The invention relates to the mammography devices based on registration of a reduced-angle coherently scattered radiation when an object is rayed by a penetrating radiation. Registration of the radiation coherently scattered by an object allows to produce an image of an object in the form of distribution of its structural characteristics. The device comprises a system for forming a directed on a tested object, narrow small-divergence beams, or a beam, having the same characteristics, and a system for extracting the radiation that is coherently scattered in small angles by an object. The invention proposes versions of a device that also provide for registration of the radiation passed through an object to make allowance for its thickness so that to obviate the necessity to compress the breast. The device allows to carry out relative movements of an object and system of irradiation-registration, as well as irradiate an object at different angles and by a number of radiation sources simultaneously. The possibility to register the coherently scattered radiation in ultra-small angles within the range of several angular seconds to 0.5 degree, and also the possibility to form the primary radiation beam having a sharp boundary are provided as well.

The proposed invention relates to devices for producing an object image using reduced-angle scattering of a penetrating radiation, namelyxe2x80x94to mammography devices that determine changes in the tissue structure. The invention can be suitably used in medical application for diagnosing the cancer cases of mammary glands at an early stage of a disease.
The known mammography devices are generally based on the principle that different substances, being subjected to raying, exhibit different properties of absorbing the X-ray radiation. The intensity of a radiation passed through an object and forming its projection image is determined by absorption property (absorption coefficient) of the substances constituting the object and by their thickness in the raying direction. To provide a quality image, it is necessary that a whole object would have the same thickness in the raying direction. The known devices provide said feature by compressing mammary gland to desired (or allowable) size (U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,515, Sep. 10, 1996). However, such compression results in that a patient feels a pain and discomfort.
Another method of compensating a variable thickness of an object consists in placing mammary gland in a cylindrical vessel filled with an immersion liquid that has the same X-ray absorption coefficient as the gland. Such approach is used, for example, in mammary gland tomography (U.S. Pat. No. 3,973,126, Mar. 08, 1976). For producing one projection of mammary gland, a similar result can be attained by introducing plate-shaped attenuating filters (made of aluminium or other material) into the raying zone, in particular in cases of studying the subsurface subcutaneous areas of mammary gland (U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,174, Jun. 11, 1990). There is no need of any compression in the use of this approach for producing an image.
Another technique to obviate the need to compress mammary gland is provided when an image is produced by scanning of an object with a narrow X-ray beam. In the device of such approach (U.S. Pat No. 4,969,174, Jun. 11, 1990), an image is produced on a photographic film, under which film rows of X-ray detectors are arranged. The detectors determine the time required for exposing the photographic film for each of the raying beam position. A signal from the detector is supplied to a scanning system control unit, and allowance for various breast thickness was made for by different rates of the beam movement. In this system, scanning is performed along the breast axis.
In the devices based on principles of the conventional absorption X-raying, i.e. on registration of intensity distribution of the radiation passed through a rayed object, the scattered radiation is a parasitic phenomenon that creates a background and affects the image contrast. To overcome the scattered radiation, said radiation is registered separately using a collimating grid and a filter, and the registered signal is deducted as the background from the total signal produced when an object is rayed (U.S. Pat. No. 4,651,002). The scattering pattern is measured integrally, and a filter is implemented as a movable member, the scattered radiation being measured at large angles.
An essential index of performance of an X-ray mammography device is the irradiation dose absorbed by a patient during checking. A partial decrease of the irradiation dose is provided by a decreased thickness of the checked object (breast compression).
Another technique to reduce the irradiation dose is selection of the X-ray radiation parameters. For example, application of replaceable filters allows to select the radiation hardness for each patient (U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,174, Jun. 11, 1990).
When a patient""s breast is scanned by an X-ray beam, the irradiation dose is decreased by monitoring of the passed radiation by detectors. Then the breast raying (scanning) is selected to be optimal so that to minimize the patient irradiation dose and produce a clear image.
In all above-discussed devices, a patient usually is positioned in the standing or inclined position, and mammary gland is fixed normally to the patient""s body.
All above-discussed devices are based on the principle of producing images as the difference in absorption of the rays passing through a patient""s mammary gland via different paths. As coefficients of absorption by the breast soft tissues have only a slight difference, so it is difficult to determine minor changes in tissues in early stages of a disease.
The mentioned drawbacks are avoided by using a method of registering the radiation coherently scattered by an object for producing an image. U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,722, G 01 N 23/22, 1988, describes a device, wherein the radiation passed through an object and the angular distribution of the coherently scattered radiation lying at angles of 1xc2x0 to 12xc2x0 in relation to the incident beam direction are registered simultaneously. As said patent discloses, the main portion of the elastically-scattered radiation is concentrated in the angles less than 12xc2x0, and the scattered radiation has a characteristic angular relationship having pronounced maxima, the location of which maxima is determined both by the irradiated substance itself and the incident radiation energy. As distribution of intensity of the coherently scattered radiation within small angles depends on the molecular structure of a substance, then different substances having the same absorptive capacity may differ regarding the distribution of intensity of the coherent radiation angular scattering being intrinsic to each substance. In case an object is heterogeneous, i.e. consists of different substances, then intensity of a radiation scattered at each particular angle is constituted by intensities of the rays scattered by different substances on the path of propagation of a penetrating radiation beam. This patent proposes to use a narrow collimated beam of a monochromatic or polychromatic radiation for irradiating an object. A detecting system has the resolution property both for energy and coordinate (scattering angle). Said device comprises an X-ray source having a diaphragm that forms a primary radiation beam such that said beam has a small cross-section in the plane normal to the beam propagation direction. Having passed through a tested object, the beam is registered by a row of detectors, one of which is positioned such that it registers the primary beam passed through an object (or the tested object area), the other detectors being positioned in the plane normal to the ray plane, or on a straight line in said plane, and oriented such that they register only the coherently scattered radiation. Further, each detector of said detector row registers the radiation that is scattered at a certain angle.
The above-described device has a relatively low sensitivity to the radiation scattered in immediate vicinity of the primary beam, because the primary beam radiation intensity considerably exceeds that of the scattered radiation and hinders the registration thereof. Further, the radiation intensity sharply falls when the scattering angle grows, thus the coherently scattered radiation intensity within the range of 1-12 degrees is low, hence the sufficiently high irradiation doses and a long exposure are required for testing an object.
The object of the invention is to provide devices that are more sensitive to registration of the coherent scattered radiation in ultra-small angles (tens of seconds to one degree), which will allow to reduce the radiation dose in testing of an object. Attainment of said object will allow to avoid compression of breast, i.e. avoid patient""s pain and discomfort.
The main part of coherently scattered radiation is concentrated in the central diffraction peak that is situated in the scattering angles of 0 to 1 degree relative to the primary beam incidence direction. In this angular range concentrated is the radiation coherently scattered by heterogeneities of the object electronic structure, which heterogeneities have characteristic dimensions of several hundreds to tens thousands Angstrom, which corresponds to structure of many biological objects. This is the reason to measure distribution of coherently scattered radiation just within this angular interval. The measurement angular range depends on wavelength of the used radiation and structural properties of a material, and can be within the range of several angular seconds to 1 degree relative to the incident beam. The invention proposes to use the dark-field measurement technique, where in the absence of a tested object a detector registers only the background signal, and when said object is present it registers only the scattered radiation.
For producing an image representing distribution of the tissue structural characteristics in an object, the invention proposes different embodiments of mammography devices that provide registration of the radiation angular distribution in said angular interval, or that of the radiation integral intensity within the angular interval of one angular second to 0.5 degree; as well as simultaneous registration of the radiation passed through a tested object. In reference to the nature of the scattered radiation angular distribution curve and a value of the integral signal of the coherently scattered radiation in said angular interval, the structure of a tested object can be ascertained.
The first embodiment of the device that achieves the above-stated object, is a device intended for reduced-angle mammography, comprising a source of a penetrating radiation, collimator that forms a radiant flux incident upon an object in the form of narrow small-divergence fan-shaped beams (or a beam), a spatial filter disposed downstream of the object and a position-sensitive detector. The spatial filter is positioned to overlap the radiation primary beam and provide passing of the coherent radiation scattered in ultra-small angles near the primary beam boundaries, to a detector. The proposed system that consists of a source, collimator, spatial filter, detector, is fitted to a frame capable of moving relative to a tested object in the plane normal to the beam plane. The frame is adapted to rotate with respect to the object axis to ray the same from different directions. In some cases, the possibility to move a patient relative to a fixed frame is provided for.
In the second embodiment of the device: a frame having a source, collimator, spatial filter and detector is capable of swinging about an object in the plane normal to the beam plane for the purpose to scan the object.
The third embodiment of the device is also proposed, wherein it comprises at least another radiation source having a collimator, spatial filter, position-sensitive detector which are identical to the first ones. In this embodiment, each system, consisting of a source, collimator, spatial filter, detector, is capable of moving one after another, opposite to one another and in two mutually perpendicular directions in the plane normal to the beam plane.
In any of the proposed embodiments, a collimator can be implemented in the form of one slit or in the form of a regular periodic structure being the radiation-transparent areas in the form of slits, and the opaque areas interleaved therewith. Use of a multi-slit collimator that forms a number of small-divergence beams allows a more efficient use of the source radiation. The rays formed by the collimator overlap a separate strip in the object projection. The spatial filter in this case is a collimator-like regular periodic structure, wherein the areas corresponding to the collimator transparent areas are made of a material opaque to a penetrating radiation such that the filter opaque areas overlap the collimator transparent areas. Further, size of slits, and structural period of the collimator, and size of transparent areas of the spatial filter must provide registration of only the radiation coherently scattered at small angles by the position-sensitive detector. The collimator must form the beams having a width and divergence providing the possibility to register the radiation scattered within a small-angle range, i.e. so that any ray scattered by an object at a small angle will transgress the primary beam boundaries in the registration zone. Further, the structural period of the collimator must by such that adjacent beams will not overlap one another in the detector plane. To register the source""s primary radiation that passed through an object, additional elements of the position-sensitive detector are positioned on the filter opaque areas.
In any of the proposed embodiments, a translucent spatial filter that overlaps the radiation primary beam passed through an object and reduces its intensity at least to the level of the scattered radiation intensity preferably less than a number of times, can be used also. This will allow to improve sensitivity to the radiation scattered in immediate vicinity of the primary beam and, consequently, further reduce the patient irradiation dose.
For the purpose of a more substantial decrease of the patient irradiation dose and to make the exposure period briefer, the possibility to register the scattered radiation integral flux in a particular angular range is also provided; the highest contrast of an image (contrast is obtained by a difference in the integral intensity of the radiation scattered by each of the irradiated substances) is to be achieved in registration of the coherently scattered radiation within the angular interval of several seconds to 0.5 degree. Changes in the signal level relative to the whole flux of the coherently scattered radiation will be determined by the scattering function of a given object. In this case it is preferable to use one-coodinate position-sensitive detectors implemented as linear gas meters, and register the scattered radiation in the quantum counting mode.
An improvement of sensitivity to the radiation scattered in immediate vicinity of the primary beam can be attained by forming a beam having a sharp boundary and by an high precision of positioning of the spatial filter with respect to the collimator. For achieving this result, in the device, the collimator and spatial filter are implemented as a single unit whose entry portion facing the radiation source is a Kratky collimator having input and output diaphragms. The upper edge of the input diaphragm is situated in the plane that is common with the nether edge of the output diaphragm and the upper edge of the spatial filter; a free space is provided between the collimator and spatial filter, which space is intended for movement of an object.
An X-ray source having radiation hardness and intensity that provide a minimal patient irradiation dose, while producing a quality image, is selected as the source. Size of the radiation source focal spot depends on the  less than  less than collimator-spatial filter greater than  greater than  system used in a particular device. The  less than  less than collimator-spatial filter greater than  greater than  elements are interrelated and determine all operation parameters of the proposed device.
An example of design of a device based on the described principle and its basic parameters is given below.
The device includes: an X-ray source, collimator (or a unit of collimators), patient table equipped with a system of relative movement of the device and patient, spatial filter and position-sensitive detector; and also a system of registration, analysis and imaging of data, and a system of adjusting the device and monitoring its parameters. The devices allows to produce an image of a tested object in the rays scattered at small angles, spatial resolution of details of an object being about 100 xcexcm. The intended contrast in such arrangement must 1.5-4 times exceed that obtained in conventional mammography images produced by different absorptivity of X-ray radiation by an object. Total analysis time does not exceed 1 min. The dose absorbed by a patient during the whole testing time will not be over 4 mGy. Below are given parameters of the device elements that permit to achieve these results.
X-ray Source
Used is a standard source of pulse X-ray radiation, having a rotating molybdenum anode. Voltage across the X-ray tube is selected within the range of 20-40 kV, the pitch being 0.5 kV, depending of the tested object parameters. Value of current in such arrangement is 16 to 120 mA. Size of the source focal spot is 0.3xc3x970.3 mm. The distance from the source focal spot to the collimator input is 100 mm.
Collimator
The used collimator is implemented as a Kratky collimator. Height of the collimator input slit is 80 xcexcm, length being 85 mm. Total length of the collimator is 100 mm. The collimator forms a narrow fan-shaped X-ray beam having at least one sharp boundary. Size of the X-ray beam in the object plane is 0.1xc3x97180 mm.
Spatial Filter
The spatial filter must be implemented of a material that well absorbs and weakly scatters the X-ray radiation. The distance from a tested object to the spatial filter is 500 mm. The plate of which the spatial filter is implemented must have extremely even working edges across the entire width of the X-ray beam.
Space-Sensitive Detector
The space-sensitive detector is a two-dimension array of the elements sensitive to X-ray radiation, for example a CCD-array. The detector is to be positioned immediately downstream of the spatial filter. Dimensions of the space-sensitive detector: 5xc3x97420 mm, size of pixels being 100 xcexcm. Such arrangement will provide registration of distribution of intensity of the scattered radiation with angular resolution of 40 angular seconds.

