An arrayed waveguide grating with improved edge channel aberration may be achieved by tuning the arrayed waveguide grating to have a stigmatic point for the input and output waveguides that is not at the center of the Rowland circle. In this way, crosstalk, ripples, and transmission spectrum uniformity may be improved in some embodiments of the present invention.

This invention relates generally to optical communications and, particularly, to arrayed waveguide gratings. Arrayed waveguide gratings are also sometimes called waveguide grating routers or phased array waveguide gratings.
In wavelength division multiplexed optical signals, a plurality of different optical signals, each having a different wavelength, may be multiplexed over the same optical length. At intended destinations, one or more of the wavelength signals may be separated using a demultiplexing technique.
An arrayed waveguide grating works like a diffraction grating. It may be fabricated as a planar structure including input and output waveguides, input and output waveguide couplers, and arrayed waveguides. The length of any arrayed waveguide may differ from adjacent waveguides by constant ΔL.
The input waveguide coupler splits the wavelength channels equally among the arrayed waveguides. Each portion of the input light traveling through the arrayed waveguide includes all the wavelengths that have entered the grating. Each wavelength in turn is individually phase shifted. As a result of that phase shift and phase shifts at the input/output waveguide couplers, every portion of the light at a given wavelength sees different phase shifts. These portions may interfere at the output waveguide coupler, producing a set of maximum light intensities. The direction of each maximum intensity depends on its wavelength. Thus, each wavelength is directed to an individual output waveguide.
Arrayed waveguide gratings should ideally have low insertion loss, low crosstalk, broad bandwidth, and a flat pass band. However, conventional arrayed waveguide gratings exhibit aberrations in the transmission spectra. Specifically, when the arrayed waveguide gratings are designed according to the standard Rowland mounting, the transmission spectra are symmetric only for the center channels and are increasingly asymmetric for the edge channels.
Conventionally it is believed that these aberrations are phase aberrations. Thus, efforts to correct these aberrations have focused on correcting the phase aberration.
Thus, there is a need for better ways to correct the aberration in arrayed waveguide gratings.

Reducing amplitude errors in arrayed waveguide gratings


The invention relates to processes for extracting polyhydroxyalkanoate from a biomass, comprising admixing the biomass with an organic solvent for from 1 second to 15 minutes at a first temperature of from 5° C. below the melting point of the polyhydroxyalkanoate to 10° C. above the melting point of the polyhydroxyalkanoate and at a pressure of from 1 bar to 10 bar to provide a composition comprising the organic solvent and polyhydroxyalkanoate.

Plastics such as polyesters are typically produced from petrochemical sources by well-known synthetic means. These petrochemical-based polymers can take centuries to degrade after disposal. Concern over plastic-waste accumulation in landfills has resulted in a recent movement toward using biodegradable polymers instead.
Bio-based biodegradable polymers, also commonly referred to as "bioplastics," have not enjoyed great success in the marketplace due to their high production cost. However, advances in biotechnology have led to less expensive methods for their production. In one instance, biodegradable aliphatic copolyesters are now often produced by large-scale bacterial fermentation. Collectively termed polyhydroxyalkanoates, also known as "PHAs," these polymers can be synthesized by a plant or bacteria fed with a particular substrate, such as glucose, in a fermentation plant. In many instances, the structural or mechanical properties of PHAs can be customized to fit the specifications of the desired end product. PHAs can biodegrade both aerobically and anaerobically.
PHAs are enormously versatile, and as many as 100 different PHA structures have been identified. PHA structures can vary in two ways. First, PHAs can vary according to the structure of the pendant groups, which are typically attached to a carbon atom having (D)-stereochemistry. The pendant groups form the side chain of hydroxyalkanoic acid not contributing to the PHA carbon backbone. Second, PHAs can vary according to the number and types of their repeat units. For example, PHAs can be homopolymers, copolymers, or terpolymers. These variations in PHA structure can cause variations in their physical characteristics. These physical characteristics make PHAs useful for a number of products that may be commercially valuable.
However, in order to have any type of commercially marketable PHA bioplastic product, there is a need for an efficient process for separating such PHAs from the residual biomass.
Numerous solvent-based and other types of extraction techniques are known in the art for extracting PHAs from a biomass. Solvent-based systems (including those utilizing ketones, toluene, alcohols, alone and in combination with other solvents), mechanical systems, and combinations thereof may be used for extracting PHA.
Typically the solubility of the polymer is not high enough to make it economical. Therefore, there is a need for a more efficient and cost-saving process to load more polymer into the organic solvent for extracting the PHA materials from biomass.

Process for the extraction of polyhydroxyalkanoates from biomass


The present invention seeks to improve upon existing energy-generation technologies by providing methods, systems, and devices for converting mechanical power into electrical power. More specifically, the present invention relates to fluid-powered generators and methods, systems, and devices for generating power by way of such fluid-powered generators. The present invention includes devices for generating energy comprising fluid turbine generators having variable inlet(s), wherein the fluid velocity, volume, and/or mass of fluid collected by the inlet can be varied to control turbine speed to provide a reasonably steady, continuous, and/or sufficient source of energy over a wide range of conditions presented by natural fluid resources.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of energy harvesting. More specifically, the present invention relates to the field of electrical energy generation and includes, for example, methods, systems, and devices for converting flowing fluids into electrical power. Further, for example, the present invention relates to fluid-powered generators and methods, systems, and devices for generating electrical energy with such fluid-powered generators.
2. Description of Related Art
There exists a continued interest around the world in the development of alternative energy sources from sources that cannot be exhausted and/or are renewable. Harnessing and using local resources for energy has the advantage of potentially reducing dependence on foreign sources of energy, such as foreign oil, and contributing to local economy. Further, using resources, such as wind, and water, as energy sources to generate power, for example, electrical power, has obvious environmental advantages as well. Finding more efficient ways to use wind and water resources will benefit our society and environment on a global level.
Some considerations present in determining whether harnessing natural or manmade resources, such as wind and water resources, is an effective alternative to conventional coal, oil, and gas resources include assessing the associated financial and aesthetic costs. It is well known that one solution for producing more energy from wind or water power is to create larger devices for harnessing these resources. Larger devices, however, may lead to greater safety concerns, noise concerns, and can even be an aesthetic eyesore to some. Additionally, because devices for harnessing wind and water power are typically exposed to the elements, such devices are usually situated out in the open. As a result of using larger devices to harness these natural resources, more land is typically a prerequisite to installing them, which in turn increases acquisition and maintenance costs of real estate, for example. Additionally, portable devices for converting wind and/or water power could likewise be advantageous for their remote servicing capabilities especially in emergency situations.
Wind and water resources have advantages and disadvantages, which are primarily dependent on factors that may be difficult or improbable to control. For example, wind and water are unpredictable energy sources, which can vary with the weather, by geographic location, and from day to day. Even further, wind and water resources can be affected by a number of other considerations, including buildings, towers or other structures, trees, and terrain to name a few, which may interfere with the amount and/or intensity of these resources that can be harnessed and converted to electrical energy.
Providing a reasonably steady, continuous, and sufficient source of electrical energy from wind and/or water resources is a goal in making alternative energy sources more attractive. To date, however, this goal has not easily been achieved.
In particular, with respect to harnessing wind energy, it is well understood that the amount of electrical energy that can be generated from wind is dependent, at least in part, on the velocity and/or air mass density of the wind. Because wind velocity and air density can be at times unpredictable and/or fluctuating, it is difficult to achieve a reasonably steady, continuous, and sufficient output of electrical power from such systems. Thus, it would be advantageous to develop methods, devices, and systems for generating power that can operate over a wide range of wind or water conditions.
With respect to fluid-based power generators, in general, most power generating systems are not able to produce a useful amount of energy when the conditions presented by a particular fluid fluctuate greatly, e.g., drop below minimum required levels, or even exceed maximum allowed operating parameters for a particular generator. With respect to wind-based power generation, in particular, when the wind speed drops below a certain level, the generator may not operate or may not be able to produce a useful amount of energy. Most existing designs are not capable of operating below ambient wind speeds of, for example, 15 mph. Likewise, when the wind speed exceeds a level that can be tolerated by a generator, the generator will shut down as a result of or to prevent overheating. Most existing systems for fluid-based power generation are, thus, unreliable and/or impractical over a wide range of operating conditions.
There exists, therefore, a need for generators that can operate over a wide range of fluid velocities and that can provide a relatively constant power output, regardless of the conditions presented by the fluid. With respect to wind-based power generation, for example, it would be advantageous to develop devices that are capable of providing a reasonably steady, continuous, and sufficient source of electrical energy and at a fixed frequency of AC power so the transformers can be simplified, made cheaper and more reliable. For example, it is desirous to have a fluid-based turbine generator that is capable of providing a relatively consistent power output, regardless of whether the generator is operating at a low fluid speed, such as a wind speed of 3 mph, or at a high fluid speed, such as at hurricane-level wind speeds. There have been numerous attempts to provide energy generators to address at least some of these concerns but none have addressed all conditions (i.e., the low speed, high speed, and constant power).
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,640, entitled "Fluid Powered Electrical Generator," describes an impellor-rotor mounted on a central support structure, with the outward ends of the blades of the fan being connected together by rotor rings. A peripheral electrical generator produces electrical energy when the impellor-rotor is driven by the fluid stream. Also provided is a downstream diffuser shroud to postpone, suppress, or eliminate what is referred to therein as a "stall" condition. The downstream diffuser shroud can be made of a flexible material for the purpose of flexing to conform to the changing conditions of the fluid on the output end of the system in response to an increase or decrease in fluid velocity through the diffuser shroud. FIG. 22 shows variability in the power output from the devices and, in particular, as wind velocity increases, the power density from the devices also increases, and FIG. 22 shows no appreciable power density for wind velocities below about 10 mph.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,500, entitled "Variable Stator, Diffuser Augmented Wind Turbine Electrical Generator System," and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, includes a mechanism for varying the effective angle of attack on the rotor with respect to the wind. The devices operate to provide the proper approach and pre-swirling of incoming wind by using stators with trailing edge flaps to rotate the rotor as desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,836,028, entitled "Segmented Arc Generator," and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses converting mechanical power such as wind or water power into electrical power at a wide range of wind or shaft speeds. Devices described use a rotor ring that is in close proximity to a stator ring and some include a wind collector (for example, FIG. 4) to maximize exposure to wind. The wind collector is described as a funnel that increases the amount of air that is forced through the generator. The wind collector is fixed and can be rotated to an optimal position for receiving wind or to prevent damage in high wind conditions. Through use of a series stator coil connection by the switching matrix and voltage step-up by the boost converter, extraction of output power at 10% or less of rated speed can be achieved. The output power for continuous operation above rated speed is limited to the rated value due to current heating. Further, a power conditioning circuit enables the generator modules to operate efficiently at a wide range of fan speeds and a variable frequency control feature maintains constant voltage all through the designed RPM range.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,018,166, entitled "Ducted Wind Turbine," and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes devices with a duct having a convergent and a divergent surface to control the fluid flow pattern along the inner duct surface. In addition to a drive rotor, a free rotor is used to reduce the pressure of air immediately upstream of the free rotor to, in turn, increase the velocity of air at the throat of the duct and, thus, the speed of the drive rotor.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,939,101, entitled "Windmill," and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, provides devices for generating electricity, i.e., windmills having wind guide plates extending in a radial direction and an upper plate for preventing dispersion of the wind to collect the wind and thereby increase air density. Electricity can be stably generated using wind force irrespective of wind direction or wind velocity. The windmill can be installed in urban areas and mountain villages where wind direction and wind velocity frequently change.
"Flap-cone Control of Windmill Speed," in Alternative energy sources; Proceedings of the Miami International Conference, Miami Beach, Fla., Dec. 5-7, 1977, Volume 4, Washington, D.C., Hemisphere Publishing Corp., 1978, pages 1681-1692, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses a flap-cone method of controlling windmill speed. FIG. 2 shows a fixed inlet, which captures one volume of air for the system. The speed of the air is controlled by adjusting the flap cone at an outlet portion of the cone.
Previous attempts to solve some of the problems associated with non-conventional energy generation systems have maintained a focus different from that of the present invention. By controlling turbine speed within an optimum range of operating speeds for a particular generator, the power output of such systems can likewise be controlled to maintain an optimum range of power output. Using fluids for power in such systems can complicate this goal, especially, as described above, when the fluid flow is affected by external factors that are difficult to control. As the inventor of the present invention has discovered, turbine speed can be controlled with the inventive inlets described below, which control the amount of fluid collected by an energy generator system, regardless of the conditions presented by external fluid flow.
As contrasted with the above-described energy generating systems, the inventive methods, systems, and devices for energy generation are capable of operating over a wide range of fluid speeds, while providing a reasonably steady, continuous, and sufficient source of electrical energy by having inlet means for controlling fluid flow and turbine speed of fluid-powered turbine generators.

