A light source unit includes a solid light emitting element that emits light in the blue wavelength range, a luminous light emitting portion on which a luminescent material layer is laid out, the luminescent material layer using the light emitted from the solid light emitting element as excitation light to emit light in a wavelength range of which wavelengths are longer than a wavelength of the excitation light, and a light transmitting portion that transmits the light emitted from the solid light emitting element, and an area of a luminescent material that emits luminous light in the green wavelength range is provided at part of the light transmitting portion.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light source unit including an area of a luminescent material that emits luminescent light in the green wavelength range on part of a member that is situated on an optical path of light in the blue wavelength range, and a projector.
Description of the Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-175000 (JP-2011-175000 A) discloses a projector utilizing a field sequential system (a time-division system) in which beams of light of a plurality colors (red, green, blue, white) are shone on to a display element repeatedly and the beams of light of the plurality of colors that are modulated by the display element are then combined on a time basis to thereby generate a colored image.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-90883 (JP-2002-90883 A) discloses a projector in which light emitted by a high pressure mercury-vapor lamp is shone on to a wavelength conversion optical element where the light is turned reddish or greenish and the light whose color is corrected in this way by the wavelength conversion optical element is shone on to a light valve, so that light that has passed through the light valve is projected.
Incidentally, it happens occasionally that blue light from a blue light source does not form ideal blue light. Namely, the blue light from the blue light source contains light of a short wavelength, in which case the blue light looks purplish blue. In the event that the blue light source is used for the blue light source described in Patent Document 1 (JP-2011-175000 A), the color balance will be lost.
Then, a problem that the invention is to solve is that even though blue light that is emitted from a blue light source looks purplish blue, the blue light can be corrected to be close to the ideal blue.
With a view to solving the problems, the invention provides a light source unit including a blue light source that emits blue light, an optical plate that intersects an axis of the blue light emitted by the blue light source and on which a luminescent area and a light transmission area are provided along a circumferential direction that passes through a point of intersection with the axis of the blue light, a rotational driving device that rotates the optical plate in the circumferential direction, and a wavelength range adding filter that is provided on an optical path of the blue light that is emitted from the blue light source and that passes through the light transmission area for adding light in a wavelength range of which wavelengths are longer than the wavelength of the blue light to the blue light.
According to the invention, even though the blue light that is emitted by the blue light source looks purplish blue, since the light in the wavelength range of which the wavelengths are longer than the wavelength of the blue light is combined with the blue light, the light that passes through the wavelength range adding filter is corrected to be close to the ideal blue.

Light source unit including an area of luminescent material emitting luminescent light in green wavelength range on part of member situated on optical path of light in blue wavelength range and projector


An enrichment system and method for animals in captivity is disclosed. Generally speaking, the system includes an automated dispenser and a plurality of tokens to be placed about an animal enclosure. The dispenser includes a suitable housing, a reservoir for containing animal-suitable rewards, a token receptacle, a reward output connected to the reservoir, and a mechanism for releasing animal-suitable rewards from the reservoir into the reward output when tokens are deposited into the receptacle. The mechanism for releasing animal suitable rewards is activated by the deposit of a token in the token receptacle. The unique method includes placing tokens about an enclosure for an animal, positioning an animal reward system at least proximate the enclosure, allowing an animal in captivity to find tokens, teaching the animal to deposit tokens within the token receptacle to thereby automatically activate the mechanism for releasing animal-suitable rewards, and allowing the animal to collect dispensed rewards from the reward output.

Zoos and animal sanctuaries play a crucial role in education, conservation, and serving as places of refuge for animals. These facilities face the challenge of providing each and every one of their animals with means of mental and physical stimulation, because without it, animals exhibit signs of detrimental stress and boredom. This is particularly true for the great apes.
Great apes—i.e., chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans—are extremely intelligent animals. They live in environments where survival can be challenging, so they've evolved to have excellent problem solving skills, memories, and capacities to complete complex tasks. When these animals are put into zoo settings, they get bored because they don't have to use their brains to their full potential; this results in stress-related behaviors and excessive inactivity. Orangutans and gorillas will often pull out their hair, pick at their skin, pace, and rock back and forth for hours.
In an attempt to engage the animals, caretakers will give the animals enrichment (which is anything given to an animal to stimulate mental and physical activity), but the enrichment that is currently available fails to address one or more of the most important aspects of effective enrichment, particularly with apes. Apes are highly-intelligent animals and they benefit most from enrichment that is novel, time-consuming, encourages natural ape-specific behaviors, and is able to be tailored to the skill level of individual animals. The problem is how to create puzzles, toys, and games to occupy the minds and bodies of the apes in human care. The puzzles and toys should provide the animals with experiences that mimic ones they would normally encounter in the wild—for example, foraging for food or using a simple tool to accomplish a task. The enrichment provided by the present system is designed to be changed in hundreds of ways to preserve novelty and cater to individual animal's needs.
Until the invention of the present application, these and other problems in the prior attempts went either unnoticed or unsolved by those skilled in the art. The present system provides a unique and advanced enrichment for captive animals which challenges their mental and physical abilities. The present system and methods rely on the use of an animal's natural curiosity, specific problem-solving skills, and foraging skills to promote physical and mental activity.


Techniques for use in improving audio quality with use of an acoustic leak compensation (ALC) system in a mobile device are described. The mobile device includes a receiver and a microphone which is acoustically coupled to the receiver. A change in a signal power of signals received at the microphone is detected. In response to the detecting, a probe signal is enabled, and a frequency response between the receiver and the microphone is estimated using the probe signal as an input. Filter coefficients of a filter are calculated based on the estimated frequency response, and the calculated filter coefficients are applied to the filter. The filter type may be selected from a plurality of filter types based on an estimated signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the microphone signal.

1. Field of the Technology
The present disclosure relates generally to mobile communication devices which operate in wireless communication networks for voice call communications.
2. Description of the Related Art
A mobile device, such as a cellular telephone or smartphone, may operate in a wireless network for making and receiving voice calls. Many mobile devices may be handheld, that is, sized and shaped to be held or carried in a user's hand and used while held or carried. Some mobile devices, when handling voice calls (any type of voice communication, including but not limited to telephone calls, push-to-talk communications and voice over Internet-based voice communications) may include a receiver that may be held by a user proximate to the user's ear. Although a receiver may be an integral or built-in component in the mobile device or wired or wireless accessory such as an earpiece or headset, for example, technical considerations may apply especially to a receiver that is built-in to a mobile device and that is held proximate to a user's ear. The quality and intelligibility of downlink audio during voice calls is dependent upon the frequency response between a receiver of the mobile device and the user's ear.
Note, however, that the frequency response is a variable function that depends on the user's ear, the way that the user positions the mobile device, and how tightly the user holds the receiver against their ear. When the user maintains a tight seal between the receiver and their ear, there may be an undesirable change in the intelligibility of the downlink speech, which is sometimes described as "muddy" (e.g. having more bass than necessary). This is characteristic of situations where there is a lot of background noise and the user presses the device firmly against his/her ear.
It would be advantageous to improve the quality and intelligibility of downlink audio for the mobile device with a technique that promotes equalization of the frequency response between the receiver and the user's ear.

Methods and apparatus for improving audio quality using an acoustic leak compensation system in a mobile device


The support assembly includes an upright member, an exterior support member adjacent to the upright member, the exterior support member being configured for being disposed between the upright member and an outer perimeter of a frame of a holding rack, a caster disposed substantially below the exterior support member, and the caster including an extension received in a hollow tube of an upright member. Another embodiment of the invention includes a holding rack having a frame defining an outer perimeter, and an upright member disposed at the outer perimeter of the frame that is a part of a support assembly, an exterior support member adjacent to the upright member, the exterior support member being configured for being disposed between the upright member and an outer perimeter of a frame of a holding rack. A caster is disposed substantially below the exterior support member, the caster including an extension received in a hollow tube of the upright member.

Supports and support assemblies have long been used to elevate racks and other objects off the ground, so as to provide space between a lowermost functional part of the rack, for example. Support assemblies, including wheels and casters, provide the additional benefit of enhanced mobility of a rack to which the wheeled support assemblies are attached.
Conventional support assemblies and holding racks are expensive to fabricate, costly to ship, unhygienic, and often have structural features which reduce the amount of available space for holding stored materials thereon.
For example, a prior art knock-down dolly with disassembly facilitating means is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,774,609 to Winger. The Winger dolly is assembled by use of parts having dove tail joints, other take-apart structural parts, and casters located directly in the corners of the rectangular Winger frame. Given the location of the casters directly at the intersection of the Winger frame members making up the sides of the traditional rectangular dolly, usable space is lost between the front and rear corner posts which extend above the Winger casters. This lost space will be readily recognized when one considers that a tray or bread pan, for example, can only be inserted between the inner faces of the corner posts. Furthermore, the lost space restricts the amount of surface area available for supporting the edge of a tray that would otherwise have been provided by the top face of the Winger end pieces forming part of the traditional rectangular frame, as the edges of a tray must be spaced inwardly therefrom. Furthermore, it is difficult and expensive, if not completely impractical, to bolt a detachable caster assembly directly in the corner of a frame. In addition, dove tail joints, such as used by Winger, are expensive to fabricate and difficult to assemble readily.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,487,495 to Schultz, Jr., discloses a steel bracket 14 which is a metal stamping configured for receiving the pintle or shaft member of a caster assembly, and to be received, in turn, in a rectangular leg or housing of a piece of furniture. Although the Schultz caster assembly is no doubt inexpensive to manufacture, its construction is not suited for heavy duty use.


