A line-on-glass (LOG) type liquid crystal display device prevents deterioration in picture quality due to line resistances in LOG signal lines includes a display area having liquid crystal cells arranged at crossings of gate and data lines, a storage capacitor arranged within each of the liquid crystal cells for maintaining charged pixel voltages, and a dummy gate line. A line-on-glass type signal line group outside the display area transmits driving signals to the gate driver integrated circuits for driving the gate lines. A first signal line outside the display area is mounted on gate tape carrier packages. A second signal line connects the first gate low voltage and dummy lines, is insulated from, and crosses the gate lines outside the display area. A third signal line connects the first gate low voltage line and the dummy gate line to connect the first and second gate low voltage lines in parallel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to liquid crystal displays, and more particularly to line-on-glass (LOG) type liquid crystal displays that are capable of preventing deterioration in picture quality caused by a line resistance of LOG gate low voltage lines arranged on a liquid crystal display panel.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, liquid crystal displays (LCDs) use electric fields to control light transmittance characteristics of a layer of liquid crystal material. Accordingly, LCDs typically include a liquid crystal display panel having a plurality of liquid crystal cells arranged in a matrix pattern and a driver circuit for driving the plurality of liquid crystal cells to display a picture on the liquid crystal display panel.
The plurality of liquid crystal cells are arranged on the liquid crystal display panel at locations where gate lines cross data lines. Electric fields may be applied to the layer of liquid crystal material via pixel and common electrodes arranged on the liquid crystal display panel. Each pixel electrode is connected to a data line via source and drain electrodes of switching devices such as thin film transistors. Gate electrodes of each thin film transistor are connected to corresponding gate lines and allow pixel voltage signals to be selectively applied to corresponding pixel electrodes.
The driver circuit includes a gate driver for driving the gate lines, a data driver for driving the data lines, a timing controller for controlling the gate and data drivers, and a power supply for supplying driving voltages used in driving the LCD. The timing controller controls the gate and data drivers by controlling a driving timing of the gate and data drivers and by applying pixel data signals to the data driver. Driving voltages generated by the power supply include common (Vcom), gate high (Vgh), gate low (Vgl) voltages, etc. The gate driver sequentially applies scanning signals to the gate lines to sequentially drive the liquid crystal cells within the liquid crystal display panel one gate line at a time. The data driver applies data voltage signals to each of the data lines whenever a gate line is in receipt of a gate signal. Accordingly, LCDs control light transmittance characteristics of liquid crystal material using electric fields applied between pixel and common electrodes in accordance with pixel voltage signals specific to a liquid crystal cell.
Data and gate drivers are directly connected to the liquid crystal display panel and are provided as a plurality of integrated circuits (ICs). Each of the gate driver ICs and data driver ICs are mounted to the liquid crystal display panel using tape carrier package (TCP) or chip on glass (COG) techniques. Further TCP-type gate and data driver ICs are connected to the liquid crystal display panel via a tape automated bonding (TAB) technique.
TCP-type gate and data driver ICs, connected to the liquid crystal display panel by the TAB technique, receive control signals and direct current (DC) voltage signals transmitted over signal lines provided on a printed circuit board (PCB). For example, each of the data driver ICs are connected to each other in series via signal lines mounted on a data PCB, receive control signals from the timing controller, and receive pixel data signals and driving voltages from the power supply. Gate driver ICs are connected to each other in series, via signal lines mounted on a gate PCB, receive control signals from the timing controller, and receive driving voltages from the power supply.
COG-type gate and data driver ICs are connected to each other via signal lines formed using a line-on-glass (LOG) technique. Mounted on a lower glass substrate of the liquid crystal display panel, the signal lines formed using the LOG technique receive control signals from the timing controller and power supply and driving voltages from the power supply.
Even when the various driver ICs are connected to liquid crystal display panels via the TAB technique, the LOG technique is typically adopted to eliminate the PCB and provide a thinner overall liquid crystal display. For example, signal lines connecting the gate driver ICs are relatively small and are provided directly on the liquid crystal display panel. Accordingly, gate driver ICs are connected to the liquid crystal display via the TAB technique, are connected to each other in series via signal lines mounted on a lower glass substrate of the liquid crystal display panel, and receive control and driving voltage signals (i.e., gate driving signals).
Referring to FIG. 1, liquid crystal displays including LOG signal lines (e.g., formed without the gate PCB) typically include a liquid crystal display panel 1, a plurality of data TCPs 8 connected between a first side of the liquid crystal display panel 1 and a data PCB 12, a plurality of gate TCPs connected to a second side of the liquid crystal display panel 1, data driver ICs 10 mounted on the data TCPs 8, and gate driver ICs 16 mounted on the gate TCPs 14.
The liquid crystal display panel 1 includes a lower substrate 2 supporting signal lines and a thin film transistor array, an upper substrate 4 supporting a color filter array, and a layer liquid crystal material injected between the lower and upper substrates 2 and 4, respectively. The liquid crystal display panel 1 further includes a picture display area 21 having liquid crystal cells arranged where gate lines 20 and data lines 18 cross each other. The data driver ICs 10 convert digital pixel data signals into analog pixel voltage signals and apply the analog pixel voltage signals to the data lines 18.
Data pads and gate pads (not shown) are arranged at respective ends of the data and gate lines 18 and 20 at an outer portion of the lower substrate 2, outside the picture display area 21. An LOG signal line group 26 is positioned within the outer area and transmits gate driving signals to the gate driver ICs 16.
Data TCPs 8 include input pads 24 and output pads 25 for electrically connecting the data driver IC 10 mounted thereon to the data PCB 12 and the data lines 18. The input pads 24 of the data TCP 8 are electrically connected to the output pads of the data PCB 12 while the output pads 25 of the data TCP 8 are electrically connected to the data pads arranged on the lower substrate 2. A first data TCP 8 is further provided with a gate driving signal transmission group 22. The gate driving signal transmission group 22 electrically connects the LOG signal line group 26 to the timing controller and power supply via the data PCB 12.
Each of the gate TCPs 14 includes a gate driving signal transmission line group 28 and output pads 30 electrically connecting the gate driver ICs 16 mounted thereon to the LOG signal line group 26 and the gate lines 20, respectively. Accordingly, the output pads 30 are electrically connected to the gate pads arranged on the lower substrate 2.
Each gate driver IC 16 sequentially applies a scanning signal (e.g., a gate high voltage signal (Vgh)) to each of the gate lines 20 in response to inputted control signals. Further, the gate driver ICs 16 apply a gate low voltage signal (Vgl) to each of the gate lines 20 not in receipt of the gate high voltage signal (Vgh).
The LOG signal line group 26 typically consists of signal transmission lines and transmits direct current (DC) voltage signals (e.g., gate high voltage (Vgh), gate low voltage (Vgl), common voltage (Vcom), ground voltage (GND), supply voltage (Vcc) signals, etc.) and gate control signals (e.g., gate start pulse (GSP), gate shift clock (GSC), gate enable (GOE) signals, etc.).
Individual signal transmission lines within the LOG signal line group 26 are arranged in a fine parallel pattern and are provided within a narrow space, similar to a space where signal lines in gate and data pads are positioned at outer portions of the picture display area 21. Signal transmission lines within the LOG signal line group 26 are formed of same metal as the gate metal layer and are arranged on the lower substrate 2. Gate insulating and protective films 34 and 36, respectively, are disposed over the LOG signal line group 26. Being formed from the same material as the gate metal, signal transmission lines within the LOG signal line group 26 typically have a resistivity of 0.046 and are formed simultaneously with the gate lines 20. Thus, the LOG signal line group 26 has a larger resistance than signal lines, typically made of a material such as copper, formed in the gate PCB. As resistance values of signal transmission lines within the LOG signal line group 26 are proportional to their lengths, the resistance of signal transmission lines increases as the distance from the data PCB 12 increases. Accordingly, gate driving signals, transmitted via the LOG signal line group 26, become attenuated, their voltage values become distorted, and the quality of pictures capable of being displayed on the liquid crystal display becomes deteriorated.
For example, distortion of the gate low voltage signal (Vgl) transmitted through the LOG signal line group 26 affects the picture quality displayed within the picture display area 21. Gate low voltage signals (Vgl) maintain the pixel voltage charged within the liquid crystal cell between intervals when the gate high voltage (Vgh) is charged within the pixel. Accordingly, as the gate low voltage signal is distorted, the pixel voltage within the liquid crystal cell also becomes distorted.
LOG gate low voltage transmission lines, arranged within the LOG signal line group 26, supply the gate low voltage (Vgl) and include a plurality of LOG gate low voltage transmission lines. The plurality of gate low voltage transmission lines electrically connect the first data TCP 8 and the plurality of gate TCPs 14, respectively. The plurality of gate low voltage transmission lines have intrinsic line resistance values proportional to their lengths, and are connected to each other in series via the plurality of gate TCPs 14. Thus, the brightness to which images may be expressed by liquid crystal cells connected to gate lines across the liquid crystal display panel becomes non-uniform. The non-uniform brightness across the liquid crystal display panel induces a cross-line phenomenon (32) that divides the screen in brightness values and thereby deteriorates the picture quality of the liquid crystal display.
Referring to FIG. 2, the gate low voltage signal (Vgl) is applied to the entire liquid crystal display panel via a relatively long transmission path and a load at a gate low voltage output terminal of the data TCP 8 is increased.
Referring to FIG. 2, a gate low voltage signal (Vgl) transmission path formed on the lower substrate 2 may equivalently be expressed as A-B transmission path and an A-C transmission path. A gate low voltage signal (Vgl) is applied to a dummy gate line GL0 on the A-B transmission path. Accordingly, the A-B transmission path typically includes a first gate low voltage line VGLL and a second gate low voltage line SDL arranged between the dummy gate line GL0 and the first gate low voltage line VGLL.
The first gate low voltage line VGLL may extend from the data TCP 8 to the lower end of the lower substrate 2 via the gate TCP (not shown). The second gate low voltage line SDL may extend from the first gate low voltage line VGLL at the lower end of the lower substrate 2 to the dummy gate line GL0 at the upper end of the lower substrate 2. The second gate low voltage line SDL crosses portions of the gate lines (not shown) arranged within a non-display area, outside the picture display area 21. Accordingly, the second gate low voltage line SDL may be formed from a source/drain metal layer and be insulated from the gate lines via a gate insulating film.
The first gate low voltage line VGLL has an intrinsic line resistance, Ra+Rb, which is determined by adding a first intrinsic line resistance, Ra, specific to the portion of the first gate low voltage line VGLL arranged between the data TCP 8 and a first gate TCP, and a second intrinsic line resistance, Rb, specific to the portion of the first gate low voltage line VGLL arranged between the gate TCPs. Similarly, the dummy gate line GL0 has a third intrinsic line resistance, Rc, and the second gate low voltage transmission line SDL has a fourth intrinsic line resistance, Rd. Thus, the total line resistance of the A-B transmission path is equal to the sum of the first to fourth line resistances, Ra+Rb+Rc+Rd.
The A-C transmission path supplies a gate low voltage signal (Vgl) to the nth gate line GLn via a corresponding gate driver IC (not shown). Accordingly, the A-C transmission path typically includes the first gate low voltage transmission line VGLL and the nth gate line GLn. The intrinsic line resistance of the nth gate line GLn is substantially equal to the third intrinsic line resistance, Rc, of the dummy gate line GL0. Thus, the total line resistance of the A-C transmission path is equal to the sum of the first to third line resistances, Ra+Rb+Rc.
The load present at the output terminal of the data TCP 8 is proportional to the total line resistance of the gate low voltage line at the output terminal of the data TCP 8. Accordingly, the total line resistance of the gate low voltage line at the output terminal of the data TCP 8 may be expressed as Ra+Rb+((Rc+Rd)/Rc). For example, assuming that Ra=15Ω, Rb=45Ω, Rc=3 kΩ and Rd=5 kΩ, the total line resistance of the A-B transmission path is 15Ω+45Ω+3 kΩ+5 kΩ=8.06 kΩ, the total line resistance of the A-C transmission path is 15Ω+45Ω+3 kΩ=3.06 kΩ, and the total line resistance of the first gate low voltage transmission line VGLL becomes 15Ω+45Ω+((3 kΩ+5 kΩ)/3 kΩ)≈3.24 kΩ.
In order to overcome the relatively large line resistance of the A-B transmission path, a relatively large load is provided at the gate low voltage output terminal of the data TCP 8. Such a large load further distorts the gate low voltage signals (Vgl) applied from the gate low voltage output terminal. Accordingly, unstable gate low voltage signals (Vgl) are applied to the gate lines within the picture display area 21 and further induce a deterioration in the picture quality. Further, differences in gate low voltage signals for each gate driver IC are enlarged due to the line resistance within of the gate low voltage line. Accordingly, the aforementioned cross-line phenomenon is magnified across the liquid crystal display.
The first gate low voltage line VGLL is typically positioned at the outermost portion of the lower substrate 2, is formed relatively shorter in length than other LOG signal lines, and is patterned to have a maximized line width within a confined space. As the first gate low voltage line VGLL is positioned at the outermost portion of the lower substrate 2, a gate low voltage signal (Vgl) applied to the dummy gate line GL0 passes the first gate low voltage line VGLL and the second gate low voltage line SDL. Since the A-B transmission path (VGLL+SDL) of the gate low voltage signal (Vgl) applied to the dummy gate line GL0 is longer than the A-C transmission path of the gate low voltage signal (Vgl) applied to another gate line (eg., GLn), the intrinsic line resistance of the A-B transmission path is larger than intrinsic line resistance of the A-C transmission path. Accordingly, a voltage associated with a gate low voltage signal (Vgl) applied to the dummy gate line GL0 is reduced compared to a voltage associated with the gate low voltage signal (Vgl) applied another gate line (e.g., GLn). Accordingly, capacitance values of storage capacitors Cst connected to the dummy gate line GL0 are reduced compared to capacitance values of storage capacitors Cst connected to another gate line (e.g., GLn) such that liquid crystal cells connected to the dummy gate line GL0 express images at a greater brightness than liquid crystal cells connected to another gate line (e.g., GLn).

