A magnetomechanical EAS marker is formed of a housing, a magnetostrictive active element in the housing and a bias element fixedly mounted on the housing. A central portion of the active element is secured to the housing to keep the active element from shifting in a longitudinal direction relative to the bias element and to keep ends of the active element spaced from the housing. The active element remains free to mechanically resonate in response to an EAS interrogation signal. The stable positioning of the active element prevents variations in the bias magnetic field due to shifting relative to the bias element, while keeping ends of the active element free from frictional damping due to mechanical loading from contact with the housing.

It is well known to provide electronic article surveillance systems to prevent or deter theft of merchandise from retail establishments. In a typical system, markers designed to interact with an electromagnetic field placed at the store exit are secured to articles of merchandise. If a marker is brought into the field or "interrogation zone", the presence of the marker is detected and an alarm is generated.
One widely used type of EAS system employs magnetomechanical markers that include a magnetostrictive element. An example of a marker of this type is illustrated in schematic, exploded form in FIG. 1. Reference numeral 10 generally refers to the magnetomechanical marker of FIG. 1. As seen from FIG. 1, components of the marker 10 include a magnetostrictive active element 12 and a housing 14 which forms a recess or cavity 16 in which the active element 12 is placed. A bias or control element 18 is fixedly mounted to the housing 14 adjacent to the active element 12. An adhesive layer (not shown) may be applied to the bottom or top of the housing to secure the housing to an article of merchandise.
Both the active and bias elements typically are in the form of ribbon-shaped lengths of metal alloy. Known active elements are cut from melt-spun amorphous alloy ribbons, and exhibit soft magnetic properties and substantial magnetostriction. Bias elements should exhibit hard or semi-hard ferromagnetic properties.
The active element is fabricated such that it is mechanically resonant at a predetermined frequency when the bias element has been magnetized to a certain level. At the interrogation zone, a suitable oscillator provides an AC magnetic field at the predetermined frequency, and the magnetostrictive element mechanically resonates at this frequency upon exposure to the field when the bias element has been magnetized to the aforementioned level. The resulting signal radiated by the magnetostrictive element is detected by detecting circuitry provided at the interrogation zone.
A magnetomechanical marker of the type illustrated in FIG. 1, and an EAS system which operates with this type of marker, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,489, issued to Anderson et al. The disclosure of the Anderson et al. patent is incorporated herein by reference.
EAS systems which use magnetomechanical markers have proved to be very effective. Systems of this type are sold by the assignee of this application under the brand name "ULTRA*MAX".
The Anderson et al. patent points out the need to form the housing for the marker so that the mechanical resonance of the active element is not mechanically damped. That patent also teaches that the marker should be formed so that the bias element does not mechanically interfere with the vibration of the active element.
Although it is necessary to provide some freedom of movement for the active element, this requirement can lead to problems in operation of EAS systems which use magnetomechanical markers. One problem arises from the fact that the resonant frequency of the active element tends to be somewhat sensitive to variations in the bias field applied to the active element. If the active element shifts relative to the bias element, particularly in the longitudinal direction of the element, there may be a change in the resonant frequency of the active element so that the resonant frequency departs from a nominal frequency at which the marker is to be detected. As a result, detection of the marker may be compromised.
In addition, the marker, in actual use, may be placed so that the long dimension of the housing is vertically oriented. As a result, the lower end of the active element is likely to come into contact with a side of the housing, resulting in a mechanical loading of the lower end of the active element. This loading of the end of the active element may tend to cause frictional damping of the mechanical resonance of the active element, reducing the amplitude of the signal generated by the active element and potentially interfering with detection of the marker.

Stabilizing the position of an active element in a magnetomechanical EAS marker


The invention relates to the synthesis and process thereof of a Quorum Sensing (QS) based polymer formed by the process of ring opening polymerization/ring opening copolymerization. The formed homopolymer or heteropolymer or copolymer displays increased half-life, bioactivity and biostability in stimulating the microbial quorum sensing in a predetermined microbial population.

For a world which will be filled with more than 9 billion people by 2050, with a focus shifting towards urbanization, attaining food and nutritional security is a key global challenge. Agriculture plays an imperative role in India's economy (with over 58 percent of the rural households depending on it as their primary source of income). However, the per unit area productivity of Indian agriculture is much lower than other major crop producing countries. Raising productivity per unit of land will need to be the main engine of agricultural growth as virtually all cultivable land is farmed. In this regard, bacterial colonies associated with roots of plants in the rhizosphere play a major role.
Bacteria communicate with each other by small auto-generated signal molecules, which are termed as auto inducers (AIs in brief). During the bacterial growth, these auto inducers are produced continuously and are subsequently secreted in the extracellular environment. When the concentration of the signal molecules reaches a threshold value, the expression of relevant genes in bacteria is initiated to adapt to the environmental changes. Such a regulatory system is termed as microbial quorum sensing (QS) signal systems. QS enables unicellular bacteria to imitate multicellular organisms to accomplish some behaviours that cannot be accomplished when they are unicellular individuals.
Acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) are compounds naturally produced by Gram-negative bacteria. It has been proposed that they could act as signalling molecules: the excreting bacteria might recognize the concentration of said molecules in the environment, and control their growth or other cellular function as production of antibiotics in a population density dependent manner. These signal molecules vary in their acyl chain length and substitution to achieve specificity in the communication cascade.
It has been also reported that the AHL language may also be understood by the plants, allowing them to prepare for a microbial attack or for contact with a symbiotic bacterial partner. For e.g. Proteome analysis show that the legume Medicago truncatula responds to the presence of synthetic and purified AHLs from its symbiont Sinorhizobium melilotti with specific and extensive change in root protein expression, and particularly in the expression of potential defence related proteins, metabolic enzymes, and proteins involved in the recognition of plant hormones auxin and cytokinin.
Biofertilizers or microbial inoculants represent the current as well as future directive of Indian agriculture owing to their role in crop productivity, soil maintenance, low cost availability and overall eco-friendly nature. As per NOVONOUS 2016 estimates, Asia Pacific Bio Fertilizer market is expected to register second largest growth rate of 11.40% till 2020. This expansion is supported by the growing demand to step up the yield of intensely cultivated food crops such as rice, soybeans, wheat and corn.
Conventional practice of plant inoculation with monocultures or mixed cultures of effective microbes does not give the highest microbial effect which may only be achieved by biofilm formation, giving rise to the recently popularized agricultural concept of Biofilmed Biofertilizers (BB). Biofilms associated with plant roots of some crops help in the re-cycling of nutrients, phytohormone production and infection control by other microbes, resulting in enhanced agriculture potency. Along with the biofertilizers, biostimulants such as seaweed extracts, humic substances (humic acid and fulvic acid), amino acids & additives (polysaccharides, enzymes, soil conditioners, wetting agents, and antioxidants) are commonly used to enhance crop growth during harsh conditions in these regions but also improve the crop yield and quality.
Several data exhibit that many favourable traits in Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPRs), such as production of antimicrobials, cell-wall degrading enzymes, plant colonization, are controlled by AHLs and other signalling molecules which synchronize the purposes of the different populations in the rhizosphere communities. QS Regulation is specific, with several signal pattern and distinct QS systems showcased by various strains of the same species.
Apart from the above-mentioned phenotypes AHLs have also been found to have interkingdom consequences whereby the molecule induces sensitization or priming of plants to prospective pathogens by initiating actions. AHLs with a longer acyl chain such as C12 or C14 were found to be particularly effective in this regard. On the other hand, AHLs with short acyl chain C4 or C6 were reported to be involved in increasing the growth rate and primary root elongation.
Although AHL supplementation has shown positive response in many agricultural studies, the major factor however, which has prevented its wide use is its cost, instability and probable loss during processes like irrigation. Hence there is a long-standing need for localization and stabilization of QS signals in a reusable cost-effective system for the purpose of augmenting growth and stimulating functions of various plant associated bacteria.
Accordingly, the present invention which may provide new homopolymers, heteropolymers or copolymers of signalling molecules involved in bacteria quorum sensing with increased biostability and bioactivity, may solve a long-standing need.

Quorum sensing based polymer for stimulation of biofilms and related phenotypes, and synthesis process thereof

FIB-SOL Life Technologies Private Limited


In a cooling module arrangement with a seal element for a motor vehicle having an engine including a cooling fan with a fan housing component connected to the engine and a fan cowl component connected to a radiator of the motor vehicle with a gap provided between the fan housing and the fan cowl components, wherein a sealing element is connected to one of the components and includes in the area of its free end a circumferential bead, so that, in a pre-installation position, it is firmly held folded back onto the one component so as to facilitate installation of the components but, when unfolded, extends in its operative position across the gap between the components and firmly engages with its free end the other component.

