The invention relates to a feedstock material for use in making heat spreaders, comprising a sheet of annealed pyrolytic graphite having a thermal conductivity of greater than 1000 watts/m-K, a size in any dimension of at least 5 cm and a thickness of at least 0.2 mm. In one embodiment, the feedstock is made by hot-pressing a stack of alternate layers of pyrolytic graphite sheets with flat graphite dies for a finished sheet of annealed pyrolytic graphite comprising a plurality of layers being parallel to each other of at least 0.075 degrees per mm of thickness. In another embodiment, the finished sheet of annealed pyrolytic graphite is made by graphitizing a stack of films comprising a high-carbon polymer.

Electronic and/or integrated circuit ("IC") devices, e.g., microprocessors, memory devices, and the like, are becoming smaller while heat dissipation requirements are increasing. In order to dissipate the heat generated by these devices, heat spreaders and/or heat sinks are used.
Several materials and designs have been disclosed for the management and removal of heat from electronic devices. U.S. Pat. No. 5,296,310 discloses a hybrid structural device of a high thermal conductivity material sandwiched between a pair of face sheets comprising a metal or matrix-reinforced metal. The core material can be a highly ordered pyrolytic graphite, compression annealed pyrolytic graphite (CAPG), synthetic diamond, composites using these materials, or the like U.S. Pat. No. 6,215,661 discloses a heat spreader comprising an L-shaped plate of thermal pyrolytic graphite encapsulated in aluminum. U.S. Pat. No. 5,958,572 discloses a heat spreading substrate comprising an insert of thermal pyrolytic graphite ("TPG"), a diamond-like-carbon, and the like material having a plurality of vias formed within, to optimize heat flow transfer through the plurality of vias.
Some forms of pyrolytic graphite in the prior art, particularly those made by chemical vapor deposition processes, suffer from non-uniform thickness, which is due to variations in crystallographic plane thickness. Adjacent crystallographic layers are substantially parallel, but variations on the crystallographic scale accumulate over macroscopic thicknesses. For example, at 1 mm, the natural layer plane surfaces are not parallel. Thermal pyrolytic graphite "tiles" having the requisite thermal conductivity properties are available in the art for the making of heat spreader. However, they have relatively small dimensions, e.g., 2 cm width and 0.1 cm thick, for making relatively small heat spreaders. U.S. Pat. No. 6,407,902 offers a solution around the small-sized pyrolytic graphite tiles with heat spreaders comprising thermal pyrolytic graphite flakes incorporated in a matrix material. The composite graphite material can be machined into spreaders of desired dimensions, obviating the use of multiple fixed small-sized graphite tiles in the art.
There exists a need for a high thermal conductivity material of improved quality and size for use in devices for removing heat from electronic and IC equipment, i.e., a material suitable as a feedstock for making heat spreaders, heat inks, and the like. There is also the need for a process to make such high thermal conductivity feedstock.

Bulk high thermal conductivity feedstock and method of making thereof


The present invention provides a medical safety device for holding a container. The medical safety device is used to hold the container while extracting liquid by a syringe from the container. The medical safety device is a unitary flexible main body having two opposing ends. On each end is a hand hold for grasping by the user's hands. A longitudinal slit is positioned within a center portion of the main body. When opposing force is applied to both ends toward the center of the main body, the slit widens, allowing positioning of the container within the slit. Release of the force upon the ends narrows the slit and the container is retained within the slit of the medical safety device. The user may then extract the liquid from the container without holding the container.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to medical safety equipment. Specifically, and not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to a device for holding a container of medicinal or diagnostic agent.
2. Description of the Related Art
As discussed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/187,946 to Beal (Beal), healthcare workers are often required to dispense medication via a syringe from a via or ampule. Normally, the healthcare worker is required to insert a needle of the syringe though a seal on the top portion of a vial, load the syringe with medication, and then inject the medication into the patient. However, there are two well-know safety hazards which are present during this procedure.
One problem involves the risk of accidental needle sticking while loading a syringe, such as where a healthcare worker accidently sticks himself or sticks another individual who is assisting in loading the syringe. This risk is particularly acute when one person holds the vial while the other person inserts the needle into the vial or when the syringe is loaded in a dimly lit room. Each year, hundreds of thousands of health care workers suffer from needle stick accidents. Obviously this is a dangerous situation where the healthcare worker is at risk for contracting many types of blood borne illnesses, such as hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other viral and bacterial diseases.
Another problem occurs when a healthcare worker must load a syringe while working in a sterile environment. In such a situation, loading a syringe presents the risk of contaminating either the healthcare profession or the environment. For example, when a doctor is performing surgery in an operating room, touching an object that has not been sterilized, such as a vial, presents the risk of contamination through the operating field, and the spread of bacteria. To prevent contacting these unsterile objects, typically another individual must hold the vial while the physician loads the syringe. However, the assistance of another person obvious presents an additional risk of contamination, especially when that person's hands come into close proximity to the syringe being loaded. Thus, there is a need for a device that can be sterilized and allows a doctor or other healthcare worker to load a syringe in a sterile environment without the aid of a second individual or allows the second individual to keep his hands away from the syringe.
The prior patent application to Beal discloses such a device which provides a safety device to hold the vial. However, this device also suffers from some disadvantages. Beal discloses a safety device which is U-shaped having two symmetrical arms that must be squeezed together to grip and hold a container of medicinal or diagnostic agent. However, in order to safely grasp and hold the device against the vial, the user must hold both arms together, which can be awkward when attempting to hold the vial. The user may have a syringe in one hand and the safety device in another, while simultaneously trying to hold both arms together to securely hold the vial. A device is needed which automatically holds the vial without the use of a U-shaped safety device.
Additionally, although there are no known prior art teachings of a device such as that disclosed herein, prior art references that discuss subject matter that bears some relation to matters discussed herein are U.S. Pat. No. 2,908,923 to Schlechter (Schlechter). U.S. Pat. No. 3,214,210 to Keim (Keim), U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,020 to Fifield et. al. (Fifield), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,413,034 to Anderson (Anderson).
Schlechter discloses a lens cleaning device having a body with a handle and an outwardly extending U-shaped arm. The arm includes a lens cleaning element mounted to the U-shaped arm. Although this device is non-analogous art, the device does disclose a U-shaped arm which may be squeezed together to retain an object, namely a lens. However, Schlechter does not teach or suggest a device which automatically compresses its arms to retain a vial. Schlechter suffers from the disadvantage of requiring pressure to be applied by the user to retain the object. Schlechter also does not disclose retaining a vial or any object within the U-shaped arm.
Keim discloses a device to remove electronic tubes which includes a handle having a U-shape and a pair of parallel elongated arms which are hinged. However, Keim does not teach or suggest a device which automatically allows the arms to compress inwardly to hold a vial. Keim requires the user to hold both arms together to retain an object.
Fifield discloses a nail holder having a resilient plastic handle formed in a U-shape and a pair of parallel arms. The device is hinged and may be squeezed together to grip an object. Fifield also does not teach or suggest a device which automatically compresses without the user squeezing both arms together.
Anderson discloses a device for holding records which includes a U-shaped handle having a pair of arms. The arms must also be squeezed to together to retain an object. Anderson does not teach or suggest a device which automatically compresses its arms to retain the vial.
The above patents all disclose a generally U-shaped device for retaining objects. However, as discussed above, the patents fail to disclose a device which includes two arms that automatically compress to retain a vial. All of the above patents merely use two arms that require the user to squeeze the arms together to retain the object. Additionally, because the arms are hinged on only one end, the grasping and holding of the vial is awkward for the user when combined with the task of driving a needle into the vial.
Additionally, there are other prior art references which disclose devices for retaining objects, such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,862,776 to Sims et al. (Sims), U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,388 to Seibel (Seibel), U.S. Pat. No. 2,875,982 to Unglesby (Unglesby), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,954 to Whalen (Whalen). However, all of these devices are hinged on only one end and require the user to apply force to hold the arms together.
Sims discloses a tool for gripping objects. The tool includes two rigid arms which are hinged together on one end. The user must apply force to grip an object by squeezing the two arms together. Sims does not teach or suggest a device which includes arms which automatically compress to hold a vial.
Seilbel disclose a plastic bag transport device for having two arms which are used to retain a plurality of plastic bags. Seibel does not teach or suggest a device which automatically places pressure on a retained object.
Unglesby discloses a gripping device having two elongated arms which are hinged together. Unglesby does not teach or suggest a device which automatically retains an object.
Whalen discloses a pair of elongated griping members which are hinged on one end and used for opening a bottle or jar. Whalen requires the user to exert force on the members to retain an object.
Sims, Siebel, Unglesby, and Whalen all disclose two elongated members which are hinged on one side and require the user to position the members together. All of these patents suffer from the disadvantage of requiring the user to exert force by bringing the elongated members together.
Thus, it would be a distinct advantage to have an apparatus which is not hinged on one side and does not require the user to squeeze together the elongated arms to retain an object. It is an object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus.


