An office line selecting technique of a telephone switching system includes: receiving an extension number so as to select an office line which is in an optimal state with respect to a specific extension; confirming whether the extension number can use an office line which is in an optimal state when an office line group number consisting of a plurality of office lines is selected through an extension; and connecting the specific extension to the office line which is in an optimal state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to telephone switching systems and, more particularly, to an office line selecting technique of a telephone switching system for selecting an optimal office line with respect to a specific extension.
2. Description of the Related Art
A private branch exchange accommodates many lines installed from a telephone office in its office line card and connects more extensions than the number of office lines thereto. Respective extensions have classes and their functions for providing service are determined according to the classes. In case of a very high class, the service of a special function may be provided. In selecting the office line, there is a method for selecting the office line using an office line number corresponding to the office line and a method for selecting the office line using an office line group number including the office line. The latter method selects the office line which is not used by sequentially judging whether the office line is being used. This method has a problem in that it is difficult to select an office line which has an optimal state with respect to the extension of a high class since the speech sensitivity and noise differ according to the office line.
The following patents each disclose features in common with the present invention but do not disclose the specifically recited combination of features of the present invention: U.S. Pat. No. 5,434,852 to La Porta et al., entitled Distributed Processing Architecture for Control Of Broadband And Narrowband Communications Networks, U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,803 to Conforti et al., entitled Circuit For Testing Digital Lines, U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,652 to Brown et al., entitled Communication Console Station With Priority Queuing, U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,369 to Tsuchida, entitled Key Telephone System Accommodating Both Digital And Analog Telephone Networks, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,660,611 to Knollman et al., entitled Program Controlled Key Telephone System For Automatic Selection Of A Prime Line.

Office line selecting technique of a telephone switching system


A technique including receiving and decoding a coded bitstream encoded with audio content including first audio objects corresponding to a first media content type of two consecutive media content types and second audio objects corresponding to a second media content type of the two consecutive media content types, and audio metadata corresponding to the audio content. The audio metadata including first and second audio object gains, for the first and second audio objects, generated in part based on a first fading curve of the first media content type and a second fading curve of the second media content type, respectively. The technique further includes applying the first and second audio object gains to the first and second audio objects, and rendering a sound field represented by the first audio object with the applied first audio object gain and the second audio object with the applied second audio object gain.

Multiple audio processors are scattered across an end-to-end audio processing chain to deliver audio content to end user devices. Different audio processors may perform different, similar and/or even repeated media processing operations. Input media data as received at the beginning of the audio signal path undergoes many audio sample data manipulations, conversions, and modifications throughout the audio processing chain. Certain operations such as soft or hard peak limiting may be performed by more than one audio processor in the same processing chain or by audio processors not directly involved in audio rendering. Some of these operations to varying extents may be irreversible, inefficient, computationally intensive, and/or prone to introducing artifacts, unintended results, delays, complexity, coding/quantization errors, or the like.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section. Similarly, issues identified with respect to one or more approaches should not assume to have been recognized in any prior art on the basis of this section, unless otherwise indicated.

Using metadata to aggregate signal processing operations


Disclosed is a method for removing image noise using pattern information, which filters noise caught by a sensor during preprocessing of a compression codec, so as to increase a compression efficiency, and noise caused by the codec during post-processing of the codec, so as to obtain high quality images. The method includes the steps of: (a) carrying out region dispersion with respect to input image signals so that the image signals are dispersed with a predetermined pixel size; (b) calculating mean brightness of the input image signals and carrying out noise dispersion with respect to the input image signals; (c) switching a low frequency and a high frequency based on image signals which are subjected to the region dispersion and the noise dispersion; (d) removing noise based on a statistic after obtaining the region average with respect to the image signals having the low frequency; and (e) removing noise based on a similarity of pixels after analyzing patterns with relation to the image signals having the high frequency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image compression technology. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for filtering image noise using pattern information. Most particularly, the present invention relates to an image noise filtering method which can effectively filter image noise remaining on an edge of an image before or after the image is compressed in a display unit, thereby substantially producing images in which noise is filtered.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a charge coupled device (CCD) or CMOS sensor has the characteristic of generating noise due to a quantity of light or heat. Such noise does not have a Gaussian (or Laplacian) statistic characteristic but has a signal-dependent characteristic. Therefore, since the noise of the sensor is not white, it is difficult to easily filter the noise by a general noise filtering algorithm. Further, although the noise is filtered, a segment of a high frequency of the signal can be damaged by the filtering. Noise filtering is one of image processing fields which have been researched for a long time. Such a noise filtering algorithm may be generally classified into a technology using a restoration concept, and a method using a filtering technology.
Since the restoration technology is based an accurately modeling the noise, it is possible to obtain an excellent result. However, the restoration technology is computationally intensive. Thus, a method using a statistical characteristic of a local region of an image, for example a Local Linear Minimum Mean Square Error (LLMMSE), is often used.
On the other hand, filtering technologies which can be realized by means of hardware have also been used for image processing fields. Mean series filters have been used in order to filter noise having Gaussian statistical characteristics, while median series filters have been used in order to filter noise having Laplacian statistical characteristics.
In the mean series filtering method, a mean filter and a median filter are used to filter image noise. The method for filtering the image noise using the mean filter is a basic mean filter, which calculates a mean of the value of inner pixels in a local region of the image. This is low pass filtering and has a disadvantage of filtering a segment of a high frequency necessary for the image as well as noise, resulting in filtering precise portions of the image. In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a local statistic of an image is calculated using equations (1) and (2), reflecting a non-stationary characteristic of the image, under a condition that a contour is not crossed in a mask:
                                                        x              ^                                      AWA                                            (                                  m                  ,                                      n                    ;                    k                                                  )                                              =                                    ∑                              i                ,                                  j                  ∈                                      S                                          m                      ,                                              n                        ;                        k                                                                                w                                                  (                                      i                    ,                                          j                      ;                      l                                                        )                                                                          y                                                  (                                      i                    ,                                          j                      ;                      l                                                        )                                                                    ,                            Equation                                                            (          1          )                    wherein Sm,n,k is a mask.
                                          w                                      (                              i                ,                                  j                  ;                  l                                            )                                =                                    k                                            (                                  m                  ,                                      n                    ;                    k                                                  )                                                    1              +                              a                                                  (                                      max                                                              [                                                                        ɛ                          2                                                ,                                                                              (                                                                                g                                                                                (                                                                      m                                    ,                                                                          n                                      ;                                      k                                                                                )                                                                                -                                                              g                                                                                (                                                                      i                                    ,                                                                          j                                      ;                                      l                                                                                )                                                                                )                                                    2                                                                    ]                                                        )                                                                    ,                            Equation                                                            (          2          )                    wherein k(m,n;k) is a normalization constant.
The image noise filtering method using the median filter effectively filters the Laplacian noise (first statistical noise characteristic) such as salt and pepper noise. The filtering method is calculated using the equation (3):{circumflex over (x)}MF(m,n)=median {y(i,j)|(i,j∈Sm,n)}  Equation (3)
The median filter effectively filters noise in an even region excluding an edge. However, the median filter has a disadvantage of damaging information along a narrow line or corner.
Further, a conventional LLMMSE filter is based on a Non-stationary Mean Non-stationary Variance (NMNV) image model, and is expressed using equation (4):
                                                        x              ^                                      LLMMSE                                            (                                  i                  ,                  j                                )                                              =                                    E                                            (                                  y                                                        (                                          i                      ,                      j                                        )                                                  )                                      +                                                                                σ                    x                    2                                                                          (                                          i                      ,                      j                                        )                                                                                σ                      x                      2                                                                                (                                              i                        ,                        j                                            )                                                        +                                                            σ                      n                      2                                                                                (                                              i                        ,                        j                                            )                                                                                (                                                      y                                                              (                                              i                        ,                        j                                            )                                                        -                                      E                                                              (                                              y                                                                          (                                                      i                            ,                            j                                                    )                                                                    )                                                                      )                                                    ,                            Equation                                                            (          4          )
where and σx2 and σn2 indicate a non-stationary dispersion of x and n, respectively. Here, it is assumed that the noise dispersion σn2 is a value which is presumed or already known. It is well known that the LLMMSE filter smoothes the noise in the even region (σx2≅σn2)({circumflex over (x)}LLMMSE(i, j)≅E(y(i, j))), but does not filter small pixels (σx2>>σx2) near a boundary, as shown in FIG. 1 ({circumflex over (x)}LLMMSE(i, j)≅y(i, j)).
A mean value series filter is easily calculated so that it can be realized in real-time. However, since a weight function used for preserving contour is determined by a difference between two pixel values, the mean value series filter is affected by the noise and cannot effectively filter the noise around the contour. Further, the mean value series filter has a disadvantage in that the images are contrived because of too much smoothing of the noise in the even region.
The median series filter is rarely used because of the difficulty of realizing it in hardware due to it computation intensity. The LLMMSE filter can effectively filter noise in the even region, but cannot effectively filter noise in a region near the boundary. Further, the LLMMSE filter has a disadvantage in that the weight function is affected by the noise, like the mean series filter.

