The likelihood that a called party to a telephone call has forwarded the call to another party, or has conferenced the call to include another party is estimated by requiring that the called party supply a first signal, illustratively a first DTMF signal, later requiring that the called party provide a second signal, illustratively the same DTMF signal provided by the first signal, and comparing characteristics of said first and second signals as received at a telephone network node.

DTMF signaling has long been used to communicate between telephone terminal equipment and network infrastructure, recording devices, other terminal equipment, and many other kinds of devices. Each key on a typical telephone station keypad dialer, usually corresponding to one of the digits 0 through 9 and star (*) and pound (#) symbols, is used to generate signals with a distinct pair of frequencies (a dual tone) that can be decoded to retrieve keyed digits and symbols. For simplicity, the digits and symbols selectable from a standard telephone keypad will be collectively referred to in this application as DTMF digits unless a distinction is necessary. A primary use of such keypads, DTMF digits, and associated tone pairs, has been to signal telephone digits to a telephone company central office when placing ("dialing") a telephone call from one of a wide variety of telephone station sets. As is well known, telephone numbers for telephone station sets typically comprise a sequence of seven- or ten-digits, with appropriate prefix and or suffix sequences to select particular services or to select other particular options. Of course, any number of digits can be used in particular calling sessions if mutually understood in the particular network.
Uses of keypads on telephone sets and other DTMF signaling equipment, including communication equipment embedded in network infrastructure, have come to be used for other than telephone station selection ("dialing"). Thus, for example, telephone calling card numbers and Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) are frequently entered using a telephone keypad to signal to remote network infrastructure using DTMF signaling. Telephone, or computer keypads or keyboards, are also used to send DTMF digits for many non-telephone applications, including entering information into Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) or other banking of devices, menu selection at Internet web sites and innumerable others. One important use of DTMF signaling is to indicate assent on the part of a called party to having a received collect call charged to the called telephone station account—popularly, accepting charges for a collect call.
Telephone calls made by inmates in jails, prisons and other custodial institutions are usually processed using so-called Inmate Calling Services (ICSs). A provider of such services may also be called an Inmate Calling Service, but will here be distinguished, when appropriate, by using the term ICS provider. An ICS provider typically employs a variety of processors, databases and other equipment elements individually well known in the art in a system (here referred to as an ICS System or ICS infrastructure) to perform the many functions involved in ICSs. Particular functions, such as call control, three-way call treatment (discussed below) and many others are typically configured and performed under stored program control of such ICS systems.
Custodial institutional regulations typically limit calls from an inmate to only those to specific authorized called parties. Usually, a list or computer database is consulted in response to a call request made by an inmate presenting a called party telephone number to determine whether the requested call is to an authorized called party. Such databases provide a called number validation or screening to prevent harassing calls from being made to, for example, police or other government officials, or to seek to prevent conversations relating to criminal activity, among other reasons. Of course, efforts are made to prevent calls to those who have indicated an unwillingness to receive calls from an inmate caller.
Modern technology has provided ample means for inmates and their accomplices to seek to circumvent call destination (called number) limitations. Thus, for example, so-called three-way (3-way) calls may be attempted by seeking to bridge (or conference) an existing (2-way) first call that has been completed from an inmate to an otherwise authorized called party with a second call from the authorized called party to an unauthorized second called party. In particular cases, the first called party may retain a presence on these bridged first and second calls, or the first called party may hang up the first call. In the latter case, the call from the inmate will effectively have been forwarded to the second unauthorized called party.
Many schemes have been devised by enterprising inmates and their non-inmate collaborators to have a call to an authorized called party routinely forwarded to a third party who, in many cases, may be an unauthorized called party. It should be noted, however, that some three-way or conference calls may be authorized, as in the case where a family member and an attorney for a calling inmate may be permitted. In such cases, however, it is important that the ICS provider, in keeping with institutional regulations, provide control over who may be connected in such authorized conference calls. Incorporated patent application 5 is directed, in part, to techniques for affording ICS providers with improved control over participation in calls involving inmate callers.
Different versions of bridging or conferencing of telephone calls by local and long distance telephone companies provide their subscribers with different particular connections or sets of connections to continue after the completion of the first call. For example, bridging may be accomplished by the called party to the first call using a second telephone line at the station set of that first called party to reach (and bridge or conference) the unauthorized second called party. The terms bridge and conference will be used interchangeably in this application unless a distinction is required by a particular context. It is noted, however, that some practitioners in the telecommunications arts seek to distinguish extending a call to a third party solely through a telephone company central office, or the equivalent, from a bridge established at a (first) called party station. Call forwarding likewise has several different implementations. Some of these implementations, commonly provided as a local (or other) telephone company service, involve behavior, such as keying in a prefix or code (such as 72*) followed by the forwarded-to number. Moreover, such activation of call forwarding on a telephone line (associated with a subscriber number or account) can often be performed remotely from anywhere a DTMF telephone can be used to place a call to the telephone company providing such remote call forwarding service. Typically, call forwarding by a local telephone provider will, once activated by a first code will remain active until deactivated by an authorized person, such as the account owner. For simplicity in the sequel, all calls involving bridging, conferencing or forwarding of calls to unauthorized parties will be referred to as unauthorized 3-way calls, or simply 3-way calls—and the actions seeking to establish or maintain such calls as 3-way calling.
ICS providers use specialized call handling equipment to process a request for a call by an inmate to a called party identified by the inmate by temporarily connecting the calling party to ICS infrastructure equipment—effectively placing the calling party on hold. This on-hold condition persists until the called party is available to be connected (bridged) with a connection from the ICS infrastructure to the called party.
Since many, if not most calls by inmates using an ICS are collect calls, use of DTMF to indicate willingness of a called party to pay for a received call from an inmate is quite common. In typical practice, recorded voice prompts are played when a called party answers a call from an inmate, but before the inmate is bridged to the connection to the authorized called party. This voice prompt will indicate the nature of the call and the identification of the calling party, and will require that the called party depress one or more identified keys on his/her telephone keypad, e.g., "Please press the three key if you agree to have this call charged to your telephone account." Then, receipt by the ICS provider of the DTMF tones associated with the requested digit or digits, e.g., the "3," is taken as assent by the called party to have the call charged to his or her account. Generally, if such assent to being charged for the collect call is not received in due course by the ICS provider, the call will be terminated. Alternatively, the voice prompt will be repeated, other voice prompts will be delivered to the called party, or other communication will ensue between the ICS provider and the called party until agreement to pay for the call is received or the call is terminated.
When the called party agrees to have the incoming collect call charged to his/her account, the connection from the calling inmate to ICS infrastructure is bridged to the connection from the ICS provider to the called party. In typical practice, ICS equipment will record and a confinement officer may monitor some or all of: the call request by the inmate, the voice announcements and prompt(s) from the ICS provider to the called party, the called party responses (including DTMF signals received by the ICS provider). As well, as the bridged telephone connection between the calling inmate and the called party that occurs after acceptance of charges by the called party will typically be monitored and/or recorded. Of course, any subsequent bridging or forwarding of connections to include the calling party and other than the original called party will typically be monitored and/or recorded. Though the totality of the call activity for each particular inmate-originated call will typically be recorded, the degree and kind of active monitoring (human and/or machine) may vary during the course of a call. However, an ICS provider actively maintains some presence on each on-going call, and the call participants are made aware of such presence.
Because certain signals appear on a telephone connection involving a station seeking to bridge or conference a third party to an existing call completed from an inmate to an authorized called party, attempts to thwart, or at least detect, unauthorized 3-way calling have tended to focus on detecting signals arising from activities by the authorized called party in attempting to establish a 3-way call. Thus, in particular, monitoring of line signals during an on-going connection for the presence of so-called hook-flash signals used by some telephone companies in providing conferencing or call forwarding has been employed. In other attempts at 3-way call detection, other particular telephone line signal characteristics have been monitored, such as background noise levels, call progress tones, echoes and many others. However, because communications networks are subject to a variable array of noise conditions, echoes and other impairments, and because monitoring equipment and software often prove inadequate to their task of identifying unauthorized calling, and for other reasons, prior 3-way call detection efforts have proven largely unsatisfactory. Further, it has proven costly in terms of processing resources needed for continued monitoring of an on-going call for any of a large number of signal conditions possibly indicative of 3-way call attempts. The incidence of false-positive indications of 3-way call attempts has likewise resulted in the inconvenience of unnecessary call interruptions and terminations, and consequent loss of revenue for ICS providers.
DTMF signal monitoring has been used to identify signal condition involved in establishing a 3-way call, but such DTMF monitoring has typically been in the form of detecting the number of DTMF digits keyed by a called party after an otherwise authorized call has been in progress. Thus, detection of more than a predetermined number DTMF digits has, in some cases, been deemed to be indicative of the placing of an unauthorized 3-way call by an authorized called party. (In confinement institutions it proves relatively simple to prevent the generation of DTMF signals by an inmate by merely disabling the institutional keypad after initial call set-up information has been entered.)
However, because keyed DTMF digits are now being used for a variety of allowable purposes after a call is connected, voice and other signals on the line will be present on a connection while the DTMF detector is active. Indeed, some monitoring or other voice processing applications require a DTMF detector to be capable of recognizing DTMF tones simultaneously with an ongoing voice conversation, while recording a message, playing a message or at other times. For such applications, a DTMF detector must be capable of interpreting received tones in a reliable manner, even when these tones are significantly degraded when compared to DTMF tones transmitted from user equipment to a DTMF detector located in a local telephone central office. If the DTMF detector mistakes speech from an outgoing recording from a voice processing system or a speech signal present on the line as a valid DTMF tone, a monitoring system may enter some undesired mode, resulting in system failure. Mistakes of this type are more common because particular received DTMF tones are not always known in advance or expected, nor is the time of arrival for such tones known.
Importantly, as described in incorporated patent application 7, inadvertent depression of one or more keypad digits can result in a false determination that a 3-way call attempt has been made or is in progress.
It is therefore desired that the ubiquity of DTMF signaling be exploited in 3-way call detection while avoiding shortcomings of prior art 3-way call detection techniques.