Reduced-angle mammography device and variants


An image processing system and an image processing method. The image processing system includes: an image analysis engine configured to analyze an input image and generate metadata about the input image; an indexing engine configured to structuralize and organize the metadata and generate index data based on the metadata; a search engine configured to extract index data matching a search condition and image data corresponding to the index data matching the search condition, from the input image; and a browsing engine configured to generate a heatmap based on the extracted index data and image data and display the heatmap and an image matching the search condition on a screen.

1. Field
Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to an image processing system and method.
2. Description of the Related Art
A heatmap is used in various image monitoring systems by using an effective browsing method. The heatmap is a graphical representation of data by which various pieces of information are presented in various colors on an image as visual graphics in a heat distribution form. The heatmap may present interests of customers or complexity in different color levels on a camera image or a map. The heatmap presents a high motion region in a red color and presents a low motion region in a blue color in consideration of visibility.
The heatmap involves a method of displaying a search result with respect to a motion amount, which prioritizes user convenience. However, this method still does not provide a sufficient visibility.


A method of manufacturing a phase change memory device includes forming at least one active device on a substrate, forming a bottom electrode electrically connected to the at least one active device, forming a phase change material layer and a top electrode on the bottom electrode, forming a capping layer on an upper surface of the top electrode and on side surfaces of the top electrode and phase change material layer, removing a portion of the capping layer overlapping the upper surface of the top electrode to define capping layer sidewall portions, forming an interlayer insulation film on the capping layer sidewall portions and on the top electrode, removing a portion of the interlayer insulation film from the top electrode to form a contact hole through the interlayer insulation film, and forming a contact plug in the contact hole.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments relate to a semiconductor memory device and to a method of manufacturing the same. zMore particularly, embodiments relate to a phase change memory device and to a method of manufacturing the same by removing an upper portion of a capping layer on a phase change material layer before forming a contact hole through an insulation film on the phase change material layer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A semiconductor memory device may store data and may include volatile semiconductor memory devices, e.g., a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), and so forth, and nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices, e.g., a flash memory of NAND or NOR type based on an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM).
The volatile semiconductor memory device may have fast input/output data operation, but the stored data may be lost by an interruption of power supply. Thus, the volatile semiconductor memory device may require a periodic refresh operation and a high charge storage capacity. For example, the DRAM may have a capacitor having a bottom electrode with an increased surface area to increase its capacitance. An electrode with an increased surface area, however, may reduce an integration degree of the DRAM.
The nonvolatile semiconductor memory device may maintain stored data even when power supply is interrupted, but data programming/erasing may require high operating voltage, as compared with power source voltage, for tunneling charges through a gate insulation layer. Thus, e.g., the flash memory device may require a boosting circuit for generating voltage necessary for the programming/erase operation. Use of a boosting circuit, however, may increase a design rule of the flash memory device.
Attempts have been made to make a semiconductor memory device capable of incorporating advantages of the volatile and nonvolatile memory devices, e.g., a semiconductor memory device having a high operational speed and a large capacity of memory storage. For example, a semiconductor memory device having a reduced power consumption and dominant data maintenance, e.g., Ferroelectric Random Access Memory (FRAM), Magnetic Random Access Memory (MRAM), Phase-change Random Access Memory (PRAM), nanofloating gate memory (NFGM), and so forth.
A PRAM may achieve a high integration with a low cost through a simplified structure and a high speed. Data storage in a PRAM may be obtained by using a resistance difference based on phase change of material from a crystalline state to an amorphous state, i.e., the phase change material may have a high specific resistance when at an amorphous state and a low specific resistance when at a crystalline state. Thus, logic information stored in a unit cell of the PRAM may be identified by sensing a difference of current amount flowing through the phase change material. The phase change may be controlled by adjusting an amount of heat applied to a phase change material, e.g., an amount of current and/or a length of time.
The conventional PRAM, however, may include a phase change material having a portion exposed to a contact hole formed subsequently. Such an exposure may cause defects to a contact plug formed in the contact hole due to fumes of the phase change material, thereby reducing reliability and production yield of the PRAM.

