A pixel including a substrate of a first conductivity type, a photodetector of a second conductivity type that is opposite the first conductivity type and configured to convert incident light to a charge, a floating diffusion of the second conductivity, and a transfer region between the photodetector and floating diffusion. A gate is formed above the transfer region and partially overlaps the photodetector and is configured to transfer charge from the photodetector to the floating diffusion. A pinning layer of the first conductivity type extends at least across the photodetector from the gate. A channel region of the first conductivity type extends generally from a midpoint of the gate at least across the photodiode and is formed by an implant of a dopant of the first conductivity and having a concentration such that a dopant concentration of the transfer region is greater proximate to the photodetector than proximate to the floating diffusion.

Digital cameras employing complementary metal-oxide semiconductors (CMOS) image sensors having 4-transistor pixel structures with buried, gated diodes generally provide better image quality than their counterparts employing 3-transistor CMOS image sensors because the buried photodiode configuration reduces the amount of surface generated current which reduces dark current, and because the transfer gate used to access the photodiode enables the use of correlated double sampling which reduces noise. However, as described below, dark current can be generated in regions of the pixel in addition to the photodiode.
A 4-transistor pixel typically includes a photodiode, a charge-to-voltage conversion region ("floating diffusion"), and a charge transfer region. The photodiode and floating diffusion are built in a substrate (e.g. silicon) with the charge transfer region typically being a MOSFET ("transfer gate") positioned between the diode and floating diffusion.
The pixel has two modes of operation, a charge collection or integration mode and a charge transfer or readout mode. Prior to integration, the floating diffusion is set to a "high" voltage and the transfer gate is turned on so as to extract all electrons from the photodiode so that is becomes "fully depleted." During integration, the transfer gate is held at a low voltage (e.g. ground) and the diode is exposed to light and collects photo-generated electrons. At the conclusion of the integration period, during the readout mode, the floating diffusion is again set to a "high" voltage and the transfer gate is turned on so that electrons are transferred from the photodiode to the floating diffusion via the charge transfer region.
The charge transfer region is essentially the channel region of a "normally off" or enhancement-mode type NMOSFET. During integration, the transfer gate is "turned off." However, even though the transfer gate is turned off, current can be generated in surface of the channel region, particularly in the region closest to the photodiode. This current contributes to dark current and is generated by sources other than incident light (e.g. heat). Because of its proximity to the photodiode, this dark current may leak into the photodiode during integration, thereby resulting in "noise" and limiting the pixel's imaging performance.
To reduce dark current generated in this region, one type of pixel structure employs a charge transfer region having a surface region extending essentially along an entire length and width of the transfer gate that is implanted with a dopant that enhances the conductivity of the charge transfer region relative to the substrate. By enhancing the conductivity in this fashion, the surface region of the charge transfer region is accumulated with "holes" when the transfer gate is held at the low-voltage level so as to quench dark current generation in this area.
Image quality can also be adversely affected by incomplete charge transfer from the photodiode to the floating diffusion and by subsurface leakage current. During the charge transfer cycle, the transfer gate voltage is set "high." As charge is transferred from the photodiode to the floating diffusion, the potential of the floating diffusion begins to fall while the potential of the photodiode begins to rise. If the floating diffusion potential drops to the level of the transfer gate channel surface potential, some of the charge being transferred from the photodiode may remain in the transfer gate channel region until the end of the charge transfer cycle when the transfer gate voltage is dropped toward ground. At this point, some these charges (i.e. electrons) may return to the photodiode rather than be transferred to the floating diffusion. This is sometimes referred to as "spill-back" or "slosh-back." This incomplete charge transfer can affect the amount of charge accumulated and transferred during the next integration period, producing image lag or temporal noise.
Subsurface leakage occurs during integration when electrons move from the photodiode region to the floating diffusion. Such leakage will result in an inaccurate reading of the amount of charge collected during an integration period, thereby reducing the image quality.
While the above described structure is generally effective at reducing dark current by implanting the whole of the charge transfer region with a dopant to enhance its conductivity relative to the substrate, such a structure does not address issues of subsurface leakage current and image lag due to charge spill-back.

Pixel with asymmetric transfer gate channel doping


A delay-locked loop (“DLL”) having reduced susceptibility to false lock. The DLL includes a delay path coupled to delay an input signal. The delay path includes two or more variable delay cells coupled in series and a feedback node coupled to an output of one of the variable delay cells. An inverter is coupled to receive the input signal and to output an inverted signal. A feedback circuit is coupled to receive the inverted signal from the inverter and to receive a feedback signal from the feedback node. The feedback circuit monitors a phase difference between the inverted signal and the feedback signal to generate a delay control signal in response to the phase difference to adjust a variable delay of the delay path.

In an electronic system, good clock distribution is very important to the overall performance of the system. Delay-locked loops ("DLLs") are widely used in communication integrated circuits to generate finely spaced clock phases, multiply clocks, create zero delay buffers, as well as other uses.
A conventional DLL circuit 100 is illustrated in FIG. 1. DLL circuit 100 includes a delay line 105 having multiple delay cells 110, a phase detector 115, and a loop filter 120. During operation, a delayed clock signal output by delay line 105 is phase locked to a one clock period delay of a reference clock signal input to delay line 105. This phase delayed lock is accomplished using a feedback loop. The feedback loops converges to a delay line control voltage that sets the delay through delay line 105 to one full period of the reference clock signal.
Phase detector 115 drives loop filter 120, which in turn controls the delay through delay line 105. The inputs to phase detector 115 are the reference clock received by delay line 105 and the delayed clock signal output from delay line 105. Phase detector 115 and loop filter 120 adjust the delay through the delay line 105 until a rising edge of the reference clock and a rising edge of the delayed clock are aligned. This ensures the delay through delay line 105 is one clock period of the reference clock, which in turn provides clock edges that are evenly spaced through a clock cycle.
In order to achieve a stable one clock period delay, the initial delay through delay line 105 (before the negative feed-back takes control) must be well-controlled in order for the loop to converge to the correct state-one clock cycle delay. If the initial delay through delay line 105 is not carefully controlled a false lock condition will occur. As illustrated in FIG. 2, false lock occurs when the initial delay through delay line 105 is either shorter than half of the reference clock period (false lock window 1) or longer than one and a half clock periods (false lock window 2).
If the initial delay through delay line 105 occurs in false lock window 1, then the feedback loop speeds up delay line 105 to align the rising edges of the reference clock (edge 0) and the delayed edge (edge 2—an impossible task as delay line 105 has a minimum delay that cannot physically be reduced to zero. The feedback loop therefore settles to its shortest delay state (less than half a clock period) producing a gross error. If, on the other hand, the initial delay through delay line 105 occurs in false lock window 2, the feedback tries to lock delay line 105 to two clock periods instead of one (i.e., attempts to align edge 2 with edge 3), which also produces an error with heavily distorted waveforms and ultimately complete failure of DLL 100. During proper operation, edge 2 of the delayed clock should eventually align to edge 1 of the reference clock.
Conventional DLLs must guarantee that the initial rising edge 2 of the delayed clock does not occur in one of these two false lock windows (e.g., false lock windows 1 and 2), else the DLL will fail. To avoid false lock windows 1 and 2 during startup, conventional DLLs generally use complex startup circuitry and/or larger more expensive delay cells 110 that more accurately control and constrain the time delay through delay line 105.

Delay-locked loop with reduced susceptibility to false lock


A vehicle air conditioning control device calculates, through a thermal load calculating unit, a vehicle interior thermal load Q on the basis of, for example, a vehicle interior temperature Tin, a vehicle interior humidity Hin, a vehicle exterior temperature Tout, a passenger load factor θ, and a vehicle-interior-temperature set value Tset. Through an air conditioning output calculating unit, the vehicle air conditioning control device calculates an output command value for an air conditioner on the basis of a vehicle-interior-temperature upper-limit value Tmax, a vehicle-interior-temperature lower-limit value Tmin, the thermal load Q, power-running/regenerative electric power P, and then, corrects the calculated output command value for the air conditioner on the basis of power-running/regenerative electric power Pf at or after a prediction time point and of a passenger load factor θf at or after the prediction time point.