The invention relates to a cooling module arrangement with a sealing element for a motor vehicle having a cooling fan enclosed by a fan housing fixed to the engine of the motor vehicle and a fan cowl fixed to the vehicle, with elastic sealing means extending between the fan housing and the fan cowl.
The increasing heat flows due to ever increasing engine outputs and ever greater heat inputs of auxiliary consumers into the cooling system, which have to be dissipated by the cooling system, place ever greater demands on the performance of cooling modules. At the same time the space available for the installation of such cooling modules in motor vehicles becomes more and more restricted.
The use of an axial-flow fan having a small circumferential edge gap affords a compact, practical and commonly known way of improving the through-flow and hence the cooling capacity of the cooling module. For best results, however, it is necessary to seal the gap between the fan cowl fixed to the frame and the fan housing fixed to the engine. Problems arise with this seal, however, due to relative movements between the cooling module firmly supported on the frame, with fan cowl affixed thereto, and the fan housing fixed to the engine, stemming from engine movements and twisting movements of the vehicle, together with deviations of components from the ideal position as a result of component tolerances, which have to be compensated for by a suitable sealing element.
Various sealing elements for overcoming this problem are already known in the state of the art. Thus WO-A-98/37319, for example, discloses a sealing element for the seal between a fan housing and a fan cowl of a cooling module system of a motor vehicle, with one end of the sealing element being fixed to the fan housing and the other end bearing on the outside of the fan cowl. The sealing element is elastic, so that it always bears as tightly as possible on the outside of the fan cowl. In addition, the sealing element has reinforcing extension sections, which project beyond the end of the sealing element facing the fan cowl, so that at least the extension sections remain in contact with the fan cowl at all times, thereby ensuring that in the event of excessive displacements between the fan cowl and the fan housing the sealing element retains its shape without being drawn into the fan cowl and also fulfills a valve function.
Further sealing elements for the seal between a fan cowl and a fan housing of a cooling module system of a motor vehicle are disclosed, for example, by EP-A-1 143 125 and JP-A-08-004530. At their two ends these sealing elements composed of an elastic material are fastened or clamped to the outside of the fan cowl and the outside of the fan housing. In the case of EP-A-1 143 125 the sealing element furthermore has a bellows section to compensate for relative radial movements.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,213,426 furthermore shows such a sealing element composed of an elastic material, which on the one hand is fixed to a radiator frame and on the other faces a periphery of a fan housing with a small gap between them. This sealing element also includes a bellows section to compensate for relative radial movements.
A further problem with sealing elements between the fan cowl and the fan housing is that in order to guarantee their sealing function the conventional sealing elements have a relative large dimension in the axial direction of the cooling module system. This has disadvantages, particularly when assembling the cooling module, owing to the confined space in the engine compartment of a motor vehicle.
It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide a sealing element for a cooling module arrangement of a motor vehicle, which, on the one hand, ensures reliable sealing and, on the other, is easy to install even in confined spaces.

Cooling module arrangement with a sealing element


The invention provides a system and method for tuning broadband signals by using post mixer I/Q equalization. An Image Rejection Mixer (IRM) is used for mixing Radio Frequency (RF) signals and rejecting image signals from the desired RF signals. The IRM includes an I/Q mixer and a filter. The I and Q paths resulting from the mixing operation in the I/Q mixer are equalized in amplitude and phase by an I/Q equalizer. Thereafter, the image signals are rejected from the desired RF signals using the filter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to broadband tuners. More specifically, it relates to systems and methods for image rejection from desired Radio Frequency (RF) signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
Broadband tuners are used in various electronic devices, such as televisions (TV), for transmission and reception of RF signals at particular frequencies. Broadband tuners include RF mixers that are used to convert RF signals at a particular frequency to RF signals at another frequency. This conversion is usually referred to as mixing RF signals. Mixing RF signals involves mixing of Local Oscillator (LO) signals with the input broadband signals. The output RF signals of the RF mixer usually include the desired RF and image signals. The image signals are unwanted signals that need to be rejected from the output RF signals, to provide the desired signals at the output. Filters such as SAW filters, variable bandpass filters, and polyphase filters are used to reject the image signals from the output RF signals.
Broadband tuners usually provide up to 40 dB of image rejection. Broadband TV tuners require up to 70 dB of image rejection for better transmission of the desired RF signals. In the present state of the technology, there are methods that provide up to 70 dB of image rejection. These methods require the implementation of double-conversion tuners with fixed IF SAW filters, single-conversion tuners with complex input tracking filters or single-conversion tuners with wide band matching techniques before the mixing operation. One such single conversion tuner with a double quadrature mixer is described in a publication titled "CMOS Mixers and Polyphase Filters for Large Image Rejection", by Farbod Behbahani, Yoji Kishigami, John Leete and Asad A. Abidi, and published in IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, June 2001, vol. 36, No. 6.
However, in the above methods and systems, the size of the circuit and/or its non-linearity is increased. Moreover, the wide band matching technique reduces the signal-to-noise ratio of the broadband tuners.
In light of the above, there is a need for a system and method for broadband tuning with the desired amount of image rejection. Further, the system should provide high linearity and high signal-to-noise ratio without substantially increasing the size of the circuit.

Method and system for image rejection by using post mixer I/Q equalization


A method of measuring the instantaneous arterial blood pressure and compliance and the device thereof are disclosed. The method identifies a critical depth under the skin. At this critical position, the arterial mean blood pressure is equivalent to the mean blood pressure obtained on the skin. The variation in the arterial mean blood pressure is tracked and controlled to maintain the equivalence between the mean blood pressure measured on the skin and the arterial mean blood pressure. In this case, the compliance of the muscle tissues remains invariant. Therefore, the variation measured on the skin is simply the behavior of the blood vessel. Using the skin-artery correlation, the invention can obtain the instantaneous blood pressure after some computation and the dynamic compliance at the critical position.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to medical diagnosis and, in particular to a method of measuring the instantaneous arterial blood pressure in a non-invasive approach and the device thereof.
2. Related Art
Cardiovascular diseases have become one of the major death causes of human beings. Therefore, the study of blood vessel properties is one of the major medical research fields. The emphases have been on such behaviors as blood pressure, blood flow, and elasticity. The measurement of the instantaneous blood pressure of blood vessels is thus extremely important.
In 1876, Marey first invented the Sphygmograph to take the blood pressure. Afterwards, more researchers have devoted themselves in non-invasive, convenient and reliable equipment in order to take the arterial blood pressure in medical diagnosis and health care. Clinically, the blood pressure is almost measured using non-invasive intermittent techniques. The most common technique is to use auscultatory and computerized oscillometric method.
Later on, three non-invasive approaches have been proposed to measure the instantaneous intra-arterial blood pressure. The first is the employ the arterial tonometry based on coplanar measurement (Pressman et al. 1963 and Mackay et al. 1964). The second is the Peñáz's method (Peñáz's 1973 and Wesseling 1984, 1986). The third one is the volume-compensation method (Yamakoshi et al. 1979, 1980). The latter two are based upon the vascular unloading technique (Geddes 1970, Shirer 1962 and O'brien et al. 1991).
Current artery tonometrys include, for example, HDI CvProfilor (Cohn et al. 1995), Sphygmocor (Giot et al. 1996), Pulsepen (Salv et al. 2004), and Colin radial tonometry, all using the principle of arterial tonometry. In these cases, some artery of one arm is urged by a hard structure and partially compressed. Therefore, the pulsation waveform can be continuously read out without using an occluding cuff. However, to calibrate the obtained blood pressure measurement, one needs to use the auscultatory or cuff-oscillometric method to measure the systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean blood pressure (MBP) of the other arm. The intra-arterial blood pressure is then estimated in proportion. Nonetheless, the transmission property of blood pressure from the artery to the skin above it is nonlinear.
The above-mentioned vascular unloading technique involves the Finapres type and the Portapres type, both performing continuous monitoring of the arterial blood pressure at fingers in a non-invasive approach. With the volume-clamp method disclosed by Peñáz, the finger arteries are clamped at a fixed diameter by applying an external pulsating pressure via an inflatable bladder mounted in a finger cuff and a fast-acting servo system. Finapres uses the Wesseling standard to determine a setpoint. The diameter of where the finger artery is clamped is determined by an infrared (IR) plethysmograph. The plethysmograph is disposed inside the finger cuff so that the transmural pressure is zero. At the same time, the cuff pressure is equal to the intra-arterial blood pressure. This equality assumes that the pulsating pressure has a diminishing loss from the artery to the cuff. Afterwards, Yamakoshi et. al. propose a volume-compensation method to improve the servo-reference and develop a local pressurization technique. These lead to a pad-type cuff sphygmomanometer for finger and wrist (Tanaka et al. 2005). Such a sphygmomanometer can prevent discomfort on the biological segment that is surrounded by the occluding cuff during a long-term measurement.
However, all the above-mentioned methods cannot obtain the true instantaneous blood pressure of the artery vessel. This is because these methods do not take into account the pressure transmission of the muscle tissues. Experience tells us that these conventional techniques cannot render accurate behaviors of arterial vessels.
The key issues are how to obtain the true instantaneous intra-arterial blood pressure and how to obtain characteristics of blood vessels such as the variation in their diameters. That is, it is desirable to obtain the simple variation of blood vessels. An objective of the invention is to employ a controlled method so that the muscle tissues are compliantly invariant, thereby rendering the simple behavior of blood vessel variations. At the same time, the characteristics of blood vessels are identified in order to estimate the arterial instantaneous blood pressure and its dynamic arterial dynamic compliance at the critical position.

