Author: claimsbot

1-18. (canceled)
19. An image processing device for a combat type game, the device being arranged i) to set up in virtual space a first model being controlled by a player and a second controlled model where the first model and the second model combat each other; and ii) to control the models such that they move in prescribed directions in the virtual space and cause a display means to display images of a virtual space from a virtual viewpoint, the device comprising:
means for image processing whereby execution of a prescribed motion operation by a player controlling the first model, while the game is in progress, causes a virtual attractive force to be set up to act between the first model and the second model and to cause the first model to automatically move around the second model being a center of the virtual attractive force.
20. The image processing device according to claim 19, wherein the image processing means is further operable so that an amount of frictional force that is applied to the models varies according to whether the models are moving or whether they are stationary.
21. The image processing device according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the image processing means is further operable so that a projection image of the models is displayed matching the surface shape of a stage on which the models are placed.
22. The image processing device according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the image processing means is further operable so that a determination is performed of an overlap of a field of view created by the virtual viewpoint with respect to the model that is the subject of display and another model which is not set as the subject of display, and, if the result of this determination is affirmative, the other model is not displayed.
23. The image processing device according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the image processing means is further operable so that, with respect to the end-point of a predetermined movement track of the model, a target point is set up different from the end-point and the movement track is interpolated such that the end-point coincides with the target point.
24. The image processing device according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the image processing means is further operable so that a difference of level at which the model is positioned in the virtual space is found and the action that is applied to the model is interpolated in accordance with this level difference.
25. A game device including the image processing device according to claim 19.
26. The game device according to claim 25, further comprising:
input means for controlling the movement of the models, the input means including direction keys for specifying the direction of action of a model in question vertically or horizontally, wherein the image processing means executes image processing in response to operation of the direction keys such as to effect automatic circular movement of the model.
27. A recording medium on which is recorded an image processing program adapted to control the operation of a games device in the playing of a combat type game so as to i) set up in virtual space a first model being controlled by a player and a second controlled model, wherein the first model and the second model combat each other; and ii) control the models such that they move in prescribed directions in the virtual space and to cause a display means to display images of this virtual space from a virtual viewpoint;
and to perform image processing whereby the execution of a prescribed motion operation, while the game is in progress, by a player controlling the first model causes a virtual attractive force to be set up to act between the first model and the second model and causes the first model automatically to move around the second model being a center of the virtual attractive force.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A light coupling structure, comprising:
a light coupling layer having a cavity;
a waveguide having a cladding layer and a core layer;
wherein the cladding layer of the waveguide is disposed in the cavity of the light coupling layer and the core layer of the waveguide is disposed over the light coupling layer and the cladding layer of the waveguide;
wherein the light coupling layer is configured to receive light from a light source and couple the received light into the core layer of the waveguide.
2. The light coupling structure of claim 1,
wherein the light coupling layer comprises a planar graded refractive index (GRIN) lens.
3. The light coupling structure of claim 1,
wherein the light coupling layer has a graded refractive index profile.
4. The light coupling structure of claim 3,
wherein the graded refractive index profile comprises any one of a group consisting of parabolic profile, Gaussian profile, and computationally generated profile.
5. The light coupling structure of claim 1,
wherein the light coupling layer comprises a multi-layer stack of silicon oxynitride.
6. The light coupling structure of claim lany one of claim 1,
wherein the light coupling layer comprises a multi-layer stack, wherein each layer of the multi-layer stack comprises two materials.
7. The light coupling structure of claim 6,
wherein the two materials comprise silicon nitride and silicon dioxide.
8. The light coupling structure of claim 1,
wherein the core layer of the waveguide comprises a tapering end region.
9. The light coupling structure of claim 1,
wherein the core layer of the waveguide is L-shaped.
10. The light coupling structure of claim 9,
wherein the core layer of the waveguide comprises a bending portion.
11. The light coupling structure of claim 1,
wherein the waveguide further comprises a further cladding layer disposed on the core layer.
12. A magnetic recording head, comprising:
a light coupling structure, comprising:
a light coupling layer having a cavity;
a waveguide having a cladding layer and a core layer;
wherein the cladding layer of the waveguide is disposed in the cavity of the light coupling layer and the core layer of the waveguide is disposed over the light coupling layer and the cladding layer of the waveguide;
wherein the light coupling layer is configured to receive light from a light source and couple the received light into the core layer of the waveguide; and

a writing head disposed adjacent to the waveguide.
13. A method of forming a light coupling structure, the method comprising:
forming a light coupling layer;
etching the light coupling layer to form a cavity;
depositing a cladding layer of a waveguide in the cavity of the light coupling layer; and
depositing a core layer of the waveguide over the light coupling layer and the cladding layer of the waveguide.
14. The method of claim 13,
wherein the light coupling layer is formed by depositing a plurality of thin film layers.
15. The method of claim 14,
wherein the plurality of thin film layers comprise silicon oxynitride.
16. The method of claim 14,
wherein each thin film layer comprises two materials.
17. The method of claim 13any one of claim 13,
further comprising etching the core layer of the waveguide.
18. The method of claim 17,
wherein the core layer of the waveguide is etched such that the core layer comprises a tapering end region.
19. The method of claim 17,
wherein the core layer of the waveguide is etched such that the core layer is L-shaped.
20. The method of claim 19,
wherein the core layer of the waveguide comprises a bending portion.

