An exemplary apparatus for detecting whether a magnetic element is mounted at a correct position on a retaining member is provided. The apparatus includes a holder, a magnetoresistive sensor, and a processor. The magnetoresistive sensor is held by the holder and capable of sensing a present magnetic flux from the magnetic element to the magnetoresistive sensor. The processor is electrically connected to the magnetoresistive sensor and has a predetermined reference magnetic flux stored information therein, configured for obtaining the present magnetic flux and comparing the present magnetic flux with the reference magnetic flux information, thereby detecting whether a magnetic element is mounted at a correct position on a retaining member.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for detecting whether a magnetic element is mounted at a correct position on a retaining member.
2. Description of Related Art
Magnetic elements are commonly used, for example, in voice coil motors. Voice coil motors are widely used as lens actuators in camera modules. Magnetic field generators are key components of voice coil motors. A typical magnetic field generator includes a retaining frame, and at least four magnetic elements mounted at four sides of the retaining frame.
High precision in mounting the magnetic elements at proper positions on the retaining frame is required. For example, if one of the magnetic elements is not mounted correctly, the magnetic field generated by the magnetic elements may not be precise enough to properly drive the lens module to move along a central axis thereof.
What is needed, therefore, is an apparatus and a method for detecting a position of a magnetic element which can overcome the above shortcomings.

Apparatus and method for detecting position of magnetic element


A first layer metal wire, an SiOF film and an F diffusion prevention film are formed on a surface of a base layer including a substrate, elements formed on the substrate and an insulator layer formed to cover the substrate and the elements. The F diffusion prevention film may be prepared from a silicon oxynitride film or a silicon oxide film containing Si--H bonds. A spacer film is formed on a surface of the F diffusion prevention film and its surface is flattened. A second layer metal wire is formed on a surface of the spacer film. Thus implemented is a semiconductor device comprising an F diffusion prevention film preventing F atoms contained in an SiOF film from diffusing into an upper metal wire with the F diffusion prevention film not etched in formation of the upper metal wire and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device not directly polishing an SiOF film by CMP.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device comprising an interlayer isolation film isolating an upper layer wire and a lower layer wire interconnected through a contact hole and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Background
In order to implement speed increase of a logic device following the subquarter micron generation, it is important to reduce signal delay of the device. While the signal delay of the device is expressed in the sum of delays in transistors and those in wires, influence by the signal delay in the wire increasingly exceeds that in the transistor following reduction of the wiring pitch. In order to reduce the signal delay in the wire, which is proportionate to the product of the resistance of the wire and the capacitance of an interlayer isolation film, either the wiring resistance or the capacitance of the interlayer isolation film must be reduced. As one of attempts for attaining this object, an interlayer isolation film having a low dielectric constant is actively studied.
In particular, a silicon oxide film containing fluorine (hereinafter referred to as F) is watched with interest. The relative dielectric constant of the silicon oxide film is reduced when bonds (hereinafter referred to as Si--F bonds) of silicon atoms and F atoms are introduced into the same. For example, the relative dielectric constant of 4.4 with no presence of Si--F bonds is reduced to 3.5 when F is introduced to be about 10% in atomic percentage concentration (a silicon oxide film containing F is hereinafter referred to as an SiOF film).
FIG. 16 typically illustrates the structure of a conventional semiconductor device D3 employing an SiOF film as an interlayer isolation film. The semiconductor device D3 comprises a base layer 101 including a substrate, elements formed on the substrate and an insulator layer formed to cover the substrate and the elements, and first layer metal wires 102 are selectively formed on a surface of the base layer 101 (in order to avoid complicated illustration, FIG. 16 shows neither the substrate, the elements and the insulator layer of the base layer 101 nor some of the first layer metal wires 102 connected with the elements of the base layer 102). The semiconductor device D3 further comprises an SiOF film 103 sufficiently covering the first layer metal wires 102 on the surfaces of the first layer metal wires 102, and a spacer film 104 consisting of a silicon oxide film, for example, having a flat surface is formed on a surface of the SiOF film 103. Second metal wires 105 of an Al alloy, for example, are selectively formed on the surface of the spacer film 104 (although not illustrated, the first and second layer metal wires 102 and 105 are generally in a multilayer structure of a barrier metal prepared by stacking TiN and Ti and a wiring metal such as an Al alloy).
In this semiconductor device D3, the SiOF film 103 and the spacer film 104 combinedly serve as an interlayer isolation film between the first layer metal wires 102 and the second layer metal wires 105. Due to the presence of the SiOF film 103, the electrostatic capacitance between the first layer metal wires 102 and the second layer metal wires 105 is at a smaller value than that through an interlayer isolation film consisting of only a silicon oxide film containing no F, for example.
FIGS. 17 to 20 successively show steps in a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device D3. First, the elements are formed on the substrate and then the insulator layer is formed to cover the substrate and the elements, thereby preparing the base layer 101. Then, a metal film for the barrier metal and a metal film for the wires are formed on the surface of the base layer 101 and worked into a prescribed pattern by photolithography, for forming the first layer metal wires 102 (FIG. 17). Then, the SiOF film 103 is formed to cover the first layer metal wires 102. At this time, the SiOF film 103 is formed by high density plasma CVD (hereinafter referred to as HDPCVD) to sufficiently fill up clearances between the adjacent first layer metal wires 102.
Then, a silicon oxide film is formed as the spacer film 104 on the surface of the SiOF film 103 by plasma CVD, for example (FIG. 18). Then, an irregular surface of the spacer film 104 is polished by chemical mechanical polishing (hereinafter referred to as CMP), thereby forming a flat surface 104A (FIG. 19). Then, a metal film is formed on the flat surface 104A similarly to that for the first layer metal wires 102, for forming the second layer metal wires 105 by photolithography (FIG. 19).
The reason for preparing the interlayer isolation film not only from the SiOF film 103 but also from the spacer film 104 is now described. When its surface is exposed to an atmosphere containing moisture, an SiOF film having low density readily absorbs the moisture contained in the atmosphere. Molecules of water, which are slightly polarized even in an ordinary state, disadvantageously raise the relative dielectric constant of the SiOF film when taken into the film. If no spacer film 104 is formed on the SiOF film 103 of the semiconductor device D3, the SiOF film 103 must be flattened by CMP. This is because formation of upper wires or the interlayer isolation film may be hindered if the interlayer isolation film is irregular. In CMP, however, water is splashed on the surface of the semiconductor device D3 in the stage of polishing or posttreatment, and hence the SiOF film 103 remarkably absorbs water. Then, it follows that the relative dielectric constant of the SiOF film 103, which must have a low dielectric constant, increases. In order to avoid such a situation, therefore, the spacer film 104 must be formed on the surface of the SiOF film 103 as a spacer for CMP.
In order to reduce the relative dielectric constant of the SiOF film, the concentration of F contained therein may be increased. If the concentration of F is excessively increased, however, instable F insufficiently bonded with Si comes to exist in the film. In this case, the instable F desorbs from the Si--F bonds in the stage of heat treatment after film formation and diffuses in the interlayer isolation film, to reach the metal wires formed on the interlayer isolation film. While the metal wires are generally formed by stacking an Al alloy or the like on a barrier metal prepared by stacking TiN and Ti as described above, F reaching the metal wires react with Ti contained in the barrier metal to form a titanium fluoride. This titanium fluoride has extremely inferior adhesion to the interlayer isolation film, and hence the barrier metal readily peels off on the interface between the same and the interlayer isolation film due to influence by stress occurring in the later step of CMP or the like.
FIGS. 21A to 21C illustrate this problem with reference to a region RG in FIG. 16. FIG. 21A shows the second layer metal wire 105 as a multilayer structure of a wiring metal 105a and a barrier metal 105b. When instable F atoms 108 contained in the SiOF film 103 move toward the outermost surface side of the spacer film 104 through the heat treatment in the later step as shown in FIG. 21B, a layer 105c of a titanium fluoride is formed in the barrier metal 105b as shown in FIG. 21C.
FIG. 22 shows distribution of the respective components forming the region RG along the film thickness direction through SIMS (secondary ion mass spectroscopy). Referring to FIG. 22, the F distribution has its maximum P in the Ti layer, to prove that F diffuses from the SiOF film 103 and reacts with the Ti layer in the barrier metal 105b to form the titanium fluoride.
Thus, a countermeasure is necessary for preventing F contained in the SiOF film from diffusing into the metal wires while increasing the F concentration in the film. A technique of forming a film (hereinafter referred to as an F diffusion prevention film) preventing diffusion of F on the surface of the SiOF film has been devised as such a countermeasure. For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open Gazette No. 10-270554 (1998) or 8-148562 (1996) discloses such a technique.
FIG. 23 illustrates the technique described in Japanese Patent Laying-Open Gazette No. 10-270554 with reference to a semiconductor device D4. The semiconductor device D4 comprises a base layer 101 and first layer metal wires 102, similarly to the semiconductor device D3. Further, the semiconductor device D4 comprises an SiOF film 103 sufficiently covering the first layer metal layers 102 on surfaces of the base layer 101 and the first layer metal wires 102. Dissimilarly to the semiconductor device D3, however, the semiconductor device D4 comprises no spacer film 104 but the SiOF film 103 has a flat surface. Further, the semiconductor device D4 comprises an F diffusion prevention film 106 prepared from a silicon nitride film, for example, on the surface of the SiOF film 103. Second layer metal wires 105 are formed on a surface of the F diffusion prevention film 106.
FIGS. 24 to 28 successively illustrate steps in a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device D4. Similarly to the method of manufacturing the semiconductor device D3, the base layer 101 is prepared and the first layer metal wires 102 are formed on the surface of the base layer 101 (FIG. 24). Then, the SiOF film 103 is formed to cover the first layer metal wires 102 (FIG. 25). Then, the surface of the SiOF film 103 is polished by CMP for forming a flat surface 103A (FIG. 26). The F diffusion prevention film 106 is formed on the flat surface 103A (FIG. 27), and the second layer metal wires 105 are formed on the surface of the F diffusion prevention film 106 through heat treatment for discharging absorbed moisture (FIG. 28).
In this semiconductor device D4, the F diffusion prevention film 106 is provided on the surface of the SiOF film 103 so that F atoms hardly diffuse from the SiOF film 103. Therefore, a Ti layer of a barrier metal forming the second layer metal wires 105 hardly changes to a titanium fluoride and the possibility of peeling of the second layer metal wires 105 reduces. Further, the F diffusion prevention film 106 has functions of not only suppressing diffusion of F atoms but also preventing the SiOF film 103 from absorbing external moisture.
In this technique, however, the surface of the SiOF film 103 is directly polished by CMP in the step shown in FIG. 26, to result in the aforementioned problem of moisture absorption of the SiOF film 103. While the absorbed moisture is discharged through the later heat treatment, the moisture cannot be completely discharged. Therefore, it is preferable to avoid direct polishing of the surface of the SiOF film 103 by CMP.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