Liquid crystal display of line-on-glass type


A stereo camera unit 2 is constructed mainly of a main camera 4, a sub-camera 5 and a camera stay 3. The main camera 4 and the sub-camera 5 are assembled to the camera stay 3 in such a way that they are inclined toward the main camera 4 side with respect to a central axis of the vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structure for mounting a stereo camera apparatus which takes photograph of an object from different points of view for calculating a three-dimensional distance distribution of the object.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, image processing by a so-called stereo method is known as an image-based three-dimensional measuring technique. In this stereo method, an object is photographed from different positions with a stereo camera apparatus which is composed of a pair of cameras, or a main camera and a sub-camera. Then a distance between the stereo camera apparatus and the object is determined from a parallax of the same object using camera parameters based on the principle of triangulation. Camera parameters are, for example, the mounting position, focal length of the stereo camera apparatus and the like.
Specifically, in such image processing using the stereo method, a small region in a reference image photographed by the main camera is superimposed on an area within search area set in a comparative image photographed by the sub-camera while successively shifting the small region pixel by pixel. Then, a position of an area within the search area corresponding to the small region of the reference image is obtained, the corresponding area having image signal coincident with image signal of the small region. Information on the distance to the object is then obtained from a positional difference (parallax) of the same object on the pair of the images, or the reference image and the comparative image, using the principle of triangulation.
The stereo camera apparatus used in the aforementioned image processing is installed such that it is oriented to a front of a vehicle, or in an axis direction of the vehicle. A search area to be set in the comparative image is set in a striplike area as shown in FIG. 2A, which extends from a position substantially corresponding to a small region in the reference image toward the main camera. Therefore, as is apparent from FIGS. 2B and 2C, for a small region located in a specific zone of the outside (right side) of the vehicle in the reference image, it is impossible to allocate a corresponding search area in the comparative image and obtain distance information thereon. For this reason, an area in which a three-dimensional distance distribution is generated by the aforementioned image processing is inclined toward the sub-camera side (left side) with respect to the central axis of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 2D. Consequently, it might be impossible to obtain a three-dimensional distance distribution having a sufficiently large area for an object to be photographed.
On the other hand, to enable detection of an infinite distance corresponding point where the parallax is zero when searching through the comparative image for a corresponding position of a small region in the reference image, it is necessary to set a search margin in a matching search area in the comparative image as shown in FIG. 4. When the reference image is produced using up to extreme ends of camera frame, however, it becomes impossible to provide the search margin.

Stereo camera apparatus with a main camera and a sub-camera where the sub-camera has a point of view difference from the point of view of the main camera


Provided herein are recombinant monoclonal antibodies and antigen-binding portions thereof useful in inhibiting CEACAM1 in tumor cells, and methods of their use in anti-tumor proliferation and invasiveness therapies, such as the treatment of cancer, particularly pancreatic cancer.

According to the most recent data from the World Health Organization, ten million people around the world were diagnosed with the cancer in 2000, and six million died from it. Moreover, statistics indicate that the cancer incidence rate is on the rise around the globe. In America, for example, projections suggest that forty percent of those alive today will be diagnosed with some form of cancer at some point in their lives. By 2010, that number will have climbed to fifty percent. Of all cancers, pancreatic cancer is the eleventh most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer death in both men and women.
Modern technology, such as that involving the use of hybridomas, has made available to researchers and clinicians sources of highly specific and potent monoclonal antibodies useful in general diagnostic and clinical procedures. For example, there are now therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of cancer, such as HERCEPTIN® (trastuzumab, Genentech) for metastatic breast cancer and PANOREX® (endrecolomab, Centocor/GlaxoSmithKline) approved in Germany for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Anti-CEACAM1 recombinant antibodies for cancer therapy


A method for compressing a set of images comprising a plenoptic image and at least one refocused image obtained from the plenoptic image for a given focus, by generating a set of data comprising a compressed version of the plenoptic image, some focusing parameter to build a refocused image from this plenoptic image and a compressed residual data to restore the refocused image in its plain quality.

The present invention concerns a method and a device for compressing and decompressing light field images and more particularly a plenoptic image from a light field camera capture and a refocused image computed from it.
A light field camera, also called a plenoptic camera, is a camera that uses a microlens array to capture four dimensional light field information about a scene. Light field cameras may also be composed of multiple traditional cameras instead of using a microlens array.
A light field camera system provides a set of sub-images. These images are usually integrated into a single image. This single image is called the light field image or the plenoptic image. As this single image is composed of highly correlated sub-images, the single image can be compressed in an efficient way. For example, the images from the plenoptic camera may be compressed by using vector quantization. Other compression algorithms could be used. The single image composed of the multiple sub-images will be called the plenoptic image herein.
The main advantage of such light field cameras is that it is possible to compute from the plenoptic image an image in which the focus can be arbitrarily chosen. After shooting, the photographer can choose the focus, try several, and obtain images of the same scene with different focus. An image obtained for a given focus from a plenoptic image will be called a refocused image herein.
Typically, at the time of shooting, a plenoptic image is obtained. Based on this plenoptic image, the photographer can obtain a refocused image by post-processing. This refocused image can be obtained directly on the camera (for example, the photographer chooses directly an area of interest on the screen of the camera for triggering the refocusing algorithm) or on a personal computer when the plenoptic picture is loaded. This refocused image corresponds to the choice of the photographer for the generation of the refocused image. Therefore, it is desirable to consider the set of images constituting the plenoptic image as the result of the shoot and the refocused image as the result of the post-processing process. It would be advantageous to obtain an efficient method to compress both the plenoptic image and the refocused image.