A process is provided for the preparation of anhydrosugar alcohols. The process involves heating a sugar alcohol or a monoanhydrosugar alcohol starting material in the presence of an acid catalyst and under pressure. Optionally the resulting product is purified. Very high purities are achieved, without necessitating the use of organic solvents in the process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the production of anhydrosugar alcohols, also known as anhydroalditols or, in some cases, anhydrohexitols. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process for the production of anhydrosugar alcohols from sugar alcohol or monoanhydrosugar alcohol starting materials using elevated temperature and pressure.
2. Related Art
The chemical formation of closed-ring organic molecules has posed many issues for structural organic chemists. This has been particularly true with regard to synthetic reactions involving sugars and polyols, the acid dehydration of which leads to internal anhydro compounds (mono- and dianhydro products). Fleche and Huchette, Staerke 38:26-30 (1985) (hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).
The earliest work in this area was done on 1,4:3,6-dianhydro-D-mannitol by Faucommier in 1884. Only sporadic work followed until the 1940's and 1950's, when intensive work was done on all possible isomers of 1,4:3,6-dianhydrohexitols. Stoss and Hemmer, Adv. Carbohydrate Chem. and Biochem. 93-173 (1991) (hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Since then a large body of chemical literature has developed in this area.
The 1,5:3,6-dianhydrohexitols belong to the so-called "biomass-derived substances," obtainable from natural products. Therefore, these compounds are classified as "regenerable resources." Furthermore, 1,4:3,6-dianhydrohexitols, such as isosorbide, can be used as starting materials and intermediates in various organic synthetic reaction schemes. For example, isosorbide is useful in the formation of numerous pharmaceutical compounds, in food production, cosmetic production, plastic and polymer production, and in other industrial uses such as in the production of polyurethane, polycarbonate, polyesters, and polyamides. Stoss and Hemmer, 1991. Examples of specific compounds in which isosorbide is used are isosorbide dimethyl ether, which is useful as an industrial solvent, a pharmaceutical additive, and in personal care products, and isosorbide dinitrate, which is useful as a medication to relieve the pain of angina attacks or reduce the number of such attacks by improving blood flow to the heart.
Of the known isohexides, isosorbide is considered to be that of the highest importance. Stoss and Hemmer (1991) describe putative steps leading from D-glucitol (also referred to in the art as sorbitol) to isosorbide. Acidic media are generally used for dehydrating the sugar alcohol substrate. Especially to enhance the yield and to avoid side reactions, certain modifications of the reaction conditions have been employed over the years, with various impacts on yield of isosorbide product. Stoss and Hemmer (1991).
Several processes for the production of anhydrosugar alcohols (including isohexides such as isosorbide) have been reported. For example, PCT application number PCT/US99/00537 (WO 00/14081), discloses collecting methods and a continuous production method with recycling of organic solvent. Most methods involve the use of concentrated acids and organic solvents. Goodwin et al., Carbohydrate Res. 79:133-141 (1980) have disclosed a method involving the use of acidic-cation-exchange resin in place of concentrated, corrosive acids, but with low yield of isosorbide product. An alternative is the supersaturation-based method, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,564,692 (Feldmann, et al., Jan. 14, 1986). However, a need continues in the art for a process for production of very pure isosorbide, at reasonable yields. The above-cited references are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

Process for the production of anhydrosugar alcohols


A liquid marker system utilizes three primary components to permit marking of lines of various widths from a single nib. The three components are a porous nib, a transfer wick and a squeezable container. Operation relies on different squeeze pressures applied to the housing to produce different line widths from the single nib as the nib is moved across a marked surface. The porous wick provides a resistance to flow until the bottle is squeezed and then supplies a minimum of capillary flow to the nib. The user squeezes the container to overcome the resistance of the wick. No venting of the container interior is required because the wick and nib system allows the passage of air into the container when the container is returned to its unstressed (i.e., un-squeezed) condition.

1. Technical Field
The present invention pertains to improvements in liquid markers and more particularly, to free ink marker systems and methods utilizing pigments, paints, dyes, liquid chalk, etc.
2. Discussion of the Art
Various prior art markers permit marking fluids to be squeezed from a container through a porous nib; however, such markers have lacked the ability to control or modulate the delivery rate as required for detailed drawing, calligraphy, and other detail oriented applications. Moreover, squeeze containers are typically subject to leakage due to pressure variations and temperature changes. Other prior art marker designs utilize ink housed in absorbent fibers and transferred by capillary action to a porous nib.
Conventional liquid markers can only effect differing line widths by using a differently sized and/or configured nibs for each desired line.
It is an object of the invention to provide a liquid marker delivery method and apparatus in which the marker liquid can be squeezed from a container in a manner that permits close control over the delivery rate of the liquid.
It is another object of the invention to provide a liquid marker delivery method and apparatus capable of producing different line widths and effects with a single nib.
The aforesaid objects are achieved individually and in combination, and it is not intended that the present invention be construed as requiring two or more of the objects to be combined unless expressly required by the claims attached hereto.
In accordance with the present invention, a marker system utilizes three primary components to permit the marker to produce lines of various widths from a single nib. The three primary components are a porous nib, a transfer wick and a squeezable container or housing in which the wick and nib are disposed with the nib protruding from one end thereof. Stated otherwise, the present invention combines a porous wick utilized in conjunction with a squeezable plastic tube or bottle and a porous plastic or felt nib. System operation relies on different squeeze pressures applied to the housing to produce different line widths from the single nib. Squeeze bottles without a wick are subject to leakage due to pressure variations and temperature changes. The porous wick of the present invention provides a resistance to flow until the bottle is squeezed and then supplies a minimum of capillary flow to the nib. The wick resistively blocks flow of the marker liquid to the porous nib in the absence of pressurization of the enclosed volume of the housing to a predetermined level above ambient pressure. The user squeezes the container to overcome the resistance of the wick, and can supply marker fluid to the nib at volumes directly related to the squeeze pressure. In response to squeezing or compressing the housing or container to pressurize the enclosed volume to the predetermined level, the capillary flow of the contained marker liquid is delivered from the enclosed volume to the nib. As used herein the terms xe2x80x9cwickxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cwick memberxe2x80x9d refer to a device capable of drawing liquid along surfaces thereof (i.e., by virtue of the very nature of its material and the nature of the liquid), or through one or more capillary orifices defined through the member, to provide the liquid delivery requirements described herein.
The simple device of the present invention requires no venting to atmosphere of the container interior because the wick and porous nib system allows the passage of air into the container. The porosity of the porous nib forms an aspiration means for permitting entry of the ambient air into the enclosed volume in response to the pressure in the enclosed volume dropping below ambient pressure. A channel defined in the periphery of the nib and a channel defined in a portion of the housing surrounding the nib also aid the aspiration means. Specifically, when the container is returned to its unstressed (i.e., un-squeezed) condition, ambient air is aspirated back into the container through the nib-wick system.
The squeeze pressure required to emit marker fluid from the container interior is set to be greater than any atmospheric differential pressure that would normally be experienced in the use of the marker system. In this manner, the marker system operates properly in airplanes, at different ground elevations, etc., without leaking due to pressure differentials.
The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following definitions, descriptions and descriptive figures of specific embodiments thereof wherein like reference numerals in the various figures are utilized to designate like components. While these descriptions go into specific details of the invention, it should be understood that variations may and do exist and would be apparent to those skilled in the art based on the descriptions herein.

Pressure modulated free ink marker for producing variable line width


A rearview mirror device includes an elongated mirror body and a housing. The mirror body is formed with a first curved section having two opposite ends, and second and third curved sections extending integrally and respectively from the opposite ends of the first curved section. The first curved section has a radius of curvature larger than a radius of curvature of the second curved section and a radius of curvature of the third curved section. A ratio of the radius of curvature of the first curved section to the radius of curvature of either one of the second and third curved sections is not greater than 1.65. The housing includes a frame body with first and second mounting portions. Each of the second and third curved sections is mounted on a respective one of the first and second mounting portions of the frame body.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a rearview mirror device, more particularly to a rearview mirror device with a wide viewing angle.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional rearview mirror device that includes a primary mirror body 1 and a smaller auxiliary mirror body 2 mounted on the primary mirror body 1 to result in a relatively wide viewing angle. However, such an arrangement results in the image on the primary mirror body 1 being partly blocked by the auxiliary mirror body 2, and the different images on the primary mirror body 1 and the auxiliary mirror body 2 as seen by a driver can result in misjudgment which, in turn, can lead to accidents. Moreover, the auxiliary mirror body 2 is prone to fall off from the primary mirror body 1 after a period of use.
FIG. 2 illustrates another conventional rearview mirror device that has a flat main mirror surface 3 and a curved mirror surface 4 to result in a relatively wide viewing angle. However, the problem of driver misjudgment is still unresolved due to the apparent discontinuity in the images on the main mirror surface 3 and the curved mirror surface 4 as seen by the driver and attributed to the relatively large step present at the junction of the main mirror surface 3 and the curved mirror surface 4.

Rearview mirror device with wide viewing angle


A system for protecting data stored on a device. The system has a server for assigning encryption/decryption keys and one or more peripheral devices. The peripheral devices have a network interface to connect to the server to receive the keys, a host interface to couple to host devices, and an encryption/decryption engine for processing files transferred between the host devices and the peripheral devices. In this fashion, the peripheral devices use the keys to encrypt and decrypt data stored on the host devices.