Phase change memory device and method of manufacturing the same


After a DC erasing is performed in a direction by permanent magnets on a servo signal recording part, servo signals are recorded in the signal recording area of the servo signal recording part by a magnetic field in the direction opposite to that of the DC erasing. Thus, in a recording method for a magnetic recording medium having a data signal recording part and the servo signal recording part on a magnetic layer, accurate servo signals can be recorded and reproduced even on the medium having the magnetic layer of 0.13 μm or smaller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording method for a magnetic recording medium, a recording device for a magnetic recording medium and a magnetic recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a demand for a high-density recording has been increased. A property suitable for the high-density recording is also requested for a magnetic recording medium as a recording medium of information. Accordingly, various kinds of improvements are performed on the magnetic recording medium.
For instance, in a linear magnetic tape used for the recording medium of a computer or the like, recording tracks for recording the information in the longitudinal direction of the tape are provided. Distances between the recording tracks are narrowed to improve a track recording density and achieve the high-density recording.
However, when a magnetic head records and reproduces the information, the magnetic head jumps over an adjacent data recording track to move in the direction of width of the tape and access a prescribed recording track. Accordingly, when the distances between the recording tracks are too small, interference is generated between the recording tracks. Thus, the information cannot be precisely recorded and reproduced.
Thus, media having servo signals respectively between the recording tracks of the magnetic tape is developed. In the above-described media, servo signal parts are formed respectively between the recording tracks. Accordingly, the interference between the recording tracks upon recording and reproducing the information and the dislocation (off-track) of a reproducing head from the recording track can be prevented.
Thus, the track recording density can be more improved to achieve the high-density recording. Further, in the media in which these servo signals are recorded, the interference between the recording tracks upon recording and reproducing the information can be prevented, so that output characteristics or overwrite characteristics are improved.
The magnetic recording medium and a recording method for recording the servo signal are proposed in, for instance, Japanese Patent No. 3116531. Further, as DC (direct current) erasing means of the present invention, a magnetic head described in, for instance, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. hei 10-124820, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. hei 10-172109, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. hei 9-282608, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No hei 7-37225 can be used.
Further, a metallic thin film type magnetic recording medium and a method for producing a metallic thin film type magnetic recording medium are proposed in, for instance, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-296919, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-85742, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-45018, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-6851, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-346329, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-367135, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-245611.
In the magnetic tape having the high recording density, the servo signals are very important, so that all the servo signals need to have a high quality. Particularly, when the output of the servo signal is low, the position of the recording and reproducing head cannot be properly controlled. In an extreme case, a servo head undesirably misses the servo signal. Further, when time is not precisely recorded (jitter is large), the same problem may be possibly generated.
In a tape for storage having a higher recording density than that of a conventional tape, the thickness of a magnetic layer is apt to be reduced. In a conventional particulate type recording medium, when the thickness of a magnetic layer is about 0.15 μm to 0.20 μm, a sufficient output of a servo signal has been obtained.
In a conventional servo signal recording system, only servo signal parts are magnetized in the directions as shown arrow marks as illustrated in FIG. 9A and no signal parts are not magnetized. Accordingly, there is not a boundary area in which a magnetized direction is completely inverted, so that obtained signals are low in S/N ratio as shown in FIG. 9B.
Therefore, the media in which the thickness of the magnetic layer is smaller than 0.13 μm due to the high density recording can obtain only about half an output by the conventional servo signal recording system, which causes a great trouble for an accurate reproduction of the servo signals.
Further, what is called an evaporated tape in which a metallic thin film is directly formed on a base film also has an important problem to improve a servo output.

Method and device for recording data and erasing servo data


The invention relates to a prestressed solar collector module forming a support structure for solar collectors, of the type formed by a lattice bar structure including a central beam (1) essentially characterized in that:                the central beam or torque box (1) takes the form of a multi-face polyhedron or cylinder, that is divided into sections (3) each section (3) being formed by multiple bent or curved plates (4),        a surrounding triangular lattice structure (16) is provided to support the parabolic reflector (17) which structure is formed with L-shaped elements, all of the connections being formed with rivets,        and all of the structure is prestressed using a series of tension rods (13, 14, 15) which optimize the flexural behavior of the structure and which include end anchoring points and intermediate through-points allowing the necessary curvature to be obtained and the tension to be maintained.

In the plants for production of electricity from solar radiation, solar collectors of various types (cylinder parabolic collector, Stirling dish, central tower with heliostats, Fresnel collectors, etc.) can be used and all of them require support structures for the mirrors responsible for concentrating solar radiation.
Generally, said structures have in addition a device called a solar tracker that allows them to be oriented towards the sun, which leads them to obtaining high yields.
The invention claimed herein refers to the support structure of the solar collector module, not being an object of the invention the solar tracker that can be attached later.
There is a vast amount of state of the art relating to the support structures of solar collectors modules, such as the U.S. Pat. No. 6,414,237, U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,540, ES2326303, ES2161589, CA1088828, EP0082068, U1070880 and many others.
Many of the inventions of the state of the art describe lattice structures that support collectors of cylinder parabolic type. The cylinder parabolic collectors for collecting solar energy use cylinder parabolic-shaped mirrors. A pipe or collector tube that receives the concentrated rays of the sun passes through the focus of the parabola, where the fluid is heated. Once the fluid is heated, which reaches temperatures close to 400° C., if said fluid is steam it is sent to a turbine to produce electricity or, if we have another type of heat transfer fluids that are not in vapour phase at said temperature, then they are sent to a heat exchanger for the production of this.
The structures that support these collectors consist of a series of beams, arms and the connections between them, the beams being those elements that support the central structure or torque box, and these are beams subjected to great torques and bending stresses and, usually very long, which causes problems because of the arrow that this produces and it also greatly complicates its transport to the plant.
In view of the state of the art, the invention claimed herein is intended to provide a structure that serves as a support for a solar collector module of cylinder parabolic type and that even despite being formed by a reticular structure of knots and bars, has a series of characteristics that make it substantially different from those known in the state of the art, providing significant advantages both of structural strength and cost reduction in the transport and assembly.


The concentrate holding lower portion of a sample and concentrate holding vessel has a jacket for shielding such concentrate holding portion from heat sufficient to volatilize appreciable solvent therefrom when the vessel is subjected to sufficient heat for effecting evaporative concentration of solution in such vessel.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to evaporators for concentrating liquids to enable a small or trace amount of solute to be identified or processed.
2. Prior Art
Evaporative concentrators commonly used by commercial or testing laboratories have been of the columnar type usually composed of two or more sections including a principal evaporating section and a bottom sample-holding section. Such bottom section includes a concentrate holding lower chamber of a size much smaller in volume than the upper chamber of such lower sample-holding section. A collector and condensing-chimney section may be superimposed on the principal evaporating section.
The sections of the evaporative concentrator apparatus are tubular, preferably of circular cross section, and are usually made of Pyrex glass.
Such apparatus is commonly referred to as a Kuderna-Danish evaporative concentrator, an illustration and description of which are shown in the center unit of FIG. 14-3 on page 231 and described on pages 232 and 233 of the reference book Analysis of Insecticides and Acaricides, by Francis A. Gunther and Roger C. Blinn, Interscience Publishers, Inc., New York, copyright 1955. The description states that the apparatus is available from the Precision Distillation Apparatus Company, Santa Monica, Calif.
On page 232, it is stated that the concentrator is charged with the stripping solution to about the midpoint of the flask, and the unit is supported in a steam or boiling water bath in a good hood in such a way that the lower one-third of the flask is bathed in steam. When the receiver is nearly .-+.dry", the unit is set aside to cool. Vapors within the unit then condense, to afford from 1 to 2 ml. of final solution within the receiver.


