The synthesis of 10,10'-substituted-9,9'-biacridine molecules and their derivatives is disclosed. These molecules are shown to catalyze the production of light by chemiluminescence in the presence of a signal solution having at a pH from about 10.0 to about 14.0, at a concentration effective for producing a chemiluminescent signal, a chelating agent, a sulfoxide, a reducing sugar, an oxidant or combination of oxidants, an alcohol and aqueous sodium tetraborate. These 10,10'-substituted-9,9'-biacridines are used alone or attached to haptens or macromolecules and are utilized as labels in the preparation of chemiluminescent, homogeneous or heterogeneous assays. They are also used in conjunction with other chemiluminescent label molecules to produce multiple analyte chemiluminescent assays.

Measurement of light energy is becoming a very attractive method for monitoring the presence or concentration of substances in various media. Numerous bioluminescent and chemiluminescent reaction systems have been devised (Schroeder, et al., Methods in Enzymology 17:24-462 (1978); Zeigler, M. M., and T. O. Baldwin, Current Topics In Bioenergetics, D. Rao Sanadi ed., (Academic Press) pp. 65-113 (1981); DeLuca, M., Non-Radiometric Assays: Technology and Application in Polypeptide and Steroid Hormone Detection, (Alan R. Liss, Inc.) pp. 47-60 and 61-77 (1988); DeJong, G. J., and P. J. M. Kwakman, J. of Chromatography 492:319-343 (1989); McCapra, F. et al., J. Biolumin. Chemilumin. 4:51-58 (1989); Diamandis, E. P., Clin. Biochem. 23:437-443 (1990); Gillevet, P. M., Nature 348:657-658 (1990); Kricka, L. J., Amer. Clin Lab., November/December:30-32 (1990)).
Luminescence is the production of light by any means, including photoexcitation or a chemical reaction. Chemiluminescence is the emission of light only by means of a chemical reaction. It can be further defined as the emission of light during the reversion to the ground state of electronically excited products of chemical reactions (Woodhead, J. S. et al., Complementary Immunoassays, W. P. Collins ed., (John Wiley & Sons Ltd.), pp. 181-191 (1988)). Chemiluminescent reactions can be divided into enzyme-mediated and nonenzymatic reactions. It has been known for some time that the luminescent reactant luminol can be oxidized in neutral to alkaline conditions (pH 7.0-10.2) in the presence of oxidoreductase enzymes (horseradish peroxidase, xanthine oxidase, glucose oxidase), H.sub.2 O.sub.2, certain inorganic metal ion catalysts or molecules (iron, manganese, copper, zinc), and chelating agents, and that this oxidation leads to the production of an excited intermediate (3-aminophthalic acid) which emits light on decay to its ground state, (Schroeder, H. R. et al., Anal. Chem. 48:1933-1937 (1976); Simpson, J. S. A. et al., Nature 279:646-647 (1979); Baret, A., U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,276)). Other specific molecules and derivatives used to produce luminescence include cyclic diacyl hydrazides other than luminol (e.g., isoluminols), dioxetane derivatives, acridinium derivatives and peroxyoxylates (Messeri, G. et al., J. Biolum. Chemilum. 4:154-158 (1989); Schaap, A. P. et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 28:935-938 (1987); Givens, R. S. et al. ACS Symposium Series 383; Luminescence Applications, M. C. Goldberg ed., (Amer. Chem. Soc., Wash. D.C., pp. 127-154 (1989)). Additional molecules which produce light and have been utilized in the ultrasensitive measurement of molecules are polycyclic and reduced nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic amines, fluorescamine-labeled catecholamines, and other fluorescent derivatizing agents such as the coumarins, ninhydrins, o-phthalaldehydes, 7-fluoro-4-nitrobenz-2,1,3-oxadiazoles, naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehydes, cyanobenzf!isoindoles and dansyl chlorides (Simons, S. S., Jr. and D. F. Johnson, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 98:7098-7099 (1976); Roth, M., Anal. Chem. 43:880-882 (1971); Dunges, W., ibid, 49:442-445 (1977); Hill, D. W. et al., ibid, 51:1338-1341 (1979); Lindroth, P. and K. Mopper, ibid, 51:1667-1674 (1979); Sigvardson, K. W. and J. W. Birks, ibid, 55:432-435 (1983); Sigvardson, K. W. et al., ibid, 56:1096-1102 (1984); de Montigny, P. et al., ibid, 59:1096-1101 (1987); Grayeski, M. L. and J. K. DeVasto, ibid, 59:1203-1206 (1987); Rubinstein, M. et al., Anal. Biochem. 95:117-121 (1979); Kobayashi, S.-I., et al., ibid, 112:99-104 (1981); Watanabe, Y. and K. Imai, ibid, 116:471-472 (1981); Tsuchiya, H., J. Chromatog. 231:247-254 (1982); DeJong, C. et al., ibid, 241:345-359 (1982); Miyaguchi, K. et al., ibid, 303:173-176 (1984); Sigvardson, K. W. and J. W. Birks, ibid, 316:507-518 (1984); Benson, J. R. and P. E. Hare, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 72:619-622 (1975); Kawasaki, T. et al., Biomed. Chromatog. 4:113-118 (1990)).
There are currently four known nonenzymatic systems: the acridinium derivatives (McCapra et al., British Patent No. 1,461,877; Wolf-Rogers J. et al., J. Immunol. Methods 133:191-198 (1990)); isoluminols, metalloporphyrins (Forgione et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,972) and nonmetallic tetrapyrroles (Katsilometes, PCT International Publication No. WO 93/23756). These systems have certain advantages over the enzyme-mediated systems in that they have faster kinetics resulting in peak light output within seconds. The metalloporphyrins are small hapten molecules which decrease stearic hinderance problems in antigen binding. In addition, the metalloporphyrin molecules known to be luminescent are those containing a paramagnetic metal ion with emission yields above 10.sup.-4 (Gouterman, M., The Porphyrins, Vol. III, Dolphin, D., ed., (Academic Press): 48-50, 78-87, 115-117, 154-155 (1978); Canters, G. W and J. H. Van Der Waals, ibid, 577-578). It has also been known that metalloporphyrins, hyposporphyrins, pseudonormal metalloporphyrins and metalloporphyrin-like molecules such as metallic chlorins, hemes, cytochromes, chlorophylls, lanthanides and actinides undergo oxidation/reduction reactions which are either primary or secondary to structural perturbations occurring in the metallic center of these molecules and that their reactive ability to catalyze the production of chemiluminescence has been ascribed to the metallo center of these molecules (Eastwood, D. and M. Gouterman, J. Mol. Spectros. 35:359-375 (1970); Fleischer, E. B. and M. Krishnamurthy, Annals N.Y. Academy of Sci. 206:32-47 (1973); Dolphin, D. et al., ibid, 206:177-201; Tsutsui, M. and T. S. Srivastava, ibid, 206:404-408; Kadish, K. M. and D. G. Davis, ibid, 206:495-504; Felton, R. H. et al., ibid, 206:504-516; Whitten, D. G. et al., ibid, 206:516-533; Wasser, P. K. W. and J.-H. Fuhrhop, ibid, 206:533-549; Forgione et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,972; Reszka, K. and R. C. Sealy, Photochemistry and Photobiology 39:293-299 (1984); Gonsalves, A. M. d'A. R. et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 32:1355-1358 (1991)). These reactions are altered by iron and other metal ions which may be present in the reactants and these metal ions can interfere with and greatly confound the assay of metalloporphyrin conjugate concentrations (Ewetz, L. and A. Thore, Anal. Biochem. 71:564-570 (1976)). Different metals will strongly influence the lifetimes and luminescent properties of the metalloporphyrins.
The nonmetallic porphyrin deuteroporphyrin-IX HCl has been shown to mediate the production of light from luminol in solution (Katsilometes, G. W., supra).
Use of the luminescent acridinium ester and amide derivatives in chemiluminescent reactions and in the development of nonisotopic ligand binding assays has been reported and reviewed (Weeks, I. et al., Clin. Chem. 29/8:1474-1479 (1983); Weeks, I. and J. S. Woodhead, Trends in Anal. Chem. 7/2:55-58 (1988)). The very short lived emission of photons (<5 sec) to produce the flash-type kinetics in the presence of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 and NaOH oxidation reagents (pH 13.0) is characteristic of the system.
Methods of preparation of acridones and variously substituted acridines and acridones have been summarized (Acridines, Acheson, R. M. and L. E. Orgel, (Interscience Publishers, N.Y.) pp. 8-33, 60-67, 76-95, 105-123, 148-173, 188-199, 224-233 (1956)). Formation of biacridines by the combining of two acridine residues at the carbon-9 atom has been described and reviewed previously (Gleu, K. and R. Schaarschmidt, Berichte 8:909-915 (1940)). These efforts led to the synthesis of 10,10'-dimethyl, 10,10'-diphenyl and 10,10'-diethyl-9,9'-biacridinium nitrate molecules. It was also reported that these molecules will produce light when exposed to hydrogen peroxide in basic solution (Gleu, K. and W. Petsch, Angew. Chem. 48:57-59 (1935); Gleu, K. and R. Schaarschmidt, Berichte 8:909-915 (1940)).
The mechanism of light production by lucigenin (10,10'-dimethyl-9,9'-biacridinium nitrate) has been extensively studied and has been ascribed to a series of hydroxide ion nucleophilic additions to acridinium salts and their reduction products (pinacols), culminated by the oxidation of the main end product N-methylacridone (Janzen, E. G. et al., J. Organic Chem. 35:88-95 (1970); Maeda, K. et al., Bul. Chem. Soc. Japan 50:473-481 (1977); Maskiewicz, R. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 101/18:5347-5354 (1979); Maskiewicz, R. et al. ibid, 101/18:5355-5364 (1979)).
Modifications and derivatizations of 10-methyl acridine at the carbon-9 atom have led to the production of several useful chemiluminescent molecules having varying degrees of stability (Law, S.-J., et al., J. Biolum. Chemilum. 4:88-98 (1989)). These molecules produce a flash of light lasting less than five seconds when exposed to 0.5% w/v hydrogen peroxide in 0.1 mol/L nitric acid followed by a separate solution containing 0.25 mol/L sodium hydroxide.
A luminescent derivative, a luminescent derivatized molecule or a derivatized luminescent molecule as defined herein is a molecule which results from the covalent binding of a functional group or a group which changes the chemical reactivity and properties of a precursor molecule leading to the formation of a luminescent molecule suitable for conjugation to an analyte or a particular binding partner one wishes to use in assay development. A N-hydroxy succinimide derivatization of biacridines at one or both of the two 10,10' positions are the preferred luminescent derivatives of the invention. A compound or a molecule is a "derivative" of a first compound or first molecule if the derivative compound or molecule is formed (or can be formed) by reaction of the first compound or first molecule to form a new compound or new molecule either smaller or larger than the first compound or first molecule while retaining at least part of the structure of the first compound or first molecule. As used herein the term "derivative" can also include a "luminescent derivative".
Prior to this invention, synthesis of derivatized luminescent 10,10'-substituted-9,9'-biacridines has not been achieved. The previously known luminescent biacridines (e.g., lucigenin) contain no reactive group(s) which will permit the conjugation of the molecule to another. Until now, the biacridines have been of academic interest only and have been used to study the mechanism of light production and the interactions of reactive ionic species.
The use of luminescent reactions at the surface of light conductive materials (e.g., fiber-optic bundle) is the basis of the development of luminescent sensors or probes (Blum, L. J. et al., Anal. Lett. 21:717-726 (1988)). This luminescence may be modulated by specific protein binding (antibody) and can be produced in a microenvironment at the surface of the probe. The light output is then measured by photon measuring devices in the formulation of homogeneous (separation free) assays (Messeri, G. et al., Clin. Chem. 30:653-657 (1984); Sutherland, R. M. et al., Complementary Immunoassays, Collins, W. P., ed., (John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.) pp. 241-261 (1988)).
It has been demonstrated that charged synthetic polymers (poly-N-ethyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromide, PEVP) can completely inhibit the production of light by charged conjugate molecules through electrostatic interactions. This has particularly been studied in the enhanced luminol chemiluminescent reaction catalyzed by the negatively charged peroxidase enzyme. Addition of low-molecular-weight electrolytes will eliminate this inhibition thereby supporting an electrostatic nature of the observed effect (Valsenko, S. B. et al., J. Biolum. Chemilum. 4:164-176 (1989)).
Luminescent capillary electrophoresis gels, gel transfers or blots (Southern, Western, Northern and Dot) are examples of techniques which provide quantitative measurement of proteins and nucleic acid genetic material. These techniques can be used in conjunction with methods which amplify analyte expression, e.g., probes, PCR (polymerase chain reaction) bands, RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphisms) methods and other methods which amplify gene expression and other analytes (Stevenson, R., Biotech. Lab. 8:4-6 (1990)).
It would be beneficial in improving assay sensitivity to increase the output of light obtained from chemiluminescent reactions by synthesizing biacridine molecules capable of producing superior quantities of photo emissions and by improving existing signal solutions and to have novel signal solutions which provide a greater intensity of light during chemiluminescent reactions. The ability to modulate the kinetics of light output through manipulation of the signal solution formula is particularly beneficial in tailoring assays for a variety of uses (genetic probe, sensor, hormones, etc.).

