A method of forming a self-aligned contact is disclosed. A pattern of polysilicon gate electrode stack including a silicon oxide gate dielectric, a polysilicon gate electrode, a first thermal polyoxide layer over the top of said polysilicon gate electrode layer, a first silicon nitride layer over said first thermal polyoxide layer, and a TEOS layer over said silicon nitride layer is provided on a silicon substrate. Each of the layers has its sides open to the ambient. Inert ions are implanted into the substrate which is not covered by the polysilicon gate electrode stack in such a manner as to reduce the possibility of the oxidation of the surface of the substrate. The pattern of polysilicon gate electrode stack and the surface of the said substrate are subjected to a thermal oxidizing ambient which causes oxidation of the sides open to the ambient of the polysilicon layer to form a second polyoxide layer on the sides of the polysilicon layer. A second silicon nitride layer is formed over the pattern of stack and the surface of the substrate. The second silicon nitride layer is anisotropically etched to remove the second silicon nitride from the top of the stack and from over the surface of the substrate while leaving the second silicon nitride layer remaining upon the sides of the stack to form a self-aligned opening to regions within the silicon substrate. A self-aligning contact to the regions is formed through said opening.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of forming contacts in an integrated circuit device, and more particularly, to a method of forming contacts in which sidewall oxide is protected from etch damage by a nitride cap.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
In forming self-aligning contacts, the major problem area is in the contact wet etch step. Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an enlarged view of a portion of a partially completed integrated circuit. Agate oxide layer 14 has been grown on the surface of silicon substrate 10. A polysilicon gate 16 is shown with polyoxide sidewall and overlying layer 18 which has been formed by oxidation of the polysilicon. A silicon nitride layer 20 overlies the polyoxide layer 18. A layer of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) 22 has been deposited over the silicon nitride. Layer 23 is a photoresist layer. First a dry etch is performed to etch into the TEOS layer, which is about 3000 Angstroms in thickness, to leave about 700 Angstroms of the TEOS layer Next, a wet etch is performed to remove the remaining TEOS. This is typically a buffered oxide etch (BOE) of 10:1 water to hydrofluoric acid. One problem that occurs with the wet etch is illustrated by 1 in FIG. 1. The photoresist is undercut into the TEOS layer. This is not a major problem. Problem area 2 is a nitride overhang caused by the isotropic etching of the polyoxide 18 under the nitride layer 20. A third problem is a stack coverage problem caused by the nonvertical polyoxide sidewall. When metal is deposited into the contact, a void may be formed because of the birds-beak formation at 3 and the metal layer will be thinner than desired because of the undercut at 2. U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,351 to Fazan et al describes a process for forming a contact opening which uses a sidewall silicon nitride cap. That process uses a single silicon nitride layer and uses a photoresist layer in forming the contact so it is not a true self-aligned contact.

Nitride cap sidewall oxide protection from BOE etch

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company


An optical transmitter configured to perform digital signal equalization directed at mitigating the detrimental effects of a frequency roll-off in the transmitter's optical I-Q modulator. In various embodiments, a frequency-dependent spectral-correction function used for the digital signal equalization can be constructed to cause the spectrum of the modulated optical signal generated by the transmitter to have a desired degree of flatness in the vicinity of an optical carrier frequency and/or to at least partially mirror the frequency roll-off in the optical I-Q modulator.

1. Field
The present invention relates to optical communication equipment and, more specifically but not exclusively, to frequency equalization for an optical transmitter.
2. Description of the Related Art
This section introduces aspects that may help facilitate a better understanding of the invention(s). Accordingly, the statements of this section are to be read in this light and are not to be understood as admissions about what is in the prior art or what is not in the prior art.
Optical transmitters are critical elements within the present-day communications infrastructure. A continued trend in the development of optical transmitters is towards higher data-transmission rates. However, the use of relatively high data-transmission rates tends to exacerbate to a significant degree the performance penalty caused by non-optimal frequency characteristics of certain constituent components of the optical transmitter.

Frequency equalization for an optical transmitter


An optimization device includes: processing circuits each configured to: hold a first value of a neuron of an Ising model; and perform a process to determine whether to permit updating of the first value based on information of the Ising model and information about a target neuron; a control circuit configured to: set, while causing a portion of the processing circuits to perform the process for a partial neuron group, information to be used for the process for a first neuron other than the partial neuron group in a first processing circuit; cause a second processing circuit among the portion of the processing circuits to inactivate the process; and cause the first processing circuit to start the process for the first neuron; and an update neuron selection circuit configured to: select the target neuron from one or more update permissible neurons; and update the value of the target neuron.

As a method for solving a multivariable optimization problem at which a Neumann-type computer is not effective, there is an optimization device using an Ising-type energy function (sometimes called an Ising machine or a Boltzmann machine). The optimization device replaces a problem to be calculated with an Ising model which represents the behavior of a spin of a magnetic substance, and then calculates the problem.
The optimization device may model the problem using, for example, a neural network. In that case, each of a plurality of units (neurons) included in the optimization device and coupled to each other functions as a neuron that outputs 0 or 1 according to a state variable (bit) representing the state of another neuron and a weighting factor (also referred to as a coupling factor) indicating the strength of coupling between a state variable (bit) of its own neuron and the state variable (bit) of the another neuron. For example, the optimization device uses a stochastic search method such as simulated annealing to obtain, as a solution, a combination of states of bits that can obtain the minimum value of the Ising-type energy function (also referred to as a cost function or an objective function).
In addition, as an example of neural network technology, there is a technology that connects a plurality of neural network circuits to extend the network scale. Further, as another example, there is a technology that stores connection information of a neural network in a storage device and rewrites the connection information to change the connection state of the neural network so as to implement a variety of neural networks from a small-scale neural network to a large-scale neural network.
Related techniques are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 07-191951 and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 08-022446.
When an optimization device that performs a number of iterative calculations using a stochastic search method is implemented in hardware, there is a problem that the amount of hardware increases as the scale of an optimization problem becomes larger (the number of neurons increases).

Optimization device and control method of optimization device


This disclosure provides various embodiments for providing a communication layer between a portal application and a separate and independent portlet container. In one embodiment, a computer program product comprising computer readable instructions is operable when executed to expose an application programming interfaces (APIs) associated with methods permitting a portal application to invoke a portlet via the portlet container, where the portlet is run inside the portlet container. The computer program product exposes one or more service provider interfaces (SPIs) providing services implemented and used by the portlet container to obtain information about the portlet to be invoked. The computer program product further exposes an interface providing methods facilitating communications between the portal application and the portlet container during runtime of the portal application. The portal application running in combination with the portlet container implements the API, SPI, and interface during the portal application's runtime to allow for portal execution.

Many organizations implement an enterprise portal to host internal and external applications. A portal is an application which aggregates applications together in a presentable format. Beyond merely being a presentation layer, a portal (or portal application) typically allows users to customize the presentation, including what applications to display. A portal can also provide a convenient single sign-on mechanism for users.
In general, portlets, one of the building blocks of portals, started to become popular with developers and programmers after the first version of the Java Portlet Specification (JSR 168) was released in 2003. Many vendors in the Java portal space, both commercial and open-source vendors, have implemented this standard, and developers have written portlets using the Java Portlet Application Programming Interface (API). JSR 168, however, stopped at defining the overall user interface (UI) component model, and did not define means for building integrated composite applications out of these components. Many limitations from JSR 168 were addressed with the release of Java Portlet Specification version 2.0 (JSR 286).
The main new features of JSR 286 are the capabilities for coordination between different portlets that can be implemented by different parties and packaged in different web application archive (WAR) files. Specifically, the coordination features of JSR 286 are based on a publish/subscribe model that does not request different portlet developers to know about each other's work. At development time, only data an individual portlet understands is defined, and the actual connections between portlets are created at deployment or at runtime. Leveraging these features, portal administrators or business users can build composite applications out of portlet components without predefined programming—for example, the portals described above.
Previous methods of communication between the portal application and the Portlet Container included embedding the Portlet Container within the portal application, such that the portal application and the Portlet Container are the same component. In these instances, communication between the portal application and the Portlet Container can be handled internally by the combined component, and no additional communication definitions or operations need to be defined. However, this solution applies several restrictions to a solution—namely, to change the portal application, a new portlet container must be defined in order to correspond to the modified portal application. Thus, modifications to either component cause significant hardship to developers and make ongoing integration of the components, or later modification to either of the components, difficult.

