Systems, methods, and devices are provided for reducing and/or eliminating impact of inter-carrier interference on wireless signals transmitted and received via off-grid radio communications (e.g., Device-to-Device (D2D) communication). The method may include using circuitry to generate a plurality of subcarriers associated with a data signal, such that the plurality of subcarriers transmit the data signal along a narrowband transmission channel. The method may involve using the circuitry to remove a null subcarrier of the plurality of subcarriers that is located at a direct current (DC) frequency. The method may also involve generating an asymmetrical frequency spectrum for a portion of the plurality of subcarriers centered about the removed null subcarrier. The method may also include transmitting the plurality of subcarriers to another electronic device via D2D communication.

The present disclosure relates generally to radio frequency systems and, more particularly, to mitigating inter-carrier interferences between wireless signals received during off-grid communication (e.g., Device-to-Device communication).
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Electronic devices, such as smartphones and laptops, often include a radio frequency system to facilitate wireless communication of data with other electronic devices and/or networks. To facilitate wireless communication, the radio frequency system may communicate with a Base Transceiver Station (e.g., base station (BS), node B (eNB), cell tower) that connects the electronic device to a wider mobile network. For example, the electronic device may transmit wireless signals to the Base Transceiver Station, which may, in turn, direct the wireless signals to a receiving electronic device. In some instances, the radio frequency system may employ Device-to-Device (D2D) communication to directly communicate data to another electronic device without traversing the Base Transceiver Station (e.g., off-grid communication). Signal leakage and performance variations (e.g., tolerances) of radio frequency architecture used to facilitate D2D communication, however, may introduce errors during processing of received wireless signals. These errors may result in interference of wireless signals carried (e.g., received and/or transmitted) on a channel and potential loss of information encoded in the wireless signals due to the interference.

Systems and methods for reducing inter-carrier interference in device-to-device (D2D) communication


A ring chuck that holds a wafer with a vacuum uses a vacuum trough that contacts the entire outer edge of the wafer. The chuck has a base having a top surface equal to or slightly smaller than a water to be tested with vacuum channels in the base. The base provides the mechanism to connect the chuck to a measurement instrument and a vacuum source. An annulus of non-contaminant material that has concentric rings extending upward from its outer edge is fixed to the base top surface with the trough between the concentric rings connected to the vacuum channels. The vacuum trough holds the wafer securely to the chuck and minimizes vibrations when the wafer is rotated.

The present invention relates generally to semiconductor test equipment and, more specifically, to chucks used to hold wafers to be tested. Semiconductor manufacturers test semiconductor wafers throughout the manufacturing process but especially before they are processed to produce integrated circuits. The flattest wafers with the smoothest surface have been shown to yield the highest number of acceptable integrated circuits. Therefore, there is an increasing demand to produce test equipment that can detect microscopic defects in the wafers.
Integrated circuits are predominantly manufactured from 200 mm or 300 mm semiconductor wafers. The wafers incorporate a fiducial mark, either a flat in the normally circular edge or a small notch in the edge. These fiducials provide a reference point for identifying the position of measurements on the wafer surface. Typically the outer edge of the wafer surface, approximately a 3 mm wide exclusion band, is an area from which integrated circuits are not manufactured. The fiducials are contained within this exclusion band.
The desire to measure wafers with more precision and predictability leads to the need to support a wafer with minimal and predictable deformation while maximizing stiffness. Wafers are fragile, and can only be touched by materials that will not transfer contaminants to the surface. In addition, the equipment handling the wafer must not scratch it or permanently damage it. Vacuum chucks are well suited to the purpose, but the wafer is thin enough that an image of a chuck touching one surface will be discernible on the other surface.
Prior art test equipment has held wafers to be tested using chucks with a number of vacuum ports spaced beneath the wafers to hold them securely. Chucks designed for minimal vibration have included types displaying full backside contact or having pin contacts spaced regularly across the back. The chucks must be designed to introduce minimal errors into the wafer production and testing process. Errors may be introduced by contamination from chuck material contacting the wafer. A second error source is particle transfer from the surface of the chuck. In addition, particles already on the surface of the wafer may be forced into the surface by the contacting surfaces of the chuck. The force of the vacuum on the wafer will cause an effect termed print-through where the image of the contacting points of the chuck are detectable by measurement equipment on the opposite surface of the wafer. Prior art chucks have not succeeded in holding wafers securely without sacrificing a measure of contact contamination.
Once the wafer is securely held by the chuck, the test equipment rotates the wafer beneath a sensor to test the entire surface. The accuracy of measurements taken this way is limited by the stiffness of the wafer, the vibration of the wafer, the contamination of the surfaces, the amount of print through from the chuck and the instrument noise that cannot be factored out of the measurements taken. Very slow rotation speeds, that limit the test throughput, have been necessary to limit the effects of vibration.


An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing device, a detecting device and a vibration imparting device. The image carrier rotates around an axis. The developing device includes a developing member rotating around an axis at a position facing the image carrier and supplying a toner to the image carrier. The detecting device detects a number of the toner scattered from an inside to an outside of the developing device. The vibration imparting device imparts vibration to the toner accumulated near the developing member when the number of the toner detected by the detecting device satisfies a predetermined condition.

The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus.
An electrophotographic type image forming apparatus includes a developing device which develops an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier (a photosensitive drum) to a toner image. In such an image forming apparatus, a toner stored in the developing device may be scattered outside the developing device through a portion facing the photosensitive drum.
The image forming apparatus may include a suction fan which sucks in the toner scattered from the developing device into a development duct with air flow. The development duct is provided with a dust sensor for detecting an amount of dust. The dust sensor can detect an amount of the scattered toner flowing in the development duct. Therefore, the dust sensor can stably detect an amount of the scattered toner compared with a case where an amount of a floating toner is detected.
By the way, in the developing device, the toner accumulated on an inner face of a housing of the developing device is mainly scattered. The dust sensor can stably detect an amount of the scattered toner, however, it is impossible to prevent the toner from being accumulated on the housing of the developing device. That is, it is impossible to reduce an amount (a number) of the scattered toner.


A spatium amplifier includes a plurality of amplifiers connected between a pair of spatial couplers, each having a core member and a shell member forming an antenna. The core member includes a cylindrical core portion and a plurality of tapering core fins extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical core portion. The shell member includes a cylindrical shell portion and a plurality of tapering shell fins extending radially inwardly from the cylindrical shell portion to form a plurality of fin pairs. Each fin pair forms a tapering channel having a first channel height at a first end of the antenna and a second channel height larger than the first channel height at a second end of the antenna. Each of the plurality of amplifiers is electromagnetically coupled to a respective fin pair at the first end of each of the antennas.

In many applications, it may be desirable to amplify electromagnetic (EM) signals, such as radio-frequency (RF) signals for example. In this regard, a conventional spatium amplifier 10 according to the prior art is illustrated in FIG. 1. The conventional spatium amplifier 10 includes an RF input 12 configured to receive an RF input signal, and an RF output 14 configured to output an amplified RF output signal based on the RF input signal. The conventional amplifier includes a radially arranged array 16 of amplifier wedges 18 disposed between the RF input 12 and RF output 14. Each wedge 18, which may also be referred to as a "blade," includes a printed circuit board (PCB) 20 having circuitry 22 configured to amplify a portion of the RF input signal and combine the amplified portion of the RF input signal with the amplified portions of the RF input signal produced by the other wedges 18 to produce the combined amplified RF output signal. The PCB 20 also forms an antenna 24 configured to receive the portion of the RF input signal and output the portion of the amplified RF output signal.
One drawback of this conventional arrangement is that individual wedges 18 are not easily replaceable. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the wedges 18 must be precisely machined together, and there is no cost-effective way to machine a replacement wedge 18 for an assembled conventional spatium amplifier 10. Thus, a failure of a single wedge 18 effectively renders the entire conventional spatium amplifier 10 unusable and unrepairable.
Another drawback of this design is that the antenna 24 of each wedge 18 is etched into the PCB 20. This is not desirable at high frequencies (e.g., greater than 26.5 GHz, for example), because the PCB 20 material is not able to accurately capture or pass RF signals at these high frequencies without unacceptable levels of interference. The conventional spatium amplifier 10 also has a poor thermal interface for removing heat from the assembly. Yet another drawback of this design is that it is difficult to obtain hermeticity, i.e., to be sealed with respect to an outside environment. This lack of hermeticity becomes a problem when working with higher frequency RF signals, because small amounts of environmental contamination can interfere with the ability of the conventional spatium amplifier 10 to accurately pass the RF signals. In addition, the lack of hermeticity makes the conventional spatium amplifier 10 less suitable for military and other applications that may subject the conventional spatium amplifier 10 to harsh environmental conditions. Thus, there is a need for an RF amplifier that does not have these drawbacks.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Spatial coupler and antenna for splitting and combining electromagnetic signals


An assembly of screens made of connected joints with exterior bypasses that span the threaded connections among the joints features common fluid connections for the bypasses adjacent joint threaded ends that are connected with a coupling. A mandrel spans from one joint to the next inside the threaded coupling and is sealed to the respective bases pipes on opposed ends of the coupling. At each end of the mandrel the surrounding base pipe has openings from the common fluid connection where the bypasses terminate to define an annular flow path between pairs of common fluid connections. The bypasses can have slanted gravel outlet passages or no gravel openings at all. The bypasses can span over screen or blank pipe with an option to mount a shroud over the generally parallel bypasses.

