An electronic device of an embodiment of the invention is disclosed that at least partially displays a pixel of a display image. The device includes a first reflector and a second reflector defining an optical cavity therebetween that is selective of a visible wavelength at an intensity. The device includes a mechanism to allow optical properties of the cavity to be varied such that the visible wavelength and/or the intensity are variably selectable in correspondence with the pixel of the displayable image. The device also includes one or more transparent deposited films, one or more absorbing layers, an integral micro-lens, and/or one or more anti-stiction bumps. The deposited films are over one of the reflectors, for self-packaging of the device. The absorbing layers are over one of the reflectors, to reduce undesired reflections. The integral micro-lens is over one of the reflectors, and the anti-stiction bumps are between the reflectors.
An electronic device of one embodiment of the invention at least partially displays a pixel of a display image. The device includes a first reflector and a second reflector defining an optical cavity therebetween that is selective of a visible wavelength at an intensity. The device includes a mechanism to allow optical properties of the cavity to be varied such that the visible wavelength and/or the intensity are variably selectable in correspondence with the pixel of the displayable image. The device also includes one or more transparent deposited films, one or more absorbing layers, an integral micro-lens, and/or one or more anti-stiction bumps. The deposited films are over one of the reflectors, for self-packaging of the electronic device. The absorbing layers are over one of the reflectors, to reduce undesired reflections. The integral micro-lens is over one of the reflectors, and the anti-stiction bumps are between the reflectors.
FIGS. 1B, 1C, and  1D are diagrams showing different approaches to control the charge stored on the electronic device of FIG. 1A, according to varying embodiments of the invention.
FIGS. 7A, 7B, and  7C are diagrams of electronic devices that are more specific than but consistent with the electronic device of FIG. 1A, according to varying embodiments of the invention.
FIGS. 9A, 9B, and  9C are diagrams illustratively depicting how anti-stiction bumps can be fabricated within the electronic device of FIG. 1A, according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 10A, 10B, and  10C are diagrams illustratively depicting how anti-stiction bumps can be fabricated within the electronic device of FIG. 1A, according to another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 1A shows an electronic device  100 for at least partially displaying a pixel of a displayable image, according to an embodiment of the invention. The device 100 includes a top reflector 102 and a bottom reflector 104, as well as a flexure 110 and a spring mechanism 112. A resonant optical cavity 106 is defined by the reflectors 102 and 104, which has a variable thickness, or width, 108. The top reflector 102 is in one embodiment highly reflective, such as completely reflective. The bottom reflector 104 is in one embodiment semi-transparent; that is, the bottom reflector 104 is in one embodiment semi-reflective. The spring mechanism 112 may be a flexible material, such as a polymer, in one embodiment of the invention, that has linear or non-linear spring functionality.
The optical cavity  106 is variably selective of a visible wavelength at an intensity, by optical interference. Depending on the desired configuration of the electronic device 100, the optical cavity 106 may either reflect or transmit the wavelength at the intensity. That is, the cavity 106 may be reflective or transmissive in nature. No light is generated by the optical cavity 106, such that the device 100 relies on ambient light or light provided by the device 100 that is reflected or transmitted by the cavity 106. The visible wavelength selected by the optical cavity 106, and its intensity selected by the optical cavity 106, are dependent on the thickness 108 of the cavity 106. That is, the optical cavity 106 can be tuned to a desired wavelength at a desired intensity by controlling its thickness 108.
The flexure  110 and the spring mechanism 112 allow the thickness 108 of the cavity 106 to vary, by allowing the bottom reflector 104 to move. More generally, the flexure 110 and the spring mechanism 112 constitute a mechanism that allows variation of the optical properties of the optical cavity 106 to variably select a visible wavelength at an intensity. The optical properties include the optical index of the cavity 106, and/or the optical thickness of the cavity 106. A voltage applied between the reflectors 102 and 104, or electrical charge stored on the reflectors 102 and 104, causes the thickness 108 of the cavity 106 to change, because the flexure 110 and the spring mechanism 112 allow the reflector 104 to move. Thus, the flexure 110 has a stiffness, and the spring mechanism 112 has a spring restoring force, such that the voltage applied to the reflectors 102 and 104 or the charge stored on the reflectors 102 and 104 causes the flexure 110 and the spring mechanism 112 to yield and allow the reflector 104 to move, achieving the desired thickness 108. No power is dissipated in maintaining a given thickness 108.
In one embodiment, the bottom reflector  104 is maintained at a fixed voltage, and the top reflector 102 is set to a voltage depending on the desired visible wavelength and the desired intensity, as calibrated to the stiffness of the flexure 110. Whereas the flexure 110 is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1A as positioned under the bottom reflector 104, in another embodiment it may be positioned over the bottom reflector 104. In other embodiments, the flexure 110 may be positioned over or under the top reflector 102 as well, such that the bottom reflector 104 is movable, instead of the top reflector 102, to adjust the thickness 108 of the optical cavity 106. Furthermore, in another embodiment, there may be more than one optical cavity, such that the optical cavity 106 is inclusive of more than one such cavity.
In one embodiment, the bottom reflector  104 and the top reflector 102 can be considered the plates of a capacitor, where the optical cavity 106 represents the dielectric therebetween. A potential applied between the bottom reflector 104 and the top reflector 102 moves the bottom reflector 104, due to the flexure 110 and the spring mechanism 112, but also causes a charge to be stored in the capacitor. It is this electrostatic charge that then allows maintenance of the given thickness 108 without any further voltage application over the bottom reflector 104 and the top reflector 102.
The wavelength and the intensity selected by the optical cavity  106 correspond to a pixel of a displayable image. Thus, the electronic device 100 at least partially displays the pixel of the image. The electronic device 100 can operate in either an analog or a digital manner. As an analog device, the electronic device 100 selects a visible wavelength of light and an intensity corresponding to the color and the intensity of the color of the pixel. In an alternative embodiment, the electronic device 100 may be used to display the pixel in an analog manner in black-and-white, or in gray scale, in lieu of color.
As a digital device, the electronic device  100 is responsible for either the red, green, or blue color component of the pixel. The device 100 maintains a static visible wavelength, either red, green, or blue, and varies the intensity of this wavelength corresponding to the red, green, or blue color component of the pixel. Therefore, three of the device 100 are needed to display the pixel digitally, where one device 100 selects a red wavelength, another device 100 selects a green wavelength, and a third device 100 selects a blue wavelength. More generally, there is a device 100 for each color component of the pixel, or portion, of the image. Furthermore, in an alternative embodiment, the electronic device 100 may be used to display the pixel in a digital manner in black-and-white, or in gray scale, in lieu of color.
and the least amount of light at odd integer multiples of  λ 4 .
In one embodiment, the top reflector  102 includes a thin, partially transmitting metallic film, where n−ik=2.5−2.5i titanium, where n represents the real optical index of the cavity 106, and k represents the imaginary optical index of the cavity 106. In this embodiment, both absorption and interference play roles in modulating the color and intensity of the output. The optical cavity 106 is an adjustable spacer, and the bottom reflector 104 is a high-reflectance metallic substrate, like aluminum. In one embodiment, where the device 100 is digital, the optical cavity 106 may select a red wavelength of 6100 angstrom (Å), a green wavelength of 5500 Å, or a blue wavelength of 4500 Å, at an intensity depending on the corresponding color component of the pixel to be displayed. Furthermore, the optical cavity 106 can achieve low reflection or transmission. In this latter state, the optical cavity 106 is a so-called "dark mirror" that can be optimized for less than five percent reflection or transmission.
Thus, the film stack sequence achieves a red wavelength of 6100 Å, a green wavelength of 5500 Å, or a blue wavelength of 4500 Å, depending on whether the thickness of the optical cavity  106 is 2750 Å, 2500 Å, or 2000 Å, respectively.
This results in dark gray, nearly black output, where the thickness of the optical cavity  106 is 400 Å. By ratioing the amount of time that a pixel remains in the colored or black states, a large range of average hues and intensities can be obtained.
where ∈ 0 so is the permittivity of free space, V is the voltage across the reflectors 102 and 104, A is the area of each of the reflectors 102 and 104, and d is the thickness 108. Thus, a one volt potential applied across a 100 micron square pixel, with a thickness 108 of 0.25 micron, yields an electrostatic force of 7×10−7 Newton (N).