A projection-type display apparatus having a lamp which emits a high intensity white light, two dichroic mirrors which filter out the three primary color beams from the white light and three liquid crystal panels which, respectively, modulate the color beams according to the three color image signals. Characteristics of the lamp and the dichroic mirrors are set so that the reproduction chromaticity range includes transmission chromaticity ranges of both the NTSC and HDTV systems. The image signals are supplied to two types of linear matrix circuit which are, respectively, suited for the NTSC and HDTV systems in order to correct color reproduction errors. The output of the linear matrix circuits are selected according to the system of the received television signal. In addition, a display white color temperature is set in the corrected image signals according to the system. Thus, the image signals are supplied to a display device such that the colors of the image can be accurately reproduced.

In the NTSC television signal system, which is the system presently in use in the United States and in many other countries, the transmission specifications and format were established in order to maximize the amount of red (R), green (G) and blue (B) primary color information which can be transmitted in the television signal. Thus, the NTSC specifications and format provide wide chromaticity ranges in order to insure transmission of full color content for the television image.
Television receivers known in the prior art reproduce the color image contained in the television signal by adding and mixing the red, green, and blue primary color information extracted from the television signal. However, the chromaticity ranges of a typical television receiver is narrower than the chromaticity ranges present in the received television signal. Thus, full and faithful reproduction of the color picture information contained in the television signal is not possible in television receivers known in the prior art.
FIG. 1 is a CIE (Commission International de Enluminure) chromaticity diagram illustrating the red, green and blue primary color chromaticity values for the NTSC system, the phosphor in a cathode ray tube (CRT) used in the typical television receiver and the color filter in a liquid crystal display device (LCD), also now commonly used in small portable television receivers and large projection-type television displays. The NTSC chromaticity values are represented by the dashed line, the CRT chromaticity values are represented by the dot-dash line and the LCD values are represented by the solid line. The chromaticity values charted in FIG. 1 are set forth below in table form:
______________________________________ NTSC CRT LCD X Y X Y X Y ______________________________________ R: 0.670 0.330 0.657 0.338 0.613 0.334 G: 0.210 0.710 0.297 0.609 0.283 0.627 B: 0.140 0.080 0.148 0.054 0.140 0.079 ______________________________________
The outer bold line in FIG. 1, and associated numbers at the indicated points on the line, illustrate the spectrum locus and wave-lengths (nm). In the NTSC system here, C light having a color temperature of 6774 K is used as a reference white light W with the following chromaticity: EQU W:X=0.3101, Y=0.3163
In the NTSC system, if the chromaticity values for the three primary colors for the display (CRT or LCD) in the receiver are set to the same as the NTSC values, the color picture information in the transmitted television signal can be faithfully reproduced on the receiver display by setting the reference white light to the chromaticity of C light. However, a color television receiver must also be capable of receiving and displaying black and white television signals. Therefore, in order to achieve the requisite compatibility with black and white television broadcasts, a white color light with higher chromaticity values than C light must be used as the reference.
In addition, the chromaticity values for the primary colors for a television receiver depends on the phosphor chromaticities of the CRT or LCD which, as described above and shown in FIG. 1, are different than the chromaticity values for the primary colors for the NTSC system. Therefore, if corrections are not made for the differences between the NTSC and receiver chromaticity values, color errors will result and the color picture information contained in the television signal will not be faithfully reproduced on the display in the receiver.
Moreover, and as also discussed above, the chromaticity ranges of the CRT and LCD are narrower than the NTSC chromaticity ranges. Thus, the color reproduction range of the television receiver is not broad enough to reproduce all of the color information contained in the incoming television signal. Therefore, even when the appropriate color corrections are made with respect to differences in the NTSC and display chromaticity values, the receiver is still not capable of faithful reproduction of every color received in the incoming television signal.
The types of color reproduction errors discussed above are also referenced on page 959 in the book entitled "The New Color Science Handbook" which was published in Japan.
FIG. 2 is a UV chromaticity diagram showing the color reproduction errors described above and referenced in the above mentioned handbook. The solid line triangle in FIG. 2 indicates the chromaticity range for the primary colors of the NTSC system on the transmission side of the television signal. The dashed line triangle illustrates the chromaticity range of the primary colors of the CRT phosphor at the receiver. Note that while the NTSC and CRT ranges greatly overlap, the NTSC range is slightly larger and each of its values are shifted from the corresponding values in the CRT range. The graph in FIG. 2 is obtained by calculating the color reproduction error based on the differences between the NTSC and CRT chromaticity ranges. An example of some of the NTSC chromaticity values are shown by the dots in FIG. 2. In order to correct color reproduction errors in the display, these values must be shifted in order to bring them into a corresponding point in the CRT chromaticity range as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2.
In CRT television receivers and color cameras, linear matrix circuits are used to correct color reproduction errors. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a linear matrix circuit which corrects such color reproduction errors. The G (green), B (blue) and R (red) primary color signals are supplied to input terminals 1, 2 and 3, respectively, and to gamma cancellation circuits 4, 5 and 6 so that transmission gamma is cancelled by removing the gamma correction which was added to the signal on the image transmission side.
The output signals from gamma cancellation circuits 4, 5 and 6 are supplied to matrix circuit 7 which is formed of coefficient circuits 8 to 16 and adders 17 to 19. Matrix circuit 7 multiplies the supplied R, G and B signals by respective correction matrix coefficients and then adds them together. Coefficient circuits 8 to 16 can be formed of simple circuits using resisters as is known in the art. Gamma addition circuits 20, 21 and 22 add the transmission gamma to the respective corrected R, G and B color signals and outputs them via terminals 23, 24 and 25 as primary color signals R.sup.1, G.sup.1, and B.sup.1. In this way, color reproduction errors are removed and approximately the same colors as in the transmitted image can be reproduced at the receiver. However, the correction is possible only for colors in the region in which the solid line triangle and the dashed line triangle in FIG. 2 overlap each other.
Recently, there have been test broadcasts of a high definition television (HDTV) signal format which is capable of displaying high quality television images. Taking into account the popularity of the existing NTSC television system, and the large installed base of such equipment, television receivers which are capable of receiving images in both the NTSC and HDTV system formats are being made commercially available. However, the transmission specifications of an HDTV system are different from those of an NTSC system. In the HDTV transmission specification and format, the R, G and B primary color chromaticities are as follows:
______________________________________ R: X = 0.640, Y = 0.330 G: X = 0.300, Y = 0.600 B: X = 0.150, Y = 0.060 ______________________________________
Also in the HDTV specification, D.sub.65 light is used as a reference white color and its chromaticity W is as follows: EQU W:X=0.3127, Y=0.3290
FIG. 4 is a CIE chromaticity diagram showing the NTSC specification values and the HDTV specification vales of the respective R, G and B primary color chromaticities. As FIG. 4 indicates, the chromaticity value for G in the NTSC system is greatly different than the chromaticity value for G in the HDTV system. Note, however, that the chromaticity value for G in the HDTV system is comparatively close to the chromaticity value for G in CRT and LCD displays (see FIG. 1). Therefore, in a television receiver which uses a CRT or LCD, there is comparatively little color reproduction error when receiving and displaying a HDTV broadcast. There is, however, a likelihood of large color reproduction errors when receiving an NTSC broadcast as is apparent from FIG. 1.
When correcting color reproduction errors for one system in a television receiver which is capable of receiving multiple system formats (such NTSC and HDTV) in which the three primary color chromaticity values differ from one system to the other, color reproduction errors in the other systems cannot be corrected.
Television programs produced by the HDTV system and commercial feature films are sometimes broadcasted using the NTSC system. Feature films usually are produced in accordance with specifications established by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE). The HDTV system also is set to conform to SMPTE specifications.
FIG. 5 is a CIE chromaticity diagram showing the transmission primary color chromaticity values for both the SMPTE and NTSC systems. As is apparent from FIGS. 4 and 5, the transmission primary color chromaticity values for the HDTV system approximately coincides with those of the SMPTE system. Also, the PAL and SECAM television signal transmission systems are nearly standardized to the EBU specifications. The transmission primary color chromaticity values for these systems also approximately coincide with those of the HDTV system
There is presently known in the art an HDTV to NTSC system converter which enables reception of HDTV broadcasts on a standard NTSC system television receiver. With such a converter, or other equipment having similar functions as that of the converter, it is possible to also convert other signal formats, such as SMPTE, PAL and SECAM to NTSC for display on a standard NTSC receiver. However, the transmission gamma of the NTSC system differs from the transmission gamma of any one of the other systems.
FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating transmission gamma. The solid line shows the gamma curve of the SMPTE system and the dashed line shows the gamma curve of the NTSC system (.gamma.=0.45). As shown in FIG. 6, the black side values in particular differ between the NTSC and the SMPTE systems. Due to the difference between the gamma curves, the rendering of the black gradations sometimes is unnatural depending on the signal source of the broadcast program. For instance, even within the same broadcast program, the gradation rendering differs according to the difference in the signal source, namely in accordance with the specification under which the program was produced.
In addition to television receivers which use a CRT or liquid crystal display, recently projection-type color television receivers have been developed in order to provide large-screen viewing. Projection-type television receivers uses a plurality of liquid crystal panels capable of modulating light colors. Such a receiver is referred to at pages 415 to 418 in "SID 91 DIGEST."