Screen assemblies are frequently used in completions in association with gravel packed around the screen sections in the annular space that surrounds the screens. Getting a good distribution of gravel is important for the effectiveness of the gravel pack as an aide in trapping particulates in the produced fluids and thus extending the service life of the screens. Getting the gravel to distribute evenly particularly in horizontal completions has always been an issue. Another issue is the tendency of the gravel to bridge so that gaps over the screens are formed where there is no packed gravel. Apart from the operational issues there are issues with ease of assembly of the joints of screen and connecting the bypasses that go through the screens or outside of the screens.
One design that connects the annular spaces between screen and base pipe of adjacent screen sections is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,800 where a passage from the adjacent annular spaces under adjacent screens goes through an annular passage in a coupling using an internal mandrel that spans the joint with openings at opposed ends to connect the adjacent annular spaces between adjacent screens. Other examples of flow through connectors used with screens are U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,048,061; 6,170, 522; 6,192,924; 6,196,596; 4,508,135; 7,147,003; 6,409,219; 5,082,052; 6,752,207; 5,868,200; 5,476,143; 4,510,996; 6,923,262 and US Publication 2009/0095471.
These designs had various limitations in the areas of ease of assembly, durability or in the limited configurations they made possible. They connected bypasses individually across a joint; they had a clamshell design that had to be bolted across a joint; they provided a limited number of bypass orientations before the pattern repeated or they simply connected annular spaces under adjacent screen sections. The present invention addresses these issues in a way that those skilled in the art will appreciate that allows rapid fluid connection of bypasses across a threaded connection as well as multiple patterns of a bypass with gravel outlets in combination with bypasses that have no outlets so as to orient the gravel outlet bypass on a given joint in multiple circumferential orientations without using complex structures such as timed threads or floating bypass tube assemblies, which are free to rotate during make up on the rig floor. These and other aspects of the present invention will be more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the discussion of the preferred embodiment and the associated drawings while appreciating that the full scope of the invention is to be found in the appended claims.

Downhole screen with exterior bypass tubes and fluid interconnections at tubular joints therefore


A multi-layer adhesive tape to compress and contract one or more scars includes: a top layer; a bonding layer adjacent to the top layer; a bottom layer adjacent to the bonding layer and opposite to the top layer; an adhesive layer adjacent to the flexible bottom layer and opposite to the bonding layer; and a first peelable liner at least adjacent to the adhesive layer and opposite to the bottom layer. The widths of the top layer and bonding layer are larger than the widths of the bottom layer and adhesive layer, and the adhesive layer includes a rubber- or acrylic-based pressure-sensitive adhesive. Furthermore, the top layer can have a thickness between 20 μm and 1100 μm.

Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,780,048 discloses a multi-layer tape which provides an airtight and watertight barrier to facilitate the process of healing of an open wound and prevent any contamination of the wound by the surrounding environment. The tape comprises four layers arranged successively as follows:                the first layer is designed to be placed on an open wound and is cyanoacrylate-based,        the second layer is made of flexible material,        the third layer is an adhesive layer, and        the fourth layer is a bandage based on an ethylene polymer blend.
The first and second layers have roughly the same width, which is smaller than that of the third and fourth layers. The third and fourth layers thus cover the first and second layers over their entire width.
A peelable covering may advantageously be placed on the first layer of the tape. The bandage is maintained in a vacuum or airtight system so as to prevent premature reaction between the components forming the tape.
During use, the bandage is taken out of its system and the peelable covering can be removed to be applied on a wound.
When the wound is closed, it is known that it may form a scar whose shape may change over time, which represents a problem for the user from an aesthetic point of view.
The state-of-the-art multi-layer tape is thus limited to treating open wounds and isolating them from their surrounding environment to reduce risks of contamination.
However, once the wound is closed, a scar remains visible to the naked eye and cannot be attenuated by the disclosed bandage. Consequently, once the wound is closed, this type of tape no longer suffices to reduce the visibility of the scar.
The purpose of the invention is to remedy the drawbacks of the state of the art by providing a multi-layer adhesive tape capable of attenuating the visibility of a scar.

Multi-layer adhesive tape to compress and contract a scar


A luminaire, comprising: a luminaire rear wall for mounting to a wall or ceiling, a printed circuit board, fitted with a plurality of light-emitting diodes and having a connecting cable, as a light-emitting means, and a connecting clamp connected to the connecting cable and to which a supply cable is able to be clamped. A spacer is fixedly mounted to the luminaire rear wall, to which the printed circuit board is releasably attached, with a free space being formed between the printed circuit board and the luminaire rear wall. The whole connecting cable, or a majority thereof, and the connecting clamp are arranged in the free space.

Luminaires are expected to provide uniform lighting. This is desirable not only for the lighting of the respective surfaces, but also for the overall appearance of the luminaire.
This desire for uniform lighting in particular also relates to LED wall luminaires or LED ceiling luminaires. A problem with respect to any shadowing is the connection wiring which is frequently guided via the LEDs in the light path. This produces undesired shadows and artifacts for example on the luminaire cover.
In the case of typical LED luminaires, the connecting lines coming out of the wall and the lines that come from the light-emitting means are placed next to the light-emitting means so as to produce as little shadowing as possible. However, this negatively impacts the size of the light-emitting means and the shape of the luminaire. In addition, it is also not possible thereby to exclude that the connecting lines are imaged on the luminaire covers.
In practice, one solution which has also found widespread use is the placement of a separate ballast between the wall connecting line and the light-emitting means. The ballast requires space and either results in shadows on the luminaire cover or in dark spots due to a lack of lighting since the LEDs must be placed around the ballast. The consequence is a lower luminance in the region of the ballast, manifesting for example as a dark zone on the luminaire cover.


There is provided a radiographic imaging system including: a radiographic imaging device including a generating section that captures a radiographic image expressed by irradiated radiation and generates image information expressing the captured radiographic image, and a first communication section that transmits, plural times and by wireless communication and even during a response wait time period, imaging start instructing information that instructs starting of imaging when preparations for capturing a radiographic image by the generating section have been completed; and a control device having a second communication section that can communicate by wireless communication with the first communication section, and a control section that controls a radiation irradiating section such that radiation is irradiated with respect to the radiographic imaging device in a case in which the second communication section receives any of the imaging start instructing information that are transmitted plural times from the first communication section.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a radiographic imaging system, a radiographic imaging device, a control device, and a radiographic imaging control method.
2. Related Art
FPDs (Flat Panel Detectors), in which a radiation-sensitive layer is disposed on a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) active matrix substrate and that can convert radiation directly into digital data, have been put into practice in recent years. Portable radiographic imaging devices (hereinafter also called "electronic cassettes"), that generate image information expressing a radiographic image manifested by radiation irradiated by using an FPD or the like and that store the generated image information, have been put into practice in recent years.
Because the electronic cassette is portable, a patient can be captured a radiographic image as is while on a stretcher or bed, and the place to be imaged can be adjusted by changing the position of the electronic cassette. Therefore, even patients who cannot move can be dealt with flexibly.
At an FPD, even in a state in which X-rays are not being irradiated, charges are generated due to dark current or the like, and the charges are accumulated in the respective pixels. Therefore, during standby, the electronic cassette repeatedly carries out a resetting operation of reading-out and deleting the charges accumulated in the respective pixels of the FPD. When instruction information that requests capturing of a radiographic image is received from a control device for control (a so-called console), the electronic cassette transmits to the console instruction information instructing the start of imaging after the resetting operation of one frame has been completed. When the console receives this instruction information, the console causes X-rays to be irradiated from a radiation generating device onto the electronic cassette. After a predetermined time period after transmitting the instruction information, the electronic cassette carries out reading-out of the charges accumulated in the respective pixels of the FPD.
In cases in which the communication between the electronic cassette and the console is wireless communication, there are cases in which the state of the communication becomes unstable and the console receives the instruction information late or cannot receive the instruction information.
Thus, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2008-132216 discloses a technique of transitioning from the resetting operation to a charge accumulating state in which charges are accumulated in the respective pixels, not only in cases in which the electronic cassette receives a control signal of the start of irradiation of the X-rays, but also in cases in which the electronic cassette senses the start of irradiation of X-rays from the radiation generating device.
However, in the technique of JP-A No. 2008-132216, even if the start of irradiation of X-rays is sensed during the resetting operation, it is not possible to immediately transition to the charge accumulating state, and the radiation that is irradiated up to the transition to the charge accumulating state is wasted. If the X-ray irradiation time period is lengthened by an amount corresponding thereto, the amount of radiation that the subject is exposed to increases, which is not preferable.