Preparation of derivatized 10,10'-substituted-9,9'-biacridine luminescent molecules and signal solutions


A photosensor device includes a substrate, a graphene layer provided on the substrate, a pair of electrodes electrically connected to the graphene layer, and a passivation layer formed of a resin and configured to cover the graphene layer. The graphene layer has holes which are periodically arranged, and the passivation layer is provided with openings that communicate with the holes. The side surfaces of the holes and the inner walls of the openings are continuously covered with an insulating thin film.

Infrared sensors detect infrared rays radiated from objects with thermal energies, and are applied to automatic doors, security camera systems, inspections of infrastructure, etc. As a quantum infrared sensor which generates electric charges proportional to the intensity of incident light, compound semiconductor infrared sensors nave been developed and commercially manufactured. Sensitivity with respect to a desired wavelength band can be imparted to a quantum sensor, by controlling the combination and/or composition of materials, film thickness, and so on. Quantum infrared sensors are generally operated at cryogenic temperatures of 60K to 100K to suppress the influence of thermal noise, and a cooling system is required.
A thermal infrared detector, which detects a resistance change making use of a temperature change due to heat induced when receiving infrared rays, can be used at room temperature; however, its sensitivity is unsatisfactory compared with that of a quantum infrared sensor. A graphene infrared detector operable based on plasmon-induced hot carrier generation is proposed (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).
The wavelength range of infrared light is very broad, and there is a demand for a highly sensitive photosensor with wideband responsivity, operable at room temperature.
Prior art document(s) known to the inventors is (are) as follows:    Patent Document 1: JP Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2017-130669, and    Non-Patent Doc. 1: Alireza Safaei, et al., 'Dirac plasmon-assisted asymmetric hot carrier generation for room-temperature infrared detection', Nat. Comm., 10, 3498 (2019)

Photosensor device and method of manufacturing a photosensor device


Inverters are efficient array-internal threshold detectors or comparators in digital imaging systems which use time-to-threshold A/D conversion, particularly CMOS image sensor arrays. The inverters compare sensor outputs to implicit inverter thresholds, with inverter outputs switching on threshold crossings. The inverters can have constituent transistors of with minimum size. Alternatively, non-minimum transistor dimensions can be selected to obtain desired threshold levels. Other logic circuits can also act as threshold detectors.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to digital imaging with time-to-threshold A/D conversion, particularly to low-cost, low-complexity structures for converting analog sensor outputs to digital indicator signals in CMOS image sensor arrays. In CMOS image sensor arrays, the sensors are photodetectors.
2. Description of Prior Art
Many digital imaging systems employ arrays of sensors. Often, the arrays consist of rows and columns of sensors. The sensors are exposed to incident energy either simultaneously or nearly so. The incident energy causes physical parameters of the sensors to change, typically analog electrical parameters such as currents or voltages. Subsequently, the parameter changes are converted into digital number values using some form of analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion.
In much of the prior art, digital imaging systems use essentially the same approach as film-based cameras. The sensors are configured to produce an output change proportional to the cumulative incident energy during a common exposure time of pre-selected duration. A/D conversion takes place after exposure and outside the array boundaries.
For CCD imaging systems, this external A/D conversion is necessary because CCD arrays and mixed-signal A/D converters are fabricated using different manufacturing processes and consequently are on separate chips. However, in CMOS technologies, it is possible to co-fabricate sensors and other circuitry on a single chip.
When A/D conversion is a separate process from analog signal acquisition, one can use a general-purpose A/D converter. Such converters are widely known in the prior art, and are general-purpose because they do not rely on specific knowledge of how analog inputs are acquired. Given a voltage or a current in a specified range as an analog input, they provide a digital output with a specified number of bits of precision in a specified amount of time.
There are numerous types of general purpose A/D converters, including those based on charge-balancing, on successive approximation, and on flash or half-flash techniques. Choice of a particular strategy usually involves a trade-off between cost and speed or precision, where cost may be measured in terms of chip space, power consumption, or extra manufacturing steps (such as laser trimming to match components, or tuning using floating gates).
As an example, consider flash conversion. The basic idea of flash conversion is to simultaneously compare an unknown analog input to a set of known reference levels. Usually the levels are uniformly spaced. For each level a comparator indicates whether it is greater than or less than the unknown analog input. The set of comparator outputs forms a thermometric code that is interpreted much the same way as the markings on an old-fashioned glass thermometer.
A flash converter with N bits of precision requires (2^N−1) comparators and known reference levels. Traditionally, the reference levels were generated using a chain of 2^N resistors strung between minimum and maximum reference voltages. Except for the end resistors, all the resistors have the same value. (See, for example, FIG. 9.49 on page 621 of THE ART OF ELECTRONICS, fourth edition.)
In practice, such resistors aren't perfectly matched, which is an impediment to high-precision conversion. An even greater impediment is the exponential component count.
One clever flash converter idea that is apropos to the present work is the so-called "threshold inverter quantizer" (TIQ) proposed by K. Choi and his colleagues at Penn State University. They recognized that matched resistors are quite costly to produce in CMOS—being physically very large and/or needful of trimming—whereas transistors with accurate width-to-length ratios are both cheaper (e.g. smaller) and easier to produce.
Consequently, Choi et al. put forth the idea of replacing the resistor chain and comparators with a set of scaled CMOS inverters. Each inverter has one input, but component transistors scaled to provide digital output transitions at different input levels—a useful departure from the standard practice of designing inverters to switch mid-way between their power supply rails. Notwithstanding the improvement over traditional flash converter architectures, the approach suffers from an increasing average inverter size as precision increases and also from exponential component count.
Generally speaking, fast, high-precision A/D converters are much more costly than slow, high-precision A/D converters or fast, low-precision A/D converters. Unfortunately, digital imaging arrays with millions or tens of millions of sensors may require large numbers of conversion operations in very short time intervals. Hence some form of fast, high-precision A/D conversion is very desirable.
Time-to-threshold A/D conversion exploits some of the unique features of digital imaging systems, in particular sensors that act as integrators. With time-to-threshold A/D conversion in a digital imaging system, a digital number value is generated as a measured elapsed time required for a sensor output to change from some initial level to some threshold level. This type of A/D conversion is well-suited to parallel implementations and occurs in real time as the sensors are being exposed to incident energy.
Several U.S. patents describe various types of time-to-threshold A/D conversion for digital imaging, including U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,643 issued to K. Konuma, U.S. Pat. No. 6,587,145 issued to A. Hou, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,559,788 issued to C. Murphy. The advantages and disadvantages of some of these patents are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,680,498 issued to R. Guidash.
Konuma proposed having a master clock signal passed into an array, with each sensor's output governing a dedicated counter. Massive counter redundancy leading to high power consumption and large chip area is a major disadvantage of this approach.
Hou proposed a two-transistor comparator with two inputs—one from a pinned photodiode, applied at the gate of one transistor, and the other from an array-external reference source passed into the array and applied to the gate of the other transistor. The two transistors pass current simultaneously, in effect wrestling for control of a common circuit node which is the comparator output. This leads to high power consumption. Also, the accuracy of the reference signal in setting the threshold level depends on the relative gains of the component transistors.
Another patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,425 issued to B. Fowler and A. El Gamal, describes an early proposal for putting A/D converters in an imaging array as a way of avoiding having to pass analog signals to array-external A/D converters. However, their proposed A/D converters are still quite costly, and not based on time-to-threshold conversion.
There is clearly a need for circuits that enable time-to-threshold A/D conversion with very low cost—by part count, part size, power consumption, and other measures.