Various techniques have been proposed for vehicle air conditioning control devices to be mounted on vehicles of, for example, trains to control the air conditioning in the vehicle (hereinafter also described as "vehicle interior"). The traditional vehicle air conditioning control devices detect the vehicle interior temperature, the vehicle interior humidity, and the outside-air temperature and control the air conditioning capacity on the basis of the difference between the set temperature and the vehicle interior temperature, of the vehicle interior humidity, and of the outside-air temperature.
When the outside-air temperature is high during, for example, summertime, a number of passengers get aboard the vehicle after the opening of the doors at the arrival in a station, and then, the vehicle interior temperature increases due to the air exchange at the opening of the door and to the heat emanating from the passengers.
The traditional vehicle air conditioning control devices perform so-called feedback control to enhance the air conditioning capacity with detection of an increase in vehicle interior temperature. Unfortunately, there is a time lag between the detection of an increase in vehicle interior temperature and the start of the effective air conditioning, resulting in temporary loss in the vehicle interior comfort.
Thus, with attention directed to the change in vehicle interior comfort, techniques have been devised which controls the vehicle interior air conditioning in advance by predicting, before the arrival in the next station, the temperature change at the time of arrival in the next train on the basis of the passenger load factor at the next station that is computed from the statistical predictions (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
The vehicle air conditioning control device having the vehicle air conditioning control method disclosed in Patent Document 1 applied thereto performs a mathematical operation on an air conditioning reference temperature in the vehicle on the basis of the vehicle interior temperature, the vehicle exterior temperature, the vehicle interior humidity, and the passenger load factor of the vehicle. The vehicle air conditioning control device determines the air conditioning control pattern for providing the air conditioning in the vehicle on the basis of the air conditioning reference temperature obtained from the mathematical operation, and then, controls a vehicle air conditioning device on the basis of the air conditioning control pattern that is determined.
In particular, the vehicle air conditioning control device disclosed in Patent Document 1 provides the vehicle interior air conditioning by starting an air conditioning compressor included in the vehicle air conditioning device when the difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the air conditioning reference temperature exceeds a given value. The vehicle air conditioning control device also provides the vehicle interior air conditioning under the following condition even when the difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the air conditioning reference temperature falls below the given value.
In a case where the time between the measurement of the vehicle interior temperature and the arrival in the next station is shorter than the restart prevention time element that is predetermined for the air conditioning compressor and the passenger load factor at the next station is predicted to exceed the predetermined value, in other words, the number of passengers going on board at the next station is predicted to be over a given number, the vehicle air conditioning control device starts the air conditioning compressor before the arrival in the next station. The vehicle air conditioning control device provides the vehicle interior air conditioning by controlling the vehicle air conditioning device on the basis of the passenger load factor predicted for the next station.
Thus, even if the difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the air conditioning reference temperature falls below the given value, with the prediction that passengers over the given number go on board at the next station, the vehicle air conditioning control device disclosed in Patent Document 1 continues the startup of the air conditioning compressor during startup or starts the air conditioning compressor at rest before the arrival in the next station as long as the restart prevention time element is not affected. This provides an effective vehicle interior air conditioning and prevents the vehicle interior environment to be uncomfortable even when a number of passengers come on board at once.
The vehicle air conditioning device disclosed in Patent Document 2 controls air conditioning as described below. The vehicle air conditioning device predicts, before the arrival in the next station, the passenger load factor at the arrival time in the next station, and then, obtains a corrected temperature on the basis of the passenger load factor that is predicted. The vehicle air conditioning device obtains the air conditioning reference temperature by adding the corrected temperature that is obtained to the vehicle set temperature, compares the air conditioning reference temperature and the vehicle interior temperature, and performs the air conditioning control on the basis of the comparison results.
Thus, the vehicle air conditioning device disclosed in Patent Document 2 is configured to perform the air conditioning control corresponding to the air conditioning reference temperature for the running between the next station and the station after next before the vehicle arrives in the next station. This provides the pleasant vehicle interior air conditioning at the arrival of the vehicle in the next station and at the time of departure from the next station.
Thus, the vehicle air conditioning control device disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the vehicle air conditioning device disclosed in Patent Document 2 are configured to improve the vehicle interior comfort. Meanwhile, with attention directed to the power consumption required for the running of the train, in other words, the power-running/regenerative electric power, techniques for controlling the vehicle interior air conditioning have been devised with consideration given to energy saving and power saving (see, for example, Patent Documents 3 and 4).
The electric-train control device disclosed in Patent Document 3, which includes load control means, is configured such that the surplus regenerative power can be consumed by the load of an auxiliary power source device. Consequently, while the electric train is in the regenerative braking state, the regenerative energy can be consumed by the load of the auxiliary power source device such as a cooler, resulting in the improved energy saving.
The control device having the electric-train controlling method disclosed in Patent Document 4 applied thereto monitors the operation information including the operation conditions and the power consumption during the operation of the train. For the power-running command that is input as the operation command through an input unit, the control device forces the control command for the cooler into OFF to stop the cooler even if the input command for the cooler is ON. When the operation command is not the power-running command and the main electric motor consumes a small amount of current, the control device causes the control command for the cooler to turn into ON at the time when the input command for the cooler turns into ON. Thus, the stoppage of the cooler during power running levels the power consumption in the entire train, resulting in a reduction in the peak power of the substation, in other words, power saving.


An ergonomic mouse is described. A computer mouse may include a position tracking engine and a housing to encapsulate the position tracking engine. The housing may have a bottom portion with a substantially flat surface and an aperture for the position tracking engine. The housing may also have a top portion having a convex portion with a convex curved surface and a first concave portion with a first concave curved surface to receive a human thumb. The first concave portion may have an orientation relative to the bottom portion to cause a substantially neutral wrist deviation when a user grips the top portion.

Various types of input devices such as a pointing device allow a user to manipulate a cursor of a computer. A common type of pointing device is a mouse that is typically used for desktop computers or docked laptop computers. A mouse allows for cursor manipulation on a visual display screen of a personal computer or workstation, for example. Cursor manipulation includes actions such as rapid relocation of a cursor from one area of the display screen to another area, pointing to an object, highlighting an object, selecting an object, moving or dragging an object, and so forth.
A mouse typically includes various mechanical parts. In a "roller ball" mouse, for example, a user controls the cursor by moving the mouse over a surface, such as a mouse pad, so that the cursor moves on the display screen in a direction and a distance that is proportional to the movement of the mouse. Similarly, a "track ball" mouse may include a stationary ball with freedom of movement that is rolled by a user with a finger or thumb to control cursor movement on the display screen. Both the roller ball and track ball mice, however, have drawbacks associated with any device that have mechanical parts. Namely, over time the mechanical components wear out, become dirty, or simply break down so that the cursor can no longer be accurately manipulated.
Recently, "optical" mice that use image sensors have been developed. An optical mouse may produce a collimated beam of light that illuminates a surface upon which the mouse rests. A sensor array portion of an image sensor receives the reflected images of the surface as the mouse is traversed across a surface. The changes in successive reflected images are then determined to be mouse movement, which is then interpreted as a desired cursor movement. Such designs are typically superior to mechanical designs.
Despite such improvements in tracking movement of a mouse, there are several ergonomic issues for a mouse that remain to be solved. A mouse may have various design features, to include shape, size, button positions, grip positions, pointing performance, and so forth. A particular combination of design features may affect user comfort, fatigue, pointing accuracy, usability, and so forth. In some cases, a poor design may even lead to health issues such as wrist injuries. Consequently, there is a need for improvements in mouse design to increase comfort, performance and desirability of a mouse, while maintaining the efficiencies gained by improved movement tracking techniques.


Methods are described for measuring the amount of a kisspeptin-54-derived peptides in a sample. More specifically, mass spectrometric methods are described for detecting and quantifying a kisspeptin-54 derived peptides in a sample utilizing on-line extraction methods coupled with tandem mass spectrometric techniques.

The following description of the background of the invention is provided simply as an aid in understanding the invention and is not admitted to describe or constitute prior art to the invention.
The kisspeptin-54 peptide is essential for sexual reproduction and it suppresses cancer metastasis. It is also known as metastin, kisspeptin 1-54, KP-54, and KiSS-1 (68-121). Kisspeptin-54 is the carboxamide fragment of residues 68-121 of the protein KISS-1, which in turn is encoded by the KiSS-1 gene. Kisspeptin-54 potently and selectively stimulates the G-protein-coupled receptor 54 (GPR54) to signal secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Rhythmical secretions of GnRH initiate puberty, coordinate ovulation, and maintain overall reproductive function. Kisspeptin-54 is known to suppress the progression of melanomas and breast cancers. It is postulated that kisspeptin-54 suppresses metastasis by inhibiting chemotaxis and invasion of cancer cells.
Human kisspeptin-54 (CAS No: [374683-24-6]) consists of 54 amino acids with a molecular weight of about 5857.5 g/mol and a monoisotopic mass of about 5854.0 g/mol. It is a peptide amide cleavage product containing the amino acid residues from 68 to 121 of the 138 amino acid KiSS-1 protein. Other bioactive peptides that result from cleavage of KiSS-1 are kisspeptin-14 (KP-14, 41-54), kisspeptin-13 (KP-13, residues 42-54), and kisspeptin-10 (KP-10; residues 45-54).
Kisspeptin-54 has been identified using tandem mass spectrometry. See e.g., Kotani, M., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 2001, 276(37), 34631-6 (isolated); Dhillo, W., et al., J. Clin Endocrinol. Metab. 2005, 90(12), 6609-15 (synthetic). Kisspeptin-54 has been quantitated using immunoassays. See e.g., Jayasena et al., J. Endocrinol. Metab. 2009, 94(11), 4315-23 (measured immunoreactivity of antibody with kisspeptin-54). Among the kisspeptin peptides, only kisspeptin-10 has been reported to be purified for and subjected to quantitative mass spectrometry. Chan et al., J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 2011, 96(6), E908-15.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Kisspeptin-54 detection by tandem mass spectrometry

Quest Diagnostics Investments Incorporated


A system and method for detecting a drone implanted by a vandal in a network connected host device such as a computer, and controlling the output of the drone. The system includes an inbound intrusion detection system (IDS), an outbound IDS, a blocker such as a firewall, an inbound trace log for storing a trace of inbound traffic to the protected device, an outbound trace log for storing a trace of outbound traffic from the protected device, and a correlator. When the outbound IDS detects outbound distributed denial of service (DDoS) traffic, the outbound IDS instructs the blocker to block the outbound DDos traffic. The correlator then recalls the outbound trace log and the inbound trace log, correlates the logs, and deduces the source ID of a message responsible for triggering the drone. The correlator then instructs the blocker to block incoming messages that bear the source ID.