Method and apparatus for evaluating possible 3-way call events


The invention provides spoIIIE polypeptides and DNA (RNA) encoding spIIIE polypetides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are methods for utilizing spoIIIE polypeptide for the protection against infection, particularly bacterial infections.

It is particularly preferred to employ Staphylococcal genes and gene products as targets for the development of antibiotics. The Staphylococci make up a medically important genera of microbes. They are known to produce two types of disease, invasive and toxigenic. Invasive infections are characterized generally by abscess formation effecting both skin surfaces and deep tissues. S. aureus is the second leading cause of bacteremia in cancer patients. Osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, septic thrombophlebitis and acute bacterial endocarditis are also relatively common. There are at least three clinical conditions resulting from the toxigenic properties of Staphylococci. The manifestation of these diseases result from the actions of exotoxins as opposed to tissue invasion and bacteremia. These conditions include: Staphylococcal food poisoning, scalded skin syndrome and toxic shock syndrome.
SpoIIIE is a membrane bound protein involved in chromosome partitioning during sporulation and vegetative replication in a wide variety of bacteria. The spoIIIE gene was initially characterised in Bacillus subtilis (Butler P. D. and Mandelstam J. (1987) Journal of General Microbiology 133:2359-2370). SpoIIIE protein has an ATP binding site and is membrane-bound, and appears to form a pore in the nascent spore septum, through which the prespore chromosome is driven in a conjugation-like mechanism (Wu L. J., Lewis P. J., Allmansberger R., Hauser P. M. and Errington J. (1995) Genes and Development 9:1316-1326). spoIIIE mutants cannot sporulate as they are unable to partition the prespore chromosome into the polar prespore compartment. Instead a specific chromosomal segment comprising approximately 30% of the chromosome enters the prespore, while the rest remains in the mother cell, trapped by the septum (Wu L. J. and Errington J. (1994) Science 264:572-575). In wild-type cells SpoIIIE is membrane-bound, and appears to form a pore in the nascent spore septum, through which the prespore chromosome is driven in a conjugation-like mechanism (Wu L. J., Lewis P. J., Allmansberger R., Hauser P. M. and Errington J. (1995) Genes and Development 9:1316-1326).
It has been shown that SpoIIIE is also required for correct partitioning of the B. subtilis chromosome during vegetative cell division. spoIIIE-Mutants in which replication has been artificially delayed are unable to separate the replicated chromosomes before septum formation, resulting in a trapped nucleoid similar to that formed at the start of sporulation (Sharpe M. E. and Errington J. (1995) Proceedings of the Natural Academy of Sciences USA 92:8630-8634).
SpoIIIE has been shown to be essential in Escherichia coli (Begg K. J., Dewar, S. J. and Donachie W. D. (1995) Journal of Bacteriology 177:6211-6222). Highly conserved SpoIIIE homologues are found in diverse members of the eubacteria such as Campylobacter jejuni (Miller, S., Pesci E. C. and Pickett C. L. (1994) Gene 146:31-38), Coxiella burnetii (Oswald W. and Thiele D. (1993) Journal of Veterinary Medecine B40:366-370), Eshcerichia coli (Begg 1995 above) and Haemophilus influenzae (Fleischmann, R. D., Adams, M. D., White, O., Clayton, R. A., Kirkness, E. F., Kerlavage, A. R., Bult, C. J., Tomb, J.-F., Dougherty, B. A., Merrick, J. M., McKenney, K., Sutton, G., FitzHugh, W., Fields, C. A., Gocayne, J. D., Scott, J. D., Shirley, R., Liu, L.-I., Glodek, A., Kelley, J. M., Weidman, J. F., Phillips, C. A., Spriggs, T., Hedblom, E., Cotton, M. D., Utterback, T. R., Hanna, M. C., Nguyen, D. T., Saudek, D. M., Brandon, R. C., Fine, L. D., Fritchman, J. L., Fuhrmann, J. L., Geoghagen, N. S. M., Gnehm, C. L., McDonald, L. A., Small, K. V., Fraser, C. M., Smith, H. O. and Venter, J. C. (1995) Science 269:496-512). All of these proteins are 36-55% identical at the amino acid level overall. Their N-terminal 200 amino acids are hydrophobic and not conserved, so if the C-terminal 500 or so amino acids are considered alone the level of conservation rises to 42-67% identical amino acids. This high level of identity among diverse eubacteria strongly suggests commonality of function.
Inhibitors of SpoIIIE proteins would prevent the bacterium from establishing and maintaining infection of the host by preventing it from correctly partitioning the chromosome in the manner described above and thus arresting cell division and growth, rendering the bacterium susceptible to host defences and leading ultimately to cell death and thereby have utility in anti-bacterial therapy.
Clearly, there is a need for factors that may be used to screen compounds for antibiotic activity and which factors may also be used to determine their roles in pathogenesis of infection, dysfunction and disease. There is also a a need for identification and characterization of such factors and their antagonists and agonists which can play a role in preventing, ameliorating or correcting infections, dysfinctions or diseases.
The polypeptides of the invention have amino acid sequence homology to a known B. subtilis spoIIE protein.


In one aspect, a busbar connector includes first and second portions. Each portion includes a rigid member forming an exterior portion of the busbar connector, a conduction member forming an interior portion of the busbar connector and a compliant member having a stiffness less than the rigid member and including a first surface attached to the rigid member and a second surface opposite the first surface attached to the conduction member. The busbar connector also includes a fastener structure configured to secure a first busbar and a second busbar between and in contact with the conduction members of the first and second portions to allow current to flow between the first and second busbars.

Busbars refer to thick strips of metal (e.g., copper or aluminum) that conduct electricity within an electrical system often carrying high current or requiring low inductance. Sometimes busbars from two separate electrical systems need to be connected to transfer electricity between the two electrical systems. The most common method for attaching busbars together has been to use fasteners. Another approach to attach busbars together is to use a sliding-style connector that pushes on the adjoining two busbars from the side. The sliding-style connector relies on a louvered interface to ensure adequate electrical contact and mechanical retention.


The invention relates to a method for treating a contaminated slurry comprising subjecting the slurry to a treatment wherein contamination is transferred from a substantially solid phase of the slurry to a substantially liquid phase of the slurry.

In a large number of processes such as for instance coal gasification, refuse burning and processes in the chemical or metal industries, large quantities of waste are released. This waste contains different sorts of contaminants, such as organic matter in the form of petroleum and oil for example and heavy metals.
The treatment of ground and water beds is subject to increasingly strict regulations. A lot of attention is being given to the decontamination of industrial terrains, which can thereafter be used for further redevelopment. In the particular case of water beds, stringent regulations are being introduced relating to the amount of contaminated dredged up species which has to be processed. For instance the Dutch Government has stated that 20% of all contaminated slurry species must be processed in the year 2000.
Known processes for treating slurry include ozone treatment.
Ozone has been shown to react with organic compounds in two ways (Langlais, B. et al., 1991; Ozone in water treatment. Application and Engineering, Chelsea, Mich., USA, Lewis Pulbishers Inc., Nelson, C. H., Brown, R. A., 1994. Adapting ozonation for soil and ground water clean up. In; Chemical Engineering pp. EE 18-25)), by direct reaction by means of electrophylic or cyclo-addition and by indirect reaction via free radicals, formed from ozone after reaction with water or other compounds.
Under direct reaction, ozone reacts firstly with double bonds (C.dbd.C, C.dbd.C--O--R, C.dbd.C--X) or with atoms which are negatively charged (N, P, O, S, and nucleophilic carbon atoms). A high reactivity is therefore envisaged for ortho-activated aromatic compounds by OH, CH.sub.3 or OCH.sub.3. Dependent on the structure of products of the primary oxidation, ozone can also react with this.
Indirect ozone oxidation is non selective. In this instance, oxidation is carried out via a radical mechanism in which differing organic compounds can take part.
Under oxidation of aromatic compounds or polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAH's) the aromatic ring reacts first, resulting in decyclisation and loss of the aromatic structure or side chains. The primary formed products are unsaturated acids and quinones.
The international patent application PCT/DK88/00024 and the Journal of Environmental Science and Health, vol. A17, no. 5, 1982 Baton Rouge (USA) describe processes of ozone treatment.
Problems with these processes, however include controllability, and the cost inefficient consumption of ozone.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for the treatment by ozone of contaminated slurry, wherein the process is controllable and wherein ozone consumption is minimized.