The present invention is directed to a method of forming a molded core component. A mat formed from cellulosic fiber and resin is provided. The mat is consolidated in a first press until the resin is substantially fully cured, and then removed from the first press. The consolidated mat is then placed in a second press having a mold cavity shaped to form at least one depression in at least one of the major surfaces. The consolidated mat is reformed in the second press to form a molded core component having at least one depression in at least one of the major surfaces. The molded core component has a variable density, preferably of between about 10 lbs/ft3 and 80 lbs/ft3.

Doors having compression molded door facings are well known in the art. Typically, a perimeter frame is provided, which includes first and second styles and first and second rails attached together to form a rectangular frame. A lock block may also be utilized to provide further support for a door handle and/or a locking mechanism at the periphery of the door. The lock block is preferably secured to a stile and/or a rail. Door facings are adhesively secured to opposite sides of the frame.
The resulting door includes a void or hollow space defined by the opposing door facings and perimeter frame. This void typically causes the door to be lighter than a comparably sized solid, natural wood door, which is not as desirable for many consumers. In addition, the sound and/or heat insulation provided by such doors may not be satisfactory. Therefore, it is often desirable to use a core material (e.g., core pieces or components) to fill the hollow space.
A suitable core material should provide the door with a desirable weight, for example the weight of a similarly-styled natural solid wood door. In addition, a core material should provide the door with a relatively even weight distribution. The core material should also be configured to match the dimensions of the interior space defined by the facings and frame with sufficiently close tolerances so that optimal structural integrity and insulation properties are achieved.
Door facings may be molded from a planar cellulosic mat to include one or more interior depressions or contours, such as one or more square or rectangular depressions which extend into the hollow space of a door assembly relative to the plane of an outermost exteriorly disposed surface of the door. For example, a door facing may include molded walls having a plurality of contours that include varied curved and planar surfaces that simulate a paneled door.
If the door facings are contoured to include one or more depressions, the interior void of the door assembly will have varying dimensions given the facings are secured to co-planar stiles and rails. When providing a core material or component within the void of a door assembly having such contoured facings, it is necessary to compensate for the varying dimensions of the void.
In the past, core materials made of corrugated cardboard and/or paper have been used. However, it has been found that the sound insulation provided by doors using cardboard core materials is not satisfactory for many applications. U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,402 to Ruggie et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference and which is owned by the same assignee of the present application, discloses a contoured core components made from wood fibers which overcomes many of the problems associated with conventional cardboard core materials. The '402 patent discloses forming a planar core component and then post-press machining or routing the major surfaces of a component to accommodate for the depressions formed in the door facings of the door assembly. However, this process is relatively expensive given the manufacturing time and equipment required. In addition, the process of machining or routing core components often results in plant dusting problems. As such, this process is not overly efficient and the resulting door product is relatively expensive.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,625 to Walsh et al., the disclosure of which is also incorporated herein by reference and which is owned by the same assignee of the present application, discloses an improvement over the method and component disclosed in the '402 patent. In accordance with the '625 patent, fiber/resin mat is molded in a conventional press to include depressions corresponding to the configuration of the depressions in the door facings. When removed from the press, the core component of the '625 patent is placed in the void of the door assembly without the need for machining, routing or other post-press surface pressing.
Although the '625 patent solves many of problems associated with the prior methods, the press cycle required for molding the core components is relatively long given the resin in the mat must be sufficiently cured in order to maintain structural integrity when the core is removed from the press. We have found that the structural integrity of the core component is better in depressed portions of the core component due to the reduction in caliper in such portions. A reduction in caliper results in an increase in density, which increases structural integrity. The perimeter of a core component to be used for a typical contoured door assembly does not include densified portions at the perimeter of the component given the depressed portions are spaced from the periphery of the door. In order to provide a core component having sufficient structural integrity when removed from the press, core components formed in accordance with the '625 patent typically include a densified perimeter. This densified perimeter is trimmed after the molding process so that the core has the desired configuration. The trimmed material is then discarded. This trimming requirement, as well as the wasted trim material, increases manufacturing costs and the cost of the resulting door.
Therefore, there is a need for a method of forming a core component that solves some or all of the above-noted problems.


Method and system for recognizing a numeric or alphanumeric sequence of characters in a document, the sequence conforming to predetermined rules and representing user identifiers for identifying users in a communication system include identifying a country of origin of the document, recalling rules relating to the format of the sequence associated with the determined country of origin, searching the document to identify any sequence in the document satisfying the format and returning any such sequence.

The primary purpose of phone number recognition components is to recognise a phone number in a piece of text and identify it as such. Further enhancements include being able to use that phone number to make a call, which may involve cleaning up the format of the recognised phone number to put it into a proper format taking into account country codes etc to be able to make the call. Phone number recognition can be used in the context of a peer to peer telephone system of the type described in WO 2005/009019. In this system, a plurality of end users can be connected for communication purposes via a communications structure. The communications structure is substantially decentralised with regard to communication route switching therein for connecting the end users. That is, the end users can establish their own communication routes through the structure based an exchange of one or more authorisation certificates (user identity certificates—UIC) to acquire access to the structure. The structure includes an administration arrangement issuing the certificates to the end users. One such phone system exists under the trade name SKYPE™.
Phone number recognition can be used in other contexts. Automated recognition of phone numbers in a piece of text is not a simple matter. The text may include various numerical or alphanumeric sequences which are not phone or fax numbers. It is important that any automated phone number recognition component is capable of correctly identifying only phone numbers. Moreover, if the phone number is to be used for calling, it is necessary to further identify the location of the caller, the location of the phone number to be called and the necessary country codings to be used to put the phone number into a proper format for making a call.


The present invention describes chemotherapeutic compositions, a method for making the same, and methods for inducing apoptosis in tumor cells and/or inhibiting tumors. The compositions are metal coordination complexes of a cytotoxic metal, such as silver(I) and a chiral α-organic acid, such as tartaric acid, in a pharmaceutical carrier.

