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1. A method of manufacturing an electrical device that is electrically and mechanically connectable to another electrical device, the electrical device having a face equipped with contact pads, wherein the method includes: a layer-application step in which an adhesive layer is applied on the face equipped with contact pads, the adhesive layer being composed of a substance with adhesive properties; an opening-creation step in which an opening is created through the adhesive layer at the level of a contact pad; an opening-filling step in which the opening is filled with a conductive material so that the opening is substantially filled with the conductive material so as to form a conductive path the volume of which is defined by the opening. 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the fixing layer is a polyimide. 3. The method according to claim 1 wherein several openings are created through the fixing layer at the level of the contact pad and in that the conductive material is fed into the openings so that each opening is substantially filled with the conductive material so as to form a conductive path the volume of which is defined by the opening. 4. A method to electrically and mechanically connect a first electrical device and a second electrical device, each device having a face equipped with contact pads, wherein the method includes: a layer-application step in which an adhesive layer is applied on the face equipped with contact pads of the first electrical device, the adhesive layer being composed of a substance with adhesive properties; an opening-creation step in which an opening is created through the adhesive layer at the level of a contact pad; an opening-filling step in which the opening is filled with a conductive material so that the opening is substantially filled with the conductive material so as to form a conductive path the volume of which is defined by the opening; and a device connection step, in which the said fixing layer is brought into contact with the said face of the second electrical device, with a conductive path making an electrical connection between a contact pad of the first electrical device and a contact pad of the second electrical device. 5. A method to electrically and mechanically connect a first wafer and a second wafer, each wafer having a face equipped with contact pads, wherein the method includes: a layer-application step in which an adhesive layer is applied on the face equipped with contact pads of the first wafer, the adhesive layer being composed of a substance with adhesive properties; an opening-creation step in which an opening is created through the adhesive layer at the level of a contact pad; an opening-filling step in which the opening is filled with a conductive material so that the opening is substantially filled with the conductive material so as to form a conductive path the volume of which is defined by the opening; a device connection step, in which the fixing layer is placed into contact with the face of the second wafer, with a conductive path making an electrical connection between a contact pad of the first wafer and a contact pad of the second wafer; and a cutting step in which the two wafers so connected are cut into smaller electrical entities. 6. An electrical device that is electrically and mechanically connectable to another electrical device, the electrical device having a face equipped with contact pads, wherein the electrical device comprises a connection layer applied to the face, the connection layer having an adhesive property and comprising a conductive path formed by an opening in the connection layer that extends throughout the connection layer and that has been filled with conductive material. 7. An electrical assembly comprising a first electrical device and a second electrical device, the first device and the second device being electrically connected to each other by means of a connection layer composed of a substance with adhesive properties, wherein the connection layer comprises a conductive path formed by an opening that extends through the connection layer and that has been filled with a conductive material. |
<SOH> INVENTION FIELD <EOH>This invention concerns the electrical and mechanical connection of an electrical device with another electrical device. Both could be for example a wafer, an integrated circuit or even just a component. This invention applies especially to the field of integrated circuits protection and in particular in the field of memory cards. |
Channeled polymer fibers as stationary/support phases for chemical separation by liquid chromatography and for waste stream clean-up |
Polymer fibers having a novel cross-sectional geometry are used as stationary phase materials for liquid chromatography separations. Fibers of 20 to 50 micrometer diameters have surface-channel structures extending their entire lengths. Bundles of fibers having this novel cross-sectional geometry are packed in columns. Different polymer compositions permit the “chemical tuning” of the separation process. Channeled fibers composed of polystyrene and polypropylene have been used to separate mixtures of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), Pb-containing compounds and fatty acids. Use of channeled fibers allows a wide range of liquid flow rates with very low backing pressures. Applications in HPLC, cap-LC, prep-scale separations, analytical separations, single fiber separations, waste remediation/immobilization, extraction of selected organic molecules/ions from solution, purification of liquid streams (process waste, drinking water, pure solvents), selective extraction of cell matter and bacteria from growth media, and immobilization of cell matter and bacteria are envisioned. |
1. An apparatus, comprising: a fluid conduit having a first end and a second end disposed opposite said first end; a device for moving fluid through said conduit, said device being connected to said first end of said conduit; an instrument disposed at said second end of said conduit and configured for detecting species in a fluid moving through said conduit; and a plurality of polymer fibers disposed within said conduit between said first end and said second end, each said fiber being configured with a plurality of co-linear channels along the entire length of the surface of each said fiber. 2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein each said channel of each said fiber extends helically around each said fiber. 3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein each said fiber is composed of polypropylene. 4. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein a predetermined proportion by volume of said plurality of fibers is composed of a first polymer and the remaining proportion by volume of said plurality of fibers is composed of a second polymer. 5. An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said predetermined proportion is about 50%. 6. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein each said fiber is composed of polyvinyl alcohol and at least portions of said surfaces of said fiber have been protonated in situ by an acidic mobile phase. 7. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein at least portions of said surfaces of said fibers have been modified to a predetermined chemical reactivity. 8. An apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said at least portions of said surfaces of said fibers have been modified to a predetermined level of hydrophobicity. 9. An apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said at least portions of said surfaces of said fibers have been modified to a predetermined ionic character. 10. An apparatus, comprising: a fluid conduit having a first end and a second end disposed opposite said first end; a device for moving fluid through said conduit, said device being connected to said first end of said conduit; an instrument disposed at said second end of said conduit and configured for detecting species in a fluid moving through said conduit; and a single polymer fiber disposed within said conduit between said first end and said second end, said fiber being configured with a plurality of co-linear channels along the entire length of the surface of said fiber. 11. An apparatus, comprising: a fluid conduit having a first end and a second end disposed opposite said first end; a device for moving fluid through said conduit, said device being connected to said first end of said conduit; and a plurality of polymer fibers disposed within said conduit between said first end and said second end, each said fiber being configured with a plurality of co-linear channels along the entire length of the surface of each said fiber. 12. A method, comprising the steps of: providing a fluid conduit having a first end and a second end disposed opposite said first end and with a plurality of polymer fibers disposed within said conduit between said first end and said second end, each said fiber being configured with a plurality of co-linear channels along the entire length of the surface of each said fiber; moving fluid containing at least one species through said conduit; and separating said at least one species from said fluid by chemical attachment of said species to said polymer fibers in said conduit. 13. A method as in claim 12, further comprising the step of: using an instrument disposed at said second end of said conduit to detect said at least one species. 14. A method as in claim 12, further comprising the step of: removing said polymer fibers from said conduit after a predetermined duration of movement of said fluid through said conduit and disposing of said polymer fibers. 15. A method as in claim 12, further comprising the steps of: removing said polymer fibers from said conduit after a predetermined duration of movement of said fluid through said conduit and disposing of said polymer fibers; reinstalling into said conduit another plurality of polymer fibers configured with a plurality of co-linear channels along the entire length of the surface of each said fiber, moving fluid containing at least one species through said conduit; and separating said at least one species from said fluid by chemical attachment of said species to said polymer fibers in said conduit. 16. A method as in claim 12, further comprising the step of: collecting said at least one separated species. 17. A method, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of polymer fibers, each said fiber having a first end and a second end disposed opposite said first end, each said fiber being configured with a plurality of co-linear channels along the entire length of the surface of each said fiber; using said fibers to move fluid containing at least one species from a first location to a second location; and reducing the concentration of said at least one species at said second location as a result of separation of said at least one species from said fluid by chemical attachment of said species to said polymer fibers. 18. A method, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of polymer fibers, each said fiber being configured with a plurality of co-linear channels along the entire length of the surface of each said fiber; dipping said fibers into a fluid containing at least one species; drawing a portion of said fluid into said channels by capillary action; reducing the concentration of said at least one species from said portion of said fluid as a result of separation of said at least one species from said portion of said fluid by chemical attachment of said species to said polymer fibers; and withdrawing said fibers from said fluid. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention relates to chemical analysis and cleansing of liquid streams and more particularly to liquid chromatography and wastewater treatment. At present, liquid-phase chemical separations are usually performed in “columns” prepared by the packing of metal tubes with spherical beads that are composed of either silica or polystyrene and have diameters of 10 to 50 μm. The more or less inert beads provide solid supports that are chemically modified to produce a surface having targeted chemical characteristics. For example, in performing reverse-phase liquid chromatography, long carbon chains (C- 18 ) are affixed to the surfaces of the beads to produce a hydrophobic surface for the separation of non-polar organics. Effective separations require dense packing of the beads into these columns to avoid dead-volume, which is any location within the column where turbulence can occur and interactions between molecules in the liquid and the surfaces of the beads are absent. As a consequence of dense packing, high driving pressures (2,000 to 10,000 psi) are required to overcome the backing pressures that otherwise would prevent the liquid phase from moving through the densely packed columns. Alternatively, highly porous “monoliths” are formed within the columns to generate high surface areas for interaction with the species that flow through the columns. Here, the high backing pressures and a limited set of stationary phase chemistries can be restrictive. In the case of so-called “prep-scale” separations, the capital costs associated with producing large volume columns and the demands on the system hydraulics (i.e. pumps) are very high. |
<SOH> OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>It is a principal object of the present invention to employ polymer fibers having channels extending axially along their surfaces, wherein the fibers are used as stationary phases in analytical separations of mixtures carried in liquid media and wherein the separation is based on chemical interactions, i.e., chromatography. It is another principal object of the present invention to employ polymer fibers having channels extending axially along their surfaces, wherein the fibers are used as stationary phases in prep-scale separations of mixtures carried in liquid media and wherein the separation is based on chemical interactions, i.e., chromatography. It is still another principal object of the present invention to employ polymer fibers having channels extending axially along their surfaces, wherein the fibers are used as stationary phases to selectively remove different chemical species from liquid wastewater treatment facilities. It is a further principal object of the present invention to employ a single surface-channeled polymer fiber as a stationary phase to perform separations of at least one specie. It is yet an additional principal object of the present invention to employ polymer fibers having channels extending axially along their surfaces, wherein the fibers are used as stationary phases in the process of performing micro-scale separations. It is yet another principal object of the present invention to employ polymer fibers having channels extending axially along their surfaces, wherein the fibers are used as stationary phases to selectively extract cell matter and bacteria from growth media. It is yet a further principal object of the present invention to employ polymer fibers having channels extending axially along their surfaces, wherein the fibers are used as stationary phases to selectively immobilize cell matter and bacteria. It is a still further principal object of the present invention to employ polymer fibers having channels extending axially along their surfaces, wherein the fibers are used as stationary phases to extract selective organic molecules/ions from solution. It is an additional principal object of the present invention to employ polymer fibers having channels extending axially along their surfaces, wherein the fibers are used as stationary phases in the purification of liquid streams (process waste, drinking water, pure solvents). Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. To achieve the objects and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, polymer fibers having a novel cross-sectional geometry are used as stationary phase materials for liquid chromatography separations. The novel cross-sectional geometry arises because each polymer fiber has channels extending axially and continuously along its surface over the entire length of the fiber. Each fiber desirably has a uniform nominal diameter (measured at the largest cross-sectional point-to-point location) in the range of 20 to 50 micrometers. A single one of these fibers can be used in single fiber separations. However, bundles of fibers having this novel cross-sectional geometry are packed Into columns as stationary phase materials. Different polymer compositions permit the “chemical tuning” of the separation process. Channeled fibers composed of polystyrene and polypropylene have been used to separate mixtures of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), Pb-containing compounds and lipids. Use of these so-called surface-channeled fibers allows a wide range of liquid flow rates with very low backing pressures. The use of polymer fibers rather than beads is totally unique. The surface-channeled fibers provide very efficient solution mass transfer, but with very reactive surface areas. Column structures could take many forms, including the use of a single fiber in-laid in a micro-machined device. Presently contemplated specific applications include use of surface-channeled polymer fibers in stationary phases in: analytical separations such as liquid chromatography (HPLC, cap-LC); prep-scale separations of specialty chemicals; micro-scale separations; single fiber separations; waste remediation/immobilization; extraction of selected organic molecules/ions from solution; purification of liquid streams (process waste, drinking water, pure solvents); selective extraction of cell matter and bacteria from growth media; and immobilization of cell matter and bacteria. Potential markets for the invention would include analytical instrumentation; specialty chemicals; and pharmaceutical companies. Demand for the product would be based on its advantages in attaining throughput and productivity. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. |
Pixel sensor with charge evacuation element and systems and methods for using such |
The pixel includes a reset element (350) used in relation to charging a light sensitive element (390). Further, the pixel includes a charge evacuation element (380) for dissipating charge build up about the reset element. Dissipation of the charge results in a reduction of noise at the output of the pixel. |
1. A MOS pixel, the pixel comprising: a reset transistor, wherein the reset transistor includes a reset source and a reset gate; a charge evacuation element, wherein a node of the charge evacuation element is electrically coupled to the reset source; and wherein the charge evacuation element is operable to evacuate charge accumulated in a channel of the reset transistor. 2. The pixel of claim 1, the pixel further comprising: a light sensitive element, wherein a node of the light sensitive element is electrically coupled to the reset source. 3. The pixel of claim 1, wherein the reset transistor is CMOS transistor. 4. The pixel of claim 1, wherein the charge evacuation element is a MOS transistor, and wherein the MOS transistor includes a charge evacuation source and a charge evacuation drain. 5. The pixel of claim 4, wherein the node of the charge evacuation element is electrically coupled to both the charge evacuation source and the charge evacuation drain. 6. The pixel of claim 2, the pixel further comprising: a source follower transistor, wherein the source follower transistor includes a source follower gate and a source follower drain, and wherein the source follower gate is electrically coupled to the reset source; a selection transistor, wherein the selection transistor includes a selection transistor drain, a selection transistor gate, and a selection source, and wherein the selection transistor drain is electrically coupled to the source follower source; and a selection signal, wherein assertion of the selection signal causes a representation of a signal from the node of the light sensitive element to be present on an output of the pixel. 7. The pixel of claim 6, wherein the light sensitive element is a photodiode. 8. The pixel of claim 2, wherein the charge evacuation element is a MOS transistor, and wherein the MOS transistor includes a charge evacuation source, a charge evacuation drain, and a charge evacuation gate, and wherein the node of the charge evacuation element is electrically coupled to both the charge evacuation source and the charge evacuation drain, the pixel further comprising: a reset signal driving the reset gate; and a complement of the reset signal driving the charge evacuation gate. 9. The pixel of claim 8, wherein the complement of the reset signal is delayed from the reset signal. 10. The pixel of claim 1, the pixel further comprising: a source follower transistor, wherein the source follower transistor includes a source follower gate and a source follower source; a selection transistor, wherein the selection transistor includes a selection transistor source, a selection transistor gate, and a selection drain, and wherein the selection transistor drain is electrically coupled to the source follower source. 11. The pixel of claim 2, wherein the light sensitive element is a photodiode. 12. The pixel of claim 1, wherein the charge evacuation element is a charge evacuation transistor including a charge evacuation source and a charge evacuation drain, both the charge evacuation source and the charge evacuation drain being electrically coupled to the reset source, and wherein the charge evacuation transistor is approximately one-half the size of the reset transistor. 13. A circuit, the circuit comprising: a reset transistor, wherein the reset transistor includes a reset gate and a reset source; a photodiode, wherein a node of the photodiode is electrically coupled to the reset source; a charge evacuation transistor, wherein the charge evacuation transistor includes a charge evacuation gate, a charge evacuation drain, and a charge evacuation source, and wherein the charge evacuation source and the charge evacuation drain are both electrically coupled to the reset source; and wherein the charge evacuation transistor is operable to evacuate charge accumulated in a channel of the reset transistor. 14. The circuit of claim 13, the circuit further comprising: a source follower transistor, wherein the source follower transistor includes a source follower gate and a source follower drain, and wherein the source follower gate is electrically coupled to the reset source; a selection transistor, wherein the selection transistor includes a selection source, a selection gate, and a selection drain, and wherein the selection drain is electrically coupled to the source follower source. 15. The circuit of claim 14, the circuit further comprising: a selection signal, wherein assertion of the selection signal causes a representation of a signal from the node of the photodiode to be present on an output of the pixel. 16. The circuit of claim 13, the circuit further comprising: a reset signal driving the reset gate; and a charge evacuation signal driving the charge evacuation gate. 17. An imaging system, the imaging system comprising: a group of pixel elements, wherein one or more of the pixel elements include a reset element, a charge evacuation element, a light sensitive element, a source follower transistor including a source follower gate, and a selection element, an optical device, wherein the optical device transfers light to the group of pixel elements, and wherein the light strikes the light sensitive element of the pixel elements; and a timing circuit, wherein the timing circuit provides at least one control signal to the group of pixel elements. 18. The imaging system of claim 17, wherein the reset element is a transistor including a reset gate and a reset source, the reset source being electrically coupled to the source follower gate, and wherein the charge evacuation element is operable to evacuate a charge accumulated in a channel of the reset transistor. 19. The imaging system of claim 18, wherein: the source follower transistor further includes a source follower source; the selection element is a selection transistor including a selection drain and a selection gate, wherein the selection drain is electrically coupled to the source follower source; the charge evacuation element is a charge evacuation transistor including a charge evacuation gate, a charge evacuation source, and a charge evacuation drain, wherein both the charge evacuation source and the charge evacuation drain are electrically coupled to the source follower gate; and the light sensitive element is a photodiode, wherein a node of the photodiode is electrically coupled to the source follower gate. 20. The imaging system of claim 19, wherein at least one of the source follower transistor, the reset transistor, the charge evacuation transistor, and the selection transistor are CMOS devices. 21. The imaging system of claim 19, wherein the at least one control signal comprises a selection signal electrically coupled to the selection gate. 22. The imaging system of claim 19, wherein the at least one control signal comprises a reset signal electrically coupled to the reset gate, and a complement of the reset signal is electrically coupled to the charge evacuation gate. 23. The imaging system of claim 17, wherein the group of pixel elements are arranged in a rectangular array. 24. An image sensor, the image sensor comprising: a plurality of pixel devices, wherein the plurality of pixel devices are arranged as a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; and wherein each of the plurality of pixel devices includes: a reset element with at least one node; a light detecting element, wherein a node of the light detecting element is electrically coupled to the node of the reset element; and a charge evacuation element, wherein a node of the charge evacuation element is electrically coupled to the node of the reset element. 25. A method for detecting an image, the method comprising: providing a pixel device, wherein the pixel device includes: a source follower transistor including a source follower gate and a source follower source; a photodiode, wherein a node of the photodiode is electrically coupled to the source follower gate; a reset transistor including a reset gate and a reset source, wherein the reset source is electrically coupled to the source follower gate; a charge evacuation transistor including a charge evacuation source, a charge evacuation drain, and a charge evacuation gate, wherein both the charge evacuation source and the charge evacuation drain are electrically coupled to the source follower gate; and applying a charge evacuation signal to the charge evacuation gate, wherein a charge accumulation in a channel of the reset transistor is reduced. 26. The method of claim 25, the method further comprising: applying a complement of the charge evacuation signal to the reset gate, wherein a charge is accumulation occurs at the node of the photodiode. 27. The method of claim 26, the method further comprising: providing a selection transistor including a selection gate, a selection source, and a selection drain, wherein the selection drain is electrically coupled to the source follower source; and applying a selection signal to the selection gate, wherein the source follower source is presented with a signal representative of the charge accumulated at the node of the photodiode. 28. A method for reducing noise in a pixel device, the method comprising: providing a charge evacuation element within a pixel device; and activating the charge evacuating element such that a charge within the pixel device is dissipated via the charge evacuation element. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for image acquisition, and in particular to systems, methods, and devices for reducing noise in pixels used in image acquisition. FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional metal oxide semiconductor (“MOS”) pixel 100 . As illustrated, pixel 100 includes a reset transistor 110 connected to photodiode 150 , a source follower transistor 130 , and an access transistor 140 . During reset of pixel 100 , a reset signal 160 associated with a pixel (i) is asserted high such that the rail voltage associated with conventional pixel 100 is applied to the gate of reset transistor 110 . Prior to application of reset signal 160 , reset transistor 110 is cut off. Upon assertion of reset signal 160 , reset transistor 110 provides a low impedance path between a node 191 and a node 151 . This low impedance path causes a reverse bias on photodiode 150 , where the voltage at node 191 is greater than a common ground 193 . This results in a charge build-up, and corresponding voltage at node 151 that remains after reset signal 160 is deasserted and node 151 is isolated from node 191 . When incident light 194 falls upon photodiode 150 , the voltage at node 151 begins to decay at a rate defined by the photocurrent through photodiode 150 , that corresponds to the amount of incident light 194 impinging upon photodiode 150 . Thus, where a high incidence of light is detected, voltage at node 151 decays rapidly, and where only a low incidence of light is detected, voltage at node 151 decays slowly. The voltage at node 151 is tied to the gate of source follower transistor 130 . Source follower transistor 130 provides a signal at its source that is representative of the voltage at node 151 . Further, when the incidence of light on photodiode 150 is to be read, a select signal 180 is asserted high, thus providing a low impedance path from node 141 to a bit sense node 170 . Thus, where a sufficient amount of incident light 194 impinges upon photodiode 150 , bit sense node 170 will exhibit a low voltage, otherwise, bit sense 170 will exhibit a voltage corresponding to the voltage at node 151 . Various problems associated with such MOS pixels are discussed in “Analysis of Temporal Noise in CMOS Photodiode Active Pixel Sensor” by Tian et al., IEEE Journal of Solid State Circuits, Vol. 36, No. 1, January 2001. More particularly, Tian et al. disclose that MOS image sensors suffer from significant noise problems due to the design of such sensors. Such noise can be associated with operation of reset transistor, while other noise derives thermal and shot noise sources in pixel 100 . Some approaches to control the various noise sources include operating reset transistor 110 in a subthreshold range, however, such approaches can result in image lag. Alternatively, attempts have been made to reduce such noise by, for example, overdriving the gate of reset transistor 110 or by using a PMOS instead of an NMOS type transistor for reset transistor 110 . However, such approaches can result is a dramatic increase in reset noise power. Such noise hampers the proper operation of such image sensors. Further, such noise can become more significant as the size of pixel 100 is reduced. In some cases, off-chip digital signal processing has been employed to allow a sufficiently small pixel 100 , while maintaining noise levels at acceptable level. In other cases, pixel 100 is simply comprised of relatively large devices that are less susceptible to noise constraints. Such an approach, however, is contrary to the industry need to constantly reduce pixel size. This industry need is highlighted in “CMOS Image Sensors: Electronic Camera-On-A-Chip” by Fossum, IEEE Transactions on Electronic Devices, Vol. 44, No. 10, October 1997. More particularly, Fossum points out the rapid trend toward reduced size pixels 100 . This size reduction is particularly important where low powered devices are desired, such as in cellular telephone and other mobile applications. Thus, there exists a need in the art to provide a pixel that exhibits reduced noise characteristics and/or reduced size characteristics. |