Method and device for treating a contaminated slurry


A height adjusting structure for a stand of a display device is provided. The stand includes a guide rail, base, supporting unit, and guide unit. The guide rail is fixedly installed to a rear surface of the display device. The base is supported on a horizontal surface. The supporting unit extends upward from the base. The guide unit is fixedly installed on the supporting unit, to be guided and moved along the guide rail. The height adjusting structure uses a minimum number of parts, is easy to assemble, is highly resistant to external shocks, is able to securely support a display device, operates quieter, and has improved operating reliability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a height adjusting device for a display device, and more particularly, to a height adjusting device for a display device that allows height adjustment of the display device using a simple configuration, and to a stand for a display device having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A display device according to the related art uses a stand to rest on a flat surface. Here, the stand supporting the display device has an adjusting structure that allows the display device to be moved up and down or pivoted to the left and right, depending on the user's requirements.
Height adjusting structures for display devices according to the related art employ a hinge assembly coupled to the rear of the display device allowing pivoting of the display device, a sliding assembly connected to the hinge assembly, and a sliding assembly height adjusting unit formed on a supporting unit for moving the sliding assembly up and down.
However, this height adjusting structure is formed of metal and uses screws to join the structure, and is therefore susceptible to damage incurred from external collisions and has a complex assembly structure.
Also, in the above metal height adjusting structure, a separate component is required to cover the sliding assembly and the height adjusting unit, so that more components and a higher manufacturing cost are needed.
Another problem with the above height adjusting structure using many components and metal ingredients is that it takes up a lot of space.
Also, the height adjusting unit that adjusts the height of the display device in the above height adjusting structure is formed on a supporting unit erected on a base unit of the stand, so that the center of gravity of the main body of the display is disposed forward of the center of the supporting unit. Thus, the stand is unstable due to the weight of the display device.

Height adjusting device of a display device and stand for display device


This application relates to a photoelectric conversion apparatus which performs photoelectric conversion on incident light, a method for driving a photoelectric conversion apparatus, and an imaging system having a photoelectric conversion apparatus. The potential of one main node is prevented from approaching a predetermined potential which controls the voltage between a control node of a switch Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) transistor and the one main node of the switch MOS transistor within a threshold voltage in a period when the predetermined potential is given and a signal based on the charge in the photoelectric converting unit is given to the one input node.

1. Field of the Invention
One disclosed aspect of the embodiments relates to a photoelectric conversion apparatus which performs photoelectric conversion on incident light, a method for driving a photoelectric conversion apparatus, and an imaging system having a photoelectric conversion apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A photoelectric conversion apparatus has been known which outputs a signal acquired by performing photoelectric conversion on incident light. As an example of such a photoelectric conversion apparatus, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-78472 discloses a photoelectric conversion apparatus including a photoelectric converting unit which performs photoelectric conversion on incident light, a differential amplifying unit which outputs a signal based on a signal output by the photoelectric converting unit, and an output circuit which outputs a signal based on a signal output by the differential amplifying unit. The photoelectric conversion apparatus further includes a signal holding unit which is provided on an electrical path between the output circuit and the differential amplifying unit and holds a signal output by the differential amplifying unit, and a switch Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) transistor to be used to select whether to bring the electrical path between the signal holding unit and the differential amplifying unit into conduction. The photoelectric conversion apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-78472 further includes a plurality of pixel parts each having the photoelectric converting unit, differential amplifying unit, and switch MOS transistor provided on the feedback path to the differential amplifying unit.

Photoelectric conversion apparatus, method for driving photoelectric conversion apparatus, and imaging system


A sheet ejection tray on which a sheet ejected from a sheet ejection port lands, includes: an inclined surface that becomes higher as farther from the sheet ejection port in a sheet ejecting direction; a projecting member that is provided in a region closer to the sheet ejection port than the position on which a leading end of the sheet having a dimension not smaller than a predetermined value lands and which has a guiding surface more inclined than the inclined surface; and an abutting cover that contacts a rear end of the sheet moving toward the sheet ejection port due to the inclination of the guiding surface. The leading end of the sheet passes above the projecting member before landing on the guiding surface. A portion of the sheet closer to the sheet ejection port than the leading end lands on the guiding surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet ejection tray onto which sheets having images formed thereon are ejected from an image forming apparatus and stacked.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to respond to a need of reducing the thickness of sheets used for contents in an envelope and the like, for example, thin sheets are provided as a type of sheets used in the image forming apparatus. Since the thin sheets are not sturdy, leading ends of the sheets might be lifted up or rolled by air resistance received from the peripheral air when being ejected onto a sheet ejection tray. Such a phenomenon is particularly remarkable during high-speed printing when the sheets are conveyed at a high speed. Thus, sheet alignment of the ejected sheets on the sheet ejection tray and the like are adversely affected.
Conventional proposals for improving sheet alignment when thin sheets are ejected onto the sheet ejection tray include handling of the above-described problem by suspending the leading end of a sheet by using air resistance during sheet ejection, for example. However, if the leading end of the sheet is suspended during ejection, the leading end of the sheet lands on the sheet ejection tray and is caught by the sheet ejection tray before a position where the sheet should have been ejected, and the sheet is ejected onto the sheet ejection tray in a state where the leading end side is rolled inward. Such sheets cause disturbance in alignment of subsequent sheets ejected onto the sheet ejection tray.
Therefore, in the above-described conventional proposal, an inclined surface with inclination larger than that of the sheet ejection tray is provided on the sheet ejection tray. This inclined surface is brought into contact with the suspended leading end of the sheet ejected onto the sheet ejection tray and corrects the direction of the sheet leading end to above a sheet ejection tray surface (Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-55707, for example).
In an image forming apparatus in which a conveying speed of the sheet is increased in accordance with the high-speed printing, a sheet ejecting speed of the sheet with respect to the sheet ejection tray is high, and a distance for which the sheet moves until it lands on the sheet ejection tray becomes longer. Thus, sheet alignment tends to be disturbed by air resistance received by the sheet from the periphery. Thus, in an image forming apparatus adapted to high-speed printing, a sheet landing on the sheet ejection tray is moved so as to return to the base end side of the sheet ejection tray by using the inclination of the sheet ejection tray, and a rear end of the sheet is brought into contact with an abutting cover on the base end of the sheet ejection tray, which is effective in improvement of sheet alignment.
However, if the leading end of the sheet ejected onto the sheet ejection tray is brought into contact with the inclined surface on the sheet ejection tray as in the above-described conventional proposal, when the sheet slides down the inclined surface with inclination larger than that of the sheet ejection tray, the sheet is accelerated, and the rear end of the sheet is brought into contact with the abutting cover in a rush. Then, the rear end side of the sheet is swollen and curved by the rush when the sheet is brought into contact with the abutting cover. Such a sheet causes new disturbance in sheet alignment of the sheets to be subsequently brought into contact with the abutting cover.
The above-described problem often occurs particularly in a thin sheet having a dimension not smaller than a predetermined value in the sheet ejecting direction (feeding direction). On the other hand, since the thin sheet having a dimension less than the predetermined value in the sheet ejecting direction has rigidity higher than that of the thin sheet having a dimension not smaller than the predetermined value, the sheet withstands an impact received by the sheet rear end at contact with the abutting cover and the sheet is not curved. This is considered to be the reason for the above-described problem.
Therefore, even with the sheet having a dimension less than the predetermined value in the sheet ejecting direction when being conveyed with the short side conforming to the feeding direction, if the sheet is conveyed with the long side of the sheet conforming to the feeding direction, the dimension becomes not smaller than the predetermined value in the sheet ejecting direction, and the above-described problem might occur.


The present invention provides a nucleic acid molecule which contains a nucleotide sequence encoding a SNAP-25 substrate which includes (i) a green fluorescent protein; (ii) a first partner of an affinity couple; and (iii) a portion of SNAP-25 that includes a BoNT/A, BoNT/C1 or BoNT/E recognition sequence containing a cleavage site, where the cleavage site intervenes between the green fluorescent protein and the first partner of the affinity couple. Further provided herein is a nucleic acid molecule which contains a nucleotide sequence encoding a tagged toxin substrate which includes (i) a fluorescent protein; (ii) a first partner of an affinity couple; and (iii) a clostridial toxin recognition sequence containing a cleavage site, where the cleavage site intervenes between the fluorescent protein and the first partner of the affinity couple.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to protease assays, and more specifically, to recombinantly produced substrates and methods for assaying protease activity of clostridial toxins such as botulinum toxins and tetanus toxins.
2. Background Information
The neuroparalytic syndrome of tetanus and the rare but potentially fatal disease, botulism, are caused by neurotoxins produced by bacteria of the genus Clostridium. These clostridial neurotoxins are highly potent and specific poisons of neural cells, with the human lethal dose of the botulinum toxins on the order of micrograms. Thus, the presence of even minute levels of botulinum toxins in foodstuffs represents a public health hazard that must be avoided through rigorous testing.
However, in spite of their potentially deleterious effects, low controlled doses of botulinum neurotoxins have been successfully used as therapeutics. These toxins have been used in the therapeutic management of a variety of focal and segmental dystonias, of strabismus and other conditions in which reversible depression of a cholinergic nerve terminal activity is desired. Established therapeutic uses of botulinum neurotoxins in humans include, for example, treatment of blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm, laringeal dysphonia, focal hyperhidrosis, hypersalivation, oromandibular dystonia, cervical dystonia, torticollis, strabismus, limbs dystonia, occupational cramps and myokymia (Rossetto et al., Toxicon 39:27-41 (2001)). Intramuscular injection of spastic tissue with small quantities of BoNT/A, for example, has been used effectively to treat spasticity due to brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy Additional possible clinical uses of clostridial neurotoxins currently are being investigated.
Given the potential danger associated with small quantities of botulinum toxins in foodstuffs and the need to prepare accurate pharmaceutical formulations, assays for botulinum neurotoxins presently are employed in both the food and pharmaceutical industry. The food industry requires assays for botulinum neurotoxins in order to validate new food packaging methods and to ensure food safety. In addition, the growing clinical use of the botulinum toxins necessitates accurate assays for botulinum neurotoxin activity for product formulation as well as quality control. In both industries, a mouse lethality test currently is used to assay for botulinum neurotoxin activity. Unfortunately, this assay suffers from several drawbacks: cost due to the large numbers of laboratory animals required; lack of specificity; and the potential for inaccuracy unless large animal groups are used.
Thus, there is a need for new materials and methods for assaying for clostridial toxin protease activity. The present invention satisfies this need and provides related advantages as well.