Comparing circuits for time-to-threshold A/D conversion in digital imaging arrays


A method and golf ball incorporating a surface penetrating color composition comprising a colorant (e.g. dyes, tints, color effects, etc.) in a portion (surface or region) of a golf ball component or coating (substrate). The substrate is formed from a homogenous composition having a color C1 which may comprise any color within the spectrum of visible light, or be clear colorless, and alternatively, may also be opaque, translucent, or clear colored, for example. An outer surface of the substrate is treated with or otherwise exposed to a surface penetrating color composition having a C2 that is different than C1 in some respect such as hue, chroma, saturation and/or opacity. The surface penetrating color composition penetrates the golf ball substrate surface to a target depth and becomes embedded within the surface, thereby forming a surface penetrating color composition-treated component or coating having a treated region and an untreated region.

Specific golf ball properties and characteristics such as compression, spin and feel may be targeted by carefully choosing the golf ball's construction and/or materials. Golf balls may be of solid or wound construction, and generally include at least a core and a cover, although one piece golf balls are indeed also known. A core may comprise a single core, or a core center surrounded by at least one outer core layer. The core may be solid or liquid-filled.
Covers are formed of one or more layers, often referred to as inner and outer cover layers. While multi-layer cores and covers are sometimes called "dual core" and "dual cover" golf balls, respectively, additional layers are possible. Moreover, at least one intermediate layer may be positioned between the core and the cover. Intermediate layers can be of solid construction or formed of a tensioned elastomeric winding. Furthermore, coatings are applied or formed about golf ball components in order to enhance golf ball aesthetics and/or improve performance and durability.
Meanwhile, golf ball manufacturers incorporate colorants such as dyes, tints and/or color effects in golf balls in order to enhance overall golf ball appearance. In this regard, a golf ball possessing a unique, attractive and superior overall color appearance may boost a golfer's confidence and performance during play. Additionally, a distinctive golf ball can build brand recognition among consumers. Colorants in golf balls may meanwhile provide distinguishing characteristics which serve as indications of origin and facilitate identification and isolation of counterfeit golf balls upon surface inspection or cross-section.
However, golf ball manufacturing costs increase when colorants distribute poorly and/or unevenly throughout golf ball compositions during processing (e.g., injection molding, extrusion, etc.). Such poor distribution occurs, for example, when a colorant is not thermally stable at the required golf ball composition processing temperature. And poor colorant distribution/dispersion within the golf ball composition results in undesirable color variations such as streaking and/or localized areas of color fading, which not only raise production costs but also impair the golf ball's aesthetics.
Golf ball manufacturers have previously addressed this issue of poor colorant distribution within a golf ball composition by adding color "master batches" into the golf ball composition. Such color "master batches" contain dispersing agents and/or other aids that are designed to improve or promote the color's even distribution within the golf ball composition. However, master batches are expensive and also become "overkill" in instances where, for example, the chosen/desired golf ball component surface color could easily be achieved without coloring the entire depth or thickness of the component/coating.
Golf ball manufacturers have also tried painting golf ball components on or about the component's outer surface. In this approach, however, poor golf ball durability results when poor adhesive strength presents between the paint and the substrate—especially, for example, in a painted cover when struck by a golf club face. Such poor durability increases manufacturing costs and also negatively impacts reputation.
Accordingly, there is a need for both methods of coloring golf balls and colored golf balls wherein color may be incorporated within a portion or depth or region of a golf ball component and/or coating without using costly master batches and without adhesively mating the colorant onto and about a golf ball component outer surface. The present invention addresses and solves this need.

Method of making color golf ball and resulting color golf ball


In a computer system storing a first packed data and a second packed data having corresponding data elements where the data elements representing unsigned values having a system for determining the absolute difference of the corresponding data elements. The system comprising the steps of subtracting with saturation the data elements in the first packed data from the corresponding data elements in the second packed data to generate a third packed data in response to a first instruction, subtracting with saturation the data elements in the second packed data from the corresponding data elements in the first packed data to generate a fourth packed data in response to a second instruction and performing an operation to select the data elements of the third packed data and the fourth packed data of greatest value to generate a fifth packed data in response to a third instruction.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of computer systems. More specifically, the invention relates to a system for providing the absolute difference of unsigned values.
2. Background Information
Multimedia applications (e.g., applications targeted at computer supported cooperation (CSC--the integration of teleconferencing with mixed media data manipulation), 2D/3D graphics, image processing, video compression/decompression, recognition algorithms and audio manipulation) require the manipulation of large amounts of data which may be represented in a small number of bits. For example, graphical data typically requires 8 bits and sound data typically requires 16 bits. Each of these multimedia application requires one or more algorithms, each requiring a number of operations. For example, an algorithm may require an add, compare and shift operations.
To improve efficiency of multimedia applications (as well as other applications that have the same characteristics), prior art processors provide packed data formats. A packed data format is one in which the bits typically used to represent a single value are broken into a number of fixed sized data elements, each of which represents a separate value. For example, a 64-bit register may be broken into two 32-bit elements, each of which represents a separate 32-bit value. In addition, these prior art processors provide instructions for separately manipulating each element in these packed data types in parallel. For example, a packed add instruction adds together corresponding data elements from a first packed data item and a second packed data item. Thus, if a multimedia algorithm requires a loop containing five operations that must be performed on a large number of data elements, it is desirable to pack the data and perform these operations in parallel using packed data instructions. In this manner, these processors can more efficiently process multimedia applications.
In performing video conferencing in multimedia applications, video data from a camera is first encoded. The encoded data is then transmitted though a channel (a CD ROM, disk) to be processed by a decoder. The decoder then outputs frame information to be displayed. The encoding typically requires the step of performing a motion estimation. Motion estimation is the process of estimating displacement of the moving objects in a video sequence. Such estimation requires searching for the best matches between data sets of a given current frame and a given reference frame, where a current frame is what is displayed at the present and a reference frame is what needs to be displayed. The sum of absolute differences is commonly used for such estimation. The displacement information is used to interpolate missing frame data or to improve the performance of compression algorithms. The searching step is typically performed by using conventional scalar mechanism to calculate the sum of absolute differences. This is performed by subtracting each pixel value in the current frame from its corresponding pixel in the reference frame, taking the absolute value of the result. This may involve a branch operation and summing the results into an accumulator.
The conventional scalar mechanism of performing a search for matching data sets using branching operations leads to sacrificing processing speed by paying for branch prediction penalties. More specifically, some implementations for performing branching operations try to speed up execution by attempting to reduce pipeline penalties that can result from branches by speculatively predicting where branches will go with either compile-time schemes (e.g. predict-not-taken or predict-taken) or hardware schemes (e.g. branch-prediction buffer). If a prediction is correct, the proper instruction will have been fetched and decoded in advance and there is a potential for a gain in performance. However, if a prediction is wrong, performance is lost. For example, assume the prediction scheme has predicted that the branch will be taken in the above pseudo code representation and further assume that the branch condition is not actually met. By the time the branch condition is evaluated, the pipeline already contains the decoded STORE X,C instruction. Thus, when the branch condition is determined to be false, the correct instruction (the STORE X,B instruction) must be fetched and decoded, effectively causing the pipeline to stall. This example illustrates the uncertain nature of branches based on data. The inherent problem with this technique is that branches on data are poorly predicted by branch prediction schemes. As a result, branch prediction penalties are frequently paid in situations similar to the one illustrated above.
Thus, a limitation of this and other prior methods of performing searches for matching data in motion estimation using branching operations, is the high cost to performance due to mispredicted branches. The processing time required to perform such branching operation increases the overall processing time. Therefore, it is desirable to incorporate in a computer system a method and an apparatus for performing the searching step required in motion estimation without the need for branching and therefore without having to sacrifice processing speed.

