A valve drive control apparatus having a communication unit for communicating a flow-in-side tube path with a flow-out-side tube path, which guide a fluid member, and a control medium storage chamber into which an attenuation characteristic control medium is filled. The valve drive control apparatus further includes an elastic deform member for defining the communication unit and the control medium storage chamber, a drive unit for pressuring the attenuation characteristic control medium so as to deform the elastic deform member via the attenuation characteristic control medium, and also a control unit for controlling the drive unit based on a drive control valve obtained from a valve drive characteristic representative of a relationship between a deform amount of a valve mechanism unit and a drive pressure value of the valve mechanism unit. The valve drive characteristic is acquired from a dynamic fluid characteristic of the fluid member and a dynamic fluid characteristic of the attenuation characteristic control medium.

The present invention relates to a valve control technique for controlling operations of valves provided in supply tube paths used to guide fluids such as medical fluids.
Begining to the semiconductor wafer manufacturing technique, in manufacturing processes in the various technical fields such as the LCD (liquid crystal display) substrate manufacturing technique, the magnetic disk manufacturing technique, and the multi-layer wiring pattern substrate manufacturing technique, there are utilized such chemical medical fluids as photoresist fluids, spinion glass fluids, polyimid resin fluids, pure water, developing fluids (alkalic medical fluids) etching fluids (acid medical fluids), and organic solvent. These medical fluids own various coefficients of viscosity from low coefficients to high coefficients. The fluid supply unit such as the pump is connected with the fluid flow-out unit such as the nozzle by the fluid supply tube path. In this fluid supply tube path, there is provided a valve for controlling the fluid such as the medical fluid flowing through this fluid supply tube path, namely for controlling the flow of the fluid member.
In the above-described various technical fields, not only impurities such as articles and bubbles are required not to be mixed into the fluid member, but also the valve for supplying a predetermined amount of the fluid member in high precision must be controlled under better precision. For instance, in the resist fluid supply control apparatus for dripping the photoresist fluid onto the surface of the semiconductor wafer, the switch valve must be employed so as to control opening/closing operations of the resist supply dripping nozzle by opening/closing the tube path for supply the fluid member, and furthermore it is required to prevent the resist fluid from being leaked from the dripping nozzle when the fluid dripping is stopped.
To avoid that unwanted articles are mixed into the supplied medical fluid such as the resist fluid, the filter, pump and control valve are combined in an integral form so as to reduce the fluid reserved amount within the fluid supply system, thus constituting the pump containing the filter, as described in JP-A-64-500135.
Moreover, JP-A-2-81630(U) discloses such a suck-back valve for sucking back the medical fluid into the dripping nozzle when the supply of the medical fluid is stopped in order to prevent the fluids from being leaked from the dripping nozzle after the medical fluid has been supplied.
In the former-mentioned medical fluid supply control apparatus as described in JP-A-64-500135, the diaphragm film is pressured, or controlled under negative pressure, so as to deform/control this diaphragm film, and such a valve is employed by which the supply of medical fluids from the flow path formed by the diaphragm film is performed/interrupted.
Since the compressed control member such as air is directly given to the diaphragm film so as to control the pressure in this valve, it is no possible to absorb the pressure variations of the fluid member produced in conjunction with the hammering phenomenon occurred in the medical fluid when the valve is open/closed. Therefore, erroneous operation of the valve is caused by the hammering phenomenon, so that the valve is mistakenly open/closed, resulting in various fluid dripping problems. Moreover, since the flow path structure of the valve is folded, the cavitation phenomenon happens to occur when the medical fluid is supplied, so that bubble would be produced and qualities of the medical fluids would be deteriorated.
In the latter-mentioned fluid-droplet preventing apparatus described in JP-A-2-81630(U), the air pressure valve effect to the suck-back valve body having the diaphragm film structure is controlled by the electric/air converting regulator, so that the operation speed and the operation amount of the suck-back valve body are controlled.
This control method corresponds to such a method for controlling pressure of the compressed air given to the suck-back valve unit in order to control the operation speed and the operation amount of the suck-back valve body. Similar to the above-described medical fluid supply control apparatus described in JP-A-64-500135, it is not possible to absorb variations in the fluid pressure in conjunction with the hammering phenomenon occurred when another fluid supply valve constructed in the fluid supply system is open/closed. Thus, the suck-back operation timing of the suck-back valve body having the diaphragm film structure is mistakenly performed due to the hammering phenomenon, and furthermore, the suck-back valve body is erroneously operated due to the insufficient suck-back operation speed, resulting in various fluid dripping problems.
As described above, in the conventional technical methods, the operation of the valves for controlling the supply of the fluid member such as the medical fluid cannot be controlled in high precision, so that various fluid dripping problems are caused by mistakenly operating the valves. As a consequence, Inventors of the present invention could confirm that a predetermined amount of fluid members cannot be supplied while maintaining high purity of the fluid members.
FIG. 1 schematically shows a valve under develop as a comparison example. This valve is provided in a supply tube path for connecting a pump (not shown) for supplying a medical fluid as a fluid member with an exhaust unit for exhausting the fluid member. The valve is employed so as to open/close the supply tube path. As indicated in FIG. 1, a flow-in-side tube path 2 and a flow-out-side tube path 3 are provided in a housing 1, and a diaphragm type valve body 4 is mounted on this housing 1 in order to open/close both of the flow paths.
To open/close this valve body 4, a piston 5 having a piston rod 5a is movably provided within the housing 1 along the shaft direction. A coil spring 6 is employed in the piston 5, which may give spring force to close the valve body 4. This piston 5 is operable in response to the air pressure supplied/exhausted from two supply/exhaust ports 7 and 8 connected to the housing 1.
Similar to the above-mentioned prior art, when the supply of the fluid member such as the medical fluid is controlled by the switch valve having such a structure, erroneous operations of this valve happen to occur, resulting in various fluid dripping problems. The causes of these problems may be revealed.
To find out the causes, a drive model of the valve operation mechanism unit for operating the valve body 4 shown in FIG. 1 is schematically illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown in this drive mode, it is conceivable that the valve mechanism unit V to achieve the valve function for opening/closing the supply of the fluid member L owns an elastic body S having the spring constant K containing the valve body 4 shown in FIG. 1 and the coil spring 6. This valve mechanism unit V is deformed by the air pressure. As a means for controlling deformation of this valve mechanism unit V, the air pressure is effected from a valve drive operation point P.
As represented in this drive model, when a temporal pressure variation .DELTA.P1 is produced in the fluid member L, a displacement amount X1 of the valve mechanism unit V in proportion to this pressure variation .DELTA.P1 is produced. In this type of valve mechanism unit V, the absorption of the energy amount with respect to the displacement amount X1 of the valve mechanism unit V when the temporal pressure variation .DELTA.P1 is produced in the fluid member L may exist as only the absorption of the energy amount caused by the spring deformation only with the spring constant K.sub.V1 constituted by the valve mechanism unit V.
Accordingly, a relative formula concerning the energy amount absorption of the pressure variation amount .DELTA.P1 of the fluid member L is expressed as follows: EQU .DELTA.P1=K.sub.V1 .times.X.sub.1.
In this formula, symbol .DELTA.P1 denotes the pressure variation amount of the fluid member L, symbol K.sub.V1 represents the spring constant of the valve mechanism unit V, and symbol X.sub.1 shows the displacement amount of the valve mechanism unit V.
It could be understood from such a relative formula that the pressure variation amount .DELTA.P.sub.1 of the fluid member is directly connected to the energy conversion of the displacement amount X.sub.1 of the valve mechanism unit V by way of the linear formula. As a consequence, when such a valve as shown in FIG. 1 is employed so as to control the supply of the fluid member such as the medical fluid, the valve mechanism unit V itself would be deformed by receiving the pressure variations in the fluid member flowing through the tube path, and thus the valve is erroneously operated.
In FIG. 3 there is shown a medical fluid supply control apparatus such that both of a switch valve 13 operable by air pressure, namely the valve having the same structure as FIG. 1, and also a suck-back valve 14 having a similar structure thereto are provided in a medical fluid supply tube path 12a which is employed so as to couple a medical fluid supply unit 10 with a dripping nozzle for supplying the medical fluid to the semiconductor wafer W. The switch valve 13 is operable in response to the pressure of air supplied from an air supply source 15 via a flow rate control valve 16. The supply of the air pressure to the switch valve 13 is controlled by way of an electromagnetic valve 17 operated by a solenoid and provided in an air pressure distribution tube 12b. The supply of electric power to the solenoid of the electromagnetic valve 17 is controlled in response to ON/OFF signals derived from a power source 18.
On the other hand, as represented in FIG. 3, after the spraying operation of the medical fluid from the dripping nozzle 11 to the semiconductor wafer W has been accomplished, the suck-back valve 14 is provided in the medical fluid supply tube path 12a in order that the medical fluid is sucken back to the dripping nozzle 11 to thereby preventing the fluid dripping. This suck-back valve 14 is operable in response to the compressed air which is fed from the air pressure source 15a via the air pressure distribution tube 12c. In this air pressure distribution tube 12c, there are provided a regulator for setting pressure of the compressed air derived from the air pressure source 15a to a preselected pressure value, and also a speed (velocity) control valve 20 for controlling a flow speed of the compressed air.
FIG. 4 is a timing chart for indicating operation conditions of the switch valve 13 employed in the medical supply control apparatus shown in FIG. 3. Under such a condition that no electric power is supplied to the electromagnetic valve 17, the switch valve 13 is normally closed. In other words, the medical fluid from the medical fluid supply unit 10 is not yet supplied to the dropping nozzle 11. Under this condition, when the ON signal is supplied from the power source 18 to the electromagnetic valve 17, the compressed air supplied from the air pressure source 15 is supplied via the air pressure distribution tube 12bto the switch valve 13, so that the switch valve 13 is changed from the close state into the upon state.
As the switching operation timing, a delay time D1 is produced after the electromagnetic valve 17 is changed from the OFF state into the ON state until the switch valve 13 starts its operation. Thereafter, an operation time D2 is produced until the opening operation of the switch valve 13 is ended, so that the opening operation of the switch valve 13 is complete. Also when the switch valve 13 is open and then closed, a similar delay time and a similar operation time are produced.
It could be recognized that both of the delay time D1 and the operation time D2 when the open state of the switch valve 13 is changed into the close state are varied based on the open-degree control amount for the flow-rate control valve 16 in the case that the supply amount containing the pressure of the compressed air derived from the air pressure source 15 is maintained at constant.
A table 1 indicates measurement results as to the delay time D1 and the operation time D2 while the control amount of the flow-rate control valve 16, i.e., the rotation amount of the control knob is varied.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ control amount of flow-rate control valve 16 0.5 turn 1.0 turn 1.5 turns ______________________________________ delay time D1 (sec) of switch valve 13 0.52 0.22 0.17 operation time D2 (sec) of switch valve 13 0.37 0.19 0.13 total time 0.89 0.41 0.30 ______________________________________
As described above, in the medical fluid supply control apparatus of FIG. 3 with employment of the switch valve 13 similar to the valve shown in FIG. 1, the opening degree of the flow-rate control valve 16 must be manually controlled. Thus, there is a fluctuation in this control amount, so that a total time after the ON/OFF operation timing of the electromagnetic valve 17 until the close operation of the switch valve 13 is accomplished differs from each other.
When the opening degrees of the flow-rate control valve 16 are different from each other, the opening/closing operation times of this switch valve 13 are different from each other, so that the supply speeds of the medical fluid supplied from the dripping nozzle 11 to the semiconductor wafer W are different from each other. As a consequence, in the actual medical fluid supply stem, as explained before, the opening/closing operation times of the switch valve 13 are different from each other even by the medical fluid pressure variation amount caused by the hammering phenomenon which occurs when the other switch valve 13 is open/closed. In connection thereto, the supply speeds of the medical fluid from the dripping nozzle 11 via the switch valve 13 would be different from each other.
As a result, various fluid dripping problems may be produced due to erroneous operations of the switch valve 13. Therefore, the above-described problems may be emphasized in such a medical fluid supply system with employment of large quantities of switch valves.
FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C schematically illustrate various conditions when the suck-back operation is accomplished by operating the suck-back valve 14 after the spraying operation of the medical fluid by the dripping nozzle 11 is ended, i.e., FIG. 5A shows the normal suck-back operation, and FIGS. 5B, 5C indicate the abnormal suck-back operations. More specifically, FIG. 5A shows such a condition that the medical fluid is drawn into the dripping nozzle 11 when the suck-back speed is performed at the normal speed. FIG. 5B indicates such a state that bubble is produced in the drawn medical fluid when the suck-back speed is increased. FIG. 5C represents such a condition that the suck-back speed is delayed, so that the suck-back function cannot be achieved and then spray fluctuation occurs.
As described above, after the medical fluid has been sprayed from the dripping nozzle 11, if the sprayed medical fluid is not sucken at the proper timing and the proper speed in high precision into the dripping nozzle 11, then the spray fluctuation happens to occur, so that the process yield of the semiconductor wafer would be lowered.