System and method for communication between portal applications and portlet containers


An image processing apparatus includes plural image outputting parts, an image processing part configured to process image data to be output by the plural image outputting parts, plural software control parts configured to selectively control the plural image outputting parts, a user service selecting part configured to share the image processing part in a case of processing the image data to be output from the plural image outputting parts and select plural user services that selectively use the plural software control parts, and a request executing part configured to sequentially receive plural image process requests and plural output requests from the plural software control parts and execute the plural image process requests and the plural image output requests in an order in which the plural image process requests and the plural output requests are sequentially received.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
With recent digital multifunction machines (hereinafter also referred to as "MFP (Multi-Function Printer)"), the MFPs are desired to simultaneously handle plural input/output application programs (hereinafter also referred to as "application" or simply "appli"). For example, the MFP, in accordance with the commands from each application, prints (outputs) image data scanned (input) from a scanner onto a printing medium (e.g., paper) while transmitting the scanned image data via facsimile. In another example, the MFP may print the image data while transmitting the image data via a network (e.g., e-mail transmission).
There is also a desire for a controller platform that can be customized with respect to plural applications (e.g., addition/deletion/change of application).
In order to establish such a controller platform that assures, for example, replacement of applications in application units, a common image processing path is to be provided in a system.
In a related art example, image processing (e.g., an image processing method) relying on plural applications (i.e. processing of image data) or an image converting method (i.e. changing the format of image data) is performed by an executing part dedicated to each application.
Accordingly, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-074163 discloses a configuration that performs management by sharing resources with respect to a memory unit.
With this configuration, a control part is also required to be shared in a system and be independent from applications in order to perform addition/deletion/changing of applications in application units. Otherwise, programming for image processing would also have to be performed in order to customize a platform with respect to the application. Further, the platform would be difficult to handle since controls relying on hardware are needed to be customized.

Image processing apparatus for controlling plural image outputting parts


There is provided a method, including detecting, by a user terminal connected to a public land mobile net-work, PLMN, via a first radio access technology and having requested a circuit switched fallback service procedure, that a network controlled radio access technology change related to the circuit switched fallback service procedure is not performed; and selecting a second radio access technology to be applied on the basis of stored information, wherein the second radio access technology to be applied is capable to provide circuit switched services and the stored information associates at least one PLMN with at least one radio access technology.

A packet-based radio communication network, such as the Long Term Evolution (LTE) or the LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), may offer a large variety of services. However, there may be a need to request a circuit switched fallback (CSFB) service for example when voice data is to be transferred. It may also happen that such CSFB may fail and as a result the user terminal (UT) requesting the CSFB may not be able to perform the circuit switching/switched services directly.


A circuit board mounted connector includes an exterior shield shell and a housing assembly. The exterior shield shell has a first face to be mounted on a circuit board to define an electromagnetic shielding space and a second face which is orthogonal to the first face and is opened for installation of a mating connector. The housing assembly is fitted in the exterior shield shell so that the mating connector is connected thereto. The housing assembly includes a connecting terminal member, an interior housing, an interior shield shell, and an exterior housing. The exterior shield shell includes an assembly mounting opening through which the housing assembly is installed into the exterior shield shell, in the first face of the exterior shield shell.

The present invention is related to a circuit board mounted connector which has an anti-noise shield shell and which is mounted on a circuit board.
FIGS. 11 to 13 show a circuit board mounted connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 below.
This circuit board mounted connector 101 includes an exterior shield shell 111 and a housing assembly 121.
The exterior shield shell 111 is mounted on a circuit board, not shown, at a lower surface 112, which is one of surfaces thereof, and defines an electromagnetic shielding space 114 between the circuit board and itself as is shown in FIG. 12. The exterior shield shell 111 is opened in a front surface 113, which is one of side surfaces which are at right angles to a surface of the circuit board, for installation of a mating connector.
The housing assembly 121 is fitted and installed in the exterior shield shell 111. The mating connector is inserted form an opening portion in one side of the exterior shield shell so as to fitted and connected to the housing assembly 121.
As is shown in FIG. 12, the housing assembly 121 includes connecting terminal members 122 which each function as a reed terminal 122a which is connected to a contact on the circuit board at one end and at the other end as a connector terminal 122b which is fitted and connected to a connecting terminal of the mating connector, an interior housing 123 formed of an insulation resin which accommodates the connecting terminal members 122, an interior shield shell 125 which covers an outer circumference of the interior housing 123 and which is connected with a corresponding shield member of the mating connector for conduction and an exterior housing 126 formed of an insulation resin which accommodates and holds the interior shield shell 125.
Arrows A shown in FIG. 11 indicate an inserting direction in which the mating connector is inserted into the circuit board mounted connector 101, and the inserting direction is parallel to the surface of the circuit board.
In the case of the circuit board mounted connector 101, initially, the exterior shield shell 111 is molded into a shape shown in FIG. 13. Namely, the exterior shield shell 111 is molded into a shape in which a wall member 116 constituting a back wall which confronts the opened front surface 113 extends in the direction of an extension of an upper wall 117 so as to open a back side thereof as is shown in FIG. 13. This wall member 116 is bent in a direction indicated by an arrow B in FIG. 13 after the housing assembly 121 is fitted and installed in an interior of the exterior shield shell 111 from the back side of the exterior shield shell 111 and holds the housing assembly 121 which is now installed in the exterior shield shell 111.
When the housing assembly 121 is fitted and installed in the exterior shield shell 111, as is shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, elongated projections 126a which are provided to project on outer side surfaces of the exterior housing 126 are brought into engagement with cutouts 118 formed in corresponding positions on the exterior shield shell 111 so as to guide the housing assembly 121 in an inserting direction.
The above is what is substantially shown by the IDS Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-64716 A.


A picture-in-picture window is opened in response to a user-entered replay command received while displaying a live state of video content on a screen. At least a portion of the video content is replayed on one of the screen and the picture-in-picture window while continuing displaying of the live state of the video content in the other of the screen and the picture-in-picture window.

Digital video recorders (DVRs) have become very popular in recent years, increasingly replacing VCRs as the primary device for users to record all manner of television programs. In a DVR, programs are stored on a hard disk drive rather than on a VHS tape, which results in numerous benefits. Hard disk drives can typically store more programs than a VHS tape, can record one program while another previously recorded program is played back, can allow a user to begin watching a program that has already begun recording before the recording is completed, can oftentimes support better video and/or audio quality than a VHS tape, can allow indexing so that users can quickly see what programs are stored on the DVR and can quickly select programs for playback, can support random access to programs so that rewinding or fast forwarding to a particular portion of a tape is not required, and so on.
An additional advantage DVRs offer over VHS tape is the ability to replay a portion of a live program as it is being received. Some DVRs offer an "instant replay" feature that allows users to automatically replay a portion of the program that was just played. For example, a user watching a live football game that wants to watch a spectacular catch that was just made again can invoke the instant replay feature and have the previous ten seconds of the football game re-played, allowing him or her to re-watch that catch. After the ten-second replay has completed, the DVR returns to displaying the live program as it is received.
Although such replay functionality is very useful, it is not without its problems. One such problem is that, while the user is replaying a portion of the program, he or she is missing the other portions of the live program being received. For example, if the user invokes the instant replay feature and re-watches ten seconds of a football game, after replaying those ten seconds the DVR returns to displaying the live football game. Thus, the user has missed viewing the ten seconds of the football game that immediately succeeded the invoking of the instant replay feature.
One solution to this problem is for the DVR to simply continue playing the program but with a ten-second lag. In other words, after completing the ten-second replay, the DVR would not jump ahead to the current live position of the program, but instead would continue to display the program ten seconds behind the current live position of the program. Although this solution enables the user to avoid missing any of the program, it has its own problems because the user is no longer watching the program live. Every time the user invokes the instant replay option he or she gets another ten seconds behind the current live position of the program, which is an unacceptable situation for many users.
Thus, it would be beneficial to have an improved way of handling instant replay functionality.

Picture-in-picture window for video replay


A tree harvesting apparatus is provided. The harvesting apparatus comprises a frame member, a cutting device mounted to the frame member, and at least one cutting member attached to the cutting device. A tree accumulation member is also provided and overlays at least a portion of the cutting device. Also provided is a tree securing device for securing at least one tree on the tree accumulation member, and an adjustment device for automatically adjusting the position of the tree securing device relative to the frame member.

In the harvesting of trees, it is typical to mount a tree harvesting apparatus to the boom of a carrier vehicle such as a feller buncher or crawler tractor. The harvesting apparatus referred to herein is typically referred to as a harvesting or cutting head which typically employs a circular cutting saw to sever the tree, a means to grip and hold the tree, comprising a grapple and collector arm, and a base member which partially overlays the circular saw for supporting the tree off of the circular saw as the tree is being cut. Those cutting heads which accumulate the trees on the head itself oftentimes employ a tree accumulation area in which the severed trees are stored and transported. In recent years, machine productivity has become a major issue since the end users of such machines are increasingly under pressure to make a return on their investments in the forestry industry. To this end, it has been found to be desirable to reduce the number of tasks required by the operator while achieving the same productivity levels.
An example of a task that the operator must perform is to manually monitor the tree or trees stored in the accumulation area for any movement or jostling of the trees therein. Should sufficient movement of the trees occur such that the pressure applied by the one or more of the arms to trees is reduced, the operator must manually activate one or both of the arms accordingly to tighten the grip on the tree or trees so as to prevent inadvertent dropping of the trees from the tree harvesting apparatus or premature dumping of the trees by the operator.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.