System for providing the absolute difference of unsigned values


A manually releasable clip holder for receiving, securely holding and manually releasing a serpentine clip has a substantially flat base-plate. An insert is coupled to the base-plate. The insert has an insert cover with a top edge that forms an insert channel over the base plate. A channel aperture is formed at the insert cover top edge. A flap is pivotally coupled to the base plate and has a bottom edge. A spring is coupled to provide a restoring force to return the flap to a predetermined restored position with the flap bottom edge positioned above and beyond the insert cover top edge and the channel aperture. The separation between the flap bottom edge in the restored position and the insert cover top edge forms a window to the channel aperture. The flap is displaced toward the base-plate in response to a light deflection force from a serpentine clip.

Tape measures that contain an extendable and flexible tape typically are housed in a metal or plastic housing that has an external clip that permits its owner to attach the tape measure to his/her tool belt, waist band or pocket lip. The users of such tape measures include carpenters, electricians, plumbers, handymen/women and other persons in the fields of construction and other forms of fabrication. Workers such as these have long had a need for a Manually Releasable Clip Holder that is worn on one's side that could positively hold a tape measure to prevent its loss and which would permit the smooth, easy release of the tape measure only in response to the manual one-handed grasp of the worker. The tape measure of interest is typically capable of extending a flexible tape to a distance from 0 to 35 feet. The external clip on such a tape measure is typically held on the side of the tape measure's housing with a screw, a rivet or is molded into the side of the housing. In the absence of a holder, the wearer places the clip over top edge of the belt, pants pocket, or waistband to position the tape measure at a convenient location on the side of the worker. As the worker moves from task to task on a job, there are repeated chances or encounters with objects capable of dislodging the tape measure from the waist of the user resulting in the possible loss or damage to the tape measure. In addition, there exists the possibility of serious injury or even death to fellow workers who happen to be in a position below a tape as it falls. The risk of injury extends to those who happen to be under a high ladder, a scissor-lift or who might be located at the base of a high structure such as a high-rise building. Eliminating the inadvertent loss of a tape measure also eliminates the loss of time on the job that is spent locating, recovering or finding a replacement.
Tape holders that are presently available or that are in the art have the disadvantage of requiring multiple and in some cases awkward user steps. Such user steps include tasks such as snapping and unsnapping a securing strap during removal and replacement, modification of the tape measure either during manufacture or as an aftermarket add-on. There are even some holders that do not positively hold the tape-measure. The above-noted problems, and others, are overcome in accordance with the subject invention Manually Releasable Clip Holder.


A level shifter circuit, which includes a Schmitt trigger function, shifts voltage of a high level signal into a low voltage and shifts a signal at an intermediate value of an input voltage. The level shifter circuit includes an input terminal connected to low and high voltage circuits. The low voltage circuit outputs a low drive voltage or ground voltage. The high voltage circuit outputs a high drive voltage or a high reference voltage, which is supplied to an RS latch circuit via a potential adjustment circuit at a level equal to an output potential at the low voltage circuit. The RS latch circuit uses the output of the potential adjustment circuit when the input voltage shifts to a high level and uses the output of the low voltage circuit when the input voltage shifts to a low level.

The present invention relates to a level shifter circuit for shifting voltage of an input signal from a high voltage to a low voltage.
There is a trend in reducing power consumption in electronic circuits. For example, power consumption may be reduced by lowering the voltage of a high level signal. More specifically, a high level signal voltage that was five volts may now be a lower voltage (e.g., three volts). However, in an electronic circuitry used to drive a device, it is difficult for all circuits to be low voltage circuits. Thus, in an electronic circuitry, circuits using high voltage power supplies may be mixed together with circuits using low voltage power supplies. In such a circuit, when providing a signal for a high voltage circuit to a low voltage circuit, a level shifter circuit is used to shift the voltage of the signal (refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-135818, FIG. 6 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-101403, FIG. 2).
The prior art level shifter circuit described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-135818 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-101403 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 shows a level shifter circuit 100. Input voltage VIN is applied to an input terminal, which is connected to the drain terminal of an n-channel MOS transistor 101. Low power supply voltage VDD2 is applied to the gate terminal of the MOS transistor 101.
Three MOS transistors 105, 106, and 107 are connected in series between a supply line for the low power supply voltage VDD2 and a supply line for high power supply voltage VSS. The MOS transistors 105 and 107 are n-channel MOS transistors and the MOS transistor 106 is a p-channel MOS transistor. The drain and gate terminals of the MOS transistor 105 are connected to the supply line for the low power supply voltage VDD2. Thus, the MOS transistor 105 is normally ON and the voltage at the source terminal of the MOS transistor 105 is equal to a low drive voltage VDD, which is obtained by subtracting a threshold voltage of the MOS transistor 105 from the low power supply voltage VDD2.
The source terminal of the MOS transistor 101 that functions as a connection node A0 is connected to the gate terminals of the MOS transistors 106 and 107. Further, a connection node of the MOS transistors 106 and 107 function as an output terminal of the level shifter circuit 100. Thus, the MOS transistors 106 and 107 are switched in accordance with the voltage applied to the connection node A0 of the MOS transistor 101. Further, the power supply voltage VSS or the low drive voltage VDD is output from the output terminal of the level shifter circuit 100.
As shown in FIG. 3, the input terminal of the level shifter circuit 100 is connected to an inverter 110. The inverter 110 is connected to a supply line for a high drive voltage HVDD or a supply line for the power supply voltage VSS and uses one of these voltages as an output voltage. The gate terminal of the MOS transistor 101 is connected to the supply line for the low power supply voltage VDD2. Thus, even if the input voltage VIN increases, the voltage at the source terminal of the MOS transistor 101 does not become greater than or equal to the voltage obtained by adding a threshold voltage to the low power supply voltage VDD2. As a result, a large voltage is not applied to the gate terminals of the MOS transistors 106 and 107, and transistors of a low breakdown voltage may be used.
Output voltage VOUT of such a circuit varies in accordance with the input voltage VIN. For example, in accordance with changes in the input voltage VIN as shown in FIG. 4A, the voltage at the connection A0 is as shown in FIG. 4B. Further, the output voltage VOUT of the level shifter circuit 100 varies at intermediate values between the power supply voltage VSS and the low drive voltage VDD as shown in FIG. 4C. The intermediate values are lower than intermediate values between the power supply voltage VSS and the high drive voltage HVDD. Thus, when the input has a low level, the immunity to noise is low and the output voltage may become unstable.
A Schmitt trigger circuit is a circuit that is immune to noise (refer to, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-096319, FIG. 5). The Schmitt trigger circuit described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-096319 will now be described with reference to FIG. 5. A Schmitt trigger circuit 200 includes p-channel MOS transistors P1, P2, P3, and P4 and n-channel MOS transistors N1, N2, N3, and N4. The MOS transistors P1, P3, N3, and N1 are connected in series between a supply line for a low drive voltage VDD and a line for ground voltage GND. Input voltage VIN is applied to the gate terminal of each of the MOS transistors P1, P3, N3, and N1.
The source terminal of the MOS transistor P2 is connected to the supply line for the low drive voltage VDD, and the source terminal of the MOS transistor N2 is connected to the line for the ground voltage GND. The drain terminals of the MOS transistors P2 and N2 are connected to each other. Voltage at a connection node TY of the MOS transistors P2 and N2 becomes the output voltage VOUT. The gate terminals of the MOS transistors P2 and N2 are connected to each other at a connection node TX.
The MOS transistor P4 includes a source terminal connected to a connection node of the MOS transistors P1 and P3 and a drain terminal connected to a line for the ground voltage GND. The MOS transistor N4 includes a source terminal connected to a connection node of the MOS transistors N1 and N3 and a drain terminal connected to a supply line for the low drive voltage VDD. The gate terminals of the MOS transistors P4 and N4 are connected to the connection node TX.
When a high level signal is input to the Schmitt trigger circuit as the input voltage VIN, voltage Va at the connection node TX is shifted to a low level, and the output voltage VOUT is shifted to a high level. In this state, the MOS transistors P1, P3, N2, and N4 are inactivated, and the MOS transistors N1, N3, P2, and P4 are activated.
When the input signal shifts from a high level to a low level and the input voltage VIN exceeds a pinch-off voltage, current starts to flow through the MOS transistor P1. In this state, the drain voltage of the MOS transistor P1 is decreased due to the ON resistance balance of the MOS transistors P1 and P4. Thus, the MOS transistor P3 does not function unless the voltage further decreases. That is, the MOS transistor P3 functions when the input signal further decreases. This shifts the voltage Va to the low drive voltage VDD. Accordingly, the MOS transistor P2 is inactivated, the MOS transistor N2 is activated, and the output voltage VOUT is output at a low level. Thus, when the current supplied by the MOS transistors P1, P3, and P4 and the current supplied by the MOS transistors N1 and N3 are inverted, the output signal shifts from a high level to a low level.
When the input signal shifts from a low level to a high level, due to the MOS transistor N2, the MOS transistor N3 does not function unless the input voltage VIN becomes further higher. Thus, unlike when there is no MOS transistor N4, the voltage Va at the connection node does not change unless the input voltage VIN is higher. As a result, in the Schmitt trigger circuit 200 shown in FIG. 5, a hysteresis appears as shown in FIG. 6 and realizes the Schmitt trigger function.
The level shifter circuit 100 shown in FIG. 3 does not have a hysteresis and thus does not function as a Schmitt trigger. To shift a high level signal from a high voltage to a low voltage while being immune to noise, the Schmitt trigger circuit 200 shown in FIG. 5 may be included in the level shifter circuit 100 of FIG. 3. A level shifter circuit 300 formed in such a manner is shown in FIG. 7. In the level shifter circuit 300 of FIG. 7, the same reference numerals are given to those components that are the same as the corresponding components of the level shifter circuit 100 shown in FIG. 3 and the Schmitt trigger circuit 200 shown in FIG. 2. Such components will not be described in detail. In the level shifter circuit 300, input voltage VIN is applied to the drain terminal of the n-channel MOS transistor 101, and the input terminal of the Schmitt trigger circuit 200 is connected to the drain terminal of the n-channel MOS transistor 101. Further, the low drive voltage VDD is applied to the source terminal of the MOS transistor 105, and the voltage at the connection node TY of the Schmitt trigger circuit 200 becomes the output voltage VOUT.
The VIN-VOUT curve of the level shifter circuit 300 is shown in FIG. 8. The level shifter circuit 300 includes the Schmitt trigger function, which has hysteresis. However, even if the input voltage VIN is applied from the power supply voltage VSS (here, the ground voltage GND) to the high drive voltage HVDD, the output voltage VOUT of the level shifter circuit 300 shifts between zero volts and the low drive voltage VDD. Thus, the output voltage VOUT still changes at a voltage that is lower than the intermediate values that the input voltage VIN can take.


