A light-emitting element having excellent light-emitting properties and with which it is possible to emit blue light at a high luminance for a long period of time, and an iridium complex for realizing the same. The light-emitting element has an external quantum efficiency of at least 5% and a light emission maximum wavelength λ max of no more than 500 nm. Further, there is provided a light-emitting element including a light-emitting layer or a plurality of organic compound layers having the light-emitting layer, with at least one of the compound layers including at least one kind of a compound having a partial structure represented by the general formula K-0. In the general formula K-0, R1 to R7 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, provided that if R2 is a fluorine atom, R3 is not a hydrogen atom.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel iridium complex and a light-emitting element that uses the novel iridium complex. More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel iridium complex and a light-emitting element that uses the novel iridium complex that can be appropriately used in display elements, displays, backlights, electrophotography, illumination light sources, recording light sources, exposure light sources, read light sources, signs, signboards, interior lighting, optical communication and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
At present, research and development relating to various kinds of display elements are actively being carried out. In particular, organic electroluminescent (EL) elements have received attention as promising display elements because EL elements can emit highly luminous light at a low voltage. For example, a light-emitting element having an organic thin film formed by vapor deposition of an organic compound has been known (Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 51, p. 913 (1987)). Light-emitting elements disclosed in the literature use tris(8-hydroxyquinolinate) aluminum complex (Alq) as an electron transporting material, and have a structure comprising a layer containing the electron transporting material and a layer containing a hole transporting material (an amine compound) laminated together. In comparison to conventional light-emitting elements comprising a single layer, light-emitting characteristics can be greatly improved with light-emitting elements comprising laminated layers. In recent years, the application of organic EL elements to color displays and white light sources has been actively investigated. In order to apply organic EL elements to such ends, it is necessary to improve the light-emitting properties of the organic EL elements, such as luminance and light-emitting lifespan, with regard to light-emitting elements that are capable of emitting light in blue, green and red colors, respectively.
As a light-emitting element having improved light-emitting properties, a light-emitting element utilizing light emission from an orthometalated iridium complex (Ir(ppy)3: tris-orthometalated complex of iridium (III) with 2-phenylpyridine) has been reported (Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 75, p. 4 (1999)). While it has conventionally been said that the external quantum efficiency of light-emitting elements is limited to 5%, light-emitting elements disclosed in the literature reach an external quantum efficiency of 8%, which exceeds the conventional limitation. However, the emitted light obtained from the light-emitting element is limited to green light emission, and the applicable range as a display is narrow. The applicable range as a display could be expanded if light-emitting elements having improved light-emitting characteristics for other colors could be provided. Thus, there has been a demand to improve light-emitting characteristics of light-emitting elements of other colors.
With respect to blue light-emitting elements, various light-emitting elements have been reported that use a distyrylallylene derivative, represented by DPVBi (4,4′-bis(2,2′-diphenylvinyl)biphenyl), and an analog thereof. However, there have been no reports of blue light-emitting elements having an external quantum efficiency exceeding 5%. If a blue light-emitting element having an external quantum efficiency exceeding 5% could be provided, it would be possible for a highly efficient organic EL element to display multicolors and white color, whereby application of light-emitting elements would be greatly advanced. Moreover, it would be possible to greatly reduce electrical power consumption and to realize large area display and long term use when the light-emitting element is applied to a display element.

Light-emitting element and iridium complex


In this invention, reading conditions for registration are determined in accordance with a document. This allows a user to read a document under recommended reading conditions without any special knowledge, and register the document in a predetermined server after performing anti-tampering processing on the document. For this purpose, a document is read by prescan in accordance with predetermined conditions, and information embedded in a predetermined marker in the read image data is extracted. On the basis of the extracted embedded information, reading condition information of the document is acquired. In accordance with the acquired conditions, the document is read by main scan. After that, at least one of electronic signature information and time stamp information is added to the image data obtained by the main scan. And the added image data are transmitted to and registered in a predetermined server on a network.

Recently, a service concept called a document management system (to be referred to as DMS hereinafter) which facilitates search of document information overflowing in an office by rearranging and storing them as a database is brought into conversation more often than before.
One possible reason is that pieces of information (documents) have been exchanged by paper media until recently, but these documents keep building up, and it is very troublesome to search a large number of documents for necessary information. Another reason is that the use of paper media makes it difficult to share documents among many people.
On the other hand, it is prescribed by law that some documents related to financial affairs and taxation business be preserved as paper media. With the advance of the IT-oriented society, however, a law which allows preserved scan data obtained by electronizing documents to be regarded as legally evidential is beginning to be enforced. A requirement of these laws is a mechanism which prevents tampering of scan data obtained by electronizing documents. Another requirement is a scanning function for faithfully reproducing documents having existed as paper media when electronized scan data is viewed by an image viewer application or the like. Techniques such as an electronic signature and time stamp are used to prevent tampering of scan data. The reproduction quality of electronized documents depends on a scanner apparatus and scanning conditions.
The law which allows documents having existed as paper media to be electronized and preserved often specifies the certificate authority (CA) of an electronic certificate necessary to generate an electronic signature for preventing tampering of scan data, in accordance with the guideline indicated by each public agency. Also, since various types of paper media are used, the scanning conditions must be set in accordance with paper media themselves in order to faithfully reproduce documents.
There is a known technique by which a sheet for giving scan instructions is inserted as the first page of document pages as objects of main scan, thereby notifying a scanner apparatus of the reading conditions of the following document pages to be mainly scanned without causing the user to designate the scanning conditions every time (e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-354212).
In the technique disclosed in the above reference, however, a special sheet must be prepared. In addition, the user must know which guideline indicated by a public agency a paper medium to be read matches.
Furthermore, to verify the contents of scan data preserved before, a document to be verified is searched by using the attribute information of the document as a keyword. However, the attribute information of a document to be preserved together with scan data changes from one document type to another. This makes it difficult for a user to recognize the document attribute information to be preserved in relation to the document type.
Also, in a document management server which preserves scan data obtained by reading document pages, a database must be manually designed so that document attributes corresponding to document types can be preserved.

Document processing using embedded document information


A microplate reader includes a light emitting portion for irradiating each of a plurality of test samples with excitation light, a light receiving portion for receiving return light from each of the test samples, an XY stage for moving the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion to traverse and scan the test samples, and a display portion for radiating visible light of a visible quantity in response to detection of fluorescence emitted from the test samples. An operator determines whether the measured test sample has emitted fluorescence based on illumination of the display portion.

The present invention relates to a light detection device for indicating whether faint characteristic return light is emitted from a test sample irradiated with excitation light.
A typical light detection device irradiates a test sample with excitation light and detects characteristic return light (luminescence, fluorescence, reflected light, scattered light) included in the return light from the test sample to analyze the test sample.
In a light detection device such as a fluorescence microscope or a microplate reader, test samples are accommodated in a plurality of wells formed on a microplate. A conventional light detection device irradiates the entire microplate with excitation light having a specific wavelength to generate an image of the entire surface of the microplate with an imaging device such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. The light detection device performs image processing on a picture image or image data of a plurality of light emitting points (characteristic return light) on the microplate to display an image.
Japanese National Phase Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-505654 describes a light detection device including an integrated cooled CCD camera, an image processing computer, and a display. The integrated cooled CCD camera is arranged at an observing position in a fluorescence microscope optical system to generate an image of the entire microplate. The image data of the entire microplate generated by the CCD camera is retrieved in the computer and shown on the display. This type of light detection device is designed for use in, for example, a large inspection room to perform measurement on a large quantity of microplates, which conform to predetermined standards.
An operator using such a light detection device is unable to determine whether or not light having a wavelength differing from that of the excitation light, that is, characteristic return light such as fluorescence, has been emitted from the test sample until the image data of the microplate is processed by the computer and displayed on the display. The conventional light detection device is thus complicated, large, expensive, and difficult to carry. Moreover, it is difficult for the operator to determine whether characteristic return light is emitted from each test sample on the microplate by looking at the test samples.


The invention is an instrument and method for microwave-assisted chemical synthesis. The instrument includes a source of microwave radiation for applying microwave energy to a sample, a microwave cavity in wave communication with the source for holding the sample during the application of microwave energy, and a substantially monochromatic radiation source in electromagnetic communication with the cavity for applying substantially monochromatic light to the sample. The instrument further includes a detector positioned to detect Raman scattering of light from the monochromatic source by the sample, and a controller in signal communication with the microwave energy source and the Raman scattering detector for moderating the application of microwave energy to the sample based upon the detected Raman scattering.