Radiographic imaging system, radiographic imaging device, control device, and radiographic imaging control method


A brush type vacuum cleaner having a filter housing and a suction, or brush-suction, head. The filter housing is pivotally connected to the brush-suction head by a rigid guide element or rigid connector that includes two air channels for channelling air between the filter housing and the brush-suction head. The air channels include openings for connection to the suction blower of the vacuum cleaner and the vacuum mouthpiece of the brush-suction head.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for brush-type vacuum cleaners wherein a pivoting connection between a filter housing with a handle and brush-suction head is provided by a guide element. The brush-suction head is positioned on a floor surface when the vacuum cleaner is in use. The brush-suction head includes a motor for a suction blower as well as for the drive of a cleaning brush.
2. Background Information
With the vacuum cleaner of the present invention, one motor is provided for operating the suction blower as well as the cleaning brush. The cleaning brush is driven simultaneously with the suction blower by means of additional drive devices such as drive belts. Since all of the heaviest components of the vacuum cleaner are then mounted in the brush-suction head which rolls along the ground, the hand load that the user experiences may be kept particularly low.
One proposed brush-type vacuum cleaner has a filter device whereby the dirt-laden suction air is first directed through a filter bag mounted in a filter housing before the air flows through the suction blower. However, with this device there is a problem of air conduction. Specifically, the suction air coming from the vacuum mouthpiece through the brush-suction head must be directed into the filter housing and then, via a separate route, back to the brush-suction head and the suction motor located therein.
One proposed vacuum cleaner provides a pivoting connection between the filter housing and the brush-suction head having hoses. Deficiencies have arisen in practical execution, however. Hose connections are relatively expensive and there are problems in achieving a secure and airtight seal. In addition, the hose connections are subjected to severe bending loads and abrasion wherein pointed and sharp objects in the suction air, such as needles, can damage the hoses. Furthermore, the filter housing and brush-suction head can be separated from one another only with difficulty and are, thus, difficult to handle for transport and packing.


A terminal block has terminal cavities housing female terminals having a side wall and vertically spaced, deflectable lock tangs that project rearwardly and outwardly. The terminal cavities have internal projection locks on their respective top and bottom walls that cooperate with the deflectable lock tangs to lock the female terminal in place. An axial rail depends from each of the top and bottom walls of the terminal cavities to divide wide axial slots leading to the internal projection locks into two narrow parallel slots that accommodate the cooperating lock tangs of the female terminal. The axial rails locate the female terminals vertically in the terminal cavities and also prevent improper insertion of male blade terminals between the female terminals and the top or bottom walls of the terminal cavities. Each terminal cavity also includes positioning ribs that project into the terminal cavity from each side wall to locate the female terminal laterally in the terminal cavity so that the lock tangs are properly disposed in the narrower slots where the axial rails do not interfere with the proper locking function of the lock tangs.

This invention relates generally to terminal blocks and more specifically to terminal blocks having terminal cavities for housing female terminals that are locked in the terminal cavities by lock tangs of the female terminals.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,097,109 granted to William E. Cross Jun. 27, 1978 discloses a terminal block having a plurality of terminal cavities extending through the terminal block that house female terminals of the type that is disclosed is U.S. Pat. No. 3,267,410 granted to Donald G. Baer et al Aug. 16, 1966. These types of female terminals have at least one lock tang that snaps over an internal lock projection in the terminal cavity to lock the female terminal in place upon insertion into the terminal cavity via a rear opening of the terminal cavity.
These terminal blocks are typically molded of a thermoplastic material in a mold using axial cores for forming the terminal cavities. The axial cores produce a wide axial slot for each internal lock projection in the terminal cavity that extends from a front opening of the terminal cavity to the respective internal lock projection. The wide axial slot or slots allow the front end of the female terminal to float in the vertical direction and also make it possible to mismatch the mating male blade terminal by inserting it between the female terminal and the terminal cavity wall associated with the internal lock projection rather than into the female terminal itself.

Terminal block having improved terminal cavity


Isolated, recombinant nucleic acids which encode alanyl-tRNA synthetase (AlaRS) of human origin have been used to make expression constructs and transformed host cells for the production of recombinant human AlaRS. The recombinant enzyme has been purified, and is active in the specific aminoacylation of tRNA by alanine. The isolated, recombinant human AlaRS is also recognized by antibodies made by patients with the particular autoimmune disease known as "antisynthetase syndrome" in which the patients produce antibodies against the human alanyl-tRNA synthetase in their own cells. Thus, the isolated, recombinant enzyme, and antibodies made specifically thereto, can be useful in assays to diagnose and monitor this disease. The essential alanyl-tRNA synthetases of microbes pathogenic in humans can be the targets of inhibitory agents having antimicrobial activity. The human alanyl-tRNA synthetase, isolated and purified, can be used to assess the toxic effect in humans of such an inhibitory agent in various biochemical activity assays. This human enzyme can also be expressed in "tester strains," whose cells rely upon the function of the human alanyl-tRNA synthetase for tRNA.sup.Ala charging. Such tester strains can be used to test for any toxic effects of an antimicrobial agent that specifically interacts with the heterologous human AlaRS gene or gene product.

The aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are enzymes with the common general function of catalyzing the following reaction: EQU aaRS+aa+ATP.rarw..fwdarw.aaRS.multidot.aa-AMP+PP.sub.i aaRS.multidot.aa-AMP+tRNA.rarw..fwdarw.aa-tRNA+aaRS+AMP
(aaRS=aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase; aa=amino acid; ATP=adenosine 5'-triphosphate; AMP=adenosine 5'-monophosphate; PP.sub.i =inorganic pyrophosphate) The second (aminoacylation) step is often referred to as "charging" the tRNA.
Generally, in each eucaryotic organism, there are 20 different cytoplasmic aaRSs, one specific for each amino acid. Eucaryotic organisms also generally encode a separate set of mitochondrial aaRSs. It is known that in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, for example, the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial enzymes are encoded by separate nuclear genes, with the exception of histidyl- and valyl-tRNA synthetases (Natsoulis, G., et al. Cell 46:235-243 (1986); Chatton, B. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 263:52-57 (1988)). Each aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase enzyme recognizes and reacts with a specific amino acid and one or more tRNAs that recognize the codons specific for that amino acid (cognate tRNAs). To a first approximation, the specificity of the aaRS for the amino acid is determined by protein-amino acid interactions, and the specificity of the aaRS for the tRNA is determined by protein-RNA interactions, using different sites on the aaRS.
About 25-30% of patients suffering from one or both of the autoimmune inflammatory myopathies polymyositis and dermatomyositis have been found to produce antibodies against their own essential aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase enzymes. The resulting "antisynthetase syndrome" is characterized by a number of clinical presentations, including interstitial lung disease, arthritis, Raynaud's phenomenon and fevers, along with the muscle weakness, dyspnea and dysphagia of myositis. (See, for example, Targoff, I. N. et al., J. Clin. Invest. 91:2556-2564 (1993)).
Without sufficiently purified human aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, the process of diagnosing the "antisynthetase syndrome" and identifying the particular antigenic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase has been cumbersome. One semi-quantitative method available to measure anti-tRNA synthetase antibody in patient serum has been to measure the inhibition of an aminoacylation reaction, testing each one of 20 radioactively labeled amino acids to identify the type of tRNA synthetase. Improved assays would be desirable.
Because the amino acid sequences of the tRNA synthetases have diverged over evolutionary time, significant differences exist between the structures of the tRNA synthetases of humans and of human pathogens. These differences can be exploited by finding inhibitors of aaRS activity which specifically target a tRNA synthetase of a pathogenic organism. By selectively inactivating one or more aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases of a pathogenic organism with a therapeutic substance that minimally affects the corresponding human enzyme, infections by pathogenic organisms can be controlled.
The isolated, recombinant human alanyl-tRNA synthetase can be used in enzymatic activity and other biochemical assays to test substances found to inhibit the alanyl-tRNA synthetase or other tRNA synthetase of a pathogenic organism. The isolated human alanyl-tRNA synthetase can also be used in further studies to model substances with inhibitory activity specific for a tRNA synthetase of a pathogen.
In a second general type of assay, a tester strain is constructed such that it relies upon the function of a human alanyl-tRNA synthetase gene instead of the endogenous host gene of the cell strain. Such tester strains can be used to isolate the in vivo effect of a substance administered to the cells on the human alanyl-tRNA synthetase; that is, to assess by growth rates and other tests whether the substance has any toxicity by its effect specifically on the human alanyl-tRNA synthetase.

Human alanyl-tRNA synthetase proteins, nucleic acids and tester strains comprising same

Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research


Surfactant compositions which provide acceptable foamability at a lower cost than amine oxides consist of (A) an amine oxide corresponding to the formula RR'R"NO in which R is a primary alkyl group containing 6-24 carbons and R' and R" are independently selected from methyl, ethyl, and 2-hydroxyethyl and (B) a normally liquid polyalkylene glycol.