Today it is very common for users to access a secure network via a portable electronic device, such as a laptop or a personal digital assistant (PDA). Such secure networks protect data as it is being transferred to and from the portable electronic device by such methods such as firewalls, virtual private networks (VPNs), and the like. For example, one traditional method to protect a corporate network is a firewall at the perimeter of the network.
However, such protection is only effective if the computing device stays behind the firewall. If the laptop or PDA is stolen then whatever files are on the user's computing device are vulnerable to theft as well. The computing device may be vulnerable even if the computing device is not stolen. For example, if it is taken home, the laptop or PDA will not be sitting behind the corporate perimeter firewall. Thus, any files that the user downloaded to the computing device are vulnerable. For example, if the user is connected to an un-secure network from home, a hacker may gain access to confidential files stored on the laptop.
Some additional measure of protection may be achieved via a software-implemented firewall. While a software firewall may operate even if the computing device is physically remote from the perimeter firewall protected network, the software firewall is susceptible to attacks from Trojan programs and other hacking methods. For example, the data may flow from a network interface card to a host device's operating system software stack where the software firewall performs its rule checks to determine whether the data should proceed further up the software stack. (And for outbound data the software firewall again resides at a point well above the network interface). Numerous examples have been reported in which such software firewalls have been compromised. For example, encryption keys may be passed though the system software stack where a hacker may easily hide and monitor.
Thus, a need has arisen for a way to protect data downloaded to a computing device from a secure network. A further need exists to protect such data if the computing device is stolen. An even further need exists to protect data on a computing device under attack when connected to an un-secure network. A still further need exists for a solution that is not easily defeated by hacking techniques such as Trojan programs.

Peripheral device for protecting data stored on host device and method and system using the same


A grip and bipod mounting device for mounting a bipod supporting grip assembly to a “picatinny” mounting rail structure as are often affixed below the forearm stock of a firearm such as a military rifle (e.g., as per standard MIL-STD-1913). In particular, the present invention is directed to mounting a Parker-Hale style of firearm bipod on a bipod supporting grip assembly including a contoured mounting block segment inletted to cover and attach to a picatinny rail affixed beneath the forearm stock of the firearm. A grip or handle depends transversely from the mounting block segment and has a plurality of evenly spaced circumferential band-shaped outwardly projecting surface features. The bipod supporting grip assembly is releasably attachable to a bipod frame by means of a quick release connector such as a bayonet lock or similar locking means. The bipod frame includes a pair of extensible/retractable legs, each having a pair of telescoping sections to enable the height of the bipod to be adjustable as desired.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to firearm accessories and support devices such as pistol-style grips and bipods, and more particularly, relates to a grip assembly for attaching a pistol-style grip and bipod support to a mounting rail structure affixed to the forearm stock of a firearm. The grip assembly attaches to the rail structure and enables quick attachment and detachment of the bipod to the firearm without modification of the rail structure or forearm stock of the firearm.
2. Background of the Invention
Large caliber or select fire automatic firearms are difficult to control when firing and muzzle rise can cause the marksman to shoot above an intended point of aim. Controlling muzzle rise has been accomplished in the prior art by using a pistol-style grip at a fixed location under the barrel, near the muzzle, as best epitomized by the police version of the famed Thompson® sub-machinegun. While a permanently fixed pistol-style grip serves well in some situations; it limits the usefulness of the weapon and is not well suited for precise aiming.
When shooting firearms, especially in stressful tactical situations, it is important that the firearm be maintained in a steady, stable position to insure accuracy of aim. Most shooters are not able to hold a firearm consistently in a set position without wavering, especially after the onset of fatigue.
Accordingly, peripheral support devices have been used in conjunction with firearms since the early creation of firearms as a means of stabilizing a firearm to reduce vibration, wavering, etc., and to improve accuracy. In the past, shooters have used everything from large stationary objects such as rocks and tree branches to forked sticks, shooting slings, bipods and tripods. Early bipod and tripod supports typically were somewhat crude strands that generally were bulky, inconvenient and difficult to use and typically were not easily adjustable. In more recent times, bipod supports have been developed that are compact and relatively lightweight and are mountable to the forearm stock of a firearm, such as a rifle, to make the bipods portable with the firearm. Most conventional bipod supports include a pair of legs that can be pivoted from an up position adjacent the firearm stock, to a down position engaging a support surface, with the legs also being extensible to adjust the height of the support.
A problem with conventional grips and bipods has been inability to mount either a grip or bipod to most firearms without requiring the use of special mounting tools and the machining or modification of the firearm stock to accommodate the grip or bipod. Additionally, most grips or bipods are not designed for quick and easy attachment and release from a firearm's stock. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,678 discloses a bipod assembly that includes legs that are pivotable independently of one another for ease of adjustment, but which is not easily attached/detached from the firearm. Other types of conventional bipods offer varying types of mountings that can be fitted to various types of rifles without requiring modification or machining of the rifle stock. For example, Harris Engineering, Inc. manufactures a series of bipod mounts for use with a variety of different firearms. However, these bipod mounts do not provide for the quick-release of the bipods from the firearm.
One of the most popular bipods on the market has been the Parker-Hale bipod assembly. This bipod includes a pair of telescoping legs attached to a mounting frame, and a mounting block for mounting the bipod to the firearm. The mounting block of the Parker-Hale bipod is releasably attached to the mounting frame of the bipod to enable quick attachment/release of the legs of the bipod from the firearm. The problem with the Parker-Hale bipod is that to mount the bipod to a firearm, the forearm stock of the firearm generally must be modified to mount a track or slide therein, along which the mounting block is received to mount the bipod to the firearm; this leaves no room for a grip. In addition, such modifications generally are expensive and often must be done by specialty gunsmiths and can mar the finish of the firearm.
Another problem often encountered with the bipods of the prior art is that the attachment to the firearm (e.g., rifle) is defined by a union of substantially perpendicular lengths of steel. When a shooter assumes the prone position, for example, the optimum results are obtained by forcing the forward hand distally, usually against the front mounting point of a sling, thereby creating a tension in the shooter's body to support the rifle and steady the point of aim. If a shooter were to force his or her forward hand against the perpendicular steel parts of the prior art bipods, the result would be a painful grip against irregularly shaped parts having no ergonomic benefit for the shooter.
This situation is compounded for military or police shooters using military or SWAT rifles carrying special mounts known as picatinny rails under the rifle forearm; the picatinny rails are customarily used for mounting grenade launchers, lights or other accessories and so the rifles often weigh much more than the lighter sporting arms most shooters are used to carrying.
Accordingly, it can be seen that a need exists for a grip and bipod mounting device for selectively attaching a grip and bipod to a firearm adapted for use in military or SWAT situations, where the shooter may need either to control muzzle rise or, for precision aiming, to have a stable support. Ideally, the attachment should not require extensive modification to the firearm such as machining of the forearm stock of the firearm. Preferably, a bipod-mounting device would also enable quick attachment and detachment of the bipod to the firearm.


A portable sealable recovery container having a sealed interior space, a first inlet on a first top surface, a second inlet on a second top surface which functions as a top when the container is rotated to make the first top surface a side surface, a discharge member on a side surface with a first and a second conduit connected to the discharge member such that the second conduit extends from the discharge member in a planar relationship with the first top surface and its end is above the discharge member when the first top surfaces faces upward while the first conduit extends from the discharge member in a planar relationship with the second top surface and its end is above the discharge member when the second top surface faces upward, and sealing means for sealing any one of the first inlet, the second inlet, and the discharge member.