Methods, systems, and devices for energy generation


A catalyst for synthesis reaction that can allow the cross coupling reaction at an improved yield, and yet can be collected after used for the reaction and recycled, and a synthesizing method for a compound using the same catalyst for synthesis reaction. In the Suzuki cross-couplings given by the following reaction formula (15), palladium containing perovskite-like composite oxide is used as a catalyst for synthesis reaction:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a synthesizing method for a compound and to a catalyst for synthesis reaction. More particularly, the present invention relates to a synthesizing method for a compound by using a cross coupling reaction and to a catalyst for synthesis reaction used in that synthesizing method.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Cross-coupling reactions are the reaction to bond two compounds together. Of the cross-coupling reactions, the Suzuki cross-couplings, the Stille cross-couplings and the Heck cross-couplings are generally known as the cross coupling reaction using palladium as a catalyst for synthesis reaction.
For example, the Suzuki cross-couplings, which has a number of advantages of, for example, producing the synthesis of unsymmetrical biphenyl compounds without reacting with co-existing functional groups, permitting the reaction to proceed in the presence of water, and reducing the production of poisonous by-products, are widely used for synthesis of organic compounds having biphenyl skeletons and effectively used for the synthesis of e.g. medical products and the like (e.g. JP Laid-open (Unexamined) Patent Publication No. Hei 6-25175 and JP Publish No. Hei 6-508370 in Official Gazette publishing Japanese translation of PCT patent application).
In the Suzuki cross-couplings, palladium used as the catalyst for synthesis reaction is usually used in the form of an organic metal complex soluble in an organic solvent, such as tetrakis (triphenylphosphine) palladium.
Palladium is expensive and valuable and accordingly is desired to be collected after used for the reaction and recycled, for reduction in manufacturing cost.
However, in the practical reaction, palladium is used in the form of the organic metal complex soluble in the organic solvent, such as tetrakis (triphenylphosphine) palladium, as mentioned above. Due to this, it is practically difficult to collect the palladium after used for the reaction, so that the palladium is, in fact, wasted without being collected after used for the reaction.

Synthesizing method for compound, and catalyst for synthesis reaction

Cambridge University Technical Services Ltd.


In an X-ray tube provided with a frame, a rotary bearing, and a target and anode supported by the rotary bearing for rotation with respect to the frame, an improved arrangement is provided for preloading the rotary bearing. The arrangement comprises a housing fixably joined to the frame, the housing provided with a cylindrical inner wall and disposed to receive the rotary bearing, and a spring or the like for applying an axial force to the bearing race, to selectively preload the bearing balls or other rotary elements of the bearing. The arrangement further comprises a linear bearing positioned between the bearing race and the cylindrical inner wall, to enable the bearing race to move axially with respect to the housing in response to the applied axial force. The linear bearing comprises a selected number of linear bearing rows in closely spaced relationship with one another, each of the linear bearing rows comprising a number of linear bearing balls positioned in a circular array around the rotary bearing race.

The invention disclosed and claimed herein is generally directed to an improved arrangement for preloading bearings, wherein the bearings are employed to support an X-ray tube target and other components for rotation. More particularly, the invention pertains to an arrangement of such type for preventing effects of thermal expansion, which occur during the production of X-rays, from interfering with bearing preload.
As is well known, modern X-ray tubes often employ tungsten electron beam targets, mounted upon rotating anodes, for the production of X-rays. The target and anode arc supported for rotation on at least two bearings, which serve as the interface between the rotating and stationary parts of the X-ray tube. As is further well known, a substantial amount of heat is usually produced in the tube when X-rays are generated. Thus, the rotary bearings must operate over a broad range of temperatures, so that individual bearing components, as well as structure adjacent thereto, are subject to thermal growth which can alter the internal clearances in the bearings. As a result, the bearings tend to become too loose or too tight, radially or axially.
In an attempt to obtain consistent bearing noise and load distribution over a broad range of temperatures, preload springs have been employed to minimize variations in bearing ball loading, as temperature changes from room temperature to the operating temperature. In order for the preload springs to function properly, one or more bearings in the system must be free to easily move, or float, axially. In the past, a preload force was typically applied to the bearing balls through the outer bearing race, or bearing ring, which was in sliding contact with the cylindrical wall of the bearing housing. However, conditions of high vacuum and temperature, generally found in an X-ray tube, tend to produce very clean surfaces which adhere to one another. If the bearing ring adheres to the adjacent housing wall, the bearing preload cannot be properly applied to the bearing balls, whereby the system loses its preload. Such situation can also occur if thermal growth eliminates all clearance between the bearing ring and the housing wall. Too little preload results in increased bearing noise, and excessive preload slows rotation of the rotary tube components, thereby reducing bearing life. Various soft metals and solid lubricants have been employed in an effort to relieve the tendency to adhere, but the outcome has been inconsistent and unreliable.