It is known that various surfactants have been found to be useful in cleaning compositions, such as shower gels, shampoos, and light duty detergents (e.g., dish detergents)--compositions in which good foamability is a prerequisite for consumer approval. The surfactants which have been used to the greatest extent in such compositions are anionic surfactants, such as alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, sulfonates, sulfosuccinates, and sarcosinates.
Although the use of anionic surfactants in these compositions permits the attainment of desirable characteristics, including good foamability, it would be beneficial to find gentler surfactants which could provide acceptable performance without being too costly. Nonionic surfactants, including ethoxylated fatty alcohols and alkyldimethylamine oxides, are known to be gentler to the body than anionic surfactants. However, these nonionic surfactants have previously offered only a choice between the lower cost/poor foamability of surfactants such as the ethoxylates and the higher cost/good foamability of the amine oxides.


A hydraulic valve assembly for use with a fluid motor has a control device, e.g., a valve spool, mounted for movement between a neutral position for motor disabling and an output position for motor operation. The improvement comprises a locking surface on the device and a lock member engaging the surface when the device is in the neutral position. Such lock member prevents movement of the device to the output position. The valve assembly may have two control devices, each having a locking surface. The lock member engages (or disengages from) such surfaces simultaneously. Means for manual and remote shifting of the locking member are also disclosed. The new assembly is particularly useful in mobile machines having hydraulically-operated equipment, e.g., a loader bucket, which is raised above ground.

Mobile machines, especially off-road construction and agricultural machines, use hydraulic systems to power the machine implements as well as any attachments which may be temporarily used with such machines. Hydraulic power and the pumps, motors and valves used to deliver such power are ideal for these functions. Hydraulic power provides excellent control and the machine designer is not limited by the constraints which would otherwise be imposed by rigid mechanical drive lines.
Some machines of the foregoing type use a loader bucket or other type of work implement which may be raised well above the ground and held there indefinitely by maintaining the hydraulic valve control spools associated with such implement in centered position(s). A particular type of construction machine which uses are loader bucket and other work implements is known as a skid-steer loader.
(A skid-steer loader is so named because none of the wheels are capable of being pivot-steered. Rather, steering is by powering the left-side wheels and the right-side wheels at different rotation speeds. Some wheel skidding results.)
A skid-steer loader is configured in such a way that an operator must gain access to the operator's seat over the front of the machine. There is no barrier preventing such access.
Because of machine geometry, the absence of a compartment front barrier is necessary to permit the operator to easily see the work being performed. And if the bucket is raised, such operator may walk or crawl under it when boarding or leaving the machine.
Designers of such machines (as well as those designing other types of construction machines) work hard to prevent the implement-holding valve spools from being moved out of their neutral or implement-holding positions until intentionally moved therefrom. A way of doing so is to apply some sort of external locking mechanism to the mechanical linkage extending between the operator's lever and the valve spool itself.
But operators have demonstrated that linkage-attached external locking mechanisms can be defeated, either intentionally or by simply failing to properly maintain such mechanisms. Sooner or later, such mechanisms are damaged in use or wear out and need repair.
An improved lockout mechanism which overcomes some of the problems and shortcomings of the prior art would be an important advance in the art.

Locking apparatus and method for hydraulic valve assembly


An image processing apparatus includes: an image processing unit that executes image processing on an input image; a point light source detection unit that detects a point light source included in the input image; a scene determination unit that determines whether or not the input image shows a vivid scene based on a detection result of the point light source detection unit and an image signal of the input image; and a control unit that controls the image processing unit to change image processing for the input image in accordance with a determination result of the scene determination unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that determines a scene of an input image and executes image processing in accordance with the determined scene.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are conventionally known image processing apparatuses that determine a scene of an image and a type of an object and execute image processing in accordance with the determined scene and the determined type of the object. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-259372 discloses an image output apparatus that determines whether or not input image data shows a vivid scene (object) and outputs an image showing a vivid scene at high resolution.
Conventional technology disclosed in the above Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-259372 determines whether or not input image data shows a vivid scene based on whether or not the number of pixels with high chroma is larger than a predetermined threshold value.
However, when a method is used whereby a scene is determined based only on the rate of pixels with high chroma, the result of the determination may not match the perception of a user (photographer). For example, compare a vivid scene of FIG. 11A captured in a well-lit location during daytime (normal vivid scene) with a scene of FIG. 11B showing a colorful and vivid night view with illuminations (night-view vivid scene). Although these are both scenes that are perceived by the user (photographer) as vivid, the rate at which pixels with high chroma occupy the image largely differs between these scenes. In the case of FIG. 11B, only regions with light sources have high chroma, and therefore the rate at which pixels with high chroma occupy the image is small compared to the case of FIG. 11A. Thus, with a conventional method whereby a scene is determined simply on the basis of color information of an image, it is not possible to appropriately determine whether or not an input image shows a vivid scene in line with human perception, both for a bright scene captured outdoors during daytime and for a dark scene showing a night view.

Image processing apparatus and image processing method


A control module arranged to manage a hosted communications platform, the hosted communications platform being located between a telecommunications network and a subscriber communications network, the subscriber communications network being associated with a subscriber to the hosted communications platform, the subscriber being associated with a plurality of users. The module comprises a first communications interface arranged to interface with the telecommunications network, and processing means arranged to configure the hosted communications platform for use with two or more subscribers, each subscriber comprising a respective subscriber communications network. The module further comprises a second communications interface arranged to interface with the hosted communications platform. For each subscriber, the processing means is arranged to form a partition on the hosted communications platform.