Computer-based activities are now subject to electronic vandalism. A vandal, who is sometimes called a hacker in this context, may attempt to intrude upon a network-connected computer system in order to steal information in an act of industrial espionage, or to alter records to the detriment or the benefit of another party's interests or reputation, or to impede the operation of the computer by implanting a virus or by flooding the computer with bogus information, or to implant a done or zombie that causes a host computer to launch an attack against a target computer.
More specifically, a vandal or hacker may attack a target such as an Internet web server by flooding the target with a torrential flow of disruptive messages that overload the target to the point of functional failure, where these messages bear a spoofed source address (source ID) so that the vandal cannot be easily identified. Attacks of this kind are called "denial of service" (DoS) attacks.
In one kind of denial-of-service attack, a vandal may send the target a large number of Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) messages called Packet INternet Gropers (PINGS), which are normally used to query whether a particular Internet address is accessible to the sender. Upon receiving a PING, the target responds to the spoofed device rather than the vandal, as the PING bears the fraudulently used identity of the spoofed device. By flooding the target with PINGS, the vandal may divert the target's resources to generating responses and consequently away from its legitimate tasks, and may also cause unproductive network congestion by triggering a flood of response messages.
In another kind of denial-of-service attack, the vandal may send the target a large number of TCP SYN messages. A TCP SYN message is normally used to initiate a TCP connection. Upon receiving a SYN message, the target sends a SYN/ACK message to the spoofed device rather than the vandal, as the SYN message bears the fraudulently used source ID of the spoofed device. Further, the target reserves an internal data structure presumably to be used in supporting a connection with the spoofed device. So, by flooding the target with a large number of SYN messages, the vandal causes not only the problems mentioned above—resource diversion and network congestion—but also exhausts the target's capacity to support the data structures needed to establish other connections. Thus, the target is left unable to establish connections with any device except the spoofed device.
Computers are often guarded against vandals' intrusions by intrusion detection systems. An intrusion detection system monitors the activities of users and would-be users for particular events or patterns of events generally known as signatures. A signature is a set of events and transition functions that define a sequence of actions that constitute misuse or unauthorized use of the computer. More specifically, a signature may include a signature event such as a particular pattern of bits. For example, the pattern may identify an incoming message that is designed to induce a deliberate violation of a communication protocol, where the kind of violation may be indicative of a malicious attack. An alert is generated when the intrusion detection system observer activity that is suggestive to an intrusion. The purpose of the alert is to inform a network administrator of the suspected attack, so that the administrator may take action to minimize the damage inflicted by the vandal.
To minimize the damage inflicted by a vandal, a network administrator may rely upon protective equipment that filters (i.e., blocks) incoming messages attributed to the actions of the vandal. For example, the administrator may configure a firewall or a network router to block incoming messages that seem to have a malicious purpose.
A particularly insidious kind of denial-of-service attack is a distributed-denial-of-service attack (DDoS). A vandal may prepare a DDoS attack well in advance by stealthily implanting so-called zombies or drones in a number of network-connected devices, for example into personal computers connected to the Internet by high-speed DSL or cable modems. Upon command by the hacker, each drone launches its own denial of service attack against the vandal's target. The target may be specified by information internal to the drones, or the target may be specified by a control message sent by the vandal to the drones to trigger the attack. The vandal may implant drones in a large number of unaware hosts, sometimes in hundreds of unaware hosts; consequently, the target may be subjected to a high volume of DDoS traffic, and the DDoS traffic may bear a wide range of source IDs.
Because the messages that constitutes a DDoS attack may bear a wide range of source IDs, the transitional methods described above for combating DoS attacks are at a severe disadvantage when confronted by a DDos attack—the target's intrusion detection system must determine a large number of source IDs, and the filter must be configured to block incoming messages from each.
In view of the difficulty of defending against a DDos attack, it is helpful to look at the problem in another way: network administrators may use health-checking equipment proactively to test a network connected device for the presence of a drone. Appropriate tools identify drones by searching for known signatures, and inform the network administrators when any are found. Thus a network administrator may identify and purge a drone, ideally before the vandal triggers the drone to attack. If the vandal triggers the drone before it is found by the health checking tool and purged by the administrator, however, the output of the drone may consume the capacity of its host, for example the capacity of the host's communication adapters, and may vest the party responsible for the host with moral fault for damage done to the target.
Unfortunately, the proactive use of health checking tools is not an entirely satisfactory solution to the problems caused by hosts that are compromised by imbedded drones. Such tools do not operate in real time; consequently, a vandal may well be able to implant a drone and trigger an attack before the network administrator can detect and purge the drone. Further, health checking tools check only for those signatures they know at the time of the health check, and may therefore be unable to detect a vandal's newest drone. Thus there is a need for an improved way of detecting the presence of a drone that compromises a network connected device, and thwarting the drone before it can damage either its host or the vandal's target.

System and method for detecting and controlling a drone implanted in a network attached device such as a computer

International Buisiness Machines Corporation


A method and apparatus for reducing global interconnect delay on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) on an integrated circuit die comprising coding with a digital to analog coder on the integrated circuit die successive groups of n digital bits into an 2n level voltage or current signal where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2; transmitting the voltage or current signal on a global interconnect on the integrated circuit die; receiving on the integrated circuit die the signal transmitted on the global interconnect; and decoding the received signal on the integrated circuit die to reconstitute the successive groups of digital bits.

Global interconnect delay has become a significant bottleneck in high speed circuits as technology scales. Power loss is also a significant issue.
FIG. 1 depicts a generalized layout for a field programmable gate array (FPGA) 100 on a single integrated circuit die 110. As indicated, the die 110 is approximately square and measures about 30 millimeters (mm.) (1.2 inches) on a side. Several logic array blocks 120 are located on the die. These blocks are interconnected by various signal paths 130 including high speed global routing networks.
In the early years of FPGAs, the signaling on the global networks was two-level (high and low) single-ended. To increase speed and accuracy, low voltage differential signaling was introduced to the global routing network. However, interconnect remains a problem that introduces substantial bottlenecks in routing.
Signaling also consumes substantial amounts of power, thereby imposing on the integrated circuit die both significant power requirements and significant issues in disposing of the heat generated by the signaling. The power lost by signaling is given by: P=Σ(Pr(Δ swing))×Δ swing×Cout×Vdd×fclk;
where Δ swing is the difference at the driver output between the successive voltage levels;
Pr (Δ swing) is the probability of switching from one voltage level to another, which in the case of conventional two-level signaling is ½;
Cout is the driver output capacitive load;
Vdd is the supply voltage; and
fclk is the clock frequency.

CMOS global interconnect using multi-voltage(or current)-levels


A portable media reproduction system preferably includes a housing with an attached docking component for receiving a portable media player, the docking component being recessed into the housing when in a closed position such that the first side forms a uniformly substantially flat surface. A latch is provided for holding the docking component in the closed position, and a connector connects to the portable media player. The connector is positioned on the docking component to receive the portable media player when the docking component is in an open position. A base component is recessed into the second side of the housing when in a closed position such that the second side of the housing forms a uniformly substantially flat surface. The base component is extendable into an open position such that the it supports the portable media reproduction system in a substantially upright position. Both the base component and the docking component are preferably spring loaded such that actuating the latch releases the docking component and the base component from their respective closed positions, allowing them to spring into their respective open positions.

The past several decades have seen remarkable advances in audio and video reproduction equipment, particularly equipment that allows a variety of audio tracks to be carried or transported with a user from one location to another. Such equipment includes, e.g., equipment for digitally recording, editing, mixing, producing, storing and reproducing audio tracks. Digital files are advantageous for several reasons, including the fact that running error correction algorithms on the files can guarantee that the audio track data in the files is properly stored, which means that the audio can be faithfully reproduced even where an underlying recording medium induces errors or where errors are induced in the copy process. Another advantage of digital files is that reproduction equipment can precisely control the speed at which the audio track is played, thereby effectively guaranteeing consistent playback.
In recent years, new algorithms for storing audio tracks have emerged. One of the more popular of these new audio track storage algorithms is the Motion Picture Entertainment Group level 3 algorithm, commonly referred to as the "MP3" algorithm. The MP3 algorithm uses a variety of techniques, including allowing users to vary the audio track sampling rate as the audio track is recorded, varying the number of bits used to represent a given frequency range, and the like, to generate digital audio track files that are significantly smaller than those used on CD's. This means that users can carry more audio data files on a given medium than they could in the past. For example, a typical seventy-two minute audio CD holds approximately 650 MB of data. Depending on the compression methods chosen, a 650 MB CD-ROM has sufficient capacity for several hours of compressed music.
As digital storage capacity continues to increase and compression algorithms continue to advance, users are able to carry more and more of the music they like with them. This has resulted in the incorporation of audio track reproduction capabilities in an ever-increasing array of audio-capable devices, including, but not limited to, digital cameras, portable digital assistants ("PDA's"), wireless telephones, and the like. Several other devices, generally referred to as portable media players ("PMP's"), have been introduced into the market that are predominately used for reproduction of compressed audio tracks. One of the most popular PMP's is the iPod, sold by Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. The iPod has become popular because it has a relatively small form factor but can store many gigabytes of audio files and other information on a hard disk drive stored within the PMP. Other PMPs additionally store video information for playback on a small display integrated into the device.
Most of the currently available audio devices are designed to be highly portable and to allow an individual to carry a relatively large number of audio tracks. However, because design of these devices has centered on portability, manufacturers tend to limit them so as to present the reproduced audio to a user only through monaural or stereo headphones that are plugged into the audio device. This means that, at best, these audio devices can only be used to reproduce audio tracks for a limited number of users, such as where one or more splitters are used to allow multiple users to plug headphones into the device. However, because the audio devices are typically battery powered, they are not capable of generating enough energy to power several pairs of headphones. Furthermore, increasing the number of users connected to a single device beyond one or two limits the device's portability.
One method alternatively employed by some in the prior art is to allow users to attach speakers to a portable media player. This allows multiple users to experience audio tracks at the same time. Because the power output of audio devices is typically relatively low, it is frequently advantageous for the speakers to include an amplifier which is powered by an external power source. Some in the prior art have created relatively small, battery powered or alternating current (AC) powered speakers for use with portable audio reproduction equipment. These speakers tend to take a lot of physical abuse during transportation, and frequently the cables and adaptors used to connect the speakers to the audio device are not capable of withstanding such abuse.
One solution offered on the market is the original inMotion™, available from Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc., of Milford, Pa., and described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/836,113 filed Apr. 30, 2004. The inMotion™ was a groundbreaking product which, for the first time, provided powered speakers integrated with a docking station for a portable media player in a relatively lightweight and compact portable package that folded to protect the speaker drivers during transport. While the inMotion™ offered great advantages in terms of robustness, weight, portability, size, and ease-of-use, room for improvement in each of these qualities remains.

