A method for rapidly detecting non-viral organisms disclosed. The method involves pelleting an enrichment culture of a sample, optionally washing the pellet, resuspending the pellet in an appropriate reagent before performing a nucleic acid hybridization confirmation test on the sample.

Bacterial pathogens can cause severe illness and even death if they are ingested by animals or humans. Detecting pathogens is critical in the food industry because foodborne pathogens infect unsuspecting consumers. Quality assurance tests must be done before food is shipped to ensure that pathogens are not present. Quality assurance tests, including environmental tests, must also be performed on an ongoing basis during production to ensure that the food is not contaminated during processing.
Traditional techniques for identifying pathogens are complicated and are time and labor intensive. Recently developed identification techniques utilize DNA probes and rely on the ability of complimentary nucleic acid strands to specifically align and associate to form stable double-stranded complexes. Although nucleic acid hybridization techniques greatly reduce the time required to identify pathogens as compared to physiological and biochemical methods; hybridization methods still require a culture suitable for testing. The process for obtaining a suitable culture is lengthy. It is the object of the present invention to reduce the amount of time and money required to obtain a suitable culture for detecting pathogens via nucleic acid hybridization techniques.
A common contaminant of the environment in food processing plants and some foods is Listeria monocytogenes which may cause death if immunosuppressed individuals ingest the bacteria. The current most conclusive method for detecting L. monocytogenes uses a DNA probe. The current method for obtaining a culture suitable for nucleic acid hybridization confirmation techniques is commonly known in the art and is diagrammed in FIG. 1. To obtain a suitable culture, a sample from a suspect food or environmental source is placed in a broth to obtain a primary enrichment. A primary enrichment broth is one which contains many nutrients and may not be selective-for the suspect organism. If one is testing for the presence of L. monocytogenes, an example of a broth suitable for a primary enrichment is University of Vermont Media (UVM as available from Difco of Detroit, Mich.). The inoculated primary enrichment broth is incubated for about 24 hours at about 30.degree. C.
After incubation, the primary enrichment may be used to inoculate a broth for a secondary enrichment. Secondary enrichment broths are preferably selective or presumptively differential for the organism being detected. Not all organisms require a secondary enrichment and one skilled in the art will be able to determine whether or not the suspect organism requires a secondary enrichment for detection purposes.
If one is testing for L. monocytogenes, a secondary enrichment is necessary and Fraser Broth is a suitable secondary enrichment broth. For L. monocytogenes, the secondary enrichment is incubated for about 24 to about 28 hours at about 35.degree. C. Fraser and Sperber, "Rapid Detection of Listeria spp. in Food & Environmental Samples by Esculin Hydrolysis," Journal of Food Protection, Vol., No. 10, pp. 762-765 (October '88) discusses the efficacy of Fraser Broth for the presumptive detection of Listeria species. The Fraser and Sperber article is herein incorporated by reference. The screening with Fraser Broth allows the technician only to test samples which presumptively contain L. monocytogenes, positive samples turn Fraser Broth dark brown or black.
The presumptively positive secondary enrichment samples are next streaked onto plates. When testing for L. monocytogenes, a suitable plating medium is Listeria Plating Medium (LPM) (Difco). The plates are then incubated for about 48 hours at about 35.degree. C. Colonies which are suspected to be L. monocytogenes are picked and streaked onto Trypticase Soy Agar with 0.6% Yeast Extract plates (TSA-YE) (Difco) which are incubated for about 24 to 48 hours at about 35.degree. C. After the lengthy foregone procedure, the sample is finally ready for identification via nucleic acid hybridization. The procedure takes at least about 4 and up to about 6 days to complete. During this preliminary incubation and screening, people may be eating food contaminated with L. monocytogenes which poses health risks. Alternatively, production of foods may be halted which is expensive. Both of these consequences are unacceptable.
As further shown in FIG. 1, a nucleic acid hybridization which is a conclusive identification test may be performed on a culture obtained from the above-described procedure. The ACCUPROBE.TM. L. monocytogenes Culture Confirmation Test assay procedure sold by Gen-Probe.RTM. of San Diego, Calif. gives the following protocol for nucleic acid hybridization. The ACCUPROBE.TM. procedure, which is herein incorporated by reference, involves a Sample Preparation, Hybridization, Selection, and a Detection Step. The first step is the Sample Preparation Step. Fifty microliters of 0.04% sodium azide solution (Reagent 1 as purchased in the ACCUPROBE.TM. L. monocytogenes Culture Confirmation Test--hereinafter "ACCUPROBE.TM. Kit") is added to lyophilized nucleic acid which is specific for the organism to be identified. One microliter loopful of cells from the LPM plates is also added to the Reagent 1 tube. The above combination is incubated for about 5 to 10 minutes at about 35 to 37.degree. C. to lyse the cells.
After the Sample Preparation, the Hybridization step is performed. Fifty microliters of Reagent 2, which is identified only as a "Buffered Solution" in the AccuProbe.TM. Kit, is added to the combination. This is incubated for about 15 minutes at about 60.degree. C.
The Selection Step follows the Hybridization Step. The Selection Step includes adding about 300 microliters of Reagent 3 (identified only as the "Selection Reagent" in the ACCUPROBE.TM. Kit and corresponding protocol) to the combination and incubating for about 5 minutes at about 60.degree. C. After allowing the tubes to equilibrate at room temperature for about 5 minutes, the samples are read in a Luminometer as can be purchased from Gen-Probe.RTM. and any samples having a reading of 50,000 Relative Light Units (RLU) on the Leader model Luminometer or more is deemed positive or about 1500 RLU or more on the PAL model Luminometer is deemed positive.
The ACCUPROBE.TM. single-stranded DNA probe uses a chemiluminescent label. Once the bacteria have lysed, the ACCUPROBE.TM. DNA strand is free to hybridize with the bacterial ribosomal RNA and form a stable DNA:RNA hybrid. The detection reagents which are hydrogen peroxide in nitric acid and a 1N solution of sodium hydroxide allow for the differentiation between the hybridized and non-hybridized probe and only those which have hybridized luminesce. This chemiluminescence reaction is fully described in Okwumabua, et al, "Evaluation of a Chemiluminescent DNA Probe Assay for the Rapid Confirmation of Listeria monocytogenes," Research Microbiology (1992) Vol. 143, pp. 183-189 which is herein incorporated by reference.
DNA probes used to detect pathogenic bacteria may be purchased from Gen-Probe.RTM. of San Diego, Calif. Currently available DNA probes include tests for Campylobacter, Enterococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria gonorrohoeae, Staphylococcus aureus, Group A and Group B Streptococcus, Streptococcus pnumoniae, and of course, L. monocytogenes. The method of the present invention may be used with any existing DNA probe to reduce the time and labor required to identify non-viral organisms. Alternatively, one may develop DNA probes specific for the suspect organism by following the disclosure in U.S. Pat. No. 4,851,330 which is herein incorporated by reference.

Method for detecting Listeria monocytogenes via esculin hydrolysis and nucleic acid hybridization


Some examples include an electrode for an electrochemical cell including a plate portion and a tab portion. The plate portion includes a plate body, a perimeter body edge, and an inset area recessed into the plate body from the perimeter body edge. The inset area is defined by an inset edge. The tab portion extends from the plate portion. The tab portion includes a tab body and tab body edge. The inset edge extends between the perimeter body edge and the tab body edge.

Electrochemical cells in the form of batteries are widely used to power electronic devices. Electrochemical cells having small size, high energy density, and reliable power capability are highly desirable. A multitude of stacked plate electrodes can be joined together to form the power cell, or battery. In certain applications, it can be desirable to include rechargeable lithium-ion batteries in devices, such that the batteries do not have to be removed from and replaced within the device. One such application is in medical devices.


A method for automatically transforming computed tomography (CT) studies to a common reference frame includes transforming selected CT studies to the common reference frame and generating a statistical atlas via a registration algorithm including a local refinement and establishing voxel-to-voxel correspondence between a CT study to be segmented and the statistical atlas via the registration algorithm including the local refinement.