Many companies use a hosted telephone platform as a call management system in order to manage incoming and outgoing telephone calls to and from their internal telephones. In conventional systems, this involves implementing a phone system which is controlled by a common management application which acts as the hosted telephone platform, to which all telephones which belong to a company (or "subscriber") are connected. Each telephone in the system is assigned an extension code, typically of three or four digits in length. Additionally, each telephone may be assigned a direct-dial-in (DDI) number, which enables a phone which is external to the system to call a phone within the system. Any calls placed by a phone within the system are handled by the management application prior to being forwarded to an external telephone network. Correspondingly, the management application handles all incoming calls from external telephone networks, and forwards the calls to the appropriate telephone within the system.
One of the most commonly used management applications that provides the functionality of a hosted telephone platform is provided by CISCO, and is known as CISCO Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or CallManager). CUCM is installed on a server, and is configured to manage a particular subscriber's phone system. Installing and configuring an instance of CUCM is very costly, in part due to the high cost of the software licence, and also because the software is extremely complex and difficult to configure. The software is not designed to be user-friendly, and therefore only people with significant levels of training are able to configure the software for each subscriber.
Previously, each subscriber would have required a server with CUCM installed on it in order to manage their telephone system. However, in line with recent moves towards virtualisation and cloud computing, it is now more common for several subscribers to share a single server, with the server divided such that several instances of CUCM are installed on it, with an instance of CUCM for each subscriber. This deployment configuration is referred to as a Hosted Communications Solution (HCS), and is available to service providers from CISCO.
The physical specifications of the server, i.e. the memory and processing power available, place an upper limit on the number of instances of CUCM which may be installed on HCS. This therefore restricts the number of subscribers that can share that physical server. Also, in such systems there may be a restriction placed on the minimum number of users attached to each instance on CUCM. This therefore restricts the type of subscriber that can use such systems to those with a minimum number of associated users. Clearly, subscribers with a low number of associated users are unlikely to use such systems in any case, due to the high costs outlined above.
A single clustered instance of CUCM can accommodate up to 75,000 individual users. This is very useful for larger organisations, for which CUCM offers the benefit of being able to handle the entire organisation with a single cluster. However, for smaller organisations having a fraction of the number of users, much of this capacity is unused. This is wasteful in terms of hardware utilisation, and also raises the relative cost for the organisation, as the hardware cost and main licensing costs for the CUCM software are not substantially different to those for a much larger organisation. In fact, CISCO places a lower limit on the number of users that subscribers to such systems must have, typically 50.
A known alternative approach for implementing a CUCM based hosted telephone platform to those outlined previously is illustrated in FIG. 1. This implementation enables multiple subscribers to use a single instance of CUCM.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the known system a middleware application in the form of an interface module 10 is implemented to interface between the subscribers 12 and CUCM 14. The interface module 10 acts to effectively combine multiple subscribers 12 into a single subscriber 12, such that multiple subscribers 12 may be handled by a single instance of CUCM 14 in a multi-tenancy arrangement.
Clearly, there are several benefits to such a system. Firstly, the cost to each subscriber 12 is reduced, as they need only pay for a portion of the CUCM instance. Secondly, this arrangement raises the number of subscribers 12 that can share a single server, thereby reducing hardware requirements. This reduces the power requirements of the system, and also the cost. Furthermore, by allowing multiple subscribers 12 to share a single instance of CUCM 14, the system is able to reduce the number of users that each subscriber 12 must have. This is because the cost of implementing the instance of CUCM 14 is split between multiple subscribers 12, so it becomes more cost effective for subscribers 12 with lower numbers of users. Also, because the subscribers 12 are pooled together, the lower limit of typically 50 users applies to the pool of subscribers 12, rather than to each individual subscriber 12. Therefore, this approach opens up usage of CUCM 14 to subscribers 12 having less than the lower limit of the number of users, and indeed individual users can join the system as subscribers 12.
As shown in FIG. 1, two subscribers 12 (Company A and Company B) connect to a common interface module 10, which in turn connects to an instance of CUCM 14 which is installed on a server. CUCM 14 in turn connects to an external telephone network 16. Clearly, it is important that the system separates Company A from Company B, so that each subscriber 12 effectively has their own contained system. If subscribers 12 are not separated, each subscriber 12 is able to see the other subscribers 12 on the system. Therefore, for example, Company A would be able to see users associated with Company B, and furthermore users from Company A would be able to dial users belonging to Company B using internal extension codes. Such a situation is clearly undesirable.
Therefore, the interface module 10 ring-fences each subscriber 12 from all other subscribers 12, as indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 1. As the subscribers 12 do not interface directly with CUCM 14, they are not able to see one another. However, as there is only a single instance of CUCM 14, the interface module 10 has to present both subscribers 12 to CUCM 14 as if they were a single subscriber 12, as CUCM 14 is not configured to separate subscribers 12 from each other. Therefore, in this system, CUCM 14 does not distinguish between Company A and Company B.
One consequence of this is that the two companies cannot have overlapping extension codes. Therefore, if, for example, Company A uses extension codes ranging from 2000 through to 2100, Company B must start their extension codes from 2101. This becomes problematic if Company A later wishes to add additional extension codes, as the new extension codes must follow those used by Company B, and therefore cannot be sequential with the rest of Company A's extensions. Alternatively, Company A must reserve additional extension codes which are not initially used, but are therefore available to them in the future. This latter approach obviously has the drawback that Company A pays for extension codes that they do not use.
Further to this, a particular problem arises if the subscribers 12 wish to map the last four digits of their DDI numbers to extension codes, as is common practice. So, for example, if Company A has DDI numbers ranging from 01234562000 through to 01234562100, they may wish to use the last four digits in that range, i.e. 2000-2100, as extension codes.
However, if Company B has DDI numbers in the range 01162342000 through to 01162342100, the last four digits for numbers in that range are the same as those for Company A. Therefore, if Company A maps the last four digits of their DDI numbers to extension codes, this option is not available to Company B, as the extension codes have already been used.
A conventional method that is used to overcome this problem is known as "extension masking". This involves adding a prefix to all numbers relating to users belonging to a particular subscriber 12, and hiding the prefix from the users. For example, all users for Company A have the prefix 123456 added to their extension codes, in which case when a user in Company A dials an extension, for example 2000, the prefix is added by CUCM 14, such that the number becomes 1234562000. The user only has to dial the short extension, i.e. "2000", and the prefix is added automatically in a process which is hidden from the user. This is known in the art as abbreviated dialling. In this way, CUCM 14 is able to direct the call to the correct user within that company. If Company B is assigned the prefix 654321, when a Company B user dials the same short extension (i.e. 2000), the number becomes 6543212000. This enables users of different subscribers 12 to be assigned apparently the same extension codes, because the portion of the extension code which is different is hidden from the users.
A drawback with this approach is that as the interface module 10 does not directly handle incoming calls, there is no way to mask the prefix for DDI numbers, which consequently become very long. Additionally, if the telephone system is integrated with an IT system such that a user is able to place phone calls directly from their computer, for example using Microsoft Outlook, it is not possible to mask the extension in the same way. Therefore, when the user installs the client for the phone system on their machine, they will see the full extension number without the masking, e.g. 1234562000, which is undesirable.
Against this background, it is desirable to provide a call management system which eliminates or substantially alleviates the above mentioned problems which are present in conventional systems.

Control module for a call management system


The present invention deals with a pulse generator for generating short duration, high current pulses at a repetition rate which is substantially independent of variations in source potential, load or ambient temperature. The pulse generator employs a single transistor, relaxation oscillator configuration, in which the base electrode potential is maintained proportional to source potential and the emitter electrode potential is coupled in an RC network in which rate of change of voltage on the capacitor is proportional to the source potential. Regenerative feedback required for production of short duration, high current pulses is provided by a current transformer having a few primary and a few secondary turns wound on a magnetic core for close coupling. The output pulses, which are derived by a second current transformer, are suitable for turning on a switching transistor in a high frequency static inverter. The two current transformers may be wound through separate apertures, neutral to the main inverter flux, in a larger composite inverter core. The invention leads to an efficient, compact and low cost static inverter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to relaxation oscillators for generating periodic pulses which are suitable for turning on power switching transistors in high frequency (10 KHz-200 KHz) static inverters. The invention also relates to relaxation oscillators whose pulse repetition rates are substantially independent of source potential, load or ambient temperature.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Relaxation oscillators form a well known class of oscillators. A common member of this class employs a compound semiconductor or a two transistor PNP-NPN configuration in which a feedback connection is provided for regeneration. While such oscillators may employ feedback to sharpen the output pulses, such arrangements generally do not provide the high current, short duration pulses required for turning on switching transistors in higher frequency static inverters. Furthermore, the pulse repetition rates of such relaxation oscillators, which are dependent upon the time constant of a resistance capacitance network are generally subject to one of several kinds of frequency instability.

Pulse generator producing short duration high current pulses for application to a low impedance load


The present invention aims to provide a curable composition that, while having practical curability, gives a cured product with excellent recovery, and exhibits excellent curability as well as excellent water-resistant adhesion. The curable composition includes 100 parts by weight of a reactive silyl group-containing organic polymer (A); 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a dialkyltin disilicate compound (B); and an amino silane coupling agent (C), the dialkyltin disilicate compound (B) being a tin compound containing a bulky alkyl group and a silicate moiety with a C1 or C2 alkoxy group, and the amino silane coupling agent (C) including 1 to 10 parts by weight of an amino silane coupling agent (C1) containing a trialkoxysilyl group, and less than 1 part by weight of an amino silane coupling agent (C2) containing a dialkoxysilyl or monoalkoxysilyl group.

An organic polymer containing at least one reactive silyl group in a molecule is known to have a characteristic that it is cross-linked by siloxane bond formation involving hydrolysis or other reactions of the reactive silyl group due to factors such as moisture even at room temperature, and thereby a rubbery cured product is obtained.
Among such reactive silyl group-containing polymers, organic polymers with a main chain skeleton of a polyoxyalkylene polymer or a polyacrylate ester polymer are described in documents such as Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, and have already been industrially produced and widely used in applications such as sealing materials, adhesives, and coating materials.
Curable compositions containing these reactive silyl group-containing organic polymers are cured by means of a silanol condensation catalyst, and in the case of one-pack curable compositions, organotin catalysts having carbon-tin bonds, such as dibutyltin bis(acetylacetonate), are widely used. However, conventional organotin catalysts bring problems of low recovery and low creep resistance to the curable composition.
Patent Literature 3 describes a technique of improving water-resistant adhesion using a curable composition that contains as an organotin curing catalyst an organotin compound having a specific structure.


A surgical staple assembly is disclosed and can include a surgical staple. The surgical staple assembly can be moved between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the surgical staple can be in an original shape. Moreover, in the second configuration, the surgical staple can be in a deformed configuration.

Surgical staples can be used to close surgical wounds and other wounds. Further, surgical staples can be used to treat certain spinal deformities, such as scoliosis. Some surgical staples can be made from shape memory metal alloys. A surgical staple made from a shape memory metal alloy can be deformed from an original shape and installed in a patient. Then, heat can be applied to the surgical staple to return the deformed staple to the original shape. When using multiple surgical staples, it may be desirable to bend the surgical staples to the same shape before installation in a patient.


Packaging materials are produced by a process which comprises coating substrates suitable for packaging with an aqueous solution or emulsion which contains a copolymer A) composed of. a) from 10 to 100% by weight of an ethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 -carboxylic acid or C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 -di-carboxylic acid or anhydrides or half-esters of the dicarboxylic acids, PA1 b) from 0 to 50% by weight of an ethylenically unsaturated compound having at least one sulfo or sulfonate group and PA1 c) from 0 to 70% by weight of further monomers,. and a polyester B) and, if required, then applying further top coats.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for the production of packaging materials. Food, drugs, cosmetics and other sensitive and readily spoiled products must be packed in such a way that they are protected from gases and moisture. To date, packaging materials having coatings based on chlorine-containing copolymers have been used for this purpose. However, chlorine-containing products are becoming increasingly undesirable.
2. Discussion of the Background
Aqueous emulsions which contain polyacrylates and polyesters are disclosed, for example, in WO-92/12195 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,252. The emulsions are used as or in printing inks.

Packaging materials having barrier properties against oxygen


A display device includes an evacuated envelope having a mosaic phosphor screen deposited on a front wall. A substantially rectangular frameless shadow mask having mounting means extending from two oppositely disposed edges of the shadow mask is in spaced, parallel relation to the screen. A shadow mask suspension system includes at least two mutually parallel support bars disposed on the front wall beyond the screen area. Shadow mask mounting means slots are in the distal surface of the support bars. A locking member engages each of the support bars to retain the mounting means within the slots.

