Methods of converting methyl chloride to methyl bromide include the steps of providing a composition comprising a bromide salt and water; contacting the composition with a primary alkyl chloride; and recovering methyl bromide.

This invention relates to methods of preparing primary alkyl bromides, particularly methyl bromide. The invention also relates to methods of converting methyl chloride to methyl bromide and to methods of reducing the level of bromide salt in aqueous compositions.
Primary alkyl bromides, such as methyl bromide, may be used as fumigants, alkylating agents, or intermediates in the synthesis of other chemical compounds, in particular pharmaceutical or agricultural chemicals.
Methyl bromide may be prepared by treating methanol with hydrobromic acid and sulfuric acid. Unfortunately, such processes required the handling and/or disposing noxious and/or dangerous compounds.
Salt exchange reactions include reactions wherein an alkyl halide is converted to another alkyl halide, such as, for example, the Finkelstein reaction wherein alkyl chlorides or bromides are converted to alkyl iodides using solid potassium or sodium iodide in acetone. Unfortunately, such reactions require the handling or large volumes of acetone, and the equilibrium constants for alkyl chloride/alkyl bromide exchanges in acetone often favor the alkyl chloride.
Hughes et al., J. Chem. Soc., 3173-3175 (1955), teach that the displacement of bromine from alkyl bromides using lithium chloride in dry acetone is only mildly reversible. Starks and Liotta, Phase Transfer Catalysisxe2x80x9d, Academic Press, New York, New York (1978), teach the use of phase transfer catalysts in halide exchange reactions in two-phase systems and in homogenous organic reactions, and disclose that the displacement of chloride ion on octyl bromide is faster than bromide ion displacement on octyl chloride.
Handling large volumes of acids may be difficult and/or costly. Additionally, processes using large amounts of sulfuric acid may generate an aqueous waste stream comprising NaSO4 as well as residual sulfuric acid, and NaSO4 generally causes more environmental problems than sodium salts such as NaCl or NaBr. Thus, there is a need for facile methods of producing primary alkyl bromides which do not require the use of large volumes of acids.
As handling large volumes of some organic solvents may be difficult and/or costly, there is a need for methods of producing primary alkyl bromides which do not require the use of large volumes of solvents such as acetone.
There is also a need for methods of reducing the level of bromide salts in aqueous compositions.
There is a need for methods of regenerating alkyl bromides from bromide salts which are formed when alkyl bromides, such as methyl bromide, are used as reactants.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to obviate problems of the prior art.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide methods of preparing alkyl bromides.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide methods of preparing alkyl bromides which do not require the handling, storage or disposal of large volumes of acetone, hydrobromic acid or sulfuric acid.
It is another object of the present invention to provide methods of removing bromide salts from liquid compositions.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide methods of regenerating alkyl bromides from bromide salts.
These and additional objects are provided by the methods of the invention.
In one embodiment the invention is directed to methods of converting methyl chloride to methyl bromide comprising:
(a) providing a composition comprising a bromide salt and water;
(b) contacting the composition with methyl chloride; and
(c) recovering a gaseous product comprising methyl bromide.
In another embodiment, the invention is directed to methods of preparing a primary alkyl bromide comprising:
(a) providing a composition comprising a bromide salt and water;
(b) contacting the composition with a primary alkyl chloride thereby forming a primary alkyl bromide; and
(c) recovering the primary alkyl bromide.
In a further embodiment, the invention is directed to methods of reducing the level of bromide salt in an aqueous composition comprising:
(a) providing an aqueous composition comprising bromide salt and water;
(b) reacting at least a portion of the bromide salt with a primary alkyl chloride to form a primary alkyl bromide; and
(c) recovering the primary alkyl bromide from the aqueous composition.
In yet another embodiment, the invention is directed to methods of converting methyl chloride to methyl bromide comprising:
a) providing a reaction column oriented substantially vertically along its axis and having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the reaction column contains packing suitable for continuous extractions;
(b) introducing an aqueous feed into the upper portion of the reaction column, wherein the aqueous feed comprises water and a bromide salt selected from the group consisting of the alkali metal bromides, alkaline earth metal bromides and combinations thereof;
(c) introducing methyl chloride gas into the lower portion of the reaction column; and
(d) allowing at least one portion of the aqueous feed and at least a portion of the methyl chloride to contact each other within the reaction column thereby converting at least a portion of the methyl chloride to methyl bromide.
These and additional aspects, objects and advantages of the invention are more fully described in the following detailed description.
The present invention is directed to the preparation of primary alkyl bromides in the presence of a liquid. The present invention is also directed to methods of reducing the level of bromide salts in an aqueous solution, and methods of regenerating alkyl bromides.
The primary alkyl bromides are prepared by providing a composition comprising bromide salt and a liquid, preferably water; contacting the composition with a primary alkyl chloride thereby forming a primary alkyl bromide; and recovering the primary alkyl bromide. In one embodiment the primary alkyl chloride is gaseous methyl chloride and/or methyl chloride dissolved in liquid. Methods in accordance with the invention may be used to regenerate alkyl bromides from bromide salts which are formed when alkyl bromides are used as reactants.
Methods in accordance with the invention avoid the use of large volumes of acids and/or organic solvents such as acetone. Thus any resulting aqueous waste stream may be easily handled and/or treated.
While not being bound by theory, it is believed that the reaction proceeds as set forth below:
Rxe2x80x94X+ZBrxe2x86x92Rxe2x80x94Br+ZX
wherein R is a primary alkyl, preferably a C1-C20 primary alkyl, more preferably a C1-C5 alkyl; even more preferably a C1-C2 alkyl; X is a halogen, preferably a halogen other than Br, more preferably Cl; Z is a cation such hydrogen, sodium, potassium, lithium, magnesium, calcium or copper, preferably hydrogen, sodium, potassium or lithium.
Suitable bromide salts include hydrogen bromide, alkali metal bromides, alkaline earth metal bromides, organic quaternary bromides and combinations thereof, preferably the bromide salts are selected from the group consisting of alkali metal bromides, alkaline earth metal bromides and combinations thereof. In one embodiment the bromide salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium bromide, potassium bromide, lithium bromide, hydrogen bromide and combinations thereof. In another embodiment the bromide salt is an organic quaternary bromide, such as tetramethyl ammonium bromide or tetraethyl ammonium bromide.
The bromide salt may be present in a mixture with salts other than bromide salts, such as sodium sulfate and sodium chloride. The bromide salt may be present in the aqueous composition at a concentration of from about 1% to about 50%, preferably from about 5% to about 35%, by weight. The aqueous composition may further comprise water-miscible organic solvents.
The preparation of the primary alkyl bromide may occur in the substantial absence of water-immiscible organic solvent. As used herein xe2x80x9csubstantial absence of water-immiscible organic solventxe2x80x9d is intended to mean to liquid comprises less than 10%, by weight, water-immiscible organic solvent. Water-immiscible organic solvents include C5-C20 aliphatic and cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon solvents, mono- and polycyclic solvents, di(C1-C4 alkyl)form-amides, ketones such as C4-C8 ketones, and combinations thereof. In one embodiment the aqueous composition is free of water-immiscible organic solvents. In one embodiment the preparation of the primary alkyl bromide occurs in the substantial absence, preferably the absence, of acetone.
As used here, xe2x80x9cprimary alkyl chloridexe2x80x9d is intended to refer to compounds having a chloride on a terminal alkyl carbon, and is intended to include arylalkyls having a chloride on a terminal alkyl carbon. The primary alkyl chloride molecules generally have from about 1 to about 20, preferably from about 1 to about 5, more preferably from about 1 to about 2, carbon atoms. Suitable primary alkyl chlorides include 1-chloroethane, methyl chloride, and combinations thereof. Preferably the primary alkyl chloride is methyl chloride.
The bromide salt is present in an amount to provide a molar equivalent ratio of bromide ions to primary alkyl chloride of from about 1:10 to about 10:1. In one preferred embodiment the primary alkyl chloride is methyl chloride, and the bromide salt is present in an amount to provide a molar equivalent ratio of bromide ions to methyl chloride of from about 1:10 to about 10:1.
In one embodiment of the invention the step of contacting the composition comprising the bromide salt and water with the primary alkyl chloride, preferably methyl chloride, occurs in the substantial absence of phase transfer catalyst. Phase transfer catalysts include organic quaternary Group V salts, crown ethers, cryptanes, polyalkylene glycols such as poly(C2-C4 alkylene glycols), tris[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)-ethyl]amine (TDA-1), amines or phosphines which are quaternized under the reaction conditions, and combinations thereof. As used herein xe2x80x9csubstantial absence of phase transfer catalystxe2x80x9d is intended to mean that the reaction mixture comprising the bromide salt, water and primary alkyl chloride comprises or no more than about 0.5%, preferably less than about 0.5%, by weight phase transfer catalyst. In one embodiment the reaction mixture is free of phase transfer catalyst.
The methods in accordance with the present invention may be performed at any pressure and temperature sufficient for the desired reaction to occur. Generally the methods are performed at a temperature of from about 40xc2x0 C. to about 200xc2x0 C., preferably from about 60xc2x0 C. to about 80xc2x0 C., and at pressure of from about 0 to about 20 atmospheres.
The conversion of the primary alkyl chloride to primary alkyl bromide may be performed batchwise, semi-batchwise or continuously, and gases produced during the conversion may be purified by continuous or batchwise distillation, or by pressure swing absorption methods.
Any suitable reactor may be used, including fixed-bed reactors. For example, one embodiment of the invention comprises:
(a) providing a reaction column oriented substantially vertically along its axis and having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the reaction column contains packing suitable for continuous extractions;
(b) introducing an aqueous feed into the upper portion of the reaction column, wherein the aqueous feed comprises water and a bromide salt selected from the group consisting of the alkali metal bromides, alkaline earth metal bromides and combinations thereof;
(c) introducing methyl chloride gas into the lower portion of the reaction column; and
(d) allowing at least one portion of the aqueous feed and at least a portion of the methyl chloride to contact each other within the reaction column thereby converting at least a portion of the methyl chloride to methyl bromide.
Methods in accordance with the present invention provide good recoveries of the bromide salt. Generally at least about 30%, preferably at least about 50%, more preferably at least about 60%, by weight, of the bromide salt is converted to primary alkyl bromide. In one embodiment, the primary alkyl bromide is methyl bromide, and at least about 30%, preferably at least about 50%, more preferably at least about 60%, even more preferably at least about 80%, of the bromide salt is converted to methyl bromide. In one embodiment of the invention any unreacted primary alkyl chloride is recovered and may be used recycled in a subsequent bromide salt conversion.
Excessive hydrolysis of the primary alkyl bromide product can be avoided using methods of the present invention. Generally no more than about 25%, preferably no more than about 10%, more preferably no more than about 5%, by weight, of the primary alkyl bromide undergoes hydrolysis.
In one embodiment of the invention the step of contacting a composition comprising the bromide salt and water with the primary alkyl chloride, preferably methyl chloride, occurs in the substantial absence of phase transfer catalyst, while in another embodiment of the invention the step of contacting a composition comprising the bromide salt and water with the primary alkyl chloride, preferably methyl chloride, occurs in the substantial absence of phase transfer catalyst and water-immiscible organic solvent. In one embodiment of the invention the step of contacting a composition comprising the bromide salt and water with the primary alkyl chloride, preferably methyl chloride, occurs in the substantial absence of phase transfer catalyst and the substantial absence of water-immiscible solvent.
In one embodiment the primary alkyl chloride is gaseous methyl chloride and/or methyl chloride dissolved in a water-immiscible solvent, while in another embodiment the primary alkyl chloride is gaseous methyl chloride. The bromide salt may be selected from the group consisting of alkali metal bromides, alkaline earth metal bromides and combinations thereof.
Methods in accordance with the present invention may be used to reduce the level of bromide salt in aqueous compositions. Accordingly, the method may comprise converting at least a portion of a bromide salt in an aqueous composition to primary alkyl bromides, and removing the primery alkyl bromides from the aqueous composition. The primary alkyl chloride may be selected from the group consisting of 1-chloroethane, methyl chloride, and combinations thereof, preferably the primary alkyl chloride is methyl chloride. The bromide salt may be selected from the group consisting of alkali metal bromides, alkaline earth metal bromides, organic quaternary bromides and combinations thereof, preferably selected from the group consisting of alkali metal bromides, alkaline earth metal bromides and combinations thereof.
The bromide salt may be present in the aqueous composition at a level of from about 1% to about 50%, by weight of the composition, preferably at a level of from about 5% to 35%, by weight of the composition. The process may be performed at a temperature of at least about 40xc2x0 C., preferably from about 40xc2x0 C. to about 200xc2x0 C., more preferably from about 50xc2x0 C. to about 90xc2x0 C., and at a pressure of from about 0 to about 20 atmospheres.
Generally at least about 30%, preferably at least about 50%, more preferably at least about 60%, by weight, of the bromide salt is removed from the aqueous compositions.