1. A method of measuring the concentration of chloride ions in a sample solution initially having a pH greater than 5, comprising the steps of:
(a) adding an acidic reagent to the sample solution to lower the pH of the sample solution to 5 or less, thereby forming an acidified sample solution;
(b) contacting the acidified sample solution with an ion sensitive electrode comprising silver chloride; and
(c) measuring the electric potential of the acidified sample solution with the electrode.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode is a solid state silver chloride electrode.
3. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising the step of converting the electric potential measured in step (c) into chloride concentration for the sample solution.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises lowering the pH of the sample to less than about 4.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein step (a) comprises lowering the pH of the sample to less than about 3.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein step (a) comprises lowering the pH of the sample to about 2.5.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (a) and (b) are conducted simultaneously.
8. A method of measuring the concentration of chloride ions in a clinical sample, comprising the steps of:
(a) obtaining a solution comprising the clinical sample, wherein the solution has a pH of between about 6 and 8;
(b) adding an acidic reagent to the solution to lower the pH of the solution to 5 or less, thereby forming an acidified solution;
(c) contacting the acidified solution with an ion sensitive electrode comprising silver chloride; and
(d) measuring the electric potential of the acidified solution with the electrode.
9. The method of claim 8, additionally comprising the step of converting the electric potential measured in step (d) into chloride concentration for the sample solution.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein step (b) comprises lowering the pH of the solution to less than about 4.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein step (b) comprises lowering the pH of the solution to about 2.5.
12. A method of measuring the concentration of chloride ions in a plurality of sample solutions, comprising:
(a) contacting one of the plurality of sample solutions with an ion selective electrode comprising silver chloride;
(b) measuring the electric potential of the sample solution of step (a) with the electrode;
(c) removing the sample solution of step (a);
(d) contacting the electrode with one or more buffer solutions;
(e) repeating steps (a) through (d) for each of the remaining sample solutions over a period of more than 2 months, thereby measuring the concentration of chloride ions in each of the plurality of sample solutions; and
(f) maintaining substantially all of the plurality of sample solutions and the one or more buffer solutions at a pH of 5 or less so that the electrode decreases in sensitivity by less than 30 percent over the period of more than 2 months.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:
(i) testing the electrode for a drop in sensitivity; and
(ii) replacing the electrode after a drop in sensitivity of 30 percent or greater is detected.
14. The method of claim 12, comprising the steps prior to step (a) of:
providing one or more sample solutions initially having a pH greater than 5; and then
lowering the pH of the one or more sample solutions to pH 5 or less.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the electrode is in contact with the sample solutions and the one or more buffer solutions for a period of more than 4 months, and wherein the electrode decreases in sensitivity by less than 30 percent during the period of more than 4 months.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the electrode decreases in sensitivity by less than 20 percent during the period of more than 2 months.
17. A method of operating an ion selective electrode comprising silver chloride, comprising the steps of:
(a) calibrating the electrode;
(b) after step (a), measuring chloride concentration in one or more sample solutions having a pH of 5 or less by:
(i) contacting the electrode with the one or more sample solutions;
(ii) obtaining an electric potential measurement of the one or more sample solutions with the electrode to determine chloride concentration information; and
(iii) contacting the electrode with one or more buffer solutions having a pH of 5 or less, wherein the electrode is in substantially continuous contact with the one or more sample solutions and the one or more buffer solutions for a period of more than 3 days; and