Therefore, a small voltage between the reflectors  102 and 104 provides sufficient force to move the bottom reflector 104, and hold it against gravity and shocks. Once the voltage has been applied, the electrostatic charge stored in the capacitor created by the reflectors 102 and 104, and defining the cavity 106, is sufficient to hold the bottom reflector 104 in place without additional power. Charge leakage may require occasional refreshing of the charge, however.
where k is the linear spring constant, and d 0 is the initial value of the thickness 108. The range in which the forces of equations (1) and (2) are in stable equilibrium occurs when the value (d0−d) is between zero and d 0 3 .
position, excess charge is drawn onto the reflectors  102 and 104 due to increased capacitance, which in turn increases the attractive force of equation (1) between the reflectors 102 and 104, causing the reflector 104 to pull towards the reflector 102.
where Q is the charge on the capacitor. Thus, the force F is now not a function of the distance d, and stability of the reflector  104 can exist over the entire range of 0 to d0. By limiting the amount of charge on the reflectors 102 and 104, in other words, the position of the reflector 104 can be set over the entire range of travel.
Although the description of the preceding paragraphs is with respect to an ideal parallel-plate capacitor and an ideal linear spring restoring force, those of ordinary skill within the art can appreciate that the principle described can be adapted to other configurations, such as non-linear springs and other types of capacitors. Eliminating or reducing the range of operation where snap down of the reflector  104 against the reflector 102 occurs enables more practical analog operation, or non-contact discrete operation, without limiting the number of colors as may otherwise occur when snap down occurs. That is, because the usable range is increased, more colors, saturation levels, and intensities can be achieved.
In addition, in one embodiment, the range within which non-contact operation can occur without snap down may be increased by constructing the flexure  110 in a particular manner. The particular manner is such that the restoring force of the spring mechanism 112 is a non-linear function of the displacement of the flexure 110, and increases at a faster rate than the displacement. This can be achieved by increasing the thickness of the flexure 110, or by using a flexure that is first bent and then stretched, which is known as a "bend and stretch" design.
Furthermore, the device  100 can be operated at smaller values of the thickness 108, allowing a black state to be achieved without any portion of the reflectors 102 and 104 coming into contact with one another. This prevents stiction and the accompanying hysteresis that occurs when the reflectors 102 and 104 contact one another. Even if the reflectors 102 and 104 are allowed to contact one another, the voltage difference between the reflectors 102 and 104 will be less where the amount of charge on the reflectors 102 and 104 is specifically controlled (that is, where a predetermined amount of fixed charge is controlled), as opposed to where the voltage between the reflectors 102 and 104 is specifically controlled. This advantageously reduces electrostatic breakdown in the dielectric separating the reflectors 102 and 104 that defines the optical cavity 106, as well as reducing the electrostatic force between the reflectors 102 and 104 that would otherwise increase stiction, and the wear on any anti-stiction standoffs employed to reduce the surface area between the reflectors 102 and 104.
FIGS. 1B, 1C, and  1D show different approaches to control the amount of charge on the reflectors 102 and 104 of the electronic device 100, as opposed to specifically controlling the voltage between the reflectors 102, and 104, according to varying embodiments of the invention. As has been described in the preceding section of the detailed description, the thickness 108 between the reflectors 102 and 104 can be regulated by controlling the charge stored on the reflectors 102 and 104. The reflectors 102 and 104 thus act as the plates of a parallel plate capacitor.
In FIG. 1B, a controlled, or predetermined, amount of charge is injected onto the reflectors  102 and 104 by integrating a known current for a known time, utilizing the current integration mechanism 120 electrically coupled to the reflectors 102 and 104. The current, I, the time, t, or both the current and the time can thus be manipulated to yield the desired amount of charge. The mechanism 120 may include a current source, a digital-to-analog current source, and/or time division circuitry to create the desired level of charge.
In FIG. 1C, the charge available to the reflectors  102 and 104 is limited to prevent snap down of the reflectors 102 and 104 together. This is specifically accomplished in one embodiment of the invention by utilizing a voltage divider circuit 129. The circuit 129 includes a voltage source 130 placed in series with a capacitor 134. A switch 132 controls the on-off operation of the circuit 129. A switch 136, placed in parallel with the voltage source 130 and the capacitor 134, acts as a reset switch, which may be utilized to avoid voltage or charge drift over time, due to charge leakage. The reset is desirably performed more quickly than the mechanical response time of the circuit 129.
where C is the capacitance of the capacitor  134, and C′init is the initial capacitance of the variable capacitor formed by the reflectors 102 and 104, and the optical cavity 106. As the voltage of the voltage source 130 increases, the resulting charge is shared between the variable capacitor and the capacitor 134 to at least substantially eliminate snap down. As can be appreciated by those of ordinary skill within the art, this principle can be applied to other configurations than a parallel plate capacitor and a linear spring restoring force, such as non-linear springs, and capacitors other than parallel plate capacitors.
In FIG. 1D, the charge on the reflectors  102 and 104 is controlled by using an approach referred to as fill-and-spill, utilizing a fill-and-spill circuit 131. The switch 136 is closed and opened to discharge the variable capacitor formed by the reflectors 102 and 104, and the optical cavity 106. The switch 138 of the circuit 131 is then opened and the switch 132 is closed, to charge the fixed capacitor 134. That is, the capacitor 134 is "filled." Next, the switch 132 is opened and the switch 138 is closed, so that the capacitor 134 shares its charge with the variable capacitor. That is, the capacitor 134 "spills" its charge. The charge on the reflectors 102 and 104 reaches a stable value, even though it depends on the thickness 108 of the optical cavity 106. The voltage source 130 has thus provided a controlled charge to maintain the desired thickness 108.
The optical interference as described in the preceding sections of the detailed description to transmissively or reflectively select wavelengths at desired intensities relies upon first-order gaps in one embodiment of the invention. That is, the gap of the optical cavity  106, which is the thickness 108 of the optical cavity 106, is regulated so as to control the interference first-order wavelengths of light. However, as the thickness 108 of the optical cavity 106 increases, reflectance peaks shift to longer wavelengths, and additional, higher order, peaks move into the spectral region.
The spectral bandwidth of the electronic device  100 is determined by the optical constants of the films utilized for the reflectors 102 and 104, their thicknesses, and the thickness 108 of the optical cavity 106 between the reflectors 102 and 104. In such instances, the electronic device 100 functions as a so-called Fabry-Perot-based light modulator. The spectral purity, or saturation, of the reflected light is determined by the spectral bandwidth of the device 100, and tradeoffs may have to be made between peak reflectance, spectral bandwidth, black state reflectance, and optical efficiency of the white state.
where, as before, n is the gap index, d is the thickness  108 of the optical cavity 106, m is a non-negative integer specifying the interference order, and λ is the wavelength of light. Equation (4) thus specifies a simple model of interference. It is noted that the actual reflectance spectra may be more accurately modeled by performing rigorous electromagnetic simulations, involving all material constants and interfaces within the device 100, as can be appreciated by those of ordinary skill within the art of optical thin films.
To overcome this limitation, the thickness  108 may be increased to produce second-order, or more generally higher-order, color, rather than first-order color. FIG. 2A shows a graph 220 of a representative first-order green spectral response 226 and a representative green second-order spectral response 228, according to an embodiment of the invention. The y-axis 224 denotes reflectance as a function of wavelength on the x-axis 222. The second-order response 228 has a narrower spectral bandwidth and improved color saturation. Thus, the second-order response 228 can be utilized in one embodiment of the invention in lieu of the first-order response 226 for increased saturation and color component. In another embodiment, the second-order response 228 is utilized for increased saturation, whereas the first-order response 226 is utilized for increased brightness and white level.
Color saturation is typically improved for second-order responses for blue through green. FIG. 2B shows a graph  240 of a second-order blue spectral response 242, according to an embodiment of the invention. The graph 240 has the y-axis 224 denoting reflectance as a function of wavelength on the x-axis 222, as before. The second-order blue response 242 provides for increased saturation, as compared to using a first-order blue spectral response. However, the second-order red spectral response 244 is less useful, because the third-order blue spectral response 246 begins to enter the visible spectral range.
FIG. 3A shows an array of passive pixel mechanisms  200, according to an embodiment of the invention. The passive pixel mechanisms 200 include the mechanisms 200A, 200B, . . . , 200N, organized into columns 202 and rows 204. Each of the pixel mechanisms 200 is able to variably select a visible wavelength at an intensity by optical interference and absorption, in correspondence with a displayable image. The pixel mechanisms 200 can be considered the apparatus for performing this functionality in one embodiment of the invention. The mechanisms 200 are passive in that they do not generate light by themselves, but rather reflect or transmit ambient and/or supplemental light.
In one embodiment, each of the passive pixel mechanisms  200 includes one or more of the electronic device 100. Thus, a pixel may include one or more of the device 100. Where the passive pixel mechanisms 200 display their corresponding pixels of the displayable image in an analog manner, each of the mechanisms 200 may include only one electronic device 100, because the single device 100 is able to display substantially any color at any intensity. Where the mechanisms 200 display their corresponding pixels in a digital manner, each of the mechanisms 200 may include three of the electronic devices 100, one for each of the red color component, the green color component, and the blue color component.
FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional profile of a display device  300, according to an embodiment of the invention, which incorporates the array of passive pixel mechanisms 200. An optional supplemental light source 304 outputs light for reflection by the mechanisms 200. Where the light source 304 is present, the mechanisms 200 reflect both the light provided by the source 304, as well as any ambient light. Where the light source 304 is absent, the mechanisms 200 reflect ambient light. The light source 304 is indicated in the embodiment of FIG. 3B such that it outputs light for reflection by the mechanisms 200. In another embodiment, the light source 304 may be behind the mechanisms 200, such that the mechanisms 200 transmit light output by the source 304.
A controller  302 controls the pixel mechanisms 200, effectively providing a pixilated displayable image to the pixel mechanisms 200. That is, in the embodiment where the mechanisms 200 each include one or more of the electronic device 100, the controller 302 changes the thickness 108 of the cavity 106 of each device 100, so that the image is properly rendered by the pixel mechanisms 200, for display to a user 308. The controller 302 thus electrically or otherwise adjusts the thickness 108 of the optical cavity 106, where, once adjusted, the thickness 108 is maintained by the flexure 110.
The controller  302 may receive the displayable image from an image source 306 in a pixilated or a non-pixilated manner. If non-pixilated, or if pixilated in a manner that does not correspond on a one-to-one basis to the array of passive pixel mechanisms 200, the controller 302 itself divides the image into pixels corresponding to the array of passive pixel mechanisms 200. The image source 306 itself may be external to the display device 300, as in the embodiment of FIG. 3B, or internal thereto. The image source 306 may thus be a desktop computer external to the display device 300, or may be a laptop or notebook computer, personal digital assistant (PDA) device, wireless phone, or other device of which the display device 300 is a part.
FIG. 4 shows a method of use  400, according to an embodiment of the invention, for a display device, such as the display device 300 of FIG. 3B. First, a displayable image is divided into pixels (402), resulting in a pixilated displayable image. Light is optionally provided (404), to supplement any ambient light. For each pixel of the image, a corresponding visible wavelength is selected, at a corresponding intensity, by optical interference and absorption (406), as has been described. The corresponding wavelength at the corresponding intensity may be selected in a digital or an analog manner, as has also been described.
FIG. 5 shows a pair of electronic devices  500A and 500B for at least partially displaying a corresponding pair of pixels of a displayable image, according to an embodiment of the invention. Each of the electronic devices 500A and 500B is a specific embodiment of the electronic device 100 of FIG. 1A, and thus the description of FIG. 1A is equally applicable to FIG. 5 as well. Furthermore, the electronic devices 500A and 500B can each be used to realize each of the passive pixel mechanisms 200 of FIG. 3A, in one embodiment of the invention. The following description of FIG. 5 is made with specific reference to the electronic device 500A, but is identically applicable to the electronic device 500B. Furthermore, FIG. 5 is not drawn to scale, for illustrative clarity.
The bottom reflector  104 is positioned over a silicon substrate 502, and more generally is a conductive reflective layer. A thin dielectric 504 is present over the bottom reflector 104 to prevent shorting of the reflector 102. The optical cavity 106 is defined between the top reflector 102 and the bottom reflector 104, where the top reflector 102 is also more generally a conductive reflective layer. The flexure 110, positioned over the top reflector 102, is also referred to as a flexure layer, and acts as a flexible electrode for the top reflector 102, as well as maintains tension on the top reflector 102 and allows the reflector 102 to move. The spacing of the optical cavity 106 can be controlled by calibrating voltage to the stiffness of the flexure 110 in an analog mode, or by providing stops of varying thickness for red, green, and blue pixels in a digital mode.
A dielectric pixel plate  506, which may be oxide, partially covers the flexure 110 and the top reflector 102. In one embodiment, the dielectric pixel plate 506 may have a width 508 of between 40 and 100 micron, and can have a height 510 of between three and five micron. An air cavity 514 surrounds the dielectric pixel plate 506, and is larger than the coherence length of the optical cavity 106 to prevent additional interference effects. The air cavity 514 in one embodiment may have a height 520 of between three and five micron. The oxide 512 and 518 represent an additional layer used to define the air cavity 514, where in one embodiment the oxide 518 may also have a height 522 of between three and five micron.
The via hole  516 is used to allow removal of material from the air cavity 514 and the optical cavity 106. For instance, polysilicon or another filler material may be deposited to reserve space for the air cavity 514 and the optical cavity 106, but then is removed to actually form the cavities 514 and 106. A protective layer 524 covers the oxide 518, and an anti-reflective coating (ARC) 526 covers the protective layer 524. The ARC 526 is desirable to avoid unwanted coherent interactions within the optical cavity 106 itself.
FIG. 6 shows a method  600 for manufacturing an electronic device, such as the electronic device 500A or 500B of FIG. 5, or a display device having a number of such electronic devices, according to an embodiment of the invention. First, a bottom metal reflector layer is provided on a silicon substrate layer (602). This may include depositing and patterning the bottom metal reflector layer. In FIG. 5, the bottom metal reflector layer is the bottom reflector 104. Next, an oxide dielectric layer is deposited (604), which in FIG. 5 is the thin dielectric 504.
Polysilicon or a different filler material is deposited and patterned ( 604). The polysilicon acts as a placeholder for the resonant optical cavity to be formed. In FIG. 5, the polysilicon thus occupies the space of the optical cavity 106. A flexure layer and a top metal reflector layer are then provided on the polysilicon (608). This can include depositing the flexure layer first and then the top metal reflector layer, or vice-versa, and patterning the flexure layer and the top metal reflector layer. In FIG. 5, the flexure layer is the flexure 110, whereas the top metal reflector layer is the top reflector 102.
An oxide pixel plate layer is provided on the flexure layer and the top metal reflector layer ( 610). This can include depositing the oxide and patterning the oxide. In FIG. 5, the oxide pixel plate layer is the dielectric pixel plate 506. Additional polysilicon or additional filler material is then deposited on the oxide pixel plate layer and patterned (612), to act as a placeholder for an air cavity to be formed. In FIG. 5, the polysilicon thus occupies the space of the air cavity 514. An oxide layer is deposited on this polysilicon (614), which in FIG. 5 is the oxide 518 and 512.
Next, a via hole is defined through the polysilicon ( 616), which is represented in FIG. 5 as the via hole 616. The polysilicon that has been previously deposited is then removed to define the resonant optical cavity and the air cavity (618). For instance, the removal can be conducted by performing isotropic polysilicon cleanout etching. In FIG. 5, this results in formation of the optical cavity 106 and the air cavity 514. Finally, a protective layer is provided over the oxide layer (620), and an anti-reflective coating is provided over the protective layer (622). In FIG. 5, the protective layer is the protective layer 524, and the anti-reflective coating is the anti-reflective coating 526.
FIGS. 7A and 7B shows the electronic device  100 of FIG. 1A, according to a specific embodiment of the invention. The description of FIG. 1A is thus applicable to FIGS. 7A and 7B as well. The electronic device 100 of the embodiment of FIGS. 7A and 7B is more generally a Fabry-Perot-based device. The sawing and packaging of optical micro-electrical mechanical system (MEMS) devices, such as micro-mirrors, Fabry-Perot devices, and diffraction-based devices, can be difficult because of the fragility of the MEMS components, and the need for a transparent package. MEMS are generally semiconductor chips that have a top layer of mechanical devices, such as mirrors, fluid sensors, and so on. Wafer sawing is a wet process that can damage and/or contaminate the delicate devices upon release. Releasing the devices from sacrificial layers after sawing is difficult and costly if performed on a die-by-die basis. Packaging of such devices usually includes bonding a glass window to a package on a ceramic or other substrate, which can be costly, difficult to perform, and may add considerable size to the device. The electronic device 100 of the embodiment of FIGS. 7A and 7B overcomes these problems.
Referring first to FIG. 7A, a sacrificial material  704 is deposited over the movable components of the device 100, including the flexure 110, the reflective layers 102 and 104 that define the optical cavity 106, and the spring mechanism 112 that have been described. A layer 702 is deposited over and makes contact with this substrate at the locations indicated by the reference number 708. Openings 706 are patterned and etched in the layer 702. The device 100 is released by isotropically etching away the sacrificial material 704, using selective release chemistries known within the art, which may be dry or wet processes.
Referring next to FIG. 7B, a material  710 is then deposited into the openings, or vias, 706, to provide a sealed environment for the device 100. The layer 702 and the material 710 can be transparent dielectrics, or multi-layer films. The material 710 can perform a dual role as both an anti-reflective coating, and a sealing layer. Where techniques such as physical vapor deposition (PVD) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are utilized, a vacuum or hermetic environment can be achieved. Utilizing CVD at higher pressures can be employed where a higher-pressure environment is utilized.