The present invention relates to microwave-assisted chemistry, and in particular relates to the measurement and control of ongoing microwave-assisted chemical reactions.
As generally recognized in the chemical arts, many chemical reactions can be initiated or accelerated by increasing the temperature (i.e., heating) of the reactants. Accordingly, carrying out chemical reactions at elevated (i.e., above ambient) temperatures is a normal part of many chemical processes.
The benefit of using microwave energy for elevating the temperature of a chemical reaction is well known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,753,517 to Jennings, incorporated entirely herein by reference, discloses a microwave-assisted chemical synthesis instrument using controlled microwave energy.
Additionally, recent developments have increased the use of microwave energy for initiating, accelerating, or maintaining chemical reactions apart from temperature elevation. In some cases, microwaves are usefully applied while keeping reaction temperatures moderate, or even cool (i.e., at or below room temperature).
Monitoring various parameters of microwave-assisted chemistry can be helpful in controlling the input of microwave energy. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,711 to Barclay et al., also incorporated entirely herein by reference, describes a method for microwave-assisted chemical processes that includes monitoring the temperature of a mixture of reagents to maintain the reagents at or closely about a predetermined temperature.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,041 to Collins et al., also incorporated entirely herein by reference, describes a method and apparatus for measuring volatile content of samples. The method includes monitoring the weight and temperature of the sample during the application of microwave energy. The method further includes moderating the application of microwave power based on the measured temperature to prevent burning the sample.
In yet another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,288,379 to Greene et al., also incorporated entirely herein by reference, describes a method for the use of continuously variable power in microwave-assisted chemistry. The method includes measuring and moderating the duty cycle of applied microwave power based on a measured selected parameter of a sample at a predetermined set point. The preferred measured parameters include temperature and pressure.
The aforementioned instruments and methods are exemplary for their respective applications. In addition, all benefit from a feedback control mechanism. The feedback control mechanism is based on at least one measured parameter, which may include temperature, pressure, volatile content, or weight, by means of example. These parameters are measured using standard instruments, e.g., an infrared pyrometer for measuring temperature and a pressure transducer for measuring pressure.
Chemical processes are commonly evaluated with respect to contaminants and product yield, for example. In this regard, spectrometers are well known to evaluate and monitor chemical samples, processes, or both for these and other criteria. Defined in general terms, spectroscopy is the physics of the theory and interpretation of interactions between matter and electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic radiation may be considered a stream of energy called quanta or photons. The amount of energy in each quantum determines the wavelength of the radiation.
Electrons orbiting atoms typically occupy a "ground state," or the lowest energy level. Bonding between atoms forms a molecule, resulting in a new electron ground state energy level. Under certain conditions, an electron may acquire energy which elevates it to a higher energy level (i.e., an "excited state"). Electrons in atoms, functional groups, or molecules may change their energy level only when distinct quanta of radiation are absorbed or emitted by the molecule. The frequency of the absorbed or emitted radiation is a direct function of the change in energy of the electron. Thus, spectroscopy is the measurement of absorption and emission spectra. Because the amounts of energy absorbed or emitted are characteristic of particular atoms, molecules, and functional groups, spectroscopy is widely used to identify and quantify chemical compositions.
Based on wavelength, technique, or both, many different kinds of spectroscopy are scientifically useful. These include, but are not limited to, infrared (IR) absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, ultraviolet/visible (UV/VIS), and Raman spectroscopy.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0116027 to Brulls discloses a method of monitoring a freeze drying process utilizing spectroscopy. The Brulls patent publication discloses that real-time spectroscopic analysis of the freeze-drying process may be used for feedback control of the process based on extracted measurement values, such as temperature and moisture content.
Microwave-assisted chemical synthesis is commonly performed in sealed reaction vessels. This presents a problem with respect to measuring certain reaction parameters, e.g., contaminant formation via side reactions and product yield. Currently, microwave-assisted techniques must monitor these and other parameters using an invasive technique or at least some physical contact with the vessel or its contents (e.g., a pressure transducer). See U.S. Pat. No. 6,630,652 to Jennings, for example.
Spectroscopy is a useful method to non-invasively monitor a reaction in progress. The reaction vessel is typically made of a microwave-transparent material, such as glass or quartz. Some spectroscopy methods, however, such as UV/VIS and IR spectroscopy, are impeded by glass because glass forms an opaque barrier to these wavelengths. Therefore, where glass vessels are desired or necessary, UV and IR spectroscopy are less attractive and potentially useless. Raman spectroscopy is an attractive alternative to U/VIS and IR in this respect because glass is substantially transparent to many of the frequencies commonly used for Raman spectroscopy.
Briefly, Raman spectroscopy measures the vibrational energies of molecules differently than other spectroscopic methods. Raman spectroscopy is based on the measurement of inelastic, as opposed to elastic, scattering of photons by molecules. Scattering occurs following a collision between incident photon energy from an energy source, such as a laser, and a molecule. Elastic scattering of photons occurs when the incident photon energy equals the energy of the photons scattered in all directions after the collision. In this case, the scattered photons provide no information about the molecule.
In contrast, inelastic scattering occurs when incident photons gain or lose energy upon collision with a molecule. In this case, the scattered photons do provide information about the molecule. An in-depth review of the theory and practice of Raman spectroscopy is set forth in Handbook of Vibrational Spectroscopy (John Chalmers and Peter Griffiths, eds., 2001) and Handbook of Raman Spectroscopy: From the Research Laboratory to the Process Line (Ian R. Lewis and Howell G. M. Edwards, eds., 2001).
Raman spectroscopy has been utilized in microwave-assisted techniques to a limited extent. Stellman et al., used Raman spectroscopy to monitor microwave curing of an amine-cured epoxide as a function of time (Christopher M. Stellman et al., In Situ Spectroscopic Study of Microwave Polymerization, Applied Spectroscopy, (49)3, 1995). In this study, Raman spectra of the microwave-cured epoxy were continuously taken in situ over a 2.4 minute curing time. Spectra taken after this time frame (i.e., longer exposure) were discarded because the sample ignited from excess heat accumulation.
More recently, Pivonka and Empfield integrated a Raman probe with a commercial microwave synthesizer to provide real-time spectral feedback from organic reactions for real-time in situ analysis of yield, mechanisms, and kinetics in the microwave-assisted reactions (Don E. Pivonka and James R. Empfield, Real-Time in situ Raman Analysis of Microwave-assisted Organic Reactions, Applied Spectroscopy, (58)1, 2004).
The problem that persists in light of these references is the lack of a commercially viable instrument and method for non-invasive real-time feedback control of microwave-assisted chemical synthesis. Logically, another problem that follows is the lack of an instrument and method for self-optimizing microwave-assisted chemical synthesis based on real-time non-invasive spectral analysis.

Spectroscopy-based real-time control for microwave-assisted chemistry


Disclosed are methods and apparatus for processing social media posts. The methods may include certain multimedia content being identified as multimedia content for which social media posts relating to a broadcast of that multimedia content are to be stored. Using this identifying information, one or more filtering criteria may be provided for use by a filtering module. The filtering module may receive (e.g., from a social networking service) a stream of social media posts, filter the received stream to extract social media posts that relate to the broadcast of the certain multimedia content, and stores the extracted social media posts. Alternatively, a storage module may store the stream of social media posts, and a filtering module may filter the stored social media posts to identify social media posts that relate to the broadcast of the certain multimedia content.

A consumer may record broadcast multimedia content so that they may view that multimedia content at some later time after the original broadcast. For example, a consumer may, such as by using a home or network-based digital video recorder (DVR), cause a device to record or otherwise store a television program so that the consumer may view that television program at some later time ("time shifting").
Also, while consuming multimedia content (e.g., while watching a broadcast television program), many consumers use social networking services to view social media related to that multimedia content.
Many providers of multimedia content are able to re-broadcast or otherwise provide multimedia content at some later time after an original broadcast of that multimedia content. For example, nationally or internationally important multimedia content, or culturally important multimedia (such as a "classic" sporting event), may be re-broadcast or streamed several years or decades after its original broadcast, or may be made available on an on-demand basis. Recorded multimedia content may also be made available to consumers as tangible recordings, such as DVDs.