<SOH> BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Among other things, various aspects of the present invention relate to a pixel with a charge evacuation mechanism for reducing noise evident at the output of the pixel. In one aspect, the pixel includes a reset element used in relation to charging a light sensitive element. The evacuation mechanism is used to dissipate charge build up about the reset element. Dissipation of the charge results in a reduction of noise at the output of the pixel. In particular embodiments, such a pixel and/or charge evacuation mechanism is implemented using complementary metal oxide semiconductor (“CMOS”), field effect transistor (“FET”) technology. Further, aspects of the present invention include systems and methods for utilizing such pixels. More particularly, such methods include approaches for applying various control signals to the pixel and systems include elements for producing the various control signals. One particular aspect of the invention provides a MOS pixel that includes a reset transistor with a reset source and a reset gate. Further, the pixel includes a charge evacuation element that is electrically coupled to the reset source and is operable to evacuate charge accumulated in a channel of the reset transistor. In some embodiments, the charge evacuation element is a MOS transistor with a charge evacuation drain, a charge evacuation source, and a charge evacuation gate. In particular cases, the charge evacuation source and the charge evacuation drain are both electrically coupled to the reset source. In various embodiments, the pixel further includes a light sensitive element electrically coupled to the reset source. Further embodiments comprise a source follower transistor that includes a source follower gate and a source follower source, the source follower gate being electrically coupled to the reset source. Such embodiments further include a selection transistor with a selection drain, a selection source, and a selection gate, where the selection drain is electrically coupled to the source follower source. A selection signal is electrically coupled to the selection gate such that assertion thereof causes a representation of a signal from the node of the light sensitive element to be present on an output of the pixel. In some embodiments, the charge evacuation element is a MOS transistor with a charge evacuation source and a charge evacuation drain, both of which are coupled to the reset source. The charge evacuation element further includes a charge evacuation gate. Further, such embodiments can include a reset signal driving the reset gate and a complement of the reset signal driving the charge evacuation gate. In some instances, the complement of the reset signal is delayed from the reset signal. Other embodiments of the present invention provide a circuit including a reset transistor comprising a reset gate and a reset source. The circuit further includes a photodiode with a node of the photodiode electrically coupled to the reset source, and a charge evacuation transistor that includes a charge evacuation gate, a charge evacuation drain, and a charge evacuation source. The charge evacuation source and the charge evacuation drain are both electrically coupled to the reset source and the charge evacuation transistor is operable to evacuate charge accumulated in a channel of the reset transistor. Various embodiments of the circuit also include a source follower transistor comprised of a source follower gate and a source follower source. The source follower gate is electrically coupled to the reset source. The circuit further includes a selection transistor comprised of a selection source, a selection gate, and a selection drain. The selection drain is electrically coupled to the source follower source. A selection signal is provided that when asserted causes a representation of a signal from the photodiode to be present on an output of the pixel. Yet other embodiments of the present invention provide an imaging system. Such an imaging system includes a group of pixel elements. One or more of the pixel elements includes a reset element, a charge evacuation element, and a light sensitive element. In some cases, the imaging system further includes an optical device, wherein the optical device transfers light to the group of pixel elements, and wherein the light strikes the light sensitive element of the pixel elements. In addition, a timing circuit is included that provides at least one control signal to the group of pixel elements. In one particular instance, the group of pixel elements are arranged in a rectangular array. Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides an image sensor including a plurality of pixel devices. The plurality of pixel devices are arranged as a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. Each of the pixel devices includes: a light detecting element, and a charge evacuation element for dissipating unwanted charge built up in the image sensor. Yet additional embodiments provide methods for detecting an image. Such methods include providing a pixel device that comprises a charge evacuation element, and applying a charge evacuation control signal to the charge evacuation element, wherein a charge accumulation in a channel of a reset transistor of the pixel device is reduced. These and other aspects are more fully developed in the detailed description below. Thus, the summary provides only a general outline of the embodiments according to the present invention. Many other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings. |
Nucleic acids for aminocoumarin biosynthesis |
The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acids coding for enzymes or functionally active fragments thereof encoded by aminocoumarin biosynthetic gene clusters, to novel aminocoumarin compounds as well as to a method for the production of modified aminocoumarins utilizing the genetic information contained in said aminocoumarin biosynthetic gene clusters. |
1. An isolated nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence coding for at least one enzyme or a functionally active fragment thereof encoded by an aminocoumarin biosynthetic gene duster, wherein said aminocoumarin is selected from the group consisting of coumermycin A1, clorobiocin—and simocyclinone. 2. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 wherein said nucleotide sequence comprises at least one open reading frame (ORF) contained in the nucleotide sequences shown in SEQ-ID-No. 1 to 7. 3. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 wherein said nucleotide sequence codes for a mutant enzyme comprising a substitution, addition, insertion and/or deletion of one or more amino acid(s) in comparison to its wild type sequence. 4. The nucleic acid according to claim 3 wherein said mutant is composed of a mixture of amino acid sequences encoded by one or more genes contained in said aminocoumarin biosynthetic clusters. 5. The nucleic acid according to anyone of claims 1 to 4 wherein said nucleotide sequence codes for more than one enzyme or a functionally active fragment thereof. 6. The nucleic acid according to claim 5 wherein the enzymes or functionally active fragments thereof are encoded by different aminocoumarin biosynthetic gene clusters. 7. A vector containing at least the nucleic acid according to anyone of claim 1. 8. A host organism containing the nucleic acid according to anyone of claim 1 or the vector according to claim 7. 9. A polypeptide encoded by an ORF of an aminocoumarin biosynthetic gene cluster, wherein said aminocoumarin is selected from the group consisting of coumermycin A1, clorobiocin and simocyclinone. 10. A method for the production of a modified aminocoumarin selected from the group consisting of novobiocin, clorobiocin, coumermycin A1 and simocyclinone,—said method comprising the steps of: (a) inactivating at least one gene of the gene cluster for the biosynthesis of one aminocoumarin in an organism containing said gene cluster, (b) introducing into said organism at least one biosynthetic gene from another organism and/or feeding said organism with an analogue of a structural moiety of an aminocoumarin; (c) cultivating said organism containing said gene cluster in a suitable medium; and (d) isolating the aminocoumarin produced by said organism. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said at least one biosynthetic gene from another organism is a gene of another aminocoumarin biosynthetic gene cluster. 12. The method according to claims 10 or 11, wherein said organism containing said gene cluster is selected from the group of consisiting of S. spheroides, S. niveus, S. roseochromogenes, S. rishiriensis and S. antibioticus. 13. An aminocoumarin compound substantially being composed of structural elements derived from different aminocoumarins selected from the group consisting of novobiocin, clorobiocin, coumermycin A1 and simocyclinone. 14. A pharmaceutical composition containing the aminocoumarin compound according to claim 13 in a pharmaceutically effective amount, optionally in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or diluent. 15. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 14 for the treatment of infections with gram-positive bacteria and of malignant diseases. 16. The pharmaceutical composistion according to claim 14 further containing a pharmaceutically effective amount of a cytostatic agent. 17. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 16 wherein said cytostatic agent is selected from the group consisting of podophyllotoxin derivatives. 18. A method for treating a patient comprising the step of administering to said patient a pharmaceutically effective amount of the aminocoumarin compound according to claim 13. |
Real-time broadcast of interactive simulations |
An entertainment server (100) carries out a simulation, such as a horse training and racing game. Users can interact with the server, however, and a simulation module (400) prepares individual events such as races which are rendered in high quality video by a rendering engine (200) and transmitted during the simulation through a distribution network (250) to users' homes. Preferably, a betting game enables users to wager on the outcome of these races. |
1. An entertainment system comprising: a simulation module, adapted to run a simulation comprising calculative iterations and an outcome, the outcome being at least partially dependent on instructions received from a plurality of users; input hardware for receiving instructions from users; a rendering module for preparing signals corresponding to video images depicting aspects of the calculative iterations of the simulation, for feeding prior to said outcome being simulated said signals into a distribution network adapted for distributing said signals to a plurality of users. 2. The entertainment system of claim 1 wherein aspects of the simulation depend on random or pseudo-random numbers. 3. The entertainment system of claim 1 wherein a terminal is a set-top box. 4. The entertainment system of claim 1 wherein the simulation comprises a plurality of simulated entities having properties which affect the outcome of interactions therebetween, and wherein said video images depict interactions between said entities. 5. The entertainment system of claim 4 wherein said entities represent horses and further comprising a storage module adapted to store information about at least one of said horses said information comprising attributes affecting the horse performance in races; wherein user's instructions affect the development with time of horse's attributes; and, wherein the video images depict races between horses, the outcome of the races being at least partially responsive to the horse attributes. 6. The entertainment system of claim 1 further comprising television broadcast apparatus for broadcasting a television signal. 7. An entertainment server executing a simulation comprising calculative iterations and an outcome, and being adapted to receive instructions from a plurality of users; the users instructions affecting the simulation, the game server further being adapted to send to a rendering engine the information required for preparing a video image sequence relating to an aspect of the calculative iterations of the simulation; said video image sequence being for transmission through a distribution network prior to said outcome being simulated. 8. The entertainment server of claim 7 further adapted for storing information about entities, wherein entities have attributes affecting their performance in interactions, wherein users' instructions affect the development with time of entities' attributes and wherein the video images depict interactions between entities, the outcome of the interactions being responsive to the entities' attributes. 9. The entertainment server of claim 7 further adapted for storing information about horses, wherein horses have attributes affecting their performance in races, wherein users' instructions affect the development with time of horses' attributes and wherein the video images depict races between horses, the outcome of the races being responsive to the horses' attributes. 10. A method for interactive entertainment comprising the steps of: receiving instructions from a plurality of users; running a simulation comprising calculative iterations and an outcome, the development of the simulation at least partially dependent on the instructions received; preparing signals corresponding to video images depicting aspects of the calculative iterations of the simulation; and distributing said signals to a plurality of users prior to said outcome being simulated. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of distributing is performed via a television distribution network. 12. The method of claim 10 wherein the development of the simulation further depends at least partially, on randomly or pseudo-randomly generated parameters. 13. The method of claim 10 wherein said instructions are received via user's set-top boxes. 14. The method of claim 10 wherein the simulation comprises simulated creatures having properties which affect the outcome of competitions and the video images depict competitions between creatures. 15. The method of claim 10 comprising the step of storing information about entities, wherein entities have attributes affecting their performance in interactions, wherein users' instructions affect the development with time of entities' attributes and wherein the video images depict interactions between entities, the outcome of the interactions being responsive to the entities' attributes. 16. The method of claim 10 comprising the step of storing information about horses, wherein horses have attributes affecting their performance in races, wherein users' instructions affect the development with time of horses' attributes and wherein the video images depict races between horses, the outcome of the races being responsive to the horses' attributes. 17. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of preparing the video images for television broadcast. 18. A method of generating revenue comprising the steps of: running a computer-based simulation comprising calculative iterations and an outcome, the outcome being at least partially dependent on instructions received from a plurality of users; inviting players to place bets upon the outcome of depicted aspects of the simulation; rendering video images depicting aspects of the calculative iterations of the simulation; transmitting prior to said outcome being simulated said video images into a distribution network; and paying out real or simulated money dependent on the outcome of depicted aspects of the simulation. 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the simulation simulates entities, wherein entities have attributes affecting their performance in interactions, wherein users' instructions affect the development with time of entities' attributes and wherein the video images depict interactions between entities, the outcome of the interactions being responsive to the entities' attributes. 20. The method of claim 18 wherein the simulation simulates horses, wherein horses have attributes affecting their performance in races, wherein user's instructions affect the development with time of horses' attributes and wherein the video images depict races between horses, the outcome of the races being responsive to the horses' attributes. 21. The method of claim 18 wherein the outcome of the depicted aspects of the simulation is dependent on random or pseudo-random numbers. 22. Computer software comprising program instructions which, when loaded onto a computer, cause said computer to perform as the entertainment server of claim 7. 23. Computer software comprising program instruction which, when loaded onto a computer, cause said computer to carry out the method of claim 10. 24. Computer software comprising program instruction which, when loaded onto a computer, cause said computer to carry out the method of claim 18. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION <EOH>A popular type of multi-player computer game is a simulation. In a simulation, some aspects of an artificial world develop through time, responding to instructions made by players. Simulations are known which emulate sport competitions; for example, computer games which enable participants to acts as managers of a football team or horse trainers where their actions influence the result of football matches or horse races. The use of motion tracking, using for example magnetic sensors attached to an actor, to provide an input to a computer simulation for real-time animated television broadcast is known. For example such virtual actor technology is provided by SimGraphics of South Pasadena, Calif., USA. However the approach is not suitable for interactive entertainment where instructions from viewers (as opposed to measurements from actor) affect the outcome of a simulation. The invention described in the present Application relates particularly to a horse racing simulation where players train horses and enter their horses into races. However, it will be immediately clear to one skilled in the art that it can be applied to all manner of simulations, for example different sports or other types of simulations. One reason that multi-player computer games have not achieved mass popularity is due to the difficulty of providing an accessible interesting game in a form which is easy to use by the general public. Interactive television is an easy to use medium with which the general population is becoming more familiar. It would be highly desirable to provide new forms of entertainment through interactive television. However the ability to do this for a multi-player game is limited by the difficulty of transmitting different information to different players. Generally only low speed data links are available in a television distribution system for communicating with individual users of the system. Such links are suitable for providing web pages or menus but are not suitable for transmitting personalised state of the art animated computer graphics. It is an object of the present invention to provide real-time broadcast of interactive simulations. A further object of the present invention is the generation of revenue. The revenue may be generated through advertising, user participation and through gambling by providing an interesting new format and new competitions which are interesting subjects for gambling. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <EOH>According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an entertainment system comprising: a simulation module, adapted to run a simulation comprising calculative iterations and an outcome, the outcome being at least partially dependent on instructions received from a plurality of users; input hardware for receiving instructions from users; a rendering module for preparing signals corresponding to video images depicting aspects of the calculative iterations of the simulation, for feeding prior to said outcome being simulated said signals into a distribution network adapted for distributing said signals to a plurality of users. Preferably aspects of the simulation depend on random or pseudo-random numbers. Preferably a terminal is a set-top box. Preferably the simulation comprises a plurality of simulated entities having properties which affect the outcome of interactions therebetween, and wherein said video images depict interactions between said entities. Preferably said entities represent horses and the entertainment system further comprises: a storage module adapted to store information about at least one of said horses; said information comprising attributes affecting the horse performance in races; wherein user's instructions affect the development with time of horse's attributes; and, wherein the video images depict races between horses, the outcome of the races being at least partially responsive to the horse attributes. Optionally the entertainment system further comprises television broadcast apparatus for broadcasting a television signal. This aspect is particularly suitable for providing, for example, a horse racing game in which individual user's can interact with the simulation module; for example, buying and selling horses, determining how they are trained, hiring trainers and jockeys and entering them into races. These commands to the simulation module require relatively low bandwidth connections specific to each user. However, the rendering module can prepare high quality video images using state of the art graphics generation techniques which are then transmitted to users via conventional television distribution methods. This is a highly economic method of providing interesting entertainment as it does not require a high bandwidth link specific to each user to be provided and the high quality software and hardware rendering engine used to prepare the video images can be maintained in only one place and the resulting images transmitted as conventional television pictures. Importantly, this also provides access to the multi-player game to user's through the convenient, familiar interface of their television. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an entertainment server executing a simulation comprising calculative iterations and an outcome, and being adapted to receive instructions from a plurality of users; the users instructions affecting the simulation, the game server further being adapted to send to a rendering engine the information required for preparing a video image sequence relating to an aspect of the calculative iterations of the simulation; said video image sequence being for transmission through a distribution network prior to said outcome being simulated. Preferably the entertainment server is further adapted for storing information about entities, wherein entities have attributes affecting their performance in interactions, wherein users' instructions affect the development with time of entities' attributes and wherein the video images depict interactions between entities, the outcome of the interactions being responsive to the entities' attributes. Preferably the entertainment server is further adapted for storing information about horses, wherein horses have attributes affecting their performance in races, wherein users' instructions affect the development with time of horses' attributes and wherein the video images depict races between horses, the outcome of the races being responsive to the horses' attributes. According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for interactive entertainment comprising the steps of: receiving instructions from a plurality of users; running a simulation comprising calculative iterations and an outcome, the development of the simulation at least partially dependent on the instructions received; preparing signals corresponding to video images depicting aspects of the calculative iterations of the simulation; and distributing said signals to a plurality of users prior to said outcome being simulated. Preferably said step of distributing is performed via a television distribution network. Preferably the development of the simulation further depends at least partially, on randomly or pseudo-randomly generated parameters. Preferably said instructions are received via user's set-top boxes. Preferably the simulation comprises simulated creatures having properties which affect the outcome of competitions and the video images depict competitions between creatures. Preferably the method comprises the step of storing information about entities, wherein entities have attributes affecting their performance in interactions, wherein users' instructions affect the development with time of entities' attributes and wherein the video images depict interactions between entities, the outcome of the interactions being responsive to the entities' attributes. Preferably the method comprises the step of storing information about horses, wherein horses have attributes affecting their performance in races, wherein users' instructions affect the development with time of horses' attributes and wherein the video images depict races between horses, the outcome of the races being responsive to the horses' attributes. Optionally the method further comprises the step of preparing the video images for television broadcast. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of generating revenue comprising the steps of: running a computer-based simulation comprising calculative iterations and an outcome, the outcome being at least partially dependent on instructions received from a plurality of users; inviting players to place bets upon the outcome of depicted aspects of the simulation; rendering video images depicting aspects of the calculative iterations of the simulation; transmitting prior to said outcome being simulated said video images into a distribution network; and paying out real or simulated money dependent on the outcome of depicted aspects of the simulation. Preferably the simulation simulates entities, wherein entities have attributes affecting their performance in interactions, wherein users' instructions affect the development with time of entities' attributes and wherein the video images depict interactions between entities, the outcome of the interactions being responsive to the entities' attributes. Preferably the simulation simulates horses, wherein horses have attributes affecting their performance in races, wherein user's instructions affect the development with time of horses' attributes and wherein the video images depict races between horses, the outcome of the races being responsive to the horses' attributes. Optionally the outcome of the depicted aspects of the simulation is dependent on random or pseudo-random numbers. This provides a new way of generating betting revenue. It is generally considered uninteresting to bet on the results of a completely computer-generated event. This is because computers are considered to be impersonal. However, the present simulation, whilst computer generated, simulates races which have been influenced by the actions of human beings and therefore it is interesting to bet upon the outcome of these races. Further, the ‘live’ broadcast of races in real time where the outcome has not been yet simulated is more interesting. Preferably the simulation module is not fully deterministic but runs a simulation using a pseudo-random number generator to provide non-deterministic input, increasing interest in the results still further. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided computer software comprising program instructions which, when loaded onto a computer, cause said computer to perform as the entertainment server according to the second aspect. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided computer software comprising program instruction which, when loaded onto a computer, cause said computer to carry out the method according to the third aspect. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention there is provided computer software comprising program instruction which, when loaded onto a computer, cause said computer to carry out the method according to the fourth aspect. |
Spr interferometer |
The present invention concerns an interferometer comprising: an optical body adapted in operation to mount a measurement area comprising a film which is capable of acting as a two dimensional environment for surface plasmons and an adjacent reference area; an optical beam generation means for irradiating the reference and measurement areas with radiation capable of generating surface plasmon resonance; optical means for combining radiation reflected from the reference and measurement areas, and pixelated detection means for generating data representing two dimensional images of the combined radiation beams. |