The material  710 is optional, however, if a hermetic seal is not desired. Even without the material 710, some protection for the device 100 is achieved, as non-hermetic seals also help to protect the device 100 from water, contaminants, and particulates. If the material 710 is used to seal the openings 706, but is not desired over the entire surface, it may be patterned and etched away using lithographic techniques known within the art.
Furthermore, the process described in relation to FIGS. 7A and 7B enables encapsulation within a clean-room environment without conventional packaging, such that the process may be described as self-packaging. Because the process is preferably performed in a clean-room environment, and the release operation occurs inside a protective cavity, increased yields can result. Once the cavities are sealed, the die can be sawed off, as known within the art, without damaging the device  100.
FIG. 7C shows the electronic device  100 of FIG. 1A, according to another specific embodiment of the invention. The description of FIG. 1A is thus applicable to FIG. 7C as well. It is noted that the ratio of the active light modulator area to the non-active area is referred to as the aperture ratio. The non-active area includes the space between pixels, support posts, the flexure area, and so on. Light reflected from the non-active area can increase the black state reflectance, reducing overall system contrast. The electronic device 100 of the embodiment of FIG. 7C reduces this effect by including an absorbing layer, or border mask, 722 to cover such non-active areas. The self-packaging material 710 that has been described in conjunction with FIG. 7B provides a substrate for the border mask 722. Other like-numbered components of FIG. 7C relative to FIGS. 7A and 7B are identical to their counterparts of FIGS. 7A and 7B, and are not re-described in relation to FIG. 7C.
The border mask  722 may be composed of a variety of different materials, including absorptive polymers, photo-imageable absorptive polymers, metal and/or dielectric composites, and/or interference-based induced absorbers. Absorptive polymers are typically spun on and imaged with a photoresist mask and develop process. Photo-imageable polymers can be patterned directly with lithographic techniques known within the art. Metal and/or dielectric composites known as cermets are other materials that can be used, and have typically been developed for use as solar absorbers. Such materials include black molybdenum, black tungsten, and black chrome, and have very high absorbance. Further, they can be deposited with sputtering or evaporation techniques known within the art. Induced absorbers maximize the absorbance within a dissipating layer, by tuning layer thickness. Induced absorbers are relatively thin, such as less than 1000 Å.
The electronic device  100 of the embodiment of FIG. 7C lends itself to a three-state operation having dedicated pixel types. For instance, there may be a type-one three-state pixel, having the color states red, green, and black, or there may be a type-two three-state pixel, having the color states red, blue, and black. There may also be a type-three three-state pixel, having the color states green, blue, and black. Thus, the configuration of this operation includes groups of three-state pixels. Different pixels in the group are designed to operate with different states. The different color states are controlled by the thickness of the sacrificial material 704. Such a configuration can be operated in a digital mode, with one pixel plate, or reflector, state in a non-contact position, and the other two states in contact with either the top or bottom capacitor plates, or reflectors. This has the advantage over a single-gap, two-state, configuration by allowing a color to be produced by two of the three pixels, instead of one of the three pixels, leading to brighter colors.
The electronic device  100 of the embodiment of FIG. 7C also lends itself a dual-gap, dual-capacitor pixel design, which is characterized by the reflector 102 moving forming two variable capacitors, as is now described. A layer 720 is a partial reflector on the underside of the layer 702, and is over the reflector 102. The layer 720 acts as both a partial reflector and as a capacitor plate. The reflector 102 may be driven up towards the layer 720, or down towards reflector, or capacitor plate, 104 electrostatically. The spring mechanism 112 thus is deflected in two directions, and needs to travel only about half as far from its equilibrium position to cover the same total travel as when deflected in just one direction. This increased travel range enables modes of operation where pixels can produce multiple colors, multiple saturations, and black. The cavity made by removing the sacrificial material 106 serves as one gap, and the optical cavity 704 serves as another gap in this design.
Furthermore, the electronic device  100 of any of the embodiments of FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C lends itself to single-gap, dual-mode (or, multi-level) operation, where the modes include contact between the reflectors 102 and 104, and non-contact between the reflectors 102 and 104. Each pixel is capable of creating multiple colors and intensities as needed for color displays. The pixels operate in a contact mode at one gap extreme, and in a non-contact mode for the remaining states.
When pixels are dedicated to specific hues, such as red, green, and blue, optical efficiency may be reduced, since pixels of the wrong color cannot be used to generate the desired color. Therefore, it is advantageous to control the pixel gap, which is the thickness  108 of FIG. 1A that has been described, in a non-contact mode, such as an analog mode, a multi-level digital mode, or a combination analog and digital mode. The device 100 may need the thickness 108 to be less than 1000 Å to create black, about 1800 Å to create blue, and about 2800 Å to create red. To provide such different thicknesses, a single-gap, voltage control mode of operation that can be utilized is to operate in a non-contact mode between red and blue, and then allow the pixel to snap to the black state in a digital mode.
FIGS. 8A and 8B show a pair of electronic devices  800A and 800B for at least partially displaying a corresponding pair of pixels of a displayable image, according to varying embodiment of the invention. Each of the electronic devices 800A and 800B is a specific embodiment of the electronic device 100 of FIG. 1A, and thus the description of FIG. 1A is equally applicable to FIGS. 8A and 8B as well. It is noted that as pixel size is reduced, a smaller aperture ratio usually results. Like-numbered components of FIGS. 8A and 8B relative to FIGS. 1A and 7A-7C are identical, and are not otherwise described with respect to FIGS. 8A and 8B. Further, for illustrative clarity only, not all components of FIGS. 1A and 7A-7C are shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B.
In FIG. 8A, the disadvantage of reduced aperture ratio is overcome by the electronic devices  800A and 800B by employing integral lenses 804A and 804B applied directly to the monolithic MEMS devices 800A and 800B, using coating or depositional techniques. The self-packaging layer 702 provides a substrate for these micro-lenses 804A and 804B, after an initial layer 802 has been deposited. The lenses 804A and 804B can be formed by patterning photoresist or other photo-imageable polymer using known lithographic techniques, and then partially flowing the patterns to the desired lens profile with heat treatment. The polymer may remain as the final lenses, or can be used as a mask to transfer the lens pattern to the underlying layer 802 with plasma or reactive-ion etching. The lenses 804A and 804B can be made more efficient by matching the shape thereof to the underlying pixels.
In FIG. 8B, the self-packaging layer  702 is itself used as a simple form of a micro-lens. Such a technique relies on the coverage of the deposition over the reflector 102 to form a lensing action over the non-active region of the pixel where needed. For the layer 702 to effectively act as a lens, deposition thickness, pixel gap spacing, and pixel plate, or reflector, thickness and profile are desirably optimized. The advantage to the approach of FIG. 8B is that no additional lens is needed, and the lensing action is present only where it is needed, around the non-active region of the pixels.
When two surfaces come into contact, they are frequently attracted to one another by a variety of different forces, such as Van Der Waals attractive forces, chemical bonding forces, capillary forces, and Casimir forces. These forces often lead to surfaces that cannot be separated once they come into contact. Therefore, to prevent the reflectors  102 and 104 of the electronic device 100 from coming into contact with one another, in one embodiment of the invention anti-stiction bumps are placed on the bottom reflector 104 prior to fabrication of the top reflector 102.
FIGS. 9A, 9B, and  9C illustratively depict the manner by which anti-stiction bumps can be fabricated on the bottom reflector 104, according to one embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 9A, the flexure 110 and the bottom reflector 104 of the electronic device 100 are already present. A sacrificial material 902 is deposited, and then, in FIG. 9B, is patterned and partially etched to yield recesses 904. Subsequent layers, such as the layer 906 in FIG. 9C, are then subsequently deposited into the recessions 904 to yield bumps 908 within the recessions 904.
FIGS. 10A, 10B, and  10C illustratively depict the manner by which anti-stiction bumps can be fabricated on the bottom reflector 104, according to another embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 10A, the flexure 110 and the bottom reflector 104 of the electronic device 100 are already present, as before. A first sacrificial material 910 is deposited that has the same thickness of the desired anti-stiction bump height. The material 910 is patterned and etched to yield the recesses 912. In FIG. 10B, a second sacrificial material 914 is deposited to achieve the total sacrificial layer thickness. Finally, in FIG. 10C, subsequent layers, such as the layer 916, are deposited into the recessions 912 to yield bumps 918 within the recessions 912.
one or more anti-stiction bumps between the first and the second reflectors.
2. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising circuitry for controlling a voltage over the first reflector and the second reflector such that the voltage is dependent on a thickness of the optical cavity therebetween.
3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the circuitry comprises a voltage source and a capacitor in series with the first reflector and the second reflector.
4. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising circuitry for controlling a predetermined amount of charge on the first reflector and the second reflector, the circuitry comprising a charge-sharing capacitor.
5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the circuitry comprises a voltage source and a second capacitor in parallel with the first reflector and the second reflector, the circuitry switching between the voltage source and the charge-sharing capacitor, and the second capacitor, the first reflector and the second reflector.
6. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a controlled current source and circuitry for controlling a time interval that the current source is applied to the first reflector and the second reflector.
7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first reflector is a top, semi-reflective reflector, and the second reflector is a bottom, highly reflective reflector.
8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the mechanism allows a thickness of the optical cavity to be varied.
9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the mechanism permits one of the first and the second reflectors to move to allow a thickness of the optical cavity to be varied.
10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises a flexure operatively coupled to one of the first and the second reflectors.
11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the optical cavity is analog, such that the both the visible wavelength and the intensity are variably selectable in correspondence with the pixel of the displayable image.
12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the optical cavity is digital, such that the visible wavelength of which the optical cavity is selective is fixed as a color component wavelength, and the intensity of the color component wavelength is variably selectable in correspondence with a corresponding color component of the pixel of the displayable image.
13. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the optical cavity is one of reflectively selective and transmissively selective.
means for reducing undesired reflections on one of the first reflector and the second reflector.
15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the means comprises one or more absorbing layers.
means for self-packaging of the electronic device.
17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein means comprises one or more transparent deposited films over one of the first reflector and the second reflector.
19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the means comprises one or more anti-stiction bumps.
means for preventing reduced aperture ratio of one of the first and the second reflectors.
21. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the means comprises an integral micro-lens over the one of the first and the second reflectors.
one or more anti-stiction bumps to reduce stiction.
23. The display device of claim 22, wherein the plurality of cavities are analog, such that each cavity variably selects a visible wavelength at an intensity corresponding to a color and an intensity of a corresponding pixel of the displayable image.
24. The display device of claim 22, wherein the plurality of cavities correspondingly display the plurality of pixels of the displayable image by reflective optical interference.
25. The display device of claim 22, wherein the plurality of cavities correspondingly display the plurality of pixels of the displayable image by transmissive optical interference.
26. The display device of claim 22, wherein the plurality of cavities correspondingly display the plurality of pixels of the displayable image by optical interference of ambient light.
27. The display device of claim 22, wherein the plurality of cavities correspondingly display the plurality of pixels of the displayable image by optical interference of light including light provided by the display device.
providing one or more transparent deposited films over one of the first and the second reflectors for self-packaging of the electronic device.
29. The method of claim 28, further comprising providing one or more absorbing layers over one of the first and the second reflectors to reduce undesired reflections.
30. The method of claim 28, further comprising providing an integral micro-lens over one of the first and the second reflectors.
31. The method of claim 28, further comprising providing one or more anti-stiction bumps between the first and the second reflectors.
removing the first filler material to define an optical cavity between the first and the top metal reflector layers, and the second filler material to define an air cavity between the oxide pixel plate layer and the oxide layer.
33. The method of claim 32, further comprising, after providing the bottom metal reflector layer, depositing an oxide dielectric layer.
34. The method of claim 32, wherein providing the bottom metal reflector layer comprises depositing and patterning the bottom metal reflector layer.
35. The method of claim 32, wherein providing the flexure layer and the top metal reflector layer comprises depositing the flexure layer, depositing the top metal reflector layer on the flexure layer, and patterning the flexure layer and the top metal reflector layer.
36. The method of claim 32, wherein providing the flexure layer and the top metal reflector layer comprises depositing the top metal reflector layer, depositing the flexure layer on the top metal reflector layer, and patterning the flexure layer and the top metal reflector layer.
37. The method of claim 32, wherein removing the first filler material and the second filler material comprises performing isotropic cleanout etching.
removing the first filler material to define individually controllable optical cavities between the first and the top metal reflector layers, and the second filler material to define air cavities between the oxide pixel plate layer and the oxide layer.
39. The display device of claim 38, further comprising, after providing the bottom metal reflector layer, depositing an oxide dielectric layer.
40. The display device of claim 38, further comprising providing a protective layer over the oxide layer.
41. The display device of claim 40, further comprising providing an anti-reflective coating over the protective layer.
42. The display device of claim 40, further comprising sputtering an absorbing layer over the protective layer.


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Published by striking workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Greensburg police chief charged with federal drug counts following 16-month DEA investigation
by Torsten Ove January 25, 2023 January 25, 2023
A view of the Joseph F. Weis Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Downtown, photographed Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. (Alexandra Wimley/Pittsburgh Union Progress)
Greensburg Police Chief Shawn Denning has been charged federally with facilitating cross-country drug deals after a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigation using a confidential source who at one point recorded their incriminating conversations at a cornhole tournament.
Federal agents arrested Denning, 41, Wednesday morning at the Greensburg Police Department.
He appeared briefly by video before a federal magistrate judge on six felony counts related to aiding the distribution of cocaine and methamphetamines in 2021 and 2022.
He'd been charged under seal on Jan. 17, and the case was unsealed after his arrest.
The U.S. attorney's office said Denning helped a DEA source, who is cooperating with agents in the hopes of leniency in his own federal case, acquire coke and meth over a 16-month period from June 2021 to last October.
The drugs came from dealers Denning knew and vouched for in California and Arizona, with the narcotics shipped through the U.S. mail to Pittsburgh. Denning said in encrypted chats with the source that he did not "mess with" dealing himself but knew dealers who provided high-quality drugs and could help the source get them at good prices.
"I don't sell anything man I just know folks is all," the chief said in one message about a particular dealer. "Dude will handle it all he's trustworthy."
Denning acted as the go-between, and drug packages arrived in Pittsburgh by mail, where agents intercepted them. On Nov. 26, 2021, for instance, DEA took custody of one package from California that contained seven grams of coke inside a plastic baggie.
On that same day, the source sent a message to Denning saying the drugs looked good.
"I know it's an odd system but I'm glad it worked out," Denning replied and later asked, "How's quality?"
Denning, who formerly worked for the New York Police Department, was hired in Greensburg in 2008 and was promoted to chief last year.
The case began in the summer of 2021 when the confidential source met Denning, then a captain, after receiving information that Denning could obtain narcotics and that the chief's "girl," Brittany Peglow, was a drug user, according to a DEA affidavit.
The two talked about cocaine prices, and Denning told the source to contact him on Facebook. They also exchanged phone numbers, with Denning providing the number associated with his home address.
On July 23, 2021, Denning texted the source a picture of a narcotics field test used to show a positive result for coke.
Denning told the source to download the Wickr app for communications because it's "encrypted and safe for us both," the affidavit said. He also told him to search under "jarhead3307." Denning is a former Marine, and jarhead is a Marine nickname.
The source contacted jarhead on Sept. 15, 2021 on Wickr and asked if jarhead was Shawn.
"Yep," Denning said, according to the affidavit. "It's how all the heavy hitters conduct business it's encrypted so virtually impossible to be intercepted ever."
Denning said he could get prices for drugs and then listed prices for cocaine, steroids and ecstasy. When asked about payment, Denning said, "you'll pay dude either Bitcoin, cashapp, then boom it's at your door."
Later, Denning told the source that "my buddy ordered a ball and said its top notch" in reference to cocaine and asked, "would u want that delivered to your house?"
When the source asked if he could get drugs straight from Denning, the chief said, "my buddy buys it on the regular but not from me just this online nyc connect so I rarely actually see it but I have enough and know it's legit."
The source used DEA money to buy 35 grams of coke for $1,650 and 325 tablets containing meth for $2,500, with the drugs shipped from California in four mailings.
In one message, Denning told the source to let him know how good the drugs are when they arrive, the complaint said. He vouched for the dealers, telling the source that "all these guys are California west coast folks but are trust worthy with top notch product."
Agents also tracked payments in April 2022 to a supplier from a CashApp account associated with Denning.
In October, the DEA source wore a wire and met with Denning at a cornhole tournament at a park in Ellwood City. Denning was there with Peglow and presented the source with a set of cornhole bags from his gym bag.
In the recorded conversation, Denning said he gave the cornhole bags as a gift because one of the drug deals he'd arranged had fallen through when the source paid money for drugs that were not delivered.
When the source tried to refuse the gift, Denning said, "No man, listen man, hey it's bad business."
He then explained that the dealer is from Arizona and had ripped off "my home girl too for 500, that motherf—–."
Denning also messaged in regard to that deal, "Imma figure out a way to get that dude," according to the affidavit.
Denning is free on a $250,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing in federal court on Monday.
Torsten Ove
Torsten covers the courts for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Reach him at jtorsteno@gmail.com.