GFP-SNAP25 fluorescence release assay for botulinum neurotoxin protease activity


There is provided an inflatable packaging cushion for protecting an article and adapted to the shape and dimensions of an enclosed container. The inflatable packaging cushion has a plurality of inflatable chambers such that the sides and corners of the article are cushioned by the inflatable chambers. The inflatable chambers are interconnected through tie straps whereby at least one tie strap connects each chamber to an adjacent chamber. Each inflatable chamber includes a filling means for at least partially inflating each chamber with a filler medium. The inflatable chambers may assume various forms, depending on the shape of the article to be cushioned and the enclosed container. Additionally, there is provided a shipping container which includes a box and an inflatable packaging cushion for protecting an article adapted to the shape and dimensions of the box.

The present invention relates to inflatable packaging for protecting an article during shipment and storage. More particularly, the present invention relates to a packaging cushion having interconnected chambers which protect the sides and corners of an article during shipment and storage.
Protective packaging for articles of different sizes and shapes is commonly used to cushion articles during shipping and storage. There are numerous types and forms of packaging for this purpose including waste paper, embossed paper, air cellular packaging and plastic beads, known as peanuts. These forms of packaging do not always provide the cushioning needed when shipping or storing and are generally one-use items which are thrown away after use.
In seeking better protective packaging materials various forms of air inflatable cushions have been suggested. One such example of a package is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,157 to Pozzo which discloses several embodiments of an inflatable packaging cushion. In one embodiment, a cushion having a single chamber is designed to provide protection on four sides of a box. In another embodiment, the inflatable chamber extends around the entirety of the article.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,060 to Forti, et al. there is described an inflatable packaging insert that is positioned around the sides of an article placed in a closed box. This inflatable packaging insert provides articulated panels having opposed edge portions for forming corners. In one embodiment, a pair of opposed V-shaped or triangular inserts forming a gusset allows the inflatable packaging insert, when inflated, to securely engage the corners of the article. A single valve is used to inflate each of the chambers encircling the article.
In yet another example of inflatable packaging material U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,835 to Pivert, et al. describes an inflatable package cushioning system which utilizes two separate inflatable cushions to protect all six sides of a box or article. Each of the cushions has articulated sides which fold to protect three sides of the article.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,889,743 to Presnick describes inflatable insulation for packaging including an inflatable cushion having a single inflation valve and articulated portions capable of protecting all six sides of a rectangular box. In addition, there is disclosed horizontal folding straps placed across at least one and advantageously two vertical lines of articulation of the liner.
Other examples of inflatable packaging include U.S. Pat. No. 1,457,496 to Butler; French Patent No. 2 385 606 to Asnieres; and French Patent 1.371.316 to Blanc et al. Thus, there is a need for inflatable packaging for use in shipping and storing of large products, however, the inflatable packaging must be manufactured economically so as to minimize material usage and waste.

Inflatable package for protecting an article


Electro-optical devices comprising a multifaceted anisotropic acousto-optical crystal for transforming a single-frequency beam comprising two individual linearly-orthogonally, polarized input beams into an output beam having two linearly-orthogonally, polarized principal output beams having frequencies that differ from each other and the input beam where the input beam preferably is a laser of frequency, f.sub.L. While the directions of propagation of the individual input beams are preferably parallel, and the directions of propagation of the principal output beams are preferably parallel, they need not be and instead the individual input beams and the principal output beams may beneficially have their own predetermined angle of divergence or convergence, respectively. The energy flux profiles of the individual input beams may be spatially separated, partially coextensive, or substantially coextensive and the energy flux profiles of the principal output beams may be spatially separated, partially coextensive, or substantially coextensive in accordance with the details of particular device embodiments and the requirements of the metrology or other contemplated application. In addition, thermal compensation may be made available through the exploitation of the principles of symmetry while power requirements may be reduced through the use of multiple pass arrangements for optical beams traveling through the interaction region of the anisotropic acousto-optical crystal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus for transforming with high diffraction efficiency a single frequency, linearly polarized laser beam into a beam with two frequency components that are orthogonally polarized. More particularly, the invention relates to electro-optical apparatus that are useful in a variety of optical measuring devices that perform extremely accurate measurement of changes in either length or optical length.
2. Background and Prior Art
The use of optical interferometry to measure changes in either length, distance, or optical length has grown significantly due not only to technological advances in lasers, photosensors, and microelectronics but also to an ever increasing demand for high precision, high accuracy measurements [cf. N. Bobroff, "Recent advances in displacement measuring interferometry," Meas. Sci. Technol., 4(9), 907-926 (1993)]. The prior art interferometers can be generally categorized into two types based on the signal processing technique used, i.e., either homodyne or heterodyne. The interferometers based on the heterodyne technique are generally preferred because (1) they are insensitive to low frequency drift and noise and (2) they can more readily have their resolution extended. Within the heterodyne type of interferometers, of particular interest are the ones based on the use of two optical frequencies.
In the prior art two-optical frequency heterodyne interferometers, the two optical frequencies are produced by one of the following techniques: (1) use of a Zeeman split laser, see for example, Bagley et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,458,259, issued Jul. 29, 1969; G. Bouwhuis, "Interferometrie Mit Gaslasers," Ned. T. Natuurk, 34, 225-232 (August 1968); Bagley et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,656,853, issued Apr. 18, 1972; and H. Matsumoto, "Recent interferometric measurements using stabilized lasers," Precision Engineering, 6(2), 87-94 (1984); (2) use of a pair of acousto-optical Bragg cells, see for example, Y. Ohtsuka and K. Itoh, "Two-frequency Laser Interferometer for Small Displacement Measurements in a Low Frequency Range," Applied Optics, 18(2), 219-224 (1979); N. Massie et al., "Measuring Laser Flow Fields With a 64-Channel Heterodyne Interferometer," Applied Optics, 22(14), 2141-2151 (1983); Y. Ohtsuka and M. Tsubokawa, "Dynamic Two-frequency Interferometry for Small Displacement Measurements," Optics and Laser Technology, 16, 25-29 (1984); H. Matsumoto, ibid; P. Dirksen, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,272, issued Jan. 16, 1996; N. A. Riza and M. M. K. Howlader, "Acousto-optic system for the generation and control of tunable low-frequency signals," Opt. Eng., 35(4), 920-925 (1996); (3) use of a single acousto-optic Bragg cell, see for example, G. E. Sommargren, commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,828, issued Aug. 4, 1987; G. E. Sommargren, commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,958, issued Aug. 18, 1987; P. Dirksen, et al., ibid; or (4) use of two longitudinal modes of a randomly polarized HeNe laser, see for example, J. B. Ferguson and R. H. Morris, "Single Mode Collapse in 6328 A HeNe Lasers," Applied Optics, 17(18), 2924-2929 (1978).
As for the prior art use of a Zeeman split laser to produce the two optical frequencies, this approach is only applicable to certain lasers (e.g., HeNe) and limits the frequency difference between the two optical frequencies to about 2 MHz. This imposes a limit on the maximum rate at which the length or optical length being measured can be changed. In addition, the available power from a Zeeman split laser is less than 500 microwatts, which can be a serious limitation when one laser source must be used for the measurement of multiple axes, such as three to six axes.
As for the prior art use of a single Bragg cell in the commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,958 by Sommargren, the diffraction efficiency may be low because the optic axis of the uniaxial crystal of the Bragg cell, the direction of the input optical beam, and the direction of the acoustic beam are approximately collinear, and under these conditions, a small change in the direction of the input beam, such as caused by diffraction, will result in an unacceptable momentum mismatch. Also in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,958 by Sommargren, the diffraction efficiency may be low for a number of different types of uniaxial crystals because the efficiency of the dominant Bragg diffraction mode in this group of uniaxial crystals is proportional to the sine of the angle between the optic axis of the uniaxial crystal and either one or the other of the directions of the optical beam components or the direction of the acoustic beam. These two potential low diffraction efficiency problems are not encountered in the present invention because the optic axis of the uniaxial crystal and the direction of the acoustic beam are approximately orthogonal, i.e. small angle Bragg diffraction.
To compensate for the possibility of low diffraction efficiency resulting from the latter of these two reasons in U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,958, the path length in the uniaxial crystal of the Bragg cell may be increased. However, this procedure may lead to a uniaxial crystal that is inordinately long which, in turn, can result in an expensive apparatus. Also, an extended length may lead to a diffracted beam with width elongated in the plane of diffraction and an increased lateral separation, also in the diffraction plane between orthogonally polarized beam components. In addition, if the uniaxial crystal in the Bragg cell of commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,958 is optically active (e.g., quartz), there may be an accompanying reduction in the diffraction efficiency which subsequently requires a further increase in the required path length in the uniaxial crystal for what is already an expensive apparatus.
The angle between the optic axis and acoustic beam can also be increased in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,958 by Sommargren in order to achieve a reduction of the momentum mismatch problem and of the required path length. However, the amount that this angle can be increased is restricted, up to approximately 27 degrees in LiNbO.sub.3 for example, because the orthogonally polarized beam components generally will suffer total internal reflection at the exit face of the uniaxial crystal for larger angles, and the device would cease to function.
As for the prior art use of a single Bragg cell in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,828 by Sommargren, the apparatus has many parts which are separated and require more space, is sensitive to misalignment of the various parts, is more sensitive to thermal gradients in the apparatus as a result of multiple parts and the required separation of multiple parts, and is not as efficient as the present invention, i.e., approximately 50% of the input beam intensity is transformed into the output beam with the commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,828 by Sommargren as compared to nominally 100% with the apparatus described herein.
As for the prior art use of a single Bragg cell in Dirksen, et al., ibid., the frequency difference between the two orthogonally polarized components of the exit beam is twice the frequency of the acoustic beam. Starting with a higher frequency difference, the task of resolution extension becomes more difficult and expensive. Also with the single Bragg cell apparatus in Dirksen, et al., ibid., the efficiency is limited to approximately 80%, and there are significant non uniform intensity distributions across the two orthogonally polarized exit beam components in contrast to the present invention described herein. These non-uniform intensity distributions across the width of the two orthogonally polarized exit beam components have a negative cross-correlation coefficient which further exacerbates the effect of non-uniform beam component intensities for interferometry.
There is generally polarization mixing in both of the two exit beam components from the single Bragg cell apparatus of Dirksen et al., ibid., since this apparatus uses the normal Bragg diffraction mode which limits its utility in precision interferometric measurements.
The single Bragg cell apparatus of Dirksen et al., ibid., is also relatively more complex, requiring a minimum of two optical elements in addition to the Bragg cell, and generates two desired and two undesired beam components which must be separated by external masks to occult the undesired beam components. There is more sensitivity to changes in temperature and temperature gradients because of multiple elements comprised of different materials and because of larger angles between the beam components inside the single Bragg cell aparatus of Dirksen et al., ibid., in contrast to that found in the apparatus of the present invention described herein. The angles between the beam components inside the single Bragg cell apparatus of Dirksen et al., ibid., are generally larger by design because, in part, Dirksen et al., ibid., must spatially separate the desired and undesired beam components as a result of using normal Bragg diffraction in contrast to the present invention described herein which uses anisotropic Bragg diffraction.
The Dirksen et al., ibid., single Bragg cell apparatus, which requires separation of parts, is sensitive to misalignment with additional sensitivity to thermal gradients. In addition, since the acoustic frequency for a single Bragg cell apparatus as in Dirksen et al., ibid., is one half of the frequency difference between the two orthogonally polarized components of the exit beam, the apparatus in Dirksen et al., ibid., must operate at a lower acoustical frequency by a factor of two in relation to that for the apparatus of the present invention described herein to obtain a given frequency difference between the two orthogonally polarized components of the exit beam, which leads to an additional reduction in efficiency.
As for the prior art use of two Bragg cells in the apparatus of Dirksen et al., ibid., such apparatus has more parts than the single Bragg cell apparatus of Dirksen et al., ibid., which are well separated and require more space, there is generally polarization mixing in each of two exit beam components since the two Bragg cell apparatus of Dirksen et al., ibid., uses normal Bragg diffraction mode, is sensitive to misalignment of the various parts, is more sensitive to thermal gradients in the apparatus as a result of multiple parts and the required separation of multiple parts, is not as efficient as the apparatus of the present invention described herein, i.e., approximately 60% to 80% of the input beam intensity is transformed into the output beam with the two Bragg cell apparatus of Dirksen et al., ibid., as compared to nominally 100% with the apparatus described herein, generates two desired and either two or six undesired exit beam components depending on apparatus configuration selected, has increased non uniform intensity distributions across two orthogonally polarized exit beam components, the non uniform intensity distributions across widths of two orthogonally polarized exit beam components have negative cross-correlation coefficient which further exacerbates the effect of non uniform beam component intensities, and external masks are required to occult undesired beam components.
Finally, although the prior art use of two longitudinal modes of a randomly polarized HeNe laser provides a laser beam with two orthogonally polarized frequencies in a rather convenient, cost-effective form, the frequency difference is approximately 500-600 MHz which requires complicated, expensive detection and processing electronics. Furthermore, by starting out with such a high frequency difference, the task of resolution extension becomes difficult and expensive.
It is thus an object of this invention to provide apparatus for generating orthogonally polarized beams of different frequency with a predetermined angle of divergence between them and a predetermined lateral separation between their energy flux profiles.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide apparatus for generating orthogonally polarized, parallel beams of different frequency that have energy flux profiles that are either partially coextensive or substantially coextensive.
Other advantages and objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, appear hereinafter when the detailed description is read in conjunction with the drawings.