Compact portable media reproduction system

Altec Lansing, a division of Plantronics, Inc.


A method for treating or preventing symptoms of hormonal variation includes administering an effective amount of a receptor antagonist to a subject having one or more symptoms of hormonal variations, wherein the receptor antagonist binds to at least one selected from the group consisting of a serotonin type 2A (5-HT2A) and a dopamine type 2 (D2) receptors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to treatment or prevention of symptoms of hormonal variation, such as hot flashes, night sweats, and insomnia.
2. Background Art
Hot flashes (also called vasomotor flashes) are the most common symptoms experienced by women who are perimenopausal or postmenopausal. A hot flash is a sudden sensation of warmth, which is usually accompanied by skin reddening, perspiration, palpitation, anxiety, irritability, and even panic, and night sweats. A chill may follow a hot flash because of a subsequent drop in core temperature. Hot flashes vary: they can be several times a week or once per hour, they can be characterized by mild warmth to profuse sweating, and they can last from several seconds to 60 minutes. Such symptoms can disrupt sleep and work and interfere with quality of life.
Almost 60-70% of postmenopausal women have hot flashes, and approximately 10-20% of all postmenopausal women will report intolerable symptoms, including hot flashes. Some women may suffer from these symptoms for up to 15 years (Kronenberg F. "Hot flashes: epidemiology and physiology," Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 592:52-86(1990)). Thus, the identification and proper management of menopausal symptoms are crucial to maintaining a woman's quality of life.
Typical hot flashes occur with sudden onsets of sensation of warmth in the chest, which then spreads upward to involve the neck and face. Hot flashes can last from a few seconds to several minutes. However, the severity of the sensations vary greatly both from time to time in the same woman and from woman to woman. Hot flashes may be accompanied by dizziness, nausea, headaches, palpitations, profuse sweating and night sweats. How often a woman experiences hot flashes also varies, ranging from many times a day to once a week or less. Such symptoms can disrupt sleep and work and interfere with quality of life. In some women, hot flashes are provoked by several factors such as hot weather, stress, eating, or drinking alcohol.
Although the pathophysiology of hot flashes is not completely understood, it has been postulated that hot flashes result from a transient lowering of the hypothalamic temperature regulatory set point (Steams et al., "Hot flushes," Lancet, 360:1851-1861 (2002)). Because of the temporal relation between changes in sexual hormone concentrations and the onset of hot flashes, it is believed that such symptoms result from declining estrogen levels or increased gonadotropin concentrations. Thus, hot flashes occur commonly in menopausal women, but also in women taking anti-estrogen drugs, such as tamoxifen. Men on androgen deprivation treatment may also experience such symptoms.
Although estrogen replacement therapy can effectively minimize or prevent hot flashes in women, many women are concerned about potential risks of hormone replacement therapy. This is especially true for women who suffer from breast cancer or have a family history of breast cancer, and/or a history of clotting disorder (Col et al., "Patient-specific decisions about hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women," JAMA, 277; 1140-1147(1997); Gail et al., "The menopause," Lancet, 353:571-580 (1999)).
Various non-hormonal agents have been tested as well, such as clonidine. Clonidine is a centrally-acting α2 adrenergic receptor agonist. It selectively stimulates receptors in the brain that monitor catecholamine levels in the blood. These receptors close a negative feedback loop that begins with descending sympathetic nerves from the brain that control the production of catecholamines (e.g., epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, and norepinephrine) in the adrenal medulla. By tricking the brain into believing that catecholamine levels are higher than they really are, clonidine causes the brain to reduce its signals to the adrenal medulla, leading to lower catecholamine production. The result is a lowered heart rate and blood pressure. In randomized clinical trials, clonidine was shown to be moderately more efficacious than placebo (Goldberg et al., "Transdermal clonidine for ameliorating tamoxifen-induced hot flashes," J. Clin. Oncol., 12:155-158 (1994); Pandya et al., "Oral clonidine in postmenopausal patients with breast cancer experiencing tamoxifen-induced hot flashes: a University of Rochester Cancer Center Community Clinical Oncology Program study," Ann Intern Med. 132:788-793 (2000)), but adverse effects are common, including dry mouth, dizziness, and blurred vision.
Recent randomized clinical trials also confirmed that some selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), such as venlafaxine and paroxetine, are more effective than placebo in minimizing the occurrence and severity of hot flashes (Loprinzi et al., "Venlafaxine in management of hot flashes in survivors of breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial," Lancet 356:2059-2063 (2000); Stearns et al., "Paroxetine controlled release in the treatment of menopausal hot flashes: A randomized controlled trial," JAMA 289:2827-2834 (2003)). However, adverse effects with SSRIs are moderate, including headache, agitation, tremor, sedation, and sexual dysfunction.
Given the risks of estrogen replacement therapy and marginal benefits of current non-hormonal treatments, there is a continued need for alternative methods or drugs for treating or preventing symptoms associated with menopause, including hot flashes.

Method of treating symptoms of hormonal variations


Disclosed is a solid-state imaging device includes for each pixel a photoelectric conversion unit, a charge accumulating portion, and a potential barrier provided between the photoelectric conversion unit and the charge accumulating portion, in a thickness direction of a substrate. When light is received, a first charge derived from one of electron-hole pairs generated by photoelectric conversion is accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit as signal charge, and the potential barrier is modulated by a second charge derived from the other of the electron-hole pairs so that the first charge that has accumulated in the charge accumulating portion is supplied to the photoelectric conversion unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid-state imaging device such as a CMOS image sensor or a CCD image sensor, a method of manufacturing the same, and a camera having such solid-state imaging device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Solid-state imaging devices can be roughly classified into amplifying solid-state imaging devices as represented by CMOS image sensors and charge-transfer solid-state imaging devices as represented by CCD solid-state imaging devices. When CMOS image sensors and CCD image sensors are compared, a CCD image sensor usually consumes a high driving voltage to transfer signal charge and therefore has a high power supply voltage compared to a CMOS image sensor. Accordingly, a CMOS image sensor is often used as a solid-state imaging device provided in a mobile appliance such as a camera-equipped mobile telephone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) due to the power supply voltage and the power consumption being lower than with a CCD image sensor.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-32681 discloses the configuration of a CMOS solid-state imaging device where the light receiving portion of a pixel includes a photodiode produced by forming a p+ type semiconductor layer on an n type semiconductor layer. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-81448 discloses a CCD solid-state imaging device where a light receiving portion of a pixel includes a photodiode produced by forming a p+ type positive charge accumulating region on an n type impurity diffused region. The publication also discloses a technology that forms an overflow barrier by epitaxial growth and ion implantation. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H10-116975 discloses a method of manufacturing a super junction semiconductor element with a deep pn junction where an n-type epitaxial layer is formed and then the acceleration voltage for ion implantation is continuously changed using a photoresist mask to form a p-type semiconductor region in the n-type epitaxial layer.

Solid-state imaging device, method of manufacturing the same, and camera


A sunroof apparatus includes a pair of arms being arranged along respective sides in a vehicle width direction of an opening portion formed on a roof of a vehicle, a rear portion of the arm being pivotally connected to the roof, a front portion of the arm being biased by a first spring in a rising direction, a pair of arm holding members operating so as to follow a movement of a sunroof panel that opens or closes the opening portion, the arm holding member being in contact with the arm when the sunroof panel is closed, a wind deflector being pivotally connected to a front end of the arm, and a second spring for biasing a front edge of the wind deflector in a direction opposite to the rising direction. A rotation of the wind deflector by means of the second spring is restricted by the arm.

A known sunroof apparatus is disclosed in JP56-017721A. According to the sunroof apparatus disclosed, an opening portion is formed on a roof of a vehicle for the purposes of ventilation, lighting, and the like. A sunroof panel (or a lid), and a sunshade are provided at the opening portion. Further, in order to prevent undesirable airflow from coming through a front portion of the opening portion when the sunroof panel is in an open position, a wind deflector that is comprised of a panel is attached at a front end of the opening portion. The wind deflector may also be called a deflector panel. Both ends of the wind deflector in a vehicle width direction are connected by means of respective coil springs to a pair of arms having a distance therebetween and arranged along a pair of guide rails that are provided on both sides in the vehicle width direction of the opening portion respectively. Both of the arms are pivotally supported by a vehicle body at rear ends and biased in a vehicle exterior direction by means of plate springs respectively. In this configuration, when the sunroof panel moves in an open direction, the arms are released so as to move upward, thereby causing front portions of the arms to rise, i.e. to move in the vehicle exterior direction, by means of the plate springs respectively. Consequently, the wind deflector is moved to a predetermined position.
The wind deflector is secured at an operating position in such a manner that a front-edge sealing member of the wind deflector makes contact with a lower face of the roof located at a front of the opening portion.
When the sunroof panel is opened, the arms are released to move upward thereby causing the front portions to rise. The wind deflector moves from the stored position to the operating position accordingly. At this time, the front-edge sealing member of the deflector panel makes contact with the lower face of the roof. Then, the sealing member moves rearward while scraping against the lower face of the roof along with further rising of the front portions of the arms. Then, rising of the front portions of the arms (i.e. a rotation relative to a pivot point of each arm) are stopped and thus sliding of the sealing member relative to the lower face of the roof is also stopped. The operating position of the wind deflector is ensured accordingly.
According to the aforementioned structure, sealing structure between the sunroof panel and the front portion of the opening portion is limited (for example, a flange cannot be formed at the front of the opening portion) when the sunroof panel is in a closed state, which results in small flexibility of designing of the sealing structure.
Thus, a need exists for a sunroof apparatus that can achieve a flexible designing of a sealing structure. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and provides such an apparatus.


Systems and methods for disposing of blackwater are disclosed. A first vessel contains a screw running through the vessel from a first end to a second end. The screw is surrounded radially by a filter. The first vessel has a blackwater inlet adjacent the first end. An extrusion plate is adjacent the second end of the first vessel. A combustor vessel is configured to receive a solids component from the extrusion plate. A blackwater stream, consisting of a liquid component and the solids component, is passed through the blackwater inlet into the first vessel, is conveyed by the screw from the first end to the second end, and is pressurized against the extrusion plate. The liquid component is thereby forced from the blackwater stream through the filter and the solids component is forced through the extrusion plate into the combustor. The combustor is configured to combust the solids component.

Waste streams, especially blackwater streams, require careful treatment. On a large scale, traditional bioreactors and sludge treatment is capable of handling this material. On a small scale, such as in recreational vehicles, blackwater is typically an annoyance at best and a significant hurdle at worst. Other small scale blackwater producers include remote work sites, remote cabins, and small villages in developing nations. Traditional treatment methods are typically too large in scale or too impractical to implement for a single recreational vehicle, remote work site, or cabin. Simplifying the handling of waste solids, especially blackwater solids, is required.

Systems and methods for dewatering, extruding, and combusting blackwater


A wireless communication data storing medium capable of effectively receiving carrier waves of different frequencies proximate to each other. A composite wave of a first carrier for supplying a source voltage and a second carrier for transferring data is received by a circuit. The composite wave is rectified to generate the source voltage, which is supplied to the internal circuits of the medium from a circuit. On the basis of the composite wave, an amplitude change corresponding to the data transferred by the second carrier is detected by a circuit. The data is extracted by a circuit on the basis of the amplitude change.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless communication data recording medium such as a wireless communication IC card supplied with power in a wireless manner using a radio wave for transmitting and receiving data, and a method of data transmission.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, in order to improve the reliability of the IC cards as a data storing medium, a wireless communication IC card has been proposed for transmitting and receiving data and power in a wireless manner using a radio wave. Such a wireless communication IC card (hereinafter referred to simply as "the IC card") has two antennas built therein for receiving two different carriers transmitted using two radio waves of different frequencies, one for supplying power and the other for transmitting data modulated by the PSK (Phase Shift Keying) modulation scheme, for example. In the process, in order to prevent the power carrier from having an effect on the data transmission, the frequencies of the two carrier waves are sufficiently separated from each other or a filter of a large attenuation is inserted for removing the power carrier from the data carrier.
As described above, the conventional IC card is required to have two antennas, one for receiving a power carrier and one for a data transmission carrier. Also, a filter is required for removing the effect of the power carrier on the data carrier. The result is a number of components having a time constant of an analog circuit, so that it is difficult to configure the circuit on semiconductor integrated circuits (introduction of LSI). This in turn makes it difficult to reduce the circuit size on the one hand and to realize a small package on the other hand.

Wireless communication data storing medium for receiving a plurality of carriers of proximate frequencies and a transmission/receiving method


A firearm safe with a series of nested, collapsible storage racks and compartments for storing firearms and other valuables attached to a rotatable door, thereby allowing for easy access to all stored items without requiring removal of other items in the safe while safeguarding items against theft or other exposure.

1. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to storage and protection devices, and more particularly, to a safe for firearms, ammunition, documents, and other shooting sport paraphernalia with easy user-access.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today, many Americans own firearms or other types of weapons for recreational use. Many firearm owners own multiple firearms and have a need for safely storing the firearms when they are not in use.
Current gun safes are typically in the form of a metal, upright, rectangular box that includes a rectangular door at the front of the box. These conventional firearm safes typically provide non-movable firearm racks attached to the interior walls of the rectangular box. In such safes, guns stored near the door may be easy to access. However, guns stored deeply inside of the safe, towards the rear wall of the box, are often difficult to retrieve. Often, retrieval of such firearms may require a user to reach deeply within the safe and/or to remove other items from the safe before he or she is able to reach deeply into the safe. This type of operation is cumbersome, and in some circumstances, may result in damage to the guns and possibly personal injury to the user. Difficulty in accessing and retrieving stored firearms may result in damage to guns from nicking or striking against each other and the interior of the safe. Thus, the structure and orientation of conventional gun safes often creates situations in which guns are poorly secured within the safe, storage potential is underutilized, and it is difficult and time consuming to store and retrieve guns or other related items.
Conventional gun safes utilize either "internal" or "external" hinges and latches located along one or more sides of the safe door. The primary disadvantage of external hinges and latches is that they are exposed, mounted on the safe exterior, which makes them vulnerable to tampering, and thus, potential targets of would-be thieves. While destruction of hinges or latches on a gun safe may or may not compromise the security of a safe, such damage is expensive to repair. However, one disadvantage of traditional internal hinges and latches is that they occupy valuable storage space, both in their static position and in the arc through which they must travel when the door is operated. Internal hinges also restrict the degree to which the safe door may be opened.
In light of the above, there is a need for a firearm storage device that allows for unimpeded access to all, or most, stored items therein without requiring removal of any items, and while also providing convenient user access and security.


Methods and devices are provided for repairing a damaged contact pad that is located on a first surface of a printed circuit board and connected to a via that passes through the circuit board. According to the method, a countersink hole is created in the first surface of the printed circuit board in a location that is substantially centered on an axis passing through the via, and a replacement structure is inserted into the countersink hole. The replacement structure has a stem portion, a head portion, and a shoulder portion that connects the stern and head portions, with the angle of the shoulder portion substantially matching the angle of the shoulder of the countersink hole. The stem portion of the replacement structure is permanently attached to sidewalls of the via so as to electrically couple the head portion of the replacement structure to the via.

Printed-wiring technology is currently used to fabricate circuit boards having embedded circuit traces. These traces are interconnected by "vias," or plated thru-holes, that connect one trace on one circuit board layer to another trace on a different layer. In electronic systems, there are a variety of electrical connection types between the circuit board and the components such as integrated circuits that are attached to the circuit board. As integrated circuits become more dense, so too must the electrical connections.
A land grid array (LGA) is an electrical connection interface for components, such as microprocessors. Unlike the pin grid array (PGA) interface commonly found on integrated circuits, with LGA, there are no pins on the chip; in place of the pins are pads of bare gold-plated copper that touch pins on the circuit board. Such LGAs offer high interconnection density (e.g., at a one millimeter pitch, a 35×35 grid may contain 1,225 interconnections in a space less than 1.5 square inches and 2,025 interconnections in a 45×45 grid less than 1.75 square inches). LGAs are easy to manufacture and the cost of module production is much less because terminations such as pins or balls are no longer required.
Many modern circuit boards for use with LGAs or other electrical connection interfaces have a very large number of connections and vias extending from the external connections on one surface of the circuit board to internal wiring, and to wiring and connections on the opposite surface of the circuit board. In many instances, if a few or even one of these connections is defective, the entire board is defective and the connection and associated via must either be repaired or replaced, or the entire board has to be scrapped.
One known solution for working with damaged LGA pads is to remove the damaged pad and utilize a lily pad-shaped repair pad that is etched on a printed circuit board, as shown in FIG. 1. The pad 102 has a tail section 104 that is able to be inserted through a via of a multilayer circuit board and soldered on the opposite side of the circuit board. Conventional lily pad-shaped repair pads are manufactured by etching the pad 102 onto a copper-plated board 124, and then cutting along lines 106-122 to remove the pad. Once the pad 102 is removed from the circuit board 124, the tail 104 is folded down so that it can be inserted into the appropriate via. Unfortunately, as shown in FIG. 2, this leaves a void 202 in the portion of the pad 102 that is to be used to make contact with a component. This results in a repaired site with a pad that does not have a round and smooth contact pad surface. This presents a problem, particularly with components that have spring movement contact arms.
Spring movement LGA socket devices, such as the Tyco "cantilevered-spring," typically reduce co-planarity problems by effectively taking up slack when there is a problem with co-planarity on the bottom of the device. However, spring contacts move as the component is pressed against the LGA pads.
Because of the irregular surface of the lily pad-shaped pad, attachment mechanisms such as a cantilevered-type spring connector cannot be used, as the tip of the connector may bind on the gap 202 on the repaired pad 102 during the mating/compression process, causing further damage to the repaired pad or damage to the interconnect device.
Another known solution is to use a replacement pad and a wire that runs through the circuit board. More specifically, in this repair process the damaged pad is removed from one side of the circuit board. The wire is inserted into the via and ran through so as to protrude on the opposite side of the circuit board. The replacement pad is attached to the area from which the damaged pad was removed using an adhesive, and the wire is soldered to the replacement pad. The wire protruding oil the opposite side of the circuit board is soldered to the via and the excess wire is clipped so as to make it flush with the circuit board. While the damaged pad is replaced, this repair process requires the creation of a second solder connection on the underside of the repair pad, which creates another point of failure.

Method and device for repair of a contact pad of a printed circuit board

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention describes substantially pure cultures of three new species of fungi, Meira geulakonigae (CBS 110052), Meira argovae (CBS 110053) and Acaromyces ingoldii (CBS 110050) (all nom. prov.), wherein said cultures are biologically pure. The conditioned medium for all three new fungi species is also described, as well as their biologically active products. The biological product of the three new fungi species and their conditioned medium has miticidal and fungicidal activities. Thus, a composition for the control of mites and/or phytopathogenic fungi comprising a biocontrol agent derived from any one of the three new fungi species is also described, optionally comprising an agriculturally compatible carrier. Finally, the present invention describes a method for producing a fungicide and/or a miticide, wherein the active ingredient of said fungicide/miticide is any one of M. geulakonigae, M. argovae, or A. ingoldii, or any combination thereof, and/or a culture thereof, and/or any product or derivative thereof, comprising culturing said fungus and optionally isolating said active ingredient from the culture.

Plant diseases caused by fungi and mites have a significant adverse impact on the production of important crops worldwide.
Pest mites belong to two main families. The most important family is Tetranychidae, also known as the spider mites. These mites cause widespread damage to almonds, apple, avocado, cassava, citrus, cotton, grapes, tea, various greenhouse crops like cucumber, pepper and tomato, and several ornamentals, including roses and chrysanthemums [Helle, W. & Sabelis, M. W. Spider Mites, Their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control, Volumes. I and II, Elsevier, Amsterdam (1985)]. The other family, Eriophyidae, corresponds to the rust or gall mites, which can be major pests of apple, citrus, coconut, pear, currants and berries, as well as many vegetables and ornamentals [Lindquist et al. (Eds.) Eriophyoid Mites, Their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control. Elsevier, Amsterdam (1996)]. The carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus, and the citrus red mite, Panonychus citri, belong to the former family, whereas the citrus rust mite, Phyllocoptruta oleivora, to the latter. In Israel, the carmine spider mite is an important pest of vegetables and ornamentals, whose chemical control has met increasing difficulties due to evolving resistance to pesticides. The citrus red mite is of minor importance, whereas the citrus rust mite is the major pest of citrus in Israel and many other parts of the world. Local citrus growers have been encountering serious problems in the chemical control of the citrus rust mite, due to its increased resistance to acaricides and the presence of pesticide residues on exported fruit [Palevsky et al. Mite problems on citrus and control strategies in Israel. Proceedings of the International Congress of Citriculture, (in press)]. In counterpart, biological control of this pest with introduced predators has just begun and is still uncertain [Argov, Y., S. Amitai, G. A. C. Beattie and U. Gerson. Rearing, release and establishment of imported predatory mites to control citrus rust mite in Israel. BioControl, 47: 399-409 (2002)].
Likewise, fungal phytopathogens cause major and severe economic losses in the agricultural and horticultural industries. Germination and growth of infected plants are inhibited; plants succumb to soft rot and may even die. Infested soils are unsuitable for growing certain crops. The powdery mildews are the most common, widespread and easily recognizable plant diseases. They are caused by fungi of the family Erysiphaceae, which are grouped into seven main genera [Agrios, G. N. Plant Pathology, 4th ed. Academic Press, New York (1997); Braun, U. A Monograph of the Erysiphales (Powdery Mildews), J. Cramer, Grebruder Borentraeger, Berlin (1987)]. Powdery mildews are characterized by spots or patches of a white to grayish powdery growth on young plant tissues, which can cover entire leaves and other organs of the plant [Agrios (1997) id ibid.]. Powdery mildews are very often present on crop plants and ornamentals, and the yield losses that they incur annually on all crops probably surpasses the losses caused by any other single type of plant disease. Crops that suffer severely from powdery mildews include wheat, barley, cucumber, squash, strawberry, grape, apple, mango, ornamentals such as rose, begonia, lilac and many others [Agrios (1997) id ibid.]. Chemical fungicides usually control these diseases, but this mode of control is continuously being challenged by the rapid development of resistance to the recommended fungicides. As for the mites pest, biological control of fungal phytopathogens is just in its infancy as well. Although the biofungicide AQ10 has been registered for powdery mildews control since 1996, the extent of its use is still moderate when compared to the use of chemical fungicides [Copping, L. G. (Ed.) The BioPesticide Manual, 1st ed. British Crop Protection Council, Farnham (1998); Sztejnberg et al. Ampelomyces quisqualis for biological and integrated control of powdery mildews in Israel. J. Phytopathology 124:285-295 (1989)]. Overall, world expenditure for fungicides to control powdery mildews is estimated to be circa one billion US dollars per year.
In summary, plant mites and fungal phytopathogens are still mostly controlled with chemical acaricides and fungicides, despite the above-mentioned corollary problems. Thus, the widespread abuse of pesticides and the emergence of pest resistance to most of these chemicals has increased the demand for environmentally-friendly biological pesticides, or "biopesticides" [Copping, 1998, id ibid.].
In order to fulfill this demand, it is a major object of the invention to provide new species of fungi that possess activity against plant mites and fungi, and that can be used against them. Another object of the invention is to provide anti-fungal and anti-miticidal preparations, or biopesticides.
So far, there has been no indication that any of the three new fungal species hereby described and claimed, have had any adverse effect on the plants with which they were in contact in any way, nor were they detrimental to any other organism (except the pests being assayed against). It is therefore a further object of the invention to provide miticidal and fungicidal compositions that would be devoid of adverse effects on the treated plants, or on the environment.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Species of fungi and their use in pest and disease control

Yissum Research Development Company of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem


An HGA includes a slider and a suspension for supporting the slider, wherein the suspension includes a flexure having a plurality of electrical traces formed thereon and a gimbal connection area supported and connected to the slider, a first surface of the gimbal connection area is provided with a first adhesive and a second adhesive respectively formed thereon and between the first surface and an opposite surface of an air bearing surface of the slider, an opposite surface of the first surface of the gimbal connection area is contacted with a dimple, and the dimple is located at a position between first adhesive and the second adhesive. The HGA can eliminate torsion and sway gain in frequency response function testing, and maintain AC stroke sensitivity and linearity of elements, thereby finally improving the performance of the disk drive unit.

Hard disk drives are common information storage devices. FIG. 1a provides an illustration of a typical disk drive unit 100 essentially consisting of a series of rotatable disks 101 mounted on a spindle motor 102, and a Head Stack Assembly (HSA) 130 which is rotatable about an actuator arm axis 105 for accessing data tracks on disks during seeking. The HSA 130 includes at least one drive arm 104 and HGA 150. Typically, a spindling voice-coil motor (VCM) is provided for controlling the motion of the drive arm 104.
Referring to FIG. 1B, the HGA 150 includes a slider 103 having a reading/writing transducer (not shown) imbedded therein, a suspension 190 to load or suspend the slider 103 thereon. When the disk drive is on, a spindle motor 102 will rotate the disk 101 at a high speed, and the slider 103 will fly above the disk 101 due to the air pressure drawn by the rotated disk 101. The slider 103 moves across the surface of the disk 101 in the radius direction under the control of the VCM. With a different track, the slider 103 can read data from or write data to the disk 101.
FIG. 1c shows a conventional suspension, the suspension 190 includes a load beam 106, a base plate 108, a hinge 107 and a flexure 105, all of which are assembled together.
The load beam 106 is connected to the base plate 108 by the hinge 107. A locating hole 112 is formed on the load beam 106 for aligning the load beam 106 with the flexure 105. And the load beam 106 is welded with the flexure for increasing the strength of the entire structure.
The base plate 108 is used to enhance structure stiffness of the whole HGA 150. A mounting hole 113 is formed on one end of the base plate 108 for mounting the whole HGA 150 to the motor arm 104 (referring to FIG. 1a). Another hole 110 is formed on the other end of the base plate 108, which is aligned with a hole 110′ formed on the hinge 107 and a hole 110″ formed on the flexure 105. The hinge 107 has a mounting hole 113′ formed on its one end corresponding to the mounting hole 113 of the base plate 108, and the hinge 107 is partially mounted to the base plate 108 with the mounting holes 113′, 113 aligned with each other. The hinge 107 and the base plate 108 may be mounted together by laser welding at pinpoints 109 distributed on the hinge 107. Two hinge steps 115 are integrally formed at two sides of the hinge 107 at one end adjacent the mounting hole 113′ for connecting with the flexure 105.
The flexure 105 runs from the hinge 107 to the load beam 106. The flexure 105 has a proximal end 119 adjacent the hinge 107 and a distal end 118 adjacent the load beam 106. A locating hole 112′ is formed on the distal end 118 of the flexure 105 and aligned with the locating hole 112 of the load beam 106, thus obtaining a high assembly precision. A gimbal tongue 116 is provided at the distal end of the flexure 105 to carry the slider 103 thereon.
As illustrated in FIG. 1d, the flexure 105 has a leading portion 121 adjacent the gimbal tongue 116, and a tailing portion 122 opposite to the leading portion 121. A plurality of electrical traces 120 is formed on the flexure 105 along length direction thereof. More specifically, the electrical traces 120 begin with the leading portion 121 and terminate at the tailing portion 122. The gimbal tongue 116 has a plurality of bonding pads 117 formed thereon for coupling the slider 103. One end of the electrical traces 120 connects to the bonding pads 117, and the other end thereof is electrically connected to a preamplifier (not shown). When the slider 103 is mounted on the gimbal tongue 116, the trailing edge 103a of the slider 103 is welded and electrically coupled with one end of the traces 120, while the leading edge 103b of the slider 103 is rest on the gimbal tongue like a free end. Two PZT actuators 131 are configured at both sides of the slider 103 and electrically connected to the traces 120 for actuating the slider 103. The PZT actuators 131 are made of piezoelectric elements that can be expanded or contracted under an applied voltage for carrying out a tiny position control for the slider.
However, such a slider and HGA still have weakened performance during frequency response function testing, the gimbal region of the HGA show significant torsion and gain in certain frequency (as shown in FIG. 8) which is out of design control specification, might cause the wrong tracking of slider on the disk, and even might cause collision between slider and disk during working status.
Thus, there is a need for an improved HGA that does not suffer from the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Head gimbal assembly, manufacturing method thereof, and disk drive unit