Processing of social media for selected time-shifted multimedia content


A high-purity ferroboron contains 0.02 mass % or more of P and 0.03 mass % or less of Al, with the balance Fe, B and unavoidable impurities. The high-purity ferroboron may further contain 0.03 mass % or less of Ti.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high-purity ferroboron used as a raw material for an amorphous alloy or the like, and a mother alloy for an iron-base amorphous alloy using said ferroboron, an iron-base amorphous alloy by using said mother alloy, and methods for producing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
An amorphous alloy is excellent in magnetic and mechanical properties and, as such, is viewed as a promising material for various industrial applications. An iron-base amorphous alloy, for example an amorphous alloy of an Fe—B—Si or Fe—B—Si—C system, is used, in particular, as a material for the iron core of a power transformer, a high frequency transformer and the like because it has a low core loss, a high saturation magnetic flux density and a high magnetic permeability.
An amorphous alloy of this kind is produced by rapidly cooling and solidifying a mother alloy in a molten state through a single-roll process, a twin-roll process or the like. Such a process is one wherein molten metal is rapidly solidified by spraying it through an orifice or the like onto the outer surface of a rapidly rotating metal drum and, by so doing, a thin strip or a fine wire is cast.
A mother alloy is an alloy the chemical composition of which has been adjusted to that of the amorphous alloy. In the case of an iron-base amorphous alloy as mentioned above, a mother alloy is produced by blending ferroboron, a diluent base iron, and auxiliary materials such as Si and C and, by so doing, adjusting the composition.
If impurities are contained in a mother alloy, an amorphous structure is not stably formed during rapid-cooling solidification and, as a consequence, excellent properties are not obtained. For this and other reasons, all the materials used as the raw materials for a mother alloy have been high-purity ones; electrolytic iron has been used as the diluent base iron.
Ferroboron has been produced in a melting-and-reducing furnace such as an electric furnace or the like using a boron source such as boron oxide, boric acid or the like, a base iron and a carbon-base reducing agent such as coke, charcoal, powdered coal or the like as the raw materials. In particular, electrolytic iron has been used as a base iron for high-purity ferroboron.
The content of boron in an iron-base amorphous alloy is several mass %, and two methods have been proposed as the production methods of the mother alloy thereof: a method of diluting ferroboron having a boron content of not less than 10 mass %, the ferroboron being produced through an electric furnace process; and the other method of finely adjusting the composition of ferroboron having a boron content of several mass %, the ferroboron being produced in a shaft furnace or a ladle refining facility. What is actually employed is the former method. The main reason for this is that the former method entails a high boron utilization efficiency and a low cost. Another reason is that, by the former method, the content of C can be lowered by increasing the content of B.
The solubility of C in ferroboron is in inverse correlation with the content of B: the lower the content of B, the higher the solubility of C. Therefore, in the case where C is harmful as an impurity, increasing the content of B is an effective measure for reducing the amount of C.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. S59-232250 discloses the above inverse correlation and a technology that makes it possible to commercially produce ferroboron having a B content of not less than 10 mass % and a C content of not more than 0.5 mass %. However, a problem in the technology disclosed therein is that, when ferroboron having a high boron content is produced through an electric furnace process, the electric power consumption rate is high.
In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. S59-126732 discloses a method of decreasing the content of C by bubbling oxygen gas through molten ferroboron. However, a problem of the method disclosed therein is that boron is also oxidized by the oxygen gas and therefore the boron utilization efficiency is decreased.
Further, as a production method for low-Al, high-purity ferroboron, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. S59-232250 and 560-103151 disclose methods for obtaining ferroboron having a B concentration of 10 to 20 mass % using an electric furnace. However, when scrap iron is used as the base iron in each of the proposed methods, the concentration of Al contained in the scrap iron fluctuates and, as a consequence, the guaranteed Al content is less than 0.20 mass %. However, up to the present, commercially available low-Al, high-purity ferroboron has required a guaranteed Al content of less than 0.025 mass % and, to cope with the requirement, electrolytic iron has been used as the base iron in each of the methods and thus the product has been expensive.
As means of obtaining ferroboron for an iron-base amorphous alloy at a low cost, some methods are disclosed wherein a melting-and-reducing process that does not use an electric furnace is employed, although the ferroboron obtained has a low B concentration. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. S58-77509 discloses a method for obtaining ferroboron having a B concentration of several mass % by reducing iron ore and boron oxide simultaneously in a shaft furnace and Japanese unexamined Patent Publication No. S58-197252 discloses another method for obtaining ferroboron having a B concentration of several mass % by adding boron oxide and a reducing agent to molten steel and reducing the boron oxide in a ladle refining furnace.
In these methods, however, unreduced boron oxide remains in slag and, as a result, the boron utilization efficiency is low. Boron oxide is a comparatively expensive raw material, and therefore these methods entail a rather high cost. What is more, as the environmental regulations have been tightened in recent years, the methods have come to bear an increased cost since the disposal of boron-containing slag entails a high treatment cost. Thus, while the proposed methods are considered effective for lowering the content of Al, the cost reduction, which has been the initial object of the inventions, is not achieved. For this reason, these methods are not commercially applied at present.
On the other hand, today's mass-produced steel is produced through a continuous casting process because the process has a high productivity and entails a low cost. Killed steel is applied in order to suppress gas generation in a continuous casting process. Al is generally used as a deoxidizing agent for mass-produced steel and, as a result, a considerable amount of Al is contained in the steel. For this reason, mass-produced steel has been considered unusable as a base iron for a mother alloy of an iron-base amorphous alloy and for the high-purity ferroboron used as a raw material for a mother alloy.
However, some of mass-produced steel has come to be produced by using Si and Mn as deoxidizing agents and, besides, thanks to the advancements of refining technologies, steel having a low Al content can be mass-produced even by using Al as a deoxidizing agent.
On the other hand, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. H9-263914 and 2001-279387 disclose methods for producing an inexpensive mother alloy by using steel obtained through an ordinary steelmaking process as a diluent base iron, instead of using electrolytic iron that is expensive. In these technologies, the alloy contains, in mass, P: 0.008 to 0.1%, Mn: 0.15 to 0.5% and S: 0.004 to 0.05% as impurities and such a trace amount of contained P can prevent the properties of a cast thin strip from deteriorating even though Mn and S are contained to the extents of the amounts within the above ranges, respectively.
Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-220646 discloses a method, that is applied to a thin strip after casting, of producing an iron-base amorphous alloy thin strip capable of exhibiting excellent magnetic properties and small variations thereof even when the temperatures at various portions of an iron core vary over a wide temperature range during the annealing of the iron core, by actively adding P to an amount within a specific range to an alloy having a chemical composition within a limited range. In this alloy too, Mn and S can be contained to the extents of the amounts in the above ranges, respectively, and, thus, ordinary steel can be used as the diluent base iron.

High-purity ferroboron, a mother alloy for iron-base amorphous alloy, an iron-base amorphous alloy, and methods for producing the same


Disclosed herein are enzymes and combinations of the enzymes useful for the hydrolysis of cellulose and the conversion of biomass. Methods of degrading cellulose and biomass using enzymes and cocktails of enzymes are also disclosed.

Lignocellulosic biomass is an abundant source of fermentable sugars, and biofuels derived from these renewable sources represent one of the best alternatives to petroleum-based fuels. Efficient conversion of lignocellulosic biomass, however, remains a challenge due to its inherent recalcitrance. Given the current state of technology of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SFF) and the commercial enzyme cocktails available, various chemical and thermal pretreatment steps are required to achieve meaningful conversation of biomass. Another alternative seen as viable and cost competitive for the future is consolidated bioprocessing (CBP), in which case saccharolytic enzyme are produced by the CBP organisms, which also ferment sugars released from biomass to the end product.
In nature, most cellulolytic organisms are of two types: those with non-complexed cellulases, xylanases, and hemicellulases produced by aerobic fungi and most bacteria; and those where cellulases, xylanases, and hemicellulases are complexed on a protein scaffold. This latter case is known only for a few anaerobic bacteria and fungi. In both cases, the enzymes secreted have a wide range of complexity but are mostly equipped with a single catalytic domain. An alternate enzymatic system, midway between the two previous paradigms, is one where the most abundant enzymes secreted are not only multi-modular but possess more than one catalytic domain. This strategy could present several advantages; it allows the synergistic effects between several catalytic domains usually found in cellulosomal systems but also lessen problems that cellulosomes may encounter due to their size.
The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.


The present invention provides a method for producing an (meth)acrylate syrup by bulk polymerization which is characterized by:                a) using (meth)acrylate ester monomer; and        b) using 2,4-diphenyl-4methyl-1-pentenol singly or together with a thiol chain transfer agent as a chain transfer agent,        c) initiating polymerization by adding an initiator having the half-life of up to 30 minutes at 55-80° C. of initial reaction temperature, so as to maintain the peak reactor temperature below 95° C. and the reactor conversion rate as 5-50 weight %.