Apparatus for efficiently transforming a single frequency, linearly polarized laser beam into principally two orthogonally polarized beams having different frequencies


Apparatuses, systems, mobile gasification systems, and methods for gasifying residual biomass are described. An example system may include a mobile gasification system configured to gasify feedstock generated from residual biomass to provide syngas. The mobile gasification system may be configured to generate electrical power using the syngas. The mobile gasification system may be configured to be installed in a transportable structure.

Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
The process of producing energy using gasification has been in use since the 1800s. However, few advancements in the technology have been realized over the years because of the availability and widespread adoption of fossil fuels. In recent years, alternative sources to fossil fuel energy have become more attractive due to global increases in demand for energy and the difficulty associated with sourcing additional fossil fuels. The problem of rising energy costs is only exacerbated by an aging electrical distribution infrastructure.
Agricultural industries have been some of the hardest hit by these increased energy costs because agricultural margins tend to be lower than in other industries and because the industry itself is tightly regulated. Meanwhile, advancements in agronomy have led to increased costs for the management of field residue. The costs associated with breaking down biomass waste have increased as field production rates have increased. Additionally, farmers may spend approximately 15% of their operating budget solely on electrical power requirements for irrigation needs.


The present invention relates to a removal cleaning method for a semiconductor substrate or a semiconductor device with metal wirings by using a remover composition, wherein the remover composition contains a dissolution agent having an alumina dissolution amount as measured according to the standard test (A-1) of 10 ppm or more, and an inhibitor having an aluminum etching amount as measured according to the standard test (B-1) of 7 nm or less, and the remover composition substantially does not contain a fluorine-containing compound; a method of producing a semiconductor substrate or a semiconductor device, including the step involving the removal cleaning method; and a remover composition containing a specified acid, and a specified inorganic acid salt and/or organic acid salt. The removal cleaning method and the remover composition of the present invention can be suitably used for producing even higher-speed, even more highly integrated and high quality electronic parts such as LCDs, memories and CPUs, particularly for cleaning a semiconductor substrate or a semiconductor device in which a wiring material containing aluminum and/or titanium is used.

In the production of semiconductor devices, a thin film is formed by using a method such as sputtering, and a predetermined pattern is formed on the thin film with a resist by lithography. Based on this pattern as an etching resist, the underlying thin film is selectively removed by etching, followed by a step of removing the resist by ashing. Thereafter, a step of removing the remaining deposition by using a remover is required.
As removers for conventional semiconductor devices with aluminum wirings, various remover compositions have been proposed, and removers in which a fluorine-containing compound is used, and removers in which an amine represented by hydroxylamine is used, have been mainly used.
However, with increasing demands for higher-speed and more highly integrated semiconductor devices, the wirings are finer and the wiring width is narrower, so that it has been an essential requirement to prevent occurrence of wiring corrosion (etching) by a remover during cleaning.
JP-A-Hei-10-55993 discloses, as a cleaning agent which does not corrode metal film, a remover composition composed of a quaternary ammonium salt or an organic ammonium carboxylate, ammonium fluoride, a water-soluble organic solvent, and an inorganic acid or an organic acid. This remover composition is effective for use in conventional devices with wirings of a wide wiring width. However, this remover composition has a problem with use in devices with wirings of a narrow wiring width, because ammonium fluoride is highly corrosive to aluminum wirings.
Also, JP 2000-267302 A discloses a remover composition containing a combination of an organic acid and a surfactant (an organic sulfate, a sulfonate, a fatty acid salt, and the like), but this remover composition has low deposition-removing power. When the amount of the organic acid is increased to improve deposition eliminability, corrosion of aluminum wirings occurs, so that a sufficient effect is not obtained. Therefore, to date, no remover composition has been obtained which satisfies both of deposition eliminability and low corrosiveness to aluminum wirings, which are required for devices with wirings of a narrow wiring width.
On the other hand, when via holes which connect wirings are formed, there is also an increasing tendency that a large quantity of titanium-based deposition is adhered, due to narrower wiring width, during etching of the titanium or titanium nitride on the bottom of the via holes. Further, these titanium-based depositions are solidified in the subsequent ashing step, which makes the removal cleaning of deposition very difficult. Therefore, a sufficient removability is not obtained even when a fluorine-containing compound-based remover or an amine-based remover is used for the removing.
In view of the above problem, there are proposed a remover containing hydrogen peroxide, a quaternary ammonium salt and a hydrogen peroxide compound (JP 2002-202618 A), a remover which contains hydrogen peroxide, a quaternary ammonium salt and an anticorrosive and is used under alkaline conditions (JP 2003-5383 A), and the like. However, these removers require removal cleaning to be done under high-temperature conditions, and the removability of titanium-based deposition is still insufficient. Consequently, these removers have not solved the problem.
Further, in an attempt to clean by using an aqueous cleaning agent containing a combination of an organic acid and water or a combination of an organic acid, a water-soluble solvent and water, as described in JP-A-Hei-10-256210 and JP-A-Hei-11-316464, there arises problems such as deposition eliminability is decreased and the anticorrosiveness for aluminum wirings is deteriorated, as compared with the initial cleaning stage, as a continuous cleaning is proceeded. Therefore, practically, a continuous cleaning cannot be performed for a long period of time, and the remover, when used, needs to be replaced with a new one in a short period of time.
On the other hand, in a system of phosphoric acid and ammonium phosphate as described in JP 2000-232063 A, and a system of ammonium fluoride, an acid and an organic ammonium carboxylate as described in JP-A-Hei-10-55993, though a change in cleaning performance with continuous cleaning is small, deposition dissolution and anticorrosiveness for aluminum wirings, which are the basic properties, cannot be attained sufficiently at the same time from the initial stage of cleaning.
In addition, each of JP-A-Hei-9-279189 and JP 2001-26890 A discloses an aqueous cleaning agent used for cleaning semiconductors. However, both of the cleaning agents insufficiently satisfy deposition eliminability and anticorrosiveness for aluminum wirings at the same time.
Particularly, it is difficult to use these conventionally known aqueous removers in semiconductor substrates and semiconductor devices with wirings having a narrow wiring width of 180 nm or less, which is required for higher-speed and more highly integrated semiconductors in the future.
Also, when conventionally known aqueous removers are used in an open-topped cleaning vessel for a long period of time, or used in a circulation system, there is a problem that semiconductor substrates and the like are contaminated over time. In a practical situation, a remover is replaced with a new one in a short period of time to deal with this problem.