Method of measuring instantaneous arterial blood pressure and compliance and device thereof


In non-limiting examples of the present disclosure, systems and methods for providing customizable electronic document review options within electronic document processing applications are provided. An analysis of an electronic document may be performed comprising a review of an electronic document for a plurality of style issues, a plurality of spelling issues and a plurality of grammar issues. A proofing task pane having a plurality of selectable options may be displayed. A total number of identified issues associated with each of the plurality of style issues, the plurality of spelling issues and the plurality of grammar issues may be displayed in the task pane based on the analysis of the electronic document. A value associated with the electronic document may be calculated based on a fluency metric associated with the electronic document and an indication of the fluency value for the electronic document may be displayed in the task pane.

Document review systems such as spell check and grammar check are integral processes of most word processing applications. Generally, these processes allow a user to identify individual occurrences of spelling and grammar errors within a document.
It is with respect to this general technical environment that aspects of the present technology disclosed herein have been contemplated. Furthermore, although a general environment has been discussed, it should be understood that the examples described herein should not be limited to the general environment identified in the background.


A garment for the transporting, observing, entertaining, training, and displaying of small animals, reptiles and insects (gerbils, mice, snakes, tarantulas, spiders, lizards, etc.) in the tunnels of the garment while on the shoulders of their owners. The garment consists of a see-through, mesh washable fabric panel on top and a brightly colored washable panel underneath, attached to each other using releasable fasteners. The fasteners also provide means to construct tunnel walls and nesting areas for the small animal. The fasteners further provide attachment to the garment tunnel's floor and walls for toys and other paraphernalia to entertain the pet and adorn the garment. This garment allows the owner to hold, observe, and transport his pet without damaging or soiling his clothes while his pet has a tunnel in which to play and rest safely. Also the owner can remove toys, food and nesting material in order to launder the garment.

The invention relates to a garment worn by the user for clothing protection and to transport and entertain small animals (gerbils, mice, snakes, tarantula, spiders, lizards, etc.). More specifically, this garment relates to a short, very colorful shoulder cover garment that is used to protect the clothing of the user and to display, shelter and observe the animal while providing entertainment and protection of the animal.
Individuals who have small animals (gerbils, mice, snakes, tarantulas, spiders, lizards, etc.) often relate to them closely and like to show them off and play with them out of their cages, often going so far as to put them in a pocket or bag for their protection. Around the shoulders is a natural place for these animals to climb onto for safety from larger animals and to get away from quick hand and body movements from people that scare the animals. Small animals also are attracted to bright colours due to their curious nature. When they are out of their cage, they like to crawl into covered places like tunnels to hide and rest. Often they climb inside a person's clothes, and sometimes fearfully bite or accidentally claw a person trying to put them back in their cage. Another problem arises when the animal relives itself, which is quite often if the animal is afraid or uncomfortable. The droppings of small animals are not excessively large and generally dry quickly without much noticeable odor, but it may stain or discolour clothing. It is not uncommon for a person to have to change clothing after handling small animals.
A number of shoulder drapes with perches for birds have been developed, most inclined to locate over ones shoulder with some form of waist collecting receptacle. Although these have been suitable for birds, they have no tunnelling effect for small animals such as gerbils, mice, lizards, tarantulas, etc., that need to be more sheltered and confined, both for the safety of the animal and its comfort as it is being transported. There are several devices for mazes and tunnels available to transport small animals and to provide tunnels and mazes: however, they are not made of flexible material, nor do they fit around the shoulders of the owner.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,427 of Hoover describes insertable stacking components which are transparent to view the animal and the configuration of the maze pieces can be changed for more entertainment of the animal. They are made of transparent, colored, molded plastic and are meant to be in an enclosure such as a cage: therefore they are not suitable for safe enclosure of the animal while it is being transported and the animal can't be placed on the owners body. U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,713of Hansen makes available a kit for making your own maze, but the invention is designed for school project uses and is too cumbersome to be portable when completed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,516,745 of Spires describes a pet travelling kit that resembles a folding garment bag. It provides a cushion for the pet and pockets for storing items the pet may need: however, it is designed for a cat or dog and would not be suitable for the smaller animals such as gerbils, mice, lizards, snakes, etc., because it is too big and it would be hard to find such a small animal to remove or check on during travel without the possibility of the animal slipping away.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,125 of Rotramel describes an animal harborage which is made primarily as a pest trap in which you can inject insecticides. Although it would be a suitable container for insects because it has artificial webs and is made of solid porous materials, it is designed as a cage in which the insects could hide, thus it would limit the best observation of the insect or rodent, and would not allow the close feeling an owner gets when the pet is placed on the shoulder.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,126 of Schellenbach describes a shoulder draped bird perch which transports birds on both shoulders of the owner and allows for adjustable fasteners, weighting of the material, attachment of toys and adjustable sizes. While it is quite adequate for all sizes of birds who are trained to stay on an owners shoulder, it does not have any tunnels for small animals which need to be confined while being observed, displayed, trained and transported.
There is such a pressing need in the field of garment design for new shoulder worn devices to provide a secure environment for owners to display, entertain and transport their small animals. This garment has been designed with unique features to show off, entertain, observe, and transport small animals along with protecting the wearer's clothing from being soiled by animal droppings.

PetBib small animal shoulder carrier and toy


A refrigerant system is provided where the functions of an economizer heat exchanger and liquid-suction heat exchanger are combined. The two configurations are disclosed with a single common heat exchanger construction. In a first configuration, a series of valves selectively routes only one of two possible refrigerant flows through a common heat exchanger such that a control can selectively activate either an economizer heat exchanger circuit or a liquid-suction heat exchanger function. In a second configuration, both refrigerant flows are passed to the common heat exchanger through separate fluid lines and are selectively activated by the control. Variations of the second configuration are also disclosed.

This invention relates to a refrigerant system that incorporates an economizer heat exchanger and liquid-suction heat exchanger within a single common heat exchanger construction.
Refrigerant systems are utilized in applications to change the temperature and humidity or otherwise condition the environment. In a standard refrigerant system, a compressor delivers a compressed refrigerant to an outdoor heat exchanger, known as a condenser. From the condenser, the refrigerant passes through an expansion device, and then to an indoor heat exchanger, known as an evaporator. In the evaporator, moisture may be removed from the air, and the temperature of air blown over the evaporator coil is lowered. From the evaporator, the refrigerant returns to the compressor. Of course, basic refrigerant systems are utilized in combination with many configuration variations and optional features. However, the above provides a brief understanding of the fundamental concept.
An enhancement technique known as an economizer cycle has been utilized in refrigerant systems. The economizer circuit increases the capacity and efficiency of a refrigerant system. When the economizer circuit is functioning, a refrigerant is tapped from a main liquid refrigerant line at the position downstream of the condenser. This tapped refrigerant is expanded to a lower pressure and temperature and then passed through a heat exchanger where it exchanges heat to cool the main refrigerant flow. This tapped refrigerant is then returned to the compressor through the intermediate compression port. The main refrigerant flow having been cooled in the economizer heat exchanger has a greater cooling capacity when it reaches the evaporator.
Another way to increase refrigerant system performance is to use a liquid-suction heat exchanger. In such an arrangement, refrigerant downstream of the evaporator is passed through a heat exchanger where it subcools liquid refrigerant flowing from the condenser to the expansion device. This scheme provides additional cooling capacity when the refrigerant reaches the evaporator, but at the expense of having higher temperature and lower density refrigerant reaching the compressor.
The use of the economizer heat exchanger option would provide the most benefits under some operating conditions, while the use of the liquid-suction heat exchanger would provide the most benefits under other operating conditions. In the past, the designer had to choose between using either one option or the other. Providing both options has been expensive and somewhat cumbersome as two separate heat exchangers were required.

Refrigerant system with common economizer and liquid-suction heat exchanger


A supported catalyst with rhenium and also containing aluminium introduced by a compound of the formula (OR).sub.qAlR'.sub.r with R being a hydrocarbyl residue with from 1 to 40 carbon atoms, R' being an alkyl residue with from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and with q and r equal to 1 or 2 with q+r=3. A process for the preparation of a catalyst comprising impregnating a compound of rhenium on a porous support formed by refractory oxides and/or alumino-silicates of an acid, neutral or basic nature, roasting at a temperature of form 200 to 950.degree. C. and impregnating with said aluminium compound. The catalyst is used for the metathesis of olefins.