Method and apparatus for compressing or decompressing light field images

Abstract: Accordingly, the set of images can be compressed in an efficient way, preserving the quality of the shoot using the focus chosen by the photographer.


In accordance with the invention, spatially invariant B.sub.0 eddy currents induced by a slice-selection gradient, G.sub.Z in an MRI system, are compensated by phase modulating the RF excitation pulse with a compensating function. In one embodiment, the compensating function is based on a measure of the integral of the B.sub.0 eddy current. In another embodiment, a scaled copy of the excitation gradient can be used as an approximation of the compensating function.

This invention relates generally to magnetic resonance imaging, and more particularly the invention relates to the correction of spatially invariant B.sub.0 eddy currents by phase modulating a radio-frequency (RF) excitation pulse, B.sub.1.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is a non-destructive method for the analysis of materials and represents a new approach to medical imaging. It is completely non-invasive and does not involve ionizing radiation. In very general terms, nuclear magnetic moments are excited at specific spin precession frequencies which are proportional to the local magnetic field. The radio-frequency signals resulting from the precession of these spins are received using pickup coils. By manipulating the magnetic fields, an array of signal is provided representing different regions of the volume. These are combined to produce a volumetric image of the nuclear spin density of the body.
Briefly, a strong static magnetic field is employed to line up atoms whose nuclei have an odd number of protons and/or neutrons, that is, have spin angular momentum and a magnetic dipole moment. A second RF magnetic field, applied as a single pulse traverse to the first, is then used to pump energy into these nuclei, flipping them over, for example to 90.degree. or 180.degree.. After excitation, the nuclei gradually return to alignment with the static field and give up the energy in the form of weak but detectable free induction decay (FID). These FID signals are used by a computer to produce images.
The excitation frequency, and the FID frequency, is defined by the Larmor relationship which states that the angular frequency .omega..sub.0, of the procession of the nuclei is the product of the magnetic field B.sub.0, and the so-called magnetogyric ratio, .gamma., a fundamental physical constant for each nuclear species: EQU .omega..sub.0 =B.sub.0 .times..gamma.
Accordingly, by superimposing a linear gradient field, B.sub.z =Z.times.G.sub.z, on the same static uniform field, B.sub.0, which defines the Z axis, for example, nuclei in a selected X-Y plane can be excited by proper choice of the frequency spectrum of the transverse excitation field applied along the X or Y axis. Similarly, a gradient field can be applied in the X-Y plane during detection of the FID signals to spatially-localize the FID signals in the plane. The angle of nuclear spin flip in response to an RF pulse excitation is proportional to the integral of the pulse over time.
Spectral-spatial excitation is an effective tool for fat suppression in magnetic resonance imaging. See Meyer, et al., "Magnetic Resonance Medicine," 15.28 (1990); however, suppression levels often fail to meet theoretical results. The technique also suffers inconsistent suppression between imaging planes and systems.
We have discovered that the excitation gradient creates a B.sub.0 eddy current which phase modulates the excitation, creating a spectral sidelobe near the fat resonant frequency. In accordance with the invention, we provide a simple real-time method to remove the phase modulation, thereby providing consistent performance.

Method and apparatus for B.sub.0 eddy current compensation by B.sub.1 phase modulation

Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


A scooping apparatus is disclosed having a carrying frame coupled with a vehicle.. A cage having two cage parts, namely a scooping part and a lid are carried by the frame. The rotation axis of the lid part relative to the scooping part extending on a radial distance from the rotating axis of the cage amounts to zero to two thirds of the radius of the cage.. A first driving means for rotatably driving at least one of the cage parts. A second driving means for moving the cage parts between the closed position and the open position such that a rotation axis of the lid part relative to the scooping part extending on a radial distance from a rotating axis of the cage amounting to zero to two thirds of the radius of the cage.

The invention relates to a scooping apparatus to be coupled with a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
a carrying frame to be coupled with said vehicle by means of coupling means,
a substantially cylindrical cage rotatably carried by said frame, said cage comprising:
two end walls rotatably connected with said frame by means of rotation bearings,
two cage parts carried by said end walls, namely a scooping part having a scooping edge, and a lid part, said two cage parts being relatively movable between a closed position in which they form the cage, and an open position and one of which has at least one opening, in such a way that that cage part has a substantial opening degree,
first driving means for rotatably driving at least one of said cage parts;
and second driving means for moving the cage parts between the closed position and the open position.
Such an apparatus is known from the European patent application EP-0 047 041.
In this prior art construction the two cage parts are hingeably interconnected around a hinge-axis substantially extending in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder plane of the cage.

Scooping apparatus, vehicle and coupling plate therefore


An aqueous dispersion of polyamide rubber elastic body, which contains an aqueous medium and a polyamide rubber elastic body emulsified and dispersed in the aqueous medium in the presence of a surfactant. The surfactant is used in an amount of 1 to 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polyamide rubber elastic body, and is for example at least one member selected from the group consisting of a polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether sulfate, a dialkyl sulfosuccinate, a fatty acid salt and an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymer. This aqueous dispersion can produce a molded article having the characteristics of the polyamide rubber elastic body, particularly a molded article which hardly suffers from bleeding of the surfactant and is excellent in transparency.

A polymeric rubber elastic body essentially has either a soft polymer structure or a structure consisting of a rigid polymer system combined with a soft polymer system, and is used in a wide variety of industrial fields because it has rubber elasticity at ordinary temperatures and it can be mechanically molded due to its plasticization at high temperatures similar to thermoplastics. Typical polymeric rubber elastic bodies include those based on styrene, olefin, polyester, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, and polyamide. These polymeric rubber elastic bodies are usually provided as molded articles produced by mechanical operation such as extrusion molding, and when used in coating agents for various materials, adhesives, binders, modifiers such as emulsions, or binders for fibers, the polymeric rubber elastic bodies are used desirably in the form of aqueous dispersions.
Aqueous dispersions of polymeric rubber elastic bodies have been extensively examined, among which an aqueous dispersion of a styrene rubber elastic body has been provided as a practical product. The aqueous dispersion of a styrene rubber elastic body is produced usually by mixing an organic phase containing a styrene rubber elastic body dissolved in an organic solvent, with an aqueous phase containing an emulsifier (surfactant) dissolved in an aqueous medium, and emulsifying the mixture with a homomixer or the like, followed by removing the organic solvent (see, for example, JP 51-23532 A and JP 2003-253134 A).
However, molded articles obtained from the aqueous dispersion of a styrene rubber elastic body are generally inferior in abrasion resistance, flex resistance, oil resistance, and weather resistance. A polyamide rubber elastic body, on the other hand, can produce molded articles not only excellent in these properties but also excellent in transparency, flexibility, impact strength, tensile strength, chemical resistance, and heat resistance, and further has an advantage that its molded articles can be made thin-walled because it has higher stress upon deformation than other polymeric rubber elastic bodies of the same rigidity, and is thus useful for example as a material for producing packaging films, automobile parts, sporting goods, and medical devices. Accordingly, an aqueous dispersion of polyamide rubber elastic body has been desired to be realized as there has been no example of practical application thereof.
An object of the present invention is to realize an aqueous dispersion of polyamide rubber elastic body capable of producing a molded article having the characteristics of the polyamide rubber elastic body, particularly a molded article which hardly suffers from bleeding of a surfactant and is excellent in transparency.

Aqueous dispersion of polyamide rubber elastic body and method of producing the same


A method for minimizing the dimension of a contact forms a thick dielectric layer on a provided substrate first, and then forms a contact on the first dielectric layer and expose the substrate by performing a slope etching process. The contact with the target contact size is obtained by partially removing the thick dielectric layer. Since the target contact size is obtained by a self-aligned method, the upper diameter of the contact is not limited by a conventional fabrication process. Furthermore, after a contact is formed, it is optional to fill the contact with filler. Even after a desired contact is formed in the case that filler is used, the remains of the filler can be either kept or removed depending on the conductivity of the filler.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a fabricating method that applies a self-aligned process to minimize the dimension of a contact.
2. Description of Related Art
The design of multilevel interconnects has been widely applied in the semiconductor fabrication process for integrating more interconnects within a limited area on a semiconductor chip due to the downsizing of the design rule. As the dimensions and features of an integrated circuit become more complex and smaller, the requirement on the overlay accuracy between layers is stricter.
As shown in FIG. 1, a cross-sectional view showing a conventional contact, a dielectric layer 104 which is k thick is formed on a provided semiconductor substrate 100, wherein the substrate 100 further contains an active area 102 formed therein. Conventionally, a conducting line (not shown) is electrically connected to the active area 102 in the substrate 100 through a contact 106, wherein the contact 106 has a lower diameter d on the end connected to the active area 102, and a upper diameter D on the other end. For example, the lower diameter d used in a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) with a 0.21 .mu.m line width is about 0.15 .mu.m.
Since a contact hole is filled with conducting material to make the contact 106 an electrical connection, the thickness of the dielectric layer 104 therefore is limited by the aspect ratio set by the follow-up process. The aspect ratio determines the maximum thickness of the dielectric layer at which a certain diameter of contact hole will still allow conducting material to be filled into the contact hole without difficulty. In order to form a contact with a lower diameter d of about 0.15 .mu.m in a dielectric 104 with a thickness of about 0.6 .mu.m, an etching process is normally performed on the dielectric layer 104. For example, if an etching process is performed on the dielectric layer 104 to form the contact hole 106 with an etching angle of about 85.degree., the upper diameter D of the contact hole 106 is supposed to be about 0.26 .mu.m. Because the dimension of the contact hole after the etching process is wider than after the exposure process due to the extension rule, the after development inspection (ADI) diameter required for the foregoing contact hole is about 0.23 .mu.m, which is too small for a conventional fabrication process.