Removing agent composition and removing/cleaning method using same


A continuous pressure letdown system connected to a hopper decreases a pressure of a 2-phase (gas and solid) dusty gas stream flowing through the system. The system includes a discharge line for receiving the dusty gas from the hopper, a valve, a cascade nozzle assembly positioned downstream of the discharge line, a purge ring, an inert gas supply connected to the purge ring, an inert gas throttle, and a filter. The valve connects the hopper to the discharge line and controls introduction of the dusty gas stream into the discharge line. The purge ring is connected between the discharge line and the cascade nozzle assembly. The inert gas throttle controls a flow rate of an inert gas into the cascade nozzle assembly. The filter is connected downstream of the cascade nozzle assembly.

The present invention generally relates to advanced coal gasification systems. In particular, the present invention relates to a continuous coal gasification system.
The gasification process involves turning coal or other carbon-containing materials into dusty gas, such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Because coal costs less than natural gas and oil, there is a large economic incentive to develop gasification technology. An issue with existing gasification technologies is that they generally have high capital costs and/or relatively low availability. Availability refers to the amount of time the equipment is on-line and making products. One cause for low availability is that current coal gasification systems operate as batch processes for filtering ash particles from the synthesis gas stream.
Many current coal gasification systems use downstream cyclone and candle filters for separating small micron (i.e., approximately 0.1 microns to approximately 100 microns) size ash particles from the product synthesis gas stream. The cyclones and candle filters are designed to drop solid dry ash particles in the synthesis gas stream into a bottom hopper by gravity for subsequent transfer from high pressure to ambient pressure (i.e. approximately 1000 pounds per square inch to approximately 14.7 pounds per square inch). The transfer of these dry ash particles from high pressure to ambient pressure is commonly performed with complex lock hopper subsystems. Lock hoppers are typically large in size and operate in batch mode.
While efficient, one concern with using lock hoppers is that they can produce significant transient upset conditions in a continuous gasification process. This is due to the fact that lock hoppers include a plurality of valves which must be repeatedly opened and closed. In addition, the valves are exposed to significant amounts of dry ash particles and typically have a very short lifetime due to the abrasive solids particles which continually erode the valves each time the valves are cycled. When the valves are being replaced, the gasification system must be shut down, costing valuable operating time.
By eliminating lock hoppers from the gasification system, the gasification system may be able to operate continuously, rather than in batch mode with a nominal frequency of 24 cycles per day.


A portable, high power arc lamp system for composite curing and tooth whitening applications utilizes battery cells to power a lamp, such as a short-arc xenon lamp. The use of battery power allows for a high power system without the need for costly components required if ac power were used. Battery power is acceptable for low duty cycle applications such as composite curing and tooth whitening. The batteries may be recharged using either standard 110 V or 220 V house current and a charging circuit is included to charge the batteries. An elliptical reflector is used to direct the light from the xenon lamp to a flexible light guide. The system of the present invention is particularly suited to the curing of dental composites and tooth whitening procedures. Significantly improved methods of curing and whitening may be realized through the use of a high power light source of the present invention.

This invention relates to a portable, high power arc lamp system. More particularly, this invention relates to a battery powered, high power, arc lamp system suited for low duty cycle applications such as photocurable composite and resin curing and tooth whitening. The lamp may be a short arc xenon, argon, or utilize another gas. The invention further relates to using a system of the present invention to cure photocurable materials and in tooth whitening procedures.
Arc lamps, particularly short arc xenon lamps, are known in the art for various applications, such as infrared and visual searchlights, fiber optic illumination, spectroscopy, stadium lighting, stage and screen lighting, automobile headlights, and microscopy. The spectral distribution of xenon lamps is similar to that of natural daylight.
Arc lamps have also been utilized for composite and resin curing applications. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,169 to Friedman et al. discloses a hand held light curing gun for curing dental composites. The lamp may be tungsten/halogen, mercury vapor, short arc xenon, or metal-halide. An optical light guide is used to transmit the light output by the lamp to the dental restoration. U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,215 to Friedman also discloses a hand held dental curing light used in combination with an optic light guide selected from a plurality of autofocus optic light guides for transmitting maximum power density to different sized dental materials.
Existing dental curing lamps are used in conjunction with photocurable dental materials that replace gold, porcelain, and silver amalgam. However, the power output of such systems is relatively low, so that curing can take a substantial amount of time. The lower the power output, the longer it takes to cure the composite. In addition, the photocurable materials used in dental applications generally exhibit improved properties when they are cured at a faster rate. Furthermore, as discussed herein, it has been found that resins and composites cured at higher power levels require less total energy than those cured at lower power levels. Thus, there is a need for a high power dental curing lamp that is compatible with existing dental office operatories.
In addition, the use of light, and in particular light in the blue/green spectrum, is beneficial in tooth whitening procedures because light in this wavelength tends to be more readily absorbed by yellow/brown colored stain molecules but mostly reflected by the red colored tooth pulp in vital teeth. One such tooth whitening procedure utilizes a whitening agent, such as a peroxide compound, in combination with laser light from an argon laser to generate free oxygen radicals to accelerate the whitening process. Such procedures, however, can require a lengthy office visit due to the amount of time each tooth must be exposed to laser light in order to effectuate the whitening process. This is because the argon lasers used in these procedures typically have output powers in the range of 250 mW-500 mW.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,661,070 to Friedman discloses a method for bleaching discolored teeth using a concentrated solution of hydrogen peroxide and a source of light comprising ultraviolet energy in the 320 to 420 nanometer range and infrared energy in the 700 to 1200 nanometer range. The lamp may be tungsten halogen, mercury vapor, short-arc xenon, or metal halide. An elliptical reflector directs the light into a light guide. Friedman, however, does not disclose the use of a high power lamp and in fact does not mention power levels or exposure times. Moreover, Friedman filters out light in the 420 to 700 nanometer range, i.e., visible light, which applicants have found to be most beneficial for both curing and tooth-whitening applications, as discussed above.
In order to reduce the time required to effect composite curing as well as tooth whitening, a higher power light source is needed. In particular, a light source with a power input of 1500-3000 W is desirable.
Several problems exist, however, in designing such a system utilizing 110 V alternating current, the standard house current in the United States that is typically available in dental offices. First, many building codes impose limits on the permissible current draw of electrical appliances, which therefore limits the maximum power output of an arc lamp system. Thus, to obtain high power outputs, it is typically necessary to use 220 V to reduce current draws. However, 220 V power is typically not readily available in dental office operatories and other office settings. In addition, to the extent higher power outputs can be achieved using standard house current, costly linear or inverter power supplies are required in order to provide a low voltage, high current output suitable to drive an arc lamp. This is because arc lamps require specially designed power supplies tailored to the starting and operational requirements of the lamp, with limits on in-rush current and peak-to-peak current ripple. Moreover, even if 220 V power is available, there remains the problem of power spikes and ripple that result from the use of ac power and can shorten the life of arc lamps.
In dental curing and tooth whitening applications, the energy requirements are determined in accordance with a total amount of energy to be imparted to a given tooth. Typically, 20 joules of total energy per tooth is the maximum energy provided for both curing and tooth whitening applications. This figure is used to ensure that the pulp in vital teeth is not damaged. Existing curing lamps and lasers used for curing and whitening procedures generally operate at power levels of less than 1 watt. Thus, it takes in the range of 20-60 seconds to impart the required amount of energy to a tooth.
Both curing and whitening procedures can be improved through the use of higher power light sources that reduce the exposure time required per tooth application. This is because photocurable composites and resins typically exhibit improved properties the faster they are cured. Similarly, with regard to whitening procedures using peroxide compounds, the bleaching efficiency of the peroxide is improved because as more energy is applied, more of the peroxide is broken down into free oxygen radicals. The longer the peroxide is resident on a tooth, the greater the amount of molecular oxygen produced, which does not have nearly the same bleaching effect as free oxygen radicals.
Therefore, there is a need for a high power arc lamp system for curing composites and resins as well as tooth whitening applications.
In addition, there is a need for an improved procedure for both composite and resin curing where the composites and resins are cured at a higher power level to both reduce the cure time and improve the properties of the cured material.
There is additionally a need for an improved tooth whitening procedure using a high power light source to both reduce the duration of the whitening procedure and improve the effectiveness of the bleaching compositions.