Bearing preload arrangement with linear bearing component for X-ray tube


A method for fixing a material used for balancing of a roll in which a support and fixing construction for a fluidized balancing material is placed into the roll interior in contact with an inner face of the roll. The fluidized balancing material is then placed inside the roll at the location required by the balancing, where it is fixed and hardens. The support and fixing construction comprises openings or equivalent, which permit the balancing material to be placed at both sides of the support and fixing construction before it hardens and is fixed at the location required by the balancing.

The invention relates to a method and device for fixing a material used for balancing of a roll, in particular the balancing of a roll used in paper machines.
In the prior art, a method and device for balancing paper-machine cylinders and rolls are known, wherein a fluidized balancing material is placed on an inside face of a roll at a required balancing location. At the required balancing location, the material adheres to the face of the roll and hardens. The balancing material used in the prior art method and device is preferably polyurethane, silicone mix or epoxy resin.

Method for fixing a balancing material in a roll


The present invention provides safe products for bleaching teeth. Oral compositions comprising at least one oxidoreductase fulfil said criteria without the presence of peroxide or with only very little peroxide present. The invention also relates to an oral care product comprising the oral composition of the invention, a method of bleaching teeth, a method for using said oral care products and the use of oxidoreductases for oxidation of teeth stains.

Most people want to have a mouth full of dazzling white teeth, as the teeth constitute an important part of the overall picture of the human face especially when smiling. In contrast hereto strongly discoloured teeth entail an unhealthy and in certain cases even repellent "look".
For many years, crowns or dentures were seen as the only means for avoiding e.g. the yellowing of teeth coming with age, discolouration of teeth due to long term intake of the antibiotic tetracycline during childhood, or the yellowish brown to black discolouration of teeth as a consequence of coffee drinking, tobacco smoking/chewing etc.
Even though techniques for bleaching teeth have been known for many years, tooth bleaching has never been used extensively, until recently.
The first published tooth bleaching technique used oxalic acid as the bleaching agent and was reported by Chaple in the 1877. Soon after, the first report of peroxide used as a bleaching agent was published by Harlan in 1884. Even though quite a number of bleaching agents have been suggested since then peroxide is today still the most commonly used agent.
The structure of teeth
A mammal tooth is chiefly composed of four main constituents namely the "cementum", the "dental pulp", the "dentin", and the "enamel".
The "cementum" is bonelike tissue forming the outer surface of the root of the tooth. The "dental pulp" consists of sensitive tissue containing arteries, veins, and lymphatic and nerve tissue. The "dentin" which surrounds the dental pulp forms the major part of the tooth. The dentin is dense bonelike calcareous tissue. On the outside of the tooth there is a hard porous layer composed of hydroxyapatite mineral crystals having a natural opaque white or off-white colour. This outer porous layer is called the "enamel".
Tooth discolouration
Tooth discolouration can be caused by a variety of intrinsic and/or extrinsic influences. In general stains are divided into two main categories: 1) extrinsic stains and 2) intrinsic strains.
1) Extrinsic stains
Extrinsic stains are mainly caused by the daily intake of substances, such as foods and beverages through the mouth, and/or the use of tobacco products etc. These substances tend to adhere to the enamel's hydoxyapatite structure and hereby discolour the teeth and/or reduce the whiteness of the teeth.
Over a period of years extrinsic stains may penetrate the enamel layer and gradually give intrinsic discolourations.
2) Intrinsic stains
Intrinsic stains are the term used for stains which have penetrated the tooth structure (i.e. discolouration within the tooth matrix). Such stains can arise as described above or be caused by agents including haematological agents and certain drugs, or be due to dental pulp necrosis or developmental abnormalities.
For instance, degradation products from the body may cause discolorations. Excessive intake of tetracycline or fluoride during a long period of illness has been found to release degradation products into the dentinal tubules during the development of tooth enamel causing some degree of discolouration. The severity of such discolouration depends on the time and duration of intake of the medicine.
Further, dental pulp necrosis entails Haemorrhagic discolorations and is a result of blood degradation. If the pulp necrosis is caused by e.g. caries degradation of proteins the tooth/teeth will become greyish-brown.
In the case of traumatic pulp death the tooth will turn yellow-brown. It is believed that such a discolouration is caused by haemolysis of red blood cells entering the dentinal tubules.
Tooth bleaching
Before conducting tooth bleaching it is important to assess the type of stain, as different types of stains need different approaches and/or bleaching agents.
Certain extrinsic stains, which occur on the surface or subsurface of the teeth, can be removed by regular intense mechanical brushing of the teeth with cleansing agents containing abrasives and surfactants. However, not all extrinsic stains can be removed this way and require bleaching agents which inhibit non-enzymatic browning reactions.
Intrinsic stains are located in the tooth matrix and cannot be removed or prevented by intense mechanical brushing of the teeth. Removal of such discolourations requires bleaching agents capable of penetrating into the teeth structure. Hydrogen peroxide is an example of such an agent, which can be used for both extrinsic and intrinsic stains.
Hydrogen peroxide can be used for many types of stains e.g. stains residing in the dentin, such as stains caused by tetracycline.
Even though hydrochloric acid is not regarded as being a bleaching agent it is known to be capable of removing stains caused by fluorosis, as it dissolves the surface of the teeth.
However, the use of such agents can inflict severe tooth damage or at least irritation in the oral cavity. Consequently, such agents are for safety reasons not suitable for "home-use" by the private consumer and should only be used precautiously by professionals.
Bleaching techniques
Bleaching techniques are usually divided into two main categories:
a) non-vital bleaching techniques, and PA1 b) vital bleaching techniques.
a) Non-vital bleaching
The non-vital techniques give the most effective results but also have the greatest potential hazard. One non-vital bleaching technique uses sodium perborate and 35% hydrogen peroxide as the active ingredient.
b) Vital bleaching
Products sold for vital bleaching techniques can be divided into three main groups a) "in-office" bleaching products, b) dentist prescribed, home applied bleaching products, and c) over-the-counter bleaching kits.
For further information concerning the categorisation of tooth bleaching products and techniques we refer to Van B. Haywood, (1992), Periodontology and Restorative Dentistry, p. 142-149.
One of the most commonly used "in-office"-techniques combines the use 30% hydrogen peroxide with heat and light treatment to speed up the oxidation reaction (i.e. the removal of stains).
Another method, using a "dentist prescribed, home-applied"-bleaching product, involves the use of 10% urea peroxide (carbamide peroxide). The teeth are bleached in a mouth tray, containing the bleaching agent, placed upon the teeth of the patient.
Over-the-counter kits which can be used for bleaching teeth include products such as toothpastes and mouth washes having from 3% to 6% hydrogen peroxide and are sold directly to the consumer, without prescription by a dentist.
Comments to prior art
Most of the above mentioned prior art methods/techniques involve the use of peroxides and/or other agents in concentrations which are not safe for "home-use" by the private consumer due to the risk of damaging the teeth and/or the oral tissue.
Furthermore, effective concentrations of e.g. hydrogen peroxide exceed the allowed limits in certain countries.
Products comprising low concentration of bleaching agents, such as hydrogen peroxide, are considered to have slow bleaching effect.
Therefore, there is a need for providing safe tooth bleaching compositions, which do not comprise harmful concentrations of peroxide and/or other hazardous agents. It is further desirable that such tooth bleaching compositions can be used as components in conventional oral care products for "home-use" by the private consumer.