The present invention concerns a process for the preparation of a rhenium-based catalyst and the use thereof for the metathesis of olefins.
The metathesis of olefins, or a reaction for the mutual redistribution of the alkylidene groups, is of great practical interest, for example for mutual re-balancing of the light olefins which result from steam cracking such as ethylene, propylene and butenes.
Different types of catalysts can be used in the metathesis reaction, either homogeneous catalysts when the constituent elements thereof are all soluble in the medium of the reaction, or heterogeneous catalysts when at least one of the elements is insoluble in the reaction medium. The latter are particularly attractive when the active metal causes problems and it is necessary to envisage re-using same without losses. That is the case for example with rhenium-based catalysts.
There are not many rhenium-based supported catalysts which are active for the reaction for the metathesis of olefins. The oldest and most generally used is rhenium heptoxide deposited on inorganic oxides, in most cases alumina (British patent No. 1,954,864, British Petroleum Co Ltd, 1964), but also on supports comprising both alumina and another co-oxide (R Nakamura, Rec Trav Chim Pays-Bas, Vol 96, 1977, page M31). The use of organometallic co-catalysts such as tetraalkyltins associated with the catalyst comprising rhenium oxide on alumina permits, amongst other advantages, the metathesis of functional olefins (J C Mol, C Boelhouwer et al., J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Comm., 1977, page 198). W. Hermann claimed the use of complexes such as methyltrioxorhenium and pentamethylcyclopentadienyltrioxorhenium which are deposited on various inorganic oxides including in particular alumina and silica-aluminas (Hoechst, European patents 373,488-A and 522,067-A).

Supported catalyst containing rhenium and aluminum process for the preparation thereof and use for the metathesis of olefins


The present invention relates to systems and methods for freeing shared resources that remain allocated to a particular resource allocating process after the resource allocating process has terminated. The invention is useful in a computer system where shared hardware is accessed via a shared hardware driver layer. The shared hardware driver layer interfaces with either a shared API layer or a nonshared API layer. Processes wishing to access the shared hardware access the hardware through either the shared or nonshared API layer. To release resources and destroy objects in either the shared API layer or the shared hardware driver layer, the present invention uses a helper process that cleans up after termination of the resource allocation process. The helper process first calls a cleanup function in the shared API layer to release resources and destroy objects in the shared API layer and associated hardware driver. The helper process then loads a copy of the nonshared API layer and makes a call to a similar cleanup function to release any remaining resources and destroy any remaining objects. In the alternative, the helper process loads a copy of the nonshared API layer and calls to the similar cleanup function are made by the cleanup function in the shared API layer.