The present invention relates to a flat panel display device of the type having a plurality of parallel internal support walls which partition the device into a plurality of channels, and particularly to a structure for supporting a shadow mask in such a device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,028,582 issued to Anderson et al. on June 7, 1977 and entitled "Guided Beam Flat Display Device," and now the subject of reissue application Ser. No. 862,188, filed Dec. 19, 1977, discloses a shadow mask extending across each of the channels and mounted on the internal support walls. Details of how the shadow mask is supported on the support walls are not disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,633 issued to Peters et al. on Mar. 20, 1979 and entitled "Modular Guided Beam Flat Display Device" discloses a shadow mask extending between the internal support walls and metal tips so that the shadow mask is secured in spaced, parallel relation to the phosphor screen. A drawback of the Peters et al. structure is the complex retaining structure required to maintain the shadow mask between the metal tips and the support walls.


A magnetic-tape-cassette apparatus, with a detection mechanism in order to handle magnetic-tape cassette types (3, 13) with different tape-recording standards and housing configurations, which detection mechanism senses the cassette side wail (8, 17) having the access openings (8, 17) and comprises a sensing element which upon insertion of a cassette, depending on the cassette type, either moves past this cassette wall (8, 17) or engages a guide profile in order to be positioned before a sliding cover of this cassette type and move said cover so far that the access openings are exposed, the detection mechanism (41) being activated upon insertion of a magnetic-tape cassette in a longitudinal direction in which the tape spools are juxtaposed in that the short side wall which faces forward during insertion moves the sensing pin without the sliding cover at this instant already being urged towards the position in which it exposes the access openings, and as insertion proceeds the sensing pin moves to the long cassette side wall (8, 17) having the access openings (9, 10) and moves along this wall, the sensing pin detecting the cassette type just inserted and depending on its construction either moves freely past said wall up to the end of the insertion path for the one type or engages the guide profile in order to open the sliding cover (16) towards the end of the insertion path for the other type.

The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a magnetic-tape-cassette apparatus, which apparatus comprises a deck and a loading mechanism having a holder for magnetic-tape cassettes, into which holder the cassettes can be inserted, and magnetic-tape cassettes having recesses in plane-parallel main walls and having in a side wall interconnecting the main walls access openings for the entry of a sound head and pressure rollers, a detection mechanism being provided in order to handle magnetic-tape cassette types with different tape-recording standards and housing configurations, which detection mechanism senses the cassette side wall having the access openings and comprises a sensing element which upon insertion of a cassette, depending on the cassette type, either moves past this cassette wall or engages a guide profile in order to be positioned before a sliding cover of this cassette type and move said cover so far that the access openings are exposed.
Such an arrangement comprising a magnetic-tape-cassette apparatus and a magnetic-tape cassette which functionally cooperate with one another is known from German patent P 37 19 890.4. The loading mechanism of said arrangement is described in German Patent P 39 04 483.1. In said mechanism a cassette holder can be lowered vertically from an ejection plane into a playback plane. The cassette holder is adapted to handle analog magnetic-tape cassettes having two tape reels which when inside the apparatus are engaged by reel spindles of the deck through the two cassette main walls. The magnetic tape is moved in its longitudinal direction past a magnetic head which is pressed against the tape and which, like the pressure rollers, can be inserted into the cassette through access openings in the partly open side wall of the cassette. The access openings of the analog cassette are always open. Them is provided a coupling member which when a cassette is inserted by hand is engageable in the forward reel-spindle hole viewed in the direction of insertion. This coupling member pulls the magnetic-tape cassette further inward into the play position after starting of a loading motor.
A digital audio magnetic-tape cassette is known whose magnetic tape is scanned by means of a rotating magnetic head. The dimensions of this digital audio cassette differ from those of the analog audio cassettes to such an extent that an entirely different tape deck must be used.
Moreover, a digital audio magnetic-tape cassette has been proposed whose magnetic tape is scanned longitudinally. This digital longitudinally scanned magnetic-tape cassette has an appearance resembling the analog magnetic-tape cassette. It is envisaged to use this digital cassette in magnetic-tape-cassette apparatuses which can play both analog and digital cassettes in a tape deck constructed for both cassette types. The digital cassette differs from the analog cassette in that it can be played in only one direction. Therefore, the cassette has reel-spindle holes for the introduction of reel spindles in only one main wall. Moreover, it has a sliding cover which in its closed position covers the openings in the partly open side wall for the insertion of the magnetic head and the pressure rollers. Before the cassette is put into operation this sliding cover should be moved aside.
It is also known to insert such a digital magnetic-tape cassette into a holder compartment with its long side wall in the transverse direction. A detection mechanism comprising a sensing pin then detects the cassette type and moves aside the sliding cover of the digital cassette to expose the access openings.

Arrangement comprising a magnetic-tape-cassette apparatus with a deck and with a loading mechanism for magnetic-tape cassettes


A liquid developer collecting system. A developing unit has a developing roller. A developing roller cleaning unit collects liquid developer on the developing roller. A concentration control unit stores liquid developer collected by the developing roller cleaning unit and controls the concentration of the liquid developer. A first feed unit feeds the liquid developer in the concentration control unit to the developing unit. A second feed unit feeds the liquid developer in the concentration control unit. A developer storage unit stores the liquid developer fed by the second feed unit.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a plurality of photosensitive bodies, a plurality of developing devices that use liquid developer containing non-volatile solvent as carrier to develop electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive bodies, a transfer body that sequentially transfers toner images developed by transfer units corresponding to the plural photosensitive bodies and stacks the toner images, a liquid developer collecting system that controls the concentration of liquid developer collected from the developing devices and reuses the liquid developer, and also relates to an image forming apparatus including these components.
2. Related Art
Various types of wet-type image forming apparatus that develop a latent image using high-viscosity liquid developer containing toner formed by solid components and dispersed in liquid solvent to visualize an electrostatic latent image have been proposed. The liquid developer used in a typical wet-type image forming apparatus contains solid components (toner particles) suspended in electricity-insulation organic solvent (carrier) such as silicon oil, mineral oil, and edible oil. The particle diameter of the toner particles may be as small as about 1 μm. By using such fine toner particles, the wet-type image forming apparatus can produce higher quality images than those produced by a dry-type image forming apparatus that uses powder toner particles having particle diameter of about 7 μm.
An image forming apparatus of this type that reuses liquid developer collected from developing device or photosensitive body has been proposed. According to such an image forming apparatus in the related art, a thin layer of liquid developer having a thickness of 1 to 50 μm is applied to a developing roller, and sent to a developing nip. The liquid developer that passes the developing nip and remains on the developing roller is scraped by a blade and stored in a collection section. Then, solid particles of the collected liquid developer are shifted onto the photosensitive body, where the liquid developer is diluted. The carrier rate of the liquid developer collected from the photosensitive body is high, and thus the solid concentration of the liquid developer is lower than that of the liquid developer collected from the developing device.
The diluted liquid developer is sent to a concentration control unit by using a pump or the like. Then, the diluted developer is mixed with a high-concentration liquid toner supplied thereto to adjust the concentration of the developer to a target solid concentration. The liquid developer having the target solid concentration is again sent to the developing device and reused (see JP-A-2002-6637).
However, the proportion of the solid particles in the collected liquid developer is not constant. Typically, the consumption amount of the solid particles varies according to image data. For example, when the image data corresponds to full-tone, many solid particles contained in the liquid developer collected from the developing roller after development by using a developing roller cleaning blade are shifted to the photosensitive body and consumed. Thus, the solid concentration of the collected liquid developer is lowered. When the image data corresponds to half-tone, a smaller amount of the solid particles are shifted to the photosensitive body, and the solid concentration of the collected liquid developer thus changes little. Thus, the solid concentration needs to be adjusted to a target concentration by using a concentration control device when the solid concentration is equal to or lower than an allowable predetermined value in case of reuse of the collected liquid developer whose solid concentration varies. In a color image forming apparatus, the concentration control device of the collected liquid developer is provided for each color so as to prevent color mixture. In order to meet demand for size reduction of the image forming apparatus, the capacity of the concentration control device provided for each color needs to be reduced.
In order to adjust a low concentration of collected liquid developer to a predetermined concentration by using a concentration control device having a small capacity, high-concentration new toner is supplied to the concentration control device from a toner tank. The concentration of the new toner may be, for example, about 35%. Thus, for example, when the concentration of the collected liquid developer is 17% under a condition of a predetermined concentration set at 20%, a predetermined amount of the new toner having the concentration of 35% needs to be supplied by the concentration control device to adjust to the predetermined concentration. In this case, the concentration cannot be efficiently adjusted when the concentration control device does not have sufficient vacant capacity.