This present invention relates to an improvement in recovery containers, and more particularly to containers used in tramp oil or other effluent skimming operations for the purpose of recovering and recycling more usable fluids from the effluent mixture.
Industrial work which involves, but is not limited to, metal working such as fabrication, milling, tooling, machining, boring, parts cleaning, and the like, uses high-speed power tools for that purpose. A variety of industrial solutions are used to lubricate and to cool the work piece and the machine or tool associated with that work piece. Industrial solutions, such as coolants (i.e., cutting fluids or grinding fluids for example) are costly. When invariably, and unavoidably, tramp-oil or other undesirable effluents become mixed with industrial solution, the useful life of the industrial solutions is greatly diminished. A need exists to remove undesirable effluents from the industrial solution to permit re-use of as much industrial solution as possible.
The purpose of removing these undesirable effluents from another industrial solution is to maintain that industrial solution in a contamination-free state and to thereby reduce bacterial growth potential therein.
Effluents, such as tramp-oil, even in trace amounts, provides a food source for bacteria and thereby contributes to its growth. Because of such growth, the work place becomes filled with an undesirable rancid and foul-smelling order. Tramp-oil is also the source of smoke-mist and oil-mist in the work place. Quality of the work place suffers. These are valid health-related, environmental, and quality-of-life concerns for the well-being of the worker.
Quality of work is also affected by the presence of tramp-oil or other effluents. Tramp-oil reduces the useful life of the machine tool and the useful life of the industrial solution used in the machining process. It provides a means by which undesirable residues are retained in the work place and deposited on the work piece and the machine tool. Overall, the product suffers in time expended to produce it and in the quality of finished product itself. The presence of tramp-oils, and other undesirable effluents, also results in increased maintenance requirements in the work place. Tramp-oil is the scourge to industry and any efficient means of eliminating tramp-oil will greatly enhance the quality of finished products and quality of life in the work place for the machinist.
Generally, contaminated industrial solutions, even with trace amounts of contaminate, will last for a short period of time. After that, the contaminated fluid is disposed-of and replaced. The problems associated with this are two-fold. One is the cost for the proper packaging of the contaminated industrial solution and its proper disposal and another is the cost for new industrial solution. A third, indirect but associated problem is final disposal. In an already crowded ecosphere, limiting waste streams becomes crucial. Disposing of industrial solutions before their time adds to rather than decreases our waste stream.
Adding a bactericide to the industrial solution to kill the bacteria is yet another attempt at curing some problems associated with the presence of tramp-oil. In this cure, one problem was substituted for another since it was found that most bactericides irritated human skin. The problems associated with trace amounts of tramp-oil remain unabated.
Currently, apparatus (such as skimmers) are used in association with removing undesirable effluents and conveying the solution into a container or reservoir for decantation. Here the undesirable effluents separate out and rise to the top where they can be skimmed off and the industrial fluid or solution re-used. This process is cumbersome and requires additional skimming which general agitates the mixture and, to some extent, defeats the purpose. In many such processes, the container remains with the skimmer unit at all times causing an interruption in the overall operations and skimming process.
Other devices and methods employ various pumps and pumping techniques, one or more external tanks or containers, and numerous connections therebetween. These are costly to purchase, operate, and maintain. Additionally, these do not offer virtually continued operation; there must be a down-time to remove and replace the container which, with all the connections, becomes a lengthy task. Most containers used for this purpose are complex structures with baffles and weirs contained throughout. None is portable.
In this regard, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 365,259 issued on Jun. 21, 1887, to Ide; U.S. Pat. No. 782,065 issued on Feb. 7, 1905, to Shaler; U.S. Pat. No. 1,140,118 issued on May 18, 1915, to Collins; U.S. Pat. No. 2,762,511 issued on Sep. 11, 1956, to Sternaman; U.S. Pat. No. 3,080,057 issued on Mar. 5, 1963, to Mobley; U.S. Pat. No. 3,707,404 issued on Dec. 26, 1972, to Carlson, et. al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,804,252 issued on Apr. 16, 1974, to Rishel; U.S. Pat. No. 4,073,734 issued on Feb. 14, 1978, to Lowrie; U.S. Pat. No. 4,422,931 issued on Dec. 27, 1983, to Wolde-Michael; U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,011 issued on Oct. 24, 1989, to Betts, et. al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,280 issued on Jun. 16, 1992, to Russell, et. al. Each relates to various apparatus and paraphernalia associate with liquid separation. Each are either complex, cumbersome, and costly; none is as portable, easily sealable, and easily transportable and versatile as is the present invention.
The present invention is well-suited for further and more easily removing water-resistant oils and oil-like substances (e.g., hydraulic oils, lubricants, and other undesirable oils-tramp oils) from water-miscible industrial solutions (generally coolant industrial solutions used by machine tools in metal cutting and grinding operations) and recycling those industrial solutions for re-use. It is self-contained, portable, and sealable. Where space is limited, the present invention can be positioned in more than one position, to accommodate cramped spaces, and still function as desired.
The portable container, however, is not limited to machine processing operations. On a larger scale, it can be used as a recovery source for any petroleum-based product or other undesirable effluent which is in suspension, or emulsified, in water or other oil-repellent industrial solutions such that greater quantities of industrial solutions are recoverable and, therefore, re-usable. In the case of parts' washing with water, the recovery container facilitates separation of grease or oil from water such that the water also is re-usable.
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are to:
provide a more efficient, effective, and less costly manner of recovering more usable solutions or fluids from effluents; PA1 provide portability and versatility to current recovery systems; PA1 permit positioning and using a recovery container in more than one position; and PA1 provide an environmentally friendly sealable re-usable recovery container.
The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the present invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


Nucleic acids and viral vectors, particularly adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are provided that encode Cas9 and paired guide RNAs. The nucleic acids and vectors, and compositions that comprise them, can be used in methods to treat subjects, to alter cells in subjects who may suffer from an inherited retinal dystrophy such as CEP290 associated disease or who may be in need of alteration of a cell or a cellular nucleic acid sequence associated with an inherited retinal dystrophy such as the CEP290 gene, and/or to treat inherited retinal dystrophies including CEP290 associated disease.

CEP290 is a 290 kilodalton (kDa) protein encoded by a 90 kilobase-pair (kb) gene, which is thought to be involved in the normal function of the eye and kidney. In cells, the CEP290 protein associates with the centrosome and with cellular scaffold proteins, and is implicated in a variety of cellular processes including cell division, the DNA damage response, and ciliogenesis. Mutations of CEP290 are observed in several diseases, including Senior-Loken syndrome, Meckel Gruber syndrome, Bardet-Biedle syndrome, Joubert Syndrome, and Leber Congenital Amaurosis 10 (LCA10).
LCA10 is an inherited retinal degenerative disease characterized by severe visual impairment or blindness at birth. The disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion and is caused by a C.2991+1655A to G mutation (the "IVS26" mutation) in the CEP290 gene. IVS26 is a loss-of-function mutation in which a cryptic splice donor site is formed in intron 26 of the CEP290 gene, resulting in prematurely truncated CEP290 mRNA transcripts that include an aberrant 128 bp exon. The consequent loss of CEP290 function is thought to disrupt sensory cilia function in photoreceptor cells, leading to the disease.
There are currently no approved therapies for LCA10. Gene therapy strategies for treating CEP290 associated disease are complicated by the size of the protein and the difficulty of packaging large sequences into currently used gene therapy vectors, and no small molecule therapies have been approved for the disease. To address the lack of treatment options for LCA10, the inventors have developed a strategy for correcting the IVS26 mutation in cells using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, and have shown deletion of the mutation in up to 60% of HEK293 cells in vitro. See International Patent Publication No. WO2015/138510 by Maeder et al. ("Maeder"), which is incorporated by reference herein.

Compositions and methods for treating CEP290 associated disease


A method of making a relief image on a flexographic print plate including imagewise exposing a mask including an imageable material disposed on a mask substrate to form an imaged mask having a mask image in the imageable material disposed on the mask substrate, the mask image including mask image areas each having a highlight value. The method further includes laminating the imaged mask to a front surface of a flexographic printing plate precursor, and exposing selected areas of the flexographic printing plate precursor to an imagewise addressable curing radiation via a back surface of the flexographic printing plate precursor based on the highlight values of corresponding mask image areas of the mask image.

Flexographic printing is a method of direct rotary printing that uses a resilient relief image in a plate of rubber or photopolymer (i.e. a flexographic printing plate) to print articles such as cartons, bags, labels or books. Flexographic printing has found particular application in packaging, where it has displaced rotogravure and offset lithography printing techniques in many cases. While the quality of articles printed using flexographic plates has improved significantly as the technology has matured, physical limitations related to the process of creating a relief image in the flexographic printing plate remain.
In particular, it is very difficult to print small graphic elements such as fine dots, lines, and even text using flexographic printing plates. In the lightest areas of an image (commonly referred to as highlights), the density of the image is represented by the total area of dots in a halftone screen representation of a continuous tone image. Due to the nature of the plate making processes, maintaining small dots on a flexographic printing plate is very difficult. In a pre-imaging (or post-imaging) step the floor of the printing plate is set by area exposure to ultraviolet light from the back of the printing plate. This exposure hardens the photopolymer to a desired relief depth for optimal printing. Floodwise exposure to image-forming radiation via a mask layer followed by a processing step to remove unhardened (i.e. unexposed) photopolymer produces relief dots having a generally conical shape.
The smallest of these dots are prone to be removed during processing, which means no ink is transferred to those areas during printing (the dot is not "held" on plate and/or on press). Alternatively, even if the smallest dots survive processing, they are susceptible to damage on the rotary printer, as small dots often fold over and/or partially break off during printing causing either excess ink or no ink to be transferred.
There remains a need to improve retention of small dots in flexographic printing processes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method employing secondary back exposure of flexographic plate