Method for filtering image noise using pattern information

Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Yonsei University


Some implementations provide techniques and arrangements for distance measurements between computing devices. Some examples determine a distance between devices based at least in part on a propagation time of audio tones between the devices. Further, some examples determine the arrival time of the audio tones by performing autocorrelation on streaming data corresponding to recorded sound to determine a timing of an autocorrelation peak indicative of a detection of an audio tone in the streaming data. In some cases, cross correlation may be performed on the streaming data in a search window to determine a timing of a cross correlation peak indicative of the detection of the audio tone in the streaming data. The location of the search window in time may be determined based at least in part on the timing of the detected autocorrelation peak.

The continued proliferation of computing devices, including mobile computing devices, has led to an increase in the availability of applications and other content used on these devices. For instance, users employ a variety of applications, such as games, digital media players, browsers, and the like, on an assortment of computing devices. As the number of computing devices and applications used on these devices continues to increase, users are ever more interested in enhancing their experiences while using these computing devices and applications.

Distance measurements between computing devices


Among other things, the present invention provides various apparatus useful in paper manufacturing and recycling. On such apparatus is a paper strap that includes a paper body that is formed of a compound structure. Such a paper strap further includes an adhesive material formed on at least a portion of the paper body. Methods for using the paper strap include methods related to recycling paper products, methods for sealing cartons, and methods for manufacturing paper products.

The present invention provides apparatus and methods related to manufacturing paper products and recycling paper products. More particularly, the present invention provides paper based banding products and methods for use thereof. The paper manufacturing industry processes pulp into paper products. This process can include the transfer of pulp to a paper manufacturer. The pulp is placed in a processing vat and reduced in preparation of making paper products. In some cases, this includes removing packaging materials that bind the pulp prior to placing the pulp in the vat. This is time consuming and wasteful.
There has been some progress in developing and using binding materials that can be placed in the vat along with the pulp. As one example, a twisted paper based strap has been used to bind the pulp. The binding includes placing the strap around the pulp, and the two ends of the strap are adhered one to another.
Further, the paper straps currently available exhibit significant liquid resistance that limits the rate at which the paper strap breaks down during the pulping process. Manufactured paper products can include paper based containers or cartons. Such cartons are used to contain a product for shipping, and can then be recycled after shipping. Often the materials used to secure such cartons must exhibit significant strength. For this reason, plastic and metal straps are often used. Use of such straps is problematic as the straps must be discarded, while the carton itself is recycled. This process of separating the recyclable materials from the non-recyclable materials is time consuming.
Thus, there exists a need in the art to address the various problems outlined above. As will be appreciated from the following disclosure, the apparatus and methods according to the present invention address these, and a number of other problems related to manufacturing paper products, using paper products, and/or recycling paper products.


A method and system that helps to reduce delay in initiating communication sessions. A network entity operates as a signaling agent on behalf of a terminating node and positively acknowledges a session initiation request on behalf of the terminating node without first receiving a positive acknowledgement from the terminating node. For example, the network entity may first send an alert message to the terminating node and then positively respond to the session initiation request before receiving from the terminating node a response to the alert message. As another example, the network entity may first positively respond to the session initiation request and then send an alert message to the terminating node. This arrangement can advantageously allow the session setup process to continue, without first waiting for an actual positive acknowledgement from the terminating node.

Generally speaking, in order to establish a communication session between two or more nodes over a network, a setup signaling process will occur. The entities involved in the setup signaling process, and the particular steps of the process, may depend on various factors, such as the capabilities of the nodes and the arrangement of the network.
In some scenarios, participating nodes may exchange setup signaling messages with each other. For instance, if both nodes sit on a packet-switched network such as the Internet and are compliant with the well known Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), one node (the "originating" node) might send a SIP "INVITE" message to the other node (the "terminating" node), specifying a type of session desired. The terminating node may then respond with a SIP "200 OK" message, agreeing to participate, and the originating node may then send a SIP "ACK" to the terminating node, to complete the setup signaling. The originating and terminating nodes may then start engaging in the specified type of session with each other.
In other scenarios, either or each node might be served by a signaling proxy, such as a gateway (e.g., network access server) or switch, which can function to engage in setup signaling on behalf of the node. An example of this occurs in a telephone system, in which each telephone or other telephony device at the end of a call is served by a network switch or gateway, and the switches or gateways are coupled together by a transport network such as the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or the Internet. In particular, an originating phone may be served by an originating switch/gateway, and a terminating phone may be served by a terminating switch/gateway. (Alternatively, the two ends may be served by a common switch/gateway.)
In this arrangement, when a user of the originating phone places a call to the terminating phone, the originating phone may send tones representing the dialed phone number to the originating switch/gateway, and the originating switch/gateway may then respond by sending a call setup message to the terminating switch/gateway. The call setup message may take various forms, depending on the form of the transport network. For example, if the switches/gateways are coupled together by a circuit-switched network such as the PSTN, then the call setup message might be an industry standard "ISUP" Initial Address Message (IAM), which might pass through an out-of-band signaling system between the switches/gateways. As another example, if the switches/gateways are coupled together by a packet-switched network such as the Internet, then the call setup message might be a SIP INVITE or other such session setup message.
Upon receipt of setup message, the terminating switch/gateway would then send an alert signal such as a ring signal to the terminating phone, in response to which a user of the terminating phone (or the phone itself) may take the terminating phone off hook. When the terminating switch/gateway detects the off hook condition, it responsively sends a positive acknowledgement signal to the originating switch/gateway. And the originating switch/gateway then routes the call over the transport network to the terminating switch/gateway. With a call path thus established between the originating and terminating phones, the call may then begin.
In an alternative arrangement, by way of example, it is possible that only one of the phones may be served by a gateway/switch, in which case one phone may directly engage in setup signaling with the other phone's gateway/switch. For instance, if the originating phone includes a SIP client, the originating phone may send a SIP INVITE over a packet-switched network to the terminating switch/gateway, seeking to set up a call with the terminating phone. The terminating switch/gateway would then page the terminating phone, and, when the terminating phone goes off hook, the terminating switch/gateway would positively respond to the originating phone. After completing the setup signaling, the call could then begin.
It is also possible that more than two nodes may be involved in the setup process. For instance, an originating node may seek to set up a conference session with multiple terminating nodes. To do so, either the originating node or a conference server (or switch/gateway) acting on behalf of the originating node might send session setup messages to each of the terminating nodes, or to switches/gateways serving the terminating nodes. Session legs could then be established between the various nodes, and those legs could be bridged together to establish a conference.
In general, regardless of whether a terminating node is served by a proxy, the process of setting up a communication session will typically involve exchanging setup signaling with the terminating node in order to determine whether the terminating node will participate in the session. In particular, a session invitation of some sort (e.g., a SIP INVITE, or a ring signal) will be sent to the terminating node. If the terminating node agrees to participate in the session, the terminating node will then positively acknowledge the invitation (e.g., by going off hook or by sending a SIP 200 OK).
The process can work perfectly well in a scenario where the terminating node has an available link with the network over which to exchange such messages. However, a significant delay in the setup process can occur if the terminating node does not have such a link when the network seeks to send a session invitation to the terminating node. In that scenario, the terminating node must first acquire the link in order to engage in setup signaling.
An example of this delay can occur in a cellular wireless communication system, where a wireless client station can have a "dormant" mode in which it lacks a radio link over which it can physically communicate.
In a "3G" cellular wireless system, for instance, a mobile station may lose its radio link and thus enter a dormant mode after a certain period of time during which no data flows between the mobile station and a base station. When the base station thereafter receives packet data that is being transmitted to an IP address of the mobile station, the base station may need to re-establish the mobile station's radio link. To do so, the base station would page the mobile station over a radio control channel, and the mobile station would responsively request use of a radio traffic channel. In response, the base station would instruct the mobile station to operate on a particular traffic channel, and the base station may then transmit the packet data over that traffic channel to the mobile station.
In a typical 3G wireless system, this process of waking up a terminating mobile station to deliver incoming packet data can sometimes take over 5 seconds to complete, at least in part because the mobile station may only periodically monitor the control channel for page messages. If the incoming packet data represents a session invitation, such as a SIP INVITE for instance, such a delay in setting up the requested communication session can sometimes be problematic. Therefore, an improvement is desired.