An image forming apparatus includes a light emitting unit having a plurality of light emitting elements each having a different spectral characteristic, a light source having a plurality of light emitting means disposed on a substrate, and a photoelectric conversion unit for converting light from an object applied with light from the light source into an image signal, wherein the light emitting unit has at least two light emitting elements having a peak wavelength difference less than 30 nm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image and outputting an image signal, and a light source unit used with the image forming apparatus.
2. Related Background Art
As one of conventional image forming apparatus, a light source switching type color image sensor is known which reads a color image by applying light beams having three different spectral characteristics to the same color image and outputting image signals. FIGS. 1 to 4 show an example of such an image forming apparatus. This image forming apparatus is constituted by LEDs of red, green, and blue (hereinafter abbreviated as R, G, and B) colors, a short focal point focussing element array, and a sensor array with a plurality of line sensors being disposed in line.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the image forming apparatus. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the fundamental structure of the image forming apparatus, a light beam 212 outputted from an LED array 211 on an LED substrate 210 mounted on a frame 200 is applied to an original which is in contact with a transparent glass plate 201 mounted on the upper area of the frame 200, and a light beam 213 reflected from the original is applied via an optical system 209 to a sensor array 1 on a sensor substrate 19.
As shown in FIG. 3, the LED array 211 has a plurality set of LED chips 211R, 211G, and 211B alternately disposed in line on the LED substrate 210. The LED chips 211R, 211G, and 211B emit RGB light beams, and light of each color of RGB can be independently turned on and off. The optical system uses a short focal point focussing element array, for example, a product name "Selfoc Lens Array" manufactured by Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor array 1 has a plurality of line sensors 2-1, 2-2, . . . , 2-15 disposed in line on the sensor substrate 19, the line sensors being covered with a protection film 206. A tight contact type multi-chip image sensor fundamentally reads an image by applying a light beam reflected from an original to a sensor array and focussing an image of the same size as an original. Therefore, the length of the sensor array 1 is required to be equal to or longer than the width of an original.
The length of the sensor array 1 changes with the size of an original to be read, and the number of line sensors of the sensor array 1 changes. For example, for reading of an A3 size original, the sensor array has fifteen line sensors assuming that the length of each line sensor is 20 mm.
The sensor substrate 19 is coupled via a flexible substrate 208 to another substrate 203 on which a connector 202 for input/output of a power source and control signals is mounted. The substrate 203 is fixedly mounted on the frame 200 by means of screws 207.
Next, the read operation of the image forming apparatus will be described. First, data for correcting shading error is read, the shading error being generated by a variation of line sensor sensitivities and a variation of emission of a light source. In reading shading correction data, LED chips 211R, 211G, and 211B are sequentially turned on to read a white reference plate built in the image forming apparatus, and the output signals of the image sensor are temporarily stored in memories provided for respective colors.
By reading the sensor output signals r1 for LED 211R, g1 for LED 211G, and b1 for LED 211G obtained by independent emission of RGB light sources and stored in the memories, the gain of each color is adjusted to satisfy the condition of r=g=b where r, g and b are sensor output signals for RGB colors obtained when the white reference plate is again read.
In reading an original with a light source switching color image sensor, it is necessary to independently apply RGB light beams to the original in order to obtain three RGB signals. To this end, a frame sequential method and a line sequential method are used. With the frame sequential method, LEDs of one color among RGB colors are turned on to sub-scan the whole frame of the original, this operation being repeated for the other two colors. With the line sequential method, LEDs of three colors are sequentially turned on for each line of an original to sub-scan the whole frame. Both the methods can obtain RGB signals of the whole area of an original to reproduce a color image.
The ideal spectral characteristics of RGB light sources for a light source switching color image sensor will next be described. A G light source is used by way of example. As shown in FIG. 5, it is assumed that an original image is read by using three G light sources each having a different spectral characteristic. A light source G6 does not contain light in the wavelength ranges from near 480 to near 500 nm and from near 570 to near 590 nm, as compared to the light source G7.
Therefore, if colors a and b shown in FIG. 6 having different spectral characteristics only in the wavelength range near 500 nm are read by using the light source G6, a difference of the spectral characteristics between the colors a and b cannot be discriminated and generally a same G signal is obtained for the colors a and b.
If the B light source having a shorter wavelength than the G light source does not contain light in the same wavelength range as the light source G6, then the colors a and b cannot be discriminated. In order to improve color discrimination between various colors contained in a color original, the spectral characteristics of the RGB light sources are required to cover the whole visible light range.
Next, a difference of color reproduction between the light sources G7 and G8 will be described. Light of the light sources G7 and G8 covers the same wavelength range, and only the energy distribution in the wavelength range is different. Color spaces of a light source switching color image sensor using the light sources G7 and G8 are shown in FIG. 7.
The diagram shown in FIG. 7 is called a CIE-xy chromaticity diagram. In FIG. 7, all colors are contained in an area surrounded by a solid curve line representative of a spectrum locus or reddish-purple line. Triangles in this area represent color spaces of the color image sensor. An output G.sub.OUT of an image sensor when an original is applied with light from the light source G7 or G8 is given by the following equation. EQU G.sub.OUT =.intg.G7(.lambda.)(or G8(.lambda.))S(.lambda.)d.lambda.
where G7(.lambda.) represents a spectral emission characteristic of LED G7, G8(.lambda.) represents a spectral emission characteristic of LED G8, and S(.lambda.) represents a spectral sensitivity characteristic of a line sensor.
Color reproduction is made not by measuring the detailed spectral reflection characteristic of an original, but by using RGB signals. As seen from FIG. 7, the color image sensor using the light source G7 has a broader color space than the light source G8. The spectral characteristic of the light source G7 for a light source switching color image sensor is more desirable than the light source G8.
The ideal spectral characteristics of RGB light sources for a light source switching color image sensor are therefore required to have as broad color spaces as possible and cover the whole wavelength range. An LED light source has many advantages such as compact size, high response speed, and good reliability, over other tubular type light sources. Therefore, it is suitable for use with a light source switching color image sensor.
Color reproduction using RGB signals of an LED light source switching color image sensor is, however, associated with some problems. FIG. 8 shows an example of a color space of a conventional LED light source switching color image sensor. As seen from FIG. 8, the color space of the image sensor is rather narrow as compared to various colors in a natural world. This results from that the spectral characteristic of an LED of G color is positioned too near the long wavelength side and that there is a wavelength range having too small light emission. There are LEDs for three colors having the spectral characteristics which can solve the above problems and realize ideal color reproduction. However, such LEDs are very expensive and the manufacturing cost of an image forming apparatus becomes too high. In contrast, general LEDs used for display devices or other devices are mass-produced and relatively cheap. If such display LEDs are used as light sources of an image sensor, the cost can be reduced considerably.
However, the display LED has a sharp spectral characteristic with a small full width at half-maximum. It is necessary for a light source of a light source switching color image sensor to cover the whole visible light range by using LEDs of three RGB colors. Therefore, if display LEDs are used as the light sources for an image sensor, they are associated with the above problems such as a wavelength range with an extremely small emission amount and poor color reproduction, because the display LEDs have too narrow full width at half-maximum.
In a conventional image forming apparatus, LED chips of three RGB colors are disposed at an equal pitch. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, an incident angle of light from an LED for each color is different for each color at an arbitrary point on an original. As a result, the optical information of an original supplied to a sensor pixel train, i.e., the intensity of vertical components of a reflected light beam, is different at each point on the original. From these reasons, even if an original having a uniform density is read, the color component ratio is different at each point of the original to thereby result in color shade. As shown in FIG. 10, the size of shadow at the corner of a convex portion of an uneven original such as an original with a pasted sheet changes with the color component, coloring the shadow at the corner.