Valve drive control method, valve drive control apparatus and fluid member supply apparatus


Performing optimized update operations in in-memory database systems. Update values corresponding to a source table of values stored on an in-memory database are identified by an in-memory database computer system based on information from a computer system implementing a software application. The update values are distributed across a plurality of rows, each row including a plurality of column attributes. At least some column attributes of the plurality of column attributes include values updated relative to corresponding column attributes in the source table of values. A row of the update values is identified. The row includes a plurality of column attributes, each column attribute having a respective value. Each value of each column attribute of the row of the update values is the same as a corresponding value of a corresponding attribute of a corresponding row of the source table is determined. Upon such a determination, a corresponding row of the source table stored on the in-memory database is written into the in-memory database by the in-memory database computer system.

An in-memory database system is a database management system that uses main memory for computer data storage. In-memory database systems can store data objects in column-oriented or row-oriented fashion. Various data compression techniques can be used for storage size optimization. For example, dictionary compression or encoding can be used for data compression, especially for column-oriented database. Data can be read, written, updated, deleted, or otherwise managed by the in-memory database systems.

Optimizing update operations in in-memory database systems


An electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) and method for manufacturing thereof. The ELDC includes at least one capacitor cell with two parallel current collectors, two opposite polarity electrodes, a separator, a rigid dielectric frame, and at least one evacuation mechanism. Each electrode is disposed on a respective current collector, and impregnated with aqueous electrolyte. The frame is disposed along the perimeter on the surface of a current collector and enclosing the electrodes. The evacuation mechanism removes superfluous fluid material from the capacitor cell interior. The evacuation mechanism may be a compartment in the frame, operative to collect residual electrolyte that seeps out from the electrodes, or a capillary formed within the frame and extending into a portion of the electrode, the capillary composed of a porous hydrophobic material and operative to evacuate discharged gases from the electrodes out of the EDLC.

An electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC), also known as a "supercapacitor" or "ultracapacitor", is a type of electrochemical capacitor, which is characterized by a very high energy density relative to conventional capacitors. Instead of two metal plates separated by a regular dielectric material, an EDLC involves the separation of charges in a double electric field formed at the interface between an electrolyte and a high surface area conductor. A basic EDLC cell configuration is a pair of highly porous electrodes, typically including activated carbon, disposed on opposite faces of parallel conductive plates known as current collectors. The electrodes are impregnated with an electrolyte, and separated by a separator consisting of a porous electrically-insulating and ion-permeable membrane. When a voltage is applied between the electrodes, negative ions from the electrolyte flow to the positive electrode while positive ions from the electrolyte flow to the negative electrode, such that an electric double layer is formed at each electrode/electrolyte interface by the accumulated ionic charges. As a result, energy is stored by the separation of positive and negative charges at each interface. The separator prevents electrical contact between the conductive electrodes but allows the exchange of ions. When the EDLC is discharged, such as by powering an external electrical device, the voltage across the electrodes results in current flow as the ions discharge from the electrode surfaces. The EDLC may be recharged and discharged again over multiple charge cycles.
The extremely high surface area of the activated carbon electrodes, combined with a separation distance between electric double layers on the order of nanometers (compared with millimeters for electrostatic capacitors and micrometers for electrolytic capacitors), enables the absorption of a large number of ions per unit mass and, thus, an energy density that is orders of magnitude greater than that of conventional capacitors. The electrolyte may be an aqueous-based solution (e.g., a water solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH) or sulfuric acid (H2SO4)) or organic-based (e.g., acetonitrile (CH3CN), polypropylene carbonate). In an aqueous-based electrolyte, the voltage is limited to approximately 1V (above which water decomposes), whereas organic-based electrolytes have a higher maximum voltage of about 2.5-3.0V. Since each individual EDLC cell is limited to a relatively low voltage, multiple EDLC cells may be connected in series to enable higher voltage operation. However, serial connection reduces the total capacitance and also requires voltage-balancing.
While the amount of energy stored per unit weight is generally lower in an EDLC in comparison to electrochemical batteries, the EDLC has a much greater power density and a high charge/discharge rate. Furthermore, an EDLC has a far longer lifespan than a battery and can undergo many more charge cycles with little degradation (millions of charge cycles, compared to hundreds for common rechargeable batteries). Consequently, EDLCs are ideal for applications that require frequent and rapid power delivery, such as hybrid vehicles that are constantly braking and accelerating, while batteries are used to supply a larger amount of energy over a longer period of time. EDLCs are also environmentally friendly (have a long lifespan and are recyclable), safe (no corrosive electrolytes and other toxic materials requiring safe disposal), lightweight, and have a very low internal resistance (ESR). The charging process of an EDLC is also relative simple, as it draws only is the required amount and is not subject to overcharging. An EDLC has a higher self-discharge compared to other capacitors and electrochemical batteries.
During EDLC operation at high operating temperatures and/or high operating voltages, various potentially detrimental parasitic effects tend to occur. In particular, electrochemical reactions cause excessive pressures in the electrode composition, resulting in the discharge of gases. The built up pressures from the discharged gases could result in swelling or bursting of the capacitor elements.
Advances in materials and manufacturing methods in recent years have led to improved performance and lower cost of EDLCs, and to their utilization in various applications. For example, EDLCs can be employed to operate low-power electrical equipment, and to provide peak-load enhancement for hybrid or fuel-cell vehicles. EDLCs are also commonly used to complement batteries, such as in order to bridge short power interruptions in an uninterruptible power supply.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,224 to Watanabe et al, entitled "Electric double layer capacitor", is directed to an EDLC which includes an electrically insulative and ion-permeable separator, and a pair of polarizable electrodes of solid carbonaceous material which are disposed opposite each other on opposite sides of the separator. The separator and electrodes are sealed within a gasket of insulating rubber. The separator and at least one of the electrodes are adhered to each other by an adhesive or cohesive agent in part of a region in which the electrode faces the separator, in order to prevent possible displacement of the electrodes and shorting via mutual contact.
European Patent No. 786,786 to Varakin, entitled "Capacitor with a double electrical layer", discloses an EDLC with one electrode made of nickel oxide and the other electrode made of a fibrous carbonic material, preferably nickel-plated or copper-plated. The electrolyte is an aqueous solution of an alkali metal carbonate or hydroxide.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,201,685 to Jerabek et al, entitled "Ultracapacitor current collector", discloses a nonaqueous ultracapacitor with current collectors comprising a conductive metal substrate, such as aluminum, which is coated with a nitride, carbide or boride of a refractory metal. The coating is intended to prevent the formation and thickening of a highly resistive aluminum oxide layer on the current collector.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,138 to Belyakov et al, entitled "Electrochemical capacitor and method for making the same", is directed to an electrochemical capacitor with a bank of elements made up of series-connected internal elements and end elements. Each internal element includes an electron-conducting collector, porous different-polarity electrodes disposed on opposite sides of the collector, and electron-insulating separators mounted on the electrodes. Each end element includes a collector and an electrode of an appropriate polarity disposed on one of its sides. The electrodes and separators are impregnated with an electrolyte. The solid phase-to-liquid ratios of the electrodes are selected to lower the probability of electrolyte leakage during assembly and to minimize internal resistance of the capacitor. The capacitor body includes interconnected hold-downs with electron conductors for levelling-out the voltage in the series-connected elements. A polymeric coating is applied onto the conductors, to prevent short-circuiting of nearby elements to the electrolyte. The bank is also coated with a polymeric composition for sealing the elements, where the coating includes an additional layer that eliminates the effect of the neutralizing component on the rate of polymeric hardening. The bank is evacuated at a residual pressure of 9.8-19.6 kPa prior to mounting between the hold-downs, enabling removal of excess air dissolved in the electrolyte during colloidal milling of the electrode mass.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,468 to Lang, entitled "Method of making electrochemical capacitor using a printable composition", is directed to a preparation method for an electrochemical capacitor cell that includes: a pair of current collector plates placed in parallel; flat electrodes containing aqueous electrolyte printed on opposing faces of the current collectors; and a separator intersposed between the electrodes. The electrodes are printed such that a peripheral region not covered by the electrode is defined on each of the faces of the current collectors. The geometric form and size of the separator is identical to the form and size of the current collector plates. The separator includes a central region permeable to the electrolyte surrounded by a peripheral masked region non-permeable to the electrolyte, where the permeable region coincides with the electrodes. A sealant is impregnated in the pores in the peripheral region of the separator. At least one layer of adhesive is deposited on the sealant. The electrodes are fabricated using a suitable printable composition.

Aqueous-based electric double-layer capacitor


An improved method for producing slide seat and manufacture device, in which, one metal bar passes through the tamping drum groups arranged in tandem, apply the progressive model of slide seat mounted on the middle section of tamping drum to tamp gradually, meanwhile, the tamped metal bar is extruded so that the material is extruded towards the back section of the not extruded molding and is extended naturally, then apply one protruding edge that is similar to the inner mold of this embryonic form at the back section of molded embryonic form of slide seat, the protruding edge of this inner mold can extrude the inward concave track at inward side of slide seat when slide seat passes through this extending mold, as this slide seat is molded, this inward concave track is molded as well, the sliding faces of inner mold of this extending mold may smooth all edges of slide seat correspondingly so as to make smooth face without processing with milling cutter and roll-wheel-type-cutting knife, therefore, this improved method is useful for quick molding, reducing procedure of processing and saving material.

1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved method for producing a slide seat and its manufacture device.
2) Description of the Prior Art
The current method for producing a slide seat is to forge first one preliminary cast of a slide seat in a proper length, and then mold the face and edge by using a milling cutter and making an inward concave track on two sides of the finished slide seat by using a roll-wheel-type-cutting knife.

Method for producing slide seat and its manufacture device


A method of removing synthetic vision terrain and objects from a graphical display when unsafe to rely on the synthetic vision terrain and objects is provided. The method comprises receiving current position data from at least one sensor, determining when to fade out synthetic vision terrain and objects based on the position data received, and fading out synthetic vision terrain and objects gradually when determined.

Synthetic vision displays provide a 3-dimensional perspective conformal display of terrain and objects to pilots and operators of various crafts and vehicles. These displays benefit pilots and operators by presenting pertinent information in an intuitive way. More and more new vehicles and aircraft are implementing the latest technology in synthetic vision displays. Consequently, operators are using these displays more and relying on the benefits these displays offer.
However, there are certain circumstances in which it is unsafe for pilots or operators to rely solely or too heavily on synthetic vision displays. One such circumstance is during final approach prior to landing an aircraft. Terrain and object databases used to provide the necessary data to generate a synthetic vision display are subject to resolution, integrity, validity, and position errors. For example, in some circumstance, for safety purposes, the highest point of a given terrain is used in displaying the height of the terrain even if the highest point is not the closest point to the aircraft. This can result in obscuring other objects or at least may mislead the pilot. It is, therefore, desirable that the pilot ceases relying on the synthetic vision display of terrain and objects in such circumstances and relies instead on a view of the actual terrain out the window or real-time sensor data such as infra-red or millimeter wave system data.

Synthetic vision final approach terrain fading


A method of forming a source/drain region with an abrupt, vertical and conformal junction and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include forming a gate electrode over and perpendicular to a semiconductor fin; forming first spacers on opposite sides of the gate electrode; forming second spacers on opposite sides of the fin; forming a cavity in the fin adjacent the first spacers, between the second spacers; partially epitaxially growing source/drain regions in each cavity; implanting a first dopant into the partially grown source/drain regions with an optional RTA thereafter; epitaxially growing a remainder of the source/drain regions in the cavities, in situ doped with a second dopant; and implanting a third dopant in the source/drain regions.

In current processes of forming cavities for epitaxial growth of source/drain regions, non-vertical cavity sidewalls are formed, and conventional source/drain implantations result in non-uniform doping profiles. Consequently, a non-conformal junction is formed which in turn leads to threshold voltage non-uniformity along the fin height. During the device operation, the non-conformal junction will prevent the fin active region from full utilization, and it also degrades channel resistance and spreading resistance. Besides, the junction invasion at the fin tip worsens short channel effects.
FIG. 1A illustrates a desired cavity sidewall. FIG. 1B illustrates an implant profile after source/drain implantation, which includes a sloped sidewall (at 101). Adverting to FIG. 1C, after all thermal processes, the resulting dopant profile forms a gradient with a decreasing concentration from 103 to 113. As illustrated in FIG. 2A, conventional low energy and heavy dose source/drain implantation after epitaxial growth aimed for ohmic contact will introduce excessive dopant at the fin tip region 201. If a moderate energy source/drain implantation is employed, the middle to bottom effective gate length Leff is slightly reduced, but the junction over all is degraded at regions 203 in FIG. 2B and the junction profile is not straightened. A high energy implantation will cause serious tailing, as illustrated at 205 in FIG. 2C.
The conventional extension implantation techniques cannot straighten the junction. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, for FinFETs with fins 301 having a pitch 303 between 20 and 40 nm, extension implantation 305 is tilted with respect to the fins 301 to cover the entire fin sidewall. However, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, the resultant implantation 307 is non-conformal and non-uniform, and it will also cause both causes fin damage and junction uniformity issues. Thus, conventional implantation before or right after source/drain epitaxial growth will cause a graded junction, undesired junction tailing, a non-conformal junction, and fin damage.
A need therefore exists for methodology enabling formation of both a conformal junction and a high epi surface dopant concentration in a FinFET and the resulting device.

FinFET conformal junction and high epi surface dopant concentration method and device


A display substrate and a display panel are provided. The display substrate includes: a display region; a frame region at least partially surrounding the display region; a black matrix including a first part in the display region and a second part in the frame region; and an alignment mark which is in the frame region and at a side of the second part of the black matrix away from the display region, and is spaced apart from the black matrix. A planar shape of the second part of the black matrix has a corner part, the alignment mark is opposite to the corner part, and an outer contour of the corner part opposite to the alignment mark includes a concave part which is concave towards the display region.