Liquid developer collecting system and image forming apparatus including the same


A method for forming a self-aligned capping layer over a metal filled feature in a multi-layer semiconductor device including providing an anisotropically etched feature included in a substrate; blanket depositing a first barrier layer over the anisotropically etched feature to prevent diffusion of a metal species into the substrate; filling the anisotropically etched feature with a metal to form a metal filled feature substantially filled with metal; planarizing the substrate surface to include forming an exposed surface of the metal filled feature; and, selectively depositing a second barrier layer to cover the exposed surface of the metal filled feature to form a capping layer.

This invention generally relates to protective layer in semiconductor devices and more particularly to formation of a self aligned capping layer over a metal filled semiconductor feature.
In semiconductor fabrication, various layers of insulating material, semiconducting material and conducting material are formed to produce a multilayer semiconductor device. The layers are patterned to create features that taken together, form elements such as transistors, capacitors, and resistors. These elements are then interconnected to achieve a desired electrical function, thereby producing an integrated circuit (IC) device. The formation and patterning of the various device layers may be accomplished using various fabrication techniques including oxidation, implantation, deposition, epitaxial growth of silicon, lithography, etching, and planarization.
Sub-micron multi-level metallization is one of the key technologies for the next generation of ultra large scale integration (ULSI. The multilevel interconnects that lie at the heart of this technology require planarization of interconnect features formed in high aspect ratio apertures, including contacts, vias, metal interconnect lines and other features. Reliable formation of these interconnect features is very important to the success of ULSI and to the continued effort to increase circuit density and quality on individual substrates and die.
Copper and copper alloys have become the metal of choice for filling sub-micron, high aspect ratio interconnect features on semiconductor substrates. Copper and its alloys have lower resistivity and higher electromigration resistance compared to other metals such as, for example, aluminum. These characteristics are critical for achieving higher current densities increased device speed.
As circuit densities increase, the widths of vias, contacts, metal interconnect lines, and other features, decrease to sub-micron dimensions, whereas the thickness of the dielectric layers, through the use low-k (low dielectric constant) materials, has remained substantially constant. Consequently, the aspect ratios for the features, i.e., their height divided by width, has increased thereby creating additional challenges in adequately filling the sub-micron features with, for example, copper metal. Many traditional deposition processes such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or physical vapor deposition (PVD) have difficulty achieving conformal coatings and adequate step coverages in filling increasingly high aspect ratio features, for example, where the aspect ratio exceeds 2:1, and particularly where it exceeds 4:1.
As a result of these process limitations, electroplating (electrodeposition) or electroless plating, which methods have previously been limited to the fabrication of patterns on circuit boards, are now emerging as preferable methods for filling metal interconnects structures such as via openings and trench line openings on semiconductor devices. Typically, electroplating uses a suspension of positively charged ions of deposition material, for example metal ions, in contact with a negatively charged substrate, as a source of electrons, to deposit (plate out) the metal ions onto the charged substrate, for example, a semiconductor wafer. A thin metal layer (seed layer) is first deposited on the semiconductor wafer and within etched features to provide an electrical path across the surfaces. An electrical current is supplied to the seed layer whereby the semiconductor wafer surface is electroplated with an appropriate metal, for example, aluminum or copper.
One exemplary process for forming a series of interconnected multiple layers, for example, is a damascene process. Although there are several different manufacturing methods for manufacturing damascene structures, all such methods employ a series of photolithographic masking and etching steps, typically by a reactive ion etch (RIE). In the typical multilayer semiconductor manufacturing process, for example, a series insulating layers are deposited to include a series of interconnecting metallization structures such as vias and metal line interconnects to electrically interconnect areas within the multilayer device and contact layers to interconnect the various devices on the chip surface. In most devices, pluralities of vias are separated from one another along the semiconductor wafer and selectively interconnect conductive regions between layers of a multi layer device. Metal interconnect lines typically serve to selectively interconnect conductive regions within a layer of a multilayer device. Vias and metal interconnect lines are selectively interconnected in order to form the necessary electrical connections.
In forming a damascene structure, via openings and trench line openings are etched into one or more insulating layers and are back-filled with metal, for example copper. The insulating layers (IMD layers) are typically a low-k (low dielectric constant) insulating material which reduces signal delay times caused by parasitic capacitance. The process by which via openings (holes) and trench lines are selectively etched into the insulating layers is typically a photolithographic masking process, followed by a reactive ion etch (RIE) process, both of which are commonly known in the art.
In filling the via openings and trench line openings with metal, for example, copper, electroplating is a preferable method to achieve superior step coverage of sub-micron etched features. The method generally includes first depositing a barrier layer, for example Tantalum nitride or titanium nitride over the etched opening surfaces, such as via openings and trench line openings, removing excess barrier layer from the wafer surface according to CMP, depositing a metal seed layer, for example by electro deposition , preferably copper, over the barrier layer, and then electroplating a metal, for example copper, over the seed layer to fill the etched features to form, for example, vias and trench lines. Finally, the deposited layers and the dielectric layers are planarized, for example, by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP), to define a conductive interconnect feature.
Metal electroplating in general is a well-known art and can be achieved by a variety of techniques. Common designs of cells for electroplating a metal on semiconductor wafers involve positioning the plating surface of the semiconductor wafer within an electrolyte solution including an anode with the electrolyte impinging perpendicularly on the plating surface. The plating surface is contacted with an electrical power source forming the cathode of the plating system such that ions in the plating solution deposit on the conductive portion of the plating surface. Alternatively, spontaneous electrodeposition without an applied potential can occur if thermodynamically favorable conditions exist with respect to the substrate and electroplating solution which are conducive to spontaneous electrodeposition (electroless plating).
One problem with the prior art damascene formation process including electrodeposition methods include the incomplete coverage of the barrier layers, for example, tantalum nitride and titanium nitride. Barrier layers are used to cover the walls and bottoms of semiconductor features, such as damascene structures, to prevent the diffusion of copper into surrounding insulating layer, for example low dielectric porous oxides. As device sizes shrink and aspect ratios increase, coverage of conformal layers including barrier layers by PVD and CVD is increasingly problematical, often leaving uncovered areas, for example, near the upper surfaces of trench lines. In addition, a capping layer such as silicon carbide and metal nitrides such as, silicon nitride, or silicon oxynitride are typically formed over the metal filled damascene structure in order to prevent copper diffusion into overlying insulating layers. A shortcoming of these capping layers is that they typically have relatively high dielectric constants (e.g.,  greater than 6.5) thereby increasing the overall average dielectric constant, and signal delay time constants of the multilayer semiconductor device. Another shortcoming includes poor adhesion between the capping layer and porous low-k dielectric insulating layer, frequently resulting in peeling of layers when subjected to, for example, CMP induced stresses.
There is therefore a need in the semiconductor processing art to develop a method whereby a protective capping layer may be applied to protect surrounding materials from copper diffusion while minimizing contributions to the overall dielectric constant.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method whereby a protective capping layer may be applied to protect surrounding materials from copper diffusion while minimizing contributions to the overall dielectric constant.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides a method for forming a self-aligned capping layer over a metal filled feature in a multi-layer semiconductor device.
In a first embodiment according to the present invention, the method includes providing an anisotropically etched feature included in a substrate; blanket depositing a first barrier layer over the anisotropically etched feature to prevent diffusion of a metal species into the substrate; filling the anisotropically etched feature with a metal to form a metal filled feature substantially filled with metal; and, planarizing the substrate surface to include forming an exposed surface of the metal filled feature; and, selectively depositing a second barrier layer to cover the exposed surface of the metal filled feature to form a capping layer.
These and other embodiments, aspects and features of the invention will be better understood from a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention which are further described below in conjunction with the accompanying Figures.

Method for forming a self aligned capping layer

Taiwant Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd


A hand-held scanner incorporates a cellular telephone module. The scanner communicates with a host which serves as a reading or data distribution device. This permits the use of a cableless scanner for low powered and secure wireless transmission. The scanner is able to take advantage of the existing design features of a local cellular network. One mode of operation allows the connection to be limited to an amount of time corresponding to that required for transferring of the data.