(c) after step (b), evaluating the calibration of the electrode by:
(i) contacting the electrode with a solution having a known chloride concentration;
(ii) obtaining a chloride concentration measurement with the electrode, wherein the chloride concentration measurement obtained by the electrode is different by less than about 3 percent from the known chloride concentration of the solution having a known chloride concentration.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein step (a) comprises:
(i) contacting the electrode with a solution having a known chloride concentration;
(ii) obtaining a chloride concentration measurement with the electrode; and then
(iii) adjusting the electrode so that the chloride concentration measurement corresponds to the known chloride concentration of the solution.
19. The method of claim 17, comprising, prior to step (b), the steps of:
providing one or more sample solutions initially having a pH greater than 5; and then
lowering the pH of the one or more sample solutions to a pH of 5 or less.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein the electrode is in substantially continuous contact with the sample solution and the one or more buffer solutions for a period of more than 5 days, and wherein the concentration of the solution of known chloride concentration measured by the electrode changes by less than about 3 percent during the period of more than 5 days.
21. A method for measuring the concentration of ions in a sample solution with an analytical instrument, comprising:
(a) contacting the sample solution with an ion selective electrode in the instrument, wherein the sample solution is at a pH greater than 5, and wherein the ion selective electrode is adapted to measure the electric potential of an ionic species in the solution other than chloride;
(b) measuring the electric potential of the sample solution with the electrode;
(c) lowering the pH of the solution to 5 or less, thereby forming an acidified sample solution;
(d) contacting the acidified sample solution with an electrode comprising silver chloride; and
(e) measuring the electric potential of the acidified solution with the electrode comprising silver chloride.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the ionic species in the solution other than chloride is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, lithium, and calcium.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein the electrode comprising silver chloride is a solid state silver chloride electrode.
24. The method of claim 21, additionally comprising the step of converting the electric potential of the acidified sample solution measured in step (d) into chloride concentration information for the sample solution.
25. The method of claim 21, wherein step (c) comprises lowering the pH of the sample to less than about 4.
26. The method of claim 26, wherein step (c) comprises lowering the pH of the sample to about 2.5.
27. A system for measuring the concentration of chloride ions in a sample solution, comprising:
(a) an ion selective electrode adapted to measure the electric potential of an ionic species in the sample solution other than chloride at a pH greater than 5, the ion selective electrode being in communication with a first container for holding the sample solution;
(b) an ion selective electrode comprising silver chloride in communication with a second container for holding the sample solution;
(c) a first duct for conducting the sample solution from the first container to the second container;
(d) a container for holding an acidic reagent adapted to lower the pH of a solution initially at a pH greater than 5 to a pH of 5 or less; and
(e) a second duct for conducting the acidic reagent to the first duct or the second container.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What we claim is:

1. A method for forming a gravel pack in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, said method comprising the steps of:
creating a gravel pack mixture using a solid deformable material and a conventional gravel; and
placing such gravel pack mixture in said wellbore.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the gravel pack contains from 10% to 50% by weight of solid deformable material and from 50% to 90% by weight of conventional gravel.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the solid deformable material is an elastically flexible or plastically compressible material.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the gravel pack contains from 15% to 30% by weight of solid deformable material and from 70% to 85% by weight of conventional gravel.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein the solid deformable material is a solid or foamed polymer.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein the gravel pack contains 20% by weight of solid deformable material and 80% by weight of conventional gravel.
7. The method of claim 3 wherein the solid deformable material is in the form of a particle of a substantially non-deformable material coated with an elastically flexible or plastically compressible material.
8. The method of claim 3 wherein the solid deformable material is in the form of a particle of an elastically flexible or plastically compressible material containing a substantially non-deformable filler.
9. The method of claim 3 wherein the overall compressive stiffness of the gravel pack containing solid deformable material and conventional gravel is 33% to 67% of the stiffness of a gravel pack containing the conventional gravel alone.
10. The method of claim 3 wherein the overall compressive stiffness of the gravel pack containing solid deformable material and conventional gravel is 33% to 50% of the stiffness of a gravel pack containing the conventional gravel alone.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the gravel pack contains from 10% to 50% by volume of solid deformable material and from 50% to 90% by volume of conventional gravel.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the solid deformable material is an elastically flexible or plastically compressible material.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the gravel pack contains from 15% to 30% by volume of solid deformable material and from 70% to 85% by volume of conventional gravel.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein the solid deformable material is a solid or foamed polymer.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the gravel pack contains 20% by volume of solid deformable material and 80% by volume of conventional gravel.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein the solid deformable material is in the form of a particle of a substantially non-deformable material coated with an elastically flexible or plastically compressible material.
17. The method of claim 12 wherein the solid deformable material is in the form of a particle of an elastically flexible or plastically compressible material containing a substantially non-deformable filler.
18. A gravel pack for a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, said gravel pack containing a mixture of a solid deformable material and a conventional gravel.
19. The gravel pack of claim 18 wherein the gravel pack contains from 10% to 50% by weight of solid deformable material and from 50% to 90% by weight of conventional gravel.
20. The gravel pack of claim 18 wherein the gravel pack contains from 15% to 30% by weight of solid deformable material and from 70% to 85% by weight of conventional gravel.