Apparatus for receiving and displaying color television signals having different formats


Brackets are provided for securing objects to mounting surfaces. The brackets have a foldable strap attached to a base. The base can be mounted on the mounting surface. The strap can extend over the object to be secured, and can be folded back on itself so that fasteners on the strap hold the strap in a folded state in which the strap secures the object to the base.

First responders such as firefighters, paramedics, and emergency response technicians typically carry specialized rescue equipment in their emergency vehicles. For example, many fire engines have one or more equipment compartments used to stow axes; mallets; hoses; hydraulic extrication tools for cutting away portions of damaged vehicles; stabilization and rescue struts for stabilizing vehicles during rescue operations; chains; coiled rope and extension cords, etc. Such equipment needs to be securely stowed within the rescue vehicle. At the same time, however, this life-saving equipment must be readily accessible and easy to retrieve by the first responders due to the time critical nature of firefighting and rescue operations.
Rescue equipment often is mounted on brackets specifically designed for that purpose. These brackets typically include some type of base configured for mounting on a wall, pegboard, or other supporting surface; and a movable restraint configured to secure the item of equipment to the base. In some applications, the restraint is an elastic member having a first end permanently fixed to the base; and a second end that can be attached to, and detached from the base by the user. To secure an object to the bracket, the second end of the elastic member is detached from the base and the elastic member is moved out of the way so that the object can be placed against the base. The elastic member is then moved into a position adjacent to the object; and the second end of the elastic member is secured to the base, which in turn secures the object to the bracket.
The base may be configured to securely receive the second end of the elastic member at a finite number of discrete mating locations on the base. Because the elastic member can only be secured in a finite number of discrete positions, it may not be possible to adequately tighten the elastic member around objects of particular sizes.
To release the object from the bracket, the second end of the elastic member is disengaged from the mating features on the base so that the elastic member can be moved away from the object. Because the elastic member typically is under tension while it is restraining the object, it usually is necessary to stretch the elastic member to disengage the second end of the elastic member from the base. The need to stretch the elastic member can make it difficult for a first responder to retrieve the stowed object in a minimal amount of time and with minimal effort. This difficulty can be exacerbated when the user is wearing heavy gloves such as those typically used by firefighters. Also, repeated stretching of the elastic member can cause the elastic member to permanently stretch over time, potentially reducing its effectiveness at securing a stowed object. In addition, it may be difficult to locate and manipulate the second end of the elastic member in the low-visibility conditions under which firefighters and other first responders often operate.

Brackets with folding straps for securing objects to mounting surfaces


The present invention relates to methods of making microstructured laminae for replication and apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to machining V-shaped grooves on individual lamina forming cube-corner microstructures.

Retroreflective materials are characterized by the ability to redirect light incident on the material back toward the originating light source. This property has led to the widespread use of retroreflective sheeting for a variety of traffic and personal safety uses. Retroreflective sheeting is commonly employed in a variety of articles, for example, road signs, barricades, license plates, pavement markers and marking tape, as well as retroreflective tapes for vehicles and clothing.
Two known types of retroreflective sheeting are microsphere-based sheeting and cube corner sheeting. Microsphere-based sheeting, sometimes referred to as "beaded" sheeting, employs a multitude of microspheres typically at least partially embedded in a binder layer and having associated specular or diffuse reflecting materials (e.g., pigment particles, metal flakes or vapor coats, etc.) to retroreflect incident light. Due to the symmetrical geometry of beaded retroreflectors, microsphere based sheeting exhibits a relatively uniform total light return regardless of orientation, i.e. when rotated about an axis normal to the surface of the sheeting. Thus, such microsphere-based sheeting has a relatively low sensitivity to the orientation at which the sheeting is placed on a surface. In general, however, such sheeting has a lower retroreflective efficiency than cube corner sheeting.
Cube corner retroreflective sheeting typically comprises a thin transparent layer having a substantially planar front surface and a rear structured surface comprising a plurality of geometric structures, some or all of which include three reflective faces configured as a cube corner element. Cube corner retroreflective sheeting is commonly produced by first manufacturing a master mold that has a structured surface, such structured surface corresponding either to the desired cube corner element geometry in the finished sheeting or to a negative (inverted) copy thereof, depending upon whether the finished sheeting is to have cube corner pyramids or cube corner cavities (or both). The mold is then replicated using any suitable technique such as conventional nickel electroforming to produce tooling for forming cube corner retroreflective sheeting by processes such as embossing, extruding, or cast-and-curing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,863 (Pricone et al.) provides an illustrative overview of a process for forming tooling used in the manufacture of cube corner retroreflective sheeting. Known methods for manufacturing the master mold include pin-bundling techniques, direct machining techniques, and techniques that employ laminae.
In pin bundling techniques, a plurality of pins, each having a geometric shape such as a cube corner element on one end, are assembled together to form a master mold. U.S. Pat. No. 1,591,572 (Stimson) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,926,402 (Heenan) provide illustrative examples.
In the case of direct machining techniques, a series of grooves are formed in the surface of a planar substrate to form a master mold. In one well known technique, three sets of parallel grooves intersect each other at 60 degree included angles to form an array of cube corner elements, each having an equilateral base triangle (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,712,706 (Stamm)). In another technique, two sets of grooves intersect each other at an angle greater than 60 degrees and a third set of grooves intersects each of the other two sets at an angle less than 60 degrees to form an array of canted cube corner element matched pairs (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,258 (Hoopman)).
In techniques that employ laminae, a plurality of thin sheets (i.e. plates) referred to as laminae having geometric shapes formed on one longitudinal edge are assembled to form a master mold. Illustrative examples of techniques that employ laminae can be found in EP 0 844 056 A1 (Mimura); U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,214 (Heenan); U.S. Pat. No. 5,981,032 (Smith); U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,407 (Krinke) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,257,860 (Luttrell).
The base edges of adjacent cube corner elements of truncated cube corner arrays are typically coplanar. Other cube corner element structures, described as "full cubes" or "preferred geometry (PG) cube corner elements" typically do not have coplanar base edges. Such structures typically exhibit a higher total light return in comparison to truncated cube corner elements. Certain PG cube corner elements may be fabricated via direct machining techniques, as described in WO 00/60385. However, great care is required to maintain geometric accuracy with this multi-step fabrication process. Design constraints may also be evident in the resulting PG cube corner elements and/or arrangement of elements. By contrast, pin bundling and techniques that employ laminae allow for the formation of a variety of shapes and arrangements of PG cube corner elements. Unlike pin bundling, however, techniques that employ laminae also advantageously provide the ability to form relatively smaller PG cube corner elements.
Although the art generally describes methods of machining laminae suitable for use in making retroreflective sheeting, industry would find advantage in improved methods and apparatus.