The (meth)acrylate syrup has been used as an intermediate raw-material for methacryl resin substrate, optical materials including optical transmission fiber or optical waveguide, acryl artificial marble, floor materials, adhesives, and medical supplies.
The (meth)acrylate syrup can be produced by bulk polymerization, solution polymerization, emulsion polymerization, suspension polymerization and photo polymerization owing to the excellent reactivity of (meth)acrylate monomers. As these materials for use in the respective applications became highly functional, the use of solution polymerization, emulsion polymerization and suspension polymerization for their production required much energy for the removal of residues. In addition, in the use of these polymerization processes, it was difficult to exhibit high function, and the load to environment was high. For these reasons, it is a tendency to produce (meth)acrylate by bulk polymerization or photo polymerization which is carried out in the absence of solvents.
In carrying out bulk polymerization or photo polymerization, heat transfer is difficult due to the absence of a solvent, and in particular in carrying out the process in a general batch reactor, the reactor temperature is difficult to control, resulting in a high possibility for reaction runaway, and the termination of production of radicals is reduced due to a rapid increase in viscosity resulting from an increase in conversion rate. Thus, a phenomenon, such as the partial formation of gel, occurs, and non-uniform resin with wide range of molecular weight is liable to be, obtained.
To overcome the problems of the high chance of reaction runaway and viscosity increase, the use of a semi-batch, continuous or plug flow reactor in place of the batch reactor has been reported. Japanese patent laid-open publication Nos. Sho 40-003701, Hei 11-255828 and 2000-159816 disclose high-temperature polymerization with the use of this continuous polymerization method.
However, the polymerization in this reactor has a problem in that it has a high economic burden, because not only the reactor itself is expensive but also the cost of utilities is significant. Another problem is that it is unfavorable for the production of small amounts of many different species, although it is suitable for the production of large amounts of a few species.
In an attempt to solve these problems, a method is known that carries out polymerization in the batch reactor under the mildest possible conditions. This is a method where the temperature of a reaction system is maintained at a constant level while forcibly terminating polymerization when the conversion or viscosity of the reaction system reaches a given level. Regarding the method for the termination of polymerization, Japanese patent laid-open publication No. Hei 1-11652 discloses the termination of polymerization by the addition of a polymerization inhibitor, and Japanese patent laid-open publication No. Hei 9-67495 discloses polymerization termination, such as quenching by the addition of monomers.
However, this polymerization method cannot become a fundamental solution because it has shortcomings in that it causes a great increase in viscosity at the latter half of reaction, shows a difference in physical properties depending on the time point of completion of reaction, and results in polymer syrup with poor storage stability because a polymerization initiator remains in the syrup.
In an attempt to solve these problems, there have been many solutions where a batch reactor is used but reaction runaway does not occur and the molecular weight of syrup is easily controlled.
First, there are examples where bulk polymerization was carried out without causing reaction runaway due to the non-use of a polymerization initiator.
Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2001-31709 discloses carrying out the bulk polymerization of a compound with a thiol group and a secondary hydroxyl group, and a compound with a secondary hydroxyl group without a thiol group as a catalyst thereof. Also, Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2001-302705 discloses carrying out the bulk polymerization of a compound with both a thiol group and a carboxyl group in the substantial absence of an initiator.
However, in carrying out the above polymerization using a huge amount of thiol groups, the residue of thiol groups in syrup reduced the properties including storage stability of a final syrup product.
Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2000-313704 discloses synthesizing an acrylate syrup with a conversion rate of 10-50%, in which 0.0001-0.5 parts by weight of an polymerization initiator with a 10-hr half-life at the temperature of less than 41° C. is used, the self-heat generation at reaction temperature of 20-80° C. is used, and the peak exothermic temperature of reactants reaches a range of 100-140° C. This polymerization method is based on the idea that the rapid increase in the concentration of radicals at the initial stage of reaction, resulted from the addition of an initiator which used to be decomposed at low temperature at a relatively high reaction temperature, causes the rapid increase of reaction speed, and as a result, the reactor temperature is increased, the half-life of the initiator drops rapidly and finally the depletion of initiator occurs resulting in stopping of reaction.
However, from the thorough examination, the present inventors concluded that this method needs a proper amount of an initiator to obtain a satisfactory result, which suggests a problem of high exothermic temperature. Thus, a highly sensitive cooling system is required during scale-up, nevertheless there is still a possibility of reaction runaway. In addition, the method which has the peak exothermic temperature of reactants ranging 100-140° C. is not applicable to low boiling point monomers such as ethyl acrylate (boiling point=99° C.) and butyl acrylate (boiling point=145° C.) and there is a problem of rapid spontaneous thermo polymerization by a high temperature unless the reactor is not rapidly cooled down at such high temperature. In the meantime, in production of high molecular weight acrylate syrup having more than a million of molecular weight, the conversion rate should be maintained as low as possible because of the steep increase in viscosity, but the method described in Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2000-313704 is carried out without lowering the conversion rate, meaning that it has problems of unstable stirring and formation of gel due to the rapid increase of viscosity to produce a syrup having more than a million of molecular weight.

Method for producing an (meth)acrylate syrup

Abstract: The method for producing an (meth)acrylate syrup of the present invention has such advantages that reaction runaway does not occur, the control of molecular weight and conversion rate is possible even at low exothermic temperature without stirring failure, and a partially polymerized (meth)acrylate syrup can also be prepared therefrom.


A semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a plurality of scan flip-flops configured to form a scan chain in a scan test; and a plurality of clock gating circuits connected between a clock input and corresponding portions of the plurality of scan flip-flops, respectively. The plurality of clock gating circuits are connected in serial to form a chain and gating setting data is inputted in serial through the chain connection. Each of the plurality of clock gating circuits controls a connection between the clock input and a corresponding portion of the plurality of scan flip-flops based on the gating setting data.

A design technique is known in which a test circuit is previously incorporated in a semiconductor integrated circuit in a design stage in order to check whether a delay fault or a stuck-at fault occurs after or during production of the semiconductor integrated circuit. For example, a scan test of a scan chain is performed by the previously incorporated scan circuit. In the scan test, a test pattern data is inputted to a combinational circuit by a shift operation of the scan chain and an output data of the combinational circuit is taken out to a scan cell (flip-flop) by a capture operation. Next, the output data taken out to the scan cell is outputted to outside by the shift operation. Whether a logic circuit in a circuit to be tested is in a good state or a fault state can be determined by comparing the data taken out in this manner (scan out data) with an expected value.
In the semiconductor integrated circuit, when an operation current exceeding a power supply capacity flows, a power supply cannot maintain a power supply voltage necessary for the semiconductor integrated circuit to properly operate, thereby causing a malfunction. Especially, with upsizing and speeding-up of the semiconductor integrated circuit, a power consumption amount has prominently increased in execution of the scan test. For this reason, the test circuit is demanded in which the increase in the power consumption amount can be suppressed in the execution of the scan test.
A technique related to a scan circuit is described in patent literature 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of the scan circuit described in the patent literature 1. FIG. 2 shows timing charts in a scan test operation described in the patent literature 1.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, during a scan shift operation period (SCAN_Shift), a final value of a scan shift operation is inputted to scan flip-flops built in test clock control circuits TC11, TC12, and TC13. For example, "0" is inputted to the test clock control circuit TC11, "1" is inputted to the test clock control circuit TC12 and "0" is inputted to the test clock control circuit TC13. By setting a scan enable signal SEN to a low level in this state, the mode is switched to a scan capture mode.
During a scan capture period (SCAN_Capture), clock output signals MCOUT1 and MCOUT3 of the test clock control circuits TC11 and TC13 are fixed to "0" corresponding to the value "0" inputted in the shift operation, so as not to operate as a clock pulse. As a result, the capture operation to a register group SFFG1a to SFFG1z and a register group SFFG3a to SFFG3z is not performed and data is not taken out from scan output terminals SOT2 and SOT4.
Meanwhile, during the scan capture period, a clock output signal MCOUT2 of the test clock control circuit TC12 functions as the same clock pulse as a test clock SCLK based on the value "1" inputted in the shift operation. As a result, data shift-inputted to a register group SFFG2a to SFFG2z by the shift operation is taken out from a scan output terminal SOT3.
As described above, in the scan circuit described in the patent literature 1, by controlling to supply a clock to only a desired clock domain, it is possible to stop supply of the clock to only a particular clock domain, thereby suppressing a power consumption amount during execution of the scan test.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Semiconductor integrated circuit and method of testing the same


A query specifying a source repository and a target repository is received from a client device. A source index is generated that corresponds to the source repository and represents a snapshot of metadata associated with data contained in the source data repository. The source index is filtered based on filtering criteria specified by the query to obtain a filtered source index. Attributes of data corresponding to the filtered source index are determined as well as data retrieval type parameters. Without initiating a data migration of the data corresponding to the filtered source index from the source repository to the target repository, predicted data migration metrics associated with the data migration are determined and presented to an end user of the client device. The end user is provided with the capability to initiate or forego the data migration based on an evaluation of the predicted data migration metrics.

In modern computing systems, data may be stored on-premises and/or in a cloud storage environment. Various costs may be associated with storing and migrating data to and from a cloud storage environment and/or between different storage tiers on-premises. Data movers may facilitate the management of data migration between different storage devices and locations. Conventional data movers suffer from a variety of technical problems including the inability to adequately predict or track data migration metrics. In addition, conventional data movers lack the capability to correlate various data migration metrics to various entities at a level of granularity desired by an end user. Discussed herein are technical solutions that address these and other technical problems associated with conventional data movers.

Data migration management and migration metric prediction


An osteotome is provided that is designed for implanting and extracting medical device implants. The osteotome includes a handle, a blade attachment assembly about a first end of the handle for receiving a blade, and a wing assembly about a second end of the handle opposite the first end. The wing assembly further includes a wing extending outwardly from the handle.