Disclosed is a delay locked loop (DLL) for use in a semiconductor memory device, which has the ability to reduce or eliminate a power supply noise, a random noise or other irregular noise. The DLL includes a controllable delay modification unit for delaying a clock signal fed thereto to produce a time-delayed signal, a comparator for comparing the time-delayed signal from the modification block and a reference signal, and determining an addition or subtraction of the time delay according to the compared result to produce a corresponding output signal, and a delay control unit for counting the number that the corresponding output signal is activated, and producing a signal for controlling the addition or the subtraction of the time delay to the modification unit, if the counted value satisfies a predetermined condition.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device; and, more particularly, of a delay locked loop having the ability to drastically eliminate noise.
In general, a delay locked loop (DLL) circuit reduces a skew between a clock signal and data or between an external clock and an internal clock, which is used in synchronizing an internal clock of a synchronous memory to an external clock without incurring any error. Specifically, a timing delay is incurred when an external clock is used internally to a system, and the delay locked loop controls the timing delay to synchronize the internal clock to the external clock.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional delay locked loop.
A clock signal Clock_1 is input to a controllable delay modification unit 100 which delays the input signal by a certain time period and produces a time-delayed signal Delayed_clock to a comparator 110. The comparator 110 compares the time-delayed signal Delayed clock and a reference signal Clock_reference, and determines if the time delay should be increased (added) or decreased (subtracted), to produce one of an addition signal Add_delay or a subtraction signal Subtract_delay. The addition signal Add_delay or the subtraction signal Subtract-delay output from the comparator 110 is fed back to the controllable delay modification unit 100. Based on the addition signal or the subtraction signal, the controllable delay modification unit 100 modifies the time delay until the reference signal Clock_reference and the time-delayed signal Delayed_clock are synchronous in phase.
As mentioned above, the prior art is designed so that the comparator 110 determines if the time delay fed thereto from the controllable delay modification unit 100 should be increased or decreased and returns the result to the controllable delay modification unit 100 to thereby allow the time delay to be adjusted.
However, the prior art has a drawback that it is very sensitive to a power supply noise, random noise, radiation noise or other irregular noise. That is, the erroneous determination of the comparator 110 due to such noises causes an output signal to be fed back to the controllable delay modification unit 100 to be erroneous. As a result, the controllable delay modification unit 100 controls the time delay based on the erroneous signal, resulting in an unintended problem.
It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a delay locked loop having the ability to reduce or eliminate a power supply noise, a random noise or other irregular noise.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a delay locked loop for use on a semiconductor memory device, which comprises: a controllable delay modification unit for delaying a clock signal fed thereto to produce a time-delayed signal; a comparator for comparing the time-delayed signal from the modification unit and a reference signal, and determining an addition or subtraction of the time delay according to the compared result to produce a corresponding output signal; and a delay control unit for counting occurrences of the corresponding output signal and producing a signal for controlling the addition or the subtraction of the time delay to the controllable delay modification unit, if the counted value is larger than a predetermined value.

Delay locked loop with delay control unit for noise elimination


An image forming system having two simplex print engines is provided that transfers and fuses two images on either side of a substrate in a single nip. The two images can be formed simultaneously at the single nip.

The present invention relates generally to printing in image forming systems, and specifically relates to duplex printing in such systems.
Conventional image forming systems, such as toner imaging systems, where a latent charge image is developed with a pigmented toner, are widespread in the office and home. Once developed with the toner, the image is transferred to a receiving member to form a printed image on a substrate, such as a sheet of paper.
Many technologies exist for forming a latent charge image, including optical image projection onto a charged photoconductive belt or drum, charging a dielectric member with an electrostatic pin array or electron beam, and charge projection from an ionographic print cartridge or from a plasma generator. Once a latent image is formed, the latent image may be transferred to an intermediate member before development. Alternatively, the latent image may be developed on the same member as that on which it is formed, with different system architectures having evolved to address different process priorities, such as cost, speed, preferred type of toning system or intended receiving substrate. A liquid-carried toner or a dry powder toner may be used. The former raises environmental issues that involve solvent or carrier management, especially when printing on so-called plain, or bond, papers, while the latter raises concerns of dust control, especially as the toner particle size becomes finer.
In general, there are two methods of producing the final image on a substrate. First, according to a conventional heating method, the toned image, once transferred to a receiving member, is heated to dry or fix the image on the substrate during the final stage of printing. Heating of the toned image at an earlier stage, e.g., when the toner is applied as a dust or liquid suspension to the latent charge image, is, however, avoided. In addition, in the heating method, heating should also be avoided on or near any photoconductive elements. Even for charge deposition systems in which an electric charge is applied to a dielectric rather than photoconductive member, heat may impair the dielectric properties of some common image-holding materials.
Aside from the sensitivity of the components of the system to heat, one disadvantage associated with the heating method arises when trying to print in duplex mode where an image is formed on both sides of the substrate, which, for example, may be paper. In the cut-sheet environment, where the substrate is a cut sheet of paper, the paper is re-circulated in a printing machine to print on both sides. Unfortunately, recirculation increases the amount of time to print, and makes it more likely that paper jams can occur. In the web environment, where the substrate is an uncut roll of paper, printing in duplex mode is done by two printing stations, which can be separated by several meters. Such a method of printing on both sides of the substrate that involve two printing stations separated by such a distance can give rise to paper wrinkling, web breaks, problems registering the front page to the back page, and large xe2x80x9cfootprints.xe2x80x9d
The second method of producing the final image on a substrate is a transfusing method in which the toned image is simultaneously transferred to and fixed on the final member in a softened state. By controlling the temperature, the relative tackiness or the cohesion of the heated toner may be made to vary to achieve optimal transfer of the image between surfaces, and when transferring to a final recording sheet, to optimize xe2x80x9cimage fixxe2x80x9d properties.
The transfusing method of the present invention possess several advantages over the conventional image transfer and fusing methods. For example, because in the former the image is transferred and fused to the substrate simultaneously, there is a savings in both space and equipment to form a completed image on the substrate. It is a significant aspect of the present invention that the image forming system is capable of duplex printing using the transfusing method.
An image forming system for duplex printing is provided which transfers and fuses the duplex images to both sides of a substrate at a single transfuse nip. Part of the image forming system has reflection or mirror-image symmetry about a line formed by the substrate. On each side of the line of symmetry there is a simplex transfuse engine arranged mechanically to transfuse an image to both sides of the substrate at a single nip.
In particular, an image forming system for printing on both sides of a substrate is provided. The system includes first and second transfer members forming a single transfuse nip therebetween. The system also includes a first imaging member for generating a first toner image that is received by the first transfer member; and a second imaging member for generating a second toner image that is received by the second transfer member. At the single transfuse nip, the first transfer member is suitable for transferring the first toner image to a first side of the substrate to form a first print, and the second transfer member is suitable for transferring the second toner image to a second side of the substrate to form a second print.
The first transfer member exerts a first force on the substrate to form the first print, and the second transfer member exerts a second force on the substrate to form the second print, such that the first force and the second force simultaneously oppose each other. The first print and the second print may be formed simultaneously on the substrate at the single transfuse nip. The first and second transfer members may each have a surface energy of between about 20 and about 40 dynes/cm, and a hardness of between about 50 and about 80 Shore A. Moreover, the toner may have a softening temperature Ts. The first imaging member and the first transfer member may each operate substantially isothermally at temperatures T1 and T2, respectively. Likewise, the second imaging member and the second transfer member may each operate substantially isothermally at temperatures T1 and T2, respectively, such that T1 less than Ts less than T2.
The first transfer member may transfer the first toner image in a melted state to the first side of the substrate. Likewise, the second transfer member may transfer the second toner image in a melted state to the second side of the substrate, as the temperature of the first toner image and the second toner image decrease. The system may further include a preheat assembly for preheating the substrate to a temperature T3 prior to introduction to the transfuse nip, such that T3 less than T2.
An image forming system is also described herein that includes a first print engine for forming a first toner image, and a second print engine for forming a second toner image. The system further includes a single transfuse nip formed between the first and second print engines wherein the first and second toner images are transferred to opposite sides of a substrate at the nip.


Distributed electronic commerce is conducted over a network by substantially separating transaction functionality from merchant content. Electronic commerce transaction functionality is provided by a commerce server having a commerce database. The commerce server stores merchant and purchaser profile data and merchant content summaries on the commerce database. The purchaser browses and searches for product and merchant information using the commerce server, and is provided with more detailed information stored at a separate merchant content server system. The purchaser selects products to purchase, and a purchase order is sent to the commerce server. The commerce server initiates the settlement of accounts between the merchant and purchaser, and initiates order fulfillment for the selected product. The separation of transaction functionality and merchant content onto separate servers under the control of a commerce service provider and a merchant, respectively, provides a more efficient and effective way of carrying out electronic commerce over a network.