The present invention relates generally to image systems and, more particularly, to systems and methods for automatically transforming computed tomography (CT) studies of a pelvis region to a common reference frame.
During clinical diagnosis, a patient's internal anatomy is imaged to determine how a disease has progressed. An infected tissue (such as tumor mass) shows some differences from a normal tissue. Also, the patient may have some type of individual differences or abnormalities regarding even healthy tissues.
Several modalities are used to generate images of the patient's internal anatomy or functionality, suitable for diagnostic purposes, radiotherapy treatment, or for surgical planning. Exemplary modalities include conventional X-ray plane film radiography; computed tomography ("CT") imaging, magnetic resonance imaging ("MRI"); and nuclear medicine imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography ("PET") and single photon emission computed tomography ("SPECT").
In a case of radiation treatment ("RT") planning, CT imaging is generally used because an image pixel gray value (Hounsfield Units) is a direct function of a radiation dose calculation. A CT image is three dimensional (3D), more precisely, the CT image is a collection of adjacent transaxial two dimensional (2D) slices. Clinicians undertake a process of recombining anatomical elements of 2D slices to form a 3D object or an organ to get anatomical data about the patient being treated. The process of recombining anatomical elements as stated above is usually termed a reconstruction.
RT planning typically involves, clinicians such as, for example, radiologists, dosimetrists or radiotherapists, tracing outlines of a few critical structures on a number of image slices. Manually tracing the outlines on a contiguous set of 2D slices and then combining them can be time consuming and labor intensive. Time and labor increase significantly both as the number of image slices increase, and as a number and size of an organ, tumor, etc. in an anatomical area of interest increases. Quality of the outlining and quality of a produced 3D object depend on a resolution and contrast of the 2D slices, and on knowledge and judgment of the clinician performing the reconstruction.
Using an automated image segmentation could save time and labor that would otherwise be needed if using manual tracing. Also, automated image segmentation could increase precision (intra-operator repeatability and inter-operator reproducibility) by eliminating subjectivity of the clinician.
Automated image segmentation of organs near the pubic bone face certain challenges. Organs such as, for example, a bladder and a prostate, are located in a soft tissue environment wherein resolution against surrounding structures has poor contrast since neighboring organs have similar density values. Additionally, a partial volume effect may distort borders between organs. The partial volume effect occurs because along borders between organs, the Hounsfield Unit values are a weighted average of density values of neighboring volumes. Furthermore, shape and position of organs such as, for example, the prostate may change periodically. Characteristics of abdominal organs also change from patient to patient including for example, shape, size and location of the organ. Imaging parameters of CT machines vary as well.
Methods have been developed to use statistical data gathered from images of numerous patients in order to assist in image reconstruction. However, the use of statistical data in a manner described above requires alignment of the images. Thus, it is desirable to obtain a method to automatically transform CT studies of the pelvis region to a common reference frame.

Method and system for automatically transforming CT studies to a common reference frame


A method of signal equalization of a transmitted bit stream by means of a feed forward equalizer is provided, whereby the signal is decomposed into at least two components and the components are multiplied with equalization parameters to form equalized components, which are superposed to form an equalized signal, and whereby conditional bit error rates by counting faulty transmitted bits in dependence of preceding and succeeding bits are determined and the equalization parameters are tuned dependent on the determined conditional bit error rates.

In long distance transmission systems at high bit rates over optical fibers, signal distorting effects occur which reduce the eye opening at the receiver. The distortion may be due to linear or non-linear effects, such as group velocity dispersion (GVD), polarization mode dispersion (PMD), transmitter chirp, extinction ratio, or intersymbol interference (ISI) induced by non-linearities of the fiber. These effects reduce the eye opening at the receiver and thereby lead to a reduced tolerable optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR), which is crucial for optically amplified systems.
In the optical receiver, the optical power is converted back into electrical signals. The digital data and sampling clock phase has to be derived from the analog signal by means of a clock and data recovery circuitry (CDR).
In order to improve the signal quality at the CDR circuit, it is known to apply adaptive equalization. A well known adaptive equalizer is the Feed Forward Equalizer (FFE) for a compensation of the transmission channel. In a FFE, the signal is equalized by means of a weighted sum of a tapped delay line.
The adaptation of the tap weights requires information about the analog signal. The information is utilized to estimate the channel model and/or for the calculation of the equalizer parameters.
It is known in the art to use a full speed analog to digital conversion (ADC) or a sample and hold circuit with an additional ADC, which is working at a lower speed.
An alternative method for a determination of the tap weights is based on measurement of pseudo errors at additional variable thresholds. The control algorithm has to vary and adapt equalization parameters by means of a deterministic procedure, e.g. by a least mean square algorithm (LMS) or by dithering and evaluation of the direction of improvement.
The major problem for the generation of a control signal is the realization of a high speed sample and hold circuit to sample the analog signal or the implementation of an "eye monitor", which may be understood as additional threshold with an exclusive-or-function of the current threshold. The output pulses counted at the exclusive-or-gate (EXOR-gate) correspond to the number of the different decisions. Those parallel comparator structures always exhibit performance degradation since the generation of an analog signal is always distorted by various parasitic elements of the circuitry. Using a pseudo error counter instead is disadvantageous since the data rate is doubled which results in an increased power consumption of the output interface.
The data stream transmitted may include a forward error correction code (FEC) which improves the bit error rate (BER) for a given signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by reducing stochastic distortions from optical or electrical noise and cross talk. For high bit rate transmission, FEC is becoming more and more mature to increase the tolerable SNR on long haul transmissions. In encoding for forward error correction, redundant bits are added to a bit stream so that errors may be detected and corrected at the far end. The number of added bits may equal the number of signal bits, resulting in a doubling of the data transmission rate for a given channel. However, in many cases redundant transmission by using FEC is beneficial due to a guaranteed low error rate.
Different FEC-Coding-Schemes are used, such as so called in band or out band, BCH (Bose-Chaudhury-Hoequengheen) or RS (Reed-Solomon) codes which fit for Sonet/SDH digital wrapper formats. If the input error rate of the data stream is below the error correction capability of the respective error correction code, the bit errors can be corrected and estimates of a bit error ratio (BER) may be measured by using the additional information from the respective FEC-decoding scheme. Specifically, the number of errors that can be corrected amount to (d−1)/2, where d denotes the minimum number of bit positions by which code words for a particular code are different ("Hamming distance").