The exemplary embodiments of the subject disclosure relate generally to the field of medical device implant extraction tools. In particular, the subject disclosure relates to an osteotome having a quick releasable blade and a wing assembly.
During implant extraction, medical device implant extraction tools such as osteotomes are utilized to remove or extract an implant from bone. The osteotome can be used to cut a bone surface to shape it or remove bone for purposes of extracting a medical implant from the bone.
Conventional osteotomes are limited in their functionality due to particular design, which consequently reduces their effectiveness for facilitating implant extraction. Therefore, there is still a need for a more efficient and economical osteotome to better assist medical device implant extraction procedures.


A switch operates between a first and a second position which selectively connects a load to a first and a second power supply. The connections are made by sliding one or more rods along their axis. The ends of the rods fit within channels to form electrical contact with the first and second power supply.

The reliable supply of electricity is important for businesses and homes. Indeed, virtually every business and home relies upon the continuous supply of electricity to refrigerate food, to operate heating and cooling systems and many other appliances.
In some applications, the uninterrupted supply of electricity is absolutely critical. For example, computer systems generally require a virtually perfect power supply. Even a momentary glitch can disrupt their operation. Consequently, where the supply of electricity is unreliable, back-up power sources commonly referred to uninterrupted power supplies are used. These usually include a power detection and filtering circuit. If the main power fails, the back-up power source immediately detects the failure and switches to a battery or other back-up source. In more sophisticated systems, the back-up power source will switch to an alternative power supply such as a generator if the main power remains off line.
Although these types of systems are effective even for the most demanding of applications, they are also expensive. The circuitry required to monitor the main power supply and associated battery back up are relatively complex. Moreover, this type of uninterrupted power supply is not necessary for many applications. For example, many businesses or homes can tolerate a short interruption in their power supply. Interruptions of only a few minutes have little effect on heating or cooling systems. Critical applications such as a computer can depend upon a local back-up power supply. If the main power supply continues to fail, a local generator can be started to provide back-up power.
The installation of a back-up generator requires that it is connected into the loading circuits in a manner that does not interfere with the normal delivery of power from a local utility company. The back-up generator must be disconnected when the local utility company provides power to prevent large flows of electricity between the two sources. In most conventional home or business settings, the internal wiring is connected directly to the local utility company through a power meter and breaker switches. The power meter is used to monitor usage for billing purposes. The breaker switches are used to prevent excessive flow of current through any loading circuit.
The addition of an auxiliary power supply requires a switch which is capable of handling the current drawn by an entire home or business. Especially in larger business applications, the total current drawn from a back-up power supply or from the power grid can be substantial. The switch must be able to handle large currents without heating. In order to do so, electrical transfer switches are typically very large. In order to avoid heating at the switch contacts, these are very substantial in size. A transfer switch suitable for high-current applications which is relatively small is desired.


A ballpoint pen wherein an outer member (50) covering the outer circumference of a holder (21) covers a section that reaches as far as a narrowed section (23) of the holder (21) and has an outer member tip end portion (51). An ink spreads between the writing ball (30) and the contact section of the writing surface and between the outer member tip end portion (51) and the contact section of the writing surface, in which the writing ball (30) and the outer member tip end portion (51) are in contact with the writing surface at the same time. The relative position of the outer member (50) and the holder (21) can be changed from a holder protruding position to a holder retracted position wherein the writing ball (30) and the tip section of the outer member (50) can be in contact with the writing surface at the same time.

Conventionally, as a technique related to a ballpoint pen capable of writing drawn lines having different widths using one writing shaft, as disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a technique of controlling the amount of ink leakage using a pressurizing mechanism provided in a rear end portion in a shaft tube to change a width and a thickness of a drawn line is known.
Moreover, as disclosed in Patent Literature 2, a technique of changing the width and thickness of drawn lines using a ballpoint pen in which pen tips having different ball diameters are attached to both ends of a writing shaft is also known.
Moreover, conventionally, as a technique related to a ballpoint pen capable of writing drawn lines having different widths using one writing tip, as disclosed in Patent Literature 3, a technique of providing a spring inside a holder so that a writing ball is always pressed toward the writing tip by the resilience of the spring and allowing lines of different widths to be drawn according to a writing load is known. Moreover, a writing instrument capable of moving a marking surface portion back and forth and writing a plurality of narrow and bold lines is also disclosed.


An apparatus for airborne particle sorting is provided comprising a charging system adapted for applying an electrostatic charge to the particles, such that particles of at least a first group are deflected to a greater extent than particles of a second group are deflected. A focusing system is adapted for electrostatically focusing substantially at least the particles of the first group into a focused stream that is narrower than the input air stream. A deposition system is adapted for substantially depositing the particles of the first group from the focused stream upon a target surface, where the target surface may be transported to an analysis system capable of analyzing the particles deposited thereon.

There is an increasing demand for air sampling systems for military, private or individual use that are capable of sorting particles of interest (e.g., aerosol particles) from an incoming air sample. Sorting of particles enables a more rapid and accurate analysis of the contents of an air sample by reducing the amount of negligible particles in the sample prior to performing analysis techniques (e.g., such as spectrographic discrimination). Particles of interest are typically separated from other particles in an air sample and then focused onto a target or particle collection surface for further analysis.
Current particle sorting systems employ aerodynamic techniques (e.g., nozzles) for manipulating and focusing particles in a sample air stream. While such sorting systems have performed reasonably well in sorting large particles (e.g., larger than approximately 50 μm), they often perform less reliably when required to manipulate smaller particles (e.g., in the range of approximately 0.5 μm to 10 μm). Moreover, such systems demonstrate less than optimal accuracy in focusing the sorted particles onto a designated target or collection surface, due to the difficulties in balancing multiple flow streams and resultant increases in particle velocity as the stream diameter is compressed.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved method and apparatus for airborne particle sorting.

Method and apparatus for airborne particle sorting


A photonic band gap structure device and method for delaying photonic signals of a predetermined frequency and a predetermined bandwidth by a predetermined delay is provided. A Fabry-Perot delay line device has several regions of periodically alternating refractive material layers which exhibit a series of photonic band gaps and a periodicity defect region, interposed between the regions of periodically alternating refractive material layers. The Fabry-Perot delay line device imparts a predetermined delay to photonic signals that pass therethrough. The introduction of the periodicity defect region into this photonic band gap structure creates a sharp transmission resonance within the corresponding photonic band gap of the structure and causes at least an order of magnitude improvement in photonic signal delay for a band-edge delay line device of similar size. Variable photonic delays to multiple photonic signals are also generated by this Fabry-Perot delay line device. In addition, a photonic signal delay device based on an optical fiber grating structure is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to optical communications and optical signal control. In particular, the present invention relates to an optical device and method for delaying photonic signals.
2. Related Art
The fields of communications and data processing are currently transitioning from using electrical signals to using optical signals. As a result, there is an increased need for optical devices that perform various tasks in the control of these optical signals. Such devices include delay blocks for synchronizing optical pulses for communications. The synchronization of optical pulses requires the use of controllable delay devices which do not significantly distort the optical beam as it passes through the device. In particular, robust, compact, lightweight delay devices for use with a variety of predetermined optical frequencies must be developed to be easily integrated into existing optical systems.
One method of creating a low distortion, controllable photonic delay is through the use of "uniform" photonic band gap (PBG) structures, also called band-edge delay line devices. Uniform PBG structures typically comprise a stack of alternating layers of refractive materials of similar thicknesses, such as gallium arsenide and aluminum arsenide, which exhibit photonic band gaps in their transmission spectra. These alternating layers have different indices of refraction and can be deposited by well known deposition techniques onto a substrate.
By sending a photonic signal of a given frequency (.omega.) through this type of delay device, the discontinuity of the indices of refraction imparts a delay to the photonic signal. These devices slow down the photonic signal as a result of scattering inside the uniform PBG structure. Since the photonic delay is proportional to the square of the number of periods contained in the uniform PBG structure, a device can be constructed that imparts a predetermined delay to a photonic signal. The physical processes involved in the photonic signal delay imparted by a uniform PBG structure are described in detail in Scalora, et al., "Ultrashort pulse propagation at the photonic band edge: large tunable group delay with minimal distortion and loss," Phys. Rev. E Rapid Comm. 54(2), R1078-R1081 (August 1996), which is incorporated by reference herein.

Photonic band gap device and method using a periodicity defect region to increase photonic signal delay


A headset includes a backlight assembly, a display panel, and an optics block. The backlight assembly includes an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs), a diffusing element, and a brightness enhancement film. The array of LEDs and the brightness enhancement film are configured in a way such that the light generated by the backlight assembly has a non-uniform brightness distribution. The display panel receives the light and convert the light to image light. The image light has at least the non-uniform brightness distribution. The optics block includes one or more optical elements that direct the image light to an eyebox of the headset. The optics block adds another non-uniform brightness distribution to the image light to offset the non-uniform brightness distribution from the backlight assembly, such that the image light directed to the eyebox has a target brightness distribution.