Methods for preparing primary alkyl bromides


A binary arithmetic decoding apparatus includes first, second and third pairs of look-up tables and first, second and third multiplexers. The first multiplexer selects between the respective outputs of the two look-up tables of the first pair of look-up tables. The second multiplexer selects between the respective outputs of a first look-up table of the second pair of look-up tables and of a first look-up table of the third pair of look-up tables. The third multiplexer selects between the respective outputs of a second look-up table of the second pair of look-up tables and of a second look-up table of the third pair of look-up tables. The three multiplexers are controlled in common.

The AVC-H.264 video data compression-coding standard is well known and represents a new generation of video compression-coding that is expected to supersede the widely used MPEG-2 standard for many applications. AVC-H.264 achieves higher compression ratios than MPEG-2 but at the cost of greater processing complexity. In some aspects AVC-H.264 is similar to MPEG-2; for example, both utilize motion compensation to match current pixel blocks with reference pixel blocks to minimize the differential data that is to be transform-encoded.
One compression encoding option offered under AVC-H.264 calls for use of CABAC (context-based adaptive binary arithmetic coding) of syntax elements produced by transform-encoding (including motion vector information and other side data). CABAC potentially offers substantial additional compression efficiency relative to other types of later-stage encoding, but requires considerable processing complexity, particularly in regard to decoding. CABAC decoders for AVC-H.264 have been written in software for execution on general purpose processors, but the resulting decoder performance has been less than satisfactory in terms of throughput, especially for decoding a high resolution signal. Furthermore, CABAC software or hardware decoding of a bin also may occur before a next bin may be decoded, which may create bottlenecks.

Hardware-based CABAC decoder with parallel binary arithmetic decoding


An educational toy in the form of a doll provided with one or more hidden connectors for removably attaching respective replicas of medical treatment devices to the doll. The doll and the medical treatment device replicas are parts of a kit also including an instructional booklet.

This invention pertains to a toy. More particularly, this invention relates to a toy for educating users, such as children, about certain kinds of medical treatment. This invention also relates to an associated kit.
Many people are afflicted with an ailment or disease which requires periodic or continual treatment, even though the persons are ambulatory and otherwise capable of carrying out normal daily activities. Such periodic or continual treatment is frequently implemented through the use of a medical device such as an access tube which traverses the patient's skin. Thus, one end portion of the access tube is disposed inside the patient, while an opposite end portion of the tube is disposed outside the patient. Such access tubes include peripheral intravenous tubes, central line access catheters, enteral nutrition tubes, total parenteral nutrition tubes, naso-gastric feeding tubes, tracheostomy attachments, gastrostomy feeding tubes, and jejunostomy feeding tubes.
A child, particularly a young child, can become confused and conflicted when the child or a person close to him or her is provided with an attached medical treatment device such as the above-mentioned access tubes. The child needs to be reassured that the individual who has the attached medical treatment device is still the same person, but with a temporary or permanent attachment. It would be beneficial to have a toy for assisting the child's understanding and convincing the child that the treated individual is still the same person and not all that different from before the treatment device was attached. Also, the child should be educated as to the operation, use, and purpose of the treatment device.

Toy for educating about medical treatments


The invention provides a method for designing an architecture for e-business solutions. A business description of the e-business solution is developed. The business description describes each actor and each business function in the e-business solution. The business description further describes each interaction among one or more actors and one or more business functions. A pictorial representation of the business description is developed. Business pattern(s), integration pattern(s), composite pattern(s), and application pattern(s) that are identifiable within the pictorial representation are established. Each business pattern is indicative of each grouping of one or more actors and one or more business functions based on a nature of the interaction among the one or more actors and the one or more business functions. Each integration pattern is indicative of an integration of two or more business patterns. Each composite pattern is indicative of a grouping of a recurring combination of one or more business patterns and one or more integration patterns. Each application pattern is indicative of a partitioning of an application logic and a data together with the styles of interaction among a plurality of logical tiers.

As known in the art, e-business solutions allow an organization to leverage web and related technologies. As a result, organizations can re-engineer business processes and enhance communications. Additionally, organizations can lower organizational boundaries among their customers and their shareholders across the Internet, among their employees and shareholders across a corporate Intranet, and among their vendors, suppliers, and partners across an corporate Extranet. However, organizations and providers of systems integration services typically lack access to expertise and tools to timely develop and provide the e-business solution.
Thus, there is a significant need for a method and a system for improving the architectural designing of e-business solutions so that the potential benefits of utilizing comprehensive expertise and established tools related to e-business solutions can be realized.

Architecture designing method and system for e-business solutions

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention is a system and method of using a device that is communcatively disposed between a scanner and a conventional point-of-sale (POS) terminal. The device (IPDP) can be used to process and distinguish between product-specific information, such as a UPC bar code, and item-specific information, such as a serial number. The IPDP transfers product-specific information to the POS terminal where it is processed in a conventional manner. The item-specific information is transferred to a separate item-level processor that analyzes the data and communicates with an item-level database. The item-level database can be used to verify the specific item's authenticity, expiration date, warranty registration, and the like. As a result, the system can be used to help prevent counterfeiting.