This invention relates to carrying out electronic commerce on a network, and particularly to an electronic commerce server and database that provide transaction functionality and content summaries to purchasers, and which refer purchasers to merchant content servers that provide more extensive information on products for sale on the network.
Electronic commerce is traditionally carried out over a network using a commerce server networked with purchasers and merchants. As shown in FIG. 1, such a traditional electronic commerce server system 11 provides substantially all of the functionality needed to carry out buying and selling on a network 12. This includes storing product information provided by merchants 13, accepting requests for information from prospective purchasers 14, and accepting and processing orders.
The number of commerce servers offered by different server vendors is limited. For example, each such server is configured and programmed differently. Thus, the traditional commerce server 11 is complex, expensive, and often requires substantial expertise to configure and operate. These disadvantages allow only the largest merchants to own and operate their own commerce servers.
Rather than operate their own commerce servers, smaller merchants typically purchase electronic commerce services provided by a commerce service provider. In this case, the provider owns and maintains the commerce server, who distributes configuration, operation and maintenance costs across the subscriber merchants, realizing an economy of scale. However, in so doing, the provider usually enforces uniform standards for appearance and methods of doing business to reduce the amount of custom programming necessary in order to economically accommodate several different merchants. Thus, each merchant being served loses a substantial amount of control over the way he conducts business over the network. This restricts the merchant""s ability to express a particular personality and to do such things as develop distinctive trade dress. This places him at a competitive disadvantage in the marketplace, especially when compared to those merchants who can operate their own servers.
The service provider""s expertise lies in the acquisition, operation, and maintenance of the commerce server hardware and the commerce functionality it provides to all of its merchants and purchasers. Examples of commerce functionality include taking orders and effectuating payment for any product offered by a merchant.
However, the service provider faces problems with respect to xe2x80x9ccontentxe2x80x9d from the merchant(s). First, content falls within the expertise of the merchant, not the provider. Second, the electronic commerce service provider faces high costs in acquiring, publishing, and maintaining a database of merchant content. This problem is especially pronounced when content from many merchants is stored in a large aggregate on a commerce server, because there is no economy of scale in adding merchant content to a server. The cost of adding an additional content file to a server is not less than the cost to add a similar file previously. In fact, the burden of loading, updating, and deleting content from each additional merchant can greatly increase the complexity and administrative cost of running a server beyond that for the content of the earlier-in-time merchants. Further, a larger aggregate of merchant content on a single commerce server slows the performance of the server.
Thus, under current methods of carrying out electronic commerce, the merchant whose expertise lies in producing and managing content is faced with the choice of operating and maintaining an expensive commerce server or losing control of his marketing to a provider. The provider, whose expertise lies in the acquisition and maintenance of electronic commerce hardware and software, must shoulder the burden of acquiring, publishing and maintaining merchant content.
A better way of conducting electronic commerce is to allocate most of the task of content acquisition and maintenance to the merchant, and allocate most of the task of providing electronic commerce transaction functionality to the service provider. Under this regime, neither the merchant nor the provider would be burdened with tasks outside their respective areas of expertise. The present invention provides a system for carrying out electronic commerce over a network where transaction functionality is provided by a commerce server having a commerce database, while detailed merchant content is provided on separate merchant content servers.
The commerce server maintains merchant profiles in the commerce database. The profiles comprise summaries of the products offered for sale by each merchant registered with the electronic commerce service. Here, the term xe2x80x9cproductxe2x80x9d is meant to include services. A merchant profile also includes a merchant identification number, a list of the payment vehicles accepted by the merchant; a summary of merchant policies; and a summary background of the merchant. In one embodiment, the merchant identification number is the network address of the merchant""s content server.
The commerce server also maintains purchaser profiles in the commerce database that comprise purchaser identification numbers, purchaser payment data (such as credit card and bank account numbers), and billing and shipping addresses.
The commerce server provides transaction functionality that effectuates an electronic commerce transaction. An electronic commerce transaction is the process of selling and purchasing an item over a network.
A purchaser requests the commerce server to send shopping information. The purchaser browses or searches for products on the commerce server, and data regarding products and merchants is retrieved from the commerce database. At the purchaser""s request for more information on a product or merchant, the commerce server refers the purchaser to an appropriate merchant content server, which contains much more detailed information about the product and merchant than is available from the commerce database.
While browsing or searching the merchant content server, the purchaser may select one or more products for purchase. When the purchaser indicates he is ready to effectuate such a transaction, data concerning the selected product or products are sent to the commerce server. The data include information sufficient to identify the product, purchaser and selling merchant. The commerce server communicates with an external payment system to debit the purchaser""s account and credit the merchant""s account, effectuating the sale. The commerce server also generates a fulfillment message that ensures product delivery to the purchaser.
The commerce server also generates reports for the merchant and purchaser upon request. The reports summarize historical transaction data as requested.
Merchant content servers are simpler, easier to operate, and less expensive than the full-functioned servers traditionally used to maintain both content and transaction functionality in carrying out electronic commerce. The efficient division of functionality between the commerce server and the merchant content server thus advantageously streamlines the process of providing e-commerce services while lowering the cost thereof.

System and method for distributed content electronic commerce


An electrode assembly including a first electrode strip having a first electrode collector coated with at least a first electrode active material, an exposed portion of the first electrode collector attached with a first electrode tab; a second electrode strip having a second electrode collector coated with at least a second electrode active material and is rolled together with the first electrode strip, an exposed portion of the second electrode collector is attached with a second electrode tab; and at least one inter-electrode strip separator is positioned between the first and second electrode strips, wherein at least one sheet of protective separator, which is extended from the inter-electrode strip separator, is further positioned on a side of the first electrode strip attached with the first electrode tab.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a jelly-roll type electrode assembly and a secondary battery including the same, and particularly to, a jelly-roll type electrode assembly in which short-circuiting between electrodes can be prevented, and a secondary battery including the same
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, secondary batteries, which are distinguished from primary batteries by their ability to be repeatedly charged and discharged, have been widely used in cellular phones, notebook computers, camcorders, and other portable electronic devices. Lithium secondary batteries having an operating voltage of 3.6V or greater, which is three times higher than nickel-cadmium (Ni—Cd) batteries, have become popular as a power source for various kinds of electronic equipment and nickel-hydrogen batteries and, are frequently used because of their high energy density per unit of weight.
Such lithium secondary batteries mostly use a lithium oxide as a positive active material and a carbonaceous material as a negative active material. Lithium secondary batteries can be classified into liquid electrolyte batteries, also known as lithium ion batteries, and polymer electrolyte batteries, also known as lithium polymer batteries, according to the type of electrolyte used. Lithium secondary batteries are manufactured in various shapes, typically, in cylindrical, rectangular, or pouch forms.
A second battery uses a jelly-roll type electrode assembly manufactured by applying an active material onto a substrate, drying the substrate, pressing it using a roller, and severing it into a positive electrode strip and a negative electrode strip, interposing a separator between the positive and negative electrode strips to make a multi-layer structure, and rolling the multi-layer structure in a jelly-roll form. A cylindrical battery is made by placing such an electrode assembly into a cylindrical can, injecting an electrolyte into the cylindrical can, and sealing the cylindrical can. A rectangular battery is made by applying a pressure to such an electrode assembly so that it has plane surfaces, and then, placing the electrode assembly into a rectangular can.
In such an electrode assembly, a positive electrode tab and a negative electrode tap are drawn out from the positive electrode strip and the negative electrode strip, respectively. In particular, one of the positive and negative electrode tabs is drawn out upward from its related electrode strip and electrically connected to a cap assembly for sealing the can. The other electrode strip is drawn out downward from its related electrode strip and electrically connected to a projection formed at the bottom of the can. In the case of the rectangular secondary battery, both the positive and negative electrode tabs may be drawn out upward from their electrode strips.
As described above, a conventional cylindrical battery includes an electrode assembly made by interposing only a separator between a major electrode strip and an auxiliary electrode strip to make a multi-layer structure and rolling the multi-layer structure. The separator is, however, prone to be broken at portions of the positive and negative electrode strips welded together with electrode tabs, thus causing electrical short-circuiting. An electrode tab enables movement of electric charges from a battery to the outside, and therefore, when electric charges are concentrated on the electrode tab, the electrode tab is heated. As a result, an electrode strip attached with the heated electrode tab is also heated, thus resulting in breaking of the separator. Then, although the electrode strip attached with the electrode tab is separated via the separator from the other electrode strip of different polarity, the breaking of the separator causes electrical short-circuiting between the heated electrode strip and the other electrode strip.
Also, when a defect, such as a burr, forms at an end of an electrode tab during manufacture of the electrode tab, the burr damages the separator, especially a thin separator, thus causing an electrical short-circuiting via a damaged portion of the separator.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 11-273660 has suggested a battery electrode assembly in which a portion of an electrode strip welded together with an electrode tab is coated with a polymer material, thereby preventing a separator from being damaged due to the formation of a burr or other defect of the electrode tab. However, in this case, since a conventional battery manufacturing process further requires a polymer coating process, the manufacture process is more complicated and manufacturing costs are increased.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-109551 discloses a jelly-roll type battery electrode assembly in which an electrode tab is bent inward more than the rolled battery electrode assembly and a bent portion of the electrode tab is located at a center portion of an inner diameter of the rolled electrode assembly. However, it is very difficult to position the electrode tab at the center of the rolled electrode assembly. Even if the electrode is positioned at the center, it is difficult to insert a welding rod into the electrode assembly due to the presence of the electrode tab during a subsequent process of welding an electrode tab together with a base plane of a can.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,122 discloses a secondary battery with a spiral electrode unit. In the spiral electrode unit, same-polarity regions of an electrode strip attached with a lead toward a center portion of the spiral electrode unit are positioned via a separator on both sides of exposed regions of electrode core material, and a lead attached to the other electrode strip is positioned at the outmost winding of the spiral electrode unit. Accordingly, even if the separator is damaged, electrical short-circuiting can be prevented.
However, in the spiral electrode unit, the exposed regions must be long enough to position the same-polarity regions of the electrode strip via a separator on both sides of the exposed regions, and a starting point of rolling the other electrode strip is later than that of rolling the electrode strip. Thus, the secondary battery includes many portions of electrode strips unnecessary for battery reaction, thereby increasing manufacturing costs. If the secondary battery is rectangular shaped, that is, when a length of the battery in circumference is long, this problem becomes more serious.