Protective overcoat compositions and photographic elements containing same comprise:. (a) a hydroxylated latex polymer; PA0 (b) a hydrolyzed metal lower alkoxide; and, PA0 (c) a fluoroalkyl polyether surface active agent.. The overcoat is transparent and flexible and provides protection against scratches and abrasion.

Photographic elements having protective overcoat layers are well known and a wide variety of different coating compositions have been proposed in the past for use as protective overcoats. Such overcoats serve a number of different purposes, such as to provide protection against fingerprints, abrasion and scratching, to protect against water spotting, to provide a particular surface texture such as a matte surface, to provide protection against blocking, and to act as anti-reflection layers which reduce glare. Layers of a temporary nature which are intended to be removed after they have served their purpose and layers which are permanently bonded to the photographic element have been described in the prior art. Protective overcoats can be applied to photographic elements by coating solutions or dispersions of film-forming agents in organic solvents such as are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,259,009; 2,331,746; 2,706,686; 3,113,867; 3,190,197 and 3,145,670; by coating of aqueous film-forming compositions such as are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,173,480; 2,798,004; 3,502,501 and 3,733,293; by coating of compositions containing discrete, transparent, solid particles of submicroscopic size as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,536,764; by coating of plasticized polymer compositions as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,443,946; by coating of polymerized perfluorinated olefins as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,617,354; and by lamination of a protective layer as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,397,980 and 3,697,277.
Many of the compositions used in the past to form protective overcoats on photographic elements have suffered from disadvantages which have greatly limited their usefulness. For example, it has been particularly difficult to formulate compositions which are fully satisfactory in providing abrasion and scratch resistance for photographic elements which are commonly subjected to severe conditions in handling and use, such as microfiche and motion picture films. Abrasion is particularly a problem because in all stages of preparation, use and development the film contacts other objects such as rollers and the like. For example, in motion picture film the film contacts various elements in the projection apparatus capable of abrading the film as a result of the contact. Protective overcoats for photographic elements must furthermore meet exacting requirements with respect to factors such as transparency and flexibility as well as abrasion resistance and scratch resistance, and must be very strongly bonded to the underlying material to avoid the possibility of delamination. Protective overcoats for photographic elements must also contain a sufficiently high percentage of solids to provide the desired protective characteristics but also have a sufficiently low viscosity to be coatable by machine methods such as roll coating.
While the coating compositions of the aforesaid patents represent an advance in the art of providing protective overcoats for photographic elements, still further improvement in such compositions would be highly desirable. It would be particularly advantageous to provide a coating composition which exhibits excellent adhesion toward processed photographic emulsion layers and toward all of the various types of support materials commonly used for photographic elements, for example, the cellulose acetate support materials and the polyester support materials. A problem can occur, however, in providing a coating composition capable of overcoating a surface with sufficient coverage of solids to provide the desired abrasion and scratch resistance while having a viscosity low enough to be coatable by various machines and processes. It would be particularly advantageous for the coating composition to be applicable to the element by a number of means, for example, by dip coating, roll coating, gravure coating, and the like.


A uniform service platform is provided for medical diagnostic systems. The platform includes modality interface modules which may be adapted for various system modalities, including magnetic resonance imaging modalities, computed tomography modalities, x-ray modalities, and so forth. A server coordinates the exchange of operational parameter data between the systems and external circuitry, such as a remote service facility. A browser displays user-viewable pages for viewing, requesting and receiving service information. A communications module permits the exchange of service data between a system on which the platform is installed and remote circuitry. The platform may further include a subscription module for verifying subscription and access rights, such as for security purposes. Certain portions of the platform, including the user-viewable pages and modality interface components may be specifically tailored or adapted to the modality of a system on which the platform is installed.

The present invention relates generally to the field of medical diagnostic systems, such as imaging systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a service platform for facilitating remote servicing of medical diagnostic systems, such as through interactive communication with a centralized service facility. The platform may be implemented through software, hardware, firmware, or a combination of these.
Medical diagnostic and imaging systems are ubiquitous in modern health care facilities. Such systems provide invaluable tools for identifying, diagnosing and treating physical conditions and greatly reduce the need for surgical diagnostic intervention. In many instances, final diagnosis and treatment proceed only after an attending physician or radiologist has complemented conventional examinations with detailed images of relevant areas and tissues via one or more imaging modalities.
Currently, a number of modalities exist for medical diagnostic and imaging systems. These include computed tomography (CT) systems, x-ray systems (including both conventional and digital or digitized imaging systems), magnetic resonance (MR) systems, positron emission tomography (PET) systems, ultrasound systems, nuclear medicine systems, and so forth. In many instances, these modalities complement one another and offer the physician a range of techniques for imaging particular types of tissue, organs, physiological systems, and so forth. Health care institutions often dispose of several such imaging systems at a single or multiple facilities, permitting its physicians to draw upon such resources as required by particular patient needs.
Modern medical diagnostic systems typically include circuitry for acquiring image data and for transforming the data into a useable form which is then processed to create a reconstructed image of features of interest within the patient. The image data acquisition and processing circuitry is often referred to as a xe2x80x9cscannerxe2x80x9d regardless of the modality, because some sort of physical or electronic scanning often occurs in the imaging process. The particular components of the system and related circuitry, of course, differ greatly between modalities due to their different physics and data processing requirements.
Medical diagnostic systems of the type described above are often called upon to produce reliable and understandable images within demanding schedules and over a considerable useful life. To ensure proper operation, the systems are serviced regularly by highly trained personnel who address imaging problems, configure and calibrate the systems, and perform periodic system checks and software updates. Moreover, service offerings have been supplemented in recent years by remote service centers capable of contacting scanners at subscribing institutions directly without the need for intervention on the part of the institution personnel. Such remote servicing is intended to maintain the diagnostic systems in good operational order without necessitating the attention of physicians or radiologists, and is often quite transparent to the institution.
In certain remote servicing systems, a computerized service center may contact a scanner via a network to check system configurations and operational states, to collect data for report generation, and to perform other useful service functions. Such contacts can be made periodically, such as during system xe2x80x9csweepsxe2x80x9d in which a variety of system performance data is collected and stored with historical data for the particular scanner. The data can then be used to evaluate system performance, propose or schedule visits by service personnel, and the like.
While such service techniques have proven extremely valuable in maintaining diagnostic systems, further improvements are still needed. For example, in conventional service systems, contact between the scanners and a centralized service center most often originates with the service center. The scanners are provided with only limited functionality in the ability to identify and define service needs. Even where the scanners have permitted some limited ability to contact networked service providers, intermittent conditions indicative of a potentially serviceable problem may cease by the time the service provider is contacted or recontacts the scanner after a service call. Moreover, although the transparency of interactions between scanners and service centers avoids unnecessarily distracting medical personnel with service updates, it has become apparent that some degree of interaction between service centers and institutions would be highly desirable. In particular, an interactive service system would facilitate valuable exchanges of information, including reports of system performance, feedback on particular incidents requiring attention, updates of system licenses, software, imaging protocols, and so forth. Currently available service systems do not permit such interactive exchanges.
In addition to the foregoing drawbacks, conventional scanners are not suitably adapted to support user-friendly, scanner-based service exchanges. User interfaces in such scanners typically only permit limited access to service information, and do not provide a particularly useful interface for identifying and defining serviceable conditions as they occur. Moreover, software platforms and interfaces in conventional scanners are not suitable for interaction with service centers, and generally exclude the user from communications between the scanner and the service center or, conversely, impose unnecessarily on the user by requiring intervention for certain service functions such as software updates or downloads. Furthermore, platforms have yet to be developed that can serve as a base for interactive servicing needs of different modalities. Rather, such platforms have traditionally been specifically designed for the needs of a particular modality or even a particular scanner with little cross utility between systems or modalities.
While certain improvements in diagnostic stations has been made for certain modalities, these are still insufficient to satisfy the current need. For example, graphical user interfaces are available for specific modality scanners, such as ultrasound scanners, which enable software downloads and remote access to images. The remote access features are, however, generally limited to transmitting image configurations and image data for reconstruction between remote physician workstations and the scanner. At present, no systems provide for exchanging information on possible service problems with the scanners, or information or data log files for the purpose of providing remote service of the scanner itself.
The present invention provides a service platform for medical diagnostic systems designed to respond to these needs. The platform may be implemented through specific hardware, firmware, software, or a combination, depending upon the preferred configuration of the scanners. The platform preferably provides a uniform and consistent basis for configuring interactive service routines over a wide range of scanner types, and system modalities. The platform may be implemented directly in computers coupled to the scanners, and may also be installed in centralized control stations, such as stations linking a series of scanners in a radiology department of a medical facility.
The platform may consist of a number of functional units. For example, in a preferred configuration, the platform includes a browser useful for operations personnel to navigate through service information and requests, as well as to interactively exchange service information with a centralized service center. A server in the platform then facilitates exchange of service information and system data with the centralized service center. The platform may also include internal security components which verify the right to exchange of certain information between the scanner and the service center. Such security components may verify user licenses, software configurations, and so forth. The platform also preferably includes a series of tools which facilitate configuration of the platform for use with a wide variety of diagnostic system types and modalities. The platform may thereby be adapted for use in various systems, while providing uniformity in file designations, signal flow, connectivity protocols, and so forth.

