated circuit device includes the steps of forming a conductive pattern on an integrated circuit device, and forming an insulating layer on the conductive pattern and on the integrated circuit substrate. An upper surface portion of the insulating layer opposite the substrate is removed, and a photoresist layer is formed on the insulating layer after the step of removing the upper surface portion. The photoresist layer is patterned, and exposed portions of the insulating layer are etched using the patterned photoresist layer as an etching mask thereby forming contact holes through the insulating layer.

In many semiconductor devices, multi-layer metal interconnections are provided by separating the metal interconnection layers with insulating layers. The different metal interconnection layers can be connected using contact (or via) holes through the insulating layers.
FIGS. 1A through 1D illustrate steps of a method of forming contact holes through an insulating layer according to the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1A, a device isolation region 12 is formed on a semiconductor substrate 10 to define active and inactive regions of the substrate. An insulating layer 14 is formed and patterned to provide a contact hole 15 therethrough. A metal interconnection layer 16 is then deposited on the insulating layer 14 filling the contact hole 15. The metal interconnection layer 16 provides a lower metal interconnection layer.
An insulating layer 18 is then formed on the metal interconnection layer 16 and on the insulating layer 14 as shown in FIG. 1B. A second metal interconnection layer can later be formed on the insulating layer 18 so that the first and second insulating layers can be separated by the insulating layer 18. A photoresist layer 20 is deposited and patterned on the insulating layer 18 to provide an etch mask defining a contact hole to be etched through the insulating layer 18. A wet etch step is performed using the patterned photoresist layer 20 as a mask thus isotropically etching the insulating layer 18 as shown in FIG. 1C. The undercut a of the photoresist layer 20 may, however, be generated during this wet etch step.
A dry etching step can then be used to complete the contact hole 22 through the insulating layer 18 thus exposing portions of the metal interconnection layer 16 as shown in FIG. 1D. Again, the patterned photoresist layer 20 is used as an etch mask during the dry etch step. The photoresist layer 20 can then be removed, and a second metal interconnection layer can be formed on the insulating layer 18. Accordingly, the contact holes 22 can be used to provide interconnections between the first and second metal interconnection layers.
The undercut a illustrated in FIGS. 1C and 1D may occur, however, because of poor adhesion between the photoresist layer 20 and the insulating layer 18. For example, an etchant used during the wet etch step may penetrate along an interface between the photoresist layer and the insulating layer causing voids along the interface therebetween. Accordingly, even though the contact hole 22 is formed using wet and dry etching steps, the thickness of the insulating layer 18 may be significantly reduced adjacent the contact hole 22. An undesired step may thus be generated on the insulating layer 18 thereby degrading the insulation provided by the insulating layer 18 between upper and lower interconnection layers.

Methods of improving photoresist adhesion for integrated circuit fabrication