Jelly-roll type electrode assembly and secondary battery including the same


A query that includes a search operator and that identifies an input data source is received. The input data source is partitioned into a plurality of partitions. A parallel search through the partitions is performed for an element that could halt the search. The parallel search is performed using a plurality of parallel workers. One of the parallel workers generates a notification when the element is found by that worker. The notification notifies the other parallel workers that the search could be halted. Each of the parallel workers generates an output set based on results of the search. The output sets are merged into a merged output set.

Software programs have been written to run sequentially since the beginning days of software development. Steadily over time, computers have become much more powerful, with more processing power and memory to handle advanced operations. This trend has recently shifted away from ever-increasing single-processor clock rates towards an increase in the number of processors available in a single computer resulting in a corresponding shift away from sequential execution toward parallel execution. Software developers want to take advantage of improvements in computer processing power to enable their software programs to run faster as new hardware is adopted. With parallel hardware, software developers arrange for one or more tasks of a particular software program to be executed in parallel (also referred to as concurrently), so that the same logical operation can utilize many processors at one time to thereby deliver better performance as more processors are added to the computers on which such software runs.
When parallelizing previously-written sequential algorithms, it is often desirable to keep as much of the previous sequential program behavior as possible. However, typical parallel execution of existing sequential logic introduces new behavioral characteristics and presents problems that can introduce challenges into the migration from sequential to parallel algorithms.
For example, for many operators, a parallel worker can typically operate on its own subset of input data independently, as though other parallel workers do not exist. However, for some operators, such as search operators, the output produced by some of the parallel workers may be dependent on the output of some of the other parallel workers, or useful in concluding the search sooner. Using conventional techniques for such operators can result in inefficient performance, as well as incorrect results.


A lift detection arrangement in a robotic lawnmower for detecting a lift of a body of the robotic lawnmower relative to a chassis of the robotic lawnmower. The lift detection arrangement includes a collision absorber; and a sensor arrangement including a spring, a movable part, a metal plate and a sensor. The collision absorber is screwed to two plastic parts and arranged to allow a displacement of the body relative to the chassis in a collision plane during a collision between an obstacle and the robotic lawnmower, but not in a vertical direction. The moveable part is arranged to provide a displacement of the body relative to the chassis in a lift direction during a lift of the body. The sensor is configured to sense the distance to the metal plate that is fixed to the moveable part and to trigger a cut off of power to a cutting blade of the robotic lawnmower if the distance becomes greater than a predetermined distance.

A lift detection arrangement in a robotic lawnmower is an important part to protect people from being injured by cutting blades if the robotic lawnmower is lifted during operation. When the lift of the body of the robotic lawnmower is detected, the lift detection arrangement is arranged to cut off the electricity supply to the cutting blades, thus stopping the rotation of the cutting blades.
There are lift detection arrangements in prior art, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,232,692 B2 that discloses a lift detection arrangement in a robotic lawnmower which may absorb some collision forces. The lift detection arrangement comprises a lift sensor for detecting a change in a spacing between two sensor parts of which one is arranged on a lift element and the other one is arranged on a joystick member, wherein one of the two sensor parts may be a Hall effect sensor and the other of the two sensor parts is a magnet. When a lift displacement over a predetermined threshold is detected by the sensor parts, the rotation of the cutting blades is stopped.
One of the problems with U.S. Pat. No. 9,232,692 is that the sensors and a Printed Board Circuit, PCB, connected thereto are not fully protected from water, even if a rubber coating can be arranged outside the PCB, the coating is easily damaged and may cause a water leakage which can damage the product.
Some other solutions having a joystick with a joint are complicated, expensive and take up much space. Thus, there is still room for improved lift detection arrangements.

Lift detection arrangement in a robotic lawnmower


In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, an oxide layer, a first polysilicon layer, and a second polysilicon layer are sequentially provided on a substrate. A first hard mask pattern is provided on the second polysilicon layer. The oxide layer, the first polysilicon layer, and the second polysilicon layer are patterned using the first hard mask pattern as a mask to form a lower gate structure including an oxide pattern, a first polysilicon pattern, and a second polysilicon pattern. The lower gate structure is etched to provide an oxidation layer on sidewalls of the lower gate structure. An insulating layer is provided on the lower gate structure including the oxidation layer. The first hard mask pattern is removed to form a first opening in the insulating layer, the first opening exposing the second polysilicon pattern. A metal pattern is formed in the first opening on the second polysilicon pattern, the second polysilicon pattern having the oxidation layer on sidewalls thereof.

Conventional non-volatile memory devices commonly include a floating gate structure that is formed over the channel region of a semiconductor substrate. During fabrication according to a conventional process, a tunneling oxide layer is formed on the channel region and a conductive floating gate layer is formed on the tunneling oxide layer. An inter-gate dielectric layer is formed on the floating gate layer and a conductive control gate layer is formed on the inter-gate dielectric layer. A hard mask pattern, for example comprising silicon nitride, is then applied to a top surface of the resulting structure, and then patterned to define gate patterns. The control gate layer, the inter-gate dielectric layer, the floating gate layer, and the tunneling oxide layer are then etched to form gate patterns, using the hard mask pattern as an etch mask.
In the conventional fabrication process, the resulting gate structure has a relatively high aspect ratio during patterning of the gate structure using the hard mask pattern. A high aspect ratio can lead to problems during the etching process. In addition, mechanical stress between layers is more likely to cause bowing of the resulting gate structures in the case where the structures have a high aspect ratio. Such bowing can, in turn, lead to electrical bridging between adjacent gates, which can cause device failure. Further, in the conventional approach, the control gate comprises a multiple-layered structure that includes an upper layer comprising a silicide material, for example WSix, which has relatively high resistance properties. Since the control gate is also used as a word line in non-volatile memory devices employing this type of gate structure, a word line of relatively high resistance is formed. This can lead to signal delay in the device, resulting in lower operating speed. Also, the silicide layer can be relatively thick, for example on the order of 1000 angstroms, which contributes to the resulting high aspect ratio of the device. In addition, a lower layer of the control gate comprises a polysilicon material, the outer edges of which can suffer from etch damage during the gate patterning process.
To overcome these limitations, an improved floating gate structure has been devised that is characterized by a reduced aspect ratio and improved resistance properties. In this improved structure, the previous multiple-layered control gate including a lower polysilicon layer and an upper silicide layer is replaced by a multiple-layered control gate including a lower polysilicon layer, an intermediate barrier layer, for example comprising WNx, and an upper metal layer, for example comprising W. The intermediate barrier layer and upper metal layer are relatively thin, for example on the order of 100-300 angstroms, so the resulting aspect ratio of the gate structure is reduced, for example, from about 6.4 in the conventional structure to about 3.1 in the improved structure. The reduced aspect ratio leads to improved reliability in the resulting device, since the likelihood of bowing of the structures is reduced. The intermediate barrier layer further improves adhesion between the upper metal layer and lower polysilicon layer, while at the same time, preventing the silicon atoms of the lower polysilicon layer from reacting with the metal atoms of the metal layer.
In the fabrication process of the improved floating gate structure, a post-oxidation process is performed following etch of the gate patterns, in an effort to mitigate etch damage to sidewalls of the lower polysilicon layer of the control gate. However, as a result of the post-oxidation process, the sidewalls of the metal layer also become oxidized, which can lead to an increase in the resistance of the metal layer, and which can cause delamination between the metal layer and the underlying barrier layer. In addition, following the gate patterning process, polymer particles are difficult to remove. A strong wet etch solvent cannot be applied to remove the polymers because the upper metal layer of the control gate is highly susceptible to wet etch, so exposure to strong wet etch solvents should be limited. The presence of polymer particles between the gates can result in electrical bridging between the gates, which can lead to device failure.

Nonvolatile semiconductor integrated circuit devices and fabrication methods thereof


A system for monitoring percentage change in blood volume (ΔBV %) during dialysis treatment includes a sensor device configured to obtain hematocrit (Hct)-related measurements based on detecting light which has passed through extracorporeal blood of a patient undergoing the dialysis treatment; one or more controllers configured to: determine Hct values based on the Hct-related measurements obtained by the sensor device; determine ΔBV % values based on the determined Hct values; and generate a GUI having a ΔBV % plot based on the determined ΔBV % values; and a display device having a display configured to display the GUI having the ΔBV % plot. Zone indicators are provided on the display to distinguish between a first zone corresponding to a first ΔBV % profile, a second zone corresponding to a second ΔBV % profile, and a third zone corresponding to a third ΔBV % profile.