Tagged: drugs, federal court, Greensburg, pittsburgh
Torsten covers the courts for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Reach him at jtorsteno@gmail.com. More by Torsten Ove
1,000-plus NewsGuild-CWA members sign letter urging nonstriking Pittsburgh Post-Gazette journalists to join picket line
Federal judge rejects Mt. Lebanon sex offender's bid to lift lifetime U.S. probation
Beyoncé's 'Renaissance' world tour stopping by Pittsburgh this summer
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


How to choose an agency ?
In as far as the law is concerned, the woman who gives birth is always considered to be the child's legal mother. This is the case, even if the treatment involved the use of donated eggs or embryos. The law only recognises one person as the legal mother of a child – the woman who gave birth to the child, not the egg donor. As the egg donor, you will have no legal obligation or rights to any child born from your donation. You also won't be asked to support the child financially as you aren't their legal parent.
– From the age of 16, they can ask if they were conceived with donated eggs and can also check whether they're genetically related to someone they intend to enter into a physical relationship with. They can get non identifying information on you e.g. hair colour, height, eye colour and weight and if you wrote a goodwill message for the child, this is the age they get to read it.
– From the age of 18, they can ask for identifying information on you i.e. your name, date of birth, last known address and where you were born.
In practise, the parents of this child can ask for your non- identifiable information before the child turns 16, but they cannot find out your identification.


text:
OSA Publishing > Biomedical Optics Express > Volume 7 > Issue 12 > Page 4928
Christoph Hitzenberger, Editor-in-Chief
Machine learning based detection of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) from optical coherence tomography (OCT) images
Yu Wang, Yaonan Zhang, Zhaomin Yao, Ruixue Zhao, and Fengfeng Zhou
Yu Wang,1,2 Yaonan Zhang,1,3,9 Zhaomin Yao,1,2 Ruixue Zhao,4,5 and Fengfeng Zhou4,5,6,7,8
1Sino-Dutch Biomedical and Information Engineering School, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110169, China
2Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
3College of Electronics and Information Engineering, Xi'an Siyuan University, Xi'an 710038, China
4College of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
5Key Laboratory of Symbolic Computation and Knowledge Engineering of Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
6FengfengZhou@gmail.com
7ffzhou@jlu.edu.cn
9zhangyn@bmie.neu.edu.cn
Y Wang
Y Zhang
Z Yao
R Zhao
F Zhou
Vol. 7,
•https://doi.org/10.1364/BOE.7.004928
Yu Wang, Yaonan Zhang, Zhaomin Yao, Ruixue Zhao, and Fengfeng Zhou, "Machine learning based detection of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) from optical coherence tomography (OCT) images," Biomed. Opt. Express 7, 4928-4940 (2016)
Image metrics
Retina scanning
Spectral domain optical coherence tomography
Three dimensional imaging
Image processing (100.0100)
Image analysis (100.2960)
Pattern recognition (100.5010)
Ophthalmology (170.4470)
Optical coherence tomography (170.4500)
Revised Manuscript: October 5, 2016
Non-lethal macular diseases greatly impact patients' life quality, and will cause vision loss at the late stages. Visual inspection of the optical coherence tomography (OCT) images by the experienced clinicians is the main diagnosis technique. We proposed a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) model to discriminate age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME) and healthy macula. The linear configuration pattern (LCP) based features of the OCT images were screened by the Correlation-based Feature Subset (CFS) selection algorithm. And the best model based on the sequential minimal optimization (SMO) algorithm achieved 99.3% in the overall accuracy for the three classes of samples.
Fully automated detection of diabetic macular edema and dry age-related macular degeneration from optical coherence tomography images
Pratul P. Srinivasan, Leo A. Kim, Priyatham S. Mettu, Scott W. Cousins, Grant M. Comer, Joseph A. Izatt, and Sina Farsiu
Biomed. Opt. Express 5(10) 3568-3577 (2014)
Transfer learning based classification of optical coherence tomography images with diabetic macular edema and dry age-related macular degeneration
S. P. K. Karri, Debjani Chakraborty, and Jyotirmoy Chatterjee
Biomed. Opt. Express 8(2) 579-592 (2017)
Deep learning-based automated detection of retinal diseases using optical coherence tomography images
Feng Li, Hua Chen, Zheng Liu, Xue-dian Zhang, Min-shan Jiang, Zhi-zheng Wu, and Kai-qian Zhou
Structure tensor based automated detection of macular edema and central serous retinopathy using optical coherence tomography images
Bilal Hassan, Gulistan Raja, Taimur Hassan, and M. Usman Akram
Kernel regression based segmentation of optical coherence tomography images with diabetic macular edema
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Ge, R.
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Fig. 1 Experimental outline of this study.
Fig. 2 Examples of segmented retina area. (a) Dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (b) Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) (c) Normal macular.
Fig. 3 Shadowing effect.
Fig. 4 Spatial pyramid image feature extraction. This study utilized three-level LCP image features.
Fig. 5 Spatial pyramid, multi-scale spatial pyramid and image pyramid. The dashed line shows the overlapped blocks which also calculated for the LCP features.
Table 1 Feature summary of the five pyramid settings. The tag ":O" means overlapping for this pyramid setting. The row "Original" is the number of features generated by each pyramid setting, and the row "Selected" is the number of features selected by the CFS algorithm. The row "S/O" gives the ratio between "Selected" and "Original".
View Table | View all tables in this article
Table 2 Classification performances of different feature subsets. All the feature subsets were selected by the CFS algorithm from the original features of the five pyramid settings. The tag ":O" means overlapping for this pyramid setting. Each of the first three rows gave the classification accuracy for the classes AMD, DME and Normal, respectively. The other rows gave the overall classification accuracies (Acc), sensitivities, specificities and Area Under the receiver operator characteristic Curve (AUC) of the five pyramid settings. The highest result in each row was highlighted in the bold font.
Table 3 The overall accuracies of different feature sets. The columns LBP and LCP represented the features calculated by the LBP and LCP algorithms. The column SP:O was the best feature subset evaluated in the above section. The column SP:O + CSE represented the data based on the SP:O features further screened by the feature selection algorithm CSE. The first three rows gave the accuracies for the sample classes AMD, DME and Normal, respectively. And the row Acc gave the overall accuracies for different feature sets. Sensitivities, specificities and AUC are also listed below.
Table 4 Time to build a SMO classification model using the two feature subsets. There are 493 and 23 features for the settings SP:O and SP:O + CSE, respectively.
Table 5 The classification accuracy of the seven classification algorithms on the data set. The abbreviations of the classification algorithms were defined in the section Material and methods. The first three rows gave the prediction accuracies for the sample classes AMD, DME and Normal, respectively. The last row Acc gave the overall accuracies of the seven classification algorithms on the data set.
Table 6 The classification accuracy of the seven classification algorithms on the data set. The abbreviations of the classification algorithms were defined in the section Material and methods. The rows gave the accuracy, specificity, sensitivity and AUC, respectively.
Table 7 The AUC results of the two methods. The SMO based classifier trained over the data set SP:O + CSE was compared with the results in the study Liu et al.
Table 8 Subject based classification performances of two studies. The accuracy was calculated based on whether the majority of a subject's OCT images were corrected predicted. Since there are three classes, the measurement accuracy is defined as the true positive rate for each class.
Feature summary of the five pyramid settings. The tag ":O" means overlapping for this pyramid setting. The row "Original" is the number of features generated by each pyramid setting, and the row "Selected" is the number of features selected by the CFS algorithm. The row "S/O" gives the ratio between "Selected" and "Original".
MSSP:O
SP:O
Original 3549 3549 507 5239 5239
Selected 397 407 81 464 493
S/O 11.2% 11.5% 16.0% 8.9% 9.4%
Classification performances of different feature subsets. All the feature subsets were selected by the CFS algorithm from the original features of the five pyramid settings. The tag ":O" means overlapping for this pyramid setting. Each of the first three rows gave the classification accuracy for the classes AMD, DME and Normal, respectively. The other rows gave the overall classification accuracies (Acc), sensitivities, specificities and Area Under the receiver operator characteristic Curve (AUC) of the five pyramid settings. The highest result in each row was highlighted in the bold font.