Method for fabricating a self-aligned contact


The present invention relates to a method for controlling domestic pests using 2-chloro-N-[{(4'-chloro-2-methoxy[1,1'-biphenyl]4-yl)amino}carbonyl]benzam ide. The benzamide is particularly effective against termites and is suitable for use in baits.

Subterranean termites, which cause nearly a billion dollars in annual damage to U.S. homes, are difficult to control due to their large colonies and large foraging territories. The Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and the eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes, for example, each form colonies containing up to several million termites that can forage a linear distance of 79 to 100 meters (N.-Y. Su, J. Econ. Entomol. 87, 389-397,1994).
A common method of protection for homes makes use of a barrier treatment to surround the home with a narrow, underground trench containing a termiticide. However, barrier treatments typically require the soil incorporation of a large amount of termiticide (5-10 kg for a single family home).
Termite baits have also been used in termite control, most effectively as part of an integrated pest management program. The bait itself is typically a piece of wood or other source of cellulose, such as cardboard. Upon finding a satisfactory bait, foraging termites will use trail pheromones to recruit others. A termite may also become exposed to the bait indirectly by oral transfer from another termite, a phenomenon known as trophallaxis. By a combination of recruitment and trophallaxis, the bait is eventually delivered to much of the colony over a period of a few days to several months. Because of the time necessary to disperse the bait throughout the colony, a toxicant mixed in the bait to control termites should be slow-acting.
In addition to their lethal effects, many termiticides are also termite repellents at varying concentrations (N.-Y. Su and R. H. Schreffrahn, J. Econ. Entomol., 86, 1453-1457,1993). A suitable termiticide for use in a bait will therefore have lethal activity at concentrations well below those that cause repellency.
Insect growth regulators (IGRs) are attractive as bait toxicants because they are inherently slow-acting compounds. Examples of IGRs reported to have activity against termites include methoprene (isopropyl (2E-4E)-11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyl-2,4-dodecadienoate), pyriproxyfen (2-[1-methyl-2-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)ethoxy]pyridine), fenoxycarb (O-ethyl N-[2-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)ethylcarbamate), and hexaflumuron (N-[{(3,5-dichloro-4 -(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy)phenyl)amino}carbonyl]-2,6-difluorobenzamide). U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,293 describes a bait containing these compounds for controlling cockroaches and termites.
The IGR hexaflumuron is a highly active chitin synthesis inhibitor belonging to a class of compounds commonly known as the benzoylphenylureas. It is the active ingredient in DowElanco's Sentricon.TM. System for termite control and its activity has been reported in the literature (N.-Y. Su, J. Econ. Entomol., 87, 389-397,1994). Structurally related compounds having lethal activity against termites include chlorfluazuron, diflubenzuron, triflumuron and lufenuron.
International Publication Number WO 85/01047 discloses insecticidal activity against foliar feeding pests for compounds of the formula: ##STR1##
Specifically disclosed in the above reference is 2-chloro-N-[{(4'-chloro-2-methoxy[1,1'-biphenyl]4-yl)amino}carbonyl]benzam ide (A). It has now been found that compound A is also highly effective against termites. In particular, it has now been found that compound A is termiticidal at very low concentrations and slow enough acting to be highly effective in a termite bait.


A method to increase the efficiency of hematopoietic stem cell engraftment in vivo is provided.

As many hereditary diseases are a result of defects in single genes, there are many potential applications of gene therapy in the treatment of single gene disorders. Moreover, gene therapy can also be useful in the treatment of acquired diseases, e.g., cancer and infectious diseases. In particular, many of these diseases can potentially be treated or prevented by the introduction of a therapeutic gene(s) into hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), since the entire hematopoietic system can theoretically be regenerated from a single stem cell.
With a few exceptions (e.g., hormones), most anticancer drugs used in the clinic today cause moderate to severe bone marrow toxicity (e.g., vinblastine, cisplatin, methotrexate, alkylating agents, and anthracyclines). The introduction of a gene that confers resistance to a chemotherapeutic drug (termed a drug resistance gene) into HSC can convert these bone marrow progenitor cells to a drug resistant state, thus allowing larger than conventional doses of chemotherapeutic agents to be administered safely to patients, without toxicity to bone marrow, the gastrointestinal tract, and other normal proliferating tissue.
The first eukaryotic drug resistance gene to be transferred to reconstituting bone marrow cells was a methotrexate (MTX) resistant rodent dihydrofolate reductase (mDHFR) gene. Mice transplanted with cells transduced with a mDHFR containing retroviral vector were protected from methotrexate induced myelosuppression (Corey et al., Blood, 75, 337 (1990); Williams et al., J. Exp. Med. 166, 210 (1987)). Subsequent experiments have suggested that methotrexate can also be used to select for murine hemopoietic cells expressing transferred MDHFR genes (Vinh and McIvor, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 267, 989 (1993)).
Transfer of the human mdr1 gene to hemopoietic cells has also been described. P-glycoprotein, the product of the mdr1 gene, functions as a drug efflux pump and confers resistance to a wide variety of naturally occurring chemotherapeutic agents. Mice transplanted with mdr1 transduced cells showed attenuation of taxol induced myelosuppression (Sorrentino et al., Science, 257, 99 (1992); Hanania et al., Blood, 82, 1260 (1990)). In taxol treated animals, the proportion of circulating leukocytes transduced with the mdr1 virus increased with drug treatment, suggesting that cells expressing the transferred mdr1 gene can be dominantly selected in vivo with taxol (Sorrentino et al., supra; Podda et al., Proc. Nat""l Acad. Sci. USA, 89, 9676 (1992)). More recent work has suggested that the mdr1 gene can be used to select for the presence of other therapeutic genes when the therapeutic genes are linked to the mdr1 cDNA in bicistronic retroviral vectors. Thus, drug resistance genes can be used to attenuate drug induced myelosuppression and can act as dominant selectable markers for genetically altered hemopoietic cells.
While HSC are tempting targets for gene transfer, these cells can be transduced with only limited efficiency, since generally less than 0.01% of the cells in bone marrow are HSC. This limits the implementation of clinical protocols based on gene modified HSC. Moreover, even if a therapeutic gene can be stably integrated into HSC, once transferred to a recipient, the transgenic HSC have no selective growth advantage relative to their nontransgenic counterparts. Without such an advantage, the engraftment of HSC containing the therapeutic gene is uncertain and, thus, the curative effect of the expression of the therapeutic gene in HSC and their progeny is unlikely.
One way to increase the representation of successfully transduced HSC would be to mediate selective engraftment by expression of a drug resistance gene. Although selective expansion of hematopoietic cells derived from transduced stem cells has been demonstrated for stem cells transduced with drug resistance genes, the ability of these drug-resistance genes to confer selective engraftment of HSC has not been established by long-term reconstitution studies.
Thus, what is needed is an improved method to select for engraftment of transplanted hematopoietic cells.
The present invention provides a method for selective engrafinent of hematopoietic stem cell in vivo. The method comprises administering to a mammal a population of stem cells comprising transgenic stem cells, the genome of which has been augmented by a first preselected DNA segment which is operably linked to a promoter functional in stem cells. The first preselected DNA segment encodes resistance to an agent which is normally toxic to stem cells. A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a first preselected DNA segment which encodes resistance to a chemotherapeutic agent, such as an antineoplastic or cytotoxic agent. The genome of the transgenic stem cells can also be augmented by a second preselected DNA segment which encodes a therapeutic agent. The expression of the first preselected DNA segment in the transgenic stem cells is effective to impart resistance or tolerance to said transgenic cells to an amount of the agent which is toxic to the corresponding nontransgenic stem cells. The agent is administered to said mammal in an amount, and for a time, so as to increase the engraftment and proliferation of transgenic stem cells relative to the engraftment and proliferation of nontransgenic stem cells. A preferred embodiment of the invention includes daily administration of the agent.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9chematopoietic stem cells (HSC)xe2x80x9d means a population of primitive progenitor cells which can provide long term reconstitution of both myeloid and lymphoid cell lineages in a host.
As used herein, a cell which is xe2x80x9cresistant or tolerantxe2x80x9d to an agent means a cell which has been genetically modified so that the cell proliferates in the presence of an amount of an agent that inhibits or prevents proliferation of a cell without the modification.
As used herein, a preselected DNA segment that encodes xe2x80x9cresistancexe2x80x9d to an agent, such as a preselected DNA segment that encodes resistance to a chemotherapeutic agent, e.g. methotrexate, means that the expression of the preselected DNA segment in a cell permits that cell to proliferate in the presence of the agent to a greater extent than the proliferation of a corresponding cell without the preselected DNA segment. A preselected DNA segment of the invention can encode resistance to methotrexate, vinblastine, cisplatin, alkylating agents, or anthracyclines, their analogs or derivatives, and the like.
As used herein with respect to an agent, the term xe2x80x9ctherapeutically effective amountxe2x80x9d means an amount of the agent that inhibits or prevents proliferation of untransformed cells in a mammalian host.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9ca preselected DNA segment encoding a therapeutic agentxe2x80x9d is defined as a preselected DNA segment encoding any polypeptide, peptide, protein, or sense or antisense RNA that imparts a desired effect to the mammal when it is produced by the cells of said mammal, including, but not limited to, an enzyme (e.g, adenosine deaminase, thymidine kinase, glucose cerebrosidase), a hormone (e.g., human growth hormone, insulin), a cytokine, clotting factors, a hormonal regulator (e.g., amylin, erythropoietin), antisense oligonucleotides (e.g., antisense to the mRNA encoding P210BCR/ABL) and the like.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cengraftmentxe2x80x9d with respect to HSC means that HSC which are introduced into a recipient are localized in the bone marrow of the recipient and can provide long term reconstitution of both myeloid and lymphoid cell lineages in that recipient.