A continuous and batch system to produce cellulose, native lignin and unicellular protein from any form of vegetation in a closed process. The biomass is mixed in the impregnate solution of nitric acid and/or ammonium hydroxide and water. After a period of time at room temperature and atmospheric pressure the chemical solution is recycled. The biomass is moved to the reactor and heated. Evaporated impregnate is recovered via absorption tower and recycled back to chemical solution. The biomass is moved to an alkaline solution, then cooled to separate pulp from black liquor. The black liquor is pumped to a separation tank and is treated to precipitate lignin. The solution is filtered to separate sweet liquor and lignin. The lignin is dried and the sweet liquor is fermented to produce unicellular protein.

Prior art processes for treating lignocellulosic material often require high temperatures and pressures to ensure the chemical reactions proceed at a sufficient rate. As a result, special pressure vessels and specialized equipment is necessary to withstand the harsh conditions. This makes processing facilities very expensive to outfit and maintain, as well as being expensive to operate, with high energy demands.
In addition, strong chemicals are generally required to produce the desired oxidation or reduction reaction. The chemicals attack the equipment as well as the lignocellulosic material, again increasing maintenance costs for the facility. Once used, the chemicals must be disposed of, creating potential environmental hazards and pollution. Even water used during the treatment process can become contaminated and require careful handling to prevent pollution and environmental damage. Fresh chemicals must then be purchased to replace those lost during the treatment process.
Most processing facilities, despite the expensive, sophisticated equipment in place, can only be used to process a limited selection of plant material. Different plant materials require different processing conditions and chemicals, and occasionally different processing methods, meaning other plant materials cannot be processed without a complete re-tooling of the process line, if at all. It is preferable to be able to process many types of vegetation without the need to re-tool or change the facility equipment.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a process for treating lignocellulosic material which overcomes the above limitations and provides other desirable features.
This and other objects of the invention will be appreciated by reference to the summary of the invention and to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment that follow.

Catalytic reactor process for the production of commercial grade pulp, native lignin and unicellular protein


The invention is directed to a package for containing and dispensing a solid article including powders and solid objects, and/or flowable substances such liquids, gels and dispersions. When the ends of the package are forced together, a backing sheet is separated from receptacle units to expose openings through which the contents can be dispensed from interior chambers in the package.

Packages are used to contain and protect a substance until it is desired to release the substance from the package. Packages may be used to contain various solid substances or articles, such as powders, pills, granules and other shaped substances. Packages may also be used to contain various flowable substances such as gels, solutions, dispersions, and other dimensionally unstable substances. In some cases, it may be desirable to include structure on the package which assists in dispersing or applying the contents.
Several factors are taken into consideration in providing a package system for dispensing a flowable or solid substance. One concern is the performance characteristics of the dispensing package. For example, the ease with which the package can be opened and its contents expelled can be important. The ability of the package to store and contain a substance prior to its application is another factor. When an applicator is included as part of the package, secure attachment of the applicator to the packaging can be important so that the applicator does not become disengaged during use.
Another consideration in designing a useful dispensing system is the ability to deliver more than one substance from a unitary system. Also desirable is a packaging system that is useful to simultaneously combine and dispense a plurality of substances, each requiring separate storage until being combined, due to their physical or chemical incompatibility.
Various packages have been developed to contain and dispense solutions, dispersions or gels of various active ingredients. One such dispenser is an envelope-like package that defines an internal reservoir for containing a fluid. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,115 to Laipply, discloses a packaging device for applying various fluids to the skin. The device is made of a flexible sheet of fluid impermeable material that is folded in half and sealed around the edges in a temporary seal. The two halves of the sheet are pulled apart to break the seal and form a flat surface covered with the fluid. An absorbent pad may be adhered inside the chamber to aid in the retention and delivery of the fluid. A disadvantage of this type of package is its limited capacity. Also, the sealed edging may split open, prematurely exposing the contents. Conversely, the edges of the containing packet may be too tightly sealed so that it is difficult to open the packet in a controlled fashion. Additionally, the contents of the packet can often be squeezed out prematurely when the reservoir chambers are accidentally compressed.
Other packaging systems provide for a cup-like reservoir with a foil or paper covering that is torn off to expose the fluid or other material contained within the chamber. For example, Canadian Patent No. 613,023 to Wilson et al. discloses a creamer-type dispenser with a wide-mouthed cup and a covering sheet sealed over the mouth of the cup. The covering sheet has a tab adhesively sealed over a flat extension of the rim of the cup. The package is opened by pulling the tab of the covering sheet upward off the rim extension and inward toward the cup. U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,348 to Doyle et al. discloses a cup with a foil covering over the mouth and a liquid-impregnated sponge attached to the inside of the cup. When the covering is peeled off the rim of the cup, the sponge projects outward through the opening.
The covering lids of these packages may be difficult to remove so that during opening, the contents may spill out of the container due to the upward pulling action to remove the cover.
Packages have also been developed to expel the contents of an inner chamber through a fracture or score line in one surface of the package. The ends of the package are forced together to expand and rupture the score line. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,630 to Redmond discloses a dispensing package having a single reservoir with a pattern of perforations cut partially through the surface of one side of the package that is covered with a foil sealant.
Several applicator systems with a prescored fracture line in one surface of a package provide for reservoirs in each half of a single package. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,140,409 to DeVries discloses a system with a reservoir chamber in each half of an elongated package. A sponge is attached to the outside of the package. The chambers are separated by a partition formed by a prescored portion cut into one surface of the container. A channel extends through the partition to connect the two chambers. When the ends of the package are bent together, the score line ruptures and the contents of the chambers are expelled into the attached sponge.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,430,013 to J. W. Kaufman discloses a dispensing system with a reservoir chamber in each half of an elongated package. A score line extends across the width of the package in between the two chambers. Each of the chambers have a narrowed neck portion that fans out before abutting the score line. This configuration facilitates a controlled flow and distribution of the liquid contents from the two reservoirs into an attached sponge for simultaneous admixture. U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,067 to Brown et al. also provides a system that provides separate reservoir chambers in a flexible package. The chambers are compressed to rupture an internal seal in the package which urges the liquid contents into a central dispensing cavity. The ends of the package are bent backward to split open a score line in the surface of the package. Pressure on the package forces the contents to be expelled through the slit in the score line and onto a sponge attached to the outside of the package.
A disadvantage of packaging devices that release their contents by rupturing a score line in the container wall is that flexing of the package prior to use may cause the fracture line to split apart prematurely, thus causing unwanted leakage or premature dispersal of the contents. Conversely, the score line may be constructed such that it is difficult to break.
Therefore, there is a need for a dispensing system which addresses the above mentioned problems of prior dispensing systems. In particular, there is a need for a packaging system for dispensing flowable and/or solid substances which has an improved configuration for releasing the contents of the packaging that is not prone to premature rupture but provides ready dispensing of the package contents. There is also a need for a packaging that is a convenient means of dispensing flowable and/or solid substances from multiple reservoir chambers within the packaging system.

Package systsem for flowable or solid substances


An exemplary information-processing device includes: a first receiving unit configured to receive plural categories for each of which a search condition is set, from a configuration device via a network; a first display control unit configured to control a display unit to display the received plural categories; a selecting unit configured to select one category from among the received plural categories; a transmitting unit configured to transmit to a search device a search condition that is set for the selected category; a second receiving unit configured to receive from the search device via the network a search result obtained using the transmitted search condition; and a second display control unit configured to control the display unit to display a content corresponding to the selected category, based on the received search result.