A combustion chamber arrangement, in particular for a burner of a vehicle heating device, includes a housing arrangement in which a seating region is provided for abutment of a counter-seating region formed on an ignition element. An elastically effective retaining element for retaining the ignition element on the housing arrangement, the retaining element having a first support region supported with respect to the ignition element and a second support region supported with respect to the housing arrangement, wherein the retaining element is supported on at least one of the ignition element or the housing arrangement with the production of a substantially sealed closure of an ignition element passage opening of the housing arrangement.

Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The present invention relates to a combustion chamber arrangement, in particular for a burner of a vehicle, including a housing arrangement, in which a seating region is provided for the abutment of a counter-seating region formed on an ignition element, and also an elastically effective retaining element for retaining an ignition element on the housing arrangement, wherein the retaining element has a first support region supported with respect to the ignition element and a second support arrangement supported with respect to the housing arrangement.
German Patent Document DE-OS 1 551 681 discloses an ignition element supported on a housing. An ignition element lead-in opening or passage opening is provided in the housing, and the ignition element partially passes through it in the mounted state. The ignition element is held on the housing by a retaining element made of sheet metal and has plural retaining flanges. The retaining flanges then lie against an inner peripheral wall of the ignition element lead-in opening and are supported there by their own elasticity for producing the retaining effect.
German Patent Document DE 298 02 226 U1 discloses a combustion chamber arrangement for a vehicle heating device, in which an ignition element is retained in an ignition element lead-in opening such that it partially engages with an end region in the combustion chamber, and the end region is effective for igniting a mixture present in a combustion chamber. A clamp-like retaining element ensures that the ignition element is firmly held to the housing of the combustion chamber arrangement. This clamp-like retaining element is pushed on transversely of the longitudinal direction of the ignition element, or in the direction in which the ignition element is pushed into the ignition element lead-in opening.
European Patent Document EP 0 579 157 B1 discloses an ignition element held on a housing, and a clamp-like spring element is provided that under its elastic prestress fixes the ignition element on the housing.
The present invention has as its object to provide a combustion chamber arrangement, in particular for a burner of a vehicle heating device, in which better functionality can be achieved in the region of the retaining of an ignition element on a housing.
This object is attained according to the invention by a combustion chamber arrangement, particularly for a burner of a vehicle heating device, including a housing arrangement in which a seating region is provided for abutment of a counter-seating region formed on an ignition element, and also an elastically effective retaining element for retaining an ignition element on the housing arrangement. The housing element has a first support region supported with respect to the ignition element and a second support region supported with respect to the housing arrangement.
It is furthermore provided that the retaining element is supported on the ignition element and/or the housing arrangement with the production of a substantially sealed closure of an ignition element passage opening of the housing arrangement.
The combustion chamber arrangement according to the invention requires that the retaining element for retaining the ignition element on the housing arrangement serves a double function, in that at the same time it also ensures a sealed closure of the housing arrangement in the region of this retention. Thus no additional sealing elements need be provided. This simplifies the structure and reduces the production costs by integration of functions in a single component.
For example, it can be provided that the retaining element has in its second support region a support projection that (with respect to the ignition element passage opening) abuts at least partially around, and substantially over its whole peripheral length, on the housing arrangement. For achieving a defined cooperative effect between the retaining element and the housing arrangement, it is proposed that a support surface is formed on the housing arrangement, at least locally surrounding the ignition passage opening and associated with the support projection.
The retaining element and the housing arrangement can be held together against undesired release in that the support projection engages over the support surface like a barb, so that for a satisfactory sealed closure it can be ensured that the support projection has a sealing lip region abutting under prestress against the support surface.
The retaining element can, for example, be formed like a pot and can have the first support region in a floor region and the second support region in a wall region.
When the ignition element is prestressed with its counter-seating region in abutment on the seating region by the retaining element, on the one hand, the ignition element is retained in a defined manner with respect to the housing arrangement, and the occurrence of clicking noises can be avoided. On the other hand, this abutment produces an advantageous reaction force for attaining a sealed closure.
The holding element can be formed of rubber-elastic material. Preferably natural or synthetic rubber materials are used here. Care must be taken that these materials have to be resistant to this surrounding atmosphere and, in addition, must be heat resistant in the temperature range in which such arrangements operate.


A semiconductor laser driving circuit includes a light amount detector, a frequency determiner, and an initialization circuit. The light amount detector detects an amount of light emitted by a laser diode, and outputs a first voltage corresponding to the amount of light. The frequency determiner determines a frequency for determining a time period of a detecting operation to detect differential quantum efficiency of the laser diode. The initialization circuit performs an initialization operation to detect differential quantum efficiency of the laser diode with a variation of the time period of the initialization operation according to the frequency determined by the frequency determiner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for semiconductor laser driving. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for semiconductor laser driving capable of effectively reducing a time period for detecting differential quantum efficiency of a laser diode.
2. Description of the Related Art
A laser diode is a semiconductor laser which is small in size and performs a high-speed modulation driven by a drive current. In recent years, the laser diode has been widely used as a light source of an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer and so forth.
The laser diode generally employs one of two laser driving methods, which are a non-bias method and a bias method. A laser diode employing the non-bias method is driven by a pulsed current corresponding to an input signal, without a bias current. A laser diode employing the bias method is driven by a bias current and a pulsed current added to the bias current. The bias current applied to the laser diode has an amount smaller than that of a threshold current Ith of the laser diode, and the pulsed current corresponds to the input signal.
When compared with the laser diode with the non-bias method, the laser diode with the bias method may reduce a delay time required until a carrier density which may reach a level to cause a laser oscillation is obtained. That is, a delay time from a period the pulsed current corresponding to the input signal is applied to the laser diode to a period the laser diode emits a laser beam may be reduced. Consequently, the laser diode with the bias method has been generally used.
However, a background laser diode driving integrated circuit (LD driving IC) employing the above-described bias method uses a bias current that is fixed to a predetermined value. When such LD driving IC is used in a tandem color image forming apparatus and a multiple beam image forming apparatus including a plurality of laser diodes, threshold current values of respective laser diodes used in the apparatuses may not be consistent due to variations from production of the laser diodes or due to an operating temperature thereof. With such inconsistency in the threshold current values, the background LD driving IC cannot stably generate consistent optical pulse widths, resulting in a production of an inferior image quality.
High-resolution image forming apparatuses such as high-resolution printers, image forming systems using a 650-nm red laser diode, a 400-nm ultraviolet laser diode and so forth are now under development. These laser diodes need to take a relatively long duration to obtain a carrier density which may, in turn, generate a carrier density which may reach a level to cause a laser oscillation, when compared with conventional laser diodes having wavelengths of 780 nm and 1.3 μm. Thereby, the background LD driving IC using the bias method obtains a pulse having variations in pulse widths. That is, the pulse widths becomes narrower than a desired pulse width. Furthermore, with the recent developments of high-speed printers, narrower and more stable pulse widths are demanded for a desired width of an optical pulse.
To eliminate the above-described problem, differential quantum efficiency of a laser diode is taken into account. For stably generating consistent optical pulse widths, differential quantum efficiencies of laser diodes need to be detected. However, the time period required to detect the differential quantum efficiencies depend on characteristics of the laser diodes. The detection time period is generally determined according to a laser diode that takes the longest amount of time to detect the differential quantum efficiency. That is, the other laser diodes that have characteristics requiring a shorter detection time period need to keep pace with the laser diode taking the longest amount of time to detect the differential quantum efficiency. The above-described status has adversely affected a reduction of the detection time period of the differential quantum efficiency.