Methods of making microstructured lamina and apparatus


An error generator for use with a memory device, such as dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) which is connected to an error detection or correction device, such as a memory controller using error-correcting code. The memory error generator uses a clock signal provided by the computer system, determines when the computer system first attempts to read from a data stream after synchronization, and thereafter introduces the error in at least one bit of the data stream by complementing the bit. The error generator can be provided with a switch such that synchronization is performed in response to activation of the switch. The error generator preferably is constructed using an inexpensive device, such as a programmable array logic (PAL) circuit. Use of a PAL allows the bit complementing to occur quickly enough to meet timing requirements of the memory controller. The PAL and switch can be mounted on an interposer which is removably connected to the memory array and the memory controller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to computer systems and, more particularly, to a method of simulating errors in the retrieval of information from a computer memory for testing an error detection or correction device.
2. Description of the Related Art
The basic structure of a conventional computer system 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The heart of computer system 10 is a central processing unit (CPU) or processor 12 which is connected to several peripheral devices, including input/output (I/O) devices 14 (such as a display monitor and keyboard) for the user interface, a permanent memory device 16 (such as a hard disk or floppy diskette) for storing the computer's operating system and user programs, and a temporary memory device 18 (such as dynamic random-access memory or DRAM) that is used by processor 12 to carry out program instructions. Processor 12 communicates with the peripheral devices by various means, including a bus 20 or a direct channel 22. Computer system 10 may have many additional components which are not shown, such as serial and parallel ports for connection to, e.g., modems or printers. There are other components that might be used in conjunction with those shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1; for example, a display adapter connected to processor 12 might be used to control a video-display monitor. Computer system 10 also includes firmware 24 whose primary purpose is to seek out and load an operating system from one of the peripherals (usually permanent memory device 16) whenever the computer is first turned on.
Parity checks and error-correction codes (ECCs) are commonly used to ensure that data is properly transferred between system components. For example, a magnetic disk (permanent memory device) typically records not only information that comprises data to be retrieved for processing, but also records an error correction code for each file, which allows the processor, or a controller, to determine whether the data retrieved is valid. ECCs are also used with temporary memory devices, e.g., DRAM, and the ECC for files stored in DRAM can be analyzed by a memory controller which provides an interface between the processor and the DRAM array. If a memory cell fails during reading of a particular memory word (due to, e.g. stray radiation, electrostatic discharge, or a defective cell), then the failure can at least be detected so that further action can be taken, e.g., re-trying the read operation to see if the failure occurs again, as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,360,915. ECCs can further be used to reconstruct the proper data stream. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,095 which discloses a high-speed error correcting a random-access memory system which uses a plurality of parity bits stored in memory along with the associated data bits.
Some error correction codes can only be used to detect single-bit errors, i.e., if two or more bits in a particular memory word are invalid, then the ECC might not be able to determine what the proper data stream should actually be. Other ECCs are more sophisticated and allow detection or correction of double errors, and some ECCs further allow the memory word to be broken up into clusters of bits, or "symbols," which can then be analyzed for errors in more detail.
Parity and error-correcting code DRAM controllers need special hardware to generate simulated errors, including both single and multi-bit errors. This hardware generates data patterns which, in turn, are used to generate fault data in real-time. This hardware is relatively expensive and, further, leaves the system response to actual memory errors untested in the development phase and manufacturing phase. It would, therefore, be advantageous to devise an inexpensive hardware technique to generate single- and multiple-bit memory errors which can be used with actual system memory. It would be further advantageous if the hardware could also be used with a memory controller which has no internal means of testing parity or ECC circuitry.

International Business Machines Corporation


An image display system includes a light valve 14 for providing image information to light converged by a converging lens 13 and for emitting the light, a projective optical system 20 including a refractive optical lens 21 for projecting the light from the light valve 14 and a convex mirror 22 for reflecting the light from the refractive optical lens 21 by using a reflecting surface thereof having negative power and for enlarging and projecting the reflected light, and a display 30 for receiving the light from the projective optical system 20 by way of a receiving surface 30A, wherein the light valve is placed away from an optical axis 23 of the projective optical system 20 and between a front surface of the display 30 and a rear surface of the projective optical system 20.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of a prior art image display system.
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a light emitting body, reference numeral 2 denotes a parabolic mirror for reflecting light emitted out of the light emitting body 1 so that the light becomes substantially parallel light, and reference numeral 3 denotes a converging lens for converging the light reflected by the parabolic mirror 2. An illuminating light source system is comprised of the light emitting body 1, the parabolic mirror 2, and the converging lens 3.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a light valve for spatially modulating the intensity of the light converged by the converging lens 3 based on image information, reference numeral 5 denotes a projecting optical lens for projecting the light whose intensity is modulated by the light valve 4, and reference numeral 6 denotes a screen for displaying, as an image, the light projected thereonto by the projecting optical lens 5, Optical paths are designated by arrows in the figure.
Next, a description will be made as to an operation of the prior art image display system.
Light emitted out of the light emitting body 1 is reflected by the parabolic mirror 2, and is then converged to the light valve 4 by the converging lens 3. The light valve 4 spatially modulates the intensity of the light converged by the converging lens 3 based on image information. The light whose intensity is modulated by the light valve 4 is projected onto the rear (i.e., a left-side surface as shown in FIG. 1) of the screen 6 by the projecting optical lens 5, and is displayed as an image on the screen 6. A user of the image display system can check the image visually from a front surface of the screen 6 of FIG. 1 (i.e., a right-side surface as shown in FIG. 1)
The image display system of FIG. 1 has a depth corresponding to a distance between the illuminating light source system comprised of the light emitting body 1, the parabolic mirror 2, and the converging lens 3 and the screen 6. It is preferable that such an image display system that can display an image of an identical size is so constructed that the depth thereof is provided as thinly as possible. For this reason, the prior art image display system as shown in FIG. 1 displays an image on the screen 6 by using a wide angle projecting optical lens 5 so that the depth of the image display system can be reduced and therefore the image display system can be slimmed down.
However, because the prior art image display system of FIG. 1 has a limitation on how wide angle the projecting optical lens 5 has, in order to further slim down the image display system, the prior art image display system further includes a plane mirror 7 that is inclined at 45 degrees with respect to a horizontal direction, for bending the optical path extending from the projecting optical lens 5, and for projecting the light from the projecting optical lens 5 onto the rear of the screen 6, as shown in FIG. 2.
In the image display system of FIG. 2, some components, such as the illuminating light source system, the light valve 4, and the projecting optical lens 5, are arranged in a direction of the height of the image display system (i.e., in a vertical direction of FIG. 2), and the slimming down of the image display system can be further implemented. In this case, the depth of the image display system corresponds to the distance between the plane mirror 7 and the screen 6. Although the image display system can be further slimmed down by enlarging the inclination angle of the plane mirror 7 with respect to the horizontal direction to more than 45 degrees, the light valve 4 and the light source unit interfere with the projected light, and therefore the light is eclipsed and then deviates from the optical path to the screen 6.
Japanese patent application publication (TOKKAIHEI) No. 6-11767 discloses an image display system for reflecting light by using a convex mirror, instead of the plane mirror 7 as shown in FIG. 2, and for enlarging and displaying an image on a screen 6. However, this prior art image display system suffers from a drawback of displaying a distorted image on the screen 6.
A problem with prior art image display systems constructed as mentioned above is that there is a limitation on the slimming down of the prior art image display system, and the prior art image display system cannot be further slimmed down.
The present invention is proposed to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an image display system that can enlarge and display an image while reducing distortion of the image and that can be further slimmed down as compared with prior art image display systems.


Monolithic FETs including a fin of a first III-V semiconductor material offering high carrier mobility is clad with a second III-V semiconductor material having a wider bandgap. The wider bandgap cladding may advantageously reduce band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) leakage current while transistor is in an off-state while the lower bandgap core material may advantageously provide high current conduction while transistor is in an on-state.

Efforts to extend Moore's law for integrated circuitry (IC) have included the development of transistors employing materials other than silicon, such as III-V compound semiconductor materials (e.g., InP, InGaAs, InAs). These high-mobility material systems typically display higher carrier mobility than silicon devices, and so their introduction has long been suggested as path toward faster transistors. However, along with higher carrier mobility, in a field effect transistor (FET) the off-state (Ioff) leakage can be significantly higher than for a silicon-based FET of equal effective (electrical) channel length. At high off-state drain to gate biases, band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) within the high-mobility device may be significant and cause substantial Gate Induced Drain Leakage (GIDL) current. In a silicon-based FET, subthreshold leakage is typically much larger than GIDL current. However, with smaller III-V bandgap semiconductors in the gated channel, GIDL current can contribute significantly to Ioff.

High-mobility field effect transistors with wide bandgap fin cladding

Abstract: In some embodiments, a InGaAs cladding material richer in Ga is grown over an InGaAs core material richer in In. In some embodiments, the semiconductor cladding is a few nanometers thick layer epitaxially grown on surfaces of the semiconductor core. The cladded fin may be further integrated into a gate-last finFET fabrication process. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.