Feed forward equalizer controlled by FEC correction rates


A charge/discharge protection apparatus of the present invention includes a switch provided on a charge/discharge current line, the charge/discharge current line being connected to a secondary battery of a battery pack. A charge-state overcurrent detector outputs a control signal when a charge-state overcurrent condition of the battery is detected in a charge state of the battery pack. A control unit sets the switch in OFF state to cut off connection between the charge/discharge current line and the battery in response to the control signal output by the charge-state overcurrent detector. The charge/discharge protection apparatus has a capability to detect the charge-state overcurrent condition of the battery, and protects the secondary battery from being damaged due to the charge-state overcurrent condition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a charge/discharge protection apparatus provided in a battery pack that supplies power to a mobile electronic system, the charge/discharge protection circuit protecting a secondary battery, such as a lithium-ion battery, from being damaged when the battery is placed in an overcharge condition, an over-discharge condition, a discharge-state overcurrent condition or a charge-state overcurrent condition. Further, the present invention relates to a battery pack in which the secondary battery and the charge/discharge protection circuit are provided.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent mobile electronic systems, a battery pack containing a secondary or rechargeable battery, such as a lithium-ion battery, is often used as the power supply that supplies power to the mobile electronic system. When the time the lithium-ion battery continues to be in overcharge condition is excessively long, the deposition of lithium metal will occur, which damages the battery pack or the mobile electronic system. On the other hand, when the time the lithium-ion battery continues to be in an over-discharge condition is excessively long, the repetitive charge/discharge operational life of the battery pack will deteriorate.
Conventionally, in order to eliminate the problems, a protection switch is provided on the charge/discharge current line between the secondary battery and the electronic system body. The protection switch is turned off when the overcharge condition or the over-discharge condition of the battery is detected, so as to disconnect the secondary battery from the charge/discharge current line. By using the protection switch, it is possible to avoid the continuation of the overcharge condition or the over-discharge condition of the secondary battery.
For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 11-103528 discloses a charge/discharge protection circuit for protecting a secondary battery from damage, which detects an overcharge condition, an over-discharge condition or a discharge-state overcurrent condition of the battery. In the protection circuit of the above document, the terminal to which the voltage of the battery is applied is constructed in a low voltage-resistance structure, and only the terminal to which the voltage of the charger (part of the semiconductor device) is applied is constructed in a high voltage-resistance structure. Such configuration allows the high voltage-resistance structure of the entire protection circuit, and it is possible to safely prevent the damaging of the protection circuit even when an improper charger is erroneously attached to supply a high voltage to the secondary battery.
The conventional protection circuit of the above document is capable of detecting the discharge-state overcurrent condition only. However, the conventional protection circuit of the type is not provided with a function of detecting a charge-state overcurrent condition of the battery. In order to protect the damaging of the secondary battery in the charge state after an improper charger (a defective or broken charger) is attached to the battery pack, the conventional protection circuit requires an externally attached fuse or the like. For this purpose, the conventional protection circuit including a mounting portion for the externally attached fuse has to be large in size, and the manufacturing cost will be raised.
Further, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 9-182283 discloses a charge/discharge protection circuit which detects any of an overcharge condition, an over-discharge condition and a discharge-state overcurrent condition of a lithium-ion battery. FIG. 7 shows a conventional charge/discharge protection circuit which is disclosed in the above document.
Generally, when the battery voltage is nearly equal to an operation stop voltage at which the discharging operation should be stopped, the voltage margin becomes small and a malfunction in the protection circuit due to a rapid change of the loading voltage is likely to occur. The setting of the protection switch in OFF state immediately after the battery voltage is equal to the operation stop voltage is avoided. It is desirable to set the protection switch in OFF state only when it is determined that the time the secondary battery is continuously set in any of the overcharge condition, the over-discharge condition and the discharge-state overcurrent condition exceeds a given reference period. To detect any of the overcharge condition, the over-discharge condition and the discharge-state overcurrent condition of the secondary battery, the conventional charge/discharge protection circuit in FIG. 7 utilizes a timer including an internal oscillator and a frequency-division counter.
As shown in FIG. 7, the conventional charge/discharge protection circuit is formed on an integrated circuit (IC) chip, and it generally includes an internal oscillator (OSC) 501, a frequency-division counter (FDC) 502, an OR gate 503, a voltage comparator (COMP) 504, a decoder (DEC) 505, an inverter 506, a protection switch 507, and a latch (LTC) 508.
In the conventional charge/discharge protection circuit of FIG. 7, the voltage comparator 504 compares a divided battery voltage VCC/N with a given reference voltage V4. When the battery voltage VCC is detected as being less than the operation stop voltage, the voltage comparator 504 outputs a low-level detection signal to the counter 502. At this time, the resetting of the counter 502 to zero is canceled by the low-level detection signal, so that the counter 502 starts counting. When the count value obtained at the counter 502 reaches a predetermined value that is set to the decoder 505, the decoder 505 sets the latch 508 so as to set the protection switch 507 in OFF state. The protection switch 507 is constructed by a MOS (metal-oxide semiconductor) transistor.
However, when the battery voltage is raised to a level higher than the operation stop voltage before the count value reaches the predetermined value, the voltage comparator 504 outputs a high-level detection signal (reset signal) to the counter 502. At this time, the counting of the counter 502 is canceled by the reset signal, so that the count value thereof is reset to zero. If the predetermined value that is set to the decoder 505 is made to a comparatively large value, it is possible to prevent the erroneous operation of the protection switch 507 even when the battery voltage VCC is temporarily changed to the level below the operation stop voltage due to a change of the loading voltage.
The above operation of the conventional protection circuit is given for explaining the detection of the over-discharge condition. Similar to the detection of the over-discharge condition, the delay time upon detection of the overcharge condition or the discharge-state overcurrent condition can be controlled by using the internal oscillator 501 and the counter 502 in the conventional protection circuit. Conventionally, in order to determine the delay times upon detection of these conditions, an externally attached capacitor has been needed on the protection circuit IC. According to the above-described conventional protection circuit of FIG. 7, the externally attached capacitor is no longer needed, and it is possible to reduce the total number of circuit components needed for the protection circuit.
The conventional protection circuit of FIG. 7 is not provided with a function of detecting a charge-state overcurrent condition of the battery. In order to protect the damaging of the battery in the charge state after an improper charger is attached to the battery pack, the conventional protection circuit requires an externally attached fuse or the like.
Further, the delay time upon detection of the over-discharge condition or the discharge-state overcurrent condition of the battery is usually set to a time on the order of 10 to 102 ms. However, the delay time when detecting the overcharge condition of the battery is usually set to a time on the order of several 103 ms. In the conventional protection circuit disclosed in the above document (JP 9-182283), it is difficult to shorten the testing time when performing an operation test of the conventional protection circuit that requires accurate measurement of the detection voltage with respect to the overcharge condition.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved charge/discharge protection apparatus in which the above-described problems are eliminated.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a charge/discharge protection apparatus which is capable of detecting a charge-state overcurrent condition of a secondary battery, and safely and reliably protects the battery against the charge-state overcurrent condition with no need for an externally attached fuse, by eliminating the charge-state overcurrent condition of the battery in an appropriate manner.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a charge/discharge protection apparatus which can shorten the testing time when conducting an operation test of the charge/discharge protection apparatus that requires accurate measurement of the detection voltage with respect to the overcharge condition.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack which includes a secondary battery and a charge/discharge protection apparatus, the charge/discharge protection apparatus having a capability to detect a charge-state overcurrent condition of a secondary battery, and safely and reliably protecting the battery against the charge-state overcurrent condition, with no need for an externally attached fuse, by eliminating the charge-state overcurrent condition of the battery in an appropriate manner.
The above-mentioned objects of the present invention are achieved by a charge/discharge protection apparatus for protecting a secondary battery of a battery pack from damage, the charge/discharge protection apparatus comprising; a switch which is provided on a charge/discharge current line, the charge/discharge current line being connected to the battery; a charge-state overcurrent detector outputting a control signal when a charge-state overcurrent condition of the battery is detected in a charge state of the battery pack; and a control unit which sets the switch in OFF state to cut off connection between the charge/discharge current line and the battery in response to the control signal output by the charge-state overcurrent detector,
The above-mentioned objects of the present invention are achieved by a battery pack including a secondary battery and a charge/discharge protection apparatus, the charge/discharge protection apparatus comprising: a switch which is provided on a charge/discharge current line, the charge/discharge current line being connected to the battery; a charge-state overcurrent detector outputting a control signal when a charge-state overcurrent condition of the battery is detected in a charge state of the battery pack; and a control unit which sets the switch in OFF state to cut off connection between the charge/discharge current line and the battery in response to the control signal output by the charge-state overcurrent detector.
In the charge/discharge protection apparatus of one preferred embodiment of the invention, when any of the overcurrent condition, the over-discharge condition, the discharge-state overcurrent condition, the short-circuit condition or the charge-state overcurrent condition is detected by the corresponding detector, the corresponding detector outputs a control signal to an oscillator circuit. The oscillator circuit starts outputting of a clock signal to a counter circuit. The output of the oscillator circuit is connected to the input of the counter circuit. The counter circuit starts counting of the clock signals received from the oscillator circuit. When the count value obtained at the counter circuit reaches a predetermined delay time, the control unit sets the switch in OFF state. In other words, when the delay time is reached after the detection of the undesired condition, the control unit sets the switch in OFF state. Since the charge/discharge current line to which the secondary battery is connected is cut off at the switch in the undesired condition, the charge/discharge protection apparatus protects the secondary battery from damage.
Therefore, the charge/discharge protection apparatus of the present invention is capable of of detecting a charge-state overcurrent condition of the battery with no need for an externally attached fuse, and is effective in safely and reliably protecting the battery against the charge-state overcurrent by- eliminating the charge-state overcurrent condition. There is no need for an externally attached fuse or the like to protect the battery against the charge-state overcurrent condition, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
In the charge/discharge protection apparatus of one preferred embodiment of the invention, a delay circuit, a test terminal, a test-mode switch and a delay time reducing unit are provided to reduce the entire period of a testing time of the charge/discharge protection apparatus. It is possible for the charge/discharge protection apparatus of the preferred embodiment to shorten the entire period of the testing time when performing an operation test of the charge/discharge protection apparatus that requires accurate measurement of the detection voltage with respect to the overcharge condition of the battery.