This disclosure relates generally to backlit displays, and specifically to offsetting non-uniform brightness using a backlight assembly.
Some conventional head-mounted displays (HMDs) include components in the optical path of a display of the HMD that can result in non-uniform brightness of a displayed image. For example, in a backlit display having an optical assembly or a LCD display panel, the brightness of the output light highly depends on viewing angle. Usually there is a significant drop in brightness if the user views from the side of the display. The non-uniform brightness degrades image quality and can adversely affect a user's use of the HMD.

Offsetting non-uniform brightness using a backlight assembly


A lighted razor that directs light in one or more different directions. The directed light enables a user to shave when in dark environments, and to adjust the amount of light that emanates from the razor. The lighted razor generally includes a body with a blade for shaving. A light is attached to the body, and may be powered and controlled by mechanisms in the body. A sleeve is adjustably positioned over the light to adjust an amount of light emanating from the razor.

Razors are used in many instances in which the amount of available light is minimal or non-existent. Examples include but are not limited to shaving in a bathroom early in the morning when it is still dark, and shaving in an outdoor environment such as during a camping trip. During these instances, better and/or more light on the shaving surface or the razor's blade would facilitate the shaving process.
However, simply providing a user with an additional light is not practical. It would be difficult for a person shaving to hold a razor with one hand and a light in a second hand. This may be dangerous or not effective as often two hands are needed during the shaving process to hold the razor and to also hold or position the skin of the area being shaved.
Additional light may also be problematic in waking another person that is sleeping in an adjacent area. The light may provide benefit to the shaving person, but also cause the adjacent sleeper to be awakened which is often problematic. This may occur in a hotel room or bedroom in which the bathroom is adjacent to a bed with no intermediate divider that would block the light.
Further, additional light may actually make shaving more difficult for a person. The additional light may shine into the user's eyes making it difficult for the user to observer the razor blade and/or shaving area.
Therefore, there is a need for a lighted razor to provide light to facilitate the shaving process without providing an overabundance of light that may be problematic.


Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a trench capacitor with a trench pattern for yield improvement. The trench capacitor is on a substrate and comprises a plurality of capacitor segments. The capacitor segments extend into the substrate according to the trench pattern and are spaced with a pitch on an axis. The plurality of capacitor segments comprises an edge capacitor segment at an edge of the trench capacitor and a center capacitor segment at a center of the trench capacitor. The edge capacitor segment has a greater width than the center capacitor segment and/or the pitch is greater at the edge capacitor segment than at the center capacitor segment. The greater width may facilitate stress absorption and the greater pitch may increase substrate rigidity at the edge of the trench capacitor where thermal expansion stress is greatest, thereby reducing substrate bending and trench burnout for yield improvements.

An integrated passive device (IPD) is a collection of one or more passive devices integrated on a semiconductor substrate. Passive devices may include, for example, capacitors, resistors, inductors, and so on. IPDs are formed using semiconductor manufacturing processes and are packaged as integrated circuits (ICs). This leads to reduced size, reduced cost, and increased functional density compared to discrete passive devices. IPDs find application with, among things, mobile devices and application processors.

Trench pattern for trench capacitor yield improvement

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A welding device is disclosed having an elongated actuator arm which is secured to a main post by a cross arm. The cross arm is both slidably and pivotally mounted to the main support post and also pivotally and slidably secured to the actuator arm by an arcuate link. An elongated linkage bar extends through the actuator arm and a welding gun is attached to one end of the linkage bar. An elongated handle is perpendicularly secured to the linkage bar at its other end adjacent the opposite end of the actuator arm so that movement of the handle simultaneously moves the welding gun. The handle, furthermore, includes a hand grip at each end and the linkage bar is secured to the handle at a position closely adjacent one of the hand grips and thus at a position between the center of the handle and one of the hand grips.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to welding apparatus and, more particularly, to a welding arm assembly which provides remote control of the position of the welding gun.
II. Description of the Prior Art
For high temperature welding guns, it is necessary to control movement of the gun, and thus the welding operation, remotely from the gun itself. In order to achieve this, there have been a number of previously known welding devices to permit the welding control of the welding gun position remotely from the welding gun itself. These previously known devices include U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,953 entitled "Welding Electrode Holder and Guide," issued Sep. 9, 1980; U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,409 entitled "Welding Apparatus," issued Jul. 30, 1985; U.S. Pat. No. 3,046,387 entitled "Welding Device," issued Jul. 24, 1962; and my prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,081 which issued on Jan. 14, 1997.
Of the above discussed prior art patents, my prior welding apparatus set forth in the '081 patent is perhaps the most versatile and provides for a multiple axes of movements of the welding gun by utilizing an elongated actuating arm pivotally secured to an upright post via an elongated horizontal cross member. My prior U.S. patent thus provides a number of axes of movement which enable virtually unlimited control and movement of the welding gun.
One disadvantage of my prior welding apparatus, however, is that the actuating arm is disposed in line between the handle and the welding gun itself. As such, the elongated actuating arm securing the actuating lever to the welding gun necessarily obscures the field of vision for the welding gun during the operation of the welding apparatus.
Another disadvantage of my prior device is the transverse movement in a direction perpendicular to the upright support was limited.


In a method of forming a wiring pattern, a plurality of electrical wirings deposited to be multilayered are conductively connected to one another through a conducting post. The method has forming the electrical wiring by discharging a first droplet including a material for forming the electrical wiring, and forming the conducting post by discharging a second droplet including a material for forming the conducting post, wherein a volume of the second droplet is greater than a volume of the first droplet.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a wiring pattern formation method, a wiring pattern, and an electronic device.
2. Related Art
A lithography technique, for example, is used for formation of a wiring pattern constituting an electronic device. The lithography technique, however, not only requires a large scale facilities such as a vacuum apparatus and complicated processes, but also has several percent efficiency in material use with which almost all materials have to be abolished, resulting in high manufacturing cost. The technique also has a limitation on miniaturization of a wiring pattern.
A method of discharging a liquid containing a functional material to a base material to write and form a wiring pattern directly onto the surface of the substrate (a droplet discharge method) has been discussed as a process replacing the lithography technique. In this method, a liquid with conductive fine particles dispersed is initially discharged from a droplet discharge head to a substrate to write and form a liquid line. The liquid line is then fired by heat treatment or laser irradiation to form an electrical wiring pattern. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,248, an example of related art. By this droplet discharge method, the manufacturing process is simplified and the efficiency in material use is increased. The manufacturing cost can thereby be reduced. The miniaturization of a wiring pattern can also be achieved.

Wiring pattern formation method, wiring pattern, and electronic device


A signal format and reproducing apparatus compatible with that format protect the copyright of recorded video and audio data against digital and analog dubbing. The reproducing apparatus senses copyright information included in the signal reproduced from a record medium to generate a copyright protection signal which is placed in a vertical blanking interval of the analog output of the reproducing apparatus. If a Serial Copy Management System (SCMS) signal is reproduced, it is supplied to a digital VCR (Video Cassette Recorder). The copyright protection signal disrupts the AGC (Automatic Grain Circuit) of a recording analog VCR and the SCMS signal prevents a digital VCR from digitally dubbing the reproduced video and audio data.

The present invention relates to a digital VCR for reproducing video data and audio data that are encoded and recorded on a magnetic tape.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,603 describes the recording of a signal (hereinafter referred to as a CP signal) in the vertical blanking interval of an analog TV signal. The copyright protection signal comprises a plurality of pairs of pulses, each pair in turn comprising a synchronizing pulse (such as a horizontal sync pulse) and a positive pulse. When an attempt is made to dub the contents of the tape, the CP signal disturbs the AGC of the recording VCR, thereby preventing the recording VCR from producing a faithful copy of the original tape. In this manner, the CP signal copyright protects the copyright to the contents of the original tape.
Unlike the analog VCR discussed above, there have been previously proposed digital VCRs that are not compatible with analog CP signals. These digital VCRs record compressed digital image data; signals that do not directly relate to the image (such as a vertical blanking interval or a horizontal interval) are not recorded onto the tape. Since the vertical blanking interval and the horizontal blanking interval are not recorded, the CP signal is also not recorded because the CP signal typically is included in the vertical blanking interval of the input video signal. The present invention is directed to a signal format and to a compatible reproducing apparatus that protect recorded video and audio data against dubbing by either a digital VCR or an analog VCR.