Method and system for advanced termination of communication sessions


A multi-step method of manufacturing a medical device containing therapeutic agents that results in a lower maximum error in the amount of therapeutic agents actually disposed thereon and that allows for differential drug release kinetics along the length of the medical device.

Minimally invasive medical devices such as stents, grafts, and balloon catheters, are used for a number of medical purposes including the treatment of vascular disease, reinforcement of recently re-enlarged lumens, and the replacement of ruptured vessels. It is often beneficial to incorporate in such medical devices, therapeutic agents, which are often contained within a coating applied to the surface of the medical device, to provide desired therapeutic properties and effects. For example, it is useful to apply a coating containing therapeutic agents to medical devices to provide for the localized delivery of therapeutic agents to target locations within the body, such as an occluded body lumen. Compared to systemic drug administration, such localized drug delivery minimizes unwanted effects on parts of the body which are not to be treated and allows for the delivery of higher amounts of therapeutic agent to the afflicted part of the body. Coatings containing therapeutic agents may also provide for controlled release, which includes long-term or sustained release, of the therapeutic agent.
Conventionally, coatings have been applied to medical devices by processes such as dipping, spraying, vapor deposition, plasma polymerization, and electro-deposition. Although these processes have been used to produce satisfactory coatings, there are numerous drawbacks associated with these processes. For example, with current spraying processes, it is difficult to achieve a narrow weight distribution of the therapeutic agent on the medical device. Furthermore, the evaporation of solvents used in the coatings, the complex geometries of many medical devices, and the low amounts of therapeutic agents applied to the coatings contribute to the difficulty in measuring the amount of therapeutic agent actually disposed on the medical device. In addition, there is no direct feedback loop associated with these medical devices to ascertain the actual amount of therapeutic agent disposed on the medical device and therefore it is often necessary to maintain processing parameters as constant as possible. However, due to the large number of processing parameters associated with coating a medical device, there is still a significant amount of variation in the amount of drug disposed on the medical device.
In addition to the difficulties associated with achieving a narrow weight distribution of a therapeutic agent on a medical device, current coating procedures are designed to result in a uniform application of therapeutic agent across the medical device, which is suitable and often desired for many current medical devices. Such a coating process, however, does not allow for differentiation in drug amount across the medical device. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a coating process that allows for a broader weight distribution on the medical device and that allows for non-uniform application of the therapeutic agent on the medical device.

Multi-step method of manufacturing a medical device


A sterol regulatory element (SRE) binding protein (SREBP) which activates transcription from SREs, such as SRE-1 of the low intensity lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene, is disclosed, as are DNA segments encoding SREBPs such as an SREBP-1 or SREBP-2. Also described are methods for using SREBP to promote SRE-mediated transcription and LDL receptor production in the presence of sterols, and screening assay for the identification of further agents with such properties. The SREBP and other agents may be used to reduce plasma cholesterol levels and to treat various medical problems associated with hypercholesterolemia.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to transcriptional activator proteins and to methods for altering gene expression, cellular function and metabolism. In particular, this invention concerns sterol regulatory element (SRE) binding proteins (SREBPs) and DNA segments encoding such proteins. Methods for using SREBP-1 to stimulate SRE-1-mediated gene transcription in the presence of sterols are also disclosed, which are contemplated for use in reducing plasma cholesterol levels and in controlling hypercholesterolemia and its associated diseases.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is currently relatively little knowledge concerning feedback suppression mechanisms involved in eukaryotic gene regulation. In animal cells, most attention has focused on positively-regulated systems in which hormones, metabolic inducers, and developmental factors increase transcription of genes. These inducing agents are generally thought to activate or form complexes with proteins that stimulate transcription by binding to short sequences of 10 to 20 base pairs (bp) in the 5'-flanking region of the target gene. Such elements, termed GRE, MRE, and IRE have been reported for glucocorticoid, metal and interferon regulatory elements, respectively (Yamamoto, 1985; Stuart et al., 1984; Goodbourn et al., 1986).
Important advances have been made recently concerning other DNA segments which are capable of conferring control capability to known genes in eukaryotic systems. For example, transcription of the gene for the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor is regulated by a 10 base pair (bp) element in the 5' flanking region designated sterol regulatory element-1 (SRE-1; Goldstein and Brown, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,363). The receptor provides cholesterol to cells by binding and internalizing LDL, a plasma cholesterol transport protein. When cellular cholesterol demands are high, as when cells are grown in the absence of sterols, this element is transcriptionally active, the cells produce large numbers of LDL receptors and LDL is internalized rapidly. On the other hand, when sterols accumulate within cells, the SRE-1 is silenced, and cells reduce the number of LDL receptors, thereby preventing cholesterol over accumulation. This feedback regulatory system controls not only the cholesterol content of cells, but also that of plasma (Brown and Goldstein, 1986). When hepatic LDL receptors are repressed by intracellular accumulation of dietary cholesterol, LDL is not taken up into the liver at a normal rate, and the lipoprotein builds up to high levels in the blood.
The 10 bp SRE-1 lies within a 16-base pair (bp) sequence, designated Repeat 2, that is 53 bp upstream of the transcription start site of the LDL receptor gene (Smith et al., 1990). This sequence is the central member of a series of three imperfect repeats in the 5' flanking region, all of which are required for high level transcription (Goldstein and Brown, 1990; Smith et al., 1990; Sudhof et al., 1987). Repeats 1 and 3 bind Sp1, a constitutive transcription factor. Mutations in any of the three repeat sequences abolish high-level transcription in sterol-deprived cells (Smith et al., 1990; Sudhof et al., 1987; Dawson et al., 1988).
The activity of Repeats 1 and 3, although necessary, is not sufficient for high level transcription. An additional positive contribution is required from Repeat 2, which does not bind Sp1 (Smith et al., 1990; Sudhof et al., 1987; Dawson et al., 1988). Mutational analysis suggests that Repeat 2 binds a conditionally positive transcription factor that is active only under conditions of sterol deprivation (Smith et al., 1990). When sterols are added to cells, the contribution of Repeat 2 is abolished, and the rate of transcription falls.
The nucleotides within Repeat 2 that are necessary for its transcriptional activity have been delineated partially through in vitro mutagenesis and expression studies in permanently transfected CHO cells. The relevant nucleotides include the SRE-1 10 bp stretch which has the sequence ATCACCCCAC, SEQ ID NO:27 (Smith et al., 1990). The essential elements of this sequence have been shown to be conserved in evolution as far back as the last common ancestor of humans and frogs (Mehta et al., 1991).
Unfortunately, despite the elucidation of the SRE-1 DNA sequence, the nature of the putative transcription factor that binds to SRE-1 remained unknown. Two candidates have been proposed (Rajayashibth et al., 1989; Stark et al., 1992), but the proteins in these reports did not show specific binding which precisely correlated with the transcriptional activity of modified SRE-1 elements, and purification of the putative binding proteins was not reported.
The identification of a protein that binds to the SRE-1 sequence and promotes transcription would be advantageous, particularly if DNA segments encoding such a protein were available so that it could be produced in large quantities. A purified SRE transcriptional activator that could be used to promote SRE-1-mediated gene transcription in the presence of sterols would be even more useful. The availability of such a protein would represent a medical breakthrough as it could be used to promote LDL receptor gene transcription, which is normally downregulated by sterols, and to reduce plasma LDLcholesterol levels.