Charge/discharge protection apparatus having a charge-state overcurrent detector, and battery pack including the same


There is disclosed an apparatus for magnifying and capturing images of one or more samples, as well as an apparatus for changing objective lenses. Methods of using the apparatuses, and other embodiments, are also disclosed.

Current microscopy systems used for observing biological samples are generally based on a static and massive microscope body. Current microscope designs include complex connections to optical units such as an objective turret, an illumination unit, filter wheels, shutters, a camera, internal optics and other units. To enable the scanning of a given sample, devices to enable motion of the sample holder in the X, Y and Z directions are added to the microscope body, often being provided by vendors other than the microscope manufacturer. Such microscope systems are large, heavy and cumbersome, and include multiple control interfaces making operation and maintenance complex and expensive. During the imaging process of these microscopic systems, the sample is moved to capture images at different locations along the sample, while the optics units are static. Since, in order to cover a large number of image locations in a minimum of time, the sample holder may need to be subjected to motion with high levels of acceleration, this mode of operation may adversely affect the accuracy and quality of the acquired images, and may have critical impact in live cell experiments. Sample motion in biological experiments can affect its results and provide incorrect interpretation of these results.
Furthermore, in conventional microscopy systems used for biological applications, the scanning of a large area with multiple samples is a time-consuming task, and many of the images obtained may contain little or no useful data. In current microscopy systems used for high-content screening, the field of view imaged by the system optics is on the order of 100-500 by 100-500 microns, depending on the optics magnification used. The overall area that can be imaged in a standard sample-holding microplate is on the order of 7000 square millimeters. The number of images that can be obtained from a single microplate therefore numbers in the hundreds of thousands; attempting to obtain all those images within an acceptable time frame is not feasible. A typical method for dealing with this is to do some sort of statistical sampling of the microplate area. However, in any such method, most of the area is not sampled and many of the images obtained contain non-useful data.

Objective lens changer mechanism suitable for use in a compact microscopy system

Idea Machines Development Design & Production Ltd.


An easily circuit-programmable semiconductor device which comprises a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) unit, a redundancy circuit and a connection between them, the DRAM unit having as a capacitor a dielectric film made of a silicon oxide/silicon nitride/silicon oxide composite layer and the connection having, as a member for programming the redundancy circuit, an electrically breakable dielectric film made of a silicon oxide/silicon nitride/silicon oxide composite layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor device and more particularly to an improvement of a connection structure between a dynamic RAM (DRAM) unit and its redundancy circuit in a semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various redundancy structures have been applied to many semiconductor devices, particularly to those with a large scale integration such as DRAM and the like, for improving yield and for programming the integrated circuit-system. A redundancy structure for a DRAM is so constructed that each memory unit is provided with a peripheral circuit (hereafter called a redundancy circuit) and a polysilicon fuse is interposed at a connection between the redundancy circuit and the memory unit. At least one fuse is cut off by laser-beam heating to desirably program and assemble the redundancy circuit.
The above programming of the redundancy circuit by the use of the polysilicon fuse encounters a problem is that it requires an exclusive and special apparatus for laser-beam heating.
The present invention has been accomplished under the above circumstance. An object of the invention is to provide a semiconductor device wherein a programming of a redundancy circuit can easily be operated without using the above special apparatus.

Redundant memory device having a memory cell and electrically breakable circuit having the same dielectric film


This invention is to provide an electrode device whose manufacturing cost is suppressed and whose surface is difficult to be polluted. The electrode device comprises an internal electrode, an enclosure that houses the internal electrode, an internal solution that is housed in the enclosure and that electrically communicates a liquid junction formed in the enclosure or a response glass that forms a part or all of the enclosure with the internal electrode, and an antifouling mechanism that has a light source to irradiate ultraviolet rays on a sample contact surface of the enclosure as being a surface that makes contact with a sample and that prevents the sample contact surface of the enclosure from being polluted, and the light source is directly or indirectly mounted on an outside of the enclosure, or the light source is housed inside of the enclosure.

For example, in case of continuously monitoring an electrochemical property such as a pH of a sample in order to investigate quality of water, an electrode device such as a measurement electrode or a reference electrode might be continuously immersed in a sample solution for a log period of time.
Since various pollutants or microorganisms exist in the sample solution such as environmental water, if the electrode device is continuously immersed in the sample solution for a long time, a surface of the electrode device is polluted so that an adverse effect might be exerted on accuracy of a measurement such as a pH measurement.
Then, conventionally, for the above-mentioned electrode device, as shown in the patent document 1, it has been conceived that a surface of the electrode device that makes contact with the sample is coated with a thin film made of titanium dioxide having catalytic property to decompose pollutant in order to prevent the surface of the electrode device from being polluted.
In order to prevent pollution on the surface of the electrode device by the coating, it is necessary to irradiate ultraviolet rays on the thin film to activate the catalytic property of the titanium dioxide contained in the thin film.
Accordingly, conventionally the ultraviolet rays are irradiated on the surface of the electrode device by a light source arranged separately from the electrode device in order to activate the catalytic property of the titanium dioxide.
However, it is necessary for the above-mentioned conventional electrode device to arrange the light source so as to make it possible to irradiate the ultraviolet rays on a desired position of the surface of the electrode device. Then there is a problem that it takes time to assemble the electrode device or the light source.
In addition, for example, in case that the electrode device is used in a state of being immersed in the sample having property of fluidity, since there is a risk that a position of the electrode device or the light source gradually changes due to the flow of the sample, there is a problem that it takes time to conduct maintenance such that it is necessary to verify or adjust the position of the electrode device or the light source while in use.


A printing unit includes a support structure. The support structure includes a body portion with a tray positioned at one end of the body portion and a connector positioned at an opposing end of the body portion. A media supply cartridge is mounted on the body portion and is suitable for storing a stack of print media. A feed arrangement is mounted on the body portion and is configured to feed print media from the stack for printing. A print head assembly is mounted on the tray and is configured to print upon the fed print media.

The Applicant has developed print head assemblies that are capable of generating images having a resolution of up to 1600 dpi. Furthermore, the print head assemblies that the Applicant has developed are of a relatively small size, allowing them to be incorporated into a camera-based device such as that described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/113,053.
Details of such a print head assembly can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/113,053. The relatively small size has been largely the result of the development of an ink jet print head that is the subject of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/425,419.
The ink jet print head has allowed the Applicant to develop a compact portable printer that is directly engageable with a PCMCIA slot in a laptop or notebook computer.
This compact portable printer is the subject matter of the above referenced U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/436,509.
The Applicant has identified that it would be highly desirable to provide an image recordal and generation assembly or apparatus that is capable of generating the high-resolution images mentioned above and yet is of a size that is comparable to pocket sized cameras that are presently available.

Printing unit incorporating a replaceable media supply cartridge located between a connector and a print head assembly


A coordinate measuring machine for measuring a measurement object, comprising a workpiece support for supporting the measurement object and a measuring head carrying an optical sensor. The measuring head and the workpiece support are movable relative to one another. The optical sensor has an objective and a camera for capturing an image of the measurement object. The objective has a light entrance opening and a light exit opening, and comprises a multitude of lens-element groups arranged in the objective between the light entrance opening and the light exit opening one behind another along a longitudinal axis of the objective. A clearance is provided in the objective between the first and second lens-element groups. The coordinate measuring machine furthermore has a white light sensor and a partly reflective coupling element that is selectively moveable into the clearance for coupling the white light sensor into the objective.