1. An interferometer comprising: an optical body adapted in operation to mount a measurement area comprising a film which is capable of acting as a two dimensional environment for surface plasmons and an adjacent reference area; an optical beam generation means for irradiating the reference and measurement areas with radiation capable of generating surface plasmon resonance; optical means for combining radiation reflected from the reference and measurement areas, and pixelated detection means for generating data representing two dimensional images of the combined radiation beams. 2. An interferometer according to claim 1 wherein the optical body comprises a prism of which at least a part face provides, with the film, the respective measurement and reference areas. 3. An interferometer according to claim 1, wherein the optical body comprises a pair of prisms, at least a part of one face of one prism providing with the film a measurement area, and at least a part of one face of the other prism providing with the film a reference area. 4. An interferometer according to claim 1 wherein the optical beam generation means comprise a source of polarised light, and a parallel faced optical flat located in the path of the optical axis of the polarised light source so as to split the light into a reference beam incident in use on the reference area and a measurement beam incident in use on the measurement area. 5. An interferometer according to claim 4, wherein said optical flat lies in the path of the light reflected from the respective reference and measurement areas so as to combine the light reflected from these areas. 6. A interferometer according to claim 1, wherein the light source is adapted to generate light plane polarised to the plane of incidence of the light to the reference and measurement surfaces. 7. An interferometer according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises an optical fibre which can be coupled to a remote light source. 8. An interferometer according to claim 1 in which the optical body comprising the two dimensional environment for surface plasmons and the reference and measurement beam separation and re-combination means form a single monolithic unit. 9. An interferometer according to claim 1 in which the reference and measurement beams pass through an additional optical element before recombination, said element being designed to introduce an angular shear between the said beams. 10. An interferometer according to claim 1 in which the reference and measurement beams pass through an additional optical element before recombination said element being designed to introduce a spatially uniform phase difference between the said beams. 11. An interferometer in accordance with claim 9 in which the said optical element or component thereof may be moved so as to introduce a variable relative phase difference between the reference and measurement beams. 12. An interferometer in accordance with claim 9 in which the said optical element consists of a bi-prism. 13. An interferometer in accordance with claim 10 in which the said optical element consists of two optical wedges of the same angle so configured to form an optical flat of variable thickness when one prism is translated relative to the other. 14. An interferometer according to claim 1 in combination with a slide carrying said film. 15. An interferometer according to claim 14 in which the reference area on said slide is coated such that it cannot support surface plasmons. 16. An interferometer according to claim 14 in which both the reference and measurement area on said slide can support surface plasmons. 17. An interferometer according to claim 15 in which both the reference and measurement areas on said slide are conformably coated with a chemical attachment film. 18. An interferometer according to claim 15 in which only the measurement area on said slide is conformably coated with a chemical attachment film. 19. An interferometer in accordance with claim 1 comprising a waveguide for coupling the light source via respective waveguides having independent paths to the respective measurement and reference areas. 20. An interferometer according to claim 19 wherein the path lengths of the respective waveguides have a path length difference which is greater than the coherence length of the source. 21. An interferometer in accordance with claim 20, including a second interferometer adapted to measure phase difference in said areas. 22. A method of interferometrically detecting variations in surface plasmon resonance forming a measurement area comprising a film which is capable of acting as a two dimensional environment for surface plasmon resonance, providing a reference area, which is not capable of supporting surface plasmon resonance, providing at least the measurement area with probe molecule ligands, irradiating the reference and measurement areas with radiation capable of generating surface plasmon resonance, passing an analyte past the measurement and reference areas, combining radiation reflected from the reference and measurement areas, and utilising pixellated detection means to generate two dimensional images of the combined radiation beams. |
<SOH> INTRODUCTION <EOH>The present invention relates to optical interferometers. Interferometers are used in many fields but the present invention is particularly, though not exclusively, concerned with interferometers whose applications include the detection of optical phase changes due to surface binding under surface plasmon resonance (SPR) conditions and to the detection of binding at multiple, discrete sites in the surface using the phase images thereby obtained. Surface Plasmons (SP) are collective oscillations of free electrons constrained to move in a thin film of a conductor considered as a two-dimensional environment. These oscillations are excited by external electromagnetic radiation coming from a high refractive index medium. For a given configuration there exist a relatively small range of film thickness for which resonance is supported. Film thickness outside of this range are non-resonant. Surface plasmons also have a characteristic propagation length that limits fundamentally the spatial resolution achievable with this technique. SPR is used in molecular binding detection analysis where typically molecules to be tested are deposited on the thin film and potential binding agents are passed in a solution or gas over the rear face of the thin film. If binding occurs between a molecule and a binding agent under SPR conditions the refractive index at that point will change and can be detected. Uses of molecular binding detection analysis include, but are not limited to, measuring the expression levels of genes and proteins in biological samples, determining the functions of genes and proteins, identifying actual or potential therapeutic drugs and other molecules, determining the biological effects of actual or potential therapeutic drugs and other molecules. These applications can be used in biological research activities, in discovery and development of drugs, and as diagnostic tests. In prior art a Mach Zehnder device has been configured to measure SPR phase changes produced by variations in the refractive index of a gas local to the measurement surface. A major disadvantage of this type of device, particularly with respect to routine laboratory use, is that it requires four independent components: two beam splitters and two mirrors, one of which is the resonant surface in the case of the SPR configuration. As a result, the arrangement is relatively bulky and, more critically, the output is sensitive to sub-wavelength relative displacements of these components and hence very small mechanical and environmental perturbations. In order that the present invention may be more clearly understood, embodiments will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic cross section through the known (Kretschmann) configuration of optics for illuminating a surface under SPR conditions. FIG. 2 shows a graph illustrating the non-linear resonant characteristics in the intensity (I) and phase domain (φ) of the light reflected from the surface in FIG. 1 over the range for which surface plasmons are generated. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of an interferometer in an embodiment in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing part of a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the collimation of an extended illumination source. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing part of the interferometer in which a bi-prism is introduced to generate an angular shear between the interfering wavefronts. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing part of an interferometer in which a lens is used to superimpose the sheared interfering wavefronts in the plane of the detector array. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing part of the interferometer in which a displacement is applied to a bi prism in order to generate a relative phase step between the interfering wavefronts. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing part of the interferometer in which a displacement is applied to single angle prism in order to generate a relative phase step between the interfering wavefronts. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an optical configuration by which a translation of the source causes the direction of propagation of the collimated wavefront to rotate about the optical axis of the collimating lens; FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an array of individually collimated light sources; FIG. 12 is a diagram showing telecentric illumination optics based on an array of sources;. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing one arrangement of the reference and measurement surfaces in which the thickness of the coating in the reference region is such that it does not support resonance and that in the measurement region is at a resonant thickness. The diagram also shows a binding layer conformably coated on both the reference and measurement films; FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an alternative arrangement of the reference and measurement surfaces in which both have the same resonant coating thickness. The binding layer conformably coats the measurement surface only; FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a signal processing unit; FIG. 16 is a perspective view of one practical embodiment; and FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an implementation of the invention using waveguides. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? Before the embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings are described there will be given a brief resume of the basic principles of SPR with regard to the known Kretschmann configuration shown in FIG. 1 . This comprises a prism 1 , a slide in the form of an optical flat glass plate 2 optically contacted to the base of the prism 1 and a thin metallic film 3 . Normally the film 3 is coated with a chemical layer 3 ′ to which are bound molecule ligands. The chemical layer may, for example, consist of carboxymethyl dextran and typical probe molecules include antibodies, enzymes and proteins. The angle of the prism 1 depends upon its refractive index that of the optical flat and the medium in contact with it. For the high refractive index glass required for resonance in contact with water it is typically 60°. The film 3 , can for example, be of gold or silver and has a thickness in the range typically 20 nm to 50 nm depending on the sharpness of the resonance i.e. the angular width θ r required. The metal film 3 acts as a two dimensional environment for surface plasmons (SP). These are, as already mentioned, the collective oscillations of free electrons which are confined to move in the film and which are excited into oscillation by external electromagnetic radiation coming from the high refractive index medium provided by the prism 1 and the optical flat 2 . The radiation is in the form of an input beam of polarised light from a suitable light source 4 . To maximise the resonant component of the reflected light the light beam is polarised in the plane of incidence. (i.e. it is p polarised). The output light field is converted to an electronic signal by a suitable opto-electronic detector 5 and output data is generated from output electronic signal by appropriate circuitry connected to the detector (i.e. 6 as shown in a specific implementation in FIG. 3 ). FIG. 2 shows the variation in the intensity and the phase of the light reflected from the surface in FIG. 1 over the angular resonant range θ r for which resonant surface plasmons are generated. The angular position of the resonant intensity minimum θ p for a given film material is a sensitive function of the refractive index of the medium in direct proximity with the surface. Changes to molecules bound to the surfaces due to interaction and binding with other modules affect the local refractive index and therefore modulate the position of minimum shown in FIG. 2 . Existing systems of this type operate predominately in the intensity domain. In one such approach the co-ordinate of the intensity minimum is determined from that of the corresponding dark line that is observed when a divergent light field is incident on the resonant surface and it is imaged by the detector (1). Differential imaging techniques using plane wave illumination in which images recorded before and after resonant shift are subtracted to display local change have also been used. The former of these methods can not be easily adapted to measure small areas and the resolution of the latter is limited by image noise and optical power throughput. This constrains the extent to which they can be used to image and measure multiple, small binding sites. The present invention is concerned with avoiding the limitations of these known methods and involves Phase domain φ imaging. The reason for this is that the phase φ varies approximately linearly with respect to the resonant angle θ r and hence a small angular shift of the resonance Δθ p causes a phase shift Δθ where: Δϕ = ⅆ ϕ ⅆ θ r Δθ p and ( ⅆ ϕ ⅆ θ r ) = variation of phase with respect to angle over the resonant region ( 1 ) The measurement of Δφ requires that the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 be incorporated in an interferometer such that the wavefront reflected from the resonant surface interferes with a reference wavefront. The fringe shift in the resultant interference pattern due to changes in local refractive index as the result, for example, of molecular binding can then be detected. The embodiments of the invention to be described hereinafter have as a principle concern the reduction of the noise due to mechanical and thermal perturbations to a minimum to thereby enable maximum measurement sensitivity to be achieved (i.e. as limited fundamentally by the source and detector noise and the plasmon propagation length). Turning now to the basic geometry of the interferometer that is the subject of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 , it will be seen that this embodiment incorporates the same basic configuration of prism 1 , optical flat 2 , polarised light source 4 , a photosensitive detector and electronic circuitry 6 . However in this embodiment the detector 5 ′ is pixelated so that it can generate two dimensional images for subsequent recording and display. Thus as will be described hereinafter with regard to FIG. 15 the signal processing circuitry 6 also has to operate in a manner different from the prior art configuration. However, it will be seen that the film 3 covering the base face of the prism is varied so that the base face is divided with two areas 7 and 8 . Area 7 is treated so as to be non-resonant and thereby provide a reference area. This can be achieved by increasing the thickness of this film area to a non-resonant value. Area 8 is the measurement area and is created in a manner similar to the film of the prior art SPR configuration in FIG. 1 . In an alternative configuration of particular relevance to the detection of molecular binding, the reference and measurement regions have the same resonant thickness but with only the measurement region being coated with a suitable molecular binding coating. In both cases the differential phase is proportional to the binding that occurs when a buffer fluid or analyte containing the binding molecules is flowed simultaneously over the reference and measurement surfaces. The embodiment of FIG. 3 has additional components in the form of a parallel faced optical flat 9 in the path of the beam of light from the polarised light source 4 and beam shaping optics 10 . The beam shaping optics 10 will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The optical flat 9 is mounted normally parallel to the base of prism 1 . The detector 5 ′ of this embodiment is pixelated so as to generate an image of the combined beam reflected from the respective reference and measurement areas. Fourier Transform and Phase Stepping techniques may be conveniently used to measure the relative phase of the reference and measurement beam as a function of pixel co-ordinate in the 2D array and are described later. Under SPR conditions the local phase changes will correspond to those induced by changes in the refractive index at the surface due, for example, to molecular binding. This mode of operation requires that the illumination and viewing optics of the specific forms discussed later be used. A 2D phase image of the SPR binding is thereby generated. In a particular configuration the measurement surface may be patterned with an array of discrete sites each having different binding properties (e.g. ligands) and the response to a given molecule (e.g. a specific protein) determined from the previously described phase image. In operation a beam of light from the source 4 and optics 10 is partially reflected from the front face of the optical flat 9 at a point 11 to form a reference beam R and the transmitted beam is reflected from the rear face of optical flat 9 at 12 to form a measurement beam M. The beams R and M are incident on the areas 7 and 8 respectively at points 13 and 14 . The reference and measurement beams R and M recombine at point 15 by being reflected from the rear face of optical flat 9 at 16 and the front face of optical flat 9 at point 15 . The measurement beam M generates surface plasmon resonance at point 14 but, depending on the arrangement used, either no resonance or binding refractive index change is generated at point 13 . The combined beam is incident on the pixelated detector 5 ′ via viewing optics 18 so as to generate an image which is analysed by the circuitry shown at 6 . An additional optical element 50 may be incorporated in the interferometer to modify the relative phase of the reference and measurement beam in accordance with the requirements of the phase measurement technique. FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment which in principle operates in exactly the same manner as the first embodiment. However in the second embodiment there is provided an additional prism 9 ′ similar to prism 1 but which acts as a reference prism as the base of this second prism is treated in a manner similar to reference area 7 so as to be non-resonant. In this embodiment a plane polarised reference light beam from a light source 4 impinges on prism 9 ′ to be reflected at point 21 to form a reference beam R and the measurement beam from source 4 impinges on prism 1 to be reflected at point 22 so as to generate surface plasmon resonance and to provide as before a measurement beam M. As in the previous embodiment the reference and measurement beams will generate a two dimensional image on the pixilated detector 5 ′. Thus the phase of the resonant measurement beams is measured as a function of the spatial co-ordinates as detected by the pixilated detector array 5 ′ and can be used by the processing circuitry 6 , as the previous embodiment, to establish an image of binding events over an array of discrete binding sites 8 in the measurement areas. The stability of the two embodiments described above results from the commonality of the beam division/recombination and reference/measurement optical elements. Spatially uniform relative displacements of these components have a common effect on the path lengths of the reference and measurement beams and accordingly do not cause relative phase shifts. A relative rotation of the components generates a spatially uniform phase change which may be subtracted when detecting localised phase variations. A further advantage of the preferred configurations is that any phase shifts not associated with resonant binding that are common to the surface that embodies the reference and measurement zones cancel out automatically. There will now be discussed the criteria defining the input illumination and output imaging optics of the interferometer shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in order for them to be compatible with the phase imaging discussed above. The first requirement is that the angular divergence β of the illumination light field has to be small with respect to the angular width of the resonance θ r in order to minimise the convolutive blurring of φ with respect to θ and the resultant loss of sensitivity dφ/dθ. It also has to be spectrally narrow band in order to prevent equivalent blurring in the spectral domain. In the general case the requirements for imaging are demanding. This is because the object plane (i.e. measurement surface) is inclined at a large angle (typically 60°) to the viewing direction and is observed through a varying depth of glass through the prism. It is noted however, that the composite reference and measurement surface is effectively a plane, internal mirror. The light reflected from individual elements of the measurement surface hence propagate as corresponding elements of the reflected wavefront. Under these conditions any lens used in the output path of the interferometer need only serve the significantly less demanding function of modifying the geometry of the interfering wavefronts. The above requirements are mutually compatible with the use of a collimated monochromatic ‘point source’ as shown in FIG. 5 . Here the light from the source 4 , of small, finite diameter η, is collimated by the lens 30 of focal length f. The divergence β of the collimated wavefront is given by: in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? β=η/ f (2) in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? β is reduced to the minimum value by using a source with minimum radius η and extending the focal length f of an optimal lens form to the maximum practical value. In practice the source may consist of: (a) a pin-hole back illuminated by light focussed from a spectrally filtered, extended white light source (η˜100 μm); (b) a single wavelength laser (η˜1.5 μm); (c) a single mode fibre into which light the laser in (b) is coupled (η˜5 μm). In the case of (a) it is noted that the filter ( 32 ) may follow the polariser ( 31 ) and collimating lens 30 as shown in FIG. 5 . In the limit that the sources size tends to λ (the light wavelength) β tends towards the diffraction limited values of λ/f which fundamentally limits the degree of collimation. In practice this is closely approximated by (b) and (c) above. Lasers (b), (c) are preferred to a white light source (a) because the optical power throughput of the latter is significantly less than the former due to the low coupling efficiency of light from the extended source through the small pin-hole and attenuation by the narrow pass band spectral filter (typical spectral width 10 nm). In addition minimum values of β and hence convolutive resolution loss are attainable using a laser source. The general disadvantage of a laser for imaging applications is that the scatter and diffraction of laser light at random micro defects in the optical surfaces generates image noise. This is due to the high spatial and temporal coherence lengths Xc and Lc of the light field where, x C = 0.3 f λ η 3 ( a ) L c = λ 2 Δλ and , λ = wavelength Δλ = spectral width 3 ( b ) Coherent noise impairs intensity domain images of SPR binding for which it has been found necessary to use the lower coherence pin-hole arrangement (a) with the attendant loss of optical power and image signal to noise ratio. By comparison phase domain processing is intrinsically less sensitive to such noise due to operation in either a narrow band of spatial frequency (Fourier Transform method) or an intensity independent mode (Phase Stepping method). These phase imaging techniques which will be discussed in detail herewith are consequently compatible with illumination derived from a laser source. The resultant increase in SNR due to the higher optical power throughput and the reduced image blur provides a route to optimal imaging. There will now be discussed those aspects of interferometer design that are related to the specific requirements of the Fourier Transform and Phase Stepping techniques used in preferred embodiments of the invention for measuring the relative phase of the reference and measurement beams. Firstly, the Fourier transform method will be discussed. In this method a phase variation is introduced between the interfering wavefronts that varies linearly with respect to spatial co-ordinates. The intensity at a point in the resultant linear fringe pattern superimposed upon the detected image is given by, in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? I ( r )= a ( r )+ b ( r ).sin( k.r ) (4) in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? which can also be expressed as complex exponentials, in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? I ( r )= a ( r )+ c ( r ). e i(k.r) −c ± ( r ). e −i(k.r) (5) in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? where in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? c ( r )=0.5 b ( r ) e iφ( r ) in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? The 2-D Fourier transform of the intensity profile consists of a complex function that has three main local maxima of its absolute value. These occur one at the DC level, and two from the carrier frequency (i.e. one at f o and one at −f o ) The 3-lobed function in frequency space is then translated such -that the lobe at f o is moved to DC. An apodisation function is then applied so that the other lobes of the function are suppressed. In one implementation there can be used a Gaussian function centred at what was the carrier frequency, and whose 3σ point is at what was the DC point. The inverse Fourier transform is then taken of this data, which leaves only one term from the complex intensity expression above. Taking natural logs of the system, and noting that phase can be extracted from the polar form of complex expressions we find, in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? ln( z )=ln( re iθ )=ln( r )+ iθ (6) in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? Thus the phase can be extracted by taking only the imaginary part of the output of the inverse Fourier Transform. The spacing of the fringe described by equations 4, 5 needs to be nominally 0.2 times the spatial resolution at which it is required to measure phase variations. In a typical high throughput application the spatial resolution is expected to be of the order 100 μm. Hence a detector plane fringe spacing of about 20 μm is required assuming unity magnification. Fringe fields with this geometry may be generated by introducing an angular shear between the reference and measurement wavefronts. For this purpose the arrangement shown in FIG. 6 may be used. Here the reference and object beams are passed through the adjacent facets of a small angle bi-prism 50 after reflection from the elements 7 and 8 of the test region and prior to recombination of the interferometer output. This prism arrangement is preferred because it is intrinsically insensitive to vibration and does not require that the simple planar geometry of the basic interferometer be modified. An angular shear 2β (rads) is thereby introduced between the beam where, in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? β=( n −1)α (7) in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? α=Inclination of the prism face (α, β are assumed small angles). FIG. 7 shows how a lens 51 of focal length f in the output beam path following the combination point 15 shown in FIG. 3 may be used to superimpose the interfering beams in the plane of the pixelated detector 5 ′. The fringe spacing in this plane is given by s where, s = q λ 2 β ( 8 ) where q is the ratio of the input beam diameter to that in the plane of the detector. The path difference over which uniform fringe contrast needs to exist for total path differences is typically 0.2 mm i.e. the coherence length of the source should be of the order 1 to 10 mm for which stable, single mode operation is required to ensure high fringe stability. In practice the combination of near diffraction limited plane wave illumination and high spatial and temporal coherence that results from the use of laser source causes the fringe and image planes to be non-localised. Consequently a fringe field is superimposed upon the measurement plane structure in any plane before or after the lens in which beam overlap occurs. The fringe spacing depends on q (equation 8) which is a function of this plane. The introduction of a lens results in a plane for which precise beam superposition occurs. The detector 5 ′ shown in FIG. 7 is located in this plane. There will now be described the Phase stepping method. In this technique known optical path differences between the measurement and reference wavefront are introduced and the detector plane intensity distribution recorded for each change. If the complex amplitudes of the reference and measurement wavefronts at a point are respectively, in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? U r =u r exp(−iφ r ) (9) in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? U m =u m exp(−iφ m ) (10) in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? and sequential plane steps of a quarter of a wavelength (equivalent to a phase step of π/2) are applied the following equation is satisfied: ϕ r - ϕ m = tan - 1 ( I ( x / 2 ) - I ( 3 π / 2 ) I ( 0 ) - I ( π ) ) ( 11 ) In equation 11 , I (nπ/2) is the intensity recorded for the corresponding phase step (n=0, 1, 2, 3) and the required phase difference (φ r −θ m ) is independent of the image intensity. The calculation defined by this equation is performed for each pixel in the array and a 2D phase image thereby generated. Precise phase steps may be generated by translating the bi-prism 50 ( FIG. 6 ) as shown in FIG. 8 . Here an actuator 53 translates the prism 50 in its plane by a known distance d. This introduces a relative path difference, p between the reference and measurement wavefront where, in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? p= 2 n d α (12) in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? and n=refractive index of the prism α must be selected such that the fringe spacing generated by the shear intrinsic to the arrangement can be resolved by the detector and the required path difference p compatible with the displacement range of the actuator. In practice the latter may consist of a piezo actuator with integral position transducer and a typical displacement range of 100 μm. For p of order 1 μm it is found that α˜10 −2 rads for which the fringe spacing is nominally 30 μm (using equation 8 with q=1). This is compatible with what is required for the Fourier Transform method and hence the same basic system with the addition of a prism translation mechanism may be used for both phase measurement methods. An alternative method for introducing the phase shift without the introduction of an angular shear between the wavefronts is shown in FIG. 9 . In this the beam which it is required shift in phase is passed through two matched prisms 54 and 55 having the same prism angle α. The phase shift is introduced by translating one of the prisms in a distance d relative to the other in a direction parallel to its inclined face. In FIG. 9 the prism 55 is shown being translated in this way by the actuator 53 . A path length difference ndα is thereby introduced without angular deviation of the beam. This is because the beam effectively sees a parallel sided optical flat of varying optical thickness n[(t 1 +t 2 )−dα)] where t 1 and t 2 are the thick and thin prism thickness respectively. This phase shift may be introduced relative to a zero phase difference by introducing a parallel faced block of the same refractive index and thickness (t 1 +t 2 ) into the other beam. In such an arrangement coherence need only be maintained over a few wavelengths and for which a single mode laser is not required. The basic illumination system discussed above may be adapted for different operational requirements as will now be described. For some applications it may be advantageous to be able to vary the angle of illumination over a small range in order to tune for optimum resonance. For this purpose the translation of the source 4 by a distance d from 1 to 2 in the focal plane of the collimating lens 30 as shown in FIG. 10 may be used. This results in the central axis of the collimated beam being rotated by an angle θ where θ=d/f. This therefore enables the angle of incidence to be varied without perturbation of the remainder of the opto-mechanical system. In a practical implementation the focal plane illumination source may consist of an optical fibre linked to a remote light source and attached to a displacement transducer. FIG. 11 of the accompanying drawings shows a variant in which a plurality of similar optical illumination systems are provided with parallel optical axes. Thus whilst FIG. 5 shows one such system it will be appreciated that there can be an array of light sources 4 , 4 1 , 4 2 , . . . 