1. The Field of the Invention
This invention relates to systems and methods for freeing shared resources in a computer system. More specifically, the present invention relates to systems and methods for freeing shared resources that have been allocated to a process that has terminated without freeing resources allocated to it.
2. The Prior State of the Art
When personal computers were first introduced, the operating systems were fairly rudimentary and only provided for a single task or process to run on the computer at any given time. This process had complete access to all system resources when it was running and could generally directly access any of the hardware devices on the computer. For example, many processes wrote directly to the display hardware to display information to a user. Because the process was the only process trying to access the display device, writing directly to the display device produced few problems and generally resulted in good performance even though these early personal computers had relatively little computing power.
One unfortunate drawback of directly accessing the computer hardware is that the program expected to see a particular type of hardware. This typically did not create any problems as long as most computers had identical hardware. For example, early computers offered very few choices with regards to the type of display device. As technology increased, however, the types of display devices available have proliferated and users today seem to have an almost limitless choice of display devices. If a process is going to write directly to the display device, the process must be able to operate with many, if not all, of the various display devices that are available. This can create enormous problems for computer programs that are created for wide distribution. Display devices are not the only hardware devices where these types of problems can arise. Other computer hardware may also present similar problems if a program attempts to directly access the hardware.
In order to eliminate the direct dependence on hardware, methods have been developed to allow a process to access a piece of hardware in a xe2x80x9cdevice independentxe2x80x9d manner. Essentially, this means that a process can access a particular type of hardware device in a manner that is essentially consistent from one hardware device to another. For example, if a program is to access a display device it would be desirable to allow the program to access any type of display device in substantially the same manner without having to worry about the particular hardware details of each individual display device. In order to provide a consistent interface between a process and a particular type of hardware device, there may be several abstraction layers between the actual hardware and the process. FIG. 1 contains an illustration of one method for allowing a process device independent access to hardware.
In FIG. 1, the actual hardware is illustrated by hardware 10. This hardware is often referred to as a xe2x80x9chardware layer.xe2x80x9d Hardware 10 represents the actual system hardware itself, such as a display device with its accompanying adapter card or a disk drive controller. On top of the hardware layer is often a xe2x80x9cdriver layer.xe2x80x9d In FIG. 1, the driver layer is illustrated by hardware driver 12. The driver layer is typically responsible for interfacing directly with the hardware and provides a set of interface functions that allow low level access to hardware 10. The driver layer hides device details by taking device independent requests and converting them to hardware specific requests. In other words, the driver layer provides a standardized or consistent set of functions that allows access to a particular type of hardware device in a substantially consistent manner independent of the actual hardware device used. Interfacing with hardware driver 12 is an application program interface layer or xe2x80x9cAPI layer.xe2x80x9d The API layer enhances the ease of use of the driver layer. The API layer can provide parameter validation and error checking to filter bad requests from processes. The API layer may also implement higher level services on top of the driver layer in order to add additional functionality. In FIG. 1, the API layer is illustrated by application program interface 14. As illustrated in FIG. 1, process 16 uses application program interface 14 to access hardware 10 through hardware driver 12. Together, hardware driver 12 and application program interface 14 allow process 16 to access hardware 10 in a device independent manner so that the hardware details are hidden and the interface remains substantially constant independent of the actual hardware used.
Accessing hardware in a device independent manner overcomes the drawback of requiring a process to be written specifically for a particular type of hardware and allows a single process to function with a wide variety of hardware devices. Another problem that has arisen due to advances in technology is the need to share single hardware devices among a plurality of processes. In the early days of personal computers, the hardware and operating systems were designed to allow a single process to run on the computer at any given moment. However, today""s operating systems often allow several processes to appear to run simultaneously on a single computer. This capability, known as multitasking, requires multiple processes on a single computer to share common hardware. For example, for computer systems that have only a single display device, if two processes are running simultaneously on the computer, then each may need access to the display device. This creates a situation where the display device must be shared among multiple processes. Similar requirements exist for other types of computer hardware such as input devices like keyboards, a mouse or other pointing device, or another type of input device, mass storage devices such as disk drives, and other hardware that may need to be shared among multiple processes.
To accommodate such shared access to various hardware devices while maintaining device independent access to hardware, the model presented in FIG. 1 can be extended. For example, hardware layer 10 can become a shared hardware device. Hardware driver 12 may become a shared hardware driver, and application program interface 14 may become a shared application program interface. Referring now to FIG. 2, these three layers are illustrated as shared hardware layer 16, shared hardware driver layer 18, and shared API layer 20. As indicated in FIG. 2, these layers are shared among a plurality of processes. For example, shared hardware layer 16 may represent a common display device that is shared by multiple processes. Shared hardware layer 16 is accessed through shared hardware driver layer 18 which, like its counterpart in FIG. 1, generally provides a set of functions that allows low level access to shared hardware layer 16. Finally, shared API layer 20 provides a device independent interface for the multiple processes that share the hardware.
In FIG. 2, the hardware is shared by two processes, process A, indicated generally as 22 and process B, indicated generally as 24. Since shared API layer 20, shared hardware driver layer 18, and shared hardware layer 16 must be shared between a plurality of processes, such as process 22 and process 24, it may be desirable to map shared API layer 20, shared hardware driver layer 18, and shared hardware layer 16 into the address space of both process 22 and process 24. This is indicated in FIG. 2 by showing shared API layer 20, shared hardware driver layer 18, and shared hardware layer 16 as part of the shared address space. Anything in the shared address space is literally shared between both processes. For example, shared API layer 20 can be seen and accessed both by process 22 and process 24. This is because shared API layer 20, as well as the other shared layers, are mapped into the address space of the processes and become part of the processes. Because shared API layer 20 is shared between a plurality of processes, the shared API layer must be able to resolve conflicts and contentions between the plurality of processes. In general, shared API libraries are quite complex and take a lot of time and care to develop.
In addition to the shared address space, each individual process typically has a local or nonshared address space. The local address space contains the local executable code and data of the process. In addition, local API layers, such as local API layer 26, may also be loaded into the local address space of a process. In summary, a process may consist of local executable code and data, local API layers, shared API layers, shared hardware drivers, and shared hardware.
When a hardware device is shared among a plurality of processes, it may be necessary to allocate certain resources for use specifically by a particular process. For example, when a display device is shared among a plurality of processes, each process may require allocation of some video memory of the display device. This allows the process to write data into the video memory in order to display information on the display device. Conceptually, the allocated resources can be viewed as being allocated in the shared API layer, since that is the layer that a process will use to access the hardware in a device independent manner. In FIG. 2, such shared resources are illustrated by shared resource 28, shared resource 30, and shared resource 32. In FIG. 2, shared resource 28 and shared resource 30 are allocated for use by process A as indicated by the xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d label. Shared resource 32 is allocated for use by process B as indicated by the xe2x80x9cBxe2x80x9d label. In addition to the resources allocated in the shared API layer, certain shared hardware driver layers may also keep information internally that relates specifically to a particular process. For example, in FIG. 2, shared hardware driver 18 has resource 34 that relates specifically to process A. Resources in the shared hardware driver layer 18 may be linked to or related to resources allocated in shared API layer 20 as indicated by line 36. Resource 34 can be any type of resource that is needed to be kept specifically for a particular process. For example, resource 34 can be internal representation of data that is stored for process A in resource 28 of shared API layer 20.
In addition to resources allocated in a shared API layer, if a process has a local API layer loaded into its local address space, such as local API layer 26, then resources may also be allocated in the local API layer. This is illustrated in FIG. 2 by resource 38 of local API layer 26. Such resources can be any type of resource that is allocated by a particular process through the local API layer.
One problem with allocating resources in shared layers is that such resources tend to be scarce. For example, display devices typically only have a limited amount of video memory that can be allocated for use. The limited amount of video memory must be shared among all processes. Thus, if one process allocates a large amount of video memory and then does not return the video memory to a pool where it can be allocated for use by another process, a situation can arise where there is insufficient video memory to allow a particular process to run successfully. Thus, it is very important that a process properly return allocated resources to a state where they can be reallocated for use by another process. In FIG. 2, if process A terminated without releasing the resources allocated in shared API layer 20 and shared hardware driver layer 18, these resources would remain allocated for use by the process, even though the process had terminated. In general, it is very difficult for a shared layer to determine when a resource is no longer needed by a particular process without input by the process. If the process has terminated abruptly, the process may leave resources allocated.
In order to avoid resource xe2x80x9cleaksxe2x80x9d when a process terminates abruptly and leaves resources in a shared layer allocated, one approach has employ a specialized second process specifically adapted to free shared resources. This second process can call a function in the shared layer that allows the shared layer to release allocated resources that are no longer needed and return them to a shared pool where they can be reallocated for use by another process. Such a situation is illustrated in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, process 22 has terminated leaving resources in shared API layer 20 and shared hardware driver layer 18 allocated. Assuming process 24 is a specialized cleanup process, when process 24 discovers that process 22 has terminated, process 24 may call a cleanup function in shared API layer 20, such as cleanup 40. Cleanup function 40 can release resource 28 and resource 30 in shared API layer 20. Additionally, this process may also call a function in shared hardware driver 18 to release resource 34. If resource 28 is a software object, then resource 28 may be freed by calling a function or method of the object which destroys the object. The method that destroys the object may also call other methods in other objects or otherwise make system calls to free allocated resources. In this way, resources in the shared layers that remain allocated after a process terminates can be freed by another process that continues to run.
As indicated in FIG. 3, when process 22 terminates, all information in the local address space is destroyed and the resources allocated to the local address space of the process are returned to the system. This is part of the automatic cleanup of local resources that is performed by the operating system when a process terminates. Thus, when process 22 terminates, resource 38 of local API layer 26 is freed and returned to the shared pool of resources. The operating system cannot free shared resources because it has no knowledge of the binding between a process and a shared resource allocated in a shared API layer or shared driver layer. To release the shared resources another approach, such as employing process 24 to free shared resources must be used. Thus, the combination of process 24 calling cleanup function 40 to release resources allocated in the shared layers and the termination of process 22 itself, returned all allocated resources to a state where they could be reallocated for use by another process. The described method works quite well for resources that are contained in local API layers and resources that are contained in shared layers. However, if the resources in the shared layers are linked to the resources in the local layers, then the above method will not work. This is because when process 22 terminates and local resources are released, the links between resources allocated in the shared layers and the local layers would remain intact and be pointing to an undefined location after process 22 terminated. If any attempt was made by an allocated resource in a shared layer to follow the link to another resource that needed to be released, unpredictable results would occur. Furthermore, if resources allocated in a local API layer, such as resource 38 of local API layer 26, were linked to resources in shared hardware driver layer 18, then there would be no way to follow the link to properly release the resources in the shared hardware driver layer.
Thus, what is needed is a way to release shared resources that have links to resources that are not shared. In addition, it would be desirable to provide a system and method to release resources in a shared driver layer that were allocated by, and linked to, resources allocated in a local API layer.
The foregoing problems in the prior state of the art have been successfully overcome by the present invention, which is directed to a system and method for freeing shared system resources that remain allocated to a process after the process has terminated. The current system and method is directed particularly to resources that remain allocated in a shared API layer and a shared driver layer.
When a resource allocating process terminates without freeing resources allocated in shared layers, it is important to identify such resources and return them to a state where they can be reallocated for use by another process. For example, it is very common for a resource allocating process to create objects and allocate resources through a shared API layer. The objects created by the shared API layer and the resources allocated by the shared API layer may contain pointers or links to objects created through a local API layer. This is particularly true of the case where an object created through a local API layer uses an object created by a shared API layer as a target for data.
The normal process of destroying linked objects and releasing allocated resources can be summarized as follows. Consider two objects, object 1 created by the local API layer and object 2 created by the shared API layer. Now suppose that object 2 held a link or a pointer to object 1. Such a situation can occur when object 1 is created by an operation on object 2. In these situations, the allocation of object 1 may be hidden by the shared API layer. To destroy both objects and release the allocated resources, the normal procedure would be to call a destructor function or method of object 2 that was designed to destroy both object 1 and object 2 and release the resources allocated by the two objects. When the destructor function or method of object 2 was called, the function or method would follow the link to object 1 and call a destructor function or method of object 1 that would destroy object 1 and release the resources allocated by object 1. The destructor function of object 2 would then proceed to destroy object 2 and release the resources from object 2. The problem arises when object 1 is destroyed before object 2. Such a situation can occur when the local API layer and object 1 are destroyed by the operating system when a process exits without releasing shared object 2. If object 1 is destroyed before object 2, then when object 2 attempts to follow the link to object 1 in order to call the destructor for object 1, a system fault will occur.
The present invention solves this problem by starting a helper process. The helper process is notified when a resource allocating process terminates. The helper process then calls a cleanup function in a shared API layer. The cleanup function allows the shared API layer to search for objects or resources that remain allocated to the resource allocating process. If such resources or objects are found, the objects are destroyed and the resources released without attempting to reference any objects that may be linked to them. This prevents attempted access to nonexistent objects.
The present invention also releases resources that remain allocated in the shared hardware driver layer. As previously explained, a shared hardware driver layer may maintain internal resources allocated to a particular process. The shared hardware driver layer is accessed through an API layer. If the API layer is a local API layer, then when the process terminates, the local API layer is destroyed while leaving the resources in the shared driver layer. In order to release the resources in the shared driver layer, the present invention loads a copy of the local API layer into the helper process. The helper process then calls a cleanup function in the local API layer. This cleanup function then calls a function in the hardware driver layer that allows the hardware driver layer to search for resources that remain allocated to a process that has previously terminated.
In summary, the present invention frees resources in shared API layers that have links to nonexistent resources by having a helper process call a cleanup function that releases the resources without attempted reference through the link to a nonexistent object. This cleanup function also releases resources in shared driver layers that are referenced through the shares API layer. Resources that remain allocated in a shared hardware driver referenced through a nonshared API layer are released by loading a copy of the nonshared local API layer into the local address space of the helper process and then calling a cleanup function in the local API layer that frees the resources allocated in the shared driver layer.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a system and method for releasing resources which prevent attempted access to objects that are no longer existent. Other objects of the present invention include: providing a system and method for releasing resources which release resources allocated to processes in shared hardware driver layers that remain allocated to processes that have previously terminated; and providing a system and method for releasing resources that is capable of releasing resources of interconnected objects where some of the objects have been destroyed and no longer exist.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

System and method for freeing shared resources in a computer system


A method of forming local interconnection of a SRAM, including the following steps: First, an NMOS and a PMOS are formed on a P-well and an N-well on a substrate, respectively. An isolation oxide layer is formed and the isolation oxide layer on a node is removed. A thin polysilicon layer is formed and N+ shallow implantation and N+ deep implantation is performed by using a photolithography technique. Also, P+ shallow implantation and P+ deep implantation are performed by using a photolithography technique. After the formation of a low resistance material, the low resistance material and the thin polysilicon layer are together formed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to the fabrication of semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs), and more particularly to a method of forming local interconnection of a static random access memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to the requirement of size shrinking of metal oxide semiconductors (MOS) and high integrity, several problems related to local interconnection formation occur. Fabricating contact windows of smaller size increases photo budget and also increases contact resistance, as a result, the performance of the ICs gets worse. Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) is a widely used device which uses a polysilicon layer for interconnecting the polysilicon gate and the source/drain region.
Typically, metal or polysilicon is used to connect the N+ node and the P+ node of an SRAM. In FIG. 1, polysilicon is taken as an example to be used as the material for interconnection between a N+ node 13 and a P+ node 14. An NMOS is formed in P-well 10 and a PMOS is formed in N-well 11. Self-aligned contacts 12 (SAC) are formed around the N+ node 13 and the P+ node 14 and the poly gate 15 is formed to connect and above the NMOS and the PMOS. However, as polysilicon is used for interconnection, it should be doped with N+ dopant or P+ dopant and therefore source/drain region can be formed consequently. As shown in FIG. 1, polysilicon 16 on N+ region must be N+ doped, polysilicon 17 on P+ region must be P+ doped before the back-end process of source/drain region formation, which increases the frequency of performing photolithography and rises the cost. As metal is used for interconnection, the isolation of metal and gate becomes an issue.