The invention relates generally to retail point of sale systems, and more particularly, to the processing of data for goods having product level and item level identification codes.
The majority of retail stores are equipped with point-of-sale (POS) terminals that allow a retailer to quickly determine product-specific information from data that is encoded on an object. The code can be in the form of a bar code or other encoded symbols that are typically printed on the object.
Conventional POS terminals typically include an optical scanner, such as a bar code reader, and a terminal that is connected to a local network. At the POS, the retailer will typically scan the code with the bar code reader. Typically, the bar code is located on an item that can be a product or saleable good. The bar code reader can then either decode the data with a processor or decoder that is located within the scanner, or transfer the data to a separate terminal for decoding. The data is typically converted into a product-level identification that can be used to retrieve the price of the item from a local database. The local database is typically located within the retail store. Uniform product codes (UPC) are a form of bar codes that are widely accepted by retailers in North America. The above described POS system can be used in a wide variety of applications such as inventory tracking, inventory reordering, POS transactions, and the like.
Bar code readers and similar systems can also be useful for tracking item specific information that can be separately printed on various objects. In some cases, a single bar code may contain both product and item specific information. However, most conventional POS systems are not equipped to process additional data other than product-specific information such as a UPC code.
Radio frequency identification (RFID) systems are a more recent technology that are gaining greater popularity and use. RFID systems can be used to identify items by reading electronic information stored within tags or labels on the items. RFID systems have been used for a number of years in the tracking of packages and goods. However, RFID has not yet been widely accepted in the retail transaction market.
An RFID system is typically comprised of a transponder or tag, which is attached to the object that is to be identified, and a reader. The reader sends an electromagnetic signal to the tag and then detects a response. Typically, the reader emits a RF signal that is received by the transponder, after the transponder comes within an appropriate range. In response to the signal from the reader, the transponder sends a modulated RF signal back to the reader. The reader detects this modulated signal, and can identify the transponder by decoding the modulated signal. After identifying the transponder, the reader can either store the decoded information or transmit the decoded signal to a computer.
The transponder used in an RFID system may be either "passive" or "active." A passive transponder can be a simple resonant circuit, including an inductive coil and a capacitor. Passive transponders are generally powered by the carrier signal transmitted from the reader. Active transponders, on the other hand, generally include transistors or other active circuitry, and require their own battery source.
RFID tags can be used for storing and transmitting item-specific information. Item-specific information includes data that is specific to a particular item such as serial numbers, product registration information, expiration dates, and the like. RFID tags can store greater amounts of information than bar codes. As a result, there is virtually no practical limit on the amount of items that can be given their own unique identifier. Thus, electronic tags, such as RFID tags can help retailers verify authenticity of a particular item, which will help prevent counterfeiting.
Counterfeiting is of special concern in pharmaceutical drug manufacturing. In a recent report on counterfeiting, the FDA stated that counterfeiting poses a real public health and safety concern because the counterfeit drug products "may closely resemble, legitimate drugs yet may contain only inactive ingredients, incorrect ingredients, improper dosages, sub-potent, or super-potent ingredients, or be contaminated." (Combating Counterfeit Drugs, A Report of the Food and Drug Administration, Feb. 18, 2004). The report recognizes that RFID may offer a promising solution to help prevent counterfeiting, and that mass serialization to uniquely identify all drug products is the single most powerful tool that can be used to protect the U.S. drug supply.
Electronic product codes (EPC) are a unique numbering system that can be embedded within an electronic tag such as an RFID. EPC codes have the possibility to allow every company in the supply chain, including retailers, to track products at the individual item level. This means every single item on a shelf could be traced back to when it was made and when it is sold. EPC codes are typically produced and standardized by EPC global, which is an industry driven standardization group.
Currently, the vast majority of POS terminals are not equipped for processing both product-specific information and item-specific information, such as serial numbers that can be contained within RFID tags or other means such as bar codes. Under the current technology, retailers would typically have to change or upgrade the software and/or hardware within POS systems to accommodate RFID technology. Unfortunately, this could be an expensive undertaking that would typically require retailers to go back to the original POS vendor in order to upgrade the system. As a result, many retailers are reluctant to incorporate item-level identification associated with RFID technology into a conventional POS system until less expensive alternatives are available.
Thus, there exist a need for a system that can work in conjunction with existing conventional POS terminals so that they can process both product-specific information and item-specific information at a low cost and low complexity.

Point-of-sale system and method for processing product-specific information and item-specific information


An accommodating lens assembly having an optical axis and being adapted to be implanted in a posterior chamber of an eye having a capsular unit located therein. The assembly includes a rigid haptics element adapted to secure the assembly within the posterior chamber outside said capsular unit. The element is transparent at least in a region around the axis. The assembly further includes a resilient body adapted to operate as a lens having a curved surface when pressed up against the region of the haptics element by an axial force applied thereto by the capsular unit. A change in this force causes a change in a radius of curvature for the curved surface.

The natural lens of a human eye is a transparent crystalline body, which is contained within a capsular bag located behind the iris and in front of the vitreous cavity in a region known as the posterior chamber. The capsular bag is attached on all sides by fibers, called zonules, to a muscular ciliary body. At its rear, the vitreous cavity, which is filled with a gel, further includes the retina, on which light rays passing through the lens are focused. Contraction and relaxation of the ciliary bodies changes the shape of the bag and of the natural lens therein, thereby enabling the eye to focus light rays on the retina originating from objects at various distances.
Cataracts occur when the natural lens of the eye or of its surrounding transparent membrane becomes clouded and obstructs the passage of light resulting in various degrees of blindness. To correct this condition in a patient, a surgical procedure is known to be performed in which the clouded natural lens, or cataract, is extracted and replaced by an artificial intraocular lens. During cataract surgery, the anterior portion of the capsular bag is removed along with the cataract, and the posterior portion of the capsular bag, called the posterior capsule, is sometimes left intact to serve as a support site for implanting the intraocular lens. Such lenses, however, have the drawback that they have a fixed refractive power and are therefore unable to change their focus.
Various types of intraocular lenses having the capability of altering their refractive power have been suggested in an effort to duplicate the performance of the natural lens within the eye. Such accommodating intraocular lenses, as they are known in the art, have a variety of designs directed to enable the patient to focus on, and thereby clearly see, objects located at a plurality of distances. Examples may be found in such publications as U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,509, U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,966, U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,641, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,494.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,302 discloses an accommodating intraocular lens for implantation in the posterior chamber of the eye. This lens comprises a short tubular rigid frame and transparent and resilient membrane attached thereto at its bases. The frame and the membranes confine a sealed space filled with a gas. The frame includes flexible regions attached via haptics to the posterior capsule. Upon stretching of the capsule by the eye's ciliary muscles, the flexible regions are pulled apart, thereby increasing the volume and decreasing the pressure within the sealed space. This changes the curvature of the membranes and accordingly, the refractive power of the lens.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,171 discloses an accommodating intraocular lens which is contained inside an encapsulating rigid shell so as to make it substantially insensitive to changes in the intraocular environment. The lens is adapted to be implanted within the posterior capsule and comprises a flexible transparent membrane, which divides the interior of the intraocular lens into separate front and rear spaces, each filled with a fluid having a different refractive index. The periphery of the rear space is attached to haptics, which are in turn attached to the posterior capsule. Upon stretching of the capsule by the eye's ciliary muscles, the haptics and hence this periphery is twisted apart to increase the volume of rear space and changes the pressure difference between the spaces. As a result, the curvature of the membrane and accordingly, the refractive power of the lens changes.


A method for forming a MEMS device using an amorphous silicon layer as a release layer includes etching superjacent films and using the amorphous silicon layer as an etch stop layer. The amorphous silicon layer is resistant to attack during the post-etch solvent stripping operation due to the oxidation of exposed portions of the amorphous silicon layer by use of an oxygen plasma.

MEMS (microelectromechanical system) are flexible cantilever-type structures that have many applications and an even greater potential in today's advancing technologies. MEMS are formed using semiconductor processing technology and are formed over substrates that may be formed of semiconductive or insulating materials. For example, MEMS may be deflectable mirror structures that can reflect light in different directions. In recent years, the projection-display industry has undergone a period of explosive growth. Until several years ago, such projection display systems were predominantly based on either cathode ray tubes (CRT) or active-matrix liquid crystal display (LCD) technology. All of these traditional display systems, however, suffer from limitations that compromise their performance or the spectrum of their applicability. LCD- and CRT-based systems are limited in their ability to support high-brightness applications, and they suffer from uniformity and stability problems in large-scale applications.
An emerging projection display technology called Digital Light Processing (DLP) accepts digital video and transmits to the eye a burst of digital light pulses that the eye interprets as a color analog image. Digital Light Processing is based on a MEMS device known as the digital micro mirror device (DMD) invented in 1987 at Texas Instruments Inc. The DMD is a fast, reflective digital light switch that combines with image processing, memory, and a light source and optics to form a digital light processing system. The DMD is a light switch that uses a plurality of electrostatically controlled MEMS mirror structures to digitally modulate light, producing high-quality imagery on-screen.
The MEMS used to form the plurality of light switches are typically formed over CMOS memory devices and using CMOS-like process. Each light switch includes a deflectable aluminum alloy mirror that can reflect light in different directions depending on the state of the underlying memory cell. The deflectable mirror of the MEMS, commonly an aluminum alloy, is formed over a releasable layer also referred to as a sustain layer. The sustain layer is formed between the mirror film and the substrate and is removed after the mirror layer has been formed into one or a plurality of discreet mirror structures that are anchored to the substrate to form cantilever-type MEMS. Several patterning and etching operations are used to pattern the mirror and other films formed over the sustain layer and the etching operations are typically plasma etching operations that etch down to the sustain layer which functions as an etch-stop layer. A preferred, easily removable sustain layer material is amorphous silicon, commonly represented as α-Si. The α-Si used as the sustain layer, however, is prone to attack during the wet photoresist strip/clean processes carried out at high temperatures such as are used in conjunction with the etching operations referred to above. If the α-Si sustain layer is attacked, the structural integrity of the MEMS may be compromised.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a method and structure for producing a MEMS mirror structure using an α-Si sustain layer that is not susceptible to attack.