4 n , each of which have an associated lens, polariser and if necessary narrow band pass filter. Use of such an array of light sources enables an increased part of the measurement areas of the embodiments described to be utilised substantially increasing the amount of analysis which can be carried out by a single interferometer. Referring now to FIG. 12 , this shows a twin lens telecentric system as an alternative to a lens array. The telecentric system results in an illumination beam consisting of a parallel pair of rays with covergence angle α′ for the two sources 42 and 43 . The two lenses 44 and 45 have f 1 and f 2 as their focal lengths and the two light sources 42 and 43 separated by a distance η are located in the focal plane of lens 44 . The arrangement can be extended to multiple sources which may be any of the light sources already described. The system is constrained by the following two equations which follow from the Lagrange invariant: α ′ = α f 1 f 2 ( 13 ) η ′ = η f 2 f 1 ( 14 ) This telecentric system is provided with a stop 46 . FIG. 15 shows the typical constituent elements of the signal processing unit 6 shown in FIG. 3 . In operation a synchronisation pulse indicating, for example, the injection of binding molecules is delivered by the unit 61 . There are many ways obvious to a person skilled in the art in which the apparatus can be alerted to the imminent presence of probe molecules. This triggers the acquisition and storage of the video data by a video frame grabber and store 62 . A typical example of a frame grabber is that available on the market as “Coreco Imaging PC-DIG-LVDS” (TM). This data is processed by a digital processor 63 (PC, DSP etc . . . ) using algorithms 64 . Data is displayed by 65 which may in practice be a VDU. FIG. 16 shows a typical practical configuration of the system with some of the elements shown in previous figures indicated. It will be appreciated that the optical flat 2 and the metal film 3 (which may carry the chemical attachment layer 3 ′) can be permanently adhered to the relevant face of the prism 1 . However, in a preferred embodiment the optical flat 2 and film 3 are formed as a removable slide which can be suitably mounted so as to be tightly held against and index matched to the face of the prism 1 . Thus after testing the slide can be removed and a freshly prepared slide introduced, thus increasing the rate of testing. FIG. 17 shows an equivalent waveguide configuration of the system. In this system light from a light source 70 is coupled via a bi-directional waveguide beam coupler 71 into a linkage waveguide 71 ′ which is coupled into a second bi-directional waveguide coupler 72 . The outputs from the latter couples light into the waveguide measurement arm 73 (M) and waveguide reference arm 74 (R) of the sensor. The measurement arm is configured to be resonant by modification of the waveguide geometry. The upper surface of the waveguide may, for example, be made planar and coated with gold of appropriate thickness. Light passing through the waveguides 73 and 74 is reflected from the respective waveguide end facets 73 ′, 74 ′ and interferes on recombination at the directional coupler 72 . It is then coupled back via 71 ′ and 71 to the detector 75 where the light field is detected and the phase shifts measured. In practice the measurement and reference waveguide can be placed in very close proximity. Under these conditions non-resonant effects due to temperature changes, vibration, etc . . . are, to a very good approximation, common to both waveguides. The measured phase changes are therefore due primarily to surface plasmon resonance effects in the measurement channel. In a preferred configuration the path difference between the reference and measurement channels is made greater than the coherence length of the light source. This enables the interference pattern to be reconstituted at a remote processing interferometer placed at the output of the system. For example, in such an arrangement the unit 75 in FIG. 17 would be replaced by a processing interferometer and detector. The introduction of this second interferometer enables the fringes to be optimally processed. The following applications are listed to demonstrate particular potential uses of the interferometer. They do not exclude the possibility of applications for the interferometer that are not described here. As mentioned a particularly important application is the detection of molecular binding and FIGS. 13 and 14 show configurations of the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 for this purpose. As has been discussed previously the substrate 2 is optically contacted with the prism 1 and coated with a thin metallic film 3 carrying a chemical attachment layer 3 ′. In the case of the arrangement shown in FIG. 13 the thickness of this metallic coating of the reference region 7 is such that it does not support resonance and that in the measurement region 8 is at resonant thickness. A second thin chemical attachment film 3 ′ conformably coats the metallic film in the measurement area. Discrete binding sites B 1 to B n , which may consist of probe molecules such as antibodies, or other molecules with specific affinities, are deposited on the chemical attachment film 3 ′ in the measurement area 8 . In a typical experiment the angle of incidence of the illumination is adjusted such that the composite surface 3 , 3 ′, B 1 to B n is at peak resonance with the incident light field in the presence of an analyte fluid which is passed over the binding sites B in a suitable conduit 50 . The reference phase is recorded in this state and molecules P such as proteins are then introduced into the analyte and a change in phase at a binding site used to detect the molecular binding of P to B at that site. Non-resonant phase changes common to the reference and measurement zones cancel out automatically in this configuration as a result of the latter being non-resonant. It will also be recognised that the conformed chemical attachment film 3 ′ may extend over both regions. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 14 the metallic film 3 is coated with a uniform resonant thickness so that both the reference zone 7 and measurement zone 8 are intrinsically resonant. The chemical attachment film 3 is however, applied only to the measurement zone. Under these conditions it will be seen that in the mode of operation described above resonant and non-resonant phase changes not associated with molecular binding that are common to both surfaces cancel out automatically. Thus the interferometer may be used for monitoring the interactions between various types of molecules, where one of those molecules (hereafter referred to as the “probe” molecule) is immobilised to the surface of the array 3 . In this manner, probe molecules are tested for their ability to bind other molecules—hereafter known as “target” molecules. Probe molecules are localised at particular defined sites on the surface of the array. The entire array may consist of many separate probe sites (B 1 to B n ), containing identical or different probe molecules. Multiple similar or different molecules, built on or attached to each other, can also be used to detect binding of molecules in the sample. In its experimental application, the surface carrying probe molecules may be exposed to a sample solution. Binding may occur between probe molecules immobilised on the array surface, and target molecules in the same solution. The interferometer described will enable the detection of binding events that occur between probe molecules localised on the array and target molecules in the solution. The method and apparatus just described has a number of advantages over the prior art. In particular it allows many probe molecules to be studied simultaneously; it enables binding of a target molecule to be detected without the need for labelling the target molecule with another chemical such as a fluorescent, chemiluminescent or bioluminescent tag, or with radioactivity; and it enables binding between probe molecules and target molecules to be monitored in real time. Detection of binding may allow a measurement of the quantity of target molecule present in the sample. It may also allow measurement of the kinetics and affinity of the interaction between the probe and the target molecules. The embodiments described are also suitable for detecting many combinations of interactions between types of molecules that include but are not limited to: proteins, antibodies, nucleic acids (including DNA, RNA and derivatives thereof), other biological molecules (including but not limited to carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, hormones, peptides) and chemicals (including but not limited to chemical therapeutic compounds and drugs). In principle, the interferometer may detect interactions between any of these types of molecules as probe, and any of these types of molecules as target. The target molecules may be present in a sample solution of which they are the only solute or component. The target molecules may also be present in a complex sample with many constituents in addition to the target molecules. When the probe molecules are multiple different antibodies, and the target molecules are proteins for which the antibodies have certain affinities, and the same is a biological preparation, the amount of binding between probe molecules and target molecules detected by the interferometer can be used to determine the quantities of those proteins in the original sample. Detecting levels of proteins in biological samples may be used to gain insight into gene function amongst other applications. Changes of protein levels that correspond to changes in the nature of the biological preparation, such as the onset of disease, can be used to reveal functional correlations between proteins, genes and biological phenomena such as disease, response to drugs (toxicology) and all the molecular and cellular processes of life. Functional information about genes and proteins may be used to select genes and proteins as potential targets for the development of drugs to intervene in disease functions. Functional information about genes and proteins can also be used to understand and predict the activity of therapeutic drugs in affecting disease process, in causing toxicity, and in other pharmalogical and biological effects. Functional information about genes and proteins can also be used to gain understanding of the basic processes of life, in health and in disease. Information about the association between protein levels and different cellular or biological states can be used to generate diagnostic tests that determine the existence of that particular cellular or biological state—e.g. disease. When used with the appropriate probe molecules, the interferometer described here can itself be used as a device for diagnosing disease, or monitoring other conditions in patients or in animals, such as pregnancy. When the probe molecules are multiple different proteins, and the target molecules are proteins (or other molecules) for which the probe proteins may have affinity, and the sample is a preparation containing one or more proteins (or other molecules), the amount of binding between probe molecules and target molecules detected by the interferometer can be used to determine the degree of interaction between the probe molecule and the target molecules. Information regarding the degree of interaction between probe proteins and target molecules can give insight into the function of proteins. Most proteins carry out their activities by binding to other molecules. Therefore testing the binding to molecules can give insight into their function in the cell or organism. Information regarding the functions of proteins and genes can be used to understand the basis of cellular activities in health and disease. Understanding the functions of proteins in disease can identify potential targets for intervention with drug therapies, as well as allowing other applications, as described above. When the probe molecules are multiple different chemicals or other molecules, and the target molecules are proteins, and the sample is a preparation containing one or more proteins, the amount of binding between probe molecules and target molecules detected by the interferometer can be used to determine the degree of interaction between the probe molecule and the target protein. Information regarding the degree of interaction between probe molecules and target proteins can be used to identify which probe molecules bind with affinity to the target protein. Molecules identified as binding to proteins may be useful as therapeutic compounds if the protein is involved in a particular disease. When the probe molecules are multiple different proteins, and the target molecules are actual or potential therapeutics (including but not limited to chemical compounds, biochemical compounds, antibodies or proteins), and the sample is a preparation containing one or more therapeutics, the amount of binding between probe molecules and target molecules detected by the interferometer can be used to determine the degree of interaction between the probe proteins and the target therapeutics. Information about the interaction between therapeutics and proteins can give insight into the function of the therapeutics, which can be used in the development of therapeutics. Depending on the identity of the probe proteins, this information may include but is not limited to information regarding the toxicity of the therapeutic, the pharmacological behaviour of the therapeutic, the metabolism, excretion, absorption of the therapeutic, as well as the mechanism of action of the therapeutic in affecting a disease state. When used with the appropriate probe molecules, the interferometer described here can itself be used as a device for diagnosing disease, or determining other conditions in patients or in animals. The device will be especially appropriate for making diagnoses when many factors are involved, or for carrying out multiple diagnostic tests on a single sample in one reaction by using many probe molecules as appropriate. Any of the applications listed above may potentially be carried out using real time detection of results. This facility can enable several further uses of the interferometer. For example, many biological testing approaches rely on recapitulating processes which naturally occur in a cellular environment by reconstitution in a biochemical assay. These assays typically depend on initiating a process under certain conditions, and then observing the results of carrying out that process. The embodiments described herein, with appropriate probe molecules as described above, will enable complex reactions to be observed as they progress in time by determining the levels of large numbers of different target molecules as they change through the course of a reaction. This can be particularly useful for biological reactions and pathways where many molecular effects are executed in particular sequences. Monitoring this type of in vitro reaction can be useful in conducting basic research into the mechanisms of life in health and disease, as well as carrying out specific assays to understand disease processes and other biological processes relevant to development of therapeutics and diagnostics. Additionally monitoring this type of in vitro reaction can enable real time feedback control mechanisms, where the constituents of the reaction vessel are adjusted and controlled automatically, according to information received from the interferometer device. Many experimental and biological procedures rely on observing and controlling the growth and behaviour of cells, organs, tissues or micro-organisms in experimental vessels. The interferometer embodiment of the invention described here, with appropriate probe molecules as described above, will enable monitoring of the components of the medium in which such organic materials are grown in bioreactors. Monitoring bioreactors can enable real time feedback control mechanisms, where the constituents of the reaction vessel are adjusted and controlled automatically, according to information received from the interferometer device. When used with the appropriate probe molecules, a device based on the interferometer can be used to monitor the condition of patients in real time. The device may be especially useful in situations that require measurement of multiple different indications at the same time. When used with the appropriate probe molecules, a device based on the interferometer can be used to monitor the presence and the levels of components and contaminants in foods and other substances. This has applications both for process control as well as quality assessment of products. When used with the appropriate probe molecules, a device based on the interferometer can be used for the detection and measurement of substances in water, for example in re-processing plants and reservoirs. Real time detection of binding between modules may be used to analyse the kinetics of the interaction between those molecules. When used in an experiment with dynamically changing conditions, real time detection of binding between molecules may be used to analyse the affinity of the interaction between those molecules. References (1) Chemical and Bio chemical sensing with optical fibres and waveguides. G Boisde and Alan Harmer, 1996 Artech House Inc, Chapter 8 pp 222-224. (2) Ariel G Notcovich et al, 2000, Applied Physics Letters, Volume 76, Number 13 pp 1665-1667. (3) Bryce P Nelson, Annal. Chem, 1999, 71, 3928-3934. (4) Jennifer M Brockman et al, Annu.Rev.Phys.Chem 2000. 51 pp 41-63. (5) Takeda et al, J.Opt.Soc.Am. Vol 72, No 1, January 1982, 156-159. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="tail"? |
Method and apparatus for cleaning and method and apparatus for etching |
A cleaning apparatus (30) is connected to a treating chamber (12) of a CVD apparatus (10) for forming a silicon film. The cleaning apparatus (30) has a first, a second, and a third gas sources (32, 34, 36) and a chlorine gas, a fluorine gas, and an inert gas are introduced from the gas sources through FMC (38a, 38b, 38c), respectively, with flow rates controlled independently from one another. Those gases are gathered at a pipe (42) and mixed into a mixed gas. The mixed gas is passed through a heated reactor (44) such as a heat exchanger to thereby react the chlorine gas with the fluorine gas and form a formed gas containing fluorinated chlorine gas such as CIF3. The formed gas is supplied to the treating chamber (12) through a cooler (46), an analyzer (48) and a buffer (54). |
1-11. (canceled). 12. A cleaning method that removes a by-product material in a treating chamber of a semiconductor processing system, comprising the steps of: i) introducing a nonfluorine first halogen gas from a first gas source; ii) mixing a fluorine gas from a second gas source; iii) mixing an inert gas from a third gas source; iv) feeding the mixed gas into a reactor; v) heating said mixed gas to a temperature at which said first halogen gas and fluorine gas react; vi) producing an interhalogen fluorine compound gas; and vii) feeding said compound gas concurrent with its production into said treating chamber. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said by-product material comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of: a) Si, b) Mo, c) Ta, d) W, e) SiOx, f) SiNx, g) SiON, h) SiC, i) SiGe, j) TaSix, k) TaOx, l) WSix, m) TiC, n) TiN, o) TiW, p) BN, and q) ITO. 14. The method according to claim 12, wherein said mixed gas comprises said first halogen gas in the range of from about 10% to about 90% by volume, said fluorine gas in the range of from about 10% to about 90% by volume, and said inert gas in the range of from about 10% to about 90% by volume. 15. The method according to claim 12, wherein said first halogen gas is chlorine. 16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the reacting temperature of said mixed gas is in the range of about 200° C. to about 400° C. 17. The method according to claim 12, wherein said inert gas is helium. 18. A cleaning apparatus that removes a by-product material in a treating chamber of a semiconductor processing system that comprises: i) an upstream section that forms a mixed gas; and ii) a downstream section that produces an interhalogen fluorine compound gas, wherein said mixed gas consists of a nonfluorine first halogen gas from a first gas source, a fluorine gas from a second gas source, and an inert gas from a third gas source, wherein said interhalogen fluorine compound gas is produced by feeding said mixed gas into a reactor and heating said mixed gas to a reacting temperature, and wherein said compound gas is fed concurrent with its production into said treating chamber. 19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said by-product material comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of: a) Si, b) Mo, c) Ta, d) W, e) SiOx, f) SiNx, g) SiON, h) SiC, i) SiGe, j) TaSix, k) TaOx, l) WSix, m) TiC, n) TiN, o) TiW, p) BN, and q) ITO. 20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said upstream section further comprises: iii) a controller, wherein said controller can adjust the individual volumetric flow rates of said first halogen gas, said fluorine gas, and said inert gas. 21. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said reactor comprises: i) a reaction chamber, and ii) an upstream conduit, wherein said reaction chamber and said upstream conduit are composed of a thermoconductive material that is resistant to corrosion, wherein said upstream conduit forms a heat-exchange section by wrapping around the periphery of said reaction chamber, and wherein said heat-exchange section is heated from the periphery by a heater. 22. An etching method for a semiconductor processing system that etches a first film on a treatment substrate comprising the steps of: i) introducing a nonfluorine first halogen gas from a first gas source; ii) mixing a fluorine gas from a second gas source; iii) mixing an inert gas from a third gas source; iv) feeding the mixed gas into a reactor; v) heating said mixed gas to a temperature at which said first halogen gas and fluorine gas react; vi) producing an interhalogen fluorine compound gas; vii) feeding said compound gas concurrent with its production into said treating chamber, and wherein said first film comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of: a) Si, b) POS, c) Ta, and d) TaSix. 23. The method according to claim 22, wherein a second film is present on the treatment substrate, and wherein said second film comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of: a) SiO2, b) SiNx, c) SiON, d) TaOx, and e) photoresists. 24. The method according to claim 23, wherein said etching method etches the first film relative to the second film. 25. An etching apparatus for a semiconductor processing system that etches a first film on a treatment substrate, comprising: i) a treating chamber that holds said treatment substrate; ii) an upstream section that forms a mixed gas; and iii) a downstream section that produces an interhalogen fluorine compound gas, wherein said mixed gas consists of a nonfluorine first halogen gas from a first gas source, a fluorine gas from a second gas source, and an inert gas from a third gas source, wherein said interhalogen fluorine compound gas is produced by feeding said mixed gas into a reactor and heating said mixed gas to a reacting temperature, wherein said compound gas is fed concurrent with its production into said treating chamber, and wherein said first film substantially comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of: a) Si, b) SIPOS, c) Ta, and d) TaSix. 26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said etching apparatus comprises: i) a reaction chamber; and ii) an upstream conduit, wherein said reaction chamber and said upstream conduit are composed of a thermoconductive material that is resistant to corrosion, wherein said upstream conduit forms a heat-exchange section by wrapping around the periphery of said reaction chamber, and wherein said heat-exchange section is heated from the periphery by a heater. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Interhalogen fluorine compound gases, such as CIF 3 , are used in semiconductor processing systems to etch treatment substrates and to clean the treating chambers and exhaust pipe systems. For example, CIF 3 (chlorine trifluoride) gas is utilized as a cleaning gas for the CVD equipment that is used to form films of silicon (Si), polysilicon, amorphous silicon, silicon oxide (SiO 2 ), silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ), tungsten silicide (WSi 2 ), titanium-tungsten (TiW), tantalum oxide (Ta 2 O 5 ), and silicon-germanium (SiGe). An advantage of CIF 3 gas is its ability to react without using a plasma; depending on the particular case, it will react even at ambient temperature. CIF 3 gas is filled as a high-purity liquefied gas into metal cylinders and is delivered in this form to the user's site. At the user's site, the gas-phase portion of the CIF 3 is withdrawn from the cylinder, is depressurized to the vapor pressure prevailing at the cylinder temperature at this point (or to below this vapor pressure), and is then transported to the particular semiconductor fabrication apparatus. Since CIF 3 has a low boiling point at 12° C., a precise temperature control must be exercised—in particular when large CIF 3 gas flow rates are required—over the associated pumps and supply conduit system in order to obtain the required quantities of the gas and in order to prevent reliquefaction along the conduit pathways. However, CIF 3 is very corrosive and strongly oxidizing and in particular has a very high reactivity in its liquid phase. This places limitations from a materials standpoint on the ability to heat the pumps and conduits, while at the same time heating the pumps and conduits is also undesirable from a practical standpoint. In addition, the storage and transport of this highly reactive liquefied CIF 3 gas is tightly regulated in the United States and Europe, which places limitations on its range of applications notwithstanding the fact that it is a highly desirable cleaning gas. In another vein, since very high purity levels are not required when CIF 3 is used as a cleaning gas, instances occur in which the CIF 3 purity required by the user does not match the cost of CIF 3 production. Moreover, depending on the particular process involved, it may be preferable to admix different components, for example, CIF or CIF 5 , rather than employ a process gas composed of only CIF 3 . Again depending on the particular process involved, it may even be desirable in some cases to make CIF or CIF 5 the main component. At the present time, a means such as the addition of a separate process for producing the process gas is required when it is desired to make these types of adjustments in the gas components as a function of the particular process. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 contains a schematic drawing that illustrates a cleaning apparatus that is an embodiment of the present invention. This cleaning apparatus removes by-product that has accumulated within the treating chamber of a semiconductor processing system. FIG. 2 contains a schematic drawing that illustrates, as another embodiment of the present invention, an etching apparatus in a semiconductor processing system. FIG. 3 contains a perspective drawing that illustrates a heated reactor/cooler combined structure that is usable in the apparatuses shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 . FIG. 4 contains a cross-sectional drawing that illustrates the internal structure of the essential features of the heated reactor shown in FIG. 3 . detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Irreversible cysteine protease inhibitors of legumain |