Medical diagnostic system service platform


The present invention relates to a method for preparing a porous ceramic material, particularly for thermal insulation, comprising the steps of:                providing a first composition in the form of a stable aqueous colloidal solution of silica and oxides of alkaline metals;        providing a second stable composition in the form of a suspension in an organic liquid of inorganic and/or organic particles, the second composition containing compounds which, when the second composition is mixed with the first composition, can destabilize the first composition, forming gel, and can form an organic polymeric net together with a blowing agent;        mixing the first composition and the second composition to form a mixture;        forming from the mixture a porous structure in gel form, where an organic structure supports inorganic structures being formed;        solidifying the porous structure in gel form, obtaining a porous ceramic material in which an organic polymeric net surrounds inorganic portions.

It is known to prepare a body constituted by a porous material by mixing powders or granulates of materials of the ceramic type, generally Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, ZrO2, CSi, TiC, NSi and alkaline oxides such as Na2O, K2O, with a binder selected among organic materials such as acetic acid, sodium acetate, zinc acetate, propionic acid [1]. The process entails a reaction of the particles of metallic oxides with the binder, at a temperature below the sintering temperature at which the mixture is subjected to fire and drying.
A method is also known [2] for preparing a sintered porous body made of ceramic and/or metallic materials, which includes the mixing of an aqueous suspension containing powders of ceramic or metallic materials and of a binding resin (binder) which is a water-soluble polymer which can gel, and a blowing agent which activates the porosity of the gel, which becomes expanded; as the temperature increases, a porous metallic-ceramic material is formed by drying and sintering and its polymeric part is eliminated by pyrolization.
Another known method for preparing porous ceramic materials includes mixing ceramic powders with solid or hollow plastic pellets [4], [5] in a liquid in order to obtain a suspension, followed by drying and treatment in a high-temperature oven in an oxygen-free environment so that the plastic pellets that first act as adhesive for the ceramic powders are eliminated by pyrolysis, forming porosities.
It is also known that silica gels dissociate in the presence of water and alkaline metal hydroxides and can be destabilized further by other components, such as for example organic components known as electrolytes, which convert silica sol into gel by means of a phase transition depending on the degree of alkalinity of the aqueous suspension of silica, generating gel systems of a different kind [3]. A particular type of gel forms when the destabilization process of a colloidal solution of silica and alkaline compounds is activated by neutral reagents or acids, for example organic or mineral acids, esters and salts
Known processes for obtaining porous ceramic materials with high heat resistance generally entail a technology which is highly advanced from an engineering standpoint and very complicated and laborious to obtain refractory articles having a particular shape.
Moreover, in known processes, particularly advanced and sophisticated technologies which are not convenient in terms of production costs are applied to obtain large amounts of material in the industrial field.

Method for preparing a porous ceramic material with high heat resistance


A silver halide photographic material having on a support a first light-sensitive layer containing a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion and a second light-sensitive layer containing a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion, wherein the first light-sensitive layer and/or a hydrophilic colloid layer contains a hydrazine compound, the second light-sensitive layer contains a redox compound capable of releasing a development inhibitor by oxidation, and the sensitivity of the first light-sensitive layer is higher by 0.2 to 1.0 than that of the second light-sensitive layer.

In the field of photomechanical process technology, photographic materials with excellent original-producibility, stable processing solutions and simplified replenishment systems are required for the purpose of dealing with today's diversified and complicated print forms.
Originals to be employed in a line work process are often composed of phototypeset-letters, hand-written letters, illustrations and halftone dot image photographs. Accordingly, the original contains plural images having different concentrations and different line widths in combination. Photomechanical cameras and photographic materials suitable for finishing the images from such originals with good reproducibility as well as image-forming methods applicable to such photographic materials are earnestly desired in this technical field.
For the photomechanical process of producing catalogs or large-sized posters, enlargement or reduction of dot image photographs is widely used. In the photomechanical process using enlarged dot images, the dots become coarsened to give blurred photoprints. On the other hand, in the photomechanical process of forming reduced photoprints, fine dots with an enlarged ratio of lines/inch are to be photographed. Accordingly, an image-forming method with a much broader latitude assuring the formation of fine black dots in the white background and fine white dots in the black background is desired for the purpose of maintaining the reproducibility of halftone dot images in the photomechanical process.
As the light source for a photomechanical camera, a halogen lamp or xenon lamp is employed. In order to obtain a sufficient photographing sensitivity to the light source, the photographic material to be employed in the photomechanical process is generally ortho-sensitized. However, it was found that the ortho-sensitized photographic materials are much more influenced by chromatic aberrations of the lens, and therefore the quality of the images to be formed are frequently worsened by such influence. It was further found that the deterioration of image quality is more noticeable where a xenon lamp is used as the light source.
As a system of satisfying the demand for an image-forming method with a broad latitude, a method is known where a lith-type silver halide photographic material composed of silver chlorobromide (having a silver chloride content of at least 50 mol % or more) is processed with a hydroquinone-containing developer where the effective concentration of the sulfite ion therein is extremely lowered (generally, to 0.1 mol/liter or less) to thereby obtain a line image or halftone dot image having a high contrast and a high blackened density where the image portions and the non-image portions are clearly differentiated from each other. However, the method has various drawbacks. Specifically, since the sulfite concentration in the developer to be employed in the method is low, development is extremely unstable due to aerial oxidation. For the purpose of stabilizing the activity of the processing solution, various means have been employed. In addition, processing speed is extremely slow, and the working efficiency is poor under the current situation.
Accordingly, an improved image-forming system is desired, which is free from the instability of the image formation in the above-mentioned development method (lith-development system) and which may be processed with a processing solution having excellent storage stability to provide photographic images having ultra-hard photographic characteristics. As one example, a system of forming an ultra-hard negative image having a gamma value of more than 10 has been proposed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,166,742, 4,168,977, 4,221,857, 4,224,401, 4,243,739, 4,272,606 and 4,311,781, where a surface latent image-type silver halide photographic material containing a particular acyl hydrazine compound is processed with a developer having an excellent storage stability which contains a sulfite preservative in an amount of 0.15 mol/liter or more and has a pH value of from 11.0 to 12.3. The above proposed image-forming system is characterized in that a silver iodobromide or silver chloroiodobromide-containing photographic material can be processed, whereas only a silver chlorobromide photographic material having a high silver chloride content can be processed by the conventional ultra-hard image-forming method.
The above proposed image-forming system is excellent in the point that an image with sharp halftone dot image quality is formed, the process proceeds stably at a high speed, and the reproducibility of the original used is good. However, a further improved system with a further elevated original reproducibility is still desired for the purpose of satisfactorily dealing with today's diversified print forms.
Photographic materials containing a redox compound capable of releasing a photographically useful group by oxidation are mentioned in JP-A-56-153336, 61-156043, 61-230135 and 62-296138, where increased gradation reproducing latitude is intended. (The term "JP-A" used herein means an unexamined published Japanese patent application.) However, it has been found that redox compounds incorporated into these proposed photographic materials are inconvenient because they interfere with the hard contrast of images formed where the materials are processed in an ultra-hard processing system. Therefore, the compounds could not display the characteristics of an ultra-hard processing system.