This invention provides a monitor area setting device with which an area can be easily added to or deleted from a monitor area. The device includes: an area addition/deletion specifying unit that specifies an addition area and a deletion area based on an input signal from an operating unit; an inconsistent area extraction unit that extracts an area that is between the safety area and the addition area with respect to the safety sensor as an inconsistent area; and an area setting update unit that updates area setting information so as to set an area formed either by adding the addition area and the inconsistent area to the safety area or by excluding the deletion area and the inconsistent area from the safety area as a new monitor area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a monitor area setting device, and in particular, to an improvement of a monitor area setting device that generates area setting information for designating a monitor area to an area monitoring sensor that emits detection light in different directions and senses an intruder within the previously set monitor area based on reflection of the detection light.
2. Description of the Related Art
Area monitoring sensors have been known as a sensor that senses an intruder such as a person entered into a no entrance area and outputs a detection signal. A typical area monitoring sensor is provided with, for example, a light projecting unit that projects detection light, a scanning unit that scans the detection light, and a light receiving unit that receives the detection light reflected on the intruder, and a distance and a direction toward the intruder are sensed based on an output from the light receiving unit. Then, based on a result of the sensing, it is determined whether or not the intruder is present within a predetermined area, and the detection signal is outputted based on a result of the determination. This detection signal is used, for example, as a control signal that stops a machine tool working near the monitored area.
Typically, an area setting tool is used in order to specify an area for sensing as a monitor area to such an area monitoring sensor, or in order to edit the monitor area that has been set. The area setting tool is an application program that runs on an information processing unit such as a personal computer, and can set a monitor area according to how factory equipment such as machine tools are placed.
In the case of a conventional area setting tool, however, the monitor area is set by an area that is enclosed by lines or arcs connecting vertices. Accordingly, it is not easy to add or delete a user specified area to or from the monitor area after setting a predetermined area as the monitor area. In particular, it is in fact difficult to add an area that is distant from the monitor area that has already been set, or delete an area that is within the monitor area but distant from a periphery portion of the monitor area.
In addition, the area monitoring sensor as described above, by its nature, cannot set an area that is positioned, with respect to the sensor, on a forward side of the area for sensing as a non-sensing area, or cannot set an area that is positioned, with respect to the sensor, on a backward side of the non-sensing area as an area for sensing. As a result, when editing the monitor area with the conventional area setting tool, it is adversely required to consider such characteristics of the area monitoring sensor when adding or deleting an area, which results in poor operability.

Monitor area setting device for optical scanning unit


Disclosed is a modified glucose dehydrogenase having pyrroloquinoline quinone as a coenzyme, wherein one or more amino acid residues in a region of amino acid 349-377 of water-soluble PQQGDH derived from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus is replaced with other amino acid residues and has an inhibition constant (Ksi) of 200 mM or more. The modified water-soluble PQQGDH of the invention can be utilized for measuring glucose levels in the presence of high concentrations of glucose because of the low substrate inhibition by glucose.

Glucose concentration is an important indicator in clinical diagnosis as an important marker for diabates. In addition, quantification of glucose concentration is an important indicator for monitoring the process of fermentation production using bacteria. Conventionally, quantification of glucose has been performed by enzymatic methods using glucose oxidase (GOD) or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH). These days, the use of glucose dehydrogenase having pyrroloquinoline quinone as a coenzyme (PQQGDH) is attracting attention in glucose quantification. PQQGDH has highly oxidative activity towards glucose and it does not require oxygen as an electron acceptor since PQQGDH bears its coenzyme. Thus PQQGDH is a promising enzyme to be applied on glucose assays, for example, as a recognition devise of a glucose sensor.
PQQGDH is a glucose dehydrogenase having pyrroloquinoline quinone as a coenzyme, and catalyzes the reaction of oxidizing glucose to produce gluconolactone. Two types of PQQGDHs are known: membrane-bound and water-soluble. Membrane-bound PQQGDH is a single-peptide protein with an approximate molecular weight of 87 kDa, and is found in a wide variety of gram-negative bacteria. On the other hand, water-soluble PQQGDH has been found in some strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (Biosci. Biotech. Biochem. (1995), 59 (8), 1548–1555), and its structural gene has been cloned and its amino acid sequence determined (Mol. Gen. Genet. (1989), 217:430–436). Water-soluble PQQGDH derived from A. calcoaceticus is a water-soluble homodimer enzyme consisting of two 50 kDa subunits. It requires PQQ and Ca2+ for its activity and shows the enzyme activity of as high as 2200 U/mg–7400 U/mg. Isoelectric points are approximately 9.2 and 10.2 for apoenzyme without bound PQQ and holoenzyme, respectively, indicating that the enzyme is a basic protein (K. Matsushita, et al. (1995) Biosci. Biotech. Biochem., 59, 1548–1555). In addition, the results of X-ray structural analysis of water-soluble PQQGDH have been published and reveal the conformation of water-soluble PQQGDH and estimated location of PQQ and Ca2+ (A. Oubrie, et al. (1999) J. Mol. Bio., 289, 319–333, A. Oubrie, et al. (1999) The EMBO Journal, 18 (19), 5187–5194, and A. Oubrie, et al. (1999), PNAS 96 (21), 11787–11791).
The wild type water-soluble PQQGDH shows a marked reduction in its activity by substrate inhibition under the glucose concentration of 100 mM or more. For this reason, quantitative measurement of the substrate concentration is difficult under high substrate concentration. The mechanism of substrate inhibition is not yet known.
Hence, the present invention is aimed at providing a modified water-soluble PQQGDH which shows a little reduction of enzyme activity due to substrate inhibition.


A wheel assembly has a swiveling shaft, a support member movably assembled with the swiveling shaft, an arresting member and wheels. The swiveling shaft includes a swiveling sleeve, a pressing element disposed on the swiveling sleeve, and a first gear bracket and a second gear bracket. The support member includes a rack with an opening, and a third gear bracket snapped in the opening, The arresting member is mounted on the rack. A first resilient element is provided between the arresting member and the rack. A second resilient element is provided between the arresting member and the third gear bracket. The wheels respectively pivot to the rack, and are limited at opposite sides of the arresting member. The pressing element limits rotation of the wheels, preventing deformation of the wheels thereby effectively stopping the wheels and lengthening lives of the wheels.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wheel assembly, and particularly to a wheel assembly which prevents from deformation and stops effectively.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
A conventional truckle wheel assembly substantially comprises a base and wheels pivoting to the base. An arresting member is disposed between the base and the wheels. The arresting member is a metal plate attached to the wheel. A shaft is provided on an end of the base for assembling the wheels to a bottom of an object. The wheels rotate to move the object, and at the same time, cooperate with the shaft to bring the base to rotate the wheels in multi-directions. As the object arrives at a predetermined position, the arresting member presses the wheels to stop.
However, the truckle wheel assembly is normally made of material like plastic, rubber etc. The wheels are pressed by the arresting member repeatedly, and evenly, are pushed/pulled forcedly with constraint of the arresting member from time to time. Consequently, the wheels are easy to scrape or deform, resulting in failure to rotate and thus being useless.


An arc chute includes a pair of opposing side walls and a non-magnetic body. The side walls are formed of an electrically insulating material. The non-magnetic body includes an open area and a plurality of slots through which to facilitate gas flow. The arc chute also includes a back wall arranged on a back side of the non-magnetic body and including at least one first insulator and at least one magnet. The at least one first insulator is arranged between the at least one magnet and the open area and configured to electrically isolate the magnet from the non-magnetic body. The magnet is configured to generate a magnetic field to redirect an arc in the open area toward one of the side walls.

Circuit breakers are used to interrupt current flow in the event of abnormal operating conditions, such as a short circuit or current overload. To interrupt current flow, electrical contacts are separated. Electrical arcing may occur between the contacts as they are separated, resulting in potential damage to the contacts as well as other components in the circuit breaker from electrical and heat energy generated from arcs or arcing. The quick extinction of this arc is desired not only to minimize damage to the circuit breaker but to interrupt the current as quickly as possible to protect the wires and load. AC circuits are generally used in many of today's power systems however, DC circuits are becoming more popular due to the use of batteries, DC converters, LED lighting, DC motors, and photovoltaic arrays all of which are inherently DC powered. And since a DC circuit is more difficult to interrupt current flow as compared to an AC circuit due to the natural current zero crossing inherent in an AC circuit, the traditional circuit breakers designed for use in an AC circuit have a difficult time interrupting a DC circuit. So, there is a need for a circuit protective device which can efficiently interrupt DC and protect a DC circuit.