Portable high power arc lamp system and applications therefor


Disclosed are display packages allowing consumers to quickly and easily determine whether a given mounting article should be used to hang or otherwise retain a desired object. The display packages include a projection designed to tear or otherwise separate from a backing once an object exceeding a recommended weight is mounted on the projection. If the projection remains attached to the backing, the mounting article is appropriate for the object. If the projection separates, another mounting article should be used.

The revolutionary Command® Adhesive Strip products are a line of stretch removable adhesive strips that hold strongly on a variety of surfaces (including paint, wood, and tile) and that remove cleanly—no holes, marks, or sticky residue. These products generally have utility in bonding to various surfaces or substrates for numerous applications.
In general, these products include a stretch release adhesive composition disposed on tape or other backings. Stretch releasable adhesives are high performance pressure-sensitive adhesives that combine strong holding power with clean removal and no surface damage. Stretch releasable adhesive products are designed to firmly adhere an article, such as a hook or other mounting article (to hold a picture or an article of clothing) or other decorative or utilitarian element, to a surface (an adherend), yet remove cleanly when pulled away from the architectural surface at a low angle. The clean removal aspect means that a tacky and/or unsightly residue is not left behind on the surface after removal of the stretch release adhesive and that no damage to the surface occurs during the removal process. During the process of stretch release removal, the adhesive layer typically remains adhered to the tape backing as the backing is stretched, but releases from the surface (adherend).
Peelable adhesive technology has also been introduced for use in mounting articles. Some exemplary commercially available peelable mounting articles (e.g., Jimmy Hook™ products, GeckoTech™ products, Elmer's Freestyle™ products, and Hook Um™ products) rely on both suction technology and frictional or dry adhesives to generate the mounting article's holding power. The mounting articles include a semi-rigid plastic backing and a rigid hook, both of which are integrated as a one-piece article support. The rigid hook is permanently attached to a first major planar surface of the semi-rigid plastic backing. The second major planar surface of the backing can be adhered to a wall surface. The second major planar surface includes one or more of suction technology (e.g., numerous microsuction or nanosuction elements) and/or a frictional adhesive (in which the backing is impregnated with a rubber-based adhesive to increase friction between the substrate and backing) or dry adhesive (which relies on van der Waals forces). The entire construction can, thereafter, be removed by peeling.
Mounting articles of the types described above are commonly sold in blister packs. The standard blister pack includes a clear plastic bubble or "blister" attached to a backing card. This type of package gives a consumer a clear view of the contents of the package, is economical to produce, and is easy to load, close and ship. Blister packs are particularly well-adapted for containing several small products in one package. Exemplary blister packs are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,267 (Borst), U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,935 (Yeager et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,914 (Gustafson), U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,953 (Sherline et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 7,207,441 (Ritter), U.S. Pat. No. 8,328,016 (Thorton et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 8,684,182 (Bailey) and US Publication Nos. 20060091037 (Grote et al.).
Whether the packaged mounting article relies on stretch release or peel release for removal, the related blister pack commonly includes a printed maximum weight recommendation for objects that ought to be mounted with the mounting article. This so-called package weight claim is designed to alert consumers to the expected performance of the mounting article. Moreover, the package weight claim is intended to help the consumer avoid unnecessary damage to both possessions and wall surfaces.


Provided is a method and an apparatus for installing and replacing a lighting controller of an outdoor lighting fixture that includes a base portion supplying power, a telescopic stick portion attached to the base portion at a first end thereof,

An outdoor lighting system, such as a roadway/outdoor lighting system, includes one or more lighting fixtures, each fixture typically providing illumination to surroundings within close proximity thereof. Such lighting fixtures can be found along the streets and street corners, and at roadway intersections.
The lighting fixtures also provide visibility during nighttime hours for security and safety purposes. These fixtures are generally positioned along streets and highways to enable pedestrian traffic and vehicle traffic to safely navigate the roadway after hours and in low lit areas.
The lighting fixtures are typically mounted on street poles as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1, for example, depicts a conventional outdoor lighting system 50, including a lighting pole 10, a mast arm 20 connected to the pole 10 at a proximal end. Also, included is a lighting fixture 30 physically coupled to a distal end of the mast arm 20. The roadway outdoor lighting system 50 is typically disposed in the ground at a bottom of the lighting pole 10.
The lighting pole 10 and the mast arm 20 includes electrical wiring for connecting and energizing the lighting fixture via a utility grid. The lighting fixture 30 typically includes a lighting device 32 and a connector 40 at a top surface thereof for connecting to a node (i.e., a lighting controller) 45 for controlling the lighting fixture 30.
Typically, an operator uses a bucket truck to replace or install the lighting fixture 30 or the lighting controller 45, which can cause additional costs and maintenance issues due to use of the bucket truck.

Apparatus and method for installing and replacing light fixture devices

Abstract: an extension stick portion attached to a second end of the telescopic stick portion, and a drone-type device attached to the extension stick portion at an end opposite telescopic stick portion. The drone-type device receives power from the base portion through the telescopic stick portion and travels over and land at a top surface of the outdoor lighting fixture and perform installation or replacement of the lighting controller.


In a method and apparatus for reducing the number of matrix operations when converting digitized RGB color space signals to digitized YCbCr color space signals, at least two color difference signals, each being in terms of any two of the digitized RGB color space signals, are generated before performing first, second, third and fourth matrix multiplication operations of the color difference signals. The first and second matrix multiplication operations have first and second results to be used in conversion for the digitized Y color space signal. The third matrix multiplication operation has a third result to be used in conversion for the digitized Cb color space signal. The fourth matrix multiplication operation has a fourth result to be used in conversion for the digitized Cr color space signal. One of the first and second matrix multiplication operations and one of the third and fourth matrix multiplication operations are associated with the same one of the color difference signals and are jointly implemented in a single look-up table unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for performing color space conversion, more particularly to a method and apparatus with reduced look-up tables for converting digitized RGB color space signals to digitized YCbCr color space signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
Because signals in the Y (luminance), Cb and Cr (chrominance) color space have the advantage of being readily compressible to result in a lower transmission bandwidth and in a lower data storage requirement over signals in the R (red), G (green) and B (blue) color space, color space conversion from RGB to YCbCr is frequently desired in image and video applications. CCIR 601, which was proposed by the Comite Consultalif International des Radiocommunications (CCIR) establishes the following formulas for converting from the RGB color space to the YCbCr color space: EQU Y=0.299R+0.587G+0.114B (a.1) EQU Cb=0.564(B-Y)+128 (a.2) EQU Cr=0.713(R-Y)+128 (a.3)
Color space conversion is often implemented by employing multipliers or look-up tables to achieve the matrix multiplication operations, and by combining the resultant component products to complete the conversion. The matrix multiplication operations dominate the operating efficiency and the hardware complexity of a color space converting apparatus. Therefore, the number of matrix multiplication operations is crucial. A 3-by-3 multiplication matrix is typically used for converting between any two color spaces of three color components. Although such a multiplication matrix offers flexibility, it is relatively expensive to implement.
To perform the RGB to YCbCr color space conversion of Equations (a.1) to (a.3), a conventional color space converter needs to first perform three matrix multiplication operations to obtain the Y color signal, and then derive the (B-Y) and (R-Y) color difference signals before performing two more matrix multiplication operations to obtain the Cb and Cr color signals, respectively. Although the color space converter requires only five matrix multiplication operations that involve relatively simple hardware, the operating efficiency of the color space converter is relatively poor since the matrix multiplication operations are done in two operating stages.
In order to improve the operating efficiency of the conventional color space converter, Equations (a.2) and (a.3) can be expanded so that the Cb and Cr color signals are entirely in terms of the R, G and B color signals: EQU Cb=-0.169R-0.331G+0.5B+128 (b.1) EQU Cr=0.5R-0.419G-0.081B+128 (b.2)
However, implementation of Equations (a.1), (b.1) and (b.2) requires nine matrix multiplication operations. Although the number of matrix multiplication operations can be reduced to seven by using an arithmetic right-shift operation to implement the two component products that have a coefficient of 0.5, the number of matrix multiplication operations is still more than that required in the implementation of Equations (a.1) to (a.3).
In co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/763,539, entitled "Method and Apparatus For Reducing Number of Matrix Operations When Converting RGB Color Space Signals to YCbCr Color Space Signals," and filed on Dec. 10, 1996 by the Applicant, it has been proposed that, by using the characteristics of mutual complement between the coefficients of color component signals, the conversion formula for the Y color signal be rearranged as follows by constructing two color difference signals in terms of any two of the R, G and B color signals in order to reduce the required number of matrix multiplication operations from three to two: EQU Y=R+0.587(G-R)+0.114(B-R) (c.1) EQU Y=G+0.299(R-G)+0.114(B-G) (c.2) EQU Y=B+0.299(R-B)+0.587(G-B) (c.3)
The Cb and Cr conversion formulas can be similarly rewritten in the same manner as follows so as to require only one matrix multiplication operation and one arithmetic right-shift operation: EQU Cb=0.5(B-G)-0.169(R-G)+128 (d.1) EQU Cb=0.5(B-R)+0.331(R-G)+128 (d.2) EQU Cb=0.5[(B-G)-0.338(R-G)]+128 (d.3) EQU Cb=0.5[(B-R)+0.662(R-G)]+128 (d.4) EQU Cr=0.5(R-G)-0.081(B-G)+128 (e.1) EQU Cr=0.5(R-B)+0.419(B-G)+128 (e.2) EQU Cr=0.5[(R-G)-0.162(B-G)]+128 (e.3) EQU Cr=0.5[(R-B)+0.838(B-G)]+128 (e.4)
The above equations present a lot of possible arrangements for converting to YCbCr color space signals. However, other unlisted possible alternatives must be available.
In the aforementioned U.S. patent application, by generating a set of color difference signals in terms of the R, G and B color signals, and by selecting appropriate Y, Cb and Cr conversion formulas, RGB to YCbCr color space conversion can be implemented using only four matrix multiplication operations in a single operating stage, thereby realizing a relatively inexpensive and highly efficient color space converting method and apparatus.
The apparatus disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. patent application comprises means for generating at least two color difference signals, each being in terms of any two of the digitized RGB color space signals, and means for performing first, second, third and fourth matrix multiplication operations of the color difference signals, the first and second matrix multiplication operation performing means having first and second results to be used in conversion for the digitized Y color space signal, the third matrix multiplication operation performing means having a third result to be used in conversion for the digitized Cb color space signal, the fourth matrix multiplication operation performing means having a fourth result to be used in conversion for the digitized Cr color space signal.
While each of the first, second, third and fourth matrix multiplication operations of the embodiments disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. patent application is implemented as a single look-up table to result in a simplified circuit design, it is desirable to further reduce the number and sizes of the look-up tables used therein so that a cost-effective hardware implementation can be achieved while maintaining a high operating efficiency.