This invention is directed to N-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-pyridinium sulfates of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which may be the same or different, are a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical; X is the acid radical SO.sub.4.sup.= or HSO.sub.4.sup.- ; and n is 1 or 2. This invention is also directed to the preparation of these compounds and their use in acid galvanic nickel baths.

It is known to use quaternary ammonium salts derived from heterocyclic nitrogen-containing compounds such as pyridine, quinoline, isoquinoline, or quinaldine, as galvanic additives in acid nickel baths. The nickel coats produced by use of these additives are frequently brittle or show mat zones in their low current density regions, and thus do not meet the demands made on them.
Furthermore, it is known to use reaction products of heterocyclic nitrogen-containing compounds of the aromatic type with sultones as leveling agents in galvanic nickel baths. These products represent, on the basis of their chemical constitution, inner salts of aminoalkane sulfonic acids, so-called sulfobetaines. The leveling effect of these products is quite satisfactory; however, they are subject to decomposition under certain circumstances, which may impair the leveling effect.
The problem has therefore been to find products which likewise yield satisfactory leveling effects without being relatively susceptible to decomposition in the acid galvanic nickel bath. Applicants have surprisingly developed pyridinium sulfate compounds that function as suitable leveling agents in acid galvanic nickel baths and have satisfactory decomposition properties. In addition, the pyridinium sulfate compounds developed have the advantage of simple preparation that does not require propane sultone.

Acid galvanic nickel baths containing N-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-pyridinium sulfates


The present invention relates to a thermosetting resin composition for a semiconductor package and a prepreg using the same. Specifically, a thermosetting resin composition for a semiconductor package which exhibits a low curing shrinkage ratio and has a high glass transition temperature and greatly improved flowability by introducing acrylic rubber and mixing two specific inorganic fillers surface-treated with a binder of a specific composition at a certain ratio, and a prepreg using the same, are provided.

A copper clad laminate used for a conventional printed circuit board is prepared by impregnating a base material of a glass fabric into a varnish of the thermosetting resin and semi-curing it to make a prepreg, and then heating and pressing it together with a copper foil. The prepreg is used again for constructing a circuit pattern on such copper foil laminate and again building-up thereon.
However, as electronic equipment becomes thinner and lighter, a phenomenon where the package becomes warped is generated due to the thinness and the high density of the semiconductor package.
Such warpage phenomenon is exacerbated by a phenomenon in which the sub-substrate itself is not restored while repeating high temperatures in the PCB reflow process. Therefore, due to the above-mentioned problem, there is a demand for a product having a low hardening shrinkage ratio and securing the flowability even if it is processed at a high temperature.
However, thermosetting resin compositions suitable for the PCB reflow process have not yet been developed.

Thermosetting resin composition for semiconductor package and prepreg using the same


According to an embodiment, a sheet post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment includes a paddle member and a controller. The paddle member rotates around a rotating shaft, presses a plurality of sheets held on a processing tray against a stopper and aligns ends of the sheets in a sheet transport direction. After the ends of the sheets in the sheet transport direction are aligned, the controller further rotates the paddle member, and stops rotation of the paddle member in a state that the paddle member comes in contact with the sheets held on the processing tray.

In the related art, there is known a post-processing apparatus, which executes post-processing such as stapling processing on sheets stacked onto a processing tray. The sheet post-processing apparatus includes a lateral alignment member that aligns sheets misaligned in the width direction (lateral alignment processing) and a longitudinal alignment member that aligns the sheets misaligned in the direction that is orthogonal to the sheet width direction of the sheets (longitudinal alignment processing) in order to align misaligned sheets stacked onto the processing tray before the post-processing is performed. In particular, the sheet post-processing apparatus in the related art uses the longitudinal alignment member that rotates about a rotating shaft extending to the sheet width direction in order to clear the misalignment of sheets in the direction that is orthogonal to the width direction of the sheets.
However, in the sheet post-processing apparatus in the related art, there is a problem that once any external force is applied to the sheets after longitudinal alignment processing or lateral alignment processing are executed, the aligned sheets are misaligned.


A compound of the formula or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; wherein X, Y, a, b, c, d, R1, R2, R3 and R5 are as defined above useful to treat inflammation and other immune disorders.

The present invention relates to novel sulfonic acid derivatives, methods of use and pharmaceutical compositions containing them.
The compounds of the invention are potent and selective inhibitors of MIP-1α (CCL3) binding to its receptor CCR1 found on inflammatory and immunomodulatory cells (preferably leukocytes and lymphocytes). The CCR1 receptor is also sometimes referred to as the CC-CKR1 receptor. These compounds also inhibit MIP-1α (and the related chemokines shown to interact with CCR1 (e.g., RANTES (CCL5), MCP-2 (CCL8), MCP-3 (CCL7), HCC-1 (CCL14) and HCC-2 (CCL15))) induced chemotaxis of THP-1 cells and human leukocytes and are potentially useful for the treatment or prevention of autoimmune diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis, type I diabetes (recent onset), lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, optic neuritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, polymyalgia rheumatica, uveitis, and vasculitis), acute and chronic inflammatory conditions (such as osteoarthritis, adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Respiratory Distress Syndrome of infancy, ischemia reperfusion injury, and glomerulonephritis), allergic conditions (such as asthma and atopic dermatitis), infection associated with inflammation (such as viral inflammation (including influenza and hepatitis) and Guillian-Barre), chronic bronchitis, xeno-transplantation, transplantation tissue rejection (chronic and acute), organ rejection (chronic and acute), atherosclerosis, restenosis (including, but not limited to, restenosis following balloon and/or stent insertion), HIV infectivity (co-receptor usage), and granulomatous diseases (including sarcoidosis, leprosy and tuberculosis) and sequelae associated with certain cancers such as multiple myeloma. Compounds in this series may also have utility for the prevention of cancer metastasis. Compounds in this series may also limit the production of cytokines at inflammatory sites, including but not limited to TNF and IL-1, as a consequence of decreasing cell infiltration, providing benefit for diseases linked to TNF and IL-1, including congestive heart failure, pulmonary emphysema or dyspnea associated therewith, emphysema; HIV-1, HIV-2, HIV-3; cytomegalovirus (CMV), adenoviruses, Herpes viruses (Herpes zoster and Herpes simplex). They may also provide benefit for the sequelae associated with infection where such infection induces production of detrimental inflammatory cytokines such as TNF e.g, fungal meningitis, joint tissue damage, hyperplasia, pannus formation and bone resorption, psoriatic arthritis, hepatic failure, bacterial meningitis, Kawasaki syndrome, myocardial infarction, acute liver failure, lyme disease, septic shock, cancer, trauma, and malaria, etc.
MIP-1α and RANTES are soluble chemotactic peptides (chemokines) which are produced by inflammatory cells, in particular CD8+ lymphocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and macrophages, J. Biol. Chem., 270 (30) 29671-29675 (1995). These chemokines act by inducing the migration and activation of key inflammatory and immunomodulatory cells. Elevated levels of chemokines have been found in the synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis patients, chronic and rejecting tissue from transplant patients and in the nasal secretions of allergic rhinitis patients following allergen exposure (Teran, et al., J. Immunol., 1806-1812 (1996), and Kuna et al., J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 321 (1994)). Antibodies which interfere with the chemokine/receptor interaction by neutralizing MIP1α or gene disruption have provided direct evidence for the role of MIP-1α and RANTES in disease by limiting the recruitment of monocytes and CD8+ lymphocytes (Smith et al., J. Immunol, 153, 4704 (1994) and Cook et al., Science, 269, 1583 (1995)). Together this data demonstrates that CCR1 receptor antagonists would be an effective treatment of several immune based diseases. The compounds described within are potent and selective antagonists of the CCR1 receptor.


Wind-funneling systems for gas turbines are disclosed. Air travels through a wind funnel where it is compressed, and then flows into a gas turbine that is fueled by a hydrocarbon fuel source such as natural gas. The wind funnels have a controlled volume with an opening facing the wind that concentrates air power and energy and directs the force into a constricted outlet that feeds into the gas turbine. Compressed air from the wind funnel may enter the front compressor section of the gas turbine at relatively high density and force. As a result, the gas turbine does not have to use as much energy to pull the air in, which creates fuel savings. The compressed air from the wind funnel then flows to the combustion section of the gas turbine where oxygen from the wind-compressed air is used to combust the hydrocarbon fuel supplied to the gas turbine. The wind funnel is thus used to generate compressed air that may increase efficiency in the front compressor section of the gas turbine, and serves as an oxygen source in the combustion section of the gas turbine.

Conventional gas turbines consume large quantities of air for natural gas or other hydrocarbons to combust in a confined space. Combustion causes the turbine shaft to spin in a back expansion section of the turbine, and flaps in the front end compressor of the turbine concentrate the weight of the air. For example, a conventional aero-derivative turbine may concentrate air from about 20 cubic meters to 1 cubic meter per second in the combustion area of a natural gas turbine where natural gas is injected and ignited. However, such compression of normal density air results in significant energy loss.