ESD (Electro-Static discharge) is one of the main factors affecting the yield of electronic products. In electronic products, static electricity may be generated in many ways, such as contact, friction, and induction between elements. Electrostatic charges outside a display region enter the display region through a conductive structure and become interference charges which will cause adverse effects on the display effect of the display region, such as causing light leakage and affecting the picture quality. Electro-Static discharge and interference charges entering the display region also cause the performance of the electronic product unstable and shorten the service life of the electronic product.

BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

BEIJING BOE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.


A laparoscopic instrument for forming an incision in a body cavity, insufflating the body cavity with gas, and suturing the incision at the completion of the surgery includes a set of jaws at the distal end of the Veress needle or cannula. The jaws are pivoted to one another for motion between an open position or a closed position in which they may be used to grasp a suture in the body cavity for removal from the cavity for knotting. A push mechanism at the proximal end of the instrument moves the jaws between their open and closed position on successive actuations of a pushbutton and retains them in that state until the next push. An illumination source is provided for the distal end of the instrument to provide illumination through the walls of the body cavity so that the surgeon can determine the degree of penetration of the instrument into the body cavity and can identify any major arteries which should be avoided in the formation of other laparoscopic openings.

In the practice of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery it is common to make a small incision through the skin and underlying tissue of the patient adjacent the internal surgical site using a Veress needle. These needles include a tubular outer cannula with a sharpened distal end and an inner hollow cylindrical needle which terminates in a blunt end. A spring assembly urges the needle to a position in which the blunt end of the needle is extended beyond the cutting edge of the cannula. When the instrument is pressed against the skin of the patient the blunt end is resisted by the skin so that the outer cannula moves over the blunt end and forms a small incision in the skin and underlying tissue of the patient. When the pressure on the Veress needle is removed, the needle slides forward, leaving a blunt end within the body of the patient, so that the accidental cutting of underlying organs is avoided.
The Veress needle typically includes means for introducing pressurized gas, usually CO2, into the proximal end of the needle so that the gas is passed on into the laparoscopic incision and inflates the body cavity to allow easy access to the surgical site. A trocar which surrounds the cannula and frames the proximal side of the incision may be left in place after the cannula is withdrawn to provide an instrument port with a seal to prevent the escape of the insufflating gas.
After formation of a first incision and insufflation of the body cavity, a second incision, nearby but spaced apart from the first incision, is formed and typically used for insertion of a remote imaging endoscope to allow the surgeon to visualize the internal surgical site. A third incision allows the insertion of an operating instrument.
When the surgery is completed it is necessary to suture one or more of the laparoscopic incisions. Suturing typically involves an instrument that can carry a suture thread into the body cavity and allow the thread to be pulled outwardly through the incision. At the proximal side of the surgical site two ends of the suture are knotted together to secure the incision.
One problem associated with the use of such Veress needle assemblies is determining when the needle has progressed through the wall of the body cavity and its distal end has emerged within the cavity. Additionally, there is a need to determine the location of significant blood vessels in the cavity wall so that the incision made by the needle, as well as the additional incisions necessary to perform the surgery, can be made without cutting these vessels.

Veress needle with illuminated guidance and suturing capability


The instant invention is a metallic device or porthole for use with communication antenna supporting structure, such as monopoles. The porthole of the instant invention includes an integrally connected backing bar that following the method of installation meets proper welding requirements.

Beginning during the mid-1980's wireless communication carriers began installing self-standing communication antenna support structures designed and authorized for their own specified usage. However, due to the auctioning of the available radio spectrum by the Federal Communication Commission in 1994, the demand for viable communication antenna support structures has exploded.
The proliferation of these unsightly support structures has incited much public opposition to any new support structure construction. Beginning in the mid-1990's communities began enacting stricter zone requirements designed to stop additional installations of these communication antenna support structures (e.g. monopoles). This, in turn, has forced the wireless industry in the United States to "co-locate" or share the same communication antenna support structures, that is, multiple carriers now lease or purchase positions on existing monopoles.
In order to fit the needs of multiple carriers, thousands of these monopoles must be modified or retrofit to support the additional antennas. A typical monopole is made of a hollow, steel pole anchored to a foundation and whose interior is constructed and arranged for safely routing the communication cables to and from the various antenna located approximate the top. The addition of new carriers to a monopole is but one reason for the creation of openings by qualified welders within the monopole support walls. These openings are designed to provide access into the monopole's interior.
As would be expected, these crude openings compromise the structural integrity of the monopole walls, thereby requiring additional structural support by way of metallic devices (also known as portholes or access ports) sized to completely penetrate the crude opening. Once situated within the crude opening of the monopole, the porthole must be welded in place by a qualified welder using the necessary welding techniques, as set forth in the structural welding code set forth in the American Welding Society (AWS) D1.1 General Requirements. If installed properly, the porthole will lend the necessary structural support to the opening.
To this point porthole installation has been mostly unregulated, leading to numerous problems including installation hazards which result in the diminished structural integrity of the monopole. For example, currently during the installation of commercially available portholes the worker must cut the crude opening into the monopole and place an appropriately sized porthole within the crude opening. Next, the worker permanently adheres the porthole to the opening by weld reinforcement. The worker must weld a filler metal into the joint (i.e., distance between the surface of the monopole and the porthole). Typically, the welding occurs along the outside surface of the monopole, resulting in what is referred to as "partial joint penetration" (PJP). In a partial joint penetration weld the weld metal does not extend the entire distance as measured from the weld face into the joint. This creates in a weldment that does not meet proper welding specifications as defined by the AWS.
The conscientious worker will then have enter inside the cramped interior of the monopole and perform another back weld between the porthole and the inner surface of the monopole. Again, this can result in an undesirable partial joint penetration weld.
All debris inside the monopole should be removed and disposed of prior to any welding. Failure to inspect the interior of a monopole for debris (e.g., vegetation, animals, paper, fuel, etc.) has resulted in fires within the monopole, which ultimately destroy the monopole structure and the equipment therein.
Currently, inspection of the monopole interior involves the use of a flash light and mirrors. The instant inventor has developed a camera system which may be inserted into the interior of the monopole to readily identify potential fire and safety hazards, for example, debris that might ignite from contact with molten meal or spatter created by the welding process.
Thus, what has been heretofore lacking in the art is a porthole apparatus having an internally connected backing plate and a method of installing the same.

Porthole apparatus and method of installation


A high loft, nonwoven web is disclosed having a three dimensional structure with fibers oriented in the x, y and z directions. The web has a fiber size distribution of from 0 μm to about 15 μm with at least about 25% of the fibers being above 4 μm. The web has a thickness of less than about 250 millimeters and a basis weight ranging from about 20 g/m2 to about 3,000 g/m2. The web also has a vertical cross-section, when taken parallel to a machine direction, exhibiting a plurality of snugly stacked, approximately V, U or C-shaped structures, with each V, U or C-shaped structure having an apex facing in the machine direction. The web further has a recovery value ranging from about 20% to about 99% after being compressed under a pressure of 0.25 psi for a time period of 30 minutes.

Typically, polymeric fibers, formed by spunbonding, meltblowing or by some other extrusion process are collected downstream from an emitter, such as a die with a plurality of nozzles, on a horizontal oriented conveyor belt. Such processes tends to produce two-dimensional web where the fibers are oriented in the x and y directions since they are laid down in a horizontal plane. There are few if any fibers within the formed web that are oriented in the z-direction. Because of this, the finished web tends to lack recovery once it is compressed. This presents an issue when such finished webs need to be rolled up or stacked for transport by truck or rail to a distance manufacturing facility. If the webs are compacted or compressed during shipment, they lack the ability to recovery to their original thickness. In addition, once compacted or compressed, such webs tend to become hard and/or stiff and their pore structure may become less open. Furthermore, the drapeability of such webs can be diminished. Functionally, if a compacted or compressed web cannot recovery to approximately its initial loft thickness after shipment, it can lose some of its thermal and/or acoustical insulation properties, thereby rendering the material less than desirable for this purpose.
Now, a high loft, non-woven web has been invented which exhibits excellent recovery. The high loft, non-woven web can be formed from a single polymer and using a single "Spun-Blown®" die.

High loft, nonwoven web exhibiting excellent recovery


A stepping motor comprises: a first plate having plural band connection portions; a second plate mounting a band; a stator; and a structure that the stator is held by the first plate and the second plate from a front side and a back side of axial direction, wherein the plural band connection portions are positioned at a side surface of the stator and extend toward the second plate, and each of the plural band connection portions has an engagement portion at an outside thereof, the band has plural arms extending toward the first plate and engaging with the engagement portion of each of the plural band connection portions, and the band is connected to the first plate by engaging the arm portions with the engagement portions in a condition that the band holds the second plate and the stator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stepping motor characterized in a structure connecting a stator to a front plate and an end plate.
2. Description of Related Art
Regarding conventional techniques for a structure connecting a stator to a front plate and an end plate, techniques have been disclosed in Japanese Examined Utility Model (Registration) Application Publication No. S49-46003, Japanese Examined Utility Model (Registration) Application Publication No. S61-22473, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H11-275848, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-125160, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-135661.