Method for selective engraftment of drug-resistant hematopoietic stem cells


Co-brands, virtual wrappers for web sites that allow clients to expand client inventories across different web sites, are disclosed. Different types of travel inventory can be provided across these web sites. A client can create different URLs, domains, look and feel, product filters, pricing rules, business logic, payment methods, languages, currencies, etc. off a single instance. A client can create a co-brand and, using an administrator application, configure its settings to target specific geographic locations, targets markets or even themes. Additionally, co-brands are used to allow third party vendors to direct traffic to client sites. Co-brand tools are designed to make items such as navigation, images, buttons, domain names, colors, fonts, languages and currencies. Co-brands make it easier for travel companies to have sites based on demographics, destination, and events that can lead to greater adoption and conversion.

1. Field
The present invention relates to online travel booking, and more particularly to the granularity of customization of web sites for online travel booking.
2. Related Art
Online travel booking is well known in the art. Users can access travel booking web sites, perform searches for various travel services, select desired itinerary, and book the itinerary. However, conventional travel booking web sites are static. They do not change for different targets, and if customization is provided, such customization tends to be specific to a web site or only at a high level. Granular customization is not provided.
Accordingly, there exists a need for dynamic virtual wrappers for travel booking web sites. These wrappers should provide customization at enough granularity to allow clients to create different interfaces across target markets off a single instance. The present invention addresses such a need.

Co-brands for user interface in travel booking


The cover of the present invention includes a base member and a lid which can be fastened to a container such as a paint can to provide an air-tight and fluid-tight arrangement. The base snaps on to a top of a container and includes a central portion, one-half of which is open and the other half of which is closed to provide a shelf. A lid is pivotally attached to the base and includes a spout which is disposed above the opening in the base when the base and the lid are interconnected but arranged so that the lid can be pivoted away from and above the base. The lid also includes a vent which permits the contents of the container to be poured through the opening in the base and the spout in the lid when the lid and the base are tightly interconnected.

Replaceable covers for enclosing large containers such as one gallon and five gallon containers are not new, and it is also not novel to have covers which securely close the container in a manner which prevents the spilling of the liquid contained therein, and also provides an air-tight storing device so that the contents will not harden or evaporate.
Many such devices have been provided for paint cans, putty containers and other evaporatable liquid, but the cover of the present invention provides, in a unitary arrangement, a device which permits easy pouring, air-tight storing, easy opening for dipping of a paint brush into the container, and, furthermore, a built-in brush rest to provide a resting place for a paint brush during use, which permits the paint on the brush to drip back into the container.
This container includes a gasket-type sealing-lip which permits it to be applied to a wide variety of containers used in the paint-applying industry.

Container-lid including pouring spout and brush-support


The disk player is capable of preventing a shift of an object lens in an optical pickup and a poor action caused by the shift. In the disk player, a first servo mechanism drives a motor, which moves an optical pickup in a radial direction of a disk. A second servo mechanism moves an object lens in a radial direction in the optical pickup so as to trace tracks of the disk. A control unit controls the first and second servo mechanisms so as to move the optical pickup from a current track to an object track. The control unit moves the optical pickup to the object track by the steps of: driving the motor without driving the second servo mechanism so as to move the optical pickup to a track near the object track; driving the second servo mechanism after the optical pickup reaches near the object track; stopping the second servo mechanism; and driving the first servo mechanism and the second servo mechanism after the laps of a prescribed time so as to move the optical pickup to the object track.

The present invention relates to a disk player for reproducing date recorded on an optical disk.
Many types of optical disks, e.g., CD, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, are employed to record data. Disk players having optical pickups have been used to read the data recorded on the optical disks.
The disk player includes a servo mechanism for driving a motor, which moves the optical pickup, and another servo mechanism for making the optical pickup trace tracks of the optical disk. The disk player controls the servo mechanisms to read data from the optical disk.
Action of the optical pickup of the conventional disk player will be explained.
To read assigned data, the optical pickup must be moved from a current track to an object track, in which the assigned date is recorded.
To move the optical pickup to the object track, the disk player calculate number of tracks between the current track and the object track, then the optical pickup is moved by two manners, which are selected on the basis of the number of the tracks there between. If the number of the tracks is less than a prescribed number, the pickup is moved by a manner called xe2x80x9cshort jumpxe2x80x9d; if the number of the tracks is equal to the prescribed number or more, the pickup is moved by a manner called xe2x80x9clong jumpxe2x80x9d.
In the manner of xe2x80x9cshort jumpxe2x80x9d, the pickup is moved to trace the tracks with counting number of tracks until reaching the object track.
On the other hand, the manner of xe2x80x9clong jumpxe2x80x9d is employed in the case that the number of the tracks between the current track and the object track is equal to the prescribe number or more. Namely, it takes a long time, by the manner of xe2x80x9cshort jumpxe2x80x9d, to move the optical pickup to the object track. In the manner of xe2x80x9clong jumpxe2x80x9d, revolution number of the motor is counted without counting the number of the tracks while the optical pickup is moved. A distance to the object track is calculated on the basis of the revolution number of the motor, so that the optical pickup can be moved to the object track.
Moving accuracy of the long jump is low. To correctly move the optical pickup, the optical pickup is firstly move to a track near the object track by the long jump, then the optical pickup is further moved by the short jump, so that the optical pickup can be correctly moved to the object track.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show relationships between the optical pickup and an object lens of the optical pickup.
In FIG. 4, the optical pickup 10 has been moved to the track near the object track by the long jump. When the optical pickup 10 reaches the track 11 near the object track by the long jump, the tracking servo mechanism (not shown) drives the object lens 12 to lock the track 11.
When the object lens 12 locks the track 11 by the servo mechanism, reading track can be executed from the track 11. The optical pickup 10 is further moved from the track 11 to the object track by the short jump. While the short jump, the optical pickup 10 traces the tracks with driving the both servo mechanisms.
Revolutional speed of the motor during the long jump is faster than that of the motor during ordinary reproduction, so that the optical pickup 10 is moved faster during the long jump. By the fast motion, even if the long jump is finished, the optical pickup 10 cannot be stopped at a position, at which the object lens 12 locks the track 11, by inertia. Namely, the position of the optical pickup 10 is sometimes slightly shifted in the moving direction thereof as shown in FIG. 5.
If the optical pickup 10 is not completely stopped after the long jump and is shifted as described above, the object lens 12, which has locked the track 11, is shifted in the optical pickup 10. Since the object lens 12 can be moved in focusing and tracking directions, the shift of the object lens 12 occurs in the optical pickup 10.
After the long jump is finished, if the optical pickup 10 reads the track in the state of shifting the object lens 12, difference between clock signals and reproduced signals are increased and level of tracking error signals are made lower, so that the track cannot be correctly read and the reading action is stopped.
The disk player of the present invention is invented to solve the problems of the conventional disk player.
An object of the present invention is to provide a disk player capable of preventing a shift of an object lens in an optical pickup, which occurs after the optical pickup is moved, and a poor action caused by the shift.
Namely, the disk player of the present invention comprises:
a first servo mechanism for driving a motor, which moves an optical pickup in a radial direction of a disk;
a second servo mechanism for moving an object lens in a radial direction in the optical pickup so as to trace tracks of the disk; and
a control unit controlling the first servo mechanism and the second servo mechanism so as to make the optical pickup jump over a plurality of the tracks to move the optical pickup from a current track to an object track,
wherein the control unit moves the optical pickup from the current track to the object track by the steps of:
driving the motor without driving the second servo mechanism so as to move the optical pickup to a track near the object track;
driving the second servo mechanism after the optical pickup reaches near the object track;
stopping the second servo mechanism; and
driving the first servo mechanism and the second servo mechanism after the laps of a prescribed time so as to move the optical pickup to the object track.
In the disk player of the present invention, the second servo mechanism is once driven after the optical pickup reaches near the object track, then the second servo mechanism is immediately stopped. The object lens locks the track while the second servo mechanism is firstly driven. By immediately stopping the second servo mechanism, the shift of the optical pickup caused by the inertia is braked. And, the object lens can be returned to a center of the optical pickup while the second servo mechanism is stopped. Further, the shift of the optical pickup caused by the inertia is stopped while the second servo mechanism is stopped. Therefore, the object lens is not shifted when the second servo mechanism is driven again, so that the tracks can be correctly read and poor action, e.g., read error, can be prevented after the optical pickup reaches the object track.

Read error reduction system for a disk player


An actuation system for variable stator vanes pivotally mounted in a casing includes a plurality of levers joined to the respective vanes. An actuation ring coaxially surrounds the casing adjacent to the levers. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart ring guides are joined to the casing for guiding circumferential rotation of the ring. Respective slip joints are provided between each of the levers and the actuation ring for varying pivot length of the levers as the ring is rotated for effecting nonlinear vane actuation.