Methods relating tosterol regulatory element binding proteins

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System


A system for virtual control of electronic laboratory equipment includes a local computer system. One or more items of electronic laboratory equipment are connected to the local computer system. Each item of electronic laboratory equipment has a physical control panel including one or more displays or controls. A virtual control panel generation unit generates a virtual control panel accessible from a remote computer system. The virtual control panel is substantially similar to the physical control panel in appearance. A command interpretation unit monitors interaction between the remote user and the virtual control panel and generates electronic laboratory equipment commands for exploiting the functionality of the electronic laboratory equipment.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to laboratory equipment and, more specifically, to a system and method for the virtual control of laboratory equipment.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Electronic laboratory equipment such as power supplies, signal generators, sensors, and the like are common fixtures in modern laboratories. Each piece of equipment may feature one or more display components and one or more control keys. Signal inputs and outputs of the equipment may be connected to various pieces of hardware to perform various tests.
As a laboratory might have a large number of such items of test equipment, the test equipment may be rack-mounted for efficient storage and use. When rack-mounted, the items of test equipment are stacked in a shelf-like configuration, with all display components and control keys located on the front face of the equipment. Input and output cable connectors may be located either on the front face or the back face of the equipment so as to remain accessible while mounted. Accordingly, a user may retain full access to all equipment functions even when the equipment is rack-mounted.
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a rack-mounting system. Multiple items of equipment 12, 13 and 14 may all be mounted within a single rack 11 with the items stacked vertically and affixed to the rack 11 frame. Thus the front faces of each item of equipment 12, 13, and 14 may remain highly visible and accessible. A set of connecting cables may emerge from the back faces of each item of equipment 12, 13, and 14 and may be appropriately interconnected with each other and/or other laboratory hardware.
While the rack mounting system provides an effective approach for users to interact with the laboratory equipment, collaboration with remote users may be difficult as remote users lack the ability to interact with the display components and control keys of the laboratory equipment.
Most modern items of test equipment are configured with the ability to connect to a general-purpose computer system. For example, equipment may include a general purpose interface bus (GPIB) connector. This standard, as defined by IEEE-488, allows for the control of the equipment via the computer system. Other methods for connecting laboratory equipment to general purpose computers include small computer system interface (SCSI) and universal serial bus (USB) interfaces. Using these connectors and hardware drivers provided by the manufacturer of the equipment, computer programs may be written to allow the function of the equipment to be controlled by the computer system. The intended purpose of this arrangement is to use computer software to automate various testing and experimenting procedures so that the users are spared the repetitive and error prone task of configuring each item of test equipment each time it is used in a different capacity.
However, these connections to general-purpose computer systems are short-ranged and the problem of allowing for collaboration with remote users is not solved by the ability to control the laboratory equipment using local computer systems. As local computer systems may in turn be connected to a computer network, for example, across the Internet, it is possible for a remote user to control the functionality of the laboratory equipment by establishing a connection with the local computer system that is connected to the laboratory equipment and writing computer programs that make use of the various hardware drivers installed on the local computer. However, this process may be time consuming, tedious and may require programming skills on the part of the user.

System and method for virtual control of laboratory equipment

International Business Machines Corporation


Electrostatic wafer chucks are disclosed for use in holding a substrate (e.g., semiconductor wafer) during processing of the substrate in a vacuum chamber or other reduced-pressure environment. A representative wafer chuck provides improved control of the vacuum level in the vacuum environment while providing a mechanism (lift pins) for raising and lowering the substrate relative to the chuck. The chuck body defines a wafer-mounting surface that contacts the under-surface of the substrate. The chuck body defines a gap between the under-surface of the substrate and the chuck for conducting a heat-transfer gas, and multiple feed-through holes extending through the chuck body. Surrounding each feed-through hole is at least a first protrusion configured to separate the respective feed-through hole from the gap. A respective lift pin in each feed-through hole extends from the chuck body across the gap to the under-surface of the substrate. The lift pins can move relative to the chuck body to lift the substrate relative to the wafer-mounting surface. The protrusions surrounding the feed-through holes prevent passage of heat-transfer gas through the feed-through holes.