Provided are an actuation mechanism having two degrees of freedom of movement and a sentry robot having the actuation mechanism having two degrees of freedom of movement capable of performing wide and narrow monitoring and sentry in short and long ranges and automatically shooting at a target. The actuation mechanism having two degrees of freedom includes a pivot driving portion and a vertical driving portion. The pivot driving portion includes a platform, a vertical driving portion connection portion rotatably installed on the platform, and a pivot driving portion including a motor which rotates the vertical driving portion connection portion. The vertical driving portion includes a pivot driving portion connection portion connected to an upper side of the vertical driving portion connection portion, a column standing on the pivot driving portion connection portion, a mount rotatably arranged in an upper portion of the column, and a motor rotating the mount with respect to the column. The rotation shaft of the vertical driving portion connection portion of the pivot driving portion and the rotation shaft of the vertical driving portion mount intersect each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an actuation mechanism having two degrees of freedom of movement and a sentry robot having the same, and more particularly, to an actuation mechanism having two degrees of freedom that is capable of tracking a target with a camera and/or gun, and a sentry robot having the actuation mechanism having two degrees of freedom capable of performing wide and narrow monitoring in short and long ranges and automatically shooting at a target.
2. Description of the Related Art
Intelligent robot technology is one of the next generation new technologies which will lead the 21st century's industrial and military science technologies with the technical development of artificial intelligence (AI). In particular, a monitoring and sentry system is a sophisticated system employing a variety of technologies such as ultra-low brightness camera technology, image recognition technology, image processing and storing technology, voice recognition technology, servo technology, image tracking technology, and system control technology.
As the security industry grows rapidly, the demands for the use of intelligent monitoring and sentry robot systems in important national facilities such as airports, harbors, and nuclear power plants will increase. In the military, such a system enhances the efficiency of the sentry function in peace time. To efficiently improve the security of solders in war time, various unmanned equipment, which can replace 3D (dangerous, dirty, dull) duties of solders, have been developed and deployed. The unmanned robot based on the AI technology can efficiently replace manpower and greatly enhance military competitive power.
In particular, the monitoring and sentry robot can perform the most important role in the development of the military strategy. Also, in terms of monitoring and sentry functions, the use of robots can prevent the fatigue and loss of concentration caused by repetition of tasks by solders on sentry duty. Furthermore, the system can have accurate tracking and instant reaction abilities including high speed and accurate shooting ability during engagement with weapons during war time.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,676 entitled "Fire Control System" discloses a shooting control system for a manually aimed gun. In the patent, a target is tracked by a video tracker and laser of an electro-optical device (EOD) and the distance and direction of the target are calculated. The image of target is sent to a video monitor of an operator and the operator performs shooting by controlling the gun to track the target through the video monitor.
However, the shooting control system has a problem in that the range of monitoring by a camera device of the system is limited. Also, the conventional monitoring and sentry system employing a single video camera or common monitoring camera is a basic system adopting the concept of automation, not a system capable of intelligently recognizing a target and automatically tracking the target.
In particular, the conventional actuation mechanism included in a monitoring and sentry system has a problem in that the movement of a mechanism driving a camera or gun to track a target is so limited that accurate tracking of the target is difficult. Thus, an actuation mechanism capable of solving the problem, and a sentry robot having the actuation mechanism, are needed.

Actuation mechanism having two degrees of freedom and sentry robot having the same


A first expression of a flow-control valve assembly includes a valve body and a resilient flow control positioned in the valve body. The valve body has a valve seat including a radially-inner valve seat portion, a radially-outer valve seat portion and a bypass-flow-channel exit located between the two seat portions. The flow control has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a through passage. The bottom surface is spaced apart from the radially-inner valve seat portion under a lower fluid pressure against the top surface exposing the bypass-flow-channel exit. The bottom surface seats against the radially-inner valve seat portion under a higher fluid pressure blocking the bypass-flow-channel exit. A second expression of a flow-control valve assembly includes a valve body having a bypass-flow-channel exit and includes a resilient flow control which has a substantially-constant-diameter outer cylindrical surface and which has a bottom surface devoid of any protrusion.

Flow-control valve assemblies are used to provide a substantially constant fluid flow rate over a range of varying line pressures. Applications which employ flow-control valve assemblies include, without limitation, drinking fountains, beverage dispensers, automatic washing machines for clothes or dishes, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, automotive fuel injectors, and pneumatic machine tools.
A known design of a flow-control valve assembly includes a flow control positioned in a valve body, wherein the flow control has a central through passage, and wherein the valve body includes a bypass flow channel. The flow control includes an upstream top surface, a downstream bottom surface, and an outer cylindrical surface. The downstream bottom surface has longitudinally-projecting, resilient feet. The outer cylindrical surface has an annular seal which projects radially outward from the outer cylindrical surface. Fluid flows through the central through passage under a low and a high fluid pressure. When the top surface of the flow control is subjected to a low fluid pressure, the feet provide a stand-off allowing bypass flow. When the top surface of the flow control is subjected to a high fluid pressure, the resilient feet collapse, the flow control engagingly slides downstream a distance in the valve body, and the annular seal seats against a shoulder of the valve body preventing bypass flow.
Still, scientists and engineers continue to seek improved flow controls and improved flow-control valve assemblies.


A CMOS integrated circuit regulator for mixed mode integrated circuits reduces digital switching noise through use of a clamped dual source follower circuit and a charge reservoir bypass capacitor. Relatively constant current is provided to the CMOS logic during transitions to minimize switching noise.

The present invention relates to a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) voltage regulator circuit for reducing digital signal noise in mixed mode integrated circuits. CMOS integrated circuits are currently used in many digital logic applications. These circuits are relatively fast and consume little power during the static or non-switching state.
FIG. 1 illustrates a circuit schematic of a basic CMOS inverter 10, the fundamental component of most CMOS logic circuits. Inverter 10 has an input node 12, an output node 14, a p-channel transistor 16, and an n-channel transistor 18. The transistors are connected to V.sub.DD (power) and GND (ground) as shown, and their gates are tied together as shown. In operation, application of a low potential at input node 12 causes n-channel transistor 18 to turn off and renders p-channel transistor 16 conductive, thereby coupling output 14 to V.sub.DD. Application of a high potential to input node 12 turns off p-channel transistor 16 and turns on n-channel 18, coupling output 14 to V.sub.SS.
When a CMOS device, such as inverter 10, is in a steady-state condition (not switching between output states), there is no current flow in the inverter from the power supply. If the inverter output switches from low to high, two components of current are drawn from V.sub.DD --an overlap current and a displacement current. The overlap current, which exists during the brief moment when both transistors are conducting, flows through both the pmos and nmos transistors to ground. The displacement current (i.e., C.sub.l *dV.sub.out /dt) flows through the pmos transistor only to charge the load capacitance (C.sub.l). At high switching frequencies, the displacement current is large. As it flows through parasitic resistances and inductances associated with the digital power grid, bonding pads and wires, package pins, etc., resulting in digital switching noise. If the digital V.sub.SS power supply line is connected to the substrate (common practice in p-well CMOS technology), the power supply switching noise due to current surges from charging and discharging of the loads at the gates is coupled directly into the n-substrate, which is shared by analog circuitry. The digital switching noise can be problematic to the operation of the analog circuitry, which can be fairly sensitive. In addition to CMOS static logic, other logic families such as dynamic logic, exhibit similar noise generation problems.
Prior attempts at a solution to the problem--including power supply filters, wide spacings and diffused guardbands between the analog and digital subsection, separate analog and digital supply lines, separate bonding pads and wires, as well as separate package pins--have proven unacceptable. These attempts resulted only in a reduction in the transmission of noise from on-chip static logic gates through the substrate to the analog circuitry, at the expense of valuable silicon area and, in some cases, increased circuit complexity.
While the use of other logic families, such as folded source-coupled logic (FSCL) and current-steering logic (CSL), have certain advantages, use of these technologies requires circuit redesign. Further, the advantages associated with the use of other logic families, such as FSCL and CSL, do not outweigh the disadvantage of having to redesign CMOS circuitry.
It is therefore desirable to minimize/eliminate the generation of digital switching noise produced by CMOS logic circuits in mixed mode integrated circuits. It is also desirable to retain common CMOS circuit topologies to simplify useage in mixed-mode integrated circuits.

CMOS integrated circuit regulator for reducing power supply noise


The invention found that partial deletion of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd) promoter can enhance gene expression (even heterologous gene expression) in basidiomycetous fungi. With the discovery of these gpd promoters, an expression system can be constructed for the expression of a heterologous gene in mushroom. Accordingly, the invention provides a truncated glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter and a construct comprising the promoter of the invention operably linked to a heterologous transcribable polynucleotide molecule and a mushroom comprising the construct.

Molecular pharming has attracted extensive attention in production of various pharmaceutical proteins, including enzymes, vaccines, antibodies, hormones, etc. Edible mushrooms are regarded as appropriate hosts for production of recombinant proteins, especially for the development of edible vaccines. The use of mushrooms for molecular pharming has all the advantages of plant-based systems coupled with unique benefits including complete duplication, fast growth, scale-up production under controlled conditions and less gene contamination. However, the success of mushroom molecular pharming relies on efficient transformation and gene expression.
Using strong promoters to express heterologous genes in appropriate hosts is a major strategy in biotechnological applications. The glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD, EC 126.96.36.199) promoter is a strong constitutive promoter which can be induced by any carbon source and has been widely used in the expression of heterologous proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia pastoris and other yeasts. GPD is one of the key enzymes in the glycolytic and gluconeogenesis pathway and comprises up to 5% of the soluble cellular protein content in S. cerevisiae and other higher eukaryotes. Furthermore, gpd mRNA accounts for 2-5% of the poly (A)+ RNA present in yeasts. These observations suggest that the gpd gene is regulated by a highly active promoter. In fact, vectors carrying the homologous gpd promoter region have been reported to be efficient in directing expression of heterologous genes in yeasts (Bitter and Egan, 1988, Doring et al., 1998, Eriksson et al., 1995, Vassileva et al., 2001) and filamentous fungi (Juge et al., 1998, Punt et al., 1987). However, known expression vectors containing genetic regulatory elements for expression in filamentous fungi of the ascomycetes class cannot be efficiently expressed in filamentous fungi of the basidiomycetes class.
The gpd genes have also been cloned from basidiomycetous fungi, including Schizophyllum commune, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Agaricus bisporus (Harmsen et al., 1992), and Lentinula edodes. Among these mushrooms, genetic transformation using homologous gpd promoter was reported successful only in A. bisporus, Flammulina velutipes and L. edodes (Hirano et al., 2000, Kuo et al., 2004, van de Rhee et al., 1996). Although heterologous promoters have been used for the expression of drug-resistant marker genes, the genetic transformation is not sufficient to express heterologous genes. To sufficiently and effectively express a heterologous gene, it is important for a host cell to recognize the promoter sequence by its transcriptional machinery. Chun-Yi Kuo et al. demonstrated that a heterologous gene, hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene (hpt), can be expressed in F. velutipes (Kuo et al., 2004). However, it was found that the gpd genes in some basidiomycetous fungi, though highly similar, are significantly different in their promoter regions. U.S. Pat. No. 7,777,021 provides an isolated glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter in Pleurotus and a construct comprising the promoter operably linked to a heterologous transcribable polynucleotide molecule.
However, there is a need to increase gene expression of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter in basidiomycetous fungi.