Video game devices to which a storage medium such as a memory card storing an application program such as game software is attached are in widespread use. Recently, devices that can download a video game application program from a server via a network, instead of using a storage medium, have become increasingly popular.
By the present disclosure, a load of a service provider who provides a service for providing contents to users, is improved.
There is provided an information-processing device includes: a first receiving unit configured to receive plural categories for each of which a search condition is set, from a configuration device via a network; a first display control unit configured to control a display unit to display the received plural categories; a selecting unit configured to select one category from among the received plural categories; a transmitting unit configured to transmit to a search device a search condition that is set for the selected category; a second receiving unit configured to receive from the search device via the network a search result obtained using the transmitted search condition; and a second display control unit configured to control the display unit to display a content corresponding to the selected category, based on the received search result.

Information-processing device, information-processing system, information-processing method, and computer-readable storage medium


In a high density memory, such as a SRAM, DRAM, EPROM or EEPROM, a hierarchical bitline configuration is utilized such that a number of local bitlines are connected to a master bitline through interface circuitry which connects a local bitline to the master bitline. Local select signals, when set to the appropriate voltage level, couple a local bitline to the master bitline. In addition to reducing the local bitline capacitance that must be driven by memory cells, the hierarchical configuration may provide layout area savings as well. Interface circuitry is modified to provide voltage and signal gain and/or provide isolation between the local bitlines and the master bitlines, thereby reducing the amount of capacitance which must be driven by memory cells and the amount of time required to develop differential signals on the master bitlines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to integrated circuits, and more specifically to interface circuitry within hierarchical bitline memory architecture which provides gain and/or isolation characteristics.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, high density memories such as SRAMs, DRAMs, EPROMs, and EEPROMs have dramatically increased the level of bitline capacitance which must be driven by memory cells in the memory array. As high speed memories have increased in density, efforts have been made to carefully partition the memory array to reduce the burden on the memory cell for driving large bitline capacitances. For example, memory arrays have gone to four times the number of columns as rows to reduce bitline capacitance. In addition, the rows are sometimes bisected by the sensing and column decode circuitry to further reduce bitline capacitance. In spite of the advances made in careful partitioning of the memory array, bitline capacitance can still be prohibitively large, having an adverse affect on device speed and signal integrity. As a result, better methods for reducing the bitline capacitance as seen by memory cells while using minimum layout area are needed and appropriate.

Active hierarchical bitline memory architecture


A directed-energy irradiating apparatus includes a switch which selects one of an FEL apparatus and an HPM apparatus to be supplied with a microwave based on external environmental data. A target is destroyed even in a situation in which a destruction effect by an FEL beam cannot be expected, while maintaining a destruction ability for the target by the FEL beam.

As a defense system for ships, basic point facilities and the like, a free electron laser (FEL) apparatus has been proposed. The FEL apparatus can destroy a target by collectively irradiating energy to one point in a space by the free electron laser and inactivate an offensive weapon.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an FEL apparatus 500 that uses a typical RF accelerator. With reference to FIG. 1, the FEL apparatus 500 contains a microwave source 51, a pulse compressor 52, a waveguide 53, a coupler 54, an electron gun 55, a plurality of accelerators 56-1 and 56-2, a dumper 57, an undulator 58 and reflection mirrors 59.
The microwave (RF power) generated by the microwave source 51 is pulse-compressed by the pulse compressor 52 and then supplied through the waveguide 53 and the coupler 54 to each of the accelerators 56-1 and 56-2. The free electrons generated by the electron gun 55 are accelerated close to a light speed by the accelerators 56-1 and 56-2. When the free electrons are passed through the undulator 58, radiation light is generated. Since the radiation light generated through the undulator 58 travels back and forth between the reflection mirrors 59, coherency is improved, and the radiation light is outputted as laser light 600 with a wavelength depending on the energy of the free electrons and the undulator period. It should be noted that the remaining electric power after the electric power is used to accelerate the free electrons is converted into thermal energy in dummy loads 60-1 and 60-2.
Also, Japanese Patent No. 4,066,330 discloses a radiation light generating apparatus that has an energy recovery type pre-accelerator which can be operated in a small RF power (refer to Patent Literature 1). In the radiation light generating apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 1, the energy recovery type pre-accelerator is arranged on a circular trajectory, and a resonant frequency of an acceleration cavity of the pre-accelerator is slightly detuned from a frequency of the RF power to be used, recover the energy of electron beam. This technique can be applied to the FEL apparatus. Typically, these radiation light generating apparatuses use the RF source for only the acceleration or deceleration of electrons of the beam (electrically charged particles) irrespectively of the electron beam energy recovery.
The free electron laser has a property of going straight and can capture a target in the light speed. Thus, without requiring a conventional ballistic calculation and inducing apparatus by considering external disturbance such as a weather condition, it is possible to increase a hitting precision to a flying object that moves at a high speed. However, when the flying object passes through a region which has influence on a refraction index of the laser light, such as a rain, snow, fog, cloud, or a great temperature difference, the energy density of the laser light is attenuated. Thus, there is a fear that the desirable result cannot be obtained.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Methods of treating bendamustine responsive conditions in patients having fluid and/or sodium intake restrictions are disclosed. The methods include identifying patients having such restrictions and in need of bendamustine, and then administering thereto a bendamustine-containing composition in a volume of about 120 ml or less intravenously over a period of about 15 minutes or less. The smaller volumes and reduced sodium load as compared to currently known methods of treatment minimize cardiac and/or renal stress in patients having diseases such as congestive heart failure or renal disease.

Bendamustine is used in the treatment of a number of cancers including leukemias, Hodgkin's disease and multiple myelomas. Bendamustine, (present as the HCl salt) is the active ingredient of the commercial product Treanda™, a lyophilized powder for reconstitution. Current labeling requirements call for the reconstituted product to be immediately (within 30 minutes) diluted into 500 mL of parenterally acceptable diluents such as 0.9% saline (normal saline) or 2.5% dextrose/0.45% saline and administered as part of an intravenous infusion delivering 100 mg/m2 over 30 minutes or 120 mg/m2 over 60 minutes. The diluted admixture may be stored at 2-8° C. for up to 24 hours, or 3 hours at room temperature (15-30° C.); administration must be completed within this period due to limited chemical stability in aqueous solutions.
Higher infusion volume and longer infusion times, however, are associated with many drawbacks. For example, currently available bendamustine therapies with their larger intravenous administration volumes and sodium loads can be contraindicated in patients who have significant cardiac disease such as congestive heart failure and/or renal failure. Thus, some patients who would benefit from bendamustine therapy cannot take the drug or, if there are no alternative therapies, are exposed to significant physical harm as a result of receiving large volumes of sodium-containing fluid along with the bendamustine. The higher infusion volumes cause unhealthy stress on diseased organs including the heart and kidney in these patients. It would be most advantageous if the drug could be administered in smaller volumes and over shorter times to patients needing the drug but also requiring fluid and sodium intake restrictions. The present invention addresses this need.

Method of treating bendamustine-responsive conditions in patients requiring reduced volumes for administration