Method and apparatus with reduced look-up tables for converting RGB color space signals to YCbCr color space signals


Method and system for generating a metal thin film with a uniform crystalline orientation and a controlled crystalline microstructure are provided. For example, a metal layer is irradicated with a pulsed laser to completely melt the film throughout its entire thickness. The metal layer can then resolidify to form grains with a substantially uniform orientation. The resolidified metal layer can be irradiated with a sequential lateral solidification technique to modify the crystalline microstructure (e.g., create larger grains, single-crystal regions, grain boundary controlled microstructures, etc.) The metal layer can be irradiated by patterning a beam using a mask which includes a first region capable of attenuating the pulsed laser and a second region allowing complete irradiation of sections of the thin film being impinged by the masked laser beam. An inverse dot-patterned mask can be used, the microstructure that may have substantially the same as the geometric pattern as that of the dots of the mask.

An inherent problem in the production of metallic thin films is minimizing the electro-migration that occurs in the metal interconnects. The electro-migration results in the transport of metal material of an interconnect line, and is caused when free electrons dislodge the atoms of the conductive material upon the current density increase that occurs due to smaller cross-sectional dimensions of the interconnect lines. The electro-migration occurs due to the transfer of momentum from the electrons flowing in a metal conductor when the conductor fails, because of a void or break in the conductor. This phenomenon is generally known as an "electron wind." The failure occurs most often along the grains of the conductive material since the atoms are not as firmly bound along the grains, and the grains provide efficient paths for the electron transport. These grains may extend in a direction which is parallel to the direction of the interconnect lines, i.e., along the direction of the current flow, which is considered to be particularly undesirable (i.e., such grain direction results in an increased electro-migration). If vacancies or voids are formed in the conductive material, the void that is formed reduces the cross-sectional area in a region of the interconnect through which the current may flow, effectively raising the current density of that region of the interconnect even further. Therefore, the void may become so large that an open circuit or a break in the interconnect line results. Alternatively, the atoms of the conducting material that are dislodged may accumulate in a region of the interconnect so as to form a protrusion. If the protrusion becomes large enough, a contact with an adjacent interconnect may occur, thereby causing an undesired connection between the adjacent interconnect lines.
As the features of integrated semiconductor circuit chips are reduced, the cross-section of the metal interconnect lines on the integrated circuit chips are also reduced. This decrease in the cross-sectional dimensions increases the current density in the interconnect lines, which creates increased electro-migration in the metal interconnects. Moreover, the electro-migration would likely increase with a presence of a random orientation of the microstructure of the thin film. Since increasing the grain size to be larger than the metallization line width and preparing semiconductor films with a uniform orientation would reduce the propensity for electro-migration failure, there is a need for a system and method to control crystallization, and produce thin films with the substantially uniform orientation of the microstructure of the thin film.
Control over the thin film microstructure may be obtained through the use of sequential lateral solidification ("SLS") techniques. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,625 (the "'625 application"), U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 60/239,194 (the "'194 application"), Ser. No. 09/390,535 (the "'535 application"), Ser. No. 09/390,537 (the "'537 application"), Ser. No. 60/253,256 (the "'256 application"), Ser. No. 09/526,585 (the "'585 application") and International Patent Application Nos. PCT/US01/31391 and PCT/US01/12799, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, describe advantageous apparatus and methods for growing large grained polycrystalline or single crystal structures using energy-controllable laser pulses and small-scale translation of a sample to implement the SLS techniques. As described in these patent documents, at least portions of the semiconductor film on a substrate are irradiated with a suitable radiation pulse to completely or partially melt such portions of the film throughout their thickness. In this manner, when the molten semiconductor material solidifies, a crystalline structure grows into the solidifying portions from selected areas of the semiconductor film which did not undergo a complete melting. Thereafter, the beam pulses irradiate slightly offset from the crystallized areas so that the grain structure extends into the molten areas from the crystallized areas. With the SLS techniques, and the systems described therein, crystallization may be controlled to modify the microstructure of the thin film (e.g., by creating larger grains, single-crystal regions, grain-boundary-location-controlled microstructures), and produce grains with a particular orientation.

Method and system for providing a thin film with a controlled crystal orientation using pulsed laser induced melting and nucleation-initiated crystallization

The Trustees of Columbia University in theCity of New York


An electrical connector is provided for mating with a complementary connector. The electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a mating portion. A cross-shaped ground plate structure is disposed in the mating portion of the housing when the electrical connector is mated with the complementary connector. The cross-shaped ground plate structure defines four plate edges and four quadrants. At least one terminal is mounted in the mating portion of the housing in at least some of the quadrants defined by the cross-shaped ground plate structure. A pair of outboard terminals are mounted in the mating portion of the housing outside a pair of the plate edges of the cross-shaped ground plate structure.

Electrical connectors are used in a wide variety of applications. Some connectors simply are used to transmit power from a power source to an appropriate appliance. Other electrical connectors are used to interconnect signal transmission lines to printed circuit boards, other electronic devices or to other complementary connectors. The transmission lines transmit signals through a plurality of conductors which, preferably, are physically separated and electromagnetically isolated along their length. Hybrid connectors are known in which both power and signals and/or data are transmitted through the connector interface.
Some electrical connectors also employ various types of shield means, ground means or the like to protect or electrically interact with the transmission lines and their terminals within the connectors. For instance, ground planes or plates might be used to simply shield or protect the terminals/transmission lines internal to the transmission system from receiving or transmitting electromagnetic or radio interference from outside the transmission system. On the other hand, ground planes or plates may be used to control "crosstalk" (electrical noise induced by mutual coupling) between adjacent conductors or terminals within the transmission system. Sometimes this is referred to as controlling the mutual coupling of conductors or terminals. The present invention is directed to the use of ground planes, plates or the like in the latter sense of controlling the mutual coupling of electrical conductors, particularly the terminals within an electrical connector.
For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,353, dated Apr. 7, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,069, dated Apr. 19, 1994 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,327, dated Sep. 6, 1994, all show electrical connectors with a "cross-shaped" ground plate means at the interface between a pair of mated electrical connectors. The cross-shaped ground plate means may be provided by a one-piece cross-shaped conductive ground member in one connector of a mating pair of connectors. On the other hand, the cross-shaped ground plate means may be formed by a pair of perpendicular, interposed ground plates, with one of the plates being on one of the mating connectors and the other plate being on the other connector. In any event, the cross-shaped ground plate means defines four plate edges with four quadrants therebetween. At least one terminal is located in each of the quadrants. Therefore, the cross-shaped ground plate means provide an enhanced mutual coupling effect with the terminals and substantially eliminates crosstalk or mutual coupling between the terminals.
The present invention is directed to an improved grounded terminal array, particularly using a cross-shaped ground plate means of the character described above. Consequently, the above-referenced U.S. patents are incorporated herein by reference.

Matable electrical connectors having signal and power terminals