The present invention relates to a coordinate measuring machine for measuring a measurement object, comprising a workpiece support for supporting the measurement object, comprising a measuring head carrying an optical sensor, wherein the measuring head and the workpiece support are movable relative to one another, wherein the optical sensor has a objective and a camera, which is designed to capture an image of the measurement object through the objective, wherein the objective has a light entrance opening and a light exit opening, wherein the objective has a multitude of lens-element groups which are arranged in the objective between the light entrance opening and the light exit opening one behind another along a longitudinal axis of the objective.
The use of optical sensors in conjunction with coordinate measuring machines makes it possible in many cases to measure geometrical properties of a measurement object very rapidly. One disadvantage of known coordinate measuring machines comprising optical sensors heretofore has been that the optical sensors are limited to specific measurement tasks and specific workpiece properties. The optical sensors are generally optimized for a specific type of measurement task, for instance with regard to the achievable measurement accuracy or the measurement range. Problems can be posed for example by workpieces which have large height differences parallel to the optical axis of the sensor. In part, different optical and/or tactile sensors are used in order to be able to react flexibly to different measurement requirements, wherein the individual sensors in each case perform only part of the overall measurement task. In general, each individual sensor is optimized towards a specific measurement task. Primarily optical sensors therefore have a respective individual optics which is well suited to a specific purpose of use and is less well suited to other purposes.
By way of example, coordinate measuring machines comprising a white light sensor have been proposed. Such a coordinate measuring machine is disclosed by the document DE 103 40 803 A1, for example.
Most of the confocal white light sensors used are point sensors. These sensors achieve a depth resolution in a range of less than 1 μm to approximately 20 mm. A resolution in such an operating range can typically be represented by approximately 15 bits. Such sensors are used to perform precise measurements along scanning paths on a measurement object. Often, measurement results of these sensors are combined with camera images. The advantages of fast surface information and very accurate depth information can be combined in this way. Embodiments in which a plurality of measurement channels or measurement points are arranged alongside one another are also known. However, the individual measurement points generally have a relatively large lateral distance, with the result that a measurement with a genuine, solid line is not possible.
On the other hand, it has also been proposed to direct a line of white light onto a measurement object. In this case, the different colours of the light within the available spectrum are imaged into different depths. The light reflected by the measurement object is subsequently analysed spectrally and a respective measurement point is assigned the depth value as measurement value for which the reflected spectral light distribution has its maximum value.
As explained in the document DE 103 40 803 A1, such white light sensors are arranged in addition to the other optical sensors on the carrier structure of the coordinate measuring machine.
The provision of different sensors for different measurement tasks in a coordinate measuring machine makes possible a high flexibility in conjunction with a high measurement accuracy. The high costs for the provision of the numerous sensors with in each case a dedicated optics adapted to the purpose of use of the sensor are disadvantageous. Furthermore, the large number of sensors with in each case a dedicated optics require a relatively large structural space in the coordinate measuring machine, which restricts the measurement volume and causes further costs.
There is a desire to provide an optical coordinate measuring machine which can perform a large range of optical measurement tasks in conjunction with comparatively low costs. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to specify a corresponding coordinate measuring machine and a corresponding method.

Coordinate measuring machine with selectively active white light sensor

CARL ZEISS INDUSTRIELLE MESSTECHNIK GMBH


A multiple function lock comprising a body, an engaging element having a first end and a second end, a locking mechanism for securing the first end and the second end of the engaging element to the body, and a gate mechanism for selectively concealing or revealing a passage in the body through which the second end may move to unlock the lock. In certain embodiments, a multiple function lock may comprise a body, a U-shaped shackle having toe and heel portions, the heel portion rotatably secured within the body, a locking mechanism for locking the heel and the toe portions within the body, a passage through the body adjacent to the toe portion, the toe portion adapted to move through the passage to unlock the lock, and either a retaining cup, an adjustable gate, or an outer housing, each being adapted to selectively block or reveal the passage.

Conventional locks, such as padlocks employing U-shaped shackles, are extremely popular. One reason for their popularity is the ease and convenience of their attachment to, and fit with, the hasps and other attachment mechanisms of devices with which they are used to provide for the unlatching and opening of the secured assembly.
The latching and locking functions of conventional locks most often involve the manipulation of an engaging element with respect to a captive element. The captive element typically includes a captive space, or cavity, within which the engaging element may be secured. When secured, the lock is locked and when unsecured the lock is unlocked. Conventional engaging elements are commonly referred to as shackles or bolts, depending on the category of lock being described. Nevertheless, conventional shackles and bolts generally work off identical principles known in the art.
The locks most frequently in use today rely on a single locking mechanism, most typically being operated by a key. Other locks rely on keyless locking mechanisms, such as combination locks. Notwithstanding, some applications require multiple function locks combining both key and combination functions. Dual function locks combining two key functions are also known. Such multiple function locks typically allow for the opening of the lock by one of two methods, namely, by either one of the multiple locking functions being unlocked independently or by both of the multiple locking functions being unlocked together. Those locks that require manipulation of multiple locking functions together are often referred to as multiple custody locks, in that two custodians are typically utilized. In any event, each of the opening methods typically manipulates one locking mechanism which serves to move the engaging element into or out of the captive space provided by the captive element.
Alternative mechanisms offering locking functions that rely on neither keys nor combinations are also known. These mechanisms require specialized tools to unlock and release the secured elements and find very limited application outside of very specialized markets.
Tamper indicative devices such as PRIVASEAL® brand protective seals have long been used as one time use security elements to provide evidence of tampering or access to secured objects. PRIVASEAL® is a registered trademark of Stanton Concepts, Inc., P.O. Box 139, Stanton, N.J. Locks incorporating seals as part of the security function in combination with key or keyless (combination) mechanisms are known. The seals are typically incorporated into the conventional locks such that the integrity of the seal is compromised upon opening or attempted opening of the lock to indicate access or tampering. Preferably, the seal is arranged such that tampering is readily apparent upon initial visual observation.
Today, safety concerns, particularly air travel safety concerns, mandate that security authorities have access to checked luggage, large shipping containers entering airport property, and the like. However, many lock users secure the item being locked with locks designed only for their own personal use. These locks may be provided with key or keyless (combination) function. Lacking the appropriate key or combination, authorized security personnel may be required to open the lock destructively.
The issue of nondestructive access has created the need for a new class of dual function locks. This new lock concept would permit the user to have the security and ease of use available from the traditional lock and, in addition, provide the appropriate authority with the ability to open and close the lock nondestructively, and independently from the traditional locking mechanism. This alternative function may provide credible security by being difficult to circumvent. Preferably, this alternative function is not the weakest opening mechanism in the lock, so that the alternative function is not the easiest mode of attack by those attempting forced or unauthorized entry.
In addition, the option for control and tracking of the opening event may be available by the use of tamper indicative devices, such as PRIVASEAL® protective seals. Such seals may be incorporated in a manner to reveal the operation of the alternative security function and/or the traditional locking elements.
The prior art is abundant with clever solutions to these problems used independently or in limited combination. However, none of the prior art devices combine these multiple features and functions as revealed herein. The subject invention combines various conventional security functions with novel developments to solve the new requirements for separate and discrete access to a single secured lock.
Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a novel lock, and specifically a novel multiple function lock using key, keyless (combination), alternative mechanisms or tamper indicative seals, singly or in combination, to provide for secure control of the opening and closing of the lock through various means which may be employed independently of each other.


A passbook printing apparatus prints a color face image and private information of the owner of a passbook in the passbook with a built-in IC chip including a passbook number recorded previously. In this time, the passbook printing apparatus first reads the passbook number from the IC chip built in the passbook, creates private information including the read passbook number, face image of the owner and printing information, and prints the printing information reflecting the passbook number read from the IC chip on a printing page of the passbook.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, which prints a face image and private information of an owner on a medium, such as an ID card for personal authentication and passbook with a built-in memory for wireless data reading/writing, and a printing method.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a known printing apparatus, which prints a face image and private information of an owner on a passbook with an IC to permit wireless data reading and wring data. (For example, refer to Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI No. 2002-2154.) As a passbook printing apparatus of this kind, an apparatus using an intermediate transfer film is known. (For example, refer to Published Japanese Patent No. 3465110 and Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI No. 2003-94701.)
A passbook printing apparatus using an intermediate transfer film has a printer, a transfer unit, and a reader/writer. In this apparatus, the printer prints a face image and character information on an image-receiving layer of the intermediate transfer film, the transfer unit thermally transfers the image-receiving layer of the intermediate transfer film to a printing surface of a passbook, and the reader/writer unit writes necessary data in an IC chip. Namely, this apparatus writes data in the IC chip after printing information on the printing surface of a passbook.
Thus, this apparatus cannot read previously written from the IC chip and reflect it on data to be printed on the printing surface of a passbook.
If the IC chip is found defective when writing data in the IC chip after printing the data on the printing surface, it is unknown whether the IC chip was broken from the beginning or broken in the passbook printing apparatus. In this case, the cause of the defect of the IC chip is unknown, and the responsibility is unclear.
In this case, the passbook is abandoned, and the intermediate transfer film and ink ribbon used for the printing are wasted. Besides, the abandoned passbook includes the printed private information, and must be carefully handled from the viewpoint of protection of private information.
Further, the above passbook printing apparatus cannot use data other than the information previously printed in a passbook, and security information to be printed on a passbook can be created only from visible information.