A carbon coating including carbon particles having a predetermined size and BET surface area. The carbon coating is applied to electrodes used in batteries. The electrodes may include a nonconductive frame defining at least one aperture and at least one carbon plastic sheet which is borne by the frame and disposed in occluding relation relative to the aperture. The carbon coating is applied to one surface of the carbon plastic sheet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a carbon coated plastic electrode for use in batteries. More particularly, the present invention relates to a coating which may be applied to a carbon plastic electrode and which provides a high electrochemical surface area.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electrodes are key components in batteries. As will be understood, certain types of batteries, employ carbon plastic electrodes. Accordingly, it has long been known that an improved carbon plastic electrode would result in improved battery performance.
In this regard, batteries of the prior art typically include a stack of cells, and an electrolyte, or liquid containing positive and negative ions, that facilitates the flow of electricity therethrough. Each battery cell includes an electrode upon which an anodic reaction occurs, and an electrode upon which a cathodic reaction occurs. As a result of these separate reactions, energy is either stored or released. In batteries which are known as monopolar batteries, each electrode functions as a single pole, so that an anode and a cathode are required to form an individual cell. Further, an ion-permeable barrier, or separator, separates the anode from the cathode. In these monopolar batteries, the cells forming the stack are hydraulically isolated from each other and electrically coupled in series by an external electrical conductor. As should be understood, electrons leave the cathode, travel ionically through the electrolyte and separator, and are deposited on the anode. The electrons then leave the body of the battery, travelling electronically through the electrical conduit to the cathode of the adjacent cell.
In bipolar flow batteries, each electrode includes two poles, that is, an anodic reaction occurs on one side of the electrode and a cathodic reaction occurs on the opposite side of the same electrode. Each cell of a bipolar flow battery is electronically coupled in series and hydraulically coupled in parallel to an adjacent cell. In this arrangement, electrons travel ionically through the electrolyte and through an ion-permeable separator. Further, the electrons flow electronically between adjacent cells and through the bipolar electrode, which is common to both the anodic and cathodic half cells. Thus, in this type of battery, electron flow is entirely internal. In contrast, electricity leaves the interior of a monopolar battery as it travels through the external electrical conduit. As should be understood, the electrical conduit is a relatively high electrical resistance path. As a result, bipolar batteries generally possess a higher current density than monopolar batteries because electrons in bipolar batteries do not have to travel along the relatively high resistance, external path.
Accordingly, bipolar batteries and, in particular, bipolar, zinc-bromine batteries, have proven to be superior to other types of battery design for applications where high current and energy density are required.
Zinc-bromine batteries have an aqueous solution of zinc-bromide and quaternary ammonium salts, for example, methylethylpyrrolidinium bromide, with optional supporting salts, such as NH.sub.4 Cl, which is circulated through the individual cells from an external reservoir. Each cell has two portions, one half of the cell contains an anolyte and the other half of the cell contains a catholyte. The anolyte flows through a common anolyte manifold to each anodic half cell and the catholyte flows through a parallel common catholyte manifold. The alternating separators and electrodes are sealed together in a manner which prevents communication between the anolyte and catholyte systems.
In the discharged state, the anolyte is substantially chemically identical to the catholyte. During the process of collecting a charge, the following chemical reaction takes place: EQU Zn.sup.++ +2e.sup.- .fwdarw.Zn EQU 2Br.sup.- .fwdarw.Br.sub.2 +2e.sup.-
Zinc is plated on the anode, and bromine is produced at the cathode. The bromine is immediately complexed by the quaternary ammonium ions in the electrolyte to form a dense second phase which is subsequently removed from the battery stack with the flowing electrolyte. Further, when the battery is charged, zinc is stored on one side of each electrode and the complex bromine is stored in the catholyte reservoir.
During the electrical discharge process, the following chemical reaction takes place. EQU Br.sub.2 +2e.sup.- .fwdarw.2Br.sup.- EQU Zn.fwdarw.Zn.sup.++ +2.
In this reaction, zinc is oxidized, and the released electrons pass through the bipolar electrode where they combine with molecular bromine to form bromide ions. The positively charged zinc ions travel through the separator and remain in solution, and at the same time, bromide ions pass through the separator in the opposite direction and remain in solution.
As will be recognized following a study of the description above, the electrodes are key elements in batteries because it is upon their respective surfaces that critical electrochemical reactions take place. Electrodes for use in a bipolar battery may be formed from extruded, carbon-filled, high-density polyethylene or carbon plastic. Sheets of carbon plastic may be affixed by molding or other similar techniques in plastic frames. Such a frame may then be thermally welded to other components to form a battery as is described more fully in U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,019 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,718, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Of some importance in a bipolar battery design which employs a plastic-component construction is the rate at which the bromine-bromide reaction takes place. When compared to the zinc-plating reaction, the bromine-bromide reaction on a carbon plastic electrode is relatively slow.
It has been found that the rate of the bromine-bromide reaction may be increased by coating the surface area of the electrode on which the reaction takes place. In particular, it has been found that certain coatings have improved the efficiency and cycle life for zinc-bromine batteries.
For example, high surface area carbon coatings applied to carbon plastic electrodes have been associated with improved efficiencies and were expected to yield a very high electrochemical surface area and, therefore, increase the rate of the bromine-bromide reaction. However, this has not always been the case.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have an improved electrode for use in a bipolar battery wherein a bromine-bromide reaction could occur at a relatively faster rate. It would also be desirable to have a coating, which when applied to an electrode, produces a high electrochemical surface area, when compared to the prior-art techniques. It would also be desirable to have an improved electrode which improves the efficiency and cycle life of a bipolar battery which incorporates same.


Environmentally improved, storage-stable detergent compositions, having good efficacy in terms of both primary and secondary detergency, contain a surfactant and an in situ, wash water-hydrolyzable polyimide biopolymer, such polyimide biopolymer having a COO.sup.- charge density ranging from 0 to 5.times.10.sup.-4 mol/g thereof and the at least partially biodegradable polypeptide detergent builder hydrolysate thereof having a COO.sup.- charge density of at least 10.sup.-3 mol/g thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improved detergent compositions containing a polyimide biopolymer capable of in situ wash liquor-hydrolysis into a biodegradable polypeptide builder; such improved compositions are well adopted for formulation into detergents or cleaning products in powder form.
By the term detergent "builder" is intended any constituent thereof which improves the performance of the surfactants in a detergent composition. In general, a builder elicits a plurality of functions:
(a) It effects the removal of undesirable ions, in particular alkaline earth metal (calcium, magnesium) ions, in a washing liquor, by sequestration or precipitation, to prevent the precipitation of anionic surfactants, PA1 (b) It provides a reserve of alkalinity and of ionic strength, PA1 (c) It maintains the extracted soiling and stains in suspension, PA1 (d) It prevents mineral incrustation onto the laundry during washing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The tripolyphosphates have long been used as the builders of choice in detergent compositions and washing products. However, they are partially responsible for the eutrophication of lakes, streams, and slowly flowing water when they are not adequately removed by water purification facilities; efforts are ongoing to replace them partially or completely.
Zeolites alone cannot replace the tripolyphosphates; their action has to be reinforced by other additives.
Copolymers of acrylic acid and maleic anhydride (or their alkali metal or ammonium salts) have been proposed (European Patent No. 25,551) as incrustation inhibitors.
They present, however, the drawback of not being biodegradable in a natural environment.

Detergent compositions containing wash liquid-hydrolyzable polyimide biopolymers


A preamplifier circuit for amplifying a video signal reproduced by a magnetic head includes a positive feedback circuit for reducing an input capacitance thereof. A negative feedback circuit may be added thereto for stabilizing an operation of the preamplifier.

The present invention relates to an amplifier circuit and, particularly, to a preamplifier circuit for use in a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus such as video tape recorder.
In the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, the frequency characteristics of a reproduced video signal are generally determined by resonance characteristics defined by an inductance. As such, capacitance of a video head circuit and it is very difficult to obtain desired frequency characteristics therefor. In order to try to overcome this problem, it has been usual to improve the resonance characteristics of the video head circuit by using a damping resistor. FIGS. 1 and 2 show examples of conventional circuits for this purpose, noting that FIG. 1 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,513,267. In these figures, a letter L depicts an equivalent inductance of a video head when viewed from an input side of a preamplifier whose gain is A, and C is a parallel capacitance including a stray capacitance of the video head. The high cutoff frequency of a reproduced video signal is substantially determined by a resonance frequency defined by L and C according to the following equation EQU fo =1/2.pi..sqroot.LC
In order to restrict such frequency characteristics due to resonance and to make a frequency characteristics flat within the video signal frequency band, damping resistors R2 and R1 are employed in the circuits shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. Among them, since the circuit in FIG. 1 includes the damping resistor R2 inserted into the circuit as a negative feedback resistor, it is possible to reduce the amount of thermal noise which is produced by the resistor. For this reason, the circuit shown in FIG. 1 has been frequently used in current video tape recorders.
In these prior art arrangement, when it is desired to make the frequency band of the reproduced video signal wider to obtain a higher video signal quality, it is necessary to increase the resonance frequency by reducing the inductance L or capacitance C of the video head. In order to reduce the inductance, it is necessary to reduce the number of turns of the head coil, resulting in a reduced induction voltage and a degraded S/N ratio. Alternatively, a reduction of the parallel capacitance is practically impossible since a large part of this is the stray capacitance of the head coil. Therefore, at present, it is almost impossible to obtain flat frequency characteristics for a video signal over a substantially wider frequency range.