AMD 0.997 ± 0.003 0.992 ± 0.004 0.980 ± 0.002 0.998 ± 0.004 0.996 ± 0.002
DME 0.979 ± 0.004 0.976 ± 0.009 0.892 ± 0.004 0.969 ± 0.003 0.986 ± 0.007
Normal 0.992 ± 0.001 0.995 ± 0.001 0.984 ± 0.001 0.994 ± 0.001 0.996 ± 0.001
Acc 0.990 ± 0.001 0.990 ± 0.001 0.964 ± 0.001 0.990 ± 0.001 0.993 ± 0.001
Sensitivity 0.990 ± 0.001 0.990 ± 0.001 0.964 ± 0.001 0.990 ± 0.001 0.993 ± 0.002
Specificity 0.994 ± 0.001 0.995 ± 0.001 0.977 ± 0.001 0.994 ± 0.001 0.996 ± 0.001
AUC 0.993 ± 0.001 0.993 ± 0.001 0.973 ± 0.009 0.992 ± 0.001 0.996 ± 0.001
The overall accuracies of different feature sets. The columns LBP and LCP represented the features calculated by the LBP and LCP algorithms. The column SP:O was the best feature subset evaluated in the above section. The column SP:O + CSE represented the data based on the SP:O features further screened by the feature selection algorithm CSE. The first three rows gave the accuracies for the sample classes AMD, DME and Normal, respectively. And the row Acc gave the overall accuracies for different feature sets. Sensitivities, specificities and AUC are also listed below.
SP:O + CSE
AMD 0.742 ± 0.006 0.953 ± 0.005 0.996 ± 0.002 0.978 ± 0.008
DME 0.434 ± 0.005 0.905 ± 0.005 0.986 ± 0.007 0.940 ± 0.004
Normal 0.928 ± 0.001 0.980 ± 0.003 0.996 ± 0.001 0.996 ± 0.001
Acc 0.786 ± 0.001 0.959 ± 0.002 0.993 ± 0.001 0.980 ± 0.001
Sensitivity 0.786 ± 0.002 0.963 ± 0.001 0.993 ± 0.002 0.980 ± 0.004
Specificity 0.868 ± 0.001 0.976 ± 0.001 0.996 ± 0.002 0.988 ± 0.001
AUC 0.826 ± 0.001 0.971 ± 0.012 0.996 ± 0.002 0.984 ± 0.001
Time to build a SMO classification model using the two feature subsets. There are 493 and 23 features for the settings SP:O and SP:O + CSE, respectively.
Building time (s) 3.08 0.10
The classification accuracy of the seven classification algorithms on the data set. The abbreviations of the classification algorithms were defined in the section Material and methods. The first three rows gave the prediction accuracies for the sample classes AMD, DME and Normal, respectively. The last row Acc gave the overall accuracies of the seven classification algorithms on the data set.
0.980 ± 0.001
NBayes
AMD 0.923 ± 0.007 0.965 ± 0.003 0.853 ± 0.012
DME 0.856 ± 0.007 0.864 ± 0.003 0.785 ± 0.018
Normal 0.965 ± 0.004 0.988 ± 0.001 0.946 ± 0.005
Acc 0.933 ± 0.007 0.957 ± 0.003 0.894 ± 0.004
The classification accuracy of the seven classification algorithms on the data set. The abbreviations of the classification algorithms were defined in the section Material and methods. The rows gave the accuracy, specificity, sensitivity and AUC, respectively.
Sensitivity 0.933 ± 0.003 0.957 ± 0.001 0.894 ± 0.004
Specificity 0.963 ± 0.007 0.974 ± 0.001 0.942 ± 0.004
AUC 0.944 ± 0.003 0.994 ± 0.001 0.917 ± 0.005
The AUC results of the two methods. The SMO based classifier trained over the data set SP:O + CSE was compared with the results in the study Liu et al.
Liu et. al.
AMD 0.995 ± 0.001 0.926 ± 0.009
DME 0.970 ± 0.003 0.846 ± 0.011
Normal 0.987 ± 0.001 0.969 ± 0.002
AUC 0.984 ± 0.001 0.920 ± 0.001
Subject based classification performances of two studies. The accuracy was calculated based on whether the majority of a subject's OCT images were corrected predicted. Since there are three classes, the measurement accuracy is defined as the true positive rate for each class.
This study
Srinivasan et al.
AMD 14/15 = 93.3% 15/15 = 100%
DME 15/15 = 100% 15/15 = 100%
15/15 = 100%
13/15 = 86.7%


A recent study of mice has revealed that a hormone called irisin, which is secreted by active muscle cells, can trigger our bones to get stronger. Here's how to take advantage of the "exercise hormone."
Osteoporosis is low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue, which can lead to increased risk of bone fractures (among other things). For years we have been told to take calcium supplements, drink plenty of milk, and (more recently) take Vitamin D supplements to keep our bones strong. But lately, we are seeing "weight-bearing exercise" being promoted as a way to prevent or treat osteoporosis. Why is that?
If we want bone to grow, we need to start by squeezing cells called mechanoreceptors in those bones. Without squeezing these mechanoreceptor cells, the delicious bone-growing nutrients that we ingest to support bone growth won't be able to do their job. Your body can have plenty of them around but it won't know what to do with them.
Along comes a hormone called irisin (also known as the "exercise hormone") which is secreted by our muscles when we exercise. When it is secreted in vast quantities, irisin has been shown to have beneficial effects on adipose tissue (fat), cognition (brain), and bones.
The squeezing I mentioned is best created by exercising because movement stimulates the release of molecules from skeletal muscle. One of those molecules is the aforementioned irisin, which is produced most when we do high-intensity training.
Once irisin is generated, it will go to work on improving bone density.
Once irisin is generated, it will go to work on improving bone density by stimulating osteocytes, which are the master regulator of bone remodeling. Now we get to the cool part of the latest study done on irisin.
Not only does irisin stimulate osteocytes but it also stimulates something called sclerostin. Sclerostin launches a process opposite that of the osteocytes—it stimulates break down of bone.
The idea that irisin would promote the production of osteocytes and sclerostin seems counterproductive. But the authors of the study say that "It is this bit of bone breakdown that signals the body to engage in some skeletal renovation." And as we all know, renovations don't get completed if the workers are sitting on their lunch pails.
So, it would appear that the body needs to break down bone in order to rebuild it. Which, if we follow the logic, means that taking all the calcium in the world is not going to help your bones if you don't move, bounce, twist, and squeeze those cells.
For optimal bone generation and regeneration, you need as much movement as possible.
For optimal bone generation and regeneration, you need as much movement as possible. And it's even better if your bones are supporting a decent amount of weight while moving, too. The research done on bone in conjunction with exercise has shown that moving around while carrying some weight will indeed create the greatest bone development.
Weight-bearing exercises are the best (walking, resistance training, supporting your own weight). Non-weight bearing (swimming, cycling, working in zero gravity) are not.
It is the physical act of moving and working a muscle—making the muscle pull on the bone—that stimulates both the breakdown and the remodelling effects of irisin. Which, by the way, may also play a protective role in disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and ALS. Jus' sayin'.
For more bone info, skeletal tips, and to join the hormonal conversation, head over to Facebook.com/GetFitGuy, twitter.com/getfitguy or BrockArmstrong.com.
Also don't forget to subscribe to the Get-Fit Guy podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Spotify, Google Play or via RSS.
Running skeleton image courtesy of Shutterstock.
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Home News Boeing releases video of first taxi test of its 777X
Boeing releases video of first taxi test of its 777X
Boeing has released a video of first taxi test of its 777X.
The first flight, however, is some months away as the company awaits new engines from GE that have a fi for a durability issue.
Boeing 777X First Taxi Test
Our first #777X flight test airplane made its runway debut! Our teams performed a series of low-speed taxi tests, marking the first time this plane moved on its own power. This is one of many tests before the 777X takes to the skies later this year.
Posted by The Boeing Company on Friday, 21 June 2019
Inside the factory, the 3rd and 4th aircraft are complete and the first two production aircraft for Emirates are under construction.
The first Emirates 777-9X sports the "777X logo" on the folding wingtip, while the second sports the airline's tail logo design.
See our tribute to the 747's 50th year.
AirlineRatings.com was given special access to the production line and walking around the 777-9X you are overwhelmed by the giant jet. It is massive.
The larger windows are also apparent as is the huge size of the GE G9X engines.
The driving force behind the 777X is Emirates President Sir Tim Clark, whose airline is the lead buyer with an order for 150.
Sir Tim describes the 777X as "an absolute peach".
Key to his enthusiasm is the aircraft's economics and greater space — it is 20 per cent more efficient per seat than the industry's long-time benchmark the 777-300ER and its cabin is wider with bigger windows.
The Boeing 777X combines the best features of the current 777 with a longer fuselage, new engine and the composite wing design from the Boeing 787.
The 777-9X seats more than 400 passengers, depending on an airline's configuration choices.
With a range of more than 8,200 nautical miles (15,185 km), the aircraft will have the lowest operating cost per seat of any commercial aircraft says, Boeing.
The second member of the family, the 777-8X, will be the most flexible jet in the world claims Boeing. The aircraft will seat 350 passengers and offer a range capability of more than 9,300 nautical miles (17,220 km).
It also features 20 per cent larger windows and lowers pressurization altitude to reduce jet lag.