An adjustable collar having a finished slot through which a fabric strip passes unimpeded. A pair of flaps is formed by an outer band of the collar and abut the finished slot. The fabric strip is secured to a free end of an elastic strip, which is secured to a shirt band at a first end of the elastic strip. A button is secured to a free end of the fabric strip and the button passes through a horizontal buttonhole defined in an end of an outer portion of a neckband of the shirt. The fabric strip is retracted and hidden when the collar is open. The button is larger than a diameter of the finished slot to prevent the fabric strip from retracting completely therethrough.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a finished slot and an adjustable shirt collar and a method of manufacturing the same. More particularly, the present invention related to a finished slot that works in cooperation with an elastic strip that self-adjusts a circumference of the shirt collar to provide a comfortable fit while simultaneously providing the shirt collar with an opening that is more secure, better quality, and has a longer life.
2. Description of Related Art
There are occasions when people need to expand the collar of the shirt they are wearing to obtain a comfortable fit. Shirts with permanently attached collars, particularly dress shirts, are normally manufactured in standard collar sizes based on the circumference of the collar. Although standard collar sizes may initially provide a comfortable fit, many individuals who fall between standard collar sizes or experience a change in weight over time may experience discomfort when wearing the shirt. Moreover, it is well known that clothing, i.e., shirts, shrink after several washings, which also results in a change in the actual size of the shirt collar, whereupon, it becomes uncomfortable to wear the shirt. Therefore, an adjustable shirt collar becomes necessary to ensure that shirts may adjust to fit the wearer comfortably.
Various solutions to this problem have been offered in the art. One known solution offers collar adjustment using an adjustable shirt collar fastening device having an elastic strip secured between the lining and the ply of the collar by stitches. A button is attached at the end of the elastic strip, which is maneuverable so as to pass through a horizontal buttonhole in the collar. Additionally, a U-shaped metal cap is adapted to prevent the elastic strip from inadvertently entering or being drawn into or through the horizontal buttonhole. A finished fabric strip folds over the elastic strip and the button. Although this solution offers collar expansion, a wearer may desire to conceal the elastic strip if the top button is unbuttoned to provide a neater and arguably more professional appearance.
Another known solution is a shirt having a fixed unit, which contains a relatively short and resilient strap vertically disposed and bent back onto itself. A button is attached to the end of the strap by stitching. Additionally, two tabs of the collar shift together allowing the button to pass through a buttonhole to hold the tabs together. The collar extends when the strap is stretched outwardly through the opening of the inner tab and through the buttonhole. The strap is oriented orthogonally relative to the collar band. Therefore, to relieve discomfort, the collar is adjusted by stretching the strap outwardly through the horizontal buttonhole. Because such adjustment is due to a force that pulls the button and the strap outward rather than the more natural side-to-side movement of the button and strap, the fit may still be uncomfortable as the button presses against the front center portion of a wearer's throat. Moreover, because the strap is attached orthogonally relative to a longitudinal axis of the buttonhole, any sideways movement of the strap results in the button loosening, or the alteration of the stitching holding the strap to the collar, or both.
Other solutions are disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 912,958 to H. S. Hawks; U.S. Pat. No. 1,879,527 to J. Sansone; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,142,843 to S. Berger. Each patent describes a collar button structured to relieve pressure on the neck of the wearer without using an expanding strip.
Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,686 to Krause et al., as well as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,898,941 and 6,250,116 to Groshens disclose solutions using expandable fabric weaves, expandable fabric patterns, expandable fabric weaves and patterns, or stitching in the collar to provide the necessary expansion.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,240 to Steele discloses another solution wherein the stationary collar button is replaced with adjustable hook and loop fasteners adapted for removable attachment to one another. A third hook and loop fastener strip allows the covering strip to be retracted and attached for concealment. However, the solution taught by Steele requires several manufacturing steps that result in a substantial increase in manufacturing costs, which are passed along to consumers. Additionally, the hook and loop fasteners become less effective after multiple washings because the hook and loop fasteners ability to lockingly engage is impeded by the friction that occurs during the washing process. Furthermore, it is well known that the hook and loop fasteners inadvertently attach to other items that may cause a build up of threads or particles, which reduces the effectiveness or the aesthetic appearance of the fasteners.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,828,365 to Berger merely discloses an expandable buttonhole. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 2,646,570 to E. Rinehart et al. discloses a shirt having an elastic cord covered with fabric. A loop at the end of the elastic cord extends across the collar opening to attach to one of several buttons under the collar on the opposite side of the collar.
In yet another example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0022287 to Neff et al. (Neff) teaches an expandable collar assembly 10 having parallel lines of stitching 32 and 34 that define a pocket between a collar band 16 and body 12 of the shirt. A slot 36 formed in a manner similar to a buttonhole is located in the pocket and an elongated strip of self fabric 42 extends through the slot 36 with a button 38 attached to one end of the elongated strip of fabric 42. The other end of the elongated strip of fabric 42 is stitched to a square piece of elastic 45. The other end of the square piece of elastic 45 is bar tacked 48 to the body 12 of the shirt or the collar band 16.
Many of the solutions described above are susceptible to deterioration or create constrictive pressure on the throat of the wearer. Additionally, the solutions do not allow the wearer to conceal the apparatus when the collar is unbuttoned and left open. Furthermore, the solutions described above, in particular the teachings of Neff, suffer from the adjusting strip washing out and, because the slot 36 of Neff is formed like a buttonhole, the edges of the slot 36 fray due to the friction created by the self fabric 42 repeatedly rubbing against the edges of the slot 36, as well as the shirt being constantly washed.
Therefore, there is a need for an expandable shirt collar that adjusts the fit of the collar without placing undesirable and unnecessary pressure on the throat of the wearer, while providing a finished slot that works in cooperation with an elastic strip that self-adjusts a circumference of the shirt collar. There is also a need for the finished slot to be sturdy, and have edges that are resilient to the friction that is created by a strip of fabric that constantly rubs against the edges to provide a better quality and longer lasting adjustable or expandable shirt collar. There is yet another need for the finished slot to provide a sturdy opening for the strip of fabric to pass through. There is a further need for an adjustable shirt collar that creates an appealing look and allows the wearer to conceal the apparatus of the expandable shirt collar.

Finished slot and adjustable shirt collar and method of manufacturing same


Provided is an antenna system applied to a mobile terminal and including a back shell having a metal frame, a main board received in the back shell, an antenna unit provided between the back shell and the main board. The main board includes a front surface facing towards the antenna unit and a back surface arranged opposite to and spaced apart from the front surface. The mobile terminal includes a first metal ground layer and a first electrode plate provided on the front surface, a second metal ground layer and a second electrode plate provided on the back surface. The first electrode plate and the second electrode plate are spaced apart from the first and second metal ground layer, and connected to the antenna unit and the metal frame. The first and second electrode plates are arranged opposite to and spaced apart from each other to form a capacitor structure.

The fifth-generation mobile communication is drawing near, and the 5G time of China's three major operators has also been confirmed. The 5G handheld mobile terminal products are mainly divided into two categories, millimeter wave and SUB 6G. A transmission rate of the future 5G network can reach up to 10 Gbps, and it can be seen from the 5G NR released by the 3GPPRAN that new band usage demands have been planned. The mobile phone hardware supports these usage demands, so that difficulty of an antenna layout has significantly increased, which also indicates that the antenna must cooperate with the hardware to get the better communication quality and user experience in the case of high-rate transmission traffic. Although the design of an antenna is a small part, it is a very important technical point, and, how to take into account of multi-band usage and multiple CA requirements in a limited space is a big challenge in the antenna design.


A bandana-type headwear suitable for wearing under a helmet or as a independent head piece is disclosed. The headwear is preferably of a generally polygonal shape and has attached thereto adjustment straps of the peg and hole type generally used for adjustable caps. These straps are attached to the headwear fabric at an angle oblique to the central axis of the headwear to assist in installing and retaining the headwear on wearer's head.

Bandanas or bandana-like headgear have been used in the past in many contexts. Most recently such bandanas are worn for purposes of comfort, protection from the elements, and perspiration control under other headgear such as helmets. In some cases the helmets are used for protection of vehicle riders such as in the case of motorcycle or snowmobile riders. Many athletes such as football players have also adopted the use of such additional headgear beneath their protective helmets. Often such bandanas are provided in a color and with a design symbolizing a particular team, equipment brand, or group.
Traditionally such bandanas are attached by use of knots, pins or rubber bands etc. at the rear of the wearer's head. Disassembly of the headwear each time it is removed is thus a common requirement. It has also been proposed to attach such bandanas utilizing Velcro.RTM. hook and loop type fasteners. The latter, however, suffers from the possibility that the wearer's hair can be snagged by the Velcro.RTM., causing pain and discomfort.


An image sensor device is disclosed, which blocks noise of a pad region. The image sensor device includes a substrate including a first surface and a second surface that are arranged to face each other, a pad disposed over the first surface of the substrate, and a through silicon via (TSV) formed to penetrate the substrate, and disposed at both sides of the pad in a first direction.

An image sensor converts an optical image into electrical signals. Recently, because of increased research and development in the computer and communication industries, demand for high-quality, high-performance image sensors is rapidly increasing in various applications and fields, such as, for example, digital cameras, camcorders, personal communication systems (PCSs), game consoles, surveillance cameras, medical micro-cameras, and the like.
Specifically, MOS image sensors can be driven more easily, and can be implemented using many more scanning schemes. The MOS image sensor may include one or more photoelectric conversion elements configured to sense the magnitude of incident light and a multilayer metal line layer configured to output light signals stored in the photoelectric conversion elements. However, the incident light may be reflected by the metal line layer, and may be absorbed by an interlayer insulation film, resulting in reduction in sensitivity. In addition, the reflected light may be absorbed into contiguous (or adjacent) pixels, resulting in an occurrence of crosstalk.
Therefore, an improved structure has been proposed, which polishes a backside of a substrate and receives light incident from the backside of the substrate. The improved structure may be referred to as a backside illuminated (BSI) image sensor. Since the metal line layer is not formed over a backside upon which light is incident in the BSI image sensor, the incident light is not reflected by the metal line layer and light absorption does not occur by an interlayer insulation film.


A robotic arm assembly includes a robotic arm including a link, a control rope operable with the link, and an attachment section, the control rope extending at least partially through the attachment section. The robotic arm assembly also includes an actuator pack attached to, or positioned adjacent to, the attachment section of the robotic arm, the actuator pack including an actuator, the actuator operable with the control rope and including a motor defining a pivot axis, the motor configured to move about the pivot axis to displace the control rope.

Robotic arm assemblies are useful throughout various industries for performing operations at, e.g., remote locations, hazardous locations, etc. At least certain robotic arm assemblies include a robotic arm formed of a plurality of links joined together at respective joints. Additionally, a plurality of control wires may extend through the robotic arm, with each wire terminating at an individual link for moving such link relative to an aft-adjacent link. The control wires may be coupled to one or more motors within a base of the robotic arm assembly, such that the robotic arm assembly may control a movement of the robotic arm by increasing and/or decreasing tension on the plurality of control wires.
Specifically, robotic arm assemblies typically include linear motors for coupling to each of the control wires of the robotic arm to increase or decrease a tension on the control wires. For example, the control wire may include a crimp at one end, and the linear motor may include an arm which may be coupled to the crimp. The arm may then be extended by the linear motor, or retracted by the linear motor, to increase or decrease the tension on the control wire.
However, with such a configuration, the arm of each linear motor must be manually coupled to each control wire (or rather, to the crimp of each control wire), and further one or more tools are typically required for making such connection. Accordingly, a robotic arm assembly capable of connecting a robotic arm to a base without requiring a plurality of tools to make such connection would be useful. Further, a robotic arm assembly capable of connecting a robotic arm to a base while minimizing the amount of connections that must be made would also be useful.


An image pickup unit is disposed so as to be able to obtain a scan projection image of an inspection subject from each of a vertical direction and a horizontal direction. An X-ray absorption coefficient of an object in the inspection subject is obtained from the vertical scan projection image and the horizontal scan projection image. It is determined whether there is a threat in the inspection subject on the basis of the X-ray absorption coefficient. Furthermore, a CT image is obtained by moving the image pickup unit around the inspection subject. It is determined whether there is a threat in the inspection subject, on the basis of the CT values of the CT image.