Method to avoid amorphous-si damage during wet stripping processes in the manufacture of MEMS devices

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


A power QFN package includes signal leads, a die pad, support leads, and an adhesive for die bonding. These elements are encapsulated with a resin encapsulant. The lower parts of the signal leads are exposed from the resin encapsulant to function as external electrodes. A middle part of the die pad is formed at a higher level than a peripheral part thereof. This permits the formation of through holes in a thin part of the die pad. This enhances the degree of flexibility in the size of a semiconductor chip and the moisture resistance thereof.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resin-encapsulated semiconductor device in which a semiconductor chip and a lead frame are encapsulated with a resin encapsulant. In particular, the present invention relates to a resin-encapsulated semiconductor device with the back face of a die pad exposed to radiate heat from a power semiconductor element.
(2) Description of Related Art
In recent years, in response to downsizing of electronic units, it has become increasingly necessary to assemble semiconductor components for those electronic units at a higher and higher density. Correspondingly, sizes and thicknesses of the semiconductor components, such as resin-encapsulated semiconductor devices, in which a semiconductor chip and a lead frame are encapsulated with a resin encapsulant, have also been noticeably reduced. Examples of resin-encapsulated semiconductor devices accomplishing these objects include a so-called "quad flat non-leaded (QFN)" package. From the QFN package, outer leads, which are usually provided to protrude laterally out of a package, are eliminated. Instead, external electrodes to be electrically connected to a motherboard are provided on the back face of the QFN package.
A power semiconductor element produces a larger amount of heat than a normal semiconductor element. Therefore, when power semiconductor elements are built in a semiconductor chip, the resin-encapsulated semiconductor device should have its size or thickness reduced while its heat radiation properties are taken into account. Thus, a QFN package for a power semiconductor element (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "power QFN package") has intentionally exposed the back face of a die pad, on which a semiconductor chip is mounted, not covered with a resin encapsulant. Hereinafter, the structure and fabrication method of a known power QFN package will be described.
FIGS. 8A and 8B are perspective views of a known power QFN package when seen from above and below, respectively. FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIIIc-VIIIc of the known power QFN package in FIG. 8A.
As illustrated in FIGS. 8A through 8C, the known QFN package includes a die pad 102, a semiconductor chip 104 mounted on the top face of the die pad 102 and formed with an electrode pad and power semiconductor elements, a plurality of signal leads 101 provided around the die pad 102, support leads 103 for supporting the die pad 102, thin metal wires 105 through which the signal leads 101 or the die pad 102 are connected to an electrode pad (not shown) placed on the semiconductor chip 104, and a resin encapsulant 106 with which the top face of the die pad 102, the thin metal wires 105, the support leads 103, and the top faces of the signal leads 101 are encapsulated. The signal leads 101, the die pad 102, and the support leads 103 form a lead frame.
The semiconductor chip 104 is bonded, with an adhesive 107, onto the die pad 102 while its face on which power semiconductor elements are formed is oriented upward.
The above-mentioned members are encapsulated with the resin encapsulant 106 such that the back face of the die pad 102 and the back faces of the signal leads 101 are exposed. Since the back face of the die pad 102 is exposed, this allows the die pad 102 to function as a heat-radiating plate. By bringing the die pad 102 into contact with a heat-radiating portion of a motherboard, heat emitted from a power semiconductor element consuming a lot of power is dissipated to outside, thereby suppressing a rise in temperature within the package. The respective lower parts of the signal leads 101 including the exposed surfaces thereof are used as external electrodes 109.
According to a known power QFN package, the lower part of an outer edge portion of the die pad 102 is removed such that the outer edge portion thereof forms a thin part 102c. This allows the resin encapsulant 106 to reach under the thin part 102c. This can enhance the adhesion level between the die pad 102 and the resin encapsulant 106.
Such a power QFN package is formed, for example, in the following process steps.
First, a lead frame including the signal leads 101, die pad 102, support leads 103, and other components is prepared. It should be noted that the prepared lead frame is often provided with dam bars for preventing the overflow of a resin encapsulant during resin encapsulation.
Next, the back face of the semiconductor chip 104 is bonded, with the adhesive 108, onto the top face of the die pad 102 of the prepared lead frame. This process step is called "die bonding".
Then, an electrode pad of the semiconductor chip 104 mounted on the die pad 102 is electrically connected to the signal leads 101 or the die pad 102 through the thin metal wires 105. This process step is called "wire bonding". As the thin metal wires 105, thin aluminum (Al) or gold (Au) wires may be appropriately used.
Subsequently, the part of the die pad 102 other than the back face thereof, the semiconductor chip 104, the part of signal leads 101 other than the back faces thereof, the support leads 103, and the thin metal wires 105 are encapsulated with the resin encapsulant 106, such as an epoxy resin. In this case, the lead frame on which the semiconductor chip 104 has been mounted is introduced into a molding die assembly and transfer-molded.
Finally, respective outer end portions of the signal leads 101 protruding outward from the resin encapsulant 106 are cut off after the resin encapsulation. By performing this cutting process step, the resultant outer end faces of the signal leads 101 are substantially flush with the lateral side faces of the resin encapsulant 106. That is to say, this structure does not include any outer lead, which is ordinarily provided as an external terminal. Furthermore, the outer electrodes 109 and the back face of the die pad 102 which are exposed without being covered with a resin encapsulant are placed on the motherboard.

Lead frame and resin-encapsulated semiconductor device


A tool arrangement and chuck apparatus for quick change of a range of tools; particularly, a quick change chuck adapted to engage various diameter drill bits, tools and tool holders. The tools are rotatable in a chuck or adaptor and have at one end a centering shaft portion having a constant diameter for multiple tool end diameters and shapes, a drive shoulder portion and a lock portion. The chucks have a tool centering arrangement for accommodating the constant diameter centering shaft. The chucks are also described as having tool bit release mechanism operable to disengage the tool from a retention mechanism when a force is applied inwards of the body of the chuck by the user to allow the tool bit to be removed longitudinally from the chuck but also arrange to allow the tool bit to be inserted longitudinally into the chuck without requiring any other user operation.

Chucks used to rotationally support tools are commonly known. Chucks are usually attached to a power drill and are generally of the 3 jaw type which are adjustable to allow clamping of different diameter tool shanks. Drill bits are most commonly clamped in a chuck and are typically long and cylindrically shaped, having a round shank at one end for mounting in a chuck and at the opposite end a cutting face. Drill bits vary in diameter depending on the size hole to be drilled and are commonly available in very small diameters through to larger diameters.
A problem when using chucks to clamp a drill bit is slip. This occurs during the drilling process as the chuck jaws tend to slip around the shank causing damage. This results in both salient and recessed radial grooves on the shank which can cause operational problems including out of true rotation and weakening of the shank. Chucks can also over tighten and jam closed making release of the chuck and drill bit removal difficult continually operating a chuck is also time consuming with drill bit changeovers.
Other drill bits have hexagonal shanks which may be inserted into a corresponding hexagonal cavity of a mandrel. The mandrel fits into a three jaw chuck and the hexagonal cavity in the mandrel both supports the drill bit and acts as a rotational drive means. Although useful in connecting drill bits without having to operate a three jaw chuck each time, the arrangement is prone to run-out. Run-out occurs as the drill bit experiences radial variation along its longitudinal axis during rotation.
This is seen by the user as rotational wobble from side to side when looking along the length of the drill bit this wobble makes it difficult for a user to drill a hole accurately when drilling into various materials, in particular metals. Drill bit starts are also very difficult into for example sheet metal.
One of the main reasons for this run-out is that hexagonal shafts and bores are generally mass produced and the accuracy in regard to straightness along their length as well as dimensional accuracy is difficult to maintain compared to round bores and shafts. This lack of straightness of the bore and shaft as well as play between the bore and shaft when fitted together, result in levels of run-out that, whilst acceptable for some tools, is an unacceptable level of run-out for drills, as any run-out of the mandrel is amplified across the longer length of a drill resulting in large run-out at the drill cutting face.
A further problem is that hex chucks accept only one size shank. This is generally [¼]″ which is suitable for drills of smaller diameter. Larger diameter drills require heavier rotational forces and support making the [¼]″ shaft inadequate. One could have two chucks to adapt to two different shank sizes, one chuck for smaller diameter drills and another chuck for larger diameter drills but this would require changeover of chucks which is cumbersome.
What is needed therefore is a quick change chuck assembly and suitable tools which overcomes one or more of the aforementioned problems and provides the public with a useful alternative.