Methods and systems are provided for preventing vehicle roll. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining a first switch state; determining a second switch state; evaluating the first switch state and the second switch state to determine whether a condition of a mechanical linkage between a range selection device and a transmission has occurred; and selectively generating at least one of a control signal to control an electronic park brake and a notification message based on the determination.

Vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission often include a shift control lever mounted on a console, the dashboard, or the steering column of the vehicle. A vehicle operator may manually move the shift control lever between shift lever positions. The shift lever positions indicate particular transmission ranges (park, reverse, neutral, drive 1, drive 2, drive 3, etc.). Movement of the shift lever into a particular shift lever position causes the transmission to be operated in a particular gear or set of gears.
For example, the shift control lever includes mechanical linkages that couple to the automatic transmission. The mechanical linkages cause the automatic transmission to operate in the particular gear or set of gears. For example, when the shift control lever is moved to the park position, a mechanical linkage activates a parking pawl device or other device of the transmission. The parking pawl device locks the movement of the transmission output shaft thereby preventing movement of the vehicle wheels.
In some cases, conditions can occur in one or more of the mechanical linkages that prevent proper operation. The conditions can cause unexpected movement of the vehicle. For example, when the shift control lever is in the park position and when a condition exists in the mechanical linkage between the shift control lever and the transmission, the vehicle may roll forward or backward (referred to hereinafter as vehicle roll).
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide methods and systems for preventing vehicle roll. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Methods and systems for preventing vehicle roll


Disclosed is a technique for updating a read-detect channel. A signal is processed in a read-detect channel that has one or more programmable registers. While signals continue to be processed by the read-detect channel, it is determined with a channel auxiliary processor whether to dynamically replace values of the one or more programmable registers. When it is determined that values of the one or more programmable registers are to be replaced, a channel auxiliary processor determines values for the one or more programmable registers and replaces existing values for the one or more programmable registers with the determined values.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to real-time adaptive equalization and real-time modification of read-detect channel parameters based upon signals received from a data storage device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Automated media storage libraries are known for providing cost effective access to large quantities of stored media. Generally, media storage libraries include a large number of storage slots in which are stored portable data storage media The typical portable data storage media is a tape cartridge, an optical cartridge, a disk cartridge, electronic storage media, and the like. The term "electronic storage media" may be described as a device such as a PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash PROM, compactflash, smartmedia, and the like.
In conventional data storage systems, a read-detect channel is the part of a storage device that is used to process analog waveforms (also referred to as "analog signals") received from the portable data storage media to generate digital waveforms (also referred to as "digital signals") that can be used by a host computer. In such conventional data storage systems, a digital waveform from the read-detect channel does not go directly to the host processor. Instead, the digital waveform goes directly to a data flow processor, which removes formatting information and corrects errors, reconstructing an exact copy of the host computer data that was originally written on the portable data storage medium.
For many data storage systems, there is great variability in the properties of the portable data storage media and in the data storage systems themselves. Typically, there are many types of storage media manufactured by several different companies that may be read. Likewise, the storage media may be written on a data storage system that is written by one manufacturer and read by a data storage system that is made by another manufacturer. This requires a read-detect channel that is adaptable and has many programmable components that can be changed or optimized, depending upon the characteristics of the waveforms that are read from the portable data storage media.
In conventional data storage systems, there are many components of the read-detect channel that can be changed or optimized. One such component is an equalizer. The equalizer is usually one of the first components that processes the waveform as the waveform is read from the portable data storage media. Typically, the equalizer is a finite impulse response ("FIR") filter that has several programmable "taps" that may be programmed depending upon the properties of the portable data storage media. By correctly programming the FIR "taps", a FIR filter shapes a received digital waveform to produce another waveform that has desirable properties for further data detection.
In conventional data storage devices, the read-detect channel and the data flow are "intelligent" devices that monitor the signal processing effort required to detect the data on the portable data storage media The read-detect channels monitor waveform characteristics such as the signal amplitude, the data frequency, and the signal-to-noise ratio ("SNR"). The read-detect channel sends this information to the tape drive processor, which can dynamically update read-detect channel control registers. Likewise, the data-flow monitors error conditions in the received data stream and similarly sends this information to the tape drive processor, which can update data-flow control registers.
However, data storage system management tasks associated with controlling the motion of the media and the flow of the data typically require too much processor time to allow read-detect channel components to be optimized as the data is being read. This means that even though information about the quality of the received signal is available as the data is being read, a data storage system manager is too busy performing other processing to modify and update the read-detect channel. When the quality of the received signal degrades to the point where the original data cannot be recovered without errors, the data processing is stopped, the control registers are interrogated, and changes are made to the read-detect channel to improve data detection. This may include redesigning the FIR filter tap or changing other read-detect channel parameters.
In a data storage device, it is undesirable to stop the data processing due to errors. If an uncorrectable error occurs, the data storage system must disrupt the flow of data and physically control the motion of the portable data storage media in the data recovery process. For a tape recording system, this involves stopping the tape, rewinding to a position before the error and trying again. For a disk system, this involves waiting until the disk turns a full rotation before the error region can be re-read. This interruption to the flow of data significantly reduces the overall data rate of the device.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for improved real-time adaptive read-detect channel optimization.

International Business Machines Corporation


This invention relates to a mammographic tomography test object (hereinafter referred to as a phantom) and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a mammographic tomography test phantom for use in the verification of image reconstruction positions in digital breast tomosynthesis. The phantom includes a body made from an approximately tissue equivalent x-ray attenuating material; an upper spacer located on top of the body, and a lower spacer located below the body, the spacers being made from a substantially non-compressible material; and a plurality of x-ray opaque granules located at predetermined positions within the body.

THIS invention relates to a mammographic tomography test object (hereinafter referred to as a phantom) and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a mammographic tomography test phantom for use in the verification of image reconstruction positions in digital breast tomosynthesis. The invention also relates to a method of verifying image reconstruction positions in digital breast tomosynthesis using a customized mammographic tomography test phantom.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women all over the world. Early detection is vital so that the patient can be diagnosed and treated, as the chance of survival is much better when breast cancer is detected at an early stage. Over the past few years advances in technology have ensured an increase in the development and uptake of mammography systems.
In standard two dimensional (2D) projection film screen mammography (FSM) or full field digital mammography (FFDM), overlapping dense fibroglandular tissue within the breast can reduce the visibility of malignant abnormalities or can simulate the appearance of an abnormality. This can lead to unnecessary recalls, biopsies and psychological stress for the women concerned. In this conventional mammography, overlapping or superimposed tissue creates a clutter of signals above and below objects of interest, which can for example result in lesions being hidden by other objects.
Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is a relatively newly developed form of three dimensional (3D) image reconstruction which has the potential of improving the accuracy of mammography by blurring out overlying tissues. It is based on the outdated linear tomographic technique (superseded by Computed Tomography (CT) scanning) that was used in the 1970s to achieve an equivalent goal in general x-ray imaging. The overlying tissue in the image, sometimes referred to as anatomical noise, degrades image quality in standard 2D projection imaging. The definition of tomosynthesis, as stated in the LORAD Hologic Selenia Dimensions Quality Control manual is "an imaging technique that recombines a number of breast images taken at different angles through the breast to achieve various effects". In DBT, multiple projection images of the breast (approximately 15) are acquired from different angulations of the x-ray tube within a single plane of motion perpendicular to the detector and in line with the front edge of the detector. The images are then processed using reconstruction algorithms to produce tomographic sections through the breast. These sections can be viewed on a computer as planes or slices. By reducing the superimposition of overlying breast tissue, DBT has the potential to differentiate malignant features more definitively from non-malignant ones. It should be noted that the improvements to linear tomography (originally developed in the 70's) included non-linear translations which increased out of reconstruction plane image blur thus improving in reconstruction plane resolution. These non-linear translations included circular and hyper-cycloidal movements.
It is obvious that, as with any other form of radiology, in DBT image quality is very important and should be optimized. Various parameters influence the image quality, two of which are the angular range of the x-ray tube, and the number of exposures. These parameters are usually fixed on any particular DBT system, but have a huge impact on image quality
The larger the angular range, the wider the separation of the slices and increase in the out of plane resolution. However, with smaller angles more structures will be in focus in a specific plane. More angles at which images are acquired will result in more exposures which would reduce the visibility of artefacts, but more ionising radiation dose will be delivered to the patients. Compensation by reducing the dose per view is limited as this will introduce more statistical noise in the image and may at some point start to deteriorate image quality.
An artefact, in the radiological sense, refers to any perceived structure that is not actually present, but is produced by the imaging process, i.e. something not anatomically real such as the distortion of a structure or signal, which interferes with or obscures the interpretation of a study, or a structure that is not representative of a specimen's in vivo state and which does not reflect the original sample, but rather is the result of an imaging procedure, its analysis or other factors. The smearing/out of plane artefact is one of the most prominent artefacts found in DBT. These artefacts may thus lead to uncertainties in where the planes are in DBT, as well as how accurately the reconstruction plane can be said to be a fixed thickness, such as 1 mm slice thickness. Therefore, for the image quality to be optimized the image reconstruction plane position and characteristics need to be defined. This uncertainty should be quantified as part of the quality program for DBT systems, to determine accurately the actual image reconstruction planes (IRP) obtained during tomographic reconstruction.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a mammographic tomography test phantom for use in the verification of image reconstruction depths in digital breast tomosynthesis, which will enable the accurate determination of image reconstruction planes.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a method of verifying image resolution at various positions in digital breast tomosynthesis images by customizing the mammographic tomosynthesis test phantom, and developing an appropriate analysis algorithm, which method will enable the quantification of image resolution degradation at various points and in two planes in the image (in the plane of motion and perpendicular to the plane of motion of the DBT x-ray source).