Method of forming local interconnection of a static random access memory


In a projection system a pattern plane on a reticle is illuminated to have a projection image focussed on an image plane. The presence of a pellicle in the optical path causes a virtual shift of the position of the pattern plane on the reticle. Depending on the presence or absence of the pellicle the image plane of the projection image needs to be adapted for proper focussing. A compensator counteracts the virtual shift of pattern plane due to the pellicle, by shifting the position of the pattern plane.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to lithographic apparatus and more particularly to lithographic apparatus including spatially modulated illumination nodes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The term "patterning device" or "patterning structure" as here employed should be broadly interpreted as referring to devices that can be used to endow an incoming The present invention relates generally to lithographic apparatus and more particularly to lithographic projection apparatus having image correcting functionality. The term "patterning device" or "patterning structure" as here employed should be broadly interpreted as referring to devices that can be used to endow an incoming radiation beam with a patterned cross-section, corresponding to a pattern that is to be created in a target portion of the substrate; the term "light valve" can also be used in this context. Generally, the said pattern will correspond to a particular functional layer in a device being created in the target portion, such as an integrated circuit or other device (see below). Examples of such patterning device include:                A mask. The concept of a mask is well known in lithography, and it includes mask types such as binary, alternating phase-shift, and attenuated phase-shift, as well as various hybrid mask types. Placement of such a mask in the radiation beam causes selective transmission (in the case of a transmission mask) or reflection (in the case of a reflective mask) of the radiation impinging on the mask, according to the pattern on the mask. In the case of a mask, said support structure for holding a patterning device will also be referred to hereinafter as "mask table"; the mask table ensures that the mask can be held at a desired position in the incoming radiation beam, and it can be moved relative to the beam if so desired;        A programmable mirror array. One example of such a device is a matrix-addressable surface having a visco-elastic control layer and a reflective surface. The basic principle behind such an apparatus is that (for example) addressed areas of the reflective surface reflect incident light as diffracted light, whereas unaddressed areas reflect incident light as non-diffracted light. Using an appropriate filter, the said non-diffracted light can be filtered out of the reflected beam, leaving only the diffracted light behind; in this manner, the beam becomes patterned according to the addressing pattern of the matrix-addressable surface. An alternative embodiment of a programmable mirror array employs a matrix arrangement of tiny mirrors, each of which can be individually tilted about an axis by applying a suitable localised electric field, or by employing piezoelectric actuators. Once again, the mirrors are matrix-addressable, such that addressed mirrors will reflect an incoming radiation beam in a different direction to unaddressed mirrors; in this manner, the reflected beam is patterned according to the addressing pattern of the matrix-addressable mirrors. The required matrix addressing can be performed using suitable electronic controllers. In both of the situations described here above, the patterning device can comprise one or more programmable mirror arrays. More information on mirror arrays as here referred to can be gleaned, for example, from U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,296,891 and 5,523,193, and PCT patent applications WO 98/38597 and WO 98/33096. In the case of a programmable mirror array, the said support structure may be embodied as a frame or table, for example, which may be fixed or movable as required; and        A programmable LCD array. An example of such a construction is given in U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,872. As above, the support structure in this case may be embodied as a frame or table, for example, which may be fixed or movable as required. For purposes of simplicity, the rest of this text may, at certain locations, specifically direct itself to examples involving a mask and mask table; however, the general principles discussed in such instances should be seen in the broader context of the patterning devices as set forth here above.
Lithographic projection apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In such a case, the patterning device may generate a circuit pattern corresponding to an individual layer of the IC, and this pattern can be imaged onto a target portion (e.g. comprising one or more dies) on a substrate (silicon wafer) that has been coated with a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist). In general, a single wafer will contain a whole network of adjacent target portions that are successively irradiated via the projection system, one at a time. In current apparatus, employing patterning by a mask on a mask table, a distinction can be made between two different types of machine. In one type of lithographic projection apparatus, each target portion is irradiated by exposing the entire mask pattern onto the target portion in one go; such an apparatus is commonly referred to as a wafer stepper or step-and-repeat apparatus. In an alternative apparatus—commonly referred to as a step-and-scan apparatus—each target portion is irradiated by progressively scanning the mask pattern under the projection beam in a given reference direction (the "scanning" direction) while synchronously scanning the substrate table parallel or anti-parallel to this direction; since, in general, the projection system will have a magnification factor M (generally <1), the speed V at which the substrate table is scanned will be a factor M times that at which the mask table is scanned. More information with regard to lithographic devices as here described can be gleaned, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,792.
In a manufacturing process using a lithographic projection apparatus, a pattern (e.g. in a mask) is imaged onto a substrate that is at least partially covered by a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist). Prior to this imaging step, the substrate may undergo various procedures, such as priming, resist coating and a soft bake. After exposure, the substrate may be subjected to other procedures, such as a post-exposure bake (PEB), development, a hard bake and measurement/inspection of the imaged features. This array of procedures is used as a basis to pattern an individual layer of a device, e.g. an IC. Such a patterned layer may then undergo various processes such as etching, ion-implantation (doping), metallization, oxidation, chemo-mechanical polishing, etc., all intended to finish off an individual layer. If several layers are required, then the whole procedure, or a variant thereof, will have to be repeated for each new layer. Eventually, an array of devices will be present on the substrate (wafer). These devices are then separated from one another by a technique such as dicing or sawing, whence the individual devices can be mounted on a carrier, connected to pins, etc. Further information regarding such processes can be obtained, for example, from the book "Microchip Fabrication: A Practical Guide to Semiconductor Processing", Third Edition, by Peter van Zant, McGraw Hill Publishing Co., 1997, ISBN 0-07-067250-4.
For the sake of simplicity, the projection system may hereinafter be referred to as the "lens"; however, this term should be broadly interpreted as encompassing various types of projection system, including refractive optics, reflective optics, and catadioptric systems, for example. The radiation system may also include components operating according to any of these design types for directing, shaping or controlling the projection beam of radiation, and such components may also be referred to below, collectively or singularly, as a "lens". Further, the lithographic apparatus may be of a type having two or more substrate tables (and/or two or more mask tables). In such "multiple stage" devices the additional tables may be used in parallel, or preparatory steps may be carried out on one or more tables while one or more other tables are being used for exposures. Dual stage lithographic apparatus are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,441 and WO 98/40791.
The mask as introduced in the present text is also known as a "reticle", which term may be used hereinafter. Also, the mask table as described above may be referred to hereinafter as the "reticle stage". The position of the reticle stage and the substrate table are generally measured with one or more laser interferometers to obtain the necessary accuracy for positioning of the substrate during exposure and for mutual alignment of successive patterned layers of a device.
A reticle can be protected by a soft and/or thin pellicle to prevent damage to the pattern plane on the reticle. Such a soft pellicle typically comprises a thin polymer foil which is substantially parallel to the surface of the reticle, displaced at some substantially perpendicular distance to the reticle's surface.
For example, particles on the reticle could disadvantageously affect the pattern image generated by radiation impinging on the reticle. By intercepting particles on the pellicle on a surface which is not in the focal plane of the projection system, the quality of the image generated from the (clean) reticle can be substantially preserved.
It has been observed that short-wavelength radiation, such as deep ultraviolet radiation (e.g., 126 and 157 nm) and extreme ultraviolet radiation (EUV) (e.g., 5–20 nm) deteriorate the soft pellicle so rapidly that the use of a soft pellicle in combination with (deep) UV (or EUV) radiation may not be practical at this moment.
A replacement pellicle is being considered for reticles used in (deep) UV/EUV lithography applications. This replacement pellicle can withstand the (deep) UV/EUV radiation and comprises a thin glass plate which is transparent for the (deep) UV/EUV radiation. Due to the refracting properties of a glass plate (based on Snell's law), the radiation beam is refracted in such a way that an offset of the focal plane of a projection system for the generated pattern image occurs, and the location of the reticle relative to the projection system is changed accordingly.
However, such a change of the reticle location adversely affects the ability to use reticles without a pellicle during some procedures. For example, in wafer fabs for IC production many lithography tests are performed (some even on a routinely basis) which require the use of a pellicle-free reticle. A reticle without a pellicle may be used in such circumstances because the pattern may be more accurate without a pellicle.
The switching between reticles with or without a pellicle requires cumbersome and time-consuming modification of a lithographic projection apparatus and a reduction in the operational up-time of the apparatus. Preferably, an exchange of reticles with and without a pellicle should be performed within a few minutes (e.g., less than 10 min).

Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method


A refrigerator includes a noise reduction device and a machine room that accommodates a condenser and a compressor. The noise reduction device includes a sensing unit configured to measure noise generated from the machine room of the refrigerator and a generating unit configured to output a sound signal having a frequency canceling or reducing the noise. The machine room is defined by a case that has a communication portion configured to communicate a fluid between an inside of the case and an outside of the case to thereby exchange heat between the fluid and the condenser and between the fluid and the compressor.

In general, a refrigerator is a device that reduces temperature inside it and stores food frozen or refrigerated by supplying cold air generated on a refrigeration cycle containing a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator.
A refrigerator generally includes a freezer compartment for freezing and storing food or beverages, and a refrigerator compartment for storing food or beverages at a low temperature.
Such refrigerators may be classified into a top mount type in which the freezer compartment is disposed on the refrigerator compartment, a side by side type in which the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment are divided to the left and right by a wall, and a bottom freezer type in which the freezer compartment is disposed under the refrigerator compartment.
The refrigerator cools a storage room such as the freezer compartment or the refrigerator compartment with cold air generated through exchange of hear with a refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle. Therefore, the insides of the storage rooms in the refrigerator are usually maintained at a lower temperature than the outside.
The freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment are provided inside cases constituting a refrigerator body and are selectively opened and closed by a freezer compartment door and a refrigerator compartment door, respectively.
The refrigerator further includes a machine room in which the compressor is located. When the machine room is located under a storage room, a condenser may be further located in the machine room. On the contrary, when the machine room is located on a storage room, the evaporator may be further located in the machine room.
However, the compressor located in the machine room generates vibrations and noise. Therefore, a configuration for reducing vibrations and noise generated from the compressor is required.
In this regard, Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-2017-0091219 discloses a refrigerator including a resonance device.
The refrigerator according to the prior art may reduce only noise in a specific frequency in view of the nature of the resonance device. However, a rotator rotating inside the compressor generates noise in a different frequency depending on a rotation speed. Therefore, when the speed of the rotator changes, the noise generated from the compressor may not be reduced.
Accordingly, there is a need for a noise reduction device that reduces noise generated from a compressor even when the rotation speed of the compressor changes.

Refrigerator with compressor noise reduction


A thermocouple power sensor includes the ability to monitor the value of a RF load resistor. A meter connects to the input of a thermocouple-based RF signal power detector. The apparatus can sense its own load resistor DC impedance, so it can detect both aging in and damage sustained through overload to the RF dissipation element.

A thermocouple microwave power sensor detects the power of a wide-band RF signal. Thin Film and Monolithic thermocouples have been used for power measurements. Thermocouple microwave power sensors suffer from a susceptibility to burn out at higher power levels, parasitic reactances that limit their frequency range, and nonlinear thermocouple response. Typical thermocouple power sensors (shown schematically in FIGS. 1A and 1B) are disclosed by Jackson in Hewlett Packard Journal, September 1974, Vol. 26, No.1, "A Thin-Film/Semiconductor Thermocouple for Microwave Power Measurements", by Kodato in U.S. Pat. No. 6,518,743, "Wide-band RF signal power detecting element and power detecting device using the same", and by Delfs, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,823, "Power sensor for RF power measurements".
As shown in FIG. 1A, Jackson uses capacitors to separate the incoming RF (AC) and outgoing measurable (DC) signals. As shown in FIG. 1B, the power dissipating resistor is isolated from the thermocouples, and a capacitor to block incoming DC is optional (not shown). Linearity correction is included in the controls of the power sensor as the accuracy degrades towards the high end of the meter.
In operation, one or more thermocouple pairs measure the temperature difference between two points. The temperature rise is assumed to be proportional to the unknown input power.
In some power sensors, a symmetrical arrangement of power dissipating elements and temperature sensors is used. In this "calorimetric" method, the DC power applied to one of the identical halves of the sensor arrangement is adjusted to match the unknown power applied to the other of the two identical halves of the sensor arrangement. When each of the two temperature sensors reads the same temperature, the known DC power applied is equal to the unknown RF power. A meter employing this method is disclosed by N. R. Erickson in "A fast and sensitive submillimeter waveguide power meter," in Tenth Int. Space Terahertz Technol. Symp., Charlottesville, Va., March 1999, pp. 501-507.

Load measurement for a thermal microwave power sensor


An equipment tray of sheet metal having a base with a bottom section and a set of four sides integral to the bottom section with each of the four sides extending outward from the base to form a compartment therein and at least one of the sides having a beveled lip extending along a first portion of the side to provide stiffness to the base to avoid the “oil can effect” occurring with sheet metal trays. A further feature of the inventions is the inclusion of a cover retaining slot formed in the base by having a second portion of a side configured to coact with a beveled edge to form a cover retaining slot between the second portion of the side and the beveled edge to prevent lateral movement of the cover.

The concept of equipment trays for holding electronic equipment in racks is well known in the art. Typically, such trays are of a standard size to enable the equipment tray to be used in a number of different applications. One of the difficulties with equipment trays is that the component parts of the trays may rattle or vibrate due to external forces. Another difficulty is that a tray may lack sufficient stiffness to prevent "oil canning" a process where the metal buckles in response to external forces on the tray.
The present invention provides an improved equipment tray that is resistant to "oil canning" and inhibits the rattling and vibration that occurs with prior art equipment trays through the use of a one piece base having integral sides that are secured to each other to form a multi-sided compartment and a cover that extends over the compartment with the cover including lips that are engaged in laminate like fashion between a beveled lip along a first portion of one side and a straight lip along another portion of the side to retain the cover from lateral displacement.


The invention concerns an apparatus for treating a biological sample by emitting focused high intensity ultrasounds towards a focal point, characterised in that it comprises means emitting wideband focused ultrasounds. The apparatus enables to adjust the focused ultrasound frequency according to the target attenuation, the thickness of the tissues traversed, the temperature evolution, or the lesion displacement during emission.