An imaging apparatus for providing an image from a display to an observer, comprising: a display generating an optical output, an imaging surface member constructed and arranged for viewing by said observer, and a scanning mirror/lens assembly optically interposed between the display and the imaging surface member, and constructed and arranged to motively repetitively scan the display, generate a scanned image, and transmit the scanned image to the imaging surface member, for viewing of the scanned image. Various field emitter display designs and subassemblies are described, which may be usefully employed in such imaging apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to dimensionally compact (narrow) body-mountable field emission display devices, as for example, head-mountable display systems, which incorporate row projection scanning to provide a full field of view. Such displays can be fabricated in very small size, and at low cost. The field emission display devices of the invention may be suitably embodied in flat-panel displays using cathodoluminescent phosphors.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the technology of field emission structures and devices, a microelectronic emission element, or a plurality (array) of such elements, is employed to emit a flux of electrons from the surface of the emission element(s). The emitter surface ("tip") is specifically shaped to facilitate effective emission of electrons, and emitted electron beams are directed, e.g., with the assistance of focusing electrodes or other directionally orienting structures, to an anode, which may comprise a plate member bearing an array of phosphors or other electroluminescent elements, to provide a selected visual output.
Field emission display devices may be fabricated in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and much effort has been directed in recent years to the development of field emission-based flat panel displays, for computer, graphic, and telecommunications applications.
Tomii et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,673 teaches the formation of vertical field emission structures by forming elongate parallel layers of cathode material on a substrate, followed by attachment of a second substrate so that the cathode material layers are sandwiched therebetween in a block matrix. Alternatively, the cathode material layer can be encased in a layer of electrically insulative material sandwiched in such type of block matrix. The block then is sectioned to form elements having exposed cathode material on at least one face thereof. In the embodiment wherein the cathode material is encased in an insulative material, the sliced members may be processed so that the cathode material protrudes above the insulator casing. The exposed cathode material in either embodiment then is shaped into emitter tips (microtip cathodes).
Spindt et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,665,241 describes vertical field emission cathode/field ionizer structures in which "needle-like" elements such as conical or pyramidal tips are formed on a (typically conductive or semiconductive) substrate. Above this tip array, a foraminous electrode member, such as a screen or mesh, is arranged with its openings vertically aligned with associated tip elements. In one embodiment disclosed in the patent, the needle-like elements comprise a cylindrical lower pedestal section and an upper conical extremity, wherein the pedestal section has a higher resistivity than either the foraminous electrode or the upper conical extremity, and an insulator may be arranged between the conical tip electrodes and the foraminous electrode member. The structures of this patent may be formed by metal deposition through a foraminous member (which may be left in place as a counter-electrode, or replaced with another foraminous member) to yield a regular array of metal points.
Copending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/029,880 filed Mar. 11, 1993 in the name of Gary W. Jones discloses a vertical field emitter structure and field emission device such as a flat panel display utilizing such structure. Self-aligned gate and emitter fabrication is described, together with virtual column field emitter structures, comprising an emitter or gated emitter with conductive columns connecting the emitter to an underlying resistor or conductor structure formed by chemical or other modification of portions of an underlying layer. The display disclosed in this copending application utilizes field emission structures with low turn-voltages and high accelerating voltages, thereby permitting high brightness, small pixel size, low manufacturing costs, uniform brightness, and high energy efficiency to be achieved.
In field emitter technology, as exemplified by the structures and devices described in the above-discussed patents, there is a continuing search for improvements, particularly under the impetus of commercial as well as military interest in the development of practical and reliable flat panel display devices. The art has recognized the need for continuing reductions in size and volume of field emission displays.
Further, there is a need for very small size field emission display devices, such as may be mounted on the body for ready viewing. One desirable body-mountable application is head-mounted devices, which can for example be fabricated into helmets or other headgear, or alternatively constructed as viewing goggles or eyewear.
It would therefore be a substantial advantage in the art, and is an object of the present invention, to provide a field emission display device, which is compact in size, simply, quickly, and economically fabricatable, using conventional fabrication equipment and thin film processing techniques.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a field emission display device of such character, which is body-mountable in nature.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a field emission display device of such type, which is head-mountable in character.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully apparent from the ensuing disclosure and appended claims.

Compact, body-mountable field emission display device, and display panel having utility for use therewith


Provided is a semiconductor photodiode which has an electrode structure having not only high adhesion to a Mg2Si material but also improved overall performance including photosensitivity. A photodiode comprising: a pn junction of a magnesium silicide crystal; an electrode comprising a material that is in contact with p-type magnesium silicide; and an electrode comprising a material that is in contact with n-type magnesium silicide, wherein the material that is in contact with p-type magnesium silicide is a material which has a work function of 4.81 eV or more and reacts with silicon to form a silicide or form an alloy with magnesium.

With recent dramatic technological innovation in relation to artificial intelligence (AI) and the like, research and development of a system for automatic monitoring and controlling in place of human eyes and hands are being energetically carried out. In such automatic monitoring and automatic controlling systems, an appropriate response operation is determined based on various input information such as lights, temperatures and voices, so a hardware for detecting input signals will be a key device that plays an important role in the entire system. Particularly, in terms of detecting the light input signals, advanced automatic monitoring can be realized by using a device that replaces the human eyes or in some cases can detect information in areas which cannot be detected by the human eyes.
Devices that are sensitive to optical input signals include those having elements that convert the optical signals into electrical signals capable of being processed electronically. Examples of the basic elements include light detection elements using semiconductor materials, and among them, photodiodes using a pn junction is known in the art.
The photodiodes using semiconductor materials have different sensitive wavelength regions depending on band gaps possessed by the semiconductor materials. In order to perform advanced control that can respond to automatic monitoring at night, automatic driving of a motor vehicle and the like, input information regarding a light in an infrared region is required in addition to a light in a visible light region and information of an image. Therefore, there is a strong need for elements and devices including photodiodes that can detect light inputs with high sensitivity in the infrared region, so that active studies and developments are being advanced using various semiconductor materials.
Photodiodes using compound semiconductor materials such as InGaAs, HgCdTe and InAsSb are already known as photodiodes that assume detection of the light in the infrared region having a short wavelength (a wavelength of about 0.9 to 2.5 μm). However, these semiconductor materials have disadvantages of containing rare elements in the compound materials, or being harmful to the living body and having high environmental loading. Therefore, the present inventors have prepared a crystalline material of magnesium silicide (Mg2Si), a compound semiconductor composed of magnesium (Mg) and silicon (Si), which is a material which is rich in nature as a resource and which is less harmful to the living body and highly safety (Non-Patent document 1), and proposed and produced a photodiode using the material to provide certain results (Non-Patent Documents 2 and 3).
As an electrode used for a semiconductor device, a gold (Au) electrode is often used as described in Non-Patent Document 2, from the viewpoints of conductivity and chemical stability, and further easiness of formation. However, Au is chemically stable, so that it does not easily react particularly with Si or Si-based compounds, and tends to have poor adhesion at a contact interface with the semiconductor. Therefore, it tends to generate peeling and separating of the electrode from the contact interface with the semiconductor, causing a problem of durability and operability of the device, in view of a practical use environment of a practical device.
To solve such problems, an attempt to improve adhesion at the contact surface between the electrode material and the semiconductor material has been made in the Si-based semiconductor device by interposing other metal material between the Au electrode and the contact surface with the semiconductor. Non-Patent Document 3 discloses that titanium (Ti) is interposed between an Au electrode and a contact surface of Mg2Si that is the semiconductor material. It has allowed provision of an electrode having an adhesion that would not cause any problem in view of a practical device, even in the photodiode using Mg2Si as a semiconductor material.
However, further subsequent consideration of physical properties specific for Mg2Si has revealed that Ti is not necessarily best as an electrode material that is in direct contact with Mg2Si in order to improve further the overall device performance including photosensitivity in addition to the point of the adhesion between the electrode and the semiconductor material, and that it is necessary to study the electrode material from other viewpoints.