Stepping motor having a band holding two stator end plates


Example inventory management and monitoring systems are described. In one implementation, an inventory management system includes a computing system that receives multiple images captured by multiple imaging devices wirelessly coupled to the computing system. The computing system also receives a spatial location of each imaging device as determined by a device positioning system. The computing system is configured to determine a spatial location of an object in each of the multiple images and monitor the objects in the images to determine changes in the location of the objects.

Inventory monitoring is an important task in the retail environment. In a brick-and-mortar store, keeping stock of inventory items is an ongoing process. Furthermore, a customer may pick up an item from its stocked location, only to later change their mind and leave the item at another location. There exists a need, therefore, for a system that is able to monitor in real-time the inventory on different shelves in a store, while being able to provide real-time stock alerts when an item is out of stock or nearly out of stock, or alerting store personnel when an item is displaced from its correct location.


A calculation engine processes user-definable formulas to generate calculation results. A calculation engine may use the following types of data structures: table, column, row, and field. A sub table may be embedded within a row. Operations may be performed at various levels, such as at: table, column, and field. A calculation engine may operate on a calculation table having columns, which may each have an ordered list of formulas. Formulas within such an ordered list may be evaluated in the order specified until one of the formulas is successfully evaluated. A hierarchy of formulas may be formed by a column's formula depending on another column or table. A graph of data dependencies may be prepared for determining an order in which operands and operations should be evaluated and performed.

The ability of computer software to perform programmable mathematical calculations is desirable in various circumstances. For instance, such a circumstance is a Web service that financial advisory firms (i.e., firms that provide investment advice) can use for presenting account statements to be viewed securely by their clients. In presenting account statements in this manner, it would be desirable to be able to meet the needs of multiple financial institutions in a way other than one-off (i.e., customized) code for each financial advisory firm.
In this context, conventional approaches tend to use different customized code for different calculations specified by different financial institutions. For instance, different financial institutions may use different formulas for calculating a client's return on investment. According to conventional techniques, a data feed, such as an XML feed, comes from each financial institution with information about investment portfolios of the financial institutions' clients. Calculations are then performed on the fly so that statements can be presented to users on demand.
An investor may request that a portfolio statement be displayed in a particular format, such as sorted or grouped in any of various ways, such as grouped by asset class (e.g., stocks, bonds, cash and the like). If different financial institutions organize and/or define their data and/or output specifications differently, then, according to conventional techniques, custom code would typically be implemented for performing calculations and presenting data in various ways that are specific to various financial institutions.
A programmable calculation engine, which operates independently of any assumptions about the organization of the data that it operates on, would therefore be desirable.


An antenna assembly includes a conducting ground plane, a single dielectric substrate layer or a plurality of dielectric substrate layers each with different dielectric constants mounted to the conducting ground plane. A central patch element is mounted to the dielectric substrate layer or layers and configured to radiate within a first frequency band. A plurality of probes (i) extend through the conducting ground plane and the dielectric substrate and (ii) are physically connected to the central patch element. A parasitic ring is disposed around the central patch element and reactively coupled thereto. The parasitic ring is configured to radiate within a second frequency band.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to microstrip patch antennas. More particularly, the present invention relates to deriving dual-band performance from micro-strip patch antennas.
2. Related Art
Micro-strip patch antennas are popular because of their compact size, light weight, and low cost to fabricate. Their low profile and their ability to conform to the shape of an aircraft fuselage make these microstrip antennas particularly attractive for airborne satellite communications and navigation systems. Additionally, micro-strip patch antennas can easily be constructed using printed circuit technology. However, a major limitation is their relatively narrow bandwidth capability.
Many patch antenna applications, such as navigational, vehicular, wireless communication systems, and radar systems, require dual-band, or wideband, operation. The narrow bandwidth capability of conventional micro-strip antennas, however, limits their use in these applications. Since patch antennas are so desirable, however, significant research and development has been devoted to adapting these antennas to dual-band operation.
A common technique to obtain dual-band operation from a conventional micro-strip antenna is known as stacking. Stacking entails simply piling micro-strip antennas or radiators, each operating at different frequencies, on top of each other. Stacking conserves space in a transverse or lateral direction. In a stacked patch design, the second frequency is achieved by the lower patch radiator. This lower patch is larger in size compared to the upper patch and is tuned to the lower of the two desired frequencies. Unfortunately, however, the performance of the lower patch is degraded by blockage from the upper patch and by any other patches in close proximity thereto. And the gain and beam width of the bottom patch antenna radiator is often degraded by stacking.
Stacking also increases the vertical height of the antenna, making it unattractive for low-profile and conformal applications. An additional complication of stacking is the need for bonding the top and bottom patch antennas together with glue or some other bonding agent. This bonding further increases the overall cost and complexity of building the antenna.
A second technique used to derive dual-band performance from a conventional micro-strip patch is to provide slots in the antenna. Although a variety of slotted micro-strip antennas have been designed, most are limited by their polarization characteristics, bandwidth, and/or gain. For example, most slotted dual-band patch antennas are either linearly polarized or have poor circular polarization performance at the desired dual frequency bands.
An exemplary environment in which micro-strip antennas can operate is that of satellite communications and satellite navigation. In satellite communications, for example, circular polarization is preferred over other types of polarization. Circular polarization, among other things, factors into account the movement of the satellite with respect to the Earth. Circular polarization also takes into account other anomalies, such as Faraday rotation and depolarization caused by precipitation particles such as rain and ice in the atmosphere.
Global positioning system (GPS) satellites, used in navigation for example, require circular polarization. In fact, optimizing the performance of GPS requires not only circular polarization, but requires that the corresponding circular polarization electromagnetic components, be relatively pure. Also, slots that are traditionally used to provide dual-band operation from conventional micro-strip antennas are generally designed as narrow-band filters.
GPS and other satellite communication systems, however, require much wider bandwidths for optimal performance. In fact current military GPS navigation systems require GPS antennas to operate in two separate frequency bands centered at 1575 and 1227 MHz in order to provide better precision accuracy in range by allowing correction for errors introduced by the ionosphere.
GPS navigation systems are also being modernized. To accommodate military M code signals, future GPS systems starting in 2005, will require at least 24 megahertz (MHz) bandwidth antennas. In addition a third frequency band called L5, operating at a center frequency of 1176 MHz will also be added to the current frequency bands, L1 (center frequency of 1575 MHz) and L2 (center frequency of 1227 MHz).
Civilian navigation systems, including the FAA, will rely mainly on the L1 and L5 frequency bands whereas U.S. military systems will rely primarily on L1 and L2 frequency bands, both of which will have an enhanced bandwidth of 24 MHz to also accommodate the new military M Code signals.
The operating bandwidths of conventional micro-strip patch antennas are much too narrow to satisfy these future GPS multiband frequency requirements and will place an additional emphasis on the need for newer microstrip antenna designs capable of providing dual band or even triple band operation with the desired bandwidth, gain and circular polarization characteristics to meet operational needs in both civilian and military GPS navigational systems.
Additionally, the European Union will also be launching in 2005 their own version of a GPS navigation system called "Galileo". The Galileo frequencies are 1575 and 1176 MHz—which is the same as for the modernized U.S. GPS system as well as two new frequencies centered at 1207 MHz and 1279 MHz. Hence there will be strong commercial interest in developing broadband dual-band or even triple-band GPS antennas that cover all or some of both the U.S. GPS and the European Galileo navigation systems to be launched starting in 2005.
Some of the other slotted bandwidth enhancement designs restrict radio frequency (RF) current flow on the surface of the patch to narrow areas. This current restriction generally decreases the antenna gain at the second, or resonant, frequency achieved by inserting the slot. The radiation pattern at the resonant frequency is also asymmetric and distorted because of this uneven current flow. This asymmetry further decreases performance.
What is needed, therefore, is a compact and light-weight micro-strip patch antenna that is capable of operating in at least two different frequency bands. It is desirable that this dual-band patch antenna be circularly polarized and located on top of a single dielectric substrate layer or a plurality of dielectric substrate layers. It is also desirable that this patch antenna provide good gain over a large portion of the upper hemisphere to acquire signals from multiple satellites over a wide range of elevation angles.
What is also needed is a dual band co-planar antenna having a broad enough bandwidth to cover both the U.S. GPS and Galileo frequencies at 1176 and 1575 MHz as well as the additional Galileo frequency centered at 1207 MHz.

System for co-planar dual-band micro-strip patch antenna


A method is provided for individually processing multiple frequency bands in a composite RF signal is disclosed. The composite RF signal is separated into a plurality of gain controlled and bandlimited frequency bands. The gain controlled and bandlimited frequency bands are then recombined to produce a controlled composite RF signal, which is then digitized by undersampling with an ADC to produce a plurality of unambiguous frequency bands convolved around baseband. The sample frequency can be substantially less than the Nyquist Limit of twice the highest frequency present for digitization. Each baseband signal is monitored for amplitude spikes therein. In response to an amplitude spike, the appropriate frequency band is modified by a control signal to hold the ADC to within its dynamic range.

Most traditional radio architectures operate on a single band or range of frequencies. There are many applications, however, where multiple bands need to be monitored. For example, in radio surveillance the entire spectrum may need to be monitored because content is spread throughout the spectrum on individual frequency bands. Where such wideband monitoring is required, the norm is to utilize multiple radios, each designed to operate in one specified band, or use a wideband digitizer with an analog to digital converter (ADC) sufficient to the task. When attempting to operate a wideband digitizer in a dense signal environment, however, the ADC can very easily be driven past its dynamic range by a momentary power spike in any one of the signals. When this happens all the signal content is lost until the ADC and subsequent digital signal processing (DSP) recovers from the ADC overload. Alternatively, a momentary power spike in any one of the stronger signals could overpower and drown out a weaker signal, which may contain important content.
The resolution of the ADC determines the dynamic range of the radio receiver, and the current state of the art for ADCs is simply insufficient to digitize, for example, a 0-3 GHz spectrum, the bandwidth on which all the relevant cellular communication resides, because sampling the spectrum would require a 6 GHz sampling frequency, well beyond the current state of the art.
The current state-of-the-art performance of an ADC has a 12 to 16 bit resolution at 3 GHz to 500 MHz clock rates, respectively, corresponding to a dynamic range of approximately 74 db to 98 db, respectively. This, however, is merely the theoretical dynamic range; in reality it is 6 db or less due to implementation inefficiencies. Radios typically require a dynamic range of 100 to 150 db, corresponding to a lower limit of approximately 17 bits and an upper limit of 25 bits, with the nominal required performance somewhere in the middle at 21-22 bits resolution. Such ADCs do not exist today.
Therefore, a solution is needed to reduce the size and the number of ADCs necessary for wideband digitization.


An image forming apparatus including a first memory unit configured to store screen transition information in which a screen transition of applications is described in a hierarchical structure; a second memory unit configured to store conditional information in which UIs for previous screens and posterior screens are associated for each screen; a display unit configured to display the screen transition in the hierarchical form based on the screen transition information; and a customization control unit configured to control customization based on the conditional information corresponding to a screen to be customized and update the screen transition information when the screen transition displayed in the display unit is customized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an information processing system, an information processing method and a recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a user purchases an image forming apparatus (MFP: Multifunction Peripheral), individual solutions may be simultaneously provided with the image forming apparatus so that the user can use the image forming apparatus under an environment suitable for the user. Solutions to be provided to users may be determined by preliminary discussions between the users and system engineers (SE).
Customization of user interfaces (UI) may be assumed to be changed by the system engineers (SE) in conformity with user environments. For example, if it is prohibited to send an e-mail and it is permitted to arrange scanned data in a folder, there is provided customization with which a button for sending the e-mail is not displayed.
The customization of UIs of image forming apparatuses of the same types which are simultaneously introduced may have been specially dealt with. In presently available apparatuses, there is a need for a user customizing the UI. For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose panel customizing methods for the image forming apparatuses.
On the other hand, there may be various types in the customization. For example, when screen transition is customized, there is a probability that, if a screen transition is customized, screens prior to and following the customized screen are affected by the customization. Therefore, the customization is not easy for the user. Therefore, if known techniques of the customization are applied, SEs and so on ordinarily realize requested customization of the screen transitions. Said differently, there is a problem that the user may not arbitrarily customize the screen transition and the like which are difficult to customize.
For example, a technique related to a document using a hierarchical structure is described in Patent Document 3. However, the technique is not easily applicable to the customization of the screen transition. For example, if the hierarchical structure is applied to the customization of the screen transition, the screen to be added or deleted affects screens displayed prior to and following the screen to be added or deleted. Therefore, it is not possible to simply add or delete the screen.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2009-48397    Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2002-182914    Patent Document 3: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2009-271681

Image forming apparatus of displaying a relationship of screens for visualizing screen transition, information processing system, information processing method and recording medium


Provided herein is a method for isolating high molecular weight (HMW) DNA using beads that are at least 200 μm in diameter that utilizes a device for retaining the beads and where the purified DNA eluant exits the device without shearing the HMW DNA. In some embodiments, the method comprises precipitating the DNA onto the beads, washing the beads in the device, and then eluting the DNA from the beads therein while substantially avoiding shear. Compositions and kits for practicing the method are also provided.

Several methods exist to analyze long nucleic acid molecules. For example, nanopore sequencing is routinely used to sequence DNA molecules that are tens to hundreds of kilobases in length (see for example, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Oxford UK). Read lengths in excess of two megabases (Mb) have been reported from one nanopore sequencing study (Payne, et al, Bioinformatics. 2019 35: 2193-2198). Likewise, the PacBio platform (Pacific Bioscience, Melo Park, CA) is capable of sequencing nucleic acid molecules that are tens of kilobases in length. Other genome mapping platforms such as the nanochannel array-based method (described by Lam, et al Nat. Biotechnol. 2012 30: 771-776, as developed by BioNano Genomics, San Diego, Calif.) also provide ways to analyze long nucleic acid molecules.
Long range genome analysis methods such as those described above require purified high molecular weight (HMW) DNA as an input. HMW genomic DNA (gDNA) has traditionally been purified from cells by phenol/chloroform extraction and subsequent alcohol precipitation while spooling the gDNA around a glass rod.
There are several methods for purifying HMW gDNA from small volume samples. These include magnetic discs, magnetic beads and silica filters. However, each of the existing methods have certain deficiencies. Some of the methods result in shearing of the HMW DNA. Other methods require multiple handling steps and therefore are not ideally suited to handling large numbers of samples at the same time. As the methods for HMW genome analysis improve and the number of clinical, diagnostic and research samples increase, there is a continued need to improve the reliability and efficiency of HMW DNA purification.

Isolation of high molecular weight DNA using beads


The present invention provides an isolated archael and bacterial heme binding protein which reversibly binds oxygen with a low affinity. The heme binding protein may be utilized as a blood substitute. The invention also provides a method for controlled storage of oxygen by contacting a bacterial heme binding protein with oxygen allowing the protein to bind and store oxygen. The also provides methods to sense gaseous ligands using the heme binding protein. In other embodiments, the invention provides chimeric proteins having a heme-binding domain of an isolated heme binding archael bacterial protein and a heterologous signaling domain.

Heme proteins such as hemoglobin and myoglobin play an essential role in stabilizing molecular oxygen for transport and storage. The oxygen carrying portion of the red blood cell is hemoglobin, a tetrameric protein molecule composed of two identical alpha globins (alpha 1, alpha 2), two identical beta globins (beta 1, beta 2) and four heme molecules. A heme molecule is incorporated into each of the alpha and beta globins to give alpha and beta subunits. Heme is a macrocyclic organic molecule that contains an iron atom at its center; each heme can combine reversibly with one ligand molecule, for example oxygen. In a hemoglobin tetramer, each alpha subunit is associated with a beta subunit to form two stable alpha/beta dimers, which in turn associate to form the tetramer (a homodimer). The subunits are noncovalently associated through Van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonds and salt bridges. Ligands, particularly oxygen, bind reversibly to the reduced form of the iron (ferrous, Fe 2+) in the heme. Other ligands which compete with oxygen for the heme group include carbon monoxide and nitric oxide.
It is not always practical to transfuse a patient with donated blood. The well known complications of blood transfusion namely incompatibility reactions, disease transmission, immunosuppression and the storage limitations of erythrocytes points to the need for the development of blood substitutes devoid of these shortcomings. In these situations, use of a red blood cell substitute is necessary. A "blood substitute" is a preparation that does not necessarily replace blood in all of its functions, but an emergency resuscitative fluid that is capable of efficiently transporting oxygen to tissue. This fluid, however, must be free of toxic side-effects, as well as of agents of disease such as bacteria and viruses.
For over 50 years, efforts directed to the development of a blood substitute have focused on hemoglobin (Hb). Hemoglobin (Hgb) is the oxygen-carrying component of blood. Hemoglobin circulates through the bloodstream inside small enucleate cells called erythrocytes (red blood cells). Hemoglobin is a protein constructed from four associated polypeptide chains, and bearing prosthetic groups known as hemes. The erythrocyte helps maintain hemoglobin in its reduced, functional form. The heme iron atom is labile to oxidation, but may be reduced again by one of two enzyme systems within the erythrocyte, the cytochrome b5 and glutathione reduction systems.
Hemoglobin exhibits cooperative binding of oxygen by the four subunits of the hemoglobin molecule (two alpha-globins and two beta-globins in the case of HbA), and this cooperativity greatly facilitates efficient oxygen transport. Cooperativity, achieved by the so-called heme—heme interaction, allows hemoglobin to vary its affinity for oxygen. Hemoglobin reversibly binds up to four moles of oxygen per mole of Hb. At high oxygen concentration, such as that found in the lungs, the oxygen affinity is high and hemoglobin is almost saturated with oxygen. At low oxygen concentration, such as that found in actively respiring tissue, the oxygen affinity is lowered and oxygen is unloaded. The oxygen affinity of hemoglobin is lowered by the presence of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), chloride ions and hydrogen ions. Respiring tissue releases carbon dioxide into the blood and lowers its pH (i.e. increases the hydrogen ion concentration), thereby causing oxygen to dissociate from hemoglobin and allowing it to diffuse into individual cells.
The ability of hemoglobin to alter its oxygen affinity, increasing the efficiency of oxygen transport around the body, is dependent on the presence of the metabolite 2,3-DPG. Inside the erythrocyte 2,3-DPG is present at a concentration nearly as great as that of hemoglobin itself. In the absence of 2,3-DPG "conventional" hemoglobin binds oxygen very tightly and would release little oxygen to respiring tissue.
Aging erythrocytes release small amounts of free hemoglobin into the blood plasma where it is rapidly bound by the scavenging protein haptoglobin. The hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex is removed from the blood and degraded by the spleen and liver.
It is clear from the above considerations that free native hemoglobin A, injected directly into the bloodstream, would not support efficient oxygen transport about the body. The essential allosteric regulator 2,3-DPG is not present in sufficient concentration in the plasma to allow hemoglobin to release much oxygen at venous oxygen tension, and free hemoglobin would be rapidly inactivated as an oxygen carrier by auto-oxidation of the heme iron.
Therefore, a need exists for a substitute other than hemoglobin which can bind and carry oxygen to cells. This substitute may also be used in other applications where hemoglobin is used, including as a biological sensor for oxygen. The present invention provides proteins which meet that need.

Heme proteins hemAT-Hs and hemAT-Bs and their use in medicine and microsensors


A space safety apparatus monitoring a volume of space encompassing a field of view (FOV) for detecting an intrusion including a gas or vapor, and includes a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) having mirror elements in a mirror array for reflecting infra-red (IR) energy beam collected from the FOV and an IR energy detector for detecting the IR energy reflected by the MEMS array and converting the IR energy to an output signal. A processor adjusts an angle of an element of the MEMS mirror array by varying a control signal, or by switching from one to another focusing element. The method includes detection in a volume of space by positioning a MEMS mirror array to reflect IR signal with respect to active elements of an IR detector; and collecting IR energy from an ith portion of the FOV.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of intrusion detection systems for animate, inanimate or gaseous substances relying on infrared signal detection and, more specifically, to a space safety infrared signal intrusion detection system which incorporates a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) mirror array.
2. Description of Related Art
Passive infrared (IR) sensors detect intruders moving within the field of view (FOV) by measuring the temperature gradient caused by an intruder. The sensor's FOV is fixed and is determined by the optical properties of the lens or mirror system. The FOV is subdivided into static active and inactive zones; the motion of an intruder from an active to an inactive zone is detected as an alarm. The IR energy from each active zone is focused on the IR detector and the IR detector cannot determine which active zone is collecting the energy. The problem with this arrangement is that other sources of IR energy within a zone or zones can be detected as alarm signals as well. Examples include a space heater cycled on and off or a sunlit shade moving from a breeze within the detector's zones. Other sources of noise include a pet such as a small dog. Also, the inactive zones offer a path that an intruder can traverse without detection. Others have tried to solve these problems as follows: One product has an algorithm to detect repetitive motion within a zone and desensitize the detector to ignore this signal. This also desensitizes the sensor to intruders as well. Another approach uses a CCD camera to monitor the protected space and employs video processing algorithms to detect motion. The problem with this approach is that the protected space needs to be illuminated to detect the motion. Another approach uses a second lens system to minimize the inactive zones but this approach still suffers from the other shortcomings.

MEMS based space safety infrared sensor apparatus and method for detecting a gas or vapor


Techniques are provided for displaying electronic communications using a head mounted display (HMD). Each electronic communication may be displayed to represent a physical object that indentifies it as a specific type or nature of electronic communication. Therefore, the user is able to process the electronic communications more efficiently. In some aspects, computer vision allows a user to interact with the representation of the physical objects. One embodiment includes accessing electronic communications, and determining physical objects that are representative of at least a subset of the electronic communications. A head mounted display (HMD) is instructed how to display a representation of the physical objects in this embodiment.

Users today are inundated with electronic communications from a wide variety of sources. For example, users receive electronic mail, text messages, social network feeds, voicemails, etc. These communications may come from a wide variety of sources. Moreover, the communications can have a wide variety of importance and purposes. Users can be overwhelmed with processing all of these electronic communications.

Providing electronic communications in a physical world


When a terminal enters a cell of a personal-use base station (NBTS) arranged in a certain location area, the terminal receives a location area identifier having a number that is different from an identifier of the location area, and transmits a location updating request with the reception of the location area identifier as a trigger. On receiving the location updating request, a VLR or an NRNC having a registration table, in which the ID of the personal-use base station and the ID of a terminal allowed to use the personal-use base station are registered, judges whether the terminal issued the location updating request is the terminal allowed to use the personal-use base station by referring to the registration table. If the terminal issued the location updating request corresponds to the terminal allowed to use the personal-use base station, the terminal is placed under a status where it is capable of performing communication in the cell, and if not, the terminal is placed under a status where it is incapable of performing communication in the cell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a network system that performs state control of a mobile terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a mobile telephone service, there exists a region that is set as a service area in a map but is out of reach of a radio wave, that is, an area called "blind zone". The blind zone exists because radio waves basically travel straight and therefore wireless radio waves from an entrance of a mobile telephone network called "wireless base station" do not reach a mobile terminal existing behind a building, inside a building, in a basement, or the like in usual cases.
In order to eliminate such a blind zone, several new types of wireless base stations have been developed. For instance, there is a system called "optical base station", where an optical line is laid down so as to extend from an existing base station to an area that becomes a blind zone because the area is too small to install therein a wireless base station, or because there is no space nearby for installing a base station, and some of the functions of a base station and an antenna are installed in that area, thereby setting the area as a service area. According to this system, it is possible to install an optical base station even in a small space where it was conventionally impossible to install a base station. Consequently, it becomes possible to eliminate a blind zone existing behind a building, inside a tunnel, or the like.
Also, as a system for eliminating a blind zone existing inside a building, an indoor-dedicated base station system called "in-mobile communication system (IMCS)" has been developed, and installation there of is under way. With this system, for instance, one antenna is installed on each floor of a building, thereby setting the whole floor as a service area. The IMCS is installed in highly public buildings, stations, event venues, and the like, thereby enabling provision of a service indoors.
Further, a base station system called "simple IMCS (also called "repeater") has been developed. With the simple IMCS, a proxy antenna is set up in an area in which a radio wave from a base station reaches, a line from the proxy antenna is routed to a blind zone such as a basement, and an antenna is set up in the blind zone. That is, the simple IMCS system is a system where signal amplification at a wireless level is performed in a bi-directional manner, and the system is effective in installing an antenna in a place in which it is difficult to route a line from a mobile telephone network.
With the simple IMCS, however, when the proxy antenna emits a strong radio wave, there is a possibility that other terminals in the same area may be adversely affected due to radio wave interferences, so that it is impossible to install many antennas in a narrow area. Also, under the regulations now in force (radio wave management law (denpa kanri hou)), only mobile telephone companies are allowed to install the simple IMCS.
As a blind zone other than those described above, there is an ordinary people's home (private house), in particular, a private house area (dedicated space) of a multiple dwelling house such as an apartment. Such a private house (home) area is a private space rather than a lowly public area. Therefore, it is of course impossible to install a base station of the IMCS or the simple IMCS described above only for the convenience of the mobile telephone companies. Also, even if an individual inversely desires installation of a private-house-use (personal-use or home-use) base station, it is impossible to personally purchase and install the base station under the current circumstances from the viewpoints of cost and space.
There are many cases where a base station system, such as the IMCS or the simple IMCS, is introduced not only because its installation place is a public space but also because the possessor or occupant (building owner, for instance) of a land or building that is the installation place hopes to improve the convenience of users of the land or building (apartment, for instance). Accordingly, the mobile telephone company pursues the expansion of installation of the base station system by requesting the possessor or occupant of the land or building to shoulder the cost of the installation of the base station system.
Based on a similar logic, an individual installs a private-house-use base station system in order to obtain a profit. Therefore, it is likely that the mobile telephone company requests him/her to bear the cost of the installation of the base station system in some manner. In this case, it is obvious that there is no merit of personally introducing the base station if the users living in the private house cannot exclusively use the private-house-use base station.
In other words, when an individual introduces a base station, if another person existing in a range where it is possible to receive a ratio wave from the base station is allowed to use the base station, such a situation arises that when the individual tries to perform communication using the base station, the line of the base station is already busy because the other person is using it, and therefore the individual cannot perform communication. He/she does not hope such a situation will arise at all.
Related art documents (non-patent documents 1-7) relating to the present invention include the following. The non-patent document 1 is "3GPP Release99 Technical Specification (Technical Specification: TS series), TS.23.012 Location management procedure." The non-patent document 2 is "3GPP Release99 Technical Specification (Technical Specification: TS series), TS.23.122 NAS functions related to Mobile Station (MS) in idle mode." The non-patent document 3 is "3GPP Release99 Technical Specification (Technical Specification: TS series), TS.24.007 Mobile radio interface signaling layer 3;General aspects." The non-patent document 4 is "3GPP Release99 Technical Specification (Technical Specification: TS series), TS.24.008 Mobile Radio Interface Layer 3 specification; Core Network Protocols-Stage." The non-patent document 5 is "3GPP Release99 Technical Specification (Technical Specification: TS series), TS.25.304 UE Procedures in Idle Mode and Procedures for Cell Reselection in Connected Mode." The non-patent document 6 is "3GPP Release99 Technical Specification (Technical Specification: TS series), TS.25.331 Radio Resource Control (RRC) Protocol Specification." The non-patent document 7 is "3GPP Release99 Technical Specification (Technical Specification: TS series), TS.25.413 UTRAN Iu Interface RANAP Signaling."


The present invention relates to a system and method to facilitate providing computer users with efficient access to electronic notifications while minimizing disruption in the context of ongoing tasks. A notification system provides visual information heralds that provide summarizations of notifications to users. An information controller considers the importance or urgency of content and a user's current and/or recent activities in decisions about the rendering and positioning of the information herald on a display screen or screens in order to facilitate user processing of the summarized notifications with minimal disruption to ongoing tasks.

As computer systems have evolved, users of such systems have had to adapt to rapidly changing technological innovations. This is apparent when considering all the different forms of desktop applications for managing information. Users can literally choose from thousands of different software options for merely utilizing applications on their desktop computers. Often users have at their disposal multiple computers and displays for interfacing to such applications as well. Modern applications range from word processors, spreadsheets, web browsers, calendar systems, email applications, CAD systems and so forth. With the ever increasing numbers of applications however users are finding it difficult to not only properly deploy respective applications but also to manage the enormous amounts of information generated therefrom.
In just one example concerning information management, users as they are working, often are bombarded with dozens of electronic interruptions per day. This can be quite demanding given that most users are quite busy trying to process a given task at hand. These interruptions can be generated from a plurality of sources such as email, scheduling notifications (e.g., generated from electronic calendaring systems), instant message notifications, electronic reminders, voice messages, as well as managing individual notices that may arise when dealing with any given application (e.g., messages that popup while running an application such as automated help or troubleshooting advice). With such disruptions, users are continually challenged to balance the given task at hand with trying to process all the information that may become available during the day.
The computer science and artificial intelligence community consider many aspects relating to how to assist users in a variety of ways with advice and support about tasks and status. In many aspects, these sciences attempt to implement computer innovations that make it easier for users to process information or alternatively to enable computers to more effectively assist users when performing computer-related tasks. Respective innovations from these disciplines however often lead to more applications that are useful in their own right, yet leave the user with an overall greater task of processing increasing amounts information from the various applications.
The challenges of handling information updates and alerts are exacerbated by the growing use of larger display surfaces and multiple display configurations. Users may be directing their attention to different regions and may find it costly to search, find, and potentially interact with graphical renderings of visual "heralds" that provide notification about messages of importance, and potentially also provide access, via one or more user gestures (such as clicking on a region of the displayed herald), to more details about messages or allow the invocation of particular viewers or other applications via gestures, and then return to the region they had been attending to continue to review or interact with other displayed items (e.g., returning to a primary word processing task displayed at a different location on the current screen or another screen). Users may also miss important notifications that are displayed in regions that are not being attended to.
Thus, explicit systems, processes, and designs need to be developed that consider the importance of information to be reviewed by users, and the ease and efficacy at which users will be able to see or have access to the information, while at the same time minimizing information overload and distractions for application users.

Positioning and rendering notification heralds based on user's focus of attention and activity


An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, an image forming unit, an intermediate transfer member, a secondary transfer member, an image detector, a computing device, and a conveyor device. The computing device calculates a traveling speed of the intermediate transfer member based on detection information provided by the image detector. The conveyor device continuously transports to a secondary transfer portion a plurality of recording media one by one at a predetermined interval between successive recording media. The image forming unit forms a test image at a space between successive recording-medium contact regions of the intermediate transfer member at which the recording medium contacts the intermediate transfer member. A travel distance of the intermediate transfer member from the detection position on the intermediate transfer member to the secondary transfer portion in a traveling direction thereof is shorter than the space between the successive recording-medium contact regions.

1. Technical Field
Exemplary aspects of the present invention generally relate to an image forming apparatus, such as a copier, a facsimile machine, a printer, or a multifunction peripheral including a combination thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is known an image forming apparatus using an indirect transfer method in which an image on a photoconductor is transferred onto a recording medium via an intermediate transfer member such as an intermediate transfer belt formed into an endless loop. In the image forming apparatus using the indirect transfer method, when a trailing edge of the recording medium exits a secondary transfer portion at which the image on the intermediate transfer member is transferred onto the recording medium sudden stress is applied to the intermediate transfer member, which results in changes in the traveling speed of the intermediate transfer member. Due to changes in the traveling speed of the intermediate transfer member, an image transfer failure, a so-called shock jitter, occurs at a primary transfer portion at which the image on the photoconductor is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member.


A method and implementing system are provided in which merchants are enabled to designate re-seller return locations to customers for returned items. In an exemplary embodiment, a merchant is notified that a customer wishes to return an item purchased. The merchant then sends the customer a return label for the returned item containing the address of the re-seller for the merchant. The re-seller then notifies the merchant when the item has been received and the merchant then credits the account of the customer for the returned item. In a second exemplary embodiment, upon receipt of notice from the customer of the return, the merchant then makes the item available for an auction purchase to a number of bidders. When a winning bid is known to the merchant, the return address of the winning bidder is then sent to the customer for use in returning the purchased item.

The use of computers and computing devices, including personal desktop and laptop computers as well as mobile and other wireless devices, to access websites on the World Wide Web (WWW) through the Internet continues to increase. More and more merchants are creating commercial websites which may be easily accessed through the Internet to place orders for items which are offered for sale at the merchant's website. The purchaser is able to pay for the purchased items by designating a credit or debit card or account number, and the merchant or "e-merchant", charges the designated account for the purchase. Shipments of the selected items are then made directly to the address specified by the purchaser.
After receipt of the items ordered, customers are able to return items purchased for any of a variety of reasons. For example, the customer or purchaser may not like the color of a particular item or an ordered technology product may not be compatible with the customer's system. In many cases, items are returned for reasons other than the reason that the item is faulty or defective. In those cases, an otherwise workable and acceptable item is returned to the selling merchant. The merchant has no option but to accept the return of such items and to try to resell the item at a greatly discounted rate. In many cases, especially where the ordered item is large and bulky such as a computer system, the shipping and insuring costs can become quite high. This is especially true where the item is return-shipped from the original purchaser to the selling merchant and then shipped again from the selling merchant to a re-selling merchant who may specialize in the re-sale of such returned items.
Thus, there is a need for an improved method and implementing system which are designed to significantly improve the efficiency and reduce the costs associated with the shipment and return of purchased items.

Third party merchandise return method, storage medium and implementing system

International Business Machines Corporation


An additive manufactured heat exchanger includes a monolithic housing defining an outer surface, a plurality of first fluid passageways extending between a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, and a plurality of second fluid passageways extending between a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet. A cross section of the outer surface defines an irregular shape, the plurality of first fluid passageways and the plurality of second fluid passageways define a convoluted flow matrix within the monolithic housing, and the outer surface of the monolithic housing is complimentary to a space between at least two components of a vehicle. The monolithic housing can also include a plurality of third fluid passageways extending between a third fluid inlet and a third fluid outlet.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
A heat exchanger is an apparatus or system used to transfer heat between two or more fluids, i.e., from at least one "hot" fluid to at least one "cool" fluid, with the fluids typically separated by a solid wall to prevent mixing thereof. And the size and shape of a heat exchanger are determined by the amount of heat generated by, and required to be dissipated from, a heat producing system. Examples of heat producing systems include vehicles with internal combustion engines, battery powered vehicles, hybrid vehicles, among others.
Traditional heat exchanger manufacturing processes include machining and welding pre-fabricated or pre-manufactured components such as heat exchanger housings, tubing, tubing fittings, among others. Accordingly, the flexibility of a heat exchanger design and manufacture are limited by the shape, size and available of such pre-manufactured components.
The present disclosure addresses issues related to the manufacture of heat exchangers, and other issues related to design, shape and size of heat exchangers.

Heat exchangers with enhanced efficiency