Apparatus and method for reproducing video signals with varying-magnitude AGC signals


The operation of a hearing aid (10) or hearing aid system (10, 11) is to be improved. It is proposed here that the acoustic auditory environment in which the hearing aid (10) or hearing aid system (10, 11) is found is analyzed and one of the adjustment functions dependent on the relevant auditory situation is assigned to at least one control element (7; 12-15) as a function of the auditory situation detected in this way. The adjustment possibility of the hearing aid (10) is thereby restricted to the adjustment possibilities which are meaningful to the relevant auditory situation.

Known hearing aids have at least one microphone or telecoil for accepting an acoustic and/or electromagnetic input signal and converting the input signal into an electrical signal. Before being supplied to an output converter for outputting an output signal, the electrical signal is processed and amplified as a function of the signal frequency. Electric-acoustic converters (earpieces) are conventionally used as output converters. Nevertheless output converters are also known which emit an output signal in the form of electrical impulses in order to stimulate the nerves or which are directly linked to the ossicles and which stimulate said ossicles to vibrate.
Furthermore known hearing aids comprise operating devices with at least one actuatable control element for adjusting parameters which influence the signal processing in the signal processing unit. Control elements of this type are for example the M-T-O switch (microphone, telecoil, on/off), the volume control or the program selection key. The operating device can however also be designed as a remote control, which comprises several control elements.
A hearing aid with a memory is known from EP 0 064 042 A1, in which several parameter sets (so-called auditory programs) are stored in the hearing aid in order to adjust the signal processing to different auditory situations. A parameter set is selected by actuating a program selection key or by analyzing an acoustic input signal, sa id parameter set then determining the signal processing in the hearing aid.
EP 0 814 634 A1 discloses a programmable hearing aid system for determining optimum parameter sets in a hearing aid. The known hearing aid system comprises an adjusting device comprising a memory for several parameter sets available for adjusting the signal processing to each auditory situation. Furthermore, the known hearing aid system stands out in that several parameter sets are stored for one auditory situation. Several parameter sets can thus be tested for each auditory situation until a parameter set is finally selected for each auditory situation and stored in the hearing aid.
A hearing aid with an actuating element for changing the acoustic amplification setting and with an operating mode switch for two or more operating modes is known from EP 0 349 835 A1. Further adjustment functions can be selected in addition to the actuating element for the acoustic amplification setting by means of the operating mode switch.
An object of the present invention is to simplify the operation of a hearing aid.


A method for determining a flow rate of a substance or a thermo-contrast agent in an object including a surface and an upstream region, and the method comprising the steps of (a) providing the upstream region with a thermo-contrast agent; (b) obtaining successive temperature readings of at least a part of the surface of the object; (c) generating a temperature response curve from the temperature readings; (d) extracting a parameter from the temperature response curve; and (e) determining the flow rate from the parameter.

The present invention relates to methods for determining flow rates of substances by temperature readings effected by remote sensing such as thermoimaging or contact sensing using a contact thermosensor. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for calculating flow rates of substances within objects by extracting and mathematically manipulating numerical parameters from transient temperature response curves of the surface of the objects.
The methods of the present invention are suitable, for example, to determine coronary flow rates and myocardial perfusion rates in open as well as closed chest conditions, that is, to calculate flow rates of substances along the coronary arteries and, myocardial perfusion rates of the substances into the heart tissue, by extracting and mathematically manipulating numerical parameters from transient temperature response curves of the coronary arteries or a specific part of an artery and, of the heart tissue or a specific part of the heart tissue, respectively.
Availability of real-time information regarding coronary flow and myocardial perfusion may be of great value for the cardiac surgeon. For example, during the course of by-pass heart surgery, such data may be exploited for (i) deciding which regions of the coronary arteries are narrowed and, therefore, are to be by-passed; and (ii) checking the successfulness of each by-pass graft.
Methods aimed at flow rates measurements may be divided into two major groups.
The first group of methods aimed at flow rates measurements includes methods in which a detection probe is made in direct contact with the substance, which substance flow being measured, therefore, methods associated with this group are generally termed invasive methods. An example of an invasive method is the thermodilution method, in which an invasive temperature detection probe is made in direct contact with the substance of which flow is measured. In general, the invasive methods suffer three major drawbacks for application in human diagnostics, the first is their invasiveness and, the second is their ability to record data from one or at the most only few locations at a given time, whereas the third is the requirement for direct contact with the flowing substance.
The second group of methods aimed at flow rates measurements include non-invasive methods, therefore, methods associated with this group are generally termed imaging methods.
Various non-invasive imaging methods were developed for different applications in human diagnostics as well as in other fields. A common feature characterizing these methods is the use of a contrast agent, which agent is traced. Imaging methods which are used primarily for diagnostic purposes include, for example, (i) X-ray based imaging methods in which X-rays are used to detect either an internal body anatomy, such as bones in a simple X-ray analysis or, an administrated radiopaque contrast agent (e.g., iodine) used in CT and, other X-ray based imaging methods; (ii) ultrasound based imaging methods in which ultrasonic waves are used to detect either an internal body anatomy in simple ultrasound analysis or, an administrated contrast agent, such as microbubbles, used in contrast-echo. Yet, in other imaging methods implemented in medicine and other fields, radioactive materials are employed as detectable agents, which materials may be detected by, for example, various kinds of radioactivity counters.
While using imaging methods for flow rate determinations of bodily fluids, such as blood, within the body, the flow rate of the blood containing an external contrast agent provided into the body or into a specific organ in an upstream region is measured.
The methods described hereinabove, in which external contrast agents are traced, suffer a major drawback when employed for medical purposes, since in the course of their application, an external contrast agent, some times poisonous or with yet undetermined commulative effects is administrated to the human body.
Thermoimaging is an imaging method suitable for flow measurements and is devoid of all the above mentioned limitations, when employed for medical purposes. Thermoimaging is an InfraRed waves based method for detecting heat, which is, therefore, employed as a contrast agent, termed hereinbelow a thermo-contrast agent. Since the contrast agent used for thermoimaging is heat, the method is safer to the patient. Thermography is a thermoimaging method generally used for estimate flow rates of bodily fluids, such as blood, employing a thermal (i.e., InfraRed) camera, focused on an examined body organ and, a digital image processor which provides images of the organ with high spatial (ca. 0.75 mm) and thermal (0.1.degree. C) resolution, which images can be displayed on a high resolution monitor, in real-time. When thermography is used to estimate blood flow along the coronary arteries during revascularization surgery (i.e., coronary artery by-pass surgery, CABG) it is termed Thermal Coronary Angiography (TCA). TCA is a technique that is capable of providing unique, clinically relevant information about epicardial coronary arteries and by-pass grafts in real-time during revascularization surgeries. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,995,398 and 5,375,603.
However, thermography, can be applied only during an open chest procedure, whereas, for obvious inherent reasons, it is not applicable during a closed chest procedure, which recently has become the procedure of choice in many cases.
To this effect the reader is referred to "Endovascular cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegia as a basis for port-access cardiac surgery " published in the Official Journal of the Society of Endoscopic & Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia (ELSA) Vol. 2 No. 3, pp. 52-54, 1997; and "Minimally invasive cardiac surgery: a reality " published in the Official Journal of the Society of Endoscopic & Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia (ELSA) Vol. 2 No. 3, pp. 56-58, 1997.
Among other applications, TCA is a method that was developed to replace some invasive methods for specific applications, imaging methods exploiting harmful contrast agents, and methods with other, such as, for example, accuracy, limitations, to estimate blood flow through the coronary arteries and by-pass grafts. These methods include arteriography in which a radiopaque dye is injected into the coronary arteries, which dye serves as a contrast agent; passage of coronary probes; electromagnetic flow measurements; angioscopy; and cine-angioscopy. Each of these methods has its specific limitations.
TCA involves injecting 20-30 ml of a cold substance, such as, for example, crystalloid cardioplegia, saline or blood, into, for example, the aortic root and, recording the temperature changes associated with, for example, the surface of the coronary arteries by a thermovision system. In cases where a beating heart is inspected, the temperature changes of the surface of the coronary arteries associated with warm blood replacing the cold substance may be recorded alternatively or additionally. Recordings can also be made of the surface of the heart tissue itself, which recordings reflect perfusion of the cold substance or of body temperature blood, into the heart tissue. Alternatively, if the flow of blood through the coronary arteries is artificially reduced or ceased completely for a given period of time, the epicardial temperature will drop to a minimal level close to the surrounding rooms temperature. Replenishing blood flow of body temperature blood at this point will elevate the epicardial temperature and a transient temperature response curves will, therefore, be available. In this case, as generally stated above, the blood, which is the substance which flow is measured, serves also as the thermo-contrast agent.
Thermography in open-chest conditions have been previously employed also for verification of graft patency (see, Mohr, et al. (1989) Thermal coronary angiography: a method for assessing graft patency and coronary anatomy in coronary bypass surgery. Ann. Thorac. Surg. (USA), 47(3):441-449.) and proper myocardial cooling during cardioplegia (see, Pantaleo et. al. (1984) Thermographic evaluation of myorardial cooling and intraoperative control of graft patency in patients with coronary artery disease. J. Cardiovasc. Surg. 25(6):554-559.). Assessment of blood perfusion by thermography of the myocardium was also reported (see, Adachi and Becker (1987) Assessment of myocardial blood flow by real-time InfraRed imaging. J. Surg. Res., 43(1):94-102, and Kekesi et. al. (1986) Hemodynamics and thermographic signs of intermyocardial venous outflow redistribution induced by coronary sinus occlusion in the canine heart. Acta. Chir. Hung., 27(4):203-15.).
However, in all of these cases, and others, the kinetic (i.e., transient response) of the temperature from successive thermoimages was not deduced.
Furthermore, when TCA is employed in real-time, during by-pass surgeries, estimation of flow through the coronary arteries is based on visual inspection of the coronary tree as reflected by its thermal image, which visual inspection enables to observe a presence of narrow zones or blockages along the coronary arteries. Nevertheless, such visual inspection does not provide numerical data regarding the actual flow of substances along the coronary arteries.
It is an object of the present invention to provide tools for calculating flow rates of substances within objects by extracting and mathematically manipulating numerical parameters from transient temperature response curves of the surface of the objects.