An image compression device having a prediction unit for predicting a value of a compressing target pixel from peripheral values, and quantizing prediction error between a prediction value of the prediction unit and a value of an actual pixel in a predetermined quantizing step, comprising: a specific pixel level difference evaluation unit sequentially calculating the difference value between the level values as a sum of the prediction values corresponding to each of the compressed pixel immediately before the compressing target pixel and peripheral compressed pixels adjacent to the pixel and the quantization value of the prediction error, and evaluating the sameness of the difference value; and a quantization switching unit controlling the quantization in the quantizing step more precise than the quantizing step used when the difference value continuously indicates the same value as a result of the evaluation by the specific pixel level difference evaluation unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image compression device, a compressing method, and a program capable of realizing two types (natural images such as movies etc. and CG images such as a digital map etc.) of high quality images having different characteristics in real time, and an image decompression device, a decompressing method, and a program capable of decompressing compressed image data.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is necessary to compress data to transmit image information containing an large amount of information. Especially, since 30 through 60 frames of image data are transmitted and received for moving pictures, the data compression is required.
It is well known that image information can be natural images such as general television images, movies, etc. and CG images represented by maps for car navigation etc. Generally, natural images contains a number of low-frequency components, and digital images contains a number of high-frequency components. In a recent mobile terminal such as a car-mounted terminal, a mobile telephone, etc., both digital images such as a map etc. and natural images such as TV and movie pictures etc. are processed. To efficiently transmit both types of image data, an effective data compressing system for both low-frequency components and high-frequency components is desired.
The first conventional technology using a DPCM prediction device shown in FIG. 1 is knows as a common conventional image data compressing system. As shown in FIG. 1, when image data 110 is compressed, a prediction unit (DPCM) 210 predicts a value of a pixel to be predicted from the line preceding a target pixel and the value of a preceding pixel, converts a prediction error from an actual pixel level value into a representative value, quantizes the value using a quantizer 310, and transmits a quantized value through a variable-length encoder 410 for assigning a code depending on the frequency of occurrence. In this system, both high-frequency components and low-frequency components can be processed in a pixel unit for quantization and encoding. However, since a prediction value is calculated on the basis of the value of the preceding line, an error is used during the next predicting process if the error occurs at any point. As a result, the prediction error propagates and causes image degradation along the line.
For example, when a quantization table used by the quantizer 310 has the prediction error value of −4 through 4 as a quantization prediction error of 0 (that is, a quantization table having a rough quantization width), the quantization prediction error is assumed as 0 although a prediction error of the value of −4 through 4 occurs in any predicting process by the prediction unit (DPCM) 210. Therefore, the information that the prediction error has occurred cannot be included in the quantization result, and the prediction error remains as is. If the propagation of the prediction error occurs, a line unexpectedly occurs in the direction of the line in an image output as a process result, thereby causing image degradation.
Additionally, as a conventional image data compressing system, the second conventional technology of compressing data by a JPEG (joint photographic experts group) and a MPEG (moving picture experts group) as shown in FIG. 2 is well known. The following patent documents 1 and 2 belong to the second conventional technology. As shown in FIG. 2, the second conventional technology divides an input image 120 into blocks (normally 8*8 pixels) 130, applies DCT 220 to the block image, performs quantization 320 on a DCT coefficient, performs variable-length encoding 420 for assigning a code depending on the frequency of occurrence, and transmit the result. A DCT (discrete cosine transfer) is a method for applying frequency transform to an image data. Since human eyes are sensitive to low-frequency components (flat portion in an image), the DCT coefficient for a low frequency is precisely quantized, and the DCT coefficient for a high frequency is roughly quantized, thereby compressing natural images at a high compression rate at which image degradation can be inconspicuous. However, there is no problem with the compression of natural images when conspicuous low-frequency components are precisely quantized, but the image degradation is conspicuous on the high-frequency components such as a line and a character in map images (CG images). Furthermore, since edge information extraction 230 is performed on a block to be compressed, there is the problem that correction and feedback cannot be performed by detecting the image degradation caused by a quantization error.
Furthermore, although not shown in the attached drawings, the third conventional technology using a JPEG-LS (lossless) is known as a conventional image data compressing system. The third conventional technology predicts a value by a MED prediction device (Median edge detector), and directly encodes a prediction error. There is no image degradation because quantization is not performed in the third conventional technology. However, each process is heavy because, for example, a calculating process is required in encoding. Therefore the third conventional technology is unsuitable for real-time compression.
If the quantization is simply performed using the DPCM as the above-mentioned first conventional technology, there occurs the problem that a quantization error propagates in the direction of the line. In addition, in the transfer and encoding using a DCT such as the JPEG, the MPEG, etc. as the above-mentioned second conventional technology, there occurs the problem that image degradation is conspicuous on CG images, and there also occurs the problem that although adaptive quantization is performed, no correction or feedback can be performed by detecting image degradation by a quantization error because an edge is extracted from a compressing target block. Furthermore, in the JPEG-LS as the above-mentioned third conventional technology, quantization is not performed and therefore no image degradation occurs, but each process is heavy and is not appropriate for real-time processing.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Published Patent Application No. H10-126777
Patent Document 2: Japanese Published Patent Application No. H6-350992

Image compression device, compressing method, storage medium, image decompression device, decompressing method, and storage medium


An image processing apparatus is disclosed that controls a user interface according to image properties. The image processing apparatus includes a document data acquiring unit to acquire document data, an image recognizing unit to determine the image properties of the document data including a color and a gray level of the document data so as to generate recognition data, and a user interface providing unit to receive the recognition data so as to provide the user interface. Operations that can be performed on the document data by the image processing apparatus through the user interface vary according to the recognition data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an image processing technique, and particularly relates to an image processing apparatus, such as a Multi-Function Peripheral (MFP), a method of controlling an image processing apparatus, an image recognition method, an image forming apparatus, an information processing apparatus, and a data processing method for controlling screen display according to properties of an image to be processed.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, along with advance in technology for hardware such as semiconductors and computers as well as in optical technology, image processing apparatuses using electrophotography have become able to offer many functions. The image processing apparatuses process not only binary images but also full-color halftone images. In many cases, users perform different operations, such as an operation using an OCR system, full-color copying, and monochrome copying, depending on the type of images, such as binary images and full-color images.
Generally, a user touches a touch panel display provided on the front side of an image processing apparatus so as to display an operation screen for an operation that the user wants to perform on a document, and inputs a command to the image processing apparatus by selecting the operation. The user can select the operation because the user knows properties of the document to be processed and knows which operation is suitable for the document. In other words, when the user uses the image processing apparatus, the user determines whether the document is a binary image such as text or a full-color image such as a halftone image, with or without being aware, so as to select a suitable operation.
Recent image processing apparatuses comprise nonvolatile memories and hard disks and can serve as information processing apparatuses. With such image processing apparatuses, users can perform read-out operations, printing operations, and sending operations by facsimile or by mail on document data items saved in the apparatuses as necessary. If a user wants to process a document data item that the user has saved in an image processing apparatus in the past but does not remember properties of the document data item, the user refers to a hard copy of the corresponding document or displays the document data item on a display of the image processing apparatus, checks all the pages of the document if the document has multiple pages, and thus determines a suitable operation. As a result, the amount of time that the user uses the image processing apparatus is increased. That is, providing large-capacity memories with image processing apparatuses may actually lower working efficiency of the image processing apparatuses.
If the image processing apparatuses can automatically determine image properties of documents to be processed and display suitable operation options to users, the frequency of the users determining image properties of documents and making operating errors may be reduced. Moreover, as working efficiency of the image processing apparatuses is increased, usability of the image processing apparatuses can be improved.
If the image processing apparatus can prompt users to select suitable operations based on properties of documents to be processed, the users do not need to determine which operations are suitable based on the type of documents, such as monochrome binary images and full-color images, and can easily perform operations on the documents with less burden.
If selection of operations to be performed on document data saved in an image processing apparatus can be controlled from an information processing apparatus based on properties of the saved document data, usability of the document data saved in the image processing apparatus and working efficiency of the image processing apparatus can be improved, thereby reducing the burden on users.
There have been disclosed techniques related to the image processing apparatuses, such as a technique for varying control depending on properties of images to be printed, a technique for enabling remote control from a remote server by reproducing an operations section of an image processing apparatus, and a technique for user authentication using password or the like. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-101870 (Patent Document 1) discloses a technique for controlling output of an image processing apparatus depending on image properties. The image processing apparatus comprises an area dividing unit for dividing an area of an image of a page to be printed into plural areas, and applying different saving rates of coloring agent to different areas.
The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is for controlling the image processing apparatus depending on properties of a page to be printed, but is not for efficiently providing a user interface based on properties of a page to be printed.
Japanese Patent Laid-open publication No. 2003-271336 (Patent Document 2) discloses a technique for remotely controlling an image processing apparatus from a remote server using a user interface displayed on the server. According to Patent Document 2, the server is connected to the image processing apparatus via a network. The server comprises an emulation unit that receives an intermediate code program from the image processing apparatus so as to reproduce a user interface of the image processing apparatus on an operations section of the server. In response to an input from the user interface reproduced in the operations section of the server, a selected image stored in the server is transmitted to the image processing.
The technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 is for causing the server to receive the intermediate code program from the image processing apparatus and display the user interface of the image processing apparatus reproduced by the emulation unit in order to cause the image processing apparatus to print document data stored in the remote server, but does not relates to a technique for controlling the user interface depending on properties of the document data.
Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2004-171237 (Patent Document 3) discloses an image processing apparatus that controls access to a storage unit using passwords. Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for providing different user interfaces depending on results of password authentication, but does not disclose a technique for providing different user interfaces for different valid passwords and for documents having different properties so as to guide users to execute suitable operations.
As described above, a method for controlling printing operations of an image processing apparatus based on image properties and a method for causing a server to reproduce a user interface of an image processing apparatus so as to cause the image processing apparatus to print a document stored in the server have been disclosed. Meanwhile, there has been and continues to be a demand for image processing apparatuses, image recognition methods, image forming apparatuses, information processing apparatuses, data processing methods, and methods of controlling image processing apparatuses that can improve usability of image processing apparatuses by controlling user interfaces based on properties of images to be processed and user identifiers.
There has also been and continues to be a demand for image processing apparatuses, methods of controlling image processing apparatuses, image recognition methods, image forming apparatuses, information processing apparatuses, and data processing methods that can improve usability of image processing apparatuses equipped with large-capacity storage units, such as hard disks, EPROMs, and EEPROMs, by providing user interfaces that efficiently guide users to perform operations based on properties of documents acquired by the image processing apparatuses.