Truncated glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter


Embodiments of the present invention provide a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate and a method for manufacturing the same and a display device. The TFT array substrate improves a structure of a TFT array substrate and has a small thickness, and process flow is simplified. The method for manufacturing a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate comprises: obtaining a gate line and a gate electrode through a first patterning process on a glass substrate; forming a gate insulating layer on the gate line and the gate electrode; forming a graphene layer on the gate insulating layer, and obtaining a semiconductor active layer over the gate electrode by a second patterning process and a hydrogenation treatment; obtaining a data line, a source electrode, a drain electrode and a pixel electrode which are located on the same layer by a third patterning process; and forming a protection layer on the data line, the source electrode, the semiconductor active layer, the drain electrode and the pixel electrode.

For a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), the degree of rotation of liquid crystal molecules are varied with variance in the electric field intensity applied to a liquid crystal layer, so that the level of light permeability is controlled to display an image. Generally, a liquid crystal display panel comprises a backlight module assembly, a polarizer, an upper substrate (usually a color filter substrate), a lower substrate (usually an array substrate), and a liquid crystal molecule layer filled in a liquid crystal cell formed with these two substrates. Data lines and gate lines, which intersect each other laterally and longitudinally, are formed on the array substrate, and the data lines and the gate lines surround and define pixel units which are arranged in a matrix. Each of the pixel units comprises a TFT switch element and a pixel electrode. The TFT switch element comprises a gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode and an active layer; the gate electrode is connected to a gate line, the source electrode is connected to a data line, the drain electrode is connected to the gate electrode, and the active layer is formed between the source and drain electrodes and the gate electrode. A common electrode may be further formed on the substrate and acts to form an electric field together with the pixel electrode, and degree of rotation of liquid crystal molecules are controlled by variance in electric field intensity between the common electrode and the pixel electrode. A storage capacitor may be further formed between a storage capacitor line on the TFT array substrate, which is parallel to and located in the same layer as the gate lines, and the pixel electrode and acts to maintain states of the liquid crystal molecules before the next signal arrives.
In an advanced super dimension switch (ADS) technology, a multi-dimensional electric field is formed by an electric field produced at edges of slit electrodes on the same plane and an electric field produced between a layer of the slit electrodes and a layer of a plate-like electrode, so as to allow liquid crystal molecules in all orientations in a liquid crystal cell, which are located directly above the electrode and between the slit electrodes, to be rotated, thereby enhancing the work efficiency of liquid crystals and increasing the transmissive efficiency. The Advanced Super Dimensional Switch technology can improve the picture quality of TFT-LCD products, and has advantages of high resolution, high transmittance, low power consumption, wide viewing angle, high aperture ratio, low chromatic aberration, push Mura-free, and etc.
In the course of manufacturing a TFT array substrate of an ADS mode, production of a pixel electrode layer, a source electrode, a drain electrode and an active layer is usually conducted in a layered manner. Thus, not only thickness of the substrate is increased, but the process flow is cumbersome.

TFT array substrate and a method for manufacturing the same graphene based display device


An air fuel ratio detecting arrangement using a diffusion suppressing type air fuel ratio sensor applicable to an air fuel ratio control unit for an internal combustion engine incorporating an atmospheric air pressure correction circuit in a signal processing and outputting device for correcting an output voltage signal processed therein based on a change in atmospheric air pressure which is detected when a predetermined operating condition of an internal combustion engine is satisfied. A secular change correction circuit included in the signal processing and outputting device detects a change in electromotive force of a concentration cell portion of the air fuel ratio sensor when a predetermined rich air fuel ratio is reached and corrects a reference voltage for the air fuel ratio sensor based on the detected change in electromotive force of the concentration cell portion in addition to an air calibration circuit.

The present invention relates to an air fuel ratio detecting arrangement using a diffusion suppressing type air fuel ratio sensor applicable to an air fuel ratio control unit for an internal combustion engine and the method therefor, and, in particular, relates to an air fuel ratio detecting arrangement using a diffusion suppressing type air fuel ratio sensor applicable to an air fuel ratio control unit for an electronic fuel injection type internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle and the method therefor.
The output characteristics of a diffusion suppressing type air fuel ratio sensor varies during long term use because of clogging of the porous gas diffusion suppressing portion thereof through deposition of exhaust gas components and generation of cracks therein due to thermal shock caused by combustion gas. Further, the output characteristics of a diffusion suppressing type air ratio sensor varies depending upon atmospheric air pressure to cause errors in detected air fuel ratio, in such a way that an air fuel ratio set for the motor vehicle shifts toward a lean side to thereby cause the driving performance of the motor vehicle to deteriorate.
JP-A-62-79344(1987), which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,213, discloses calibration of output characteristics change of a diffusion suppressing type air fuel ratio sensor due to secular change of the diffusion layer wherein maximum outputs thereof are sampled and renewed by the latest one, and the output characteristic of the sensor is calibrated every time when the maximum output is renewed with the renewed maximum output so as to compensate for secular change of the diffusion layer. The term "secular change" is defined as the change in the characteristics and performance of a sensor caused by aging of the sensor through the passage of time.
JP-A-62-267544(1987) discloses the calibration of output characteristic change for a diffusion suppression type air fuel ratio sensor due to secular change of the diffusion layer wherein detection signals at a predetermined air fuel ratio other than stoichiometric air fuel ratio is read and compared with the value of the initial detection signal to calibrate the sensor output characteristic so as to compensate for secular change of the diffusion layer.
JP-A-2-102447(1990), which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,274, discloses the calibration of the output characteristic change of a diffusion suppressing type air fuel ratio sensor due to secular change of the diffusion layer wherein variation of a diffusion coefficient from an initial value is detected and the output characteristic of the sensor is calibrated based on the detected variation so as to compensate for secular change of the diffusion layer. In the above mentioned prior diffusion suppressing type air fuel ratio sensors, the calibration of the output characteristic change is principally determined based on secular change of the diffusion layer. Other parameters affecting the detection accuracy of such diffusion suppressing type air fuel ratio sensors are not sufficiently taken into account.
An object of the present invention is to provide an air fuel ratio detecting arrangement and method therefor for an internal combustion engine having a high detection accuracy over a long use term thereof.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the above object is achieved by incorporating in an air fuel ratio detecting arrangement an atmospheric air pressure correction means in a signal processing and outputting means for correcting an output voltage signal processed therein based on a change in atmospheric air pressure which is detected when a predetermined operating condition of an internal combustion engine is satisfied in addition to an air calibration means.
According to another aspect of the present invention the above object is achieved by incorporating in an air fuel ratio detecting arrangement a secular change correction means included in a signal processing and outputting means for detecting a change in electromotive force of a concentration cell portion of a diffusion suppressing type air fuel ratio sensor when a predetermined rich air fuel ratio is reached and for correcting a reference voltage for the diffusion suppressing type air fuel ratio sensor based on the detected change in electromotive force of the concentration cell portion in addition to an air calibration means.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, the above object is achieved by incorporating in an air fuel ratio detecting method the step of determining an atmospheric air pressure change when a predetermined operating condition of an internal combustion engine is satisfied, the step of correcting an output voltage signal obtained by processing a signal relating to an air fuel ratio from a diffusion suppressing type air fuel ratio sensor based on the determined atmospheric air pressure change, the step of determining a secular change in electromotive force of a concentration cell portion of the diffusion suppressing type air fuel ratio sensor when a predetermined rich air fuel ratio is reached and the step of correcting a reference voltage for the diffusion suppressing type air fuel ratio sensor based on the determined secular change in electromotive force of the concentration cell portion in addition to the step of calibrating the output voltage signal based on a calibration through atmospheric air.

Air fuel ratio detecting arrangement and method therefor for an internal combustion engine

Hitachi Automotive Engineering Co., Ltd.


Approaches presented herein enable cooperative traffic flow optimization. More specifically, a current position and route information for a plurality of vehicles traveling on a road segment are obtained. Common routes between the vehicles are determined and a first longest common route between two first vehicles is identified. A first vehicle chain navigation instruction based on the identified route is generated and sent to the two first vehicles, instructing the two vehicles to form a first vehicle chain. Further common routes are determined among the vehicles and the vehicle chain using the route information and a second longest common route is identified between a second vehicle and: another vehicle or the first vehicle chain. A second vehicle chain navigation instruction is generated instructing the second vehicle to form a second vehicle chain with the other vehicle or to join the first vehicle chain.