A breathable waterproof sheet, which interposes a support layer having a plurality of holes formed therein, thus preventing a waterproof air-permeable layer from colliding with a pressure sensor by a water pressure. The breathable waterproof sheet includes a waterproof air-permeable layer formed of a film having elasticity, an adhesive layer having one surface adhered to one surface of the waterproof air-permeable layer, and a support layer having a plurality of air-permeable holes formed therein and having one surface adhered to the other surface of the adhesive layer.

In recent years, mobile electronic appliances, such as a portable terminal, a digital camera, and a notebook, have increasingly been used. Such a mobile electronic appliance needs to have waterproof function because it is for portable use.
However, an air-permeable hole for permeating air is formed in a portion where a pressure sensor (e.g., altitude sensor) used for altitude measurement, etc. is installed, and water or dust permeates into the electronic appliance through the air-permeable hole.
Therefore, a breathable waterproof sheet for permeating air and blocking water or dust is installed on the air-permeable hole. Such a breathable waterproof sheet should be manufactured considering both waterproof performance and air-permeable performance.
Generally, the breathable waterproof sheet is formed in a structure similar to a waterproof sound-transmitting sheet installed in a microphone, a speaker, etc. of a portable terminal. That is, the breathable waterproof sheet is composed of a waterproof air-permeable film formed of a porous film for air-permeation.
However, there is a problem in that in the conventional breathable waterproof sheet, when a water pressure of a certain level or more is applied thereto, the collision between a waterproof air-permeable film stretched by the water pressure and the pressure sensor occurs, thus causing a malfunction of the pressure sensor.
In addition, there is a problem in that the conventional breathable waterproof sheet may cause a malfunction of the pressure sensor, thus providing false information to the portable terminal.


An exemplary direct-type backlight module includes light sources, a frame, and a fixing member. Each light source includes a supporting strip and at least one light-emitting member provided with the supporting strip. The frame includes a bottom plate. The bottom plate includes elastic members. The fixing member is engaged with the elastic members thereby fixing the supporting strips of the light sources to the bottom plate of the frame. A liquid crystal display using the backlight module is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a direct-type backlight module including a fixing element and a plurality of elastic elements which cooperatively fix a plurality of light sources to a frame, and to a liquid crystal display using the backlight module.
2. General Background
Liquid crystal displays are commonly used as display devices for compact electronic apparatuses, not only because they provide good quality images but also because they are very thin. The liquid crystal in a liquid crystal display does not emit any light itself. The liquid crystal requires a light source so as to be able to clearly and sharply display text and images. Therefore, a typical liquid crystal display requires an accompanying backlight module. Generally, backlight modules include side-edge backlight modules and direct-type backlight modules.
Referring to FIG. 6, a typical liquid crystal display 1 includes a liquid crystal panel 19, and a direct-type backlight module 10 below the liquid crystal panel 19.
The backlight module 10 includes a frame 15, a plurality of light sources 14, a diffusing plate 12, and a brightness enhancement film (BEF) 11. Each light source 14 includes a supporting strip 141 and a plurality of light-emitting elements 142. The supporting strip 141 includes a circuit (not shown) formed thereon. The light-emitting elements 142 are mounted on the supporting strip 141 in a line. An external power source provides power to the light-emitting elements 142 via wires (not shown) and the circuit. The frame 15 includes a substantially rectangular bottom plate 151, and four side plates 150 upwardly extending from edges of the bottom plate 151. The bottom plate 151 and the side plates 150 cooperatively define an accommodating space. The light sources 14, the diffusing plate 12, and the BEF 11 are accommodated in the accommodating space of the frame 15, in that order from bottom to top. The light sources 14 are mounted on the bottom plate 151 of the frame 15 through screws or double-sided strips of adhesive tape.
In assembly of the backlight module 10, the light sources 14 need to be fixed or stuck to the bottom plate 151 by hand. In the case of a large-sized liquid crystal display 1, many light sources 14 are required. For such kinds of liquid crystal displays 1 in particular, the operation of attaching the light sources 14 is complicated and time consuming.
Therefore, a new direct-type backlight module that can overcome the above-described problems is desired. What is also desired is a liquid crystal display using such backlight module.

Direct-type backlight module having fixing member and elastic members cooperatively fixing light sources


A method of adjusting a three-dimensional representation of an object to be manufactured in an additive manufacturing process comprises determining a processing operation to be applied to the object, and adjusting the three-dimensional representation of the object based on adjustment parameters associated with the processing operation.

Additive manufacturing techniques such as three-dimensional (3D) printing relate to techniques for making 3D objects of almost any shape from a digital 3D model through additive processes in which 3D objects are generated on a layer-by-layer basis under computer control. A large variety of additive manufacturing technologies have been developed differing in build materials, deposition techniques and processes by which the 3D object is formed from the build material. Such techniques may range from applying ultraviolet light to photopolymer resin, to melting semi-crystalline thermoplastic materials in powder form, to electron-beam melting of metal powders.
Additive manufacturing processes may begin with a digital representation of a 3D object or objects to be manufactured. This digital representation may be virtually sliced into layers by computer software or may be provided in pre-sliced format. Each layer represents a cross-section of the objects to be manufactured, and is sent to an additive manufacturing apparatus (also termed a "3D printer") where it is built upon a previously built layer. This process is repeated until the objects are completed, thereby building the objects layer-by-layer. While some available technologies directly print material, others use a recoating process to form successive layers that can then be selectively solidified in order to create each cross-section of the objects.
The build material from which the object or objects are manufactured may vary depending on the manufacturing technique and may comprise powder material, paste material, slurry material or liquid material. The build material may be provided in a source container from where it needs to be transferred to the building area or building compartment (e.g. chamber) of the additive manufacturing apparatus where the actual manufacturing takes place.
The object or objects to be manufactured may be specified in an object representation that describes the three-dimensional object.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An anchor for securing a manhole cover support to a manhole frame is shown. Dovetail-shaped receptacles are formed at a plurality of locations about the manhole cover support. A plurality of anchor straps having a cooperating dovetail shape are inserted into the receptacles. A lower end of each anchor strap has a threaded bolt extending upward. The anchor straps are simply dropped into the receptacles and the lower bolt is rotated to wedge the dovetail shapes tightly together and, at the same time, secure the manhole cover support against the frame.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to manhole cover supports for placing over and raising the effective grade of an existing manhole cover-receiving structure, and more particularly, to anchors for anchoring manhole cover supports to manhole cover-receiving structures.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ordinarily, a manhole cover support is used when a roadway is resurfaced with an added layer of paving material. A manhole cover support raises the level of the manhole cover to the new street level. Frequently, manhole cover supports are anchored to the manhole frame. A typical prior art anchor is simply a strap of metal which is bolted to a threaded hole in the manhole cover support at its upper end. The lower end is angled to reach beneath a flange which is formed in the manhole frame. A bolt which is threaded through the lower end of this strap contacts the underside of the flange to tighten the anchor. In other words, when the bolt is rotated, the strap is pulled downward to anchor the manhole cover support to the frame.
Installation of the prior art anchor straps requires that a worker hold the strap in position with one hand, and thread the upper screw into the manhole cover support with the other. Often times, the bolt and/or the strap and/or the wrench are dropped into the sewer pipe below. There is a need for a simple, speedy positive means of connecting the anchor straps with the manhole cover support to simplify installation and reduce the frequency of dropping parts.
Another problem utility companies face is that some manhole covers have downwardly extending reinforcement members on their underside. These reinforcement members sometimes interfere with conventional anchor straps and prevent their use. To replace the manhole cover with another non-interfering type is often prohibitively expensive. Thus, there is a need for a locking device which avoids interference with this type of manhole cover.


This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule which encodes KSHV virion protein 26. This invention provides an isolated polypeptide molecule which encodes KSHV virion protein 26. This invention provides an antibody specific to the polypeptide. Antisense and triplex oligonucleotide molecules are also provided. This invention provides a vaccine and method of vaccination, prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of a subject with KS and detecting expression of a DNA virus associated with Kaposi's sarcoma in a cell.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a new human herpesvirus (HHV8) believed to cause Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) 1,2!.
Kaposi's sarcoma is the most common neoplasm occurring in persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Approximately 15-20% of AIDS patients develop this neoplasm which rarely occurs in immunocompetent individuals. Epidemiologic evidence suggests that AIDS-associated KS (AIDS-KS) has an infectious etiology. Gay and bisexual AIDS patients are approximately twenty times more likely than hemophiliac AIDS patients to develop KS, and KS may be associated with specific sexual practices among gay men with AIDS. KS is uncommon among adult AIDS patients infected through heterosexual or parenteral HIV transmission, or among pediatric AIDS patients infected through vertical HIV transmission. Agents previously suspected of causing KS include cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B virus, human papillomavirus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus 6, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and Mycoplasma penetrans. Non-infectious environmental agents, such as nitrite inhalants, also have been proposed to play a role in KS tumorigenesis. Extensive investigations, however, have not demonstrated an etiologic association between any of these agents and AIDS-KS.
Virion protein 26 (VP26) is a component of the nucleocapsid structure in most herpesviruses. This structure serves as a delivery mechanism for the viral genome as it is spread from one infected cell to another. As part of the original infecting virus, it is recognized as a major antigen by the immune system and can therefore be used to screen for antibodies to the herpesvirus in patient sera and as a vaccine.

Virion protein 26 from Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, DNA encoding same and uses thereof

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York


Apparatus for creating subatmospheric high plasma densities in the vicinity of a substrate in a work space for use in magnetron sputter deposition aided by ion bombardment of the substrate. Unbalanced flux lines emanating from cylindrical or frusto-conical targets cannot be captured across the work space, because the energizing magnets are cylindrical, and instead converge toward the axis of the apparatus to provide a high flux density, and therefore a high plasma density, in the vicinity of a substrate disposed in this region. The plasma profile and the coating material profile within the work space are both cylindrically symmetrical, resulting in a consistent and predictable coating on substrates.

The present invention relates to apparatus for generating an electric plasma under subatmospheric pressure; more particularly, to such apparatus including a magnet for producing a magnetic field in the plasma, and a sputtering cathode; and most particularly to such apparatus wherein the magnetic field is unbalanced, the sputtering cathode has cylindrical symmetry, and sputtering proceeds from a cylindrical target surface. Apparatus and methods in accordance with the invention are useful for magnetron sputtering deposition of materials on substrates and for plasma cleaning or etching of substrates.
Cylindrical magnetron sputtering is a useful method for coating target materials onto three-dimensional complex shapes, such as the shapes of cutting tools, forming tools, biomedical devices, optical fibers, and the like. Some relevant prior art cylindrical sputtering devices using balanced magnetrons are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,884,793; 3,995,187; 4,030,986; 4,031,424; 4,041,353; 4,111,782; 4,116,793; 4,116,794; 4,132,612; and 4,132,613, the relevant disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
In planar magnetron sputtering, a known useful method for increasing the plasma density near the substrate(s) is to use an unbalanced magnetron, wherein part of the magnetic field which normally confines electrons to the vicinity of the target in balanced magnetrons is allowed to extend away from the target surface toward the substrate on which the film is being deposited. Thus, some of the field lines that emanate from the target surface do not close back through the target surface. This allows electrons, which have high mobility in directions parallel to the magnetic field lines, to be accelerated away from the target to where they can desirably ionize the background working gas in the vicinity of the substrate. Window and Savvides first disclosed unbalanced magnetrons (Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A4, 196 (1986) and Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A4, 453 (1986)).
Prior art unbalanced magnetron sputtering devices deal exclusively with planar, often circular, target surfaces. The xe2x80x9copenxe2x80x9d or unbalanced magnetic field lines can project from either the radially outer portions or the radially inner portions of the target surface. The targets can be circular, rectangular, or any other planar shape. The magnetic polarity is also unimportant in that either the north or south magnetic pole can be used to create the open or unbalanced field lines in all cases. In one common design, several unbalanced magnetron cathodes are used in concert to form a plasma trap surrounding the substrate (s). Such devices are taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,196,105 and 5,556,519. This multiple cathode arrangement is particularly beneficial in large coaters used to deposit hard and corrosion resistant materials. Most often the higher plasma densities produced by unbalanced magnetron sputtering are utilized by applying a negative electrical bias to the substrate, which bias accelerates ions toward the growing film with resulting improvements in density, composition and microstructure. Therefore, the highest possible ionization density is generally desirable.
Prior art cylindrical magnetrons use any of a variety of means to create traps for the secondary electrons produced by ion bombardment of the target, which electrons are responsible for maintaining the plasma. Some traps are formed by axial magnetic fields working together with electrostatic wings, and others are created by the magnetic field together with the surface of the electrode. Examples of such traps are described in the referenced patents.
As in planar magnetron sputtering, any of the applications for which cylindrical magnetron sputtering is particularly well-suited, such as coatings for wear and corrosion resistance and dense dielectric coatings, can benefit from a high level of ionization in the vicinity of the part(s) being coated. This permits the effective use of substrate bias or creates a level of self-bias on non-conducting substrates that improves the physical properties of the deposited film through controlled levels of ion bombardment. However, prior art cylindrical magnetrons purposely confine the plasma to the vicinity of the target surface to enhance rates of removal of material from the target, and consequently the plasma density near the depositional substrate is reduced.
The present invention relates to an improvement in plasma generating equipment for creating high plasma densities in the vicinity of a substrate. An important application is in magnetron sputter deposition onto a substrate when aided by ion bombardment of the substrate. However, we have found also that cylindrical plasma generating devices described in accordance with the present invention may be useful for other applications, such as for cleaning or etching a substrate and for creating high intensity light emission.
In conventional planar unbalanced magnetron coating devices, the unbalanced flux lines emanating from the target surface either diverge, causing the plasma to grow weaker, or are captured by opposite-polarity magnets across the working space, forming a magnet xe2x80x9clinkage.xe2x80x9d In contrast, the unbalanced flux lines emanating from cylindrical magnetrons in accordance with the present invention cannot be captured across the working space, because the magnets are also cylindrical, and instead converge toward the axis of the cylinder to provide a high flux density, and therefore a high plasma density, in the vicinity of a substrate disposed in this region. In prior art sputter deposition, substrates being coated may be exposed to non-uniform regions of plasma and coating material as they move through a sputtering chamber. In sputter deposition in accordance with the present invention, the plasma profile and the coating material profile are both cylindrically symmetrical, resulting in a consistent and predictable coating on substrates.

Unbalanced plasma generating apparatus having cylindrical symmetry


Stream ciphers, including synchronous stream ciphers, self-synchronizing stream ciphers, and totally asynchronous stream ciphers, employ a working key and a quasigroup transformation, where the quasigroup used is based on an initial secret key. Error-correction and pseudo-random number generation improver methods also employ quasigroup transformations.

Cryptography may be used to provide data integrity and/or data security for data communication. The latter can be important to protect the data communicated over a channel, including wired and wireless channels. One type of encryption makes use of a stream cipher. As opposed to block ciphers, which are characterized by production of a same block output in response to a same block input, stream ciphers can give different outputs at different times in response to an identical input. A stream cipher converts an input string (such as a message) into an encrypted output string (such as a ciphertext) using an input called a seed or key, with the goal that parties lacking the key will view the encrypted string as a random sequence. The level of encryption and, to some extent, the resources devoted to encryption determine the level of security (or randomness) to other parties.
Stream ciphers provide improved security over block ciphers, due to the lack of a fixed output response to a particular input. There exist in the art self-synchronizing (sometimes called asynchronous) and synchronous ciphers. In a synchronous stream cipher, later outputs from a decrypted stream do not suffer from an error that occurred during the transmission (excepting an error on the actual erroneous bit or group (block) of bits). When an error affects the decrypted stream, a self-synchronizing stream cipher is being employed. Self-synchronizing cipher stream methods permit the correct decryption of the stream after an error results in a number of blocks being decoded or transmitted erroneously.
Block and stream ciphers, and cryptography or transmission methods in general, make use of some important support methods. As an example, (pseudo-) random number generation is used in ciphers. Pseudo-random numbers are generated, for example, to provide seed or basis numbers for ciphering and deciphering methods. As another example, error correcting codes, which may be used to improve communication generally, particularly over noisy channels, may also provide benefit in cipher methods.