An apparatus and a method for inserting a non-round circular-blank core into a non-round hole of a circular-blank ring to create a circular blank. A transporting device transports the circular-blank ring to an insertion location. A feed device transports the circular-blank core to the insertion location. The circular-blank core is positioned on the hole of the circular-blank ring and inserted into the hole with the aid of a pushing-in device, which applies a pushing-in force. If the non-round hole is not in alignment with the non-round circular-blank core, the circular-blank core and the circular-blank ring are rotated relative to one another at the insertion location by generation of the pushing-in force. The circular-blank ring is preferably moved, by the pushing-in force, onto an alignment mandrel, which causes the circular-blank ring to rotate in its circumferential direction until the contours of the circular-blank core and of the hole are in alignment.

Such round blanks that consist of at least two-part or also three-part round blanks are used, for example, for stamping coins, medals or the like consisting of several metallic materials. In the case of three-part or also multi-part round blanks, a ring-shaped round blank core is inserted in the outermost round blank ring that, in turn, again represents a round blank ring relative to the round blank core that is to be inserted therein. The terms "round blank core" and "round blank ring" are meant to refer to the two adjoining round blank parts that are nested in each other.
The insertion of a round blank core in the round blank ring is easy if both the hole in the round blank ring and the outside contour of the round blank core are circular. However, if these contours deviate from the circular form, it is necessary, on the one hand, that the hole center and the round blank center be in substantial alignment and, on the other hand, that the insertion become possible at all. A twisting of one of the two round blank parts in circumferential direction, as well as a relative shifting of the two round blanks, can lead to disruptions of the embossing process and block feeding of the round blanks to the embossing press.
Publication DE 33 39 387 A1 discloses a device for feeding non-round blanks to the tool of an embossing press. During the transport of the blanks by means of a transport device said blanks slide along guide paths and thus orient themselves in circumferential direction. The insertion of circular cores into a non-circular ring is not described.
The feeding of round blank cores in circular holes of blanks is described, for example in publications DE 100 57 000 A1, DE 198 41 622 A1 or DE 100 44 669 A1. However, these do not contain any indication anywhere how non-round cores could be inserted in non-round holes.

Apparatus and method for inserting a circular-blank core into a circular-blank ring


Apparatus for protecting a person's ears from the damaging ultra-violet rays of the sun is presented. The ear protector apparatus conveniently clips to the outside of a cap, typically, a baseball cap. The protective ear apparatus is positionable along the headband of the cap in accordance with the anatomical configuration of a person's head. Furthermore, the protective ear apparatus is removable and may be applied from one cap to another. Ornamental designs may be applied to the outside surface of the ear protector to display the logo of a sports team or even to advertise an organization or business entity.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to headwear and in particular to removable apparatus adapted to be affixed to headwear which primarily serves to protect a person's ears from harmful ultra-violet rays emitted by the sun.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The devastating effect of the sun's rays has been known for many years. The initial observable effect was of course, burning of the skin due to mere exposure to the sun. The so called suntan which is often advertised as being a healthy look is in fact actual burning of the skin by the sun's rays. In tropical or desert environments, because the sun's rays are more intense, the burning effect of the sun is also more intense. Articles of clothing such as hats, shirts and pants or trousers serve well to protect a person from sunburns. Unprotected portions of a person's body, however, were not adequately protected by such articles of clothing and hence, out of necessity the hat neck flap was invented and is exemplified by the highly known cap of the french foreign legion. While not necessarily the first headwear to use such a flap, the French foreign legion cap is extremely well known and quite adequately serves its intended purpose. The headgear being referred to comprises a cap having a peak or bill in the front thereof with an extra piece of material or flap sewn into the headband extending around primarily the back thereof to cover both the neck and the ears of the person wearing the hat.
The French foreign legion protective headgear and its variations such as simple handkerchief held in place by a bill cap and extending over a person's neck, while quite effective, are not in wide spread use today. While one can only speculate as to just why such protective headgear is not in general use today, one reason might be, that unless it is being worn in the sun, people do not want to wear a hat with a flap in the back. To counter this, it might be said that all that is required is to simply pull the flap up into the hat during periods of no sun. Such solutions obviously not satisfactory or else people would be wearing the same. Accordingly, there exists a need to provide protective headgear for persons to prevent being sunburned in exposed areas.
More recently, the harmful effect of the sun's ultraviolet rays has come into focus. Skin cancer due to the ultraviolet rays has become a prime concern for people in recent years. That this is so, because people have become more health conscious is of no avail, because the fact is that the ultraviolet rays of the sun does cause skin cancer. Again, it is the exposed portions of a person'body that is subject to skin cancer by the sun's rays. This again includes the ears and neck of a person's body. The prior art known to the inventor herein serving to protect a person's skin from sunburn as well as possible cancer, generally involves the use of flaps either flexible or non-flexible, removably attached to a hat headband or a headband which may be worn in conjunction with a cap which flaps cover a person's neck and ears.
The obvious prior art attempt to utilize a removable flap attached to a headgear or cap involves the use of a hook and loop attachment method so that the flap may be attached and removed from the cap. Such removable flaps give one the appearance of being dressed in a french foreign legion hat which apparently does not appeal to people because the same is not in very much use today. Other prior art attempts include flaps in addition to being removable are hinged so that they may be rotated upwardly and out of position when there are no sun's rays or the rays are not particularly intense. Again, such protective headgear is not in widespread use.
Accordingly, notwithstanding the prior art, there exists a definite need for apparatus to be adapted to be attached to a billed cap which shields a person from the harmful effects of the sun's rays. Preferably, such protective apparatus should be removable so that the cap may be worn without the protective apparatus.
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide apparatus which may be removably attached to a billed cap and serve to protect a person's ears and neck from the harmful effect of the sun's rays.
Another object of the present invention is to provide protective ear and neck apparatus which is small and unobtrusive so as to be aesthetically pleasing, yet functional.
Another object of the present invention is to provide ear and neck protectors adapted to be fitted to a billed cap which when removed leaves the cap in an original or unaltered state.
Another object of the present invention is to provide ear and neck protective apparatus which may be adjustable positioned around the headband of a billed cap so as to adapt the same to be fitted to a particular person's head anatomy.
Another object of the present invention is to provide ear and neck protective apparatus which is readily adaptable to be fitted with ornamental decorations and/or to convey various visual statements.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide ear and neck protective apparatus which may be transferred to one cap to another and yet be effective for the function intended.
The above state objects as well as others, which, although not specifically stated, but are intended to be included within the present invention, are accomplished by the present invention and will become apparent from the hereinafter set forth detailed description of the invention, drawings, and the claims appended herewith.


A programmable logic device integrated circuit incorporating a first-in, first-out memory block (250). First-in, first-out memory block (250) is coupled to a programmable interconnect array (213). Signals from the logic array blocks (LABs) (201) are connected to the control inputs of the first-in, first-out memory (250). In one embodiment, the programmable interconnect array (213) may be programmably coupled to the control inputs (259) of the first-in, first-out memory block. Status flag signals (276) from the first-in, first-out memory block (250) are programmably coupled to the programmable interconnect array (213). Data input (263) and data output (261) to first-in, first-out memory block (250) may be coupled to external, off-chip circuitry.