Image processing apparatus, method of controlling image processing apparatus, image recognition method, image forming apparatus, information processing apparatus, and data processing method


An on hold telephony service that allows a party placed on hold, if he is a subscriber to the service, to also place the call on hold and then hang up. The on hold service can be implemented on a central office switch or an enhanced services platform connected to the switch. The on hold service is accessed by the party placed on hold, i.e., subscriber, through a transfer function that causes the call to be maintained by the on hold service. When the party who originally placed the call on hold returns to the call, the on hold service informs him that the service will then call the subscriber so that both parties can be reconnected.

Call on hold service is old and well known. Typically, when a party wishes to place another party on hold, the party placing the call on hold presses the hold button on his telephone. His telephone, or the associated PABX or central office switch, then maintains the connection to the other party while allowing the party who placed the call on hold to hang up. Such call on hold services also typically provide a music or announcement on hold feature, which causes music or voice to be played over the line to the party placed on hold. Such call on hold services are useful to the party who places the call on hold, but are often a cause of discontent to the party who has been placed on hold, even if he is provided with music to listen to while on hold. If the call has been received on a speaker phone, the party placed on hold can do things other than merely wait on the telephone for the other party to return. In this case the party placed on hold can hang up the telephone and listen for the return of the other party via the speaker. However, this arrangement still requires the party placed on hold to remain attentive to the speaker phone to determine when the other party returns.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to allow a party placed on hold to dispose of the call until the other party returns, and then be notified of such return, e.g., by a ringing telephone, so the party placed on hold can then request reconnection to the other party.

Telephone call on hold service for a party placed on hold by another party


A partition-wall structure having a concave portion corresponding to a pattern formed by a functional liquid, including: a first concave portion provided corresponding to a first pattern; a second concave portion provided corresponding to a second pattern that is coupled to the first pattern and whose width is smaller than a width of the first pattern; and a convex portion provided in the first pattern.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a pattern formed structure, a method of forming a pattern, a device, an electrooptical device and electronic equipment.
2. Related Art
As a method of forming a pattern such as a wiring used for electronic circuits, integrated circuits and the like, for example, photolithography has been widely used. However, the photolithography requires large-scale equipments including vacuum device and exposure device and complicated processes are performed to form the wiring having a predetermined pattern in the equipments. In addition, efficiency in use of the material is only about several % and most of the material has to be disposed, resulting in a high production cost.
Meanwhile, a droplet discharge method in which a liquid material is discharged in the form of droplets from a liquid discharging head has been proposed to form patterns. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-274671 is a first example of related art and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-216330 is a second example of related art. So-called ink-jet method has been used to form the wiring having a predetermined pattern on a substrate (for example, see the first and second examples). In the ink-jet method, a liquid material for patterning (a functional liquid) is provided in a pattern directly on a substrate, and then heat treatment or laser irradiation is performed to the substrate so as to transform into the pattern. Thereby, this method does not require the photolithography and the processes can be considerably simplified. In addition, according to this method, the material is directly provided on the position of the pattern. Therefore, there is an advantage that the amount of the material which is to be consumed to form the pattern can be reduced.
In recent years, circuits in devices have been highly densified. Accordingly, there is a demand for an extremely-fine and thin wiring. However, it was difficult to stably form such fine pattern by the above-mentioned liquid discharge method because discharged droplets spread out on a substrate after they landed on the substrate. Especially, when the pattern is a conductive layer, a liquid bulge is generated from the above-mentioned spread of the droplets and it could cause defects such as braking of wire and short circuit.
A technique to overcome this problem in the liquid discharge method has been proposed. In the technique, a lyophobic quality is given to a surface of a bank which lays out a forming region of a wiring, the functional liquid is discharged toward the forming region of the wiring, and then the wiring whose width is narrower than the in-flight diameter of the functional liquid discharged by the droplet discharge method is formed. According to this technique, the bank sectioning the wiring forming region is formed. Therefore, even if a part of the functional liquid is discharged on the surface of the bank, all the functional liquid flows into the wiring forming region.
The above-mentioned fine wiring pattern can be formed by utilizing a capillary phenomenon. However, the fine wiring pattern formed by the capillary phenomenon has a relatively thin film thickness compared to other wiring patterns. Thereby, a step, which is a difference in level, is formed on the top face of the fine wiring pattern and the other wiring patterns because of the difference in the film thickness. This could be a problem when another thin film pattern and the like is further formed on the top surface of the bank including the other wiring pattern such that the step could cause disconnection, short circuit and the like.

Pattern formed structure, method of forming pattern, device, electrooptical device and electronic equipment


An accessory carrier case assembly mountable on a support structure, such as the underside of a vehicle trunk lid, includes an elongated case having a latchable bottom tray and top lid. The bottom tray and top lid are padded with a foam material. The bottom tray has an interior structure defining different compartments for various items of fishing equipment. The top lid and bottom tray have sufficient interior space for accommodating fishing rods therein. The accessory carrier case assembly also includes an arrangement of rigid mounting brackets, flexible holding straps, and flexible hook and loop releasable fastening strips for supporting the carrier case on the underside of the trunk lid. The releasable fastening strips are applied respectively on the holding straps and on either the top lid or bottom tray of the carrier case for releasably supporting the carrier case from the underside of the trunk lid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to cases for carrying accessories, such as fishing tackle and the like and, more particularly, is concerned with a vehicle trunk lid mounted accessory carrier case assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many fisherman transport a plurality of fishing rods and other fishing tackle with them when they go on long fishing trips. As a result, fishermen typically utilize various forms of carrier cases in which one or more fishing rods and other fishing tackle may be housed. Representative of the carrier cases known in the prior patent art are the ones disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. to Files (3,678,611), Ward (4,170,801) and Washington (4,523,704). Ordinarily, these cases have hinged top and bottom housing sections of substantial lengths for accommodating several fishing rods.
Whereas the carrier case of the Washington patent is designed to be carried on the roof of the vehicle, most fishermen prefer to carry their cases in the trunks of their vehicles in order to avoid exposure of the cases to the adverse elements of the weather. However, due to their substantial lengths, the carrier cases occupy a considerable amount of trunk space, reducing the amount of space available for other items typically taken on fishing trips.
Consequently, a need exists for a way to store a fishing tackle carrier case in a vehicle trunk so as to optimize the utilization of available space.

Vehicle truck lid mounted accessory carrier case assembly


In a case where a thumbnail image is displayed at the time of insertion of an image file storage medium including an automatic reproduction file, the thumbnail image is displayed only for the image file which contains description of automatic reproduction in an automatic reproduction file. Also, a thumbnail image of an image file which contains description of non-automatic reproduction in the automatic reproduction file is replaced with a dummy image or displayed as a thumbnail image not apparently capable of being recognized in response to a user request.

In recent years, use of a digital camera has begun to extend explosively due to improved image quality and decreased price coupled with an improved performance of a personal computer and a color printer. With this as a background, with intention of further extending ownership of the digital camera, various companies have proposed various standards for a method of storing related information such as image pickup conditions of the digital camera and a method of improving an interface with the color printer. On the other hand, a home-use projector is coming to be widely used due to reduced size, weight and price of the body thereof. In the near future, an image picked up by the digital camera is expected to be enjoyed by use of a projector even in ordinary home.
FIG. 1 shows a flowchart for a conventional method of displaying a thumbnail image in an image reproduction device meeting reproduction specifications of a conventional automatic reproduction file.
First, a user inserts an image file storage medium containing an image picked up by a digital camera, into an image reproduction device. An image file storage medium has stored therein a plurality of image files and an automatic reproduction file for automatically setting the image files in an automatic reproduction mode. FIG. 2 shows an example of a file configuration of the image file storage medium. FIG. 2 shows an image file configuration based on DPOF specifications disclosed by four companies including Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. The file configuration in the image file storage medium is such that a DCIM folder for storing an ordinary image file and a MISC folder for storing the control information such as automatic reproduction file information are arranged under a ROOT directory. The ordinary image files including ABC0001.JPG, ABC0002.JPG and the like are all placed in the lowest layer of the DCIM folder. An AUTPRTINT.MRK file in the MISC folder is an automatic print file, a UNICODE.MRK file is a unicode character string description file, and an AUTXFER.MRK is an automatic transmission control file. Also, an AUTPLAYn.MRK file is an automatic reproduction file. This automatic reproduction file has stored therein the control information for controlling automatic reproduction of these image files. This control information concerns designation and order of the image file and interval of image transmission time for automatic reproduction. For example, in a case where 10 image files including ABC0001.JPG to ABC0010.JPG are arranged in the lowest layer of the DCIM folder, and three images of ABC0002.JPG, ABC0005.JPG and ABC0009.JPG are designated as automatic reproduction files, the image reproduction device automatically displays only the three image files in that order on a display unit, but does not display the other seven image files.
The image display device can display a list of a plurality of thumbnail images composed of 160×120 pixels. FIG. 3 shows an example configuration of the image file. Generally, the image file picked up by the digital camera and compressed by JPEG scheme is formed of an application marker block, the number of pixels, quantization table and the like (JPEG header) and a compressed data area of a main image. The application marker block has stored therein image-related information such as image pickup conditions and a thumbnail, i.e., the JPEG code with 160×120 pixels compressed, and the JPEG-compressed data of the thumbnail as well as the number of pixels and the quantization table are also held in the thumbnail region. Characters SOI designates a start marker and EOI an end marker.
Now, in FIG. 1, the image file storage medium is inserted into the image reproduction device and a reproduction process is started. First, the presence or absence of the automatic reproduction file is detected. In the presence of the automatic reproduction file, the file is read (step S1). It is then checked whether a thumbnail display is requested or not (step S2), and in the absence of the request, the image file is sequentially automatically reproduced in line with contents described in the automatic reproduction file (steps S3, S4). In a case where the thumbnail display request is input by interruption from an external arbitrary input unit, the process proceeds from step S2 to step S5. The image reproduction device retrieves thumbnail image data of all the image files in the lowest layer of the DCIM folder from the image file storage medium, and displays a thumbnail image list on a display (step S6).
In a case where the operation described above is performed, however, all the thumbnail images are displayed as a list regardless of the information in the automatic reproduction file. Assuming that a large-sized display device such as a projector or a PDP on which a plurality of viewers can view one screen at the same time is used as a display of the image reproduction device, it becomes no problem at the time of normal automatic reproduction because image data not desirably displayed to the viewers are not displayed by internal setting of the automatic reproduction file. In a case where thumbnail display is carried out with intention of searching the image files in the image file storage medium, however, it becomes a problem that the image data not desirably viewed by the viewers are also displayed.