Image forming apparatus and light source unit


A novel use for 1.alpha.-hydroxylated-19-nor-vitamin D compounds to treat psoriasis inasmuch as these compounds when administered to humans are converted to a metabolite, such as a 1.alpha.,25-dihydroxylated compound, which metabolite in vitro will cause differentiation in a human cell line.

The present invention relates to vitamin D compounds, and more particularly to the use of 1.alpha.-hydroxylated-19-nor-vitamin D compounds to treat psoriasis.
The D vitamins are very important agents for the control of calcium and phosphate metabolism in animals and humans, and have long been used as dietary supplements and in clinical practice to assure proper bone growth and development. It is now known that the in vivo activity of these vitamins, specifically of vitamin D.sub.2 and D.sub.3, is dependent on metabolism to hydroxylated forms. Thus, vitamin D.sub.3 undergoes two successive hydroxylation reactions in vivo, leading first to 25-hydroxyvitamin D.sub.3 and then to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D.sub.3 and the latter is indeed thought to be the compound responsible for the well-known beneficial effects of vitamin D.sub.3. Likewise, vitamin D.sub.2, which is commonly used as a dietary supplement, undergoes an analogous hydroxylation sequence to its active forms, being first converted to 25-hydroxyvitamin D.sub.2 (25--OH--D.sub.2) and then to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D.sub.2 (1,25--(OH).sub.2 D.sub.2). These facts are well established and well known in the art (see, for example, Suda et al. Biochemistry 8, 3515 (1969) and Jones et al. Biochemistry 14, 1250 (1975)).
Hollick, U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,643 discloses a method of treating psoriasis with vitamin D compounds which in vitro cause cell differentiation. However 1.alpha.-hydroxylated vitamin D compounds, i.e. those compounds having only a hydroxyl group at the carbon 1 position and initially lacking a hydroxyl group at the carbon 24 or 25 positions, are relatively inactive in causing cell differentiation in vitro. Additionally, it is also well known that 1.alpha.-hydroxylated compounds are rapidly converted in vivo to 1.alpha.,25-dihydroxy compounds, e.g. 1.alpha.-hydroxyvitamin D.sub.3 to 1.alpha.,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D.sub.3, or if the 25 carbon position is blocked to 1.alpha.,24-dihydroxy compounds. Hollick et al, Science, Vol. 190, pages 576-578 (1975) and Hollick et al, J. of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol. 44, pages 595-598 (1977). For example, in PCT patent application number PCT/DK89/00079 filed Apr. 7, 1989 and published Nov. 2, 1989 under number WO89/10351 there is disclosed numerous side chain homologated vitamin D compounds lacking the hydroxyl group at the carbon 25 position in the side chain. It is disclosed therein that such compounds are converted in vivo to active compounds having a hydroxyl group at the carbon 25 position by enzymatic hydroxylation, and may thus be used for the treatment of psoriasis. Thus, the human body can rapidly convert relatively inactive 1.alpha.-hydroxylated vitamin D compounds to metabolites highly active in causing cell differentiation. There has, however, been a failure in the art to recognize the ability of 1.alpha.-hydroxylated-19-nor-vitamin D compounds to treat malignancies such as psoriasis.

Use of 1.alpha.-hydroxylated-19-nor-vitamin D compounds to treat psoriasis


An apparatus for detecting a vehicle path along which a vehicle is traveling. An image of a road presented in front of the vehicle is inputted at intervals of time. The inputted image is processed to detect edge points forming edges in the inputted image and edge gradients at the respective edge points. At least one straight line is assumed. Edge points at which the edge gradients are in a predetermined range determined by the gradient of the assumed straight line are extracted. The extracted edge points are used to calculate an approximate straight line. The approximate straight line has a greatest number of extracted edge points at which the edge gradients are substantially the same. The assumed straight line and the approximate straight line are averaged to provide a new straight line representing one of road sides and/or lane markers.

This invention relates to an apparatus detecting a vehicle path along which a vehicle, such as a riderless vehicle, is traveling.
For example, Japanese Patent Kokai No. 63-142478 discloses a conventional vehicle path detecting apparatus employing a television camera for inputting an image of a road scene presented in front of a vehicle. The inputted image is processed to extract candidate points for pixels forming white straight lines. A Hough conversion is applied for the extracted candidates to detect straight lines representing the respective white straight lines. In order to increase the accuracy with which the white straight lines are detected, the edge points directed in the vertical direction are removed from the candidate points.
With such a conventional apparatus, however, it takes much time to detect the vehicle path since the Hough conversion is made for all of the candidate points. Furthermore, it is impossible to detect the road sides which are not defined by white lines and also to measure the degree of curvature of the road.

Apparatus for detecting the travel path of a vehicle using image analysis


A filter device for filtering particles from an air flow has an inlet channel through which the air to be cleaned flows, at least one filter element through which the air can flow and which is held replaceably in a flow channel, and an outlet channel through which the cleaned air flows. The filter device has an insertion chamber which can be closed by a door and from which a filter element can be fed to the flow channel, and an output chamber which can be closed by a closure element and into which a filter element can be fed from the flow channel. A cover is attachable to the filter element, which covers a filter cake on the filter element so that the unit of filter element and cover is removable from the output chamber together.

The present invention relates to a filter device for filtering particles from an air flow, comprising an inlet channel through which the air to be cleaned flows, at least one filter element through which the air can flow and which is replaceably held in a flow channel, and an outlet channel through which the cleaned air flows. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for changing a filter element on a filter device.
For cleaning an air flow, drum filters are known in which a surface of the drum filter is cleaned via a suction nozzle, as is known from DE 28 02 369 A1. However, such cleaning during the production process in continuous operation is poorly suited for finer particles.
DE 91 01 692 U1 discloses a filter device in an air channel system that can be changed. For the purpose of changing, the filter device with the filter element is completely removed from the filter device and fed into a cleaning process. The disadvantage of such a filter device, however, is that the production process must be interrupted in order to change the filter elements.

Filter device and method for changing a filter element


Disclosed are a cold water tank and a water treatment apparatus. The cold water tank includes a tank body, a water inlet pipe provided at the tank body to convey water into the tank body, a water outlet pipe provided at the tank body to convey the water out of the tank body, and including an air vent hole, and a floating member movably provided at the water outlet pipe to block the air vent hole when the water filling the tank body reaches a height of the air vent hole. The water in the upper portion of the tank body is prevented from passing through the air vent hole and draining through the water outlet pipe, thereby preventing the cooler water in the lower portion from mixing with the hotter water in the upper portion. Only the cooler water in the lower portion can be supplied to a user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cold water tank and a water treatment apparatus having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cold water tanks refer to devices, which are connected to or include cooling units to cool the water introduced therein, and drain the cooled water out of the tanks.
Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a cold water tank may include a tank body 20 receiving and storing water, a water inlet pipe 30 provided at the tank body 20 to convey water into the tank body 20, and a water outlet pipe 40 provided at the tank body 20 to convey the water out of the tank body 20, and having an air vent hole 41 formed in its upper portion.
The water inlet pipe 30, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, has its one end placed in the upper portion of the tank body 20, thereby facilitating water inflow into the tank body 20. The water outlet pipe 40 has its one end placed in the lower portion of the tank body 20, and this allows users to be provided with the water existing in the lower portion of the tank body 20 at a relatively low temperature. As depicted in the drawings, a refrigerant pipe 60 as a cooling unit is wound around the circumference of the tank body 20 to cool the water in the tank body 20. That is, the water, having flowed in the tank body 20 through the water inlet pipe 30, is cooled by heat exchange with a refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant pipe 60. The water cooled in the above manner is discharged out of the tank body 20 through the water outlet pipe 40.
While water is flowing into the tank body 20 through the water inlet pipe 30, as shown in FIG. 1A, the air within the tank body 20 passes through the air vent hole 41 in the upper portion of the water outlet pipe 40 and exits out of the tank body 20 through the water outlet pipe 40. As shown in FIG. 1B, if the tank body 20 is completely filled with water, all of the air in the tank body 20 exits through the water outlet pipe 40 via the air vent hole 41. If, in this state, the water in the lower portion of the tank body 20 is discharged through the water outlet pipe 40 to supply cooled water to a user, then the water in the upper portion of the tank body 20 undesirably passes through the air vent hole 41 and drains through the water outlet pipe 40.
As described above, the water existing in the upper portion of the tank body 20 may be different in temperature from the water existing in the lower portion of the tank body 20. That is, the water in the upper portion of the tank body 20 has a higher temperature than the water in the lower portion of the tank body 20.
Accordingly, as described with reference to FIG. 1B, in the event that the water in the upper portion of the tank body 20 passes through the air vent hole 41 and drains through the water outlet pipe 40, the water in the upper portion and the water in the lower portion, having different temperatures, may mix undesirably in the water outlet pipe 40. That is, the water existing in the upper portion of the tank body 20 at a relatively high temperature may be supplied, mixed with the water existing in the lower portion of the tank body 20 at a relatively low temperature. This may result in the supply of water having a higher temperature than desired.
The above limitations may also be caused in water treatment apparatuses including the cold water tank 10, such as water purifiers or water ionizers.

Cold water tank and water treatment apparatus having the same