Automation of the data collection function offers a practical way to bring the pace of data collection more closely in line with data processing. Many manual methods, such as keyboard entry, are considered too slow, costly and error prone to satisfy modern criteria. For this reason, bar code automated data collection technology has gained wide acceptance. The automated data collection process has three phases:
1. Print--Automatic identification is the essential first step, accomplished by attaching a bar code label to a part, document, package, personal identification badge or some other item to be tracked. PA1 2. Capture--The data collection phase occurs when a part moves in or out of inventory, a workpiece comes in or out of a given stage in the manufacturing process, or an employee checks in or out of work. These actions are instantly and accurately captured by scanning the bar code label. Scanners can read information far faster than humans can write or type, and they are far more accurate Compared to an average human transcription error rate of one per 300 characters, the automated error rate is in the range of one per 3 million. PA1 3. Connect--Compiling and computer system input occurs when scanned data is compiled into a central point and manipulated into a form appropriate to the data stream of a host computer. The upshot is accurate data automatically captured as each event occurs, thus permitting management decisions based on solid, current information.
One of the difficulties in the "capture" and the "connect" phases of data collection is the transfer of data to the central point. In conventional bar code systems, the data is commonly collected from a hand-held bar code scanner by cabling the scanner to a reading and/or data distribution device. This allows the scanner to be low power and lightweight. A major disadvantage of a cable link is that scanner use is restricted by the cable. In addition, the scanner operator is required to carry the reader and/or data distribution device.
The assignee of the applicant has considered the use of hand-held scanners fitted with radios as an alternate to cabled scanners. This approach also has significant disadvantages. Radios are heavy, power intensive, and limited in range. In addition, some radios require licensing, and those that do not may be subjected to interference with other radios. Furthermore, installing a radio-based data collection system in an existing facility can be prohibitively expensive.
A symbology-reading input device typically uses a sensing beam to read symbology information, such as a bar code, which consists of alternating areas ("bars") having differing characteristics to which the beam is sensitive. The bar code, or other symbology, can be used to store information or commands which are addressed to other devices. During scanning of the symbology, the input device receives and interprets the fluctuations in the returning sensing beam that are caused by the symbology. For example, it is known to read symbology by means of a hand-held wand which makes contact with the surface on which the symbology is printed and reads the symbology by means of a beam of light. It is also known to use a non-contact scanning device to cause a beam of light to scan across an area containing a bar code. The forms of symbology information include punch cards, magnetically encoded data, passive resonators, and transponder data (radio frequency identification or RFID).
More recently, "two-dimensional" bar codes have been employed. Two-dimensional bar codes often do not appear as alternating bars, but instead may include a different symbology format, such as a matrix format. For the purpose of this invention, "bar code" and "bar code information" is intended to include various types of codes and information which are read by symbology-reading input devices. In addition, other scanner devices are capable of reading different types of symbologies, such as magnetic strip codes and transmissions from RFID devices. These types of scanners may also be used with this invention.
A symbology image is an image representation of information, such as, but not limited to, bar codes. An optical scanning device is a device for reading the bar codes, and may be a decoding or a non-decoding scanner.
optical scanners, as input devices, typically transform the reflected scanning beam to an electronic data form for decoding. In one type of system, the electronic data form is then input to the system wherein a symbology-reading input device driver decodes the electronic data form into a form recognizable by a bar code-reading application program operating on the system. While light used for such scanning is usually visible, optical scanners may also use non-visible light.

Data acquisition using telephone connection


The present invention provides for a method and an apparatus for simultaneous online access of volume-managed data storage. A portion of a storage media to be mirrored is identified. An independent disk-mirror split-off process on the identified portion of the storage media to be mirrored is performed to produce a data mirror that is capable of being independently accessed.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to database management, and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for simultaneously accessing identical volume-managed disks or disk groups.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Modern developments in manufacturing processes have brought forth the need for complex and innovative methods of tracking and documenting the many steps involved in such processes. Today""s manufacturing processes, particularly semiconductor manufacturing processes, call for a large number of important steps. Because of the importance of these process steps, a large number of data files are generated to properly document their processes and their completion.
The manufacture of semiconductor devices requires a number of discrete process steps to create a packaged semiconductor circuit device from raw semiconductor material. The various processes, from the initial manufacture of the semiconductor material, the slicing of the semiconductor crystal into individual wafers, the fabrication stages (etching, doping, ion implanting, or the like), to the packaging and final testing of the completed device, are so different from one another and specialized that the processes may be performed in different facilities in remote regions of the globe. These steps result in a large amount of data that must be tracked, stored, backed up, and accessed properly.
Computer systems manage large amounts of data that result from manufacturing processes, particularly manufacturing of semiconductor devices. Many data files resulting from manufacturing processes are created and analyzed. The data files can be used to monitor the performance of the manufacturing processes and make appropriate changes. Furthermore, the data files that are created during the manufacturing processes must be stored and accessed for later analysis. Interrupting a real-time process, such as a manufacturing process, in order to access and manipulate databases can be inefficient and costly.
The state-of-the-art lacks an efficient means of accessing a real-time database in a safe manner. Generally, accessing a database that is related to a manufacturing process can cause file corruption, particularly during real-time access. File corruption in a manufacturing database can cause an associated manufacturing production line to become inefficient or inoperable, resulting in large losses. Accessing a real-time manufacturing database may require a temporary shutdown of a production line, which can result in intolerable loss of revenue. Furthermore, accessing a real-time manufacturing database, without significant risks of corrupting the database, is desirable for development and testing of various products.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.
In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for simultaneous online access of volume-managed data storage. A portion of a storage media to be mirrored is identified. An independent disk-mirror split-off process on the identified portion of the storage media to be mirrored is performed to produce a data mirror that is capable of being independently accessed.
In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for simultaneous online access of volume-managed data storage. The apparatus of the present invention comprises: a computer system; at least one manufacturing tool coupled with the computer system, wherein the manufacturing tool is controlled by the computer system; a storage media coupled with the manufacturing tool, the storage media being capable of storing data from the manufacturing tool and generating a plurality of data mirrors of stored data; and a volume manager coupled with the storage media and the computer system, the volume manager being capable of controlling the storage media and independently accessing at least one data mirror within the storage media.

Method and apparatus for simultaneous online access of volume-managed data storage


A system for processing articles selected for purchase and bearing an identification code, comprises a code reader for generating output signals indicative of the article identification codes, a first storage unit for storage, for each of the articles, of a signal indicative of a price for the article correlated with the article identification, a second storage unit selectively operable for temporary storage of a signal indicative of a price for an article selected for purchase correlated with the article identification, and a control unit operable on receipt of the code reader output signals for fetching the price-indicative signal from the first storage unit, selectively operable on failure of the price fetching from the first storage unit for accepting operator input of a price-indicative signal for the article and storing the operator input signal in the second storage unit, and for fetching the price-indicative signal for the article from the second storage unit until such time as a price-indicative signal for the acceptable article is fetchable from the first storage unit.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,676,343 and 4,792,018, commonly-assigned herewith, set forth systems for operator-unattended checkout with particular concern for detection of customer fraud and deterrence of the same.
In the '343 patent, an article selected for purchase has its universal product code (UPC) scanned by a code reader and the code reader output signals effect the fetching from storage of a signal indicative of a measurable characteristic of the article. The article is placed on a conveyor and led thereby into a security zone defined by inlet and outlet light curtains. In the security zone, the measurable characteristic of the selected article is measured by a sensor and the sensor provides an output signal indicative of the measurement. A comparison is made of the sensor output signal and the fetched signal and, if the comparison is favorable, the conveyor continues to move in an article acceptance sense. Should the comparison be negative, the movement of the conveyor is reversed and the article placed on the conveyor is returned to the customer.
The system thus detects and rejects customer fraud in substituting a more expensive article having diverse characteristics from those of the article scanned for UPC. Beyond the described anti-fraud facility, conveyor movement is reversed on violations of the security zone, as by efforts of a customer to reach into the security zone to substitute articles.
In the '018 patent, various security-related improvements are disclosed, one of which is the reconfiguration of the inlet light curtain to sense the size of a selected article in addition to the role of the curtain in guarding the security zone from fraudulent customer interaction. While the '343 patent contemplates article size also as a measurable article characteristic, the '018 patent discloses the capacity for providing the measured article size information store itself from the inlet light curtain. Thus, as an article is introduced into the security system, its size, as indicated in signals provided from measurement by the inlet light curtain, is storable in the system data base for security purposes. The same may be said of the weight scale in the security zone, i.e., the systems of the commonly-assigned patents may look to weight or size as the measured article characteristic, or jointly to both such security parameters.
While the commonly-assigned patents describe their systems as operator-unattended, practical implementation thereof has led to a re-characterization thereof as systems requiring limited operator assistance, vastly less than the conventional, fully operator-attended systems theretofore known. Typically, an employee is assigned to a prescribed number of checkout counters and floats therebetween as assistance is required.
In typical current implementations of checkout systems in accordance with the commonly-assigned patents, on completion of the activity of the security system, indication is provided by the security system to a POS (point of sale) system of the installation of the acceptance of a given UPC-scanned article selected for purchase. The indication is conveyed to an interface which mates the security and POS systems. The POS system includes a store of article prices correlated with UPC indications and is responsive to the acceptance indication and the UPC indication for a given article to fetch the stored price of the article and to proceed with price totalization for a consumer order, seriatim per selected and accepted article.
One basis for the need for some operator assistance derives from the failure, at times, of the POS system price store to have pricing data for a selected article. In currently implemented systems, the POS system advises the security system, through the interface, of this aberration and the selected article is rejected.
Heightened operator assistance attends the described situation, since all article rejections for failure of price information require ah operator to assist in the checkout. In the described situation, the operator is required to determine the selected article price and to furnish the price by key input to the POS system.
The efficacy of usage of the checkout systems of the commonly-assigned patents manifestly correlates with the minimizing of need for operator assistance. In the described deficiency attending the price failing parameter, efficacy is depleted in that operator assistance is called for repetitively and time-consumingly for each instance of the deficiency, which will occur continuously until such time as the POS price data base is found to have price data.

Article checkout system with price parameter override capacity