Determining blood flow by measurement of temperature

Technion Research And Development Foundation LTD.


A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, word lines, bit lines, a control circuit, and a measurement circuit. The memory cell array has memory cells including a floating gate. The control circuit performs first control to collectively shift the threshold voltages of the memory cells to within a predetermined range with a first level as an upper limit, second control to shift a lower limit of the threshold voltages toward a second level lower than the first level, and third control to shift the lower limit to a third level. The measurement circuit measures the elapsed time from the start of the second control. The control circuit repeats the second control, and then terminates the second control when the lower limit reaches the second level or the elapsed time measured by the measurement circuit reaches the predetermined time and performing the third control.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device having memory cells with floating gates and a method of controlling the threshold voltages of the memory cells.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, flash memories have been extensively used as nonvolatile semiconductor memories.
The erase operation of the flash memories is performed by drawing electrons out of the floating gates. In the erase operation, a block of memory cells is erased at a time. In this case, there will exist overerased cells the threshold voltages of which have dropped too much lower than a constant lower-limiting value. After electrons have been drawn out of the floating gates, therefore, such processing as makes the threshold voltages of the overerased cells higher than the lower-limiting value is performed. The processing includes self-convergence processing and weak program processing. The self-convergence and the weak program have been proposed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication KOKAI No. 11-66898 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,419, respectively.
With conventional flash memories, the threshold voltages of overerased cells are set higher than a constant value through the self-convergence or weak program processing. With the processing methods proposed so far, however, it takes a long time to raise the threshold voltages of the overerased cells. In addition, difficulties may be involved in making the threshold voltages of the overerased cells sufficiently high, in which case semiconductor memory devices are often discarded as faulty chips.

Semiconductor memory device having memory cells with floating gates and memory cell threshold voltage control method


The actuator mechanism of the present embodiment comprises the first cylinder, a rod protruding from the first cylinder to lift a hood and lock balls arranged along the outer periphery of the rod and digging into the rod when the rod is pushed back. The diameter of the lock balls and the lapping amount of the lock balls are within specific ranges.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an actuator for lifting a hood of a motor vehicle, particularly relates to a one-way locking mechanism of the actuator.
2. Description of the Related Art
A mechanism for lifting a hood of a motor vehicle has been proposed to absorb collision energy when an obstacle collides with the hood. The mechanism lifts the back end of the hood with the front end of the vehicle as a fulcrum to provide a space behind the hood in the event of the collision. When the obstacle collides with the hood, the hood can deform downward so as to improve the absorption amount of the collision energy by the deformation of the hood.
Such a mechanism for lifting a hood is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-203379 (hereafter referred to Nadeau et al, equivalent to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0134705 A1), for example, which is hereby incorporated by reference. According to Nadeau et al., a hood (bonnet) is engaged with a body of a vehicle rotatably around a rotation axis at a rear part of the hood. In a normal operation, the hood rotates about a vehicle body to open. In the event of a collision, an actuator lifts a link rod engaged with the rotation axis so that the rear part of the hood is lifted. In the actuator, an explosive power of gunpowder and the like makes the rod protrude from a cylinder to generate the actuator force.

Actuator mechanism for lifting a hood of a motor vehicle


A communication method of a source device according to an embodiment includes detecting a status of a first link directly connected from the source device to a destination device or a status of a second link connected from the source device to the destination device via a relay device, selecting any one of the first link and the second link based on a result of the detection, and transmitting data using the selected link.

A recently standardized millimeter wave, such as a band of 60 GHz, easily transmits data at rates of gigabits per second (Gbps), using about 2 GHz broadband communication devices without high modulation, but has a strong tendency to travel in a straight line and involves substantial power loss due to characteristics a high frequency wave. Thus, there is a method of using a directional antenna to collect power not in all directions but in a particular direction in order to obtain a high antenna gain.
However, when a line of sight (LOS) is not secured, a signal is transmitted via reflection, and accordingly a distance becomes longer, increasing a free space path loss and adding a loss due to the reflection. Moreover, a penetration loss is more than 20 dB when the LOS is blocked by a person, and a loss due to indoor walls or doors may be greater, so that signals may not be transmitted. Further, in a 60 GHz communication network, a range is limited to less than 10 meters, because an attenuation according to a distance becomes greater in a farther distance despite no a reflection or penetration loss. Thus, there is a high possibility that signals are not transmitted.
A wireless local area network (WLAN) used at home with a distance of more than 10 meters and having a band of less than 5 GHz has a range of tens of meters, and thus a single network covers the distance. However, a 60 GHz communication network does not cover the distance, causing inconvenience to users. Furthermore, since it is difficult to form a single network in rooms or a room and a living room where the LOS is blocked by doors or walls, described above, there is a need for a compensation method.
Thus, communication methods based on directional communication proper to the above band, such as WLAN or wireless personal area network (WPAN), are considered. However, when network conditions are dynamically changed, for example, when the LOS is blocked by a person during transmission of data, a LOS communication is impossible, so a bypass link is used. In this instance, there is a demand for synchronization of a transmitter with a receiver.
Further, the receiver may need to adjust a reception direction of a signal prior to the transmitter in order not to miss signals transmitted by the transmitter through a bypass link, and there is a need for a relay method used in a reserved period regardless of a transmission scheme through the bypass link.

Communication method for source device, destination device and relay device

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


Dual-mass flywheel concept for internal combustion engines, where the secondary flywheel can be disconnected and reconnected as required, by means of a clutch. The concept is characterized in that it comprises a primary flywheel fixedly mounted on the engine crankshaft, a secondary flywheel which is stored so that it can rotate freely, a clutch connecting the secondary flywheel to the drive shaft (input shaft on the gearbox), an elastic element (springs) which connects the primary flywheel to the drive shaft.

The development of transmissions is currently driven by a demand for lower fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions. There are therefore considerable resources used on developing a new and better solution and development of automatic transmissions are part of this solution.
The main trend in automatic transmissions in recent years has been toward 2-clutch gearboxes, often termed DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission). The disadvantage with a 2-clutch transmission is that the comparison with a traditional manual transmission becomes more expensive, heavier and larger. This has meant that it has again become an increased focus on automated manual gearboxes, called AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) solutions.
With an AMT solution, you try to automate a traditional manual gearbox, and thereby retain the manual gearbox virtues.
This is done often by automated operation of the clutch.
The challenge is however to obtain sufficient rapid gear changes. Within this field, it appears that 0.1 seconds per gearshift is the norm for a "seamless" gearshift. However, a shift of gears in a manual transmission takes from 0.5-1 second.
In addition to AMT solutions it is also continuous work with variable transmissions, often termed CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). These have pr. today a small share of the market.
An alternative to achieving a desired AMT solution is to make use of the two flywheels of a dual-mass flywheel in a new way. A dual-mass flywheel, often called DMFW (Dual Mass FlyWheel), a rotary mechanical device used to provide continuous rotating energy in systems in which energy is not continuous.
A dual-mass flywheel, which is used in most cars today, comprises two flywheels and an elastic element (spring). These are built into a single unit.
The first flywheel, the primary flywheel, is attached to the engine crankshaft. The second flywheel, secondary flywheel is coupled to the first flywheel via the elastic element (and clutch is mounted on the secondary flywheel).
The elastic element allows the flywheels to rotate a considerable angle, approximately 60° to each other. This leads to a low-pass filter between the motor and gearbox. This smooths out the combustion engine uneven walk, which in turn means less noise and vibrations in the vehicle and reduced load on the powertrain.
With a dual-mass flywheel, the engine can be used at lower revolutions. This results in a lower consumption of fuel and less CO2 emissions.
Dual-mass flywheel has its mission primarily at low revolutions.