Method and apparatus for semiconductor laser driving capable of stably generating consistent optical pulse widths of laser diodes


A system and method is altering the priority of a process, or thread of execution, when the process acquires a software lock. The priority is altered when the lock is acquired and restored when the process releases the lock. Thread priorities can be altered for every lock being managed by the operating system or can selectively be altered. In addition, the amount of alteration can be individually adjusted so that a process that acquires one lock receive a different priority boost than a process that acquires a different lock. Furthermore, a method of tuning a computer system by adjusting lock priority values is provided.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to a system and method for improving software lock efficiency. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and method for increasing and decreasing thread priorities during lock processing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modern computer systems perform multiple tasks seemingly at the same time. Using multitasking, the processor handles instructions from multiple processes by servicing the processes in a round-robin fashion. In this manner, a process is executed by the processor for a small amount of time before it is time sliced, it's settings and register values saved, a different process is executed by the processor. These processes, or "threads," are a stream of instructions corresponding to one or more software applications that require handling by the processor. The terms "process" and "thread" are used herein interchangeably to note a stream of executable instructions that is executed by a processor. By quickly moving from one process to the next, it appears that each process is executed simultaneously.
The operating system regulates access to the processor. Most operating systems employ priority-based scheduling algorithms for this purpose. Priorities are assigned to programs according to the importance and/or urgency of the functions that are performed on behalf of the computer system. The operating system uses these priorities to determine when and for how long a process or unit of executable code within the programs (hereafter, "thread") is granted access to the processor. Generally, priority-based scheduling allocates processor time to optimize the computer system's performance. For example, the computer system may be optimized in order to minimize user input response time, maximize throughput, and/or guarantee predictable, or deterministic, execution times for application programs.
Many resources within a computer system are shared by the various programs being executed by the processor. In many cases, these resources need to be serialized so that only one process is using the resource in any given time. In order to serialize access to the resource, software locks are often used. When a resource is being used by another process, a process will wait on the lock. When the lock is released by the other process, the process will attempt to acquire the lock. Other processes will be unable to use the resource until the process releases the lock. Because of this serialization, efficient use of shared resources helps improve overall system throughput. This is especially true of resources and corresponding locks that are used by many processes.
In an operating system using a priority-based scheduling algorithm, a process with an inferior priority may be preempted by a process of the superior priority. This is true even when the inferior priority process currently possesses a critical resource. A challenge in traditional operating systems is the apparent conflict between preempting inferior priority processes and, at the same time efficiently handling the use of critical resources.
What is needed, therefore, is a system and method to temporarily alter a thread's priority without overly impacting the priority-based scheduling algorithm being employed by the operating system. What is also needed is a system and method to allow tuning of software locks corresponding to individual resources in order to maximize system efficiency.

System and method for adding priority change value corresponding with a lock to a thread during lock processing

International Business Machines Corporation


A semiconductor structure and a method of forming same is disclosed. The method includes forming, on a substrate, an n-doped collector structure of InAs/AlSb materials; forming a base structure on said collector structure which base structure comprises p-doped GaSb; and forming, on said base structure, an n-doped emitter structure of InAs/AlSb materials. The collector and emitter structure are preferably superlattices each comprising a plurality of periods of InAs and AlSb sublayers. A heterojunction bipolar transistor manufactured using the method is disclosed.

The present invention pertains to an InAs/GaSb/AlSb semiconductor structure useful in making bipolar junction transistors (BJTs), and more particularly useful in making heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) and still more particularly useful for making npn HBTs having small (submicron) feature sizes. The present invention also pertains to a method of making same.
HBT integrated circuits have found wide acceptance in industry for use in applications as diverse as satellite communication systems, radar systems, cable television systems, optical receivers, etc. Prior art HBTs tend to be Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) devices. With the industrial acceptance of HBTs has come the need for HBT devices which can be made smaller but without sacrificing the gain of the device and for HBT devices which can operate at even higher frequencies than prior art GaAs devices.
HBTs manufactured from an Indium Arsenide/Aluminum Antimonide/Gallium Antimonide (InAs/AlSb/GaSb) system possess a number of advantages over prior art GaAs HBTs. For example, GaSb is an excellent high-frequency p-type base material, having higher hole mobility than presently used base materials, such as GaAs and In0.53Ga0.47As. It can be p-doped with Si to densities approaching 1020/cm3, which are equal to the highest densities achievable with GaAs and InGaAs (using C as a dopant). Since base resistance is inverse to the product of hole mobility and doping level, the higher mobility translates to lower resistance for p-doped GaSb bases, which will increase the operating frequency limit of a device.
An InAs/AlSb/GaSb material system is also preferable for HBTs being fabricated with submicron feature sizes. Prior art HBTs have relatively low surface Fermi level pinning energy, and as a consequence suffer from recombination of carriers at mesa sidewalls resulting in substantial surface depletion effects. As feature dimensions shrink, these surface effects become proportionally more significant, limiting the size reduction which can be achieved without excessive loss of device performance in terms of the gain of the device. By contrast, the surface pinned energy for GaSb is near the valence band maximum. Accordingly, a p-type GaSb base layer would not have significant surface depletion effects at mesa sidewalls, and could thus be scaled down with less loss of gain due to such surface effects.
In addition to the above advantages, the InAs/AlSb/GaSb material system allows very flexible bandgap engineering. InAs, AlSb, and GaSb have nearly equal lattice constants, such that varying combinations of the materials may be fabricated, in reasonable thicknesses, without suffering serious crystalline defects. Consequently, flexible engineering is possible which will permit implementation of advanced features, such as drift fields in the base material to sweep minority carriers across the base to the collector.
A pnp InAs/AlSb/GaSb structure has been tested, as reported by Pekarik et al., xe2x80x9cAn AlSb-InAs-AlSb double-heterojunction P-n-P bipolar transistor,xe2x80x9d J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B, volume 10 no. 2, March/April 1992, pps. 1032-1034. This device does not employ either a GaSb base nor a superlattice in the emitter or collector, and is not of the preferred npn structure. Npn HBT devices are generally preferred by those skilled in the art for high performance applications.
Although desirable, InAs/AlSb/GaSb heterostructure systems have been difficult to fabricate. First, the available emitter materials, AlGaSb or AlSb, require Tellurium (Te) for n-type doping. Tellurium is inconvenient for use in Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) systems, because its memory effects make it difficult to avoid unwanted Te in subsequent layers, and because the Te ties up an available port. Second, AlGaSb and AlSb have a conduction band mismatch with the preferred GaSb base materials. If they are to be used as emitter materials, they need sophisticated grading to deal satisfactorily with the conduction band offset. They are even less desirable as collector materials, because the noted conduction band offset can cause a trapping of carriers.
Accordingly, there is a need for an InAs/AlSb/GaSb HBT structure having a GaSb base, and having improved conduction band alignment across the base-emitter and base-collector junctions. Ideally, such an HBT would be easy to dope. The present invention addresses these needs by employing an InAs/AlSb superlattice which can be constructed to achieve nearly perfect conduction band alignment with GaSb. The entire HBT structure can be doped using only Si for both n-doping of the emitter and collector and for p-doping of the GaSb base. Moreover, the InAs/AlSb superlattice has a valence band offset to GaSb of approximately 0.475 V, enhancing the gain characteristics of devices fabricated according to the present invention.
Si-doped InAs/AlSb superlattices have been used as n-type cladding layers for infrared lasers, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,750 to Hasenberg and Chow. They have also been used as Schottky barrier layers [Chow, Dunlap, et al., IEEE ElectronDevice Letters, Vol. 17, p. 69 (1996)].
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of forming an InAs/GaSb/AlSb structure which can be used in the manufacture of HBTs which permits conduction-band alignment of the junctions.
Preferably, the layers of the structure can be easily doped to desired densities and therefore the use of Te as a dopant can be avoided.
Briefly, and in general terms, the present invention provides a method of forming a semiconductor structure comprising the steps of: (i) forming, on a substrate, an n-doped collector structure of InAs/AlSb materials; forming a base structure on said collector structure which base structure comprises p-doped GaSb; and forming, on said base structure, an n-doped emitter structure of InAs/AlSb materials.
Preferably the collector and/or emitter structures are provided by superlattice structures having sublayers of InAs and AlSb with thicknesses selected to yield a conduction band edge for the superlattice structures approximately equal to the conduction band edge of GaSb.
FIG. 1 depicts the conduction and valence band edges of an InAs/AlSb superlattice as a function of constituent layer thickness;.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of the band energies for the preferred emitter, base and collector; and
FIG. 3 depicts the structure of a semiconductor structure according to the present invention;
FIGS. 3A-3E depict details of the structure shown by FIG. 3;
FIG. 4 depicts the structure of an alternative embodiment of the semiconductor structure of FIG. 3 with a superlattice base; and
FIG. 5 depicts how the structures of FIGS. 3 and/or 4 may be etched and metallized in order to provide an HBT device.

Superlattice fabrication for InAs/GaSb/AlSb semiconductor structures


Techniques related to geometric camera self-calibration quality assessment.