Patients with chronic or acute kidney failure undergo dialysis treatment in order to remove toxins and excess fluids from their blood. Hemodialysis is one of the common forms of dialysis treatment. To perform hemodialysis, blood is taken from a patient through an intake needle or catheter which draws blood from an artery or vein located in a specifically accepted access location—for example, a shunt surgically placed in an arm, thigh, subclavian and the like. The needle or catheter is connected to extracorporeal tubing that is fed to a peristaltic pump and then to a dialyzer that cleans the blood and removes excess fluid. The cleaned blood is then returned to the patient through additional extracorporeal tubing and another needle or catheter. Sometimes, a heparin drip is located in the hemodialysis loop to prevent the blood from coagulating.
As the drawn blood passes through the dialyzer, it travels in straw-like tubes within the dialyzer that serve as semi-permeable passageways for the unclean blood. Fresh dialysate solution enters the dialyzer at its downstream end. The dialysate surrounds the straw-like tubes and flows through the dialyzer in the opposite direction of the blood flowing through the tubes. Fresh dialysate collects toxins passing through the straw-like tubes by diffusion and excess fluids in the blood by ultrafiltration. Dialysate containing the removed toxins and excess fluids is disposed of as waste. The red cells remain in the straw-like tubes and their volume count is unaffected by the process.
An optical blood monitoring system may be used during hemodialysis treatment or other treatments involving extracorporeal blood flow. The optical blood monitoring system may use optical techniques to non-invasively measure in real-time the hematocrit and the oxygen saturation level of blood flowing through the hemodialysis system. The blood monitoring system may measure the blood at, for example, a sterile blood chamber attached in-line to the extracorporeal tubing.
Blood chambers along with the tube set and dialyzer are replaced for each patient. The blood chamber is intended for a single use. The blood chamber defines an internal blood flow cavity comprising a substantially flat viewing region and two opposing viewing lenses. Emitters (such as light-emitting diode (LED) emitters) and photodetectors for the optical blood monitoring system are fastened (e.g., by clipping) into place onto the blood chamber over the lenses. Multiple wavelengths of light may be resolved through the blood chamber and the patient's blood flowing through the chamber with a photodetector detecting the resulting intensity of each wavelength.
The preferred wavelengths to measure hematocrit are about 810 nm, which is substantially isobestic for red blood cells, and about 1300 nm, which is substantially isobestic for water. A ratiometric technique may be used to calculate the patient's hematocrit value in real-time based on this light intensity information. The hematocrit value is a percentage determined by the ratio between (1) the volume of the red blood cells in a given whole blood sample and (2) the overall volume of the blood sample.
In a clinical setting, the actual percentage change in blood volume occurring during hemodialysis can be determined, in real-time, from the change in the measured hematocrit. Thus, an optical blood monitoring system is able to non-invasively monitor not only the patient's hematocrit level but also the change in the patient's blood volume in real-time during a hemodialysis treatment session. The ability to monitor real-time change in blood volume helps facilitate safe, effective hemodialysis.
To monitor blood in real-time, emitters and photodetectors may be mounted on two opposing heads of a sensor clip assembly that fits over a blood chamber. For accuracy of the system, the emitters and the photodetectors may be located in a predetermined position and orientation each time the sensor clip assembly is clipped into place over the blood chamber. The predetermined position and orientation ensure that light traveling from the emitters to the photodetectors travels through the lenses of the blood chamber.
The optical blood monitoring system may be calibrated for the specific dimensions of the blood chamber and the specific position and orientation of the sensor clip assembly relative to the blood chamber. For this purpose, the sensor clip assembly may be configured to mate to the blood chamber so that the emitters and the photodetectors are at a predetermined position and orientation relative to one another and to the blood chamber.
An example of an optical blood monitoring system having a sensor clip assembly configured to measure hematocrit and oxygen saturation of extracorporeal blood flowing through a blood chamber is described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,801,993, titled "SENSOR CLIP ASSEMBLY FOR AN OPTICAL MONITORING SYSTEM," which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

Intradialytic monitoring of blood volume change


Composition comprising water- and air-hardenable binders and its use notably to the preparation of a product having the aspect and the properties of a natural stone.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a composition comprising water- and air-hardenable binders, exhibiting after hardening properties comparable at least to those of a natural stone or of a concrete.
The invention also concerns the use of the composition according to the invention to the realisation of moulded objects having the aspect and the properties of the stone, in particular of structures and of statutes, of slabs, paving blocks, city or interior furniture, chimneys and analogous objects.
The invention also concerns the application of the composition according to the invention to the realisation of a finish-polishing mortar or finishing and decoration coats.
2. Description of the Related Art
Among the hydraulic binders known, lime, plaster and cement can be mentioned, notably.
Lime, which has been known for a very long time, has been used in the past notably in the building trade, for example for sealing stones.
Lime has been far less used since the discovery of cement which enables to realise mortars, concretes and moulded objects having mechanical properties vastly greater than those which may be obtained with lime.
The objects and coats realised on the basis of cement have the major shortcoming of requiring long hardening times which slow down considerably the production rates.
On the other hand, the mortars and concretes obtained with cement are subject to retraction when hardening which promotes the formation of microcracks, thereby making moulded objects brittle.
Besides, when mortar or concrete is cast into a mould, the cast matter is generally not self-placing, so that it is necessary to use tools for kneading, vibrating or flattening the surface of the matter.
Plaster is used currently for moulding diverse objects.
However, plaster does not resist to the contact of water, so that the moulded objects made of plaster may not be used outdoors.
Moreover, the mechanical properties of plaster are vastly lower than those of concrete.

Composition comprising water- and air-hardenable binders and its use notably to the preparation of a product having the aspect of a natural stone

Abstract: Composition comprising water- and air-hardenable binders, exhibiting after hardening properties comparable at least to those of a natural stone or of a concrete, characterised in that it includes, as binders:                natural and air-borne hydraulic lime, and        moulding plaster.

Laboratoire d'Etudes et de Recherches sur les Materiaux, L.E.R.M.


A method of converting a stream of databits of a binary information signal into a stream of databits of a constrained binary channel signal, a device for encoding, a signal, a record carrier, a method for decoding, and a device for decoding. The signal is constructed by repetitively or alternately using channel codes C1 and C2. Since two channel words with opposite parities are available in the channel code C2 for each information word, and the same state is established, predetermined properties of the constrained binary channel signal can be influenced. Since the method further comprises the step of substituting, in dependence upon a value of a predetermined property of the binary channel signal, a channel word for a substitute channel word, wherein the substituted channel word and the substitute channel word establish the same state, predetermined properties of the constrained binary channel signal can be further influenced.