Cryptographic primitives, error coding, and pseudo-random number improvement methods using quasigroups

The Regents of the University of California


A method is disclosed for reducing an influence of voltage ripple on battery test measurements of battery cells coupled in series that form a direct current (DC) bus. A calibration operation is used to obtain a ratiometric difference between first and second series connected battery cells of the DC bus, which is indicative of a variance in their respective output voltages. Voltage measurements across each of the two cells may then be obtained at least substantially simultaneously. The ratiometric difference may be used to modify the voltage measurement taken across the second cell to produce a modified voltage measurement of the second cell. A difference between the measured voltage across the first battery cell and the modified voltage measurement may then be determined, which represents a filtered DC test voltage that has substantially all of the voltage ripple removed therefrom.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Battery cell internal resistance is an indication of battery cell health. Battery monitoring systems often used in uninterruptible power supply ("UPS") systems may determine individual cell internal resistance by periodically injecting a pulse of DC current through the cell and measuring the DC voltage developed across the cell during the current pulse test. This voltage is compared to the normal DC voltage across the cell to derive the cell internal resistance. However, the AC ripple voltage inherently present on an uninterruptible power supply ("UPS") system DC bus creates error in the test voltage measurements and therefore errors in the internal resistance calculation. Voltage ripple is introduced onto the front end of a UPS DC bus by rectification circuits of the UPS which apply current pulses from an upstream power source to maintain the DC bus voltage at the desired potential for proper UPS operation and to keep the battery cells of the UPS in a fully charged state. Voltage ripple is also introduced onto the DC bus by inverter circuits of the UPS which extract current pulses from the DC bus in the process of supplying power to the UPS load. The UPS DC bus ripple voltage signals may be random and are in the approximate amplitude and frequency range of the voltage signals generated by the battery cell test. The voltage ripple signals can create a signal-to-noise ratio concern with respect to the voltage measurements being taken. This can make it virtually impossible to effectively filter the AC ripple voltage from the desired DC voltage signal generated by the battery cell test.

System and method for improved accuracy in battery resistance measurement systems


Systems and methods for depositing a plurality of droplets in a three-dimensional array are disclosed. The array can comprise a first type of droplets disposed to form a support structure and a second type of droplets forming a conductive seed layer on the support structure. A structure material can be electrodeposited onto the seed layer to create a three-dimensional structure.

Using micro-formation techniques, many types of small structures can be made for many different applications. For example, many different types of micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) structures are known or are being developed for many different applications. This invention relates generally to methods and systems for making small structures and to the structures themselves.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Three dimensional microstructures and methods for making three dimensional microstructures


A method of providing a sensor IC package can include applying a film to a leadframe having first and second surfaces, mounting at least one component to the film, and applying a pre-mold material to cover at least a portion of the leadframe and the passive component while leaving a first side of the leadframe exposed. The film can be removed and a die attached to the first side of the leadframe. At least one electrical connection can be formed between the die and the leadframe. The assembly of the die, the leadframe, and the pre-mold material can be encapsulated with a final mold material to provide a low profile IC package.

Techniques for semiconductor packaging are well known in the art. In general, a semiconductor die is cut from a wafer, processed, and attached to a die attach pad of a lead frame. The subassembly may then be overmolded with a plastic or other insulative and protective material to form an integrated circuit (IC) package.
After packaging, the IC may then be placed on a circuit board with other ICs and components, including passive components such as capacitors, resistors, and inductors, which can be used for filtering and other functionality. For example, in the case of a magnetic field sensor integrated circuit containing a magnetic field sensing element, components such as capacitors are often required to reduce noise and enhance EMC (electromagnetic compatibility).
Magnetic field sensors including a magnetic field sensing element, or transducer, such as a Hall Effect element or a magnetoresistive element, are used in a variety of applications to detect aspects of movement of a ferromagnetic article, or target, such as proximity, speed, and direction. Illustrative applications include, but are not limited to, a magnetic switch or "proximity detector" that senses the proximity of a ferromagnetic article, a proximity detector that senses passing ferromagnetic articles (for example, magnetic domains of a ring magnet or gear teeth), a magnetic field sensor that senses a magnetic field density of a magnetic field, and a current sensor that senses a magnetic field generated by a current flowing in a current conductor. Magnetic field sensors are widely used in automobile control systems, for example, to detect ignition timing from a position of an engine crankshaft and/or camshaft, and to detect a position and/or rotation of an automobile wheel for anti-lock braking systems.
In some applications it is desirable to provide a back bias magnet with magnetic poles on the magnet surface adjacent to the magnetic field transducer. For example, as described in a U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,005 entitled "Hall-Effect Ferromagnetic-Article-Proximity Sensor," which is incorporated by reference, the near presence of opposite poles serves to short out the lines of flux when no ferromagnetic article is present, thereby presenting a significant and easily recognizable difference between an article present (e.g., gear tooth present) condition and an article absent (e.g., gear valley present) condition and maintaining a low magnetic flux density baseline regardless of airgap. Because of the easily recognizable difference in the magnetic field signal, these types of arrangements are advantageous for use in sensors in which it is necessary to detect the presence/absence of a magnetic article, such sensors sometimes being referred to as True Power On Sensors, or TPOS sensors.
Generally, back bias magnets and concentrators are held in place relative to the magnetic field sensing element by mechanical means, such as an adhesive as shown in a U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,865 entitled "Single Unitary Plastic Package for a Magnetic Field Sensing Device," which is incorporated by reference. Other sensors are manufactured so that the sensor and the back bias magnet or concentrator are integrally formed. A magnetic field sensor of this type is described in a U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0141249 entitled "Magnetic Field Sensors and Methods for Fabricating the Magnetic Field Sensors," which is incorporated by reference, in which a concentrator or magnet may be formed by a liquid encapsulant or a combination of a liquid encapsulant and permanent magnet in a cavity on the side of the sensor opposite the target.
There are many package types and fabrication techniques in use for providing integrated circuit magnetic field sensors. For example, the semiconductor die in which the magnetic field sensing element is formed may be attached to a lead frame by various techniques, such as with an adhesive tape or epoxy, and may be electrically coupled to the lead frame by various techniques, such as with solder bumps or wire bonding. Also, the lead frame may take various forms and the semiconductor die may be attached to the lead frame in an orientation with the active semiconductor surface (i.e., the surface in which the magnetic field sensing element is formed) being adjacent to the lead frame in a so called "flip-chip" arrangement, with the active semiconductor surface opposite the lead frame surface in a so called "die up" arrangement, or with the semiconductor die positioned below the lead frame in a so called "lead on chip" arrangement.
Molding is often used in fabricating integrated circuit magnetic field sensors to provide the protective and electrically insulative overmold to the semiconductor die. Transfer molding has also been used to form two different molded portions for various reasons. For example, in a U.S. Pat. No. 7,816,772 entitled "Methods and Apparatus for Multi-Stage Molding of Integrated Circuit Package" which is incorporated by reference, a first molded structure is formed over the semiconductor die to protect wire bonds and the device is overmolded with a second molded structure formed over the first molded structure. In a U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0140725 entitled "Integrated Circuit Including Sensor having Injection Molded Magnetic Material," which is incorporated by reference, an injection molded magnetic material encloses at least a portion of a magnetic field sensor.

Integrated circuit package having a low profile


An apparatus and method for receiving and sending messages from a communication device is disclosed. Message recipient information is compared to stored information for potential recipients to determine whether a characteristic of the expression of the message on a device display should be changed such that the user perceives an unavoidable visual indication relating to the result of the comparison.

Email has become a ubiquitous form of textual message exchange. It has become so commonplace that email users have come to regard its presence with the casualness of an intimate conversation. Despite the efforts of the business community in the education of its employees, people inadvertently leak proprietary information out of an organization by failing to verify that all of the designated recipients of that email (i.e., all of the names in the TO, CC and BCC address fields), are members of that organization (i.e., employees of the same company).
As one example, some email exchanges, which start out as communications marked as Attorney Client Privilege, may be continued among some of the recipients without including an attorney, thereby risking the claim of privilege for any material quoted within the email.
The problem of inappropriately distributing or redistributing email messages, at least as a result of human error, is unlikely to be thoroughly solved by education and policy mechanisms. Thus, a technology backstop is needed to reduce damage caused as a result of human error in creating or forwarding email messages.

Color differentiating a text message shown in a listing on a communication device