Motor vehicle drivers are, in general, increasingly relying upon computerized navigation systems, such as GPS-based smart phone applications, to get from one place to another. As driver dependence on directions outputted by such computerized navigation systems grows, these same drivers' ability to navigate for themselves may wither. Some drivers may essentially blindly follow the navigation system's directions, failing to recognize for themselves important navigational tools (e.g., street signs, landmarks) and failing to anticipate upcoming turns and road changes. As a result, navigation systems may cause drivers to take sudden, risky actions as the driver receives new directions and only then realizes that he or she is, for example, in the wrong lane to make a turn, access a ramp, or pull into a destination.
Furthermore, when each driver is only concerned with his or her own vehicle, multiple vehicles may end up jockeying for positions in a multi-lane roadway. For example, if the drivers of two vehicles in the left lane of a roadway both are informed by their navigation systems that they should take a right-hand exit ramp, and only then realize that they should be in the right lane in order to access the right-hand exit ramp, the drivers may find themselves competing for the same position in the right lane. Moreover, another driver, coming from a right-hand entrance ramp onto that roadway, may find himself with no room to merge left due to these other vehicles jockeying in the right lane. As such, a navigation system that instructs drivers individually, without consideration for the navigation of nearby vehicles, may result in potentially dangerous traffic congestion.

International Business Machines Corporation


Discloses are systems, methods and computer readable mediums for automated verifications of potential vulnerabilities of one or more sites or code utilizing one or more neural networks. The systems, methods and computer readable mediums can transmit one or more scan operations to one or more sites, receive one or more responses to the one or more scan operations, tokenize the one or more responses, transmit to one or more neural networks the one or more tokenized responses, receive from the one or more neural networks verification of the one or more tokenized responses, and determine one or more confidences of the one or more verified responses.

Modern computer systems can provide access to services using web-based interfaces. In such an access model, clients connect to servers over a network such as the Internet, through a web-based interface, which can allow access to services operating on the servers using Internet protocols or interfaces. Maintaining the security of such web-based interfaces and the security of the services that are supported by those interfaces can be difficult, particularly when client devices are not always trusted. Maintaining the security of such systems can be made more difficult when the scope and type of security vulnerabilities frequently change, along with identification and verification of theses security vulnerabilities.
In some situations, a finer level of verification is required for the security vulnerabilities. Machine learning techniques, for example neural networks, can be taught to perform the finer level of verification. Machine learning is capable of analyzing large data sets that continue to increase (i.e., highly scalable). Utilizing various machine learning techniques and frameworks data sets can be analyzed to extract patterns and correlations that may otherwise have never been noticed when subject to only human analysis. Tailored data inputs can enable machine learning system to learn a desired operations, functions, and/or patterns. The training process can be complicated by the fact that the machine learning system's inner functionality remains largely nontransparent to human analysis and the that the training data can easily be biased, too small, or both of which result in faulty and/or insufficient training.

Systems and methods for machine learning based application security testing


A finger joint prosthesis, made of metal, has a bearing shell (1) attached to a shaft (2) in the metacarpal and a bearing journal (3) attached to a shaft (5) in the phalange. The bearing journal (3) is designed as a barrel (4), which at right angles to its axis (8) in its center comprises a piece (7) connecting it to its shaft (5). The bearing shell (1) is C-shaped and encloses the barrel (4) with clearance to restrict lateral excursion of the phalange shaft (5), whereas an open area formed by the C-shaped shell restricts the flexion at the connecting piece (7). The C-shaped bearing shell (1) can be forced open when the barrel (4) is inserted because its shaft (2) is divided in the longitudinal direction (13) into two halves (14, 15) by a slit-shaped notch (11) so that the shell and the bearing shell can be engaged by moving them radially towards each other.

The invention relates to a finger joint prosthesis made of metal, which consists of a bearing shell, which is attached to a shaft in the metacarpal and which guides a bearing journal that is, attached to a shaft in the phalange. The bearing journal is constructed as a barrel which at right angles to its axis in its center comprises a connecting piece to its shaft.
During their implantation, finger joint prostheses require enormous dexterity of the surgeon, as fingers in the joint region outside the osseous tissue only comprise a few blood vessels, the ligaments required for movement, the nerves required for tactile sense and also surrounding skin. So as not to endanger the supply to the external finger part, the parts outside the osseous tissue should be impaired in their function as little as possible in the proximal direction. At the same time the joint replacement should imitate the natural range of movement as far as possible.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,963 there is described an artificial elbow joint in which a limited mediolateral swivel movement and a bending and stretching movement are achieved, extreme mediolateral swivel movements of the axis of a metal bearing journal being limited by lateral walls at a bearing shell made of polyethylene. The bearing shell is cut back so that the bearing neck can be moved radially in and out. The shown type of bearing can be altered to a finger joint prosthesis, in which case firstly it occupies a large volume and secondly the joint is not secured in the joint capsule in the radial direction.


A black Spongia sp. in the Porifera class Demospongiae has been found to contain two new and exceptionally active cell (human cancer) growth inhibitors named spongistatin 2 and spongistatin 3. A bright colored Southwest Indian Ocean sponge Spirastrella spinispirulifera has also been found to contain related human cancer cell growth inhibitors named spongistatin 4 and spongistatin 6. A method of treating human cancer cells with spongistatin 1, spongistatin 2, spongistatin 3, spongistatin 4 and spongistatin 6 is also disclosed. The approximate mean GI.sub.50 of the disclosed compounds in the NCI cell line panel is about 10.sup.-10 .mu.g/ml.

A great number of ancient marine invertebrate species in the Phyla Bryozoa, Mollusca and Porifera were well established in the earth's oceans over one billion years ago. Certainly such organisms have explored trillions of biosynthetic reactions in their evolutionary chemistry to reach present levels of cellular organization, regulation and defense. Marine sponges have changed minimally in physical appearance for nearly 500 million years, suggesting a very effective chemical evolution in response to changing environmental conditions for at least that time period. Some recognition of the potential for utilizing biologically potent marine animal constituents was recorded in Egypt about 2,700 BC, and by 200 BC sea hare extracts were being used in Greece for medicinal purposes. Such considerations, combined with the general observation that marine organisms (especially invertebrates and sharks) rarely develop cancer, led to the first systematic investigation of marine animal and plant anticancer constituents.
By 1968 ample evidence had been obtained, based on the U.S. National Cancer Institute's key experimental cancer systems, that certain marine organisms would provide new and structurally novel antineoplastic and/or cytotoxic agents. Analogous considerations suggested that marine organisms could also provide effective new drugs for other severe medical challenges, such as viral diseases. Furthermore, marine organisms were expected to contain potentially useful drug candidates (and biochemical probes) of unprecedented structural types, that would have eluded discovery by contemporary techniques of medicinal chemistry. Fortunately, some of these expectations have been realized in the intervening period. Illustrative of these successes are the discoveries of the bryostatins, dolastatins, and cephalostatins by the Cancer Research Institute in Tempe, Ariz. where several members of these series of remarkable anticancer drug candidates are either now in human clinical trial or preclinical development. See: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,816,444, 4,833,257, 4,873,245, and 4,879,278.
As is well known to those presently engaged in medical research, the time between the isolation of a new compound, and its introduction to the market place, is at least several years in the best case and can be several decades. Consequently, industry, in association with the government, has devised a number of qualifying tests which serve two purposes. One purpose is to eliminate those substances whose results in the qualifiers unequivocally demonstrate that the further expenditure of funds on developing those substances would be economically counter-productive. The second, and more important purpose, is to identify those substances which demonstrate a high likelihood of success and therefore warrant the requisite further investment necessary to obtain the data which is required to meet the various regulatory requirements imposed by those governments which regulate the market place into which such substances will enter.
The present cost of obtaining such data approaches Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000 U.S.) per substance. Economics dictate that such an investment not be made unless there is a reasonable likelihood that it can be recovered. Absent such an opportunity, there will be no such investment, and without investment, the research requisite for the discovery of potentially life saving drugs will stop.
Only two hundred years ago, many diseases ravaged humankind. Many of these diseases now have been controlled or eradicated. In the development of the means to treat or control these diseases, work with the appropriate common experimental animals was of critical importance. With the various types of cancers, and with the HIV virus, such work is presently ongoing. The research for the treatment of various types of cancer is coordinated in the United States by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). NCI, as a government entity, has been charged with assisting anti-cancer research. To establish whether a substance has anti-cancer activity, NCI has established a variety of protocols, one of which involves testing the candidate substance against a cell line panel containing 60 human tumor cell lines. This protocol has been verified and is generally accepted throughout the scientific community. This protocol and the established statistical means of evaluating the results obtained therefrom have been fully described in the literature. See Principles & Practice of Oncology PPO Updates, Volume 3, Number 10, October 1989, by Michael R. Boyd, M.D., Ph.D., for an in depth description of the test protocol. The statistical analysis is explained in "Display and Analysis of Patterns of Differential Activity of Drugs Against Human Tumor Cell Lines: Development of Means Graph and COMPARE Algorithm" Journal of the National Cancer Institute Reports Vol. 81, No. 14, Pg. 1088, Jul. 14, 1989, by K. D. Paull et al. Both of these references are incorporated herein by this reference thereto. The effectiveness and validity of the NCI in vitro protocol continues to be verified.
Two newer references of note have been authored, in whole or in part by Dr. M. R. Boyd of the National Cancer Institute. The first is "Data Display and Analysis Strategies from the NCI disease Oriented in vitro Antitumor Drug Screen." Boyd, M. R. et al, in Cytotoxic Anticancer Drug Models and Concepts for Drug Discovery and Development; Valeriote, F. A., Corbett, T., Baker, L. Eds; Kluwer Academic Press: Amsterdam, 1992, pp11-34. The second is "The Future of New Drug Development." Boyd, M. R. in Current Therapy in Oncology; Niederhuber, J. E., Ed. Mosby: St. Louis, 1993, pp11-22.
These articles establish that those skilled in the art believe that in vitro screens are the primary method by which new antineoplastic compositions will be discovered. Progress has been sorely lacking in treating many kinds of cancer because effective anti-neoplastic compositions for these cancers have not been discovered. Plainly, the public interest is best served by maximizing, within Constitutional limits, the rewards for discovering a composition which is demonstrated to be effective in standard screening tests.
The Constitution of the United States (Art. 1, Sec. 8) authorizes Congress to establish the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to promote scientific advancement. This obligation can only be fully met when the USPTO accepts current medical and scientific realities in the area of medical research.
The Framers of the Constitution meant to advance scientific advancement. Cells are alive. The impairment of human tumor cell growth is utility. The sole right obtained from the grant of Letters Patent is the right to prevent others from exploiting the subject matter of the patent. The recognition of cell line data as a measure of antineoplastic activity and therefore an acceptable showing of "utility" can only aid research in the United States, and thereby save the citizens of the United States from being held hostage by foreign governments or foreign corporations, if such research is no longer viable in the United States.
A major component of vigorous efforts for over two decades has been directed at marine sponge antineoplastic and/or cytotoxic biosynthetic products and it is toward the furtherance of that effort that the present invention is directed.