Presented are compounds represented by the following general formulas (I) and (II), for inhibiting cysteine protease legumain for modulating associated disease states in subjects. |
1. Compounds according to the general formula I or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof, wherein: Y—As—As comprises Benzyl-oxy-carbonyl-Ala-Ala, Z stands for: —CO—CH2—W where W can be H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, N2, halogen, O-alkyl, O-alkenyl, O-alkynyl, O-carbocyclic, O-aryl, O-heteroaryl, O-heterocyclic, O-acyl, S-alkyl, S-alkenyl, S-alkynyl, S-carbocyclic, S-aryl, S-heteroaryl, S-heterocyclic, S-acyl, C(O)-alkyl, C(O)-alkenyl, C(O)alkynyl, C(O)-carbocyclic, C(O)-aryl, C(O)-heteroaryl, or C(O) heterocyclic residue, or —N+(RR′R″′), where R, R′ and R″ are independently from each other an optionally substituted acyl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocyclic residue, or —CO—NHO-Q where Q is an optionally substituted acyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aroyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, aryl, or alkyl residue, or —CR1=CR2-EWG where R1 and R2 are independently from each other H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, or aryl residue, and are in cis or trans position to each other; and where EWG represents an electron-withdrawing group including OR4, where R4 can be H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic or aryl residue, or C(O)O—R5 where R5 can be H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, acyl, or aryl residue, or CH2O—R6 where R6 can be H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, acyl or aryl residue, or CN, or SO2R7 where R7 can be H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, acyl or aryl residue, or PO2OR8 where R8 can be H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, acyl or aryl residue, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. 2. Compounds according to the general formula II or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof, wherein: As stands for an amino acid, or mimetics thereof and wherein Y stands for an acyl-residue including urethanes and peptides having 2 to 10 amino acids, or an alkyl residue. Z stands for: —CO—CH2—W where W can be H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, N2, halogen, O-alkyl, O-alkenyl, O-alkynyl, O-carbocyclic, O-aryl, O-heteroaryl, O-heterocyclic, O-acyl, S-alkyl, S-alkenyl, S-alkynyl, S-carbocyclic, S-aryl, S-heteroaryl, S-heterocyclic, S-acyl, C(O)-alkyl, C(O)-alkenyl, C(O)alkynyl, C(O)-carbocyclic, C(O)-aryl, C(O)-heteroaryl, or C(O) heterocyclic residue, or —N+(RR′R″), where R, R′ and R″ are independently from each other an optionally substituted acyl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocyclic residue, or —CO—NHO-Q where Q is an optionally substituted acyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aroyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, aryl, or alkyl residue, or —CR1═CR2-EWG where R1 and R2 are independently from each other H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, or aryl residue, and are in cis or trans position to each other; and where EWG represents an electron-withdrawing group including OR4, where R4 can be H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic or aryl residue, or C(O)O—R5 where R5 can be H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, acyl, or aryl residue, or CH2O—R6 where R6 can be H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, acyl or aryl residue, or CN, or SO2R7 where R7 can be H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, acyl or aryl residue, or PO2OR8 where R8 can be H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, acyl or aryl residue, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. 3. A compound according to any one of the preceding claims wherein Z is —CO—NHO-Q and Q is an acyl group, preferably a benzoyl group. 4. A compound according to claims 1 or 2 wherein Z is —CR1═CR2-EWG, R1 and R2 are each H and in trans-position to each other, and EWG is selected from the group consisting of —CO2CH3, —CO2CH2CH3, —CO2CH2CH═CH2, —CO2H, —CO2CH3, —CO2CH2CH3, —CO2H, —SO2CH3, and —P(O)(OC2H5)2. 5. A compound according to claims 1 or 2 wherein Z is —CO—CH2—W and W is Cl or Br. 6. Prodrugs of a compound of claim 1 or 2. 7. A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound of claims 1 or 2 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or diluent. 8. A process for making a pharmaceutical composition comprising mixing at least one compound of claims 1 or 2 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or diluent. 9. A method for the prophylaxis or treatment of a condition mediated by modulation of legumain activity, comprising administering to a patient suffering from said condition an effective amount of a compound of claim 1 or 2. 10. A method for the prophylaxis or treatment of immune and/or autoimmune disorders, comprising administering to a patient suffering from said condition an effective amount of a compound of claim 1 or 2. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the autoimmune disorder is selected from the group consisting of lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus), myasthenia gravis, Graves' disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, pemphigus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, Sjögren's syndrome, pernicious anemia, multiple sclerosis and type I diabetes. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the immune disorder is selected from acute and delayed hypersensitivity, graft rejection and graft-versus-host disease. 13. A method for the prophylaxis or treatment of a condition mediated by modulation of legumain activity, comprising administering to a patient suffering from said condition an effective amount of a prodrug of claim 6. 14. A method for the prophylaxis or treatment of immune and/or autoimmune disorders, comprising administering to a patient suffering from said condition an effective amount of a composition of claim 7. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the autoimmune disorder is selected from the group consisting of lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus), myasthenia gravis, Graves' disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, pemphigus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, Sjögren's syndrome, pernicious anemia, multiple sclerosis and type I diabetes. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the immune disorder is selected from acute and delayed hypersensitivity, graft rejection and graft-versus-host disease. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF INVENTION <EOH>Legumain was discovered in 1993 in plants, where the enzyme is present in legumes and in seeds of other plants. Then legumain was cloned, isolated and characterized from different species, e.g. from mouse, and from pig kidney. Human legumain was characterized after over-expression in a murine cell line. The catalytic dyad is found in the motif His-Gly-spacer-Ala-Cys, and was confirmed by si-directed mutagenesis. Due to the presence of the same motif in caspases, clostripain, gingipain and separase these proteases where classified as Clan CD. Legumain is inhibited by iodoacetamid, maleimides, and ovocystatin, but is unaffected by E64. Mammalian legumain is a lysosomal enzyme being highly specific for post-asparagine cleavage. It has been shown that the cleavage is inhibited by the glycosylation of the P1-asparagine residue. Furthermore, it is involved in the processing of antigens for the class II MHC presentation. Different isoforms of legumain were purified from a plant source (seeds of kidney bean, Phaseolus vulgaris ) and a mammal (kidney of pig, Sus scropha ). Autoimmune Reactions Sometimes the immune system malfunctions, misinterprets the body's tissues as foreign, and attacks them, resulting in an autoimmune reaction. Autoimmune reactions can be triggered in several ways: A substance in the body that is normally strictly contained in a specific area (and thus is hidden from the immune system) is released into the general circulation. For example, the fluid in the eyeball is normally contained within the eyeball's chambers. If a blow to the eye releases this fluid into the bloodstream, the immune system may react against it. A normal body substance is altered. For example, viruses, drugs, sunlight, or radiation may change a protein's structure in a way that makes it seem foreign. The immune system responds to a foreign substance that is similar in appearance to a natural body substance and inadvertently targets the body substance as well as the foreign substance. Something malfunctions in the cells that control antibody production. For example, cancerous B lymphocytes may produce abnormal antibodies that attack red blood cells. The results of an autoimmune reaction vary. Fever is common. Various tissues may be destroyed, such as blood vessels, cartilage, and skin. Virtually any organ can be attacked by the immune system, including the kidneys, lungs, heart, and brain. The resulting inflammation and tissue damage can cause kidney failure, breathing problems, abnormal heart function, pain, deformity, delirium, and death. A large number of disorders almost certainly have an autoimmune cause, including lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus), myasthenia gravis, Graves' disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, pemphigus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, Sjögren's syndrome, pernicious anemia, multiple sclerosis and type I diabetes. Immune diseases include but are not limited to conditions involving T-cells and/or macrophages such as acute and delayed hypersensitivity, graft rejection and graft-versus-host disease. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The invention relates to inhibitors of cysteine proteases having the general formulas I or II below: wherein: As stands for any amino acid, or mimetics thereof and where Y stands for any acyl-residue including urethanes and peptides, preferably peptides having 2 to 10 amino acids, or any alkyl residue. Examples of amino acids which can be used in the present invention are L and D-amino acids, N-methyl-amino-acids; allo- and threo-forms of Ile and Thr, which can, e.g. be α-, β- or ω-amino acids, whereof α-amino acids are preferred. Examples of amino acids are: aspartic acid (Asp), glutamic acid (Glu), arginine (Arg), lysine (Lys), histidine (His), glycine (Gly), serine (Ser) and cysteine (Cys), threonine (Thr), asparagine (Asn), glutamine (Gln), tyrosine (Tyr), alanine (Ala), proline (Pro), valine (Val), isoleucine (Ile), leucine (Leu), methionine (Met), phenylalanine (Phe), tryptophan (Trp), hydroxyproline (Hyp), beta-alanine (beta-Ala), 2-amino octanoic acid (Aoa), azetidine-(2)-carboxylic acid (Ace), pipecolic acid (Pip), 3-amino propionic, 4-amino butyric and so forth, alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib), sarcosine (Sar), ornithine (Orn), citrulline (Cit), homoarginine (Har), t-butylalanine (t-butyl-Ala), t-butylglycine (t-butyl-Gly), N-methylisoleucine (N-Melle), phenylglycine (Phg), cyclohexylalanine (Cha), norleucine (Nle), cysteic acid (Cya) and methionine sulfoxide (MSO), Acetyl-Lys, modified amino acids such as phosphoryl-serine (Ser(P)), benzyl-serine (Ser(Bzl)) and phosphoryl-tyrosine (Tyr(P)), 2-aminobutyric acid (Abu), aminoethyicysteine (AECys), carboxymethylcysteine (Cmc), dehydroalanine (Dha), dehydroamino-2-butyric acid (Dhb), carbbxyglutaminic acid (Gla), homoserine (Hse), hydroxylysine (Hyl), cis-hydroxyproline (cisHyp), trans-hydroxyproline (transHyp), isovaline (Iva), pyroglutamic acid (Pyr), norvaline (Nva), 2-aminobenzoic acid (2-Abz), 3-aminobenzoic acid (3-Abz), 4-aminobenzoic acid (4-Abz), 4-(aminomethyl)benzoic acid (Amb), 4-(aminomethyl)cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (4-Amc), Penicillamine (Pen), 2-Amino-4-cyanobutyric acid (Cba), cycloalkane-carboxylic aicds. Examples of ω-amino acids are e.g.: 5-Ara (aminoraleric acid), 6-Ahx (aminohexanoic acid), 8-Aoc (aminooctanoic aicd), 9-Anc (aminovanoic aicd), 10-Adc (aminodecanoic acid), 11-Aun (aminoundecanoic acid), 12-Ado (aminododecanoic acid). Further amino acids are: indanylglycine (Igl), indoline-2-carboxylic acid (Idc), octahydroindole-2-carboxylic acid (Oic), diaminopropionic acid (Dpr), diaminobutyric acid (Dbu), naphtylalanine (1-Nal), (2-Nal), 4-aminophenylalanin (Phe(4-NH 2 )), 4-benzoylphenylalanine (Bpa), diphenylalanine (Dip), 4-bromophenylalanine (Phe(4-Br)), 2-chlorophenylalanine (Phe(2-Cl)), 3-chlorophenylalanine (Phe(3-Cl)), 4-chlorophenylalanine (Phe(4-Cl)), 3,4-chlorophenylalanine (Phe (3,4-Cl 2 )), 3-fluorophenylalanine (Phe(3-F)), 4-fluorophenylalanine (Phe(4-F)), 3,4-fluorophenylalanine (Phe(3,4-F 2 )), pentafluorophenylalanine (Phe(F 5 )), 4-guanidinophenylalanine (Phe(4-guanidino)), homophenylalanine (hPhe), 3-jodophenylalanine (Phe(3-J)), 4 jodophenylalanine (Phe(4-J)), 4-methylphenylalanine (Phe(4-Me)), 4-nitrophenylalanine (Phe-4-NO 2 )), biphenylalanine (Bip), 4-phosphonomehtylphenylalanine (Pmp), cyclohexyglycine (Ghg), 3-pyridinylalanine (3-Pal), 4-pyridinylalanine (4-Pal), 3,4-dehydroproline (A-Pro), 4-ketoproline (Pro(4-keto)), thioproline (Thz), isonipecotic acid (Inp), 1,2,3,4,-tetrahydroisoquinolin-3-carboxylic acid (Tic), propargylglycine (Pra), 6-hydroxynorleucine (NU(6-OH)), homotyrosine (hTyr), 3-jodotyrosine (Tyr(3-J)), 3,5-dijodotyrosine (Tyr(3,5-J 2 )), d-methyl-tyrosine (Tyr(Me)), 3-NO 2 -tyrosine (Tyr(3-NO 2 )), phosphotyrosine (Tyr(PO 3 H 2 )), alkylglycine, 1-aminoindane-1-carboxy acid, 2-aminoindane-2-carboxy acid (Aic), 4-amino-methylpyrrol-2-carboxylic acid (Py), 4-amino-pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (Abpc), 2-aminotetraline-2-carboxylic acid (Atc), diaminoacetic acid (Gly(NH 2 )), diaminobutyric acid (Dab), 1,3-dihydro-2H-isoinole-carboxylic acid (Disc), homocylcohexylalanin (hCha), homophenylalanin (hPHe oder Hof), trans-3-phenyl-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, 4-phenyl-pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid, 5-phenyl-pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid, 3-pyridylalanine (3-Pya), 4-pyridylalanine (4-Pya), styrylalanine, tetrahydroisoquinoline-1-carboxylic acid (Tiq), 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronorharmane-3-carboxylic acid (Tpi), β-(2-thienyl)-alanine (Tha). As can also stand for other amino acids than those encoded in the genetic code. Proteinogenic amino acids are defined as natural protein-derived α-amino acids. Non-proteinogenic amino acids are defined as all other amino acids, which are not building blocks of common natural proteins. Z stands for: —CO—CH 2 —W where W can be H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, N 2 , halogen, O-alkyl, O-alkenyl, O-alkynyl, O-carbocyclic, O-aryl, O-heteroaryl, O-heterocyclic, O-acyl, S-alkyl, S-alkenyl, S-alkynyl, S-carbocyclic, S-aryl, S-heteroaryl, S-heterocyclic, S-acyl, C(O)-alkyl, C(O)-alkenyl, C(O)-alkynyl, C(O)-carbocyclic, C(O)-aryl, C(O)-heteroaryl, or C(O)-heterocyclic residue, or N + (RR′R″), where R, R′ and R″ are independently from each other an optionally substituted acyl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocyclic residue, or —CO—NHO-Q where Q can be an optionally substituted acyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aroyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, aryl, or alkyl residue, or —CR 1 ═CR 2 -EWG where R 1 and R 2 are independently from each other H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, or aryl residue, and are in cis or trans position to each other; and where EWG represents any electron-withdrawing group including OR 4 , where R 4 can be H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic or aryl residue, or C(O)O—R 5 where R 5 can be H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, acyl, aryl, or a substituted residue thereof, or CH 2 O—R 6 where R 6 can be H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, acyl or aryl residue, or CN, or SO 2 R 7 where R 7 can be H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, acyl or aryl residue, or PO 2 OR 8 where R 8 can be H, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, acyl or aryl residue. Throughout the description and the claims the expression “acyl” can denote a C 1-20 acyl residue, preferably a C 1-8 acyl residue and especially preferred a C 1-4 acyl residue, “carbocyclic” or cycloalkyl can denote a C 3-12 carbocyclic residue, preferably a C 4 , C 5 or C 6 carbocyclic residue. “Heteroaryl” is defined as an aryl residue, wherein 1 to 4, preferably 1, 2 or 3 ring atoms are replaced by heteroatoms like N, S or O. “Heterocyclic” is defined as a cycloalkyl residue, wherein 1, 2 or 3 ring atoms are replaced by heteroatoms like N, S or O. The expression “alkyl” can denote a C 1-50 alkyl group, preferably a C 6-30 alkyl group, especially a C 8-12 alkyl group; an alkyl group may also be a methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl or butyl group. The expression “aryl” is defined as an aromatic residue, preferably substituted or optionally unsubstituted phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, biphenyl or anthracene groups, which preferably have at least 8 C ring atoms; the expression “alkenyl” can denote a C 2-10 alkenyl group, preferably a C 2-6 alkenyl group, which has the double bond or the double bonds at any desired location and may be substituted or unsubstituted; the expression “alkynyl” can denote a C 2-10 alkynyl group, preferably a C 2-6 alkynyl group, which has the triple bond or the triple bonds at any desired location and may be substituted or unsubstituted; the expression “alkoxy” can denote a C 1-50 alkyl-oxygen group; the expression “alkenyloxy” can denote a C 2-10 alkenyl-oxygen group; the expression “alkynyloxy” can denote a C 2-10 alkynyl-oxygen group; the expression “carbocyclicoxy” can denote a C 3-12 carbocyclic-oxygen group; the expression “heteroaryloxy” can denote an aryl-oxygen group, wherein 1 to 4, preferably 1, 2 or 3 ring atoms are replaced by heteroatoms like N, S or O; the expression “heterocyclicoxy” can denote cycloalkyl-oxygen group, wherein 1, 2 or 3 ring atoms are replaced by heteroatoms like N, S or O; the expression “substituted” can denote any desired substitution by one or more, preferably one or two, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, mono- or multi-valent acyl, alkoxy, alkoxyacyl, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, carbocyclicoxy, heteroaryloxy, heterocyclicoxy, alkoxyalkyl groups, any monoether or polyether containing identical or different alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic residues, or any monothioether or polythioether containing identical or different alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic residues; the afore-mentioned substituents may in turn have one or more (but preferably zero) alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, mono- or multi-valent acyl, alkoxyacyl or alkoxyalkyl groups as side groups which are preferably not substituted themselves. Organic amines, amides, alcohols or acids, each having from 8 to 50 C atoms, preferably from 10 to 20 C atoms, can have the formulae (alkyl) 2 N— or alkyl-NH—, —CO—N(alkyl) 2 or —CO—NH(alkyl), -alkyl-OH or -alkyl-COOH. The expression urethanes can denote a compound of the formula R″′NH—CO—OR″″, wherein R″′ and R″″ are independently from each other optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclic, heteroaryl, heterocyclic or aryl residues. Peptide mimetics per se are known to a person skilled in the art. They are preferably defined as compounds which have a secondary structure like a peptide and optionally further structural characteristics; their mode of action is largely similar or identical to the mode of action of the native peptide; however, their activity (e.g. as an antagonist or inhibitor) can be modified as compared with the native peptide, especially vis à vis receptors or enzymes. Moreover, they can imitate the effect of the native peptide (agonist). Examples of peptide mimetics are scaffold mimetics, non-peptidic mimetics, peptoides, peptide nucleic acids, oligopyrrolinones, vinylogpeptides and oligocarbamates. For the definitions of these peptide mimetics see Lexikon der Chemie, Spektrum Akademischer Verlag Heidelberg, Berlin, 1999. The aim for using these mimetic structurs is increasing the activity, increasing the selectivity to decrease side effects, protect the compound (drug) against enzymatical degradation for prolongation of the effect. Further peptide mimetics are defined in J. Gante, Angew. Chemie, 1994, 106, 1780-1802; V. J. Hruby et al., Biopolymers, 1997, 219-266; D. Nöteberg et al., 2000, 43, 1705-1713. The present invention further includes within its scope prodrugs of the compounds of this invention. In general, such prodrugs will be functional derivatives of the compounds which are readily convertible in vivo into the desired therapeutically active compound. Thus, in these cases, the use of the present invention shall encompass the treatment of the various disorders described with prodrug versions of one or more of the claimed compounds, but which converts to the above specified compound in vivo after administration to the subject. Conventional procedures for the selection and preparation of suitable prodrug derivatives are described, for example, in “Design of Prodrugs”, ed. H. Bundgaard, Elsevier, 1985. Where the compounds according to this invention have at least one chiral center, they may accordingly exist as enantiomers. Where the compounds possess two or more chiral centers, they may additionally exist as diastereomers. It is to be understood that all such isomers and mixtures thereof are encompassed within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, some of the crystalline forms of the compounds may exist as polymorphs and as such are intended to be included in the present invention. In addition, some of the compounds may form solvates with water (i.e. hydrates) or common organic solvents, and such solvates are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of this invention. These compounds are inhibitors of the cysteine protease legumain. These inhibitors may be used in pharmaceutical compositions. The pharmaceutical compositions, comprising one or more legumain inhibitors according to the present invention are useful for the treatment of legumain mediated diseases in a patient or subject. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Controlled atmospheric pressure resin infusion process |
By evacuating the resin feed tank to a pressure below atmospheric pressure, employing cyclic compaction, and controlling the net compaction pressure, we are better able to control a resin infusion process, particularly a vacuum assisted resin transfer molding process, and produce aerospace-grade fiber-reinforced resin composite having fiber volume fractions and tool-side surface finishes comparable to or exceeding those made using an autoclave. |
1. In a resin infusion process wherein resin flows into a preform within at least one vacuum bag to form a composite part having a high fiber volume fraction, the improvement comprising: a reduction in the resin pressure below atmospheric pressure to maintain a net compaction pressure on the preform adequate to retain compaction at a predetermined level, thereby allowing manufacture of a quality composite part. 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the net compaction pressure is controlled by controlling the pressure on the incoming resin. 3. A composite part made by the process of claim 1, wherein the preform includes reinforcing fibers selected from carbon, fiberglass, aramid, or other continuous or non-continuous fiber materials and/or architectures. 4. A compacted preform prepared by cyclic compaction to provide improved control of fiber volume fraction whereby the benefit of cyclic compaction is enhanced by controlling the resin pressure. 5. A process for making a composite part having a high fiber volume fraction, a predetermined thickness, and a controlled thickness using resin infusion comprising flowing a resin into a preform on a forming surface, the process comprising the steps of: (a) compacting the preform with cyclic compaction to a desired thickness, and (b) retaining the desired thickness of the preform while infusing the resin by retaining a suitable net compaction pressure on the preform. 6. The process of claim 5 wherein the net compaction pressure is achieved by placing a resin feed pot containing the resin under a partial vacuum. 7. A composite part made by the process of claim 5. 8. A composite part made by the process of claim 6. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The marine, automotive, trucking, rail, aerospace, defense, recreation, chemical, infrastructure, and other industries look to composite materials to take advantage of their unique properties, especially being corrosion-free or corrosion-resistant and having a high strength-to-weight ratio. Composites are also resistant to fatigue and chemical attack. They offer high strength and stiffness potential in lightweight components. There is a need, however, to develop composite manufacturing processes that dramatically reduce the cost of composites, especially large structures, while retaining high strength and stiffness. Open mold wet layup processing can make large composites using a liquid molding process with a small capital investment in single sided tooling, and often can use lower cost materials than resin-impregnated fibrous materials (prepregs). The quality and uniformity of the product, however, varies considerably. The best of these composites are still relatively low quality. The process also tends to be unfriendly and presents hazards to workers because of their risk of exposure to the solvents and resins. High performance composites are currently made with prepreg. Woven or unidirectional tapes of the prepregs are placed on a forming mandrel (“laid up”) by hand or machine. Debulking (compaction) is often required between plies in a laminate to remove air before the laminates are vacuum bagged (i.e., enclosed in an inert atmosphere under vacuum to withdraw emitted volatiles released during cure of the resin) and consolidated (i.e., exposed to elevated temperature and pressure in a curing cycle) in autoclaves or presses to achieve high fiber volume components. The prepreg materials typically are expensive (especially those using high modulus carbon fiber). The raw prepreg materials have limited shelf lives because the resins that impregnate the fibers continue to react (“advance”) at ambient temperature. Advance of the resin adversely effects the properties of the resulting composite. Working with prepreg also often results in considerable material waste. The autoclaves and presses used for consolidation to apply pressure to the laminated prepregs are expensive capital items that further increase the final, manufactured cost of the composite. Processing has to be centralized and performed in batches where the autoclave or press is installed. Loading and unloading the autoclave (a high temperature, pressurized oven) usually becomes the rate limiting step. The location of the autoclave dictates where the composites will be made, so the flexibility of the process is impaired. A dedicated workforce and facility are required, centered around the autoclave. In some formulations, the resin in a prepreg is carried onto the fiber as a lacquer or varnish containing the monomer reactants that will produce the desired polymer in the composite (i.e., prepregs of the PMR-type). In other formulations, the resin is a relatively low molecular weight polymer that crosslinks during cure to form the desired polymer. The resin is held and used in its a state so that it remains a liquid, and can be impregnated onto the fiber or fabric. Reaction of the monomer reactants or crosslinking of the polymer (i.e., its advancing) prior to the intended cure cycle adversely impacts the quality of the composite. Liquid molding techniques such as transfer molding, resin film infusion, resin transfer molding, and structural reaction injection molding (SRIM) typically require expensive matched metal dies and high tonnage presses or autoclaves. Parts produced with these processes are generally limited in size and geometry. Infusion of dry preforms with wet resin with the use of vacuum (atmospheric pressure) as the only driving force is known. While there may be earlier examples, the Marco method (U.S. Pat. No. 2,495,640) was first used in the early 1940s. Palmer (U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,013) and Seemann (U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,215) are more recent examples. We are also aware of a number of other approaches covered in composite technology literature: RIRM, RIFT, and UV-VaRTM. Boeing's Double Bag Vacuum Infusion (DBVI) process, described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/731,945, makes numerous claims regarding the control of the vacuum-assisted infusion with a resin distribution media, multiple porting, or channels. Seemann has been awarded other patents largely having to do with integration of a resin distribution matrix into a re-usable bag, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,052,906; 5,316,462; 5,439,635; and 5,958,325. The physics of the infusion process requires a pressure differential across the preform to drive the infusion of the resin into the preform. The traditional approaches infuse the resin at full atmospheric pressure, i.e., the reservoir from which the resin is being drawn is open to the atmosphere. During infusion as the preform fills with resin, the pressure inside the vacuum bag (i.e., the impervious outer sheet that contains the flow of resin during the infusion) in the filled volume approaches the pressure outside the bag, namely atmospheric pressure. Because vacuum-only resin infusion relies solely on the overpressure of the atmosphere to constrain the preform beneath the bag against the forming surface, this rise in pressure inside the bag reacts against the atmospheric pressure above. The remaining difference in pressure between that inside the bag and atmospheric pressure (i.e., the net compaction pressure) is all the pressure that is left to constrain the fiber preform on the forming surface. This pressure differential will vary depending upon a number of factors including the profile of the pressure gradient, hence the permeability of the materials being infused, and the timing sequence of clamping the inlet and exit lines. The finished thickness of a given preform is directly related to its finished fiber volume fraction. Achieving a high fiber volume fraction requires compaction of the preform. Compaction is achieved by pressing the preform against the forming surface. Proper constraint of the preform against the forming surface during and after infusion until the resin cures is critical to obtaining a high performance structure that results from its having a high fiber volume. If the net compaction pressure is insufficient (in traditional VaRTM, it can approach zero), the preform is free to float in the resin or to spring back from its compacted state, leading to reduced fiber volume fractions. Seemann Composites, Inc. has produced a variety of composite structures for Boeing using the Seemann Composite Resin Infusion Molding Process (SCRIMP) from flat panels for making mechanical tests coupons (Boeing-Seattle, Fall 1999) to complex, demonstration wing structure (Boeing-LB 1998-2000) with the intention to use SCRIMP for making aerospace parts. A common problem experienced with these structures and panels has been lower than desired fiber volumes and concomitantly higher than desired finished thickness per ply for aerospace use. The preferred range for the carbon fiber volume fraction in aerospace composites is nominally at the higher end of that attainable, nominally 52-60% depending upon the preform being infused. The desired fiber volume is highly dependent upon the type of weave or other fiber architecture and the size and count of carbon tow for example. The laminates and structures Seemann Composites made for Boeing typically had a fiber volume fraction lower than the desired range. Control of the composite thickness through the inches per ply metric is important in order to control the resulting weight of the composite. In traditional resin infusion failure to optimize the thickness often means that each ply is thicker than necessary. Resin lacking fiber reinforcement has poor strength, so uncontrolled plies in a laminate can form a pattern of high strength areas sandwiched between lower strength areas. The overall laminate will have lower strength than a properly consolidated laminate having the optimal per ply thickness, and will generally require more plies to achieve the desired strength. More plies translates to more material and more labor, making already expensive parts even more expensive. It also translates to more weight, reducing overall performance of the aerospace system in which the composites are used. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,215, Seemann induced preferential flow and pressure in the flow media above the fiber preform inside the vacuum bag to distribute the infusing resin in a network over the preform. The driving force is a pressure differential or head pressure created primarily by drawing down the pressure inside the bag using a vacuum pump. Atmospheric pressure on the resin pushes resin into the bag through an inlet tube. Resin entering the bag encounters the flow media used to channel the resin to the underlying fiber preform. Resin flows laterally through the flow media over the preform and, subsequently, downwardly into the preform. The preform normally has the lowest permeability to flow (i.e., the highest resistance to the flow of resin). Some have proposed to obtain higher fiber volumes by adopting a process that could be simply described as fill or feed and bleed. Here the preform is infused using full atmospheric pressure to push the resin into the dry preform as is done with traditional resin infusion—the fill step. After the preform is fully infused the inlet line(s) are clamped and then the preform is exposed to full or nearly full vacuum at the exit(s) or at both the exit(s) and inlet(s)—the bleed step. The bleeding of the preform will result in higher fiber volumes. However, the fill and bleed process lacks control and is a timed process lest too much resin may be removed from the preform, either locally or throughout the preform. Moreover, the different permeabilities with the assemblage of different preform components, media, etc. complicates any ability to control the bleed and the resultant fiber volume. By Darcy's Law resin will flow from the infused preform more rapidly from areas of higher permeability. Practical structure commonly found in aerospace design would likely contain such differences in permeability in a given preform assemblage. The resin infusion process of the present invention ensures that the fiber plies in the preform will remain compacted, that the preform is completely filled when the infusion is halted, and that optimum fiber volume fractions are achieved, thereby improving the traditional infusion processes. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>In the present invention, we control the net compaction pressure and the differential pressure driving the resin infusion by reducing the pressure below atmospheric in the resin feed tank. We use a vacuum pump to compact the fiber preform in several cycles and then evacuate the volume under the vacuum bag to set a final internal bag pressure at a level appropriate for the resin chemistry and cure cycle. The pressure on the feed resin in the feed pot is controlled independently of the pressure in the vacuum bag. For example: pressure in the vacuum bag might be ˜30 inches Hg below atmospheric while pressure in the feed pot is 15 inches Hg, for a differential pressure to drive resin infusion of 15 inches Hg (roughly ˜0.5 atm or 7 psi). The net compaction pressure in this case also will be about 15 inches of Hg (roughly ˜0.5 atm or 7 psi). The below atmospheric pressure on the feed pot ensures: (1) that there will always be a net compaction pressure to hold the preform in position on the forming surface; and (2) that adjustments can be made in the net compaction pressure in order to compensate for some thickness variances in the preform and for variances in the ambient pressure due to weather conditions or differences from nominal, sea-level pressure conditions. |
High-pressure discharge lamp, high-pressure discharge lamp lighting device and automotive headlamp apparatus |
The present invention relates to a high-pressure discharge lamp, a high-pressure discharge lamp lighting device using the same and an automotive headlamp apparatus using the same, and an object of the invention is to use substantially no mercury and to reduce the discharge flicker. A high-pressure discharge lamp includes: a discharge vessel (1) having a hermetic vessel (1a) having a discharge space (1c) therein and a pair of electrodes (2), (2) hermetically provided at opposite ends of the discharge space (1c) in the hermetic vessel (1a) with facing each other at a distance of 5 mm or less; and a discharge medium substantially containing no Hg, sealed in the hermetic vessel (1a), and containing xenon gas at 3 atmospheres or higher and at least two of halides of light-emitting metals including iodides of Na, Sc and rare earth metals, in which the high-pressure discharge lamp is kept on with a lamp power of 50 W or lower in a stable state, and the temperature T (° C.) of the electrode (2) at a point at a distance of 0.3 mm from the tip end to the base end in the stable state and the amount A (mol/cc) of free iodine produced when the lamp is turned off after 100 hours of on-time satisfy the formula (1): T2/A>1011. |
1. A high-pressure discharge lamp, characterized in that the high-pressure discharge lamp comprises: a discharge vessel having a hermetic vessel which is fire resistant and translucent and has a discharge space therein, and a pair of electrodes hermetically provided at opposite ends of the discharge space in the hermetic vessel with facing each other at a distance of 5 mm or less; and a discharge medium substantially containing no mercury, sealed in the hermetic vessel, and containing xenon gas at 3 atmospheres or higher, and at least two of halides of light-emitting metals including iodides of sodium Na, scandium Sc and rare earth metals, the high-pressure discharge lamp is kept on with a lamp power of 50 W or lower in a stable state, and the temperature T (° C.) of the electrode at a point at a distance of 0.3 mm from the tip end to the base end in the stable state and the amount A (mol/cc) of free iodine produced when the lamp is turned off after 100 hours of on-time satisfy the formula (1). T2/A>1011 (1) 2. A high-pressure discharge lamp, characterized in that the high-pressure discharge lamp comprises: a discharge vessel having a hermetic vessel which is fire resistant and translucent and has a discharge space therein, and a pair of electrodes hermetically provided at opposite ends of the discharge space in the hermetic vessel with facing each other at a distance of 5 mm or less; and a discharge medium substantially containing no mercury and sealed in the hermetic vessel, the high-pressure discharge lamp is kept on with a lamp power of 50 W or lower in a stable state, a lamp power two or more times higher than the lamp power in the stable state is input at the start of lighting, and the temperature T (° C.) of the electrode at a point at a distance of 0.3 mm from the tip end to the base end in the stable state satisfies the formula (2). 1700≦T≦1900 (2) 3. The high-pressure discharge lamp according to claim 2, characterized in that the temperature T (° C.) of the electrode at a point at a distance of 0.3 mm from the tip end in the stable state satisfies the formula (3). 1730≦T≦1850 (3) 4. The high-pressure discharge lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the discharge medium contains one or more of halides of Mg, Co, Cr, Zn, Mn, Sb, Re, Ga, Sn, Fe, Al, Ti, Zr and Hf, and the one or more halides serve as a medium for providing a lamp voltage. 5. A high-pressure discharge lamp lighting device, characterized in that the high-pressure discharge lamp lighting device comprises: a high-pressure discharge lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4; and a lighting circuit in which a maximum output power within 4 seconds after the high-pressure discharge lamp is turned on is 2.5 to 4 times higher than a lamp power in a stable state. 6. An automotive headlamp apparatus, characterized in that the automotive headlamp apparatus comprises: an automotive headlamp apparatus main unit; a high-pressure discharge lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4 which is installed in the automotive headlamp apparatus main unit with the axis of a discharge vessel thereof being aligned with an optical axis of the automotive headlamp apparatus main unit; and a lighting circuit in which a maximum output power within 4 seconds after the high-pressure discharge lamp is turned is 2 to 4 times higher than a lamp power in a stable state. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>High-pressure discharge lamps which have an arc tube having a pair of opposing electrodes and containing an inert gas, a halide of a light-emitting metal and mercury, that is, metal halide lamps are used widely because of their relatively high efficiency and good color rendering. Such high-pressure discharge lamps have become widely used also as automotive headlamps. Including those used as the automotive headlamps, the high-pressure discharge lamps currently in practical use essentially uses mercury (conveniently referred to as a mercury-containing lamp, hereinafter). In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-7347, there is described an exemplary specification of a high-pressure discharge lamp used as an automotive headlamp, which specifies that about 2-15 mg of mercury has to be sealed. Besides, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-111244, there is described a discharge lamp, that is, a high-pressure discharge lamp, suitable for the automotive headlamp which contains mercury in a predetermined amount prescribed. According to the description, when this high-pressure discharge lamp operates in a horizontal position, the discharge arc shrinks to be at least substantially linear, and the high-pressure discharge lamp is efficient. However, nowadays environmental issues are becoming serious, and in the illuminating industry, it is considered highly important to reduce or even eliminate mercury in lamps, which applies a significant load to the environment. To address this problem, several approaches to eliminate mercury in the high-pressure discharge lamp have been already proposed. For example, the inventors have made the inventions described in Japanese Patent No. 2982198 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 6-84496 and 11-238488. The first invention is an arrangement which has a halide of scandium Sc or a rare earth metal and an inert gas sealed therein and is controllably turned on and off by a pulse current. The second invention is an arrangement which contains a discharge medium constituted by a metal halide and an inert gas and thus has a less variable color characteristic over a wide input range, thereby being capable of dimming illumination. The third invention is an arrangement which is improved in electrical characteristic by containing, in addition to a first metal halide, which is a primary light-emitting material, a second metal halide, which has a high vapor pressure and is hard to emit light. Furthermore, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-307048, there is described a high-pressure discharge lamp which avoids blackening due to scattering of the electrodes by containing, in addition to the halides of scandium Sc and sodium Na, the halides of yttrium Y and indium In as third metal halides which have a vapor pressure of 1×10 −5 atmospheres in operation and whose metals themselves are ionized at 5-10 eV. The high-pressure discharge lamp according to the invention disclosed in this document is described as having any luminous flux and chromaticity range required for the automotive headlamp. However, when a high-pressure discharge lamp containing no mercury (conveniently, referred to as a “mercury-free lamp” hereinafter) is used as a light source of an automotive headlamp, there is a problem that the amount of light immediately after the lamp is turned on is insufficient. To address the problem, the lamp current applied immediately after the turn-on is made several times higher than that in a stable state, thereby increasing the amount of light and bringing the high-pressure discharge lamp abruptly and rapidly into the stable state. However, in this case, another problem of discharge flicker arises. In the following, some of reasons for the discharge flicker will be described. 1. If the high-pressure discharge lamp is turned on in the manner described above, the electrodes reach the highest temperature immediately after the turn-on. Therefore, the electrodes have to be designed to withstand the temperature even if the on/off operation occurs with a relatively high frequency. As a result, in the stable state, the lamp current is relatively low, and thus, the temperature of the electrodes tends to be lower than an optimum temperature. Since the temperature of the electrodes is low in the stable state, the electrodes emit less thermoelectrons, and discharge flicker tends to occur. If the mercury-free lamp is used as an automotive headlamp, a lamp current higher than a rated lamp current, a lamp current of 3 A, for example, has to be flown continuously for several seconds, 6 seconds, for example, immediately after the turn-on. Therefore, the electrodes have to be designed to have a further low temperature in the stable state, so that the discharge flicker becomes more noticeable. In the case of a mercury-containing lamp, the duration of application of the lamp current higher than the rated lamp current is about 1 second. 2. In the mercury-free lamp, the arc remains thin because of lack of mercury, which would make the arc thicker due to the self-absorption of the emission spectrum. Thus, the discharge flicker tends to occur. 3. If the mercury-free lamp contains a halide which has a relatively high vapor pressure and less contributes to light emission, the halide replacing mercury as a medium for providing a lamp voltage, the high vapor pressure makes the arc shrink, and thus, the discharge flicker tends to occur. 4. If the mercury-free lamp contains xenon at about 10 atmospheres to provide lamp characteristics comparable to those of a high-pressure discharge lamp containing mercury and xenon at 5-6 atmospheres, the higher xenon pressure makes the arc shrink, and thus, the discharge flicker tends to occur. 5. The mercury-free lamp produces no HgI or the like, so that a free halogen is easy to occur. However, a halide gas highly adsorbs electrons, and thus, tends to cause discharge extinction. Therefore, as the concentration of the halide gas increases, the arc becomes less stable. As can be understood from the reasons described above, the mercury-free lamp is highly likely to suffer discharge flicker, compared with the mercury-containing lamp. In addition, such an electrode temperature that is not disadvantageous to the mercury-containing high-pressure discharge lamp may cause discharge flicker. The discharge flicker may result in a luminance flicker, or, in an extreme case, extinction of the arc. As a result of studies on the problems described above, the inventors have found that the arc of the mercury-free lamp can be stabilized by appropriately determining the electrode temperature and the free halogen concentration in the stable state. And based on this finding, the inventors have made the present invention. In addition, the inventors have found that the discharge flicker in the mercury-free lamp can be effectively reduced by control the electrode temperature in such a manner that the electrode temperature in the stable state is kept within a quite narrow predetermined range. An object of the present invention is to provide a high-pressure discharge lamp suitable for use as an automotive headlamp which substantially contains no mercury out of consideration to the environment and produces reduced discharge flicker, a high-pressure discharge lamp lighting device using the same and an automotive headlamp apparatus using the same. Another object of the present invention is to provide a high-pressure discharge lamp suitable for use as an automotive headlamp in which discharge flicker is reduced by keeping a predetermined relationship between the electrode temperature in a stable state and the amount of free iodine produced when the lamp is off, a high-pressure discharge lamp lighting device using the same and an automotive headlamp apparatus using the same. Another object of the present invention is to provide a high-pressure discharge lamp suitable for use as an automotive headlamp in which the electrode temperature in a stable state is kept within a predetermined narrow range to reduce discharge flicker and improve the electrode life, a high-pressure discharge lamp lighting device using the same and an automotive headlamp apparatus using the same. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a front view of a high-pressure discharge lamp according to a first mode for carrying out the embodiment described in claim 1 ; FIG. 2 is a graph showing whether a discharge flicker occurs no not when the value of T 2 /A is varied; FIG. 3 is a graph showing how the value of T 2 /A varies when the amount of produced free iodine is varied while keeping the electrode temperature at 1900° C.; FIG. 4 is a graph showing how the value of T 2 /A varies when the electrode temperature is varied while keeping the amount of produced free iodine at 3.5×10 −5 (mol/cc); FIG. 5 is relationships between the electrode temperature in the stable state and the occurrence rate of discharge flicker and between the electrode temperature in the stable state and the relative electrode life in the first mode for carrying out the embodiments described in claims 2 and 3 ; FIG. 6 is a front view of a high-pressure discharge lamp according to the second mode for carrying out the embodiments described in claims 1 to 3 ; FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of a high-pressure discharge lamp lighting device according to an embodiment described in claim 5 ; and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an automotive headlamp apparatus according to an embodiment described in claim 6 . detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device |
For marking a package efficiently at low cost, there is provided a dicing sheet 25 having transfer patterns 28A, 28B and an alignment mark 31 disposed at predetermined positions on a main surface of a base material 26, and an orientation flat 32 of a semiconductor wafer 1 and the alignment mark 31 are aligned with each other, then the main surface of the dicing sheet with the transfer patterns 28A, 28B and the alignment mark 31 disposed thereon and a back surface of the semiconductor wafer 1 are affixed to each other, and thereafter heat and pressure are applied to a back surface of the dicing sheet 25, thereby allowing the transfer patterns 28A and 28B to be transferred at a time to back surfaces of semiconductor chips from the dicing sheet 25. |
1-53. (cancelled) 54. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of semiconductor chip-forming areas; (b) grinding a back surface of the semiconductor wafer to thin the semiconductor wafer; (c) providing a base material having a transfer material over a first surface thereof, the transfer material being patterned in a predetermined shape, disposed correspondingly to predetermined positions in the plural semiconductor chip-forming areas; (d) after the step (b), affixing the back surface of the semiconductor wafer and the first surface of the base material to each other; (e) transferring the transfer material from the first surface of the base material to the back surface of the semiconductor wafer to form identification marks of the transfer material respectively at the predetermined positions in the plural semiconductor chip-forming areas; and (e) cutting the semiconductor wafer to divide the wafer into a plurality of semiconductor chips. 55. The method of claim 54, wherein the identification marks each represent selected one or more of polarity, as well as product name, ID and manufacturer's name of the associated one of the semiconductor chips. 56. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of semiconductor chip-forming areas; (b) forming a plurality of bump electrodes at predetermined positions over a main surface of the semiconductor wafer; (c) grinding a back surface of the semiconductor wafer to thin the wafer; (d) after the step (b) and (c), forming a first thin film including indium or aluminum as a main component over the back surface of the semiconductor wafer; and (e) patterning the first thin film in a predetermined shape to form identification marks respectively at predetermined positions in the plural semiconductor chip-forming areas over the back surface of the semiconductor wafer; and (f) cutting the semiconductor wafer to divide the wafer into a plurality of semiconductor chips. 57. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of semiconductor chip-forming areas; (b) forming a plurality of bump electrodes at predetermined positions over a main surface of the semiconductor wafer; (c) grinding a back surface of the semiconductor wafer to thin the wafer; (d) providing a first sheet having printed thereover identification marks corresponding respectively to predetermined positions in the plural semiconductor chip-forming areas; (e) after the step (b) and (c), affixing the first sheet to the back surface of the semiconductor wafer to dispose the identification marks respectively at the predetermined positions in the plural semiconductor chip-forming areas; and (f) cutting the semiconductor wafer to divide the wafer into a plurality of semiconductor chips. 58. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of semiconductor chip-forming areas; (b) forming a base film for bump electrodes over a main surface of the semiconductor wafer and thereafter patterning the base film; (c) providing a base material having a transfer material over a first surface thereof, the transfer material being patterned in a predetermined shape, disposed correspondingly to predetermined positions in the plural semiconductor chip-forming areas; (d) after the step (b), affixing a back surface of the semiconductor wafer and the first surface of the base material to each other; (e) transferring the transfer material from the first surface of the base material to the back surface of the semiconductor wafer to form identification marks respectively at the predetermined positions in the plural semiconductor chip-forming areas; and (f) cutting the semiconductor wafer to divide the wafer into a plurality of semiconductor chips. 59. The method of claim 58, wherein the identification marks each represent selected one or more of polarity, as well as product name, ID and manufacturer's name of the associated one of the semiconductor chips. 60. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of semiconductor chip-forming areas; (b) forming a base film for bump electrodes over a main surface of the semiconductor wafer and thereafter patterning the base film; (c) after the step (b), forming a first thin film over the back surface of the semiconductor wafer, the first thin film including indium or aluminum as a main component; (d) patterning the first thin film in a predetermined shape to form identification marks respectively at predetermined positions in the plural semiconductor chip-forming areas over the back surface of the semiconductor wafer; and (e) cutting the semiconductor wafer to divide the wafer into a plurality of semiconductor chips, wherein the step (b) comprises the steps of: (b1) forming a plurality of bump electrodes at predetermined positions over the base film; and (b2) allowing a portion of the base film which underlies the plural bump electrodes to remain, and removing the other portion of the base film. 61. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of semiconductor chip-forming areas; (b) forming a base film for bump electrodes over a main surface of the semiconductor chip and thereafter patterning the base film; (c) providing a first sheet having printed thereover identification marks corresponding respectively to predetermined positions in the plural semiconductor chip-forming areas; (d) affixing the first sheet to the back surface of the semiconductor wafer to dispose the identification marks respectively at the predetermined positions in the plural semiconductor chip-forming areas; and (e) cutting the semiconductor wafer to divide the wafer into a plurality of chips, wherein the step (b) comprises the steps of: (b1) forming a plurality of bump electrodes at predetermined positions over the base film; and (b2) allowing a portion of the base film which underlies the plural bump electrodes to remain, and removing the other portion of the base film. 62. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of semiconductor chip-forming areas partitioned by dividing areas; (b) forming a base film for bump electrodes over a main surface of the semiconductor wafer and thereafter patterning the base film; (c) after the step (b), forming an insulating film for sealing over the semiconductor wafer; (d) after the step (c), forming identification marks respectively at predetermined positions in the plural semiconductor chip-forming areas over a back surface of the semiconductor wafer; and (e) cutting the semiconductor wafer and the insulating film for sealing along the dividing areas to divide the semiconductor wafer into a plurality of semiconductor chips. 63. The method according to claim 62, wherein the step (c) comprises the steps of: (c1) forming grooves in the dividing areas over the main surface of the semiconductor wafer; and (c2) forming an insulating film for sealing over the main surface of the semiconductor chip to fill up the grooves. 64. The method according to claim 62, wherein the identification marks each represent selected one or more of polarity, as well as product name, ID and manufacturer's name of the associated one of the semiconductor chips. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>On a surface of a semiconductor package (hereinafter referred to simply as “package”) there are marked a numeral or a symbol indicative of the package so that the product name, characteristics and lot number of the package can be recognized at a glance. Such a marking is applied in the following manner. Semiconductor chips are cut out from a semiconductor wafer, then are each packaged by resin sealing, and thereafter marking is applied thereto using a YAG (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) laser for example. For example, in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 9(1997)-66519 there is disclosed a technique of bonding a marking tape having the aforesaid numeral or symbol to a package to effect marking. The present inventors have been studying a method for carrying out a marking process efficiently. In the course of our study we found out that the following problems were involved in the above technique of packaging each semiconductor chip by resin sealing and thereafter marking the resulting package. In the above technique, marking is performed for each individual package, so for increasing the number of packages to be produced it is required to increase the number of assembling lines and improve the marking speed for each package. However, increasing the number of assembling lines gives rise to the problem that the manufacturing cost rises although the number of packages produced increases. Likewise, increasing the marking speed for each package gives rise to the problem that it becomes difficult to effect marking in a simple manner. It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique for applying marking efficiently to a package at low cost. The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a manufacturing flow chart showing manufacturing steps in a semiconductor device manufacturing method according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a manufacturing flow chart showing manufacturing steps which follow the manufacturing steps shown in FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a principal portion, showing the semiconductor device manufacturing method of the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 3 ; FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 4 ; FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 5 ; FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 6 ; FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 7 ; FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 8 ; FIG. 10 is a plan view of a dicing tape used in the semiconductor device manufacturing method of the first embodiment; FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a principal portion of the dicing tape; FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a principal portion, illustrating a transfer pattern forming step in the semiconductor device manufacturing method of the first embodiment; FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a principal portion in the semiconductor device manufacturing method of the first embodiment; FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 9 ; FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 13 ; FIG. 16 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 14 ; FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 15 ; FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 16 ; FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 17 ; FIG. 20 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 18 ; FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 19 ; FIG. 22 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 20 ; FIG. 23 is a top view of the semiconductor device of the first embodiment; FIG. 24 is a sectional view thereof; FIG. 25 is a bottom view thereof; FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a principal portion in the semiconductor device manufacturing method of the first embodiment; FIG. 27 is a manufacturing flow chart showing a semiconductor device manufacturing method according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 28 is a sectional view of a principal portion in the semiconductor device manufacturing method of the second embodiment; FIG. 29 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 28 ; FIG. 30 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 29 ; FIG. 31 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 30 ; FIG. 32 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 31 ; FIG. 33 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 32 ; FIG. 34 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 33 ; FIG. 35 is a manufacturing flow chart showing a semiconductor device manufacturing method according to a third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 36 is a plan view showing the semiconductor device manufacturing method of the third embodiment; FIG. 37 is a sectional view of a principal portion, showing a semiconductor device manufacturing step in the third embodiment; FIG. 38 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 37 ; FIG. 39 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 38 ; FIG. 40 is a manufacturing flow chart showing a semiconductor device manufacturing method according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 41 is a plan view of a marking sheet used in the semiconductor device manufacturing method of the fourth embodiment; FIG. 42 is a sectional view of a principal portion, showing a semiconductor device manufacturing step in the fourth embodiment; FIG. 43 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 42 ; FIG. 44 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 33 ; FIG. 45 is a manufacturing flow chart showing a semiconductor device manufacturing method according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 46 is a sectional view of a principal portion, showing a semiconductor device manufacturing step in the fifth embodiment; FIG. 47 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 46 ; FIG. 48 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 47 ; FIG. 49 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 48 ; FIG. 50 is a manufacturing flow chart showing a semiconductor device manufacturing method according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 51 is a sectional view of a principal portion, showing a semiconductor device manufacturing step in the sixth embodiment; FIG. 52 is a plan view of a principal portion, showing a semiconductor device manufacturing step in the sixth embodiment; FIG. 53 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 51 ; FIG. 54 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 53 ; and FIG. 55 is a sectional view of a principal portion in a semiconductor device manufacturing step which follows FIG. 54 . detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Printing cartridge with two dimensional code indentification |
A printing cartridge (1100) includes a housing (1104). A two dimensional code (1232) is positioned on the housing. The two dimensional code carries data relating to at least one of: a serial number of the cartridge, a media and a media colorant. |
1. A method of determining media of a printing cartridge, the method comprising the step of sensing a two dimensional code positioned on a housing of the printing cartridge with a sensor positioned in a printing device with which the printing cartridge is engaged, the two dimensional code carrying data relating to the media of the printing cartridge. 2. A printing cartridge that comprises a housing; a media supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media; and a two dimensional code positioned on the housing, the two dimensional code carrying data relating to the media. 3. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 2, wherein the two dimensional code carries data related to at least one of a serial number identifying the media, a type of the media and a length of the media. 4. A print cartridge as claimed in claim 2, in which the two dimensional code is protected with an encryption algorithm. 5. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 2, in which the two dimensional code incorporates error-correcting code. 6. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 5, in which the error-correcting code is in the form of Reed-Solomon code. 7. A method of determining media and media colorant of a printing cartridge, the method comprising the step of sensing a two dimensional code positioned on a housing of the printing cartridge with a sensor positioned in a printing device with which the printing cartridge is engaged, the two dimensional code carrying data relating to the media and the media colorant of the printing cartridge. 8. A printing cartridge that comprises a housing; media and media color supply arrangements positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media and a supply of media colorant, respectively; and a two dimensional code positioned on the housing, the two dimensional code carrying data relating to the media and the media colorant. 9. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 8, herein the two dimensional code carries data related to at least one of a serial number identifying the media, a serial number identifying the media colorant, a length of the media, a type of the media, a viscosity of the media colorant, a surface tension of the media colorant, optical characteristics of the media colorant and an optimal ink drop volume of the media colorant corresponding to the type of media. 10. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 8, in which the two dimensional code is protected with an encryption algorithm. 11. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 8, in which the two dimensional code incorporates error-correcting code. 12. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 11, in which the error-correcting code is in the form of Reed-Solomon code. 13. A printing device which comprises a body, a printing cartridge being engageable with the body, the printing cartridge having a housing, a media supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media, a two dimensional code being positioned on the housing and carrying data relating to the media; a processor positioned in the body to control operation of a media feed mechanism and a printing mechanism; and a sensor positioned in the body to read the two dimensional code and to provide the processor with said code. 14. A printing device as claimed in claim 13, in which the sensor comprises an image sensor and the processor includes an image sensor interface connected to the image sensor to interpret a signal received from the image sensor into data which is readable by the processor. 15. A printing device as claimed in claim 13, in which the image sensor is one of a charge coupled device and a ceramic metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor. 16. A printing device which comprises a body, a printing cartridge being engageable with the body, the printing cartridge having a housing, media colorant and media supply arrangements positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media and media colorant, a two dimensional code being positioned on the housing and carrying data relating to the media colorant and the media; a processor positioned in the body to control operation of media colorant and media feed mechanisms and a printing mechanism; and a sensor positioned in the body to read the two dimensional code and to provide the processor with said code. 17. A printing device as claimed in claim 16, in which the sensor comprises an image sensor and the processor includes an image sensor interface connected to the image sensor to interpret a signal received from the image sensor into data which is readable by the processor. 18. A printing device as claimed in claim 16, in which the image sensor is one of a charge coupled device and a ceramic metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Recently, digital printing technology has been proposed as a suitable replacement for traditional camera and photographic film techniques. The traditional film and photographic techniques rely upon a film roll having a number of pre-formatted negatives which are drawn past a lensing system and onto which is imaged a negative of a image taken by the lensing system. Upon the completion of a film roll, the film is rewound into its container and forwarded to a processing shop for processing and development of the negatives so as to produce a corresponding positive set of photos. Unfortunately, such a system has a number of significant drawbacks. Firstly, the chemicals utilized are obviously very sensitive to light and any light impinging upon the film roll will lead to exposure of the film. They are therefore required to operate in a light sensitive environment where the light imaging is totally controlled. This results in onerous engineering requirements leading to increased expense. Further, film processing techniques require the utilizing of a “negative” and its subsequent processing onto a “positive” film paper through the utilization of processing chemicals and complex silver halide processing etc. This is generally unduly cumbersome, complex and expensive. Further, such a system through its popularity has lead to the standardization on certain size film formats and generally minimal flexibility is possible with the aforementioned techniques. Recently, all digital cameras have been introduced. These camera devices normally utilize a charge coupled device (CCD) or other form of photosensor connected to a processing chip which in turn is connected to and controls a media storage device which can take the form of a detachable magnetic card. In this type of device, the image is captured by the CCD and stored on the magnetic storage device. At some later time, the image or images which have been captured are down loaded to a computer device and printed out for viewing. The digital camera has the disadvantage that access to images is non-immediate and the further post processing step of loading onto a computer system is required, the further post processing often being a hindrance to ready and expedient use. Therefore, there remains a general need for an improved form of camera picture image production apparatus which is convenient, simple and effective in operation. Further, there also remains a need for a simple form of portable, immediate print media on which images can be effectively reproduced. In the parent application, there is disclosed the use of an authentication chip to provide information in connection with the print media and the media colorant that is supplied with the cartridge. The Applicant has identified that it would be highly desirable to provide a means whereby information concerning one or both of the media and the media colorant could be supplied together with the cartridge. The reason for this is that such information could be used, in a suitable form, by a processor of such a device to enhance operation of a printing mechanism. It will be appreciated that printing mechanisms need to operate differently with different types of media and media colorant. It follows that it would be useful to supply information concerning media and media colorant to a controller of the printing mechanism so that operation of the printing mechanism could be automatically adjusted to suit the particular media and media colorant. With suitable encryption techniques, this could be used to inhibit after-market refilling. As is well known in the field of printing technology, such after-market refilling has become a cause for substantial concern in the printing industry. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing cartridge which comprises a housing; and a two dimensional code that is positioned on the housing, the two dimensional code carrying data relating to at least one of: a serial number of the cartridge, a media and a media colorant. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of determining a media colorant of a printing cartridge, the method comprising the step of sensing a two dimensional code positioned on a housing of the printing cartridge with a sensor positioned in a printing device with which the printing cartridge is engaged, the two dimensional code carrying data relating to the media colorant. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing cartridge that comprises a housing; a media colorant supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media colorant; and a two dimensional code positioned on the housing, the two dimensional code carrying data relating to the media colorant. According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provide method of determining media of a printing cartridge, the method comprising the step of sensing a two dimensional code positioned on a housing of the printing cartridge with a sensor positioned in a printing device with which the printing cartridge is engaged, the two dimensional code carrying data relating to the media of the printing cartridge. According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing cartridge that comprises a housing; a media supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media; and a two dimensional code positioned on the housing, the two dimensional code carrying data relating to the media. According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of determining media and media colorant of a printing cartridge, the method comprising the step of sensing a two dimensional code positioned on a housing of the printing cartridge with a sensor positioned in a printing device with which the printing cartridge is engaged, the two dimensional code carrying data relating to the media and the media colorant of the printing cartridge. According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing cartridge that comprises a housing; media and media colorant supply arrangements positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media and a supply of media colorant, respectively; and a two dimensional code positioned on the housing, the two dimensional code carrying data relating to the media and the media colorant. According to an eighth aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing device which comprises a body, a printing cartridge being engageable with the body, the printing cartridge having a housing, a media colorant supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media colorant, a two dimensional code being positioned on the housing and carrying data relating to the media colorant; a processor positioned in the body to control operation of a media colorant feed mechanism and a printing mechanism; and a sensor positioned in the body to read the two dimensional code and to provide the processor with said code. According to a ninth aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing device which comprises a body, a printing cartridge being engageable with the body, the printing cartridge having a housing, a media supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media, a two dimensional code being positioned on the housing and carrying data relating to the media; a processor positioned in the body to control operation of a media feed mechanism and a printing mechanism; and a sensor positioned in the body to read the two dimensional code and to provide the processor with said code. According to a tenth aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing device which comprises a body, a printing cartridge being engageable with the body, the printing cartridge having a housing, media colorant and media supply arrangements positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media and media colorant, a two dimensional code being depicted on the housing and carrying data relating to the media colorant and the media; a processor positioned in the body to control operation of media colorant and media feed mechanisms and a printing mechanism; and a sensor positioned in the body to read the two dimensional code and to provide the processor with said code. The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The specific nature of the following description should not be construed as limiting in any way the broad nature of this summary. |
Image printing apparatus including a microcontroller |
An image printing apparatus includes a print head for printing images. A microcontroller that includes a wafer substrate is provided. Processor circuitry is positioned on the wafer substrate. Print head interface circuitry is also positioned on the wafer substrate and is connected between the processor circuitry and the print hcad. The print hcad interface circuitry is configured to facilitate communication between the processor circuitry and the print head. Bus interface circuitry that is discrete from the print head interface circuitry is connected to the processor circuitry so that the processor circuitry can communicate with devices other than the print head via a bus. |
1. An image printing apparatus that comprises a print head for printing images; and a microcontroller that comprises a wafer substrate; processor circuitry that is positioned on the wafer substrate; print head interface circuitry that is positioned on the wafer substrate and is connected between the processor circuitry and the print head, the print head interface circuitry being configured to facilitate communication between the processor circuitry and the print head; and bus interface circuitry that is discrete from the print head interface circuitry and is connected to the processor circuitry so that the processor circuitry can communicate with devices other than the print head via a bus. 2. An image printing apparatus that comprises a page width print head that is the product of an integrated circuit fabrication technique and which includes a plurality of nozzle arrangements, each nozzle arrangement defining a micro electromechanical device that is capable of being actuated to eject ink from a nozzle chamber of the nozzle arrangement; and a microcontroller that comprises a wafer substrate; processor circuitry that is positioned on the wafer substrate; print head interface circuitry that is positioned on the wafer substrate and is connected between the processor circuitry and the print head, the print head interface circuitry being configured to facilitate communication between the processor circuitry and the print head; and bus interface circuitry that is discrete from the print head interface circuitry and is connected to the processor circuitry so that the processor circuitry can communicate with devices other than the print head via a bus. 3. An image printing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the processor circuitry of the microcontroller is in the form of VLIW processor circuitry. 4. An image printing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the print head interface circuitry is configured to define a number of registers for storing clocking and control information to be received by the print head in accordance with a predetermined algorithm. 5. An image printing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the print head interface circuitry is connected to an address and data bus that, in turn, is connected to a central processing unit (CPU) of the microcontroller so that the CPU can address the registers defined by the print head interface circuitry with said clocking and control information. 6. An image printing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the print head interface circuitry is connected to a buffer memory that, in turn, is connected to the processor circuitry, the print head interface circuitry being configured to receive a print image from the processor circuitry via the buffer memory and to pass the print image to the print head in accordance with said clocking and control information. 7. A microcontroller for an image printing apparatus, the microcontroller comprising a wafer substrate; processor circuitry that is positioned on the wafer substrate; print head interface circuitry that is positioned on the wafer substrate and is connected between the processor circuitry and the print head, the print head interface circuitry being configured to facilitate communication between the processor circuitry and the print head; and bus interface circuitry that is discrete from the print head interface circuitry and is connected to the processor circuitry so that the processor circuitry can communicate with devices other than the print head via a bus. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Recently, digital printing technology has been proposed as a suitable replacement for traditional camera and photographic film techniques. The traditional film and photographic techniques rely upon a film roll having a number of pre-formatted negatives which are drawn past a lensing system and onto which is imaged a negative of a image taken by the lensing system. Upon the completion of a film roll, the film is rewound into its container and forwarded to a processing shop for processing and development of the negatives so as to produce a corresponding positive set of photos. Unfortunately, such a system has a number of significant drawbacks. Firstly, the chemicals utilized are obviously very sensitive to light and any light impinging upon the film roll will lead to exposure of the film. They are therefore required to operate in a light sensitive environment where the light imaging is totally controlled. This results in onerous engineering requirements leading to increased expense. Further, film processing techniques require the utilizing of a “negative” and its subsequent processing onto a “positive” film paper through the utilization of processing chemicals and complex silver halide processing etc. This is generally unduly cumbersome, complex and expensive. Further, such a system through its popularity has lead to the standardization on certain size film formats and generally minimal flexibility is possible with the aforementioned techniques. Recently, all digital cameras have been introduced. These camera devices normally utilize a charge coupled device (CCD) or other form of photosensor connected to a processing chip which in turn is connected to and controls a media storage device which can take the form of a detachable magnetic card. In this type of device, the image is captured by the CCD and stored on the magnetic storage device. At some later time, the image or images that have been captured are down loaded to a computer device and printed out for viewing. The digital camera has the disadvantage that access to images is non-immediate and the further post processing step of loading onto a computer system is required, the further post processing often being a hindrance to ready and expedient use. The Applicant is presently developing technology that is consumer based and is therefore intended to have an extremely high turnover rate. However, this technology relates to relatively complex image processing and printing techniques. At present, devices that carry out such processes are relatively expensive and are therefore not intended to be high turnover devices. It follows that, at present, the components that make up such a device are usually standard and are capable of being programmed to carry out specific tasks. This permits manufacturers to avoid the necessity of having to fabricate task-specific microcontrollers and microprocessors. An example of a prior art device is shown in FIG. 1A . This is a schematic block diagram of a print head 1 a and a control system 2 a for the print head 1 a . As can be seen, the control system 2 a has a printer driver component 3 a and a microprocessor/microcontroller 4 a that are separate from each other. This allows the microprocessor/microcontroller 4 a to be provided as a standard component that is then pre-programmed to carry out specific tasks. It follows that it is counter-intuitive for a microcontroller to be provided that incorporates printer interface or driver circuitry, since this would mean that the microcontroller would have to be manufactured to suit a specified task. Applicant has, however, conceived the present invention in an attempt to simplify component requirements for an image printing control system. Applicant believes that it is advantageous to have such a purpose-built microcontroller when applied to high turnover devices such as those that the Applicant envisages marketing. A microcontroller is an integrated chip that includes, on one chip, all or most of the components needed for a controller. A microcontroller is what is known as a “system on a chip.” A microcontroller can typically include the following components: CPU (central processing unit); RAM (Random Access Memory); EPROM/PROM/ROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory); bus interface/s; timers; and an interrupt controller. An advantage of microcontrollers is that by only including the features specific to the task (control), cost is relatively low. A typical microcontroller has bit manipulation instructions, easy and direct access to I/O (input/output) data, and quick and efficient interrupt processing. Microcontrollers are a “one-chip solution” which reduces parts count and design costs. The fact that a microcontroller is in the form of a single chip allows the manufacture of controlling devices to take place in a single integrated circuit fabrication process. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an image printing apparatus that comprises a print head for printing images; and a microcontroller that comprises a wafer substrate; processor circuitry that is positioned on the wafer substrate; print head interface circuitry that is positioned on the wafer substrate and is connected between the processor circuitry and the print head, the print head interface circuitry being configured to facilitate communication between the processor circuitry and the print head; and bus interface circuitry that is discrete from the print head interface circuitry and is connected to the processor circuitry so that the processor circuitry can communicate with devices other than the print head via a bus. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an image printing apparatus that comprises a page width print head that is the product of an integrated circuit fabrication technique and which includes a plurality of nozzle arrangements, each nozzle arrangement defining a micro electromechanical device that is capable of being actuated to eject ink from a nozzle chamber of the nozzle arrangement; and a microcontroller that comprises a wafer substrate; processor circuitry that is positioned on the wafer substrate; print head interface circuitry that is positioned on the wafer substrate and is connected between the processor circuitry and the print head, the print head interface circuitry being configured to facilitate communication between the processor circuitry and the print head; and bus interface circuitry that is discrete from the print head interface circuitry and is connected to the processor circuitry so that the processor circuitry can communicate with devices other than the print head via a bus. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a microcontroller for an image printing apparatus, the microcontroller comprising a wafer substrate; processor circuitry that is positioned on the wafer substrate; print head interface circuitry that is positioned on the wafer substrate and is connected between the processor circuitry and the print head, the print head interface circuitry being configured to facilitate communication between the processor circuitry and the print head; and bus interface circuitry that is discrete from the print head interface circuitry and is connected to the processor circuitry so that the processor circuitry can communicate with devices other than the print head via a bus. The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The specific nature of the following description should not be construed as limiting in any way the broad nature of this summary. |
Printing cartridge with an integrated circuit device |
A printing cartridge (1001) includes a housing (1007). An integrated circuit device (1033) is positioned on the housing (1007). The integrated circuit device (1033) has memory circuitry that carries data relating to at least one of: a serial number of the cartridge, a media and a media colorant. |