The present invention relates to a threat detection apparatus and a threat detection method, and in particular to a threat detection apparatus and a threat detection method using X-rays.
As for reference relating to the present invention, a threat detection apparatus that radiates X rays having two energy levels alternately is described in JP-A-2001-235434. A threat detection apparatus using a combination of scan projection and CT (Computed Tomography) is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,764. In addition, a threat detection apparatus using a combination of scan projection and X-ray tubes (two tubes) differing in energy is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,552.
These threat detection apparatus utilize large-sized X-ray CTs of high speed. The threat detection apparatus can also detect explosives that are hard to detect in inspection apparatus using X-ray transmission seen in airports in Japan, and they are used mainly in large-sized airports in United States. However, these apparatus are as heavy as 3 tons to 7 tons, and hard to move. Therefore, the degree of freedom in layout cannot be obtained. The reasons why these apparatus become large in size and mass are as follows: (1) Since a CT image is obtained with continuous rotation, the structure of slip rings becomes complicated. (2) A high output X-ray tube and a high voltage power supply (HVPS) are needed so that an X-ray is not absorbed by a conveyor belt even if the X-ray is incident on the conveyor belt at a shallow angle in order to pick up a CT image on the conveyor belt.
For small-sized airports such as Narita and Haneda, a threat detection apparatus that is small in apparatus size, small in mass, low in price, and high in precision is needed. For that purpose, it is necessary to solve the problems of (1) and (2).
Since threat detection apparatus are operated every day, a threat detection apparatus that is long in life and small in the number of times of maintenance is also needed.

Apparatus and method for detecting threats

Hitachi Engineering & Services Co., Ltd.


A method of monitoring for security events using a speech recognition system can include receiving a sound signal within the speech recognition system and determining at least one attribute of the sound signal. The attribute of the sound signal can be compared with one or more acoustic models associated with a security event. The method can further include identifying the sound signal as a security event according to the comparing step.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of security and, more particularly, to the use of speech recognition to provide security functions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic home security systems have been available to consumers for many years. Typically these systems are micro-processor-based, and include a variety of sensors, such as photo detectors, motion detectors, and sound detectors. In normal operation, these standalone systems monitor the sensors to detect unusual or suspicious events, such as a discontinuity in the input data stream that rises above a certain threshold. Such a discontinuity could result from a window breaking or loud footsteps, which could indicate that an intruder has entered the monitored area. However, the high cost of these systems, the extensive installation required, as well as the proliferation of personal computers (PCs), have given rise to home security systems which can be implemented as software programs running on commercially available PCs.
PC-based home security systems typically include input devices, such as microphones and/or a video cameras, which are directly attached to the PC. As is well known in the art, these systems essentially listen and watch through the microphone and/or video camera for significant changes to the normal background environment of the house, such as a sharp rise in the overall sound level within the home above some threshold sound level or a rapid change from dark to light within the home. Upon determining that the significant change is of an unusual or suspicious nature, the system can take appropriate remedial action, such as calling a fax machine and sending a fax-based message, or broadcasting a voice message over a modem.
One disadvantage of existing PC-based alarm systems is the inherent susceptibility to nuisance tripping and false alarms. That is, these systems normally rely on complex and cumbersome algorithms and metric tables to determine whether the significant change warrants any remedial action. It is difficult, if not impossible, however, to anticipate every sound that may be interpreted as a suspicious event. For example, a neighbor's window breaking or construction noise outside the house being monitored could cause an alarm message to be sent to a police station. Although more sophisticated PC-based alarm systems can be configured to monitor the environment for a period of time in order to create a model of a typical environment during a certain time of the day, these systems require continual calibration as the environment changes.
Accordingly, there is a need to develop improved alarm and/or sound detection systems.

Method, system, and apparatus for monitoring security events using speech recognition

International Business Machines Corporation


An ink jet head circuit board is provided which has heaters to generate thermal energy for ejecting ink as they are energized. This circuit board is so constructed as to reduce wire resistances for the heaters while at the same time preventing an increase in the size of the board and realizing a high-density integration of the heaters required for high resolution printing. This construction is made possible by forming electrode wires of first and second electrode wire layers to reduce an area that the wire patterns for the heater occupy on the circuit board. In reducing the effective thickness of protective insulation layer formed on the heater to prevent a possible degradation of thermal efficiency, one of the protective insulation layers over the electrode wires is removed from the heater, depending on the thickness of the electrode wires.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a circuit board for an ink jet head that ejects ink for printing, a method of manufacturing the circuit board, and an ink jet head using the circuit board.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ink jet printing system has an advantage of low running cost because an ink jet head as a printing means can easily be reduced in size, print a high-resolution image at high speed and even form an image on so-called plain paper that is not given any particular treatment. Other advantages include low noise that is achieved by a non-impact printing system employed by the print head and an ability of the print head to easily perform color printing using multiple color inks.
There are a variety of ejection methods available for the ink jet head to realize the ink jet printing system. Among others, ink jet heads using thermal energy to eject ink, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740,796, generally have a construction in which a plurality of heaters to heat ink to generate a bubble in ink and wires for heater electrical connection are formed in one and the same substrate to fabricate an ink jet head circuit board and in which ink ejection nozzles are formed in the circuit board over their associated heaters. This construction allows for easy and high-precision manufacture, through a process similar to a semiconductor fabrication process, of an ink jet head circuit board incorporating a large number of heaters and wires at high density. This helps to realize higher print resolution and faster printing speed, which in turn contributes to a further reduction in size of the ink jet head and a printing apparatus using it.
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are a schematic plan view of a heater in a general ink jet head circuit board and a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, on a substrate 120 is formed a resistor layer 107 as a lower layer, over which an electrode wire layer 103 is formed as an upper layer. A part of the electrode wire layer 103 is removed to expose the resistor layer 107 to form a heater 102. Electrode wire patterns 205, 207 are wired on the substrate 120 and connected to a drive element circuit and external power supply terminals for supply of electricity from outside. The resistor layer 107 is formed of a material with high electric resistance. Supplying an electric current from outside to the electrode wire layer 103 causes the heater 102, a portion where no electrode wire layer 103 exists, to generate heat energy creating a bubble in ink. Materials of the electrode wire layer 103 mainly include aluminum or aluminum alloy.
In such an ink jet head circuit board, the heater 102 is subjected to a severe environment, including a temperature rise and fall as large as 1,000° C. in a short period of time and also mechanical impacts caused by cavitations from repeated creation and collapse of bubbles. To deal with this situation, the heater 102 is insulated and protected from ink by multiple protective layers, which comprise a protective insulation layer 108 of inorganic compounds, such as SiO and SiN, and a metal layer 110 deposited over the insulation layer 108 which is made from a mechanically more stable metal, such as Ta (this layer may also be called an anticavitation layer because of its capability of withstanding damages from cavitations) (see FIG. 2). In addition, the similar construction is also formed over the electrode wire layer 103—which provides electrical connection for the resistor layer 107—to prevent corrosion by ink.
In ink jet printers, there are growing demands in recent years that they have a capability of printing images of high resolution and quality at high speed. This requires a large number of ink ejection nozzles and energy generation elements, such as heaters used to eject ink, to be formed in a substrate at high density. In arranging a large number of nozzles and energy generation elements in the substrate at high density, a reduction in power consumption by the energy generation elements is particularly important.
An example construction capable of reducing power consumption by the energy generation elements is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3382424.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-section of a heater in an ink jet head circuit board disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3382424, the cross-sectioned portion corresponding in position to the line II-II of FIG. 1. In this construction, first and second protective insulation layers 108a, 108b are formed over the electrode wire layer 103, with the lower layer or the first protective insulation layer 108a removed from above the heater 102. That is, Japanese Patent No. 3382424 discloses a construction in which an overall thickness of the protective layer over the heater is made smaller than that over the electrode wire. This construction improves an energy efficiency by reducing the effective thickness of the protective layer over the heater 102 and at the same time provides a required protective insulation function by the second protective insulation layer 108b. This construction therefore can achieve a reduction in power consumption by the heater without degrading the protective performance of the protective layer.
In addition to improving the thermal efficiency of the heaters, it is also important to reduce resistances of electrode wires from the standpoint of reducing an overall power consumption of the circuit board. Normally, a reduction in resistance of the electrode wires is achieved by increasing the width of the electrode wires formed on the board. However, as the number of heaters or energy generation portions formed on the board becomes very large for the reason described above, a sufficient space to accommodate widened electrode wires cannot be secured without increasing the size of the circuit board.
In this circumstance, the inventors of this invention studied the possibility of reducing the electrode wire resistance by increasing the thickness of the electrode wires. Having built a construction in which the electrode wires are increased in thickness and in which the total thickness of the protective layers over the heaters is made smaller than the total thickness of the protective layers over the electrode wires, as shown in FIG. 3, the inventors of this invention have found a new problem as described below.
Considering the coverage over the stepped portions of the electrode wires bordering the heaters, the protective layers need to be increased in thickness as the electrode wire thickness becomes large. This prevents the protective layers over the heaters from being formed sufficiently thin or results in an increase in a space or area accommodating the thick portion of the protective layers over the heaters. As a result, the advantage of a reduced power consumption of the heaters brought about by the above construction is offset by these disadvantages.

Circuit board for ink jet head, method of manufacturing the same, and ink jet head using the same