Geometric camera calibration is provided to set or adjust camera parameters to accurately map real 3D points in a scene into 2D image coordinates of the camera. The mapping may be used to create a measurable virtual 3D space with the objects in the scene. This calibration is important to provide accurate 3D mapping for a variety of computer vision applications such as 3D scanning or measuring the size of objects from an image, depth estimation for artificial intelligence (AI) vision systems, and so forth.
Whether by calibrating a golden (or ideal) device or specific camera products, carefully controlled factory calibration may be performed where the 3D points of an object, such as a checker board, are placed in front of one or more cameras at measured distances from the camera(s) to capture the image of the object. The computed 3D points are determined from the image data and then compared to the actual 3D points of the object. Any differences in 3D position for the same points are then compensated for by adjusting the parameters of the camera.
Due to manufacturing tolerances, however, a single device may have distortions or variances (from the ideal) in zoom, focal length, optical axis position (e.g., center point shift) or rotational shift that are not adequately compensated by the factory calibration. This is particularly true with devices that have multiple on-board cameras such as tablets. In some cases, the user is limited to sending the device back to the manufacturer for recalibration when the camera 3D mapping is insufficient. In some other cases, on-board self-calibration is provided and includes having a user activate the camera to capture images, and then 3D points projected from the 2D points on the images as well as new parameter settings for the camera are calculated from real 3D points of objects in the scene being photographed or recorded. The self-calibration typically uses an image of a natural scene (rather than requiring the user to set an object of known dimensions in the image). This self-calibration, however, can be inaccurate depending on the content of the image.

Method and system of geometric camera self-calibration quality assessment


An electronic apparatus for an emergency control is provided. The electronic apparatus controls a human machine interface associated with a first vehicle to display a first user-selectable element. The electronic apparatus receives a first input, which corresponds to a first selection of the first user-selectable element. The first selection indicates a request to enable an emergency mode. The electronic apparatus activates a timer, which is associated with the electronic apparatus, for a pre-determined time period based on the first input. The electronic apparatus establishes a first communication with an emergency device associated with the first vehicle for the emergency mode, based on an expiration of the timer. The electronic apparatus deactivates a second user-selectable element on the human machine interface based on the first communication. The electronic apparatus receives one or more control instructions for the first vehicle from the emergency device based on the first communication.

Generally, vehicles (such as, non-autonomous vehicles and autonomous vehicle) may be used by an occupant (such as, a driver or a passenger) to travel on a travel route. In case of an emergency situation (such as, a medical emergency for the occupant or accidents), the occupant or the vehicle may need to contact an emergency center, to get assistance regarding the emergency situation. However, in certain situations of emergency, it may be difficult and time-consuming for the occupant to contact the emergency center.
Certain vehicles may have an emergency mode option available in the vehicle, and the occupant may activate the emergency mode option during the emergency situation to get the assistance for the emergency situation. However, at times, there may be a false activation (such as activation of the emergency mode option due to a mistake of the occupant) of the emergency mode, which may lead to a fine or a penalty for the occupant or incorrect communication of the emergency situation.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of described systems with some aspects of the present disclosure, as set forth in the remainder of the present application and with reference to the drawings.

Apparatus and method for emergency control for vehicle


An optical electrical system that converts a photo image pattern to a conductance pattern comprises a photoconductive layer for receiving light image patterns and a conversion layer for converting an electrostatic voltage into a conductance pathway for a current flow. The light image pattern can be generated into a page sized area and generated from a light source comprising an array of projectors coupled together.

The present disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for optically patterned layouts on re-usable substrates. More specifically, the present disclosure provides for application of optically patterned layouts to the development of electronic devices.
Electronic devices that carry electrodes and/or interconnect structures are manufactured by going through a series of fabrication processes such as photo-lithography, etching and drilling, among others. This results in pre-fabricated devices having a fixed physical arrangement. Such a development system is quite costly and the resulting devices are inflexible. Therefore, a need arises for methods and apparatus to improve the construction of devices which include electrodes and interconnects by making them less costly and more adaptable.

Optically patterned virtual electrodes and interconnects on polymer and semiconductive substrates


A computer system which shortens standby time of CPUs and improves CPU processing efficiency of a performance mode upon switching from the performance mode (parallel operation) to a safety mode (master/checker operation) is provided. In a computer system including: at least two CPUs; a programmable interrupt controller for interrupting the CPUs; and a comparator for mutually comparing outputs of the CPUs, switching between the performance mode of executing mutually different processes by the CPUs, respectively, to improve performance and the safety mode of executing mutually the same processes by the CPUs and collating results by the comparator to detect failure can be carried out; CPUs to be interrupted can be set for each interrupt factor; and whether the performance mode is to be executed or the safety mode is to be executed can be set for each interrupt factor.

A microcontroller (hereinafter, also simply abbreviated as MCU) is a semiconductor integrated circuit that is embedded in equipment such as a home electric appliance, audio-visual equipment, mobile phone, automobile, industrial machine, or the like and carries out processings in accordance with a program stored in a memory, thereby controlling corresponding equipment.
In an automobile, a failure of a control unit may lead to an accident; therefore, parts including the MCU are required to have high reliability and are designed to have a safety function detecting a failure upon occurrence of the failure to avoid a dangerous state of the automobile. The MCU is not only required to diagnose sensors and actuators and detect failures thereof, but also required to detect failures of the MCU per se.
There are various methods for the MCU failure detection. One of them duplexes CPUs, causes them to carry out the same processings, and always compares bus values thereof and this method is often used. "IEEE MICRO December 1984" journal, "Fault Tolerance Achieved in VLSI" (Non-Patent Document 1) describes a method in which a master CPU and a checker CPU execute the same processing at the same time, and results are compared with each other by a comparison circuit.
A method capable of causing two CPUs to carry out switching therebetween and execute parallel operations and dual (redundant) comparing operations is proposed in the collection of papers "International Conference on Dependable Systems and Networks 2006", pages 45 to 54, paper "A Reconfigurable Generic Dual-Core Architecture" (Non-Patent Document 2). When the CPU fetches a special instruction called "mode switching instruction", the CPU stops operating and becomes a standby state for mode switching. When the two CPUs fetch the mode switching command instruction and become the standby state for mode switching, the CPUs start operating in a new mode. Performance is improved in a performance mode (parallel operation); and, in a safety mode (master/checker operation), a failure of the CPU can be detected by comparing outputs of the CPUs by a comparator, and safety is thus improved.

Computer system including an interrupt controller


A cartridge for a typewriter typing ribbon comprises a container for accommodating the typing ribbon which can be of correctable or non-correctable type. A corrector cartridge can be removably fixed on the lower part of the container by engagement means. The corrector cartridge accommodates a correction ribbon which can be of the lift-off type suitable for the typing ribbon of correctable type, or of the cover-up correction type which is suitable for the typing ribbon of non-correctable type. Coupling means on the cartridge and the corrector cartridge permit the engagement means removably to fix the corrector cartridge to the container only when the caartridge houses the typing ribbon of correctable type and the corrector cartridge houses the correction ribbon of lift-off type or alternatively when the typing ribbon is of non-correctable type and the correction ribbon is of the cover-up type. In the event of a different choice, the coupling means prevent the engagement means from operating when the ribbons are not compatible with each other. Fixing means removably fix the container to a support of the typewriter either by itself or with the corrector cartridge attached and the fixing means do not cooperate and interfere with the engagement means and the coupling means.

1 Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a cartridge for a typing or correction ribbon for typewriters, comprising a container for accommodating a typing ribbon or a correction ribbon and engagement means for engaging with the container a correction cartridge or a typing cartridge respectively which in turn contains a corresponding correction ribbon or typing ribbon respectively, to form a unitary typing and correction cartridge.
2 Description of the Prior Art
European patent application No. 0 014 763 discloses a typing cartridge of the above-defined type, with which it is possible to engage a cartridge for a correction ribbon in such a way as to form a unitary typing and correction cartridge which can be removably fitted to the typewriter.
It is also known that cartridges for a typing ribbon which can be used in recent typewriters may accommodate typing ribbons of various types. The characters which are typed by mistake can then be corrected by striking the incorrect character again, with the interposition of a correction ribbon which is also fitted on the machine.
In the situation where the cartridge accommodates a correctable typing ribbon, the incorrect characters can be cancelled on the page by using a cancellation or lift-off ribbon, the composition of which is such as to operate selectively on the typed characters, cancelling them by lifting them off the page and not leaving any obvious "trace" of the erased character, in a manner known per se. However that type of ribbon does not have any effect on characters which are typed with non-erasable ribbons. In the situation where the typing cartridge uses a non-erasable ribbon, the typed characters cannot be cancelled but they can be corrected by covering them over, using a cover-up ribbon which is provided with pigments of the same colour as the page but which does however leave a more or less apparent "trace" of the character which was previously typed.
In general, the best correction of an incorrectly typed character requires a corresponding type of correction ribbon, for each type of typing ribbon used, the correction ribbon being so selected as to operate in the optimum fashion with the typing ribbon used. In the case of known typing cartridges, the presence of a correctable ribbon is indicated by a particular colour (typically yellow) of some particular components of the cartridge, for example the wheel for manual rewinding of the ribbon.
Correct use of a lift-off ribbon with the corresponding correctable typing ribbon is facilitated by using the same colour (yellow) for the reels for winding on the lift-off ribbon, as that which is used for the characteristic parts of the cartridge for the typing ribbon. However, even if provided with an indicator in respect of the nature of the ribbon, the known typing or correction cartridges respectively do not prevent the operator from being able to couple to the typing cartridge a correction ribbon which is not operative and which is not of optimum compatibility with the typing ribbon cartridge which can be fitted to the machine.