Image reproduction device and image reproduction method


The present invention relates to host cells transformed with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a eukaryotic xylose isomerase obtainable from an anaerobic fungus. When expressed, the sequence encoding the xylose isomerase confers to the host cell the ability to convert xylose to xylulose which may be further metabolized by the host cell. Thus, the host cell is capable of growth on xylose as carbon source. The host cell preferably is a eukaryotic microorganism such as a yeast or a filamentous fungus. The invention further relates to processes for the production of fermentation products such as ethanol, in which a host cell of the invention uses xylose for growth and for the production of the fermentation product. The invention further relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding eukaryotic xylose isomerases and xylulose kinases as obtainable from anaerobic fungi.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to host cells transformed with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a eukaryotic xylose isomerase. The xylose isomerase is expressed in the host cell to confer the ability of isomerizing xylose to xylulose. The host cell is used in a process for the production of ethanol and other fermentation products by fermentation of a pentose-containing medium. The present invention further relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding eukaryotic xylose isomerases.
2. Description of the Background Art
Large-scale consumption of the traditional, fossil fuels (petroleum-based fuels) in the last few decades has contributed to high levels of pollution. Moreover, the realization that the world stock of petroleum is not boundless, combined with the growing environmental awareness, has stimulated new initiatives to investigate the feasibility of alternative fuels such as ethanol, which could realize a 60-90% decrease in CO2 production. Although biomass-derived ethanol may be produced by fermentation of hexose sugars that are obtained from many different sources, so far, however, the substrates for industrial scale production or fuel alcohol are cane sugar and corn starch. The drawback of these substrates are the high costs.
Expanding fuel ethanol production requires the ability to use lower-cost feedstocks. Presently, only lignocellulosic feedstock from plant biomass would be available in sufficient quantities to substitute the crops used for ethanol production. The major fermentable sugars from lignocellulosic materials are glucose and xylose, constituting respectively about 40% and 25% of lignocellulose. However, most yeasts that are capable of alcoholic fermentation, like Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are not capable of using xylose as a carbon source. Additionally, no organisms are known that can ferment xylose to ethanol with both a high ethanol yield and a high ethanol productivity. To enable the commercial production of ethanol from lignocellulose hydrolysate, an organism possessing both these properties would be required. Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide for a yeast that is capable of both alcoholic fermentation and of using xylose as a carbon source.
D-xylose is metabolically by numerous microorganisms such as enteric bacteria, some yeasts and fungi. In most xylose-utilizing bacteria, xylose is directly isomerized to D-xylulose by xylose (glucose) isomerase (XI). Filamentous fungi and yeasts, are however not capable of this one-step isomerization and first reduce xylose to xylitol by the action of xylose reductase (XR) after which the xylitol is converted to xylulose by xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH). The first step requires NAD(P)H as a co-factor whereas the second step requires NAD+. The xylulose that is produced subsequently enters the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) after it is phosphorylated by xylulose kinase (XK). Anaerobic fermentation of xylose to ethanol is not possible in organisms with a strictly NADPH dependent xylose reductase (XR). This is because xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH) is strictly NAD+ dependent resulting in a redox imbalance (i.e., NAD+ depletion). To solve the redox imbalance under anaerobic conditions, the organism produces by-products such as glycerol and xylitol. Similarly, aerobic production of β-lactams on xylose is also negatively influenced as compared to β-lactam production on glucose. A likely cause for these low yields again are a relatively high demand of reducing equivalents in the form of NADPH in this route, compared to the use of glucose (van Gulik, W M et al., 2000, Biotechnol. Bioeng. 68(6): 602-18.
Over the years many attempts have been made to introduce xylose metabolism in S. cerevisiae and similar yeasts, as reviewed in Zaldivar et al, 2001, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 56:17-34). One approach concerns the expression of at least genes encoding a xylose (aldose) reductase and a xylitol dehydrogenase, e.g., the XYL1 and XYL2 of Pichia stipitis, in S. cerevisiae (U.S. Pat. No. 5,866,382; PCT Publications WO 95/13362 and WO 97/42307). Although this approach enables growth of S. cerevisiae on xylose, it generally suffers from a low ethanol productivity and/or yield as well as a high xylitol production, mainly as a result of the redox imbalance between XR and XDH.
The expression of a XI in S. cerevisiae or related yeast or in filamentous fungi would circumvent the redox imbalance and consequent xylitol production and excretion. Xylose isomerase genes from several bacteria have been inserted in S. cerevisiae, however, expression of mesophilic prokaryotic XIs in S. cerevisiae did not lead to active XI (Amore and Hollenberg, 1989, Nucleic Acids Res. 17:7515; Amore et al., 1989, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 30:351-357; Chan et al., 1986, Biotechnol. Lett 8:231-234; Chan et al., 1989, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 31:524-528; Ho et al., 1983, Feder. Proc. 42:2167; Hollenberg, 1987, EBC-Syniposium on Brewer's Yeast, Helsinki (Finland), 24-25 Nov. 1986; Sarthy et al., 1987, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 53:1996-2000; Ueng et al., 1985, Biotechnol. Lett. 7:153-8). Nevertheless, two XIs from thermophilic bacteria expressed in S. cerevisiae showed a specific activity of 1 μmol per minute per mg at 85° C. (Bao et al., 1999, Weishengwu-Xuebao 39:49-54; Walfridson et al., 1996, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 61:4184-90). However, at physiological temperature for S. cerevisiae (20-35° C.) only a few percent of this activity is left, which is not sufficient for efficient alcoholic fermentation from xylose. Thus, there is still a need for nucleic acids encoding an XI that can be expressed in yeasts to provide sufficient XI activity under physiological conditions to allow for the use of xylose as carbon source.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A leg prothesis device for use as an upper leg prothesis permitting the wearer of the device to kneel thereupon comprising a first member adapted to support an upper leg prosthesis and a second member spaced from the first member adapted to support a lower leg portion connected to a foot prothesis. The first and second members are movable with respect to each other between a maximum leg angle of about 180.degree. and a minimum leg angle of about 20.degree.. A connecting member connecting the first and second members comprises three arm portions: (1) a curved portion pivotally connected at one distal end to the first member and defining a pivot axis between the first and second members; (2) a first linear portion that is integral with the curved portion; and (3) a second linear portion angularly connected to the first linear portion. The second linear portion is fixedly connected to said second member with the curved portion being pivotably connected to the first member at a point located intermediate a vertical extension of the second linear portion and a vertical axis of the second member when the leg angle is about 180.degree.. The first member is provided with a slot through which the first linear portion extends and moves.

Prosthetic devices for above-knee applications generally are found in two forms: devices that attach by a belt and harness arrangement generally about the pelvic area and devices that attach to the stump by suction. Both suffer from the infirmity that neither are particularly useful to the many wearers whose work and life styles require considerable kneeling and moving about on the knees. Typical prior art prosthetic devices do not permit constant kneeling and moving about due to the delicate nature of the devices and the inability thereof to bend the knee assembly at an angle sufficient to permit the crawling about on the prosthetic knee. Conventionally to kneel with many prior art prosthetic devices, the wearer must thrust one leg in front for stability and to kneel on the other, assuming the device will rotate sufficiently. Thus, it would be extremely desirable to have available an inexpensive but rugged prosthetic structure permitting users such as carpenters and plumbers to readily kneel and crawl about on their knees.
It is a paramount object of the present invention to provide for a prosthetic device that is rugged but simple in construction and allows the wearer to kneel and move about on the knees on a continuous basis without detrimental effect on the prosthetic device.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide for a prosthetic device that allows the user to rotate the upper and lower leg portions relative to one another between an vertical position representing a leg angle of 180.degree. and a kneeling position representing a leg angle of less than about 30.degree..
These and other objects will become evident to those skilled in the art following a reading of the description herein and the appended drawings.

Leg prosthesis device having hinge assembly for kneeling