Isolation and structure of spongistatin 2, spongistatin 3, spongistatin 4 and spongistatin 6


A photocurrent sensing circuit having a stabilized feedback loop comprises a photocurrent generator including a photodiode generating the photocurrent in proportion to an amount of incident light and applying the photocurrent to an output node, a switching unit applying the photocurrent applied to a control node to a voltage-generating capacitor when a shutter signal is in a first state, and applying a predetermined current to the control node when the shutter signal is in a second state, and a circuit stabilizer applying the photocurrent applied to the output node to the control node, and always forming a feedback loop of the photodiode through the photocurrent applied to the output node, wherein the circuit stabilizer comprises a first NMOS transistor forming the feedback loop of the photodiode in response to the photocurrent input to the output node when the predetermined current is applied to the control node, breaking the feedback loop and applying the photocurrent applied to the output node to the control node when the predetermined current is not applied to the control node, a second NMOS transistor always forming the feedback loop of the photodiode in response to the photocurrent applied to the output node, and a third NMOS transistor connected to the first and second transistors and the photodiode, and providing a current path for forming the feedback loop.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photocurrent sensing circuit and, more particularly, to a photocurrent sensing circuit having a stabilized feedback loop that converts a light signal into an electrical signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
A circuit presented in U.S. Pat. No. 6,104,020 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as the prior art.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional photocurrent sensing circuit includes a current source 1 that applies a driving current of a photocurrent sensing circuit; a photocurrent generating unit that generates and amplifies a photocurrent in response to the amount of light incident into the photocurrent sensing circuit; a feedback loop that stabilizes an operating voltage of the photocurrent generating unit 2; a voltage signal output unit 12 that outputs a voltage signal proportional to the photocurrent generated by the photocurrent generating unit 2; and a switching unit 9 that steers the photocurrent of the photocurrent generating unit 2 toward the voltage signal output unit 12 or power voltage Vdd depending on a status of an output control signal 13. The photocurrent generating unit 2 includes a photodiode 3 that generates the photocurrent in response to the amount of light incident into the photocurrent sensing circuit; a parasitic capacitor 4 of the photodiode 3; and a PNP transistor 5 that amplifies the photocurrent generated by the photodiode 3.
The feedback loop 6 includes an NMOS transistor 7 where a drain node is connected to an NMOS transistor 10 of the switching unit 9, a source node is connected to the PNP transistor 5 of the photocurrent generating unit 2, and a gate node is connected to the current source 1 to provide a feedback loop generation current in response to operation of the NMOS transistor 10 of the switching unit 9; an NMOS transistor 8 where a drain node is connected to the current source 1, a gate node is connected to a cathode node of the photodiode, and a source node is connected to an anode node 3 of the photodiode of the photocurrent generating unit 2 to provide the feedback loop generation current in response to the current source 1; and the PNP transistor 5 of the photocurrent generating unit 2.
The switching unit 9 includes an NMOS transistor 10 where a gate node is connected to an output control terminal 13, a drain node is connected to a power voltage Vdd, and a source node is connected to the feedback loop 6 to control a current supply of the drain node of the NMOS transistor 7 in response to an output signal of the output control terminal 13; and an PMOS transistor 11 where a gate node is connected to the output control terminal 13, a drain node is connected to a storage capacitor 12, and a source node is connected to the feedback loop 6 to switch the photocurrent delivered through the NMOS transistor 7 into the voltage signal output unit 12 in response to the output signal of the output control terminal 13.
The voltage signal output unit 12 includes the storage capacitor 12 that generates a voltage signal proportional to the photocurrent generated by the photocurrent generating unit 2.
Operation of the photocurrent sensing circuit of FIG. 1 described above is as follows.
When the light is illuminated into the photodiode 3, a photocurrent is generated proportional to the amount of light. The photocurrent flows as a base current of the PNP transistor 5 as long as a voltage of a base node of the PNP transistor 5 remains constant through the feedback loop 6. As such, when the photocurrent flows as the base current of the PNP transistor 5, a current amplified by a current amplification factor, i.e., a gain of the PNP transistor 5 flows in the NMOS transistor 7.
The current delivered through the NMOS transistor 7 is switched depending on the status of the output control signal of the output control terminal 13 to be output as a voltage signal of the storage capacitor 12 or driven into the feedback loop circuit to keep constant the base voltage of the PNP transistor 5. First, when an output control signal having a Shutter On value is applied to the switching unit 9 from the output control terminal 13, the PMOS transistor 11 of the switching unit 9 turns on and the NMOS transistor 10 of the switching unit 9 turns off in response to the output control signal.
Therefore, the current delivered through the NMOS transistor 7 allows charges stored in the storage capacitor 12 of the voltage signal output unit 12 to be discharged.
Thus, a current proportional to the discharged amount of charges is generated in the voltage signal output unit 12, and a voltage signal is generated proportional to the generated current. Further, the generated voltage signal is outputted via the output terminal 14.
On the contrary, when an output control signal having a Shutter Off value is applied from the output control terminal 13 to the switching unit 9, in the switching unit 9, the NMOS transistor 10 turns on and the PMOS transistor 11 turns off in response to the output control signal, i.e. the Shutter Off.
When the storage capacitor 12 does not discharge the charges, the current delivered through the NMOS transistor 10 serves to provide a current path that keeps stable the feedback loop having the NMOS transistors 7, 8 and the PNP transistor 5.
A good photocurrent sensing circuit requires high efficiency in converting light into a voltage, a wide operating range in both dark and bright environment, a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and fast response characteristics.
In the prior art shown of FIG. 1, the feedback loop formed by coupling between the NMOS transistors 7, 8 and the PNP transistor 5 forms a stable circuit, thereby having high efficiency, a wide operating range and a high SNR.
However, much attention should be paid to keeping the feedback loop stable. This is because the NMOS transistor 7 and the PMOS transistor 11 may simultaneously turn off to make the feedback loop temporarily unstable if the timing is not maintained in driving the output control signal as an ideal pulse signal of the output control terminal 13. During transition time of the output control terminal 13, both NMOS transistor 10 and PMOS transistor 11 turn off. Further, when the overall photocurrent sensing circuit is driven using the output control signal, if the amount of light incident into a specific photocurrent sensing circuit is large, the amplitude of the photocurrent generated through the photocurrent generating unit 2 of the photocurrent sensing circuit becomes larger proportional to the amount of incident light, and accordingly the voltage of the storage capacitor 12 is rapidly lowered.
In this case, the voltage of an emitter node of the PNP transistor 5 is lowered, so that the PNP transistor 5 turns off and the feedback loop is not maintained normally, causing each node voltage of the feedback loop to be unstable.
Such an unstable feedback loop also leads to the unstable voltage of the base node of the PNP transistor 5, which degrades the overall photocurrent conversion characteristics of the photocurrent sensing circuit.
Further, while the PNP transistor 5 has an advantage that a current generated by light is amplified, the current amplification factor of the PNP transistor 5 is not uniform among pixels due to a process variation, so that it exerts a bad influence on the overall uniformity of the photocurrent sensing circuit.

Photocurrent sensing circuit having stabilized feedback loop