Connectable cartridges for compatible typing and correction ribbons


A damper disk assembly is provided for use in a clutch device. The damper disk assembly has a pair of plates 5 and 6 (rotary member) elastically coupled to the hub flange 8 (rotary member) by a damper mechanism 4. The damper mechanism 4 is designed to reduce disadvantages due to nonparallel compression of an elastic member in the damper disk assembly. The damper mechanism 4 includes a plurality of coil spring assemblies 13. The coil spring assemblies 13 have a large coil spring 30, a small coil spring 31 and a pair of spring seats 34. The paired spring seats 34 are arranged on the circumferentially opposite ends of the small coil spring 31. The spring seats 34 support the circumferentially opposite ends of the small coil spring 31, and are engaged with the inner side of the small coil spring 31. The spring seats 34 are supported for rotation with respect to two kinds of rotary members around a shaft parallel to a rotation axis of the rotary members.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a damper disk assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates a damper disk assembly for absorbing and damping torsional vibrations in a power transmission system.
2. Background Information
A damper disk assembly often used in a clutch disk assembly of an automobile. The damper disk assembly is formed of an input member, an output member and a damper mechanism. The input member can be coupled to an input flywheel. The output member can be coupled to a shaft extending from a transmission. The damper mechanism elastically couples the input and output members together in a rotating direction. The input member is typically formed of a pair of friction facings and a pair of input plates which are arranged radially inside the friction facings. The friction facings are fixedly coupled to one of the input plates. The output member is typically in the form of a hub that is nonrotatably coupled to the shaft of the transmission. The hub has a centrally located boss with a splined bore, and a radial flange extending outwardly from the boss. The splined bore of the boss is spline-engaged with the shaft of the transmission. The radial flange extends from the boss and is elastically coupled to the input plates by the damper mechanism. The damper mechanism is formed of springs which elastically couple the pair of input plates to the flange of the hub in the rotating direction, and a friction generating mechanism for generating friction between the pair of input plates and the flange. When the pair of input plates rotates relatively to the hub, the springs are compressed in the rotating direction so that sliding occurs in the friction generating mechanism. As a result, torsional vibrations in the rotating direction are absorbed and dampened.
The flange of the hub is provided with windows (spring accommodating apertures) for receiving the springs therein. The paired input plates are provided with spring support portions (spring accommodating portions) for supporting the springs. Each window supports the circumferentially opposite ends and radially opposite ends of the spring. The spring support portions support the circumferentially opposite ends, radially opposite ends and axially opposite ends of the spring. When the input plate pair rotates relatively to the flange, each spring is compressed between one end surface on one circumferential side of the window and one end surface on the other circumferential side of the spring support portions. In this compressing operation, each of the end surfaces on circumferential opposite sides of the window and the spring support portions move such that the radially outer portions of these surfaces move a distance that is circumferentially longer than the radially inner portions of these surfaces. Therefore, each spring has such a form that the radially outer portion (i.e., the outer portion in the radial direction of the disk) has a circumferential length or width shorter than that of the radially inner portion. When the spring is compressed in a nonparallel fashion as described above, the spring is subjected to a bending force in addition to a shearing force, resulting in a reduced lifetime.
An elastic float arranged within a coil spring has been known as a kind of spring arrangement within the window and the support portion. The elastic float is, for example, a cylindrical or columnar member having a rubber member with hard resin members arranged on the opposite sides of the rubber member, respectively. The elastic float can freely move in predetermined angles between circumferentially opposite ends of the window and spring support portion when the damper disk assembly is in a free state. The elastic float is compressed between the end on circumferentially one side of the window and the end on the circumferentially other side of the spring support portion after the coil spring is compressed to a certain extent. Consequently, the rigidity of the damper mechanism rapidly increases. In this manner, the elastic float achieves a stop torque in the damper disk assembly.
However, when the coil spring is compressed in the nonparallel fashion as already described in connection with the prior art, the elastic float inclines due to the coil spring. Thus, the elastic float is compressed so that a situation can occur in that the end surface of the elastic float is only in partial contact with the other member (the end surface of the plate member or the spring seat). In this case, the elastic float cannot generate a sufficiently large load, and therefore, a desired stop torque cannot be obtained.
In view of the above, there exists a need for a damper disk assembly which overcomes the above mentioned problems in the prior art. This invention addresses this need in the prior art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.


A dispenser assembly is provided. The dispenser assembly includes a container having a bottom, an open top and a side wall extending between the bottom and the open top, and a mating arrangement, the side wall having an inner surface; at least one container passageway mounted on the inner surface of the side wall and extending from the open top of the container to a position proximate to the bottom of the container; and a pump cap having a cap body, a pump mechanism arranged within the cap body, a pump cap passageway coupled to the pump mechanism, and a coupling arrangement arranged on the pump cap body and configured to detachably couple to the mating arrangement of the container such that the container passageway aligns with and sealingly engages the pump cap passageway in a fluid connection when the pump cap is mounted to the container. In this manner, the dispenser permits a fluid arranged within the container to flow through the container passageway and the pump cap passageway when the pump mechanism of the pump cap is activated.

Container and pump assemblies for products such as liquid soaps which are pumped, as well as products which are sprayed, such as household cleaners, hair spray and perfumes, etc. are known. Such conventional assemblies include a container having a neck and a pump connected to the neck. The pump has an elongated pick-up tube that extends down into the container for pulling up the liquid product stored within the container when the pump is operated. A problem with the prior art assemblies is that the pick-up tube is carried by the pump and the tube is of a length that it reaches the bottom of the container. As a result, when the pump is mounted on the container it must first be placed in an elevated position with the lower end of the pick-up tube above the entrance to the container mouth, after which the pump assembly must then be lowered and mounted to the container. This makes assembling the pump with the container a relatively slow process.
In another type of assembly, as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,146, the pick-up tube is molded as an integral part of the container. The problem with this type of construction is that it allows the pump cap to only be mounted in a single orientation relative to the container.


A system comprises a board, memory units that are arranged on the board, a control unit configured to control memory access to the memory units, at least one control/address bus configured to transmit control/address signals from the control unit to a first group of the memory units, and at least one clock bus configured to transmit a clock signal from the control unit to a second group of the semiconductor memory units. A length of the at least one control/address bus corresponds to the length of the at least one clock bus. The second group of memory units comprises fewer memory units than the first group of memory units.

A semiconductor memory apparatus, for example a semiconductor memory module, includes a plurality of semiconductor memory units on a board which communicate with a control unit by means of different buses. FIG. 1 shows a top side of a semiconductor memory module 1, for example a buffered DIMM (Dual In-Line Memory Module), in which semiconductor memory units P1, . . . , P18 are arranged in a plurality of rows R1, R2, R3 and R4 to form a left-hand side L and a right-hand side R of a control unit SB. The control unit SB is positioned in the center of the board MP. In the case of a semiconductor memory module in the configuration 8R×4, the top side and underside of the module board respectively hold 36 memory units. Each of the memory units contains two memory chips in a stacked arrangement (dual stack), so that the memory module has a total of 144 memory chips.
FIG. 2 shows a simplified illustration of a memory chip 100a. The memory chip 100a comprises a memory cell array 10 which contains memory cells SZ along word lines WL and bit lines BL. In the case of DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) memory cells, a memory cell has a selection transistor AT and a storage capacitor SC. In order to select one of the memory cells in the memory cell array 10, address signals are applied to an address connection A100 which is connected to an address register 30. In order to control read or write access operations, control signals are applied to a control connection S100 which is connected to a control circuit 20. For read access, the memory chip produces data which have been read from the memory cell array on a data connection D100. In the case of write access, the data connection D100 has data applied to it which are written to the memory cell array. The read and write access operations take place in sync with a clock signal which is applied to a clock connection C100 of the memory chip.
In order to control memory access operations, the memory chip is actuated by the control unit with the control/address signals via a control/address bus, known as the CA (Command Address) bus, and with the clock signal via a clock bus, known as the CLK bus.
It is desirable to provide a memory module with a suitable configuration or arrangement of CA and CLK buses connected with respective memory units that provides suitable signal integrity of the clock signal during read and write operations of the memory module.