This invention relates to chemotherapeutic agents that are preferably non-lethal, non-corrosive, and/or non-irritating to the recipient, and preferably can cause apoptosis. The present invention can be employed as a chemotherapeutic agent for both solid and disseminated tumors.
The oligodynamic action or the antimicrobial activity of small amounts of metal has been known for a long time and is the basis for the development of many metal coordination complexes therapeutic agents. In fact, metal ions such as mercury (II), cadmium (II), zinc (II), germanium (II), copper (II), and silver (I) ions have been used for the treatment of many infectious diseases (Merluzzi, V. J., et al., Research Communications in Chemical Path. Pharmacol., 66, 425 (1989); Slawson, R. M., et al., Plasmid, 27, 72 (1992); Khurshid, H. Pak. J. Pharmacol. 13, 41 (1996); Klasen, H. J. Burns, 26, 131 (2000); Dibrov, P., et al., A.A.C., 46, 2668 (2002); Richard (III), J. W., et al., J. Burns and Surg. Wound Care, 1, 11 (2002)).
Besides the use of heavy metals as antibiotic agents, they are also employed in the design of chemotherapeutic compounds. The current treatments for cell proliferative diseases such as cancer employ metal coordination complexes where such complexes inhibit DNA replication and cell division. The most prominent and promising family of cytotoxic agents that has proved to have clinical benefits is one that uses platinum as the heavy metal (Pil, P., & Lippard, S. in Encyclopedia of Cancer, ed. Bertino, J. R. (Academic Press, San Diego), pp. 392-410 (1997); Jakupec, M., et al., Rev. Physiol. Biochem. Pharmacol., 146, 1 (2003)). One of the most active and broad-spectrum chemotherapeutic drugs belonging to this family is cisplatin, cis-diaminedichloroplatinum (II), which is used to treat epithelial malignancies such as testicular cancer and ovarian carcinoma (Pil, P., & Lippard, S. in Encyclopedia of Cancer, ed. Bertino, J. R. (Academic Press, San Diego), pp. 392-410 (1997); Jakupec, M., et al., Rev. Physiol. Biochem. Pharmacol., 146, 1 (2003)). Following its serendipitous discovery as an antitumor drug, other useful chemotherapeutic drugs that employ platinum such as carboplatin were also developed (Pil, P., & Lippard, S. in Encyclopedia of Cancer, ed. Bertino, J. R. (Academic Press, San Diego), pp. 392-410 (1997)). With this growing interest, other metal coordination complexes have been explored. Examples of such metals are gold, titanium, copper, iridium, and rhodium (Haiduc, I., & Silvestru, C. In Vivo, 3, 285 (1989); Caruso, F., et al., J. Med. Chem., 43, 3665-(2000); Caruso, F., et al., J. Med. Chem., 46, 1737 (2003)).
Ionic silver substances are resurging again in popularity due to the fact that silver at low concentrations has no toxicity, mutagenicity or carcinogenic activities, and exhibits an excellent clinical tolerance compared to other metals (Furst, A, & Schlauder, M. J. Environ. Pathol. Toxicol., 1, 51 (1978); Pedahzur, R., et al., Wat. Sci. Tech., 31, 123 (1995); Demerec, M., et al., Am. Nat., 85, 119 (1951); Rossman, T. G., & Molina, M. Environ. Mutagen., 8, 263 (1986); Nishioka, H. Mutat. Res., 31, 185 (1987)). Additionally, ubiquitous metallothioneins, which are present in all living organisms, have the property of binding silver and other metals in metal thiolate cluster structures to transport, store, and detoxify essential and nonessential trace metals that may enter the body (Stillman, M. J., et al., Metal-Based Drugs, 1, 375 (1994)).
The quantity of silver administered and its chemical form determine the distribution of silver to various body tissues. Once absorbed, silver undergoes a first-pass effect through the liver, and is secreted into the bile, reducing the systemic distribution to tissues (ATSDR. (1990) Toxicological profile for silver), available online at wwwdotatsdrdotcdcdotgov/toxprofiles/tp146-pdotpdf. The only known condition that results from chronic exposure to high levels of silver for a prolonged period of time in humans is argyria, a benign condition which results in permanent bluish-gray discoloration of the skin. The only clinical effect observed with argyria is an aesthetic effect and there are no pathological changes or inflammatory reactions resulting from silver deposition (IRIS. (1987) Silver.), available online at wwwdotepadotgov/iris/subst/0099dothtm. Based on patients receiving i.v. injections of silver arsphenamine, the LOAEL (lowest-observed-adverse-effect level) for argyria was determined to be 0.014 mg/kg/day (IRIS. (1987) Silver. [Online.] wwwdotepadotgov/iris/subst/0099dothtm. (The above Internet addresses are altered to substitute "dot" for "." so that the addresses as written are not executable as hyperlinks.)
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/867,214, filed Jun. 14, 2004 and incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, describes the use of organo-metallic complexes as chemotherapeutic agents and as anti-microbial agents. The technology described therein relates generally to the combination of two components. The first component is an organic (R) metal (M) complex (R-M), such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,242,009 and 6,630,172, incorporated in their entirety by reference herein. This R-M complex can be combined with a system for generating one or more reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the agency of reducing cofactors with the combination preferably producing a synergistic effect that can be highly effective in the destruction of microbes and/or cancerous or pre-cancerous cells. The composition can be prepared by mixing a metal salt compound in an aqueous solution, and an inorganic acid at room temperature to adjust the pH of the solution; adding an amino acid or potassium sodium tartrate in a specified amount with respect to the valency of the designated metal while homogenizing the mixture, and adding a ROS generating system. Depending on its use, the resultant solution can then be used either directly, or can be diluted with aqueous solutions such as distilled and/or deionized water to provide the necessary cytotoxicity and biocidal activities. The invention of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/867,214 can be prepared in any manner that produces an R-M complex in combination with an ROS. More specifically, the cited invention can be prepared by first preparing the R-M complex in any method described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,242,009 and 6,630,172, incorporated in their entirety by reference herein. The R part of the complex represents an amino acid such as isoleucine, phenylalanine, leucine, lysine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan, valine, alanine, glycine, arginine, histidine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, tyrosine, or mixtures thereof or potassium sodium tartrate. With respect to the other part of the complex that is M, M represents at least one monovalent or polyvalent metal ion or cation, which is anticancerous and/or antimicrobial to at least one microorganism. Preferably, the metal ion is anticancerous and/or microbicidal to a multitude of microorganisms. Examples of the metal ion include, but are not limited to, cations of silver including colloidal silver, copper, zinc, mercury, manganese, chromium, nickel, cadmium, arsenic, cobalt, aluminum, lead, iron, rhodium, iridium, selenium, platinum, gold, titanium, tin, barium, bismuth, vanadium, iron, strontium, antimony, and salts thereof, and the like, and any combination thereof.
The rate of formation of ROS can be allowed to proceed unassisted or may be enhanced through the use of rate increasing agents, like compounds such as enzymes/co-enzymes or catalysts/co-factors. Generally, a coenzyme can contact and reduce a metal catalyst. The reduced metal catalyst may then function to facilitate the production of ROS from the ROS generating species, ordinarily through the donation of an electron. Any number of reducing cofactors/coenzymes may be used. More specifically, the coenzymes (reduced form shown), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and/or flavin adenine dinucleotide (FADH) are particularly effective as electron carriers. Similarly, any number of oxidizing metal catalysts/cofactors capable of generating ROS can be utilized. More specifically, Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, K+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Mo, Ni2+, Se, and/or Zn2+ are particularly effective catalysts. These catalysts may be used in their pure form or may be combined with a salt and then be introduced into a solvent. One method of producing ROS can be through the breakdown of H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) to form hydroxyl radicals.
The current treatments for cancer employ cytotoxic heavy metals, which inhibit cell division and DNA replication. Albeit various robust methods and techniques have been employed to combat cancer, there is a deluge of caveats and various difficulties associated with cancer therapy. Cancer therapy nowadays involves a multi-modality approach of a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and antiangiogenic drugs. Surgery, on the other hand, involves the bulk removal of diseased tissue. While surgery is sometimes effective in removing solid tumors located at certain sites, for example, in the breast, colon, and skin, it cannot be used in the treatment of tumors located in other areas, such as the backbone, nor in the treatment of disseminated neoplastic conditions such as leukemia. If portions of the primary tumor cannot be removed or if it is believed to have metastasized, systemic drug therapy is given to kill residual cancerous cells through targeting of actively dividing cells.
There are difficulties associated with metal-based cancerous compounds in that effective treatment is hampered by lack of specificity and difficulty in delivering these agents to the site of the carcinogenic tumors. The lack of specificity of cytotoxic drugs for tumors cells and the resulting toxicity to normal tissue hampers an additional exploitation of their apoptotic effects. This is especially true with using hemotherapeutic and cytotoxic agents with solid neoplasms since within the inter region of neoplasmic cells, the network of blood capillaries is too small for such agents to be delivered (Jain, R. K. Cancer Metastasis Rev., 9, 253 (1990); Forbes, N. S., et al., Cancer Res., 63, 5188 (2003); Znati, C. A., et al., Clin. Cancer Res., 9, 5508 (2003); Jain, R. K. Nat. Med., 9, 685 (2003); Jain, R., & Booth, M. F. J. Clin. Invest., 112, 1134 (2003); Jain, R. K. in Clinical Oncology, eds. Abeloff, M., Armtage, J., Niederhuber, J., Kastan, M., McKenna, W., 3rd ed., (Elsevier, Philadelphia), pp. 153-172 (2004)). These regions commonly exist in most major classes of solid tumors such as those associated with breast, head and neck, pancreatic, stomach, ovarian, cervical, lung, and prostate tumors.
Adding to that is the problem of the patient developing a resistance with the continual, prolonged use of such agents. There is also a plethora of adverse side effects, some of which are irreversible, associated with cisplatin, including tubular necrosis, thrombocytopenia, anaemia, nausea, tinnitus, loss of sight, peripheral and autonomic neuropathies, urticaria, erythema, facial oedema, cytopenia, cachexia, alopecia, and angioedema, and many others related to pulmonary, reproductive and endocrine, and even cardiac arrest, especially at high doses (Slapak, C. A., & Kufe, D. W. in Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, ed. Isselbacker, K. J., 14th ed., (McGraw-Hill, New York), pp. 523-537 (1998); Sweetman, S. C. Martindale: the Complete Drug Reference, 3rd ed., (Pharmaceutical Press, London-Chicago), pp. 525-527 (2002)). These induced side effects significantly impact the quality of life of the patient and frequently dramatically influence the patient's compliance with the treatment regimen. These complications are the major dose-limiting toxicity and can lead to hospitalization of the patient and analgesics for the alleviation of pain.
In addition, new approaches are needed to overcome the two major overriding problems in the design of chemotherapeutic drugs; namely, the lack of selectivity of chemotherapeutic drugs in distinguishing normal and tumor cells, and the common occurrence of drug-resistant tumors. Cytotoxic drugs select only those cells that are able to withstand assault, while resistant cells remain unaffected. This as a result will eliminate the complete clinical effectiveness of the designated drug. Given the current state of affairs, there is an immediate need to develop cytotoxic drugs that can circumvent these obstacles. Therefore, central tenets in the design of such molecules are the control of toxicity and targeting of the metal to specific cancerous cells.
Accordingly, there is an immediate need to develop and design a new generation of chemotherapeutic agents that are able to overcome the above-described disadvantages.

Apoptosis-inducing antineoplastic silver (I) coordination complexes


Provided are a glyceride oil composition derived from a fish oil and a preparation method thereof. The composition includes docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) with a content of 45 to 95% by weight and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) with a content of 0.001 to 13% by weight among constituent fatty acids, and a saturated fatty acid having 16 to 18 carbon atoms, which is bonded at 1- and 3-positions, with a content of 0.001 to 5% by weight among constituent fatty acids, in which a weight ratio of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) is 0.5 to 8 and a weight ratio of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is 3.5 to 15. The glyceride oil composition derived from fish oil has nutritional and physiological superiority due to containing a great amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids such as DHA and DPA in a form of glyceride, and can minimize disadvantages of EPA such as inhibition of ω-6 fatty acid metabolism by containing a low amount of EPA. The glyceride oil composition is excellent in digestion and absorption of polyunsaturated fatty acids into a human body by containing a low amount of saturated fatty acids at 1- and 3-positions and process characteristics such as an oxidation stability and water-dispersibility.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are not synthesized in a human body, thus it is necessary to consume them as a food instead. It has been known for a prolonged time that PUFAs, as a component for cell serum membrane, are an important biological component that is inevitably required in a brain, especially, of an infant.
In 1970's, Eskimos in Greenland were observed, and as a result, it was found that there is a relationship between a low rate of heart disease and a great amount of consumption of long-chain ω-3 PUFAs [see Dyerberg, L. et al., Amer. J. Clin Nutr. 28:958-966 (1975); and Dyberg, J. et al., Lancet 2 (8081): 117-119 (Jul. 15, 1978)]. More recent researches confirmed the effects of heart-related protection [see Shinkkawa, H. World Rev Nutr Diet, 88: 100-108 (2001); and von schacky, C., and Dyerberg, J., World Rev Nutr Diet, 88: 90-99 (2001)]. Moreover, it was found that several diseases react to the treatment using ω-3 fatty acids, for example, restenosis to some extent after angioplasty, flammatory or rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, psoriasis, and eczema. It was found that γ-linolenic acid (GLA; ω-6 PUFA) reduces blood pressure elevation related to stress and improves its performances on the arithmetic test. It was found that GLA and dihomo-γlinolenic acid (DGLA, another ω-6 PUFA) inhibits platelet aggregation, induces vasodilation, reduces the level of cholesterol, and inhibits proliferation of blood vessel wall smooth muscles and fibrous tissues [see Brenner et al., Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 83:85-101 (1976)]. It was found that administration of GLA or DGLA alone or in combination with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, ω-3 PUFA) reduces or prevents gastrointestinal bleeding, and reduces and prevents other side effects caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,701). In addition, it has been found that GLA and DGLA prevents and treats endometriosis and premenstrual syndrome (U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,592) and treats myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue after viral infection (U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,871). Other evidences indicate that PUFAs can participate in control of calcium metabolism. This suggests that PUFAs are useful for treating and preventing osteoporosis and renal or urinary calculus. Finally, PUFAs can be used in the treatment of cancers and diabetes [see U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,877 and Horrobin et al., Am. J. Clin, Nutr. 57 (Suppl.): 732S-737S (1993)].
In general, PUFAs are classified into ω-6 and ω-3 fatty acids derived by unsaturation and elongation of essential fatty acids such as linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA), respectively. Here, ω refers to a number of carbons counted from the end of a methyl group to a point of a first double bond in the fatty acid.
It is confirmed that various fatty acids such as ω-6 fatty acids including linoleic acid, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid, and ω-3 fatty acids including α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and docosapentaenoic acid exhibit each different physiological effects.
Such ω-6 and ω-3 fatty acids are inevitable for maintaining a good health, and they must be consumed in a ratio of about 4:1. However, a westernized diet nowadays has lead to a serious disparity of consuming ω-6 fatty acids on average 20 times more than ω-3 fatty acids. Therefore, in order to recover such a disparity, it is necessary to ingest ω-3 fatty acids.
Docosahexaenoic acid (hereinafter, referred to as 'DHA') is a ω-3 fatty acid having 22 carbon atoms and 6 double bonds. The efficacies of DHA have been known to have contribution to mainly reinforcing brain functions and visual developments. Such DHA is commonly used as a nutritional supplement, and a highly purified product of DHA can be used as a medicine for hyperlipemia.
Docosapentaenoic acid (hereinafter, referred to as 'DPA) is a ω-3 fatty acid having 22 carbon atoms and 5 double bonds. DPA has been known to have effects on thrombosis inhibition, carbohydrate metabolism, and improvement in vascular endothelial cell plasticity.
Eicosapentaenoic acid (hereinafter, referred to as 'EPA') is a ω-3 fatty acid having 20 carbon atoms and 5 double bonds. EPA exerts various physiological activities such as inhibiting platelet aggregation in a human body, reducing a level of triglyceride in a blood plasma, reducing a level of very low density lipoproteins (VLDLs) and low density lipoproteins (LDLs), increasing a level of high density lipoproteins (HDLs), reducing a blood viscosity and blood pressure, and serving antiphlogistic and antineoplastic functions.
For examples relating to oil which uses such polyunsaturated fatty acids, Japanese Patent No. 2572692 discloses DHA triglyceride and its production, Japanese Patent No. 2602743 discloses EPA triglyceride and its production, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-160794 discloses ω-3 type unsaturated fatty acid in triglyceride. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,852,758 discloses ω-3 type unsaturated fatty acid in diglyceride, U.S. Pat. No. 6,410,078 discloses triglycerides rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,624 discloses triglycerides containing ω-6 fatty ester moieties that include ARA and DHA. Furthermore, EP patent No. 1544281 discloses DHA in monoglyceride, and WO 00/18944 discloses triglycerols of enriched CLA content.
Additionally, WO 2005/5144 suggests using an oil containing DPA for improving a state of lacking arachidonic acid and increasing arachidonic acid. However, the DPA content is extremely low, and the oil is derived from microorganisms with a high production cost. WO 2003/24237 discloses an oil composition comprising ω-3 fatty acids capable of preventing accumulation of body fat. However, the content of the ω-3 fatty acid among the constituent fatty acids of diglyceride is less than 15% by weight, which is low.
Many of these patents use ω-3 fatty acids, but the approaches were made on a wide range of fatty acids having 18 or more carbon atoms. Examples containing a great amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids were not to be found. Especially, the patents relate to mostly triglycerides containing polyunsaturated fatty acids, and most of the patents relating to diglycerides containing polyunsaturated fatty acids also had no application of DPA functionalities. Moreover, there have been no examples of limiting the content of EPA.
Meanwhile, important ω-3 fatty acids of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) are found from each different type of fish or ocean plankton. They are also producible from microorganisms [e.g., porphyridium and mortierella]. However, there are disadvantages in that the cost is high, and the cultivation on a commercial scale is difficult.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-214891 discloses a production of an oil and fat containing highly polyunsaturated fatty acid in high concentration by reacting the oil and fat with a deformed immobilized-enzyme. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-287593 suggests a method for stabilizing fat or oil by transesterification to inhibit oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acid contained in fish.
However, the above-mentioned patents contains the polyunsaturated fatty acid in a great amount of 45% by weight or more, thus concentration thereof is difficult and the production unit cost is not effective.

Glyceride oil composition from fish oil and preparation method thereof


A printed wiring board comprises ground layers stacked via insulator(s); a first through hole; second through holes ; and signal wirings each extending from the first through hole through the clearance between predetermined ones of the ground layers, disposed between predetermined second through holes of the second through holes. Each of first clearances in the ground layers neighboring layer in which the signal wiring is disposed has an outline that a distance between the first through hole and outline of the first clearance is minimum of the signal wiring. Each of second clearances in the ground layers not adjacent to the signal wiring has an outline formed outside a circle connecting each center of second through holes centering the first signal through hole, such that outline of second clearance does not contact with the second through holes.

Throughput of communication devices or information devices is being improved dramatically. In recent years, frequencies of signals transmitted in or between such devices are being increased, and there is a possibility that deterioration of a signal bandwidth in a printed wiring board may be caused. In particular, deterioration of a signal bandwidth in a through hole in a printed wiring board with a multilayer wiring structure is problematic in improving the throughput. Thus, as a means of reducing deterioration of a signal bandwidth in a printed wiring board, the following techniques have been suggested.
Patent Document 1:
JP Patent Kokai Publication No. JP2000-216510A
Patent Document 2:
JP Patent Kokai Publication No. JP2001-244633A
Patent Document 3:
JP Patent Kokai Publication No. JP2007-158675A
Patent Document 4:
JP Patent Kokai Publication No. JP2007-220849A
Patent Document 5:
JP Patent Kokai Publication No. JP2007-234715A
Patent Document 6:
JP Patent Kokai Publication No. JP2008-130976A
Patent Document 7:
JP Patent Kokai Publication No. JP2007-250885A
Patent Document 8:
JP Patent Kokai Publication No. JP2007-258358A
Patent Document 9:
JP Patent Kokai Publication No. JP2000-114729A

Printed wiring board and method for manufacturing the same


A communications system and protocol are described for wirelessly interconnecting a pair of bed and wall units that communicate the patient information, including bed exit alerts, from the patient supporting equipment to the hospital nurse call system. A linking procedure is provided for establishing a communications link to interconnect the pair of units, wherein the communications link fails upon detection of a third communications device simultaneously undergoing the link attempt mode. In one embodiment, the system provides for advanced collision detection by monitoring corruption of the end-of-packet byte within the periodic check-in message sequences between the linked units to prevent data corruption and future collisions. To ensure prompt interconnection of units, embodiments of the invention provide for a link reminder to alert the health care provider to initiate the steps for linking the bed and wall units whenever two or more unlinked units are in proximity.

Modern health care environments place heavy burdens on medical personnel responsible for a continuously growing number of patients. Nursing shortages and heavy workloads continue to be the norm in most modern hospitals. Nursing and other front line medical caregivers are typically responsible for monitoring and reporting patient conditions. A patient's post-operative recovery, for example, often requires monitoring and restricting patient movement. This task is frequently complicated when dealing with patients who are confused or unable to understand the caregiver's instructions and are at risk of injury due to their propensity for excessive movement.
Patient movement and bed position detection systems provide monitoring and alerting capabilities by conveying to care giving personnel a patient's movement and/or position on the bed. These systems provide for remote monitoring and alerting by employing sensors incorporated into hospital beds or other patient supporting equipment that interface with a nurse call system to relay the sensor data to a nursing station or a telemetry unit. When the system detects that a patient has left the bed, changed positions and/or moved the bed controls in a way that does not comply with an allowed range of motion, nursing personnel are alerted to take appropriate action. Typically, patient movement and position sensors mounted in the bed interface with a control unit located on the bed. The control unit transmits the patient data to the nursing station via a cable that connects the control unit and a nurse call system interface located in the patient's room.
Patient beds and other patient equipment are often moved about a hospital. Upon moving the bed to another location, the cable connecting the bed to the nurse call system is disconnected for transport of the bed and then reconnected when the bed is prepared at its new location. Because the cable is a physical tether, it is easy for hospital personnel to forget to disconnect the cable before moving the bed or any other equipment cabled to the wall, causing damage to the cables and to the connectors on the bed and the wall Additionally, when the bed is being prepared at a new location, hospital personnel do not have the physical reminder to connect the cable.

Communications system and protocol for medical environment


A machine for making cups of thermoplastic coated paper, the machine including a frame or housing having a turret rotatably mounted on the frame, a number of work stations mounted on the frame in an equally spaced relation around the turret, a number of mandrels corresponding to the number of work stations mounted on the turret and a curling die mounted on the turret in radial alignment with each of the mandrels. The turret being rotated intermittently to align the mandrels sequentially with the work stations, the work stations being movable radially inwardly into a working relation with each mandrel, the mandrels being moved radially inwardly simultaneously with the work stations to form a tucked curl on the top edge of the cup.

Two piece thermoplastic coated paper cups of the type produced by previous machines are made up from a side wall blank and a circular bottom wall blank. Typically the machine at which the blanks are assembled includes a turret mounted on a vertical axis and having a number of mandrels projecting radially outwardly from the turret axis. The turret is intermittently stepped to rotate the mandrels to each of a number of work stations. In the operation of the machine, a flanged bottom wall blank is concentrically attached by suction to the end surface of each mandrel, a side wall blank is wrapped around the mandrel and the edges bonded together to form a seam. A flange on the bottom wall blank is then bonded to a flange on the end of the side wall blank to seal the bottom.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,130, issued Dec. 25, 1984, to Daryl R. Konzal, et al., entitled, "Machine For Forming Seams Of Two-Piece Paper Cups," a machine is described for making two-piece flat bottom paper cups of thermoplastic coated papers, each including a side wall blank and a disc-like bottom wall blank. In this machine, the disc-like bottom wall blank is of circular cross section and temporarily held against a flat outwardly facing surface of the mandrel by a vacuum. The edges of the circular blank extend outwardly from the end of the mandrel and are folded to form a flange. A separate turret is provided for feeding the side wall blanks to the main turret, which requires heating of the bottom edge of one end of the blank at one station and heating the top of the edge at the other end of the blank at a second station prior to wrapping the blank around the mandrel. The side wall blank is then wrapped around the mandrel so that the heated edges overlap and are sealed. The bottom edge of the blank extends beyond the end of the mandrel and overlaps the flange of the bottom wall blank. Heaters are provided for heating the thermoplastic coating on the flange portions of the blanks to provide for their adhesion to one another when folded inwardly against the bottom of the mandrel. This application was concerned primarily with a system for separately heating the bottom edge of one end of the blank and the top edge of the other end of the blank with hot air prior to wrapping the blank around the mandrel.


A first router is configured for monitoring prescribed attributes of an active path connected to the first router, and supplying an update message to a second router, according to a prescribed routing protocol such as Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP), that specifies a detected change by the first router in at least one of the prescribed attributes of the connected active path. Hence, the second router, in response to receiving the update message, can update an internal topology table based on the detected change in the active path connected to the first router, and selectively adjust an internal routing table based on the detected change relative to queuing policies for prescribed data flows.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to transport of messages specifying routing information between Internet Protocol (IP) routers according to a prescribed routing protocol, for example a distance vector routing protocol such as Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP).
2. Description of the Related Art
Wide area packet switched networks such as the Internet have become an integral part of worldwide commerce in part due to the ability of different networks to interoperate without central control. In particular, the decentralization of control is possible due to routing protocols which enable routers to communicate amongst each other and share routing information: routing protocols include operations such as router advertisement, router discovery, link state advertisement, and the sharing of all or at least a portion of respective routing tables. Distance-vector routing protocols call for each router to send all or a portion of its routing table in a routing-update message at regular intervals to each of its neighboring routers. Hence, each router can build a topology table that provides a detailed representation of the network topology relative to the corresponding router, and a routing table that enables routing of packets according to the network topology
One particular routing protocol of interest is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,704 to Farinacci et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. Farinacci et al. describes a router configured for executing a distance vector routing protocol, referred to as Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP). As described in Farinacci et al., EIGRP enables routers to initially exchange routing information, including topology tables, enabling each router to identify its neighboring topology. Once the routers have established their respective topology tables and routing tables, a router only needs to send an EIGRP-based update message to another router only if a link transition occurs that affects the network topology.
EIGRP also utilizes the Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL), developed by J. J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves. DUAL enables EIGRP routers to determine whether a path advertised by a neighbor is looped or loop-free, and enables an EIGRP router to locate alternate paths without waiting for updates from other routers. Hence, upon receiving an EIGRP update message indicating a link transition, the EIGRP router updates its routing table and utilizes the DUAT algorithm to identify loop-free path, determine a most likely successor path based on cost metrics, and update its routing table accordingly. EIGRP routers are commercially available from Cisco Systems, San Jose, Calif.
The EIGRP protocol specifies that each link for a corresponding destination specified in a routing table of a given router can have one of two possible states, mainly "Active" and "Passive". The "Active" state refers to a state when a link is not available (e.g., when a link failure occurs), at which point the router is "actively" attempting to identify from its topology a feasible successor to reach the destination. The "Passive" state refers to a state where the router is "passive" (i.e., does not need to identify a feasible successor) because the topology table already identifies an available link (i.e., a link that can reach the destination within prescribed cost parameters). Routers can generate update messages in response to: (1) receiving an update message from another router, and entering an "Active" phase to identify a feasible successor; or (2) detecting a transition in a link due to either a link failure (i.e., available link transitions to an unavailable link), or a link recovery (i.e., an unavailable link transitions to an available link).
Although existing EIGRP routers can determine network topology and generate routing tables accordingly based on link availability, the existing EIGRP protocol limits the generation of a new update message by a source router (i.e., a router not having received an update message related to the new update message) to only instances of detecting a link failure or a link recovery. The limiting of new update messages provides the benefit of minimizing routing protocol traffic between routers, but at the expense of limiting the exchange of useful information between routers.

Router configured for outputting update messages specifying a detected attribute change of a connected active path according to a prescribed routing protocol


A voltage circuit generates a programming or erasure voltage for programming or erasing a floating-gate memory. The voltage generator circuit includes a charge pump to provide a pumped voltage and a shaping circuit to provide the programming or erasing voltage from the pumped voltage. A switching circuit enables the pumped voltage to reach a sufficient level before the shaping circuit generates the programming or erasure voltage.

Programming and erasure of a trapped charge stored on a floating-gate transistor is done by application of high voltages between a gate and a drain to charge or discharge the floating gate. The charge reaches the floating gate by tunneling. The voltage to be applied to the transistor must be gradual in order to prevent any breakdown of the insulating material. Voltage ramp generators are known in the prior art. For example, a ramp generator system is described in the application EP-A-0 762 428.
FIG. 1 shows the circuits used during the programming of a floating-gate memory. A charge pump 1 provides a pumped voltage V.sub.HT. This charge pump 1 is controlled by a binary programming signal SP. The programming signal SP activates the operation of the charge pump during the programming. A shaping circuit 2 receives the pumped voltage V.sub.HT and produces a programming voltage V.sub.PP having an increase regulated gradually so as not to damage the floating gate transistors. The programming voltage V.sub.PP is applied to buffer registers 3, in which the data elements to be programmed have been loaded beforehand. One or more buffer registers 3 are connected to a memory array 4. An increase in the programming voltage V.sub.PP prompts a gradual increase of the output voltage of the buffer registers 3. This causes the contents of at least one of the buffer registers 3 to be written in the memory array. Erasure is done according to a similar principle with, however, a few differences. It is possible to replace the buffer registers with row decoder circuits to reverse the biasing of the cells. Also, for example, the same circuits can be used with a negative programming voltage.
In the case of a programming operation, a voltage square wave is generated at an output of the charge pump 1 and at an output of the shaping circuit 2, as shown in FIG. 2a. At the instant T.sub.1, the programming signal is activated. This prompts a rapid growth of the pumped voltage V.sub.HT, which will increase up to a maximum pumped voltage V.sub.HTMAX. The pumped voltage V.sub.HT is regulated so that it is maintained at V.sub.HTMAX. At the instant T.sub.2, the programming signal is deactivated which ends the programming. The charge pump 1 stops and the pumped voltage V.sub.HT diminishes to zero volts.
The voltage V.sub.PP is a constant voltage equal to the supply voltage V.sub.CC of the integrated circuit when the programming signal SP is deactivated. When the programming signal SP is active, the programming voltage V.sub.PP becomes equal to the pumped voltage V.sub.HT. However, the shaping circuit limits the increase of the programming voltage V.sub.PP in order not to damage the storage transistors.
FIG. 2a corresponds to a normal operation for a charge pump 1 which provides sufficient current. As soon as the programming voltage V.sub.PP increases, the charge pump 1 must provide a current to the circuits supplied with the programming voltage V.sub.PP. In particular, for the buffer registers 3 loaded by the storage transistors of the memory array to which they are connected, the greater the increase of the programming voltage given by V.sub.PP, the higher the current provided by the charge pump 1.
If the charge pump 1 is undersized, the operation becomes as shown in FIG. 2b. In FIG. 2b, the pumped voltage V.sub.HT increases rapidly until the programming voltage V.sub.PP begins to increase. The charge pump 1 must provide substantial current to the buffer registers 3 which greatly limits the increase of the pumped voltage V.sub.HT. FIG. 2b shows an extreme case where the charge pump 1 cannot reach the voltage V.sub.HTMAX necessary to provide for programming.
To prevent a problem of this kind, the charge pump 1 is sized as a function of the maximum current that it has to supply, while at the same time being able to swiftly increase the pumped voltage V.sub.HT. Those skilled in the art know that the maximum output current of the charge pump 1 is proportional to C*F/n. C is the capacitance of the capacitors used in the output stages of the pump, F is the pumping frequency, and n is the number of output stages of the pump. The number of output stages is fixed as a function of the desired voltage and the supply voltage of the integrated circuit. The increase in the pumping frequency causes an increase in consumption, problems of parasitic emission (radiation), and risks of loss of synchronization (excessively rapid switching of the output stages). The increase in the capacitance values leads to an increase in the size of the pump.
At present, the programming (or erasure) can be done by word, by page of words, or for the entire memory. Total programming is essentially used to reduce the duration of the manufacturer's tests on the memory. A system sized for the efficient performance of total programming is oversized for the programming of only one word.

Circuit for the generation of voltage for the programming or erasure of a memory that uses floating-gate transistors


A computed tomography apparatus has a gantry with at least one x-ray tube and at least one detector. The x-ray tube and the detector are executed such that they can rotate around a system axis (z-axis), and the detector exhibits a width B in the system axis direction and a longitudinal length L in the circumferential direction of the gantry. At least one movable detector diaphragm is arranged that is moved in front of the detector as needed and thus partially covers the detector. A movement device enables movement of the detector diaphragm over the detector in the longitudinal direction of the detector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a computed tomography apparatus of the type having a gantry with at least one x-ray tube and at least one detector, the x-ray tube and the detector being rotatable around a system axis (z-axis), and the detector exhibits a width B in the system axis direction and a length L in the circumferential direction, and furthermore a diaphragm with at least one movable element disposed in front of the detector and thus partially covers the detector as needed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is generally known that the resolution can be improved in an x-ray detector by a reduction of the size of the aperture which, among other things, describes the opening ratio or the power of an optical system, as described in German OS 102 11 948, for example. In this document, a diaphragm is described that has a movable element that at least partially covers the surface of the detector elements.
In modern x-ray computed tomography apparatuses, generally multi-row detectors are used that are arranged next to one another in the direction of the system axis (z-axis). Each detector row is formed by a number of detector elements in a direction perpendicular to the z-axis. To improve the resolution of these detectors, as needed a detector diaphragm can be attached in front of the detector that reduces the effective surfaces of the individual detector elements.
Newer developments in detectors exhibit an ever-greater width in the z-direction, which also requires a diaphragm that is wider in the z-direction. Since this detector diaphragm is moved over the detector only as needed, it must otherwise be disposed outside of the beam path in a standby position. This diaphragm is always moved, as is conventional, over the detector in the z-direction. This movement path requires a large amount of space in the z-direction. The gantry housing must accordingly also provide corresponding storage (stowage) space for the detector diaphragm, and is therefore construed correspondingly deep in the z-direction.
This design depth, however, causes a limitation of the collision diagram outline (i.e., the area in which a risk of collision exists), and thus a limitation with regard to the tilt capability of the gantry and with regard to the detector in general also arises. If one wants to obtain a sufficient tilt capability in spite of this larger design depth of the gantry housing in the z-direction, the radially closed examination space must be enlarged, which leads to unnecessarily large radii and therewith high construction costs.

Computed tomography apparatus with a detector diaphragm having a diaphragm element movable longitudinally over the detector


A low contact resistance CMOS integrated circuit and method for its fabrication are provided. The CMOS integrated circuit comprises a first transition metal electrically coupled to the N-type circuit regions and a second transition metal different than the first transition metal electrically coupled to the P-type circuit regions. A conductive barrier layer overlies each of the first transition metal and the second transition metal and a plug metal overlies the conductive barrier layer.

The majority of present day integrated circuits (ICs) are implemented by using a plurality of interconnected field effect transistors (FETs), also called metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs or MOS transistors). The ICs are usually formed using both P-channel and N-channel FETs and the IC is then referred to as a complementary MOS or CMOS integrated circuit (IC). There is a continuing trend to incorporate more and more circuitry on a single IC chip. To incorporate the increasing amount of circuitry the size of each individual device in the circuit and the size and spacing between device elements (the feature size) must decrease. The individual elements of the circuits, MOS transistors and other passive and active circuit elements, must be interconnected by metal or other conductors to implement the desired circuit function. Some small resistance is associated with each contact between the conductor and the circuit element. As the feature size decreases, the contact resistance increases and becomes a greater and greater percentage of the total circuit resistance. As feature sizes decrease from 150 nanometer (nm) to 90 nm, then to 45 nm and below the contact resistance becomes more and more important. At feature sizes of 32 nm the contact resistance likely will dominate chip performance unless some innovation changes the present trend.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide low contact resistance CMOS integrated circuits. In addition, it is desirable to provide methods for fabricating low contact resistance CMOS integrated circuits. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Low contact resistance CMOS circuits and methods for their fabrication


A coating film forming composition includes an amino acid generator including a protecting group that is eliminated to generate an amino acid. A coating film forming composition includes a component (A): the amino acid generator; a component (B): a hydrolyzable silane, a hydrolysis product thereof, a hydrolysis-condensation product thereof, or a mixture thereof; and a component (C): a solvent.

A polysiloxane is researched and developed for utilizing the polysiloxane as one member of an electronic device, particularly a solid state imaging device by taking advantage of high transparency and high heat resistance due to a Si—O bond. The incorporation of the polysiloxane into an electronic device is performed through a process of coating an arbitral substrate with the polysiloxane by a wet process such as a spin coating method, and thus it is essential to prepare the polysiloxane as a polysiloxane vanish. The polysiloxane after the film formation thereof is generally baked using an arbitral baking equipment.
By baking the polysiloxane, intramolecular and intermolecular Si—OH bonds are condensation-polymerized with each other and the polysiloxane is polymerized to a polymer to form a rigid film. However, in the case where the condensation-polymerization of the Si—OH bond is imperfect, when the polysiloxane is incorporated into an electronic device, particularly a solid state imaging device as one member thereof, Si—OH bonds remaining after an aging test at a high temperature of the electronic device in a post-process are condensation-polymerized again and by dehydration of the electronic device, degasification is caused, so that the reliability of the electronic device is remarkably impaired. Accordingly, for solving this problem, remaining Si—OH bonds are necessary to be digested.
Thus, conventionally, there have been known methods such as (1) adding a baking process at a high temperature and for a long period, and (2) accelerating the condensation-polymerization by adding a thermobase generator to a reaction system to bake the polysiloxane (see Patent Document 1). The addition of the thermobase generator utilizes such a property that Si—OH bonds of the polysiloxane easily cause the condensation-polymerization of each other under a basic condition, and is effective for digesting remaining Si—OH bonds. A hitherto-reported thermobase generator accelerates the condensation-polymerization during baking by adding a primary amine or a secondary amine that is a moiety developing basicity in a high activity state into the thermobase generator or by adding a tertiary amine into the thermobase generator. However, there has been known that on the contrary, the preservation stability of a polysiloxane vanish in a frozen state, in a refrigerated state, or at room temperature is poor.
On the other hand, it is generally known that an acidic range of around pH 4 is a stable range for the preservation stability of a polysiloxane vanish in which the condensation-polymerization cannot be caused and a hydrolysis cannot be progressed. Conventionally, for enhancing the preservation stability of a polysiloxane vanish in a reaction system to which a thermobase generator is added, it is necessary to adjust pH to around 4, and a method of further newly adding a derivative of a carboxylic acid such as oxalic acid and maleic acid to the reaction system or similar methods are used for this adjustment.
However, the addition of the thermobase generator is effective for digesting remaining Si—OH bonds, but conversely unpreferably impairs the preservation stability of a polysiloxane vanish.
Then, there is required a polysiloxane composition capable of forming a polysiloxane film in which Si—OH bonds are remarkably digested during film formation/baking while advantageously maintaining the preservation stability of a polysiloxane vanish. There are also disclosed curable resin compositions containing a polysiloxane and an organic crosslinker (Patent Documents 2 to 4).

Amino acid generator and polysiloxane composition containing the same


A stereo projection optical system includes an image assimilator and a transmission-type light modulator positioned to receive the emergent light of the image assimilator. The image assimilator is configured for superimposing spatial information on the incident light beam and emitting one of a first polarized light component and a second polarized light component. The transmission-type light modulator alternates between a dark state and a bright state. The stereo projection optical systems provide viewers three-dimensional images formed by two alternative polarized lights whose polarizations are perpendicular relative to each other utilizing the transmission-type light modulators.

Conventional stereoscopic image projectors, as shown in FIG. 6, generally includes image-projecting units 1a, 1b each of which includes lamps 4a and 4b, spherical reflecting mirrors 3a and 3b, focusing lens devices 5a and 5b, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panels 6a and 6b, and projecting lenses 7a and 7b. The units 1a and 1b are individually driven, in order to match two images and thus produce a stereoscopic image on a screen S. Specifically, producing a focused image from one unit 1a on the screen S to produce a distinct image, and then moving the unit 1b vertically and laterally to produce another image focused overlapping the image from the unit 1b on the screen S to create the stereoscopic effect.
In such a conventional stereoscopic projector, however, optical axes La and Lb of the units 1a and 1b are inclined at a certain angle with respect to the central axis L of screen S, so that left and right images on the screen S are projected in the shape of a trapezoid as shown in FIG. 7. Thereby a keystone phenomenon occurs with the result that the two images are not completely matched in the overlapping arrangement, and thereby distorted. Consequently, such a conventional projector has a disadvantage of increasing the fatigue of viewer's eyes. In addition, there is a disadvantage that matching images on the screen S becomes troublesome and inconvenient, because two image projecting units 1a and 1b are individually driven and adjusted.
It is desired to provide a stereo projection optical system which can overcome the above-described deficiencies.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Stereo projection optical system using LCD to separate left and right eye images


A wire protocol provides message formats for creating multiple network connections between a media server and a client. These multiple network connections may include a control link connection for passing control information and a data funnel connection for passing data of multiple media. The data funnel connection may be a multipoint-to-point connection that connects multiple data servers with the client. The protocol facilitates multiple requests being concurrently outstanding and asynchronous processing of requests. The protocol is designed to exist on top of a transport protocol layer.

The use of computer networks has been gaining popularity. Local area networks have become commonplace in business environments, and residential users have begun to connect to computer networks, such as the Internet. Multimedia applications that generate multiple media output, such as audio output and video output, have also been gaining popularity. As such, it is not surprising that there has been an increase in the number of multimedia applications available on computer networks. In general, multimedia data has been transported across computer networks using transport protocols such as TCP/IP, but there has been no protocol present on top of such transport protocols for facilitating efficient and useful communications between clients and multimedia servers.


A degraded mode of operation (FIG. 7) for a partially automated mechanical transmission system (92) having a splitter-type mechanical transmission (10) with a splitter section (14) automatically shifted in only certain ratios (ninth/tenth). Upon sensing certain system faults when in this automatic splitter shifting mode, the splitter section is retained, as is, until main section neutral can be confirmed, at which time the splitter section is returned to manual control for all transmission ratios.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fault-tolerant logic for a partially automated mechanical transmission system having automated splitter shifting in at least one main section ratio position.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Partially automated vehicular transmission systems requiring manual shifting in the lower ratios and having a control for automated shifting in the upper ratios are known in the prior art, as may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,722,248; 4,850,236; 5,038,627; 5,393,276; 5,393,277 and 5,498,195, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Splitter and combined range and splitter-type compound vehicular transmissions requiring manual splitter shifting are well known in the prior art, as may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,799,002; 4,754,665; 4,974,468; 5,000,060; 5,370,013 and 5,390,561, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Transmissions with automatic splitter shifting are known in the prior art, as may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,212, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Fault-tolerant and limp-home routines for automated mechanical transmission systems are known in the prior art, as may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,109,721 and 5,157,607, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Transition to degraded mode of operation


A main CPU re-calculates, when the degree of sharpness has been adjusted, a coefficient in accordance with the value of adjustment. The main CPU finds a maximum bit number from the calculated filter coefficients, effects a bit shift of the filter coefficients in accordance with the size (bit width) of a filter coefficient register, and stores the bit-shifted filter coefficients in the filter coefficients register, thus carrying out a filtering process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine, and to an image forming method, for reading an image on a color original by image reading means such as a color scanner, processing the read image data, and forming an image by means of a printer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the prior art, input image data is subjected to a filtering process to control the degree of sharpness.
When the sharpness is controlled and it is desired to vary the degree of sharpness among plural areas such as character areas/photo areas, this desire can be satisfied by adopting a structure permitting setting of the degree of sharpness in the respective areas.
However, when arithmetic operations for the filtering process are performed, an arithmetic error, such as cancellation of significant digits, may occur depending on the precision (bit number) of an arithmetic circuit and a decimal point position of the arithmetic result.
For example, when a difference is large between a maximum absolute-value coefficient and a minimum absolute-value coefficient in a group of coefficients constituting the filter, an arithmetic result may be rounded down because it is too small relative to the precision of the arithmetic circuit.

Image forming apparatus and image forming method


Under predetermined film depositing conditions, the raw material solution of the thermistor film is atomized or dropletized, the carrier gas is supplied to the obtained mist or droplet, the mist or droplet is conveyed to the substrate, and then the mist or droplet is thermally reacted on the substrate to deposit a film. A resultant thermistor thin film has a film thickness of 1 μm or less, a film width of 5 mm or more, a thickness of 50 nm or more and 5 μm or less, a thickness in the range of less than ±50 nm, a thickness of 5 mm or less, and/or a thickness of 50 nm or more and 5 μm or less, and has a film surface roughness (Ra) of 0.1 μm or less.

Conventionally, in a product such as an electronic apparatus or a system including an electronic apparatus, a temperature sensor or a gas sensor is used for temperature compensation of the electronic apparatus, and a thermistor is used for those sensors. Types of the thermistors include a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor and a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistor.
Negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistors are thermistors that utilize the phenomenon that the resistance decreases as the temperature increases, and have a strong property of a semiconductor whose resistance decreases exponentially over a wide range of temperatures, and most thermistors correspond to this type. Positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistors are special thermistors that utilize a phenomenon in which resistance increases rapidly when the increased temperature exceeds a certain temperature, and it is considered that this is caused by a change in dielectric properties that affect electrical properties that cause a large resistance change even in a very small temperature range in an inter-particle region.
In recent years, downsizing and thinning of electronic devices have progressed, and downsizing and thinning of temperature sensors and gas sensors used in electronic devices and thermistor elements used in these sensors have also been demanded. Although thermistor elements using thermistor thin films have been investigated in response to such requirements, they have not been satisfactory because of poor mechanical strength or insufficient thermistor characteristics.
Patent Literature 1 describes an NTC thermistor film deposited by a room temperature vacuum powder injection method. However, the NTC thermistor film disclosed in Patent Literature 1 has problems such as a low mechanical strength, a difficulty in depositing thin films, and a need for a complicated process using a vacuum apparatus.
Patent Literature 2 describes a thermistor film deposited by an aerosol deposition method. However, when trying to obtain a thermistor film by an aerosol deposition method, it is difficult to obtain a dense film with good thermistor characteristics unless the aerosol having thermistor raw material fine particles is injected vigorously with a nozzle having a small diameter and is strongly collided with the substrate, and even if such a film is obtained, it is difficult to widen the area of the film, and even if the film is formed over a long time, the surface flatness is poor. Therefore, the thermistor film deposited by the method described in Patent Literature 2 has a problem that the thermistor characteristic is insufficient unless the film is a thick film of several microns or more, or a satisfactory film has not yet been obtained.
As described above, even if a thermistor film is to be obtained, when thermistor raw material fine particles are simply deposited, the mechanical strength of the film is low and the thermistor characteristics are insufficient, and even when the thermistor raw material fine particles are sprayed onto the substrate and collided to form a film, sufficient thermistor characteristics cannot be obtained unless a thick film of several microns or more is formed, and there are problems such that the surface flatness of the film which can obtain such thermistor characteristics is also poor.

Thermistor film and method of depositing the same


A system and method for an automated way of running spice on a small portion of a design is presented. The system includes a sub-circuit netlist generation processor and an analog simulation processor. The sub-circuit netlist generation processor generates a sub-circuit netlist based, at least in part, on a HDL netlist, a parasitic capacitance database and trace rules. The sub-circuit netlist contains significantly fewer paths than the HDL netlist of an entire design so that its simulation time is much quicker. The analog simulation processor generates analog simulation results of the sub-circuit netlist based, at least in part, on dynamic inputs.

1. Field of Invention
The current invention relates generally to apparatus, systems and methods for simulating electrical circuits. More particularly, the apparatus, systems and methods relate to simulating a portion of a circuit design. Specifically, the apparatus, systems and methods provide for simulation of a critical portion of a VLSI design to be fabricated in silicon as well as post silicon hardware debugging.
2. Description of Related Art
Large circuit designs such as those fabricated into an application specific integrated semiconductor (ASIC) can have millions of transistors and other electrical components that need to be tested. In order to produce a functioning chip, both the logic and the hardware need to be tested. Wire routes in the ASIC create inductance and capacitance that can affect voltages on components near them. Once these inductances and capacitances are known, simulation tools can create analog simulations of every component on the ASIC so that it can be more accurately tested.
Parasitic extraction is the calculation of the parasitic effects in both the electronic device and the required wiring interconnects between those devices. Parasitic values that need to be known are the geometries of electronic devices and wiring, parasitic capacitances, parasitic resistances and parasitic inductances. These types of values and parameters are often simply referred to as parasitics.
The major purpose of parasitic extraction is to create an accurate analog model of the circuit, so that detailed simulations can emulate actual digital and analog circuit responses. Digital circuit responses are often used to populate databases for signal delay and loading calculations such as: timing analysis; circuit simulation; and signal integrity analysis. Analog circuits are often run in detailed test benches to indicate if the extra extracted parasitics will still allow the designed circuit to function.
Interconnect capacitance is calculated by giving the extraction tool the following information: the top view layout of the design in the form of input polygons on a set of layers; a mapping to a set of devices and pins (from a Layout Versus Schematic run), and a cross sectional understanding of these layers. This information is used to create a set of layout wires that have added capacitors where the input polygons and cross sectional structure indicate a capacitor is needed. The output netlist contains the same set of input nets as the input design netlist and adds parasitic capacitor devices between these nets.
Interconnect resistance is calculated by giving the extraction tool the following information: the top view layout of the design in the form of input polygons on a set of layers, a mapping to a set of devices and pins, and a cross sectional understanding of these layers including the resistivity of the layers. This information is used to create a set of layout sub-wires that have added resistance between various sub-parts of the wires. The above interconnect capacitance is divided and shared amongst the sub-nodes in a proportional way. Note, that unlike interconnect capacitance, Interconnect resistance needs to add sub-nodes between the circuit elements to place these parasitic resistors. This can greatly increase the size of the extracted output netlist and can cause additional simulation problems. What is needed is a better way of simulating large circuit designs

Method for simulation of partial VLSI ASIC design

BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.


A semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same are provided, capable of narrowing feature size by utilizing the property of oxidation of a material. In one method, a polysilicon layer can be patterned into a fine pattern up to a critical dimension using a photolithography process. Then the patterned polysilicon layer can be oxidized, thereby narrowing the gap between adjacent polysilicon patterns and narrowing the polysilicon patterns through the oxidation process. The narrowed polysilicon patterns and/or the narrowed gap between adjacent polysilicon patterns can be used to form vias or trenches in the substrate (or layer) below the polysilicon layer having a width narrower than the critical dimension.

Recently, as the unit area of a chip gets smaller and a critical dimension is gradually reduced with the high integration of semiconductor devices, the photolithography process realizing patterns on a wafer becomes more and more important.
In general, a photolithography process is performed by first coating a photoresist on a wafer, and then photo-exposing and developing the coated photoresist. After each unit process, a bake process is further performed to increase the hardness of the photoresist on the wafer.
A related art photolithography process, where the photoresist layer is patterned using a light source such as ArF, KrF and F2 excimer laser, has several limitations in implementing a fine pattern such as a gate.
In addition, it may be difficult for the related art photolithography process to realize a linewidth of several nanometers due to a limitation of an optical system and a resolution limit of a photoresist polymer itself.
Furthermore, it may be difficult to apply the related art photolithography process to a method of forming a hole or an interconnection line in a multi-layered structure.

Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same


An interface apparatus and method for interfacing between a selector and a plurality of vocoders in a mobile communication system includes a main processor contained in the selector; a transmitting/receiving frame tick generator for generating a transmitting/receiving frame tick every 20 msec, to be supplied to the main processor; a buffer operation adjustor for enabling and disabling a selected buffer out of 15 buffers according to a control signal received from the main processor; a plurality of buffers connected one by one to a plurality of vocoding modules, for operating according to the control of the buffer operation adjustor. The plurality of vocoders for coding and decoding a voice signal.

The present invention relates to an interface apparatus and method for interfacing between a selector and a plurality of vocoders in a mobile communication system, and more particularly to an interface apparatus and method for interfacing a plurality of vocoding modules for coding/decoding a voice signal with a selector in a code division multiple access (CDMA) mobile communication system.
Generally, a mobile communication system, such as a cellular phone, portable phone, etc., is broadly divided into a radio base station, a mobile telephone terminal, and a mobile telephone exchange. A selector and a vocoder included therein code and decode voice data between the radio base station, to which a plurality of terminals are subscribed, and the exchange, and select a corresponding line by analyzing the voice data. The type of interface between the selector and the vocoder can be classified as follows:
First, there is serial access. The serial access has an advantage in that the burden of processing interrupts at a main processor of the selector is reduced. However, the relationship between the selector and the vocoder is of the form of a master and slave, and it therefore is necessary to design hardware connecting vocoding modules with one another and software or firmware corresponding thereto. PA1 Second, there is parallel access. In parallel access, the main processor of one selector is connected, one by one, to the vocoding module. Therefore, although the whole construction is connected in parallel, it is difficult to design an efficient select board.
A technique for adaptive synchronization arrangement for a CDMA cellular radio-telephone system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,091. This patent describes mutual transmission, including a destination interface identification board address and a port address in a transmission frame. However, interfacing using a buffer is not described.

Interface apparatus and method between a selector and a plurality of vocoders in a mobile communication system

Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.


A developing apparatus provided with first and second members disposed on an upstream and downstream sides, respectively, and opposed to an image bearing member. When a closest distance between the first developing member and the image bearing member is defined as SD1 (m), and the closest distance between the second developing member and the image bearing member is defined as SD2 (m), and the peak-to-peak voltage of a developing bias applied to the first developing member is defined as V1 (V), and the peak-to-peak voltage of the developing bias applied to the second developing member is defined as V2 (V), and the volume resistivity of the carrier is 1.0×10xΩ·cm,V1/SD1−V2/SD2≦(0.65x−4.5)×106(V/m),1.2×106≦V1/SD1≦(0.35x+3.5)×106(V/m),(0.30x−1.5)×106≦V2/SD2≦9.0×106(V/m), and9.0≦X≦13.0are satisfied.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a developing apparatus for developing a photosensitive member and having a cleaning function of removing a toner residual on the photosensitive member, and an image forming apparatus provided with this developing apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
In image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile apparatus adopting an electrophotographic process, and a compound machine of these there is a case where in order to collect any untransferred toner not transferred to a transfer medium but residual on a photosensitive member, the untransferred toner is collected by a so-called "cleanerless method" of collecting the untransferred toner by a developing device without using a cleaner apparatus contacting with the photosensitive member.
When this cleanerless method is used, the untransferred toner can be recycled without being disused. Also, a frictional member does not contact with the photosensitive member and therefore, the abrasion of the photosensitive member can be prevented. Accordingly, a running cost can be reduced.
Particularly, when a two-component developing method using a developer consisting of a mixture of a toner and a magnetic carrier is used as a developing method, collectability of the untransferred toner by a magnetic brush and the re-chargeability of the collected toner are improved. Therefore, the two-component developing method is suited for the cleanerless method.
The following developing apparatus is known as an example of a developing apparatus adopting the cleanerless method.
That is, a cleaning and developing apparatus having at least two rollers disposed in opposed relationship with a photosensitive member, and using a two-component developer, wherein a roller disposed upstream with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive member is a cleaning roller for cleaning the photosensitive member, and a roller disposed downstream of the cleaning roller with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive member is a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member with the two-component developer (see Claim 1 and FIG. 3 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H08-123196).
This developing apparatus has disposed therein the roller given a cleaning function and the roller given a developing function, to thereby make the collectability of the untransferred toner and the developing property which are important in the cleanerless method compatible.
The developing apparatus, as shown in FIG. 7 of the accompanying drawings, makes a cleaning roller 11 and a developing roller 12 carry a two-component developer thereon, and applies predetermined biases (DCVB1+AC) and (DCVB2, respectively, thereto and therefore, is of a construction of a so-called "multi-stage developing type" which develops a latent image on a photosensitive drum 1 by the use of virtually two developing rollers.
However, the heretofore proposed cleanerless methods including the above-described conventional example have suffers from the following problems.
When a formed image includes many portions of high density, the amount of toner consumed by a developing device becomes great. Therefore, usually in the two-component developing method, a toner corresponding to the consumed amount is adapted to be sequentially supplied and thus, the amount of toner supply has also been increased. In such a case, the imparting of charges to the toner by the agitation of the two-component developer is liable to become insufficient, and in some cases, the fogging characteristic itself of the developing device has been somewhat aggravated. The aggravation of the fogging characteristic increases a fogged toner on the photosensitive member and also induces a reduction in cleaning performance.
Also, in the case of the cleanerless method having no cleaner member contacting with the photosensitive member, an increase in the toner not removed and the fogged toner has in some cases led to the vicious circle that the hindrance of charging is caused during the charging of the photosensitive member to thereby cause a further increase in fogging. Particularly, when image formation including many portions of high density has been continuously effected, such a vicious circle has often been caused.

Developing apparatus features first and second developing members and image forming apparatus having the same