The present invention relates generally to gas turbine engines, and, more specifically, to variable stator vane actuation in multi-stage axial compressors thereof.
In a gas turbine engine, air is pressurized in a compressor and channeled to a combustor wherein it is mixed with fuel and ignited for generating hot combustion gases which flow downstream therefrom into one or more turbine stages which extract energy therefrom for powering the compressor and producing useful work. A typical compressor has a plurality of axial stages which compress the air in turn as it flows downstream. And, each compressor stage includes a row of rotor blades extending radially outwardly from a compressor spool or disk, and a cooperating row of stator vanes extending radially inwardly from an annular casing.
In order to control performance and stall margin of the compressor, many of the stator vane rows are variable for selectively adjusting the angle of the vanes relative to the air being compressed. Variable stator vanes include a spindle which extends radially outwardly through a casing and to which is attached a lever. The lever in turn is pivotally joined to a unison ring coaxially surrounding the compressor casing. The several unison rings for the different variable stages are in turn typically joined to a common beam pivotally joined to the casing at one end and joined to a suitable actuator at an opposite end. The actuator pivots the beam which in turn rotates the unison rings connected thereto which in turn rotates the respective levers attached thereto for pivoting the corresponding stator vanes.
Since the individual levers are pivotally joined to the unison rings, the unison rings are allowed to rotate circumferentially and translate axially to follow the path of the levers. The rotation of the unison rings directly rotates the attached levers and vanes in a substantially linear cooperation. And, the amount of stator vane pivoting varies from stage to stage since the several unison rings are joined to the common beam at correspondingly different pivoting lengths from the pivoting end of the beam.
Since a gas turbine engine typically operates over a range of output power, the operation of the compressor is correspondingly scheduled for maximizing efficiency of operation without undergoing undesirable aerodynamic stall. Vane scheduling is controlled by the kinematic motion of the levers, unison rings, and actuation beam.
However, it is desirable to introduce further variability in the stator vane position schedule for further improving engine performance and efficiency while maintaining an effective stall margin.


Disclosed is a sterilization cassette with a less cumbersome mechanism for opening and closing the cassette, as compared to prior art cassettes. The cassette includes a slider mechanism that couples the cassette closed with pins and hooks on one side, and that allows pivoting of the two cassette pieces with slots and pins on the other side. The cassette can therefore be open and closed with one hand in a simple and easy manner. The cassette can also include inserts that hold instruments in a staggered, multi-layer manner to increase the efficiency of the cassette as compared to the single-layered inserts of the prior art.

Sterilization cassettes are used by those in the dental and surgical industry to clean and sterilize surgical instruments between patient operations. Once an instrument is used, it can be placed inside a sterilization cassette and placed within a cleaning device that is similar to a dishwasher. The cassette generally has apertures that allow water and other cleaning fluid to enter into the cassette and clean the instruments inside. The cassette also has inserts that softly grip the instruments during the cleaning process to ensure they are adequately spaced from one another. A sterilization cassette can therefore act as an easy to carry, portable container that includes all of the necessary items for operating on a patient.
An exemplary cassette 700 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. As shown, the cassette 700 includes a first portion 705 coupled to a second portion 710. Each portion 705, 710 can include apertures 715 for allowing the flow of liquid into the cassette 700 and to clean the instruments inside. The portions 705, 710 are coupled together by a latch system 720 including an arm 725 and a slot 730 that receives the arm 725 inside. As shown in FIG. 8, the first 705 and second 710 portions each include tabs 731 that passively engage one another to allow pivoting of the first 705 and second 710 portions about one another.
FIG. 8 also illustrates the inserts 735 of the prior art cassettes 700. As shown, the insert 735 is a soft, generally rubber or silicone object with indents 740 that receive surgical instruments. A user can therefore place their surgical instruments inside the indents 740 where the instruments will be adequately spaced apart during the cleaning process.
The prior art cassette 700 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and prior art cassettes in general, serve their purpose of providing an easy enclosure for holding instruments during cleaning. However, the tabs 731 passively engage one another in a manner that can be difficult to handle on a daily basis. For example, the prior art cassette portions 705, 710 lift away from each other completely when the cassette 700 is opened, and therefore require two hands to open and close. The latch system 720 also requires two hands to operate. Further, the inserts 735 include a basic array of indents 740 for holding instruments, but are not optimally designed for holding the maximum number of instruments within the cassette 700.


An electrodialysis method and apparatus include a source of concentrate fluid, a source of dilute fluid, a collector of treated concentrate fluid, a collector of dilute fluid, an anode and a cathode. A plurality of generally planar spacers are interleaved with a plurality of membranes to define a plurality of cells providing electrically conductive fluid connection between the anode and the cathode. Each of the spacers comprises a gasket that defines a first aperture and a second aperture. Each of said first and second apertures define an independent cell between interleaved membranes. The symmetrical, multiple split cell spacer configuration channels fluid flow through two or more narrow and elongated paths. The split cell arrangement allows for operation of the stack in parallel or in series. The invention improves the ion removal efficiency of a given membrane area, requires significantly less energy than other electrodialysis systems and substantially reduces stack assembly, materials and fabrication costs.

1. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to a method and apparatus for the purification and reuse or disposal of polluted liquids.
More particularly, this invention pertains to an electrodialysis stack for the removal and concentration of ions from aqueous solutions and certain aqueous/organic solutions.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are presently a number of systems for treating and recycling aqueous and aqueous/organic waste streams on the market. Present state of the art systems, including de-ionization methods that are available to industrial waste stream generators, are deficient in their ability to consistently and economically produce a cleansed fluid of sufficient quality that can be continuously recycled and reused, especially in the case of small to medium volume liquid waste generation. The initial high cost of purchasing many of these systems is beyond the economic resources of many businesses, thus prohibiting cost-effective recycling for environmental compliance or beneficial reuse.
Multi-cell electrodialysis stacks are normally built up of membrane sheets separated from each other by suitable gaskets. For efficient separations, the distance (gap) between the sheets is as small as possible. In most designs, a spacer is introduced between the individual membrane sheets, both to assist in supporting the membrane and to help control the liquid flow distribution. The stacks for most electrodialysis processes are assembled in the same fashion as a plate-and-frame filter press, the gaskets corresponding to the frames and the membrane sheets corresponding to the plates. The manifolds that are needed to distribute the process fluids to the various compartments or channels are formed by ingenious patterns of mating holes and slots punched in the gaskets and sometimes in the membranes themselves, prior to assembly of the stack. Several different gasket and spacer materials and arrangements and channel geometries have been utilized or proposed.
In typical electrodialysis systems, the flow pattern within each compartment (i.e., between any two successive membranes) is determined by the configuration of the spacer element used between the membranes. Two distinctively different flow arrangements are typically used. One is known as the tortuous-path design; the other makes use of the sheet-flow principle. The most serious design problem for both flow arrangements for multi-membrane and multi-cell stacks is that of assuring uniform fluid flow to the various compartments and effective transport of the ions to the membrane surfaces. These difficulties are the major obstacles to simple, single stage demineralization of brackish liquids.
In particular, reducing concentration polarization is one of the most important design issues for electrodialysis. Concentration polarization is the reduction of ion concentrations near the membrane surface compared to those in the bulk solution flowing through the membrane compartment. With substantial concentration polarization, electrolytic water splitting in order to provide the requisite electric current carriers through the membranes occurs due to the deficiency of solute ions adjacent to the membranes that can carry the current. This water splitting is extremely detrimental to electrodialysis efficiency. The tendency of concentration polarization to take place at the surface of the membranes is due to the hydrodynamic characteristic of channel flow, in which there is a central turbulent core of flow bounded by thin viscous boundary layers adjacent to the confining surfaces. These viscous boundary layers impose a resistance to the passage of ions much greater than that of a layer of like thickness in the turbulent core, and hence increase the likelihood of polarization at the membrane surfaces. Polarization is objectionable not only from the standpoint of the inefficient increase in energy consumption, but also the change of pH of the concentrate stream as a result of water splitting, which tends to cause scale deposition.
When dealing with fluids with very low total dissolved solids (TDS), back diffusion can take place. Back diffusion occurs when the ion concentration in the concentrate stream is substantially higher than the ion concentration in the de-mineralized stream. The result is that some of the ions from the concentrate stream diffuse back through the membrane, against the force of the DC potential, into the de-mineralized stream.
The number of cells in a stack is limited mainly by the practical considerations of assembly and maintenance requirements. Since the failure of a single membrane can seriously impair stack performance, the necessity to be able to disassemble and reassemble a stack to replace a membrane, and the necessity to be able to perform this quickly and easily, effectively limits the number of membranes that can be practically utilized in a stack. As a result, it is often desirable to use several smaller modular-size stacks rather than one large one. This problem has been attacked by using several small subassemblies or packs containing about 50 to 100 cell pairs (CP), and arranging as many as 10 of these packs in series in a single clamping press. A single set of electrodes may be used for the entire assembly (stack) or several electrodes may be used to provide electric staging. However, use of single electrodes for larger assemblies typically causes end-cell heating that results in rapid membrane deterioration.
The present invention serves to expand the possible applications of electrodialysis in that it represents an efficient, small scale electrodialysis system with a configuration allowing cost-effective small-scale applications, while making the large scale applications even more cost-competitive than they currently are.
In accordance with the present invention, a unique gasket design reduces hydraulic pressure drop across the cell stack assembly by eliminating narrow inlet/outlet manifold cutouts inherent with conventional designs. The reduction of hydraulic pressure permits the use of higher flow rates that further reduce concentration polarization, as well as thinner membranes, resulting in improved desalting efficiency, especially for sparingly conductive solutions, and also less sensitivity to the presence of suspended matter.
The novel multiple split cell design can be operated in parallel as a roughing de-mineralizer (or operated in a batch recirculation mode) or operated in series allowing for single-pass continuous flow. When operated in the series mode, the split cell design permits separate voltage and flow control when a higher purity fluid is desired. The split cell design permits separate cell control of concentrate stream salinity content. The roughing cell may be operated with a higher concentrate stream TDS, with the salinity of the polish cell concentrate stream correspondingly reduced to the salinity content of the de-mineralized stream. This prevents back diffusion and allows for efficient removal of ions in feed water of low TDS. In short, the split cell design incorporates the benefits of hydraulic and electrical staging without the inherent complexity and expense of commercial electrodialysis systems.
The split cell design minimizes the voltage potential across the stack, thereby reducing end-cell heating that leads to membrane deterioration.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simpler stack assembly of low production cost. Stack assembly cost is reduced as a result of the novel split cell/gasket geometry. A reduced number of expensive machined components are required. Simpler and lighter components lower material costs for a given membrane area. Inexpensive center bolts provide an alternative to typical hydraulic force application arrangements, which also improves the uniformity of the clamping force distribution on the gasket area. Threaded bolts also reduce assembly labor time, i.e., it is easier to hold the configuration in place and also facilitate change-out of membranes when they are spent, as the cell geometry reduces stress on the end points as is found inherent with some conventional stack assemblies.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method that allows for the cost-effective arrangement of two or more split membrane cells that enables the ingenious arrangements of plumbing for optimizing deionization processing.
The cell gasket geometry can be more easily and inexpensively fabricated from a larger range of materials in comparison to conventional designs, allowing the process to be used in more harsh environments through the use of a wide range of chemically resistant materials. It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method that combines a unique arrangement of small to intermediate scale unit operations for the economical recovery/reclamation of a wide range of fluids and that can also be scaled to a large system size, further improving the economics of large scale electrodialysis systems by reducing both capital and operating costs.

Multi-path split cell spacer and electrodialysis stack design


A non-tacky adhesive fastening system may comprise an engaging member having an engaging surface with a non-tacky adherent disposed thereon and a receiving member having a receiving surface with a non-tacky adherend disposed thereon. The non-tacky adherent may be pre-engaged to the non-tacky adherend. The non-tacky adhesive fastening system, after aging, exhibits a T-Peel of less than about 12 N/inch and is refastenable.

Fastening systems are widely used in a variety of applications where closure of components is required. Certain fastening systems are refastenable in that they are capable of multiple openings and closures. Items such as diapers and containers storing foodstuff or other consumer goods are commonly equipped with a fastening system and, typically, a refastenable fastening system. Such fastening systems may include a mechanical fastening system and/or an adhesive fastening system. While mechanical and adhesive fastening systems provide certain consumer benefits, each system also has significant drawbacks.
Mechanical fastening systems capable of refastenability include hook and loop fasteners and variants such as mushroom-shaped fasteners. These types of mechanical fasteners may have a tendency to attach to undesired surfaces such as clothing, carpet, or the wearer. Furthermore, hooks are generally rigid and may be a source of irritation if used in products which are placed in close contact to a wearer's skin. Another problem often associated with mechanical type fasteners is that they may become damaged during the high-speed formation process required for commercially viable manufacture of consumer goods such as diapers. For example, hooks tend to get damaged during manufacture, and other mechanical type fasteners such as buttons, tab and slots, or the like can also become damaged, torn, or otherwise impacted by high speed handling.
Another problem associated with mechanical fasteners is that they may not exhibit the requisite integrity for use in consumer goods. For example, disposable absorbent articles such as pant-type diapers may have sides secured by a mechanical fastener such as a hook and loop fastening system. However, hook and loop fastening systems may prove inadequate for the peel force demands of a pant-type diaper. If peel forces are too low, a child may be able to remove the diaper when such removal is undesired. Another potential drawback of conventional mechanical fasteners, particularly in pant-type diapers, is that such fasteners may need to be located in an area of the diaper without stretch properties. This may create a design paradox if the mechanical fastener is to be located in an area exhibiting stretch properties such as the side panels of a pant-type diaper. The compromise made is typically to limit the size of the hook and loop fastening area which results in a lack of versatility of the product and can diminish the desired fastening strength of the side panels of the article.
Like mechanical fastening systems, adhesive fastening systems also have drawbacks. One such drawback of an adhesive fastening system includes the use of a traditional adhesive that sticks to surfaces indiscriminately. Such indiscriminate adhesive fastening systems are not ideal for use in consumer products such as diapers where adhesion of the fastener to skin, hair, or clothing is undesirable.
Another drawback of adhesive fastening systems is that the system may exhibit "lock-up" after a period of time in an engaged configuration. Lock-up is the condition where an engaged fastening system will not release without some form of catastrophic failure that prohibits refastening. For example, the fastening system may tear or the adhesive may delaminate from an underlying substrate. In many consumer goods with an adhesive fastening system, lock-up is a significant problem because the consumer good is manufactured with the fastening system already engaged (i.e., pre-engaged). For example, an absorbent article with a pre-engaged adhesive fastening system can take the form of a pants-type diaper having refastenable side seams comprising an adhesive fastening system. During the manufacture, transport, and storage of pant-type diapers, a pre-engaged adhesive may be engaged for several weeks or months and may experience elevated pressure and temperature.
Time, temperature, and pressure may all exacerbate adhesive lock-up. Generally, a pre-engaged adhesive fastening system will experience environmental factors during transport and storage that far exceed the environmental factors experienced during use of the pre-engaged adhesive fastening system. For example, during transport and storage, a pre-engaged adhesive fastening system on a pants-type diaper may experience temperatures in excess of 60° C. and pressures in excess of 0.8 N/cm2. Conversely, during wear, a pre-engaged adhesive fastening system on a pants-type diaper generally experiences temperatures of about 98° F. (about 37° C.) and de minimis pressures. As a result of the time, temperature, and pressure experienced by the pre-engaged adhesive fastening system, a consumer may receive a pants-type diaper with a locked adhesive fastener. The diaper would be considered undesirable since unfastening the pre-engaged system would prevent further refastenability of the diaper.
Even if lock-up does not occur, the pre-engaged adhesive fastening system may require separation forces that exceed a preferred range. Consumer testing has shown that fastening systems that exhibit a peel force of greater than about 12 N/inch, as measured by a T-Peel test, are viewed as being difficult to separate. Consumers tend to prefer a fastening system exhibiting a peel force of less than 10 N/inch, as measured by the T-Peel Test.
A further drawback of pre-engaged adhesive fastening systems is that, if the system does not exhibit lock-up or require an excessive separation force, the system may exhibit poor refastenability. After a pre-engaged adhesive fastening system has been opened and refastened, the system should exhibit sufficient integrity such that it may remain engaged during use. The force to disengage the pre-fastened system should be sufficient to counteract the forces normally encountered during use of the fastening system. For purposes of pants-type diapers, the refastened adhesive fastening system should have sufficient strength to counteract normal wear forces (e.g., wearer movements) while remaining sealed. Furthermore, with regard to pants-type diapers, the fastening system should be able to be refastened at least three times while maintaining sufficient strength.
While the problems associated with mechanical and adhesive fastening systems have been presented in regard to pant-type diapers, the problems are equally applicable to similar fastening systems on other consumer and commercial products. For example, the fastening system may itself be a commercial good in the form of a rollstock of pre-engaged two-component tape such as a hook-and-loop tape with a hook-bearing sheet joined to a loop-bearing sheet. The rollstock may be used by a consumer to refastenably join two surfaces together. Other consumer products having similar problems with mechanical and adhesive fastening systems include overwraps or bags where resealability is desired. For example, fastening systems are becoming increasingly common on foodstuff bags (e.g., potato chip bags and the like) and on overwraps or bags housing consumer or commercial goods (e.g., diaper overwraps, tissue overwraps, and the like).
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a pre-engaged fastening system that, after aging, does not exhibit lock-up and that does not require excessive force for separation. It is also desirable that the pre-engaged fastening system is non-tacky. It is also desirable that the fastening system exhibit refastenability such that the fastening system can be opened and refastened multiple times while maintaining sufficient integrity in the refastened state. Pre-engaged adhesive fastening systems are desirable because, in a pre-engaged configuration, the adhesive surface is not exposed to contamination during shipment and handling.
It is also desirable to provide consumer goods comprising a pre-engaged fastening system that does not exhibit lock-up, does not require excessive force for separation, and exhibits requisite refastenability. A pre-engaged adhesive fastening system may impart desirable characteristics to a product that incorporates such a system. With regard to absorbent articles such as pant type-diapers, by employing various types of non-tacky adhesive fastening techniques either alone or in combination with other fastening techniques, the articles described herein offer improved versatility, fit, and refastening performance over those previously known in the art. These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the description below.

Non-tacky adhesive fastening system for use in consumer products


Described herein is an apparatus and system of a low-impedance reference voltage generator. The apparatus comprises: a voltage-control loop including a first transistor to provide an output voltage; and a current-control loop to sense current through the first transistor, relative to a reference current. The node having the output voltage is a low-impedance node.

Circuits that provide low-impedance reference voltages have high power consumption. For example, at a supply voltage of 1V, traditional low-impedance reference generators can consume more than 5 mA to provide a low-impedance reference voltage. Today's computers and analog circuits operate at low supply voltages and are preferred to have low power consumption and size, which makes the use of traditional low-impedance reference generators a challenge.

Low-impedance reference voltage generator


An apparatus and method for reducing interference between an uplink transmitter of a space-based wireless communication system and an uplink or downlink receiver of a terrestrial wireless communication system are described. The space-based system may be a Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) system and the terrestrial system may be a Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS) system. An ordered list of preferred uplink transmission frequencies is assigned to all FSS uplinks located in a particular cell of the LMDS system. Different ordered lists are used in different cells of the LMDS system, while uplinks located in the same cell can utilize the same ordered list. A given potentially-interfering uplink transmitter selects an uplink transmission frequency from the appropriate ordered list if the uplink is unable to operate outside the LMDS frequency band and there are no gaps in the LMDS spectrum which can accommodate the uplink transmission. The ordered list may be selected by the LMDS service provider such that the impact of interference from FSS uplinks can be readily predicted and minimized. The invention thus allows simultaneous access to a shared frequency band for both LMDS and FSS systems.

There has been much interest recently in providing broadband wireless access to fixed networks via cell-based terrestrial communication systems operating at millimeter wave frequencies. FIG. 1 illustrates the basic components of an exemplary communication system 100 referred to herein as a Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS) system. The terrestrial point-to-multipoint LMDS system 100 provides wireless access to fixed networks. The LMDS system 100 includes a number of cells 105-i, i=1, 2 . . . M, each of which include a corresponding hub 110-i also referred to herein as a base station. The cells 105-i are nominally circular in shape. The hubs 110-i generally include hub transmitters which establish point-to-multipoint radio links with subscribers 115 located within a given LMDS cell 105-i. The hubs 110-i are each also connected to a fixed network 120, which may be a computer network, a cable television network or a public telephone network. Point-to-point interconnections or other transmission links could be used in place of fixed network 120 to interconnect cell hubs 110-i. LMDS systems in the U.S. are expected to operate at, for example, frequencies in the 27.5-28.35 and 29.1-29.25 GHz bands.
LMDS system 100 will typically reuse the same channel frequencies in adjacent system cells. This frequency reuse may be implemented using polarization reuse techniques in the hub transmitter in conjunction with either omnidirectional or directional hub antennas. Highly directional subscriber antennas may also be used to minimize interference from adjacent cells. When omnidirectional hub antennas are used, the system could be configured such that orthogonal linear polarizations V and H are transmitted in adjacent cells. When directional hub antennas are used, such as in an arrangement in which four 90.degree. directional antennas each provide communication coverage over a 90.degree. sector of a given cell, the system could be configured such that different orthogonal linear polarizations are utilized for adjacent antenna sectors.
Another technique which reduces interference levels between adjacent LMDS frequency reuse cells is frequency interleaving. Frequency interleaving is described in greater detail in E. N. Barnhart el al., "Frequency Reuse in the Cellular LMDS," Submission to the FCC for inclusion in the LMDS Rulemaking Record, Docket No. 92-297, Jan. 6, 1994, which is incorporated by reference herein. An exemplary frequency interleaving technique involves offsetting the carrier frequencies in different cells by about half of the adjacent channel spacing. For example, in transmission of FM video with channels spaced 20 MHz apart, a suitable frequency interleave offset is 10 MHz. If each FM video signal actually occupies only 18 MHz of its allocated 20 MHz band, the above-cited Barnhart et al. reference indicates that the amount of interference protection obtained from this exemplary frequency interleaving technique is on the order of 10 dB. This interleaving technique is best suited to modulation formats such as analog FM which concentrate signal energy near the center of the channel. These analog formats are likely to be utilized in LMDS systems designed for broadcast video distribution, although digital modulation formats may also be utilized in broadcast video distribution, data distribution as well as other services.
Link budgets for LMDS systems generally assume an unblocked path between the hub 110-i and the subscribers 115. In many locations, this may not always be the case due to blockage from buildings, trees or other obstructions. Low power active repeaters can be used to fill in areas of the cell where there is insufficient signal strength due to excessive blockage along the direct path in the direction of the nearest hub transmitter. A typical repeater would be located inside the boundaries of a cell at a location where the signal can be received from the base station, and would amplify and redirect the signal. The repeater antenna could be cross-polarized to the nearest LMDS hub antenna in order to reduce interference to subscribers not utilizing the repeater.
The LMDS system 100 may be used to provide wireless access to services ranging from one-way video distribution and telephony to fully-interactive switched broadband multimedia applications. Circuit switched applications such as voice telephony, personal video telephony, backhaul for personal communications services (PCS) and ISDN multimedia services could be accommodated. Packet-oriented services such as remote database query, interactive entertainment, personalized information services on virtual channels, transaction processing and electronic data interchange could also be implemented. Additional LMDS applications include primary or emergency backup data transport, two-way distance education and corporate training, and high capacity switched data for image transfers and remote consultation for medical users. Interactive uses include video on demand, home shopping, interactive video games, and residential and business data from sub-T1 to multiple T1 rates. Implementation of digital modulation formats allows the LMDS system provider to take advantage of improvements in digital compression technology and expand to HDTV as these technologies become available.
Presently proposed LMDS system architectures generally differ in terms of cell size, modulation format and hub antenna type. Other system design parameters include antenna patterns, antenna heights, antenna pointing, cell spacing, frequency reuse plan, polarization reuse plan and link budget. The particular configuration of parameters selected for a given LMDS system will generally depend upon which of the previously-mentioned communication applications the system is intended to support, and the underlying architecture philosophy of the equipment and service providers. An exemplary consumer-oriented LMDS system proposed by CellularVision (CV) provides analog FM video distribution with a 4.8 km cell radius, and utilizes polarization reuse, directional subscriber antennas and frequency interleaving to reduce interference between cells. The CV system also utilizes return links (subscriber-to-hub) operating at a lower data rate in the guard bands of the downlink broadcast video channels. A two-way multiple access LMDS system described by Texas Instruments (TI) to the FCC Negotiated Rulemaking Committee (NRMC) on the LMDS/FSS 28 GHz band, July-September 1994, utilizes 52 Mbps QPSK and four directional sector antennas at each hub to provide omnidirectional cell coverage with a nominal cell radius of 5 km. Dedicated spectrum is used for return links, and in asymmetrical traffic applications, users are multiplexed in accordance with a time-domain multiple access (TDMA) technique. Both the CV and TI LMDS systems are designed for operation in the above-noted 27.5-28.35 and 29.1-29.25 GHz LMDS frequency bands. The CV and TI systems are described in greater detail in the Final Report of the LMDS/FSS 28 GHz Band NRMC, Sep. 23, 1994, which is incorporated by reference herein. The 28 GHz band as used herein refers generally to frequency bands which include or are situated in proximity to 28 GHz. The 28 GHz band is thus intended to include frequencies or frequency bands between about 27.5 and 30.0 GHz, such as the above-noted exemplary LMDS bands of 27.5-28.35 and 29.1-29.25 GHz. It should be noted that LMDS systems may also be configured to operate in a variety of other frequency bands.
A significant problem which has arisen in connection with the above-described LMDS systems is the fact that a number of space-based and terrestrial communication systems were proposed for operation within the same portions of the 28 GHz frequency band. For example, portions of this band have been requested by mobile satellite service (MSS) providers for feeder links to satellites providing mobile service, and by fixed satellite service (FSS) providers for fixed-location subscriber uplink transmitters. Microwave equipment manufacturers have also requested allocation of portions of the band for point-to-point microwave service. The above-noted LMDS/FSS 28 GHz band NRMC was formed to study these and other interference issues and to make recommendations to the FCC for allocating and/or sharing the 28 GHz band between LMDS and satellite services. The NRMC investigated a number of interference scenarios covering interference from FSS earth station and MSS feeder link uplinks into LMDS subscriber receivers and interference from LMDS hub transmissions into FSS and MSS satellite receivers. Satellites in both geosynchronous orbit (GSO) and non-geosynchronous orbit (NGSO) were considered. The scenario which showed the greatest potential for harmful intersystem interference was FSS earth stations interfering with LMDS subscriber receivers. LMDS and FSS system proponents envision widespread distribution of LMDS subscribers and FSS earth stations, respectively, throughout the same geographic areas. The description of proposed FSS systems submitted to the LMDS/FSS 28 GHz band NRMC indicates that a single FSS uplink transmitter can cause harmful interference to multiple LMDS receivers.
FIG. 2 illustrates potential interference between an FSS earth station uplink transmitter 140 and LMDS subscriber, hub and repeater receivers in a given cell. The FSS transmitter 140 transmits an uplink signal to an FSS receiver 150 which in this example is a GSO satellite receiver. The LMDS hub 110-1 transmits and receives signals from the LMDS subscriber 115 and as noted above may utilize an LMDS repeater 160 to communicate with other subscribers in a corresponding repeater sub-cell. The desired FSS uplink and LMDS signal paths are shown as solid lines. The dashed lines indicate undesirable interfering signals. It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the FSS transmitter uplink signal represents an interfering signal to the LMDS subscriber 115, the LMDS hub 110-1 and the LMDS repeater 160. The interference power generated is directly proportional to the FSS earth station antenna sidelobe level in the direction of the LMDS subscriber 115. A single FSS transmitter can thus simultaneously interfere with many different LMDS subscriber receivers, as well as LMDS hub and repeater receivers. The problem is magnified when the FSS uplink experiences rain attenuation since proposed system designs implement power control to adaptively increase the transmitted power under heavy rain conditions. Similar interference problems arise between other types of terrestrial and space-based systems.
Prior art techniques for resolving these and other interference problems include full allocation of a given frequency band to either FSS or LMDS systems, or band segmentation in which both FSS and LMDS systems would receive less bandwidth than desired. For example, a band segmentation approach has been proposed for resolving the potential interference between FSS uplinks and LMDS subscriber receivers in the above-noted 28 GHz frequency band. However, these known techniques unduly restrict the use of a given frequency band and thereby prevent optimal delivery of the above-noted communication services to subscribers.
As is apparent from the above, a need exists for improved interference reduction which allows simultaneous operation of shared-frequency terrestrial and space-based communication systems.

Interference reduction in shared-frequency wireless communication systems