Memory apparatus with a bus architecture


A process for developing which includes the step of developing a latent electrostatic image on a latent electrostatic image support by a developing agent supplied on a development sleeve, where the developing agent is supplied with a density of 1.3 g/cm3 to 2.0 g/cm3 at the closest part between the support and the sleeve, the support is contacted with magnetic brushes formed of the developing agent on the sleeve, so that the magnetic brushes have a width of 2 mm or less at a linearly contacting surface, in a direction where the surface rotates and the developing agent contains toners, and carriers having magnetic core particles and resin layers to cover its surface, the carriers have a weight average particle diameter of 25 xcexcm to 45 xcexcm, contain 60 wt % or more of the particles having a diameter of less than 44 xcexcm, and 7 wt % or less of particles having a diameter of less than 22 xcexcm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for developing, an image-forming apparatus, and an image-forming process cartridge.
2. Description of the Related Art
A process for dry electrophotography is classified into the one-component developing process, where toners are charged by a development sleeve, a blade, or the like; and the two-component developing process, where toners are charged by carriers. The two-component developing process is mainly used for a medium to high-speed machines, because the two-component developing process provides more stably and uniformly charged toners, and provides more toners than the one-component developing process.
A carrier plays a role of charging a toner and of transporting the toner to a developing part. Properties of carrier significantly influences image-forming, and influences creating an image with high quality, accordingly.
Of carrier properties, the electrical resistance of the carrier also has a large influence on developing performance. The low electrical resistance of the carriers leads to a similar result to approaching a development electrode. A carrier having a low electrical resistance is more likely to develop a solid image, compared with a carrier having a high electrical resistance. A carrier having a relatively low electrical resistance is therefore used for a color copier, compared to a monochrome copier, which is required to reproduce letters and fine lines, for the purpose of higher development properties for a solid image.
The electrical resistance of the coated carrier depends not only on the electrical resistances of a material for the coating layer and a carrier core material, but also on a thickness of the coating layer. The thicker a coating layer, the larger an electrical resistance of the carrier. The electrical resistance of a carrier becomes constant, when the layer has more than a certain thickness.
Even among coated carriers whose electrical resistance are adjusted, the electrical resistances of the carriers vary over time due to a stress such as stirring inside a developer, and due to the fact that a coating layer of the carriers are thereby eroded.
The amount of toners to be developed varies over time, and a quality of an image also vary, accordingly.
The changes and differences in development performance cause problems for a quality of an image.
There are methods for stabilizing a developing performance over time, in which a coating film is strengthened, and electric resistances of carriers are lessened. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 06-110255, No. 2001-117287, No. 2001-117288, No. 2002-229273, and the like disclose a process for strengthening a coating film. Apparatuses have been miniaturized, and photocopying has been speeded up. As a result, the amount of a developing agent is becoming lessened, and a liner velocity at a development sleeve is highly increased. Moreover, a carrier is more stressed, and a coating film is more likely to be eroded. A carrier having a stronger coating film is hence insufficient to stabilize a developing performance over time.
A process for stabilizing a developing performance has been desired, even if an electrical resistance of a carrier varies because of eroding of a coating film, rather than to stabilize a developing performance by strengthening a coating film of a carrier.
The inventors of the present invention have found out that image properties without an abnormal image can be obtained by supplying a developing agent at the closest part between the latent electrostatic image support and the development sleeve (which may be referred to as a developing part, hereinafter) to a high density, by narrowing a width at a linearly contacting surface of a plurality of magnetic brushes (which may be referred to as a width at a linearly contacting surface), by using carriers having a smaller diameter, and by narrowly distributing carrier particle diameters. Herein, the width at a linearly contacting surface indicates a length of the linearly contacting surface in a direction where the surface of the magnetic brushes rotates.
FIG. 1 shows one example of a process in which the developing agent is supplied to a high density, and FIG. 2 shows one example of a plurality of magnetic brushes formed by supplying according to a conventional process.
In conventional processes, as compared to processes for supplying at a high density, the magnetic brush, which is formed of a developing agent by magnetism, has a large gap, so the toners to be developed facing the gap extends over a wide region from a direction of development sleeve 1 (valley of a magnetic brush) where the developing electric field is weak, to the tip. Hence, the carriers are easily influenced by electrical resistances. On the other hand, when the developing agent is supplied into the developing part to high density, toners to be developed, which face the gap, are concentrated in a vicinity of a photoconductor 2 as a latent electrostatic image support, where the developing electric field is strong. Even if a low electrical resistance is not given to carriers, toners are more likely to be developed. The difference in a developing performance is less likely to appear.
However, if a developing agent is supplied at a high density, non-uniform concentration caused by a magnetic brush""s scraping is more obviously occurs at a half-tone part. This is because a plurality of magnetic brushes strongly contacts a photoconductor as a latent electrostatic image support, and a portion of toners developed on the photoconductor 2 is scraped.
The inventors of the present invention are convinced that, even if a developing agent is supplied at a developing part to a high density, a process for developing and an image-forming apparatus that produces an image without non-uniform image density at a half-tone part can be obtained by narrowing the width at a linearly contacting surface, where toners are also scraped, to 2 mm or less, by forming a fine magnetic brush where toners and carriers are uniformly disposed in which carriers having a smaller diameter are used, and the carrier particle diameters are narrowly distributed.
An object of the present invention is to provide a stable developing performance against the change in an electrical resistance of carriers, and to provide a process for developing and an image-forming apparatus, both of which can produce an image with a good quality.
A process for developing according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises the step of developing a latent electrostatic image on a latent electrostatic image support by a developing agent supplied on a development sleeve, wherein the developing agent is supplied with a density of 1.3 g/cm3 to 2.0 g/cm3 at the closest part between the latent electrostatic image support and the development sleeve, the latent electrostatic image support is contacted with a plurality of magnetic brushes formed of the developing agent on the development sleeve, so that a plurality of the magnetic brushes have a width of 2 mm or less at a linearly contacting surface, in a direction where the linearly contacting surface of the magnetic brushes rotates, and the developing agent contains toners, and carriers which comprise magnetic core particles and resin layers to cover a surface of the magnetic core particles the carriers have a weight average particle diameter of 25 xcexcm to 45 xcexcm, the carriers contain 60% by weight or more of the carrier particles having a particle diameter of less than 44 xcexcm, and 7% by weight or less of carrier particles having a particle diameter of less than 22 xcexcm.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the process for developing of the first aspect, wherein a developing gap is 0.4 mm or less, when the developing gap expresses a distance at the closest part between the latent electrostatic image support and the development sleeve.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the process for developing of the first aspect further comprises the step of applying an alternating current voltage as a developing agent bias voltage.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the process for developing of the first aspect, wherein the density of the developing agent is 1.3 g/cm3 to 1.7 g/cm3, at the closest part between the latent electrostatic image support and the development sleeve.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the process for developing of the first aspect, wherein the carriers contain 75% by weight or more of the carrier particles having a particle diameter of less than 44 xcexcm.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the process for developing of the first aspect, wherein the carriers contain 3% by weight or less of the carrier particles having a particle diameter of less than 22 xcexcm.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the process for developing of the sixth aspect, wherein the carriers contain 1% by weight or less of the carrier particles having a particle diameter of less than 22 xcexcm.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the process for developing of the first aspect, wherein the magnetic core particles have a magnetic moment of 76 emu/g to 100 emu/g, in a magnetic field of 1000 Oe.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the process for developing of the eighth aspect, wherein the magnetic core particles are one of Mnxe2x80x94Mgxe2x80x94Sr ferrite, Mn ferrite, and magnetite.
According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the process for developing of the first aspect, wherein the carriers have a bulk density of 2.2 g/cm3 or more.
According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the process for developing of the first aspect, wherein a ratio of a liner velocity (Vp) of the latent electrostatic image support to a liner velocity of the development sleeve (Vr) satisfies a relation of 1.2 less than (Vr/Vp) less than 2.2.
According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the process for developing of the first aspect, wherein the toners have a charging amount of 30 xcexcC/g or less.
According to the thirteenth aspect of the preset invention, there is provided the process for developing of the first aspect, wherein the resin layers of the carrier particles contain a silicone resin and an aminosilane coupling agent.
According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, an image-forming apparatus comprises a latent electrostatic image support, a charger which charges the latent electrostatic image support, a light irradiator which irradiates a light to the latent electrostatic image support charged by the charger imagewisely so as to form a latent electrostatic image, a developer which comprises a development sleeve facing the latent electrostatic image support, introduces a developing agent so as to form a plurality of magnetic brushes, provides the developing agent with the latent electrostatic image, and renders the latent electrostatic image visible so as to form a developed image, and a transfer, which transfers the developed image formed by the developer to a transfer medium, wherein the developing agent is supplied with a density of 1.3 g/cm3 to 2.0 g/cm3 at the closest part between the latent electrostatic image support and the development sleeve, the latent electrostatic image support is contacted with a plurality of the magnetic brushes on the development sleeve, so that a plurality of the magnetic brushes have a width of 2 mm or less at a linearly contacting surface, in a direction where the linearly contacting surface of the magnetic brushes rotates, and the developing agent contains toners, and carriers which comprise magnetic core particles and resin layers to cover a surface of the magnetic core particles, the carriers have a weight average particle diameter of 25 xcexcm to 45 xcexcm, the carriers contain 60% by weight or more of carrier particles having a particle diameter of less than 44 xcexcm, and 7% by weight or less of carrier particles having a particle diameter of less than 22 xcexcm.
According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image-forming apparatus of the fourteenth aspect, wherein the developing gap is 0.4 mm or less.
According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, an image-forming process cartridge comprises a latent electrostatic image support; and a developer which comprises a development sleeve facing the latent electrostatic image support, introduces a developing agent so as to form a plurality of magnetic brushes, provides the developing agent with the latent electrostatic image, and renders the latent electrostatic image visible so as to form a developed image, wherein the process cartridge is formed in a one-piece construction and is attachable to and detachable from an image-forming apparatus, the developing agent is supplied with a density of 1.3 g/cm3 to 2.0 g/cm3 at the closest part between the latent electrostatic image support and the development sleeve, the latent electrostatic image support is contacted with a plurality of the magnetic brushes on the development sleeve, so that a plurality of the magnetic brushes have a width of 2 mm or less at a linearly contacting surface, in a direction where the linearly contacting surface of the magnetic brushes rotates, and the developing agent contains toners, and carriers which comprise magnetic core particles and resin layers to cover a surface of the magnetic core particles, the carriers have a weight average particle diameter of 25 xcexcm to 45 xcexcm, the carriers contain 60% by weight or more of carrier particles having a particle diameter of less than 44 xcexcm, and 7% by weight or less of carrier particles having a particle diameter of less than 22 xcexcm.
According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image-forming process cartridge of the sixteenth aspect, wherein the developing gap is 0.4 mm or less.