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Church official fears politicians may use NI Bill debate to try and liberalise certain laws here
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Monday, July 8th, 2019 6:34am
By Hannah Spratt @Radio_han
MP's will today debate the Northern Ireland Bill at Westminster.
It is designed to delay the date for calling another Assembly election in order to allow the Stormont talks to continue.
It would also give civil servants greater clarity around decision-making in the continued absence of a devolved administration.
Reverend Trevor Gribben is from the Presbyterian church.
He fears politicians may use the debate to try to liberalise abortion and same sex marriage laws here.
Rev Trevor Gribben, Clerk of the General Assembly and General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, said that it was important to focus simply on the purpose of the legislation and that decisions on other matters affecting Northern Ireland should not be tacked on, but left for consideration by locally elected MLAs.
"It is important that everyone committed to the peace process continues to encourage those engaged in the inter-party talks to restore devolution.
The progress that has been made since the beginning of the talks needs to be consolidated. As a result, the August deadline for an Assembly election should be extended by legislation, as it is important that the talks be given every opportunity to succeed.
"This is the aim and should be the sole focus of the Bill coming before Parliament on Monday.
It is, therefore, very unfortunate that some MPs could seek to use this parliamentary process to further their own agenda, for instance, seeking to change the abortion law or to introduce same sex marriage to Northern Ireland by the backdoor, through the amending of this Bill.
This would bypass the devolved settlement that was agreed over 20 years ago.
Decisions of this nature affecting Northern Ireland should be made by locally elected MLAs.
"There are many pressing issues to be dealt with, not least those affecting our schools, hospitals, social care and welfare systems.
These affect the lives of many of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in our society, including the victims of our violent past.
Political cherry-picking of issues by MPs, when talks to restore devolution are ongoing, would be unhelpful and run contrary to the spirit of devolution and the devolved settlement itself."


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Blood Sisters Review: A Huge Step Up and Win for Nollywood and Netflix
May 8, 2022 Cinema Shed Nollywood, Reviews 2
Directed by both Biyi Bandele and Kenneth Gyang, Blood Sisters is a limited series that tells the story of two best friends, who are forced to go on the run after a wealthy groom disappears during his engagement ceremony.
Most times, the feeling of "I have seen it all in Nollywood: the good, the bad, and the ugly" hit me, but in many ways, Blood Sisters proved me wrong by satisfying a craving I didn't know I had.
I'm not ashamed to say that this is actually the first Nollywood series I wanted to rewatch immediately after the credits started rolling in the finale.
Blood Sisters left me wondering why we've not had many dramas/thrillers done as meticulously as this before.
SEE ALSO: Man of God Movie Review
Normally, I worry when a movie has an all-star cast because, a lot of the time, it ends up devoid of a substantially rich story, but in Blood Sisters, you could tell that the actors were cast because they perfectly suited the roles they played.
Every single one, from the main characters to those who had almost waka-pass roles, had their own individual personalities which helped them stand out to add more richness to the story.
From Ini Dima-Okojie and Nancy Isime, who were the heart of the story, Kate Henshaw who commanded scenes so powerfully, whether she was giving out orders, rebuking people or breaking down, to Ramsey Nouah whose silence screamed danger, every single cast member gave it their all and then some.
The costumes and makeup were out of this world and well thought out, and the musical scores accompanied each scene in perfect harmony, adding rhythm to the experience that you can't help but relish in.
Not one scene was out of place, no segway was unimportant, and every character had their own journey to undertake, conclusions to draw, and actions to take.
Everything came full circle to give a closing scene that was as dramatic as the opening scene. A closing scene that made you ask the same "what happened" question you did at the beginning.
Yes, Blood Sisters had plot holes, but some played well into the experience or lack thereof of the characters during their different arcs in the story, while the others can be forgiven because of the sheer brilliance of the story and overall production.
Is blood Sisters worth watching? Yes, it is. I give it an A-.
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三五笑话
择偶网
人生不如意十之八九,开心最重要!


Over the years, Socgen's Albert Edwards has repeatedly expressed his skepticism of both the economy and the market (the longest US equity "bull market" since 1945) both propped up by generous central banks injecting liquidity by the tens of trillions (at this point nobody really knows the number now that the 'black box' that is China has entered the global "plunge protection" game) and yet never did he have as "conclusive" a call as he does today. As the following note reveals, when looking at one particular indicator, Edwards is now convinced: 'we are now in a bear market."
After holding firm last weekend and resisting pressure to give the market what it wanted namely a cut in interest rates and the reserve requirement ratio - the PBoC caved in, unable to endure the riot in the equity markets. In giving the markets what they want China is indeed acting like a fully paid up member of the international financial community. I am not thinking here about freeing up their capital account and allowing the renminbi to be more market determined. I?m thinking instead of China?s replicating the failed US policies of ramping up the equity market to boost economic growth, only to then open the monetary flood gates as equity investors turn nasty.
We disagree modestly with this assessment because as we described first on Tuesday, the RRR-cut had much more to do with unlocking $100 billion in much needed funding so that China could continue to intervene in the FX market by dumping a comparable amount of US Treasurys since its August 11 devaluation, something which as we reported earlier today, China itself has also now admitted. But the reason why we do agree, is that while the RRR-cut may have had other "uses of funds", today's dramatic intervention by the PBOC in both the stock market, leading to a 5.5% surge in the last hour of trading, as well as a dramatic intervention in the FX market, it is quite clear that the PBOC will do everything in its power once again to prevent any market drops.
Edwards, then goes on to observe something which is sure to anger the Keynesians and monetarists out there: no matter how many trillions central banks inject, they will never replace, or override, the most fundamental thing about the economy: the business cycle.
Despite deflation fears washing westward and US implied inflation expectations diving to levels not seen since the 2008 Great Recession, there remains a touching faith that the US is resilient enough to withstand further renminbi devaluation. And if it isn?t, why worry anyway, because QE4 will be around the corner. But let me be as clear as I can: the US authorities CANNOT eliminate the business cycle, however many QE helicopters they send up. The idea that developed economies will decouple from emerging market turmoil is as ridiculous as was the reverse in the first half of 2008. Remember EM and commodities had then de-coupled from the west?s woes?until they too also crashed.
... one feature of the market ?internals? in recent months has been the incredibly strong performance of high quality stocks (as defined by a variety of mainly balance sheet measures). This strength is now leading to price momentum and quality strategies becoming closely linked, with a 90% correlation (see chart below). Quality is now essentially price momentum and history tells us when these two strategies collide the omens are not good as it is a phenomena associated with equity bear markets. This becomes even more evident when we plug this data into one of our six bear market indicators, which now shows a 99.7% probability we are in a bear market.
So if we are then what? "In a secular bear market being wedded to hope destroys portfolios as the bear slashes to ribbons the hard-fought gains of the previous bull market. Gains that have taken years to accumulate are gone in months."
Ah yes, but not before central banks, which as Albert also correctly implies, are all in do everything in their power to prevent even the most modest market drop, because if there is anything first Bullard's comments in October, and then NY Fed president Bill Dudley's yesterday have shown, is that for the Fed none of the economic data actually matters - the only thing that does is the S&P500, and worse: even a modest 10% market correction is enough to lay total destruction to the Fed's best laid plans of an "imminent" rate hike, and even hint at QE4.
At the end of the day, this will be the most epic fight between what little "free market" forces are left, and the biggest and coordinated printing fest ever witnessed in modern economic history. While the ultimate outcome is clear to all, it is the process how we get there that everyone is fasctinated with. Our guess? First the central banks will take out all the bears, then take out all the bulls, until finally just the HFTs algos are left trading with themselves, in a "market" where the only signal is whether other algos are buying, or - Fed forbid - selling.


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Q: how to remove menu's border in asp.net Hi i have a menu control in asp.net....i write below code for that...and i bind the menu itemss dynamically..
    DataView viewItem = new DataView(table);
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        if (ds.Tables[0].Rows.Count > 0)
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            for (int i = 0; i < ds.Tables[0].Rows.Count; i++)
            {
                MenuItem childItem = new MenuItem(ds.Tables[0].Rows[i]["PageName"].ToString(), ds.Tables[0].Rows[i]["Id"].ToString());
                childItem.NavigateUrl = ds.Tables[0].Rows[i]["PageLink"].ToString();
                menuItem.ChildItems.Add(childItem);

                //AddChildItems(table, childItem);
            }
        }
    }

here i need to change menu's bacKground color and remove default border...how to remove thaT...anybody suggest me..

A: Use this Css
#Menu ul li a,
#Menu ul li a:active {outline:none;}

A: So you should write CSS for it
#YourMenuID
{
background-color: red or #customcolor;
color:white;
border:0px none;
}

Where # is the menu id
And call the style sheet in your page
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" src="pathofyourstylesheet"/>

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