The invention relates to a method of converting a stream of databits of a binary information signal into a stream of databits of a constrained binary channel signal, wherein the stream of databits of the binary information signal is divided into n-bit information words, said information words being converted into m1-bit channel words in accordance with a channel code C1, or m2-bit channel words in accordance with a channel code C2, where m1, m2 and n are integers for which it holds that m2 greater than m1xe2x89xa7n, wherein the m2-bit channel word is chosen from at least two m2-bit channel words at least two of which have opposite parities, the concatenated m1-bit channel words and the m2-bit channel words complying with a runlength constraint of the binary channel signal, the method comprising the repetitive and/or alternate steps of:
selecting the m1-bit channel word from a set out of a plurality of sets of m1-bit channel words, each set comprising only m1-bit channel words having a beginning part out of a subset of beginning parts of the m1-bit channel words, each set being associated with a coding state of channel code C1, the coding state being established in dependence upon an end part of the preceding channel word, or:
selecting the m2-bit channel word from a set out of a plurality of sets of m2-bit channel words, each set comprising only m2-bit channel words having a beginning part out of a subset of beginning parts of the m2-bit channel words belonging to said set, each set being associated with a coding state of channel code C2, the coding state being established in dependence upon an end part of the preceding channel word, the end parts of the m1-bit channel words in a coding state of channel code C1 and the beginning parts of the m2-bit channel words in a set of channel code C2 being arranged to comply with said runlength constraint.
The invention also relates to a device for encoding, a signal comprising a stream of databits of a constrained binary channel signal, a record carrier, a method for decoding and a device for decoding.
The non-prepublished, co-pending European Patent Application no. 00200712.8 (PH-NL000074) describes a constrained binary channel signal which is constructed by repetitively or alternate using a channel code C1 and a channel code C2. Due to the fact that two channel words with opposite parities are available in the channel code C2 for each information word, predetermined properties of the constrained binary channel signal can be influenced, e.g. for performing guaranteed DC-control. No additional DC-control on top of this guaranteed DC-control is performed. It may be advantageous to be able to create this additional DC-control.
The invention has for an object to further influence predetermined properties of the above-mentioned constrained binary channel signal, e.g. for performing additional DC-control.
The method according to the invention comprises the step of substituting, in dependence upon a value of a predetermined property of the binary channel signal, a channel word for a substitute channel word so as to influence the value of the predetermined property of the binary channel signal, wherein the substituted channel word and the substitute channel word establish the same state.
This process of substituting channel words can only be performed for a limited number of entries in the code table. By substituting a limited number of channel words for substitute channel words, stochastic DC-control can be accomplished, for instance, if the substitutions cause a parity inversion. Stochastic control is understood to be the kind of control in which the actual use of this control via substitution depends on the actual data content (information words) that enters the encoder. The choice whether to perform a substitution can be carried out on the basis of the value of a predetermined property of the binary channel signal, e.g. based on an RDS-related criterion or a DSV-related criterion. RDS stands for xe2x80x9cRunning Digital Sumxe2x80x9d. By controlling this RDS, the suppression of lowfrequency components or DC-control can be accomplished. DSV stands for xe2x80x9cDigital Sum Variationxe2x80x9d, indicating the total number of sum values a binary channel signal assumes. The choice whether to perform a substitution can be made in dependence upon the value of any predetermined property of the binary channel signal one wants to influence (e.g. the generation of pilot tracking tones, refer to U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,436 (PHN 12533)).
The invention is based on the recognition that, in the design of the channel code based on the combination of two codes C1 and C2 (refer to the non-prepublished, co-pending European Patent Application no. 00200712.8 (PH-NL000074)), there is some extra room for the introduction of stochastic control on top of the guaranteed control. This extra room is exploited in that a limited number of channel words is substituted for other substitute words in order to be able to influence predetermined properties of the binary channel signal. Substitution of channel words also relates to the substitution of a part of a channel word. In order to guarantee, for instance, a DC-control of a predetermined performance level in the channel code based on the combination of the two codes C1 and C2, the substitutions, i.e. the combination of substituted channel word and substitute channel word, must have the property that both the substituted channel word and the substitute channel word establish the same state.
In another method according to the invention, the step of substituting a channel word for a substitute channel word comprises different types of substitutions.
The available room in the design of the above-mentioned channel code can be used to introduce different types of substitutions. In this way, substitutions are created, for more information words thereby increasing the stochastical control on the binary channel signal.
In another method according to the invention, maximally one type of substitution occurs for each information word.
It is advantageous to introduce maximally one type of substitution for each information word. In this way, the available substitutions are better xe2x80x9cspreadxe2x80x9d over the information words, thereby increasing the stochastic control on the binary channel signal.
In another method according to the invention, the substitute channel word does not belong to the sets of channel words of channel codes C1 or C2.
This first substitution type is based on the fact that, in this channel code, some specific channel words do not occur in the channel bitstream under normal application of the channel code; these channel words can be used as substitute channel words. By substituting a limited number of channel words for substitute channel words not belonging to the channel words present in the binary channel signal before the substitutions, additional, stochastic DC-control can be accomplished.
In another method according to the invention, the substitute channel word is omitted from the sets of channel words of channel codes C1 or C2 in view of a constraint on the number of successive xT runlengths in the binary channel signal. In an embodiment, x=3. In another embodiment, the number of successive xT runlengths is 6.
This second substitution type is based on the fact that some channel words, which are initially omitted in view of an RMTR constraint, can be used as substitutions on the condition that concatenation with the previous channel word does not lead to a violation of this RMTR constraint. RMTR stands for xe2x80x9cRepeated Minimum Transition Runlengthxe2x80x9d. An RMTR=6 constraint e.g. implies that the number of successive 3T runlengths in the sequence of channel words is limited to 6. More information about this constraint can be found in published patent application WO99/63671-A1 (PHQ 98.023).
In another method according to the invention, the substitute channel word is chosen from one set of a plurality of sets of channel words, the set being associated with a coding state different from the coding state the substituted channel word was in.
This third substitution type is due to the fact that, due to the structure of the channel code, it is possible to xe2x80x9cswapxe2x80x9d between coding states conditionally, which means that the xe2x80x9cswapxe2x80x9d can only be done for some channel words. xe2x80x9cSwapxe2x80x9d is understood to mean that the substitute channel word used in the binary channel signal is chosen from a coding state different from the coding state the substituted channel word is in. If the parity of the substituted channel word is different from the parity of the substitute channel word, room for extra influence of predetermined properties of the binary channel signal is created.

METHOD OF CONVERTING A STREAM OF DATABITS OF A BINARY INFORMATION SIGNAL INTO A STREAM OF DATABITS OF A CONSTRAINED BINARY CHANNEL SIGNAL, DEVICE FOR ENCODING, SIGNAL COMPRISING A STREAM OF DATABITS OF A CONSTRAINED BINARY CHANNEL SIGNAL, RECORD CARRIER, METHOD FOR DECODING, DEVICE FOR DECODING


A computing device for training an artificial neural network model includes: a model analyzer configured to receive a first artificial neural network model and split the first artificial neural network model into a plurality of layers; a training logic configured to calculate first sensitivity data varying as the first artificial neural network model is pruned, calculate a target sensitivity corresponding to a target pruning rate based on the first sensitivity data, calculate second sensitivity data varying as each of the plurality of layers is pruned, and output, based on the second sensitivity data, an optimal pruning rate of each of the plurality of layers, the optimal pruning rate corresponding to the target pruning rate; and a model updater configured to prune the first artificial neural network model based on the optimal pruning rate to obtain a second artificial neural network model, and output the second artificial neural network model.

The inventive concept relates to a computing device for training an artificial neural network model by adjusting a pruning rate based on the sensitivity of the artificial neural network model, a method of training the artificial neural network model, and a memory system for storing the artificial neural network model.
An artificial neural network (ANN) refers to computational architecture which is modeled after the biological brain. Deep learning or machine learning may be realized based on an ANN. A deep neural network or deep learning, which are examples of an ANN, may have a multi-layer structure including a plurality of layers. Recently, the amount of operations to conduct using an ANN has remarkably increased, and thus, the amount of data used to train an ANN has increased and the need for training an ANN with less data has emerged.

Computing device for training artificial neural network model, method of training the artificial neural network model, and memory system for storing the same


A vision enhancement device is provided that is made of a lens material that has a first polarization orientation in a central portion and a second polarization orientation substantially normal to the first polarization in an annular portion surrounding the central portion. The central portion has a prescription for one of near vision and distance vision. The annular portion has a prescription for the other of near vision and distance vision.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to vision enhancement devices and methods for improving visual acuity, and, more particularly, to such vision enhancement devices and methods that provide bifocal and/or multifocal visual correction, and, most particularly, to vision enhancement devices as contact lenses and intraocular and other types of lens implants.
2. Description of Related Art
Bifocal contact lenses are known in the art for correcting distance (myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism) and near (presbyopia) vision. Three typical designs include aspheric, in which near and distance prescriptions are near the pupil; concentric, in which the near prescription is near the middle of the lens, and the distance prescription is on the outside, or vice versa; and translating, in which one prescription is in one part and the other correction is on another part of the lens. Distance or near vision is achieved by the appropriate portion of the lens overlapping the optical axis. In the concentric and aspheric designs, it is theorized that the overlapped images focused on the retina are differentiated by the wearer, although not all people can succeed in adapting to these designs.
It is also known to polarize contact lenses in order to reduce glare. In polarized lenses, light in one meridian is permitted to pass through while blocking light entering 90 degrees from the one meridian.
Further, intraocular lens implants and other types of implants such as intracorneal and intrastromal lens implants are known in the art for improving visual acuity.
It would be desirable to provide a vision enhancement device that diminishes and potentially eliminates overlapped images and blur circles to improve adaptability for a greater proportion of the population.

Visual enhancement lens and associated methods


A refrigeration apparatus includes a container in which are situated a plurality of eutectic chilling elements and a spraybar for dispensing a mist of liquid cryogen into a region R in which product to be refrigerated is to be stored. Liquid cryogen is used to freeze the eutectic and is then passed to the spray bar.

Many vehicles engaged in the distribution of foodstuffs maintain refrigeration of the vehicle by means of eutectic plates. Essentially these are metal tanks filled with a eutectic, which is a mixture which freezes or melts at a constant temperature, those in use normally being operated at between about minus 20.degree. C. and 0.degree. C. to cover chilled and frozen foods. The vehicles utilizing these plates are typically well insulated and the plates will maintain the interior of the vehicle at the proper temperature for several hours. After this time, the plates are re-frozen by circulating a refrigerant such as a mixture of chilled brine through pipes which form part of the structure of the tank. The refrigerant itself is refrigerated from a central refrigerator often situated in a vehicle depot. This freezing process can take several hours and, as mechanical refrigerators are often used, noise can be a significant problem.
The present invention seeks to address these problems and to provide improved simplicity, speed and quietness of the recharging step by substituting a liquid cryogen, such as liquid nitrogen, for the conventional mechanical refrigeration apparatus necessary to circulate a refrigerant such as brine.