Process for developing, image-forming apparatus, and image-forming process cartridge


An inner tie rod tool which facilitates removal and replacement of the inner tie rod of a rack and pinion steering mechanism of a vehicle without requiring the removal of the entire rack and pinion assembly. The inner tie rod tool includes a shaft having first and second ends and a longitudinal bore extending within the shaft. The bore defines a plurality of hexagonal sockets of various diameters being arranged coaxially adjacent to one another at the first end of the shaft adapted for use with tie rods having hexagonal ends. A claw having spaced-apart parallel jaws is attached to the first end for use with tie rods having cylindrical shaped ends with spaced-apart flat surfaces.

The present invention relates to tools which are used for the installation or removal of an inner tie rod in a rack and pinion steering mechanism without requiring the removal of the rack and pinion assembly from the vehicle.
An inner socket, more commonly referred to as an inner tie rod can be found on most cars. The inner tie rod is part of the steering system on vehicles equipped with a rack and pinion type of steering mechanism. A rack and pinion steering mechanism includes a left and a right inner tie rod, each extending respectively from opposite ends of the rack and pinion assembly. During the normal course of use of a vehicle, the inner tie rod may become bent, broken or otherwise damaged, thereby requiring that the damaged tie rod be removed and replaced with a new tie rod.
There are two different types of inner tie rods. One type of inner tie rod includes a cylindrical shaped end having a pair of parallel spaced-apart flat surfaces which facilitate the removal and installation of the tie rod. The other type of inner tie rod utilizes a hexagonal shaped end to facilitate the removal and replacement of the inner tie rod. Essentially all Ford, Chrysler and General Motors vehicles include either the hexagonal type of inner tie rod or the cylindrical type of inner tie rod.
While the inner tie rod has one hexagonal shaped end, or a cylindrical end having parallel surfaces, to accommodate a wrench for removal and replacement of the inner tie rod from the rack and pinion assembly, due to obstructions caused by various vehicle parts, the end of the inner tie rod cannot be easily accessed for removal with a wrench on the drivers side of the car, and in most instances, cannot be accessed on the passenger side of the car. Therefore, the normal method of removal and replacement of an inner tie rod involves removal and reinstallation of the entire rack and pinion assembly which is a very time consuming and costly process. Great savings in labor, costs and wear and tear on the pinion gear can be made by removing and replacing the inner tie rod with the rack and pinion assembly remaining in place on the vehicle.
In those cars where hexagonal inner tie rods are used, the left and right inner tie rods are supplied by the vehicle manufacturer having hexagonal ends of a certain size or diameter. Replacement hexagonal inner tie rod parts, however, are available with hexagonal ends in one of generally two different diameters. Therefore, any one hexagonal inner tie rod on a car may have a hexagonal end of two different possible sizes. The left and right inner tie rods on the same car may also be of different sizes. It is therefore particularly useful to have one tool which is capable of removing a variety of different sized hexagonal inner tie rods while the rack and pinion assembly remains in place on the vehicle. It is also particularly useful to have one tool which is capable of removing a variety of different sized hexagonal type of inner tie rods as well as the cylindrical type of inner tie rod.


According to the present invention, a resin material that has the following surface concentration of impurities is consistently used in production of polycrystalline silicon. Values obtained from quantitative analysis by ICP-mass spectrometry using a 1 wt % nitric acid aqueous solution as an extraction liquid are: a phosphorous (P) concentration of 50 pptw or less; an arsenic (As) concentration of 2 pptw or less; a boron (B) concentration of 20 pptw or less; an aluminum (Al) concentration of 10 pptw or less; a total concentration of 6 elements of iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), sodium (Na), and zinc (Zn) of 80 pptw or less; a total concentration of 10 elements of lithium (Li), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), titanium (Ti), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), molybdenum (Mo), tin (Sn), tungsten (W), and lead (Pb) of 100 pptw or less.

A polycrystalline silicon mass is produced by crushing (pulverizing) a polycrystalline silicon rod that has been synthesized by a method such as Siemens method. The polycrystalline silicon mass used as a raw material for producing CZ-single crystalline silicon is crushed, which is then subjected to etching by a chemical solution such as nitrohydrofluoric acid for the purpose of removing contaminants adhered to the surface. After the chemical solution is rinsed away, a resultant product is inspected for the presence of any foreign substances on its surface, sorted into different sizes, and then packed as a finished product.
The polycrystalline silicon mass described above is expected to be highly pure both in terms of bulk and surface. For that reason, Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2013-151413), for example, discloses the invention intended to distinctly reduce dopants on the surface of polysilicon.
A reduction in a surface impurity concentration is achieved insufficiently only by etching using the chemical solution. Even if sufficient surface cleanliness of a product is achieved by etching, the surface impurity concentration becomes high again unless the product is properly handled in subsequent production steps.

Resin material, vinyl bag, polycrystalline silicon rod, polycrystalline silicon mass


A method for bore chamfer measurement includes providing a wheel with a surface having a bore and chamfer surrounding the bore. A light emitting device is aimed at the bore, the chamfer and a portion of the surface of the wheel adjacent to the chamfer. A light from the light emitting device is emitted to the surface of the wheel at the bore and the chamfer such that at least a portion of the light is emitted in a direction that is aligned with a center of the bore. Reflected light is detected from the surface adjacent to the chamfer and the bore. A two dimensional image of the surface and the chamfer is produced and is used to determine a dimension of the chamfer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method for measuring a chamfer around a bore. More specifically, the present invention relates to measuring the dimensions of a chamfer around a bore of a wheel in a non-destructive manner.
2. Background Information
Current methods of accurately measuring dimensions of a chamfer around a small bore (less than an inch in diameter) include destruction of the metallic member that includes the bore. For example, a metallic vehicle wheel includes a bore that receives a valve stem. The surface of the wheel adjacent to the bore is typically provided with a small chamfer that encircles the bore. The size and shape of the chamfer can be advantageous in the creation of an air tight seal between the bore and sealing surfaces of the valve stem.
One current method for measuring the dimensions of a chamfer around the bore includes cutting the wheel bisecting the bore such that a cross-section of the surfaces around the bore are clearly visible and easy to measure. However, this method requires destruction of the wheel.
In a production line setting, such destructive measurements are costly and time consuming.