This invention pertains to devices (termed xe2x80x9cchucksxe2x80x9d) that hold a substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer coated with a xe2x80x9cresist,xe2x80x9d while a process such as microlithography is being conducted on the substrate. Microlithography concerns the transfer of a pattern, usually defined by a reticle, mask, or the like, onto the resist-coated surface of the substrate using an energy beam. Microlithography is a key technology used in the manufacture of microelectronic devices such as integrated circuits, displays, and the like. More specifically, the invention pertains to electrostatic chucks that hold the substrate by electrostatic attraction (force) between the chuck and the substrate. Even more specifically, the invention pertains to electrostatic chucks configured to dissipate heat from the substrate to the chuck using a heat-transfer gas.
As used herein, a xe2x80x9cwaferxe2x80x9d encompasses any of various types of substrates that can be held on a chuck, including semiconductor wafers, glass or ceramic plates, or any of various other suitable substrates.
In various microlithographic exposure processes involving the transfer of a pattern to a wafer, the upstream-facing surface (xe2x80x9cprocess surface,xe2x80x9d usually coated with a suitable resist) of the wafer is irradiated by an energy beam such as a beam of electromagnetic radiation or a charged particle beam. Absorption of the beam energy by the wafer causes wafer heating. The temperature rise usually is accompanied by thermal expansion of the wafer. Normally, wafer heat is conducted and dissipated to the chuck to which the wafer is mounted. However, any particulate debris situated between the downstream-facing surface of the wafer and the wafer-mounting surface of the chuck can cause deformation of the wafer. This deformation decreases the accuracy and precision of exposures on the wafer.
To solve these problems associated with particulate contamination, multiple channels conventionally are machined into the wafer-mounting surface of the chuck, thereby forming respective xe2x80x9cgapsxe2x80x9d or spaces between the wafer and the chuck. To facilitate thermal conduction in the regions of the gaps, a heat-transfer gas conventionally is circulated through the channels while the wafer is mounted to the chuck. A typical heat-transfer gas is helium (He) gas. Circulation of the heat-transfer gas through the channels in this manner reduces thermal expansion of the wafer because the gas (which contacts the under-surface of the wafer in the gap regions) conducts heat from the wafer to the gas and from the gas to the chuck. Areas of the wafer-mounting surface in which channels are not formed contact the wafer directly and thus directly conduct heat from the wafer to the chuck.
Parameters influencing the amount and rate of thermal transfer to the chuck by the heat-transfer gas include the thermal conductivity of the gas, the gas pressure, the gas-flow rate, and transverse dimensions of the respective gaps. For instance, if the mean free path of molecules of the heat-transfer gas is longer than a minimum transverse dimension of a gap, then at relatively low gas pressure the thermal conductivity of the gas increases nearly proportionally with increases in gas pressure. However, if the mean free path is shorter than a minimum transverse dimension of a gap, then the thermal conductivity of the gas is essentially independent of gas pressure.
Especially for charged-particle-beam (CPB) microlithography, the chuck is situated in a vacuum chamber evacuated to a suitable vacuum level using a vacuum pump. Under such conditions, it is important that leakage of the heat-transfer gas from the chuck into the vacuum chamber be as low as possible. Excessive leakage of heat-transfer gas can compromise the performance of the vacuum pump to an extent such that the required vacuum level in the vacuum chamber is not achievable or maintainable. In such an event, adverse consequences may result such as reduced accuracy or precision of pattern transfer, or damage to the microlithography apparatus.
One conventional method for controlling leakage of heat-transfer gas involves providing a ring-shaped protrusion around the perimeter of the wafer-mounting surface of the chuck. Just inward (in the radial direction) of the protrusions are gas-exhaust ports for aspirating residual heat-transfer gas in the channels. Other methods include monitoring of the pressure of the heat-transfer gas and controlling the flow rate of the heat-transfer gas in gas inlets to the channels. These methods are generally acceptable for maintaining the pressure of the heat-transfer gas as constantly as possible during wafer exposure, thereby achieving effective transfer of heat away from the wafer.
In some microlithography apparatus, however, chucks are used that include a mechanism for moving the wafer vertically relative to the wafer-mounting surface to facilitate effective adhesion of the wafer to and detachment of the wafer from the chuck. Such mechanisms work in concert with a robot arm used for transporting the wafer to and from the chuck, and eliminate the need for the robot arm to move vertically relative to the chuck. Conventional mechanisms for vertical movement of the wafer relative to the chuck extend through feed-through holes in the surface of the chuck. The feed-through holes also facilitate pressure equalization allowing the wafer to be lifted off the chuck surface. Unfortunately, the feed-through holes provide conduits for escape of heat-transfer gas from the channels to the vacuum chamber, thereby causing undesired changes in pressure of the heat-transfer gas in the gaps and hindering wafer processing.
In view of the shortcomings of conventional devices and methods as summarized above, an object of the invention is to provide electrostatic chucks that can suppress leakage of heat-transfer gas more effectively from the gap between the wafer and the chuck, thereby more reliably maintaining the pressure of the heat-transfer gas in the gap.
To such end, and according to a first aspect of the invention, electrostatic chucks are provided for holding a substrate for processing. An embodiment of such a chuck comprises a chuck body. The chuck body defines a wafer-mounting surface configured to contact an under-surface of a substrate whenever the substrate is electrostatically mounted to the chuck. The chuck body also defines a gap between the under-surface of the substrate and the chuck whenever the substrate is mounted to the wafer-mounting surface, and multiple feed-through holes extending through a thickness dimension of the chuck body. The chuck body also defines a gas-inlet port situated and configured to conduct a heat-transfer gas to the gap so as to allow the heat-transfer gas to contact the under-surface of the substrate whenever the substrate is mounted to the wafer-mounting surface. The chuck body also defines a gas-exhaust port situated and configured to conduct the heat-transfer gas away from the gap. The chuck body also defines a respective first protrusion surrounding each feed-through hole, wherein the first protrusions are configured to separate the respective feed-through hole from the gap. The chuck embodiment also includes a respective lift pin situated in each feed-through hole. The lift pins are configured to extend from the chuck body across the gap to the under-surface of the substrate. The lift pins are actuatable relative to the chuck body so as to contact the under-surface of the substrate and cause lifting of the substrate relative to the wafer-mounting surface.
The chuck summarized above can include a gas-exhaust pump connected to the gas-exhaust port and configured to remove heat-transfer gas from the gap, and a gas supply connected to the gas-inlet port and configured to supply the heat-transfer gas to the gap.
The chuck body can further define a first peripheral protrusion extending circumferentially around the chuck body, wherein the peripheral protrusion has a height, relative to the chuck body, equal to a height of the respective first protrusions, around the feed-through holes, relative to the chuck body. In this configuration, the chuck body can define multiple gas-exhaust ports situated radially inwardly of the first peripheral protrusion.
The chuck body can further define a second peripheral protrusion extending circumferentially around the chuck body radially inwardly of the first peripheral protrusion, wherein the second peripheral protrusion has a height, relative to the chuck body, equal to the height of the first peripheral protrusion. In this configuration, the chuck body can define multiple gas-exhaust ports situated radially between the first and second peripheral protrusions.
The chuck body can further define, at each feed-through hole, a respective second protrusion surrounding the respective first protrusion, wherein the second protrusion also is configured to separate the respective feed-through hole from the gap. In this configuration, at each feed-through hole, the respective second protrusions desirably have a height, relative to the chuck body, equal to a height of the respective first protrusions. The chuck body can further define, at each feed-through hole, a respective gas-exhaust port situated between the first and second protrusions surrounding the respective feed-through hole. The chuck body can further define, at each feed-through hole, multiple respective gas-exhaust ports situated between the first and second protrusions surrounding the respective feed-through hole.
According to another aspect of the invention, microlithography apparatus are provided that comprise a chuck according to any of the embodiments summarized above.
With any of the various configurations according to the invention, the amount of heat-transfer gas escaping through the feed-through holes around the lift pins is substantially decreased compared to conventional chucks. This allows the pressure of the heat-transfer gas in the gap to be more accurately and reliably maintained during use of the chucks.
In the configurations in which the chuck body defines multiple protrusions surrounding each feed-through hole, especially with one or more gas-exhaust ports situated between the protrusions, leakage of heat-transfer gas from the gap is even further reduced.
The foregoing and additional features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Electrostatic wafer chucks and charged-particle-beam exposure apparatus comprising same


In some aspects, sand stabilization treatments are analyzed. A computing system can determine a first predicted resource production output for a subterranean reservoir based on a sand stability model analysis for a native condition of the subterranean reservoir. The computing system can determine a second predicted resource production output for the subterranean reservoir based on a sand stability model analysis for a stabilization-treated condition of the subterranean reservoir. The computing system can output an economic value comparison of resource production for the native condition and the stabilization-treated condition based on the first and second predicted resource production outputs.

This specification relates to analyzing sand stabilization treatments. Sand stabilization treatments are often used to improve mechanical stability in subterranean reservoirs. Such treatments can be applied near a wellbore, for example, using cementing materials, polymer gels, or other materials that tend to reduce sand mobility near the wellbore. Sand stabilization treatments can increase the mechanical stability of the sand, and decrease the inflow of sand during production.


An angular rate sensor for a vehicle navigation system stores an environmental temperature and a related null voltage each time the vehicle stops. The pairs of data points are stored in a non-volatile look-up table for use during vehicle motion. During vehicle motion, the environmental temperature is measured, and a null voltage is selected from the look-up table corresponding to the measured temperature. The null voltage is used to correct drift offset. Interpolation is used when data keyed to the measured temperature cannot be found in the look-up table.