The present invention relates to the field of programmable logic integrated circuits. More specifically, the present invention provides an enhanced programmable logic architecture, improving upon the composition, configuration, and arrangements of logic array blocks and logic elements and also the interconnections between these logic array blocks and logic elements.
Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs) are well known to those in the electronic art. Such programmable logic devices are commonly referred as PALs (Programmable Array Logic), PLAs (Programmable Logic Arrays), FPLAs (Field Programmable Logic Arrays), PLDs (Programmable Logic Devices), EPLDs (Erasable Programmable Logic Devices), EEPLDs (Electrically Erasable Programmable Logic Devices), LCAs (Logic Cell Arrays), FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), and the like. Such devices are used in a wide array of applications where it is desirable to program standard, off-the-shelf devices for a specific application. Such devices include, for example, the wellknown, Classics and MAX.TM. 5000, MAX.RTM. 7000, and FLEX.RTM. 8000 EPLDs made by Altera Corp.
PLDs are generally known in which many logic array blocks (LABs) are provided in a two-dimensional array. Further, PLDs have an array of intersecting signal conductors for programmably selecting and conducting logic signals to, from, and between the logic array blocks. LABs contain a number of programmable logic elements (LEs) which provide relatively elementary logic functions such as NAND, NOR, and exclusive OR.
Resulting from the continued scaling and shrinking of semiconductor device geometries, which are used to form integrated circuits (also known as "chips"), integrated circuits have progressively become smaller and denser. For programmable logic, it becomes possible to put greater numbers of programmable logic elements onto one integrated circuit. Furthermore, as the number of elements increases, it becomes increasingly important to improve the techniques and architectures used for interconnecting the elements and routing signals between the logic blocks. In particular, it is important to provide enough interconnection resources between the programmable logic elements so that the capabilities of the logical elements can be fully utilized and so that complex logic functions (e.g., requiring the combination of multiple LABs and LEs) can be performed, without providing so much interconnection resources that there is a wasteful excess of this type of resource.
While such devices have met with substantial success, such devices also meet with certain limitations, especially in situations in which the provision of additional or alternative types of interconnections between the logic modules would have benefits sufficient to justify the additional circuitry and programming complexity. Such additional interconnection paths may be desirable for making frequently needed kinds of interconnections, for speeding certain kinds of interconnections, for allowing short distance connections to be made without tying up a more general-purpose interconnection resource such as long-distance interconnect. There is also a continuing demand for logic devices with larger capacity. This produces a need to implement logic functions more efficiently and to make better use of the portion of the device which is devoted to interconnecting individual logic modules.
As can be seen, an improved programmable logic array integrated circuit architecture is needed, especially an architecture providing additional possibilities for interconnections between the logic modules and improved techniques for organizing and interconnecting the programmable logic elements, Including LABs and LEs.

Programmable logic array integrated circuit incorporating a first-in first-out memory


In an information device which has a laser light source and a non-linear optical crystal for converting the laser fundamental wave light irradiated from the laser light source into harmonic wave light and uses the laser light passing through the non-linear optical crystal, a prism or an optical grating is provided to separate an optical path of the fundamental wave light remaining in the laser light passing through the crystal from an optical path of the harmonic wave light with the purpose of eliminating the fundamental wave light. In another embodiment, a polarization filter is provided to eliminate the fundamental wave light.

The present invention relates to an information device using laser light, for example, a laser printer and optical disc device.
The laser printer and optical disc device are information devices that realize highly fine picture images and high density memory utilizing the nature that laser light can be focused into a minute point. In this case, a diameter of a laser light spot is determined depending upon the wavelength of the laser light, and the shorter the wavelength, to the smaller the value of the laser light that can be focused. For this reason, shortening of the wavelength of laser light is one of the most influential means for realizing further high-resolution printing and high-density recording.
The conversions of light wavelengths by non-linear optical effects are used for shortening a wavelength of laser light. In these, a second harmonic wave generation process is well known frequency of an output light beam of a laser oscillator is doubled. In this case, since the wavelength of the second harmonic wave light becomes half of that of the output beam of the laser oscillator, the diameter of the spot of the second harmonic wave light can be readily focused to about half the size of that of an output beam of a laser oscillator. An information device in which the second harmonic wave light of an output beam of a laser oscillator is used, for example a laser printer, is shown in Japanese patent application Laid-Open No. 63-66527.
In this example, the beam output from the semi-conductor laser is irradiated onto an element of conversion of light wavelength made of a non-linear optical crystal to be converted into harmonic wave light, and the beam whose light wavelength was converted is irradiated onto a photoconductive drum as it is.
The conversion efficiency of an output beam of a laser oscillator (fundamental wave) into the second harmonic wave light is proportional to the value determined by the non-linear optical constant of the crystal for an element of conversion of light wavelength used and to the square of the energy density of the fundamental wave light. When such a crystal available at present as LiNbO.sub.3, KNbO.sub.3, KTiPO.sub.4, KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4, LiIO.sub.3, Ba.sub.2 NaNb.sub.5 O.sub.15, and so on, is used, and even if the fundamental wave light whose intensity is about several ten (10) kW/cm.sup.2 through MW/cm.sup.2 is irradiated on the crystal, the fundamental wave can not be completely converted into the second harmonic wave. Therefore, fundamental wave light remains in the second harmonic wave light after the conversion.
The application of laser light to information devices under such conditions, therefore, will not serve to realize the micronization, that is an object, of a diameter of a laser light spot, and as a result high-resolution printing and high-density recording may not be realized.
An optical disc device having an optical filter for removing a fundamental wave light component from a light beam in which the fundamental wave light mixes with the second harmonic wave light is described in Japanese patent application Laid-Open No. 61-50122. Moreover, a harmonic wave light generator comprising a semiconductor laser, a non-linear optical crystal and an optical filter for removing a fundamental wave light component from a light beam in which the fundamental wave light and the second harmonic wave light mingle together is described in Japanese patent application Laid-Open No. 63-121829. However, since the optical filters described in the above literature are made from an absorptive optical material or a dielectric multi-layer coating, and since these optical filters generally have a fundamental wave light transmission factor of 0.1% to 0.2% or more, it is difficult to sufficiently eliminate the fundamental wave light by use of these optical filters. Therefore, the use of these kinds of optical filters will not serve to realize the micronization of the spot diameter of a laser light beam, and as a result, high-resolution printing and high-density recording will not be accomplished.

Laser printer with harmonic wave separation of the beam


A conversion kit for converting an existing sprinkler system liquid supply line into a general purpose soluble chemical application device is used to apply insecticides or fertilizer. The easily installed kit mixes dry chemicals with an existing pressurized liquid to form and expel appropriate treatment solution. Spent dry chemicals can be easily replaced in a removable canister. Chemicals from conventional bulk packages or specially prepared packets may be used. A safety interlock shutoff valve is provided to prevent pressurization of the system while chemicals are being replaced. A vacuum breaking air vent valve is provided to allow drainage of liquid from the system. All components are enclosed within and supported by a single housing. The housing is preferably molded from a durable plastic material.

In its broadest aspect, this invention relates to attachments which controllably introduce fluid soluble material into a pipeline fluid stream. Applications for such devices include the chlorination of swimming pools, water purification processes, insecticide distribution systems, and fertilizer application systems. The production and distribution of plant fertilizer in solid form such as in pellets or powders is common practice even though a liquid solution is required to benefit the plant life. It makes economic sense to distill the essence of the substance into a light weight solid form for shipping and selling and to leave the final mixing with water to the final user. Often the dry pellets are simply spread over the ground area and followed with a general watering or sprinkling to dissolve the pellets and provide plant useable nutrient. This process inevitably leads to grossly uneven distribution of the fertilizer causing damage to plants in some areas and insufficient nutrient in others. Also the plant leaves, which are capable of absorbing liquid nutrients, are not fed by this process. In addition, a heavy rain can wash away large quantities of the solid nutrient before it has a chance to dissolve and be absorbed by the plant roots. This not only starves the plants but, even worse, it contaminates the geographic water drainage basin endangering marine life and possibly polluting human water sources.
Another approach often used is to manually mix batches of liquid fertilizer from the dry raw ingredients prior to application which then usually must also be done manually. The dependence on the user to prepare the solution to its proper concentration as well as the considerable inconvenience make this approach both unreliable as well as impractical.


A display substrate includes: a display driving signal line; and at least one set of testing pads, wherein each set of the testing pads includes: a plurality of light-on testing pads arranged successively and connected to the display driving signal line; and two pin-miss testing pads electrically connected to one another while not connected to the display driving signal line.

During the manufacture of display panels such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) display panel and an active-matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) display panel, a plurality of testing processes are required, and among which an important testing process is a cell test (ET) on the display substrate after the cutting process, to determine whether it is defective. The ET test is performed before the driving chip and the flexible circuit board are attached to the display substrate, wherein the flexible circuit board is used for inputting display signals.
The ET test is generally performed by inputting a test signal to the display substrate through a light-on device such that the pixels in the display substrate may present colors, and then observing whether each pixel is defective by the defect detecting device. This process is referred to as a light-on test.
In order to facilitate the test, a testing pad is generally provided on the display substrate (usually the array substrate), and a testing pin of the light-on device is in contact with a test spot on the testing pad, wherein the test spot is connected to a signal line. Accordingly, a testing signal may be input to the signal line through the testing pin and the testing spot to detect whether the display substrate is defective.
A driving chip is provided in a peripheral area of the display substrate. The signal line is provided between the driving chip and the pixel units in the display substrate to establish connection therebetween. The testing pads are provided at both sides of the driving chip and are connected to the signal line.
Pin miss is a frequent device abnormal during the light-on test. Since it is impossible to tell a product defect of the display substrate itself (display abnormal) from the pin miss abnormal only according to the result of the light-on test, problems such as misjudging a good product as a defective product may occur during the manufacturing.
In the related art, in order to determine a pin miss, if a display abnormal has occurred, the inspector takes the display substrate off the testing desk and repositions the display substrate several times to confirm whether there is a pin miss. Such a scheme is time consuming, accuracy unreliable, and susceptible to the inspector's skill.
It should be noted that, information disclosed in the above background portion is provided only for better understanding of the background of the present disclosure, and thus it may contain information that does not form the prior art known by those ordinary skilled in the art.

Display substrate, light-on device and method for testing alignment of light-on testing pin

ORDOS YUANSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD.