A film containing a cellulose acylate, a hindered amine compound at least 0.001% by mass relative to the cellulose acylate, and a plasticizer, satisfying: (i) the concentration C1 of the hindered amine compound 3 μm from the first film surface is higher than the concentration C2 3 μm from the second film surface; (ii) the concentration A of the plasticizer 3 μm from the first film surface is lower than the concentration B 10 μm from the first film surface; (iiia) the 15 acyl substitution degree a of the cellulose acylate 3 μm from the first film surface is lower than the acyl substitution degree b 10 μm from the first film surface; and (iiib) the 20 weight-average molecular weight Ma of the cellulose acylate 3 μm from the first film surface is higher than the weight-average molecular weight Mb 10 μm from the first film surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a film useful in various applications of polarizer protective films and the like, and its production method, and to a polarizer and a liquid crystal display device using the film.
2. Description of the Related Art
The surface of the viewers' side polarizer for use in display devices such as liquid crystal display devices and others is required to be given various functions of scratch resistance, antireflection, static elimination, etc. As the method for giving the functions, a general method is known, which comprises forming a functional layer such as a curable layer or the like of an active energy ray-curable composition on the surface of the protective film of a polarizer. However, the method has a problem in that the adhesiveness between the surface of the cellulose acylate film generally used as the protective film and the curable layer to be formed thereon is poor. Patent Reference 1 proposes a cellulose acylate film having solved the problem, in which the adhesiveness of the film to the functional layer such as the active energy ray-curable layer or the like has been enhanced.
Regarding liquid crystal display devices, the frequency of outdoor use thereof centering on digital signboards and others is expected to increase in future; and liquid crystal display devices capable of enduring use thereof even in severer environments than before are desired. In liquid crystal display devices, widely used is a polarizer in which the polarizing element formed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and iodine is sandwiched between polarizer protective films of cellulose acylate films, etc. The polarizing element formed of PVA and iodine has a weak point in that its polarization performance may often worsen in high-temperature high-humidity environments, and for satisfying the requirements in outdoor use, the polarizing element of the type must be further improved. In addition, for outdoor use, the above-mentioned functional layers are also required to have further more enhanced durability than those for indoor use. Above all, stability to light is an especially important factor; however, the conventional functional layers have a problem in that the active energy ray-curable layer may peel away from the cellulose acylate film when exposed to light for a long period of time, and in these, therefore, even though the initial adhesiveness could be improved, the light-resistant adhesiveness could not still be improved.
As a means for enhancing the light resistance of resin films, in general, a UVabsorbent and an antioxidant may be added thereto. For example, Patent Reference 2 discloses a resin film with a triazine-type UV absorbent and a hindered amine-type antioxidant added thereto. Patent Reference 3 and Patent Reference 4 disclose a cellulose acylate film containing a hindered amine-type antioxidant.
Patent Reference 1: JP-A 2011-116113
Patent Reference 2: JP-A 2009-167416
Patent Reference 3: WO07/072,643
Patent Reference 4: JP-A 2006-123513

Film, its production method, and polarizer and liquid crystal display device using the film


A complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor structure includes ion implants in only one of the two complementary devices. The transistor structure generally includes a compound semiconductor substrate and an epitaxial layer structure that includes one or more donor layers that establish a conductivity type for the epitaxial layer structure. The ion implants function to “invert” or “reverse” the conductivity type of the epitaxial layer structure in one of the complementary devices. In the example embodiment, p-type acceptor implants are utilized in the p-channel device, while the n-channel device remains implant-free.

The prior art is replete with different complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) technologies. For example, enhancement mode metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (EMOSFETs) on compound semiconductors can employ standard-refractory metal gates with a metal work function of about 4.6 eV, an undoped channel to provide enhancement mode operation (positive and negative threshold voltage for n-channel and p-channel devices, respectively), and self-aligned ion implants to form low resistivity source and drain extensions and Ohmic contact regions. However, only p-channel EMOSFETs have been successfully fabricated on the compound semiconductor GaAs in the past. For n-channel EMOSFETs on GaAs, the implant activation temperature for donors of >700° C. is incompatible with Ga2O3—GaAs interface stability. The Ga2O3—GaAs interface can only be preserved for temperatures ≦700° C. and this interface is completely destroyed for temperatures above 700° C. during activation anneal of donor implants.
The prior art also includes compound EMOSFET technology using standard metal gates with a metal work function of about 4.3 to 4.6 eV, a channel doped to opposite conductivity type by ion implantation to provide enhancement mode operation (e.g., positive threshold voltage for n-channel devices) and ion implants to form low resistivity source and drain extensions and Ohmic contact regions. Since the n-type implants are annealed prior to gate oxide deposition, the oxide-GaAs interface is not affected by high temperature during implant activation. However, the subsequent gate oxide deposition is inevitably conducted on an exposed semiconductor surface, which leads to a high defect density at the oxide-semiconductor interface. The high defect density only allows the fabrication of devices with about 1% of anticipated performance, rendering the devices essentially useless.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a high performance complementary semiconductor FET technology that is compatible with gate oxide technology. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the 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.

Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor structure having ion implant in only one of the complementary devices


A method of decoding product codes is disclosed, in which the symbols of each codeword may be placed in a table comprising n2 rows and n1 columns, such that the symbols constituting each row form a permitted word of length n1 according to a first component code able to be decoded by means of an algorithm A1 for correction with erasures, and the symbols constituting each column form a permitted word of length n2 according to a second component code able to be decoded by means of an algorithm A2 for correction with erasures. According to the method, a correction of a row or column is only accepted when the result of the correction is deemed reliable, otherwise all the symbols of that row or column are erased. Devices and apparatus adapted to implement this method are also disclosed. The method is preferably applied to algebraic geometric codes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns communication systems in which, in order to improve the fidelity of the transmission, the data to be transmitted are subjected to a channel encoding. It concerns more particularly a decoding method, as well as the devices and apparatus adapted to implement this method.
2. Description of the Related Art
It will be recalled that so-called "channel" encoding consists, when the "codewords" sent to the receiver are formed, of introducing a certain amount of redundancy in the data to be transmitted. More particularly, by means of each codeword, a predetermined number k of information symbols are transmitted which are chosen from a predetermined "alphabet" of finite size; to these k information symbols are added a number (n−k) of so-called "parity" symbols, taken from the same alphabet, so as to form codewords of length n; the set rules for calculation of the parity symbols as a function of information symbols defines a "code", or "encoding method", of parameters (n,k).
At the receiver, the associated decoding method then judiciously uses this redundancy to detect any transmission errors and if possible to correct them. More particularly, the decoding is carried out in two main steps.
The first step consists of associating an "associated codeword" with the received word. To do this, the decoder first analyzes the received word to verify whether it belongs to the code. If that is the case, it is assumed that no transmission error has occurred, and said "associated codeword" will simply be identical to the received word. If that is not the case, it is thereby deduced that some symbols in the received word are erroneous, and a correction algorithm is then implemented which is adapted to replace some of the received symbols with other symbols of the same alphabet, such that the result is a codeword, which will then constitute said "associated codeword".
The second step simply consists in reversing the encoding method, that is to say in removing the redundant symbols from the "associated codeword" to retrieve the initial data.
More particularly, the invention concerns the first of these two steps and the conditions for implementation of said correction algorithms. The role of these is usually to associate with the received word the codeword situated at the shortest Hamming distance from this received word, the "Hamming distance" being, by definition, the number of places where two words of the same length have a different symbol. Each code thus provides an error correction capacity which is limited by the smallest Hamming distance between any two words of the code, which is referred to as the "minimum distance" of the code d; more specifically, when the chosen correction algorithm is required to find the position of possible errors in any received word, and to provide a replacement symbol for each of these positions, the capacity to correct at best INT[(d−1)/2] errors can be ensured for a code of minimum distance d ("INT" designates the integer part); if the received word contains a number of errors strictly greater than INT[(d−1)/2], the algorithm will in certain cases be able to propose a correction, but it will then of course be very uncertain that this correction will be the right one, that is to say that the associated codeword is really the codeword sent by the transmitter.
Certain of the encoding methods typically used, for example in CD (compact disc) and DVD (digital video disc) recordings, are "product codes". In these methods, the symbols of each codeword may be placed in a table comprising n1 rows and n2 columns, such that the symbols constituting each row form a word belonging to a first "component" code (n1,k1), and the symbols constituting each column form a word belonging to a second component code (n2,k2). It is easy to understand that such product codes are advantageous: for example, if it is found that in a received word, a certain row does not belong to the first code and a certain column does not belong to the second code, it is immediately deduced from this, on the assumption that a single received symbol is tainted by error, that this erroneous symbol is situated at the crossing point of said row and said column. Another great advantage is that correction of all the errors of the received word may be achieved even if it may be initially impossible to correct certain of its rows with the algorithm associated with the first code, and/or initially impossible to correct certain of its columns with the algorithm associated with the second code. this is because the iterative correction of the rows one after the other, then of the columns one after the other, then the rows again, and so forth as necessary, may very well succeed in progressively reducing the number of errors, such that, at a certain stage, this number may fall in each row within the correction capacity of the first algorithm and in each column within the correction capacity of the second algorithm.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,047,395 and 6,138,263, for example, disclose methods of decoding a product code. These methods comprise a step consisting, when the first (respectively second) algorithm is unable to propose a correction for a row (respectively column) under consideration, of "erasing" the whole of said row (respectively column): this means that, when it is then sought to correct the columns (respectively rows), the positions whose symbols have been "erased" are signaled to the second (respectively first) algorithm. This is because, in general terms, when an algorithm has to correct a word (in the present case a row or column), the fact of knowing in advance the positions containing doubtful symbols considerably facilitates the algorithm's task; more particularly, it is known that an algorithm capable of taking this information into account has, if only words comprising erasures are submitted to it, a reliable correction limit twice that which it has if only words containing errors of unknown position are submitted to it. These methods of decoding product codes with erasure of uncorrectable rows and columns thus makes it possible both to tolerate a greater number of transmission errors, and to accelerate the correction procedure of these errors.
Even though such decoding methods have certain advantages, they have the drawback of giving rise to a relatively high rate of false corrections. This is because each time a row or column is erased, any information about the word which could have remained in that row or that column despite the transmission errors which that row or column has undergone, is of course lost. Consequently, if it is nevertheless desired to achieve true correction of this word, it is necessary to have a sufficient number of reliable symbols in the positions not erased of the table. However, the fact of accepting the "correction" supplied by the algorithms each time they are able to supply a "correction" means that often, when the number of errors in a row or column submitted to the row or column algorithm is relatively high, a new row or column will be entered, which is in fact tainted with errors (without this having been realized), due to the fact that the algorithm was able to propose an apparently corrected word by modifying a relatively small number of symbols, of which at least one was correct. An increasing number of false symbols will thus be generated during the subsequent steps of "correcting" this word, and in these circumstances, a highly erroneous "associated codeword" will generally result.

Low-cost methods and devices for the decoding of product cases


A clip assembly (30) for mounting a heat sink (20) on a printed circuit board (10) includes a closed annular positioning portion (32) interferingly engaging with the heat sink, a securing portion (34) secured to the positioning portion. The securing portion has a pressing member (340) extending through an opening (320) defined in the positioning portion for resiliently abutting against the heat sink, and two arms (344) extending from free ends of the pressing member with a pair of hooks (342) formed at distal portions of the two arms for engaging with the printed circuit board.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clip assembly for a heat sink, and more particularly to a clip assembly which can readily and securely attach a heat sink to an electronic device.
2. Description of Related Art
A heat sink is usually placed in thermal contact with an electronic package such as a central processing unit (CPU), and transfers heat through conduction away from the electronic package so as to prevent over-heating of the electronic package. Usually, a heat sink is secured to an electronic package by using a clip.
Chinese patent No. 01242181.2 shows a heat sink assembly including a heat sink and a clip securing the heat sink to an electronic component mounted on a printed circuit board. The heat sink comprises a base and a plurality of fins extending from the base. A plurality of grooves is defined between adjacent fins. Two neighboring fins located at two lateral sides of the groove in the middle of the heat sink project a pair of bulges on opposite inner walls thereof. The clip spans across the groove in the middle of the heat sink with a positioning portion received in the middle of the heat sink in a manner such that the positioning portion abuts against the bulges and the base of the heat sink. Two arms extending from two ends of the positioning portion have a pair of hooks engaging with the printed circuit board, thereby securing the heat sink to the printed circuit board.
The clip can prevent the heat sink from sliding with respect to the printed circuit board along an elongated direction perpendicular to the grooves of the heat sink. However, the heat sink is prone to move along a transverse direction relative to the electronic component. This makes it unstable for the heat sink to the electronic component.
What is needed, therefore, is an improved clip assembly which can overcome the above problem.


A method of making an anisotropic filtration media includes foaming a media, straining the media in a selected direction, and relieving strain of the media in the selected direction.

Filtration media that have anisotropic flow and filtration characteristics typically vary these characteristics in the direction of fluid flow. For example, the sizes of particles filtered out by a typical anisotropic filtration media decreases in the direction of fluid flow through the media. Some applications, however, may benefit from an anisotropic filtration media that differs in directions other than that of the fluid flow. New anisotropic filtration media and methods for making such media would therefore be well received in the art.

Method of making an anisotropic filtration media


A seal for use in temperature and pressure extremes is disclosed. It features springs internal to the sealing members and the ability to seal against pressure differentials from opposed directions. A spacer ring prevents contact from oppositely oriented seal components and at the same time prevents spring and seal collapse under extreme loading conditions. The seal assembly is self-centering in a downhole seal bore and can be used on tools delivered on wireline, where the insertion forces available are at a minimum. The seal can withstand pressure differentials in excess of 13,500 PSI and temperatures above 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Currently, in downhole applications, there are different types of seals to handle high temperature and pressure applications. The present limits of service of these designs are roughly about 350 degrees Fahrenheit and about 13,500 PSI. Under more severe temperature or/and pressure conditions, the presently known designs have been tested and have failed to perform reliably.
Depending on the application, there are different types of seals for high temperatures or/and pressures. In the case of packers set in high temperature applications, U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,721 asbestos fibers impregnated with Inconel wire are used in conjunction with a stack of Belleville washers to hold the set under temperature extremes. Apart from packers or bridge plugs which require seal activation after placement in the proper position, there are other applications involving seals on tools that have to engage a seal bore receptacle downhole and still need to withstand these extremes of temperature and pressure. In many cases, the tool with the seal to land in a seal bore is delivered on wireline. This means that insertion forces are limited because minimal force can be transmitted from the surface through wireline. In these applications, the limited insertion force is a design parameter that has to be counterbalanced with the frictional resistance to insertion created by the interference of the seal in the seal bore. This interference is built into the design of the seal to allow sufficient contact with the seal bore after insertion for proper seal operation. Clearly if the interference is too great the insertion, particularly with a wireline, will become problematic. On the other hand, reducing the interference can result in seal failure under the proposed extreme conditions of pressure and temperature.
There are other design considerations for seals that engage a seal bore downhole. Clearly, on the trip downhole, the seal is exposed to mechanical contact with well tubulars or other equipment. The materials for the seal must be rugged enough to withstand such mechanical impacts as well as to withstand the temperatures and pressures anticipated in the downhole location.
These seals also need to control extreme pressure differentials in an uphole and a downhole direction. Such seals may be inserted and removed from several seal bores during their service life. The design has to be flexible enough to allow long service periods under such extreme conditions as well as the resiliency to allow removal and reinsertion without damage to the seal or the surrounding seal bore.
FIG. 1 illustrates the current commercially available seal that is promoted for severe duty applications. It illustrates a mirror image arrangement around a central adapter 16. A pair of chevron packing rings 14 are disposed about the adapter 16 and outside of the rings 14 is a back-up v-ring 12 and outside of v-ring 12 is an end ring 10 to complete one half of the mirror image arrangement shown in FIG. 1. The open portions of the v-shaped rings open toward the central adapter in an effort to position the rings to withstand pressure differentials from opposite directions. The rings are made of materials suitable for the anticipated temperatures. Tests at pressure extremes of over 13,500 PSI and temperatures above 350 degrees Fahrenheit revealed that this design was unsuitable for reliable service.
In an effort to improve on the performance of the seal shown in FIG. 1, the design of FIG. 2 was tried. It featured a central o-ring 18 surrounded by a pair of center adapters 20. On either side of the center adapters 20 the arrangement was similar to FIG. 1 except that the orientation of the v-shaped opening were now all away from the central o-ring 18 rather than towards each other as had been the case in the design of FIG. 1. Additionally, there was an alternating pattern of material in the rings 22 and 24 of FIG. 2 as compared to the stacking of rings 14 of a like material as shown in FIG. 1. This design of FIG. 2 showed improved performance in high temperature and pressure conditions but was not to be the final solution. The present invention, an illustrative example of which is discussed in the preferred embodiment below, addresses the temperature and pressure extremes while allowing for insertion using a wireline. It features an internal spring mechanism and a feature that prevents collapse of the spring and the sealing elements under extreme conditions. The opposing members in the assembly are also prevented from engaging each other under extreme conditions. The collapse-preventing feature also has a beneficial aspect of seal centralization as the seal is inserted into the seal bore. Those skilled in the art from a review of the description of the preferred embodiment below and the claims that appear thereafter will readily understand these and other beneficial features of the present invention.

High pressure and temperature seal for downhole use


A flexible bag and attachment mechanism is provided that may be used in a variety of applications where it is desirable to attach a flexible bag to a device or machine. Some examples of such device may include an insect trap, a grinder, volumetric or weight based filler and liquid dispenser, food or perishable storage, etc. According to one embodiment, the bag portion of the device is disposable and the attachment device is reusable. In one variation a tapered neck is attached to the opening of the bag. The tapered neck connects within a tapered collar of the device by way of a press fitting. The neck is flexible so that it can be deformed to a shape that permits it to enter into the collar, and is resilient so that it can return to its original tapered ring configuration to engage the tapered inner circumference of the collar. The bag may be attached to a dispenser for dispensing material. The dispenser may be in part, a grinder or mixer. The dispenser may be a water or liquid dispenser for filling water bags for transport in a backpack. The bag may be used to contain attractants for an insect trap and/or may be used to contain captured insects.

A number of outdoor insect traps have been used for capturing flies, yellow jackets etc, around homes, parks and other places, particularly where people are expected to be. Permanent or reusable traps that are typically made of a hard plastic have been used for these purposes. In these traps an attractant is placed in a trap designed to capture insects that enter into the trap. In order to reuse these traps as intended, they must be emptied. In certain circumstances, when emptying, live insects may escape and in the case of yellow jackets, may present a hazard. Use of these traps as disposable traps would be relatively expensive and require the entire trap to be discarded after a single use. A disposable trap has been proposed where a bag is permanently affixed to the trap. This trap however, requires disposal of the entire trap once it is used. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an economical trap comprising a disposable and/or replaceable tapered bag attachment.

Insert trap comprising a tapered bag attachment


The present invention is a computerized system to link a user's e-mail openings and click throughs on the user's e-mail address to the user's online click stream that tracks the user's interests and activity behavior data on the user's destination websites. The system includes a dedicated tracking sub domain, a programmable tracking code embeddable on the destination site, a domain tracking cookie, a tagging engine and a template engine. The invention also includes a method for using the computerized system that generates a domain tracking cookie that is tied to an e-mail address, tracks the user on a destination site using a programmable tracking code, tracks and updates the user's interests and activity behavior data using the tracking code and takes the data to customize e-mails and the website to the user's interests and activity.

E-mail recipients are not profiled for their behavior on-site after clicking from an e-mail. E-mail click data and site behavior data are measured separately, if at all, but not together. E-mail providers do not measure onsite behavior, nor are site analytics packages integrated with e-mail.
The present invention generally relates to a computerized system and method. More specifically, the invention is a computerized system and method for linkage of e-mail opens and click throughs to a user's online click stream and the tracking of an individual's interests and activity on a destination site.
It is an object of the invention to provide a computerized system and method to unify e-mail click data and behavioral data by setting a domain tracking cookie and measuring on-site user behavior.
What is really needed is a computerized system and method that utilizes a linkage of e-mail opens and click throughs to a user's online click stream and the tracking of an individual's interests and activity on a destination site to a user's online click stream.

Computerized system and method for linking a user's E-mail that tracks a user's interest and activity


A data acquisition system can include an acquisition device and a receiving device. The acquisition device includes inputs that receive data from sensors connected to a subject, a wireless and/or a wired transmitter that transmits data received by the inputs, and a housing carrying at least some of the components of the acquisition device. The housing may be wearable by a patient. The acquisition device may be switchable between a tethered data transmission mode and an untethered data transmission mode. The receiving device includes a receiver that receives data transmitted by the acquisition device, and may include an output that outputs data to a host. The system may be configured to transmit data from the data acquisition device to the local monitor point-to-point. The system is particularly useful for monitoring high acuity patients that may or may not require ambulation.

Patient mobility is an integral part of many patient care regimens in high acuity care environments. As part of the recovery process, patients are encouraged to periodically stand up, make short trips to the window, the bathroom, and other patient mobility events. Lack of patient mobility can result in physiologic complications such as deep vein thrombosis, infection, and overall prolonged recovery periods. Although it is preferable to provide continuous monitoring during these patient mobility events, it is often too difficult. Patient cables are often too short to allow for optimal range of patient movement, yet long enough to provide a tangle hazard to the patient and to the caregiver. As a result, the patient is typically disconnected from the local/bedside monitoring device. Disconnecting the patient can be time consuming, results in an unmonitored patient, and creates a gap in the patient record. It would be preferable to have a system that allows for easy connection and disconnection of a patient from a local monitor. Also, it would be preferable to allow a patient to continue to be monitored while not physically connected to a local/bedside monitor such that a patient may be monitored during patient mobility events.
Patients who are classified as high acuity often have a number of different sensors, probes, and electrodes monitoring their condition at any one time. Further, high acuity patients should be closely monitored on a continual basis. It would be preferable to have a monitoring system that allows high acuity patients to be able to move around while being monitored.
Patient mobility events for many patients do not involve leaving the vicinity of the local/bedside monitor, such as walking around a room or going to the bathroom. Further, if a patient is having problems it would be desirable to know this as soon as possible. Further still, when multiple connections and data transfers must take place for data to go from the sensor to the monitor, the chance that data will be degraded or will be unable to be transferred increases. It would be desirable to have a monitoring system that transfers data with as few connections as possible, especially when monitoring high acuity patients.
While wireless data transmission can offer the advantage of substantially continuous monitoring, it is not as reliable as a direct connection. Other objects may emit fields or signals that interfere with the ability of a wireless transmitter to accurately transmit data. For instance, in an operating room environment where electrocautery equipment is being used, the electrocautery equipment may emit fields that can interfere with wireless data transmission. It would be preferable to have a system that could combine the portability of wireless data transmission with the reliability of wired data transmission. Further, it would be desirable if the system were easier to operate than unplugging the sensors from one device and then replugging the sensors into a second device.
The teachings hereinbelow extend to those embodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims, regardless of whether they accomplish one or more of the above-mentioned needs.

GE Medical Systems Information Technologies, Inc.


An optical interconnection arrangement comprises a plurality of substantially parallel optical interconnection channels. In each channel, there are an optical source, an optical receiver, a first lens and a second lens. The first lens conveys light from the source to the second lens, and the second lens refocusses the light at the receiver. Each source and the associated first lens are offset one relative to the other by a predetermined distance in a direction transverse to an optical axis of the first lens. The corresponding receiver and the associated second lens are offset one relative to the other by the same distance but in the opposite direction to the offset between the source and first lens. Each offset is equal and opposite to the corresponding offset in an adjacent channel. With such an arrangement, if a leakage portion of a light beam from a first lens in one channel impinges upon the second lens in an adjacent channel, the leakage portion will be refocussed at a position which is spaced from the receiver of such adjacent channel. In one embodiment, in each channel, the first lens and the second lens share a common optical axis and the source and receiver are offset relative to such common optical axis. In an alternative embodiment, the source and the receiver share a common optical axis and the first lens and the second lens are offset relative to such common optical axis. Such optical interconnection arrangements are tolerant of translational or rotational misalignments between the sources and associated first lenses on the one hand and the receivers and associated second lenses on the other hand, which is of particular advantage for free space optical interconnects or couplers.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to optical interconnection arrangements for coupling a plurality of optical sources or emitters with a plurality of optical receivers and is especially applicable to so-called "microchannel relays".
2. Background Art
Microchannel relays may be used for a variety of purposes, including free-space optical interconnects (e.g. for communication from one printed circuit board to another, optical backplanes, digital and analog optical computing systems and optical data storage); emitter array-to-fibre ribbon/array couplers, and fibre ribbon/array-to-receiver couplers; and fiber ribbon/array-to-fiber ribbon/array couplers.
A typical microchannel relay comprises a plurality of parallel channels, each comprising a source, a receiver and a pair of lenses or lenslets. One lens collimates light from the adjacent source and the other lens collects the collimated light from the first lens and refocusses it at the adjacent receiver.
In most applications, the parallel microchannel relay channels, perhaps one thousand or more, must be provided in a very small space. A problem encountered with such high-density free-space microchannel relay systems is that their performance is very sensitive to misalignment of the lenses relative to each other and/or to the sources or receivers. In order to ensure maximum optical efficiency, it is desirable for the lenses to be as large as possible and adjacent lenslets in each array to be contiguous. Consequently, even small translational or rotational misalignments can reduce throughput significantly and increase the level of optical crosstalk between neighbouring optical communication channels. Although this problem can be ameliorated by using precision optomechanics, a disadvantage of doing so is a significant increase in cost.


A memory device includes a plurality of memory dies, each having an assigned address. A register on each die is reset on power-up. Boot data is loaded as part of the initialization routine. If the boot data includes a reconfigured command, that command is loaded into the register. A signal is generated if the register has been altered by the stored reconfigured command. If the signal indicates that the register has not been altered, a received command is executed without reconfiguration. If the signal indicates that the register contains something other than the reset state, the contents of the register are compared with the received command. If the received command and the register contents are equal, the reconfigured command is executed.

Memory devices are typically provided as internal, semiconductor, integrated circuits in computers or other electronic devices. There are many different types of memory including random-access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), and flash memory.
Flash memory devices have developed into a popular source of non-volatile memory for a wide range of electronic applications. Flash memory devices typically use a one-transistor memory cell that allows for high memory densities, high reliability, and low power consumption. Common uses for flash memory include personal computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), digital cameras, and cellular telephones. Program code and system data such as a basic input/output system (BIOS) are typically stored in flash memory devices for use in personal computer systems.
Flash memory devices may be manufactured in a NOR architecture or a NAND architecture. In a NOR configuration, the cells are arranged in a matrix. The gates of each floating gate memory cell of the array matrix are connected by rows to wordlines and their drains are connected to column bitlines. The source of each floating gate memory cell is typically connected to a common source line.
A NAND flash is comprised of an array of floating gate cells arranged in series chains. Each of the floating gate cells are coupled drain to source in each series chain. A word line that spans across multiple series chains is coupled to the control gates of each floating gate cell in a row in order to control their operation. The bitlines are eventually coupled to sense amplifiers that detect the state of each cell.
In order to increase the memory density of flash memory devices, manufacturers are stacking memory dies so that each device may be comprised of multiple dies. In such a device, the dies typically use a common chip enable line and an address line is used to select between the dies. This stacking scheme treats two or more memory devices as if they were one memory space.
A problem exists when a command is used that does not require an address (e.g., read status). When such a command is transmitted to the memory devices without differentiating which device is being addressed, all of the devices will transmit back substantially simultaneously on the same bus.
One way to get around this problem is to redefine the commands that do not have addresses to include an address associated with the command. However, this is difficult to implement since, once the die is preprogrammed, it must be marked as having a particular address. When a memory device is manufactured from multiple dies, the dies must be correctly assembled in an integrated circuit so that no two dies with the same address end up in the same memory device. Such an assembly process requires detailed labeling and tracking of the differently programmed dies. This creates a logistical problem for manufacturers.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for a flash memory device that has multiple memory dies that can be individually addressed with all memory commands.

User configurable commands for flash memory


A printer driver in an image processor includes a load distribution section that distributes load of the color matching processing in such a manner that a color matching processing section or a color printer executes the color matching processing. Moreover, a color matching processing section uses a profile stored in a profile holding section, to perform the color matching processing with respect to the color image data. Moreover, a profile holding section holds profiles of various images and a data converter converts color image data to a format suitable for the color printer.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to distributing load of the color matching processing between an image processor and a printer.
2) Description of the Related Art
A recorded original image is read by a color scanner to obtain image data, an image is output by a color printer based on the image data, to obtain an image similar to the original image in view of color as much as possible, or an image obtained by printing based on the image data obtained by the color scanner, and the image similar to the original image in view of color as much as possible are output by the color printer. In performing such color matching for matching the color of the two images, for example, a profile defining the correspondence between data representing each halftone dot % of CMYK and the color output based on the color data is used, and the image data is converted by using the profile, to thereby obtain an image expressed in a desired color.
As this type of color matching technique, for example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-328391) discloses an "image processor system" in which choices whether the color conversion processing is to be carried out at high speed, or at high accuracy is displayed on a monitor, and when color conversion at high accuracy is selected by a user, quadrangular pyramid interpolation is selected as an interpolation operation used together for the LUT (Look Up Table) in the color conversion processing, and when color conversion processing at high speed is selected by the user, cubic interpolation is selected to thereby perform color conversion processing.
Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-050087) discloses an "image processor" in which input data depending on a color space of an input device is converted to color space data that does not depend on a device based on the observation condition on the input side by a conversion LUT, the data is converted to data in a human color perception color space by a normal transformer and color space-compressed, the color space-compressed data is converted to color space data that does not depend on a device based on the observation condition on an output side by an inverse transformer, and the data is converted to output data in a color space depending on an output device by the conversion LUT.
However, in the conventional art, since the color matching processing is performed either on a personal computer (printer driver) side or on a printer, when large data such as image data is subjected to color matching, color matching depends on the processing capability of the personal computer or the printer. Therefore, there is a problem in that if color matching is performed by a device having low processing capability, long processing time is required.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Image processor, image processing method, and computer product


An information handling system transfers command blocks between a host processing side having a host processing unit and a host memory and a local processing side having a local processing unit and a local memory. The command blocks are transferred from the host processing side to the local processing side by storing the host address of the command block in a local side register set. Upon storing the host address a transfer signal is given to a command block transfer controller to start a command block transfer without the local processor unit intervention.

With the widespread acceptance of personal computers in today's society, there is a constant need to reliably and expediently transfer large blocks of data among various component of the system. Networked personal computers (PC) have a constant need to receive and transmit large blocks of data among each other. Furthermore, the need for transferring large blocks of data is specially important in the increasingly popular client/server information handling environments. In such environments, a plurality of client work stations are networked and coupled to one or more server system, thus, allowing the client stations to share system resources, such as, files, printers, and applications. As a result, server systems are often required to transfer very large blocks of data from storage devices to client stations. In order to insure data integrity, it is customary to generate a status signal upon completion of data block transfers indicating transfer error conditions, if any.
Generally, data transfer form one system to another is handled through a local interface controller which is coupled to a host system unit via an Input/output (I/O) expansion bus. The interface controller may be a storage device interface, such as a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) controller, or a communication interface such as an Ethernet or Token Ring Local Area Network Controller (LAN). Some I/O expansion bus protocols allow an interface controller to take control of the bus and transfer data to and from the host unit. Such interface controllers are known as bus masters and operate with I/O buses supporting bus mastering protocols. Two exemplary I/O expansion buses supporting bus mastering protocols are Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus and MicroChannel I/O bus.
Over the years various techniques have been devised for transferring data to and from a memory device efficiently. Direct memory access (DMA) technique has been widely used to transfer large blocks of consecutive data from a direct access storage device (DASD) to and from system memory. In a computer system with DMA capability, CPU is relieved of the overhead involved in transferring large amounts of data by transmitting only a starting address, and block count to a DMA controller. The system CPU simply programs the DMA controller with the starting address and the byte count to perform the specified DMA transfer. The DMA controller, which may be implemented as a state machine, receives and stores within its internal registers the starting address information and the block count transmitted by the CPU. Thereafter, depending on data direction signaled by the CPU, the DMA controller sequentially transfers the data between the system memory and a local interface controller over the I/O expansion bus. Upon completion of each data transfer, the DMA controller generates a signal informing the CPU of completion of the data transfer as well as a status signal indicating whether any transfer error conditions occurred during the DMA transfer. Depending on a transfer error condition and controlling software, the CPU may retry the DMA cycle.
Therefore, some systems utilize a command transfer queuing technique to queue data transfer status information of data blocks thus allowing a CPU to appropriately time servicing data block transfers. One such method titled "SYSTEM FOR ASYNCHRONOUSLY DELIVERING SELF-DESCRIBING CONTROL ELEMENTS WITH A PIPE INTERFACE HAVING DISTRIBUTED SHARED MEMORY" is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,492, issued on Jun. 28, 1994 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
However, with the advent of local interface controllers capable of performing local mastering there is also a need to reduce command block transfer overhead on the local processing side in order to increase data transfer throughput between host and local processing sides.
Typically a local interface controller has a series of registers which when loaded interrupt the local processing unit signaling pendency of a command. The command can be located within the registers, where it can be directly DMAed into the local memory by the local processing unit from the system memory. Alternatively, a host processing unit can create the command blocks and place them in a queue. Upon completion, the host processing unit can interrupt the local processing unit that one or more commands have been place in the queue. Upon receipt of such interrupt, the local processing unit is prompted to service that interrupt and process the command block.
Conventional, methods of transferring command blocks however require the host processing unit and the local processing unit to interact with each other. In addition to interrupting the local processor, such interaction requires existence of some type of synchronous or asynchronous communication, e.g. hand shaking, between the host processing unit and the local processing unit which may significantly increase overhead associated with transferring command blocks to the local processing side.
Furthermore, when interrupting the local processing unit, it is required to assign the highest priority to such interrupt to prevent wasting valuable host processing unit cycles.
Therefore, there is a need for a more efficient transfer of command blocks from the host processing side to the local processing side.

Information handling system for transfer of command blocks to a local processing side without local processor intervention

International Business Machines Corporation


A unitary construction hand-holdable device for tieing an inflated balloon includes projecting spaced-apart first and second prongs, and defines an opening providing finger access to the region rearward and beneath the prongs. An inflated balloon is held beneath the device, and the balloon neck is stretched to pass over both prongs and is then pulled down, below the device. The neck is then crossed over itself and a knot is formed in the region generally below the access opening. After tieing, the knotted balloon is slid off on the prongs. The device may be used to tie elastic materials other than balloons.

Consumers purchase inflatable balloons throughout the year to celebrate birthdays, holidays, graduations, promotions and just about any other significant event in their lives. The overwhelming majority of these balloons end up being tied by hand, a tedious and sometimes painful chore which becomes more of a burden as the number of balloons needing to be tied increases.
Most people will not mind tieing a few balloons now and then but when faced with the task of tieing perhaps dozens needed for a particular event most people will ask for assistance.
Tieing balloons over a sustained period of time can be quite painful. Sore fingers and pinched skin are the most common ailments. The balloon material becomes extremely tight when stretched making it difficult to loop a knot. Furthermore, the elastic material is adhesive to itself and to human skin creating inertia to movement across the finger.
Finally, tieing balloons by hand requires a fairly high degree of hand and finger dexterity. Elderly people, children and persons with arthritis have a difficult time tieing balloons.
In a society which values convenience and the avoidance of tedium, consumers need help tieing balloons. The consumer market clearly needs a clever, simple, low cost specialty tool designed specifically to make balloon tieing easier, faster and less painful. The present invention is directed to a device that has been designed to fill this need.
Currently, there are no known specialty tools specifically designed for tieing balloons for the household market. However, there are alternative and substitute products available, such in clips, disks and tape. None of these facilitate tieing the balloon neck which advantageously provides a more secure seal. In addition, we are aware of U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,906 ('906; issued 5 Feb. 1991) and to U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,142 ('142; issued 13 Aug. 1991) which are directed to knot-tieing tools. The tools described in these patents differ considerably from the device of the present invention.
The '906 patent is designed to mount directly on a standard helium or compressed air tank. This device is immovable once in place. It appears to assist in tieing a knot in the neck. The '142 patent illustrates a tool somewhat similar to an embodiment hereof. It is designed to be a hand-held knot tieing tool. It utilizes an elongated handle and a series of slots and holes to guide the neck through tieing.

Knot-tieing device and method of knotting therewith


The present disclosure is directed to methods of using fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) antagonists to modulate activity at a TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) binding site on a cysteine-rich domain (CRD) of Fn14. The present disclosure also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising synergistic combinations Fn14 antagonists and chemotherapeutic agents.

The TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is a multifunctional cytokine involved in many cellular activities including proliferation, migration, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and inflammation (Wiley S R, Winkles J A (2003) Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 14: 241-249). TWEAK is a type II transmembrane protein that consists of an N-terminal cytoplasmic domain followed by a single transmembrane domain that is separated by a stalk region from the C-terminal Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) homology domain (THD) (Chicheportiche Y, Bourdon P R, Xu H, Hsu Y M, Scott H, et al. (1997) J Biol Chem 272: 32401-32410; Feng S L, Guo Y, Factor V M, Thorgeirsson S S, Bell D W, et al. (2000) Am J Pathol 156: 1253-1261). Membrane TWEAK is processed by a protease of the furin family resulting in a soluble ligand containing the THD. The THD functions in ligand trimerization and receptor binding causing TWEAK to signal as a trimerized molecule (Kolzsch J (1990) Z Arztl Fortbild (Jena) 84: 1199-1202; Kolfschoten G M, Pradet-Balade B, Hahne M, Medema J P (2003) Biochem Pharmacol 66: 1427-1432). Importantly, both membrane-bound and soluble TWEAK (sTWEAK) proteins are fully functional and can mediate similar cellular signaling effects by binding to cellular receptors (Brown S A, Ghosh A, Winkles J A (2010) J Biol Chem 285: 17432-17441).
TWEAK acts by binding to the fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) receptor, the smallest member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily (Wiley S R, Winkles J A (2003) Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 14: 241-249; Meighan-Mantha R L, Hsu D K, Guo Y, Brown S A, Feng S L, et al. (1999) J Biol Chem 274: 33166-33176). TWEAK-mediated Fn14 signaling triggers a wide range of physiological activities in cells and tissues including blood clotting, cell proliferation, cell migration, inflammation, and angiogenesis (Harada N, et al. (2002) Biochem Biophys Res Commun 299: 488-493; Polek T C, et al. (2003) J Biol Chem 278: 32317-32323). The Fn14 receptor contains a single cysteine-rich domain (CRD) in the extracellular ligand-binding region and a short cytoplasmic tail possessing a single TNFR-associated factor (TRAF) binding site (Wiley S R, Winkles J A (2003) Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 14: 241-249; Meighan-Mantha R L, et al. (1999) J Biol Chem 274: 33166-33176). Notably, TWEAK is the only known TNF superfamily member that can bind to Fn14. Site-directed mutagenesis has demonstrated that TWEAK binding to the Fn14 CRD requires evolutionarily conserved amino acid residues (Asp45, Lys48 and Met50) and all three of the predicted disulfide bonds (Brown S A, Hanscom H N, Vu H, Brew S A, Winkles J A (2006) Biochem J 397: 297-304). Optimal TWEAK-mediated activation of Fn14 is important for promoting productive tissue responses after injury, but excessive TWEAK-Fn14 activation can induce pathological tissue responses, leading to progressive damage and degradation (Burkly L C, Michaelson J S, Zheng T S (2011) Immunol Rev 244: 99-114).
Over-expression of Fn14 has been reported in multiple cancers including glioblastoma, breast, pancreatic, esophageal, lung, and liver carcinomas (Feng S L, Guo Y, Factor V M, Thorgeirsson S S, Bell D W, et al. (2000) Am J Pathol 156: 1253-1261; Han H, Bearss D J, Browne L W, Calaluce R, Nagle R B, et al. (2002) Cancer Res 62: 2890-2896; Tran N L, McDonough W S, Donohue P J, Winkles J A, Berens T J, et al. (2003) Am J Pathol 162: 1313-1321; Watts G S, Tran N L, Berens M E, Bhattacharyya A K, Nelson M A, et al. (2007) Int J Cancer 121: 2132-2139; Willis A L, Tran N L, Chatigny J M, Charlton N, Vu H, et al. (2008) Mol Cancer Res 6: 725-734; Whitsett T G, Cheng E, Inge L, Asrani K, Jameson N M, et al. (2012) Am J Pathol 181: 111-120). In glioblastoma, Fn14 mRNA and protein expression is unregulated in migratory cells in vitro and invading cells in vivo (Tran N L, McDonough W S, Savitch B A, Fortin S P, Winkles J A, et al. (2006) Cancer Res 66: 9535-9542). Fn14 expression increases with increasing tumor grade with highest expression observed in glioblastoma multiforme (Grade IV). In contrast, the expression of Fn14 is minimal to absent in normal brain tissue. Moreover, TWEAK binding to Fn14 triggers glioma cell invasion and survival (Tran N L, McDonough W S, Savitch B A, Fortin S P, Winkles J A, et al. (2006) Cancer Res 66: 9535-9542).
TWEAK-Fn14 signaling plays a key role in various disease states and therefore holds significant therapeutic potential as a novel molecular target for developing anti-cancer and anti-autoimmune therapeutic agents in humans. It has been shown that this interaction plays a pivotal role in various immunological conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, renal injury, ischaemic stroke, as well as cardiac dysfunction and failure (Burkly L C, et al. (2007) Cytokine 40:1-16; Winkles J A (2008) Nat Rev Drug Discov 7: 411-425; Jain M, Jakubowski A, et al. (2009) Circulation 119: 2058-2068). Several studies have confirmed the therapeutic potential of this pathway in human esophageal and pancreatic cancers, autoimmune disorders (Zheng T S, Burkly L C (2008) J Leukoc Biol 84: 338-347), muscle atrophy and injury (Bhatnagar S, Kumar A (2012) Curr Mol Med 12: 3-13) and chemokine-dependent inflammatory kidney disease (Campbell S, Burkly L C, Gao H X, Berman J W, Su L, et al. (2006) J Immunol 176: 1889-1898). The ever increasing knowledge and data on various downstream reactions stimulated by TWEAK-Fn14 interaction has recently been compiled into a complete repository (Bhattacharjee M, Raju R, Radhakrishnan A, Nanjappa V, Muthusamy B, et al. (2012) J Signal Transduct 2012: 376470). This paves the way for identification of yet unknown components of the signaling pathways.
To date, there are five anti-TNF antibody-based drugs already on the market and 16 out of approximately 22 ligand/receptor pairs under clinical development, constituting one of the most successful classes of biological therapeutics (Tansey M G, Szymkowski D E (2009) Drug Discov Today 14: 1082-1088). These protein-based therapeutics have some notable disadvantages including problems associated with drug delivery, stability, and cost. On the other hand, very few small molecule inhibitors targeting TNFR family members have been identified. Known small molecule inhibitors for the TNFR family act by disrupting trimerization of their respective ligands, as is the case for TNFα (He M M, Smith A S, Oslob J D, Flanagan W M, Braisted A C, et al. (2005) Science 310: 1022-1025) and CD40 (Silvian L F, Friedman J E, Strauch K, Cachero T G, Day E S, et al. (2011) ACS Chem Biol 6: 636-647). Benicchi and coworkers have also focused on the development of a Homogenous Time Resolved Fluorescence (HTRF) assay for identification of small-molecule inhibitors for TWEAK-Fn14 interaction and reported the identification of hits at a rate of 0.007% (Benicchi T, Iozzi S, Svahn A, Axelsson H, Mori E, et al. (2012) J Biomol Screen 17: 933-945). Currently, the potential therapeutic benefit of inhibiting key nodes of the TWEAK-Fn14 signaling pathway remains untapped due to the absence of small molecule tools to interrogate this pathway.
The importance of the Fn14 CRD has been established utilizing an NMR solution structure of this domain and functional mutation studies (Brown S A, Hanscom H N, Vu H, Brew S A, Winkles J A (2006) Biochem J 397: 297-304). The present disclosure is directed to compounds that target the CRD of Fn14 and modulate the TWEAK-Fn14 pathway. The present invention also provides a number of therapeutic uses of these compounds including in the treatment of autoimmune disease.

FN14 antagonists and therapeutic uses thereof

THE TRANSLATIONAL GENOMICS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


The systems and methods discussed herein enable telecommunications service providers to track opt-ins (consent) to premium service and goods purchases. An industry aggregator gateway may be employed to receive short codes in messages built by IP messaging applications capable of data transmission, and may transmit the messages to telecommunications service providers and receive purchase information associated with various short codes. At least some of this purchase information is displayed to users to obtain consent to the purchase, and the consent trail from the request to the acceptance of purchase information, including terms and charges, is tracked and stored.

Telecommunications service providers support short code messaging services, short codes are associated with premium services that are not included in standard service packages offered by the telecommunications service providers and subscribed to by the owners of user equipment. Short codes may be strings of numbers and/or characters, these strings are shorter than standard 10-digit telephone numbers and may be unique to a telecommunications service provider or may be shared by multiple telecommunications service providers. The length of short codes may differ among and between countries. In the United States, short codes shared by multiple providers may be five characters long or greater, and short codes that are carrier specific may be 4 digits, while short codes for emergency services may be 3 digits. Charges incurred due to these premium services may be reflected in a subscriber's bill or other balance of voice and data services that may be tracked and maintained by the telecommunications service provider.

Opt-in tracking across messaging application platforms


Photomultiplier tubes with improved collection of incident radiation, especially from the periphery of the front face of the tube, and that more efficiently couple the collected radiation to the photocathode, and moreover have higher packing densities when assembled into arrays, resulting in enhanced imaging characteristics. The improvements in radiation collection and photomultiplier tube packing density are gained by a combination of several features including: tapering the edges of the faceplate so that the faceplate subtends an area as large or larger than any other cross-sectional area of the photomultiplier tube; forming the junction between the faceplate and metal tube on the underside of the faceplate, and in such a manner as to avoid obscuring the optical path between the incident radiation and photocathode; and utilizing the tapered edge of the faceplate as a reflector to couple radiation incident on the periphery of the faceplate to the photocathode.

As their name implies, photomultiplier tubes are fashioned in some approximation of a tubular shape. In one common embodiment, the photomultiplier is comprised of a metal tube, the longitudinal centerline of which defines the axis of the device. In head-on type photomultiplier tubes, there is a transparent faceplate at one end of the tube that admits light or other radiation into the tube. The other end of the tube is closed with a stemplate, through which air-tight connections to various internal electrodes are made. The tube may be of circular, rectangular, or hexagonal cross-section. Rectangular or hexagonal tube cross-sections are useful when several or more photomultiplier tubes are arranged side-by-side in close proximity and a high packing density is desired.
FIG. 1 is a side-view schematic of a generic photomultiplier tube of the head-on type and of the kind wherein a metal tubular element, rather than a glass envelope, delimits the cross-sectional area of the vacuum enclosure of the device. FIG. 1 is meant simply to convey the overall structure and general features of head-on type metal-tube photomultipliers, but is non-specific about the details of the junction formed between the metal tube and glass faceplate, which is a subject of the present invention. The generic features of such a photomultiplier tube include a metal tube (102), closed at one end by a glass faceplate (104), and sealed at the opposite end by a metal stemplate (106). Electrode connections (108) are made through the stemplate. A framework or cage of electrodes (110), including various dynodes or microchannel plate(s), and anode(s) are mounted in the enclosure so formed. One electrode functions as a photocathode that upon absorption of photons emits electrons. These photoelectrons emitted from the photocathode are accelerated toward a nearby electrode by an electric field imposed between the cathode and electrode. The photocathode may be a separate electrode with a photoemissive coating, or commonly, the photocathode may be realized as a coating of photoemissive material (112) deposited on the inside surface of the faceplate. The dynodes or microchannel plates are electrically biased such that impact of an electron causes emission of several or more secondary electrons. Incident radiation (114) is transmitted through the faceplate (104) and is absorbed by the photocathode (112) to initiate the cascade of electrons that ultimately generates an anode current. The dynodes or microchannel plates provide an electron multiplication effect that is the basis of the high signal gain characteristic of photomultiplier tubes. The anode current output response to incident light depends on many factors related to the optical path of incident light and the trajectories of photoelectrons and secondary electrons. Ideally, the anode current response is independent of the position of incident light on the front face of the photomultiplier tube. However, in photomultiplier tubes constructed as shown in FIG. 1, a peripheral region (116) around the edge of the faceplate (104) that exhibits a reduced or distorted response to incident light is evident. Compared to the anode current resulting from photons incident on the center of the faceplate (104), the anode currents resulting from radiation incident upon the edge regions (116) of the photomultiplier tube front face are diminished or otherwise perturbed from the response of the central portion of the tube due to obscuration of the photocathode, non-uniformities in the optical path between the exterior side of the faceplate and the photocathode, and fringe effects in the electron multiplication cascade provided by the other electrodes. The situation is further complicated in that often the incident light is of a diffuse nature and is obliquely incident on the faceplate, resulting in multiple internal reflections within the glass faceplate or tube enclosure. This is especially true if the light is generated by a scintillator material in close proximity to the faceplate, in which case the incident radiation can be approximately isotropic, and a significant portion of the radiation will be trapped by optical confinement in the faceplate. As will be discussed with respect to the present invention, these light trapping effects can be exploited to ameliorate deficiencies in the response characteristics associated with the edge regions of the photomultiplier tube.
The spatially non-uniform anode currents associated with such edge effects create gaps or distortions in the position-dependent response characteristics of photomultiplier tubes. These edge effects, regardless of their origin or the relative contributions of various structural features and phenomena, complicate the use of such photomultiplier tubes when they are grouped together side-by-side in an imaging or detector array. The present invention seeks to address these shortcomings by utilizing a design and method of fabrication that avoids or compensates for these edge effects, particularly with regard to edge shape of the glass faceplate and the manner in which it is attached to the metal tube. The contact and sealing between the glass faceplate (104) and the metal tube (102) can be made in several ways, and is an aspect of the present invention.
In some cases, instead of a faceplate, a glass envelope of hemispherical shape, or of hexagonal or rectangular cross section with a flat top, is used. FIG. 2A shows a side view and FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of a photomultiplier tube having such a glass envelope (202) that is aligned and sealed to a metal tube (204) with the opposite end closed by a stemplate (206), similar to the photomultiplier tube of FIG. 1. A photocathode (208) can be formed as coating on the inside surface of the glass envelope. Still, in such photomultiplier designs as depicted in FIG. 2, the finite wall (210) thickness of the glass envelope is the source of an edge effect, in that radiation incident at the perimeter of the envelope is not efficiently transmitted to the photocathode. Such edge effects are inherent to some degree in practically all photomultiplier tubes, thus making their use in arrays problematic.
The reduced or distorted response of the peripheral regions of a photomultiplier tube has important consequences when a number of photomultiplier tubes are assembled in a close-packed configuration as part of an array for imaging applications. FIG. 3A shows a top plan-view of the front faces of several circular-cross section photomultiplier tubes (302) in such an array (304). The maximum packing density is evidently determined by the points of contact, e.g., (306), between the metal tubes (or the glass envelope sidewalls) of adjacent photomultipliers. In imaging or detector arrays utilizing standard photomultiplier tubes, the total photosensitive area of the array, as determined by the sum of the photosensitive areas (308) of the component photomultiplier tubes (302), is less than the nominal total area of the array itself. In particular, there are gaps (310) between adjacent photomultiplier tubes (302) upon which incident radiation will not be detected, or for which the response will be substantially reduced or distorted compared to the response for light incident on central regions of the photomultiplier tube faceplate. As an example, a schematic plot of response as a function of the position of incident radiation on the front face of the photomultiplier tube is shown in FIG. 3B for a section A–A′ of FIG. 3A. The vertical axis is the localized response. Such a plot can be understood as the result of scanning a finely focused light beam probe, such as produced by a laser, across the front face of the photomultiplier tubes of the array and for which the anode current response is recorded as a function of the position of the light beam probe along a path such as section A–A′. The dips in the response curve of FIG. 3B correspond to the reduced response associated with light incident at the periphery of photomultiplier tubes or at the intervening space between adjacent photomultiplier tubes.
Edge effects and their consequent diminished or distorted response are not limited to photomultiplier tubes of circular cross section. Photomultiplier tubes of rectangular or hexagonal cross section, although compatible with higher packing densities relative to that of circular cross section photomultiplier tubes, will still nevertheless suffer from edge effects due to the finite sidewall thicknesses of the tubes and other phenomena associated with the periphery of the faceplate and photocathode. For example, FIG. 4A shows a top plan view of an array (402) comprised of photomultiplier tubes (404) with hexagonal cross-sections. Conventional photomultiplier tubes will be characterized by a photosensitive area (406) of approximately spatially uniform response that is less than the total front face area of the photomultiplier tube. A schematic plot of localized response, analogous to that of FIG. 3B, along a section B–B′ of the array of FIG. 4A is shown in FIG. 4B. As indicated in FIG. 4B, reduction or distortion of response is typical as the light beam probe is scanned between adjacent photomultiplier tubes. This feature can be problematic for imaging applications as it represents a significant—although predictable and spatially-regular —loss of signal information.
The foregoing considerations of edge effects and their impact on photomultiplier tube imaging arrays are relevant to many types of photomultiplier tubes. Photomultiplier tubes generally have several common features including a photocathode, several dynodes or microchannel plates, and one or more anodes, all of which are enclosed in a sealed, evacuated tube. There are a wide variety photomultiplier designs specifying various electrode configurations including multiple anodes and microchannel plate(s). A review of the prior art will center on aspects of photomultiplier tubes that are germane to the present invention and which relate to the geometry and method of making a seal between the glass faceplate and metal tube. It will be understood that the present invention is applicable to the wide assortment of photomultiplier tubes that share this metal tube-glass faceplate junction, which includes most head-on type, metal tube photomultipliers, irrespective of the number, type or arrangement of the internal electrodes.
The present invention can be better understood if the details of photomultiplier tube structure and assembly are appreciated. Photomultiplier tubes constructed in the head-on type configuration consist, in part, of a glass faceplate coated with a photosensitive material which constitutes the photocathode or light-sensitive element of the device. The faceplate is sealed to one end of a metal tube that is typically rectangular in cross section. The other end of the tube is sealed with a machined metal stemplate. In practice, and often to some advantage, the photocathode coating may cover other interior surfaces of the photomultiplier tube enclosure, including the inner surface of the metal tube to which the faceplate is attached, thus extending its effective area beyond the exposed interior side of the faceplate. The sealed tube forms an enclosure containing the photocathode(s), anode(s), and dynode(s) or microchannel plate(s) of the device. The photoelectric and photomultiplier effects, upon which operation of the device is based, require the interior space of the device be maintained at a sub-atmospheric (vacuum) pressure. Therefore, the integrity of the junction between the glass faceplate and metal tube must be such that a sufficiently air-tight seal is attained and persists throughout the operating life of the device. The effectiveness of the seal between the glass faceplate and metal tube depends on the geometric details of the areas where the metal and glass make intimate contact. The seal geometry also impacts the ease of manufacture of the photomultiplier tube.
A general objective of optical detector design is a device that generates an output signal utilizing as much of the incident radiation of interest as possible. To this end, radiation which has been focused, collimated, or otherwise collected from the field of view of the detector needs to be efficiently coupled to the photosensitive component of the detector. In the case of a photomultiplier, the photosensitive element is the photocathode. Thus, any radiation incident on the photomultiplier that is not coupled to the photocathode constitutes a loss in performance of the photomultiplier tube. Invariably, some of the available light is lost due to reflection, absorption, and shading effects inherent in the geometry of the detector, and thus, the optical collection efficiency is less than perfect.
Therefore, an object of photomultiplier tube design and construction is to maximize the anode current response to incident photons, while maintaining spatial uniformity of response over as large an area as possible, and without degrading the signal-to-noise ratio. In this regard, the present invention pertains to the periphery of the front face of the photomultiplier tube, where the glass faceplate and metal tube seal is made. This edge region detracts from the response, in that light incident on this area is neither efficiently nor uniformly directed onto the photocathode. Moreover, multiplication effects for secondary electron cascades initiated by photoelectrons emitted from the peripheral regions of the photocathode may be different than multiplication effects initiated by electrons stimulated by light incident on the central area of the faceplate. Because of these edge effects, either by themselves or in combination, photomultiplier tube imaging arrays will be plagued by areas of deficient or non-uniform response, thus distorting the image.
The present invention may be regarded as a solution to a general problem encountered in the design, construction, and application of photomultiplier tubes. This problem is the result of certain geometric features of photomultiplier tubes that are consequences of the way the glass faceplate is positioned with respect to the metal tube that houses the electrodes and forms the vacuum enclosure when sealed at the front end with the faceplate and opposite end with the stem plate. Commonly practiced arrangements of the faceplate and tube tend to result in portions of the device that subtend the incident illumination but which do not efficiently couple incident radiation to the photocathode.
FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D show various known arrangements of forming a contact between the metal tube and glass faceplate. FIG. 5A shows the photomultiplier metal tube (502) with a metal flange (504) formed at one end and to which the perimeter of the faceplate (506) is mated and sealed to the underside of the flange (504). The faceplate may include a photocathode coating (508) as shown. Similarly, the faceplate (506) can be seated atop the flange (504) as shown in FIG. 5B. The particular embodiment of FIG. 5B may provide more structural stability under vacuum loading. The juxtaposition of faceplate (506), flange (504) and metal tube (502) in FIGS. 5A and 5B provides for an adequate seal between the metal tube and faceplate due to the relatively large metal-to-glass contact area. However, from the perspective of detector performance, this arrangement is encumbered by a considerable amount obscuration. The metal flange (504) blocks a significant portion of the radiation incident on the front surface of the photomultiplier tube, thus subtracting from the active area of the device, and therefore, the light-sensitive area of such a photomultiplier tube can be significantly less than the total or cross-sectional area of the photomultiplier tube.
FIGS. 5C and 5D show arrangements of joining the faceplate (506) and metal tube (502) that are designed for reducing losses in response associated with the edge effects inherent in the photomultiplier tube geometry described with respect to FIGS. 5A and 5B, primarily by way of eliminating the flange element (504). In FIG. 5C, the side edge of the faceplate (506) makes contact with the inside wall of the metal tube (502). Relative to the arrangement of faceplate and tube shown in FIG. 5A or 5B, the design of FIG. 5C allows more of the photocathode (508) to be exposed to incident radiation. In FIG. 5D, the perimeter region (510) of the faceplate (506) sits atop the metal tube (502). Again, relative to the arrangement of faceplate and tube shown in FIGS. 5A or 5B, the design of FIG. 5D allows more of the photocathode (508) to be exposed to incident radiation.
While the designs depicted in FIGS. 5C and 5D reduce the diminished response of the edge regions, they are not conducive to making an air-tight seal between the glass front plate and metal tube due to the relatively small contact area between these two parts.
European Patent Publication EPA 1 282 150 A1 (SHIMOI) describes a design and method of sealing the frontplate to metal tube in photomultiplier tubes that is intended to partially reduce such edge effects while providing an acceptable seal between the metal tube and glass faceplate. SHIMOI offers several variations of sealing the photomultiplier tube by embedding the edges of the metal tube into the glass faceplate. For example, FIG. 6, based on a description of SHIMOI, shows the ends of the metal tube (602) are tapered to form a knife-edge termination (604). The edges of the metal tube so formed are heated by radio-frequency (RF) heating and are then aligned with and impressed into the glass faceplate (606), which fuses at the point of contact with the metal edge due to the elevated temperature of the metal. The metal tube edge (604) can then be wedged into the softened glass faceplate (606), which then hardens upon cooling, causing a fusion bond between the glass and metal. The embedded metal tube in the glass faceplate makes a good, reliable air-tight seal. A photocathode (608) is formed on the interior side of the faceplate (606) as described in the previous examples. The degree to which the photocathode (608) is still obscured by this design depends on certain specific details of the process.
The specification and drawings of SHIMOI indicate that as a result of the fusion process, a bulge (610) forms that protrudes from the edge of the faceplate side as shown in FIG. 6. The presence of such a bulge subverts, at least somewhat, one of the objectives of the invention of SHIMOI, because it impedes intimate contact between adjacent photomultiplier tubes when they arranged in a close-packed configuration of an array. It is also evident that the response associated with the periphery (612) of the photomultiplier tube will still be diminished or distorted, in part due to the bulge that forms from the metal tube-faceplate sealing process. Thus, the embodiments of SHIMOI do not completely eliminate edge effects on photomultiplier tube response, nor do they allow near-maximum close packing densities in photomultiplier tube arrays.

Photomultiplier tube with improved light collection


Formaldehyde free crosslinking emulsion polymers are prepared by the addition of N-(2,2-dialkoxy-1-hydroxy)ethyl acrylamide to a vinyl ester based polymer. The resultant emulsions can be used as binders for nonwovens or fiberfill or as woodworking adhesives.

Emulsion polymers prepared from vinyl esters, particularly those prepared from vinyl acetate and ethylene, have wide application as adhesives and as binders in industry. Unfortunately, these binders sometimes experience unacceptable loss in strength in the presence of water and other solvents. In an attempt to reduce these problems, various crosslinking comonomers and/or post-added crosslinkers have been incorporated into the binders. The most successful of these crosslinkers have been N-methylol acrylamide [NMA] and urea-formaldehyde [U/F] condensates. While the latter are low in cost, compatible with aqueous emulsions and rapidly cured under acid catalysis, their consequent emission of low levels of formaldehyde, a suspect carcinogen, make them undesirable for many applications.
Many attempts have been made to overcome or minimize this deficiency, especially after the potential carcinogenicity and irritant properties of formaldehyde became widely recognized. In this regard many non-formaldehyde containing functional monomers have been added to the emulsion polymers. While many of the functional monomers such as acrylamido glycolic acid and its derivatives have provided acceptable results in acrylate containing emulsions, it has been very difficult to obtain comonomers which would satisfactorily copolymerize with adhesives and binders containing vinyl esters, particularly vinyl acetate. Thus, most of the functional monomers which can readily be incorporated into acrylic emulsion polymers do not yield comparable results in vinyl acetate containing systems since these monomers hydrolyze during emulsion polymerization with the hydrophilic vinyl esters thereby losing their effectiveness.

Woodworking adhesive composition containing vinyl acetate and N-(2,2-dialkoxy-hydroxy)ethyl acrylamide

National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation


Methods and systems are presented for using an ICD to detect myocardial ischemia. In one embodiment, a method includes sensing a signal indicative of cardiac pressure, measuring a height of the sensed signal at a peak amplitude of the sensed signal, and measuring a duration of the sensed signal. The method further includes indicating an ischemia based on a comparison of a ratio of the height to the duration with a predetermined value. In another embodiment, a method includes sensing a signal indicative of cardiac pressure, determining a derivative signal that is a first derivative of the sensed signal, measuring a maximum positive value of the derivative signal, and measuring a maximum negative value of the derivative signal. The method further includes indicating an ischemia based on a comparison of a ratio of the maximum positive value to the maximum negative value with a predetermined value.

Myocardial ischemia is a cardiac function disorder caused by insufficient blood flow to the muscle tissue of the heart, most commonly due to narrowing of the coronary arteries. Conventional techniques monitor changes in an electrocardiogram (e.g., a surface electrocardiogram (ECG), or an internal electrogram (EGM) obtained by leads implanted in the heart) to detect myocardial ischemia. In particular, myocardial ischemia is typically diagnosed based on abnormalities detected in the ST segment of an electrocardiogram.
While monitoring cardiac electrical activity using an electrocardiogram is one technique for diagnosing myocardial ischemia, it is expected that cardiac pressure sensors of implantable cardiac devices will be used more frequently to monitor cardiac functionality. What is needed, therefore, are systems and methods for using an implantable cardiac device to monitor both electrical and mechanical conditions of the heart for reliable ischemia detection.

Detecting ischemia using an implantable cardiac device based on morphology of cardiac pressure signal


Systems and methods are disclosed for management of resource objects (“resources”) within a computing environment. Resources may be stored in a number of resource spaces, each including service endpoints configured to facilitate access to resources. On creation of a resource, an identifier may be assigned to the resource. Thereafter, the identifier may be used to determine an appropriate service endpoint for accessing the resource. For example, each resource space may submit a set of resolution rules to a resolution server. Each set of resolution rules may be used to identify an appropriate endpoint for accessing a resource. Thereafter, a request for a resource may first retrieve the set of resolution rules, and use such rules to determine an appropriate service endpoint. Illustratively, utilization of resource resolution rules may enable the service endpoint to be modified without requiring modification of client devices.

Generally described, computing devices utilize a communication network, or a series of communication networks, to exchange data. Companies and organizations operate computer networks that interconnect a number of computing devices to support operations or provide services to third parties. The computing systems can be located in a single geographic location or located in multiple, distinct geographic locations (e.g., interconnected via private and/or public communication networks). Specifically, data centers or data processing centers, herein generally referred to as "data centers," may include a number of interconnected computing systems to provide computing resources to users of the data center. The data centers may be private data centers operated on behalf of an organization or public data centers operated on behalf, or for the benefit, of the general public.
Data centers may provide a number of network accessible services to computing devices. Further, data centers may store and maintain a variety of information related to or created by a variety of computing processes or services. For example, information may be stored in databases or other data stores, and made available to computing devices either within a data center or external to a data center. In order to access services—or information provided by such services—a computing device may be required to know a network address at which a service may be reached. Further, in some embodiments, a computing device may be required to know an identifier associated with a specific item of information or service. By utilizing a network address to request information corresponding to an identifier of a service or information item, the service or information item may be accessed by a requesting computing device.
In some instances, an address of a service or information item may be independent of the service or information item itself. For example, services and information items may be made available via a variety of protocols. Each protocol may define common mechanisms by which computing devices (or other devices) may communicate with one another. Within a networked communication context, examples of protocols may include Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), and Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP). Moreover, in some instances, multiple protocols may be used in conjunction. For example, SOAP and HTTP may be used in conjunction in order to transmit, receive or process information. Further, protocols may be modified or altered in order to suit the needs of the user of the protocol. For example, a developer of computing software may conform to the principals of Representational State Transfer (REST) when utilizing a protocol (e.g., HTTP), the combination of which may also be considered a "protocol" (e.g., "REST/HTTP"). Accordingly, a given service or information item may be made available at a variety of addresses (e.g., corresponding to different protocols, locations, etc.).


An apparatus adapted for use with a trans-esophageal probe. The apparatus comprises a disinfecting unit and a storage unit, each of which includes a tubular housing having an interior, upper and lower ends, and an opening at the upper end for access to the interior. The disinfecting unit includes a support above the upper end of its housing for supporting a handle of a probe whose probe end is within the interior of the housing. The interior of the disinfecting unit is adapted to contain a fluid, and is equipped with a fluid level indicator and a drain for draining the fluid from the housing. The storage unit includes an enclosure removably mounted to the upper end of its housing for enclosing the handle end of a probe whose probe end is within the interior of the housing. Both units further include a support for a connector of a probe placed in the unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to systems for disinfecting medical equipment. More particularly, this invention relates to units for disinfecting, drying and storing trans-esophageal probes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Trans-esophageal echocardiography (TEE) is generally a sonographic technique that involves the use of a probe to assess cardiac function, including valvular and left ventricular function both during and after heart surgery, congenital heart disease, arteriosclerosis and other conditions of the aorta, the detection of intracardiac defects, etc. The probe is equipped with an ultrasonic transducer mounted at its tip, which is placed in a patient's esophagus through the oral cavity. As such, TEE is a relatively fast and non-invasive procedure for monitoring the heart. TEE probes have some common features, such as the ultrasonic transducer mounted to a distal tip, a proximal handle equipped with controls (e.g., knobs) by which the tip can be manipulated, a connector for connecting the probe to an echocardiography unit, and a shaft (between the distal tip and handle) with a sufficient length to place the transducer at a location within the esophagus in proximity to the heart.
As with other reusable medical probes that are placed in a patent during use, it is essential that TEE probes be disinfected following the procedure. A current technique for disinfecting a TEE probe is to submerse the probe in a bath of a powerful disinfectant, such as gluteraldahyde. While effective, a significant drawback of this technique is the need to use an exhaust hood to limit the technician's exposure to the disinfectant, which is often contained in an oblong pan in order to permit the transducer and shaft of the probe to be simultaneously submerged. Risk of exposure to the disinfectant also occurs when filling and emptying the pan.

Disinfecting and storage apparatus for a trans-esophageal probe


The invention includes an apparatus for illuminating the interior of a fashion accessory and a method for assembling the same. An illumination device may include a dual illumination source, a power source, and a switch electrically coupled to one another. The dual illumination source may be a pair of electric luminescent wires affixed to the interior of the fashion accessory. The switch may cause the dual illumination source to illuminate when the fashion accessory is opened and to turn off when the fashion accessory is closed. Various elements of the illumination device may be obscured from view by including the same behind an interior lining of the fashion accessory, and the illumination source may be selected from any suitable color so as to provide illumination of a desired color. Additionally, the power source may be rechargeable, and may be configured to power additional electronic devices.

Individuals frequently employ any number of portable fashion accessories to transport their personal effects. For example, many women carry a purse or pocketbook, and, modern trends have seen a growth in the number of similar accessories for men beyond the traditional briefcases and attaches. A variety of items may be stored and contained within such accessories, yet, without proper illumination, locating particular items within these accessories can be both difficult and frustrating.

Method and apparatus to illuminate the interior of a fashion accessory