Arc chute for circuit protective devices


A terminal structure for a surface mount electronic part including a terminal holding member formed from a synthetic resin, and external terminal extending from the terminal holding member for soldering to soldering lands of a printed wiring board. Each of the external terminals is held on the terminal holding member such that a straight portion projects laterally from the terminal holding member and is restricted direction (i.e., in width and thickness directions). The outermost tip portion of each external terminal includes an offset portion which is stepped downwards relative to the straight portion of the external terminal includes an offset portion which is stepped downwards relative to the straight portion of the external terminal and which is formed by half punching. The offset portion is provided for soldering to a soldering land of the printed wiring board. A region of the lower surface of the offset portion of each external terminal, which is continuous with a front end surface of the offset portion, is beveled to form an inclined surface such that the thickness of the offset portion decreases toward the front end surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates it a terminal structure for a surface mount electronic part provided with external terminals to be soldered to lands formed on a printed wiring board;projecting laterally,such as a connector for a PC card.
2. Description of the Related Art
The external terminals of most surface mount electronic parts,to be soldered to soldering lands formed on a printed wiring board,such as connectors for PC cards,have narrow width and are arranged at small pitches. Therefore,the terminals embedded in a synthetic resin so as to project laterally must be arrange in a high positional accuracy.
Referring to FIG. 3 typically showing a conventional terminal structure for an electronic part, base portions of external terminals 2 of an electronic part 1 are fixedly inserted in a housing 3 by press-fitting or embedded in the housing 3 by insert molding. A portion of each external terminal 2 projecting laterally from the housing 3 is bent to form a foot portion so that the foot portion is placed in a predetermined portion on a predetermined soldering land 5 of a printed wiring board 4 when mounting the electronic part 1 on the printed wiring board 4. The foot portion of the terminal 2 is bonded to the soldering land 5 by a solder fillet 6. When mounting the electronic part 1 on the printed wiring board 4, the foot portion of each terminal 2 is placed on the soldering land 5 coated with a soldering cream, and then the soldering cream is melted in a reflow furnace to bond the terminals 2 electrically and mechanically to the corresponding soldering lands 5 with the solder fillets 6.
Another conventional terminal structure shown in FIG. 4 has terminals 2 projecting from a housing, and terminal holders 7 put on the housing to hold and position the terminals 2. The end portions of the terminals 2 are bent substantially at right angles by the bottoms of the terminal holders 7 so that the end position of the terminal 2 to be soldered to soldering lands 5 formed on a printed wiring board 4 extend laterally from the terminal holders 7 and are positioned accurately.
However,it is not easy to form the terminals 2 of the conventional terminal structure shown in FIG. 3 in a high accuracy by a bending process,and the foot portions of the terminals 2 are liable to be dislocated in the direction of the thickness or the width thereof. Consequently, the foot portions of the terminals 2 are arranged in a low positional accuracy and the low positional accuracy of the foot portions of the terminals 2 is liable to cause faulty soldering when mounting the electronic part 1 on the printed wiring board 4. Since each terminal 2 must be projected from the housing 3 by a length long enough to prevent hindrance to forming the terminal 2. Therefore, the terminals 2 projecting in a free state from the housing 3 are liable to be distorted during transportation. Furthermore, the molten solder is sucked upward to and upper portion (high-temperature portion) of the terminal 2 by wicking and an insufficient quantity of solder is available for soldering.
The end portions of the terminals 2 of the conventional terminal structure shown in FIG. 4 are less possible to be dislocated in the direction of the width, the terminals 2 have strength high enough to resist distortion, and the terminals 2 avoid wicking. However, since the terminal holders 7 overlie the soldering lands 5, the terminal holders 7 hinder the visual inspection of the soldered terminals 2. Therefore, it is difficult to handle the electronic part and the reliability of soldering of the terminals 2 to the printed wiring board 4 is deteriorated. Since the end portions of the terminals 2 projection laterally from the terminal holders 7 are liable to slope in different inclinations, the end portions of the terminals 2 are liable to be dislocated in the direction of the thickness of the terminals 2 which often causes faulty soldering.

Terminal structure for electronic part with stepped offset portions


A storage apparatus for storing an object includes a load port unit that a receptacle is loaded onto or unloaded from, in which the receptacle accommodates the object in a storage space formed by a body and a cover that covers the body, and a controller. The load port unit includes a housing having an interior space, a stage member that is provided on the housing and that opens the storage space by moving the body, the receptacle being seated on the stage member, and an exhaust tube that evacuates a spacing space between the body and the cover spaced apart from each other. One end of the exhaust tube faces toward the spacing space, and an opposite end of the exhaust tube faces toward the interior space.

Embodiments of the inventive concept described herein relate to a load port unit, a storage apparatus including the same, and an exhaust method.
A photo mask (e.g., a lithography mask or a reticle) is used to transfer a photoresist pattern. The photo mask is moved between a lithography station, a process station, and a storage station in a state of being stored in a container (or, a carrier, a cassette, or a pod).
Because the photo mask is used to transfer the photoresist pattern as described above, a high cleanliness level is required for the photo mask. Accordingly, attachment of impurities, such as particles, to the photo mask has to be minimized in the container in which the photo mask is stored and the storage station for storing the photo mask. To achieve this, when the photo mask is stored in the storage station, the container is seated on a load port unit of the storage station and is opened. The photo mask stored in the container is carried into an inspection member of the storage station. The inspection member inspects the cleanliness level of the photo mask. When the photo mask satisfies a required cleanliness level, the photo mask is stored in the storage station, and when the photo mask does not satisfy the required cleanliness level, the photo mask is carried to the outside without being stored in the storage station. Accordingly, photo masks satisfying the required cleanliness level are stored in the storage station.
However, in a process of opening the container to carry the photo mask into the storage station, particles may be caused by mechanical friction of the container. Furthermore, when the container is opened, the photo mask is exposed to a space in the storage station. In this case, particles floating and/or remaining in the storage station may be attached to the photo mask.

Load port unit, storage apparatus including the same, and exhaust method


A method of manufacture and formation of mattress foundation corner guards made of formable metal, including the steps of manufacturing guards in a flat planar configuration with attachment tabs extending from a bottom edge of the sidewall and in the same plane as the sidewall, and forming the guard about the rounded corner of a mattress foundation by positioning the sidewall of the guard at a midpoint of a radiused corner of intersecting side walls of a mattress foundation and the bending the side wall to generally conform to the radiused vertical wall of the mattress foundation corner, whereupon the corner guard side wall remains in a curved configuration which generally conforms to the radiused corner, and bending the attachment tabs about a bottom edge of the mattress foundation to lie flush against a bottom surface of the mattress foundation, and fastening the attachment tabs to the bottom of the foundation.

Corner guards are commonly attached to the lower exterior rounded corners of mattress foundations or "box springs", to protect the fabric which covers the foundation and foundation frame. Such corner guards typically extend in two dimensions about each corner; over a small area of the vertical side of the curved corner of the foundation, and over a small area of the flat bottom of the foundation adjacent the corner. Foundation corner guards have heretofore been made only of flexible plastic material, molded with a generally flat sidewall and attachment tabs which extend perpendicularly from the side wall, as shown in FIG. 1. Flexible plastic corner guards are installed upon the foundation by wrapping or bending the flat sidewall around the curved vertical wall at the bottom edge of the corner, and attaching the tabs which extend perpendicularly from the vertical wall against the underside of the foundation by fasteners driven through the tabs. In plastic corner guards of this type, it is only the attachment of the tabs to the underside of the frame at the corner that retains the vertical wall in the curved configuration. When the tabs are detached by breakage or failure of one or more of the fasteners, the vertical wall readily returns to an unbent, flat shape or is completely detached.
Other disadvantages of plastic corner guards and the associated methods of manufacture and attachment are the difficulties of getting the flat piece to tightly conform to the curved vertical wall surface of the foundation corners, and the resultant sloppy appearance of an ill fit. The perpendicular foundation of the attachment tabs are the only support to keep the vertical wall upright and are structurally inadequate to withstand forces applied to the top edge of the curved upright wall of the guard. Therefore, the curved wall of the guard is easily deflected away from the corner. Even guards which appear to conform to the curve of the corner at the factory can be easily detached, broken or warped due to inherent weakness of the material and by the post-molding bending, or as a result of detachment or loosening of a fastener. This frequently occurs during shipping and handling. Because plastic guards then immediately deform from the curved corner of the foundation, the foundation cannot be placed into a supporting bed frame without crushing and further deforming the guard. Also, the required bending precludes application of any type of coating or finish to the exterior of the guard which would crack when the guard is bent around the curved corner.

Method of manufacture and formation of metal mattress foundation corner guards

Ohio Mattress Company Licensing and Components Group