The present invention relates to angular rate sensors and, more particularly, to an angular rate sensor for a vehicle.
Angular rate sensors are useful in vehicle navigation to detect an angular rate of the vehicle body. When the angular rate is integrated, the body angle of the vehicle, with respect to an arbitrary starting body angle, can be calculated.
An angular rate sensor generally relies on a gyro for sensing a change in the body angle of the vehicle on which it is mounted. The inventors have discovered that a drift error of the gyro of an angular rate sensor is temperature sensitive. Due to the temperature sensitivity, if the environmental temperature to which the gyro is exposed changes during use, an unknown drift error is produced. This unknown drift error, which accumulates over time, limits the accuracy of angular rate sensors.
In high-cost systems, a gyro angular rate sensor is mounted in an oven whose temperature is carefully controlled to a fraction of a degree by an automatic temperature control system. The high cost of such a technique forbids its use in low-cost systems such as are required to serve as part of the navigation systems of automobiles and trucks.
An angular rate sensor may be calibrated while the vehicle is stationary by noting the null voltage produced. In Japanese laid-open utility model publication 2-194314, a gyro angular rate sensor calculates a drift compensation factor by noting the null voltage every time the vehicle stops. This drift compensation factor is then used to compensate for drift while the vehicle is moving.
Although the foregoing drift compensation system may be effective to compensate for drift during short episodes of vehicle motion, on a long continuous trip, drift errors grow to serious amounts. In addition, a motor vehicle, and a gyro within it, is exposed to large temperature changes. For example, during cold-weather travel, the temperature in passenger spaces can change by many tens of degrees due to heater operation. In hot-weather travel, the temperature can similarly change due to solar insolation, convective heating and cooling, and air conditioner use. Accordingly, the drift compensation system according to the above utility model suffers serious errors.

Method and apparatus for correcting drift errors in an angular rate sensor


A method of treating metabolic syndrome in a human diagnosed with metabolic syndrome by administering a therapeutically effective amount of fenofibrate over a treatment period. The results can include identifying a human as not having clinical metabolic syndrome after treatment, as compared to having metabolic syndrome before treatment.

Metabolic syndrome (also known as "syndrome X," "dysmetabolic syndrome," "obesity syndrome," "Reaven's syndrome" and interchangeably referred to herein as the "syndrome") has emerged as a growing problem. For example, metabolic syndrome has become increasingly common in the United States. It is estimated that about 47 million adults in the United States have the syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is generally a constellation of metabolic disorders that all result from, or are associated with, a primary disorder of insulin resistance. Accordingly, the syndrome is sometimes referred to as "insulin resistance syndrome." Insulin resistance is characterized by disorders in which the body cannot use insulin efficiently and the body's tissues do not respond normally to insulin. As a result, insulin levels become elevated in the body's attempt to overcome the resistance to insulin. The elevated insulin levels lead, directly or indirectly, to the other metabolic abnormalities.
Some people are genetically predisposed to insulin resistance, while other people acquire factors that lead to insulin resistance. Acquired factors, such as excess body fat and physical inactivity, can elicit insulin resistance, and more broadly, clinical metabolic syndrome. Because of this relationship between insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, it is believed that the underlying causes of this syndrome are obesity, physical inactivity and genetic factors. In fact, most people with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome have central obesity (excessive fat tissue in and around the abdomen). The biologic mechanisms at the molecular level between insulin resistance and metabolic risk factors are not yet fully understood and appear to be complex.
Metabolic syndrome is typically characterized by a group of metabolic risk factors that include 1) central obesity; 2) atherogenic dyslipidemia (blood fat disorders comprising mainly high triglycerides ("TG") and low HDL-cholesterol (interchangeably referred to herein as "HDL") that foster plaque buildups in artery walls); 3) raised blood pressure; 4) insulin resistance or glucose intolerance (the body can't properly use insulin or blood sugar); 5) prothrombotic state (e.g., high fibrinogen or plasminogen activator inhibitor in the blood); and 6) a proinflammatory state (e.g., elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in the blood). The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III guidelines define metabolic syndrome by the following five clinical parameters: a) a waist circumference greater than 102 cm for men, and greater than 88 cm for women; b) a triglyceride level greater than 150 mg/dl; c) an HDL-cholesterol less than 40 mg/dl for men, and less than 50 mg/dl for women; d) a blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/85 mmHG; and e) a fasting glucose greater than 110 mg/dl.
According to the American Heart Association, however, there are no well-accepted criteria for diagnosing the metabolic syndrome. Some guidelines suggest that metabolic syndrome involves four general factors: obesity; diabetes; hypertension; and high lipids. According to the NCEP ATP III guidelines above, the presence of at least three of these five factors meets the medical diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.
Although there is no complete agreement on the individual risk or prevalence of each factor, it is known that the syndrome, as generally agreed upon by those skilled in the field, poses a significant health risk to individuals. A person having one factor associated with the syndrome has an increased risk for having one or more of the others. The more factors that are present, the greater the risks to the person's health. When the factors are present as a group, i.e., metabolic syndrome, the risk for cardiovascular disease and premature death is very high.
For example, a person with the metabolic syndrome is at an increased risk of coronary heart disease, other diseases related to plaque buildups in artery walls (e.g., stroke and peripheral vascular disease), and type 2 diabetes. It is also known that when diabetes occurs, the high risk of cardiovascular complications increases.
Generally, patients suffering from the syndrome are prescribed a change in lifestyle, i.e., an increase in exercise and a change to a healthy diet. The goal of exercise and diet programs is to reduce body weight to within 20% of the "ideal" body weight calculated for age and height.
In some cases, diet and exercise regimens are supplemented with treatments for lipid abnormalities, clotting disorders, and hypertension. For example, patients with the syndrome typically have several disorders of coagulation that make it easier to form blood clots within blood vessels. These blood clots are often a precipitating factor in developing heart attacks. Patients with the syndrome are often placed on daily aspirin therapy to specifically help prevent such clotting events. Furthermore, high blood pressure is present in more than half the people with the syndrome, and in the setting of insulin resistance, high blood pressure is especially important as a risk factor. Some studies have suggested that successfully treating hypertension in patients with diabetes can reduce the risk of death and heart disease by a substantial amount. Additionally, patients have been treated to specifically reduce LDL-cholesterol (interchangeably referred to herein as "LDL") levels, reduce triglyceride levels, and raise HDL levels. Drug treatment of metabolic syndrome as a whole usually includes treatment with a statin or a combination of a statin with either niacin or a fibrate in order to focus on the factors individually.
Specific treatment of high triglyceride levels with lipid-lowering drugs is intended to inhibit cholesterol synthesis in the liver. Fenofibrate or 2-[4-(4-chlorobenzoyl)phenoxy]-2-methyl-propanoic acid, 1-methylethyl ester, which belongs to the fibrate family, has been known for many years as a medicinal active principle because of its efficacy in lowering blood triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Fibrates, such as fenofibrates, supplement the use of lipid-lowering drugs by enhancing catabolism of triglyceride-rich particles and reduce VLDL output. Fibrates also raise HDL and lower triglycerides by activating PPAR-alpha, with upregulated expression of Apo A genes and reduced expression of genes for Apo C-III, PAI-1, and fibrinogen. Fibrates also increase expression of the gene for lipoprotein lipase.
Fibrates are typically orally administered to such patients. A treatment of 30 to 300 mg of fenofibrate per day enables a 20 to 25% reduction of cholesterolemia and a 40 to 50% reduction of triglyceridemia to be obtained.
It is also known that, to obtain a satisfactory hypocholesterolemic effect, it is desirable to maintain a circulating level of fenofibric acid (the active metabolite of fenofibrate). The half-life for elimination of fenofibric acid from the plasma is on the order of 20 hours. Its maximum concentration in the plasma is attained, on average, five hours after ingestion of the medicinal product. The mean concentration in the plasma is on the order of 15 μg/ml for a dose of 300 mg per day. This level is generally stable throughout treatment.
Historically, fenofibrate was available in a pharmaceutical dosage form (Lipidil®) consisting of a hard gelatin capsule containing fenofibrate and pharmaceutically acceptable excipients such as lactose, pregelatinized starch and magnesium stearate. Fenofibrate is also available in another pharmaceutical dosage as Lipidil Micro®. European Patent Application 330,532 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,726, both of which are incorporated herein in their entireties, disclose a fenofibrate composition in which the fenofibrate powder is co-micronized with a solid wetting agent or solid surfactant, such as sodium lauryl sulfate. The dosage form exhibits improved dissolution rate and bioavailability of fenofibrate over that of micronized fenofibrate alone or that of micronized fenofibrate subsequently mixed with solid surfactant.
There are no studies that show the use of fibrates only to treat metabolic syndrome as a whole, however. The use of fibrates is only known to treat specific disorders, such as triglyceride levels, and not metabolic syndrome as a whole.
In a study by Ballantyne, C. M., et al, Efficacy of rosuvostatin 10 mg in patients with metabolic syndrome, Am. J. Cardiol (2003), 91:25C-27C, a series of clinical trials showed that fibrate therapy reduces the risk of cardiovascular heart disease. In particular, researchers showed that gemfibrozil reduced the risk for major cardiovascular events in high-risk patients, particularly in those with diabetes and insulin resistance. However, this study only examined the use of gemfibrozil on specific disorders, some of which can be part of metabolic syndrome, and not on metabolic syndrome as a whole.
In a study by Tenebaum, A., et al, Peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor ligand bezafibrate for prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients with coronary heart disease, Circulation (2004), 109:2197-2202, bezafibrate was shown to significantly lower all-cause and cardiac mortality in patients with triglyceride levels greater than or equal to 200 mg/dl. Bezafibrate treatment also delayed the onset of type 2 diabetes, increased HDL-cholesterol by 16%, and lowered triglycerides by 24%. Tenebaum et al observed the potential for an increase in LDL-cholesterol with fibrate therapy. The Tenebaum study, however, only measures two of the five NCEP ATP III parameters commonly associated with clinical metabolic syndrome, and thus Tenebaum did not, in fact, measure the effect of fibrate on metabolic syndrome. It has been unknown, therefore, whether fibrate is effective in the treatment of the clinical condition of metabolic syndrome, which includes more than the two parameters examined by Tenebaum.
There is an unmet need in the art for a pharmaceutically effective amount of fenofibrate to treat patients having clinically diagnosed metabolic syndrome. Additionally, there is an unmet need in the art to treat patients with fenofibrate for metabolic syndrome as a whole and not just particular elements that can be part of metabolic syndrome.