This invention relates to apparatus for treating a biological target by delivering focused ultrasound at high intensity to a focal point. It further relates to a method for adjusting the frequency of apparatus for treating a biological target by delivering high intensity focused ultrasound to a focal point.
The invention falls in the field of tissue treatment using focused ultrasound, and more particularly the field of tissue destruction inside an organism by creation of high temperatures using focused ultrasound.
In the general field of focused ultrasound, as the person skilled in the art knows, various types of treatment can be distinguished: the treatment that has been around longest is treatment by lithotripsy, which applies to destroying hard bodies; this type of treatment uses shock waves, i.e. short high power pulses. Later, it was proposed to treat soft issue by hyperthermia, by heating tissue to slightly elevated temperatures, i.e. less than 45xc2x0 C. Hyperthermia involves emitting ultrasound in the form of long and lower power pulses to the tissue to be treated. Finally, currently, treatment of soft tissue using high intensity focused ultrasound, generally called HIFU (high intensity focused ultrasound) is being proposed. HIFU treatment involves heating tissue to elevated temperatures, typically greater than 45xc2x0 C.
These various types of treatment involve very different technical problems, both as regards sending and focusing of the ultrasound as well as its propagation.
HIFU treatment raises different problems. Generally speaking, the aim is to improve effectiveness of treatment, i.e. destruction of selected tissue. For this, the first problem resides in a suitable choice of the ultrasound transmission parameters; the latter, and in particular ultrasound frequency, need to be chosen very accurately. They generally depend on numerous factors such as: target depth, nature of tissue, type of necrosis desired.
A second problem is that of gaining access to the targets or tissue to be treated. Due to patient anatomy, targets are sometimes difficult to get at for ultrasound beams. Moving the transducer has been proposed; moving the transducer may however also be limited by patient morphology. In prostate treatment by endorectal probe, various solutions to this problem have been proposed, see for example French Patent applications serial numbers 9102620, 9309158, 9608096, 9401304, 9406539. These various solutions could still be improved, for ensuring better treatment, in precise areas, by hyperthermia or HIFU.
A third problem resides in the fact that the beam emitted by an ultrasound focused transducer is generally effective within a fixed region, called the focal zone. Now, this focal zone most frequently is smaller than the size of the target tissue. Treatment of extensive targets is consequently a problem. One proposition was to successively employ, by endorectal route, transducers of various focal lengths, for example, in the case of the prostate, a first one, of short focal length, suitable for treating the posterior region and another one, of longer focal length, for the anterior region. This method involves changing the probe during the session, which is not desirable.
One proposed solution to this third problem consisted in employing variable focal length transducers. These can be constructed from an array of individual transducers. Do-Huu was the first to employ annular arrays for hyperthermia ((JP Do-Huu, P Hartmann, Annular array transducer for deep acoustic hyperthermia, IEEE Ultrasonics Symp, Vol 81CH1689-9, pp. 705-710, 1981, or U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,512 of May, 1986). Still for hyperthermia, we can cite the work of Cain (C A Cain, S A Umemura, Concentric-ring and sector vortex phased array applicators for ultrasound hyperthermia therapy, IEEE Trans Microwave Theory Tech, vol MTT-34, pp 542-551, 1986) and the work of Ebbini (E S Ebbini, C A Cain, A spherical-section ultrasound phased array applicator for deep localized hyperthermia, IEEE Trans Biomed Eng, vol 38, pp 634-643, 1991).
J Y Chapelon et al, The feasibility of tissue ablation using high intensity electronically focused ultrasound, IEEE Ultrasonics Symp, Vol 93CH3301-9, pp 1211-1214, 1993 proposed using annular phased arrays for HIFU.
The work of Hynynen and corresponding publications, for example K Hynynen et al, Feasibility of using ultrasound phased rays for MRI monitored noninvasive surgery, IEEE Trans UFFC, Vol 43, No. 6, 1996 proposes HIFU treatments.
A variable focal length transducer can also be constructed using a fixed focus transducer and an acoustic lens, as disclosed in French patent 2,715,822 in the name of Dory.
In every case, it is essential to adapt treatment parameters to target depth for obtaining satisfactory therapeutic effect. In particular, the operating frequency of the transducer must be determined. This is calculated from the equation giving absorbed acoustic power per unit of volume (W/cm3) at the focus of a focused transducer:
Q=2xcex1FI0Gexe2x88x922xcex1Fdxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
where:
Q is the acoustic power absorbed per unit of volume
xcex1 is the acoustic attenuation factor (Neper/cm/MHz)
I0 is the acoustic intensity at the transducer emission surface (W/cm2)
G is antenna gain
F is frequency (MHz)
d is the thickness of the absorbing medium (cm) as explained in Hill C. R. Optimum acoustic frequency for focused ultrasound surgery in Ultrasound in Med and Biol; 20; 271-277; 1994 and Lesion development in focused ultrasound surgery: a general model in Ultrasound in Med and Biol; 20; 259-269; 1994.
This formal approach is known and employed by designers of apparatus for tissue treatment by focused ultrasound, for determining optimum operating frequency of a therapy transducer depending on depth or acoustic attenuation of the intended target. This choice is defined a priori and remains fixed for a given transducer.
Seppi, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,487 discloses, for hyperthermia, use of wideband transducers and choice of working frequency range depending on target depth. That Patent additionally proposes employing a wideband signal so as to create incoherent beams which are, consequently, unfocused.
European patent application 0,351,610 discloses wideband transducers focused electronically, focusing being controlled as a function of cavitation.
This invention proposes an elegant and simple solution to the problem of distributing acoustic power in ultrasound treatment; it ensures better control of overall power, and good definition of the region treated.
More precisely, the invention provides apparatus for treating a biological target by emitting high power focused ultrasound towards a focal point, comprising wideband transducer means for emitting ultrasound, means for controlling said transducer means for emitting focused ultrasound over a narrow frequency range, and means for adjusting the frequency range of said controlling means as a function of measurement results.
According to one embodiment of the apparatus, the means for emitting ultrasound have a variable focal length.
According to a further embodiment, the apparatus additionally comprises coupling means of variable thickness adjacent to said ultrasound emitting means.
The ultrasound emitting means preferably have a fixed focal length and the apparatus can additionally comprise variable thickness coupling means adjacent to the emitting means.
According to one embodiment, the apparatus additionally comprises means for measuring acoustic attenuation in the region of a focal point, the means for adjusting frequency range performing adjustment of the focused ultrasound frequency range as a function of results supplied by acoustic attenuation measurement means.
The apparatus preferably comprises means for measuring mean acoustic attenuation variation close to a focal point, and the means for adjusting frequency range performing adjustment of a focused ultrasound frequency range as a function of results supplied by the means for measuring mean acoustic attenuation variation.
According to one embodiment, the apparatus additionally comprises means for calculating or measuring temperature in the region of a focal point, and the means for adjusting frequency range perform adjustment of the focused ultrasound frequency range as a function of results supplied by said means for calculating or measuring temperature.
According to a further embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for determining the thickness of. tissue through which ultrasound has passed, and the means for adjusting frequency range perform adjustment of the focused ultrasound frequency range as a function of results supplied by said thickness-determining means.
The means for determining a thickness of tissue through which ultrasound has passed preferably comprises means for measuring thickness of variable-thickness coupling means.
According to one embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for calculating a displacement of a lesion as a function of time of shooting, and for calculating thickness through which ultrasound has passed, the adjustment means performing focused ultrasound frequency adjustment as a function of of displacement and thickness.
According to a further embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for calculating lesion depth as a function of shooting time, the adjustment means performing adjustment of focused ultrasound frequency as a function of depth.
In one embodiment, the adjustment means perform adjustment of frequency range before a shot.
In a further embodiment, the adjustment means perform frequency range adjustment during a shot.
A method for adjusting the frequency of apparatus for treating a biological target by emitting high intensity focused ultrasound towards a focal point is provided, the method comprising the steps of:
measuring attenuation or variation in attenuation of a biological target; and
adjusting focused ultrasound frequency as a function of measured attenuation.
A method for adjusting the frequency of apparatus for treating a biological target by emitting high intensity focused ultrasound towards a focal point is also provided comprising the steps of:
measuring a thickness of tissue through which ultrasound has passed; and
adjusting focused ultrasound frequency as a function of this thickness.
Measurement of tissue thickness through which ultrasound has passed can comprise the steps of:
calculating a focal length between an ultrasound sender and a focal point;
measuring the distance between the sender and a first interface with a body containing the target; and
subtracting a distance between the sender and the first interface from focal length in order to obtain a thickness of tissue through which ultrasound has passed.
Ultrasound frequency adjustment is preferably performed so as to apply a given power Q to a target.
Ultrasound frequency adjustment is advantageously performed by application of the following formula:
Q=2xcex1FI0Gexe2x88x922xcex1Fdxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
where:
Q is the acoustic power absorbed per unit of volume
xcex1 is the acoustic attenuation factor (Neper/cm/MHz)
I0 is the acoustic intensity at the transducer emission surface (W/cm2)
G is antenna gain
F is frequency (MHz)
d is the thickness of the absorbing medium (cm).
In one embodiment of the method, the step of frequency adjustment is performed before a shot.
In another embodiment, the step of frequency adjustment is performed during a shot.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clear from the description which follows of some embodiments, provided by way of example and with reference to the attached drawings.

Frequency adjustment in high intensity focused ultrasound treatment apparatus

Institut National de La Santa et de La Recherche Medicale


A home network system which can efficiently configure a new home appliance in the home network system. The home network system includes at least one new device newly connected to a master device through a network, for transmitting a plugged-in request message containing an initial address through the network, receiving an address change request message containing a logical address, and changing the initial address to the logical address, and at least one master device connected to the new device through the network, for receiving the plugged-in request message from the new device, setting the logical address for the new device, and transmitting the address change request message containing the logical address to the new device, wherein the initial address comprises at least a product code and a logical address of the new device, and the new device changes the logical address to the logical address set by the master device.

Home automation for automatically controlling home appliances at home or remotely has almost reached a commercial use stage. At its early stage, the home automation separately controlled each home appliance by using a telephone or infrared rays, and did not connect the home appliances one another. However, there has been suggested a method for building a network of home appliances by using a communication means, and collectively managing the network by using a controller.
FIG. 1 is a structure view illustrating a general home network system. Referring to FIG. 1, a home network connects various digital home appliances so that a user can always enjoy convenient, safe and economic life services inside or outside the house.
As factors of the advent of the home network, refrigerators or washing machines called white home appliances have been gradually digitalized due to development of digital signal processing techniques, and new information home appliances have been made due to rapid development of home appliance operating system techniques and high speed multimedia communication techniques.
Here, an IT network is built to exchange data between a personal computer and peripheral devices or provide Internet services, and an AV network is built between home appliances using audio or video information. In addition, a living network is built to simply control home appliances, such as home automation or remote meter reading, and may be comprised of a refrigerator, washing machine, microwave oven, electric lamp, gas alarm, air conditioner and telephone.
The home network system includes a master device which is a home appliance for controlling an operation of the other home appliances or monitoring a status thereof, and a slave device which is a home appliance having a function of responding to the request of the master device and a function of notifying a status change according to properties of the home appliances or other factors. Here, the home appliances (or new devices) include home appliances for the living network service such as a washing machine and a refrigerator as well as home appliances for the IT network service and the AV network service.
The conventional home network system has never suggested an apparatus and method for configuring a new home appliance as a new slave device (or master device). Especially, the conventional arts have not taught an apparatus and method for requiring only a simple operation to general users who are not familiar with complicated mechanism of the home network system, and enabling the home network system to automatically recognize and configure a new home appliance.