1. A printing cartridge that comprises a housing; and an integrated circuit device that is positioned on the housing, the integrated circuit device having memory circuitry that carries data relating to at least one of: a serial number of the cartridge, a media and a media colorant. 2. A method of determining a media colorant of a printing cartridge, the method comprising the step of reading memory circuitry of an integrated circuit device positioned on a housing of the printing cartridge, the memory circuitry carrying data relating to the media colorant. 3. A printing cartridge that comprises a housing; a media colorant supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media colorant; and an integrated circuit device positioned on the housing, the integrated circuit device having memory circuitry carrying data relating to the media colorant. 4. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 3, which includes communication leads for electrically connecting the integrated circuit device to a processor. 5. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 3, in which the integrated circuit device incorporates a protective mechanism to inhibit duplication of the integrated circuit device. 6. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 3, in which the integrated circuit device is in the form of a pre-programmed chip that is pre-programmed to store code carrying said data relating to the media colorant. 7. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 6, in which the chip is a product of a flash memory manufacturing process. 8. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 6, in which the chip is pre-programmed to store code carrying encrypted data relating to the media colorant. 9. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 6, in which the chip is pre-programmed to store code carrying data relating to at least one characteristic selected from the following group of characteristics: a serial number identifying the media colorant, a type of the media colorant, a viscosity of the media colorant, a surface tension of the media colorant, optical characteristics of the media colorant and an optimal ink drop volume corresponding to a type of media. 10. A method of determining media of a printing cartridge, the method comprising the step of reading memory circuitry of an integrated circuit device positioned on a housing of the printing cartridge, the memory circuitry carrying data relating to the media of the printing cartridge. 11. A printing cartridge that comprises a housing; a media supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media; and an integrated circuit device positioned on the housing, the integrated circuit device having memory circuitry carrying data relating to the media. 12. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 11, which includes communication leads for electrically connecting the integrated circuit device to a processor. 13. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 11, in which the integrated circuit device incorporates a protective mechanism to inhibit duplication of the integrated circuit device. 14. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 11, in which the integrated circuit device is in the form of a pre-programmed chip that is pre-programmed to store code carrying said data relating to the media. 15. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 14, in which the chip is a product of a flash memory manufacturing process. 16. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 14, in which the chip is pre-programmed to store code carrying encrypted data relating to the media. 17. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 14, in which the chip is pre-programmed to store code carrying data relating to at least one characteristic selected from the following group of characteristics: a serial number identifying the media, a type of the media and a length of the media 18. A method of determining media and media colorant of a printing cartridge, the method comprising the step of reading memory circuitry of an integrated circuit device positioned on a housing of the printing cartridge, the memory circuitry carrying data relating to the media colorant and the media of the printing cartridge. 19. A printing cartridge that comprises a housing; media and media colorant supply arrangements positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media and a supply of media colorant, respectively; and an integrated circuit device positioned on the housing, the integrated circuit device having memory circuitry carrying data relating to the media colorant and the media. 20. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 19, which includes communication leads for electrically connecting the integrated circuit device to a processor. 21. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 19, in which the integrated circuit device incorporates a protective mechanism to inhibit duplication of the integrated circuit device. 22. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 19, in which the integrated circuit device is in the form of a pre-programmed chip that is pre-programmed to store code carrying said data relating to the media colorant and the media. 23. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 22, in which the chip is a product of a flash memory manufacturing process. 24. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 22, in which the chip is pre-programmed to store code carrying encrypted data relating to the media. 25. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 22, in which the chip is pre-programmed to store code carrying data relating to at least one characteristic selected from the following group of characteristics: a serial number identifying the media, a serial number identifying the media colorant, a length of the media, a type of the media, a viscosity of the media colorant, a surface tension of the media colorant, optical characteristics of the media colorant and an optimal ink drop volume of the media colorant corresponding to the type of media. 26. An authentication chip for a printing cartridge having a housing, a media colorant supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media colorant, and a feed mechanism positioned in the housing for feeding the media colorant to a printing mechanism, the authentication chip comprising an integrated circuit device that is mountable in the housing, the integrated circuit device having memory circuitry that incorporates data relating to the media colorant. 27. An authentication chip for a printing cartridge having a housing, a media supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media, and a feed mechanism positioned in the housing for feeding the media to a printing mechanism, the authentication chip comprising an integrated circuit device that is mountable in the housing, the integrated circuit device having memory circuitry that incorporates data relating to the media. 28. An authentication chip for a printing cartridge having a housing, media colorant and media supply arrangements positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media colorant and a supply of media, respectively, and feed mechanisms positioned in the housing for feeding the media colorant and the media to a printing mechanism, the authentication chip comprising an integrated circuit device that is mountable in the housing, the integrated circuit device having memory circuitry that incorporates data relating to the media colorant and the media. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Recently, digital printing technology has been proposed as a suitable replacement for traditional camera and photographic film techniques. The traditional film and photographic techniques rely upon a film roll having a number of pre-formatted negatives which are drawn past a lensing system and onto which is imaged a negative of a image taken by the lensing system. Upon the completion of a film roll, the film is rewound into its container and forwarded to a processing shop for processing and development of the negatives so as to produce a corresponding positive set of photos. Unfortunately, such a system has a number of significant drawbacks. Firstly, the chemicals utilized are obviously very sensitive to light and any light impinging upon the film roll will lead to exposure of the film. They are therefore required to operate in a light sensitive environment where the light imaging is totally controlled. This results in onerous engineering requirements leading to increased expense. Further, film processing techniques require the utilizing of a “negative” and its subsequent processing onto a “positive” film paper through the utilization of processing chemicals and complex silver halide processing etc. This is generally unduly cumbersome, complex and expensive. Further, such a system through its popularity has lead to the standardization on certain size film formats and generally minimal flexibility is possible with the aforementioned techniques. Recently, all digital cameras have been introduced. These camera devices normally utilize a charge coupled device (CCD) or other form of photosensor connected to a processing chip which in turn is connected to and controls a media storage device which can take the form of a detachable magnetic card. In this type of device, the image is captured by the CCD and stored on the magnetic storage device. At some later time, the image or images that have been captured are down loaded to a computer device and printed out for viewing. The digital camera has the disadvantage that access to images is non-immediate and the further post processing step of loading onto a computer system is required, the further post processing often being a hindrance to ready and expedient use. Therefore, there remains a general need for an improved form of camera picture image production apparatus which is convenient, simple and effective in operation. Further, there also remains a need for a simple form of portable, immediate print media on which images can be effectively reproduced. In the parent application, there is disclosed the use of an authentication chip to provide information in connection with the print media and the media colorant that is supplied with the cartridge. The Applicant has identified that it would be highly desirable to provide a means whereby information concerning at least the media colorant could be supplied together with the cartridge. With suitable encryption techniques, this could be used to inhibit after-market refilling. As is well known in the field of printing technology, such after-market refilling has become a cause for substantial concern in the printing industry. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing cartridge that comprises a housing; and an integrated circuit device that is positioned on the housing, the integrated circuit device having memory circuitry that carries data relating to at least one of: a serial number of the cartridge, a media and a media colorant According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of determining a media colorant of a printing cartridge, the method comprising the step of reading memory circuitry of an integrated circuit device positioned on a housing of the printing cartridge, the memory circuitry carrying data relating to the media colorant. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing cartridge that comprises a housing; a media colorant supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media colorant, and an integrated circuit device positioned on the housing, the integrated circuit device having memory circuitry carrying data relating to the media colorant. According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of determining media of a printing cartridge, the method comprising the step of reading memory circuitry of an integrated circuit device positioned on a housing of the printing cartridge, the memory circuitry carrying data relating to the media of the printing cartridge. According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a printing cartridge that comprises a housing; a media supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media; and an integrated circuit device positioned on the housing, the integrated circuit device having memory circuitry carrying data relating to the media. According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of determining media and media colorant of a printing cartridge, the method comprising the step of reading memory circuitry of an integrated circuit device positioned on a housing of the printing cartridge, the memory circuitry carrying data relating to the media colorant and the media of the printing cartridge. According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing cartridge that comprises a housing; media and media colorant supply arrangements positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media and a supply of media colorant, respectively; and an integrated circuit device positioned on the housing, the integrated circuit device having memory circuitry carrying data relating to the media colorant and the media According to an eighth aspect of the invention, there is provided an authentication chip for a printing cartridge having a housing, a media colorant supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media colorant, and a feed mechanism positioned in the housing for feeding the media colorant to a printing mechanism, the authentication chip comprising an integrated circuit device that is mountable in the housing, the integrated circuit device having memory circuitry that incorporates data relating to the media colorant According to a ninth aspect of the invention, there is provided an authentication chip for a printing cartridge having a housing, a media supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media, and a feed mechanism positioned in the housing for feeding the media to a printing mechanism, the authentication chip comprising an integrated circuit device that is mountable in the housing, the integrated circuit device having memory circuitry that incorporates data relating to the media. According to a tenth aspect of the invention, there is provided an authentication chip for a printing cartridge having a housing, media colorant and media supply arrangements positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media colorant and a supply of media, respectively, and feed mechanisms positioned in the housing for feeding the media colorant and the media to a printing mechanism, the authentication chip comprising an integrated circuit device that is mountable in the housing, the integrated circuit device having memory circuitry that incorporates data relating to the media colorant and the media The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The specific nature of the following description should not be construed as limiting in any way the broad nature of this summary. |
Method for making a color image sensor with recessed contact apertures prior to thinning |
The invention relates to method for making a color image sensor. The method comprises: the formation, on the front face of a semiconductive wafer (10), of a series of active zones (ZA) comprising image detection circuits and each corresponding to a respective image sensor, each active zone being surrounded by input/output pads (22), the transfer of the wafer by its front face against the front face of a temporary supporting substrate (20), the elimination of the major part of the thickness of the silicon wafer, leaving a fine silicon layer (30) on the substrate, this fine silicon layer comprising the image detection circuits. Furthermore: firstly, layers of color filters (18) are deposited and then etched on the semiconductive layer thus thinned, secondly, prior to the transfer of the semiconductive wafer to the substrate, on the front face of the wafer, metallized apertures (25) are formed extending to a greater depth than the elements of the image detection circuits formed on the surface of the wafer, and the step of elimination of the major part of the thickness of the semiconductive wafer includes the baring, from the rear, of the metallization (22) of the metallized apertures. |
1. A method for making an image sensor, comprising the steps of: forming, on the front face of a semiconductive wafer, of a series of active zones comprising image detection circuits and each corresponding to a respective image sensor, each active zone being surrounded by input/output pads; transferring of the wafer by its front face against the front face of a temporary supporting substrate; eliminating of the major part of the thickness of the silicon wafer, leaving a fine silicon layer the substrate, this fine silicon layer comprising the image detection circuits, depositing, layers of color filters and then etching on the semiconductive layer thus thinned, prior to the transfer of the semiconductive wafer to the substrate, on the front face of the wafer, metallized apertures are formed extending to a greater depth than the elements of the image detection circuits formed on the surface of the wafer, eliminating the major part of the thickness of the semiconductive wafer includes the baring, from the rear, of the metallization of the metallized apertures, dicing, the substrate into individual sensors after the deposition and the etching of the color filters. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the remaining thickness of the thinned semiconductive layer is about 3 to 20 micrometers. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a sheet of transparent material is placed on the thinned semiconductive layer covered with color filters. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein a sheet of transparent material is placed on the thinned semiconductive layer covered with color filters. |
Filter for molten metal filtration and method for producing such filters |
The present invention relates to a ceramic filter for molten metal filtration that comprises a bonded network of graphitized carbon and a method for producing such filters. |
1. A ceramic filter suitable for molten metal filtration comprising a bonded network of graphitized carbon. 2. The filter of claim 1 wherein the graphitized carbon is present in a positive amount up to 15% by weight. 3. Use of a filter comprising a bonded network of graphitized carbon for the filtration of molten steel. 4. A method to produce ceramic filters according to claim 1, comprising the steps a) impregnating a foam made of thermoplastic material with a slurry containing a graphitizable carbon bonding precursor, ceramic powder, and optionally other additives, b) drying, optionally followed by one or two coatings of the same slurry in order to increase the mass, followed by final drying, c) firing the impregnated foam in non-oxidizing and/or reducing atmosphere at a temperature in the range of from 500 to 1000° C., whereby the carbon bonding precursor is least partially converted to a bonded network of graphitized carbon. 5. A method to produce filters suitable for molten metal filtration comprising a bonded network of graphitized carbon, comprising the steps a) impregnating a foam made of thermoplastic material with a slurry containing a graphitizable carbon bonding precursor, and optionally other additives, b) drying, optionally followed by one or two coatings of the same slurry in order to increase the mass, followed by final drying, c) firing the impregnated foam in non-oxidizing and/or reducing atmosphere at a temperature in the range of from 500 to 1000° C., whereby the carbon bonding precursor is at least partially converted to a bonded network of graphitized carbon. 6. The method of claim 4 utilizing a thermoplastic foam that contains polyurethane. 7. The method of claim 4 wherein the carbon bonded precursor is mixed with ceramic powder, water, organic binder, and additives to control the rheology, prior to impregnating the foam. 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the carbon bonded precursor is mixed with water, organic binder, and additives to control the rheology, prior to impregnating the foam. 9. A method to produce the ceramic filters according to claim 1, comprising the steps a) pressing a semi-damp mixture comprising ceramic powder and a graphitizable bonding precursor, and optionally other additives in a hydraulic press, b) pressing to obtain a perforated article, c) firing the perforated article in non-oxidizing and/or reducing atmosphere at a temperature in the range of from 500° C. to 1000° C., whereby the carbon bonding precursor is at least partially converted to a bonded network of graphitized carbon. 10. A method to produce the filters suitable for molten metal filtration comprising a bonded network of graphitized carbon, comprising the steps a) pressing a semi-damp mixture comprising a graphitizable bonding precursor, and optionally other additives in a hydraulic press, b) pressing to obtain a perforated article, c) firing the perforated article in non-oxidizing and/or reducing atmosphere at a temperature in the range of from 500° C. to 1000° C., whereby the carbon bonding precursor is converted partially or fully to a bonded network of graphitized carbon. 11. The method of claim 4 wherein high melting pitch (HMP) is used as the graphitizable carbon bonding precursor. 12. The method of claim 4 wherein a slurry or semi-damp mixture is used comprising: graphitizable carbon bonding precursor in the range of from 2 to 15 parts by weight, ceramic powder in the range of from 0 to 95 parts by weight, anti-oxidation material in the range of from 0 to 80 parts by weight, graphite in the range of from 0 to 90 parts by weight, organic binder in the range of from 0 to 10 parts by weight and, dispersion agent in the range of from 0 to 4 parts by weight. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein zirconia, silica, alumina, brown fused alumina, magnesia, any type of clay, talcum, mica, silicon carbide and silicon nitride or a mixture thereof, or graphite, is used as the ceramic powder. 14. The method of claim 12 wherein metallic powders such as steel, iron, bronze, silicon, magnesium, aluminium, boron, zirconium boride, calcium boride, titanium boride and the like, and/or glass frits containing 20 to 30 weight percent of boric oxide are used as the anti-oxidation material. 15. The method of claim 11 wherein a green binder such as PVA, starch, gums, sugar or the like or a combination thereof is used as the organic binder. 16. The method of claim 11 wherein lignisulphonate is used as the dispersion agent. 17. The method of claim 11 wherein a slurry or semi-damp mixture is used that further comprises: a plasticizer in the range of from 0 to 2 parts by weight, an anti-foam agent in the range of from 0 to 1 part by weight. 18. The method of claim 5 utilizing a thermoplastic foam that contains polyurethane. 19. The method of claim 17 wherein said plasticizer is polyethylene glycol. 20. The method of claim 13 wherein said anti-foam agent is silicon. 21. The filter of claim 2 wherein the graphitized carbon is present in a positive amount up to about 10 by weight. 22. The method of claim 4 wherein step c) is carried out at a temperature of between about 600° C. to 700° C. 23. The method of claim 5 wherein step c) is carried out at a temperature of between about 600° C. to 700° C. 24. The method of claim 9 wherein step c) is carried out at a temperature of between about 600° C. to 700° C. 25. the method according to claim 12 wherein said organic binder is present in an amount of between about 0.2 to 2 parts by weight. 26. The method according to claim 12 wherein said dispersing agent is present in an amount of between about 0.1 to 2 parts by weight. |
Mixture formation and combustion method for heat engine with direct fuel injection |
The aim of the invention is to optimize the fuel distribution within the combustion air and to avoid the formation of liquid fuel nuclei. Direct fuel injection using two or more injector nozzles per combustion chamber is used in heat engines, such that the fuel envelopes are partly or completely formed by each injection nozzle such as to overlap each other from opposing directions. The mixture formation is influenced by the selection of a determined angle and the arrangement of the symmetry axis. Preferred applications are single- and multi-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with direct injection of conventional and alternative fuels with multi-orifice nozzles and pintle nozzles. |
1. A mixture formation and combustion method for heat engines with direct fuel injection into the combustion space (2) by the use of fuel injection nozzles (1), with the aid of which fuel jets having a conical fuel surface (6) are formed, the combustion space (2) being delimited by a predominantly unprofiled head of the piston (3), characterized in that, by means of axis, arranged at an angle to one another, of at least two injection nozzles (1, 1a), the hollow-conical fuel jets penetrate one another within the combustion space (2), and in that, in a structurally selectable region of the combustion space (2), at least one air core (7) enclosed by a fuel envelope (6) is formed by the partially interpenetrating hollow cone jets of the fuel injection nozzle (1, 1a). 2. The mixture formation and combustion method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the hollow cone angles formed by the individual fuel injection nozzles (1, 1a) are dimensioned differently. 3. The mixture formation and combustion method as claimed in one of claims 1, characterized in that the projection planes formed by the axis of the fuel injection nozzle (1, 1a) in the combustion space (2) are set parallel to or at an angle to one another. 4. The mixture formation and combustion method as claimed in one of claims 1, characterized in that the fuel injection nozzles (1, 1a) used are controlled mechanically or electromagnetically. 5. The mixture formation and combustion method as claimed in one of claims 1, characterized in that the fuel injection nozzles (1, 1a) used are controlled by the fuel itself by means of a direct injection system having high-pressure modulation at the inlet of the injection nozzles (1, 1a). 6. The mixture formation and combustion method as claimed in one of claims 1, characterized in that one or more hollow-conical fuel jets are injected into the combustion space (2) in a tumbling manner about the specific flow axis. 7. The mixture formation and combustion method as claimed in one of claims 1, characterized in that different fuels are injected into the combustion space (2) by individual fuel injection nozzles (1, 1a). 8. The mixture formation and combustion method as claimed in one of claims 1, characterized in that the fuels used are liquid or gaseous media. 9. The mixture formation and combustion method as claimed in one of claims 1, characterized in that the ignition of the fuel/air mixture is carried out by autoignition or by means of the spark plugs (4). 10. The mixture formation and combustion method as claimed in one of claims 1, characterized in that the formation of a fuel surface (6) closed on itself is carried out by means of interpenetrating hollow cone jets with enclosed air core (7) into the combustion spaces (2) of reciprocating-piston, rotary-piston or turbomachines. 11. The mixture formation and combustion method as claimed in one of claims 1, characterized in that the fuel injection nozzles (1, 1a) used are multihole and/or pintle nozzles. 12. A device for carrying out the method as claimed in one of claims 1, consisting of a combustion space (2) with a fuel injection nozzle (1), characterized in that two fuel injection nozzles (1, 1a) are arranged, in that the flow axis of the fuel injection nozzles (1, 1a) are arranged at an angle to one another, and in that the intersection point of the flow axis of at least two fuel injection nozzles (1, 1a) is arranged inside or outside the combustion space (2). 13. The device for carrying out the method as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the fuel injection nozzles (1, 1a) are designed as multihole or pintle nozzles forming hollow-conical surface areas. 14. The device for carrying out the method as claimed in claims 12, characterized in that the projection planes formed perpendicularly to the head of the piston (3) of a reciprocating-piston engine by means of at least two fuel injection nozzles (1, 1a) are arranged at an angle to one another. 15. The device for carrying out the method as claimed in claims 12, characterized in that the projection planes formed perpendicularly to the head of the piston (3) of a reciprocating-piston engine by means of at least two fuel nozzles (1, 1a) are arranged parallel to one another. 16. The device for carrying out the method as claimed in claims 12, characterized in that the projection planes formed perpendicularly to the head of the piston (3) of a reciprocating-piston engine by means of at least two fuel injection nozzles (1, 1a) are arranged in a common plane. 17. The device for carrying out the method as claimed in claims 12, characterized in that, in the case of a gasoline engine, the center of gravity of the air core (7) enveloped by a closed fuel envelope (6) formed by the hollow-conical fuel jets is arranged in the vicinity of the ignition point. 18. The device for carrying out the method as claimed in claims 12, characterized in that, in the case of a gasoline engine, owing to the formation of the fuel envelope (6) having an enclosed air core (7) as a result of charge stratification, work can be carried out without devices for regulating the air supply. 19. The device for carrying out the method as claimed in claims 12, characterized in that, in the case of a gasoline engine, the devices for regulating the air supply are designed to work in a manner largely decoupled from the devices for regulating the fuel supply quantity. 20. The device for carrying out the method as claimed in claims 12, characterized in that tumble elements are used in the fuel injection nozzles (1, 1a). 21. The device for carrying out the method as claimed in claims 12, characterized in that the fuel injection nozzles (1, 1a) are connected to electromagnetic or mechanical control elements. 22. The device for carrying out the method as claimed in claims 12, characterized in that the fuel injection nozzles (1, 1a) are connected to a high-pressure modulation element for pressure-dependent nozzle control. |
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