Treating metabolic syndrome with fenofibrate


The invention concerns a control rod configured for a nuclear power light water reactor of the BWR or PWR kind. The control rod contains absorber material. At least 50%, with respect to weight, of the absorber material that is in the control rod is in the form of hafnium hydride. The invention also concerns the use of such a control rod during operation in a nuclear power light water reactor of the BWR or PWR kind.

1. Related Field
The present invention concerns a control rod for a nuclear power light water reactor. The invention also concerns the use of such a control rod.
2. Related Art
In nuclear power light water reactors water is used as neutron moderator. There are two kinds of nuclear power light water reactors, i.e. boiling water reactors, BWR, and pressurized water reactors, PWR. In both kinds of light water reactors some kind of control rods are used for controlling or stopping the nuclear reaction. Such control rods contain a neutron absorbing material. A common neutron absorbing material is boron carbide, B4C. This material is mentioned for example in WO00/002205 A1. Another material that can be used is pure hafnium or hafnium with small additives of other materials. This is described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,589. It is also known to use control rods that comprise large plates of hafnium. Such control rods usually contain channels for water. For example U.S. Pat. No. 6,137,854 describes control rods with hafnium plates.
The article "Development of Advanced Control Rod of Hafnium Hydride for Fast Reactors" by Konashi at al. in Proceedings of ICAPP '06 Reno, Nev. USA, 4-8 Jun., 2006, pages 2213-2217 does not concern light water reactors but a completely different kind of nuclear power reactors, i.e. so called fast reactors. In a fast reactor the fission reaction is maintained with the help of fast neutrons. Such a reactor does normally not need any neutron moderator. Therefore there is in a fast reactor no water that functions as a neutron moderator. Also the nuclear fuel material that is used in a fast reactor differs from that which is used in a light water reactor. The mentioned article by Konashi et al. describes problems that may arise when using B4C as absorber material in a control rod in a fast reactor. The article describes that when boron carbide is used, helium gas may be generated, which may lead to the fact that the absorber material swells, which may cause damage on the material that surrounds the absorber material. In order to avoid this problem it is in the article discussed to instead use hafnium as absorber material. It is noted on page 2214 in the article that hafnium has a good absorption capacity for thermal neutrons and that hafnium therefore has been used in light water reactors. The article mentions (page 2214) that there is no experience from using hafnium as absorber material in a fast reactor since the neutron capture capacity of hafnium in a fast reactor is low in comparison with in a light water reactor. The article suggests the use of hafnium hydride as absorber material in a fast reactor since the hafnium hydride has a better neutron absorption capacity than hafnium in a fast reactor since the hafnium hydride also functions as a neutron moderator, i.e. the fast neutrons are slowed down and can therefore be better absorbed.

Control rod for a nuclear power light water reactor


A wheelchair includes a first link that supports a first bottom, a second link that supports a second bottom, a third link that supports a third bottom, a fourth link that supports a fourth bottom, a first base portion that supports a fifth bottom, and a first drive link. The first drive link has a first roller and a second roller. The second link and the third link are provided with rail portions respectively. The wheelchair has wheelchair link portion allows the first roller to slide in the rail portion of the second link, and allows the second roller to slide in the rail portion of the third link.

Upon nursing care of a bedridden aged person or an ailing person (hereinafter collectively referred to as a "care receiver"), work for transferring a care receiver from a wheelchair to abed is called transfer work. This transfer work becomes a large burden on a caregiver. In order to reduce this burden, there is a combined bed capable of separating a part of the bed (wheelchair portion). When the wheelchair portion that forms a part of the combined bed is used as a bed, a bottom thereof needs to become horizontal. Therefore, as the wheelchair portion, a reclining wheelchair whose angle on a leg side varies so as to be interlocked with an angle of a back is required. The reclining wheelchair is disclosed in, for example, Patent Literature 1.
FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 each illustrate a wheelchair 6 of Patent Literature 1. A back portion 7a is fallen, so that all of a bottom portion 7b, a calf portion 7c, and a footrest portion 7d that are coupled by interlocking links 8 are made to be the same horizontal plane, thereby allowing this wheelchair 6 to take a flat posture. FIG. 9 is a side view of the wheelchair 6 that is in the flat posture. Thus, a caregiver can change a posture of the wheelchair 6 from a chair posture to the flat posture by utilizing the interlocking links 8.
It is conceivable to forma combined bed by applying such a reclining wheelchair 6 as a wheelchair portion.

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


An array substrate device includes a gate line formed on a substrate extending along a first direction having a gate electrode, a data line formed on the substrate extending along a second direction having a data pad disposed apart from a first end of the data line, the data and gate lines defining a pixel region, a gate pad formed on the substrate disposed apart from a first end of the gate line, a thin film transistor formed at a crossing region of the gate and data lines and including the gate electrode, a semiconductor layer, a source electrode, and a drain electrode, a black matrix overlapping the thin film transistor, the gate line, and the data line except for a first portion of the drain electrode, a first pixel electrode at the pixel region contacting the first portion of the drain electrode and the substrate, a color filter on the first pixel electrode at the pixel region, and a second pixel electrode on the color filter contacting the first pixel electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device and a method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to an array substrate having a color filter on thin film transistor structure and a method of fabricating an array substrate having a color filter on thin film transistor structure.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In general, since flat panel display devices are thin, light weight, and have low power consumption, they are commonly used in portable devices. Among the various types of flat panel display devices, liquid crystal display (LCD) devices are commonly used in laptop and desktop computer monitors because of their superior resolution, color image display, and display quality.
In the LCD devices, optical anisotropy and polarization properties of liquid crystal molecules are utilized to generate images. The liquid crystal molecules have specific alignment characteristics that can be modified by application of an electric field. Accordingly, due to the optical anisotropy, incident light is refracted according to the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules.
The LCD devices include upper and lower substrates having electrodes that are spaced apart from and face each other, and a liquid crystal material is interposed therebetween. Accordingly, when an electric field is induced to the liquid crystal material when a voltage is supplied to the electrodes of the upper and lower substrates, an alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules changes in accordance with the supplied voltage. By controlling the supplied voltage, the LCD devices provide various light transmittances in order to display image data.
The LCD devices are commonly incorporated in office automation (OA) devices and video equipment due to their light weight, thin design, and low power consumption. Among the different types of LCD devices, active matrix LCDs (AM-LCDs) have thin film transistors and pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix configuration and offer high resolution and superiority in displaying moving images. A typical LCD panel has an upper substrate, a lower substrate, and a liquid crystal material layer interposed therebetween. The upper substrate, which is commonly referred to as a color filter substrate, includes a common electrode and color filters. The lower substrate, which is commonly referred to as an array substrate, includes switching elements, such as thin film transistors (TFT's), and pixel electrodes.
The operation of an LCD device is based on the principle that the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules is dependent upon an induced electric field between the common electrode and the pixel electrode. Accordingly, the liquid crystal molecules function as an optical modulation element having variable optical characteristics that depend upon the polarity of the supplied voltage.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid crystal display device according to the related art. In FIG. 1, an LCD device 11 includes an upper substrate 5, which is commonly referred to as a color filter substrate, and a lower substrate 22, which is commonly referred to as an array substrate, having a liquid crystal material layer 14 interposed therebetween. On the upper substrate 5, a black matrix 6 and a color filter layer 8 are formed in a matrix configuration including a plurality of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filters surrounded by the black matrix 6. In addition, a common electrode 18 is formed on the upper substrate 5 to cover the color filter layer 8 and the black matrix 6.
On the lower substrate 22, a plurality of thin film transistors T are formed in matrix configuration corresponding to the color filter layer 8. A plurality of crossing gate lines 13 and data lines 15 are perpendicularly positioned such that each TFT T is located adjacent to each intersection of the gate lines 13 and the data lines 15. Furthermore, a plurality of pixel electrodes 17 are formed on a pixel region P defined by the gate lines 13 and the data lines 15 of the lower substrate 22, and the pixel electrodes 17 include a transparent conductive material having high transmissivity, such as indium-tin-oxide (ITO) or indium-zinc-oxide (IZO).
In FIG. 1, a storage capacitor C is disposed to correspond to each pixel P, and is connected in parallel to each pixel electrode 17. The storage capacitor C is comprised of a portion of the gate line 13 that functions as a first capacitor electrode, a storage metal layer 30 that functions as a second capacitor electrode, and an interposed insulator 16 (in FIG. 2). Since the storage metal layer 30 is connected to the pixel electrode 17 through a contact hole, the storage capacitor C electrically contacts the pixel electrode 17.
In FIG. 1, a scanning signal is supplied to a gate electrode of the thin film transistor T through the gate line 13, and a data signal is supplied to a source electrode of the thin film transistor T through the data line 15. As a result, the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal material layer 14 are aligned and arranged by operation of the thin film transistor T, and incident light passing through the liquid crystal layer 14 is controlled to display an image. For example, the electric fields induced between the pixel and common electrodes 17 and 18 re-arrange the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal material layer 14 so that the incident light can be converted into the desired images in accordance with the induced electric fields.
When fabricating the LCD device 11 of FIG. 1, the upper substrate 5 is aligned with and attached to the lower substrate 22. During this process, the upper substrate 5 may be misaligned with the lower substrate 22, and light leakage may occur in the completed LCD device 11 due to a marginal error in attaching the upper and lower substrate 5 and 22 together.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross sectional view along II-II of FIG. 1 according to the related art. In FIG. 2, the thin film transistor T is formed on the front surface of the lower substrate 22, and includes a gate electrode 32, an active layer 34, a source electrode 36, and a drain electrode 38. A gate insulation layer 16 is interposed between the gate electrode 32 and the active layer 34 to protect the gate electrode 32 and the gate line 13. As shown in FIG. 1, the gate electrode 32 extends from the gate line 13 and the source electrode 36 extends from the data line 15. All of the gate, source, and drain electrodes 32, 36, and 38 are formed of a metallic material, whereas the active layer 34 is formed of silicon. In addition, a passivation layer 40 is formed on the thin film transistor T for protection. In the pixel region P, the pixel electrode 17 that is formed of a transparent conductive material is disposed on the passivation layer 40 and contacts the drain electrode 38 and the storage metal layer 30.
In FIG. 2, the upper substrate 5 is spaced apart from the lower substrate 22 over the thin film transistor T. On the rear surface of the upper substrate 5, a black matrix 6 is disposed in the position corresponding to the thin film transistor T, the gate line 13 and the data line 15. The black matrix 6 is formed on the entire surface of the upper substrate 5 and has openings corresponding to the pixel electrode 17 of the lower substrate 22, as shown in FIG. 1. The black matrix 6 prevents light leakage in the LCD panel except for the portions for the pixel electrodes 17, and protects the thin film transistor T from the light to prevent generation of photo currents in the thin film transistor T. The color filter layer 8 is formed on the rear surface of the upper substrate 5 to cover the black matrix 6, wherein each of the color filters 8 has one of the red 8a, green 8b, and blue 8b colors and corresponds to one pixel region P where the pixel electrode 17 is located. A common electrode 18 of a transparent conductive material is disposed on the color filter layer 8 over the upper substrate 5.
In FIGS. 1 and 2, the pixel electrode 17 has a one-to-one correspondence with the color filters 8. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, in order to prevent cross-talk between adjacent pixel electrodes 17 and the gate and data lines 13 and 15, the pixel electrodes 17 are spaced apart from the data lines 15 by a distance A and are spaced apart from the gate lines 13 by a distance B. The open spaces A and B between the pixel electrode 17 and the data and gate lines 15 and 13 cause light leakage in the LCD device. For example, the light leakage mainly occurs within the open spaces A and B so that the black matrix 6 formed on the upper substrate 5 should cover those open spaces A and B. However, when arranging the upper substrate 5 with the lower substrate 22 or vice versa, misalignment may occur between the upper substrate 5 and the lower substrate 22. Therefore, the black matrix 6 extends to fully cover those open spaces A and B, such that the black matrix 6 is designed to provide an aligning margin to prevent light leakage. However, when extending the black matrix 6, an aperture ratio of the liquid crystal panel is reduced as much as the aligning margin of the black matrix 6. Moreover, if there are errors in the aligning margin of the black matrix 6, the light leakage still occurs within the open spaces A and B, and deteriorates the image quality of the LCD device.

Array substrate having color filter on thin film transistor structure for LCD device and method of fabricating the same